December 2010 Baltimore Beacon

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Finding a job takes pluck, luck

Is age a problem or asset?

Der, who lives in Baltimore, didn’t completely ignore the issue of his age, however. Unlike younger applicants who may put their education up front on a resume, Der emphasized his professional experience and left his educational background to the end.

“I figure if they read that far, they would know whether I was a good prospect or not,” he reasoned. “I speak from experience, because I hire also for my job, and don’t use age as a factor.”

While it took him 10 months to find a job, Der thinks that was more because he wasn’t mounting an aggressive campaign than anything else.

“I think because I am not ‘too old,’ my age did not hurt me. But I guess we’ll never know,” he said. “What I do know is

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANDREW DER

By Carol Sorgen When Andrew Der lost his job nearly two years ago, he was, understandably, devastated. “I’d been working professionally for 25 years,” said the former director of environmental services for a consulting company in Shady Grove. “I felt horrible.”

After the initial shock and blow to his ego wore off, Der, then 55, didn’t worry too much about finding another position. A generous severance package gave him a bit of a financial cushion, and he spent about 10 months taking on consulting projects and pursuing his avocation of travel writing.

Knowing, however, that he would need to find a permanent job at some point for the steady income and benefits, Der started making casual inquiries among his many contacts in his field.

Fortunately, one lead turned into — in Godfather parlance —“an offer I couldn’t refuse” and he started his new position with a Baltimore City environmental consulting firm late last year.

Despite the gloom-and-doom reports of the poor economy and the oft-reported difficulty of finding a job, especially for workers on either end of the age spectrum, Der wasn’t too concerned that his age was going to count against him.

“Many of my peers with whom I spoke are in my age bracket,” he said. “I also had the good fortune of already being known in my industry in Maryland.”

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I N S I D E …

LEISURE & TRAVEL

Experience the sweet life in Hershey, Pa.; plus, step back in time in Athens, and know your rights on flights. page 25

ARTS & STYLE Finding new employment after being laid off in this economy can be a challenge at any age, and particularly after 50. Andrew Der worked part-time for 10 months before finding a full-time position in the environmental consulting field. Networking, and carefully reworking his resume, helped Der succeed.

that some clients and peers viewed the age I am now as more of an asset in bringing experience and wisdom.”

Turns out that Der instinctively did what career guidance experts advise older jobseekers to do. Rick Gillis — author of The Real Secret to Finding a Job? Make Me Money or Save Me Money! — advises the 50+ jobseeker to minimize the impact of age by stating achievements on a resume without giving a date or place.

For example: “I was responsible for 49 percent of all sales, resulting in approximately $3 million to the bottom line.”

Not giving dates not only skirts the age issue, but requires the recruiter to call to

ask questions, according to Gillis. “Create a dialogue! That is the secret,” he said.

“Then you are able to express your vitality.”

In addition to skipping all dates on a resume (that means your graduation year as well), don’t overload the resume with every bit of employment experience.

“State your employment history up to [about] 25 or 28 years or so,” Gillis advised. “There’s no need for more.”

Another point you might not have considered, said Gillis: Don’t include your home address on your resume. Where you live can tell a recruiter a lot about you.

See FINDING A JOB, page 23

Holiday happenings around town; plus, local painter explores his geographical roots in a one-man show page 30

LAW & MONEY k Best bonds to buy now k Annuities offer peace of mind

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FITNESS & HEALTH 10 k Causes of aging you can fight k How to quit smoking for good VOLUNTEERS & CAREERS 22 k Rotarians help in El Salvador PLUS CROSSWORD, BEACON BITS, CLASSIFIEDS & MORE

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DECEMBER 2010 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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We’re all in this together The number of older Americans is in- chairs of the commission released a “discreasing at a far more rapid rate than pre- cussion proposal” in early November. It viously due to rising longevimay be only a trial balloon. ty and the aging of the 78 mil(Many, including members of lion baby boomers (now the commission itself, have starting to turn 65). been shooting arrows at it At the same time, our strugever since.) gling economy and persistent But even without evaluatjoblessness are threatening ing the particulars, I think it’s the quality of life of Americans a very important step if only in general. because it calls for painful Both of these factors porsacrifices by almost every tend tremendous effects on FROM THE possible constituency, and ofSocial Security and Medicare, PUBLISHER fers some counterbalancing not to mention our healthcare By Stuart P. Rosenthal sweeteners as well. system and workforce in the Among other things, it proyears to come. poses slashing Pentagon spending, cutting For these reasons and others, I think it’s federal agency budgets, ending special tax time we and our political leaders stop liv- rates for capital gains and dividends, elimiing in denial and take some serious steps nating the tax deduction for home mortgage to get our country’s financial house in interest, taxing healthcare benefits given order and plan ahead for the challenges of employees, raising the retirement age, cutthe coming decades. ting Social Security benefits for wealthier reThe bipartisan deficit commission ap- tirees, increasing payroll taxes, and cutting pointed by President Obama to make rec- farm and student-loan subsidies. ommendations for balancing the federal On the sweeter side, it would also simbudget and reducing the national debt has plify the tax code, reduce tax rates for both been quietly focusing on this task for the individuals and corporations, and elimipast few months. nate the alternative minimum tax.

With a report due December 1, the coThe proposal carves out protections for

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the disadvantaged and low-income, of course, though they are not as generous as we, or they, might like to see. There is no group that won’t find something to complain about.

But I see that as a brilliant stroke, because each affected group can see that it isn’t being singled out for rough treatment.

Everyone gets nicked in some fashion.

Reactions from naysayers have tended to be along the lines of, “Cutting back on X, Y and Z is great, but I will protect my constituency to the death.” We all know that exempting any particular group from sacrifice would lead to a cascade of exceptions and undermine the entire effort.

Here’s what the co-chairs — Erskine Bowles, former chief of staff to President Clinton, and former Republican Senator Alan K. Simpson — say at the forefront of the proposal: “The problem is real, the solution is painful, there’s no easy way out, everything must be on the table, and Washington must lead.”

I think this is the kind of statesmanship and bipartisanship we want — and have a right to demand — from our leaders.

But for this to succeed, we — the voters, the people ultimately bearing the burden and enjoying the benefits of a free society — must support such steps, and do so publicly.

And that also means telling those politicians who would try to exempt any particular constituency — particularly if we are members of that constituency — that this is not what we want, and that we are prepared to bear our share of the pain in support of the overall goal.

We’re all in this together, and that means we need to act like it. I urge you to contact your representatives and senators and let them know you support a comprehensive, balanced approach against the debt and budget deficits, and that you are willing to do your part as long as everyone

else does theirs.

I also welcome your comments. Send us a letter to the editor, an e-mail or contact us through www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com.

Wait till you see this!

You may have visited the Beacon’s website before, but please go take another look sometime soon.

We’re still at www.theBeaconNewspapers.com, but the site itself is completely different, with new features including blogs (mine and one from managing editor Barbara Ruben), reader forums (where you can post comments on existing topics or start one of your own), daily comics, interactive crosswords, useful links and much more.

You can read, print, e-mail and bookmark articles from our Greater Baltimore and Greater Washington print editions, as well as past editions. Plus, you can now rate our articles and post your own comments on them, as well as on blog and reader forum posts.

There’s also an easy way to submit event listings for our new online calendar.

So if your organization or building is hosting an open meeting, fair, speaker or event, let everyone know about it. There’s no charge for this service.

And look for our new “flip-page” version of the printed Beacon. There are lots of new features there, too.

We hope you like our new website and will encourage your friends and family to use it as well. Come back and visit often! It will be updated at least weekly, and we’ll be adding new features over time.

See the center spread of this paper for a guide to our home page.

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Dear Editor: I found the “Burn” editorial in your November issue baffling. It correctly noted collecting fees only from fire victims would require huge fees, quoted the mayor saying — reasonably enough — that putting out fires for people who hadn’t paid for protection would lead to nobody paying fees, then slams the fire department for doing exactly what the city and fire department had said they’d do: let unpaid homes burn.

This was a disaster waiting to happen, simply awaiting the first unprotected — unpaid — house catching fire.

The editorial noted that the homeowner hadn’t paid the fire protection fee, supposedly “inadvertently.” But suppose the fire had been put out and the homeowner had “inadvertently” forgotten to pay his insur-

ance premium — would Mr. Rosenthal similarly argue that coverage should be extended anyway? Why? With such services provided to people not paying for them, who would pay?

There were two failures: the government and the fire department which established this folly of a fire-protection funding mechanism — did nobody think through consequences of their policies? — and a homeowner careless about paying his most important yearly bill.

Of course firefighters — professional or amateur — shouldn’t have to check for payment before saving homes. But that simply means fire protection should be paid from general funds, not by fees. Suggesting that See LETTERS TO EDITOR, page 33

BALTIMORE BEACON — DECEMBER 2010

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Money

BOOST YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY Little-known methods help couples maximize their Social Security. Consider survivor benefits and other factors when deciding when to enroll RETIREMENT MADE SIMPLER To make your retirement nest egg last, don’t look only to expected income and investments. Also consider simplifying your lifestyle and changing spending habits

The best ways to invest in bonds today Long-term, high-quality bonds have had Federal Reserve continues to print more an incredible run. dollars and the dollar falls in value against Over the past 10 years, other currencies. while stocks were going The way to earn profits in nowhere, the Vanguard Longbonds is changing. Instead of Term Treasury Bond fund rebuying long-term bonds that turned an annualized 8 perinvest largely in U.S. governcent. Over the past three ment or high-quality U.S. coryears, the fund returned an porate bonds, the better annualized 11 percent. course is to look for bond This year, through mid-Ocfunds employing other stratetober, the fund returned algies. most 20 percent. In fact, Every investor needs to SAVVY SAVER Treasuries have been on a tear own bonds — for income and

By Steven T. Goldberg since 1981 when yields on the to provide ballast to a stock ten-year bond peaked at 15.3 portfolio. Following are my percent best picks among no-load taxable funds for But today the yield on the 10-year Treas- the coming months and year. ury bond is below 2.5 percent. Common sense tells you that the yield doesn’t have Bond funds to consider DoubleLine Total Return (telephone much farther to fall. Bond yields move in 877-354-6311, symbol DLTNX) invests althe opposite direction from prices.

The biggest risk in bonds is that interest most entirely in mortgage-backed securates will rise and prices will fall as the rities. Manager Jef frey Gundlach for-

merly ran TCW Total Return, steering it to an 8 percent annualized return over ten years before opening his own fund firm early this year with most of his old analysts.

About half the fund is invested in longterm, government-backed mortgage securities. The remainder is in riskier, highyielding mortgages that should do well if inflation and interest rates surge.

The fund has returned more than 9 percent since inception in early April and has an annualized yield of more than 8 percent.

Gundlach has proven adept at navigating poor markets, too. Expenses are 0.74 percent annually.

The foreclosure mess, in which banks failed to follow the rules in repossessing houses, shouldn’t create a big problem for DoubleLine.

The temporary moratorium on foreclosures by some banks may well stop or delay payments to the fund on some risky mortgages for several months. But the

fund purchased these mortgages at 60 percent average discounts to their initial value, leaving plenty of leeway for holdups of this kind.

Pimco is probably the best bond fund shop in the U.S. But flagship Pimco Total Return now has assets of about $500 billion in the fund itself and in clones, such as Harbor Bond. Total Return is just too big to continue its long record of outperforming its peers.

Pimco Unconstrained Bond D (800-4260107, PUBDX), managed by Chris Dialynas, is my pick to replace it. Dialynas, like Bill Gross, who manages Total Return, implements the strategies recommended by Pimco’s investment committee, of which they are both members.

But Unconstrained is bolder and, with assets of $12 billion, much more flexible. The fund can take any position the investment committee decides is appropriate, including See BONDS, page 6

Immediate annuities offer peace of mind

By Humberto Cruz started lower but goes up 3 percent a year For the past 10 years, my pension check to counteract inflation). has been deposited directly into All these payments, tomy checking account the first gether with my Social Securiday of each month. It’ll keep ty benefit when it kicks in, coming until both my wife, will provide all the money Georgina, and I have died. we’ve calculated we’ll need to On or about the second cover our basic needs for life.

Wednesday — the first time was Aug. 11, after she turned Insured income for life 66 — Georgina’s Social SecuriThe peace of mind this ty payment also gets direct-deknowledge brings — togethposited. Mine will start coming er with the freedom to invest next year after I turn 66, unless THE SAVINGS the rest of our money more GAME I decide to wait to collect a bigaggressively if we want — is

By Humberto Cruz ger amount later. to us the most important and You may not think of penoften unheralded benefit of sions and Social Security benefits as “im- lifetime income annuities. mediate lifetime income annuities.” But You may well achieve a greater rate of that’s what they are, paying a set monthly return by investing your money elseamount for life (with Social Security, ad- where, particularly with interest rates so justed for inflation). low (annuity payouts are based on age, Georgina and I also have bought four gender and prevailing rates when you lifetime income annuities from insurance buy). But an annuity may provide a bigger companies. In return for a lump sum pre- return if you live a long life and keep colmium, each pays us a monthly income lecting for many years. until we both die (in one case, the payment The point: An immediate annuity is not

so much an investment as insurance against outliving your money. Independent studies have found that including an immediate annuity in a retirement portfolio boosts income because the steady annuity payouts lessen the need to sell other investments for living expenses during a down market.

“What counts most is that if things really turn sour, one’s annuity payments are always there,” said Dick Duff, a chartered life underwriter in Denver who owns four immediate annuities and plans to buy more.

Other income sources Income annuities, of course, are not the only way to generate income in retirement.

I prefer a combination of approaches. Here are a few to consider (some may deserve a fuller discussion in a future column): • Variable annuities with guaranteed lifetime withdrawals. Unlike an immediate annuity, you retain access to your principal. There is a guaranteed amount you can withdraw each year.

If the account runs out of money with these withdrawals, the insurance company

keeps paying you with its own money. This offers the potential for greater returns than with income annuities. But in general, minimum guaranteed payout rates are lower.

• Living off the portfolio income, such as withdrawing interest or dividends only.

That’s virtually impossible with today’s low rates, unless you’re a multi-millionaire and your needs are few.

• Systematic withdrawals: Withdrawing enough for living expenses from your portfolio each year (principal as well as income). This approach provides greater control than annuities, but you risk having to sell investments when prices are low and running out of money.

• “Bucket” approach: Splitting your portfolio into money you’ll need relatively soon and money you can leave alone for a while. You spend down the conservativelyinvested “short-term” money to give the long-term money time to grow to replenish the short-term bucket.

The risk here is less than with systematic withdrawals, but you’ll need substantial savings to implement the strategy. © 2010 Tribune Media Services

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Dana M. Stein, 11th District Delegate, will discuss “Issues Facing the State of Maryland,” at the Friends of the Pikesville Library Guest Speaker Series on Wednesday, Dec. 8, at 1 p.m. Admission is free. The library is located at 1301 Reisterstown Rd. For more information, call (410) 887-1234 or visit www.bcpl.info.

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than a private long-term-care insurance policy with similar coverage. © 2010 Kiplinger. All rights reserved.

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Dec. 8

But the $50 to $75 in daily benefits the federal program will provide falls far short of the average cost of care, and premiums for the program may end up costing more

I N F O R M AT I O N

median cost for one year in a semi-private room in a nursing home in the District of Columbia is $81,213 but it’s just $44,165 in Texas. In Maryland, the median is $80,300, while the cost in Virginia is $65,700.

Homecare costs haven’t risen as quickly, in part because they’re tied to labor rates rather than healthcare inflation rates.

But they still increased by 2.7 percent over the past year and 1.7 percent per year over the past five years.

If home-care costs rise by 3 percent per year, then the price tag could be more than $100,000 annually to receive home care for eight hours per day in 20 years and about $135,000 in 30 years.

Homecare prices also vary considerably by location. The median hourly cost for a home health aide provided by a state-licensed agency in Alaska, Minnesota and Rhode Island is $25 per hour, but it’s just $15 per hour in Alabama and West Virginia.

Those figures show how important it is to consider potential long-term care costs when planning for retirement. The Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act, part of the healthcare-reform bill, will introduce a voluntary federal long-term-care program next year that people can pay for through payroll deductions.

F R E E

By Kimberly Lankford, Q: How much is long-term care expected to cost in 20 to 30 years? I’m in my 50s now and am wondering what the price might be to receive care in a nursing home or my home in the future.

A: The cost of long-term care is already high and is expected to grow at a brisk pace for the next 20 to 30 years. The median cost of a private room in a nursing home now is $206 per day across the country, which adds up to more than $75,000 per year, according to Genworth Financial’s recent Cost of Care study.

And the median cost of care from a licensed home health aide is $19 per hour, which equals $152 per day for eight hours of care — or more than $55,000 a year.

The median nursing-home cost rose by 5.1 percent from 2009 to 2010, and the average pace of growth has been 4.5 percent per year for the past five years. If the growth rate were to continue at 5 percent per year, then one year in a nursing home would cost nearly $200,000 in 20 years and about $325,000 in 30 years.

You can estimate the future cost of care in your area at Genworth’s Cost of Care site, www.genworth.com/content/products/long_term_care/long_term_care/co st_of_care.html.

The prices vary a lot by location: The

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DECEMBER 2010 — BALTIMORE BEACON

To make retirement money last, simplify

By Mark Miller How much will you need to live on in retirement? You’ll often hear the big financial services companies offer this rule of thumb: Plan to replace 80 percent of your working income in retirement.

Ellen Wagner tossed the rule of thumb out the window when she retired in 2008.

Instead, she developed a plan to live well on less than half of what she had been making. Executing that plan helped allow Wagner, who’s been widowed since 2008, to retire at age 58.

Wagner’s story underscores an important point about retirement planning: Income and assets are just one set of values in the retirement security equation; on the other side sit lifestyle and spending.

There’s a growing focus on this side of the equation, thanks to writers like Chris Farrell, a journalist and author of The New

Frugality (Bloomsbury Press, 2009, http://bit.ly/bCZnXR) and retirement educator Steve Vernon, who blogs on this topic frequently at CBS Moneywatch.com (http://bit.ly/bpkYDl).

Bonds

Somewhat riskier funds

From page 4 making bets that bonds will rise in yield.

“Unconstrained isn’t married to an index,” Dialynas explained. It has returned 8 percent over the past 12 months and yields 2.6 percent. Annual expenses are 1.3 percent.

The upsides of downsizing Farrell makes the case for a new frugality based on values that are good for pocketbooks and for the environment at the same time.

The core of his argument is that a conservative approach to consumerism leads to green decision-making, such as downsizing your home, using energy-efficient appliances, using public transportation instead of cars and recycling.

And from a pocketbook perspective, Farrell’s frugality doesn’t mean pinching pennies; instead, it means spending on quality — buying the best you can afford

Another Pimco fund worth considering is Pimco Diversified Income D (PDVDX).

It’s a multi-sector fund, meaning it invests in several different slices of the bond market. Manager Curtis Mewbourne currently deploys a big chunk of assets in emerging markets bonds.

The fund also owns corporate bonds in

but no more than you need.

Vernon has pointed out other creative ways to slash spending. “[Live] like you did in your college years. Take in a roommate or two. Maybe beg your kids to move back in with you in order to share expenses,” he said.

“Grow your own food. Entertain yourself and your friends by renting DVDs and sharing a $5-dollar bottle of wine from your local discount retailer.

“Many of my contemporaries have fond memories of their college years, partly due to the shared bond of figuring out how to enjoy life on a shoestring. Is it time to go back to the future?”

Ellen Wagner thinks so. After a first career as a professional violinist in the New Orleans Symphony, she later completed a Ph.D. in philosophy and taught at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville

the U.S. and other developed nations, including some high-yielding “junk” corporate bonds.

Given the risky sectors this bond plays in, it’s a surprisingly conservative fund.

Over the past three years it has returned 10 percent, and it yields 5.0 percent. Expenses are 1.15 percent annually.

For more foreign exposure, look at Fidelity New Markets Income (800-544-6666, FNMIX), which invests in bonds of fastgrowing emerging markets.

While the U.S., Japan and much of Europe labor under the weight of huge budget deficits, most emerging markets nations are running fiscal and trade surpluses — and are growing rapidly.

What’s more, their bonds still boast much higher yields than you can get elsewhere.

The fund has returned an annualized 11 per-

until 2008, when she decided to make a major change in her life.

“My husband was killed in an accident in 2004. I decided to sell our house in Jacksonville, and move back to Boulder, where I’d met my husband when I was in grad school,” she said. “Selling the house in Jacksonville in which we’d lived was hard but really made all the difference in my retirement.”

How simplifying = savings Here are the key areas where Wager cut spending: Downsized real estate: Wagner sold a 2,000-square-foot house in Jacksonville and bought — for cash — a condo half that size in Boulder.

“Jacksonville is actually a much less exSee RETIREMENT, page 9

cent over the past three years and yields 6.3 percent. Annual expenses are 0.90 percent.

How should you divvy up your bond money? The first two funds are relatively low risk, while the last two are fairly risky — especially the Fidelity fund. Many investors will do well to split their bond investment money evenly among all four.

Add a municipal bond in your taxable account (Baltimore-based T. Rowe Price offers excellent Maryland and Virginia taxexempt funds), and you should fare well in a period where bonds, in general, may not.

Steven T. Goldberg is a freelance writer and investment advisor in Silver Spring, Md. He welcomes reader questions. E-mail steve@tginvesting.com or write to Steven Goldberg, 9005 Woodland Dr., Silver Spring, MD 20910. You may also call him at (301) 650-6567.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — DECEMBER 2010

7

Social Security more complex for couples

By Humberto Cruz I still get e-mails from readers about a column I wrote in January 2008 saying I planned to “file and suspend” when applying for Social Security benefits at my full retirement age of 66.

Now I’m leaning toward a different “claim now, claim more later” strategy.

The decision of when to file for Social Security benefits — and what strategy to use — is more complicated for married couples than many people realize.

If they think about it at all, many Americans simply calculate the “break-even” age when they would have received the same amount of benefits regardless of when they start.

Our choices include reduced benefits starting at age 62, “full” benefits at full retirement age — 66 now and rising gradually to 67 by 2027 — or higher enhanced benefits up until age 70.

If we live to average life expectancy, we’ll receive approximately the same total amount no matter when we start. One rule of thumb is to claim benefits early if we expect to die relatively young, and to wait (assuming we can afford to) if we think we’ll live a long life.

But married couples must consider other factors, said Brett Horowitz, a certified financial planner in Coral Gables, Fla.,

who specializes in this issue.

Survivor benefits A married person, even one who never worked, can receive as much as half the working spouse’s benefit. When a spouse dies, the survivor receives the higher of his/her own benefit or that of the deceased spouse.

It can make sense for the person with the higher benefit — it’s usually the husband — to delay claiming benefits on his work record.

That way, his benefit increases. When he dies — men tend to die first — the wife keeps receiving the enhanced benefit of the husband.

To make the following strategies easier to understand, I’ve assumed the higher-earning spouse is the husband. In my explanations, “husband” really stands for higher-earning spouse and “wife” stands for lower-earning spouse.

• File and suspend: The husband files for benefits at full retirement age. This entitles the wife to start receiving the spousal benefit if higher than her own. The husband then suspends his own benefit and reapplies for enhanced benefits at age 70.

The wife never stops receiving the spousal benefit.

• Claim now, claim more later: The wife files first for benefits under her work record. The husband, upon reaching full re-

tirement age, files for his spousal benefit only. At age 70, he re-files for his own work benefit. At that time, the wife switches to her spousal benefit if higher than her own.

This strategy now works better than file and suspend for my wife and me, but that will depend on each couple’s circumstances.

For details on these strategies and another that involves returning all benefits received and reapplying for a higher benefit up to age 70, check the Web site of the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College (http://crr.bc.edu/). Click on Publications, then Briefs, and select Social Security as the topic.

A couple caveats

as loopholes that cost the government money and may be eliminated. Also, Social Security personnel are not always aware of them. If so, persist and speak to a supervisor.

Randall Raciti, a financial adviser in South Bend, Ind., said one of his clients was initially told there was no such thing as “file and suspend” and “we should not believe most of what appears in articles.”

Subsequently, a supervisor confirmed that file and suspend does exist and offered to help with the paperwork, Raciti said.

Send questions or comments to Humberto Cruz at AskHumberto@aol.com or c/o Tribune Media Services, 2225 Kenmore Ave., Buffalo, NY 14207. Personal replies are not possible. © 2010 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — DECEMBER 2010

Retirement From page 6 pensive place to live than Boulder, but my condo costs so much less to maintain that my life here is cheaper,” she said.

“I dropped the mortgage payment, alarm company, lawn care, termite spray, bug spray and pesticide/herbicide spray fees plus costs of fixing the roof, maintaining the irrigation system, paying for water for the lawn and shrubs, and higher utilities costs.

“My homeowners’ assessment in the condo is less than I used to pay monthly to have the lawn mowed! And my southwest-

ern exposure provides passive solar heating all winter, when my furnace does not generally get a lot of use.

Downsizing drastically in what I own has reduced stuff and clutter to just the right amount. This was the largest cutback in living costs.”

Simplicity at home: Wagner stopped worrying about having all the latest and greatest in her home.

“I stopped wanting to have newer, upgraded appliances, devices, etc. In the Jacksonville house, I had nice 42-inch cabinets and put in new countertops with an integrated sink and a designer faucet. These

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were good investments, as the upgrades helped me sell the house before the market had tanked completely,” she said.

“Here in Boulder, I have a 1985 kitchen, complete with Formica countertops and laminate cabinets with the oak strips on the bottom.”

Simplicity in diet. “I stopped eating out very often and also doing much shopping. Instead, I cook at home, which I absolutely love to do, and entertain friends here with excellent food and reasonable wines. Also, I use our great public library for books I want to read, as well as the place to donate books I no longer want.”

Less driving. “Now that I’m retired and living in a walk-able city with great public transportation I am putting half the miles on my car each year, which saves gas and wear-and-tear. And car insurance is cheaper now since I drive less.”

Along with extending her retirement income, Wagner feels good about the new lifestyle values in her retirement equation.

“The general result is that now I can honor my ethical principles,” she commented. “I use less, buy fewer new things, and tread more lightly on the planet in general. Ultimately, my life feels very luxurious because getting rid of the meaningless extra stuff has enabled me to choose what matters most to me and what I most enjoy from day to day.”

Mark Miller is the author of The Hard Times Guide to Retirement Security (John Wiley & Sons/Bloomberg Press, June 2010).

He publishes RetirementRevised.com, featured recently in Money Magazine as one of the best retirement planning sites on the web.

Contact him with questions and comments at mark@retirementrevised.com. © 2010 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

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Against the FLU

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Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze Wash your hands often Avoid close contact with sick people Stay home if you are sick Need more information about the flu?

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Need a flu clinic near you? Go to www.google.org/flushot This material was prepared by Delmarva Foundation for Medical Care, the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization for Maryland, under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The contents do not necessarily represent CMS policy. 9SOW-MD-PREV-111110-433

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DECEMBER 2010 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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Health Fitness &

KICK THE HABIT FOR GOOD Smokers today have a number of tools that can help them finally quit CATARACT CONFUSION While we know how to treat cataracts, we don’t know how to prevent them INVIGORATING VITAMIN D? Study investigates whether vitamin D supplements can keep you youthful ENERGIZING EXERCISE Physical activity will give you more energy, but start slowly and eat right

How to fight four primary causes of aging

By Deborah Kotz Benjamin Franklin once declared that “we get old too soon and wise too late.” Applying a little wisdom, though, may keep you from aging before your time.

“Only about 5 to 20 percent of the aging process has to do with our genes,” said Jonny Bowden, a nutritionist and best-selling author of numerous books, including his recently released The Most Effective Ways to Live Longer.

“The rest has to do with how we treat our bodies, which determines whether, like a light switch, we turn the good genes on and the bad genes off.”

His book identifies what he calls “the four horsemen of aging” — thought to be dangerous processes that age our bodies and are triggered by the foods we eat and the lifestyles we lead.

Conquer these four horsemen, Bowden contends, and you can slow down the aging process and help stave off heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. (An added bonus: looking younger than your peers at high school reunions.)

No. 1 — Free radicals Similar to the way rust attacks a car, free radicals (chemically unstable molecules)

attack our cells and damage our DNA, a process that many experts believe accelerates aging. Free radicals are also known to increase the risk of cancer.

You can’t, unfortunately, completely avoid these molecules — they’re present in the air you breathe — but you can limit your exposure to them, said Bowden. The trick is to avoid things like cigarettes, trans fats (partially hydrogenated oils that have been banned from many foods), excess sun exposure, charred meats, and other sources.

Bowden also recommends buying organic fruits and vegetables whenever possible to limit your exposure to pesticides and herbicides, which also contain the harmful molecules.

If you can’t afford to go completely organic, try at least to buy the following foods organically: peaches, apples, blueberries, bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, imported grapes, spinach, kale and potatoes.

Last year, the Environmental Working Group found that these “dirty dozen” contain the highest level of chemical residue when compared to other kinds of produce.

That being said, fruits and vegetables are also chock full of antioxidants, which

are thought to neutralize free radicals, so you should still aim to get five servings a day, organic or not. Those with the highest amount of antioxidants include prunes, raisins, blueberries, blackberries and kale.

No. 2 — Inflammation While inflammation normally is part of a healthy immune response to foreign invaders, chronic inflammation is considered to be a major player in many diseases of aging, including cancer, diabetes, heart disease and Alzheimer’s. Chronic inflammation happens when the immune system begins targeting healthy cells and tissues for attack.

How to keep inflammation at bay? One way is to follow a Mediterranean-style diet, said Bowden, based on whole grains, fatty fish like salmon and tuna, fruits, vegetables and monounsaturated fats (those from nuts, avocados and olives) with little meat.

“Studies have shown that heart patients who follow this diet have much lower rates of heart attacks, even if they still have high cholesterol,” Bowden said.

Other great anti-inflammatory foods include the spice turmeric, chocolate (the really dark kind that has 70 percent or

higher cacao content), and red wine, which contains the anti-aging chemical resveratrol.

However, resveratrol may prove more useful as a supplement, since you would have to drink more than 100 bottles of wine a day to make any real impact on the aging process, researchers contend.

Exercise is another great way to lower inflammation by boosting anti-inflammatory chemicals and helping you avoid weight gain through the years. (Having too much belly fat, defined as a waist measurement of more than 35 inches for a woman and 40 inches for a man, means you probably have high inflammation, since abdominal fat produces inflammatory chemicals.)

Aim for a moderate amount of steady exercise like brisk walking, swimming or biking for 30 to 45 minutes five days a week — the amount most experts recommend. But don’t overdo it to the point of soreness and extreme fatigue, since too much exercise can actually increase inflammation, at least temporarily.

No. 3 — Glycation This is a fancy word for too much sugar, or See FIGHT AGING, page 11

The good bacteria we can’t do without

By Lauran Neergaard Antibiotics can temporarily upset your stomach, but now it turns out that repeatedly taking them can trigger long-lasting changes in all those good germs that live in your gut, raising questions about lingering ill effects.

Nobody yet knows if that leads to later health problems. But the finding is the latest in a flurry of research that raises questions about how the customized bacterial zoo that thrives in our intestines forms — and whether the wrong type or amount plays a role in ailments from obesity to inflammatory bowel disease to asthma.

Three healthy adults collected weeks of stool samples so that scientists could count exactly how two separate rounds of a fairly mild antibiotic caused a surprising population shift in their microbial netherworld — as some original families of germs plummet-

ed and other types moved in to fill the gap.

It’s also a story of how we coexist with trillions of bacteria, fungi and other microbes in the skin, nose and digestive tract — what scientists call the human microbiome. Many are beneficial, even indispensable, especially the gut bacteria that play an underappreciated role in overall health.

“Gut communities are fundamentally important in the development of our immune system,” explained Dr. David Relman of Stanford University, who led the antibiotic study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. “Let’s not take them for granted.”

Next, Relman plans to track whether antibiotics used during the first year or two of life, when youngsters form what will become their unique set of gut bacteria, seem to predispose children later to immune-related diseases.

Bacteria aid digestion, immunity Antibiotics already should be used cautiously because they can spur infectioncausing bacteria to become drug-resistant.

The new research raises different questions about effects on beneficial bacteria — and if abnormalities in the microbiome really are linked to health problems, how those changes might begin.

“We should start paying attention to this,” said Dr. Martin Blaser, a microbiome specialist at New York University Langone Medical Center, who wasn’t involved with Relman’s work but also is planning to study the issue in children. “The main point is that antibiotic use is not free in a biological sense.”

Everyone is born with an essentially sterile digestive tract, but within days the gut is overrun with bacteria from mom and dad, the environment, first foods.

Ultimately, a healthy person’s intestinal tract teems with hundreds of species of microbes, the body’s biggest concentration, with many involved in such things as digestion and immune reaction.

In the not-so-healthy, scientists have discovered that overweight people harbor different types and amounts of gut bacteria than lean people, and that losing weight can change that bacterial makeup.

They’ve also found links to other digestive diseases, precancerous colon polyps, and even are pursuing a theory that early use of antibiotics disrupts the developing microbiome in ways that spur autoimmune disorders like asthma or allergies.

Long-term antibiotic effects Antibiotics aren’t choosy and can kill off See GOOD BACTERIA, page 13

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BALTIMORE BEACON — DECEMBER 2010

Fight aging From page 10 rather, what happens when the sugar mixes with proteins and fats to form molecules that promote aging. Advanced glycation end products, or AGEs, are thought to accelerate the aging process by churning out free radicals and promoting inflammation.

They form when you caramelize onions in a frying pan, for example, or mix a little sugar in with that omelette you’re cooking.

One way to avoid ingesting AGEs? Turn down the heat when you cook, said Bowden. The browning effect that occurs when you stir-fry vegetables at high heat or blacken chicken in a frying pan causes these molecules to form, especially if you’re adding sugar to the mix.

Limiting your intake of sugar-filled foods in general will also help, since excess sugar often binds to proteins in your body to form AGEs. The American Heart Association now recommends that women consume no more than 100 calories per day of added sugars, and men no more than 150 calories

per day.

Aside from increasing your risk of heart disease, AGEs appear to play a role in diabetes by causing blood to become sticky and hampering its ability to flow smoothly through capillaries and into the extremities and vital organs like the kidneys and eyes.

“It’s like putting sugar in your gas tank,” said Bowden. “It gums up the works.”

No. 4 — Stress Why do U.S. presidents age twice as rapidly when in office than when not? Too much stress. Being under pressure initiates the release of a variety of stress hormones that make your pulse race and cause your blood pressure to rise.

But the hormone cortisol, released by the body to lessen these effects, actually creates problems when it remains chronically elevated. It has been shown to shrink a part of the brain called the hippocampus, Bowden said, which is essential for longterm memory. It can also lead to the accumulation of belly fat, causing inflammation and insulin resistance.

Bowden recommends practicing relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga to help manage stress, but even he admits that he has trouble devoting 30 minutes a day to doing so.

“I usually just take five minutes every so often throughout my day to close my eyes

and focus on my breathing,” he said.

Getting too little sleep is akin to feeling too much stress in terms of your body’s increased production of cortisol, so make sure to aim for seven to eight hours a night. © 2010 U.S. News and World Report

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or peripheral nerve problems are seen by one of our neuromuscular neurologists or physiatrists. Some patients may be treated by a physical therapist for strengthening and retraining of walking and balancing.

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Difficulty with gait, balance or mobility isn’t normal and could signify an underlying problem. If you or a family member has such symptoms, call The Center for Gait and Mobility at The Sandra and Malcolm Berman Brain & Spine Institute at 410-601WELL(9355).

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DECEMBER 2010 — BALTIMORE BEACON

When nothing helps you to quit smoking

By Dr. Thomas Lee Q. I’m an 84-year-old woman who recently had stents placed in two coronary arteries. My doctors have long told me to quit smoking. I have tried, but just can’t.

I’ve tried the patch and Chantix, but neither worked. Support groups aren’t for me. I have cut back, but that’s as far as willpower goes.

Is there some news about current or future approaches that might give me and others like me some hope?

A. Before I answer your question, let me congratulate you for having tried to quit smoking and urge you to try again. It often takes smokers several tries before one takes hold.

As you have discovered, nicotine is a highly addictive substance. For most smokers, willpower alone is not enough.

Fortunately, smokers today have a number of tools to fight tobacco addiction.

Quit-smoking aids include nicotine replacement (nicotine patches, gums, lozenges, inhalers and sprays), bupropion (Zyban,

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Wellbutrin), varenicline (Chantix), counseling and behavior-change therapy, and social support. None are miracle workers.

You mentioned having tried the nicotine patch. Dr. Nancy Rigotti, director of the Tobacco Research and Treatment Center at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital, said that some smokers find success by adding to the patch a short-acting nicotine replacement product, like nicotine gum, lozenge or inhaler, to handle breakthrough cravings the patch can’t counteract.

You also mentioned that Chantix didn’t help you. Some people find that Zyban works better for them than Chantix. Researchers are testing whether combining Zyban or Chantix with nicotine replacement is a safe and effective treatment for smoking cessation.

You also said that support groups aren’t for you. You don’t have to join a group to get support. You can get free, helpful support from the comfort of your home by calling the national quit line at 800-QUIT-NOW. For some people, support is the missing piece of the solution, said Dr. Rigotti.

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Also in the development pipeline are several anti-nicotine vaccines. They prompt the body to make antibodies to nicotine.

When nicotine enters the bloodstream, these antibodies bind to it.

The resulting nicotine-antibody complex is much too large to cross into the brain, rendering the nicotine incapable of turning on the brain’s nicotine receptors. In theory, this will help break the habit by denying the smoker the pleasurable feelings he or she normally gets from smoking.

If cannabinoid receptor antagonists or vaccines pan out as safe and effective smoking cessation aids — and that is a big if — it will be years before they’re on the market.

Please don’t wait for treatments that may never materialize. You have already made a good start by cutting back. If you are serious about taking the next step, work with your doctor or someone who specializes in smoking cessation to figure out a plan tailored for you.

Sometimes people who’ve struggled to stop smoking and finally quit have the best suggestions. — Thomas Lee, M.D., Editor in chief, Harvard Heart Letter Š 2010. President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Media Services.

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13

Cataracts: what we do and don’t know

By Dr. Celeste Robb-Nicholson Q. Is it true that cataracts are made of calcium? Can I do anything to avoid getting a cataract? What about diet?

A. A cataract is a vision-clouding area in the lens of the eye. About half of all people ages 65 to 74, and 70 percent of those ages 75 and over, develop cataracts, which are the leading cause of blindness worldwide.

Fortunately, surgery is safe and effective. In places like the United States, where it’s one of the most common operations performed, it leads to improved vision in about 90 percent of cases.

How cataracts form Cataracts aren’t made of calcium but rather of clumps of protein. The cells of the eye’s lens are composed of water and protein arranged in a way that keeps the lens clear.

For reasons that aren’t fully understood, the protein molecules may clump together and start to cloud the lens. This is the beginning of a cataract. The effect has been likened to cooking an egg white.

The eyes see the light that objects reflect. Reflected light enters the eye through the cornea and lens and comes into focus on the retina at the back of the eye. The cornea starts the focusing process by bending the light at an angle determined by the cornea’s curvature.

The lens then fine-tunes the focus, further bending the light. Nerve cells in the retina send the light energy to the brain via the optic nerve.

You may not notice anything at first, but cataracts typically progress, becoming denser or clouding more of the lens and blurring vision.

Eventually, vision may be so severely affected that surgery is needed to remove the lens and replace it with an artificial one. Cataracts usually form in both eyes but may not progress at the same rate or affect vision equally in both eyes.

What causes cataracts?

We know how to treat cataracts, but we don’t know much about why they develop.

Aging is obviously a factor — possibly beSee CATARACTS, page 14

Good bacteria From page 10 good germs as well as bad ones. But Relman and fellow research scientist Les Dethlesfsen wondered how hardy gut bacteria are, how well they bounce back.

So they recruited healthy volunteers who hadn’t used antibiotics in at least the past year to take two five-day courses of the antibiotic Cipro, six months apart.

The volunteers reported no diarrhea or upset stomach, yet their fecal samples showed a lot going on beneath the surface. Bacterial diversity plummeted as a third to half of the volunteers’ original germ species were nearly wiped out, although some other species moved in.

Yet about a week after stopping the drug, two of the three volunteers had their bacterial levels largely return to normal.

The third still had altered gut bacteria six months later.

The surprise: Another die-off and shift happened with the second round of Cipro, but this time no one’s gut bacteria had returned to the pre-antibiotic state by the time the study ended two months later.

“History matters,” concluded Relman, who next is testing what jobs the most affected bacteria performed — such as helping to maintain intestinal barriers against infection — and whether the new bugs fully replaced them. “We may have to be more careful” about repetitive damage.

Of course, antibiotics aren’t the only means of disrupting our natural flora.

Other research recently found that babies born by cesarean harbor quite different first bacteria than babies born vaginally, offering a possible explanation for why Csection babies are at higher risk for some infections. Likewise, the gut bacteria of premature infants contains more hospitalstyle germs than a full-term baby’s.

The big issue is when such differences will matter, something so far, “we’re not really smart enough to know,” Relman said. — AP

If you’re over 50 or have osteoporosis, it’s important that you don’t ignore your back pain.

It may signal a spinal fracture. See your doctor right away if you think you may have one.

TAKE CHARGE Don’t turn your back on back pain.

Spinal fractures can be repaired if diagnosed.

KYPHON® Balloon Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive treatment for spinal fractures that can correct vertebral body deformity, reduce pain and improve patient quality of life.

before

balloon kyphoplasty

after

Spine specialists actively offering KYPHON® Balloon Kyphoplasty in your local area: Dr. Hatem Abdo Dr. Spiro Antoniades Dr. Oren Blam Dr. Andrew Brown Dr. William Cook Dr. Michael Dabbah Dr. Reginald Davis Dr. Charles Edwards Dr. Dale Johnson

410-391-6904 410-539-3434 410-644-1880 410-350-3389 410-879-0066 410-337-8888 443-849-4270 410-539-3434 410-601-5201

Dr. Agha Khan Dr. Akhil Khanna Dr. Mesfin Lemma Dr. Alma Lynch-Nyhan Dr. Charles Park Dr. Charles Schnee Dr. John Sefter Dr. Lawrence Shin Dr. Henry Wang

410-601-8314 410-532-4538 410-532-4786 410-828-2311 410-391-6904 410-646-0220 410-337-8888 410-368-8323 443-849-2311

For more information on balloon kyphoplasty call 800-652-2221 or visit www.kyphon.com Medtronic maintains a list of physicians who have been trained to use, and are believed to be both active and proficient users of, Medtronic’s products and who are willing to accept patient referrals. Physician participation on this list is voluntary and free. All referrals are identified based upon geographic criteria only. Medtronic does not guarantee the accuracy of the listings or the capabilities of the physicians listed. The physicians referenced may be paid consultants of, and research cited may have been funded partially or in whole by, Medtronic.

Although the complication rate with KYPHON® Balloon Kyphoplasty has been demonstrated to be low, as with most surgical procedures, there are risks associated with the procedure, including serious complications. This procedure is not for everyone.

A prescription is required. Please consult your physician for a full discussion of risks and whether this procedure is right for you. © 2008 Medtronic Spine LLC. All Rights Reserved.

MEDTRONIC Spinal and Biologics Business 1221 Crossman Avenue Sunnyvale, CA 94089 USA Tel: (408) 548-6500 16003152_020 [01]

14

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Health Shorts Vitamin B may delay Alzheimer’s A large daily dose of vitamin B may delay the rate at which the brain shrinks in elderly people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia, a new study suggests. More than 150 people with MCI were involved in the two-year clinical trial, described in the journal Public Library of Science One. Roughly half of the participants took a daily pill comprised of high levels of vitamin B6, B12, and folic acid, while the other

DECEMBER 2010 — BALTIMORE BEACON

group took placebos. Those in the vitamin group experienced brain shrinkage at a rate of 0.76 percent a year, on average, compared to 1.08 percent for the placebo group. “This is a very dramatic and striking result. It’s much more than we could have predicted,� study coauthor David Smith told Reuters. “It is our hope that this simple and safe treatment will delay development of Alzheimer’s in many people who suffer from mild memory problems.�

The vitamins contained 300 times the recommended daily intake of B12, 15 times the recommended B6 intake, and four times the recommended folate intake.

Certain B vitamins have been shown to reduce the body’s amount of the amino acid homocysteine, high levels of which have been linked to the development of

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Alzheimer’s.

MCI, which causes memory loss and inhibited mental functioning, affects about 16 percent of people over 70. Half of those diagnosed will develop Alzheimer’s within five years, Reuters reported. — U.S. News & World Report

Website for caregivers A new service from the website www.caring.com offers specific, stage-appropriate advice for those providing care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia.

Cataracts From page 13 cause of changes in the chemical composition of the lens or possibly because of normal wear and tear. Most people develop some lens opacity, or clouding, by the age of 60.

Other risk factors include injury to the eye, previous eye surgery, diabetes, use of corticosteroid drugs, and having a family member with cataracts. Many studies have implicated smoking and drinking as well.

And a study suggests that hormone therapy may increase the risk. Cataracts also seem to be more common in people who’ve had long-term exposure to sunlight.

We don’t know if avoiding or treating these risk factors will prevent a cataract from forming. But it can only do you good to refrain from smoking, moderate your alcohol consumption, and protect your eyes from sunlight with hats and sunglasses.

Evidence on the role of diet in cataract prevention is mixed. Some experts believe that antioxidant vitamins might help prevent cataracts by getting rid of molecules called free radicals, which may trigger or fuel protein clumping.

Caring.com provides information and support to caregivers in general as they care for aging parents, spouses and other loved ones.

The site recently launched Steps & Stages (www.caring.com/steps-stages/alzheimers) to help family caregivers of dementia patients identify the many stages of the disease and understand the symptoms to expect at each stage and how to cope with them.

It also offers online support groups where communities of caregivers whose loved ones are at a similar stage can connect through the website and learn from one another.

See HEALTH SHORTS, page 15

But despite several studies, there’s no convincing evidence yet that vitamin supplements prevent or slow cataract growth.

In a 2008 Archives of Ophthalmology study, researchers found that women ages 50 to 79 whose diets were rich in lutein and zeaxanthin had fewer cataracts.

These phytochemicals are abundant in dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, Swiss chard, watercress, and dandelion greens. But these vegetables contain many other healthy substances, so it’s not clear whether lutein and zeaxanthin are responsible for the eye benefits.

In any case, you should have your eyes examined every two years (annually after age 60). And even if you can’t do much to prevent or slow the growth of cataracts, you can reduce their impact on your life in various ways, such as adjusting your eyeglasses, getting anti-glare sunglasses or magnifying lenses, or just using brighter lights at home and work.

Celeste Robb-Nicholson, M.D., is editor in chief of Harvard Women’s Health Watch. Š 2010 President and fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc.

Free Foot Screenings

Free foot screenings will be given at the offices of Dr. Marc Singer from Monday, November 29 through Friday, December 10. The foot evaluations will look for adverse effects of Diabetes and screen for Poor Circulation.

When diagnosed early, many problems associated with Diabetes and Poor Circulation can be avoided, such as: • Infections • Loss of sensation • Sores or Ulcers • Amputations

If you have Diabetes, you may qualify for a pair of Diabetic shoes though Medicare. Ask Dr. Singer for details.

Please call for your Free Foot Screening Now

410-653-3330

DR. MARC SINGER www.DrMarcSinger.com You can download office forms for your convenience

Dr. Marc Singer, a Baltimore podiatrist with over 30 years of providing expert and compassionate care, will be personally conducting these screenings at his two offices

4000 Old Court Road - Pikesville

1124 Mace Avenue – Essex

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com | Fitness & Health

BALTIMORE BEACON — DECEMBER 2010

Health shorts From page 14 “Caring for someone with dementia can be such a difficult and lonely experience,” said Andy Cohen, cofounder and CEO of Caring.com.

“We’ve created tools to help caregivers reduce stress and find comfort in understanding what they’re experiencing,” added Cohen. “Steps & Stages is about what they are experiencing today, along with guidance about what to expect next.”

Once signed up on the site, caregivers receive weekly e-newsletters that provide suggestions for how to handle the symptoms likely to be seen in the near future.

—Barbara Ruben

Stents double risk in older stroke patients Stroke patients over 70 who get stents to keep their arteries open may be doubling their risk of having another stroke or dying compared to patients who get surgery instead, a new study indicates.

European researchers examined past studies from more than 3,400 stroke patients, including 1,725 who got stents and

1,708 who had surgery, and found that a patient’s age makes a big difference in how effective stents are.

In patients older than 70, 12 percent of those who got a stent had a stroke or died within four months of the procedure, versus about 6 percent of the patients who only had surgery.

In those under 70, there was no difference between the groups — about 6 percent in each had a stroke or died within that time period.

Doctors think stents may be more dangerous in older people because their arteries are more easily damaged during the procedure to put the stents in place.

In February, an American study found stents were as safe as surgery for treating narrow neck arteries. But it also found the stents were more dangerous in patients older than 70.

Patients who get a stent have a tube inserted into their groin that is pushed up to the narrowed artery. A balloon is inflated to flatten the blockage and the stent holds the artery open. Patients are awake but sedated and recover within several days.

For the surgery, patients undergo general anesthesia. Their necks are cut open and the blockage is removed. They stay in the hospital for up to a week and can take several more to recover.

—AP

Send a letter to the editor.

Osteoporosis meds raise cancer risk Drugs taken by millions of Americans to help strengthen weak bones may raise the risk of esophageal cancer, new research suggests.

People who take oral bisphosphonates — a widely prescribed class of osteoporosis drugs — for more than five years appear to have twice the risk of developing cancer of the esophagus than those who’ve never taken the medications, according to a study

15

published in the British Medical Journal.

The findings also suggest that taking the drugs for less than five years is linked to a 30 percent greater chance of developing the cancer, said the researchers, who followed 80,000 people for nearly eight years.

“We have to be concerned, but this is the first large study with long-term follow up that has found this effect,” study author Jane Green told Reuters. “Because esophageal cancer is uncommon, even a doubled risk is still a low risk.”

Typically, 1 in 1,000 people age 60 to 79 develops esophageal cancer, the study reported.

— AP

‘I provide counseling for caregivers and seniors’ I'm Beverly Parsons, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and caregiver, specializing in counseling services for elders, caregivers & families.

Drawing on 30 years of personal and professional training, I can help you - with sensitivity and compassion - find solutions to the thorny and often very difficult issues you may face. Please call me to discuss your needs.

410-583-7443 www.centerforagingfamilies.com The Center for Aging Families at The Counseling Center Beverly Parsons, LCSW-C

602 Providence Road • Towson, MD 21286

Over 12 years of geriatric care management experience.

Dr. Stuart M. Goldman, Podiatrist

Fellow, American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons Marquis Who’s Who in America, In Medicine and Healthcare Author, Multiple articles (1997-2008) in Podiatry, Diabetes, and Family Practice Journals on Evaluation & Treatment of Foot & Leg Symptoms, including Neuropathic Symptoms.

On Medical/ Surgical staff at: Northwest GBMC Sinai

Focus on Non-Surgical Treatment of the Foot & Leg in Children and Adults Diabetic Foot Management including ADA “Comprehensive Diabetic Foot Exam” “Where there’s pain- there’s a reason!” – Dr. Goldman A podiatrist for 3 decades, with years of experience as hospital chair, surgical instructor, and author, Dr. Goldman often has success with patients who have persistent symptoms, despite other care, and invites all those with foot and leg pain to come in for evaluation and treatment.

HelpForYourFeet

(410) 235-2345

Two Convenient OfAice Locations: 4419 Falls Road, Suite A, Baltimore & 4000 Old Court Road, Suite 301, Pikesville

16

Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Health Studies Page

DECEMBER 2010 — BALTIMORE BEACON

THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Does insufficient vitamin D hasten aging?

By Carol Sorgen More than half of all Americans may be deficient in vitamin D. Researchers have long known that vitamin D promotes the absorption of calcium and helps keep bones strong. As a result, vitamin D deficiency has been known for years to lead to weakened bones.

But more recent research indicates many other conditions may be related to inadequate vitamin D. A team of British researchers studied more than 2,000 women and found that those

with the lowest vitamin D levels showed the greatest signs of biological aging.

Furthermore, recent studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency is associated with a number of diseases, including type 2 diabetes, muscle weakness, frailty, metabolic syndrome (a combination of high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes and obesity), and some cancers. It has also been linked to cognitive impairment.

Study at VA Medical Center Scientists are now exploring whether

Studies on Aging: Johns Hopkins University Are you 70 years or older?

Investigators from the Division of Geriatric Medicine at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Campus are looking for individuals aged 70 or older to participate in a research study that is looking at the aging process.

Tests would include measurements of strength, walking speed and questions about your physical activities. We may also request a blood draw and urine sample.

You will be paid $10 for participating depending on the study and we can conduct the study in your home. No travel required. If you choose to travel to Bayview, a parking pass will be given to you.

healthy levels of vitamin D may help to slow the aging process and protect against age-related diseases.

To learn more about whether vitamin D supplementation can help mature adults age more healthily, researchers at the Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), located at the Baltimore VA Medical Center, are conducting their own clinical trial called “Vitamin D and Successful Aging.”

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of vitamin D supplementation on the factors underlying the development of type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, muscle weakness and wasting (sarcopenia), and impaired physical function (poor balance and walking).

There will be two groups in the study.

One will get vitamin D supplements only, and the other will combine the supplements with a regimen of strength training.

Recruitment is now underway for the latter group, whose volunteers will be participating for up to nine months in the study.

Participants will be given a series of baseline tests over four to five visits. They will then be put on a high dose of vitamin D for six weeks to raise their blood levels to the normal range.

Participants will then begin a strength training program three times a week with a staff exercise physiologist for four months. During that time they will take a See VITAMIN D, page 17

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

FREE HEALTH EXAMS FOR BALTIMORE CITY WOMEN Free mammograms, clinical breast exams and Pap exams are

available for eligible Baltimore City residents age 40 to 64. To enroll or for more information, call the Baltimore City Cancer Program at (410) 328-HOPE (4673)

For more information, please call our study coordinators at Bayview: and ask for LeVesta Jackson-Crute.

410-550-9016 or 410-550-2113

Knee arthritis pain?

We look forward to hearing from you!

Shingles can be painful and cause serious problems Shingles can ě ¢ ǯǯǯ at anytime ǯ 1 out of 2 people who live to 85 ǯ

Volunteers are needed for a research study conducted at Johns Hopkins Bayview

To study sleep in pa ents with osteoarthri s of the knee. To par cipate, you must be 50 years or older.

Both good and poor sleepers are needed. Parking, and tests are provided at no cost. Compensa on is provided.

Call 410-550-7906

There is no way to tell who will get Shingles or ¢ ǯ

Health Trends Research is conducting a Shingles vaccine study

Call 410-484-9400

and/or visit the website at

or visit

www.SleeplessInBaltimore.com Principal Inves gator: Michael T. Smith, Ph.D. Protocol NA_000118021

If you’ve had chickenpox (more than 90% of adults in Ǽǰ ¢ ǯ ǯ

ǯ ǯ Approved 08/24/2009

2700 Quarry Lake Drive #240 Baltimore, MD 21209

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com | Fitness & Health

BALTIMORE BEACON — DECEMBER 2010

Vitamin D From page 16 maintenance dose of vitamin D plus 500 mg. of calcium.

At the end of the four months, they will continue both supplements and strength training while coming back for another four to five visits to repeat the research tests they had at the beginning of the study.

All visits and training sessions take place at the VA Medical Center.

Qualifying for the study You may qualify to participate if you are

50 to 85 years old, are a non-smoker, do not have a history of heart disease or diabetes treated with insulin, and have not exercised regularly in the past year.

All medical tests, procedures, supplements and parking will be free to participants. They will be given the results of all their tests at the end of baseline testing and at the completion of the study. Those who complete the study will also be given $250.

For more information about the program, call the recruitment hotline at (410) 6057179 or visit http://peppercenter.umaryland.edu.

Seeking Men and Women The University of Maryland & Veterans Affairs of Baltimore are conducting a research study to better understand FALLS in aging individuals.

With your participation you will receive:

How much vitamin D is healthy?

Vitamin D is known as the “sunshine vitamin” because in summer, much of what we need is created by a reaction in the skin spurred by exposure to sunlight.

In the winter months, when there is less sun and we spend less time outside, our vitamin D comes primarily from food sources, which can include eggs, mackerel and cod liver oil.

Do You Have Osteoarthritis Of The Knee?

The University of Maryland is conducting an investigational research study to determine if an herbal supplement is useful for persons with osteoarthritis of the knee.

• Health evaluation • CT scans of waist, hip, and leg • Balance and strength testing

410-605-7179 Mention code: FALLS

Historically, health guidelines on vitamin D have recommended a daily intake of between 200 and 600 international units (IU), with the higher level required by those over the age of 70.

Maximum healthy levels of vitamin D range from 1,000 IU for young children to 2,000 IU for adults. Too much leads to toxicity, which can cause nausea, weakness and kidney damage.

You may be eligible if you: Have been diagnosed with OA of the knee.

Are at least 40 years old.

And are in good general health.

Participants will be seen at Kernan Hospital located just off I-70 and Security Boulevard. Parking is free.

You must be at least 65 years old and in good health.

You will be compensated for your time.

Call 1-877-861-6037 now to see if you are eligible.

You will be compensated for your time.

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17

18

Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

DECEMBER 2010 — BALTIMORE BEACON

You may have visited our website before, but you haven’t seen anything like this!

We’ve completely revised our site to be Beacon-reader-friendly, and we’ll be updating it at least weekly

More articles — (and you can comment on them, e-mail them to friends, bookmark them and more)

Reader forums — express yourself! Start up a new topic or add your thoughts to one already there.

Blogs — Read our new Publisher’s blog and Managing Editor’s blog. Get the inside scoop (and back story). Add your own comments.

Comics — Every day, see a new comic strip from One Big Happy, and view the entire archives whenever you like.

Puzzles and Games — Exercise your mind, challenge yourself and your friends, enjoy yourself.

Useful Links — Connect directly from our site to other informative and valuable websites.

With lots more to come!

Visit www.theBeaconNewspapers.com today and at least once a week thereafter.

And please tell us what you think.

BALTIMORE BEACON — DECEMBER 2010

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com | Fitness & Health

Enlarge text size for easier reading.

Submit a letter to the editor, or a question for our staff, directly from our website.

Search our ever-expanding Resource Guide by topic or key word.

Submit information about an upcoming event for a free calendar listing.* Comment on a forum topic, or start a new forum on a topic of your choice.

“One Big Happy” updated daily.

Plus visit archives of past comic strips.

*Inclusion in calendar not guaranteed.

19

20

Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

DECEMBER 2010 — BALTIMORE BEACON

How can you get the energy to exercise?

Q: I know I should be more physically active, but I just don’t have the energy. What can I do?

A: It’s ironic: once you get more physically active, increased fitness and improved sleep will probably leave you feeling more energetic. It’s getting started that’s the energy challenge.

Have you tried to push yourself too quickly at too much intensity or time?

Most experts encourage people to start slowly; for those who are currently sedentary, that might mean just 10 or 15 minutes of exercise at a time.

Move at a speed and intensity that don’t leave you out of breath. Aim to feel energized, not exhausted, when you’re done.

Then gradually increase your time or speed a little each week.

In the DREW study of overweight, sedentary older women, even 25 minutes of modest walking for exercise three days a week was enough to significantly boost feelings of energy. Those who walked for an hour three times a week increased energy even further.

Make sure your lack of energy doesn’t reflect eating too few calories — either in total for the day or in the two hours before your activity. Increasing activity doesn’t mean you can eat unlimited calories, but don’t let weight loss goals push you to cut calories so much you have no energy.

If your meals or snacks consist mostly of

A: Tobacco is unquestionably the major sweets or refined grains like muffins or pretzels (which can give you a short-lived rise in cause of lung cancer, accounting for nearly nine out of 10 deaths from the blood sugar followed by a disease. Yet that still leaves crash), that could also explain thousands of cases of lung your lack of energy. cancer that we wish we could See if you feel more like walkprevent through other steps. ing after a balanced meal that inPassive smoking, technicalcludes a vegetable and/or fruit, ly referred to as Environmenwhole grains, and beans, poultry tal Tobacco Smoke (ETS), acor other lean protein. counts for 3,000 deaths from Finally, if you’re chronically lung cancer among non-smoklow on energy, talk with your ers in the United States each doctor since this may be a year, according to a National sign of anemia, a thyroid disor- NUTRITION Cancer Institute report. Makder, medication side effect or WISE By Karen Collins, ing homes and workplaces another health problem that MS, RD, CDM non-smoking territory is a can be treated. major step to lower risk.

Q: Are there steps that can reduce lung cancer risk in nonsmokers?

See NUTRITION WISE, page 21

BEACON BITS Achilles Tendon Problems • Ankle Pains • Sprains • Bunions Diabetic Foot Care • Flatfoot (Pediatrics) • Fractures • Heel Pain Ingrown Toenails • Neuroma • Ulcer and Wound Care

FREE Computer Analysis of the Foot (A $200 Value)

Owings Mills – 410-363-4343 Randallstown – 410-363-4343 Dundalk – 410-282-6666 Towson – 410-830-2130 Eldersburg – 410-363-4343

Dec. 7+

SUICIDE PREVENTION

Suicide is the most preventable form of death, yet the warning signs are often overlooked. Learn how to spot the signs of a potential suicide and the steps that anyone can take to prevent one at workshops at Baltimore-area libraries. The next workshop will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 7 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Catonsville Library, 1100 Frederick Rd., Catonsville. The cost is $39. To register or find additional dates for the workshop, go to www.CEyou.org/index or call (206) 984-3033.

WWW.WETREATFEET.COM

89

% of our rehab patients return home

After surgery, illness or injury, you want to get home and back to your life as quickly as possible. Choosing the right medical and rehabilitation team will strongly impact your recovery. ManorCare offers state-of-the-art equipment, trained therapists and nurses, similar to a hospital setting. Our team offers alternatives for patients making the transition from hospital to home by using an intensive approach that teaches lifestyle adjustments to promote independence.

Come tour ManorCare, see our staff in action and receive a complimentary tour package. We will also show you our outcomes that are targeted to getting patients back home.

c 2010 HCR Healthcare, LLC

Providing post-hospital skilled nursing and rehabilitation care.

ManorCare – Dulaney 410-828-6500 ManorCare – Roland Park 410-662-8606 ManorCare – Rossville 410-574-4950 ManorCare – Ruxton 410-821-9600 www.hcr-manorcare.com

ManorCare – Towson 410-828-9494 ManorCare – Woodbridge Valley 410-719-1240

IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO GET STRONG AND BECOME FIT! NEW DEMO FREE C Wed. D LASS! 11 a.m. ec. 15 RSVP t – Noon o 410-529 day at -3020

Recharge your mind and heal your body with Senior Fit group fitness classes. Workout routines help you develop strength, endurance, flexibility, coordination, joint stability, and cardiovascular endurance.

Classes will be held at Anytime Fitness at the Honeygo Village Shopping Center in Perry Hall. ONLY $10 per class. Advance reservations not required (except for Dec. 15 class). Each session will focus on different skills to keep the routines exciting and your body improving, while having fun in a positive, energizing way.

Senior Fit Program

410-529-3020

www.anytimefitness.com 5002 Honeygo Center Drive • Perry Hall, MD 21128

Nutrition wise From page 20 It’s also important to follow recommended precautions to avoid radon, airborne asbestos and occupational exposure to other chemicals identified as carcinogens.

Diet plays some role, too, though we need more research. Increased amount and variety of vegetables and fruits show the greatest potential so far.

Recently, a large population study in Europe linked greater variety of vegetable and fruit consumption with a nearly 25 percent drop in lung cancer risk; however this was only significant among current smokers.

An American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) report concludes that fruits and foods containing carotenoids (such as vegetables and fruits that are deep orange or dark green) probably help prevent lung cancer.

Cruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower),

deep green vegetables (such as spinach and kale) providing folate, and many other fruits and vegetables providing antioxidant flavonoid compounds may also work together to increase protection.

In addition, according to a major report from AICR and a recently released research review, regular physical activity might help prevent lung cancer, in addition to its clear beneficial effect on risk of several other cancers.

The American Institute for Cancer Research offers a Nutrition Hotline, 1-800843-8114, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This free service allows you to ask questions about diet, nutrition and cancer. A registered dietitian will return your call, usually within three business days.

Courtesy of the American Institute for Cancer Research. Questions for this column may be sent to “Nutrition Wise,” 1759 R St., N.W., Washington, DC 20009. Collins cannot respond to questions personally.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

FAMILY CAREGIVERS OF VETERANS SOUGHT

The National Alliance for Caregiving is looking for family caregivers of veterans for a new study that will allow caregivers to voice their opinion in an effort to improve services for other caregivers of veterans. To participate, log on to www.gwsurvey.com/caregiversofveterans.html.

Dec. 7+

TAKE CARE OF YOUR DIABETES

Diabetes is a serious illness, but it can be managed. Learn how at the Diabetes Self-Management Education Program offered at St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson. A diabetes information exchange is also held the first Tuesday of every month at 1 p.m. For more information on diabetes wellness programs, call (410) 337-1382 or visit www.StJosephTowson.com.

Dec. 12

LIVING WITH AN OSTOMY The Baltimore Ostomy Association sponsors a free support group at St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson. The group meets next on Sunday, Dec. 12, from 2 to 4 p.m. To register, call (410) 337-1845.

Professional Eye Care for Seniors SPECIAL OFFER!

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BALTIMORE BEACON — DECEMBER 2010

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Everyone, especially adults over 55, should have an electronic hearing test at least once a year. If there is a hearing problem, hearing tests may reveal that newly developed methods of correction will help, even for those who have been told in the past that a hearing aid would not help them.

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DECEMBER 2010 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Careers Volunteers &

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Rotarians help village obtain safe water Improving lives According to Pat Kasuda, a member of the Glen Burnie Rotary Club, the project will make a big difference in San Rafael, where about 80 percent of the residents must rely on a water supply from handdug wells that are often contaminated with bacteria and farm run-off.

Hauling water to the homes used to take families up to six hours a day, leaving children little time to go to school, and costing the families much of their hardearned income for medical treatment to combat the illnesses caused by contaminated water.

In early October, Kasuda, accompanied by two other Rotarians and three engineers, traveled to El Salvador to see how the project was progressing. The group stayed for five days, sleeping in a cinderblock room without windows, on army cots surrounded by mosquito netting, and using latrine facilities.

“It was very primitive,” said Kasuda, 67, a retired healthcare administrator. “Quite different from home,” which for Kasuda is the Charlestown Retirement Community in Catonsville.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE GLEN BURNIE ROTARY CLUB

By Carol Sorgen For most of us in the U.S., safe drinking water is something we take for granted.

Throughout the rest of the world, however, that’s not always possible.

For the past year and a half, the Rotar y Club of Glen Burnie has helped provide a system to produce safe drinking water for the small village of San Rafael, located in a mountainous area of El Salvador.

The group has been able to provide the 250 homes in the village with drinking water through the construction of a pumping station that can filter the area’s contaminated well water, as well as store and pipe clean water into the homes.

The entire project cost $305,000, and the Glen Burnie chapter raised $35,000 of that total on its own. The rest of the funding came from Rotar y International, which is committed to providing potable water to needy areas throughout the world. It works in partnership with the George Washington University School of Public Health, Engineers Without Borders, and other international organizations.

Rotary Club members from Glen Burnie raised funds and spent time working in the village of San Rafael, El Salvador to help install a system that provides safe drinking water to the residents. The mayor of the town, in the white cap, poses with some of the volunteers.

In addition to making sure that the pumping station — constructed primarily

by El Salvadoran residents themselves — was working properly, Kasuda and her fellow volunteers visited local villagers and met with newly elected officials of the water authority.

They also brought gifts to village students, including bracelets that read “Protect our water,” to encourage the youngsters to safeguard their environment.

Connecting with residents “Part of the purpose of the project is not just to provide safe water, but to get to know the residents,” said Kasuda. She explained that the goal of Rotarians is peace around the world through understanding the cultures of others. “We’re all friends, just in dif-

ferent parts of the world,” Kasuda said.

This is not the first overseas trip Kasuda has taken on behalf of the Rotary Club.

Three years ago she traveled to India to help institute a women’s healthcare initiative.

Though the water system is up and running, Kasuda and the 31 other Glen Burnie Rotarians plan to stay connected to the village, working with the Rotary Club of El Salvador to begin healthcare outreach efforts.

The Glen Burnie Rotary Club is one of 67 Rotary organizations in Central Maryland.

Rotary International was founded in 1905, and there are currently close to 34,000 clubs and more than 1 million members worldwide. Their mottos are “Service above self,” and “They profit most who serve best.”

For information on membership, visit www.rotary.org.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — DECEMBER

Finding a job From page 1

Network online and off Like Der, Roberta Greenstein also lost her job to budget cuts a year ago. The former associate director of a Baltimore nonprofit organization, Greenstein — who had once been a career counselor herself — first coped with her surprise and despair, but then went into career search mode.

“I networked with everyone I knew and even people I didn’t know,” said Greenstein, who is in her 50s. “I usually had these networking meetings at Starbucks, and there were days where I would visit three different Starbucks,” she laughed.

It’s even funnier considering that Greenstein does not drink coffee or tea. “I drank a lot of hot chocolate!”

In addition to in-person networking, Greenstein made use of niche online search engines such as Idealist.org (she wanted to remain in the nonprofit world), took advantage of the free career guidance services offered to her by her former employer, perused business publications such as the Baltimore Business Journal, the Chronicle of Higher Education and Chronicle of Philanthropy, and read the newest edition of the perennial best-selling career guidance book, What Color Is Your Parachute?

Three months after she was laid off, Greenstein took a part-time, home-based job as the Mid-Atlantic regional director for another nonprofit organization.

“I thought I’d enjoy the flexibility of working from home, but I realized I really needed to be with other people — and earning a full-time income,” said Greenstein.

Her networking efforts continued, and last summer they paid off with a position as a career coach/job developer for a social service agency.

Counteracting age bias Though Greenstein was ultimately successful in finding a job that “ticked all the boxes” of what she was looking for, the process was daunting.

“I was totally afraid I wouldn’t find a job, especially because of my age,” said the Columbia resident, pointing out that her computer skills are only “basic.”

“I thought employers would see that as a big lack,” said Greenstein, who also worried that companies would assume she was planning to retire soon and not be a viable, long-term prospect.

“I never had anyone say anything to me directly,” Greenstein recalled, “but there were instances when I felt that people were thinking, ‘Why is she still working?’”

On the plus side, Greenstein was able to point out that she is a seasoned professional, no longer has kids at home who get sick or need to be picked up, and is not likely to be moving out of town. “In the big picture, I am a more stable employee,” she said.

Whether you’ve been laid off or simply feel it’s time to move on from your present job, it’s important to remember that at the moment, it’s not easy for anyone to find a job.

That’s not meant to discourage you, according to Ralph Raphael, Ph.D., founder and director of the Career Evaluation and Coaching Center in Towson. On the contrary, Raphael advises jobseekers, no matter what their age, not to take the situation personally. “This is a hard time for everyone,” he said.

Admittedly, certain fields — such as sales — may carry with them the perception that workers need to be young and full of energy. But on the plus side, older workers bring maturity, responsibility and experience to an employer.

“Those do count for something,” said Raphael. “Indeed, they make a big differ-

ence in deciding whom to hire. Nobody wants immaturity and inexperience in the workplace.”

While it’s illegal to discriminate based on age, some older jobseekers may encounter a bias, said Raphael. “You can’t make yourself younger,” he said, “but there are things you can do to counteract that bias.”

For starters, make sure you dress appropriately for your age, but also in a contemporary way. Become familiar with the language and terminology of the jobs you are seeking.

Also familiarize yourself with the new ways that jobs are advertised and applied for. Many openings are posted on company websites, for example, and resumes are submitted online or via e-mail.

Create an online presence for yourself, by posting your resume on job boards that mesh with your job aspirations, or joining online professional networking sites such as LinkedIn.com or ZoomInfo.com.

Highlight your experience Not everyone looking for a job these days has been laid off. Some, like Christine Stutz, simply felt that it was time to move on. Stutz, the former communications director of a Towson-based nonprofit organization, wasn’t actively looking for a new position, but was keeping her eyes open.

A Facebook friend mentioned an opening to her at a national food services company, also headquartered in Towson.

CONNECTING VOLUNTEERS TO THE COMMUNITY

Jewish Volunteer Connection offers a free service that links identified community needs with the skills and interests of potential volunteers. Meeting one-on-one with potential volunteers, JVC professionals strive to find volunteers the placements they are looking for, whether it be driving Jewish Community Service clients to doctors’ appointments or helping one of its agencies with grant writing. To learn more, contact Jennie Gates Beckman at (410) 843-7476 or jbeckman@associated.org.

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“From the description, it seemed that the company was looking for someone with much less experience,” said the 52year-old Rodgers Forge resident. “But I sent them my resume and a note, and said if they were interested in someone with more experience to get in touch.”

They did, and after meeting with Stutz, the company realized how much more she had to offer than the original writing/editing skills they had initially been seeking.

In September, she joined the firm as director of communications.

“Just because you may be overqualified for a job, does not mean the job can’t be changed,” said Stutz. “If you show what you can bring to the table, the job description may very well evolve.”

Even before she began thinking of a new job, Stutz made sure she stayed current with the trends and practices in her field, becoming more involved, for example, in social media.

“That’s not considered an older person’s technology,” she said, “but clients are asking about it so I have to be ready to respond.”

Though obviously age didn’t work against her in getting the job, Stutz admits it is something she is confronted with — if only in her own mind.

“I’m the oldest person in the office,” she laughed. “Almost everyone else is in their late 20s or early 30s.

“It has been a bit of a culture shock,” she continued. “But I don’t think about it much anymore. I’m just part of the team.”

BEACON BITS

Dec. 9+

BE A KINDERGARTEN VOLUNTEER

Do you have an affinity for young children and want to get involved in the community? Volunteer in a local Baltimore County kindergarten classroom. The next orientation is on Dec. 9. Call (410) 887-2715 to register.

BEACON BITS

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Ongoing

GET PAID TO VOLUNTEER IN SCHOOLS

Are you an older adult who’s looking to become active in your community? Would you like to earn an extra $300 per month? Baltimore County Volunteers, in partnership with Baltimore County Public Schools and AmeriCorps, are searching for adults 55 and older to volunteer in 10 elementary schools in Woodlawn and Dundalk. To apply, contact Baltimore County Volunteers at (410) 887-2715 or volunteers@baltimorecountymd.gov.

VOLUNTEER WITH ART WITH A HEART The mission of Art with a Heart is to enhance the lives of people in need through visual art. For more information on volunteer opportunities, visit www.artwithaheart.net or call (410) 366-8886.

Baltimore City Health Department Senior Community Service Employment Program • Employment training for seniors • Be placed in non-profit or government agencies to train for a new job • Earn $7.25/hour while training • Required to train a minimum of 20 hours per week • Must be 55 or older, unemployed and a resident of Baltimore City

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DECEMBER 2010 — BALTIMORE BEACON

BALTIMORE BEACON — DECEMBER 2010

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Travel

25

Leisure &

Get a taste of the sweet life in Hershey, Pa. See story on page 27.

Reconnecting with the ancients in Athens

Getting oriented “Everything started here,” one guide touted. And the ruins that remain are a testament. The Athens metropolis sprawls over 160 square miles, but the most fa-

mous sites are clustered around the Acropolis, and visitors can take in most of the city’s ancient highlights on foot or via the sleek, efficient subway built for the 2004 Olympic games.

Syntagma Square and its subway station is a good central base. The Acropolis is always a helpful orientation landmark because it is visible from most places.

Greeks say Acropolis means “high city.”

One tour guide proclaimed, “Every great city has an acropolis.”

The heart of the city, the Plaka, is busy tourist central, a walkable warren of narrow streets threading through back-toback hotels, cafés, bars, tavernas, shops and eager souvenir hawkers. It’s the most atmospheric part of Athens.

There are many spots where you can sip retsina or ouzo and watch the human traffic stroll by, as you relax to a strumming guitar or lively bouzouki.

Prepare to visit the Acropolis several times. When I arrived in my hotel room, fatigued by a long flight, I opened the curtains for some natural light and low and behold, there was the Acropolis, looming above and gleaming in the sunset’s golden light.

It was a pinch myself moment. And I had to pinch myself again the next day, when I climbed up to it on foot.

On top, the Parthenon — the main temple of the goddess Athena — stands sentinel. Its design is an optical illusion. It ap-

PHOTO BY ALEXANDRE DEFAGUNDES/DREAMSTIME

By Glenda C. Booth On top of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, the wind was gusting so hard that parents grasped their children’s wrists to anchor the little ones, as jackets billowed and hats sailed away.

When the dust swirling around the ruins made me “achoo” loudly, a woman nearby responded, “Zeus bless you!” Zeus blessed me many times over in Athens, as I peeled away layers of history in this sprawling, bustling city of five million people.

Athens initially comes across as a grungy, greedy, polluted, traffic-clogged mob scene with hawkers of “authentic artifacts” on every corner preying on the naïve tourist.

To get to the essence of Athens, tourists must sift through the plastic figurines, pseudo-marble knickknacks and fake pottery, to probe multiple eras of civilization in this, Europe’s oldest and very seductive city.

In studying Athens’ countless archaeological sites, you will revisit your college art history and mythology classes and be reminded of some of Washington, D.C.’s, renowned edifices. After all, Greece claims to be the basis of Western civilization.

Athens’ Acropolis — which literally means “high city” — is visible from most points of the city. Here it is shown from nearby Monastiraki (monastery) Square, which is home to a metro station and a popular Sunday flea market.

PHOTO BY PICTURA/DREAMSTIME

The Parthenon and other buildings on the Acropolis were built in the fifth century B.C.E. as a monument to the cultural and political achievements of the citizens of Athens. Restoration projects have been underway for 35 years, with at least a decade to go.

pears to be straight lines, but actually, the building leans inward. Completed in 438 B.C.E., it signifies the glory of ancient Greece, an example of the colossal buildings that announced the country’s might and importance.

Engineers still marvel at the massive Doric columns — how did the builders get 20-ton marble blocks up there? They do know that the Greeks used the first crane in the world to hoist up building materials, cranes that used linen ropes and iron pulleys.

Yellowed by time, acid rain and pollution, the Parthenon is undergoing a restoration that began in 1975 and could be finished by 2020, using the same type of Pentelic marble.

Also on the Acropolis is the Erechtheion, the temple that housed the cults of Athena, Poseidon and Erichthonius. It is famous for the six columns of maidens, the Caryatids, that support the southern portico. The temples’ supports today are plaster casts and, except for the one that Lord Elgin took, the originals are in the Acropolis Museum.

The open air theater at the base of the Acropolis is a good example of the ancient theaters common in most ancient Greek cities. This one is famous for its acoustics and has hosted performances by Maria Callas, the Bolshoi Ballet, Pavarotti and Yani, for example.

Acropolis and archeology museums Sitting in the shadow of the Acropolis, at the foot of the hill, is the must-see crown jewel of the city: the new three-level, $180 million Acropolis Museum.

During construction, excavators unearthed the remains of an ancient city, and designers incorporated the ruins in the design by displaying them under a glass walkway.

With ample natural lighting, the museum showcases the remaining treasures of the Acropolis. Here you’ll see the Parthenon’s frieze, that is, the pieces Lord Elgin did not ship back to England in 1801.

The top floor displays the frieze as it appeared on the Parthenon, with empty spaces for the missing pieces. Professional archaeologists guide visitors through oneof-a-kind collections.

Devote at least half a day to the 10,000square-foot National Archaeology Museum, an exploration of many eras through exhibits including pre-historic objects, Greek sculpture from the 8th century B.C.E. to the end of the 4th century C.E., Geometric pottery, Minoan frescoes, Egyptian artifacts and one of the largest bronze collections in the world. There’s a café and garden for lunch and snacks.

See ATHENS, page 26

26

Leisure & Travel | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Athens From page 25 Though “modern” — built between 1836 and 1842 — the Parliament House at Syntagma Square offers free entertainment: the changing of the presidential guard or evzones, handsome, stone-faced young men wearing kilts and pom-pom boots. Every hour they mesmerize onlookers in a high-stepping ceremony.

Behind the building are the National Gardens, a 40-acre respite from the city’s frenetic streets with more than 40,000 plants from all over the world.

Even if you are not a Hellenophile, polytheist, antiquity historian, mythology geek or fan of Homer, you’ll find plenty to see and do in Athens. Other choices: Athens’ first cemetery, Hadrian’s Arch, the Byzan-

DECEMBER 2010 — BALTIMORE BEACON

tine and Christian Museum, the Jewish Museum, the Islamic Art Museum, the Maria Callas Museum, Turkish baths, a planetarium and more.

Time out for tavernas Once you’ve had a Greek salad in Greece you’ll turn up your nose at the lame imitations served in American restaurants. Perfectly ripe tomatoes drip with flavor, slabs of fresh feta tantalize the taste buds, and smooth, viscous olive oil seems freshly pressed.

Friendly, al fresco, no-frills tavernas are everywhere, although some have brash maitre d’s too eager for your business.

Greek chefs know how to bring out the best of fresh Mediterranean flavors. Think oregano, garlic, lemon and olive oil drizzled generously. Try grilled fish, skewered

BEACON BITS

Dec. 12+

CHRISTMAS AT THE GREENBRIER

Celebrate Christmas early at the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, W.V. This festive tour, from Dec. 12 to 14, is sponsored by Bykota Senior Center. It includes two nights’ accommodations, two breakfasts, two dinners, afternoon tea, concert and more. Cost is $559 per person, double occupancy. Make your reservations by calling (410) 337-7350.

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chicken, eggplant salad, pita bread, spinach pies, pastitsio, fried cheese saganaki, moussaka, souvlaki and cuttlefish. You might even be offered sheep testicles.

Don’t leave Greece without trying the creamy, thick yogurt with yummy swirls of local honey and of, course, indulge in some decadent baklava.

The Athens subway is reliable and clean, and many stations feature archaeology exhibits. The construction of the system turned into a huge archaeological dig, and many of the treasures that builders happened upon are displayed in metro stations. All stations also feature art by leading Greek artists.

There are plenty of tours in Athens that you can schedule once you arrive. Check out www.athenswalkingtours.gr for guided walks of the Acropolis, Roman and Ottoman monuments, and other sites. Its Acropolis and city tour costs $40.

CHAT tours (www.chatours.gr/company.asp) offers Athens highlights and Athens at night by bus ($87), as well as many tours around the country to famous ancient sites.

Many of the guides are trained, well-informed archaeologists or historians.

If you go Athens is notorious for its sweltering summer heat and air pollution. The average daytime temperature for July is a humid 93 degrees F. The number of days exceeding

100 degrees F appears to be increasing dramatically, according to Science Daily.

Spring and fall are the best times to go and some say that April to mid-June is perfect.

Second best is September and October. Remember that in the height of summer it feels like all of Europe is descending on Athens, heading for the famed Greek islands.

The least expensive Baltimore-area roundtrip fares to Athens in December start around $820 on both Alitalia and Air France. Once in Athens, the easiest, cheapest way to get to and from the airport is by subway.

The Plaka district is crammed with hotels of all price ranges.

The Plaka Hotel (www.plakahotel.gr) is centrally located and near the Syntagma metro station, the Parliament and shopping districts. It has a pleasant rooftop garden, perfect for Acropolis gazing and evening cocktails. The rate through March for a double room is $125; from April through October it’s $189. Rates include all taxes and breakfast.

The Electra Hotel (www.electrahotels.gr /electra-hotel-athens) is another reasonably priced, centrally located option. In November, double rooms start at $184 per night; in the summer they are $252.

Useful websites for pre-trip planning are www.cityofathens.gr/en and www.athensguide.org/athens-tourist-information.html.

Glenda C. Booth is a travel writer who lives in Alexandria, Va.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — DECEMBER 2010

27

Experience the sweet life in Hershey, Pa.

A chocoholic’s dream Since the rainy drive had slowed us both down, we had only a moment to check in, drop our bags in the cottage, grab the shuttle (the main hotel is within walking distance but the shuttle is a nice touch) and dash over to our spa appointment.

I decided to take advantage of “all things cocoa” that Hershey is famous for and had reserved a cocoa facial. The ohso-relaxing, and yummy-smelling, treatment was preceded by a warming foot soak, and included not only the facial, but a hand and foot treatment, neck and shoulder massage, finished off by a scalp massage. The 75-minute treatment cost $165.

The next morning we decided to visit the Hershey Story, the Museum on Chocolate Avenue, a new project that honors Milton S. Hershey. After all, the Hershey empire, including the town, is the result of his vision and efforts.

On the second floor of this engaging, interactive museum are themed exhibits that focus on such topics as Hershey’s rocky road to success, how Hershey revolutionized the production of milk chocolate, and how Hershey’s products were advertised before there were TV commercials.

I had also signed up for the chocolate lab and a chocolate tasting at the museum.

The lab offers hands-on classes such as tempering, molding, dipping and making chocolate from scratch.

The class I took, the Art of Chocolate, didn’t reveal any hidden Picasso-esque talents on my part, but I was rather pleased with my swirly abstract creation that, yes, was edible and can be taken with you.

Following the lab, as if we hadn’t already had our chocolate fix — before noon yet — there was a chocolate tasting in the Café Zooka (named after Zooka Chocolate Sticks, penny candies that were one of Milton Hershey’s early chocolate novelties).

The Countries of Origin Chocolate Tasting featured exotic chocolate flavors from around the world. We sipped warm drinking samples made from cocoa beans from Africa to Indonesia and beyond. My favorite? The fruity Madagascar. I have to say, I’d much rather do a chocolate tasting than a wine tasting!

To walk off some of the calories — but who’s counting — we strolled through the Hershey Gardens, located just a short walk from the main entrance of the hotel.

The gardens opened to the public in 1937 with a 3 ½- acre rose garden. By 1942,

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PHOTO COURTESY OF HERSHEY ENTERTAINMENT AND RESORTS

By Carol Sorgen It should come as no surprise that a vacation to Hershey, Pa., will meet with an enthusiastic thumbs-up from your grandchildren. What you may not realize is that you can have a fantastic time without kids as well, as I did on a recent girlfriend getaway to the home of the chocolate bar.

My former college roommate and I were sorely in need of a little R&R. A stressful couple of years involving injuries and illnesses for both of us had left us a bit worn out. Our “prize,” we promised ourselves, would be a few days of pampering when we were both completely back on our feet.

That time finally came — yippee! — and our thoughts turned to spas, beautiful accommodations, and plenty of things to do without feeling like we had to turn into whirling dervishes to accomplish it all. And since she lives in New Jersey and I’m in Baltimore, we wanted a place that was easily accessible for both of us. Hello, Hershey!

There are a number of lodging choices in the chocolate-scented town, including the Hotel Hershey, the Hershey Lodge, Hershey Highmeadow Campground and a number of chain hotels.

Our choice was the brand new Woodside Cottages at the Hotel Hershey. When it first opened in the 1930s, the Hotel Hershey offered cottages behind its main building.

As part of the hotel’s expansion to mark its 75th anniversary, it built 10 new cottages — plus a new restaurant, recreation campus with aquatic facility, ice skating rink, newly renovated hotel lobby, and seven boutique shops.

The cottages, named for plants found throughout the hotel grounds — we stayed in Cherry — have either four or six bedrooms, and both an upper-level and lowerlevel great room. Guests can rent individual bedrooms or reserve the entire cottage.

The golf course at the Hershey Country Club extends to the lawn of Milton Hershey’s estate, High Point Mansion. Golf is just one of many activities, from chocolate tastings to spa treatments, designed for adults visiting Hershey, Pa.

the Gardens had expanded to the 23 acres visitors can enjoy today, with themed gardens, an outdoor butterfly house, a children’s garden, and 7,500 beautiful — and aromatic — roses.

ones with us, Nan and I decided you can’t really say you’ve been to Hershey until you’ve gone to Hersheypark, the resort’s 110-acre amusement park.

Hershey staff has nicknames for the rides, including the “howlers” and the

Hersheypark for grownups Despite the fact that we had no little

See HERSHEY, page 28

28

Leisure & Travel | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Hershey From page 27 “pukers.” We chose the “weenie” rides — Skyview, the monorail, and the Dry Gulch Steam Railroad. Just about our speed!

DECEMBER 2010 — BALTIMORE BEACON

While the latest addition to the park, called Boardwalk at Hersheypark: the SEAquel, is closed for the season, it should be a welcome haven during hot summer days. Features include the Shore, a 378,000-gallon wave pool, and the Inter-

BEACON BITS

May 25+

EXPLORE THE CULTURE OF CHINA

Learn about China’s culture on this trip sponsored by the Community College of Baltimore County from May 25 to June 15, 2011. A language trip to China will also be sponsored from June 19 to July 4, 2011. For more information on these and other educational travel opportunities, visit www.ccbcmd.edu/internationaltravel.

June 23+

SUMMER IN SCANDINAVIA

The Community College of Baltimore County is sponsoring a trip to Scandinavia from June 23 to July 5, 2011. For more information on this and other educational travel study opportunities, visit www.ccbcmd.edu/internationaltravel.

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coastal Waterway, a “lazy river” attraction that gives guests the opportunity to float along on individual rafts.

In November and December, Hersheypark gets all decked out for the holidays with more than 2 million twinkling lights.

About 30 rides stay open, and nine real reindeer can be visited in the park’s pioneer frontier area. Single day passes are $10.95.

Each night, you can enjoy 600 illuminated and animated displays in a two-mile drive-through attraction called Hershey Sweet Lights. The price is $20 per car.

New this year is a holiday dinner musical called Christmas in Chocolate Town at Hershey Lodge. The evening begins with caroling, punch and light hors d’oeuvres, and continues with a Christmas-inspired dinner and decadent dessert, followed by a 40-song show. The show and meal is $49.95 for adults and $24.95 for children.

Another dining option is the circular dining room at the Hotel Hershey. The room was built in a semi-circle without pillars or corners, so that each guest would have a view of the hotel’s formal gardens.

The 13 windows are made of colored leaded glass and depict birds and blooms native to central Pennsylvania.

We ate Sunday brunch here ($39.95). It was so extensive that it wasn’t until we left

that I realized I’d missed an entire table!

Not that I went hungry, mind you.

And what’s a brunch without a chocolate fountain, with fruit and marshmallows on hand for dipping, leaving me with sweet memories as I departed for home.

If you go Hershey, Pa. is about an hour-and-45minute drive from downtown Baltimore.

For more information on visiting Hershey, log on to www.hersheypa.com. You’ll find links to accommodations, restaurants, attractions, events and packages to help plan your trip. “Senior” discounts for Hersheypark admission start at age 55. Even larger “Senior Plus” discounts start at age 70.

Rooms at the Hotel Hershey start at $279; $189 for the Lodge at Hersheypark in November. For more information on these hotels, go to www.hersheypark.com/lodging.

If you stay at one of the official Hersheypark hotels, you can also purchase a “Sweet Access Pass,” which includes a number of VIP extras, such as personal concierge service, front-of-the-line ride access, a meal and other benefits.

Chain hotels abound in Hershey, including SpringHill Suites starting at $135 and Hampton Inn for $129.

BEACON BITS

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Dec. 9

WINE AND BEER TASTING FOR CHARITY On Thursday, Dec. 9, Santa Claus Anonymous presents its 19th

Annual Wine and Beer Tasting, from 6 to 9 p.m. at The Crowne Plaza, 2004 Greenspring Dr. in Timonium. Tickets are $55 in advance; $65 at the door (limited availability). This three-hour event to raise funds so that children in need can enjoy the holidays will feature local, domestic and international wines by Chesapeake Wine. Buffet included. Buy a ticket or donate at www.santaclausanonymous.org. For more information, call (410) 456-9269 or email santa@santaclausanonymous.org.

Do you provide a product or service of interest to people over 50? (And today, what business doesn’t?)

Dec. 8

GREEN HOLIDAY DECORATING Local gardening experts from Baltimore Contained will demonstrate how to create eye-catching and unique holiday decorations

that are made from naturally found objects, native plants and reused holiday materials. This entertaining and informative free event will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 8 at 6 p.m. at the Southeast Anchor Library, 3601 Eastern Ave. To register, call Amanda at (443) 984-3904.

Dec. 2

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Dec. 2, at the Liberty Senior Center, 424 Third Ave. “Cyber Dating: Safe and Savvy” is presented by the Baltimore County Department of Aging in partnership with Planned Parenthood of Maryland. For more information, call (410) 887-2594

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FREE

VOL.8, NO.12

I N

F O C U S

F O R

More than 100,000 readers

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Finding a job takes pluck, luck

By Carol Sorgen

(410) 248-9101.

PHOTO COURTESY O F ANDREW DER

For demographic information and advertising rates, call Alan at

When Andrew Der lost his job nearly two years ago, he was, understandably, devastated. “I’d been working professionally for 25 years,” said the former director of environmental services for a consulting company in Shady Grove.

“I felt horrible.”

After the initial shock and blow to his ego wore off, Der, then 55, didn’t worry too much about finding another position. A generous severance package gave him a bit of a financial cushion, and he spent about 10 months taking on consulting projects and pursuing his avocation of travel writing.

Knowing, however, that he would need to find a permanent job at some point for the steady income and benefits, Der started making casual inquiries among his many contacts in his field.

Fortunately, one lead turned into — in Godfather parlance —“an offer I couldn’t refuse” and he started his new position with a Baltimore City environmental consulting firm late last year.

Despite the gloom-and-doom reports of the poor economy and the oft-reported difficulty of finding a job, especially for workers on either end of the age spectrum, Der wasn’t too concerned that his age was going to count against him.

“Many of my peers with whom I spoke are in my age bracket,” he said. “I also had the good fortune of already being known in my industry in Maryland.”

Is age a problem or asset?

5 0 DECEMBER 2010

I N S I D E …

LEISURE & TR AVEL

Experience the sweet life in Hershey, Pa.; plus, step back in time in Athens, and know your rights on flights.

Dec. 2

PROTECT YOURSELF FROM ELDER ABUSE Discuss elder abuse issues at the Eighth Annual Advocacy Conference presented by the Baltimore County Consortium for

page 25

Professional Education in the Field of Aging. “Safeguarding the Golden Years: Working Together to Prevent Elder Abuse” will be held on Thursday, Dec. 2, from ARTS & STYLE

Finding new employment

after being laid off Der, who lives in Baltimore, didn’t com- any age, and particularly after 50. Andrew in this economy can be a challenge at Der worked part-time pletely ignore the issue for 10 months beof his age, howev- fore finding a full-time position in the environmental carefully reworking consulting field. Networking, er. Unlike younger applicants his resume, helped and who may Der succeed. put their education up front on a resume, that some clients and peers viewed Der emphasized his professional the age ask questions, experi- I am now as more according to Gillis. “Create ence and left his educational of an asset in bringing a dialogue! That is the background experience secret,” he said. and wisdom.” to the end.

“Then you are able to express Turns out that Der instinctively your vitality.”

“I figure if they read that did far, they would what career In addition to skipping all guidance experts advise dates on a reknow whether I was a older sume (that means good prospect or jobseekers your graduation year as to do. Rick Gillis — author not,” he reasoned. “I speak of well), don’t overload from experi- The Real the resume with Secret to Finding a Job? ence, because I hire also Make Me every bit for my job, and Money of employment experience. or Save Me Money! — don’t use age as a factor.” advises the “State your employment history up 50+ jobseeker to minimize While it took him 10 months to the impact of [about] to find a age by stating 25 or 28 years or so,” achievements on a resume job, Der thinks that was Gillis admore because he without vised. “There’s no need giving a date or place. for more.” wasn’t mounting an aggressive Another point you might campaign For example: “I was responsible not have conthan anything else. for 49 sidered, said Gillis: Don’t include your percent of all sales, resulting “I think because I am not in approxi- home address ‘too old,’ my mately $3 on your resume. Where million to the bottom line.” age did not hurt me. you But I guess we’ll live can tell a recruiter a Not giving dates not only lot about you. never know,” he said. “What skirts the age I do know is issue, but requires the recruiter to call to

See FINDING A JOB, page 23

Holiday happenings around town; plus, local painter explores his geographical roots in a one-man show page 30

LAW & MONEY k Best bonds to buy now k Annuities offer peace of

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FITNESS & HEALTH 10 k Causes of aging you can fight k How to quit smoking for good VOLUNTEERS & CAREERS 22 k Rotarians help in El Salvador PLUS CROSSWORD, BEACON BITS, CLASSIFIEDS & MORE

information, call (410) 887-4200.

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com | Leisure & Travel

BALTIMORE BEACON — DECEMBER 2010

29

Airlines can help if you’ve got a disability Unless you’re flying in a premium class, tice that you can use an inaccessible one, domestic airlines still fly a lot of “old” single- from Alzheimer’s or other cognitive condiair travel is a struggle no matter what your the airline must provide a wheelchair for aisle planes without accessible lavatories. tions that might preclude fully independ• Avoid small regional jets and turbo- ent travel. age. And the older we get, the you on the plane. tougher the struggle beAirports, too, are required to props when you can. They usually board The best way to avoid disappointment comes. assist wheelchair travelers through steep, narrow, self-contained stairs and hassle is to arrange what you need in With recent press coverage through security and other air- that are tough for anybody to negotiate. advance. For more information, visit Ac• Ask for assistance even if you’re not cess-Able (www.access-able.com), The of new “travelers’ rights” proport facilities. Some of these posals, a quick look at specific services require 48-hour ad- bound to a wheelchair — if you see you Disabled Traveler (www.disabled-travelrights for travelers who may vance notice to the airline. For can’t comfortably handle a set of stairs or er.com) and Flying with Disability need a bit of extra help is timely. more information, log onto such. For a long airport schlep, ask for a (www.flying-with-disability.org). ride on one of those “golf carts” most airAlong with most of the rest www.dotcr.ost.dot.gov/docuSend e-mail to Ed Perkins at ports have for that purpose. of the travel industry, airlines ments/Acc/disabled.pdf. eperkins@mind.net. Perkins’ new book for • And although I couldn’t find anything small business and independent professionals, seem to view “disability“ and TRAVEL TIPS Avoiding travel troubles on any major lines’ websites, it is my un- Business Travel When It’s Your Money, is now “travelers who need assisBy Ed Perkins Overall, you’ll get lots of derstanding that at least some lines will available through www.mybusinesstravel.com tance” narrowly to mean “confined to a wheelchair,” and “accessible” as help if you need it — and ask in advance. provide the equivalent of unaccompanied or www.amazon.com Still, your best bet is to minimize your minor care to adult travelers suffering “accessible to someone in a wheelchair.” © 2010 Tribune Media Services, Inc. chances of a problem by being aware of Your rights as a passenger the following: The overall needs of those travelers are • You can’t always expect an accessible governed by the Americans with Disability lavatory on your flight. Unfortunately, U.S. Act, as augmented for air travelers by the Air Carrier Access Act. If you have a disability: • Airlines may not refuse to transport you, except if carrying you would be “inimical to the safety of the flight,” for most of you, a rather remote possibility.

• Airlines cannot demand advance notice of that disability, although they can require 48 hours notice if you require special equipment or preparations.

• In most cases, airlines can’t demand that someone else accompany you. And if an airline decides you need an attendant, it must buy the extra ticket.

• Airlines can’t require that you sit in a specific seat, as long as you’re physically capable of sitting there, but it can refuse to allow you in an exit-row seat if you can’t perform the requisite emergency functions.

• Airlines must help you, as needed, % Affordable Living For Those 62 or Better % with boarding, deplaning, and making connections. If your flight boards through a Anne Arundel County Eastern Shore ground level jetway, the airline must provide a ramp or a mechanical lift device to U *>À 6 iÜ >Ì >ÃÌ \ {£ä ÇÇä ÎäÇä U *>À 6 iÜ >Ì ÕÀ >Vi À> V \ {£ä ÇÈ£ {£xä help you get onto the airplane.

Harford County U *>À 6 iÜ >Ì -iÛiÀ > *>À \ {£ä x{{ Î{££ • Airlines must also help you in the U *>À 6 iÜ >Ì Ý \ {£ä x£x È££x Baltimore City cabin, although you can’t ask for extensive special services. You are allowed to bring U *>À 6 iÜ >Ì i À\ {£ä n Î ääÈ{ U *>À 6 iÜ >Ì Ã > ` /iÀÀ>Vi\ {£ä ÓÇÈ È{{ä and use your own oxygen.

Howard County U *>À 6 iÜ >Ì `ëÀ }\ {£ä x{Ó {{ää • Airlines must accept your wheelchair U *>À 6 iÜ >Ì > > ` }\ {£ä Ç È {Î Baltimore County — even one of those bulky battery-operated jobs — as checked baggage, without U *>À 6 iÜ >Ì Õ L >\ {£ä În£ £££n U *>À 6 iÜ >Ì >Ì ÃÛ i\ {£ä Ç£ {È{ adding any charge for whatever special U *>À 6 iÜ >Ì - Ü`i , ÛiÀ\ {£ä Ó ä äÎn{ U *>À 6 iÜ >Ì Õ `> \ {£ä Ónn x{nÎ packaging the airline decides to use.

U *>À 6 iÜ >Ì V ÌÌ ÌÞ\ {£ä ÓäÎ xä£ U *>À 6 iÜ >Ì Õ iÀÌ \ {£ä ÈÈÎ äÈÈx • Airlines must allow you to take collapsible wheelchairs and other assist deU *>À 6 iÜ >Ì V ÌÌ ÌÞ \ {£ä ÓäÎ Óä È U *>À 6 iÜ >Ì À> >À > ` }\ {£ä Î £ nÎÇx vices into the cabin and not count them U *>À 6 iÜ >Ì iÀà \ Îä£ {nÎ ÎÎÓÓ U *>À 6 iÜ >Ì ,> `> ÃÌ Ü \ {£ä Èxx xÈÇÎ against your carry-on allowance.

Prince Georges County U *>À 6 iÜ >Ì , Ãi`> i\ {£ä nÈÈ £nnÈ • For “new” aircraft — ordered after April 5, 1990, or delivered after April 5, U / Ì Þ ÕÃi ­/ Üà ®\ {£ä nÓn Ç£nx * *>À 6 iÜ >Ì >`i ÃLÕÀ}\ Îä£ È Çnx 1992 — those with 30 or more seats must U *>À 6 iÜ >Ì >ÕÀi \ Îä£ { ä £xÓÈ U *>À 6 iÜ >Ì />Þ À\ {£ä ÈÈÎ äÎÈÎ have movable armrests on at least half the U *>À 6 iÜ >Ì >ÕÀi \ Îä£ { ä ÇÎä U *>À 6 iÜ >Ì 7 ` >Ü \ {£ä Ón£ ££Óä aisle seats, and new twin-aisle planes must have accessible lavatories.

• If an airplane of 60 or more seats has an accessible lavatory, it must carry an onboard wheelchair; if it does not have an acProfessionally managed by The Shelter Group. www.thesheltergroup.com cessible lavatory, but you give 48 hours no-

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DECEMBER 2010 — BALTIMORE BEACON

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Style Arts &

The lights on Hampden’s 34th Street atttract throngs every year.

Holiday happenings to enjoy around town works usher in Santa’s arrival, so bring any little ones you know. Call (410) 744-3256.

Through Dec. 18 The Christmas Market and Craft Show at the Agriculture Center in Westminster features juried crafts, Christmas decorations, baked goods and gourmet food gifts.

Shop ‘till you drop from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Call (410) 848-7748.

Nov. 26-Jan. 3 Your favorite train buff will want to visit the Holiday Festival of Trains at the B&O Railroad Museum, 901 W. Pratt St., for this annual choo-choo extravaganza. Admission to the museum is $14, adults; $12, those 60+, $8, children 5 to 12. Call (410) 752-2490 for details.

Nov. 26-Jan. 7 More trains are at the Shops at Kenilworth in Towson at “Making Tracks to Kenilworth for the Holidays,” an annual display of more than 92 feet of model trains, animations and hundreds of favorite holiday — and Baltimore — characters. The display is open during mall hours. While there, don’t forget the train displays in Stebbins Anderson. Call (410) 321-1909 or www.theshopsatkenilworth.com for more information.

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Dec. 2 The annual lighting of Baltimore’s own Washington Monument is an annual tradition. Enjoy live entertainment, refreshments and a fireworks finale, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Call 1-877-BALTIMORE or visit www.promotionandarts.com.

Dec 4 B’nai Israel Congregation celebrates Chanukah with latkes, kosher munchies, a Chanukah sing along, klezmer music and children’s activities at 6 p.m.

The cost is $15 per family or $5 per person. The synagogue is located at 27 Lloyd St. Call (410) 732-5454 for more information.

Dec. 4 Fells Point celebrates an “Old Tyme Christmas” with wandering carolers and the arrival of St. Nick by — what else in this waterfront neighborhood? — tugboat. Call (410) 675-8900 or find out Fireworks serve as a finale for the annual lighting of Baltimore’s Washington Monument. The event will more at www.fellspointmain- begin at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 2. street.org.

Dec. 4 Olympian Park, near Towson Circle. Fun Not to be outdone, Baltimore County and festivities include a Kris Kringle Pawelcomes in the season with its own tree lighting ceremony beginning at 6 p.m. at See HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS, page 32 PHOTO COURTESY OF VISIT BALTIMORE

By Carol Sorgen Whether you celebrate Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa or the winter solstice, ‘tis the season to enjoy the festivities that come along this time of year. Here’s our annual round-up of selected holiday doings in the area.

Nov. 26 to 28 The annual three-day Kennedy Krieger Festival of Trees is a wonderland of one-ofa-kind decorated trees, fairyland forests, gingerbread towns and toy train gardens.

You’ll also find more than 100 craft boutiques, a silent auction, holiday treats and activities for the family.

The festival benefits the Kennedy Krieger Institute and is held in the Cow Palace at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium, Friday and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $10; $8 if tickets are purchased online at http://festivaloftrees.kennedykrieger.org.

Call (443) 923-7300 for more information.

Nov. 27 An old-fashioned tree-lighting ceremony in Catonsville kicks off the holiday season at the Catonsville Fire Department at 6:30 p.m.

Refreshments, seasonal music and fire-

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More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com | Arts & Style

BALTIMORE BEACON — DECEMBER 2010

31

Artist explores geographic inspirations His reaction was to explore through his art the debris he found in New York parks.

The result was a series of paintings of familiar objects in the grass, such as cans of Coke and Colt 45. After his first show in New York, Artforum referred to his work as containing “vanitas [or symbolic] elements such as melancholy, nostalgia and the passing of time.”

After a decade of commuting from New York to MICA, Economos decided to move to Maryland, where he discovered the Chesapeake Bay and bought a sailboat.

The new challenges in his life as an artist were no longer capturing the gritty urban realities of life in the city, but rather catching the color and light refraction of water. Accordingly, he moved from painting reality to abstraction.

His also started to allow his paintings to voice ecological concerns. This theme can be seen in the 1978 “Sounion,” for example, which depicts the Greek Temple of Poseidon near Athens.

At a quick glance, the work appears to be a representative painting of a traditional Athenian monument. Pay more attention, though, and you’ll see that one of the painted columns is not of stone but instead a tower of crushed tin cans, a visual representation of the ecological destruction of Greece’s heritage.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MICA

By Carol Sorgen Michael Economos has been a painting and drawing professor at Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) for the past 46 years. Now 74, his own art is being spotlighted in a solo show, “The New York Years Versus the Maryland Years.”

For 10 years, Economos commuted from New York City to Baltimore to teach at MICA. Then, in 1974, he moved to Maryland.

The exhibition examines the effect of his geographic home on his artwork over the years. Works are on view in Bunting Center’s Pinkard Gallery, 1401 W. Mount Royal Ave. A public reception will take place Friday, December 3, from 5 to 7 p.m., and the show will continue through Dec. 19.

Economos’ artistic philosophy stems from his belief that an idea develops from life experiences, either positive or negative, and that it is possible to translate these ideas into paintings.

“The New York Years Versus the Maryland Years” delves into the personal stories that separate these two locations as distinct periods in his life. “I consider my paintings to be visual novels,” said Economos. “The journey of my life dictates what I paint.”

For example, Economos found the years he spent in New York to be challenging.

Michael Economos, who has taught for decades at the Maryland Institute College of Art, now has a solo show there. It contrasts the urban grit of works he painted while living in New York with his more impressionistic paintings since moving to Maryland.

Among the highlights of the exhibit is “Swimmer A,” painted in 1986 during the “Maryland years.” It is one example of the effect of his move from New York’s concrete jungle to the more ethereal nature of

PAINTING BY MICHAEL ECONOMOS

Note the pillar made of crushed tin cans in this 1978 painting of a Greek temple by Michael Economos. The artist, of Greek ancestry, painted it as a commentary on the ecological damage done to Greece and its heritage.

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And the pathos of “Flora,” painted in 1978, is made more poignant knowing that the subject is Economos’ late wife, Barbara See ARTIST, page 33

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Arts & Style | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Holiday happenings From page 30 rade; Santa’s arrival by fire engine; tree lighting ceremony; opening of Santa’s Workshop at the Old Hutzler’s on Towson Circle with reindeer, Beau & Tinsel; and a book signing by Michael J. Lisicky, author of Hutzler’s: Where Baltimore Shops at Barnes & Noble.

Dec. 4 Baltimore’s harborfront celebrates the holidays on Dec. 4 at 6 p.m., when more than 50 pleasure boats make their way from the Inner Harbor to Fell’s Point, festooned with holiday lights and other colorful decorations in the “Baltimore Parade of Lighted Boats.” More information is available at www.fpyc.net.

DECEMBER 2010 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Dec. 5 Folksbiene New York National Yiddish Theatre, the longest-running professional theatre in America, brings their troupe for a return engagement at the Weinberg JCC for a Chanukah performance of Makht a Tsimes! (Make a Fuss!) on Dec. 5 at 3 p.m.

Tickets are $20 for JCC members and $30 for non-members. The JCC is located at 5700 Park Heights Ave. For reservations, call Jana at (410) 542-4900, ext. 621.

Dec. 5 The streets of Hampden usher in the holiday season with the Mayor’s Annual Christmas Parade featuring marching bands, dance and step teams, the Baltimore Marching Ravens, Harley Davidson motorcycles, equestrian units, the Boumi Temple performers, floats, and some dis-

BEACON BITS

Dec.1 4+

KINSHIP CARE SUPPORT GROUP Are you caring for a niece, nephew or grandchild in your home in

Anne Arundel County? A Kinship Caregiver Support Group will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 14, in the craft room at the Pascal Senior Activity Center, 125 Dorsey Rd., Glen Burnie, and from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 16, at the training room at the Annapolis Branch of the Anne Arundel County Public Library, 1410 West St., Annapolis. For more information, call Chere Torsiello, kinship navigator, at (410) 897-3933 or e-mail ctorsiel@dhr.state.md.us.

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tinctly Baltimore performers and amusements. The parade culminates with the arrival of Santa Claus on 36th Street — otherwise known as The Avenue, ‘hon!

And you can enjoy Hampden’s own “Miracle on 34th Street” through Jan. 1.

With its Christmas lights strung across the street, inflatable snow globes, musical trains and blinking angels, this sparkling annual display just gets better — and more over the top — every year. For more information, visit www.christmasstreet.com.

Dec. 10 to 12 Hampton National Historic Site invites you to spend the holidays with them this year. Kick off the season with a visit to the park between Friday, Dec. 10 and Sunday, Dec. 12 for the traditional Yuletide Weekend.

The Hampton Mansion, built in 1790, was once the largest house in the United States.

Enjoy its seasonal decorations through the New Year. Holiday crafts, carriage rides and storytellers are just part of the fun-filled schedule. Visit www.nps.gov/hamp for more information.

Dec. 11-12 It’s not Christmas without a Nutcracker, and the Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker fills the bill with more than 40 Russian dancers, gorgeously designed original costumes and breathtaking sets.

Pirouette down to the Hippodrome Theatre to enjoy this traditional holiday spectacle. For tickets, which start at $60, visit www.broadwayacrossamerica.com.

Safe, comfortable bathing

Dec. 24 The holiday season is about both giving and receiving, and at this year’s annual Mitzvah Day at least 600 volunteers, organized by Jewish Volunteer Connection, will work together on behalf of the community on Christmas Eve. Volunteers will go to soup kitchens and visit hospital patients and nursing home residents at more than a dozen sites around Baltimore. To register, visit Jewish Volunteer Connection’s website at www.jvcbaltimore.org, and click on the link to Mitzvah Day registration.

Dec. 29 Celebrate the spirit of Kwanzaa with a presentation by the Kùlú Mèlé African Dance and Drum Ensemble at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture, 830 E. Pratt St. Performance begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $7 for museum members and children 12 and under; $10 for nonmembers. Call (443) 263-1800 or visit www.africanamericanculture.org for more information.

Dec. 31 Baltimore’s annual New Year’s Eve Spectacular at the Inner Harbor counts down to 2011 with live music and a spectacular fireworks display. Call 1-877-BALTIMORE or visit www.promotionandarts.com.

From all of us at the Beacon, have a happy, healthy and fun-filled holiday season!

By John Fleming

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or millions of aging Americans, the simple pleasure of a comfortable, luxurious bath has become a thing of the past. Fear of falling is the number one reason that people leave the home they love and move to a relative’s home or some kind of assisted living facility. The number one place in the home where falls are likely to occur is the bathroom. Now, there is a better solution for this widespread problem… the revolutionary Walk-In Tub from Safe Step.

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height that’s only 4 inches high— so you can get in and out easily. Simply open the easy-to-turn door latch, walk in and close the door. It’s that safe and easy. Our design engineers have thought of everything. From the 17-inch high seat (no struggling to get up or down), to both water and air-jet therapy, to built-in heating. It will give you the freedom and independence to bathe in safety, comfort and convenience.

Why not rediscover the soothing, luxurious pleasure of a comfortable bath… in the home you love? The Safe Step Tub is the best value on the market. Call now.

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Designed for Seniors® Safe Step® Walk-In Tub For information call:

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Financing available with approved credit.

80155

32

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BALTIMORE BEACON — DECEMBER 2010

Artist From page 31 Marcus, also an artist.

This show is, in fact, dedicated in honor and to the memory of Barbara Marcus Economos. “All the past years that I shared my life with her, she was always an inspiration, encouraging me both in my teaching and in my painting,” said Economos.

Work exhibited widely Economos is a native of Greece who came to the United States at the age of 10 and set-

tled with his family in Worcester, Mass.

His work has been shown extensively in the U.S., including the Baltimore Museum of Art and Chameleon Gallery in Baltimore, as well as galleries in New Orleans, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York City.

It can also be seen in collections at the University of Michigan, Republic of China, Chase Manhattan Bank, Yale Museum, and the former Lebanese minister of Cultural Affairs.

Economos has received the Maryland State Arts Council Individual Artist Award,

various grants, and the Maryland Institute Trustee Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Economos has long been inspired by a quote found on the tombstone of the grandfather of German painter Kathe Kollwitz. It reads: “Man is not here to be happy but to do his duty.”

33

Hours for MICA’s galleries, which are free and open to the public, are Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. They are closed on major holidays.

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

BEACON BITS

Nov.

UNEARTHING A MEXICAN ARTIST Covarrubias, a Mexican artist and archaeologist, was a contem-

porary of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo. Visit this exhibition through Sunday, Nov. 28, at the Evergreen Museum and Library, 4545 N. Charles St. Tickets are $8 for

Letters to editor From page 2 the fire chief should have been arrested ignores the real problem.

Gabriel Goldberg Dear Editor: I just finished surfing your entire website and I just love it. For years, I have read the Beacon whenever I can get my hands on a

copy. When I subscribed for the mail copies, I often got my issue too late to take advantage of some activities. Now I can keep on top of what is going on and attend if I want to.

In addition, it takes very little time to scan through and choose to read whatever articles I am interested in. If I don’t have time now, I can jump in later to catch up.

Good job! Thank you.

Maureen Padget

www.museums.jhu.edu.

Ongoing

HANDWRITTEN BIBLE ON DISPLAY The Loyola/Notre Dame Library is hosting an exhibit featuring portions of a Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible through Friday,

Dec. 3 in its Ferguson Gallery. The Saint John’s Bible is a handwritten, hand-illuminated Bible commissioned by Saint John’s Abbey and University in Collegeville,

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

adults; $7 for those 65-plus. For more information, call (410) 516-0341 or visit

Minn. The exhibit is free and open to the public during library hours: 8 a.m. to 11

EXPLORING THE LIVES OF VETERANS

p.m., Monday-Thursday; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday; 1 to 8 p.m., Saturday; and noon

ReEntry is a play based on interviews with veterans and their

to 11 p.m., Sunday). Closed Nov. 24 and 25, and closing at 5 p.m. Nov. 23. The

families that explores the lives of those who serve and sacrifice. What is the Loyola/Notre Dame Library is located at 200 Winston Ave.

price they and their families pay? This new play by Emily Ackerman and KJ Sanchez runs through Sunday, Dec. 19, at CenterStage, 700 N. Calvert St. For tickets, call (410) 332-0033 or visit www.centerstage.org.

ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

s a t! e ak t gif M a e gr

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD S P U D

T A P E

E V I L

O P T E D

N E H R U

S N O W

H A V E

T R E A D W A T E R

T S H E N T H T A S T A T R I O D F O U S O C U A R S D Y E O G R G E

P O E T R Y

I R A N

L R E A T T S A L E

T R O T

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

A W A R E

F I R E S T S O E N Z E S S A K I N N E T E

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A S I A

R E D S

S A T B Y

A R S O N

E G A D

S S T S

From page 34.

Beacon The

F O C U S

F O R

P E O P L E

OV E R

5 0

NEWS & FEATURES • LAW & MONEY FITNESS & HEALTH • LEISURE & TRAVEL ARTS & STYLE • VOLUNTEERS & CAREERS

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DECEMBER 2010 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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CROSSWORD

Puzzle Page

See Puzzles Plus at www.theBeaconNewspapers.com for additional crossword puzzles.

Plato’s List 1

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by Stephen Sherr

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Answers on p. 33.

8

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Jumbles: OAKEN HURRY EXPEND ABACUS Answer: What it can take a figure skater to learn a new jump — HOURS ON “END”

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46

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47 51

50

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Across

Down

1. “Nevermind; leave it alone” 5. Fleming characters 10. Off yonder 14. Resurface 15. Huge mass of people 16. Owlish 17. Undecided 19. Lacking humidity 20. Animal House house 21. Explosive letters 22. Neighborhoods 23. Name before the title 25. Prepares the rink 26. Partner of Mich. and Sup. 29. Attempt 30. “Blast off ” preceder 31. Fed. Agency founded in 2001 34. Part of the clue before or after this one 36. Eng. major’s class 37. Use a Zeppelin 38. Plato’s list, and this puzzle’s theme 41. Chapters in a history textbook 42. Meal starter 43. Park rest stop 44. Flame-out 45. Share of the loot 46. Ball girl 47. Dict. offering 48. Star ___ 50. Son of Zeus and Hera 52. Disreputable 54. Swine shrine 56. Word on Minnesota license plates 60. Grp. that added Poland in 1999 61. Astronauts 63. Second word of Dorothy’s first song 64. Malaise 65. Orderly 66. The Way We ___ 67. “I ___ kick from...”

68. Kennedy and Williams

1. Tater 2. Office supply item 3. Diablolical 4. Boy Scouts’ contraptions 5. “I can’t hear the movie” 6. Coffee house presentation 7. OPEC member 8. Take some text that seems to ramble on for too long and replace it with simpler and more direct words 9. Sun. speech 10. In the know 11. Tire options 12. 30% of Earth’s land 13. Midwestern baseball team 18. Personal artwork 22. Talented pilot 24. Grueling 25. 1984 or 2001, for example 26. Made a choice 27. Jacket type 28. Bide one’s time 30. Stir-fry ingredient 32. Waited patiently 33. Fire investigator’s verdict 35. Possibilities 36. Tennis umpire’s shout 37. “Oh yeah; ___ who?”

39. A-mazing animal 40. Famed phone fem.

45. You can do it if it’s your party 46. The Wright Brothers’ city 49. Cherish 51. Selfless one 52. Deceive 53. Possess 54. Auction goal 55. Fox tail 57. Boot height or skirt length benchmark 58. “My word!”

59. Boomers (abbr.)

61. French toast requirement 62. Wellness grp.

Answers on page 33.

BALTIMORE BEACON — DECEMBER 2010

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 bottom of this page.

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.

Business & Employment Opportunities UNLIMITED INCOME POTENTIAL from home promoting unique products that everyone will need. Will train the right individual. Watch FREE video for complete details at www.HomeBusinessAccess.com/020.

A BUSINESS FOR SALE!! Established for 3 years. Will Train. Nets 100k. Can operate from anywhere. $4400 down. Call Jerry 1-800-4188250.

AIRLINES ARE HIRING – Train for high paying Aviation Maintenance Career. FAA approved program. Financial aid if qualified – Housing available. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance (888) 686-1704.

Caregivers CNA WILL PROVIDE ELDERLY CARE Long term. Excellent references, 33 years experience. Day or night shift. Please call 410-9330817.

Financial Services $$$ ACCESS LAWSUIT CASH NOW!!! As seen on TV, Injury Lawsuit Dragging? Need $500-$500,000++ within 24/hrs after Approval?

Compare our lower rates. CALL 1-866-3863692 www.lawcapital.com.

CASH NOW! Get cash for your structured settlement or annuity payments. High payouts.

Call J.G. Wentworth. 1-866-SETTLEMENT (1866-738-8536). Rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau.

IT’S YOUR MONEY! Lump sums paid for structured settlement or fixed annuity payments. Rapid, high payouts. Call J.G. Wentworth. 1-866-429-6207 A+ Better Business Bureau rating.

OVERWHELMED BY DEBT? We work with your creditors to Lower payments and Interest Rates & Stop Collection Calls. CALL TODAY 877-789-4168 Licensed Non-Profit A+ BBB.

For Rent/Sale Real Estate FOR RENT COCOA BEACH FLORIDA Ocean Front Condo – Furnished 2 bedroom, 2 bath, no pets, $1,300 per month. 4 months minimum, Call Dan 410-529-4817.

FOR SALE BY OWNER – 55+ adorable villa in Carroll Vista. 2BR \ Den \ 3BA \ Loft \ Sunroom. 2,127 sqft. $15,000 of recent upgrades. $234,900. 410-925-4300.

ARIZONA LAND LIQUIDATION Starting $89/mo, $0 down/$0 interest! 1 & 2-1/2-Acre ranch lots, 1 hour from Tucson! NO CREDIT CHECK, Guaranteed Financing, Money Back Guarantee! 1-800-631-8164 Code 4046; www.SunSitesLandRush.com.

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

35

For Rent/Sale Real Estate

Personals

Wanted

FORECLOSURE LAND in Florida, ¼ Acre & Up. Guaranteed Financing! From $4900. $100 Down, $100 Per Month. Call For Free List! 1877-983-6600 www.FloridaLotsUSA.com.

SINGLE ASIAN MAN, 60+, Ph.D., retired professor and state and federal government manager. Widowed after 36 years marriage to Irish Catholic. Seeks single 50-65 year old college educated woman for mutually interesting relationship. Reply with phone number to Resident, P.O. Box 182, Woodstock, MD 21163.

ANTIQUE AND QUALITY OLDER FURNITURE and accessories wanted. One piece or entire estate, including Potthast, Biggs, Kittinger, and significant modern furniture and art, Tiffany lamps, toys, dolls, paintings, silver, oriental rugs, prints, pottery, china and glassware.

Music boxes, clocks, country store items, paper memorabilia, historical and military items, old fishing equipment, antique firearms and all other items of value. I am a Washington native with over 35 years of experience in this business. I am well educated, courteous and have more experience and pay higher prices than virtually any other dealer in the area. I make prompt decisions, have unlimited funds, pay immediately and remove items expeditiously.

No messy consignments or phony promises.

References gladly furnished. Please call Jake Lenihan, (301) 279-8834. Thank you.

HOME LOANS! Rates as low as 4.2% for Excellent, Good, Fair Credit. Call 1-877-665-7618 for Refinance and Purchase Rates.

For Sale **ALL Satellite Systems are not the same.

Monthly programming starts under $20 per month and FREE HD and DVR systems for new callers. CALL NOW 1-800-799-4935.

MEMORY FOAM THERAPEUTIC NASA VISCO MATTRESSES WHOLESALE! T-$299 F-$349 Q-$399 K-$499 ADJUSTABLES - $799 FREE DELIVERY 25 YEAR WARRANTY 90 NIGHT TRIAL 1-800-ATSLEEP 1-800-2875337 WWW.MATTRESSDR.COM. DIRECTV FREEBIES! FREE Standard Installation! FREE Showtime + STARZ for 3/MO. Free HD/DVR Upgrade! Packages Start $29.99/Mo. Ends 2/9/11 New cust. only, qual pkgs. DirectStar TV 1-800-279-5698.

FREE HD FOR LIFE! Only on DISH NETWORK. Lowest Price in America! $24.99/mo for OVER 120 Channels! PLUS - $500 Bonus! Call Today. 1-877-466-2959.

DIRECTV SAVE $29/MO FOR 1YR! NO Installation fee! Free DVR/HD Upgrade! Packages Start $29.99/Mo. Ends 2/9/11 New cust. only, qual. pkgs. CALL DirectStarTV 1-800-620-0058.

Miscellaneous REACH OVER 28 MILLION HOMES WITH ONE AD BUY! Only $2,795 per week! For more information, call Roger at 410-248-9101.

DONATE A CAR – HELP CHILDREN FIGHTING DIABETES. Fast, Free Towing.

Call 7 days/week. Non-runners OK. Tax Deductable. Call Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation 1-800-578-0408.

ATTEND COLLEGE ONLINE from Home. *Medical, *Business, *Paralegal, *Accounting, *Criminal Justice. Job placement assistance.

Computer available. Financial Aid if qualified.

Call 800-510-0784 www.CenturaOnline.com.

DONATE A CAR TODAY To Help Children And Their Families Suffering From Cancer. Free Towing. Tax Deductible. Children’s Cancer Fund of America, Inc. www.ccfoa.org 1-800-469-8593.

HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA! Graduate in just 4 Weeks! PACE Program. FREE Brochure.

CALL NOW! 1-800-532-6546 Ext. 412 www.continentalacademy.com.

EVERY BABY DESERVES A HEALTHY START. Join more than a million people walking and raising money to support the March of Dimes. The walk starts at marchforbabies.org.

DONATE YOUR CAR! Breast Cancer Research foundation! Most highly rated breast cancer charity in America! Tax Deductible/Fast Free Pick Up. 800771-9551 www.cardonationsforbreastcancer.org.

POISON DENTURE CREAM: POLYGRIP & FIXODENT USE can cause NERVE DAMAGE, Tingling, Weakness, Burning or Numbness, Loss of Balance. For BIG $ call GARRETT LAW – Tulsa, OK – 1-877-GARRETT. www.PoisonDentureCream.com.

GET YOUR DEGREE ONLINE *Medical, *Business, *Paralegal, *Accounting, *Criminal Justice. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualified. Call 800510-0784 www.CenturaOnline.com.

DONATE YOUR CAR… To The Cancer Fund of America. Help Those Suffering With Cancer Today. Free Towing and Tax deductible. 1-800835-9372 www.cfoa.org.

HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA! Graduate in 4 Weeks! PACE Program. FREE Brochure. CALL NOW! 1-866-562-3650 Ext. 30 www.southeasternacademy.com.

Personals TALL 60ISH WHITE FEMALE interested in meeting friendly gentleman. I enjoy interesting outings, cooking, finding good ethnic restaurants and visiting family and friends. 410-3826707. (TOWSON)

SINGLE WHITE MALE, 50, 5ft 9”, 190 pounds. Looking for single white female, 30-55, for dating, companionship, romance. Call Joe, 410-661-4910.

CHRISTIAN DATING & FRIENDSHIP Service. Our 21st Year with over 100,000 members & countless successful relationships! Singles over 40, receive A FREE package. Call 1800-584-1680.

Personal Services LEARN ENGLISH – SPANISH – ITALIAN – FRENCH – PORTUGUESE Conversational.

Grammatical. Private lessons. Reasonable Rates. Tutoring students. 443-352-8200.

SENIORS DO YOU NEED HELP IN OR OUT OF YOUR HOME? Experienced & references! Help anytime at $20/hour. Errands, transportation to appointments, companions, grocery shopping. No assistance too small.

Please call 410-628-4144.

Wanted HIGHEST CASH PAID FOR ANTIQUES AND ESTATES. Serving entire metro area. I will purchase one piece or your entire estate.

Including Furniture, Artwork, Glassware, Jewelry, Rugs, Costume, Gold and Silver, Watches, Sterling Items, Flatware, Lladro & Hummel Figurines, All Military Items, Guns, Swords, Helmets, Bayonets, Medals, Scout Items, Clocks, Music Boxes, Toys, Baseball Memorabilia, trains, All String Instruments, Including Guitars, Banjos, Mandolins, Fishing Rods and Reels, Lures, Historical Items, American tools, Posters. I am a very reputable dealer with two locations in Silver Spring and Bowie, MD. Please call Christopher Keller 301-408-4751 or 301-262-1299. Thank you.

STAMPS! U.S. only collector interested in singles, sets and collections. Don’t let your stamps discolor and spoil in the attic. Best price paid.

410-247-4169.

DRUMMER: for eclectic trio. Electronic set a plus. Located in the Arbutus area. 410-2474169. **OLD GUITARS WANTED!** Fender, Gibson, Martin, Gretsch, Prairie State, Euphonon, Larson, D’Angelico, Stromberg, Rickenbacker, and Mosrite. Gibson Mandolins/Banjos. 1930’s thru 1970’s TOP CASH PAID! 1-800-401-0440.

SELL YOUR DIABETES TEST STRIPS. We buy Any Kind/Any brand Unexpired. Pay up to $16.00 per box. Shipping Paid. Call 1-800-2679895 or www.SellDiabeticstrips.com.

WE BUY USED DRY BULK pneumatic/tank trailers used for hauling sand, cement, flyash, barite, plastic beads etc. Please call 817-7697704 – 817-769-7621 or 817-769-7713.

Thanks for reading!

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

CHEERS! AN EXHIBITION “Cheers! The Culture of Drink in Early Maryland” is a special exhi-

bition highlighting the drinking culture of Maryland’s elite in the early 19th century. The exhibit is on display through Sunday, Nov. 28, at the Homewood Museum, 3400 N. Charles St. Tickets are $8 for adults; $7 for those 65-plus. For more information, call (410) 516-0341 or visit www.museums.jhu.edu.

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING RATES

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, offer a personal service, or place a personal ad. Each ad is $10 for 25 words, 25 cents for each additional word.

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

Note: Each real estate listing counts as one commercial ad.

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

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36

DECEMBER 2010 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; BALTIMORE BEACON

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Discover a 150-seat buffet that offers so many fabulous dishes and desserts it could only be called Epic. Offering everything from our mouth-watering carving stations to endless seafood and home-style Italian favorites.

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