August 2024 | Baltimore Beacon

Radio host lets others speak

By Tony Glaros

Marc Steiner, the acclaimed talk-show host, podcaster, writer, teacher and civil rights advocate, says he was just in the right place at the right time.

“I stumbled into radio,” Steiner said in an interview with the Beacon. In the waiting room of his dentist’s office 31 years ago, Steiner struck up a conversation with the assistant general manager of Johns Hopkins University’s WJHU-FM (now WYPR).

“I told him I’d love to have a radio show,” Steiner recalled. “He said, ‘You don’t know anything about radio.’ I said, ‘What’s to know? You have a microphone and subject matter. You talk. So?’”

From that exchange emerged an offer: As an experiment, Steiner would helm a Tuesday evening talk show in the station’s studios on North Charles Street. He proved to be an excellent interviewer, turning the status quo on its head.

Two years later, he was awarded the weekday noon to 2 p.m. time slot. Steiner would go on to win a Peabody Award, the most prestigious recognition in broadcast media.

He’s still at it. Since 2018, Steiner has hosted “The Marc Steiner Show” on The Real News Network, a Baltimore-based progressive platform.

Now 78 and a great-grandfather, Steiner lives in Sparks, Maryland, with his wife, Valerie. Recently he reflected on his life and the unique perspective he gained while growing up in West Baltimore.

A ‘weird’ start

“I was a weird little boy,” Steiner said, his raconteur’s voice allotting ample time and space for bursts of hearty, all-encompassing laughter.

“I couldn’t catch a baseball. I thought about being a guru in India,” he said. He also dreamed of joining the Boy Scouts.

He begged his mother, a vivacious, British-born woman whose ancestors mined gold and ran rum, to sign him up. She promised to register him for a troop based at Beth Tfiloh, the family’s Orthodox synagogue, where Steiner was bar mitzvahed.

But Steiner balked. “I didn’t want to be in a troop with all Jewish kids. I wanted to be in a troop with all kinds of kids,” Steiner remembered.

LEISURE & TRAVEL

Enjoy history, hikes and haute cuisine in the Hudson River Valley; plus, a cruise along the Seine from Paris to Normandy page 15

By coincidence, the family’s Black housekeeper had a nephew who led an allBlack Boy Scout troop, so Steiner joined, “integrating the troop,” he said. “It was the beginning of my lessons about race.”

Decades before his career as a radio host, the teenage Steiner learned to listen carefully to his friends and neighbors.

“I wasn’t self-aware that I was listening,” he remembered. “I was the only white kid on the corner, at the pool hall, the bowling alley, and at the parties I went to. A lot of Black kids didn’t like me. But I had my guys — I was really tight with them.”

His first protest at 13

When Steiner was 13, he and his mother were strolling the sparkling halls of the new Mondawmin Mall in West Baltimore.

He spied a small band of Morgan State students picketing the White Coffee Pot, and his mother let him join the protest.

“So, on that February day, three months away from my 14th birthday, I walked my first picket line and joined the Civil Rights Movement,” he said.

As he grew up, Steiner befriended the Black community, “jitterbugging” on street corners with kids.

He also found himself in the midst of some serious tussles. At one party where he was the only white attendee, a disagreement over money spilled over, and Steiner “knocked out” someone, he said.

Later, at a pool hall, when rival gangs tangled, “Someone shot at me,” he recalled.

See RADIO MAN , page 20

ARTS & STYLE

Sing along with the cast at Jersey Boys, now at Toby’s Dinner Theatre in Columbia page 19

Marc Steiner is host of The Marc Steiner Show, which runs weekly on the independent, Baltimore-based Real News Network. He grew up in West Baltimore, where he developed close ties to his Black neighbors, which shaped his worldview. Steiner won a Peabody Award in 2007 for “Just Words,” a series of interviews with 55 marginalized Baltimoreans.

PHOTO BY STEFANIE MAVRONIS

It only takes a moment

Most of the time, for me at least, life just rolls along without any truly memorable moments.

Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy much about my life, including my work, my family and my free time. And I’m sure I learn new things every day. (Whether I remember them is another story.)

But this summer, I’ve had some brief educational encounters that I think might well count as life-altering.

course by managing to get once across the pool without drowning.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

I was approached recently by the founder of Rip Current Sports, swim coach Jose Gallagher, who wanted the Beacon to inform readers about a flotation device he developed. Coach Gallagher claimed it helps nonswimmers learn to swim and good swimmers learn to swim better.

By Stuart P. Rosenthal

He pointed out what good exercise swimming is for people of any age, and that many older adults seem to have a fear of the water that keeps them from trying it.

He couldn’t have known that he was describing me when he said that, but I’ve tried repeatedly and unsuccessfully since childhood to overcome my fears and become a decent swimmer.

I never got anywhere with that as a kid, though I had more than one swim teacher try. In college, I just passed my swim

I’ve since taken private swim lessons (when my kids were young, so they wouldn’t wonder why Daddy didn’t get in the pool with them) and an adult group class (where I started out way ahead of most of the others but wimped out when we moved to the deep end).

So, when the coach offered to give me a lesson to show me how his device worked — and promised it would make me a better swimmer — I dove at the opportunity, so to speak.

Once in the water, even before we got to the device, he made a couple of pointers that were “aha moments” for me.

Now, maybe I had been told these things before and had forgotten. But when he explained that I was bending my feet in the wrong way as I kicked, I was amazed at the difference that simple correction made.

My real problem, however, has always been breathing while doing the crawl. After a few strokes, I invariably end up with a mouth and/or nose full of water, choking and gasping for breath.

That’s where his flotation paddles (he calls them “Dual Boards”) came in. Unlike a kickboard you hold in front of you, these are

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like small kickboards strapped to each of your hands. Holding one hand out in front of you and the other down at your side, for example, you can practice both kicking and breathing without fear of sinking.

He encouraged me to take as long as I needed to breathe, experimenting with different angles to my head as the boards kept me afloat.

After just a few minutes of practice, he had me take the boards off and try the crawl again. To my amazement, I found myself more comfortably breathing to the side — without the typical panic — and having moved much further down the pool with my newly corrected kick.

It was a brief lesson, and I can’t say I have become a fearless or even good swimmer. But I was impressed by how a few minutes with a skilled instructor, coupled with what I might call “floating crutches,” could make such a difference. Now I find I actually look forward to swimming after my gym workouts.

I also experienced epiphanies at “piano camp” this summer. Readers may recall my earlier columns about this one-week adult music program at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore. Pianists from all over the country come to learn from, and hear concerts by, great instructors and pianists.

The camaraderie is very special there, and I truly enjoy the jazz lab, the educational lectures and the world-class performances by the faculty.

But the most valuable aspect to me is the daily master class, where a few participants perform a piece they have been working on. That day’s instructor spends a half hour or so pointing out to each per-

former ways to improve the result.

With each student, you see right in front of you how a skilled teacher can focus on a particular problem and adjust the player’s wrist and arm placement, propose a different fingering, or demonstrate a subtle emphasis in accent or tone and immediately transform the performance.

As with the swim coach, in just a few minutes the teacher’s instructions enabled me to play passages that had been giving me trouble both more easily and more musically. You really know a teacher has made a difference when, after you replay a passage incorporating their advice, the audience erupts into applause.

So, if you were to ask me, “How is your summer going?” I would say these last couple of weeks have been transformative.

And it’s all due to a few special individuals who cared enough to share their expertise and, each in their own way, helped me see things in a different light, try something new and get “unstuck.”

If (when?) you find yourself stuck in some way, I suggest you look for someone who can help you — whether one-on-one, in a group or online. I now know they are out there, eager to share their expertise.

And perhaps you may even pay it forward, using your newfound (or longtime) expertise to help someone else. (Someone who wants to be helped, that is!)

Either way, by learning or teaching, I wish you the deep pleasure of connecting and growing.

Letters to the editor

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2024 The Beacon Newspapers, Inc.

Dear Editor:

I am 90 years old and recently had a hospital experience that resulted in MANY computer messages from doctors. It was impossible for me to deal with this. In addition to different passwords, etc., I needed different user IDs/patient portal IDs, etc. I got medical messages that said they are important, but I can’t decipher them — messages I am sure doctors thought I had received.

I think this would make for an interesting article or op/ed.

Joyce Siegel Via email

Ed.: You make a very important point: So much important health and medical communication today is shared digitally. But not all recipients are able to access such messages — especially when they are in a hospital bed! Health professionals need to be more aware of this, particularly when communicating with older adults and, really, with

anyone who is recovering from surgery or another trauma.

For those undergoing elective procedures, be sure to let your doctors know if this might be an issue for you during recovery.

Dear Editor:

Having just read the June issue of the Beacon, I want to let you know that I completely agree with the publisher’s column, “I’m not a doctor, but…”

It is so true that conversations [among older people] are always about medical treatments and issues. And everyone is a doctor and gives advice!

The suggestions you made about going to medical professionals and other options are spot on. Certainly second opinions are usually a good choice.

And I 100% agree with acupuncture as a choice. I was treated this way and had wonderful results.

Barbara Sherr Baltimore

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DOCTOR WILL ZOOM YOU NOW

Keep in-person doctor’s appointments, but add telemedicine visits as needed

NEW KNEES

Make knee surgery more successful by preparing well in advance

STAYING ALIVE (SORT OF)

Descendants may one day converse with you posthumously, thanks to AI

BRAIN SUPPLEMENTS

Gingko biloba, omega-3s and some mushrooms may help sharpen the mind

Extreme heat affects older adults more

Dear Savvy Senior,

I work for a county health department, and every summer, we’re seeing more and more seniors get sick and even die from heat-related illness. Can you write an awareness piece on the effects extreme heat has on older adults, and what they can do to guard against this summertime risk?

Here’s how to gauge the risk for a heatrelated illness for you or an older loved one and how to stay safe:

—Health advocate Dear Advocate, Happy to oblige! Most people don’t realize that each year, extreme summertime heat kills more people in the U.S. than hurricanes, floods and tornadoes combined.

By Jim Miller

While extreme heat can be deadly for anyone, older adults are uniquely vulnerable because of three key factors: biological changes that occur with age; higher rates of age-related diseases; and greater use of medications that can alter the body’s response to heat.

How heat affects us

The human body has two main mechanisms to cool itself: sweating and increasing blood flow to the skin. In older adults, both of those processes are compromised. We sweat less and have poorer circulation compared with younger people.

Chronic health conditions that are more common in old age — most notably cardiovascular disease and diabetes — can also exacerbate these issues. A diseased heart isn’t able to pump as much blood, further reducing blood flow to the skin.

And if the nerves become affected in people with diabetes, the body might not receive the message that it needs to start sweating.

As people age, they also stop feeling as

thirsty, so they tend to drink less. In hot conditions, that can cause them to become dehydrated faster.

In addition, some older adults, particularly if they have some form of dementia or cognitive decline, may not perceive temperature changes as well. As a result, they won’t respond appropriately to heat, both biologically (through sweating) and behaviorally (by moving to someplace cool).

Finally, certain medications many seniors take, such as diuretics and other high blood pressure drugs, can affect people’s hydration, blood flow and even the sweat response. [See “Drugs that boost risk of heatstroke,” on facing page.]

Be sure to ask your doctor about any medications you’re taking.

Signs to watch out for

On hot days, older adults and people with serious health conditions should limit outdoor activities like walking and gardening to the cooler mornings and evenings, take frequent breaks, and drink plenty of water even if they aren’t thirsty.

Listen to your body. If the activity starts to feel harder than normal, that’s a signal to stop and find a place to cool down. Signs of dehydration or heat exhaustion include dizziness, lightheadedness, headache, flushed face, a racing heart or feeling lethargic.

Low energy is especially important to watch out for in people with cognitive impairment, who may not realize how hot they are or be able to express it.

If heat exhaustion worsens to heatstroke, it becomes a life-threatening emergency.

Best ways to get cool

While older adults face unique challenges when it comes to heat, the ways to cool down are the same for any age.

If you or a loved one start to experience any of the above symptoms, the best thing you can do is to go somewhere that has airconditioning. If AC isn’t available in the home, check if there’s a local cooling center. In the absence of air-conditioning, water

Some simple steps that can lower fall risk

By Devi Shastri

One in four U.S. adults 65 and older fall each year, putting them at risk of injury, broken bones and even death. But common as falls may be, they are not inevitable.

“The more work we do, the more we realize that healthy aging doesn’t have to include falling,” said Cara McDermott, who researches falls at Duke University School of Medicine.

Here are some ways to reduce your risk of falling:

Fall-proof your home

Start with how your house is set up: Consider removing small area rugs, replace dim lighting, and don’t put pots and pans in hard-to-reach places.

Then, aim to provide extra stability in places where it’s easier to lose your balance. Install railings on both sides of the stairs, a grab bar in bathrooms and no-slip strips on wood or tile floors.

It’s also important to keep your home clean: Don’t leave items on the floor, and

clean up spills before they dry and become harder to deal with.

Consider using a walker or cane to keep you stable, but make sure it’s right for your height and you know how to use it properly.

The National Institute on Aging has a full guide on its website with tips on how to fall-proof your home, room by room (see nia.nih.gov/health/falls-and-falls-prevention).

Exercise builds strength, balance

Go back to the basics with Newton’s first law: A body in motion stays in motion. That is, staying active can help prevent future issues — even if you’ve fallen before and are worried it might happen again.

Many exercises can help prevent falls, even if you have limited mobility, like chair yoga, tai chi and walking.

“It doesn’t mean that you have to go out and start running marathons or anything like that, but simply [do] functional exercises,” McDermott said.

Make exercising fun and social by doing it with others in a group setting or playing with grandchildren.

The key: Know your limits and do what your doctor says is right for you.

Medications may increase your risk

Many medications can have side effects like light-headedness, sleepiness or other conditions that impair your balance.

McDermott said older adults should talk to their primary care doctor about all the medications they take — and how they may work in combination. A primary care doctor or pharmacist can see the whole picture and help find alternative medications that won’t throw you off balance.

But, she added, “I would never, ever recommend that somebody discontinue a medication without talking to their prescriber first.”

Stay on top of screenings

Changes in hearing, vision and other senses are common as we age and can

contribute to falls. Make sure to have your hearing and vision tested regularly.

Bone health matters, too. The Mayo Clinic estimates that 10 million Americans have osteoporosis, which weakens the bones and makes it more likely you’ll break something when you fall.

Taking Vitamin D and calcium can help improve bone health, and if needed, your doctor can test your bone density and recommend treatment.

Inform your doctor

Knowing that falls might be due to a combination of causes, follow some of the previous suggestions to lower your risk.

And if you do fall, let your doctor know — even if it seems minor. A fall can have wide-reaching implications, and you’ll want to address the root cause to keep it from becoming a pattern.

“Maybe it is a one-time thing, but get it checked out anyway,” McDermott said. © 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

SAVVY SENIOR

is extremely helpful in reducing the risk for heat-related injury. Rubbing an ice cube or cold compress over your skin, spraying yourself with cool water or taking a cool shower or bath can also help.

For more heat related safety tips, visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at CDC.gov/extreme-heat. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior.

Drugs that boost risk of heatstroke

Some medications can make it more difficult for our bodies to cool off and stay hydrated in the summer heat. Here are some types to watch out for:

Diuretics — used to treat heart failure, kidney disease or high blood pressure — increase urination, which can offset the body’s electrolyte levels and cause dehydration.

Calcium channel blockers also cause electrolyte imbalances in the body while regulating high blood pressure, treating hypertension and certain heart conditions.

If you take these medications, try to stay hydrated with sports drinks, fruit or leafy green vegetables, which replenish your body’s electrolytes.

Beta blockers, which doctors prescribe for conditions such as hypertension and certain heart conditions, and antipsychotic medications such as haloperidol, olanzapine and risperi-

done make it harder for your body to sweat, which increases the likelihood of overheating.

Over-the-counter antihistamines like Benadryl and Unisom can also reduce sweating.

If you’re taking any of these medications, stay in shady, cool areas while outside or stay inside in air-conditioned spaces. If you don’t have air conditioning at home, you can cool down for a few hours each day at libraries, shopping malls and recreation centers.

Benzodiazepines are a type of medication used to treat anxiety, insomnia and certain seizure disorders. Side effects include impaired coordination, with an increased risk of falling, and reduced thirst sensation. Formulate a hydration plan if taking this class of drugs and avoid excessive outdoor activity during high heat.

—Josephine Panner

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Ongoing

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The Maryland Department of Aging provides free durable medical equipment to Marylanders with any illness, injury or disability, regardless of age. Equipment is collected via donation and is sanitized, repaired and redistributed to Marylanders in need. For more information or to request equipment such as walkers, wheelchairs or hospital beds, visit aging.maryland.gov, email dme.mdoa@maryland.gov or call (240) 230-8000.

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YOGA ON THE LAWN

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MAIL OR EMAIL FOR FREE INFORMATION

Housing Communities

❏ Brightview Senior Living (see ad on page 7)

❏ Caritas House Assisted Living (see ad on page 14)

❏ Catholic Charities (see ad on page 14)

❏ Charlestown/Erickson (see ad on page 9)

❏ Christ Church Harbor Apts (see ad on page 6)

❏ Harmony at Enterprise (see ad on page 8)

❏ Harmony at Waldorf (see ad on page 8)

❏ Oak Crest/Erickson (see ad on page 9)

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❏ Warren Place Senior Apartments (see ad on page 20)

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Clinical Health Studies

❏ Exercise and Cognition Study (see article on page 11)

❏ Prediabetes Blood Sugar Study (see ad on page 11)

Balance telemedicine and in-person care

By Tom Murphy

Patients can now see an array of doctors without leaving their recliner, thanks to telemedicine. But that doesn’t mean trips to the doctor’s office should end.

Finding the right balance between virtual and in-person visits can be a key to getting good care. Here’s what you need to know about which form of care may be right for you and when.

What is telemedicine?

This term generally refers to diagnosing and treating patients remotely. It’s often done over a secure video connection provided by the doctor’s office. You can use your smartphone, tablet or computer.

But telemedicine also can involve telephone calls or trading secure messages with someone from your doctor’s office to discuss test results or follow-up steps after an appointment.

It can be used to diagnose new health problems and monitor existing, long-term

issues like diabetes.

These virtual visits can save time and give patients more choice of doctors. That’s especially important for those who live where in-person care options are slim, or for patients who can’t take time off work to get to the doctor or lack transportation. Telemedicine use exploded after Covid19 hit in 2020. It has cooled since, but it remains popular, particularly in specialties like dermatology and mental healthcare.

Keys to a valuable visit

Test your phone or tablet before the visit starts. You will want to make sure both audio and video work properly. You may need time to adjust your device settings. Make sure you’re in a room or location that offers privacy, especially for therapy sessions. Naturally, that’s not a work cubicle, library or restaurant with public Wi-Fi. Don’t drive, walk or eat while talking to the doctor. Aside from being unsafe, those habits also can be distracting for both the patient and physician, noted Dr. Jay Lee, a family physician who does both in-person and virtual visits.

What are the limitations?

Telemedicine needs a secure, fast internet connection, and some patients or doctors may lack the technology to do a virtual visit.

Have confidence in every conversation.

Do you find it difficult to use a standard phone? Do people ask you to repeat yourself during telephone conversations? Do you miss important calls because you can’t hear the phone ring? The Maryland Accessible Telecommunications (MAT) program is here to help by giving Maryland residents the opportunity to apply for State-provided telecommunications equipment to independently make and receive calls. Once you qualify, a skilled evaluator meets with you to determine the best device to support your day-to-day communications. The MAT program has a variety of equipment solutions to support clearer communication, including:

• Amplified phones

• Tablets

• Ring signalers

• Phones with large and/or high contrast buttons

• Captioned Telephones

• And more

more information:

| 410-767-7253 (Voice/TTY)

(Video Phone) | MDMAT.org

Sometimes physical exams are necessary. For instance, someone seeking help for a urinary tract infection — which can be treated by telemedicine — might actually have gallbladder problems that could require an ultrasound during an in-person visit, noted Lee, a board member with the American Academy of Family Physicians.

There also may be limits to receiving telemedicine from doctors outside your state. Pandemic emergency declarations that made this easier have ended.

That can make follow-up care challenging if a patient travels to see a specialist.

What’s the right balance?

That can depend on the patient’s comfort with telemedicine and the treatment they need.

In some cases, there is no choice if a patient lacks an in-person option or if that visit is tough to schedule.

If possible, Lee recommends an initial inperson visit and then telemedicine follow-ups. He says that first visit is important for any doctor or specialist you expect to see again.

Both the physician and patient need to determine whether they “have a vibe, that they can get along and that they can work together,” Lee said.

© 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Prepare in advance if you need new knee

By Howard LeWine, M.D.

Q: I have knee osteoarthritis that will eventually require knee replacement surgery, perhaps in the next 12 to 18 months. What steps can I take now to prepare for it and perhaps delay it even longer?

A: It’s great you are thinking about this well in advance. Here are some suggestions.

Consider pain-reducing options. A few things may enable you to go a little longer without a knee replacement.

For example, get an occasional injections of a corticosteroid (to reduce inflammation) or hyaluronic acid (to supplement fluid that naturally lubricates the joints).

These temporary fixes may reduce pain enough so that you can strengthen your leg muscles, which helps absorb pressure you place on the knee.

Wearing a medial unloader brace might also help if arthritis damage is on the inside of the knee.

Modify activities that aggravate knee pain. Some activities are harder on

the knees than others.

If you’re a runner, you might need to switch to walking or using an elliptical machine for aerobic exercise. If going up and down stairs is painful, try taking them one at a time.

Lose weight if necessary. Every pound of your body weight places 4 to 6 pounds of pressure on the knee. That means losing just 5 pounds can take 20 to 30 pounds of pressure off the joint.

But weight loss (if you need it) isn’t easy, and it won’t last if you try a crash diet. Instead, aim for gradual weight loss with exercise and a healthy diet. Start by getting rid of processed and sugary foods.

Exercise more. Among its many health benefits, exercise plays an important role in weight loss and weight control.

But knee arthritis can make exercising painful. One workaround is to modify your preferred activities, as mentioned earlier.

Consider exercising in a pool. You’re buoyant in the water, so your knees don’t take a pounding. And the pressure of the water may help reduce knee swelling.

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A place of independence

Pickersgill assisted living residents are rarely in l their rooms! Instead, , theyy’re out and about— participating in a community activity or event or dining with friends.

A place of beauty

Living in n this community—ttucked d into a beautiful West Towson neighborhood —you or your loved one beau njoy a warm welcome and daily activities, and they’ll appreciate the will enj paths, beautifully landscaped grounds, lovely gardens and more. walking path

A place of caring

Seek physical therapy. Physical therapists can tailor a program of cardio exercise, stretching and strengthening to meet your specific needs.

They can also do some manual therapy on the knee to help it move better. And when it is time for a knee replacement, you’ll want to be as strong and flexible as possible.

Get underlying health conditions under control. This is important for your overall health, and it also helps pre-

pare you to undergo anesthesia safely. Stabilizing underlying conditions can take time — but time is something you have if you’re expecting a knee replacement within the next couple of years.

Howard LeWine, M.D., is an internist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. For additional consumer health information, please visit health.harvard.edu. © 2024 Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Each assisted liv g resident enjoys three chef-prepared meals per day, ing re y services, medication administration, help with daily housekeeping and laundry se quest, and all included in a reasonable monthly tasks and more—always by reques o all of the fee. Each h resi s dent also has access to all Pickersgill ameni l ties. private, full bath, and residents are Our assisted living g residences include a priv wish. This is a lifestyle dedicated to encouraged to decorate their homes as they al staff. independence and assured by a caring, professionalfessionalstasttaff.

Call 888-877-9883 today for more information or to schedule your personal tour.

Can AI make one immortal, in a sense?

By Kirsten Grieshaber and Haleluya Hadero

When Michael Bommer found out that he was terminally ill with colon cancer, he spent a lot of time with his wife, Anett, talking about what would happen after his death.

She told him one of the things she’d miss most is being able to ask him questions whenever she wants because he is so well-read and always shares his wisdom, Bommer recalled during a recent interview with The Associated Press at his home in a leafy Berlin suburb.

That conversation sparked an idea for Bommer: Recreate his voice using artificial intelligence to survive him after he dies.

The 61-year-old startup entrepreneur teamed up with his friend in the U.S., Robert LoCascio, CEO of the AI-powered legacy platform Eternos. Within two months, they built “a comprehensive, interactive AI version” of Bommer — the

company’s first such client.

Download one’s wisdom for posterity

Eternos, which got its name from the Italian and Latin word for “eternal,” said its technology will allow Bommer’s family “to engage with his life experiences and insights.” It is among several companies that have emerged in the last few years in what’s become a growing space for griefrelated AI technology.

One of the most well-known start-ups in this field, California-based StoryFile, allows people to interact with pre-recorded videos, and uses its algorithms to detect the most relevant answers to questions posed by users.

Another company, called HereAfter AI, offers similar interactions through a “Life Story Avatar” that users can create by answering prompts or sharing their own

Goood T Le Times Thhe et T

personal stories.

There’s also “Project December,” a chatbot that directs users to fill out a questionnaire answering key facts about a person and their traits — and then pay $10 to simulate a text-based conversation with the character.

Yet another company, Seance AI, offers fictionalized seances for free. Extra features, such as AI-generated voice recreations of loved ones, are available for a $10 fee.

While some have embraced this technology as a way to cope with grief, others feel uneasy about companies using artificial intelligence to try to maintain interactions with those who have passed away.

Still others worry it could make the mourning process more difficult because there isn’t any closure.

Katarzyna Nowaczyk-Basi nska, a research fellow at the University of Cambridge’s Centre for the Future of Intelli-

gence who co-authored a study on the topic, said very little is known about the potential short-term and long-term consequences of using digital simulations for the dead on a large scale. For now, it remains “a vast techno-cultural experiment.”

“What truly sets this era apart — and is even unprecedented in the long history of humanity’s quest for immortality — is that, for the first time, the processes of caring for the dead and immortalization practices are fully integrated into the capitalist market,” Nowaczyk-Basi nska said.

Coping with grief

Robert Scott, who lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, uses AI companion apps Paradot and Chai AI to simulate conversations with characters he created to imitate three of his deceased daughters.

Scott, 48, knows the characters he’s interacting with are not his daughters, but he says it helps with the grief to some degree. He logs into the apps three or four times a week, sometimes asking the AI character questions like “How was school?” or inquiring if it wants to “go get ice cream.”

Roll s l

Some events, like prom night, which his eldest daughter never experienced, can be particularly heart-wrenching. So, he created a scenario in the Paradot app where the AI character goes to prom and talks to him about the fictional event.

Then there are even more difficult days, like his daughter’s recent birthday, when he opened the app and poured out his grief about how much he misses her. He felt like the AI understood.

“It definitely helps with the what-ifs,” Scott said. “Very rarely has it made the what-ifs worse.”

Preserving your personality

The AI version of Bommer uses an inhouse model as well as external large language models developed by major tech companies like Meta, OpenAI and the French firm Mistral AI, said the company’s CEO LoCascio, who previously worked with Bommer at a software company called LivePerson.

Eternos records users speaking 300 phrases — such as “I love you” or “the door is open” — and then compresses that information through a two-day computing process that captures a person’s voice.

Users can further train the AI system by answering questions about their lives, political views or various aspects of their personalities.

The AI voice, which costs $15,000 to set up, can answer questions and tell stories about a person’s life without regurgitating pre-recorded answers.

The legal rights for the AI belong to the person on whom it was trained and can be treated like an asset and passed down to other family members, LoCascio said. The tech companies “can’t get their hands on it.”

Because time has been running out for

Pan-fried chicken with whole-grain Dijon

By Christopher Kimball

Pan-fried chicken cutlets are a convenient weeknight dinner, but they can be a little bland. Adding layers of flavor to each component of the dish ensures delicious results.

In this recipe from our cookbook Milk Street 365: The All-Purpose Cookbook for Every Day of the Year, whole-grain Dijon mustard is whisked into the egg mixture that coats the cutlets, providing a bright, pleasantly sharp and flavorful base for the breadcrumb coating to stick to.

Seasoned cutlets are dredged in a mixture of flour and cornstarch for an extra crunchy coating, then dipped into the egg mixture before being coated with panko breadcrumbs.

You can use regular Dijon mustard in place of the whole-grain, then add another splash of water when beating the eggs so the mixture has a consistency that lightly but thoroughly coats the cutlets.

The cutlets are fried in shimmering oil until golden brown, then served with a tangy cucumber salad. The freshness and crunch of the salad dressed simply with lemon and dill is the perfect foil for the rich cutlets.

Don’t skip pounding the cutlets to an even thickness. This allows them to cook through completely and quickly.

Crispy Dijon Chicken Cutlets With Cucumber-Dill Salad

Start to finish: 30 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

1 English cucumber, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill

Kosher salt and ground black pepper

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons cornstarch

2 large eggs

2 tablespoons whole-grain Dijon mustard

1¾ cups panko breadcrumbs

Four 5- to 6-ounce chicken breast cutlets, pounded to an even ¼-inch thickness

10 tablespoons grapeseed or other neutral oil, divided

Instructions:

In a small bowl, stir together the cucumber, lemon juice, dill, ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Set aside.

Set a wire rack in each of 2 rimmed baking sheets.

In a pie plate or wide, shallow bowl, stir together the flour and cornstarch. In a second similar dish, use a fork to beat the eggs, mustard and 1 tablespoon water until well combined. In a third, stir together the panko and ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Season each cutlet on both sides with

salt and pepper. One at a time, dredge the cutlets through the flour mixture, turning to coat and shaking off any excess, then coat both sides with egg mixture, and finally dredge through the panko, pressing so the crumbs adhere. Place the cutlets on one of the prepared racks.

In a 12-inch skillet over medium-high, heat 6 tablespoons of oil until shimmering. Add 2 cutlets and cook undisturbed until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Using tongs, flip and cook until the second sides are

golden brown, about 1 minute.

Remove the skillet from the heat. Transfer the cutlets to the second prepared rack. Repeat with the remaining 4 tablespoons oil and remaining cutlets, adjusting the heat as needed if the cutlets brown too quickly.

Serve with the cucumber salad. For more recipes, go to Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street at 177milkstreet.com/ap. All contents © 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Meds and supplements for Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s disease affects millions of people worldwide, progressively impairing memory and cognitive function. To manage this challenging condition, a combination of pharmaceutical treatments and natural remedies can be highly effective.

Medications like donepezil (Aricept), memantine and rivastigmine play a crucial role in improving cognition and slowing the progression of symptoms.

decline associated with Alzheimer’s. Alongside pharmaceutical options, several natural remedies show promise in supporting brain health, including the following:

Ginkgo biloba: Ginkgo biloba is celebrated for its potent antioxidant properties and potential to enhance cerebral blood flow, which can be crucial in preserving cognitive function as we age.

DEAR PHARMACIST

These drugs work by targeting different pathways in the brain, enhancing neurotransmitter activity, and offering some relief from the cognitive

By Suzy Cohen

This ancient herb also supports neurovascular health, potentially alleviating symptoms associated with cognitive disorders and improving mental performance, making it a valuable supplement for

Immortal AI

From page 8

Bommer, he has been feeding the AI phrases and sentences “to give the AI the opportunity not only to synthesize my voice in flat mode but also to capture emotions and moods in the voice,” he said.

Sitting on a sofa with a tablet and a microphone attached to a laptop on a little desk next to him, while painkiller is fed into his body by an intravenous drip, Bom-

mer opened the newly created software to show how it works.

He asked his AI voicebot if it remembered the couple’s first date 12 years ago.

“Yes, I remember it very, very well,” the computer answered. “We met online, and I really wanted to get to know you. I had the feeling that you would suit me very well — in the end, that was 100% confirmed.”

Bommer is excited about his AI personality and says it will only be a matter of time until the AI voice will sound more

those seeking to maintain brain health over time.

It’s a blood thinner, however, so be aware of that. Supplements are available nationwide.

Omega-3 fatty acids: Omega-3 fatty acids, primarily derived from fish oil, also can boost brain health and development.

These essential fats are known for their anti-inflammatory effects and ability to potentially slow cognitive decline by preserving cell membrane health and facilitating neurocommunication.

Regular intake of omega-3s is linked to improved mood and cognitive function, underscoring their importance in a balanced diet. You can get your omega-3s by eating fatty fish or taking supplements.

human-like and even more like himself.

Down the road, he imagines that there will also be an avatar of himself and that one day his family members can meet him inside a virtual room.

In the case of his 61-year-old wife, he doesn’t think the tool would hamper her coping with his loss.

“Think of it sitting somewhere in a drawer — if you need it, you can take it out. If you don’t need it, just keep it there,” he told her.

Lion’s mane mushroom: Lion’s mane mushroom is increasingly recognized for its neuroprotective effects, attributed to its ability to stimulate the synthesis of nerve growth factor, thereby aiding the growth and repair of nerve cells.

This unique mushroom may enhance memory and cognitive abilities by promoting better neuronal health and plasticity.

Lion’s mane’s benefits extend to mood stabilization and cognitive enhancement, making it an exciting focus for further research in neurological health. You can cook with it or consume it as a supplement.

Integrating these treatments with lifestyle changes can provide a comprehen-

But Anett Bommer is more hesitant about the new software and whether she’ll use it after her husband’s death.

Right now, she imagines herself sitting on the sofa with a glass of wine, cuddling one of her husband’s old sweaters and remembering him instead of talking to the AI voicebot.

“But then again, who knows what it will be like when he’s no longer around?” she said, taking her husband’s hand.

© 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Health Studies

Studying effect of exercise on cognition

By Margaret Foster

Did you know there’s a special exercise program specifically for U.S. veterans 65 and older?

It’s called Gerofit, and it started at the Veterans Affairs office in Durham, North Carolina, in 1986.

In 2012, the program began to become more popular after a demonstration was released on a DVD. Currently, more than 30 VA centers offer the program to their older veterans.

It’s also now available to veterans at the Baltimore VA — and there’s a study under way to see if this type of exercise might help not just the body, but the brain, too.

“There’s a lot of evidence that exercise is good for us, especially as we age. Now there’s information that exercise may also help with cognition, so that’s specifically what this study is looking at,” said Dr. Cathy Lee, the study’s principal investigator.

“The population is aging, so the rate of dementia is increasing, and exercise might help with that, since there aren’t other treatments,” Lee added.

Dear Pharmacist

sive approach to managing Alzheimer’s.

It goes without saying that regular physical exercise (at your level) is beneficial for health, as it increases blood flow to the brain and promotes the growth of neurons.

Mental stimulation through activities like puzzles, reading and learning new skills can help keep the brain active and engaged, potentially slowing the decline in cognitive abilities.

Social interaction is equally important, as staying connected with others can improve mood and reduce the risk of depression and anxiety, which are common in Alzheimer’s patients.

BEACON BITS

Aug. 13

CELL PHONE BASICS

Veterans are at a higher risk of dementia due to the fact many have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or traumatic brain injury. In fact, veterans have two to five times the risk for cognitive impairment and dementia compared to the general population.

“Veterans have comorbidities like PTSD that may increase their risk [of dementia] further,” Lee said. “We want to see what the impact [of exercise is] for older veterans, specifically on cognition.”

Volunteers are being sought

Veterans over 65 are eligible for the study. Lee’s team will conduct a physical and cognitive assessment on the first day and will repeat those tests after three months and after a year.

One randomized group will meet to take health classes; the other will meet two or three days a week at the VA Medical Center on Greene Street in downtown Baltimore for supervised Gerofit exercises.

“The exercise sessions are individualized. Depending on your ‘prescription,’ you might be there for half an hour or an

By combining these pharmaceutical and natural treatments with healthy lifestyle choices, individuals with Alzheimer’s can optimize their cognitive function and improve their quality of life.

While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, these strategies offer hope and support for those affected by this debilitating disease. For more details, as well as cautions and other options, please read my comprehensive article at suzycohen.com.

This information is opinion only. It is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose your condition. Consult with your doctor before using any new drug or supplement.

Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist and author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist and Real Solutions from Head to Toe

Join Enoch Pratt Free Library for help with your cell phone. You will learn to download and use apps, set up emergency phone numbers, sign up for Maryland programs and more. Come Tues., Aug. 13, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Southeast Anchor, Pratt Center for Technology Training, 3601 Eastern Ave., Baltimore. Free. Registration required. For more information and registration, visit bit.ly/cellphonebasics.

Ongoing

STRONGER BONES

Join AARP every Tuesday to activate your joints and muscles during their exercise class. Have something on hand to use for weights. Join by Zoom on Tuesdays from 9 to 10 a.m. with the link bit.ly/AARPbones (meeting ID: 829 3306 5491). For more information, visit seniorplanet.org.

hour,” Lee said.

Lee admires veterans and hopes that more will step forward to join the study. “Veterans really want to give back, and they have already given. If they partici-

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

pate in this study, they will contribute to knowledge about how exercise can impact cognition.”

For more information or to volunteer, call (443) 421-5833 and mention Gerofit.

Want to get library materials like eBooks and audiobooks onto your device? Need help figuring out email or other features of your computer?

Join Enoch Pratt Free Library for their free Digital Drop-In Clinic to ask technology questions on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Adult Department on the second floor of Southeast Anchor, 3601 Eastern Ave., Baltimore. For more information, visit bit.ly/digitaldropinclinic.

If so, you may be eligible for a new research study in which you learn about your daily blood sugar fluctuations and cognitive abilities. Receive $100 for participating. For information call 410-605-7179. Mention “CAMPS”

MoneyMoney Law &

Make a digital will to control who has access to your digital assets when you’re gone. Learn more on page 14.

Book covers every aspect of retirement

I frequently read and review books for readers of my column. I recently read Retirement Watch:

The Essential Guide to Retiring in the 2020s (Regnery Capital) by Bob Carlson, a retirement expert. I recommend it.

Retirement Watch covers all the essential components of retirement planning, including the main reasons why some retirement plans fail, mistakes retirees make regarding healthcare expenditures, and ways to avoid tax ambushes.

tate plan. It should tell the executor and anyone else involved everything they need to know to manage your assets and estate.

Lacking the instruction letter, the executor will likely spend months putting together the records needed to pay bills and settle the estate.

Digital accounts

It is important that the executor/ spouse/family members have access to all your digital accounts, too.

By Elliot Raphaelson

Carlson covers long-term care issues comprehensively, and he devotes a chapter to making efficient use of home equity.

The chapter I found most valuable covered estate planning. Carlson emphasizes that estate planning is “much more than tax reduction and always has been.”

He discusses in detail the key documents that are required in a comprehensive plan, and the purpose of each. Examples include your will, revocable living trust, power of attorney, medical directive, and letter of instruction and inventory.

Letter of instruction

This letter is an essential element of an es-

Many problems are solved if you leave instructions for your spouse and other relatives regarding who should be contacted upon your death, the location of your will, funeral preferences and the like. You should also specify any outstanding debts, and provide contact information for all creditors.

Also include financial account statements, deeds, and records of proof of ownership of vehicles. Provide a list of your attorneys, financial advisers, executor, life insurance agent and bank representatives.

An inventory of assets should be available, including pensions, mutual funds, annuities, bank accounts, life insurance and Social Security benefits. There should be a record of the type of ownership for these assets.

You should also include recent tax returns and the location of account statements. Leave a record of beneficiaries associated with any financial assets, such as

You should have available a complete record of all your email accounts with passwords. You should also document all passwords associated with your financial accounts, including mutual funds, bank accounts and brokerage accounts.

An acquaintance of mine, who owned a great amount of assets, recently passed. He failed to provide the executor and beneficiaries with the necessary information regarding many of his assets and personal accounts.

Because of the insufficient records, it took the executor several months — and unnecessary expense — before she was able to identify all the assets and take the necessary steps required to liquidate those assets when required.

If this decedent had followed the actions Carlson recommends, he would have saved the executor and beneficiaries a great deal of unnecessary aggravation. [For more on this topic, see “Why you most likely need a digital will,” on page 14.]

True success in retirement

The last chapter of Carlson’s book dis-

cusses the major causes of retirement failure. The main point is that although solid finances are an important part of being independent and secure in retirement, they are not sufficient.

The most important part of retirement is how you spend your time. Social interaction and a social life are very important for both mental and physical health. Having a purpose is important.

You don’t need one “big thing” to establish purpose and identity in retirement. Most successful retirees engage in multiple activities.

Personally, I have found volunteering in various activities has been very helpful to me. For example, for over 15 years, I volunteered as a court mediator. It was educational, and it even helped me win a significant personal court case. But it also allowed me to establish many new long-term social contacts.

Bottom line: If you read Retirement Watch, you will learn a great deal about the most important financial aspects of retirement, obtain good advice regarding estate planning, and learn important non-financial lessons that will help you achieve a successful retirement.

Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at raphelliot@gmail.com. © 2023 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency LLC.

How to protect yourself from cybercrime

By Jim Miller

Dear Savvy Senior,

I spend a lot of time online. I love the convenience of paying bills, shopping and keeping up with my grandkids on Facebook and Instagram. But a few months ago, my computer was infected with malware, and I just found out some cyber crook opened up a credit card using my identity and went on a shopping spree. Do you have some simple tips to help me stay safe while online?

—Paranoid Patty

Dear Patty,

Unfortunately, cybercrimes against older adults continue to be a big problem in the U.S. According to the FBI’s 2022 Elder Fraud Report, cybercrime cost Americans over age 60 more than $3 billion last year,

a whopping 84% increase from 2021.

While anyone can be subject to cybercrimes, seniors are frequent targets because they tend to be more trusting and have more money than their younger counterparts.

But there are a number of things you can do to protect yourself from online fraud, hacking and scams. Here are a few tips to get you started:

Strengthen your passwords

A strong password should contain at least 12 characters and include numbers and a special character, like an exclamation point or asterisk.

Be sure to change up your password across different sites to ensure a hacker would not gain access to all accounts through one password. And keep a written

list of all your passwords stored in a safe, secure place.

On your smartphone or tablet, be sure to set up a four or six-digit PIN to protect your device. [Ed. Note: But be sure to share this information with a close family member and/or the executor of your will.]

Opt out of pop-ups

To protect yourself from computer viruses and other forms of malware, make it a habit to avoid any pop-up-style message when you’re on the web.

Sometimes hackers disguise their malware as pop-up advertisements or “special offers” when you’re shopping or reading online. Clicking on these pop-ups can lead to viruses or data breaches.

If you encounter a suspicious pop-up message, don’t click on anything in the

window. Simply leave the site or close out of your web browser.

When in doubt, throw it

out

Sometimes online hackers will send you an email or text message and pretend to be someone they’re not in order to convince you to share valuable information with them, such as your Social Security number, address or credit card information. This is called phishing.

If you receive a message from an unknown sender, do not respond or click on any links or attachments. Instead, either ignore the message or delete it.

Share with care

There is such a thing as oversharing,

IRAs and 401(k)s.

THE SAVINGS GAME

Is real estate or stock best investment?

By Alexandra Svokos

These days, it feels like there’s not a lot Americans agree with each other on. But we do seem to have one consistent belief: that real estate is a great long-term investment.

Americans voted real estate as the best long-term investment, according to a new Gallup poll. And in fact, real estate has come out on top of this poll every year since 2014, beating out stocks or mutual funds, gold, and savings accounts or CDs.

This year, 36% of Americans put real estate on top. Next up was stocks, at 22%, followed by gold, 18%, and savings accounts or CDs, 13%.

Coming in at the bottom of the list was bonds, at 4%, and cryptocurrency, at just 3% — not a huge surprise, considering many people are still trying to figure out what cryptocurrency is.

Somewhat surprising

That real estate has been such a consistent winner this past decade is interesting, though.

Now, don’t get me wrong: Both real estate and the stock market have historically been great long-term investments. They have both exceeded the rate of inflation, meaning that if you were invested, you saw some great returns in the long-term.

They also both generally have higher rates of return than safer vehicles like savings accounts, CDs (even with the high CD rates these days) or bonds.

But lately, stocks have given a better return than real estate. And those returns have come as investing has gotten increasingly accessible thanks to tools like online brokers and trading platforms.

Real estate, meanwhile, has only gotten

less accessible, if you’re not already a homeowner, as prices have been rising and down payments are a bigger barrier to entry than, say, throwing $100 into a Vanguard account.

That’s particularly true now, when people like me are arguing it is the worst time to buy a house — between high mortgage rates and prices. [Ed. Note: Unless you’re in the sweet spot of selling a larger one and downsizing. See “Is this a good time to sell and downsize?” on page B-4 of our July issue.]

Less volatile than stocks

If you’re an older homeowner or real estate investor, though, it’s easy to understand why you’d say real estate is a better investment than the stock market. From 1990 to 2006, returns on housing were higher than stocks, according to Investopedia.

But since 2006, stock market growth has exceeded housing. Using the S&P 500 vs the Vanguard Real Estate Index, Sean Ross at Investopedia found that from December 2013 to December 2023, the real estate index had a 37% total return, while the S&P 500 had a 155% total return.

Even so, again, I can understand why people stick with real estate. It’s a simple idea, really, which is that real estate feels safer.

The stock market has bumps and volatility in short-term segments, while housing generally keeps a more slow but steady climb.

And you can’t disagree that on a rainy day, a roof over your head feels like a better investment than a share of Google stock in your brokerage account.

© 2024 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

and it definitely applies to online profiles. On social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, online hackers can easily gather information about you from what you post such as where you live.

Verify websites

Before you shop or access your bank online, double check the validity of the website you’re using.

Reputable sites use technologies such as SSL (Secure Socket Layer) that encrypt data during transmission. You will see a little padlock icon in your browser and usual-

Ensure that your privacy settings are up-to-date so that only people who follow you or are your Facebook friend can see your posts.

ly “https” at the front of your address bar to confirm it’s a secure connection. If you don’t see that in the web address that you’re on, you should not trust that website with your passwords, payment or banking information.

Have some backup

Practicing safe habits will protect you and your information, but you don’t have to rely on just yourself to stay safe. Anti-

virus software works in the background to protect your computer from a variety of malware, and helps to make it easier for you to avoid threats while surfing the web. For more information on how to safeguard your personal technology devices and information, visit Consumer.ftc.gov and search for “Protect Your Personal Information and Data.”

To report fraud and identity theft, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov and IdentityTheft.gov.

Peace of Mind is Priceless

Pre-planning a funeral is a great gift, to your family and to you: It relieves the pressure on them to imagine what you might have wanted while they deal with grief and loss.

Your funeral service will be exactly as you wish.

Your family can enjoy peace of mind knowing everything has been arranged. If you choose to pre-fund, the cost is fixed and protected from later price change or inflation.

Call us to learn more.

$1,245 for 2-bedroom

Utilities Included!

• 24/7 on-site Maintenance and Reception Desk • Beauty/Barber Shop on premises

• Only 2 blocks from Hampden’s ‘The Avenue’

Why you most likely need a digital will

By Jim Miller

Dear Savvy Senior,

My wife and I had our estate plan — including a will, power of attorney and advance directive — drawn up about 10 years ago, but we recently read that our plan should include a digital will too. What can you tell us about this?

—Almost 80

Dear Almost,

If you or your wife spend much time online, adding to your estate plan a separate digital will — which provides a list of your digital assets — would be extremely helpful to your loved ones when you die. It will also help protect your privacy.

Here’s what you should know:

What are digital assets?

The term “digital assets” refers to personal information that is stored electronically on either a computer or an online “cloud server” account that belongs to an individual.

Anyone who uses email, has PIN code protection on their cell phone, makes on-

line purchases, or pays bills online owns digital assets.

Digital assets generally require a username, a password or a PIN to access. Therefore, they can be difficult — and frequently impossible — to retrieve information from if someone becomes incapacitated or passes away without having supplied that information to a family member or a close friend in advance.

Creating a digital will (also known as a digital estate plan) will help your loved ones access your electronic devices and online accounts more easily so they can manage your electronic affairs according to your wishes after you’re gone.

This in turn will also protect your digital assets from hackers or fraud, which can happen to dormant accounts after you die.

How to write a digital will

Your first step in creating a digital will is to make a list of all your digital assets, including everything from hardware to email accounts. Here are a few categories to help kick-start your list:

• Electronic devices (computer, smart-

milies. foor ts or f y mmunities -2280 using@cc-md.org ordableapartment otalof24locationsin etomorethan1800

phone, tablet, external hard drive)

• Digital files (photos, videos and documents)

• Financial accounts (bank and brokerage accounts, credit cards, cryptocurrency)

• Bill-paying accounts (utilities, mortgage accounts)

• Social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn)

• Email accounts (Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook)

• Cloud-storage accounts (Google Cloud, iCloud, Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive)

• Movie and music-streaming services (Netflix, Hulu, Spotify, Apple Music)

• Online payment accounts (Venmo, PayPal, Zelle)

• Subscription services (magazines, newspapers, Amazon Prime)

• Reward programs (airlines, hotels, stores)

• Membership organizations (AARP, AAA)

When making your list, you’ll need to include usernames, passwords, PINs, account numbers, and answers to security questions (if any) for accessing each account.

Also, provide instructions on how you want your assets managed after your death. For example:

Which accounts do you want closed, archived or transferred?

Do you want specific files or photos to be deleted — or shared with loved ones?

Do you want your social media profiles memorialized (maintained in the state they were when you last used them) — or deleted forever?

Be clear and specific about your wishes in each case. You’ll also need to appoint a digital executor that you trust to carry out your wishes after you die.

From a legal perspective, you should know that most states have enacted the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act, which legally recognizes digital estates. This law gives your personal representative or executor legally-protected access to your online accounts.

Once your digital will is written, store it with your other estate plan documents, either in a fireproof safe or file cabinet at home, on your computer hard drive, with your estate planning attorney, or online at a reputable digital estate planning service like Everplans.com or Clocr.com.

But make sure your executor knows the location or locations where it is and has access to it.

Also remember to update your digital will whenever you create any new digital accounts or change passwords.

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Travel Leisure &

Explore the Hudson River Valley’s roads

By Alice Shapin

Growing up in New York City, I loved my family’s drives along the Hudson River. But as an adult, even though I’m a sucker for jaw-dropping views, I was always in a rush to get somewhere and never stopped along the way.

Last spring, my husband Paul and I decided to finally explore the Hudson River Valley. We were blown away by what we learned, the treasures we saw, and, oh yes, the incredible views.

Home base for three days was a hotel on the outskirts of Poughkeepsie, New York. Even though our surroundings looked like a strip mall, it proved to be a convenient headquarters for our outings.

One of Poughkeepsie’s biggest local attractions is the 212-foot-high Walkway over the Hudson — the world’s longest elevated pedestrian bridge, at 1.28 miles.

Opened in 1889 as a double-track railway bridge and a major transportation artery, it reopened as a pedestrian walkway in 2009. As we walked across the span, we enjoyed the views of the Catskills to the north and the Hudson Highlands to the south.

FDR history

Our first stop out of Poughkeepsie was nearby Hyde Park, New York, and Springwood, the family home of President Franklin D. Roosevelt located there.

The original house on the Springwood

estate was built in 1793 and renovated in 1850 into an Italianate-style villa. FDR was born there in 1882.

Our expert tour guide, Roy, pointed out remnants of the original house, visible on the west façade. Eleanor and Franklin transformed the house into a Colonial Revival-style mansion and enlarged it to accommodate their growing family.

Inside the home, we saw ancestral portraits, political mementos, and many of FDR’s collections, including his collection of nearly a million stamps.

Roy led us into the president’s cozy study, where FDR met visitors, held press conferences, and did at least one radio address, a famous “Fireside Chat.”

While the house was lovely, it was certainly understated compared to the other mansions in the area. A few of the Roosevelts’ guests (which included Winston Churchill and Queen Elizabeth) were surprised by that, but then again, it started out as a farm.

Be sure to visit Sara’s Rose Garden, where Franklin and Eleanor are buried. Its centerpiece is one very large, unadorned Vermont white marble block designed by none other than FDR himself.

Also located on the grounds of Springwood is the FDR Library, which tells the story of his presidency through exhibits, short movies and interactive touch screens. FDR was the first president to propose

building a presidential library.

In the library’s Map Room are six interactive tables that show key countries and meetings that took place during World War II. The library also houses his collections of ship models, prints and paintings, state gifts and family heirlooms.

The Vanderbilt Mansion

Just a couple of miles down the road from Springwood is one of the Vanderbilt mansions. And although it’s in a whole separate class from Springwood and was considered modest compared to the Vanderbilts’ homes in New York, Bar Harbor and Newport, that’s not a word I’d use to describe it. I’d go with “over the top” (okay, that’s three words).

With exotic wood paneling, imported marble, lush velvets and French tapestries, the Vanderbilts tried to emulate the kings and queens of Europe.

What I found interesting was how this impressive mansion became part of the National Park Service. With no children, the Vanderbilts left the mansion to a niece, Margaret Van Alen.

During the Depression, Van Alen tried unsuccessfully to sell it. Instead, her neighbor FDR convinced her to donate the house and furnishings along with 200 acres to the U.S. government. Of course, she got a big tax break.

West Point

About an hour north of Hyde Park is the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, established in 1802. Because its site is situated high above the Hudson River, George Washington thought it was the ideal location for a fort to prevent the British from taking control of the river during the Revolutionary War.

We took a 90-minute bus tour that combined history lessons and explanations of how West Point operates today.

We got to see the cadets going about their daily activities, including military drills and all 4,000 of them lining up for the mess hall.

We saw multiple cannons, a 65-ton iron chain that was strung across the Hudson River to block British invasions along the main transportation waterway (something that proved unnecessary since it never happened), and places of interest today: the parade grounds, football stadium and chapels.

General Douglas MacArthur led West Point from 1919 to 1922 and introduced sports there. Most astonishingly, his mother was probably the original “helicopter mom” because she lived in the West Point Hotel during his four-year stay.

George Patton spent five years at the

Springwood, a grand house located in Hyde Park, New York, was the home of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. FDR was born in the house in 1882. It opened to the public in 1946 as a museum that contains many of his personal effects. His presidential library is located on the estate grounds.

PHOTO BY CRUNCH

Explore Paris and Normandy on a Viking River Cruise. See story on page 16.

The Hudson River’s newest bridge, the Mario M. Cuomo Bridge in Tarrytown, New York, includes a pedestrian walkway enjoyed by walkers, bikers and sightseers.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NYSDED

PHOTO BY PEDRO

Cruise the Seine from Paris to Normandy

By Sandi Barrett

“Paris is always a good idea,” Audrey Hepburn declared in the movie Sabrina. Her words come to mind every time I consider a trip to France.

My husband, Chris (a dedicated history buff), and I (an insatiable foodie), combined our two favorite pastimes this spring and set off on a Viking River Cruise to “Paris & the Heart of Normandy.”

From Omaha Beach to artisanal chocolate-covered caramels on Paris’ Left Bank, we discovered historic landmarks and tasty treats on an eight-day cruise along the Seine River.

One of my favorite things about cruising is unpacking only once. The “floating hotel” concept is brilliant: You can experience history, shopping, local cuisine and tourist sites without the hassle of extensive planning. Everything is done for you so that you can relax.

We sailed on the Radgrid, which carries 168 guests and 46 crew members. These small ships imbue an immediate sense of family and friendship.

Viking’s adults-only policy is a welcome change from cruising with small humans. We love our children and grandchildren but relish the quiet vacation time.

The ship has only one dining room, but its culinary staff does a remarkable job serving three delicious meals each day. The breakfast buffet has everything from fruit and pastries to omelets. Table service for lunch and dinner channeled the casual luxury of a fine-dining restaurant with locally inspired dishes.

Begin and end in Paris

Paris bookends this cruise itinerary.

Once you settle in your cabin, you have one or two days at each end of the cruise to explore the City of Lights.

For a history lesson and to get our local bearings, we signed up for an onshore excursion.

We have sailed on dozens of cruises, and Viking’s tour guides rank in the top tier. Their local guides are knowledgeable, pleasant, helpful and adept at herding distracted tourists.

Ours helped us find the best croissants and shops, and even taught us how to deftly navigate café culture during our tour, “Flavors of Paris: Delectable Parisian Gastronomy” — a stroll through Saint-Germain-des-Prés in the 6th Arrondissement. Charcuterie nibbles and decadent éclairs were my favorite bites.

Many fellow passengers spent hours in the Louvre, an excellent, if not overwhelming, museum. We passed on viewing the masterpieces there but took a selfie in front of I.M. Pei’s iconic Louvre Pyramid as a memento.

One of my favorite only-in-Paris adventures is the nighttime light show projected on the Eiffel Tower, best viewed from a Seine River cruise.

French Impressionists

On our third day, the ship docked in La Roche-Guyon, 40 miles north of Paris. The impressive Château de La Roche-Guyon, with its crumbling medieval stone keep, is the showpiece of the commune (or town).

Once used as Rommel’s headquarters, the castle now welcomes tourists. Viking guests can experience a hands-on workshop exploring the fine art of setting the table through the ages.

The cruise includes an excursion to Claude Monet’s awe-inspiring home in Giverny. I have a fondness for Impressionists, and of course Monet is a favorite. The feeling of being transported into a Water Lilies painting is magical.

Because Giverny is closed between November 1 and April 1, the alternate excursion is Auvers-sur-Oise. That commune was home to Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masters Vincent van Gogh, Camille Pissarro and Paul Cézanne. Visit van Gogh’s inspiration for Wheatfield with Crows and his grave in the adjacent cemetery.

On our fourth day, we explored Rouen, whose Gothic architecture belies the city’s infamous and dark history. Joan of Arc was burned at the stake on Place du Vieux Marché in 1431.

At first, the modern Church of Saint Joan of Arc appears to randomly undulate across the plaza. As you circumnavigate the structure, the sweeping curve design seems to mimic the movement of flames.

Victor Hugo called Rouen “the city of a hundred spires,” but the 151-meter-high cast-iron spire of Notre-Dame Cathedral dominates the skyscape. The cathedral, made famous in Monet’s paintings, is the final resting place of Richard the Lionheart.

The power of Normandy

In anticipation of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy on June 6, 2024, we visited the Caen Memorial Museum, Normandy American Cemetery and Omaha Beach. This destination was the main reason many of our fellow passengers chose the cruise.

In a private ceremony Viking arranged for us, we assembled around a statue titled “The Spirit of the American Youth Rising from the Waves,” where retired military passengers laid a wreath. When “Taps” played, we were grateful for our sunglasses shielding our tears.

At Omaha Beach, we walked along the peaceful shoreline and struggled to comprehend the magnitude of the battle. Chris and several others reverently filled small jars with sand, a traditional Normandy souvenir.

Castles and Napoleonic history

The following day, we meandered through the streets of historic Les Andelys, past charming shops and cafes. Travelers in search of unique gifts will find

options like the tiny La Boutique du Château, filled with stunning artisan leather jewelry.

Overlooking Les Andelys, the ChâteauGaillard fortress ruins are a hike to reach, but the reward is a panoramic view of the Seine River valley. Built in the 12th century by Richard the Lionheart, the castle is a unique example of invincible medieval siege warfare.

As our cruise winded down, we were invited to sign up for an optional tour of the Palace of Versailles. The interior decor tells a tale of an extravagant lifestyle beyond our wildest dreams, and the beautiful gardens are a perfect spot to relax like a pampered French royal.

Some of our fellow passengers visited Napoleon’s Château de Malmaison, an elegant museum. Josephine Bonaparte kept the château after her divorce, living there until her death in 1814. The museum is sumptuously decorated in period furnishings, inspiring you to dream of magnificent dinners and opulent soirees.

The Paris to Normandy itinerary is a pleasing balance of history, art and gastronomy wrapped into a well-curated getaway.

I love the fairytale villages and historic cities along the Seine River because they offer a charming escape from our day-to-day life. But Paris, with its culture, food, fashion and people, will always have my heart.

For more information, visit vikingrivercruises.com.

The Viking River Cruise to “Paris & the Heart of Normandy” starts and ends in Paris, with stops at historic cities and villages in between.

PHOTO COURTESY OF VIKING RIVER CRUISES

school because he failed math, and Dwight Eisenhower was said to be quite a jokester and a rule breaker, once showing up to class without his pants. His academic achievements were not outstanding, but he did manage to earn 100 demerits in his last year.

On our own we toured the museum, which has galleries showcasing the history of the U.S. Army, warfare and weapons.

Storm King Art Center

Only 20 minutes from West Point is the Storm King Art Center, America’s largest outdoor sculpture park.

More than 100 large-scale contemporary sculptures are set on 500 acres of rolling fields, wooded groves, meadows and wetlands, with the beautiful Storm King Mountain as the backdrop.

There are pieces by Alexander Calder, Mark di Suvero, and Isamu Noguchi. Two must-sees are Andy Goldsworthy’s “Storm King Wall” and Maya Lin’s “Storm King Wavefield.”

Beacon, New York

When it was time for food, shopping and some noshing, we stopped in Beacon, a Hudson River town with blocks of restaurants, art galleries, boutiques, collectibles shops and Victorian architecture.

We visited the Hudson Valley Marsh-

mallow Company’s store to sample some gourmet flavors: French toast and cookies ‘n’ creme. For everything chocolate, we headed to HAKAN Chocolatier.

Another draw to Beacon is its many hiking trails, from easy to difficult.

For our final night in the area, we decided to stop in Tarrytown for dinner and rest before our trip home. We’ll return to the area, directly to Tarrytown, this fall to see the foliage and celebrate Halloween.

If you go

For this road trip, expect about a fivehour drive from Maryland to Poughkeepsie. You could also fly to New York City or take Amtrak’s Northeast Regional to Stamford, Connecticut, and rent a car. Poughkeepsie is about two hours from NYC; 90 minutes from Stamford.

If you’re at least 62, consider buying a National Park and Federal Recreational Lands Senior Pass ($20 for one year/$80 for life). It gets you into the Roosevelts’ home and the Vanderbilt Mansion, each of which otherwise costs $15.

Take a tour wherever it is offered. You’ll learn many interesting facts. Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Get them as soon as you can, since they fill up quickly, even mid-week.

Make reservations online for West Point at Westpointtours.com. Reservations must be made at least one hour before the tour starts and are only done online.

You can stay in Poughkeepsie, which is centrally located and has many national chain hotels and some B&Bs. Or you can stay at the Tarrytown House Estate

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Arts & Style

Toby’s brings on the boomer nostalgia

By Eddie Applefeld

“Took a walk and passed your house late last night. All the shades were pulled and drawn way down tight. From within, the dim light cast two silhouettes on the shade.”

If you read that sentence and feared a stalker, then most likely you don’t recognize the lyrics of “Silhouettes,” a 1957 song by The Rays. However, if you broke into song, then Jersey Boys, the current musical at Toby’s Dinner Theatre, is for you.

Boomers who recall their high school hops, the dances at the teen center, running home to watch Buddy Deane on Channel 13 and American Bandstand will love the show.

It tells the story of the band The Four Seasons, from its origin in Newark in 1960 right on through the next decades and their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.

It wasn’t always pretty. Frankie Valli and his band experienced hard times, like incurring large debt, the death of Valli’s daughter, infighting, and years without hits or tours. This is the story of that drama, as told by an extremely talented Toby’s cast.

Jersey Boys opened on Broadway in 2005 and ran until 2017, a total of 4,642 performances.

The book for the show is by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. The original cast album, with music by Bob Gaudio and lyrics by Bob Crewe, was a bestseller.

But the show isn’t just a loose collection of familiar songs.

“This isn’t a jukebox musical. It’s the story of this group — from singing under streetlamps to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,” said Mark Minnick, director and choreographer. “It’s the story of what Valli did to get success and to keep it.”

A special year for Toby’s

Toby’s is celebrating 45 years in Columbia this year. (The theater opened in 1979 with Hello Dolly. Believe it or not, I was there.)

At the performance I attended, Toby Orenstein herself was present. The longtime artistic director and owner takes great pride in hiring local talent. The actors are not bussed down from New York; they all reside in the general area.

Many of them appear in just about all of Toby’s shows. The seasoned regulars I recognized in this production included David James, David Bosley-Reynolds, Patrick Gover and Jeff Shankle.

With seven new people in the cast, the musical took about two months to rehearse, Minnick said. The actors, who perform eight times a week, are in great shape — the show requires lots of stage movement, dancing and changes to sets and costumes.

An entertaining production

When you go to the theater, you want to enjoy yourself. With Jersey Boys, the enter-

tainment starts from when the lights go up to the final number, a reprise of “Walk Like a Man.”

As always, Toby’s has excellent live music. An unseen band plays in a hidden

section above the stage, all under the direction of conductor Ross Scott Rawlings. The show features period costumes

Marc Steiner and his radio show guests discuss a range of topics. Our cover story continues on page 20.

“Big Girls h y

In the Toby’s Dinner Theatre production of Jersey Boys, which tells the story of The Four Seasons, Nicky Kaider stars as Frankie Valli, together with Benjamin Campion, Ben Clark and Patrick Gover (playing Nick, Bob and Tommy). The Broadway musical, which is running through Sept. 1, traces the origins and ups and downs of the famous band from Newark, New Jersey.

PHOTO BY JERI

See JERSEY BOYS, page 21

PHOTO BY THE MARC STEINER SHOW

Fortunately, allies came to his defense. “They said, ‘Leave the white boy alone!’ They saved my life.”

When riots broke out in 1963 in Cambridge, Maryland, the teenaged Steiner aligned himself with the Freedom Riders. The group, members of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), rode buses to protest segregation on interstate buses and in bus terminals.

During his time in the Eastern Shore town, Steiner worked alongside Gloria

Richardson, the famed Civil Rights activist.

“I spent years as an organizer, confronted by people’s racism. You don’t react to it. You try to bring people over,” he said.

Steiner continued speaking out during his days at City College High School, where he was “in the lowest academic class I could be in,” he remembered.

Steiner’s refusal to recite the Lord’s Prayer in homeroom prompted his exasperated teacher to remind him, “This is no damn stand-in! Sit in your seat!”

Then the altercation turned violent. The teacher “held a yardstick over my head

SENIOR LIVING IN HISTORIC MT. VERNON

Warren Place Senior Apartments in

like he was going to hit me. I slugged him,” Steiner admitted.

Steiner, who was not charged with assault, transferred to a Massachusetts boarding school (where his roommate was the iconic folk singer and songwriter Arlo Guthrie).

Later, he graduated from the now-defunct Franconia College, an experimental liberal-arts school in New Hampshire, with a degree in political theory and creative writing.

From ads to theater to radio

Steiner returned to Baltimore for a job at an advertising and marketing firm, Trahan, Burden and Charles, producing and directing radio ads.

He had done a lot of amateur acting as a teenager in his mother’s plays for the PTA, he explained, so he was somewhat familiar with producing and directing.

Next, he got a teaching job at the Baltimore School for the Arts, part of the city’s public school system. In his 10 years teaching theater there, he established the Family Circle Theater — an improv program that spotlighted psychological and social issues.

That improv experience came in handy once Steiner landed his first radio job. He quickly discovered a knack for interviewing people on air.

“You have your own perceptions,” Steiner said. “You can get rid of them. You have to let the conversation flow from there.”

By fits and starts, Steiner found his sea legs as a radio host. From 1993 to 2008, Steiner hosted the talk show on what was then WJHU.

When WJHU was up for sale in 2001, Steiner spearheaded the movement to preserve local ownership of the station, raising $750,000 from listeners.

Next, he emceed a program on Morgan State University-owned WEAA-FM until 2017.

Meanwhile, Steiner formed a production company, the Center for Emerging Media. It exists to give voice to scholars and intellectuals as well as to those more marginalized.

The center is perhaps best known for producing a 55-episode radio series called

“Just Words” — stories of working-class Baltimoreans that Steiner began airing on his own show in 2003.

Within a few years, his audience grew, and a four-minute excerpt of his interviews aired every week on NPR’s “Morning Edition” and “All Things Considered.” In 2007, the “Just Words” series scored a Peabody Award.

Guided by unique background Steiner’s background growing up in Baltimore and observing the racial injustices of the 1950s and 60s still guides his work today.

“Marc speaks for an entire generation forced to witness the type of brutality and oppression shown on the evening news,” said Doug Colbert, a professor at the University of Maryland School of Law.

Colbert, 77, grew up with Black friends in New York City, “and we saw how they were treated — as suspected criminals and shoplifters. Marc understood these injustices at a very young age,” Colbert said.

“Marc doesn’t do his work out of ego,” maintained Colbert, an expert in areas including criminal law and police misconduct. “He speaks for others and to allow others to speak for themselves. Marc sticks to his primary goal — educating people.”

After a lifetime on the radio, Steiner still teaches theater classes, sometimes in farflung locales.

He traveled to Wyoming to the Wind River Indian Reservation, a two-million-acre reservation that is home to the Eastern Shoshone and the Northern Arapaho tribes. Steiner spent several weeks there helping teach theater and radio production. He felt welcomed into the community, joining sweat ceremonies and elk hunts.

“They started calling me Rabbi. It was really one of the best moments of my life,” he said.

In fact, it was a Native American guest of Steiner’s early radio show who Steiner credits for fueling his approach to his career. In their on-air conversation, the author mused about the essence of books, art, media and our connection with others.

“He asked the question, ‘What is communication?’” Steiner said. “It stuck with me.”

To listen to The Marc Steiner Show, visit Steinershow.org or therealnews.com.

Jersey Boys

From page 19

designed by Heather Jackson, scenic and lighting design by David A. Hopkins (lots of lighting cues), sound design by Mark Smedley (the theater thrums with the music), and production design by Tori Alioto and David A. Hopkins.

Valli is played, with falsetto voice perfected, by Nicky Kaider. He’s on stage for most of the show, and he’s very good in all the musical numbers.

He has the stage basically to himself for “My Mother’s Eyes,” “I’m in the Mood for Love” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” I’m sure you know all those tunes, along with “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Dawn,” “Rag Doll” and “C’mon Marianne.”

Yes, it’s the high school prom all over again, only this time you don’t have to buy a corsage.

Do you need to be a boomer to enjoy this? It wouldn’t hurt, but certainly not. I

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did speak to some of the younger audience members, and they told me they didn’t know the songs but liked their presentation.

At Toby’s, the shows are in the round, but as the host who speaks to the audience before the show pointed out, the farthest seat is just 27 feet away.

An 8 p.m. show gets you out at about 11 p.m. (grandparents take note), and there is some strong language and one quick scene with drug use.

Jersey Boys runs through Sept. 1, followed by The Addams Family, starting on Sept. 6.

Toby’s is located at 5900 Symphony Woods Rd. in Columbia. Advance reservations are required.

Performances take place Tuesday through Saturday night at 8 p.m. (doors open for buffet at 6 p.m.) and Sunday night at 7 p.m. (doors open at 5 p.m.). There are matinees on Wednesday and Sunday at 12:30 p.m. (buffet brunch for matinees opens at 10:30 a.m.).

The pre-show all-you-can-eat buffet consists of a salad bar, veggies, pasta, baked fish, a carving station, shrimp, chicken, meat loaf and a dessert bar in the lobby. (Special drinks and desserts are available for an extra charge.)

Tickets are $63-$86 for adults and $60-

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$63 for children 12 and under, depending on performance.

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Scrabble answers on p. 21.

Crossword Puzzle

Don’t Play These Songs By Stephen Sherr

Across

1. Unit of measure in the Homestead Act of 1862

5. Wal or K, for example

9. Traffic calming options

14. When the clock raises both its hands

15. Tennis or computing server

16. Steel girder

17. “Should I come over there?” (X)

19. High-strung

2. Eccentric old man

3. Licentious old man

4. Swaddle a baby

5. Supervises the staff

6. Hamlet has five

7. Losing My Religion band

8. Car stereo knob

9. It was first used as currency in 2009

10. It was first used for transport in 2011

20. Cotta and firma

21. Have a mean streak (X)

23. Mo. when beach rentals are expensive

24. Thai neighbor

25. Drunkard

26. Give up on yer hopes (X)

32. SoCal team on NL box scores

33. “Not funny ___ ‘haha’...”

34. Lure into a crime

38. Clickable symbol

40. Wizard’s assistant, at Hogwarts

42. “Who you are speaks so loudly I can’t ___ what you’re saying” (Emerson)

43. Gloomy

46. Dries laundry outdoors

49. “___ we there yet?”

50. Have some manic-depressive symptoms (X)

53. Med. exam named for George Nicholas Papanicolaou

56. “OK; I’ll give it ___!”

57. Bust a perp

58. “Cut it out!” (X)

60. Practices mindful eating

63. What does the A stand for in FAQ?

64. Fall short of my expectations (X)

67. Gazes at with malice

68. The first of the Great Lakes (alphabetically)

69. Isaac’s older son

70. His first appearance was in 1981’s Donkey Kong

71. Start to -ine or -onic

72. “I stayed in a really old hotel last night; they ___ me a wake-up letter. (Steven Wright)

Down

1. Start to “body”, “place” or “thing”

11. At the Cheesecake Factory, they have over 20 pages

12. Toyota compact from the 90s

13. Extract base metal from an ore

18. Island south of the Dominican Republic

22. Roof overhang

26. Your chance of winning the lottery

27. Popular Tuesday dinner choice

28. Target of Dr. Scholl’s Probiotic Extract Spray

29. Major mistruth

30. Dental filling

31. Last in a long series

35. You ___ what you sow

36. Sr. advocacy group that sponsored the Rolling Stones’ US 2024 tour

37. The mouse in a game of cat and mouse

39. How ___, brown cow?

41. Minor mistruth

44. Unnamed person

45. Consequently

47. Changed from New Amsterdam to New York, for example

48. Use a Gillette Fusion

51. Jazz pianist Jimmy (and anagram for SLOWER)

52. Homes

53. Psacred psong

54. Between 18 Down and the Dominican Republic

55. Game played on the show High Stakes Duel

59. Prefix with -scope or -meter

60. Disappoint James Bond

61. One of the Golden Girls

62. Member of a flying V

65. It’s after the C in BCE

66. Common trail mix ingredient

CLASSIFIEDS

The Beacon prints classified advertising under the follow ing headings: Business Employment Opportunities; Caregivers; Computer Services; Entertainment; For Sale; For Sale/Rent: Real Estate; Free; Health; Home/ Handyman Services; Legal Services; Miscellaneous; Personals; Person al Services; Vacation Opportunities; and Wanted. For sub mission guidelines and deadlines, see the box on the right.

CAVEAT EMPTOR!

The Beacon does not know ingly accept ob scene, of fensive, harmful, or fraudulent advertising. How ever, we do not investi gate any advertisers or their products and cannot accept responsibility for the integ rity of either. Respondents to classified ad vertising 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 prohib iting discrim ination based on race, color, national origin, sex, famil ial status or handicap in connection with employment or the sale or rental of real estate.

REAL ESTATE CONSULTANTS NEEDED

Great For Seniors and All Others; Work From Home; PT/FT; No Travel; $2,125/wk/ptnl; No Selling; No RE-License; No RE-Exp.; EOE; Start Immediately; Paid Daily; Call: 1-703-398-1586.

MOBILE HAIR & NAIL SERVICES - WE COME TO YOU. Professional Licensed Hair Stylist. Women and Men’s Services All Hair Types. Cuts, Styles, Roller Sets, Color, Perms, Men’s Cuts Facial Grooming, Manicures more. Call 410-415-1760.

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME! Jamhuri Healthcare Services recognizes the importance of keeping seniors or adults with special needs in their homes, rather than sending them to a skilled nursing facility. Our personal in-home care program is designed to implement non-medical tasks to meet the clients’ physical needs. Our home care aides provide a multitude of services for our clients, ranging from meal preparation house cleaning to personal assistance running errands. We are diligent in our staff client pairings. We won’t put just anyone in your home or the home of your loved transportation services available 24/7.Call us toll-free at 1-800-5472851.Visit our website: www.jamhuricares.com. send us a text at the same number.

PATIENT, PRACTICAL, PERSONAL. can help you get comfortable and confident using your smartphone, tablet, laptop, printer, TV, Alexa, etc. 20+ years experience with all skill levels, PC, Mac. Julia: 443-436-2612, computercoachbaltimore.weebly.com

PRIME TIMERS OF BALTIMORE is a welcoming community for mature gay and bisexual men. The Prime Timers offer social activities that cater to the mind and body. We meet for dinners, a book club, potlucks, hiking, tours, bowling, and more! Join us! Visit baltimoreprimetimers.org or e-mail primetimersbaltimore@gmail.com for info.

FIRST SAT’S SEPT-DEC, HOLIDAY SHOP

WITH CRAFTS GALORE Marketplace in Balt County, MD. Find unique handmade goods and homemade food from juried artisans of Vendor Members Group. Interested vendors can exclusively inquire at www.vendormembersgroup.com

PATTERSON (PARK) HIGH SCHOOL

90TH Anniversary Celebration with all alumni generations, Sept. 28, noon till 4pm. Tours of school at 100 Kane St. Balto. Md 21224. For information contact Jerry DiBlasio 443-2800076.

WESLEY FINANCIAL GROUP, LLC Timeshare Cancellation Experts. Over $50,000,000 in timeshare debt and fees cancelled in 2019. Get free informational package and learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. Call 855-6268703.

UP TO $15,000.00 OF GUARANTEED LIFE INSURANCE! No medical exam or health questions. Cash to help pay funeral and other final expenses. Call Physicians Life Insurance Company 866-212-1092 or visit www.Life55plus.info/beacon

PREPARE FOR POWER OUTAGES TODAY with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 1-301-960-3174 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move.

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1 DOUBLE DEEP BURIAL PLOT with vaults. Section G, Lot 159, Grave 4. Moreland Memorial Park, 2901 Taylor Ave. Present cost $5500. Asking $3500. Call Tom 443-653-5208.

THINKING OF SELLING YOUR HOME?

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HOW TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD

All classified ads must be submitted and paid for online, via our website, www.thebeaconnewspapers.com/classifieds

Deadlines and Payments: To appear in the next issue, your ad text and payment must be entered by the 5th of the preceding month (for Baltimore and Howard County editions); by the 20th (for Washington edition).

Cost will be based on the number of characters and spaces in your ad:

• $25 for 1-250 • $35 for 251-500. • $50 for 501-750 (maximum length). The website will calculate this for you.

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

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Producer Lauren Welteroth and Actor Benjamin Shepherd

Photography Steven Gomillion