February 2011 Baltimore Beacon by The Beacon Newspapers

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Accidental innkeepers’ success

A house with a history Gramercy Mansion has a long and storied past that appealed to the Pomykalas. In 1902, Alexander Cassatt bought the heavily wooded property as a present for his daughter, Eliza, at the time of her marriage to W. Plunkett Steward, founder of the still existing Greenspring Valley Hunt Club. Cassatt himself was well-known for his role as president of the Pennsylvania Railroad. In later years, his fame became overshadowed by that of his sister, Mary Cas-

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANNE POMYKALA

By Carol Sorgen For those who have harbored a secret fantasy of opening a quaint bed and breakfast (does the TV show “Newhart” ring a bell?), innkeeper Anne Pomykala gently offers these words of advice: “It’s a lot of work. It’s not as romantic as you think.” That being said, the 72-year-old owner of the Gramercy Mansion Bed & Breakfast in Greenspring Valley, as well as the 1840s Carrollton Inn in Baltimore City, has no regrets. It turned out to be an unexpected, yet ultimately rewarding, mid-life career opportunity. Pomykala and her husband Ronald, 76, are born and bred Washingtonians who knew little about Baltimore before purchasing the Gramercy 25 years ago. They were visiting a friend at Johns Hopkins Hospital and saw an ad for the sale of the mansion. At the time, it housed the Koinonia Foundation, a spiritual community. “We took one look and fell in love with it,” said Pomykala. “We decided to buy it and make it our home.” The manor house, built in the first years of the 20th century, was in a state of disrepair, as were the carriage house and various other outbuildings situated on the 45-acre property. As a result, neither developers nor individual homeowners were flocking to the auctioneer to purchase the estate. “Every roof leaked, the septic system leaked, only one of the three wells was working…there was a lot to do,” Pomykala recalled. Undaunted, they purchased it for what she called a “low” $670,000. “Of course, we put a lot more money into restoring it,” Pomykala said mildly. “We didn’t go in blindfolded. We knew we had a lot to do, but not quite how much or how expensive it was going to be.”

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LEISURE & TRAVEL

Visiting old and new Tokyo on a budget; plus, escape to the Caribbean for sun and rum in Barbados page 23

ARTS & STYLE Twenty-five years ago, Anne Pomykala and her husband Ronald bought a dilapidated mansion in Greenspring Valley, which they renovated and transformed into Gramercy Mansion Bed & Breakfast. More recently, they have renovated several early 19th century Baltimore rowhouses, turning them into the 1840s Carrollton Inn.

satt, an Impressionist painter who depicted the social and private lives of women, and whose work can be found in the National Gallery of Art. Cassatt designed Gramercy to resemble the family’s summer home in Bar Harbor, Maine. Built in the style of an Old English Tudor manor house, the mansion had 25 rooms, including an eight-room servant’s wing. In ensuing generations the mansion passed through several other well-known Baltimore families, including descendants of Benjamin Franklin and a senator. At the time of their purchase, Anne Pomykala was a full-time homemaker rais-

ing her six children. Her husband was, and still is, a practicing dentist. Neither had ever restored an historic property, but Anne came from a construction family so she had some knowledge of what needed to be done. She also was an active Girl Scout volunteer and credits much of her ability to see the project through to that experience. Girl Scouting teaches girls how to “organize, delegate and work together,” she explained. It didn’t take long before the Pomykalas realized that making Gramercy their full-time residence was not economically feasible. See BED & BREAKFAST, page 21

The long, colorful career of artist Joan Erbe; plus, classes that bring out your artsy side page 27

FITNESS & HEALTH 4 k Beat the wintertime blues k Don’t pass up shingles vaccine LAW & MONEY 14 k Healthcare stocks are cheap k Understanding fund ratings VOLUNTEERS & CAREERS 20 k When you want to work after 65 PLUS CROSSWORD, BEACON BITS, CLASSIFIEDS & MORE

FEBRUARY 2011 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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Power of the people I have great news: It looks like any con- Executive Kevin Kamenetz that the county sideration of plans to dissolve the Mary- is considering merging the departments of land Department of Aging health, aging and social serv(MDOA) is DOA (dead on arices into a single agency in rival)! the interests of “efficiency.”) As many of you know, last We asked that readers let month the Beacon helped set the governor’s office know in motion a grassroots camwhat you think of any attempt paign to convince Governor to downplay aging issues and Martin O’Malley not to disbury programs for the fastestmantle the Maryland Departgrowing demographic of our ment of Aging or distribute state in departments estabits programs to other state FROM THE lished to pursue other prioriagencies in an attempt to cut PUBLISHER ties. By Stuart P. Rosenthal costs. You — our readers — reIn particular, we wanted to sponded in a phenomenal show the governor how much we value manner, cutting out and mailing to the govhaving a secretary of aging on his staff ernor the letter we printed for that purpose who represents the interests of older in our last issue. We know this because Marylanders at the cabinet level. more than 200 of you called or e-mailed us Rumors had been flying that dissolving to let us know what you had done. the department was being considered by And we also know that far more than the governor, just as it has become a com- 200 letters were sent, because many of the mon theme on the local level in recent responders told us they had done one or months. (Witness last year’s moving of the more of the following: passed copies along Baltimore City Commission on Aging & to friends, made announcements at their Retirement Education from its own inde- exercise class, distributed copies at meetpendent office to a program operated by a ings (of NARFE chapters, retired union health department contractor, and the re- members, religious groups, etc.), encourcent announcement by Baltimore County aged members of their building or commu-

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The Beacon is a monthly newspaper dedicated to inform, serve, and entertain the citizens of the Greater Baltimore area, and is privately owned. Subscriptions are available via third-class mail ($12), prepaid with order. MD residents add 6 percent for sales tax. Send subscription order to the office listed below. Publication of advertising contained herein does not necessarily constitute endorsement. Signed columns represent the opinions of the writers, and not necessarily the opinion of the publisher. • Publisher/Editor ....................Stuart P. Rosenthal • Associate Publisher..............Judith K. Rosenthal • Vice President, Operations........Gordon Hasenei • Director of Sales ................................Alan Spiegel • Assistant Operations Manager ..........Roger King

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nity association to write, had signing sessions at their senior center, etc. In addition to the letter we provided, we know that many chose to write their own personal letter, or called or e-mailed the governor’s office. One told us that when she called, the receptionist appeared so used to getting these calls that she simply asked: “What senior group are you calling from and how many do you represent?” Some of you called our office and spoke with me at length to be sure you understood the underlying issues and the arguments. In all cases, you indicated you were going to write your own letter. I also gave speeches to three organizations during the past few weeks, where I focused on the importance of advocacy (and this campaign in particular), and passed out more than 200 additional copies of the letter to attendees. Many of them indicated they would be mailing it in, intending to make copies first for other friends or groups. In short, I’m sure our joint efforts were seen as an overwhelming show of support for the Department of Aging and its role in our state. So I was extremely gratified to hear the other day from a member of the governor’s staff that the merger of the Department of Aging with another state agency is “not on the table.” Of course, we can’t know for sure that our campaign is what turned the tide, or

even how seriously the executive branch was considering the step in the first place. But it’s certainly better to be out in front of an issue and prevent an official announcement of a poor policy than to be playing catch-up once a high-level decision is made and announced. We also learned that our state’s older adults and their community of friends and family are a formidable force who will act in a political way when the situation calls for it. As one e-mailer wrote us to say, “I don’t often ‘lobby’ friends, but this [issue] is too important to let it pass quietly!” I also think that the state’s political powers will remember what we’ve all done the next time they consider taking a step that might adversely affect older Marylanders. That doesn’t mean we won’t be called on again to flex our political muscles in the future. But now we (and they) know we can do it! Please consider this column my way of expressing thanks to all of you who took an action in support of this campaign. I sincerely address the following statement to each of you: Thank you for getting involved and speaking your mind. I believe our actions had the intended effect and that we should all feel proud.

Letters to the editor Readers are encouraged to share their opinion on any matter addressed in the Beacon as well as on political and social issues of the day. Mail your Letter to the Editor to The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, Md. 20915, or e-mail to barbara@thebeaconnewspapers.com. Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification. Editor’s note: We received more than 200 messages from readers telling us how they responded to our grassroots campaign in the last issue. Many came with short messages of support. We print the following simply as samples of the nice notes we received: I am so happy that you wrote this article. I sent a letter the same day to the Governor’s office. You couldn’t have made it any easier! Shelly Mazan Thanks for your help. I cut the letter out, signed and mailed it today. Love your editorials and The Beacon. Laverne Ball This is to inform you that I sent an email to Gov. O’Malley stating how I would not support the Dept. of Aging being dissolved. I have also alerted the Board of Meals on Wheels of Central MD. Thank you for alerting the community about this issue. Terry Lehr This is to inform you that I mailed the letter to the Governor, and asked friends

to do so. Let’s hope that we have a more than expected success. F. Klopfer Dear Editor: I’ve never visited Athens, but I know something about ancient Greek culture, art and literature. And so I was curious about the quality of the Beacon’s travel writing in “Reconnecting with the ancients in Athens,” December 2010). Frankly, it leaves much to be desired. One reason I shun travel articles is that they always resemble travel agency puff pieces and government brochures. The Beacon, catering to an older population as you do, should realize a trip to Greece is a precious opportunity. It is also one that demands much more than searching tourist websites. Why “revisit” the recollections of your college art history or mythology classes? So much more has been discovered about ancient Greek civilization and culture. When one invests time and money traveling to See LETTERS TO EDITOR, page 29

BALTIMORE BEACON — FEBRUARY 2011

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Health Fitness &

SMOKE SCREEN Heavy smoking more than doubles the risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia NEW CHOLESTEROL DRUG An experimental drug boosts good cholesterol and slashes the bad ALL ABOUT OILS For healthful cooking, try flaxseed, almond, olive and avocado oils LABEL LINGO How to decipher health claims on food labels at the grocery store

Solutions for those with wintertime blues By Jim Miller If you get depressed in the winter but feel much better in spring and summer, you may have “seasonal affective disorder” (or SAD), a wintertime depression that affects more than 36 million Americans. While experts aren’t exactly sure what causes SAD, most think it’s attributed to reduced daylight. Less daylight in the winter months can upset sleep-wake cycles and other circadian rhythms. And it may cause problems with a brain chemical called serotonin that affects mood. If you think you may have SAD, a trip to a doctor’s office is the best way to diagnose it, or you can take a SAD “self-diagnostic” test at the website of the Center for Environmental Therapeutics (www.cet.org). In the meantime, here are some treatments and remedies that can help. Light therapy: The most effective treatment for SAD is sitting in front of a specialized light therapy box for 15 to 20 minutes a day. Light therapy mimics outdoor light to cause a change in brain chemicals linked to mood. It’s most effective when timed to fit a person’s individual circadian rhythm (body clock), which varies widely from

person to person. Are you a night owl or a morning lark? You can calculate your proper time for doing light therapy by taking the circadian rhythm test at www.cet.org. The best light boxes provide 10,000 lux of illumination — many times stronger than typical indoor light — and have a diffuser screen that filters out ultraviolet rays and projects downward toward the eyes. With prices ranging from around $150 to $200, you can find a nice variety of light therapy boxes at sites like day-lights.com (1-800-387-0896), www.lighttherapy.philips.com (1-866-8324361), www.verilux.com (1-800-454-4408), and www.lighttherapyproducts.com (1800-486-6723). Dawn simulation: This is a newer form of light therapy that gradually turns the light on in your bedroom, creating a slow transition from darkness to dawn in the room while it’s still dark outside. Studies have found that dawn simulation can ease depression and help people wake up with more energy. These products typically run between $100 and $200 and are sold through many of the previously listed sites that sell light therapy boxes. Antidepressants: If light therapy does-

n’t alleviate your SAD symptoms, antidepressants such as Celexa, Lexapro, Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft may help. Talk to your doctor about these options. Negative ion therapy: Negative ion generators help freshen and purify the air and, according to Columbia University, help relieve depression and SAD. Several models of ion generators are on the market. Some, designed to be used for 30 to 60 minutes daily, include a wrist strap that channels the ions directly to the body to be absorbed through the skin. Other models work overnight, filling the entire room with negative ions. Sites like cet.org and negativeiongenerators.com (1-866-466-4937) sell them for between $125 and $165. Cognitive behavioral therapy: Even though SAD is considered to be a biological problem, identifying and changing thoughts and behavior can help alleviate symptoms, too. To find a therapist who specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy, check with the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (abct.org) or the Academy of Cognitive Therapy (academyofct.org), both of which offer directories on their websites. Exercise: Moderate exercise such as

walking, riding a stationary bike, or swimming can also help alleviate SAD symptoms. Vitamin D: This sunshine vitamin, that our bodies make when the sun’s rays hit our skin, typically declines during the winter months. Vitamin D deficiencies have been linked to a wide variety of illnesses, including depression. Your doctor can determine if you’re deficient with a simple blood test. While some foods contain vitamin D — fatty fish, cod liver oil and fortified products like breakfast cereals, milk and orange juices – the most efficient way to get what you need in the winter is probably with supplements. The recommended daily allowance for those 70 and older is 800 IU. Many supplements come in higher doses, but don’t overdo it. The very upper limit of safety is considered to be 4,000 IUs of vitamin D-3 daily from all sources. Consult your doctor before taking this or any other supplements. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior book. You may send him questions at:: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org.

Explaining shingles, and how to avoid it Shingles can be a painful rash that goes away after a few weeks — or it can be hellish. “Horrible” and “excruciating” are terms some people use to describe postherpetic neuralgia, the painful aftermath that develops after the initial rash phase in about 10 to 20 percent of shingles cases. Postherpetic neuralgia pain is hard to predict. It can last for months, even years. Yet it can also end abruptly (and mercifully) for no apparent reason.

How shingles begins Shingles is caused by the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. After a person experiences chickenpox, leftover varicella virus hides out in the nervous system in an inactive state, held in check there by the immune system. If the immune system (more precisely, the T cells of the immune system) weakens, the snoozing varicella virus can come

roaring back to life, replicate, and cause the havoc we experience as shingles and postherpetic neuralgia. The pain comes from inflammation and injury to nerves, as well as changes in how pain signals are processed. The risk of shingles increases with age because the strength of the immune system declines as we get older. Shingles starts to become more common in our 50s; half of everyone who makes it to age 85 will have experienced shingles some time along the way. But anyone harboring the varicella virus in their nervous system, which is true of most everyone over age 40, and who has an impaired immune system is vulnerable. This includes people with HIV/AIDS, some kinds of cancer (especially Hodgkin’s disease), and organ transplant recipients. Some studies suggest that stressful events can bring shingles on.

The classic shingles rash appears as a red band on one side of the torso. Shingles may affect nerves in other parts of the body, including those in the arms or legs, resulting in muscle weakness and wasting in the affected limbs. Some of the worst cases involve the trigeminal nerve in the face, particularly the branches that supply the area around the eye. This can lead to inflammation in the cornea and even vision loss. It’s also more likely than other sorts of shingles attacks to develop into postherpetic neuralgia.

Treating the pain Early treatment of shingles with antiviral drugs has been shown to cut the risk of postherpetic neuralgia substantially. For those who miss the early treatment window, or nonetheless develop a painful case, doctors have several treatment options.

Small doses of the tricyclic antidepressant medications (amitriptyline, desipramine, nortriptyline) act as pain relievers. Antiseizure medications, such as gabapentin (Neurontin) and pregabalin (Lyrica) can be used alone or in combination with the tricyclics. Some study results suggest that antiseizure medications are particularly good in controlling piercing, knifelike pain. Topical creams containing capsaicin (the substance that makes chili peppers spicy hot) or lidocaine (which also comes as a patch) may provide a little relief. If all else fails, some patients benefit from injections of medications into the spinal canal. Despite all the options, about half of the time postherpetic neuralgia patients don’t respond to any treatment.

See SHINGLES, page 7

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BALTIMORE BEACON — FEBRUARY 2011

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Health Shorts Heavy smoking linked to dementia Looking to lower your odds of developing Alzheimer’s disease and dementia? Stop smoking if you light up. New research finds that heavy smoking during middle age more than doubles a person’s risk of these brain disorders later in life. People who smoke two packs of cigarettes a day increase their risk of Alzheimer’s by 157 percent, according to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. And they have a 172 percent

FEBRUARY 2011 — BALTIMORE BEACON

higher risk of developing vascular dementia, the second-most-common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s. Researchers analyzed the medical records of more than 20,000 people who were followed for 23 years starting in their 50s and 60s to see who would develop these conditions as they hit their twilight year. The heightened risk may be due to smoking causing tissue inflammation, which plays a role in Alzheimer’s, the study authors said. “We have known that smoking is a risk factor for cancer, stroke and cardiovascular disease,” research scientist Rachel Whitmer said. “This adds to the evidence that what is bad for the heart is bad for the brain.” — U.S. News and World Report

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Medicare helps smokers quit Even though they’ve lived with the health warnings much of their lives and doubtless seen the ill effects on friends, relatives and even themselves, about 4.5 million older Americans continue to smoke. Finally, Medicare is catching up to most private insurers by providing counseling for any beneficiary who’s trying to quit smoking. Medicare already covers drugs used to help smokers quit, as well as counseling for those who have developed a smokingrelated illness. And starting this year such counseling will be cost-free, under a provision in the new healthcare law that eliminates co-payments for preventive services. It turns out that smokers age 65 and older present a medical paradox. Many started when it was fashionable to light up. Even though only 10 percent of seniors smoke, compared with 20 percent among the U.S. population as a whole, they are more likely than younger smokers to be seriously hooked on nicotine and less likely to attempt quitting. But research shows that their odds of success are greater than that of younger smokers if they do try to give up the habit. Some experts think that’s because older

smokers are more motivated, perhaps from having seen a loved one die of cancer or heart disease, or by recognizing how the cigarette habit has left its mark in their own bodies, anything from wrinklier skin to shortness of breath. Older smokers who receive counseling are significantly more likely to quit than those who only get standard medical care. One study of elderly heart attack patients found that those who got counseling to help quit smoking were more likely to be alive five years later. — AP

Zapping nerves drops blood pressure Some people who couldn’t get their blood pressure under control despite taking a fistful of pills every day found relief from an experimental treatment that shows promise as a permanent fix for the condition. The treatment uses radio waves to zap nerves near the kidneys that fuel high blood pressure. It is done through a tube pushed into a blood vessel in the groin, much like the angioplasty procedures for opening clogged heart arteries. See HEALTH SHORTS, page 7

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BALTIMORE BEACON — FEBRUARY 2011

Shingles From page 4

Prevention is prudent Better than treatment is prevention. There’s a shingles vaccine, sold under the name Zostavax. In the large (38,000 people), randomized trial that led to its FDA approval in 2006, the vaccine reduced the risk of shingles by half and of postherpetic neuralgia by an impressive two-thirds. And by all accounts it’s safe. Federal vaccine officials have recommended that everyone age 60 or older with a healthy immune system be vaccinated

Health shorts From page 6 The new treatment damages certain nerves and causes key arteries to permanently relax. In a study of about 100 people, the top number of the blood pressure reading fell an average of 33 points among those who had the treatment. Doctors say that is much better than the less-than-10-point drop that many drugs give.

against shingles — advice that applies to people who’ve already had a case, because shingles can recur. Yet recent surveys indicate that less than 10 percent of the Americans who should get the vaccine have done so. Part of the reason may be cost. The wholesale price of Zostavax is about $200 per shot, so it’s not a minor expense. The vaccine is covered by all Part D Medicare plans (check with your carrier about copayments), but they’re set up to reimburse pharmacies, not physicians, so physicians sometimes run into difficulties billing for the shingles vaccine.

Other adult vaccines are covered by Medicare Part B, which covers physician services, but so far, legislative and lobbying efforts to move the shingles vaccine into Part B have failed. Less than half (45 percent) of the doctors surveyed knew that shingles vaccine was reimbursed through Medicare Part D, and 12 percent said they had stopped offering the vaccine because of the cost and reimbursement issues. But you may not need to see a doctor to get the shingles vaccine. Vaccines are also allowed to be administered at pharmacies. Some doctors let their patients “brown

bag” the vaccine: People buy it at the pharmacy and then bring it to the doctor’s office to be administered. (It must be kept cold, however, to remain effective.) In the case of brown bagging, the cost of the vaccine itself should be covered by your Part D plan, but usually the doctor will ask you to pay the cost of administering the vaccine out of pocket. You should get a receipt and submit it to your Part D plan for reimbursement, but you probably won’t get all your money back © 2010 President and fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc.

Even if the treatment doesn’t cure someone and is only partly successful, that’s still beneficial because these people are at grave risk of heart attacks, strokes and death, and drugs are not helping them enough now, said Dr. Elliott Antman, a Brigham and Women’s Hospital cardiologist. The fact the treatment also improves blood-sugar control makes it especially attractive for diabetics with high blood pressure. “This opens up a dramatic new op-

tion for them,” Antman said. It is being developed by Ardian Inc., a private company based in Mountain View, California, whose investors include med-

ical device giant Medtronic Inc. It’s already available in Europe and costs about $12,000. — AP

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The Center for Gait and Mobility at The Sandra and Malcolm Berman Brain & Spine Institute

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omeone with a normal gait–the medical term for walking–walks smoothly at a normal pace without thinking about it. Someone with an abnormal gait may have trouble taking the first step; have bent posture; have spasticity; or walk with a shuffle, shortened steps or slow pace. You may have to think about each step rather than it coming automatically, or may be thrown off balance by turning or changing direction. These are signs that control of gait by the brain, spine or peripheral nervous system may be impaired. As we age, we may think it’s normal for walking to become more difficult. However, we should continue to walk normally as we age. Physicians at The Sandra and Malcolm Berman Brain & Spine Institute of LifeBridge Health (BSI), a one-ofits-kind consortium of specialists from Sinai and Northwest hospitals, have a message for those with gait difficulty: Our goal is to find and treat the causes of gait impairment and help you regain functional mobility and prevent falls.

Our interdisciplinary team of experts includes neurologists, rehabilitation physicians/physiatrists, neurosurgeons, orthopedic spine surgeons, physical therapists and occupational therapists. Patients who come to the BSI for gait abnormalities are screened by a neurologist or physiatrist. We have expertise in neurological disorders like cerebral palsy, Parkinson disease, brain injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, spasticity, spinal stenosis, peripheral neuropathy and normal pressure hydrocephalus. After a comprehensive medical history and examination of the patient, our doctors determine the need for additional diagnostic tests, like MRI or CT of the brain or spine, electromyography, nerve conduction study, or X-rays of the spine. Once a diagnosis is made, an individualized treatment plan is recommended. For example, patients with cervical or lumbar spinal stenosis are treated by one of our neurosurgeons or orthopedic spine surgeons. Those suspected of having a disorder like Parkinsonism are seen by a movement disorder specialist, and those with neuropathy

or peripheral nerve problems are seen by one of our neuromuscular neurologists or physiatrists. Some patients may be treated by a physical therapist for strengthening and retraining of walking and balancing. If you already know the cause of your gait abnormality, you may wish to be re-evaluated or to receive ongoing management by our team. For example, tightness in muscles due to spasticity can be reduced, and walking improved, by comprehensive treatments offered in the spasticity program. If you have arthritis in the hip or knee, a physician may have told you that this is not the cause of your difficulty walking. We can evaluate and help. Difficulty with gait, balance or mobility isn’t normal and could signify an underlying problem. If you or a family member has such symptoms, call The Center for Gait and Mobility at The Sandra and Malcolm Berman Brain & Spine Institute at 410-601WELL(9355).

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FEBRUARY 2011 — BALTIMORE BEACON

New drug for cholesterol holds promise By Marilynn Marchione An experimental drug boosted good cholesterol so high and dropped bad cholesterol so low in a study that doctors were stunned and voiced renewed hopes for an entirely new way of preventing heart attacks and strokes. “We are the most excited we have been in decades,” said Dr. Christopher Cannon of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, who led the study of the novel drug for Merck & Co. “This could really be the next big thing.” The drug, anacetrapib, will not be on the market anytime soon. It needs more testing to see if its dramatic effects on cholesterol will translate into fewer heart attacks, strokes and deaths. Merck an-

nounced a 30,000-patient study to answer that question, and it will take several years. But the sheer magnitude of the new medicine’s effects so far excited lots of doctors at a recent American Heart Association conference in Chicago. “The data look spectacular, beyond what anybody would have expected,” said Dr. Robert Eckel, a University of Colorado cardiologist and past president of the heart association. Merck’s Dr. Luciano Rossetti agreed. “We are trying not to be too giddy. The potential benefit is enormous,” said Rossetti, senior vice president of global scientific strategy at the company.

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For years, doctors have focused on lowering LDL, or bad cholesterol, to cut heart risks. Statin medicines, sold as Lipitor and Zocor do this, and generic versions cost less than a dollar a day. But many statin users still suffer heart attacks, so doctors have been trying to get LDL to very low levels and to boost HDL, or good cholesterol. Anacetrapib would be the first drug of its kind. It helps keep fat particles attached to HDL, which carries them in the bloodstream to the liver to be disposed of. The Merck-sponsored study tested anacetrapib in 1,623 people already taking statins because they are at higher-thanusual risk of a heart attack — half had already had one, and many others had conditions such as diabetes. An LDL of 100 to 129 is considered good for healthy people, but patients like these should aim for under 100 or even under 70, guidelines say. For HDL, 40 to 59 is OK, but higher is better. After six months in the study, LDL scores fell from 81 to 45 in those on anacetrapib, and from 82 to 77 in those given dummy pills. At the same time, HDL rose from 41 to a whopping 101 in the drug group, and from 40 to 46 in those on dummy pills. Such large changes have never been seen before, doctors say, and these improvements persisted for at least another year that the study went on.

Additional studies needed Over the years, other drugs have generated excitement in early research, then turned out to be risky or not so effective when tried on many more patients.

The Merck study was too small to tell whether anacetrapib lowered deaths, heart attacks or other heart problems. But the trend was in the right direction, with fewer of those cases among patients on the drug. The anacetrapib group also needed significantly fewer procedures to fix clogged arteries.

Few side effects so far Importantly, there were no signs of the blood pressure problems that led Pfizer Inc. to walk away from an $800 million investment in torcetrapib, a similar drug it was developing four years ago. The Merck drug “looks far more potent, without the serious side effects that led to failure” [in the Pfizer study], said Dr. W. Douglas Weaver, a cardiologist at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit and past president of the American College of Cardiology. “If proven effective, this will really change practice in the same way aspirin and statins have.” Merck says it is way too soon to estimate how much the drug would cost, but analysts say such a medication could mean billions for its maker, though it would have to prove cost-effective by preventing enough heart attacks, strokes and deaths. Dr. Allen Taylor, a cardiologist at Washington Hospital Center, noted that study participants’ bad cholesterol was twice as high as their good cholesterol before treatment, and that anacetrapib caused this to reverse: The good became double the bad. That’s never been achieved before and is “a profound swing” that should lead to reversal of heart disease, not just slowing its progression, he said. — AP

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with practical information for busy caregivers. For a free subscription, call (410) 887-4724, or to receive the newsletter via e-mail, subscribe at www.baltimorecountymd.gov/subscribe/caregiver.

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Strength training may improve metabolism Q: Can strength-training exercise as well, such as improved balance and speed up my metabolism even if I arthritis relief. If you are new to resistance don’t actually gain any type exercise, it is probably muscle weight? well worth the investment in at A: It might: the effects on least a couple of group or indimetabolic rate — how quickly vidual lessons with a certified you burn up calories even trainer to learn proper techwhen you’re sitting still — nique and how to judge when may depend on the type and to advance to each new level. intensity of your strengthQ: Can lack of sleep retraining exercise and on indially lead to weight gain? vidual physical differences. A: Many, but not all, studOne study involving 50- to ies do show a link between 65-year old men in a heavy re- NUTRITION lack of sleep and increased sistance-training program WISE chances of being overweight showed a 7.7 percent increase By Karen Collins, among children and young or in resting metabolic rate dur- MS, RD, CDM middle-aged adults. ing a four-month program. AlThere may be several reathough the average weight of men in this sons for this. It’s possible that people who program didn’t change, they dropped body are overweight or obese are more likely to fat and gained muscle. have lifestyles that include less sleep, However, the increase in metabolic rate whether because of working jobs with went beyond what could be accounted for long, late hours or extended television by the increase in muscle tissue. Some ex- viewing, for example. perts say this is because strength training However, some research suggests that works by causing tiny muscle damage that lack of sleep (usually referring to less than is then repaired, and this repair process six or seven hours a night in adults) can burns up extra calories for two or three lead to choices that make weight control a days afterward. challenge, such as when fatigue causes us However, in another study, involving to be less active or grab extra sweet drinks adults with type 2 diabetes, even though and snacks, or when staying up longer resistance training for about four months hours simply means more time to eat. increased muscle strength, resting metaThere are studies suggesting that lack bolic rate did not increase. of sleep can even lead to hormonal You can do strength training exercise changes that increase appetite and the dewith varying degrees of weight or resist- positing of fat around the waist. ance, and some experts say that many peoNot everyone’s weight seems equally afple do not push themselves to their full ca- fected by lack of sleep, but if you’re short pabilities. It may be that significant on sleep and gaining weight, getting to bed changes in metabolic rate come with con- earlier may bring a variety of health benesistently presenting your body with exer- fits. Naps can also boost health, but so far cise that is appropriately challenging. no link has been found to weight control. Strength training provides other benefits Q: How much could I cut calories

Free Foot Screenings

Free foot screenings will be given at the offices of Dr. Marc Singer from Monday, January 24 through Friday, February 4. The foot evaluations will look for adverse effects of Diabetes and screen for Poor Circulation. When diagnosed early, many problems associated with Diabetes and Poor Circulation can be avoided, such as: • Infections • Loss of sensation • Sores or Ulcers • Amputations

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

doesn’t cut calories as much as when you reduce the amount of these added fats and oil. Some recipes use so much fat that you can simply reduce the amount listed by one-fourth and the result will turn out great. You can also adjust recipes by substituting an equal amount of applesauce, baby food prunes or low-fat plain yogurt for some of the fat. And when it comes to calories, remember that reducing sugar also helps, as does simply making smaller serving sizes of the final product. Courtesy of the American Institute for Cancer Research. Questions for this column may be sent to “Nutrition Wise,” 1759 R St., N.W., Washington, DC 20009. Collins cannot respond to questions personally.

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and saturated fat if I bake with egg whites instead of whole eggs? A: The amount of fat saved depends on how many whole eggs you replace and the number of servings in the recipe. Each time you substitute two egg whites for one whole egg, you save 40 calories and 1.6 grams of saturated fat. While that can add up to a substantial total in the entire recipe, when you divide the total savings among the number of servings, the substitution saves about 10 calories and only 0.3 to 0.5 grams of saturated fat per serving of most muffins, cookies and cakes. Depending on what you’re making, you cut saturated fat more by reducing or replacing butter, stick margarine, shortening or cream cheese. Changing egg use also usually

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FEBRUARY 2011 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Which vegetable oils are healthiest to use? Dear Pharmacist: You say that “vegetable oil” is your least favorite cooking oil. It’s all I’ve ever used. Why don’t you like it, and what oils should we cook with? — R.E. Dear R.E.: I think Americans lack the right fats in their diet: we need a healthy balance of linolenic acid, omega 3, 6 and 9s.So I recommend oils that are rich in nutrients known to advance our health. Here is my list of healthy oils:

Flaxseed oil: Packed with essential fatty acids, like linolenic acid and omegas, flax is known to reduce toxic forms of estrogen in the body, thereby reducing your risk of breast or prostate cancers. It has a subtle nutty flavor and high quality versions are “cold pressed” rather than heated. Bear in mind any “cold-pressed” oil should not be heated beyond the smoke point, so don’t fry with it. Hemp seed oil: A study showed it may relieve symptoms of eczema. Pressed from the seeds of legally-grown cannabis flowers,

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WALK AND LEARN

Join a Circle of Friends Walking Club and tour Maryland Underground Railroad sites while you get fit. You’ll meet weekly with your group, led by a “conductor,” for six weekly one-hour sessions followed by monthly meetings. Walk with others for support as you try to lose weight, prevent high blood pressure, get better control of chronic disease and increase your energy level. For more information, call (410) 669-6340 or visit www.healthfreedominc.com.

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MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT GROUPS

If you have a family member with a mental illness, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) can offer help through its ongoing support groups, led by trained family members. Groups are held every Thursday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Govans Boundary United Methodist Church, 5210 York Rd., and every Tuesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Baltimore Hebrew Congregation, 7401 Park Heights Ave. For more information, call (410) 435-2600 or e-mail namimetrobaltimore@yahoo.com.

this gorgeous green oil does not impart out your digestive tract, especially your liver psychoactive effects and in fact it has regen- and pancreas. Okay to heat. erative properties because it is Coconut oil: So many uses an incredible source of vitamin for this! It fights candida (a E, gamma-linolenic acid and yeast that causes thrush), helps omega 3s. It helps heart, imdigestion and tastes like comune and digestive function. It conuts. It may also fight virustastes nutty. It’s cold-pressed. es. Try adding it to smoothies. I Almond oil: Refined aloften sauté veggies with this, mond oil is great for cooking but it’s great for cooking at purposes because of its relahigher temperatures, too. Also, tively high smoke point, meanapply a tad to dry elbows, heels ing the oil can be heated withor skin irritations. DEAR out destroying too many nutriGrape seed oil: One of my PHARMACIST ents or creating harmful comfavorites because it has a mild By Suzy Cohen pounds. Almonds are rich in vitaste and imparts strong antioxtamin E and D. idants. Great for your heart, it Sunflower oil: Low in saturated fats raises good HDLs and lowers bad LDLs. and rich in vitamin E, sunflower contains Olive oil: Use only extra virgin, coldoleic acid, which increases a gut hormone pressed oils, which are high in essential called GLP-1. If you read my book Diabetes fatty acids as well as vitamins E and K. Olive Without Drugs (Rodale 2010), you’d know oil can promote smooth digestion while prothat this hormone makes you feel full tecting you from heart disease or circulafaster so you’re less likely to eat too much! tion problems. GLP-1 also increases insulin sensitivity This information is opinion only. It is not and protects your pancreatic cells. Don’t intended to treat, cure or diagnose your conoverheat. dition. Consult with your doctor before using Avocado oil: The best source of power- any new drug or supplement. ful antioxidants like glutathione and vitaSuzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist mins A, E and D. Use it in salads or even and the author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist apply it to your skin — it helps eczema and and Real Solutions from Head to Toe. To psoriasis. Glutathione in avocados can clean contact her, visit www.dearpharmacist.com.

Help for Feet and Legs

Dr. Stuart M. Goldman, Podiatrist

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

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Focus on Non-Surgical Treatment of the Foot & Leg in Children and Adults Diabetic Foot Management including Diabetic Neuropathy

“Where there’s pain- there’s a reason!” – Dr. Goldman A podiatrist for 3 decades, with years of experience as hospital chair, surgical instructor, and author, Dr. Goldman often has success with patients who have persistent symptoms, despite other care, and invites all those with foot and leg pain to come in for evaluation and treatment.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — FEBRUARY 2011

Deciphering health claims on food labels By Deborah Kotz When choosing among the hundreds of products on supermarket shelves, many of us use labels as a guide, selecting an “allnatural” cereal over one that’s not, or the mouthwash that promises to remove plaque and promote healthy gums — perhaps even saving us a trip to the dentist — over one that merely freshens breath. Unfortunately, many of these labels exaggerate health benefits or are downright deceptive. Last fall, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration sent warning letters to three mouthwash makers telling them they can’t claim that their products prevent gum disease when that hasn’t been proven in studies. Earlier the same week, the Federal Trade Commission filed a complaint against the maker of Pom Wonderful pomegranate juice, accusing the company of “making false and unsubstantiated claims that (its) products will prevent or treat heart disease, prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction,” according to a statement issued by the agency. “We’re starting to see a government crackdown on products with misleading labels,” said Bruce Silverglade, director of legal affairs at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a Washington, D.C.based nonprofit advocacy group for nutrition, health and food safety. “But we’d still like to see Congress strengthen the laws on food labeling.”

Interpreting some key phrases Oddly enough, some of the labels on supermarket products have strict legal definitions, such as “organic,” while others,

such as “all-natural,” don’t. You’d need to read the label, for example, to know whether an “all-natural” tomato sauce really has no artificial ingredients. Here’s a guide to common label claims and whether they’re likely to be deceptive: “Supports immune system” or “for brain development.” These are medical claims that the FDA said put a product into the category of “drug” rather than food or supplement. If something is a drug, it must go through a rigorous FDA approval process with clinical studies monitored by the agency. In 2009, the FDA asked Kellogg’s to remove “now helps support your child’s immunity” from the labels of Rice Krispies and Coca Krispies, a statement added at the height of the swine flu pandemic. That year Juicy Juice also came under FDA fire for claiming the juice was “for brain devel-

opment.” A good rule of thumb: Be wary of any product you can buy without a prescription that promises to fix or prevent a medical problem, said Silverglade. “Good source of vitamins.” Any

product, regardless of its sugar, salt and fat content, can carry a vitamin claim if it contains a certain amount of fortification. “Excellent source” means a product has See CLAIMS, page 12

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Gilchrist Hospice Care sponsors numerous grief support groups and workshops. Topics include adults with parental loss, widowed persons/life partner, using writing as a healing tool, understanding grief and more. All support groups and workshops are free of charge and open to the community. The current session runs from January through March. To register, call Pat Schoenleber at (443) 849-8251 for the Gilchrist Center or Hunt Valley locations, or Lois Fitzgerald at (443) 539-4086 for Howard County locations. For more information, visit www.gilchristhospice.org or call (443) 849-8200.

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For more information on balloon kyphoplasty call 800-652-2221 or visit www.kyphon.com Medtronic maintains a list of physicians who have been trained to use, and are believed to be both active and proficient users of, Medtronic’s products and who are willing to accept patient referrals. Physician participation on this list is voluntary and free. All referrals are identified based upon geographic criteria only. Medtronic does not guarantee the accuracy of the listings or the capabilities of the physicians listed. The physicians referenced may be paid consultants of, and research cited may have been funded partially or in whole by, Medtronic. Although the complication rate with KYPHON® Balloon Kyphoplasty has been demonstrated to be low, as with most surgical procedures, there are risks associated with the procedure, including serious complications. This procedure is not for everyone. A prescription is required. Please consult your physician for a full discussion of risks and whether this procedure is right for you. © 2008 Medtronic Spine LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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Claims From page 11 more than 20 percent of the recommended daily allowance of that vitamin. “Good source” means it has more than 10 percent but less than 20 percent. “Fortified” means it has at least 10 percent, according to the FDA’s website. But don’t mistake fortification for nutritious. Products that are fortified, nutrition experts agree, are usually missing hundreds of other health-promoting nutrients found naturally in fruits, vegetables and other unprocessed plant foods. “Zero trans fats.” This doesn’t mean a product is completely free of trans fatty acids, a type of fat known to be the worst kind for your heart. It just means that a product can’t contain more than half a

FEBRUARY 2011 — BALTIMORE BEACON

gram of trans fats per serving. “The kicker is that many of us eat more than a serving at a time,” said Silverglade, like that large blueberry muffin that contains two or three government-standardized servings. “We also see products high in saturated fat that are labeled ‘no trans fats.’ This is misleading, since saturated fats are nearly as bad for your heart as trans fats,” he said. Bottom line: Read the label to check for saturated fat content, and scan the ingredient list for partially hydrogenated oils, which are trans fats. “All-natural.” This is supposed to mean that a product contains no artificial ingredients and is minimally processed, but that’s not always the case. Products with the “all-natural” label that contain meat or poultry are legally re-

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quired to meet this definition, said Silverglade, since they’re regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which strictly defines the term. All other foods are regulated by the FDA, which allows manufacturers to define “all-natural” however they see fit, he said. Thus, you can probably trust that “allnatural” chicken soup isn’t made with artificial ingredients, but the same manufacturer’s “all-natural” vegetable soup may be another story, Silverglade said. “Organic.” Because the government has established a single legal definition for “organic” that applies to all food products, this is a “trustworthy” label, said Silverglade. It means a product can’t be manufactured from synthetic ingredients that involved the use of pesticides, chemical fertilizers, animal drugs, or genetic engineering.

The methods used to produce the product must minimize pollution from air, soil and water, and generally be environmentally safe. That doesn’t mean, however, that an organic cookie is more nutritious than a non-organic one. “Light.” To use the “light” label, the FDA said a product must have at least 50 percent fewer calories or one-third less fat than similar products on the market. But light versions of some products, like orange or apple juice, might simply be watered down versions of the original that have been loaded with artificial sweeteners to improve taste. While reduced-fat peanut butter does indeed have less fat, it often contains the same number of calories as the regular kind due to added sugar. © 2010 U.S. News and World Report

BEACON BITS

Jan. 28+

ALL SEWN UP The Parkville group of the Maryland chapter of the American

Sewing Guild hosts monthly meetings the fourth Friday of every month at the Sassy SEWer Sewing Lounge, 9008 Harford Rd. in Parkville. Guests welcome. The group frequently undertakes projects to benefit various causes, from animal rescue to supporting our troops. The next meeting is on Jan. 28 at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call (410) 882.7277, e-mail sew.sassy@verizon.net, or visit www.sassysewer.com.

Knee arthritis pain?

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

To study sleep in pa ents with osteoarthri s of the knee. To par cipate, you must be 50 years or older. Both good and poor sleepers are needed. Parking, and tests are provided at no cost. Compensa on is provided.

Call 410-550-7906 and/or visit the website at

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

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BALTIMORE BEACON â&#x20AC;&#x201D; FEBRUARY 2011

Health Studies Page

THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Are you losing sleep over your arthritis? By Carol Sorgen Sleep disturbance and pain are two of the most common and disabling symptoms of osteoarthritis (OA). Not only are sleep problems difficulties in themselves, but they have been shown to worsen pain by impairing some of the bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s central pain processing mechanisms. Sufficient research is lacking, however, on what treatments may be effective to treat sleep disturbance in people with OA or whether normalization of sleep patterns in people with OA will reduce their pain.

Local volunteers needed Johns Hopkins Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program is conducting ongoing studies of individuals with insomnia and knee osteoarthritis. Healthy, good sleepers are also required for the studies. Researchers are currently looking for volunteers to participate in two different studies. Both involve a sleep study conducted in your home and sensory testing at Johns Hopkins. The first study examines the association between sleep and sensory abilities in arthritis. To participate, you must be 50 years of age or older, have osteoarthritis of the knee, have knee pain, and either have trouble sleeping or be a good sleeper. Participants will be separated into the

following four groups: people with OA and insomnia; people with OA, but without insomnia; people without OA, but with insomnia; and people without OA or insomnia. All of these participants will attend three study visits. During Visit 1, participants will complete questionnaires and an interview and will provide a urine sample and a set of recent X-rays. A diary, which will be used to record activity levels for two weeks, will also be given to all participants. At Visit 2, participants will undergo pain testing and an exam by a rheumatologist. Between Visits 2 and 3, participants will complete an in-home sleep study. At Visit 3, participants will undergo further pain testing and will be prepared for a final inhome sleep study. Participants who have both knee OA and insomnia will be asked to continue into the next phase of the study, which will last eight months. These participants will be randomly assigned to receive two different forms of behavioral treatment â&#x20AC;&#x201D; cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) or a behavioral desensitization treatment. These participants will meet with a psychologist once a week for eight weeks. Participants will learn new sleeping habits and mental exercises designed to reduce arousal and alertness while trying to sleep.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY NEEDS VOLUNTEERS

Chesapeake Habitat for Humanity renovates vacant houses in Baltimore City to create affordable homeownership opportunities for families in need. Volunteers are needed for weekday assignments. Call (410) 366-1250 or e-mail miriam@chesapeakehfh.org to learn more.

Feb. 25+

All participants will attend four assessment visits over the course of this phase and will fill out sleep diaries. Compensation is offered for participation.

Test a sleep medication A second study evaluates the effectiveness of the sleeping medication Lunesta in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. To participate, you must be between 18 and 64 years of age and have had trouble sleeping for at least six months. You must have problems with waking up in the mid-

Studies on Aging: Johns Hopkins University Are you 70 years or older? Investigators from the Division of Geriatric Medicine at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Campus are looking for individuals aged 70 or older to participate in a research study that is looking at the aging process. Tests would include measurements of strength, walking speed and questions about your physical activities. We may also request a blood draw and urine sample. You will be paid $10 for participating depending on the study and we can conduct the study in your home. No travel required. If you choose to travel to Bayview, a parking pass will be given to you.

For more information, please call our study coordinators at Bayview:

410-550-9016 or 410-550-2113 We look forward to hearing from you!

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Seeking Men and Women The University of Maryland & Veterans AďŹ&#x20AC;airs of Baltimore are conducting a research study to better understand FALLS in aging individuals.

dle of the night and sleep a total of 6.5 or fewer hours a night. Participants will keep diaries recording pain and sleep. They will also have their pain sensitivity measured after six weeks of this 12-week study. Compensation of up to $150 is offered for this study. All examinations, parking and medications are provided at no cost in both studies. To learn more, or to volunteer for either study, call (410) 550-7906 or visit www.sleeplessinbaltimore.com.

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Money Law &

MORE FOR MEDICARE Higher-income beneficiaries will pay higher premiums for both Medicare .Parts B and D this year ONLINE CHECKING BENEFITS Check out online banks, which offer interest and sometimes even ATMs RISING TO THE REBATE BAIT Make sure you follow through on rebates if an offer tempts you to buy

Good buys in healthcare and drug stocks Healthcare stocks are cheap. Enactment of healthcare reform last year has Wall Street fretting that industry profits will be depressed. But those fears are unwarranted. With the aging of the population not only in the U.S. but throughout the developed world, as well as advances in medical technology, people will continue to spend more on healthcare, not less. Paul Larson, editor of Morningstar StockInvestor newsletter (telephone 1-866-9101145), which has a terrific track record, is finding more attractively priced stocks today in healthcare than in any other sector. “That’s a reflection of market fears about healthcare reform,” Larson argued, and I agree. Health reform is a net plus for healthcare companies, most of which backed the legislation. Yes, almost all healthcare companies — medical device makers, pharmaceutical firms, hospitals and health insurance companies — will see their prices squeezed. But the new law will provide health coverage to tens of millions of people who are currently without insurance, increasing the number of customers. “Total healthcare spending will increase under Obama’s plan,” Larson said. Health reform isn’t the only thing that has turned Wall Street against health stocks. Numerous blockbuster drugs have either lost patent protection or are on the

verge of losing it, leading to pressure on pharmaceutical stocks. But Larson and I both think investors have more than priced these losses into current stock prices. And a slew of new medications are on the way.

Attractive healthcare stocks

times projected 2011 earnings. Medtronic (MDT) makes medical devices, such as pacemakers, stents and insulin pumps. It has been a strong innovator, particularly in treatments for cardiovascular diseases, and is working on new therapies for atrial fibrillation. Medtronic trades at just 10 times analysts’ 2011 estimated earnings.

So if this is a good time buy healthcare and drug company Finding a fund SAVVY SAVER stocks, where to invest? Here Prefer to hire a pro to pick By Steven T. Goldberg are some stocks and mutual your health stocks? Vanguard funds worth considering. Healthcare (1-800-635-1511) Pfizer (PFE), the world’s largest phar- and T. Rowe Price Health Sciences (1-800maceutical firm, faces patent expirations of 638-5660) are both excellent funds with anseveral blockbusters: anti-depressant Ef- nual expenses of just 0.36 percent and 0.87 fexor, cholesterol drug Lipitor, and impo- percent, respectively. tence drug Viagra. But the patent expiraThe Vanguard fund is less risky. It’s tions are more than reflected in Pfizer’s about 20 percent less volatile than Standirt-cheap price. dard & Poor’s 500-stock index, and it lost Pfizer trades at just 7 times consensus only 18 percent in 2008 compared to 37 analyst estimates for 2011 earnings. Yet it percent for the S&P 500. The T. Rowe has 100 new drugs in its pipeline, includ- Price fund is just a shade less volatile ing about 30 in late-stage clinical trials. than the S&P; it tumbled 29 percent in Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) is the world’s 2008. largest and most diverse health company. Still, the T. Rowe Price fund has perIt develops and sells pharmaceuticals, con- formed a little better than the Vanguard sumer products and medical devices. fund. Over the past 10 years, it has reProduct safety issues have rocked the turned an annualized 5.5 percent comcompany of late. But, again, Wall Street pared to 5.1 percent for the Vanguard fund. Ed Owens has run Vanguard Healthhas overreacted. The stock trades at 12

care since inception in 1984. Kris Jenner has been at the helm at T. Rowe Price Health Sciences since 2000. Owens tends to favor pharmaceutical companies and to underweight biotechnology. Jenner likes smaller companies, including biotech. One negative to Vanguard Health: It requires a $25,000 minimum initial investment. Speaking of biotechnology, I think the best way to invest in that tricky sector is through an exchange-traded fund (ETF) — in other words, a fund that trades like a stock. SPDR Standard & Poor’s Biotech Index (symbol XBI) invests in the largest 29 biotech companies. Unlike most index ETFs, it puts an equal amount of money into each of its holdings. Thus, you get the handful of well-established biotech companies, such as Amgen, as well as lots of more speculative fare. Many of those smaller firms will surely fail — they often have just one or two drugs in development. But the odds are strong that some will hit the jackpot. Note: Don’t overdo this risky ETF. Steven T. Goldberg is a freelance writer and investment advisor in Silver Spring, Md. He welcomes reader questions. E-mail steve@tginvesting.com or write to Steven Goldberg, 9005 Woodland Dr., Silver Spring, MD 20910. You may also call him at (301) 650-6567.

What fund ratings do and don’t tell you By Mark Jewell As a mutual fund investor, you don’t want to pay “the stupid penalty.” That’s what Russel Kinnel calls the difference between the best and worst funds. It’s a penalty that he’s studied closely as director of mutual fund research at Morningstar. Consider Morningstar’s analysis of the best and worst large-cap mutual funds over a 10-year stretch ending in April 2008. Investors who put $100,000 in the best largecap blend funds ended up with an average profit of $97,000. Investors in the worst funds pocketed just $33,000. That makes for a stupid penalty of $64,000 — a price you don’t want to pay.

“Stupid” may be a bit harsh, because it’s not always easy to determine whether one fund is more likely to produce above-average returns year after year. That’s where various fund ratings systems come in. They can help simplify the selection process by serving as a starting point. Morningstar and Lipper are the biggest players when it comes to tracking mutual fund performance. Their rating systems and performance rankings are widely used in the industry.

Methods differ There’s a lot more at stake in selecting a fund than in choosing a movie, so you

don’t want to rely solely on 1- to 5-star ratings. The rating services aren’t as subjective as film critics, but methodology differences can leave investors confused. For instance, the same mutual fund can be classified differently depending on the research firm. Take Encompass (ENCPX), a fund that takes a go-anywhere approach, venturing into U.S. and international stocks of companies large and small. In 2008 the fund finished down 62 percent. When the market rebounded last year, Encompass surged 137 percent — topping more than 200 funds in its category. This year, it’s again among the leaders, up nearly 16 percent. Morningstar’s 5-star system gives En-

compass just two stars, penalizing the fund for volatile returns. In contrast, the fund looks comparatively good using Lipper’s system, which rates funds on a scale of 1 to 5 for five different measures. Lipper gives Encompass a top-notch 5 in two categories, and 4, 3 and 1 in the others. One reason for the differences: Morningstar categorizes Encompass as a world stock fund. Lipper classifies Encompass as a global multi-cap growth fund. The category differences are important because a fund’s performance is measured against its peers. Choosing which group to compare against can have big implications See FUND RATINGS, page 15

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BALTIMORE BEACON — FEBRUARY 2011

Fund ratings From page 14 for performance rankings. John Rekenthaler, vice president of research at Morningstar, acknowledges star ratings are only an introduction to a fund that can “get the odds in your favor” but don’t ensure success. There will never be a perfect system for predicting fund performance. A key problem: Most ratings are backward-looking, relying on quantitative analysis that may offer little help predicting future performance. They don’t account for fund manager changes, how much managers invest in their own fund, and any number of intangibles.

A look at several trackers Yet there’s no shortage of attempts to devise better ratings. New challengers to Morningstar and Lipper are emerging. Here are key differences among the two largest and the smaller players in the fundtracking business:

Morningstar: Its star ratings measure a fund’s past performance while also weighing how much risk a fund took to achieve its returns. A fund that produced top results won’t necessarily secure a top rating if its performance was unusually volatile. Funds charging lower fees are more likely to get higher star ratings. In fact, a recent Morningstar study found that expenses, taken alone, are a slightly more important factor in predicting how well a fund will perform than star ratings. Morningstar analysts also write fund reports, offering subjective evaluations of such factors as the fund’s managers or shifts in investment style. Access to the reports is limited to premium members paying $179 a year or $19.95 a month. Funds that analysts deem likely to consistently deliver strong returns win Morningstar’s ‘Analyst Pick” designation. Lipper: Uses criteria similar to Morningstar’s, but with a 1-to-5 number rating showing how well a fund meets specific goals. Lipper’s numbers show how a fund

BEACON BITS

Jan. 26

JOIN THE RANKS OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS Find out how successful women entrepreneurs have achieved their

goals. This free interactive workshop will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 26, at 6:30 p.m. at the Essex branch of the Baltimore County Public Library, 1110 Eastern

stacks up on five criteria: total return, consistency, expenses, tax efficiency and ability to minimize risk of losses in a variety of markets. The company’s Lipper Leaders are funds ranking among the top 20 percent of their peers. Lipper’s reliance on a fund’s ability to protect investors from paying taxes on investment gains is another key difference. Morningstar’s site offers data on a fund’s tax efficiency, but it’s not figured into its star rating. Investors holding mutual funds in taxable accounts will want to pay close attention to those tax-efficiency rankings. Standard & Poor’s: S&P changed its

fund-ranking methodology last year, differentiating itself from Morningstar and Lipper. Like the others, S&P examines a fund’s record and risk level. But S&P also analyzes a fund’s holdings. Portfolio quality is a judgment based on S&P analyst assessments of outlooks for individual stocks, and S&P’s credit rankings for bonds. Other factors being equal, a fund holding stocks earning high marks from S&P will rank higher on its 5-star scale than one with poorly-rated holdings. It’s an attempt See FUND RATINGS, page 16

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Jan. 21

KNOW YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS Maureen Dove, former assistant attorney general, discusses senior rights and addresses such topics as living wills, reverse mort-

gages and resident rights in nursing homes. She will also talk about the new healthcare laws in Maryland. The free event takes place on Friday, Jan. 21 at

O PE N I N G SOON!

10:30 a.m. at the Catonsville Senior Center, 501 N. Rolling Rd. For more information, call Grace McDowell at (410) 887-0900.

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FEBRUARY 2011 — BALTIMORE BEACON

High earners will pay more for Medicare By Kimberly Lankford In 2011, high-income beneficiaries face an even bigger hit from Medicare increases than in the past. Not only will they have to pay higher premiums for Medicare Part B, which covers doctor visits and outpatient services, but they’ll also have to pay a new surcharge for Part D Medicare prescriptiondrug coverage starting in 2011. However, you may be able to avoid the surcharge, depending on when you retired. In 2011, most Medicare beneficiaries will continue to pay Part B premiums of $96.40 per month, which have been in effect since 2008. Those who first enrolled in

Medicare in 2010 will continue to pay $110.50 per month. And if you’re new to Medicare in 2011, you’ll most likely pay $115.40 per month. But high-income beneficiaries — individuals who earned more than $85,000 in 2009 and couples with joint incomes of $170,000 or more — will pay a high-income surcharge, boosting their total Part B premiums to at least $161.50 per month, and in some cases, as much as $369.10 per month. And, starting this year, the same highincome folks will also have to pay a new surcharge of $12 to $69.10 per month for prescription-drug coverage, depending on their income, on top of their regular

Medicare Part D premiums. But if your income has dropped since 2009 (the most recent tax return the IRS has on record), you may be able to reduce or eliminate the surcharge. To qualify, your income loss must be tied to a life-changing event — such as a marriage, a divorce, a job loss or reduced work hours (including retirement), loss of income from income-producing property, or cuts in pension benefits. The Social Security Administration will have an updated form available for you to fill out with your income for the year and

evidence of the life-changing event. That could include a statement from your former employer verifying that you’ve retired. For more information about contesting the high-income surcharge, see Medicare Part B Premiums: Rules for Beneficiaries with Higher Incomes at www.ssa.gov/pubs/10116.html. [For a list of free health screenings and vaccinations available to eligible Medicare beneficiaries this year, see page 5 of this issue.] © 2010 Kiplinger. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc.

Fund ratings

ings are similar to S&P’s approach, assessing the quality of a stock fund’s holdings. That quality is determined according to Zacks’ system for ranking stocks. FundReveal: A newly launched service founded by Ani Chitaley, formerly a vice president at Fidelity Investments. Investors can compare similar funds to see how returns differ, and the risks taken to achieve returns. A graph shows where each fund falls within a four-square quadrant, while also comparing against the Standard & Poor’s 500 index. The best funds appear in a quadrant signifying high returns with low risk. —AP

From page 15

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at a forward-looking approach for evaluating funds. But its predictive power hinges on S&P analysts’ assessment skills. U.S. News & World Report: The magazine aggregates rankings from five services to arrive at a composite score for a fund, on a 1 to 10 scale. U.S. News gives equal weight to Morningstar, Lipper and S&P as well as Zacks Investment Research and TheStreet.com. Zacks Investment Research: Assigns a score of 1 to funds considered a “strong buy” down to 5 for “strong sell.” The rank-

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BALTIMORE BEACON — FEBRUARY 2011

Online checking accounts offer benefits

Bank of America The country’s largest bank introduced its first online-only account in August. Since then, these eBanking accounts have made up more than 40 percent of the company’s new checking accounts. Customers have to opt for online statements and make routine deposits and withdrawals online or at ATMs to avoid a $9 monthly fee. The upside is that there is no minimum balance requirement. Although the accounts don’t bear any interest, customers have the security of knowing they can walk into one of the bank’s 5,900 branches around the country if they need to. But visits have to be limited to those rare situations that can’t be resolved remotely, such as depositing coins or complicated customer service matters. Otherwise, handling a routine transaction at a branch would result in a monthly fee. Another factor that makes the account more attractive is that Bank of America last year finished rolling out its new ATMs that make deposits a lot easier. Customers just swipe their bank card and enter an endorsed check into a blinking slot. The machine scans the check for

the value and asks for verification of the amount. Customers can also get a receipt that shows images of the front and back of the check. With cash, up to 40 bills can be deposited at a time and the ATM automatically calculates the amount. Note that these functions aren’t exclusive to Bank of America; Capital One Bank and Chase ATMs operate in much the same way, and Citi plans a full rollout of similar ATMs starting next year. As for customer service questions, Bank of America offers live online chats for those who prefer not to call and speak with a representative.

Ally Bank Another option is going with an online institution such as Ally Bank. If you already have a supplemental savings account at an online bank, you may be wondering whether it would be inconvenient to move your primary checking account over, too. The main incentive is that the accounts typically bear interest to make up for the lack of branches. At Ally, the interest rates on checking accounts are currently 0.5 percent for balances up to $14,999 and 1.05 percent for anything above. There’s no minimum balance requirement and customers can get paper statements free of charge. Ally offers a few other perks to assuage concerns about moving to an online bank. Since Ally doesn’t operate any ATMs, for example, the bank refunds any ATM fees customers incur. Customers are also given an unlimited number of prepaid envelopes to mail in check deposits. The bank also puts a fine point on its customer service and posts the estimated wait time to speak with a representative on

its website. The time is usually less than a minute. Customers might run into snafus if they want to deposit cash, however. The cash would need to be converted into a money order or a cashier’s check, and customers aren’t reimbursed for these fees.

ING Direct The interest rates on checking accounts at online bank ING Direct range from 0.25 to 1.25 percent depending on the balance. There is no minimum balance requirement. Unlike with Ally, ING Direct customers have access to the bank’s partner network of about 35,000 ATMs for cash withdrawals (not deposits). These ATMs, branded as Allpoint, are located primarily in conven-

ience stores such as 7-Eleven. Fees incurred at other ATMs aren’t reimbursed. An interesting feature with these accounts is the virtual checkbook. Customers write their checks online and ING prints and mails the checks, picking up the cost of postage. Another function lets customers wire money to family and friends’ bank accounts for free with an accompanying e-mail. The bank also has occasional promotions. Recently, it was offering $50 to open a checking account. The bank does not offer paper statements or a way to deposit cash. Checks can be deposited by mail; the bank doesn’t provide prepaid envelopes. — AP

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By Candice Choi You may never have to wait in line at a bank again. Now that most routine transactions can be handled online or at ATMs, you may be weighing whether it’s worth making the leap to an exclusively online checking account. Besides the convenience of never having to go to the bank, these accounts typically bear interest or come with other perks. There are, of course, trade-offs to be wary of as well. Here are three options worth considering:

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You’ll start feeling better the minute you see how much you save on generic prescriptions. If you or your family are taking prescription medications, you may want to try generics. Generics are safe and eﬀective, FDA approved, and work the same way that name brands do, but cost up to 80% less. Speak to your CVS Pharmacist to learn more.

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Think twice if a rebate tempts you to buy By Candice Choi It’s only a rebate if you get the money back. Retailers dangle rebates to get shoppers to buy smart phones and other shiny new toys. But the offers can come with catches that limit your savings. The premise of a rebate is simple enough: Pay the full price at the register and get money back after filling out some paperwork. A check is issued within weeks and everyone is happy. Yet that’s not always how it plays out. Shoppers often don’t bother to register online or mail in rebate forms. In fact, only about half of eligible consumers bother redeeming rebates, according to Hal Stinchfield, CEO of Promotional Marketing Insights in Minneapolis. Customers are more likely to mail in rebate forms if they’re handed the necessary materials at the register. If shoppers have to tear off a slip on a drug store shelf, redemptions go down dramatically. That’s despite the negligible difference in the effort required to get the rebate. And even when people send in the forms, they frequently don’t cash the checks they receive. Rebates also are increasingly issued on prepaid cards, which open a whole new set of issues.

Before you cash in If a steep rebate offer catches your eye, it’s worth shopping around before you act. Some discount chains, such as Best Buy and Target, don’t offer rebates. Yet their prices may be as competitive. So if a cell phone is selling for $150 after a rebate at one store, you might be able to

get it for a similar price without having to go through the hoops of the rebate process. And if it’s a manufacturer offering the rebate rather than a retailer, you can still mail away for the discount. Before you act on a rebate offer, ask what form the refund will come in. You might not be thrilled if it comes on a store gift card. Stores like to offer gift cards because they spur shoppers to return to buy more. Also make sure there’s no chance you’ll want to return the item, since you won’t be able to once you start the rebate process. That’s because customers typically need to cut the bar code from the packaging and mail it in with their paperwork. Otherwise, it’s a good idea to mail in rebate forms sooner rather than later. The redemption deadline is usually within 90 days or so. But the number of buyers mailing in redemptions starts falling off after about six weeks, suggesting that procrastination makes it less and less likely that you’ll get around to it.

issuer in as little as 24 hours. Rebate cards also aren’t subject to the new federal regulations on gift cards. The rules ban inactivity fees in the first year and expiration dates for at least five years after the card is issued. But the expiration date on a rebate card may be much sooner. For example, the rebate cards Verizon is currently issuing for select phones expire after just one year. Customers can request replacement cards with the remaining balance at no cost. But that’s another hassle you might not want to deal with. The exact terms of a rebate card can vary significantly depending on the program, so carefully read any accompanying materials.

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If you get a rebate card Once you get a rebate, the next step is making sure you use it. This is a little more complicated than it sounds now that more rebates come on prepaid cards. These cards have a Visa, MasterCard or American Express logo and can be used wherever those cards are accepted. The card may even bear your name, but don’t be fooled into thinking it provides the same protections as a credit or debit card. The entire value of a rebate card could be lost unless a stolen card is reported to the

One way to avoid losing any value on a rebate card is to go to your bank and cash it or deposit it into a checking account. Visa says not all rebate cards can be cashed or deposited, but the materials that come with the card should note if that’s an option. This comes with a couple benefits. To start, you earn interest on the money by putting it into a savings account. Or you could earn rewards by spending the money through a credit or debit card. Cashing or depositing a rebate card also eliminates the possibility that you won’t use its entire value. As with gift cards, there’s the chance you could tuck it away into a drawer somewhere and forget that there’s still money on it. — AP

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FEBRUARY 2011 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Careers

Does your organization use senior volunteers or do you employ a number of seniors?

Volunteers &

If you do and you’d like to be considered for a story in our Volunteers & Careers section, please send an e-mail to info@thebeaconnewspapers.com.

Boomers need to blaze new career trails The oldest baby boomers started turning non-profit that’s leading the charge for the 65 in January. For the next two decades, encore career movement — the idea that America’s 78 million boomers older adults can blaze new cawill be qualifying for Social Sereer trails that can transform curity at a rate of roughly the country. 10,000 a day for the next 20 His soon-to-be-released book, years. The Big Shift (PublicAffairs, The age of 65 may be a symApril 2011), argues that we need bolic milepost for aging — to recognize and develop a new mainly because it was adopted stage of life between midlife and as the official retirement age true old age. when Social Security was created in the 1930s under Franklin RETIRE SMART Keeping willing workers on the job Delano Roosevelt. By Mark Miller Freedman advocates continBut rising longevity and advancements in healthcare (and healthier liv- ued participation in the labor force by ing) have reduced the relevance of 65 as a older people who need and want to keep harbinger of retirement. Many boomers ex- working. Labor force participation generpress a desire (or need) to continue working ates economic growth, and can contribute to national deficit reduction. There’s even long after they reach “retirement age.” If the largest generation in American his- evidence that working longer could extend tory can look forward to many more years the solvency of Social Security. But don’t count Freedman among those of usefulness and engagement, what will they do with those years? I posed this ques- who argue for a mandated higher Social tion recently to Marc Freedman, one of the Security retirement age. He prefers the country’s leading thinkers and writers on carrot to the stick. “I think what we need to do is focus on how Americans can redefine life after 50. Freedman is the CEO of Civic Ventures, a those who voluntarily are going to work

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longer — not necessarily [on] those who don’t want to, but have to,” he said. “Rather than try to raise the retirement age or coerce someone who doesn’t want to work longer, let’s help those who are already determined to go in that direction get from aspiration to action.” Freedman urges creation of public policies and programs that can help with these critical life transitions. “Right now, the only transition we do a decent job on is the one young people make from adolescent to adulthood. At this later juncture, it’s a do-ityourself process: You’re on your own. “People are hungry for help with this. What we need are new pathways for people in their 50s, 60s and 70s. Let’s meet them halfway with additional education, internships or service projects. Let’s make it easier for this group to do what they want to do — and what we need them to do as a society.”

Innovative ideas Expect to hear more from Freedman on how to make these transitions easier when his book is published in the spring, but here are some of the key ideas: Education: Our higher education sys-

tem offers undergraduate training for 18to-25-year-olds and lifelong learning for those who are over 70 and truly retired. But “a school for the second half of life has not been developed yet,” Freedman said. “It would be tailored for those who have another phase of their working lives yet to come.” Freedman sees community colleges as the best candidates to offer this new encore career pathway, since they already offer career training, can offer affordable classes, and are well-connected to local labor markets and employers. Financing transitions. Freedman wants to re-think the way retirement assets are used by splitting savings into two buckets — one for lifetime security and the other invested to produce income that can help pay for a mid-life career transition. Some people already are using 529 education accounts and Roth IRAs for this purpose, but Civic Ventures has been advocating creation of a new type of savings vehicle to support midlife education. It’s called an Individual Purpose AcSee BOOMER JOBS, page 21

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

INFORMATION FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS The U.S. Small Business Administration has developed “MY BIZ

for Women,” an online tool to provide business information and assistance to women entrepreneurs. The site highlights the best government resources for starting and growing a small business, finding capital and contracting opportunities, links to other agencies and resource partners, business counseling and

You’ll ﬁnd topical articles, as well as blogs, recipes, useful links, reader forums, games, puzzles and event listings.

more. Visit the site at www.SBA.gov/women.

Ongoing

BECOME A LITERACY TUTOR Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) is looking for volunteer literacy tutors. For more information, call (443) 840-4700

or visit www.ccbcmd.edu.

Also – www.facebook.com/BeaconNewspaper

Ongoing

HOSPICE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Seasons Hospice and Palliative Care is seeking volunteers for patient home care, in-patient care at Northwest Hospital, and office

volunteers to serve in Baltimore City and Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Howard and Harford counties. Call 1-888-523-6000 or e-mail jjordan@seasons.org for more information.

BALTIMORE BEACON — FEBRUARY 2011

Bed & Breakfast From page 1 “The bills started coming in, and we decided it just couldn’t stay a private home,” she said. A year after purchasing the property, they opened part of it to the public as a one-room bed and breakfast. In all, it took 10 years to completely renovate the mansion and the entire estate, including an apartment building, carriage house, outbuildings and gardens. Today, the Gramercy offers 11 rooms and suites to the public, each individually furnished with period pieces. “Opening a B&B wasn’t what we anticipated, but we found it wasn’t bad,” said Pomykala. At the beginning, she was its reservationist, greeter, housekeeper, chef and more. Today, the inn has a staff of 20 to handle the day-to-day operations. Pomykala has stepped back somewhat, and her daughter, Cristin, now serves as manager. “I still ‘meet and greet’ but I don’t have to do the hard work anymore,” she

Boomer jobs From page 20 count (IPA). IPAs could incorporate valuable features such as tax credits, employer matches and loan options. Volunteering as a pathway. The Serve America Act of 2009 funded a dramatic expansion of public service programs, and it envisioned national service “encore fellowships” to help people transition to public service in the non-profit sector. But the fellowships haven’t yet been funded.

laughed. In addition to hosting its many guests (who have included such celebrities as Ron Howard), Gramercy is a popular site for weddings, romantic “elopements,” conferences, wine dinners, culinary classes and high teas. The estate is also home to the oldest organic farm in Maryland, Koinonia Organic Farm, founded in 1950. Herbs from the seven-acre farm — including basic, oregano, thyme, marjoram, spearmint, cilantro, tarragon, sage and rosemary — are sold in Whole Foods and Giant Foods, among other retail stores. And while Pomykala wasn’t looking to expand her innkeeping business, in the late 1990s when Baltimore City closed its City Life Museums, she saw an opportunity not only to restore another neglected property but also to revitalize a long-forgotten part of Baltimore City — the Jonestown neighborhood. It took several years (and several changes in the City administration), but in late 2003 Pomykala finally took over the six abandoned townhouses. From those In the meantime, some corporations are adding encore career programs and some community colleges are starting programs. Freedman still hopes the fellowship program will be funded and expanded. Does the push for encore careers make practical sense in a period of high unemployment and scarce jobs? Freedman argues that the new life stage he envisions involves “a long-term structural change in the shape of our lives, and it will include upturns and downturns in the economy. “And it’s not a zero-sum game of compe-

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

DRIVERS WANTED FOR VA HEALTH CARE

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The B&B industry has changed in the 25 years since Pomykala fell into it. At the start, it was difficult to get guests. “You had to sign up with a reservations service and hope people found you,” she said. But the Internet has changed all that. She no longer relies on reservations services or even print publications to advertise the properties. Through their colorful websites, e-mail newsletter and blogs, Pomykala’s properties — and the B&B industry overall — are enjoying unprecedented success among travelers of all ages. “The Internet is where it’s at for any small business,” said Pomykala, One of the chief benefits of being online is that travelers who are looking for a more

personalized, less touristy experience than is usually found at traditional hotels and motels tend to search for luxury bed and breakfasts, finding sites like Gramercy and the Carrollton Inn. Besides creating a successful innkeeping business, Pomykala is especially proud of the fact that she was able to restore several of Baltimore’s historic properties and to be one of the pioneers of the Jonestown neighborhood revitalization, just blocks from the Inner Harbor. “My biggest reward is knowing that we have contributed to a city we didn’t know at all when we first purchased Gramercy,” said Pomykala. She recalled car trips as a child through a hot and muggy Baltimore that left her with an unflattering image of the city. “Once we were here, though, we found that Baltimore is a hometown…something Washington is not,” said Pomykala. “In Washington, everyone is transient,” she said. “In Baltimore, there are people who are friendly, caring and concerned about their city. Everyone has a connection.”

tition between the old and young for jobs. When we develop the new concept of this period of life and work, it’s something we’re doing not just for people at this juncture now, but for those who will live even longer later on.” Mark Miller is the author of The Hard

Times Guide to Retirement Security: Practical Strategies for Money, Work and Living (John Wiley & Sons/Bloomberg Press, June 2010). Subscribe to Mark’s free weekly eNewsletter at http://retirementrevised.com/enews. Contact him via mark@retirementrevised.com. © 2011 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

and areas nearby she created the 13-room 1840s Carrollton Inn on Albemarle Street as well as the 30,000-square-foot 1840s Plaza, an event space on South Front Street. The Inn is managed by her son-inlaw, Cristin’s husband, Tim Kline.

Effect of the Internet

Senior Apartments LIVE WELL FOR LESS Roland View Towers

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USM lobbies for Maryland seniors and is a key player on state commissions and task forces that make recommendations to the Governor and Legislators.

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The USM Annual State Legislative Rally has been rescheduled to Wed., March 9, 2011. Tickets already purchased are still good. If you bought tickets for Jan. 25 and cannot attend on March 9, e-mail unitedseniors@verizon.net for a refund.

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FEBRUARY 2011 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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BALTIMORE BEACON — FEBRUARY 2011

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Travel

Leisure &

Barbados is known for fun, sun and rum. See story on page 24.

Visiting old and new Toyko on the cheap

Finding an inexpensive hotel Unless you speak Japanese, you won’t make it very far cold-calling Tokyo’s budget-priced hotels. Good English is generally spoken only at top-of-the-line accommodations and pricier business hotels. A good place for budget travelers to start is Agoda.com, an English-language website that specializes in travel bookings in Asia. A search for Tokyo hotels turns up hundreds of hits, including quite a few for under $70 a night — a steal by Tokyo standards. A recent three-night stay at a comfort-

able, quiet — albeit small — one-bedroom at the Dormy Inn Hatchobori ran $72 a night for three nights. This was well below the hotel’s $100 standard nightly rate. More adventurous travelers can choose between two more budget-minded routes: a traditional ryokan hotel (akin to a bedand-breakfast) or, cheaper still, a capsule hotel, where the units are little more than beds with doors. Expect lots of noise and little English, particularly at the latter.

By Dan Strumpf One of the most fascinating things about Tokyo is the way it combines both the ancient and the modern. Or rather, the way it doesn’t combine them at all, so the new and the old are side by side everywhere you turn. Take the metro to the Chiyoda Ward in central Tokyo and you’ll find yourself surrounded by a tangle of glass and steel skyscrapers — until out of nowhere appears a moat, a pavilion of neatly trimmed grass, and the hulking stone walls of the Imperial Palace. There’s hardly a guard in sight and entrance to the surrounding gardens is free and open to the public. That’s another fascinating thing about Tokyo: Despite its enormous size and hightech opulence, much of the city is remarkably affordable for budget travelers. You just need to know the right sites to visit and the best spot for a cheap sushi meal.

Using public transportation Tokyo has one of the finest underground train systems in the world. It’s cheap, safe and oh-so-fast. The downside is that, for first-time visitors, the tangled web of train lines can be extraordinarily confusing. Mercifully, stations have signs in both English and Japanese. Pick up a free map from any station upon your arrival and study it as best you can. If you plan to hit a lot of sites in one day, your best bet is a one-day metro line pass, which can be bought at the bilingual ticket terminal at any station. These will run you 710 yen ($8.31). For a bit more, you can get passes that give you access to additional train routes circling the city, called Toei lines, but it’s not necessary. If you prefer to pay as you go, you can try to guess your fare each time you enter a train station, but this is likely to be an exercise in futility. Fortunately, riders can enter stations by paying a minimum 160 yen ($1.87) fare, then pay the difference upon arriving. © MIHAI-BOGDAN LAZAR | DREAMSTIME.COM

The Hanazono Jinga Shinto shrine dates back to the17th century. Surrounded by trees, the shrine offers an oasis of calm in the midst of one of Tokyo’s busiest districts. Shrines throughout Tokyo are among many free or low-cost sites attractive to the budget tourist.

Even at night, shoppers crowd Tokyo’s busy Ginza District, an upscale shopping area with department stores, boutiques and restaurants. The district is named after the silver coin mint that was once located in the neighborhood. Fortunately, you won’t need a mint to pay for meals at the many inexpensive noodle shops found inside the huge department stores.

Taxicabs can be hailed around the city in a pinch, but they are expensive and the fares can quickly add up.

Old Tokyo One of the first stops for budget-minded travelers should be the sprawling Tsukiji fish market. You can spend hours roaming the market’s corridors, ogling ice troughs full of arm-sized fish, and chowing down on some of the freshest sushi on the planet. It’s best visited early in the morning, when the vendors are still well-stocked. Another piece of old Tokyo not to be missed is the Meiji Jingu shrine. This Shinto shrine was constructed 90 years ago under Emperor Meiji, who led the way in opening Japan to the rest of the world. The gardens, lily ponds and temple grounds are a pleasant respite from noisy Tokyo. Entrance is free, but it costs 500 yen ($5.85) to visit the iris garden, a fee worth paying. You could spend a whole day at the Asakusa temple if you wanted, where you are likely to encounter the curious sight of groups of quiet worshippers praying just steps away from a bustling souvenir shop. Be sure to drop a few coins into a donation jar here and take a fortune that spells out

your fate in great detail. The Asakusa temple is also an excellent budget shopping area, where the sprawl of small shops offers an abundance of inexpensive Japanese goods. Round out your tour of old Tokyo with a visit to the Imperial Palace in the city center. Only the gardens surrounding the palace are open to the public on a regular basis, but they make for an enjoyable walk, and the high stone walls and wide moats offer a glimpse into life in feudal Japan.

New Tokyo Take in all of Tokyo’s vastness from high up with a visit to the Tokyo Tower, which offers a panoramic view of all the sprawl. A ticket to the main observatory costs 980 yen ($11.47) and takes you 492 feet high, offering a view that stretches to Mount Fuji on a clear day. Another 600 yen ($7.02) gets you into the 820-foot-high special observatory. Tokyo from the ground is best seen with a visit to the Shibuya neighborhood. Shibuya is quintessential Tokyo, where neon lights, electronics shops and rivers of pedestrians are the defining features. Be See TOKYO, page 25

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FEBRUARY 2011 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Sun and rum lap the shores of Barbados make allowances.”

A scenic, though small, island The island is 166 square miles, about 2 1/2 times the size of Washington, D.C., and about as difficult to get around by car, with driving on the left (Barbados was a British possession until independence in 1966) and many roundabouts or rotaries to negotiate. It is a relatively flat island, with green hills rising gently inland and stunning vistas on the coasts, the Caribbean in the west, the Atlantic in the east. The scenic beauty of the island was the inspiration for the Alec Waugh novel, Island in the Sun, which was made into a movie starring James Mason in 1957 and partly filmed here. Frequent sights while driving around the island are “rum shops,” combination bars and general stores that often serve as gathering places for local Bajans, as the Barbadians are called. It is said that there are as many rum shops as there are churches in Barbados, and there are a lot of churches. The rum shops are the best places to sample local food and drink, watch a game of dominos, or just get to know the friendly Bajans. Cricket fields abound, as do chattel houses, especially on the lesser roadways. The chattel houses are small wooden

By Norm Goldstein ST. PHILIP, Barbados — George Washington slept here. Among the hundreds of markers that make that claim, the most curious is here on Barbados, the easternmost Caribbean island, off the coast of Venezuela. Washington visited Barbados in 1751. He apparently enjoyed his stay, despite a bout of smallpox, writing in his diary, “In the cool of the evening we rode in the country and were perfectly enraptured with the beautiful scenery which every side presented our view. The fields of cane, corn, fruit trees in a delightful green.” It took Washington, who was then 19, six weeks to sail from Virginia with his half-brother Lawrence, who was ailing with tuberculosis. Lawrence hoped the tropical air would be restorative. It took me and my wife, a somewhat older couple, five hours on a direct flight from New York for our first visit here. And unlike George and Lawrence, who came for recuperation, we — along with friends from London — came for the sun and rum. The future first president of the United States rode around the island on a horse; we rented a car. A tourist guide booklet noted that H-number license plates identify visiting drivers and “locals are usually accommodating of your confusion and

Yachts line a harbor in Barbados, a small but picturesque Caribbean island that was a British colony until it gained independence in 1961. The country’s sugar cane crop is mostly used to make rum, which is both exported and consumed liberally on the island.

homes set on blocks rather than on more permanent foundations. “Chattel” means movable property. Historically, in plantation days, the workers did not own the land their house was set on, so they built them to be able to move the whole house quickly in case of a landlord or employer dispute. A few now serve as stores, selling Tshirts, beachwear and gifts in Chattel Village in the inappropriately named Holetown on the southeast coast. Apparently, Holetown got its name because of the offloading of ships in the small channel nearby. It’s where the English first landed in Barbados in 1625. We lunched there, at a beachside restaurant aptly named Beach House, dining on fish and chicken, and rum, the island drink, usually served with fruit juice as a rum punch.

On one rainy day, we headed for Bridgetown, the island’s capital on the southwest coast, and stopped at the Waterfront Cafe for a lunch of flying fish, the national fish of the island. (They don’t really “fly,” but they do an Olympian leap out of the warm Caribbean waters to escape predators.)

Drink and food Not far from Bridgetown are the George Washington House, restored as a heritage site, and the Mount Gay Rum visitors’ center on the northern edge of the capital. The working distillery is located on another part of the island. The rum is made from local sugar cane, still the island’s biggest product for export and local consumption, although tourism and manufacturing have surpassed the See BARBADOS, page 25

BEACON BITS

May 2+

JOURNEY BACK IN TIME

Join the Pikesville Senior Center for this relaxing journey to Virginia Beach and Colonial Williamsburg from May 2 through 6. Revisit our country’s history in addition to enjoying entertainment and fine dining. For more details, call (410) 484-5285 or e-mail pikesvilleseniorcenter@comcast.net.

Jan. 26+

TAKE A HIKE

Enjoy this six-mile hike in the McKeldin area of Patapsco Valley State Park in Baltimore County. This and other hikes are sponsored by the Mountain Club of Maryland. For more information, call (410) 998-9255.

Feb. 14+

SAIL THE CARIBBEAN

Join this Senior Box Office-sponsored 12-night cruise from Feb. 14 to 26, out of Baltimore to St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. Kitts, St. Johns and more. Cost is $1,160 to $1,770/double. For more information and reservations, call (410) 882-3797.

Feb. 17

THEATER TRIP

Come along with the Ateaze Senior Center on this day trip to Paradise, Pa., to see Send Me No Flowers. The $57 cost includes transportation, theater ticket, and lunch at Rainbow Dinner Theatre. Call (410) 285-0481 to save a spot.

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com | Leisure & Travel

BALTIMORE BEACON — FEBRUARY 2011

Tokyo From page 23 sure to stop by Shibuya Crossing, the city’s answer to Times Square in New York. Lastly, the Ginza shopping district is worth a visit, even if you don’t plan on buying anything from its glitzy, high-end department stores. It’s a great place to ogle Tokyo’s fashion-conscious residents, while the cavernous stores offer excellent — and cheap — food options. One of the best parts about Tokyo is the food — its abundance, quality and affordability. Staples for the budget traveler will include rice, noodles, fish and miso soup. Expect to find one of these items in nearly every meal you eat — including breakfast. Most of this stuff is surprisingly cheap. A healthy-sized bowl of noodles and soup, sometimes with some vegetables thrown in or tempura on the side, can be had for between 500 and 1,000 yen ($5.85 to $11.70) at many of the city’s small, anonymous noodle shops. (Ginza’s department

Barbados From page 24 sugar industry in economic importance. On the rugged and less populated east coast of the island is the strikingly beautiful fishing village of Bathsheba, with white sand beaches stretching across a coastline of erosion-shaped rock formations. A lunch at the Round House here provided a wonderful view of the ocean, where surfers were out. Bathsheba is a popular spot for surfers as well as for Bajans who frequently weekend here in seaside cottages along the shore. We ventured into the town of Oistins for its famous Friday night fish fry along the shore. Choices included kingfish, swordfish, dorado (called dolphin fish here) or flying fish, with cou-cou (made of corn meal and okra) or macaroni pie. Dinner per person was about 16 Barbadian dollars or $8 U.S. at the two-to-one exchange rate. Of course, this is a tropical Caribbean island, so sightseeing generally took a back seat to its more alluring features — sun, surf and sand, all in abundance — and accompanying sailing, fishing, surfing and swimming. No wonder Washington slept here.

If you go Find information on attractions and dozens of hotels and resorts at www.visitbarbados.org. American Airlines flies to Barbados through New York or Miami from Marshall BWI Airport. Flights in late February start at $596 roundtrip. The historic house where Washington stayed is located in St. Michael, Bush Hill, The Garrison; www.georgewashingtonbarbados.org or (246) 228-5461 (international calling code not required). Open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Adults, $10 U.S. ($20 Barbados). Children 5-12, $2.50 ($5 Barbados). Children under 5, free. —AP

stores have an abundance of these.) It sounds boring, but a bowl will prove a good deal more satisfying, and tasty, than the stringy ramen you lived on in college. First-time travelers might expect sushi to be consumed in abundance in Japan, but most of the fish eaten here is not raw. Like in the U.S., sushi in Japan is consumed sparingly and is something of a delicacy. It also commands a price premium similar to that in the U.S. That said, you should still sample as much raw fish as your bank account allows, because it’s sure to rank among the best you’ll ever eat. The best place to do it is the Tsukiji fish market, where seemingly around every corner lurks an affordable eatery. A bowl of raw tuna and rice with a side of miso soup and tea will run you around 1,100 yen ($12.87) at most restaurants here. If you’re feeling adventurous and you enjoy the texture of Jell-O, a bowl of plain fish eggs will

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cost you half that much. For more information on Tokyo, visit the city’s official tourism website at www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp/english.

Continental currently offers the lowest fair to Tokyo in late February at $1,049 roundtrip from Marshall BWI Airport. — AP

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:Xcc +('$)+-$.+00 fi <dX`c J\e`fiC`mè^7j_\ck\iîg%Zfd kf èhlì\ XYflk \c`^`Y`c`kp i\hlì\d\ekj Xe[ kf XiiXe^\ X gi`mXk\ kfli% Professionally managed by The Shelter Group. www.thesheltergroup.com The Shelter Group is committed to Equal Housing Opportunities for people of all races, religions, ethnic groups, and disabilities and all other groups protected by federal, state, or local law.

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FEBRUARY 2011 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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BALTIMORE BEACON — FEBRUARY 2011

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Arts &

Brush up on your painting skills. See story on page 28.

Gallery celebrates local artist’s long career

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOAN ERBE

Erbe’s “Night at the Circus”

Sometimes referred to as the “Grand Duchess of Baltimore Painters,” Erbe and her long and illustrious career are being celebrated through Feb. 27 at the Fleckenstein Gallery in Hampden. The exhibit, called “Characters & Curiosities,” is an extensive — though not allencompassing — look at Erbe’s works, from the subtly colored oil paintings created in the 1960s to the vibrantly hued acrylics painted from the 1980s to the present. The exhibit also includes many of Erbe’s watercolors, etchings and collagraphs.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOAN ERBE

By Carol Sorgen Born in Baltimore in 1926, Joan Erbe grew up in Windsor Hills on the West Side. Her father, a coffee salesman, often took her to circus side shows, where father and daughter were soon on a first-name basis with many of the circus “characters.” When at home, her mother always encouraged her to create, and when young Joan would sigh, “I’m bored,” her mother would order Joan to her room with the admonition, “You can’t come out until you do some artwork!” Erbe took her mother’s words to heart and has been “doing” artwork ever since.

Revisiting the circus The colorful — literally as well as figuratively — and curious characters Erbe encountered as a child when her father took her to the sideshows at the circus, as well as when she visited other family members and their artistic and theatrical friends, gave her a lifetime’s treasure trove of subject matter. From these she developed her distinctive style. You will see the child’s perspective still very much in evidence in paintings such as “Bearded Lady” or “Side Show,” for example. Her love of circus animals was apparent early on: One of her paintings of elephants was published in the Baltimore Sun when she was just 8 years old. Erbe studied at Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) and soon developed into a prolific artist, working in a variety of media and exhibiting nationally and internationally.

Cars, boats, furniture, antiques, tools, appliances Everything and anything is sold on

Radio Flea Market Heard every Sunday, 6:30-8 a.m. on 680 WCBM

The long career of Baltimore artist Joan Erbe is being celebrated in an exhibit at the Fleckenstein Gallery through Feb. 27.

She had her first solo exhibit at the Baltimore Museum of Art in 1966, and since then has had more than 60 solo shows around the country, in museums, galleries and cultural institutions such as the Corcoran Gallery and the Library of Congress.

Her work has received many awards and been acquired by numerous museum, corporate and private collections. Since the 1990s Erbe has been represented reSee ART GALLERY, page 29

Arts & Style | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

FEBRUARY 2011 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Art classes to inspire your inner Picasso

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

ships, Gutzmer added. Another perk of the class is that the residents get to make fabulous hand-made gifts for family and friends. There is no extra cost to the residents for attending class.

Arts classes around town

COURTESY OF KESWICK MULTI-CARE CENTER

A wall clock painted by a resident at Keswick.

cart filled with art supplies from room to room. Space was soon made so that group classes could be held, and not long after that, a dedicated art studio was created, one that is still in use today. Classes are currently taught by artist Donna Lansman, with the aid of several volunteers. In class, the Keswick residents work on painting the pieces made by Landsman, who is also a potter. In addition, numerous special projects are created throughout the year, ranging from silk dying, sand painting and papier mache, to soapmaking, beading, decoupage, mosaics and handmade paper. Drawing paper, charcoal, pastels, acrylic paints and clay are also available at all times. According to Sharon Gutzmer, Director of Recreational Therapy, the benefits of attending the creative arts classes are many. First, residents are able to express themselves creatively. “In class, the resident is the boss,” Gutzmer, said. “They get to choose what they would like to work on and how they want it to look. The teacher is there to help them create whatever it is that they desire.” Furthermore, they have the opportunity to socialize in a relaxed and fun atmosphere with people from other floors and buildings, often forming lasting friend-

CREDIT

By Carol Sorgen Every Wednesday and Thursday, mornings and afternoons alike, the residents of Keswick Multi-Care Center in Baltimore have the opportunity to participate in a creative arts program that is at once both a form of recreational therapy and an artistic outlet. The program began in 1997 when local artist and teacher Joan Kelly proposed the idea to Keswick. Kelly began by taking a

While Keswick’s classes are for its residents only, there are a number of places throughout the Baltimore area where you can This bowl, hand decorated in an art class by a resident develop your own artistic at the Keswick Multi-Care Center, was made by potter talents. Here are just a few: Donna Landsman, who teaches the class. School 33 Art Center ing education program for men and 1427 Light St. women 50 and older. Fine arts classes may (443) 263-4350 include simple projects for the beginning www.school33.org School 33 offers classes for adults, teens watercolorist to classes in oil painting and and kids, from beginning to experienced pastels. Kaleidoscope artists. Roland Park Country School Mar yland Institute College of Art 5204 Roland Ave. (MICA) (410) 323-5500, ext. 3045 1300 W. Mount Royal Ave. www.rpcs.org (410) 669-9200 Kaleidoscope is an external learning www.mica.edu MICA offers both degree and non-de- program offering a variety of classes and gree programs, in a variety of disciplines, programs. Creative arts classes include from drawing and painting, to ceramics, such pursuits as china painting, jewelry fibers, sculpture, photography, printmak- and beading, basket-making, oil painting (from beginner through advanced), plein ing and jewelry design. air painting, and watercolors. Renaissance Institute In addition to the programs above, art College of Notre Dame of Maryland classes are offered at senior centers 4701 North Charles St. throughout Baltimore City and County, at (410) 532-3162 private art schools, at local community colwww.ndm.edu The Renaissance Institute is a continu- leges and at local art supply stores.

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Jan. 30

$12/year via Third Class Mail*

ASPEN STRING TRIO PERFORMS Members of the Aspen String Trio will present a Community

Concerts at Second recital on Sunday, Jan. 30, at 3:30 p.m. The ensemble will perform three of the five Beethoven string trios from its upcoming all-Beethoven

Please send a one-year subscription to:

recording. The free concert will be held at the Second Presbyterian Church, 4200 St. Paul St., and is open to the public. Seating is available on a first come, first

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served basis. For more information, call (443) 759-3309 or visit www.communityconcertsatsecond.org.

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ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD A F F O R D

P A R T I I

E M A I L S

S E Z I N E S N E S T

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

From page 30.

S Y N A P S E

K N E E Y A M R A M S

A N T E C A R A R B E A T E M M C M O O R P A R K O I N W A M A S A T R I I D E O N T E T S E V E E N T E R L O T S F R E T

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

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BALTIMORE BEACON — FEBRUARY 2011

From page 27 gionally by Gomez Gallery, the Heineman Myers Gallery in Bethesda, and currently at Fleckenstein Gallery.

A sense of whimsy Whether in black and white, pastels or colors, Erbe’s works all share the same sense of whimsy and an almost primitive style. Her rounded, exaggerated figures bring to mind the paintings of figurative Colombian artist Fernando Botero who, born in 1932, is of the same generation as

Letters to editor From page 2 Athens, it demands more than remembering what you learned half a century ago. Anyone contemplating a trip to Greece, or elsewhere for that matter, should spend energy and effort doing research. There’s

Erbe. Erbe doesn’t necessarily credit any particular painter as an inspiration, but has said that she is intrigued by the patterns in Matisse’s work, as well as the colors in the art of Mexican painters. So it’s no surprise to gallery owner Terrie Fleckenstein that Erbe’s works make repeated use of skeletons and reflect her interest in their inherent design, especially the skulls and the rib cage. “Joan has always had an active imagination and has spent her life constantly creating,” said Fleckenstein. Erbe is no longer as prolific as she once

was, but she’s still as “feisty” as ever, as is her artwork, said Fleckenstein. In addition to her own work, Erbe currently teaches a group of professional women artists at the Myerberg Senior Center in the Pikesville/ Mt. Washington area. The Fleckenstein Gallery is located at 3316 Keswick Rd. It is open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. For more information on the exhibit, call (410) 3663669 or visit www.fleckensteingallery.com.

plenty of free stuff at the library which is how I learned as much as I do about ancient Greece. I consider travel writing to be near the bottom of journalism. Your article on Greece only reinforced this belief. Most travel writers get free trips and amenities to write, and whoever is footing the bill

wants the most bang for the buck. To encourage serious study takes effort, and so it’s better to make ancient Greece — one of the greatest civilizations of all time —

Erbe’s “Woman with Bird”

seem like a trip to the shopping mall. The Beacon can do better! Rosalind Ellis Heid Baltimore

The Woodlands

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BEACON BITS

Jan. 29

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOAN ERBE

Art gallery

BREAKFAST FEATURES SOAP OPERA STAR

The Pratt Library’s annual Booklovers’ Breakfast features Victoria Rowell, author of the bestselling memoir The Woman Who Raised Me, advocate for foster children and longtime actress on the soap opera “The Young and the Restless.” The event is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 29, from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel, 700 Aliceanna St. Tickets are $40 per person. For more information, call (410) 396-5494 or visit www.prattlibrary.org.

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ADVERTORIAL

Baltimore Eye Doctor Helps Legally Blind to See Again Diplomat in Low Vision Care trains Dr. Tom Azman to help those with age-related macular degeneration with reading and driving. By Elena Lombardi Freelance Writer

Donald Paquette, 72, a former assessor from Anaheim, California, thought that his driving days were over. “I could not read the street signs soon enough and I couldn’t pass the vision test at the DMV office.” Gonzalo Garcia, 74, Albuquerque, New Mexico, wanted to be able to read and write more easily. He wanted to see the nails and screws when he tried to use them in home repairs. He wanted see his grandchildren singing in the church choir. But he thought those days were over when he was diagnosed with Macular Degeneration. California Optometrist, Dr. Richard J. Shuldiner and Baltimore optometrist Dr. Tom Azman are using miniaturized binoculars or telescopes to help people who have lost vision from macular degeneration or other eye conditions. “Some of my patients consider us

Hank Frese wearing Bioptic Telescope Driving Glasses

the last stop for people who have vision loss.” said Dr. Azman, a low vision optometrist who has just completed training with Dr. Shuldiner in California. “Amazing!” says Donald. “I can read the street signs twice as far as I did before and even see the television better!” Macular degeneration is the most common eye disease among the senior population. As many as 25% of those over 65 have some degree of degeneration. The macula is one small part of the entire retina, but it is the most sensitive and gives us sharp images. When it degenerates, macular degeneration leaves a blind spot right in

the center of vision, which makes it impossible to recognize faces, read a book, or pass the drivers vision test. The experts do not know what causes macular degeneration. But major factors include UV light from the sun, smoking, aging, and improper nutrition. Vitamins can help. The results of two studies, AREDS and LAST demonstrated a lowered risk of progression by about 25% when treated with a high-dose combination of vitamins. Dr. Azman advises patients on the best nutritional supplements during the low vision evaluation. Nine out of ten people who have macular degeneration have the dry type. There is no medical treatment except for vitamins. The wet type involves the leakage of fluid or blood from the blood vessels behind the macula. Injections of Leucentis or Avastin are very effective in preventing the vessels from leaking. “Our job is to figure out anything and everything possible to keep a person functioning,” says Dr. Azman. “Whether it’s driving, reading, watching television, seeing faces, playing bridge… we work with whatever is on the persons “wish list.” Even if it’s driving.

Maryland and California are two of many states that allow the use of telescopic glasses for safer driving. Hank Frese, 69, a former High School Principal from La Palma, California saw Dr. Shuldiner last August. “I could not read the street signs soon enough when driving, and I could not read my morning paper.” Bioptic Telescopic glasses were prescribed to read signs and see traffic lights farther away. As Hank puts it, “These telescope glasses not only allow me to read signs from a farther distance, but makes driving much easier. I’ve also used them to watch television so I don’t have to sit so close. Definitely worth the $2450 cost. I don’t know why I waited two years to do this; I should have come sooner” “Telescopic glasses start at around $1500”, says Dr. Azman, “and low vision prismatic reading glasses start at $500. A small price to pay for better vision and increased independence.” If you or someone you care about is struggling with vision loss, call Dr. Tom Azman for a free telephone interview. You can reach Dr. Azman by dialing (410) 561-8050.

FEBRUARY 2010 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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Crossword

Puzzle Page

NEW! Daily Crosswords on our website: www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com Click on Puzzles Plus

1971 Headlines 1

by Stephen Sherr 6

38 43

45 49

JUMBLE ANSWERS

51 55

61 65

Across

Scrabble answers on p. 28.

54 56

26 29

33 35

1. Intelligent primates 5. German philosopher 9. Bridge positions 14. “American Idol” contestant’s goal 15. Tarheel st. 16. Senator who switched parties in 2009 (first name) 17. Headline on March 9, 1971 20. OJ’s judge in reverse 21. Michelle Obama ___ Robinson 22. The last year of this century 23. Butterfly catcher 24. Agitates 26. Tied up (nautically) 28. Headline on October 2, 1971 33. Reputation blemish 34. Gives a heads up to 35. Midpt. 38. Michelle Phillips and Cass Elliot 41. Prepare the dinner table 42. First in a series of 12 45. Hotel hollow centers 48. Headline on August 1, 1971 54. Paternally related 55. Manager of five MLB teams 56. Appropriate 58. Old radios 59. Some say she had no navel 61. Org. that takes a break for the Winter Olympics 62. Headline on February 9, 1971 66. Fabric-conserving skirts 67. Future construction sites 68. Sphere beginning 69. Long-rumored Beach Boys album 70. Worry 71. Has-___ (better than a never-was)

Down 1. Spare, financially 2. Designation of a sequel

3. Telegram’s great-grandchildren 4. “Oh yeah? ___ who?” 5. Banjo location 6. Backyard measure 7. Capture 8. A seismograph could measure it 9. Admit fault, painfully 10. Pirate syllables 11. Misrepresents 12. Port opener 13. Agitated state 18. Map bonus info 19. Out of control 25. Most of 31 Down 26. Like Lake Mead 27. Fed. org. with a flower in its logo 29. Thanksgiving side dish 30. Actress Zadora 31. General direction up I-95 32. Mach 1 breaker 35. Bus alternative 36. “Based on a __ Story” (article about Capote) 37. Trattoria treat 39. Devoured 40. Sign of success, theatrically 43. French toast requirement 44. Component of the nervous system 46. Start of act, view, or faith 47. Latin 101 word 49. “The Greatest Show on Turf ” NFL team 50. “... fear ___“ (FDR’s observation) 51. Elaborate and fancy 52. “Are we visitors __?” 53. Wrestling hold 56. PIN acceptors 57. Stiffly proper 59. Major extension 60. Bullet stopper 63. Stir-fry starter 64. Neither neighbor 65. Good place to find a mad scientist

Answers on page 28.

Answer: When she bought the wrong glue, she was "STUCK" WITH IT Jumbles: WHEEL SNACK MARTIN TURKEY

BALTIMORE BEACON — FEBRUARY 2010

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

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GARDENVILLE – Large, clean, bright bedroom with microwave & refrigerator for rent on 2nd floor of private home with private bath. Reasonable. References. 410-485-1702.

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

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CAPTAIN SEAWEED maintains aquariums & ponds. 30 years experience. 410-866-3030. 410-702-1428 Cell. Homes, Offices, Restaurants, Etc.

Vacation Opportunities

STAMPS! U.S. only small collector buy singles, sets and collections. Best price paid. Southwest Stamp Club meets 1PM, Friday, February 18th, 2011, Arbutus. 410-247-4169.

SUNNY WINTER SPECIALS At Florida’s Best Beach-New Smyrna Beach Stay a week or longer, Plan a beach wedding or family reunion. www.NSBFLA.com or 1-800-541-9621.

**OLD GUITARS WANTED!** Fender, Gibson, Martin, Gretsch, Prairie State, Euphonon, Larson, D’Angelico, Stromberg, Rickenbacker, and Mosrite. Gibson Mandolins/Banjos. 1930’s thru 1970’s TOP CASH PAID! 1-800-401-0440.

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A NIGHT OF ROMANCE

DONATE A CAR – HELP CHILDREN FIGHTING DIABETES. Fast, Free Towing. Call 7 days/week. Non-runners OK. Tax Deductable. Call Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation 1-800-578-0408.

Feb. 26

ATTEND COLLEGE ONLINE from Home. *Medical, *Business, *Paralegal, *Accounting, *Criminal Justice. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualified. Call 800-510-0784 www.CenturaOnline.com. DONATE A CAR TODAY To Help Children And Their Families Suffering From Cancer. Free Towing. Tax Deductible. Children’s Cancer Fund of America, Inc. 1-800-469-8593 www.ccfoa.org. DONATE YOUR CAR! Breast Cancer Research foundation! Most highly rated breast cancer charity in America! Tax Deductible/Fast Free Pick Up. 800-771-9551 www.cardonationsforbreastcancer.org. GET YOUR DEGREE ONLINE *Medical, *Business, *Paralegal, *Accounting, *Criminal Justice. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualified. Call 800510-0784 www.CenturaOnline.com.

HOW TO READ A CREDIT REPORT

LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICE

The Howard County Bar Association offers a Lawyer Referral Service to citizens who need legal services. If you need legal services or would like to volunteer yours, call (410) 313-2035, e-mail hcbaexec@verizon.net or visit www.howardcountybar.org.

Ongoing

LEARN ENGLISH – SPANISH – ITALIAN – FRENCH – PORTUGUESE Conversational. Grammatical. Private lessons. Reasonable Rates. Tutoring students. 443-3528200.

REACH OVER 28 MILLION HOMES WITH ONE AD BUY! Only $2,795 per week! For more information, contact Roger at 410-2489101.

Miscellaneous

Rosemary Hill, regional director of education for Money Management, International, will explain how to read a credit report and how to protect against identity theft on Wednesday, Jan. 26 at 11 a.m. The free seminar will be held at the Lansdowne-Baltimore Highlands Senior Center, 424 Third Ave. For more information, call Twila Nahama at (410) 887-1443.

Ongoing

Personal Services

Treat your sweetie to a one-of-a-kind Valentine’s Day experience. Enjoy the Baltimore Museum of Art’s most romantic works of art during a guided tour. Sip champagne and nibble on sweet and savory treats. And create a Valentine’s Day card with supplies and tips from BMA staff. Live jazz entertainment will be provided. The museum is located at 10 Art Museum Dr. Tours are offered on Sunday, Feb. 13, at 6:30, 7, 7:30 and 8 p.m. Cost per couple is $25 for members, $35 for nonmembers. To purchase tickets, visit the BMA box office, call (800) 919-6272 or visit online at www.artbma.org.

BEACON BITS

Jan. 26

FIND COMMUNITY SERVICES

The Maryland Community Services Locator website, www.mdcsl.org, is an online directory to help professionals and community members locate community services in a variety of areas, from substance abuse to family assistance and more. Call (301) 405-9796 or visit the website for more information.

BINGO BLAST AT TEMPLE EMANUEL

Bingo is coming to Temple Emanuel, and the payoff is a generous $25 for each of 20 games. The event, Saturday, Feb. 26, at 6 p.m., is open to the public. In addition, guests will have a chance to win four gift baskets, which include wine and cheese, sports items and more. Refreshments will be available. Tickets are $15 in advance; $20 at the door. To order tickets, call Temple Emanuel, (410) 526-3676. The synagogue is located at 909 Berrymans Lane in Reisterstown.

Feb. 12

SUMMER THEATER ANNUAL FUNDRAISER

Enjoy cabaret-style entertainment, a silent auction and reception in support of Cockpit in Court, Maryland’s longest-running summer theater, at CCBC, Essex. This annual event will be held Saturday, Feb. 12, at 7 p.m. on the Essex campus. Tickets are $25. For reservations, call (443) 840-2787.

TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED

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

Private Party Text Ads: For individuals seeking to buy or sell particular items, offer a personal service, or place a personal ad. Each ad is $10 for 25 words, 25 cents for each additional word. Commercial Party Text Ads: For parties engaged in an ongoing commercial business enterprise. Each ad is $25 for 25 words, 50 cents for each additional word. Note: Each real estate listing counts as one commercial ad.

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

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

FEBRUARY 2011 — BALTIMORE BEACON

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

I want more than I am getting from Original Medicare and Medicaid.

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A sales person will be present with information and applications. During the seminar, the Bravo Health Medicare Advantage plans (HMO, PPO, SNP) available in your service area will be discussed. For accommodations of persons with special needs at sales meetings call Bravo Health Member Services at 1-800-291-0396 (TTY 711), seven days a week from 8 am to 8 pm. Bravo Health plans are offered by subsidiaries of Bravo Health, Inc. A Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract. This plan is available to anyone who has both Medical Assistance from the State and Medicare. Enrollment is open year round. All cost-sharing is based on your level of state medical assistance - premiums, copays, coinsurance, and deductibles may vary based on your income. The benefit information provided herein is a brief summary, not a comprehensive description of benefits. For more information contact the plan. Benefits, formulary, premiums, and copayments may change on January 1, 2012. H2108_11_0034 File and Use 12142010