August 2011 Howard County Beacon Edition by The Beacon Newspapers

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He bought a town to preserve it

AUGUST 2011

I N S I D E …

L E I S U R E & T R AV E L

A smorgasbord of to-dos in Pennsylvania; plus, the aquarium celebrates its 30th anniversary, and cutting your losses when a trip gets canceled page 24

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Stepping up to the plate But once the mill was shuttered, the town’s fate was in question as buildings deteriorated and developers waited in the wings for a prime piece of Patapsco River property. “I believe in historical preservation. Through the voices and fabric of Oella, I wanted to offer a glimpse into a way of life that is no more,” Wagandt said of his interest in saving the town. Wagandt’s work to preserve Oella’s past garnered him the 2008 Calvert Prize from the Maryland Historical Trust for having “significant impact at the broadest state level.” Rodney Little, director of the Maryland Historic Trust, puts Wagandt‘s efforts to save Oella this way: “Without Charles, I think it would have deteriorated and probably not be there any more.” Wagandt served as chairman of the board of the Trust from 1981 to 1986, transforming it from a quasi-public entity that handed

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PHOTO BY R.A. PROPPER

By R.A. Propper Sooner or later we all make large purchases — a home, car or a college education for our kids. But how many of us buy a whole town to preserve its history and uniqueness? One area resident did, buying the tiny hamlet of Oella, on the banks of the Patapsco River between Catonsville and historic Ellicott City. Charles Wagandt, now 86, purchased the town in 1973 just after the textile mill that had been in his family since 1887 closed its doors. Home to generations of mill workers, the 80-acre town includes 242 houses, most of which were constructed from just before the War of 1812 through the early 20th century. Some are 200-year-old stone homes, while log cabins are tucked into the rocky hillsides, and numerous World War I-era cottage-style kit homes line some streets. The original mill was built in 1808 and sold to Wagandt’s great-grandfather 80 years later. William J. Dickey & Sons Textile Mill became known as one of the country’s premier producers of fancy menswear woolens. In its earliest days, the bustling mill, then known as the Union Manufacturing Mill, briefly became the largest cotton mill in the country, and Oella itself is named after the first woman in America to spin cotton.

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Charles Wagandt, pictured at the 1904 church that serves as his office, stepped in to purchase and preserve the town of Oella after its historic mill — owned by his family since 1887 — closed its doors. His ongoing work garnered an award from the Maryland Historic Trust.

Betty White dishes on love and work in her new book; plus, witches weave a wickedly good spell at the Kennedy Center page 28

out preservation information to a state agency with the power to enforce laws.

A home at the mill But Wagandt wasn’t always interested in history and preservation. In fact, he wasn’t even sure if he wanted to work for the family business at the mill when he graduated from Princeton in 1948. “When I got out of college I didn’t know what the heck I wanted to do. That’s when I went to my uncle, who was running the Oella mill, and said to him, ‘I’m trying to figure out what I want to do.’ “My uncle replied, ‘Why don’t you come work for me here at the mill and learn

something about the textile business, because you might have some interest in it sometime in the future.’” That sounded more pragmatic than Wagandt’s other career aspiration. “The only other job I was interested in,” he said, “was working in the library at the Baltimore Sun. I love libraries, but I didn’t see myself making a career of it.” So Wagandt dove into working at the mill, took textile courses, and along the way got a masters degree from the University of Pennsylvania — all at the same time. He also ran for a few elective offices: See WAGANDT, page 12

FITNESS & HEALTH 4 k Hospitals face drug shortages k Do you need testosterone? THE SENIOR CONNECTION 16 k Howard County Office on Aging newsletter LAW & MONEY 18 k Billions waiting to be claimed k Medicare costs jump for some PLUS CROSSWORD, BEACON BITS, CLASSIFIEDS & MORE

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On being misunderstood I truly look forward to receiving letters Sometimes I get to see how well (or poorand emails from readers. I value your com- ly) I’ve expressed my own thoughts. ments and suggestions, and For example, I learned am eager to hear what you from a recent letter that I apthink. parently gave the completely That’s really how the Beawrong impression in a recent con has grown and changed column about Social Security. over the years: by trying to The reader took me to task address the needs and interfor an argument he thought I ests of readers and incorpohad made, then proceeded to rate their recommendations. set me straight by giving a I always like to tell how, beautiful presentation of the within hours of our very first FROM THE very point I had tried to exissue hitting the streets back PUBLISHER press myself! in 1989, we got a telephone By Stuart P. Rosenthal Honestly, I think my failure message from an angry readto communicate in that iner saying, “Your crossword puzzle clues stance derived from the fact that I had writare TOO SMALL!” ten two columns on the subject of Social Of course, I much prefer to read letters Security: one in June and one in July. The that praise the Beacon or hear from read- reader apparently only saw the latter one, ers who agree with something I’ve written. which led him to misinterpret where I was But I have to admit that the most valu- coming from. able letters I get are those that take me to But this is itself instructive. Complex task for an opinion I’ve expressed. Not public policy issues like what, if anything, only do I get to learn how others may dis- to change about Social Security or agree, sometimes violently, with my views. Medicare cannot be boiled down into

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ly thought about the positions they hold. If they’ve adopted an opinion thoughtlessly, then they aren’t likely to let reason sway them to another point of view, are they? Anyway, I urge you not to jump to conclusions about what we should be doing about Social Security and Medicare until you have explored the issues in some depth. They are both vitally important programs, extremely costly ones, and ones that all of us have paid into for most of our lives. They certainly shouldn’t be jettisoned or gutted. But they also need to be tweaked or adjusted to reflect how Americans’ work lives, healthcare system, life expectancy and demographics have changed over the years and will be changing in years to come. I believe there are any number of modest, reasonable revisions that could be made to keep the programs sound for the future. Each one affects one or more constituencies: workers, employers, beneficiaries, doctors. There will no doubt be some pain involved in making these changes, but I believe we can, as a society, find a way to spread that pain fairly.

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 email to barbara@thebeaconnewspapers.com. Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification.

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The call is out for the 2011 “Volunteer of the Year” awards, recognizing individuals and organizations or businesses that have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to the community. Nominees must be either residents of Howard County or do their volunteer work in Howard County. This annual recognition is sponsored by Howard County Government and the Volunteer Center Serving Howard County. Visit www.howardcountymd.gov and click on the Volunteer of the Year nomination form link under “What’s New.”

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sound bites or even 500-word columns. The background and history are relevant. The present issues and potential future problems must be explored. Possible solutions need to be described and their ramifications considered. It takes time and space to develop and explain a serious, well-thought-out position — more time (and space) than most people (and publications or websites) are willing or able to devote to writing and/or reading. As a result, most written arguments — and probably all spoken ones — are inherently incomplete and, on some level, misleading. I think that’s why it comes so naturally to many of us to criticize others for their opinions and jump to conclusions about their motives. We don’t really know whether people have thought their opinions through or explored the subject matter deeply. We only know what we take in from a brief encounter. So we may be judging them too harshly, or without understanding their true positions. On the other hand, sometimes people do parrot positions they’ve heard elsewhere or that fall within their “comfort zone” politically speaking, without devoting much of their own energy to thinking about them. And ironically, it’s probably most difficult to argue with people who haven’t real-

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July 29+

FARMERS MARKET AT THE HOSPITAL

Good health begins with good eating! Find fresh locally grown produce, baked goods, fruit, flowers and specialty items at the Howard County General Hospital’s Farmers Market. The market will be open every Friday through October 26 from 2 to 6 p.m. at 10710 Charter Dr., Suite 100, Columbia.

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The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915 (410) 248-9101 • Email: info@thebeaconnewspapers.com Submissions: The Beacon welcomes reader contributions. Deadline for editorial and advertising is the 1st of the month preceding the month of publication. See page 31 for classified advertising details. Please mail or email all submissions.

July 28+

COPING THROUGH EXERCISE

Learn exercise techniques to cope with frustration, fatigue, pain and isolation often associated with chronic conditions of high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and obesity. In addition, pick up tips on how to communicate more effectively with family, friends and health professionals. Class and accompanying materials cost $28. Sessions will be held on Thursdays July 28 through Sept. 1 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at the East Columbia Library, 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia. Persons interested in learning more about the program should contact Maryland Access Point (MAP) at (410) 313-5980.

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Hospitals face acute shortages of drugs By Lauran Neergaard A growing shortage of medications for a host of illnesses — from cancer to cystic fibrosis to cardiac arrest — has hospitals scrambling for substitutes to avoid patient harm, and sometimes even delaying treatment. “It’s just a matter of time now before we call for a drug that we need to save a patient’s life and we find out there isn’t any,” said Dr. Eric Lavonas of the American College of Emergency Physicians. The problem of scarce supplies or even completely unavailable medications isn’t a new one, but it’s getting markedly worse. The number listed in short supply has tripled over the past five years to a record 211 medications last year. While some of those shortages have been resolved, another 89 have occurred in the first three months of this year, according to the University of Utah’s Drug Information Service. It tracks shortages for the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.

The vast majority involve injectable medications used mostly by medical centers — in emergency rooms, ICUs and cancer wards. Particular shortages can last for weeks or for many months, and there aren’t always good alternatives. Nor is it just a U.S. problem, as other countries report some of the same supply disruptions.

Health at risk At Miami Children’s Hospital, doctors had to postpone for a month the last round of chemotherapy for 14-year-old Caroline Pallidine because of a months-long nationwide shortage of cytarabine, a drug considered key to curing a type of leukemia. “There’s always a fear, if she’s going so long without chemo, is there a chance this cancer’s going to come back?” said her mother, Marta Pallidine, who said she’ll be nervous until Caroline finishes her final treatments. “In this day and age, we really shouldn’t be having this kind of problem and putting our children’s lives at risk,” she added.

There are lots of causes for the shortages — from recalls of contaminated vials, to trouble importing raw ingredients, to spikes in demand, to factories that temporarily shut down for quality upgrades. Some experts pointedly note that pricier brand-name drugs seldom are in short supply. The Food and Drug Administration agrees that the overarching problem is that fewer and fewer manufacturers produce older, cheaper generic drugs, especially the harder-to-make injectable ones. So if one company has trouble — or decides to quit making a particular drug — there are few others able to ramp up their own production to fill the gap, said Valerie Jensen, who heads FDA’s shortage office.

Which drugs are in short supply? The shortage that’s made the most headlines is a sedative used on death row. But on the healthcare front, shortages are wide-ranging, including: • Thiotepa, used with bone marrow transplants,

• A whole list of electrolytes — injectable nutrients crucial for certain premature infants and tube-feeding of the critically ill, • Norepinephrine injections for septic shock, • A cystic fibrosis drug named acetylcysteine, • Injections used in the ER for certain types of cardiac arrest, • Certain versions of pills for ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and • Some leuprolide hormone injections used in fertility treatment. No one is tracking patient harm. But last fall, the nonprofit Institute for Safe Medication Practices said it had two reports of people who died from the wrong dose of a substitute painkiller during a morphine shortage. “Every pharmacist in every hospital across the country is working to make sure those things don’t happen, but shortSee DRUG SHORTAGES, page 5

New healthcare trend: Group checkups By Lauran Neergaard Wait a minute, Doc. You want me to share my appointment with 10 other patients? Group appointments aren’t just for psychotherapy anymore. Put diabetes, high blood pressure and maybe even Parkinson’s disease on the list. Shared checkups aim to help patients who are battling certain chronic diseases, and they’re far from the typical 15-minute office visit. They’re stretched over 90 minutes or even two hours, offering more time to quiz the doctor about concerns, learn about managing the disease, and get tips from fellow patients. What’s in it for the doctor? A neurologist found he learned more about how his Parkinson’s patients were faring by watching them interact with others than when he had them one-on-one. “I can see if you’re getting worse over the course of the visit, your ability to eat, to walk, to converse and to think,’’ said Dr. Ray Dorsey, who led a pilot study of group checkups for Parkinson’s patients at the University of Rochester Medical Center. “This is a new way of delivering health-

care,’’ added Dorsey, now at Johns Hopkins University. “People are thirsting for better ways.’’

A growing practice It’s a small but slowly growing trend that promises to get more attention with the tight supply of primary care physicians, who find it hard to squeeze in time to teach their patients how to deal with complex chronic illnesses like diabetes. An American Academy of Family Physicians survey found more doctors trying the group approach — about 10 percent of its active members in 2009, up from fewer than 6 percent in 2005. Peer pressure among patients helps, said family physician Dr. George Whiddon of Quincy, Fla. He has about 40 diabetic patients divided into groups for shared checkups at Tallahassee Memorial Family Medicine Quincy, and he wants to add more. One woman with uncontrolled diabetes for years confessed to fellow patients that she’d ignored Whiddon’s “eat better, take your meds” advice for too long. “Now I only have one toe left. I should

have listened,’’ Whiddon recalled her saying. “That had more impact [on the others] than anything I said all day.’’ Group appointments don’t replace the patient’s annual in-depth physical. But many people with chronic illnesses, especially if they’re not well-controlled, are supposed to have additional follow-up visits about every three months — an opportunity for shared checkups that stress patient education.

As good as, or better than, 1-on-1 But how well do these group visits work? An Italian study published last year found that diabetics who took part in them lowered their blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol more than similar patients who got regular individual office visits. A separate study at two Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, in North Carolina and Virginia, tracked people with poorly controlled diabetes and blood pressure and also concluded shared appointments can improve care for some people. Those in group visits significantly im-

proved their blood pressure and needed less emergency care, but there was no difference in diabetes improvement between patients who had shared checkups or regular ones. Parkinson’s marks the newest attempt. Dorsey recruited 30 Parkinson’s patients and assigned half of them to 90-minute group checkups, and the rest to regular private visits that lasted a generous half-hour. During group visits, everyone got a few minutes for private discussion with the doctor. Then Dorsey gave an educational talk about a Parkinson’s topic the patients had previously requested — from the newest research, to why symptoms vary so widely, to how patients cope at work — and took group questions. Medically, both sets of patients fared equally well during the year-long study, showing that group visits are feasible, Dorsey reported in the journal Neurology. What the study couldn’t measure, Dorsey said, was how he watched patients’ interactions for subtle signs that they needed prescriptions adjusted, things like See CHECKUPS, page 6

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July 28+

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ages create the perfect storm for a medication error,” said University of Utah pharmacist Erin Fox, who oversees the shortage-tracking program. What can be done? The FDA has taken an unusual step, asking some foreign companies to temporarily ship to the U.S. their own versions of some scarce drugs that aren’t normally sold here. That eased shortages of propofol, a key anesthesia drug, and the transplant drug thiotepa. Affected companies say they’re working hard to eliminate backlogs. For instance, Hospira Inc., the largest maker of those injectable drugs, said it is increasing production capacity and working with FDA “to address shortage situations as quickly as possible and to help prevent recurrence.” But the Generic Pharmaceutical Association said some shortages are beyond industry control, such as those caused by FDA inspections or stockpiling that can

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From page 4

exacerbate a shortage. “Drug shortages of any kind are a complex problem that require broad-based solutions from all stakeholders,” added the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, a fellow trade group. Lawmakers are getting involved. Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., is urging the Federal Trade Commission to consider if any pending drug-company mergers would create or exacerbate shortages. Also, pending legislation would require manufacturers to give FDA advance notice of problems such as manufacturing delays that might trigger a shortage. The FDA cannot force a company to make a drug, but was able to prevent 38 close calls from turning into shortages last year by speeding approval of manufacturing changes or urging competing companies to get ready to meet a shortfall. “No patient’s life should have to be at risk when there is a drug somewhere” that could be used, said Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., who introduced the bill. — AP

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Do men go through a ‘male menopause’? By Dr. J. Taylor Hays, M.D. Menopause refers to the end of menstruation and fertility in women. It’s caused by a dramatic drop in production of the female hormone estrogen by a woman’s ovaries. There’s no equivalent in men. But men do experience a hormonal change as they get older. Clear evidence indicates that they gradually produce less testosterone, the primary male hormone, throughout adulthood. Even taking this age-related decline into consideration, the testosterone level of most men stays within what’s considered a normal range, and they don’t experience signs or symptoms. However, if a man’s testosterone production clearly drops below normal levels, say, as the result of using medicine to treat prostate cancer, he may experience symptoms akin to menopause in women. These might include hot flashes, fatigue, trouble sleeping, difficulty concen-

trating, and reduced sexual drive and performance. Erectile function may or may not be affected. The underproduction of testosterone is called hypogonadism. In addition to prostate cancer treatment inducing this condition, hypogonadism can be inherited or result from a past injury or infection of the testicles. It also can occur simply with aging.

Hormone replacement therapy Men who suspect they’re suffering from a low testosterone level should see their doctor. In addition to the symptoms described above, the condition can cause a decrease in muscle mass and loss of bone mass (osteoporosis), similar to postmenopausal women. Some men who are diagnosed with hypogonadism can be helped with testosterone replacement therapy, which slows the loss of muscle and improves bone density. Some people worry about the treatment’s potential side effects. They think of

serving

anabolic steroid use in athletes, for example, which can cause liver problems and male infertility. But our primary concern with testosterone replacement therapy in older men is prostate growth and prostate cancer, because the prostate gland grows under the influence of testosterone. While there’s not a great deal of evidence that patients who receive testosterone replacement therapy are at increased risk of prostate cancer, this possibility is an unresolved issue. Testosterone replacement therapy can produce other unwanted side effects, however, including the development of obstructive sleep apnea and the overproduction of red blood cells in some men. Because of these risks, those considering the therapy should be sure their doctor evaluates their symptoms, measures their blood cell count, examines their prostate, and checks their prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood level. In men whose testosterone still registers in the normal range, there is no evidence indicating that supplemental testos-

terone therapy is helpful. Also, research does not tell us if testosterone therapy improves muscle strength, muscle mass or physical performance measurements. A doctor can diagnose underproduction of testosterone with a simple blood test. A sample is usually taken in the morning after fasting, and typically is measured on more than one occasion because testosterone production can vary slightly from day to day. A diagnosis of hypogonadism is based on the presence of symptoms suggesting low testosterone, and at least two or three abnormally low testosterone blood tests. Medical Edge from Mayo Clinic is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. To submit a question, write to: medicaledge@mayo.edu, or Medical Edge from Mayo Clinic, c/o TMS, 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, NY, 14207. For health information, visit www.mayoclinic.com. © 2011 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc.

Checkups

cessfully, to continue group visits when the study ended: “It’s not that I don’t get good care. I do. But I still think I learned more and I think the process was better doing it in a group format.’’ More research is needed to determine which patients fare better with group visits, plus they take a lot of doctor preparation, cautioned study co-author Dr. Kevin Biglan of the University of Rochester. Medicare will reimburse the doctor for each patient in a shared checkup with proper documentation that the visit includes certain elements, said Florida’s Whiddon. For his office, that means breaking even, as long as at least six people show up for his two-hour diabetes groups. — AP

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From page 4 cognitive problems or if medications wore off too quickly. One meeting even devoted 45 minutes to the pros and cons of implanted brain stimulators to curb tremors. “Many heads are better than one. They think of questions you wouldn’t normally think of by yourself,’’ said Jim Euken, a re tired judge and Parkinson’s patient from Belmont, NY. He began exercising on a bicycle after one of Dorsey’s group visits discussed research showing some patients still can bike when they can barely walk, for unknown reasons. Euken joined some fellow study participants who petitioned the hospital, unsuc-

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Aug. 4+

SOCIAL CLUB FOR EARLY STAGE MEMORY LOSS A twice-weekly pilot program for persons diagnosed with early

stage dementia, the Kindred Spirits Club, offers activities, exercise and trips, activities that help to develop coping techniques, and a monthly support group for participants and their care partners. A fee of $26 per day covers activity costs, snacks and lunch. The group meets Wednesdays and Fridays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the 50+ Center at the Gary J. Arthur Community Center, 2400 Route 97, Glenwood. For more information, visit www.alz.org/Maryland or call (410) 561-9099.

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FARMER’S MARKET CHEF Before visiting the nearby Glenwood Farmers Market, stop in at the Glenwood Library for a program on creative ideas for using

seasonal produce or community-supported agriculture (CSA) shares. The free information session will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Glenwood Branch Library, 2350 State Route 97, Cooksville. For further information, call (410) 313-5577.

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 1

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A U G U S T 2 0 1 1 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Beware free trials of anti-aging products By Arlene Weintraub Kathleen Cole was browsing an Internet drugstore when an ad popped up too tantalizing to resist. A company called Syndero was featuring a 14-day free trial of Dermitage, a cream that promised to fade wrinkles and restore youthful-looking skin. Cole, 70, was happy with how she looked, but what, she wondered, did she have to lose? So she handed over her credit card number with the understanding that it wouldn’t be charged unless she was sold on Dermitage at the end of the trial. What Cole didn’t realize was that she’d actually just agreed to pay $99 a month for monthly shipments, and that the free-trial clock would start ticking the day the product shipped. Only because she suffered an allergic reaction and called to ask how to return the cream did Cole find out about these details — and that she had just five days left

to send the product back in order to avoid the charges. “It was so hidden within the jargon of the fine print that I missed it, and I have a master’s degree,” said Cole, a freelance book editor in Denver, Colo. She did have to shell out $50 to ship the cream back to the company’s Canadian warehouse, and to be safe, she put a block on her credit card to ensure that there’d be no chance of surprises later. A flood of cosmetics and other elixirs advertised as magic against old age is pulling in consumers on the Internet these days, often to their later dismay. Complaints from consumers like Cole about tactics often used to sell the products — the so-called free trials, the monthly commitment, an often complicated and difficult cancellation process — have caught the attention of federal lawmakers, who are looking into the problem. “When an anti-aging company said ‘free

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trial, give us your credit card,’ it’s almost always a ‘gotcha,’” said Joe Stanganelli, a lawyer in Boston, Mass.

Little evidence of benefit Often, the companies that sell the cosmetic concoctions, colon cleansers and supplements make anti-aging claims backed by little or no scientific evidence. In some cases, the pitches even come with phony celebrity endorsements. Last year, Oprah Winfrey and physician Mehmet Oz sued more than 50 Internet vendors for improperly using their names and likenesses, and in some cases, clips from “The Oprah Winfrey show” to sell products. While both stars have discussed the likes of Brazilian acai berry and resveratrol on air, they’ve never endorsed any particular product. Barbara Summers was persuaded by the come-ons twice. The retired court reporter from Morgantown, W.Va., ordered a free trial of an acai supplement promising not only to keep her young but also to help her lose weight. She didn’t realize she’d signed up for regular shipments until she found two months’ worth of charges on her credit card. Later, Summers was offered a free trial of a wrinkle cream in return for filling out a survey from an online retailer. “I used it for two weeks, but I couldn’t tell the difference. My kids couldn’t tell the difference,” said Summers, 53. She was able to get through to customer service and cancel before monthly charges started, though she did get slapped with the return shipping costs.

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Nationally, the Better Business Bureau and other consumer protection agencies have heard so often about bogus free trials that the Federal Trade Commission is now in discussions with Congress about requiring online retailers to clearly disclose what the deals involve, according to Leonard Gordon, director of the FTC’s northeast regional office. At the moment, retailers can impose monthly charges as long as they disclose what they’re doing in their terms and conditions, he said, which they often bury in “mouseprint” on their websites. The Northern California BBB office has field-

ed more than 300 complaints about San Francisco-based Syndero, said Lori Wilson, vice president of operations for that branch. Andrea O’Brien, Syndero’s vice president of customer service, stated in an email that “The information regarding the terms and conditions associated with all Dermitage products and offers are clearly stated and provided in full to every consumer.” She also said that Dermitage cream got a thumbs-up from 86 percent of a test group of more than 250 women, “who told us their skin looked younger after using our products for 21 days.”

Research company and conditions Anyone tempted to buy from an unfamiliar Internet retailer should first check the websites of the local BBB and the state attorney general’s office to ensure there are no complaints on record. Even if not, it’s never a good idea to hand over your credit card information without reading the terms and conditions page to make sure you’re not agreeing to any automatic charges. If it indicates that the free trial period starts the day the company ships the product, be aware that there’s a risk you won’t get it in time to return it. Typical return deadlines are just two weeks from the date shipped. Also be wary if the company’s return address is overseas, as you might have to pay a large postage bill to return the goods. Still feel compelled to take a chance on a product? Consider protecting yourself against a run-up in charges by using a card with a low credit limit. Also, it’s wise to check with your card issuer to make sure you’re allowed to block companies from charging the card. Many people who file complaints about online retailers report that when they call customer service, they always get busy signals or full voicemail boxes. John Breyault, vice president of public policy for the National Consumers League, suggests testing a company’s customer service department before you place an order. “You shouldn’t have to jump through hoops to cancel,” he said. Arlene Weintraub’s book “Selling the Fountain of Youth” was published in August 2010 by Basic Books. © 2011 U.S. News and World Report

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July 21+

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF This free seminar focuses on common sense steps to maintaining

one’s own health. Presenters Carolyn Moore and Sue Bender from the Holistic Approach will discuss how to create long-lasting health, happiness and productivity on Thursday, July 21, 5:30 to 7 p.m. at East Columbia Senior Center, 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia. This program and many others that bring older adults together with peers are sponsored by SPRING (Senior Peer Resources, Individuals, Networks & Groups) Peer Support Program. To register, or for a schedule of other programs, call (410) 313-7466 or email Karen Hull at khull@howardcountymd.gov.

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H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 1

Health Shorts Medicare offers free preventive services Here’s a deal that’s hard to beat: Free. As of this year, thanks to the Affordable Care Act (the health reform law passed last year), Medicare is offering a number of preventive services with no fees, no copays and no deductibles. Now Medicare will pay the full cost for an annual “wellness visit.” Previously, it paid only for a one-time “Welcome to Medicare” physical for new enrollees, and it only paid 80 percent of the cost. The “Welcome to Medicare” exam, which is a more complete physical than the annual wellness visits, is still offered during the first 12 months after enrolling in Medicare Part B. Now, however, there’s no co-pay for it. It’s one of a number of preventive services and exams for which Medicare will no longer charge a 20 percent co-payment. (If you have Medigap supplemental insurance, it may have paid your co-pays in the past for these services.) The new no co-pay services include colonoscopies, hepatitis B shots, nutrition therapy, bone mass measurements, flu shots, mammograms and PAP tests. In addition, some other tests, such as glaucoma tests and a fasting blood glucose test to screen for diabetes, are available at no cost if you are considered at high risk of developing the disease. To get these services at no charge, you need to visit a doctor who accepts assignment (i.e., agrees not to charge above the standard Medicare rate). Fortunately, most doctors in Howard County accept assignment. Keep in mind that some of the services have frequency limits. For exam-

ple, Medicare will generally pay for mammograms and for prostate tests only once every 12 months. If you have questions about these changes — or other Medicare and health insurance issues — call the Senior Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at (410) 313-7392. They can sometimes provide answers on the phone, or can set up one-on-one counseling sessions to address your personal questions. — Bill Salganik, SHIP counselor

Sign up for Maryland Senior Olympics Are you an ace ping pong player or into shooting hoops? These and 19 other sports will be represented at the 2011 Maryland Senior Olympics, which will be held from Aug. 13 through Nov. 6 at ven-

ues in Howard and Montgomery counties. More than 2,000 athletes are expected to compete in over 100 events at this year’s Maryland Senior Olympics, which are open to all Maryland residents 50 and older. The Maryland games, some of the oldest in the country, began in 1980 as a oneday event with 300 athletes. Success in Maryland helped spur other states to host their own games and helped lead to the creation of the biennial National Senior Games in 1985. The first Howard County competition this year will be in volleyball on August 13 at Meadowbrook Athletic Complex in Ellicott City. Basketball events will take place at the same location the next day. Track and field events will be held Aug. 20 to 21 at Howard Community College in Columbia. Ten-pin bowling competitions are scheduled for Sept. 12 and 13 at Brunswick Normandy Lanes in Ellicott City. Singles and doubles table tennis

games take place on Sept. 17 at Maryland Table Tennis Association in Eldersburg. Archery competitors will take aim on Sept. 25 at Genesse Valley Outdoor Learning Center in Parkton. Horseshoe throwers will gather on Oct. 3 at Centennial Park in Clarksville. Singles racquetball is on Oct. 6, while doubles competition takes place Oct. 7, both at Supreme Sports Club in Columbia. Badminton, billiards, lawn bowling, softball, tennis and swimming will all take place at various venues in Montgomery County. Registration is open now. Cost to participate in one event is $20; each additional event is $5. Deadline for registration is 30 days prior to your first event start date. No registrations will be accepted after Oct. 1. To register, go to www.mdsenior olympics.org. For more information, email info@mdseniorolympics.org or call (240) 777-8080. —Barbara Ruben

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A U G U S T 2 0 1 1 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

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H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 1

Nine vaccines you may need as you age You know you should be vaccinated against the flu every year because the viruses that cause influenza — and the vaccines that protect you from those viruses — change from year to year. But there’s more to staying current with your vaccinations than that. For one thing, you can’t assume that the vaccines you received as a child will protect you for the rest of your life. Some childhood immunizations require a periodic booster shot. Work, travel and changing personal circumstances can expose you to unusual infectious diseases. In addition, overall immunity can fade with age, increasing your susceptibility to serious disease caused by common infections. Moreover, from time to time, there are new vaccines — and new recommendations for receiving older vaccines. The following list summarizes the Center for Disease Control’s 2011 Adult Immunization Schedule for people 50 and over: 1. Seasonal influenza vaccine: one dose per year. Only inactivated influenza vaccine for adults 50 and over; a high-dose version called Fluzone is available (and recommended) for those 65 and over. Who should get it: Everyone should be vaccinated annually in the fall or winter. This year’s flu shot will be a duplicate of last year’s because the same flu strains are still circulating. But that doesn’t mean you can skip it just because you got vaccinated last year. CDC officials believe that antibody levels can fall by two-thirds or more after a year has passed. If you’re sick with a fever, wait until you recover before getting your flu shot. Talk to your clinician before getting the vaccine if you’ve ever had a severe allergic reaction to eggs or to a previous flu shot, or if you have a history of Guillain-Barre syndrome that

occurred after receiving a flu shot. 2. Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Td/Tdap): three-dose series and a booster every 10 years; one-time Tdap given earlier to people in contact with infants. Who should get it: Unvaccinated adults under 65 should receive an initial three-dose series with two doses of Td and one of Tdap, then regular Td boosters every 10 years, including one with Tdap. A one-time dose of Tdap should be given as soon as possible to healthcare providers and anyone in close contact with infants (such as grandparents and childcare providers). Adults 65 and over who’ve never received Tdap and who have close contact with infants should also be vaccinated with Tdap, no matter when they last received a Td-containing vaccine. Talk to your clinician before getting the vaccine if you’ve ever had Guillain-Barre syndrome. Don’t get Td or Tdap if you’ve ever had a severe allergic reaction to any vaccine. 3. Varicella (chickenpox): one or two doses Who should get it: If you’ve never had chickenpox, or you were vaccinated but received only one of the two recommended doses of varicella vaccine, talk to your clinician about whether you need the vaccine. Don’t get this vaccine if you’ve ever had a severe allergic reaction to it, or to gelatin or the antibiotic neomycin. 4. Zoster (shingles): one dose Who should get it: The shingles vaccine is recommended for adults 60 and over, whether or not they’ve had shingles before. In March, the FDA approved the vaccine for those 50 and up, but many clinicians still recommend waiting until 60 because they don’t know how long immunity will last, and your chance of shingles

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7. Meningococcal: one or two doses Who should get it: Adults without a working spleen and those with HIV or complement component deficiencies should receive two doses. People 65 and over and anyone exposed to meningococcal disease through work or travel should receive one dose. Don’t get this vaccine if you’ve had a severe allergic reaction to any vaccine. 8. Hepatitis A: two-dose series Who should get it: Adults who should be vaccinated include anyone who is exposed to hepatitis A through work, lifestyle or travel, and anyone with chronic liver disease or a clotting factor disorder. Don’t get this vaccine if you’ve had a severe allergic reaction to any vaccine. 9. Hepatitis B: three-dose series Who should get it: Adults who should be vaccinated include anyone who is exposed to hepatitis B through work, lifestyle or travel and anyone with endstage renal disease, chronic liver disease or HIV infection. Don’t get this vaccine if you’ve had a severe allergic reaction to any vaccine. © 2011 President and fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc.

BEACON BITS

Aug. 10

TRAVELING WITH SPECIAL NEEDS Renee Gerber of CruiseOne, Gerber & Associates explores ques-

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goes up as you age. Tell your clinician if you have severe allergies. Don’t get this vaccine if you’ve ever had a severe allergic reaction to gelatin or the antibiotic neomycin, or if you have a weakened immune system. 5. Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR): one or two doses Who should get it: Anyone born after 1956 who hasn’t been vaccinated needs at least one dose of MMR. You may need a second dose if you’re a healthcare worker or plan to travel internationally. Don’t get this vaccine if you’ve ever had a severe reaction to gelatin, the antibiotic neomycin or a previous dose of MMR. 6. Pneumococcal polysaccharide (PPSV): one or two doses Who should get it: Adults 65 and over who’ve never been vaccinated against pneumonia should receive one dose. Others who should be vaccinated (with one or two doses) include adults who smoke cigarettes, live in long-term care facilities, have a cochlear implant, or have certain medical conditions, including lung disease, cardiovascular disease or diabetes. Don’t get this vaccine if you’ve had a severe allergic reaction to any vaccine.

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Wagandt From page 1 Maryland House of Delegates, 1958, (defeated), Baltimore City Council 1958, (defeated), and the Maryland State Constitution Convention in 1967 — winning this one. “Governor Schaefer once said to me publically that ‘You’re no politician, Charlie’ — which I’m not,” he laughed. Along with his political life, the mill began to flounder in the late 1960s. “There were a number of ‘revolutions’ in America, including civil rights, the sexual revolution, and, most important to the mill, the revolution in dress,” he recalled. “People weren’t wearing woolen sport coats as they had for generations. Double knits were in, but the mill didn’t have the equipment for making this type of clothing.” Toward the end of the mill’s operation, Charles’s two uncles died, and two of his cousins moved south, leaving everything in Wagandt’s hands. Now he had to learn

A U G U S T 2 0 1 1 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

the business operation double time. “You learn a hell of a lot more when business is not going well than you do when things are going well. So I got a real education during those last few years of the mill’s operation,” he said. Despite efforts to keep the mill open, in 1972 the mill was shuttered and soon after battered by Hurricane Agnes, which damaged part of the mill, along with some houses. “This was the coup de gras of the whole operation,” Wagandt said. A company bought the mill primarily for its equipment, and the mill building lay vacant for years. Wagandt paints a poignant picture of the mill’s closure on his website, www.oellacompany.com: “It’s gone now — the sight of richly colored fabrics; the aroma of dyes, chemicals and wool; the feel of tweed, saxonies and shetlands; the clatter of looms echoing off the hillside. “No longer do hundreds of workers pour in and out of the mill at shift change. No

longer does water from the mill race set the electric turbines humming. Stripped of the machinery and workers that gave life to its brick walls, now all is just a memory.”

Preserving the town While the mill was out of his hands, Wagandt was left to ponder what to do with the town of Oella and the 100 houses originally home to the mill’s employees, where some retirees still lived. Wagandt tried to get someone to take over the town as a co-op, but the proposed buyer wanted money up front. So in the end, Wagandt bought it himself from his extended family, for an undisclosed amount. But no matter the price, the town was no bargain. Some houses still had outhouses, and raw sewage flowed into the Patapsco River. Fireplaces and original stone and log walls of houses had been plastered over, leaving little historic charm. Log cabins were deteriorating. “You know, the purchase price was only

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a small part of it. The real matter is how much you have to put into it. You have to bring in water, sewer and many other improvements to make it habitable according to the county codes. Without this, it was hopeless,” Wagandt recalled. “It came to the point of ‘do or die.’ We had to succeed, or the dream of saving this lovely historical town was gone.” Wagandt worked to combine historic preservation with infill housing that was sensitive to the character of the town. He also put in place a social program to help longterm tenants afford to live in the renovated houses. Residents helped place Oella on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. Even today, Wagandt is continuing to rehab houses. The Granite Hill development includes five renovated stone houses, eight luxury new homes, and three houses that will combine small historic houses with new additions. The town’s commerce now consists of a general store, small businesses, and the Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum, which also includes extensive nature trails. The museum highlights the contributions of Benjamin Banneker, an 18th century African American astronomer who lived in the area. Oella is also home to the Mount Gilboa Chapel, built in 1859, reportedly the only pre-Civil War African American church still standing in the Baltimore area. The church was originally served by descendents of a community of slaves set free in 1786. And the mill itself was home to artists’ studios for a time before being converted by Southern Management to 147 loft apartments in 2005. “The apartments were designed to retain some of the original structural elements, keeping some of the historical flavor of the mill’s interior. I’m proud of what they did; it’s a showplace,” Wagandt said. Asked about his involvement in the mill’s rebirth, he said, “I wasn’t directly involved in the construction, but I gave the project a lot of support.” Wagandt still goes to work every day at his offices in a converted 1904 church. “When I walk out of my office in the morning and see this old stone house right in front of me with its unusual double set of entrances, it gives me a lot of satisfaction to know I helped save wonderful places like this,” he said. That’s part of the reason Wagandt has no plans to retire. “You get a great sense of reward in moving forward and helping others,” he said. Wagandt himself doesn’t live in Oella. In fact, he lives in one of the first contemporary style homes built in Baltimore City 60 years ago. As he looked back on his long history with Oella and the mill, he mused, “Who would have ever thought the mill would be shutting down? Who would have ever thought I’d wind up in real estate or with this community? It’s kind of amazing. But doors close and doors open.” R.A. Propper is a freelance writer living in Catonsville, Md.

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H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 1

Health Studies Page

THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Heart mapping study seeks volunteers By Barbara Ruben The term heart failure doesn’t mean someone’s heart has stopped or is about to stop working. However, heart failure is a serious condition that requires medical care. Heart failure is a condition in which the heart can’t pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. In some cases, the heart can’t fill with enough blood. In other cases, the heart can’t pump blood to the rest of the body with enough force. Some people have both problems. The condition is a common cardiovascular problem. Its incidence increases with age, affecting up to 10 percent of people older than 65, including nearly 14 percent of men and 12 percent of women over age 80.

Two-year study underway Researchers at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in Bethesda, Md., are now studying the use of noninvasive imaging methods to better understand the symptoms and effects of heart failure. They are looking for people with and without the condition for a two-year study. No treatment will be provided as part of the study, and patients will continue to see their own doctors.

Participants will visit the Clinical Center four times during the study, with one initial screening visit and three study visits. The three study visits will take place one year apart. Participants will also receive followup phone calls six months after the first and second visits. During the screening visit, they will have a full medical history taken and have a physical examination, as well as submit blood and urine samples. During each of the study visits, participants will have the following imaging tests: cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), cardiac computerized tomography (CT) to study the blood vessels in and leading to the heart, echocardiogram to evaluate heart function, and electrocardiogram to measure heart electrical activity.

Who may volunteer? To take part in the study, participants must be 18 or older, and be either healthy or be diagnosed with heart failure at a New York Heart Association functional class II level or worse. People who have a history of severe allergic reaction to contrast agents may not participate. Those with symptomatic coro-

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Aug. 29

USING CPR AND DEFIBRILLATORS

Earn a two-year American Heart Association Heart Save completion card. (This is not a healthcare provider course.) There is a $55 fee. The program will be offered Monday, Aug. 29, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at Howard County General Hospital Wellness Center, Medical Pavilion. 10710 Charter Dr., Suite 100, Columbia. For information or to register, call (410) 7407601 or register online at www.hcoh.org.

Ongoing

nary artery disease, a prior heart attack, congenital heart disease and certain other heart conditions are also disqualified from taking part in the study. Additional disqualifying conditions include a personal or family history of kidney disease, diabetes treated with insulin, multiple myeloma, lupus, renal failure and

end stage liver disease. Compensation for time and travel is available for study participants. To learn more about the study, or to volunteer, contact NIH’s Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office at 1-800-411-1222 or go online to www.clinicaltrials.gov and search for study 10-CC-0153.

ASSISTED LIVING TOWN HALL MEETINGS Please join the Office of Health Care Quality (OHCQ) and the Maryland Department of Aging for an Open Dialogue. We welcome your input as we work to revise the Assisted Living regulations (COMAR 10.07.14). Meetings will be held during the month of August in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Washington County and Queen Anne's County.

For Dates, Times, Sites and Registration information,

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EXERCISING AFTER A STROKE CLASSES

Adaptive Physical Activity (APA) free exercise classes are available at several Howard County senior centers for persons recovering from a stroke that occurred at least six months ago, but left the person walking with a limp or needing to use a cane or walker. For more information, call Maryland Access Point at (410) 313-5980 or the APA Stroke Study Hotline at (410) 605-4000, ext. 4842.

July 29

APPLY NOW FOR MODERATE INCOME HOUSING

Howard County Housing is accepting applications for its Moderate Income Housing Unit Program through July 29 for persons with a household income not exceeding 80 percent of the median family income. (For a family of four, for example, the maximum income is $80,552.) For more information, check out www.howardcountymd.gov and click the MIHU Program link under “What’s New” or call (410) 313-6318.

Aug. 28

HISTORY OF COVERED BRIDGES

Jim Smedley explores the history and design of covered bridges past and present in Central Maryland and Howard County. The fee is $3 for Howard County Historical Society members; $5 for non-members. The program is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 28 at 2 p.m. at the Howard County Historical Society Museum, 8328 Court Ave., Ellicott City.

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Supplements & meds that raise cholesterol Dear Pharmacist: The type of reaction is very individual and I started two new medications a few can take weeks or months to occur. If you months ago, and suddenly think that your medication is my cholesterol is too high. causing high cholesterol, talk Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so bizarre because I to your doctor about discontinhad perfect numbers all my uing it or switching to somelife, and I eat well and exerthing that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t elevate your cise. Can drugs raise chonumbers quite so badly. But lesterol? do not stop taking any mediâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; J.G. cine without first obtaining Dear J.G.: your doctorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s approval. Yes, hundreds of them can. Here are some popular Nowadays, people are quick to items that cause hypercholestake statins (like Zocor) and fi- DEAR terolemia. Some cause slight PHARMACIST brate medications (like Tricor) increases, while others really By Suzy Cohen to lower their cholesterol, but spike it. you are spot on. Something you Rosaglitazone (Avandia). take every day for one condition can cause Once upon a time a blockbuster diabetes your cholesterol to creep up. treatment, this drug can raise cholesterol. People are always shocked when they Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the least of its problems, as consistent find out they are causing their own choles- reports of life-threatening reactions have led terol problems â&#x20AC;&#x201D; either with low carb both the United Kingdom and South Africa diets, or with medications â&#x20AC;&#x201D; but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s true. to withdraw this drug from use. It is still Some dietary supplements can raise it, too. FDA-approved for U.S. citizens. Hmm.

Vitamin D. I love this antioxidant, but some people are overdoing it. Excessive D can cause excessive calcium in the blood, and this can cause hypercholesterolemia. Diuretics. These â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;water pillsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; help reduce blood pressure. The â&#x20AC;&#x153;thiazideâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;loopâ&#x20AC;? diuretics are known to elevate total cholesterol, LDL and blood glucose. Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) is sold on its own and also found in dozens of combo drugs under various brand names, usually ending in â&#x20AC;&#x153;HCT.â&#x20AC;? And furosemide (brand name Lasix) is quite possibly the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most popular loop diuretic. Any med that contains HCTZ or furosemide may contribute to high cholesterol. Escitalopram (Lexapro). A popular antidepressant, related to Celexa. A slight elevation in cholesterol levels was shown in post-marketing studies. Fluoxetine (Prozac). Another popular antidepressant that may raise cholesterol, cause hypoglycemia and trigger gout episodes; it may reduce iron and potassi-

um (sparking cardiac arrhythmias). Creatine. A dietary supplement used primarily by sports enthusiasts, bodybuilders and people with muscle disorders and Lou Gehrigâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disease. It may cause a slight elevation in cholesterol if you take large doses. Prednisone. This anti-inflammatory drug and its cousins in the â&#x20AC;&#x153;corticosteroidâ&#x20AC;? class can cause high cholesterol with chronic use; it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter if you take the steroid orally, inject it or inhale it. Olanzapine (Zyprexa). Used to treat schizophrenia, it has caused severe elevations in triglycerides (greater than 500 mg/dL) in some individuals. This information is opinion only. It is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose your condition. Consult with your doctor before using any new drug or supplement. Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist and the author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist and Real Solutions from Head to Toe. To contact her, visit www.dearpharmacist.com.

Is remembering wallowing in the past? Dear Solutions: Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m married for the second time. I had a good marriage before, but my wife died. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve kept pictures of her with the children and with me taken at different places. My present wife and I are living in my home, and she has collected all the pictures of my former wife and asked me to get rid of them. I want this marriage to work, but I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see why I have to throw away my past. Should I? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Second Time Around Dear Second Time:

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t throw away your past â&#x20AC;&#x201D; give it away. Give the pictures to your children. They will probably want them for their family history. Try to understand that your wife is living in the home that was yours and your former wifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, and sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s struggling to make it hers. You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to forget your past, but you have to live in the present, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what your wife is trying to do. Help her. Dear Solutions: What to do about an old friend of mine who used to have a lot of money but lost most of it in one of those hor-

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rible schemes? I feel bad for him, but and groaning and mourning its loss. no matter how much time passes, he After sympathizing with him and exnever stops complaining pressing your empathy and and whining about it. understanding that he was It isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even as though he cheated, set a time limit. Take made all that money himhim out to dinner, where he self. It came to him suddencan whine and dine one more ly through a stroke of luck time. from some distant relative, After that, make it clear and he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even have it that you will now only listen that long before he lost it. to his plans for the future, not Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s acting as though he his regrets for the past. never lived any other way, ÂŠ Helen Oxenberg, 2011. SOLUTIONS and now heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s completely Questions to be considered for this By Helen Oxenberg, lost. column may be sent to: The BeaMSW, ACSW â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The Friend con, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Dear Friend: Spring, MD 20915. You may Once he was nouveaux riche, and now also e-mail the author at helox72@comcast.net. heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nouveaux poor. Nouveaux riche is bet- To inquire about reprint rights, call (609) 655ter, so you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t blame him for moaning 3684.

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Why travel the globe? It’s all at America’s Aquarium! — Marco LeMonde World’s Laziest Explorer

DON’T MISS THE CELEBRATION! AUGUST 5-8 BALTIMORE’S PREMIER ATTRACTION IS TURNING 30! Don’t miss FREE ENTERTAINMENT and FUN-FILLED ACTIVITIES on the pier including:

lively Waxter Center Steppers, island sounds of St. Veronica’s Youth Steel Orchestra, the moving Rayn Fall Dance Studio, Aboriginal Didgeridoo performance, Milkshake Trio, Ocean Arts Project, Pam the Kindersinger, face painting and much, much more!

Visit aqua.org/30years or call 410-576-3800 for more events!

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VOLUME 1, NO. 5 â&#x20AC;˘ AUGUST 2011

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A Message from Sue Vaeth Howard County Office on Aging Administrator

Last month, I wrote about National Safety Month. For this month, I checked online to see what national observances are celebrated in August, and was delighted to find a site full of bizarre August holidays. Here are some of my favorites: August 2 is National Ice Cream Sandwich Day (who knew such a wonderful treat was celebrated on my birthday)? If you are a twin, you will want to know that August 4 is the Twins Day Festival; if you are on the outs with your significant other, note that August 25 is Kiss and Make Up Day. And the ones that make me smile the most? Wiggle Your Toes Day (August 6) and Sneak Some Zucchini on Your Neighborâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Porch Night (August 8). Check out this site for more fun days in August http://library.thinkquest.org/2886/aug.htm. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have some fun of our own on Tuesday, August 9, as the Office on Aging presents Summertime Fun at the Howard County Fair in West Friendship. This annual event features free all day admission to the fair, entertainment, and activities for everyone age 62 and older. Hope to see you there! On a more serious note, do you know anyone who is looking to get back into shape after a stroke? We offer an Adapted Physical Activity (APA) exercise program that can provide on-going motivation and support for stroke survivors after acute care and traditional rehabilitation are completed. Exercises in the APA classes are designed to improve balance and walking as well as promote fitness and health. For more information, contact the Research Coordinator at 410-605-7000, ext. 4842.

The Senior Connection is published monthly by the Howard County Office on Aging, Department of Citizen Services. We welcome your comments and suggestions. To contact us, or to join our email subscriber list, email seniorconnection@howardcountymd.gov with â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;subscribeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in the subject box. The Senior Connection from Howard County Office on Aging 6751 Columbia Gateway Drive, Columbia, MD 21046 410-313-6410 | www.howardcountyaging.org Sue Vaeth, Administrator Advertising contained in the Beacon is not endorsed by the Howard County Office on Aging or by the publisher.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;My Pyramidâ&#x20AC;?...goes to â&#x20AC;&#x153;Choose My Plateâ&#x20AC;? By Rona Martiyan, MD, RD, LDN Office on Aging Nutritionist The US Department of Agriculture has created a new icon for its nutrition messages for the public, and it goes along with First Lady Michelle Obamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campaign to fight obesity in our country. Most people know that carrying extra weight can make health risks skyrocket, impacting quality of life and increasing health care costs. The new â&#x20AC;&#x153;Choose My Plateâ&#x20AC;? message was designed to convey nutrition information in a format everyone can understand. So what are the new messages in the â&#x20AC;&#x153;plate conceptâ&#x20AC;?? â&#x20AC;˘ The â&#x20AC;&#x153;Meat and Beansâ&#x20AC;? Group is now the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Proteinâ&#x20AC;? Group â&#x20AC;˘ The â&#x20AC;&#x153;Milkâ&#x20AC;? Group is now the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dairyâ&#x20AC;? Group, and fat-free or low fat dairy foods and drink are preferred

â&#x20AC;˘ Vegetables are more than Âź of the plate, while fruits and vegetables together should make up Â˝ of your plate â&#x20AC;˘ Half of your grains should be â&#x20AC;&#x153;wholeâ&#x20AC;? grain â&#x20AC;˘ The height of the food on your plate should not be higher than a deck of cards The messages are clear. Balance calories by eating the foods you enjoy in smaller portions. Avoid oversized plates and portion sizes. Eat more nutrient-dense foods; the more nutrients per serving the better. Avoid â&#x20AC;&#x153;emptyâ&#x20AC;? calorie foodsâ&#x20AC;Ś those that just provide mostly fat, sodium, sugar and calories. For example: 1 cup of sweetened applesauce = 173 calories, while 1 cup of unsweetened applesauce = 105 calories. Enjoy your food, listen to your stomach as it fills, and remember, you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to be stuffed to feel satisfied!

Howard County Fairgrounds West Friendship

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 1

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Coming Events The Senior Connection

Wed., August 3, 11 a.m. – Long-Term Living: Covering the Cost, KiwanisWallas Recreation Center, 10481 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City Extra costs for long-term care may be part of your future, including in-home care, assisted living, and/or nursing home care. Long-term insurance is one way to prepare for these costs, but not the only way. Explore your options in a discussion led by representatives from the Senior Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). For questions or to pre-register, call 410-313-7391. No fee.

Thurs., August 4, 1 p.m. – Founding of America: Secrets of the Founding Fathers, Ellicott City Senior Center “Founding of America” offers a comprehensive look at the revolutionary men responsible for laying the foundation of the United States. Free; call 410-313-1400 for information.

Wed., August 10, 7 p.m. – What You Can Expect from Medicare, The Bain Center Learn how Medicare works, how to enroll, what the benefits are, and how it relates to supplemental health insurance in this free workshop, sponsored by SHIP. Call 410-3137391 to register. Wed., August 10 (All About Eve) and August 24 (Citizen Kane), 10 a.m. to noon – Red Sofa Morning Movies, The Bain Center Come out of the heat and enjoy a free movie,

coffee and donuts with us before lunch. Call 410-313-7213 for information.

Tues., August 16, 11 a.m. to noon – Say it with Music, The Bain Center Join Leo Bianco and Lynn Hubin for a Musical Cabaret of Broadway hits and popular songs, plus dance numbers, including a rumba and a soft-shoe routine. Free; call 410-313-7213 to reserve your seat.

Wednesday, August 17, 11 a.m. – Terry Marsh Entertains, Ellicott City Senior Center Stop in and beat the heat! Enjoy an hour of Broadway and classic songs performed by the fabulous Terry Marsh. Call 410-313-1400 for information.

Wed., August 17, 10:30 a.m. – How to Avoid Food & Drug Interactions, North Laurel 50+ Center Join the Office on Aging’s nutritionist, Rona Martiyan, for an enlightening discussion. Free; call 410-313-0830 for more information. Tues., August 23, 10:00 a.m. – Brain Fitness with Robin Zahor, The Bain Center Strengthen your brain and have fun while learning techniques to improve cognitive performance. Free; to register, call 410-313-7213.

Wed., August 24, 7 p.m. – Why Medicare Isn’t Enough, The Bain Center This free workshop, sponsored by SHIP, focuses on the gaps in Medicare coverage and ways to cover them. To register, call 410-313-7391. Wed., August 31, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. – Showboat/Atlantic City Trip, Elkridge Senior Center Cost: $30; includes roundtrip motor coach transportation to Atlantic City and a $30 rebate. Call 410-313-5192 for reservations and information.

Wed., August 31, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Rock and Roll Wednesdays, North Laurel 50+ Center Put on your blue suede shoes and poodle skirt and rock to the 60’s music of the Pet Rock Band. Super box lunch served at noon. Program cost: $2; suggested lunch donation, $3. Call 410-313-0380 for more information. Tues., Sept. 20 -- Korean American Senior Association (KASA) Fundraiser, The Bain Center Over the past two years, KASA has raised more than $4,000 for the Vivian L. Reid Community Fund. In September, a third fundraiser will feature a sale of gently used clothes, jewelry, furniture, toys, food and more. For more information or to donate, call Sunny Moon, 410-313-7388.

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Learn techniques to cope with the frustration, fatigue, pain and isolation often associated with chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and obesity. Also, learn exercises to maintain and improve strength, flexibility and endurance, and how to communicate more effectively with family, friends and health professionals. The class and accompanying materials cost $28. If you are interested, contact Maryland Access Point (MAP) at 410-313-5980.

WOMENFEST THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2011 • 10 AM-2:30 PM GARY J ARTHUR COMMUNITY CENTER AT GLENWOOD COOKSVILLE, MD

A U G U S T 2 0 1 1 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Money Law &

CHECK OUT YOUR ADVISER A new government database allows you to review your financial adviser’s record, including disciplinary actions WOMEN AND RETIREMENT RISK Women face greater obstacles to a secure retirement than men due to lower earnings and living solo A WILL AND A WAY Wills provide a means to ensure your survivors inherit what you would like them to have

Are there funds waiting for you to claim? By Elliot Raphaelson According to the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA), assets worth over $32 billion are held by various states just waiting to be claimed by their rightful owners. You may be entitled to some of these assets. I will explain how this property ends up with the states, and how you can determine whether you have unclaimed property you don’t know about. Unclaimed assets can come from any number of sources: uncashed dividends, refunds or payroll checks, savings and checking accounts, common stocks, traveler’s checks, trust distributions, uncashed money orders, life insurance proceeds, annuities, certificates of deposit, security deposits or safe-deposit contents. State laws stipulate that under certain circumstances, financial institutions and other companies must turn over unclaimed assets to the state. For example, you may have a savings account that has been dormant for three years (the limits will vary by state). The financial institution might be required to make a public notice identifying your name and the institution holding your assets.

If you do not see the notice and notify the financial institution, the bank will then have to turn the asset over to the state. After the assets are turned over to the state, no further interest will accrue.

Free access to databases Meanwhile, the funds in the dormant account are listed in a database under your name. Periodically, states update their databases, which are available on the Internet. Anyone can access the state’s database, at no cost, and determine if there are assets being held in his name. Let’s say you check your state’s database and see that the funds from your old bank account are sitting there, unclaimed. All you have to do is contact the department in charge (usually the state department of treasury) and supply the proof they ask for to claim the funds. Several years ago, I was the executor of my aunt’s estate. I filed her will with the state’s probate office. She had detailed records, and I thought I had complete knowledge of her assets and beneficiaries. I distributed all the assets I was aware of. Apparently, however, she purchased one certificate of deposit for $3,000 but did

not name a beneficiary, and I was not aware of its existence. Her will stated that assets in her name would be shared equally by me and my two children. A few years after she passed away, my son, Mark, did a search on Florida’s abandoned property website and found the unclaimed assets in her name. We supplied the state with the information they required — a copy of the will, and the names and addresses of all the beneficiaries, with signatures. Within 30 days, the state sent us our checks. (Mark and I “invested” in the Kentucky Derby. Debra, the conservative one, is saving for early retirement.)

Claim at any time There is no statute of limitation for claiming assets held by the state. There are many ways for you to determine whether a state is holding assets that belong to you. You can go to a search engine on the Internet and type in your state’s name and “unclaimed property,” and the results will likely show the website for the relevant department in your state. When you find your state’s website, there is no cost for you to enter your name and the names of your family members to find

possible unclaimed assets. You may want to use different spellings of your name just in case errors were made in record keeping. If you have lived in more than one state, you can use another free website: missingmoney.com, which contains information for multiple states. NAUPA has its own website, www. unclaimed.org, which contains a great deal of important information regarding unclaimed property, the consumer-protection laws that benefit you, and links to state websites. If you have been named as a beneficiary in a will or trust agreement by a relative or anyone else, you should enter his or her name on these websites to determine if there are any assets under that name that now belong to you. With so many assets going unclaimed, it would hardly be surprising that some might belong to you. Next time you’re surfing the net, visit the websites I mentioned above and see. You certainly have nothing to lose. Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at elliotraph@gmail.com. © 2011 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc.

Get insured despite pre-existing conditions By Mark Miller Over age 50 but under 65? If so, you’re at risk of falling into the pre-existing condition healthcare gap. In the current health insurance marketplace, it’s very difficult for people with preexisting conditions to buy a quality policy at an affordable price. The problem disproportionately affects older people in this age group; they’re too young to quality for Medicare yet very likely to have at least one chronic condition that leads health insurance companies to turn them down. The problem impacted 15 percent of all Americans age 50-64 in 2009, according to a recent report by the Commonwealth Fund — 8.6 million people. Meanwhile, another 9.7 million in this age group had coverage with such high deductibles that they were considered “effectively underinsured.” Starting in 2014, the new healthcare reform law will get these folks covered through expansion of Medicaid and the cre-

ation of new private insurance exchanges. In the meantime, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) put a Band-Aid on the problem by setting aside $5 billion to fund a pre-existing insurance program (PCIP) that operates until the end of 2013, when enrollees will shift to coverage via the new exchanges. This bridge initiative got off to a slow start in 2010, but significant improvements are being made this year that are worth knowing about if you’re struggling to find health insurance coverage. The ACA gave states the option of using federal dollars to administer their own PCIP programs, or to offer a plan run by the federal government. Twenty-seven states are offering their own plans. But last year, only 8,000 people enrolled nationwide in these plans. The weak start was due partly to the short ramp-up time available after the ACA became law, according to Jean Hall, an associate research professor at the University of Kansas who specializes in healthcare.

Cheaper plans now available But in many cases, the plans just weren’t very good deals. Premiums sometimes exceeded $1,000 per month, with annual deductibles as high as $5,000. Finally, enrollees must be uninsured for six months prior to coverage in order to be eligible, a rule that further reduced sign-ups. The plans that did get relatively strong enrollment were in a handful of big states, including Pennsylvania, California, Illinois and Ohio. The plans in these states also decided to set their premiums at very affordable rates — which they had discretion to do under the ACA. For example, Pennsylvania’s program last year had a flat monthly rate of $283 per enrollee — for a person of any age — with an annual $5,000 in-network, out-of-pocket limit. Meanwhile, noteworthy improvements are being rolled out to PCIPs this year that will make them worth checking out for those struggling to find insurance.

Premiums will be reduced in many states. Moreover, the federal program will offer three plan options, two of which feature lower deductibles for prescription coverage. New child-only premium options also are being offered to reduce the cost of covering children with pre-existing conditions. “I do believe the new federal options represent a significant change for consumers,” Hall said. “People can get prescription costs covered sooner, which is potentially very important for many people with chronic conditions. Also, adding the child-only premiums creates a significant savings for families who have children with chronic conditions.” The PCIPs cover a broad range of health benefits, including primary and specialty care, hospital care and prescription drugs. The law requires that they cover, on average, no less than 65 percent of medical costs and limit out-of-pocket See GET INSURED, page 19

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Medicare becomes costly for high earners By Mark Miller The new healthcare reform law aims to cover nearly all Americans and to get our exploding national healthcare tab under control. But reform also calls for some upfront investment, and someone needs to foot the bill. Wealthy retirees — it’s time to grab your wallets. Starting this year, the most affluent seniors are shouldering steep increases in Medicare premiums mandated under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This year, the surcharges affect individuals with $85,000 or more in annual income, and joint filers with income over $170,000. While $85,000 may not sound stratospheric, keep in mind that income typically falls in retirement after paychecks stop arriving. Social Security, pensions and retirement account withdrawals are the usual income sources. The most affluent seniors have been paying higher Medicare Part B premiums (for doctor visits and outpatient services) since 2007. But until now, the income levels at which the higher costs applied were indexed to inflation each year to keep the same percentage of beneficiaries subject to the surcharge. The ACA freezes the threshold at 2010 levels through 2019, starting this year.

Drug plans means-tested, too And the ACA also extends the income formulas to Part D prescription drug enrollees for the first time. The changes will affect just 5 percent of Medicare enrollees this year, although that figure will rise to 14 percent by 2019 as more seniors jump past the frozen income threshold levels, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. High-income seniors who pay both Part

Get insured From page 18 spending to $5,950 for individuals. They also cannot impose pre-existing condition exclusions or waiting periods.

Local plans The federal website for the ACA has a page that describes the state plans and lists contact information where consumers can get current information on 2011 insurance options. Visit http://1.usa.gov/pre existingconditions to learn more. In Maryland, the program is run by the Maryland Health Insurance Plan. To qualify, you must be a citizen or legal resident of the United States and have been uninsured for the past six months. Rates range from $141 to $354 per month. There is a

B and Part D premiums could see their combined premiums rise anywhere from $300 to $700 per month by the end of the decade, according to Juliette Cubanski, associate director of Kaiser’s Medicare Policy Project. “That’s a considerable sum, considering that the base Part B premium for most people this year is $96.40,” she said. The new income thresholds also affect people who choose a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C), which often covers prescription drugs. Advantage enrollees typically pay the monthly Part B premium plus a supplemental premium to the Medicare Advantage plan; now, these premiums are being adjusted to factor in the higher-income amounts for Part B and Part D coverage, where applicable. The policy aims to help offset the cost of healthcare reform by reducing taxpayer subsidies on Medicare services for seniors who don’t really need the help. The standard Part B premium is set annually to cover 25 percent of program costs; taxpayers foot 75 percent. Seniors subject to the new income thresholds will see that subsidy fall by the end of the decade to just 20 percent. “The examples everyone mentions are Bill Gates and Warren Buffett,” said Cubanski. “Why subsidize rich Medicare beneficiaries?” Kaiser estimates that the higher premiums will save taxpayers $25 billion for Part B from 2010 to 2019, and $10.7 billion for Part D.

No more doughnut hole in 2020 The ACA does provide important new benefits to retirees that should at least take the edge off the higher expenses over

$1,500 annual deductible. To learn more about this program, call 1-888-444-9016 or visit www.maryland healthinsuranceplan.state.md.us. The District of Columbia and Virginia take part in the federal government’s PreExisting Condition Insurance Plan. Monthly fees for those age 55 and over in the District range from $551 to $742 per month, depending on the level of service selected. In Virginia, the fees range from $498 to $671. To learn more about the federal government plan for residents of D.C. and Virginia, visit www.pcip.gov or call 1-866-717-5826. 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, 2010). Contact: mark@retirementrevised.com. © 2011 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

time. The Medicare Part D prescription drug doughnut hole will be closed. That’s the coverage gap that starts when a beneficiary’s annual drug spending hits $2,830, and resumes at the catastrophic level ($4,550). This year, pharmaceutical companies are providing a discount of 50 percent on brand-name drugs to low- and middle-income beneficiaries who find themselves in the gap. Then, the doughnut hole itself will shrink a bit every year, ultimately disappearing entirely in 2020. The law also contains some important improvements to traditional Medicare aimed at boosting preventive care. Medicare patients now receive an annual wellness visit — with no co-payment or deductible — that includes a comprehensive health risk assessment and a long-term personalized prevention plan. Deductibles and co-payments also were eliminated for most preventive care services.

But the new income-based premiums arrive at a time when rising out-of-pocket health insurance costs pose a growing threat to retirement security for all retirees — affluent or not. Cubanski said the median out-of-pocket premium expense for Medicare beneficiaries as a share of income rose from 11.9 percent to 16.2 percent between 1997 and 2006 (the most recent year for which data is available). While Medicare provides strong financial protection for basic services, coverage gaps force beneficiaries to pay relatively high out-of-pocket costs. Kaiser reports that Medicare covered just 48 percent of total per capita medical and long-term care expenses, which averaged $17,231 in 2006. The out-of-pocket expenses are distributed between premiums, long-term care, prescription drugs and other costs. © 2011 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

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A U G U S T 2 0 1 1 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Ways to cope with higher Medicare premiums Here are four strategies to consider that can help you control premiums, and also hold down overall out-of-pocket healthcare costs in retirement: 1. Avoid the surcharge. “The surcharges on Medicare premiums starting in 2011 can be steep,” said Christine Fahlund, senior financial planner at T. Rowe Price. “It’s important for retirees to work with their tax advisers to try to avoid them each year, or as often as possible.” One possible strategy is to take portfolio withdrawals from a Roth IRA, which are not counted in Social Security’s definition of taxable income. Or, alternate withdrawals from taxable accounts so you don’t have to pay the surcharge every year. 2. Challenge the surcharge. The Social Security Administration (SSA) will determine if you must pay the premium surcharge using your most recent tax return — in most cases, 2010. Eligibility is determined using your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), which is the total of your adjusted gross income and tax-exempt interest income. If your MAGI is higher than the income threshold in any given year, you’ll get a letter from the SSA indicating your premium. If your income has fallen since your tax return was filed, you may be able to appeal under certain circumstances. For more information, download a free guide to the income thresholds at the SSA’s website: http://1.usa.gov/incomethresholds. 3. Work longer. Staying on the job even a few years longer than planned is one of the best overall ways to improve

retirement security — and health insurance is one of the key reasons, because it means more years of employer-sponsored health insurance and delayed Medicare enrollment. If full-time work isn’t possible, try to stay on part-time if that will allow you to stay insured. 4. Shop the plans annually. Unfortunately, seniors need to re-shop prescription drug or Medicare Advantage plans each year to ensure that they’re getting the best price and appropriate coverage. Insurance companies often change their offerings year-to-year in ways that can increase premiums by thousands of dollars, or make it difficult to get certain drugs. And your health needs may change, too. The annual enrollment window runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, and with dozens of plans available in most parts of the country, shopping can be a complex chore. For the computer-savvy, the Medicare website offers an excellent Plan Finder tool (http://1.usa.gov/PlanFinder); more personalized help is available from your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program, a network of nonprofit Medicare counseling services (http:// bit.ly/SHIPNetwork). The Medicare Rights Center also offers free counseling by phone (1-800-333-4114). If you’re willing to pay to get advice and help with paperwork, hire an independent, fee-based counseling service such as Allsup. For $200 to $300, Allsup assigns an adviser who will provide a written personalized plan analysis and offer phone consultations. — Mark Miller

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Check out your financial adviser online Checking a financial adviser’s past for errant behavior is much easier now with a new searchable database run by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), which oversees U.S. securities companies. Its Internet database allows users to perform searches by the name of a broker or investment firm. The search page is at: http://disciplinaryactions.finra.org . Previously, details regarding disciplinary actions were available only by contacting FINRA, which would look up the information and later send summaries of documents. The new online capabilities enable the complete documents to be viewed online, printed or downloaded immediately. “This will actually allow investors to search the database seven days a week and provide instant access to the actual underlying disciplinary action documents themselves,’’ said Emily Gordy, FINRA’s senior vice president for enforcement. The database lists complaints, settlements and other documents associated with a disciplinary action. The new search tool is linked to FINRA’s BrokerCheck service, which re-

views industry registration and licensing documents for background reports on 1.3 million registered brokers and 17,000 brokerage firms. FINRA’s monthly disciplinary actions database also links to the new search tool, providing regular updates. “Any time you can give consumers and potential investors the ability to feel more confident in their decisions to turn over their life savings to somebody, it’s a win,’’ said Robert Russell, president of Russell & Co., a financial planning firm. FINRA is the largest non-governmental regulator for securities firms doing business in the United States. Checking the FINRA database is a good first step to checking out an adviser, but a few other places also make sense. The National Ethics Bureau, a membership organization of financial professionals, has a searchable database at www. ethicscheck.com/consumers/advisorck.asp . See the Securities and Exchange Commission, which has additional databases of advisers at www.sec.gov./investor/brokers.htm. It’s also a good idea to check with state securities regulators or state insurance boards before you make your final decision. — AP

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Electricity monitoring units are available for 21-day loan on your library card at Howard County Library System branches. Plugged into a standard outlet, the unit indicates electricity usage in watts, kilowatt-hours, costs and other measures. Twelve of these devices were donated to the library system by the Howard County Sierra Club. Ask at your local library or visit the county’s environmental website http://livegreenhoward.com, under Energy/Climate.

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Women face obstacles to secure retirement By Dave Carpenter It took the collapse of her marriage to jolt Luanne Schmidt into action. After years of taking a hands-off approach toward money, the 50-year-old nurse only recently took charge of her finances. Her savings and retirement security, she knew, were at stake. “Do I know enough about finances and the market yet? No,’’ said Schmidt, the mother of three children. “But I’m at least headed in the right direction.’’ Women’s prospects are improving as they gain economically and begin to close the gender gap. But the fear of ending up poor or even running out of money in retirement still gnaws at many women in particular. It’s hardly irrational. Women find it significantly harder than men to achieve a comfortable retirement. They live longer, earn less, and typically lag in savings and financial awareness. “The fear is real,’’ said Cindy Hounsell, president of the Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER), a nonprofit education and advocacy group. “People see the hardship and expense of old age, particularly among women, all around them.’’

Single women hardest hit A worrisome new concern is the millions of baby boomer women who will be swelling the ranks of divorced, widowed and never-married women living on their own in retirement. Single retirees are at greater risk of poverty. “There has been progress, but not enough,’’ Hounsell said. “Women are really unprepared for what lies ahead.’’ Schmidt’s experience embodies some of the challenges. She gave up full-time work for 17 years while she raised her children. Her husband managed the family finances. Her divorce last year meant she had to suddenly become her own money manager and make sure her retirement savings were invested properly while still putting the youngest two kids through college. It’s been a scramble, and an education. “It can be a scary situation for women who didn’t work full-time for years and don’t have pensions,’’ she said. “It’s challenging. I’m watching my pennies now.’’ Schmidt sees women who have outlived their resources every day at the nursing home where she works. Thus she’s more determined than ever to not end up worrying about money. She hired a financial adviser who helped calculate how much she needs to save in order to retire at 65, and Schmidt plans to stick to it.

The gender gap The statistics tell a sobering story:

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• Longer lives: Women still outlive men by an average of five to seven years, depending on what year they were born. At age 65, a woman typically has another 20 years of life expectancy, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. By age 85, women make up 68 percent of that age group. Many live in poverty or near-poverty, the result of high out-ofpocket medical costs and having had to stretch too few dollars over too many years. • Lower earnings: Women make about 77 percent of what men make, based on U.S. Census Bureau data for 2009. Three of five working women earn less than $30,000 a year, according to AARP. • Living solo: 40 percent of women over 65 live alone, compared with 19 percent of men. This is not just because they

live longer, but they also remarry at far lower rates than men of the same age, according to the National Institute on Aging. • Leaving work: The average woman spends about 12 years out of the work force, according to the Social Security Administration — generally for family purposes. Besides limiting Social Security benefits, that results in less savings during those years and reduces the opportunity for savings to grow over time. Some more hopeful signs are emerging. The female-to-male earnings ratio is trending upward gradually. Women also are attending and graduating from college at a higher rate than men, which bodes well for future earnings. Surveys by AARP and others suggest that more women, too, are handling household finances, perhaps because of the rising number who are single.

An increasingly popular theme among the 100,000 monthly users of VibrantNation.com, an online discussion site for baby boomer women, is the need to take charge of retirement savings by hiring financial advisers and retirement coaches or seeking help via financial websites, according to CEO Stephen Reilly. Still, the overall disadvantage women face with regard to retirement remains deeply entrenched. “The issue that women have got to understand is that the twin forces of family obligations and lower average salaries have a geometric effect on their nest egg,’’ said Manisha Thakor, a personal finance adviser in Santa Fe, N.M., who runs the Women’s Financial Literacy Initiative. “One of the two might be manageable, but the two together kill your finances.’’ — AP

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Wills provide peace of mind for the family By Elliot Raphaelson Estate planning is one of those things everybody knows they should do, but a surprising number of people put it off until it’s too late, or do it wrong in the first place. Unfortunately, too many people of all ages hesitate to have their wills drawn up. There is no good reason to avoid that. If you die intestate — that is, without a will — you have lost the right to specify who inherits your property. In this situation, the state decides how your property will be distributed, and it is unlikely that the allocation dictated by state law will match your preference. Moreover, in many states, state law will allocate your property in a way that may not be fair to your spouse. Some individuals feel that because they are married and own their property jointly with their spouse, there is no need for a will. What if you and your spouse die together in an accident? Who will then receive your property? If you have young children, who will become their guardian? If your young children inherit property, who will manage it?

Who gets what? It is important for you to know what property passes by will and what does not. Any property owned with “rights of survivorship” goes to the other owner(s). Property with a named beneficiary goes to the party named. Any property disposed by contract goes to the named owner(s). The provisions of your will do not override the preceding specifications. Any property that you own individually that does not have a named beneficiary

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Sept. 15

ATTEND WOMENFEST 2011

The third annual WomenFest will feature a day of free programs focusing on women’s health, wellness, fashion

passes by will. Your will can also cover property you may not be aware of. For example, if you receive an inheritance or a legal settlement, the provisions of your will can address these assets. There are many advertisements suggesting that you can avoid legal fees by purchasing books, legal forms or computer programs to create your will. In my opinion, that is foolish. If any mistakes are made, the will can be disallowed, and state laws associated with intestacy will prevail. A straightforward will is not expensive, and many attorneys won’t charge for an initial meeting. Reputable attorneys will provide you with an estimate of the cost of will preparation after you provide them with basic information. A will needs to be detailed and precise in many ways. A good attorney can help you specify key provisions such as: who

will receive what property; how you should hold your property; trust agreements; the best way to name beneficiaries of your retirement plans; maintaining consistency with named beneficiaries and contracts specified in other documents; minimizing any federal estate tax; and naming an executor and guardians. Make sure you select an attorney with expertise in this field. Preparing a will is an essential starting point. However, you must make sure that you update your will when circumstances change. Some events that require updates to your will would be a move to a new state, additions to the family, deaths in the family, a divorce, or new assets as a result of retirement.

Account for retirement assets A very important estate planning issue

for many retirees is related to retirement assets. If you have significant retirement assets such as IRAs, 401(k)s, and/or other retirement plans, it is very important for you to select your beneficiaries and withdrawal options with care. If this is a significant issue for you, make sure your attorney is knowledgeable in this area. I recommend that you review the books written by Ed Slott to help you understand these issues. Having a will prepared and updated as necessary is one of the best gifts you can provide for your family. There is no downside, and without a will there are many potential unintended consequences, none of them good. Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at elliotraph@gmail.com. © 2011 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc.

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A U G U S T 2 0 1 1 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Travel Leisure &

How to cut your losses when you must cancel a trip. See story on page 27.

A smorgasbord of to-dos in Pennsylvania

More than chocolate Other attractions in the park had more appeal to us. The Hershey Story is told in a museum packed with displays, many of them interactive, that were more interesting than I had anticipated. Fyllis was intrigued by a touch-screen that allowed her to design a candy bar wrapper and e-mail it to herself (to what end I had no idea). I preferred following the story of how Milton Hershey, after several failed attempts to found a candy company, struck pay dirt — or, rather, chocolate — when he began

coating caramels with the sweet substance in 1894. Turning out milk chocolate in bars, wafers and other shapes, and devising innovative mass production techniques to lower the cost, his company transformed what had been a luxury item for the wealthy into a treat that was affordable to all. Every family member enjoyed the “challenge” of tasting five mini-bars with the goal of distinguishing a wine-like list of textures (from smooth to granular), scents (including woodsy and fruity) and tastes (citrus, coffee, nutty). The hardest part was fighting temptation and allowing the chocolate to melt on our tongue, as we had been instructed. But it was an hour-long sightseeing trolley ride around the campus and little town that left the most lasting impression. Our grandchildren were delighted by the Hershey Kiss lights that line some streets, and even more so by on-board tastings of four more samples. Their parents and grandparents paid close attention as our guide described the establishment and history of the school that continues to carry Hershey’s name. Beginning with four orphans, whom Milton and his wife Catherine took into their home, that institution has expanded to provide free pre-kindergarten through high school education, and much more, to about 1,800 underprivileged children. Graduates who go on to college receive generous scholarship support.

Among the Amish PHOTO COURTESY OF HERSHEY ENTERTAINMENT AND RESORTS

Introductions to a very different lifestyle await those who visit the Amish area a short drive from Hershey. About 30,000 residents make this the second largest Amish community in the country, after one in Ohio. Amish immigrants began ar riving in Pennsylvania during the late 17th century, seeking and finding religious tolerance. They evolved into a thriving part of the local society, merging In Hershey, Pa., visitors sample chocolate at the Hershey comfortably into it Story, which recounts the history of Milton Hershey’s chocolate empire. Hersheypark nearby offers rides for kids of all ages. while maintaining

WWW.DISCOVERLANCASTERPA.COM/TERRY ROSS

By Victor Block My recent visit to the Hershey-Harrisburg area of Pennsylvania revealed a destination of pleasant surprises. If you think of Hershey primarily as a mecca of chocolate, that’s only part of the story. The nearby Amish community offers a fascinating opportunity to experience a different culture. And Harrisburg is home to a world-class Civil War museum equal to anything the South has to offer, plus a number of other intriguing attractions. My wife Fyllis and I arranged our trip to the area as a three-generation family gathering. Not surprisingly, upon entering the sprawling Hershey complex, our grandchildren thought they had been transported to heaven. At Hersheypark, they couldn’t run fast enough from ride to ride, clambering aboard as many as they could, including several of the 11 roller coasters.

An Amish community near Hershey, Pa., gathers together to construct a barn for a fellow family — a feat that is typically accomplished in a few days. The area has the second-largest Amish population in the country.

their customs and culture, with its focus on religion and family. Among practices to which they continue to cling are using a horse and buggy rather than cars for transportation, eschewing electricity in their home, and adhering to a dress code that dictates modesty and solid colors for women and girls, and dark clothing and a black or straw hat for men and boys. It’s not difficult to identify houses occupied by Amish families, because of the absence of electric wires leading to them, wash hanging outside to dry, and traditional green shades covering the windows. Our introduction to the Amish way of life included an outstanding multi-media presentation called “Jacob’s Choice.” It depicts the difficult decision faced by some teenagers about whether to remain in the fold or venture into the outside world and, in effect, turn their back on their strict upbringing. We also explored a typical Amish home, where guides provided interesting additional tidbits about day-to-day living. Even more close up and personal was our conversation with a young, bearded Amish man named Joe, who was our driver and guide during a jaunt with Abe’s Buggy Rides. He patiently answered the questions we fired at him about everything from why cars are forbidden (Joe explained that they

can carry Amish people too far from their family and community), to the reason that education is compulsory only through the eighth grade. (Joe replied, “That’s sufficient for our way of life,” which centers on farming and cottage industries.)

Civil War stories The peaceful life of the Amish contrasts starkly with the bloody story of the Civil War that is dramatically portrayed at one of the largest and best collections in the world devoted to that conflict. A visit to the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg is especially timely, during this year’s 150th anniversary of the start of the fighting. Information-packed videos and realistic life-size dioramas that tell the story of the war are reason enough to plan a visit. Even more telling to me were letters from individual soldiers and similar artifacts that put a human face on the Civil War and its terrible consequences. Also tragically moving are displays of shackles, metal collars and other implements that were used to subjugate slaves. Not far away stands a realistic depiction of a slave auction, with the words of the auctioneer describing men and women as so See PENNSYLVANIA, page 26

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H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 1

National Aquarium celebrates 30 years

Global effort Through pioneering science and partnerships with like-minded organizations, the National Aquarium Conservation Center will focus its efforts on the protection of aquatic ecosystems worldwide through scientific research, education and advocacy. The National Aquarium Conservation Center will also be a voice and advocate for work the aquarium already has underway, including long-term initiatives to protect coral reefs, to control lion fish proliferation, and to restore Chesapeake Bay wetlands and shoreline. “This research and advocacy entity gives

the National Aquarium another means to tackle pressing issues that impact the aquatic environment, and to advance as a global conservation center of excellence for marine conservation,” explained Dr. Erik Rifkin, the center’s interim director. “In just one year we have established solid partnerships with like-minded organizations and already have several exciting research studies underway.” The initial emphasis of the National Aquarium Conservation Center includes coastal ecosystems and watershed health, ocean health, environmental advocacy and ecological aquaculture. Some of this work is already underway. For example, the Conservation Center is leading several research initiatives that will increase understanding of mercury levels in wild and captive dolphins, quantify sediment contaminant in the Baltimore Harbor, protect spotted eagle rays, and promote the future of aquaculture. “Human impact on the world’s ecosystems is profound. As habitats are destroyed or degraded, the diversity of species and the complex relationships among them are threatened, with consequences for all living things — including humans,” said Bill Roberts, chair of the National Aquarium Institute board. “Zoos and aquariums have both the capacity and the responsibility not to simply increase public awareness of conservation issues but to take action. The National Aquarium is ready to do more.”

PHOTO BY JIAWANGKUN/DREAMSTIME.COM

Last September, the National Aquarium officially unveiled the National Aquarium Conservation Center and kicked off its celebration of the Baltimore venue’s 30th anniversary year. The Conservation Center is the next stage in the National Aquarium’s growth from a successful attraction with conservation as its primary message, to a nationally-recognized and respected conservation institute that measures success in how it impacts people and the environment. “Since opening in 1981, the National Aquarium has evolved from being one iconic building in Baltimore to an institute, with conservation at its core, that operates two exciting attractions and serves as a dynamic education resource,” said Dave Pittenger, the aquarium’s executive director. “We have a rich history of conservation initiatives on the Chesapeake Bay, around the world in places like Bahamas and Costa Rica, and through our Marine Animal Rescue Program. And now this Conservation Center will build upon our strong legacy of service to the environment.”

The National Aquarium in Baltimore has added a new Conservation Center that helps study pollution and protect marine life.

ances, zumba dance instruction and more. Hours for the celebration are from noon to 7 p.m. on Friday, August 5 and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, August 6, Sunday, August 7 and Monday, August 8. For more details, visit www.aqua.org. Also keep in mind that you don’t have to be an oceanographer or a fish expert to

volunteer with the National Aquarium. Volunteers are an integral part of the aquarium’s day-to-day operations. Onsite volunteer opportunities include information specialists, exhibit guides, certified divers and even office assistants. For more information, visit www.aqua.org/ volunteer.html.

Celebrate with the aquarium In celebration of the National Aquarium’s first 30 years, a four-day festival is planned from August 5 to 8. This family-friendly celebration will feature entertainment for everyone, including music, character appear-

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Pennsylvania From page 24 much property, interspersed with other voices denouncing the institution of slavery as immoral.

Antique car museum A varied list of other sightseeing options also awaits visitors to the Harrisburg-Hershey area. The Antique Automobile Club of America Museum is a car-lovers fantasyland, offering a trip back through time for

A U G U S T 2 0 1 1 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

anyone who qualifies for a discounted senior’s ticket. It’s packed with beautifully restored vintage cars dating back to the 19th century, plus buses, motorcycles and motorbikes, some of which were manufactured when Franklin D. Roosevelt was president. While a re-created 1900s auto machine shop may not look familiar, visitors may identify with a 1940s gas station as well as an authentic Valentine diner, of the type that were manufactured beginning in the 1930s. My favorites included a shiny 1895 Ben-

BEACON BITS

Aug. 25

TEACH ARTFUL THINKING TO CHILDREN Professors Susan Rotkovitz, Kay Broadwater and Bridget Shute of

Towson University will share strategies to develop creativity in children through theater, music, movement and art on Thursday, Aug. 25, from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Central Branch of the Howard County Library, 10375 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia. Learn from them, and then enjoy sharing these concepts with your grandchildren. For further information, call (410) 313-7800.

BOOK CLUB BONANZA

Aug. 2

Preview upcoming community events, literary classes and events at Howard County libraries, and share favorite books, book club

tips and discussion ideas as well at this special program on Tuesday, Aug. 2 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Miller Branch, 9421 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City. For more information, call (410) 313-1950.

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ton Harbor car which had a top speed of 23 miles per hour, and a spiffy 1902 Oldsmobile, packing 4.5 horsepower, that was guided by a steering stick instead of a wheel. I also learned, and laughed, while watching a movie narrated by Groucho Marx about automobiles and their impact on the country. It skillfully combines history and humor. If you’re lucky when you visit the compact museum on the Pennsylvania State Police Academy grounds, you may be able to watch cadets practicing at the firing range or learning crowd control techniques on horseback. Facilities include a large swimming pool that’s used for life-saving training, and a building on the campus that houses everything from helicopters to drug-sniffing dogs. Amateur sleuths can check their prowess at solving a murder case, using hairs left on the victim’s clothing and other evidence to decide which of three suspects is guilty of the crime. A very different scene is a portrayal of a cell that Al Capone inhabited for a year after being convicted of a minor crime. After he bribed prison officials, his temporary jail home was furnished with precious antiques, oriental rugs and oil paintings. While lacking such man-made luxuries, Indian Echo Caverns is an underground Never Never Land of color, shapes and interesting history. At one time, Native American settlements were located along what now is called Swatara Creek, which runs by the caverns. The series of caves is estimated to be 3 million years old, and is one of many such complexes carved out of limestone beneath the rolling Pennsylvania countryside. Near the entrance, the names of several early visitors are carved into the stone. Farther along, guides lead tour groups into the Blue Room, so named for the hue of its walls, and the Rainbow Room, colored by areas of blue, green, purple and tan. It takes sharp eyes and only a little imagination to identify a lion’s head, dragon,

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After searching for a hotel conveniently located to the things we wanted to see and do, we stayed at the Holiday Inn Harrisburg East. It offers very large, well-furnished rooms at rates that usually begin at $119. Amenities include both indoor and outdoor swimming pools and a restaurant that serves an excellent Sunday brunch that attracts many locals. For information or reservations, log onto hiharrisburg.com or call 1-800-637-4817. Lunch at the Plain and Fancy Farm Restaurant enhanced our visit to the Amish area. Typical entrees include Pennsylvania Dutch pot pie ($9.95) and fried chicken ($10.95), both served with two sides. Be sure to save room for desserts like apple dumplings ($4.25), apple crumb pie ($4.50) or traditional shoe-fly pie ($3.50). For more information, call 1-800-669-3568 or log onto plainandfancyfarm.com. The aptly named Fire House Restaurant, one of several dining establishments along North 2nd Street in Harrisburg, occupies the former home of the Harrisburg Hope Fire Company, which was built in 1871. The theme is underscored by walls lined with fire station paraphernalia, and dishes like spiced Tuscan “firebread” served with garlic dipping sauce ($6), FireHouse hamburger ($8), and FireHouse pasta with chicken and shrimp ($16). If you’re in the mood to splurge, Hook & Ladder shrimp skewers and a half-rack of ribs, plus two sides, costs $25. For more information, call (717) 234-6064 or log onto www.thefirehouserestaurant.com. General information about visiting the Harrisburg-Hersey area is available at its website, www.visithersheyharrisburg.org, or by calling 1-877-727-8573.

OUTDOOR CONCERT & ICE CREAM

The Department of Recreation and Parks’ traveling “showmobile stage” will feature the Naval Academy’s Electric Brigade Rock Band in an outdoor concert at Centennial Park South. Picnic suppers, blankets and lawn chairs are encouraged. Free ice cream will be provided at the event on Friday, July 22, at 7 p.m. at Centennial Park South, 10000 Route 108, Ellicott City. For further information, call (410) 313-4700.

SUNSET SERENADE

David Bach Consort’s contemporary jazz will complete the July series of outdoor concerts at Centennial Park South. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and a picnic supper to enjoy. Admission is free, but a $3 per car parking donation is requested. The concert is scheduled for 7 p.m., Wednesday, July 27, at Centennial Park South, 10000 Route 108, Ellicott City. For further information, call (410) 313-4700.

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July 27

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owl and other familiar shapes pointed out by the guide. The subterranean exploration, combined with a variety of attractions above ground, combine to make a trip to nearby Pennsylvania both fascinating and fun.

Aug. 3

TEA AND BOOK DISCUSSION

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein is the featured book for this month’s First Wednesday Readers’ Tea. Discussion begins at 10 a.m. at the Glenwood Branch Library, 2350 State Route 97, Cooksville. For more information, call (410) 313-5577.

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Cut your losses when a trip gets canceled For obvious reasons, many Americans • Hotels, too, generally allow no-fee canwho had booked travel to Egypt or Japan cellation. However, if your original booking earlier this year had to change was on some great deal, you their plans, and others who might not be able to duplicate hadn’t yet booked have made the original price. alternative arrangements. • Tours. The U.S. Tour OpBut what about trips to other erators Association (USTOA) areas at other times? Nobody states that, “most USTOA can predict where the next revmembers serving Japan proacolution might break out — and tively canceled trips.” Presumcertainly not when and where ably, most other operators take the next earthquake, tsunami, the same approach in such situfire or volcano will hit. ations. The question then becomes TRAVEL TIPS • Credit card. By now how best to protect yourself By Ed Perkins you’ve probably learned that against losses if a destination you can get a charge-back for you decide to visit suddenly and unexpect- anything you’ve paid a supplier that the edly suffers a big problem. supplier didn’t deliver. This process can Clearly, in such a case, you won’t be able sometimes be a hassle, but it usually to enjoy the trip you expected — you can’t works. Always — always — use a credit undo the problem. But what you can do is card for such advance payments. make sure you get all or most of any money • Travel insurance. Trip-cancellation back from any prepayments and deposits. insurance (TCI) could be helpful, but Fortunately, you have several safety many policies are surprisingly restrictive. nets: They refund payments you can’t otherwise Even after you’ve paid — even a “nonre- recover, but only in the event the policy fundable” payment — you can usually get specifically notes each circumstance as a your money back from most suppliers, al- “covered reason” or a “named peril.” though the terms may be a bit too narrow. Some policies cover natural disasters, • Airlines. If you already have a ticket, such as the earthquake/tsunami in Japan, most airlines will let you cancel a trip to an but some do not. impacted area and will offer a choice of reAnd even those that accept earthquakes, booking the same trip at a later date or a hurricanes and such as covered reasons typrefund, both without the usual cancellation ically subject coverage to such limited situaor exchange fees. However, the re-issue tions as an airline that “ceases all service” or offer is generally limited to the same a destination accommodation that becomes route. “totally uninhabitable.” Never mind that the

golf course may be under water; if the hotel is open, you’re not covered. Several specifically exclude “nuclear radiation” or leaks as a covered reason. Uprisings such as occurred in Egypt are typically defined as “civil disorder,” and many policies specifically exclude civil disorder as a covered reason. All in all, given the many exclusions on standard policies, I now recommend to just about everyone that if they decide they need insurance, they should buy a “cancel for any reason” policy. It may be more expensive, and it might not cover 100 percent of your prepayments, but the decision about whether to travel or not — and what you get back if you decide not to go — is yours, not that of some insurance

company bean counter. In related travel insurance news, On Call International just announced special “memberships” for travelers age 77 to 85. Many travel insurance programs refuse to cover travelers of that age, so the new policies could be welcome. They are, however, really expensive: $425 for an individual, $820 for a couple, covering a trip of up to 90 days. And that’s just medical emergency and evacuation coverage, not cancellation. Still, if you’re 77 or over, it may be your best bet. You can reach them at 1-800-575-5014; online at www.oncallinternational.com. Send email to Ed Perkins at eperkins@mind.net. © 2011 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

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HOWARD COUNTY

Lake High School, 5460 Trumpeter Rd., Columbia. For more information, email Lisa

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Madera at lmadera@howardcountymd.gov or call her at (410) 313-5990.

‡ Catonsville 410-719-9464

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‡ Emerson 301-483-3322

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PRINCE GEORGE· S COUNTY

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www.ParkViewSeniorLiving.com Call the community nearest you to inquire about eligibility requirements and to arrange a personal tour or email seniorliving@sheltergrp.com. Professionally managed by The Shelter Group. www.thesheltergroup.com

A U G U S T 2 0 1 1 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

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Enjoy the back story of Oz in the musical Wicked. See review on page 29.

Betty White writes about life, love, career He built kennels in the backyard, and he cared for the dogs.’’ It was certainly no get-rich-quick scheme, but those pooches — numbering at times as many as 15 — made White’s happy childhood even happier.

On the road at nearly 90 On this whirlwind publicity tour for her book, White is warm, witty and a bit apologetic for all the attention she’s commanded of late. For example, her current TV Land sitcom, “Hot in Cleveland,’’ recently began its third season; her “Saturday Night Live’’ hosting gig a year ago, which brought her raves and a seventh Emmy; a hidden-camera show in the works for NBC that will turn senior citizens into pranksters punking young folks. “I’m going to be 90 in January — I shouldn’t be working,’’ she mock-protests with a twinkle in her eye. “I should go somewhere and let people have a rest. But I can’t help it. I just enjoy it!’’ Fine. But how does she get so much done? “Not very well, to tell you the truth,’’

said White, citing the dining-room table in her L.A. home stacked with scripts, mail and other pending business she never whittles down. But she doesn’t need much sleep, just four hours a night, she points out. “It gives me that many more hours to do whatever I don’t get done.’’

AP PHOTO/CHARLES SYKES

By Frazier Moore Betty White has written a new book, If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won’t). It’s a chipper, hop-scotching meditation on her life, loves and career — with lots of photos — that reads like a chat with the beloved star. You wouldn’t ask, but ... Betty White loves her fans and loves performing, but despite six decades in show biz, she still gets stage fright. She doesn’t care for red-carpet events, and though she had a blast doing summer stock, she insists she’s nixed Broadway — three times. “If you get into a Broadway show and it doesn’t work, you’re a failure,’’ she writes. “And if it does work, you may be stuck for who knows how long. It just doesn’t sound great to me!’’ She loves — note the present tense — her late husband, quiz-show host Allen Ludden, who died from cancer in 1981. And as everybody knows, she loves animals. Always has. “During the Depression,’’ she writes, “my dad made radios to sell to make extra money. Nobody had any money to buy the radios, so he would trade them for dogs.

TV titan As everyone knows, White made her mark in television by appearing on two classic sitcoms — “The Mary Tyler Moore Show’’ in the 1970s, where she played randy TV homemaker Sue Ann Nivens, and, premiering in 1985, “The Golden Girls,’’ where she was a In her new book, Betty White shares memories of her long television career, the love of her life sweet, if chronically befuddled, Allen Ludden, and her passion for animals. Nearly Miami widow. 90, White is perhaps more popular — and workBut White has been on the tube ing harder — than ever. since TV’s infancy in the late along with them. 1940s. “Sometimes they didn’t get along with By now, at 89, White has become a role model for how to grow old joyously. And me,’’ she acknowledges, mentioning her “Golden Girls’’ co-star, the late Bea Arthur. more than that: for how to keep growing. “Don’t try to be young,’’ she suggests. “I don’t know what I ever did to Bea. She “Just open your mind. Stay interested in just didn’t like me. And I loved her and adstuff. There are so many things I won’t live mired her work. But I made it my business long enough to find out about, but I’m still to stay out of her way. “I just make it my business to get along curious about them.” When asked if she has ever had a co- with people so I can have fun,’’ she sums up, worker with whom she couldn’t get along, with a dimpled smile. “It’s that simple.’’ — AP she replies, “I made it my business to get

TICKETS: Adults $25, Senior (55+) $20, Groups*, Student $12 (18 and younger with student ID) * Special rates available for groups of 15 or more.

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Oz witches weave a wickedly good spell By Michael Toscano Still afraid of the flying monkeys? Does the memory of Margaret Hamilton’s cackle as the Wicked Witch of the West still give you the creeps? Here’s the chance to undo those horrors, to see the magical land of Oz in an entirely new (though still green-tinged) light. The Kennedy Center has brought back to the Opera House the Grammy and Tony

Award-winning musical Wicked, “the untold story of the witches of Oz.” The show broke box-office records when it played KenCen in 2005, and will likely do the same again this year, as the show retains all the vibrant charm of that original Broadway-cast tour. It may also be the only musical that parents and grandparents can enjoy right along with their tween-and-teen-aged

daughters. The music is a middle-of-theyellow-brick-road, pop-oriented mélange.

Oz’s back story

PHOTO BY JOAN MARCUS

Focused as we all have been on Dorothy and her companions as they traipsed their way to Oz, you likely never wondered how Glinda got to be a “good witch” or how the green-faced one got to be the “bad witch.” You weren’t aware that WWW (Wicked Witch of the West) was really named Elphaba, that her hue caused her much childhood angst, and that she and Glinda had been schoolgirl friends. Based on Gregory Maguire’s best-selling novel, Wicked features music and lyrics

Coalition of Geriatric Services

Presents The 6th Annual

FallFest 2011 Friday, November 4th Elkridge Furnace Inn • 6:00 – 10:00 p.m. Featuring a Fabulous Silent Auction, Entertainment by Frank & Trish Curreri and Dinner All Proceeds Benefit Neighbor Ride and the Howard County Office Aging’s Vivian Reid Community Fund Early Bird Tickets are $55 through July 2011 – $65 August 1st Tickets are on sale at www.cogsmd.org For more information contact COGS at info@cogsmd.org Make a Difference in the Life of a Senior – Support FallFest 2011 COGS Sponsors It is with great pride and pleasure that we recognize the following organizations and individuals for their commitment and support of the Coalition of Geriatric Services:

Platinum Sponsor Howard County General Hospital – A Member of Johns Hopkins Medicine

Gold Sponsors Being There Senior Care Howard County Oﬃce on Aging Visiting Angels

Silver Sponsors Bayada Nurses

Carney, Kelehan, Bresler, Bennett & Scherr, LLP Dr. Dan Storch Deborah Herman, CPA Ellicott City Health & Rehab – A Communicare Health Facility Gary L. Kaufman Funeral Home at Meadowridge Memorial Park The Beacon Bronze Sponsors Felinton Elder Law and Estate Planning Centers

Gentiva Health Services Homewatch Caregivers MedOptions Morningside House of Ellicott City Professional Healthcare Resources/PHR Somerford Place Transitions Healthcare Vantage House Retirement Community Earl Wilkinson, M.D., ENT.

See WICKED, page 31

ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD I F F Y L U L U K R A M T A I T T T R I P E U R O M E E T A P O S T A L C O I D E L U N C R E P N S A

Dee Roscioli (left) and Amanda Jane Cooper portray green-hued Elphaba and bubbly Glinda, two witches at the center of the musical Wicked, now playing at the Kennedy Center.

C GS

from Stephen Schwartz, who also gave us such stage and film hits as Godspell, Pippin, Pocahantas and The Prince of Egypt. The book is from Winnie Holzman, who has experience with teen dramas as creator of TV’s “My So-Called Life.” Music and dialogue each explore what it means to be an outsider. Elphaba crackles with intelligence and a fierce independence, the result of being shunned because of her emerald epidermis. But the tough exterior is a shell protecting a vulnerable, lonely girl. Galinda, who later drops the extra “a” (you have to be there), is pretty, popular

B E L O A N A X E R V S F T O A S T I R L E I N D R E V G R A S S I D O M O D E R I D T A S E E H A T T I S E R T T R Y S

W E R A E R O E M S A P A N T A G I F F A T

S P F E S E Z I E R P L O A S I S N I T Y D R A T A E R R S I M E S B E N M A A N Y S D D A Y E S P N

From page 30. s a t! e ak gif M at e gr

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A U G U S T 2 0 1 1 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

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Crossword Puzzle Daily crosswords can be found on our website: www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com Click on Puzzles Plus Unnecessary Sequels by Stephen Sherr 1

19 22

36 39

54 57

JUMBLE ANSWERS

18 21

Scrabble answers on p. 29.

10 15

59 63

Across

Down

1. Questionable 5. Maryland, relative to the Mason-Dixon line 10. Lotion level 13. Humdinger 14. Tin Man prop 15. Dir. from Winnipeg to Montreal 16. Sequel where Dustin Hoffman moves up to a higher weight class 20. Tit tradeoff 21. Star-Spangled contraction 22. Arafat’s grp. 23. Addams Family cousin 25. Bustling 29. Desert relief spot 31. Sequel where Fred MacMurray tries for a bigger payout 34. Currency of 33 Down 35. Push down on the accelerator 36. Gloomy 37. Swimming tournament 38. Comprehend 40. Pro ___ 44. “___ was going to St. Ives...” 46. “___ deer” (octet starter) 47. Drops a pop-up 48. Sequel where Charlie Chaplin loses his objectivity 53. It can make cans 54. GI’s necklace 55. Its Big in London 56. Suffix with chlor or fluor 57. “I joined the Navy to ___ the world...” 59. Philanthropist Hogg 61. Sequel where Audrey Hepburn stays hungry 68. Gym unit 69. Mattress maker 70. June 6, 1944 71. Federal cryptologic org. 72. Rendezvous 73. WNBA broadcaster

1. Variety 2. Polar bear protection 3. Reason to call AAA 4. 3:10 to ___ (1957 film remade 50 years later) 5. Saloon 6. USPS delivery 7. Deck the Halls syllables 8. The oldest English university 9. Existed 10. “Oh yeah? ___ who?” 11. Pair of pitchfork letters 12. Experience the wind 17. Bibliography abbrev. 18. Fragrance 19. Optimistic 23. Grocery store unit 24. Like a non-fiction story 26. Director Leone 27. Stadium level 28. Attacked a nation 30. Nobel winner Sakharov 32. Tough word for Dan Quayle to spell 33. 2010 World Cup champion 39. Separate laundry into piles 41. Protesters’ labels 42. Trap a cat 43. One of the A’s in NCAA or NAACP 45. Send to smithereens 48. Beach toy 49. Archaeologist’s discovery 50. Play parts 51. The Biggest Loser contestant 52. End-of-the-week exclamation 58. Direction from Eden to Nod 60. Manufactured 62. Tax maven (abbrev.) 63. “Don’t give up!” 64. The third part of 52 Down 65. Jack Sprat’s restriction 66. Jabber on 67. Ant. antonym

Answers on page 29.

Jumble Answers Jumbles: LINGO CHAIR CUPFUL MAGNET Answer: The accountant was hired because he was CALCULATING

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 1

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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Wicked From page 29 and nurtures a predatory social ambition. Improbable friends, their relationship sets in motion a chain of events that lead us, more or less behind the scenes, to the characters and the climax made familiar in the iconic Wizard of Oz film. So, some of it’s vaguely familiar, but it’s oh-so-different. Context, it turns out, really is everything. Even flying monkeys can be less terrifying when you know their backstory. And maybe that evil cackle is really just a manifestation of social awkwardness. Add to that a love triangle, a fall from grace, and even some pointed political and sociological commentary, and there’s plenty to hold one’s attention. Oh, yes. There’s the Wizard himself, of course, a supporting role that has nevertheless attracted such luminaries as Joel Grey, Ben Vereen and Kevin Kline to the Broadway cast. (Mark Jacoby has the role here.) The original, 2003 Broadway cast starred perky little sprite Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda, and Idina Menzel won a Tony as Elphaba. Menzel played the role during the 2005 stop at the Kennedy Center and electrified audiences. The work those performers put into the roles is still evident with the current cast, Amanda Jane Cooper as Glinda and Dee Roscioli as Elphaba. In fact, Cooper has

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every last physical move and vocal inflection Chenoweth used to build her portrayal, turning in a perfect replica of her performance.

A new wicked witch in town Roscioli, who also played the part on Broadway before joining the touring production, is credited as handling more performances as Elphaba than any other actress. So she has had more opportunity to shape the role to her own sensibilities. This Elphaba is less introspective than the character we saw here in 2005, and Roscioli’s singing is more muscular than Menzel’s. But Roscioli slowly builds intensity, breezing through the early “The Wizard and I” by showing just a hint of the force she is holding in reserve. With the unrequited-love ballad “I’m Not That Girl,” she movingly explores the bleak landscape of an empty heart. By the time she gets to the iconic, powerful act one ender “Defying Gravity,” she is going all out and fills the Opera House with rich mezzo-soprano tones. But it is in the middle of act two where Roscioli’s power-packed approach makes the biggest difference. In the anthem “No Good Deed,” Elphaba realizes that all her good deeds have backfired and cannot change her renown as “wicked.” Bitterly accepting this status, reveling in it, Roscioli’s Elphaba explodes with energy which makes this song replace the more

PARALEGAL: Experienced in trusts, estates and will preparation and other paperwork. Call 301-565-2917.

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BEACON BITS

Aug. 12

MORE THAN MOZART

Join J. Scott Matejicka, chair of the Guitar Department at the Peabody Preparatory of Johns Hopkins University, as he introduces classical guitar music. The free presentation will take place on Friday, Aug. 12 at 11 a.m. at the Bain Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia. Call (410) 3137213 to reserve your seat.

Aug. 6

BLACK FICTION CLUB

Discussion of Ancestor Stones by Aminatta Forna will be featured at the monthly meeting of the Black Fiction Club, held on Saturday, Aug. 6 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the East Columbia Branch Library, 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia. For more information, call (410) 313-7701.

Aug. 8

CONTEMPORARY FICTION CLUB

What did you find most intriguing about The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo? Discuss the popular Steig Larsson book with others at the monthly contemporary fiction club meeting, Monday, Aug. 8 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Glenwood Branch Library, 2350 State Route 97, Cooksville. For more information, call (410) 313-5577.

positive “Defying Gravity” as the show’s musical high point.

A bubbly good witch Cooper’s voice is not nearly as strong, but as the role is more comedic than dramatic, it’s OK. She’s positively effervescent in “Popular,” a funny song that nevertheless has a few witty barbs. Cooper keeps Galinda/Glinda’s bubbly charm in check just enough to allow for some emotional growth, which significantly aids in reaching a soaring emotional pinnacle. Most of the other roles are dutifully performed, with no real standouts. Director Joe Mantello, a two-time Tony winner, allows the dramatic tension to build, while keeping his 37-member ensemble active and engaged.

With constant set changes, special effects and dramatically dynamic lighting from Kenneth Posner, Oz and environs make wonderful eye candy indeed. And with its themes of acceptance and tolerance, powerful lead performances, a spectacular Broadway-level staging, and some engaging tunes, this trip to Oz is one that can be just as enjoyable for grandkids and grandparents alike. Wicked continues through August 21 at the Opera House at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F St., NW in Washington DC. Tickets range from $37 to $250. They are on sale at the Kennedy Center Box Office, by calling Instant Charge at (202) 4674600, or online at www.kennedy-center.org/tickets. Michael Toscano is the Beacon’s theater critic.

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