September 2014 | Howard County Beacon by The Beacon Newspapers

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SEPTEMBER 2014

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NEW SECTION H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Technology &

Innovations Learning technology’s benefits hands-on By Carol Sorgen If you don’t know the difference between analog or digital, or a hash tag from a hard drive, AARP’s got you covered. The national membership organization based in Washington, D.C., recently rolled out AARP TEK (which stands for Technology, Education and Knowledge) to close the technology gap and help boomers and seniors learn how to use personal digital devices in a plain-language, user-friendly way. According to Terry Bradwell, AARP executive vice president and chief information officer, AARP TEK is a comprehensive technology education program specifically geared to the 50+ audience. Consisting of hands-on educational seminars, as well as written and video material online, AARP TEK is aimed at empowering people with technology by connecting them with friends, family, employment opportunities, health information, entertainment and much more. “While personal technology has been in our lives for a number of years now, it’s no longer just nice to have,” said Bradwell. “It’s imperative, as more and more services — from banks to movies to the Social Security Administration — are going tech-only. “AARP members didn’t grow up in a digital age,” said Bradwell, who said that his version of an iPad when he was young was an “etch-a-sketch.”

“A significant population of [AARP’s] demographic isn’t online, or not in a significant way. We need to be equipped to use this technology so we can live our best life.”

Educational workshops AARP TEK pilot education seminars are being rolled out in seven cities this year — Atlanta, Macon, Augusta, San Antonio, Jacksonville, Chicago and New York — with the intent to expand significantly in 2015, possibly to Baltimore. [At the Beacon’s 50+Expo on October 19 in Silver Spring, Maryland, AARP TEK will be offering some seminars as well. For more information, call (410) 248-9101.] “AARP TEK offers a high-touch approach to understanding technology, giving 50+ consumers the skills and confidence to use technology and stay connected to the people and passions in their lives,” said Bradwell. “Though we know that millions of older adults already use personal technology in their everyday lives, there are still many more who want to learn the ins and outs of how to use smartphones and tablets to enhance their lives and discover a world of new possibilities. These are the people we hope to reach with AARP TEK.” The response so far has been “off the charts,” said Bradwell, with attendees

waiting in line to learn just how much their lives can change through technology. AARP began testing concepts and curriculum offerings for AARP TEK in 2013, and found that the hands-on trainings were “discovery moments” for many attendees who learned what their personal gadgets could be used to do, see, and engage with. He tells the tale of a workshop attendant who took her first “selfie” (a photo of herself), posted it on Facebook, and had 1,200 “likes” from other Facebook users before the day was out. Then there was the World War II veteran who, through Google Earth, was able to “visit” Belgium and see a structure he had helped build while stationed there decades ago. “It brought tears to his eyes,” said Bradwell.

Online videos and information In addition to the seminars offered in select locations, a number of short video modules and articles are available on the AARP website. They cover topics such as touchscreen basics, social media, video chatting and online safety. Hands-on sessions being offered at TEK workshops include “Intro to Tablets & Smartphones” and “Staying Connected with Apps,” among others. As part of the programs, AARP TEK Ad-

PHOTO COURTESY OF AARP

Five other Howard County residents will be joining Chandra in October as new inductees in the Community Sports Hall of Fame. They include Charles “Bernie” Denison, Allen Fleming, C. Vernon Gray, Art McGinnis and Marilyn Miceli, and their accomplishments encompass a number of sports, including football, basketball, golf, cheerleading and tennis, among others. The Sports Hall of Fame, located at the Howard County Recreation and Parks Dept. headquarters, serves to educate the public about the cultural, historical and

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County’s sports hall of famers By Mary Medland Shantha Chandra’s love of tennis began when she was living in North Carolina. As a Duke University faculty wife, she began playing at different clubs. But when the local country club told her she could not play there — due to her race — Chandra said she “got really competitive,” working extra hard to show the club the talent they had missed out on. She moved to Columbia in 1997 and began teaching tennis for the Dept. of Recreation & Parks. Chandra didn’t need to convince Howard County she had talent. After 17 years as Howard County’s tennis maven, she will be inducted into the county’s Community Sports Hall of Fame this fall. “Howard County already had an established tennis program, and it hired me to teach children,” she said, adding that she created the Multi-Cultural Children’s Tennis Association to give all children, regardless of their backgrounds or financial situation, the opportunity to enjoy the sport. “I teach tennis all year long, although in the winter we move into the elementary school gyms,” she said. In the summer, she teaches children at a tennis camp at the courts at Centennial Park in Ellicott City. Working through the schools, Chandra covers some 25 elementary and five middle schools, with smaller rackets for younger children and nets that can be adjusted for size. “I love tennis … it teaches social skills, sportsmanship and respect for others. I tell the children that even if they are the winners, they should be polite and tell their opponents, ‘You played a really good game.’”

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At AARP’s TEK workshops, participants learn the many useful things they can do with digital tablets and smartphones, such as taking and emailing photos. Courses also teach about apps, social media, online safety and more.

visors will welcome local high school and college students to assist with the trainings and work with attendees, providing an opportunity for the two generations to reach out, learn from each other, and discover new ways to connect. “In the first 45 minutes alone,” said Bradwell, “participants can learn things that will change their lives. They are feeling empowered. There is a hunger and demand for this type of education.” For more information on AARP TEK workshops and online tools and resources, log on at www.aarp.org/aarptek.

What shopping will look like in the future By Mae Anderson When it comes to shopping, more Americans are skipping the stores and pulling out their smartphones and tablets. Still, there’s more on the horizon for shopping than just point-and-clicking. No one thinks physical stores are going away permanently. But because of the frenetic pace of advances in technology and online shopping, the stores that remain will likely offer amenities and services that are more about experiences and less about selling a product. Think: Apple Inc.’s stores. Among the things industry watchers are envisioning are holograms in dressing rooms that will allow shoppers to try on clothes without getting undressed. Their homes will be equipped with smart technology that will order light bulbs before

they go dark. And they’ll be able to “print out” coffee cups and other products using 3-D technology in stores. “Physical shopping will become a lot more fun because it’s going to have to be,” retail futurist Doug Stephens said. Forrester analyst Sucharita Mulpuru said stores of the future will be more about services — like day care, veterinary services and beauty services. Services that connect online and offline shopping could increase as well, with more drive-thru pickup and order-online, pick-up-in-store services. Checkout also will be self-service, or with cashiers using computer tablets.

plays clothing not in piles or on racks but as one piece hanging at a time, like a gallery. Shoppers just touch their smartphones to a coded tag on the item and then select a color and size on their phone. Technology in the store keeps track of the items, and by the time a shopper is ready to try them on, they’re already at the dressing room. If the shopper doesn’t like an item, she tosses it down a chute, which automatically removes the item from the shopper’s online shopping cart. The shopper keeps the items that he or she wants, which are purchased automatically when leaving the store, no checkout involved. Nadia Shouraboura, Hointer’s CEO, said once shoppers get used to the process, they’re hooked.

Make it yourself at home Within 10 years, 3-D printing could make a major disruption in retail, Deloitte’s Lobaugh predicts. Take a simple item like a coffee cup. Instead of producing one in China, transporting it and distributing it to retail stores, you could just download the code for the coffee cup and 3-D print it at a retail outlet or in your own home. “That starts a dramatic change in terms of the structure of retail,” Lobaugh said. And while 3-D printing today is primarily of plastic items, Lobaugh said there are tests at places like MIT Media Lab and elsewhere with other materials, including fabric. Right now a few stores offer rudimentary 3-D-printing services, but they are very

Learn to use tablets and smartphones; plus, how shopping is changing, useful links and more Self-service dress stores

Some stores are taking self-service further: A store in Seattle called Hointer dis-

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ARTS & STYLE Tennis ace Shantha Chandra has promoted tennis in county schools and taught the sport to adults and children alike through the Dept. of Recreation & Parks. She will be inducted into the Community Sports Hall of Fame this fall, along with five other Howard County residents.

personal contributions of local residents to community sports. Its first members were honored in 2005. Inductees agree that the most important lesson that children (as well as adults) learn from playing sports is not the value of winning, but rather how to be a gracious loser — acting with integrity, perseverance, responsibility and other skills that will serve them well when they are not on the playing field.

Leading youth Charles “Bernie” Dennison, 60, certainly shares that view. He has spent more than three decades working as coach, administrator, board member and director of the Howard County Youth Program (HCYP). Dennison estimates that 10,000

children participate each year in its basketball, baseball and softball programs. “We have a community outreach program, and have financial scholarships based on need,” he said. “Our programs are open to everyone in the county, and we now have third-generation coaches — all of whom went on to be productive citizens — in our program,” he said. As with others involved in youth sports, Dennison has seen the positive benefits of his program. “Our philosophy is that the least important thing children learn is about the sport,” he said. “They learn the importance of camaraderie with others, and that how one loses is more important See HALL OF FAMERS, page 15

Premieres join old favorites on Howard County stages this fall page 30

FITNESS & HEALTH 7 k Helping the body kill cancers k Ways we can slow down aging THE SENIOR CONNECTION 17 k Howard County Office on Aging newsletter LAW & MONEY 21 k Keeping Social Security solvent k Avoid IRA withdrawal penalties LEISURE & TRAVEL k Breathtaking parks in Utah k Getting a great cruise deal

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A very special woman Editor’s note: Just five months ago, my Worth high school my brother and I later dear father passed away at the age of 93. In went to, and that she won the Latin prize this space in the April Beacon, her senior year. (We recently I ran the eulogy that I gave at found a photo of her holding his funeral. the huge trophy, which brings Little did we know that the to mind the Stanley Cup.) stubborn cough my Mom had After high school, she atat Dad’s funeral was appartended Stanford University, ently the same pneumonia where she excelled in Latin that he died of, and she recentAmerican studies, was choly succumbed to it and its comsen for the Cap & Gown plications as well. honor society, and was presiI did not expect to be writing dent of Vocom, a women’s caanother eulogy so soon, and no FROM THE reer guidance club. doubt you were not expecting PUBLISHER At Stanford, she was also a to read one. Nonetheless, I By Stuart P. Rosenthal popular, if naïve, girl whose hope you don’t mind if I share fetching ways attracted many it with you now. young men to her side. In one of our last My mother was born in Chicago in 1929 conversations, while waiting for a doctor in and spent her early childhood in Shreve- the emergency room, she started to tell port, Louisiana. That may be where she ac- me some amusing, and somewhat embarquired her charming Southern accent, but rassing, stories of those days. Suffice it to her family moved to Fort Worth, Texas say, she learned how to be less naïve when she was 7, so that may also have rather quickly. played a role. The truth was, throughout her life, my I don’t know much about her youth, ex- mom had a certain je ne sais quoi. Within cept that she attended the same Fort seconds of meeting a person or entering a

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

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room, she would convey that she was out ciology teacher at the University of Texas of the ordinary, with her warm smile, at Arlington. cheerful manner and friendly greeting. No one would call my mom a classic “acaEven upon stepping into demic.” She didn’t go into an elevator full of strangers, teaching out of a desire to she would manage to make develop new theories, or instant friends through a conduct social experipleasant comment, starting ments, or write books, but a conversation, or offering rather to convey important a compliment to someone life lessons to impressionstanding next to her. able college students and She was also the kind of to help them in their perperson to whom people sonal lives and careers. would turn when they As a result, she was alneeded a friend. Late one ways the most popular night when I was in high teacher in her department, school, one of my friends and has a folder full of tesArlene Goldstone Rosenthal called and said his mother timonials from students 6/14/1929 - 8/4/2014 would like to speak with whose lives she affected. mine. The woman, who had never been parWhen my older brother and I were ticularly friendly or close with my mom, young children, our mom was generally a was feeling afraid, alone and even some- housewife who, for fun, played classical what suicidal after a fight with her husband. music on the piano and practiced for her She felt she had no friends to whom she jazz piano lessons with a local band leader. could turn to talk about it, so we drove She went back to school for her master’s over to my friend’s house, and my mom sat degree in sociology only after I started eleand talked with her for hours, and contin- mentary school. That was still a pretty unued to assist her afterwards. usual thing for a young mother to do in That ability to listen, comfort and advise people made her an especially beloved soSee FROM THE PUBLISHER, page 12

Letters to the editor Readers are encouraged to share their opinion on any matter addressed in the Beacon as well as on political and social issues of the day. Mail your Letter to the Editor to The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915, or e-mail to barbara@thebeaconnewspapers.com. Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification. Dear Editor: Regarding your From the Publisher column, “Awesome subjects,” (August), awesome is a word I rarely use, but it seems right when describing your work on the Beacon. I know of no other source — print or otherwise — that consistently gives such useful and excellent information to a mature readership. We appreciate your awesome work! Shirley Von Reichenbach Silver Spring, Md. Dear Editor: In “The facts about genetically modified foods (GMOs)” (August Beacon), Dr. Michael Mahr provides general information but, as is often the case, the devil is in the details. Dr. Mahr describes the engineering of GMOs as “tinkering” with genes, something which has been done for centuries. According to him, by “tinkering” in the lab we can speed up the natural process. This explanation is misleading if not entirely false. GMOs are engineered in labs by splicing genes from different species and creating new mongrel “products.” He also says GMOs appear “generally safe” so far, and no “significant hazard” has been “directly connected” to them. His concern is for the future, when “new” GMOs could “somehow become allergic or toxic through the engineering process.”

Dr Mahr ignores the indirect effects of the GMOs of which we are already aware. After two decades, farmers are reporting the presence of super-bugs and superweeds, which have become resistant to the mega doses of herbicides and pesticides sprayed on our corn, canola, cotton and soy crops. In an effort to create even stronger herbicides, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is considering allowing herbicide 2,4-D, an agent orange derivative, to be used on our food. The “future” is now. Dr. Mahr takes comfort in the fact most GMOs are fed to industrially farmed animals. How naive to think there is no effect on humans when we ingest the plants, animals and/or by-products which are/have been fed GMOs. Dr. Mahr cites a French study which found a connection between GMOs and tumors in rats as being criticized for weak evidence. He goes on to say the article was retracted but does not inform the reader it has since been published in Environmental Sciences Europe. Dr. Mahr’s “facts about GMOs” are misleading. Even if GMOs are safe, which is his opinion, why continue opposing the labeling of food which contain GMOs? Let an informed consumer be the judge of whether they believe GMOs are safe and want to ingest them. Carla Tevelow Dayton, Md.

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Technology &

Innovations Learning technology’s benefits hands-on “A significant population of [AARP’s] demographic isn’t online, or not in a significant way. We need to be equipped to use this technology so we can live our best life.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF AARP

By Carol Sorgen If you don’t know the difference between analog or digital, or a hash tag from a hard drive, AARP’s got you covered. The national membership organization based in Washington, D.C., recently rolled out AARP TEK (which stands for Technology, Education and Knowledge) to close the technology gap and help boomers and seniors learn how to use personal digital devices in a plain-language, user-friendly way. According to Terry Bradwell, AARP executive vice president and chief information officer, AARP TEK is a comprehensive technology education program specifically geared to the 50+ audience. Consisting of hands-on educational seminars, as well as written and video material online, AARP TEK is aimed at empowering people with technology by connecting them with friends, family, employment opportunities, health information, entertainment and much more. “While personal technology has been in our lives for a number of years now, it’s no longer just nice to have,” said Bradwell. “It’s imperative, as more and more services — from banks to movies to the Social Security Administration — are going tech-only. “AARP members didn’t grow up in a digital age,” said Bradwell, who said that his version of an iPad when he was young was an “etch-a-sketch.”

Self-service dress stores Some stores are taking self-service further: A store in Seattle called Hointer dis-

Technology & Innovations | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Have computer questions? Answers here Q. I am debating about buying a new plain, however. Windows 9 is already in laptop with Windows 8. I know that the works and will be the next step in the some people don’t like Windows 8. evolution of Windows. It isn’t going to reDo you think Microsoft vert back to something akin to will keep this format in the Windows 3.1, 98, XP or even future or will it go back to Windows 7. Time and technolsomething like XP or the ogy move ahead, with us or Windows 7 format? How do without us. you feel about Windows 8? When Windows 98 was reA. I think Windows 8 is leased eons ago, there were fine. I like the touchscreen insome people who hated it beterface, which is what it was cause it represented such a designed for, though it cerbig change from the previous tainly can be used with a traversion. The same thing ocASK ditional mouse and keyboard. curred when XP replaced WinMR. MODEM Historically, whenever a new dows 98. By Richard Sherman operating system makes its Over time people settled debut, there are people who down and became comfortable like it and people who don’t like it. I call it with the new operating system, and that the Broccoli Syndrome. will happen with Windows 8, as well. Then, Microsoft is not going to return to an when Windows 9 is released, the Broccoli older format because a few people com- Syndrome will return.

BEACON BYTES

Aug. 28

CHECKING OUT E-BOOKS

Howard County Library presents an information session on checking out e-books on Thursday, Aug. 28. Learn how to browse, borrow and download e-books from Howard County Libraries. The class takes place at the Miller Branch library, 9421 Frederick Rd. For more information or to register, visit http://bit.ly/BorrowE-books or call (410) 313-1950.

If you decide that you do not want Windows 8, you can still purchase Windows 7 on amazon.com or from other retailers. Q. I was reading an article the other day and it mentioned my “OS.” If I have one, I don’t know what it is or where I put it. Can you explain “OS” to us — okay, to me. I’m probably the only person who doesn’t know what it is. A. OS is short for “Operating System.” There are lots of operating systems that allow us to do things with our computers. Windows is an “OS,” as is Linux, Mac OSX or iOS, and Google’s Android OS. Whatever flavor you prefer, they all create the environment and command structure within which we can run programs and, perhaps more importantly, play Solitaire and Free Cell. None of these life-altering activities would be possible on a computer without an OS or operating system. Q. How do I delete all data from a flash drive so that I can put new information on it? A. Formatting a flash drive will wipe all data off the drive. If that’s what you would like to do, start by inserting the flash drive into a USB port on your computer. Click Computer (depending on your version of Windows), then right-click your flash drive icon and select Format.

You will see the capacity of the drive and various bits of technical information nobody ever pays attention to. You might want to consider changing the Volume Label, which is the name that will appear next to the drive letter for your flash drive. I like to name my flash drives something short like “Morry” or “Edith,” but other people prefer something more descriptive, such as MP3Files or WorkDocs. You don’t have to change the Volume Label at all, if you prefer to leave things as they are. Remove the check mark beside the Quick Format box, then click Start to format your flash drive. The formatting process will probably take a few minutes, and you may see a green progress bar. Once formatting is complete, your flash drive will be squeaky clean and devoid of all data that it previously contained. Mr. Modem (Richard Sherman) is an author, syndicated columnist, publisher, radio/TV host and technological humorist. Sherman publishes the award-winning “Ask Mr. Modem” weekly newsletter received by subscribers in 39 countries. To subscribe to Mr. Modem’s weekly computer-help newsletter, visit www.MrModem.com. Use Promo Code MODEM when entering your six-month subscription and receive one month for free.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Technology & Innovations

Beacon Links Each month, this column will describe a handful of interesting, helpful websites.

Unbiased travel information Baby Boomers Traveling is a website that provides tips for those who want to see more of the world, as well as information on travel for professionals marketing to the 50+ community. The website offers background information, useful travel tips, reviews of accommodations and restaurants, volunteer and educational opportunities abroad, and more, all from boomers who have done it themselves.

www.babyboomerstraveling.com

Senior center newsletters Want to find activities to go to every day of the week at a Howard County senior center? Peruse 11 online newsletters from senior centers around Howard County. http://bit.ly/seniorcenter news letters

If you enjoy repairing things yourself or if you are willing to share your knowledge, you won’t want to miss this site. The Guides section has its own featured items and categories of different things you can find repair guides for, such as iPhone and iPad repair, gaming device repair, cars, trucks, phone repair, cameras, household items, appliances and electronics, to name just a few. www.ifixit.com

How to do anything

A Wikipedia for repairs iFixit is a global community of people helping each other repair things. It is heralded as “the free repair guide for everything, written by everyone.”

Wonder How To is a free, how-to video search engine and directory with an index of more than 170,000 videos. Here you will find videos on everything from how to make a mint julep, to how to survive a knife attack,

to how to tie ballet pointe shoes properly. www.wonderhowto.com

World War II in photos Originally published as a 20-part series by The Atlantic, this collection of 900 photos profiles the lives of people who served on the front lines as well as those who supported the war effort from home. You can start at the beginning with the Before the War section, then continue chronologically, section by section, through After the War. Photos that may be considered disturbingly graphic are blacked out but can be viewed by clicking them, if you wish. www.theatlantic.com/infocus/pages /ww2/#

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Steve Yankovich, head of innovation for eBay, thinks someday buying household supplies won’t take any effort at all. He said a connected home could be able to use previous customer history and real-time data the house records to sense when a light bulb burns out, for example, and order a new one automatically. Or a washing machine will order more detergent when it runs low. “A box could show up on porch with this disparate set of 10 things the connected home and eBay determined you needed to keep things running smoothly,” he said. “It’s called zero-effort commerce.”

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limited. He predicts the shift will come in 10 to 20 years.

EBay recently bought PhiSix, a company working on creating life-size 3-D models that can be used to instantly see how different colors of clothing or different styles would fit a particular shopper. You can see 30 or 40 items of clothing realistically without physically trying them on. EBay’s Yankovich said the technology can be used in a virtual dressing room as well, showing what the clothes look like when you are, say, walking down the street or hitting a golf club. Some companies have been testing this already. British digital agency Engage created a Virtual Style Pod that scanned shoppers and created a life-size image onto which luxury clothing from brands like Alexander McQueen and DKNY were projected. The Pod was displayed in shopping centers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. — AP

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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Simple changes ease computer eyestrain The eyes have it — strain, that is. As our enthusiasm for using computers, tablets and phones grows, our eyes are paying the price. Upwards of 90 percent of computer and device users experience a problem so common there’s a name for it: computer vision syndrome. It comes with symptoms such as decreased or blurred vision, burning or stinging eyes, sensitivity to light, headaches, and back and neck pain. If these symptoms affect you, check out these tips to ease the strain and avoid the

pain from specialist Dr. Rishi Singh of the Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute. 1. Adjust your viewing angle The angle of your gaze plays a key role in developing the syndrome. For the best angle, the center of the monitor, tablet or phone should be 20 to 28 inches from your eyes and 4 to 5 inches below eye level. If you’re looking back and forth between a screen and reference materials, keep those materials where you can see them with minimal head movement.

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2. Reduce glare Letters on a screen are not as clear as letters on a printed page. Too little contrast between letters and background, or glare on the screen, makes your eyes work harder. The result: sensitivity to light. Position your screen to avoid glare from overhead lights or windows. Close the blinds on your windows or switch to lowerwatt bulbs in your desk lamp. If you can’t change the lighting to minimize glare, buy a glare filter for your screen. 3. Rest your eyes When using a computer or device for an extended period of time, take regular breaks to prevent eyestrain. Every 20 minutes, look away from your computer and look at a distant object for 20 seconds. This will give your eyes a chance to refocus. After two hours of continual computer use, rest your eyes for 15 minutes. 4. Blink often People normally blink about 18 times a minute, but computer users tend to blink only one-fourth as often. This increases the chance of developing dry eye. To reduce this risk, remind yourself to blink more often. And refresh your eyes

periodically with lubricating eye drops. 5. Get your eyes checked Uncorrected vision problems — farsightedness or astigmatism, problems focusing or coordinating the eyes, and eye changes associated with aging — can contribute to eyestrain and musculoskeletal pain. Even if you don’t need glasses or contacts for daily activities, you may need them for computer or device use. If you do wear glasses or contacts and need to tilt your head or lean toward the screen to see it clearly, your lens prescription may need to be adjusted. Get an eye checkup to make sure your prescription is right. Doing so can help prevent pain in the neck, shoulders or back that results from contorting your body to see the screen. WhatDoctorsKnow is a magazine devoted to up-to-the minute information on health issues from physicians, major hospitals and clinics, universities and healthcare agencies across the U.S. Online at www.whatdoctorsknow.com. © 2014 Whatdoctorsknow.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Health Fitness &

SLOW AGING Diet, stress reduction and exercise can slow the aging of chromosomes DIVE INTO SEA VEGGIES Seaweed and algae are packed with many seaworthy nutrients HEART OF THE MATTER Certain pacemakers might be more effective for women than men FOODS FOR BETTER SLEEP Foods that contain complex carbs and lean protein can promote slumber

Immune system therapy kills off cancers By Marilynn Marchione Two years ago, Arrica Wallace was riddled with tumors from widely spread cervical cancer that the strongest chemotherapy and radiation could not beat back. Today, the Kansas mother shows no signs of the disease, and it was her own immune system that made it go away. The experimental approach that helped her is one of the newest frontiers in the rapidly advancing field of cancer immunotherapy, which boosts the body’s natural ways of attacking tumors. At a recent American Society of Clinical Oncology conference, doctors also reported extending gains recently made with immune therapies against leukemia and the skin cancer melanoma to bladder, lung and other tumor types. The cervical cancer experiment was the first time an immune therapy has worked so dramatically against a cancer caused by a virus — HPV. In a pilot study by the National Cancer Institute NCI), the tumors of two out of nine women completely disappeared and those women remain cancerfree more than a year later. That’s far better than any other treatment has achieved in such cases. Doctors are trying it now against throat, anal and other cancers caused by HPV, the human papillomavirus, and think it holds

promise for cancers caused by other viruses, too. This is “very, very exciting,” said Dr. Don Dizon of Massachusetts General Hospital, a women’s cancer specialist with no role in the study.

One-time treatment Wallace lives in Manhattan, Kansas, west of Topeka, and was 35 when her cervical cancer was discovered. It spread widely, and one tumor was so large it blocked half of her windpipe. Doctors said she had less than a year to live, but with sons aged 8 and 12, “I couldn’t give up,” she said. She enrolled in the study, and researchers removed one of her tumors, isolated special immune system cells that were attacking it, multiplied them in the lab and gave billions of them back to her in a one-time infusion. They also gave her drugs to boost her immune response — “like Gatorade for the cells,” she said. “It’s been 22 months since treatment and 17 months of completely clean scans” showing no sign of cancer, Wallace said. The second woman to have a complete response has been cancer-free for 15 months so far, said one study leader, Dr. Christian Hinrichs of the NCI in Bethesda, Md. “There’s no way to know” if the re-

sults will be permanent, he said. A third woman had tumor shrinkage that lasted three months. The other six women did not respond to treatment. Researchers are attempting to determine why. Doctors are trying the treatment on several dozen more women with advanced cervical cancer, and it could some day be offered at many cancer centers the way bone marrow and stem cell transplants are now.

Other therapies in development Many private companies are pursuing other treatments that are given like drugs aimed at the immune system. Also discussed at the conference: • Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.’s Yervoy, the first immune therapy to improve survival of advanced, inoperable melanoma, also helped prevent recurrence when given to people with earlier stage disease at regular intervals after surgery, a study of nearly 1,000 patients found. But severe side effects caused half to quit treatment, and five people died from it. Doctors think a lower dose might minimize these problems. The drug also costs more than $100,000 for initial treatment, so long-term cost is a concern. • Nivolumab, an experimental therapy from Bristol-Myers, extended survival by

3 1/2 years on average when given with Yervoy to people with very advanced melanoma — far better than any previous treatments. Nine of 53 patients treated had complete remissions. • Merck & Co.’s experimental therapy pembrolizumab gave one-year survival rates of about 69 percent in a study of 411 patients with very advanced melanoma, including many previously treated with Yervoy. • Genentech’s experimental immune therapy for bladder cancer shrank tumors in 13 of 30 patients with advanced bladder cancer for which there are hardly any treatment options now. All signs of cancer disappeared in two patients. Immune therapy struggled for years with just occasional small gains, but “now we have cruise missiles” giving better kill rates against many tumor types, said Dr. Steven O’Day of the University of Southern California. Others tempered their enthusiasm, noting that some promising approaches produced more limited gains once they were more fully researched. “Let’s not forget the history” of what seems like progress with a new approach, said Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society. “It doesn’t always work out the way it appears to be heading.” — AP

Feds diverge on proper use of painkillers By Matthew Perrone How do you have a conversation about prescription drugs that provide critical pain relief to millions of Americans yet also cause more fatal overdoses than heroin and cocaine combined? The answer is: It depends. Different parts of the federal government describe the problem — and potential solutions — of abuse with Vicodin, OxyContin and other opioid drugs in different terms. The White House has called opioid abuse an “epidemic” and a “growing national crisis” that causes more than 16,500 deaths per year. Meanwhile, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and a top-ranking Drug Enforcement Administration official have called on doctors to dramatically scale back their

use of prescription opioids. But while Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Margaret Hamburg acknowledged that opioids are overprescribed in an interview with the Associated Press, she again emphasized the importance of keeping the drugs accessible to Americans with chronic pain — a group she cites as roughly 100 million, or about 40 percent of U.S. adults. “I think we have an important balancing act of trying to assure that safe and effective drugs are available for patients who have real pain and need medical care,” Hamburg said. The agency’s approach has won kudos from physicians who use opioids to treat pain, including the American Pain Society, a group that receives funding from the largest pain drugmakers, including Pfizer Inc. and Teva Pharmaceuticals.

CDC wants to limit But it also exposes a rift in the government’s messaging about the appropriate role of opioids, which are among the most frequently prescribed drugs in the U.S. CDC officials have called for more limited prescribing, citing figures that show a four-fold increase in opioid sales between 1999 and 2010, during which opioid overdose deaths more than tripled. “These are dangerous medications, and they should be reserved for situations like severe cancer pain where they can provide extremely important and essential palliation,” CDC Director Tom Frieden said. “In many other situations, the risks far outweigh the benefits.” It’s a view shared by anti-addiction advocates like Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing, a group that wants the

FDA to severely restrict pharmaceutical marketing of opioids. “Over the past decade, there have been more than 125,000 painkiller overdose deaths because drug companies were permitted to falsely advertise these drugs as safe and effective for long-term use,” said the group’s president, Andrew Kolodny. Experts agree that most overdoses occur in people abusing opioids at unsafe doses, often by grinding up tablets for snorting or injecting. But groups like PROP say that addiction often begins when doctors prescribe the drugs for common aches and pains. Opioids include both legal and illegal narcotics, such as heroin, morphine, codeine, methadone and oxycodone among others. See PAINKILLERS, page 8

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Painkillers

ments was considered too risky because they are highly addictive.

From page 7 The appropriate medical role for opioids has been the subject of vigorous debate for over 20 years. For most of the last century, doctors reserved opioids for acute pain following surgery or injury, or for severe, long-term pain due to deadly diseases like cancer. Using the drugs for more common ail-

Shift to use for chronic pain But in the 1990s, a new generation of specialists argued that opioids, when used carefully, could safely treat common forms of chronic pain, including back pain and arthritis. That message was amplified by pharmaceutical marketing for new, longacting drugs like OxyContin, which the

BEACON BITS

Sept. 15

DOWN ON THE FARM The Lutheran Village at Miller’s Grant and Love Dove Farms of

Woodbine are co-hosting an event at the farm on Monday, Sept. 15 at 1:30 p.m. at Triadelphia LakeView Farm, 15155 Triadelphia Mill Rd., Glenelg. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about organic farming and to enjoy some of the farm’s fresh produce. Seating is limited, and reservations are requested. To respond, visit www.MillersGrant.org or call 1-877-900-6618.

Sept. 16+

CHOOSE TO LOSE A course designed to help individuals reach a healthier weight through lifestyle changes will be offered beginning Tuesday, Sept.

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

FDA approved in 1995. Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin, would later plead guilty and pay $634.5 million in fines for misleading doctors about the risks of addiction and abuse with OxyContin. But opioid prescriptions continued to rise unabated. It’s a trend closely monitored by the Drug Enforcement Administration, where officials say an oversupply of painkillers is fueling the black market for both prescription opioids and heroin. DEA Deputy Assistant Administrator Joe Rannazzisi says it is “outrageous” that the U.S. consumes 99 percent of the world’s hydrocodone — the most prescribed medicine in the country. “A controlled substance shouldn’t be the most widely prescribed medication in the United States,” he said in an interview. “If we believe we’re the only country that knows how to treat pain that’s a pretty arrogant attitude.” To be sure, any successful effort to curb drug abuse must involve a wide range of players, including state lawmakers, medical boards, pharmacy chains and medical educators.

16 at 6:30 p.m. and repeated on Thursday, Sept. 18 at 6:30 p.m. and continue for the next eight weeks at the Howard County General Hospital Wellness Center, 10710 Charter Dr., Columbia. There is a $195 fee for the full program. For more information or to register, visit www.hcgh.org or call (410) 740-7601.

FDA prescribes restrictions In her interview with the AP, Dr. Hamburg emphasized this multifaceted approach while highlighting two recent steps by the FDA to reduce harm from opioids. In September, the FDA narrowed the

prescribing label on long-acting opioids like OxyContin to specify that they should only be used for “pain severe enough to require daily, around-the-clock” therapy that cannot be managed with other approaches. Previously, the label simply stated the drugs were for “moderate to severe pain.” In October, the FDA recommended reclassifying hydrocodone-containing combination pills like Vicodin to limit how doctors can prescribe them. But both of those actions came after outside pressure. The labeling change was in response to a petition from the physician group PROP, which sought much stricter labeling than what the FDA ultimately put in place. The change in classification for hydrocodone pills came after nearly a decade of prodding by the DEA, which argued that the drugs had been misclassified in the first place. DEA’s Rannazzisi says the difference in tone between various agencies reflects their unique missions. As he sees it, the FDA’s primarily role is to review drugs and make sure they are marketed appropriately. But the DEA’s mission to investigate drug diversion brings his staff much closer to the ongoing epidemic of abuse and addiction. “Maybe sometimes people need to get out from behind their desks and actually go and look at what’s going on,” Rannazzisi said. “Because in the end this is a national tragedy that’s not being addressed.” — AP

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Upcoming Events Tai Chi with Damien (3 week session) | Tuesdays, September 2, 9, 23 • 11:00 am Suzuki Vocal Ensemble Class (10 week session) | First class – Thursday, September 11 • 1:30 pm OSHER Lifelong Learning Class: Famous Art Collaborations (10 week session) | First class – September 12 • 10:30 am (Fee) OSHER Lifelong Learning Class: An Overview of World War II (10 week session) | First class – September 12 • 12:30 pm (Fee) Health Talk with Dr. Lazris | Friday, September 19 • 11:00am Ballroom Dancing | Sunday, September 21 • 6:00 pm Boot Camp | Wednesday, September 24 • 8:00am

Call Jennifer at 410-988-3957 to reserve your spot. Space is limited call today. Ask about our new Free Signature Club Membership to receive special invitations to Vantage House Events.

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Lifestyle changes may slow aging of cells By Elizabeth Fernandez A small pilot study shows for the first time that changes in diet, exercise, stress management and social support may result in longer telomeres — the parts of chromosomes that affect aging. It is the first controlled trial to show that any intervention might lengthen telomeres over time. The study, published online in The Lancet Oncology, was conducted by scientists at UC San Francisco and the Preventive Medicine Research Institute — a nonprofit public research institute in Sausalito, Calif. that investigates the effect of diet and lifestyle choices on health and disease. The researchers say they hope the results will inspire larger trials to test the validity of the findings. “Our genes, and our telomeres, are not necessarily our fate,” said lead author Dr. Dean Ornish, UCSF clinical professor of medicine, and founder and president of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute. “So often people think, ‘Oh, I have bad genes, there’s nothing I can do about it,’” Ornish said. “But these findings indicate that telomeres may lengthen to the degree that people change how they live. Research indicates that longer telomeres are associated with fewer illnesses and longer life.”

What telomeres tell us Telomeres are the protective caps on the ends of chromosomes that affect how quickly cells age. They are combinations of DNA and protein that protect the ends of chromosomes and help them remain stable. As they become shorter, and as their structural integrity weakens, the cells age and die more quickly. In recent years, shorter telomeres have become associated with a broad range of aging-related diseases, including many forms of cancer, stroke, vascular dementia, cardiovascular disease, obesity, osteoporosis and diabetes. For five years, the researchers followed 35 men with localized, early-stage prostate cancer to explore the relationship between comprehensive lifestyle changes, and telomere length and telomerase activity. Telomerase is an enzyme that repairs and lengthens telomeres.

All the men were engaged in active surveillance, which involves closely monitoring a patient’s condition through screening and biopsies.

Vegetarian diet, exercise helped Ten of the patients embarked on lifestyle changes that included: a plant-based diet (high in fruits, vegetables and unrefined grains, and low in fat and refined carbohydrates); moderate exercise (walking 30 minutes a day, six days a week); stress reduction (gentle yoga-based stretching, breathing, meditation). They also participated in weekly group support. They were compared to the other 25 study participants who were not asked to make major lifestyle changes. The group that made the lifestyle changes experienced a “significant” increase in telomere length of approximate-

ly 10 percent. Further, the more people changed their behavior by adhering to the recommended lifestyle program, the more dramatic their improvements in telomere length, the scientists learned. By contrast, the men in the control group who were not asked to alter their lifestyle had measurably shorter telomeres — nearly 3 percent shorter — when the five-year study ended. Telomere length usually decreases over time.

Further research needed The researchers say the findings may not be limited to men with prostate cancer, and are likely to be relevant to the general population. “We looked at telomeres in the participants’ blood, not their prostate tissue,” said Ornish. The new study is a follow up to a similar,

three-month pilot investigation in 2008 in which the same participants were asked to follow the same lifestyle program. After three months, the men in the initial study exhibited significantly increased telomerase activity. The new study was designed to determine if the lifestyle changes would affect telomere length and telomerase activity in these men over a longer time period. “This was a breakthrough finding that needs to be confirmed by larger studies,” said co-senior author Dr. Peter R. Carroll , professor and chair of the UCSF Department of Urology. “Telomere shortening increases the risk of a wide variety of chronic diseases,” Carroll said. “We believe that increases in telomere length may help to prevent these conditions and perhaps even lengthen lifespan.” — University of California, San Francisco

MORNING DRIVE.

BEACON BITS

Sept. 20

SAIL THE BAY

A two-hour cruise on a 74-foot long sailboat awaits passengers on the Department of Recreation & Parks bus tour to Annapolis on Saturday, Sept. 20 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The $93 trip fee includes bus and sailboat fare. Shopping and lunch on your own. Children must be at least 8 years old. This is a new offering from Recreation & Parks and seating is limited, so early reservations are advised. For further information, call (410) 313-7279 or to register, call (410) 313-7275.

FIT FOR YOU For Monthly Golf specials visit ColumbiaFit.org/golf.

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Dive into sea vegetables for deep nutrition By Matt Ruscigno, R.D. Seaweed, algae, sea vegetables — no matter what you call them, these plants from the sea have been a delicious, nutritious part of our diet for centuries. Grown in the mineral-dense environment of the sea, they’re packed with nutrients such as iodine, iron, zinc, magnesium, manganese, potassium, calcium and phytochemicals. There are hundreds of varieties of sea vegetables, each with a unique nutritional

composition — and all are nutrition powerhouses with few calories.

Seaworthy nutrients Seaweed is an especially rich source of iodine, which is required for proper thyroid function. Because iodine levels in vegetables and the soil in which they’re grown varies greatly, seaweed can be an important source of this crucial nutrient. Just two tablespoons can contain an entire

BEACON BITS

Aug. 27

NUTRITION TIPS Registered dietician and nutritionist Rona Martiyan will be avail-

able to discuss nutrition tips and answer questions about nutrition at noon on Wednesday, Aug. 27 at the Ellicott City Senior Center, 9401 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City. For more information, call (410) 313-1400.

Sept. 9

FREE STOP SMOKING SESSION A free program of education and support for persons wanting to quit smoking, or who have already quit, is scheduled for Tuesday,

Sept. 9 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Wellness Center of Howard County General Hospital, 10710 Charter Dr., Columbia. For more information or to register, visit www.hcgh.org or call (410) 740-7601.

day’s worth of iodine. Most sea vegetables have significant amounts of the coagulant vitamin K and non-heme (plant-based) iron, which is required for energy transport in the blood. (Note: if you’re taking a blood thinner, you need to be careful about fluctuations in vitamin K intake.) These vegetables from the sea also contain measurable amounts of carotenoids and flavonoids often associated with “superfoods,” such as blueberries, green tea and chocolate. Consumption of these phytonutrients may reduce the risk for heart disease and some cancers. Certain varieties of seaweed, especially those that are brown, like kombu, contain the unique compound fucoidan — a starchlike molecule with strong antioxidant properties. Sea vegetables are popular as a dietary supplement in pill or powder form, but there’s no reason to take a pill when you can easily eat the whole-food version, which is always better for you. A simple start is to add them to soup or sprinkle the flakes on Asian dishes. There are many kinds of seaweed, typically available in dried form, with an enormous variety of tastes and textures. Look for sea vegetables in supermarkets, Asian markets and online.

Sample some seaweed While there are hundreds of varieties of seaweed, you might want to start with those most readily available, such as: 1. Wakame — This kelp looks like a stringy noodle and has a chewy texture. Common in miso soup. Serve tossed with sesame oil over lettuce. 2. Kombu — This type of kelp is high in glutamic acid, which is responsible for umami, the savory taste associated with Asian foods. Common in soup broth or with sashimi in Japanese cuisine. Add when cooking beans to reduce gas-producing properties. 3. Nori — A dark purple algae that turns green when toasted. Well-known for its use in wrapping sushi, it’s produced in square, dry, toasted sheets, and makes a great crispy snack. 4. Dulse — Most often found as shredded, dried flakes, this red algae is especially high in calcium and is a staple high-fiber food of Northern Europe. Can be baked and eaten like chips, or added to foods like soup and even homemade bread. Reprinted with permission from Environmental Nutrition, a monthly publication of Belvoir Media Group, LLC. 800-829-5384. www.EnvironmentalNutrition.com. © 2014 Belvoir Media Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Coalition of Geriatric Services We’re a coalition of nonproﬁts, agencies, businesses and professionals who come together to advocate for and help older adults.

September Meeting Networking Extravaganza Date: Time: Location: Topic:

Wednesday, September 24, 2014 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. Oasis Senior Advisors 7230 Lee Deforest Drive, Suite 200, Columbia, MD 21043 Networking Extravaganza

Learn more by calling (410) 997-0610 or visit www.cogsmd.org Thank you to our 2014 Executive Members PLaTiNuM MEMbEr Howard County General Hospital – A Member of Johns Hopkins Medicine The Beacon Newspapers

GoLD MEMbErS Being There Senior Care, LLC • Howard County Oﬃce on Aging

SiLvEr MEMbErS Brooke Grove Retirement Village • Carney, Kelehan, Bresler, Bennett & Scherr, LLP Copper Ridge – EMA • Deborah L. Herman, CPA • Oasis Senior Advisors The Bob Lucido Team of Keller Williams Select Realtors

broNzE MEMbErS Earl Wilkinson, M.D., ENT • Gentiva Health Services • Home Instead Senior Care Homewatch CareGivers • Lighthouse Senior Living Village at Ellicott City Paladin Advisor Group • Professional Healthcare Resources, Inc.

PaTroN MEMbErS Alzheimer’s Association – Greater MD Chapter • Candle Light Funeral Home by Craig Witzke Home Call of Maryland • Home With You Senior Care • Ivy Manor Normandy, Inc. New Life Assisted Living • Right At Home In Home Care & Assistance • Visiting Angels

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

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Heart pacer-zapper benefits women more By Lindsay Tanner Women with heart failure are less likely to get a special kind of pacemaker than men, but are more likely to benefit from the device, a government analysis suggests. The findings, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, come from the first study of its kind conducted by researchers at the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA has done similar analyses of prescription drugs, but not of medical devices, said lead author Dr. David Strauss, an FDA medical officer. Relatively few women have been included in studies of pacemakers and other medical devices, which “has made it difficult to assess differences in the safety and effectiveness of these devices for women versus men,” Strauss said. The study authors said it’s unclear why women would benefit more from these special pacemakers, but possibilities include differences in physiology and body size. The researchers pooled results in three previous pacemaker studies, involving more than 4,000 patients, mostly men. Still, there were 878 women included — enough to assess gender differences in treatment results, the researchers said.

ed in the chest that emit electrical signals to regulate the heartbeat. They are often used to treat heart failure, which occurs when the heart muscle has weakened and can’t efficiently pump blood. Those studied are a special kind of pacemaker called cardiac resynchronization devices, and include a defibrillator to detect and zap life-threatening beats. They are used to treat a particular type of heart failure involving the two lower chambers of the heart. Women who got the special pacemakers were 60 percent less likely to die or develop heart failure-related complications during two years of follow-up than those who got implanted defibrillators alone. For men, the risk reduction was just 26 percent. The difference in benefits was even greater for women with a specific abnormality — 76 percent were less like to die or develop complications. There was no pacemaker benefit for men in this group. About 20 percent of women studied and 15 percent of the men had that irregularity. In absolute terms, the special pacemakers helped an additional 23 women out of every 100 with that abnormality avoid complications or death during the follow-up. Of about 100,000 Americans receiving the special pacemakers per year, fewer

What pacemakers do Pacemakers are small devices implant-

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than 30 percent are women, 2010 data suggest. Strauss said it is unclear exactly how many more women should be using these devices, but “more than a handful.”

Message: study more women But Strauss said the study has “a bigger picture message” about the importance of including women and other under-represented patients in medical research to find out if treatments work differently. While heart disease is the No. 1 cause of

death for women and men, a JAMA editorial notes heart conditions often affect them differently. For example: Women sometimes have different heart attack symptoms than men and more depression afterward; some kinds of heart failure are more common in women; and they respond differently to certain heart medicines. Learn more about pacemakers at http://1.usa.gov/1ljNCqw. — AP

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Health Studies Page

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THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Hearing study seeks volunteers 60-plus By Carol Sorgen Age-related hearing impairment is strongly associated with poor communication skills and social isolation. But hearing problems often go undiagnosed and untreated, especially in minority and low-income older adults. In an effort to expand delivery of hearing healthcare to underserved older adults, researchers are currently exploring innovative interventions that combine the latest research on social engagement, minority health and hearing technology. One such project is now taking place in Baltimore.

Open to those 60+ The project, called Baltimore Hearing

From the publisher From page 2 those days, as was her becoming a college instructor. One of the reasons she chose that career was so she could still be home to send me and my brother off to school in the morning and welcome us back afterwards. When my parents moved to Austin, Mom went back to school again, this time for a cer-

Equality through Accessible Research and Solutions (HEARS), is currently recruiting 100 individuals 60 or older who are experiencing hearing loss but do not wear hearing aids. The program is designed to provide affordable, accessible and effective hearing healthcare to older adults and their communication partners. Baltimore HEARS’ sponsors and collaborators include Johns Hopkins University and the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. It is a project of the Social Innovation Lab (SIL) — a Baltimore organization that supports promising companies and organizations developing innovative solutions to local and global problems. tificate in gerontology. As I mentioned in my father’s eulogy, both my parents served on the advisory board of the Senior Beacon there, and later started a nonprofit that helped retirees learn the computer skills and interviewing techniques that would enable them to reenter the work force. For most of the 63 years my parents were married, Mom took care of the shopping, cooking and other household chores.

Other projects of SIL include BMore Visible, a neighborhood-based home service initiative that addresses decreased patient mobility and provides access to eye care and affordable eyeglasses; the Mental Health Conflict Resolution Training Project, which teaches conflict resolution skills to people experiencing mental health challenges; and BMore Sheltr, which addresses the issue of alienation and disconnection from available help experienced by individuals facing homelessness and extreme poverty.

How HEARS works

will be randomly assigned to an immediate treatment group or a three-month delayed treatment group. Those assigned to the immediate treatment group will receive individualized aural rehabilitation for the participant and communication partner, as well as fitting and programming of a personal sound amplifier provided by Baltimore HEARS. Those assigned to the delayed intervention group will receive the same rehabilitation and personal sound amplifier, but three months later. The researchers’ theory is that the intervention is associated with increased social

In the Baltimore hearing study, participants and their communication partners But as her arthritis grew worse, their roles started to change, until eventually my Dad, nine years her senior, ended up doing most of those things for her. When my Dad passed away five months ago, my brother and I implemented the plan we had promised our father before his passing, moving Mom to the Greater Washington area so we could look after her. Though we had no idea she already harbored the infection that was eventually to take her life, it is also true that her strength to fight it off, and even her will to live on without Dad, were further sapped by the impact of the sudden changes to her life due to the move. Losing her lifelong mate, their network of old and new friends, and her comfortable Texas surroundings was devastating to her, notwithstanding her uncanny ability to make new friends quickly. My brother and I tried our best to fill in some of those gaping holes for her. Indeed, I believe I have spent more time with her in the last 20 weeks than in the past 20 years put together. And while it was ultimately not enough, I have to say — and I think she would agree — that we had some enjoyable times these past few months: watching her fa-

See HEARING STUDY, page 13

vorite movies together (and, when I was able to join her for lunch, the soap opera she has followed for decades), sitting outdoors and catching some rays, even suffering through five ER visits and hospitalizations due to her recurring fights with pneumonia and other serious infections. I don’t mean to say being sick and in the hospital was enjoyable, but that our many hours together — talking over old times, and, yes, learning new things about each other and about our feelings — were hours I think we were both glad we shared. Mom, I am sorry these recent days, which have brought us closer, have come to an end. I really thought we’d have more time together — years, in fact, to enjoy each other’s company and develop a more adult relationship. That was not God’s plan, as it turns out. I know you are now back together with Dad, and that both of you are no longer hobbled by pain or illness. I pray that you are both bound up — together — in the bond of eternal life, and that you have found peace. I miss you already.

Want to Prevent Falls in the Elderly? Seeking Men and Women to participate in a research study at the University of Maryland &Veterans Aﬀairs of Baltimore to better understand balance and the prevention of falls in aging individuals. You will receive:

• Health evaluation • Balance, step, strength, and/or ﬂexibility exercises • Compensation for your time if interested call: 410-605-7179 & Mention code: LiFT at Baltimore VA/University of Maryland Gerontology Recruitment Line *You must be at least 65 years old and in good health *Participants will be seen at the Baltimore VA Medical Center and University of Maryland School of Medicine *You will attend approximately 41 visits for 1 to 4 hours each per visit

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H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

Not easy to redirect long-term care costs Shift to home from institutions comes slowly By Matt Sedensky Brent Kaderli has a wheelchair-accessible van waiting in the driveway, a hospital bed in a spare bedroom, and an electric lift that’s left unused. If the 30-year-old quadriplegic had his way, he’d be living here, in his father’s house, with help from aides. Instead, he is in an institution, hoping each day for a place that feels more like a home. Fifteen years after a landmark Supreme Court ruling that those with disabilities should be given the choice to live outside nursing homes, mental hospitals and other institutions, its legacies are dueling. Progress has been made in every state to keep more aged and disabled people in their homes and communities, but only half of Medicaid spending goes to such care, with the services routinely denied by a system that favors institutions even though they’re typically more expensive to taxpayers. Kaderli said Medicaid approved him for only three hours of at-home daily care, but he’d need at least six to get by while his father is at work. So he lives in a nursing home in Pasadena, Texas. “It sucks and it’s sad, and it’s depressing,” said Kaderli, who was paralyzed in a 2006 car crash and had his legs amputated after the wreck. “I wish I was somewhere else every day.”

Less institutionalization In the June 22, 1999, decision in Olmstead v. L.C., the justices ruled that unnecessarily

Hearing study From page 12 engagement and communication, improved quality of life, and decreased loneliness and disability in the immediate treatment group compared to the delayed treatment group. To be eligible for the study, volunteers must be 60 or over, experiencing hearing loss, and must not already be using an amplification device or hearing aid.

segregating people with disabilities in institutions amounts to discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act if they can be cared for in more home-like settings. Advocates for the mentally ill, older people and the physically disabled regularly cite the ruling, but it has limitations. It says individuals should be “reasonably accommodated,” specifically noting “the resources available to the state” — caveats that have made it difficult to assess compliance and that have fueled widely different outcomes around the country. Nationally, the share of Medicaid longterm care spending that went to home and community services was 28 percent at the time of the ruling, according to a Department of Health and Human Services report. By 2012, the latest year for which data were tallied, the figure had risen to 50 percent, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Every state has increased its allocation to non-institutional services, but the allocations range from 78.3 percent of Medicaid spending in Oregon down to 27.4 percent in Mississippi and New Jersey. Maryland currently allocates 53.6 percent. The ruling offers no guidance on the allotment of funds. Many advocates argue that states could allow all individuals to be treated at home or in community-based settings such as group homes. The industry says there will always be some people who require or prefer institutional care.

All participants will be assessed at the initial meeting and at one- and threemonth intervals. The study will take place at Weinberg Senior Living Communities, but participants do not have to be residents of those communities. For more information, or to volunteer to participate, contact Frank Lin, M.D., Ph.D., at (410) 502-0150 or flin1@jhmi.edu, or Carrie L Nieman, M.D., M.P.H., at (443) 287-7779 or cnieman1@jhmi.edu.

“States determine where they are going to put their resources, and in some states and some communities they continue to make the decision to support a higher number of individuals in facilities,” said Sharon Lewis, a special adviser on disabilities to Health Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell. “We at the federal level can encourage and incentivize and support, but ultimately Medicaid expenditure decisions are a state decision.”

Long waiting lists Institutional care remains the default in Medicaid, and getting beyond it is cumbersome. Waivers must be obtained for alternative care, such as in-home services, and some states have lengthy waitlists. In Maryland, more than 18,000 older adults were on the waiver waiting list, and the numbers are rising. Nationally, more than half a million people were on waiting lists in 2010 for Medicaid-provided home and community care waivers, according to a report from the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit that analyzes health policy issues. “The way people are treated in modern society, in our society, to me is still shocking,” said Sue Jamieson of the Atlanta Legal Aid Society, the lead attorney on be-

half of the two plaintiffs in the 1999 case, who sued then-commissioner of the Georgia Department of Human Resources Tommy Olmstead. “We still treat people in so many ways as less than human.” Medicaid is the leading payer of long-term care, spending $140 billion on it in 2012. To make non-institutional services a right across states rather than an option for eligible Medicaid recipients, legislators would have to approve a change in federal law. Sylvia Waring, 45, of Philadelphia, entered a nursing home in 2011. She has multiple sclerosis and uses a wheelchair, and her care costs Medicaid $355 daily. She is suing for services in her own apartment, where lawyer Stephen Gold believes costs would be cut by half or more. “It doesn’t make much sense to me: They’re always talking about money, money, money,” said Waring, a former cafeteria worker. “It feels like I’m being prosecuted because I was sick. I just need a little bit of help.”

Care cheaper at home Medicaid paid an average of $225 per See LONG-TERM CARE, page 14

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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

These foods can help you get better sleep By Amy Jamieson-Petonic, R.D. Let’s face it, we live in a non-stop society. In our rush, we too often put sleep on the back burner. As a busy mom myself, I can understand why people forgo sleep to get things done. But it’s the wrong approach. Sleep has a huge effect on how you feel throughout the day, and nutrition plays a role in how well you sleep. Food relates directly to serotonin, a key hormone that — along with Vitamin B6, B12, and folic acid — helps promote healthy sleep. Try to consume foods that calm the body, increase serotonin levels and get you ready for restful sleep. Here are a few foods to get you started on the path to slumber: 1. Complex carbohydrates

Embrace whole-grain breads, cereals, pasta, crackers and brown rice. Avoid simple carbohydrates, including breads, pasta and sweets such as cookies, cakes, pastries and other sugary foods. These tend to reduce serotonin levels and do not promote sleep. 2. Lean proteins Lean proteins include low-fat cheese, chicken, turkey and fish. These foods are high in the amino acid tryptophan, which tends to increase serotonin levels. On the flipside, avoid high-fat cheeses, chicken wings or deep-fried fish. These take longer to digest and can keep you awake. 3. Heart-healthy fats Unsaturated fats will not only boost your heart health but also improve your serotonin

levels. Examples include peanut butter (read the label to make sure peanuts are the only ingredient) and nuts such as walnuts, almonds, cashews and pistachios. Avoid foods with saturated and trans fats, such as french fries, potato chips or other high-fat snack foods. These bring your serotonin levels down. 4. Beverages Certain drinks can promote or prevent sleep. A good, soothing beverage to drink before bedtime would be warm milk (your mother was right) or herbal tea such as chamomile or peppermint. As for caffeinated drinks, I recommend that my clients who are having difficulty sleeping consume that last cup by 2 p.m. Caffeine can affect people differently, and even the smallest amount of stimulant can keep you awake. 5. Fresh herbs Fresh herbs can have a calming effect on the body. For example, sage and basil contain chemicals that reduce tension and promote sleep. Try making your own

homemade pasta sauce with sage and basil. It’s easy to do, and homemade sauces tend to be lower in sugar than store-bought versions. However, avoid herbs such as red pepper or black pepper at night, as they have a stimulatory effect. Looking for some sleep-inducing snacks? a) Try a banana with low-fat yogurt. b) Eat low-fat cottage cheese with a few 100-percent whole grain pita chips. c) Smear peanut butter on 100-percent whole grain crackers. d) Enjoy an apple with mozzarella string cheese. Sweet dreams! WhatDoctorsKnow is a magazine devoted to up-to-the minute information on health issues from physicians, major hospitals and clinics, universities and health care agencies across the U.S. Online at www.whatdoctorsknow.com. © 2014 Whatdoctorsknow.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

gram Wednesday, Sept. 17 through Wednesday, Oct. 29 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at

Long-term care

the Howard County General Hospital Wellness Center, 10710 Charter Dr.,

From page 13

a political one. By and large, this is a business, and disabled people are cash cows.” After her release from a psychiatric hospital, Olmstead plaintiff Lois Curtis slowly gained back her ability to complete basic tasks — cooking, picking out clothes, shopping. Today, Jamieson said, her former client lives in her own apartment and goes to a studio each day to work on her art. She even made a trip to the Oval Office and presented one of her paintings to President Barack Obama. The other plaintiff, Elaine Wilson, died in 2005. She had said being released from a mental hospital was like being free again. “I felt like I was in a box that I would never get out of,” she said in 1999. “I feel like a real person again.” — AP

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Sept. 17+

TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR HEALTH Learn to manage your health, develop a diet and fitness plans,

deal with pain, and communicate with health professionals in a seven-week pro-

Columbia. There is a $28 fee for the program. For more information or to register, visit www.hcgh.org or call (410) 740-7601.

person per day in 2012 for those receiving institutional care, according to CMS figures. Among those receiving waivers for home and community care, the average cost was $125 daily. Home care is generally cheaper because most people don’t require roundthe-clock care, but some worry that making more non-institutional services available will prompt a flood of people to seek them and increase costs overall. “Everyone knows the state will save a fortune by providing home and community services,” said Gold, who has represented individuals around the country trying to get out of nursing homes. “The problem is

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

Hall of famers From page 1 than how one wins.” Allen Fleming, 65, is a firm believer that the lessons one learns from sports can be important when it comes to success in life. To that end, in 1993, he organized the Columbia Angels, an independent baseball team for 12-year-olds. “I was the youth director at Columbia Community Church, and we used the resources from the church, but did not take any money from any league,” Fleming said. “Still, we were accepted as an independent team.” He then went on to become president of the Howard County Trojans Youth Football program, today known as the Howard County Terps, and in 1999 he founded the Columbia Community Church’s Warriors Football program. In addition, today there is a cheerleading team, which grew out of the Trojans program. With support from his wife and an older daughter, who coach the cheerleaders, Fleming emphasizes that the most important detail about sports for children is to help them understand that, in many ways, athletics imitate life. “You need discipline to be able to get along with your teammates and to play fairly,” he said. “This is all about being a better person and understanding how you can contribute to your community.”

Golfing for good C. Vernon Gray, 75, said an enormous amount of interest for golf in the United States was generated by Tiger Woods’ winning the 1997 Masters Tournament. “I had played golf in graduate school, and was asked to represent the National Association of County Officials on the National Advisory Board of the First Tee, which was chaired by George H.W. Bush,”

said Gray, who is administrator of the Howard County Office of Human Rights. [For more information, see the Beacon’s February cover story, “Office still fights discrimination,” or visit http://bit.ly/cvernongray.] “I founded the First Tee of Howard County, and as I was very much interested in youth and young people, I saw this as a wonderful program … you can really help children develop character through golf,” he said. Indeed, the First Tee has nine core principles that it stresses to its young participants — integrity, honesty, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy and judgment. Originally, the program was for disadvantaged children ages 8 to 18, but it is now open to all, including those with disabilities. The weekend program has its own facility, largely due to the financial generosity of Dave Costello of Costello Construction. “Kids love this program,” said Gray. “They love putting and practicing their swings. “Golf is a lifelong sport, and it is one where children can improve because they set their own pace. But the most important element is that those nine core principles teach children things about themselves and how they relate to other people,” Gray said. Providing opportunities is also the mission of Art McGinnis. The Elkridge Adult Athletic Association (EAAA) came about when McGinnis arrived in Howard County and found far fewer recreational opportunities than he thought the county deserved. As the EAAA’s co-founder and later codirector and president, he was the driving force behind organizing baseball and softball fields at Rockburn Branch Park. Once he got the fields up and running, he made sure the fields had lights for nighttime play. Over the years, McGinnis has devoted

Stay RIGHT where you are. ear s ! Y 1 1 We’ll bring the care g n i at r b e l e RIGHT to you. C RIIGH HT AT T HO OM ME helpss with he th h:

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

countless hours to coaching hundreds of children in lacrosse, softball, basketball and soccer. The EAAA also stages annual events — Rockburn Haunted House, Rockburn Car Show and the Spring Egg Hunt — that raise money for charity and a scholarship.

Boosting the Special Olympics When Marilyn Miceli first began looking for athletic programs for her now-33year-old son with Down syndrome, pretty much the only thing available was a track and field Special Olympics day at Mt. Hebron High School. “I wanted him to be exposed to athletics all year long,” said Miceli, now the assistant director of Special Olympics Howard County. “After working to get my son, Jason, training in all sorts of sports, I finally convinced a young woman at the Dept. of Parks and Recreation to put together something more organized.” The upshot was that Miceli and a number of other parents created Special Olympics Howard County, volunteering their time and energy to serve as coaches, and to build a business model that enabled the organization to be financially stable. Today, it has teams for cycling, soccer, power lifting, tennis, volleyball, basketball,

aquatics, cheerleading and softball, among others. “Building from an all-volunteer base, we now have more than 600 athletes who range from 8 to 79 years old,” Miceli said. “But we know that there are people we are still not reaching. “Special Olympics Howard County provides an opportunity for individuals with intellectual disabilities to participate in a community sports program that increases their self-confidence and self-esteem. That carries over into their employment and social networks, and makes it possible for them to have the same lifestyle that everyone else has.” The County’s “Community Sports Hall of Fame” is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To learn more, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/halloffame.htm. The 2014 Sports Hall of Fame Induction ceremony will take place at the 12th annual Celebration of Sports on Tuesday, Oct. 21, at 5:30 p.m. at the Turf Valley Resort and Conference Center. Tickets are $40 each or $400 for a table of ten. Tickets may also be purchased at Recreation and Parks Headquarters, 7120 Oakland Mills Road in Columbia. For more information, call (410) 313-1691.

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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

How to deal with neighborhood ‘poachers’ Dear Solutions: over and over that he doesn’t want me At this age I shouldn’t be as upset as to leave him, that he’s where he wants I feel about this problem, but I am and to be and is not going anywhere, etc., I I need help to deal with it. guess it’s too tempting for I’m not married any more, him not to react in some but I’ve been living with a way. It’s very seductive. widower for many years. This has caused some I choose not to be marvery disturbing arguments ried again, but we have been — which I’m sure that living together in a commitwoman would be glad to ted relationship for many hear. Because we are in a years. We live in a commutight-knit community and nity where there are many are often in social settings widowed women — many together, I have said nothSOLUTIONS more than single men. ing to her, but I’m tired of By Helen Oxenberg, One of these women, a feeling that women think MSW, ACSW widow, has been “coming on” they can step on another to my guy. She has been woman, and she will say doing this for years, and it’s very obvious. nothing. Of course, it’s very flattering to a What to say to her, if anything? man. And although he has assured me — Enough!

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Sept. 23

NUTRITION AUTHOR TALKS AT LIBRARY

Dr. Neal Barnard, bestselling author of Power Foods for the Brain and 21-Day Weight Loss Kickstart, will speak on Tuesday Sept. 23 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Charles E. Miller Branch Library, 9421 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City. Topics include weight control, protection from memory loss, lower cholesterol levels and greater vitality. For more information, call the library at (410) 313-1950.

Dear Enough!: Actually, “Enough!” is the right answer. However, to the widow just say — nicely — “I’m sorry you don’t have a man in your life right now, but the man I live with is not up for grabs, so CUT IT OUT!!!” Then smile and move on. Dear Solutions: I’ve been seeing a man I feel very serious about. I know that he really cares for me, and he says it a lot, but he never goes further. I would really like us to get married. I don’t want to just keep going out, and I think underneath it all he would like that also. I think his intentions are serious, but how do I help him know that? — Jen Dear Jen: It’s very hard to prove to a man that his intentions are serious. Maybe you’d better concentrate on proving that yours are. How? If you really are serious, then it’s a simple “get or go” ultimatum. Get married or go your separate ways. Good luck. Dear Solutions: Because I have a gay son and people

know it, some seem to think I must know about everyone else’s family. There is one person who keeps asking about other people in the community and whether they have any gay children because “I’m pretty sure so-and-so’s son is gay also.” Because I live in the same community with her and see her socially from time to time, I don’t want to be nasty, although I’d love to be. Any suggestions? — Nan Dear Nan: Yes, be nasty — but only when you’re alone in the house. How? Take a pillow, give it her name and punch it hard several times. When you see her, however, feign innocence. “I really never ask anyone about their children’s sex lives, so I don’t know. I’m sure you could ask her if you really must know.” End of discussion. © Helen Oxenberg, 2014. Questions to be considered for this column may be sent to: The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915. You may also email the author at helox72@comcast.net. To inquire about reprint rights, call (609) 655-3684.

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Ongoing

FREEDOM AND CIVIL RIGHTS The Sandy Spring Museum seeks participants for Emancipation!

150 Years Later: An Oral History Performance. There will be once-weekly workshop/rehearsals in September and October, and the premier of the show at the museum on Saturday, Nov. 1. An additional five performances at various community sites will be presented. The program is open to local residents who have freedom and civil rights-related stories to share. No experience is required, and participants also receive a small stipend. The museum is located at 17901 Bentley Rd., Sandy Spring, Md. For more information, contact Allison Weiss at (301) 7740022 or aweiss@sandyspringmuseum.org.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

VOLUME 4, NO. 9 • SEPTEMBER 2014

A Message from the Administrator By Dayna Brown, Office on Aging Administrator Falls Prevention Awareness Day on Sept. 23 — the first day of Fall — raises awareness about the many preventive measures that can be easily employed to reduce falls among older adults. This year’s theme, Strong Today — Falls Free® Tomorrow, highlights the important roles professionals, older adults, caregivers, and family members play in raising awareness and preventing falls in the older adult population. To find out more, visit www.ncoa.org. Falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries for those 65 years of age and over. Every 14 seconds, an older adult is seen in an emergency department for a fall-related injury. The chances of falling and of being seriously injured in a fall increase with age. Non-fatal falls can threaten independence and reduce the quality of life among older adults. In Howard County, programs like A Matter of Balance and Better Balance are offered at senior centers to help older adults gain strength, improve balance, and build confidence to live healthier lives and preserve independence. Since September is also National Senior Center month, there’s no better time to visit and find out more! Senior Centers: Experts at Living Well is the theme of this year’s observance, which calls attention to the many ways center activities foster community involvement among older adults while adding richness and variety to their lives. Health and fitness classes, lifelong learning programs, cultural and creative arts plus volunteer opportunities, information and assistance are offered at senior and 50+ centers throughout the county. Check out the calendar of events on the opposite page for more information. To find a center near you, visit www.howardcountyaging.org. Senior centers also offer a convenient way to find out about available programs and services to assist you, an aging spouse/partner or family member, or to learn about Medicare eligibility and coverage. To find out more, stop in or call Maryland Access Point at 410-313-5980 or the State Health Insurance Program at 410-313-7391.

Improve Balance to Reduce Risk of Falling September 23 is Falls Prevention Day Falls are a serious yet increasingly common problem among older adults, which can threaten their independence and compromise their quality of life. In 2010, 77 adults in Maryland age 65 and older were treated and released for fall-related injuries every day; another 44 were hospitalized. And, as the older adult population continues to increase, the numbers of reported falls are increasing as well. Many older adults concerned about falling often restrict their activities, yet research has shown that increasing physical activity may actually help them avoid falls and reduce their fear of falling. Offered in Howard County senior centers, A Matter of Balance is an award-winning, evidencebased program designed to increase activity levels while emphasizing practical strategies to manage falls. Over the course of eight weeks, Matter of Balance participants learn to view falls as controllable; set goals to increase everyday activity; make changes to their environment to reduce fall risks at home; and design an exercise regimen to increase strength and balance. Offered in a supportive group setting, the program costs $28, and includes all supplies and a light snack. For more information or to register, contact Wendy Farthing at 410-313-3506. For older adults with a chronic condition affecting balance, recovering from a stroke, for example, or for those who feel unsteady on their feet, the Better Balance exercise class has proven to be an effective option to reduce the risk of falling and increase strength and range of motion. Better Balance is the result of the Adaptive Physical Activity (APA) research conducted over the past several years at Howard County senior centers in conjunction with UMBC and the VA Medical Center.

Currently offered at the Bain Center, Longwood and Ellicott City Senior Centers, each Better Balance class includes walking, bar, and seated exercises, tailored to an individual participant’s fitness and ability levels, under the guidance of instructors trained in the Better Balance protocol. A pre-screening is required before enrolling; contact Jennifer Lee at 410-313-5940 for more information regarding fees and scheduling. Though the programs vary slightly in content and approach, both A Matter of Balance and Better Balance classes share one important aspect which is crucial to their success: social interaction and peer support. The sense of community that develops among participants working towards a similar goal is remarkable to behold, and even better to experience. If you or a loved one are concerned about falls or have fallen in the past, or are interested in improving balance, flexibility and strength, why not give one of the programs a try?

The Senior Connection is published monthly by the Howard County Department of Citizen Services’ Office on Aging. We welcome your comments and suggestions. To contact us, or to join our email subscriber list, email seniorconnection@howardcountymd.gov with “subscribe” in the subject box. !"#$%&'!()*+&,-./0&!)&123)2 4567&'!8(9:3#&;#*0"#+&<$= '!8(9:3#>&?<&@7AB4 B7ACD7DC4B7A """=E!"#$%/!()*+#23)2=!$2 """=F#/0:!!G=/!9H !'!'3*3I0) <#+)#&?=&J$!")>&1%93)3K*$#*!$ Advertising contained in the Beacon is not endorsed by the Howard County Office on Aging or by the publisher.

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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

The Senior Connection

CALENDAR OF EVENTS Wednesday, September 3, 12:30 p.m. Chuck Fisher Performs • Ellicott City Senior Center

Wine & Canvas • Glenwood 50+ Center Thursday, September 18, 6 to 9 p.m.

Maryland Senior Idol Chuck Fisher, a talented country singer and guitarist, will perform classic country songs. Free; call 410-313-1400 for details.

Enjoy an evening of appetizers, wine, painting and fun; leave with a 16x20 masterpiece. Cost: $40; call 410-313-5440 to register.

Wednesday, September 3, 7 p.m. Paws4Comfort Pet Evaluations • Bain Center

Friday, September 19, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. End of Summer Book Sale • North Laurel 50+ Center

Volunteer with your pet! Call Ingrid Gleysteen, 410-313-7461, for more information or to register for a free pet evaluation.

Browse from a selection of gently used cookbooks, novels and children books. For more information, call 410-313-0380.

Thursday, September 4, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Medicare 101 • HCGH Wellness Center, 10710 Charter Dr., Suite 100

Friday, September 19, 6 to 8 p.m. Evening of Live Music • Bain Center

Learn how Medicare Parts A (Hospital), B (Medical) and D (Prescription Drug) work, and what the benefits are. Free; sponsored by SHIP. Call 410-313-7391 to register.

Enjoy an evening of live music with Dr. Phil Butts & the Sunset Band. Cost: $7 in advance; includes hors d’oeuvres and refreshments. Call 410-313-7213 for reservations.

Friday, September 5, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Golden Girls Show • Elkridge Senior Center

Monday to Friday, September 22-26 Active Aging Week • Glenwood 50+ Center

Watch a performance by these talented ladies and enjoy a homemade pasta dinner! Cost: $5; call 410-313-5192.

Featuring smoothie bars, a drumming circle, flu shots, a health expo, speakers, demos and more; call 410-313-5440 for a complete schedule.

Wednesday, September 10, 11 a.m. Soundtrack of Our Lives • East Columbia 50+ Center

Tuesday, September 23, 11 a.m. to noon Fall Prevention Awareness Day • Bain Center

Hugo Keesing presents the music and popular culture of the 1940’s. Call 410-313-7680 to register.

Join exercise specialist Jennifer Lee to learn how to reduce your risk of falling to maintain your independence, and how exercise can help improve your balance. For more information or to register, call 410-313-7213.

Wednesday, September 10, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. KASA Thrift Sale • Bain Center Shop for gently used and new clothing, jewelry, toys, household items and crafts. Food available for purchase; all proceeds benefit the Vivian Reid Fund. Call 410-313-7213 for more information.

Wed/Fri, September 10 – Oct. 3, 10 a.m. to noon Matter of Balance • Elkridge Senior Center Tuesdays, September 16 – November 4, 1 to 3 p.m. Matter of Balance • North Laurel 50+ Center Learn how to manage falls; control your fear of falling; set activity goals; increase strength and balance; and reduce risk factors. Cost: $28; includes supplies. Call Wendy Farthing, 410-313-3506, to register.

Monday, September 15, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Medicare 102 • HCGH Wellness Center, 10710 Charter Dr., Suite 100 Learn about Medicare Part C/Health Plans and Medicare Supplement Policies. Free; sponsored by SHIP. Call 410-313-7391 to register.

Tuesday, September 16 to Thursday, September 18, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ECSC Council Book & Bake Sale • Ellicott City Senior Center The ECSC Council’s annual Book & Bake Sale benefits center events and programs. Shop for books or homemade baked goods, or just make a donation! Call 410-313-1400 for details.

Tuesdays, starting September 16, 1 to 2 p.m. Women’s Social Group • North Laurel 50+ Center Meet new friends in a casual group led by Madline Morsha-Taylor; share conversations, exchange stories and more. To register, call 410-313-0380.

Wednesday, September 17, Noon to 1 p.m. Taste of Summer: Crab Cake Lunch • North Laurel 50+ Center Indulge in summer’s finest fare and enjoy an afternoon of music and dance. Cost: $10 per person. To purchase tickets, call 410-313-0380.

Wednesday, September 17, 1 p.m. C2H Ride Leader Information Session • Bain Center Share your love of cycling with others by becoming a volunteer ride leader for Cycle2Health; design and lead rides to fit your riding style and ability. Call Jennifer Lee, 410-313-5940 for more information.

Wednesday, September 17, 1 to 2 p.m. Army Field Band Brass Quintet Concert • Bain Center Enjoy the tunes from the Army Field Band Brass Quintet Live! Free; call 410-313-7213 in advance to reserve your seat.

Wednesday, September 17, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Medicare 103 • Bain Center Learn how to use the ‘Plan Finder’ tool to compare Medicare Prescription Drug Plans. No fee; call 410-313-7391 to register.

Thursday, September 18, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. SeniorsTogether Luncheon • Timbuktu Restaurant, 1726 Dorsey Road Join us for lunch! Choose an entrée: Crab cake, Chicken Scampi or Stuffed Shells (price varies) then call 410-313-7283 or stop by the Bain Center or Ellicott City Senior Center to register by Sept. 11.

Tuesday, September 23, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fall Prevention Program Preview • Ellicott City Senior Center Get information on falls prevention and preview a new series of fall prevention activities coming in October, presented by occupational therapy students from CCBC. Call 410-313-1400 for details.

Tuesday, September 23, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Fascinator for Tea • East Columbia 50+ Center Make a fascinator in time for our next tea! Cost $8; all materials included. Call 410-313-7680 to register.

Tuesday, September 23, 3 to 5 p.m. Sip & Swap • Glenwood 50+ Center Bring your lightly loved clothes and accessories to our second swap! Cost: $5 and five items; enjoy refreshments and fun! Call 410-313-5440 for details.

September 24, 9 to 11:30 a.m. Pancake Breakfast • Elkridge Senior Center Enjoy homemade pancakes, eggs and breakfast treats. Bring a friend! Donations accepted; call 410-313-5192 to register.

Wednesday, September 24, 11 a.m. Clutter Free for Life • Ellicott City Senior Center Professional Organizer Sonal Adamson will discuss how to deal with excess clutter around the house. Free; call 410-313-1400 to register.

Wednesday, September 24, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bluegrass & BBQ • North Laurel 50+ Center Enjoy an afternoon of BBQ and music by the Savage Bluegrass Band. Cost: $8; includes food and entertainment. For information or tickets, call 410-313-0380.

Thursday, September 25, 10:15 to 11:45 a.m. The Art of Aging • Glenwood 50+ Center Marcella and Jim Wilding will lead a 4 week group to discuss the keys to successful aging. Sponsored by SeniorsTogether; call 410-313-5440 to register by Sept.19 or contact Karen Hull, 410-313-7466 for details.

Thursday, September 25, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Prepare to Care • Owen Brown Community Center, 6800 Cradlerock Way, Columbia Learn about services and programs to assist aging family members, how to assess needs, and design a care plan. Free; call 410-313-5980 to register.

Tuesday, September 30, 6:30 p.m. Evening Jazz • East Columbia 50+ Center Join us for mocktails and hors d’oeuvres at 6:30 p.m., then enjoy a concert by one of DC’s top female jazz vocalists at 7 p.m. Cost: $15 in advance; $20 at the door.

To request accommodations to attend any of these events, call 410-313-5980 one week in advance.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

The Senior Connection

Free Admission • 160+ Exhibitors • Health Fair • Flu Shots • Seminars • Entertainment

Friday, October 17 • 9 AM - 4 PM Wilde Lake High School 5460 Trumpeter Road, Columbia 21044

Visit the all new HOWARD COUNTY SHOWCASE in Exhibit Hall B and enter our drawing for YOUR chance to win a Big Screen TV! Attend the exciting keynote, LIFE REIMAGINED, a new AARP program, along with dynamic seminars to help you discover YOUR NEXT CHAPTER: ◗ Anatomy of a Scam - How to Detect and Avoid the Latest Cons ◗ Designing Your Life’s Next Chapter ◗ Sleep from A to Zzzzz’s - How to Sleep Well as You Age ◗ Wisdom Through the Ages ◗ Eat This, Treat That

Use the FREE COURTESY SHUTTLE from The Mall in Columbia for a STRESS-FREE parking experience. On-site parking is very limited. 410-313-6410 (VOICE/RELAY) • www.howardcountyaging.org/50plusexpo • www.facebook.com/hococitizen If you need accommodations to attend this event, please call Maryland Access Point at 410-313-5980 at least one week in advance.

Be a FRIEND of the 50+EXPO!

Support the Howard County Office on Aging’s premier event for older adults! All “Friends” will be acknowledged at the event and receive one preferred, reserved seat for “The Capitol Steps” in the Jim Rouse Theatre at the 12 NOON or 2 PM show. Simply send your contribution with this form. Thank you for your support! Make checks payable to DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, HOWARD COUNTY Complete the form and mail with payment to: Howard County Office on Aging Attention: Jeanne Davis 6751 Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite 200 Columbia, MD 21046

410-313-6410 (VOICE/RELAY) www.howardcountyaging.org/50plusexpo

I want to be a Friend of the EXPO and have enclosed my check/cash for ____ FRIENDS @ $20/ea. = $ _______ For each $20 donation, I will receive 1 reserved seat for “The Capitol Steps” on Friday, Oct. 17, at the Rouse Theatre at Wilde Lake High School.

PLEASE INDICATE # of TICKETS: _______ 12:00 noon show I do NOT want to receive tickets for the show. NAME

I do NOT wish to have my name published as a contributor.

______________________________________________

STREET ADDRESS CITY

OR _______ 2:00 p.m. show

PHONE

__________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________

STATE

_________________

ZIP ________________

EMAIL ADDRESS _________________________________________________________________________________

Note: If your donation request is received after October 3, we cannot list your name on the event signage. Additionally, your tickets must be picked up at the theatre the day of the show.

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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

The Senior Connection September is National Senior Center Month! The 2014 National Senior Center Theme

A PRESENTATION OF THE

HOWARD COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CITIZEN SERVICES

Experts at Living Well

OFFICE ON AGING

Find a center near you for some of the best living well programs and services!

HOWARD COUNTY SENIOR CENTERS Howard County’s seven Senior Centers are located throughout the County and offer lunch programs, health screenings, information and referral services. THE BAIN CENTER

SAVE THE DATE!

5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia • 410-313-7213

Don’t Miss the 3rd Annual Caregiver Conference

EAST COLUMBIA 50+ CENTER

Saturday, November 22, 2014 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM

6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia • 410-313-7680

ELKRIDGE SENIOR CENTER 6540 Washington Blvd., Elkridge • 410-313-5192

North Laurel Community Center

ELLICOTT CITY SENIOR CENTER

9411 Whiskey Bottom Road, Laurel, MD 20723

9401 Frederick Road, Ellicott City • 410-313-1400

Continental breakfast & lunch provided. On-site respite provided.

GLENWOOD 50+ CENTER AT THE GARY J. ARTHUR COMMUNITY CENTER 2400 Route 97, Cooksville • 410-313-5440

LONGWOOD SENIOR CENTER 6150 Foreland Garth, Columbia • 410-313-7217

NORTH LAUREL 50+ CENTER 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road, Laurel • 410-313-0380

The Senior Center Plus sites offer fee-for-service, supervised social day programs for older adults with special needs or a disability. Ellicott City Senior Center Plus

North Laurel Senior Center Plus

Glenwood Senior Center Plus

410-313-1425

410-313-7218

410-313-5442

To register, or for additional information, contact Maryland Access Point (MAP) at 410-313-5980 (VOICE/RELAY) or email map@howardcountymd.gov

Reservation deadline for lunch/respite is Friday, Nov. 14 If you need this document in an alternative format or need accommodations to attend this event, please call 410-313-5980.

www.howardcountyaging.org

Octtob ber 15 thru Decemb ber 7, 2014 For a schedule of free Medicare events in Howard County, go to www.howardcountymd.gov/SHIP.

The Howard County Paws4Comfort program fosters special bonds between pets, their owners and the County residents they visit. If you are interested in volunteering, or wish to schedule a free evaluation for your pet, contact Ingrid Gleysteen, at 410-313-7461 or igleysteen@howardcountymd.gov. Evaluations are held the FIRST WEDNESDAY of every month at 7 PM at the Bain Center. Don’t miss these dates for the remainder of 2014: September 3 October 1 November 5 December 3

Know your op ptions. Contact us for help p.

LOCAL HELP FOR PEOPLE WITH MEDICARE

The Bain Center 5470 Ruth Keeton Way Columbia, MD 21044

Information/Counseling • New to Medicare • Prescription Drug Plans Supplemental Policies • Help with Costs • Fraud and Abuse

410-313-7392 (VOICE/RELAY) ship@howardcountymd.gov www.howardcountyaging.org/ship EMAIL

410.313.7461 (VOICE/RELAY)

www.howardcountyaging.org

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Money Law &

OVERSEAS STOCKS Look to Japan and Germany for the best global returns on stocks, but expect more volatility in emerging markets IN THE BALANCE Carefully consider interest rates, fees and payment dates when deciding if it’s wise to transfer a credit card balance

Mixed news on Social Security solvency By Stephen Ohlemacher and Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar Medicare’s finances are looking brighter, the government said in late July. The program’s giant hospital trust fund won’t be exhausted until 2030 — four years later than last year’s estimate. Meanwhile, Social Security’s massive retirement program will remain solvent until 2034, officials say, although disability benefits are in more immediate danger. The disability trust fund now is projected to run dry in 2016, unless Congress acts. At that point, the program will collect enough payroll taxes to pay only 81 percent of benefits. The trustees who oversee Social Security and Medicare issued their annual report July 28 on the financial health of the government’s two largest benefit programs.

Small Social Security raise The trustees project a 1.5 percent in-

crease in monthly Social Security payments to beneficiaries for next year. That would be among the lowest since automatic adjustments were adopted in the 1970s. The increase is based on a government measure of inflation. Medicare’s Part B monthly premium for outpatient care is expected to remain unchanged for next year, at $104.90. Average premiums for prescription coverage are expected to increase by less than $2 a month. Social Security’s finances are relatively unchanged from a year ago. Medicare’s improved finances are largely due to a continuing slowdown in healthcare spending, the report said. “As today’s reports make absolutely clear, Social Security and Medicare are fundamentally secure, and they will remain fundamentally secure in the years ahead,” said Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew. “The reports also remind us of something we all understand: we must reform

these programs if we want to keep them sound for future generations.” Experts debate whether the healthspending slowdown is the result of a sluggish economy or represents a dividend from President Barack Obama’s healthcare law, and more recent Medicare cuts by Congress. Private insurers, including those in Medicare’s managed care program, are also shifting more costs to patients, contributing to the slowdown. “No one knows, and there is an active debate going on,” said Charles Blahous III, one of two public trustees. “That debate is certainly not one that the trustees are going to settle.” The trustees consist of the secretaries of the Treasury, Health and Human Services, and Labor Departments, as well as the Social Security commissioner and two public trustees — a Democrat and a Republican. Medicare is adding 10,000 new beneficiaries a day as baby boomers reach age 65.

But the report said that costs per beneficiary were essentially unchanged in 2013, for the second year in a row. That particular statistic is critical because per-person costs had surged for many years.

Congressional action unlikely In the long run, both Social Security and Medicare are still in financial danger, the trustees said. Benefit cuts, tax increases or a combination of both will be needed. Given the state of distrust in Washington, there is little appetite in Congress to tackle such big issues. However, Blahous said that the longer Congress waits to act, the more difficult it will become to avoid either large tax increases or significant benefit cuts. “What is changing is that we are rapidly running out of time,” Blahous said. In 2030, when the hospital trust fund is expected to be depleted, Medicare will colSee SOCIAL SECURITY, page 22

Tapping retirement accounts penalty-free By Elliot Raphaelson Workers are retiring earlier these days, whether by choice or not, and many find they need to withdraw funds from retirement accounts prior to age 59 1/2. That’s the age when account holders can take distributions from 401(k) plans and traditional and Roth IRAs without a 10 percent penalty. Tax law makes early withdrawals difficult without penalty, but if you need to tap the resources in your retirement accounts early, you have options. If you have a Roth IRA, for example, you can withdraw the principal of any contribution without penalty. For example, assume you have $6,000 in your Roth account ($5,000 in contributions plus $1,000 in dividends, interest income and appreciation). Even if you are 55, and some of your contributions were made less than five years ago, you can withdraw up to $5,000 without penalty. 401(k) plans don’t allow early distributions while a person is employed with the company, but many allow employees to take loans from their own accounts. These loans can be useful but they have disadvantages. One of the most significant is that that the loan must be paid in full if the employee leaves his or her employer.

Any part of the loan balance that is not paid back is assessed a 10 percent penalty, plus ordinary income tax liability. Suppose, for example, you borrowed $5,000 from your 401(k) and repaid $3,000. If you leave your job, unless you repay the outstanding $2,000, you will owe the IRS a $200 penalty, and you will be subject to ordinary income tax liability on the $2,000. Do not take out the loan unless you can repay it before you leave your job. Many experts discourage 401(k) loans because of potentially high interest rates. This is one of my pet peeves. The interest rate you incur is not an important issue, since you are paying the interest to yourself.

Taking periodic payments With IRA accounts, and with employersponsored retirement plans when you’re no longer with the company, there is a way to take regular yearly withdrawals before age 59½ without the 10 percent penalty. These are known as “substantially equal periodic payments” (SEPP), and you may elect one of three methods for calculating the amounts of the distributions: the required minimum distribution (RMD), using IRS tables; the fixed amortization

method; and the fixed annuity method. The RMD method is simplest. The amount you must withdraw is recalculated annually. The latter two methods generally produce much higher payment amounts, which may not be desirable as it will deplete your account balance sooner. Whatever option you choose, you may not withdraw more (or less) than the computed amount without incurring retroactive penalties on all payments. Accordingly, make sure you understand the restrictions. Your SEPP program remains in place for five years, or until you reach 59½, whichever comes later, and you get one opportunity to change the method of calculating the payments, if you wish. IRS Publication 590 references the options but does not go into detail. You can discuss them with your financial planner, tax advisor or retirement specialist.

Disability and medical expenses Certain life events allow you to take distributions early, within limits. If you become disabled, you may take them as if you were 59½. You may take withdrawals penalty-free from IRAs and traditional 401(k)s for medical expenses if they ex-

ceed 10 percent of your adjusted gross income (7.5 percent if you or your spouse was born prior to 1949). You may withdraw from your IRA, without penalty, $10,000 ($20,000 for a couple) if you use it for the purchase, building or rebuilding your first home, with certain restrictions. However, in all these situations, even though you will not incur the 10 percent early-withdrawal penalty, your tax liability will be computed in the same way it would be for regular distributions taken after age 59½. See IRS Publication 590. Although I have referred to options that will allow you to make withdrawals without penalty, you should consider other options first. The longer you are able to allow your retirement accounts to grow via compounding, the better of you will be. Tax laws are designed to benefit you the most if you are able to keep your funds invested for as long as possible — even post-retirement. However, if you are forced to make withdrawals prior to 59½, select the most cost-effective options. Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at elliotraph@gmail.com. © 2014 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed By Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

What’s the outlook for overseas stocks? By Carolyn Bigda The economies of Japan, Europe and emerging nations are giving off mixed signals. Here’s what we see happening in the next several months.

Japan on the mend Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s campaign to turn Japan’s economy around is bearing fruit. But as Abe starts on structural reforms, investors are becoming cautious. For example, raising Japan’s national sales tax rate from 5 percent to 8 percent is likely to pinch consumer spending. Look for Japan’s central bank to ride to investors’ rescue by maintaining its aggressive easy-money policies, including continuing to buy government bonds.

“As we’ve learned in the U.S., you don’t bet against governments” that open their wallets to stimulate growth, said Alison Shimada, co-manager of the Wells Fargo Advantage Emerging Markets Equity Income fund. For added safety, look for battered stocks at bargain prices. Toyota Motor (symbol TM; recent price, $118) trades at just 9 times projected year-ahead earnings.

Jed Weiss, manager of Fidelity International Growth fund, favors countries that export to Germany. One top holding: Anheuser-Busch InBev (BUD; $111). The Belgian beer maker, which acquired American icon Anheuser-Busch in 2008, is expected to generate 9 percent earnings growth this year and 15 percent growth in 2015.

Choppy emerging markets Headwinds in Europe Europe isn’t exactly firing on all cylinders. The euro-zone economy is projected to expand no more than 1 percent in 2014, and there is a risk of deflation, or a decline in prices, in debt-laden nations. The German market, however, has better growth potential and is cheaper than the broader region.

Tell them you saw it in the Beacon!

After last year’s horrendous performance and the pullback early this year, valuations are attractive, even with the recent rebound. The MSCI index trades at just 10 times projected 2014 earnings, slightly below the ten-year average of 11. But be prepared for plenty of volatility, maybe even more than usual. “I would look

Social Security From page 21 lect enough payroll taxes to pay 85 percent of benefits. “Notwithstanding recent favorable developments, [Medicare] still faces a substantial financial shortfall that will need to be addressed with further legislation,” the report said. “Such legislation should be enacted sooner rather than later to minimize the impact on beneficiaries, providers and taxpayers.” Social Security’s disability program could be shored up in the short run by shifting tax revenue from the much larger retirement program, as Congress has done in the past. However, that would slightly worsen the retirement program’s long-term finances. If the two trust funds were combined, they would have enough money to last until 2033, the report said. That’s the same exhaustion date as in last year’s report.

•

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for pretty ugly earnings out of the emerging markets for the next quarter or so,” said Ben Kirby, co-manager of Thornburg Investment Income Builder fund. “But once earnings bottom, I think you have a really robust case for the next bull market.” Our favorite developing-markets fund is Harding Loevner Emerging Markets (HLEMX), a member of the Kiplinger 25, the list of our favorite mutual funds. It has big weightings in South Korea and India. Carolyn Bigda is a contributing editor to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. Send your questions and comments to moneypower@kiplinger.com. And for more on this and similar money topics, visit Kiplinger.com. © 2014 Kiplinger’s Personal Finance; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Paying out more than collected About 58 million people receive Social Security benefits, including 41 million retired workers and dependents, 11 million disabled workers and 6 million survivors of deceased workers. Last year, Social Security paid $823 billion in benefits but collected only $747 billion in taxes. Social Security has been paying out more in benefits than it has collected in taxes since 2010, a trend that is expected to continue and accelerate. The $2.8 trillion trust fund, which is made up of special Treasury bonds, has continued to grow because it is earning interest. However, the balance will start to go down in 2020, the report said. More than 50 million retirees and disabled people get Medicare. The hospital trust fund is only part of the program. Coverage for outpatient care and prescription drugs is covered by premiums and other government spending. — AP

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

Is it wise to transfer a credit card balance? By Alex Veiga Offers from credit card companies to temporarily skirt interest charges can be enticing. Reducing interest payments by transferring a balance from one card to another is a quick way to lower monthly finance charges. But taking advantage of such a promotion, even one offering a zero interest rate on balance transfers, doesn’t always pay off. That’s especially true for cardholders who have a tendency to carry a balance. That’s because once the low-rate period ends, interest on any unpaid charges starts adding up again. “Some of the rates at the end of the promotional period can be quite punishing,” said Christina Tetreault, staff attorney at

Consumers Union, the advocacy arm of Consumer Reports. “Consumers who are considering a balance transfer should really take a hard look at the offer, do the math and figure out if they can commit to a payment plan,” she added. Here are some tips on gauging whether a credit card balance transfer offer makes financial sense: 1. Watch out for fees Card issuers typically will charge a fee of about 3 percent on the amount transferred, but it can go even as high as 5 percent. Let’s say the fee is 3 percent. On a balance transfer of $10,000, you’ll be charged $300 up front, usually rolled into your balance.

Some cards don’t charge a fee on balance transfers. The Chase Slate card, for example, doesn’t charge a fee to new cardholders, so long as they transfer the balance from another card within 60 days after being approved, said Bill Hardekopf, CEO of LowCards.com, which track credit card offers. 2. Remember rates are temporary

Generally, card balance transfer offers include an introductory period to pay off the balance at zero or a sharply reduced interest. The period can last for a year or more. For instance, Discover IT provides as long as 18 months. If you don’t pay off the card before the See CARD BALANCE, page 25

BEACON BITS

Sept 16+

“EXCITE COLUMBIA” CITIZENS ACADEMY A six-week program to educate and inform residents about the workings of the Columbia Association, “Excite Columbia,” will be

held on Tuesdays beginning Sept. 16 and concluding on October 21. The programs are scheduled from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Columbia Association headquarters, 10221 Wincopin Cir., Columbia. Topics include defining the association departments and board of directors, open space, sports, fitness and health offerings, and

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

BECOME A LEGISLATIVE LEADER

The University of Maryland’s Legacy Leadership Institute on Public Policy, in partnership with the State of Maryland, is looking for volunteers ages 50+ to serve as volunteer legislative leaders during the 2014-15 session of the Maryland General Assembly. Classroom training begins in September for 10 weeks, two days per week at the College Park campus, with site visits to the state complex in Annapolis. The volunteer assignment will be for a minimum of two days per week beginning in January 2015 in the Annapolis offices of various senators and delegates. For more information or to apply, contact Wesley Queen at (301) 405-2529 or wqueen@umd.edu.

responsible watershed and energy management. For more information or to register, go to ColumbiaAssociation.org/Excite or call (410) 423-4103. AARP DRIVER REFRESHER COURSE

Sept. 26

A classroom refresher for drivers ages 50-plus will be offered by AARP on Friday, Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Howard

County General Hospital Wellness Center, 10710 Charter Dr., Columbia. Fees are $15 for AARP members, $20 for non-members. For more information or to register, call (410) 740-7601 or visit www.hcgh.org.

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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

From page 23 promotional rate period elapses, you will be charged a higher interest rate on your balance and any transfer fees. With Chase’s Slate card, for example, after 15 months cardholders would move from zero percent interest to a variable rate ranging from 12.99 percent to 22.99 percent. With Discover IT, the interest rate on balance transfers jumps after 18 months from zero to a variable rate ranging from 10.99 percent to 22.99 percent. In addition, the rules on balance transfers usually require cardholders to make all payments on time. Miss even one, and you may forfeit the low interest rate. “Promotional rates can expire and one misstep can wipe out any of the benefits that a consumer might see to transferring a balance,” said Tetreault. 3. Consider balance limits

Card issuers may approve you for a balance transfer offer, but the amount you will be approved to transfer can vary. And you typically won’t know how much credit the lender will extend to you until after you’ve been approved. That means you may only be able to unload a portion of your card debt onto a new one with a more favorable interest rate. Consider that when you apply for the card. 4. Do the math You’ve taken into consideration that there may be fees and a limited amount of time to pay down your debt before the interest rate jumps. But is opting for a balance transfer card ultimately worth it? Look at the card jammed with charges that you’re considering refinancing through a balance transfer. Estimate how long it will take you to pay the balance and how much in interest charges, given the card’s annual percentage rate, or APR, you will rack up over the same period.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

HELP PROTECT WATERWAYS A project of the University of Maryland Extension, Howard Watershed Stewards Academy is looking for volunteers to be trained and certified as master watershed stewards to raise community awareness and coordinate outreach and special programs to reduce water pollution and excessive storm water flow. For details, visit HowardWSA.org or call (410) 313-2711.

Sept. 13

ANNUAL “BIKEABOUT”

The Columbia Association’s annual bike tour of the city and its extensive pathway system will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13 at Wilde Lake Park, 10027 Hyla Brook Rd., Columbia. Riders will follow a 10-mile circular route through the villages of Wilde Lake, Harper’s Choice and Hickory Ridge and then return to the park where they may purchase refreshments from food trucks and enjoy free entertainment at a picnic hosted by the Wilde Lake Community Association and the Columbia Association. For more information, email Columbia.Archives@ColumbiaAssociation.org or call (410) 715-6781. Pre-register for the BikeAbout at BikeAbout.EventBrite.com. Volunteers are needed to assist with traffic control and act as guides along the trails. For more information on volunteering and free training, call Jeannette Lichtenwalner at the above number.

Then do the same calculation, based on the terms of a card balance transfer offer, specifically: The promotional interest rate and number of months that it’s in effect. Assuming the entire balance can be transferred, that should tell you how much you stand to save. You can do this calculation on an online card payment calculator like this one from Bankrate: http://apne.ws/1gSm3z5 5. Consider other options Borrowers who are overwhelmed by debt may not qualify for a balance transfer card, as such offers are typically extended to borrowers who have a FICO score above 700.

And adding another credit card to one’s wallet may not be the best option if there are several others already carrying high balances. Consider asking the credit card company to lower your interest rate, suggests Tetreault. That may not work, but it doesn’t hurt to ask. Another option: Seek credit counseling, which can provide assistance managing debt, making a personal budget and dealing with card issuers. Here’s how to find a qualified credit counselor: http://apne.ws/1jSz7HC. — AP

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Travel Leisure &

How to get great cruise discounts. See story on page 27.

Breathtaking beauty in Utah’s national parks

Arcing arches Aptly named Arches National Park is a collection of some of nature’s most intriguing creations: architectural designs that span space and confound logic, and for which no man-made blueprint was ever drawn. It boasts the largest concentration of naturally occurring arches in the world with more than 900 of the structures.

The trail to Delicate Arch, one of its most famous, is anything but delicate. Arduous is the more apt term for the mostly uphill climb over slick rock. By the time I neared the top, I was prepared to trip the next person heading down who said, “Oh, but it’s worth it.” Still, after rounding the final obstacle, the only word that emerged with what I was sure was my final breath, was “Wow.” Leaving Delicate Arch, I was able to focus on the beauty of the surroundings. Going up, I could concentrate only on putting one foot in front of the other.

A land of canyons

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE UTAH OFFICE OF TOURISM

By Fyllis Hockman Driving along a winding, narrow cliff, a 1,300-foot drop on the driver’s side, I clung to my heart, with the rest of me halfway out the passenger-side window. Hiking on slick rock at seemingly a 90-degree angle, I came to a visual wonder, and understood why so many made the climb. Gaping at high cliff walls adorned with sharp pinnacles leaping skyward, it looked like the earth had been splashed with multi-hued red dyes, all running together. Such is life among the five national parks of southern Utah. Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce and Zion share many commonalities, including uncompromising splendor, a history of both the Earth and the country, and a sense of personal sanctuary. These five mystical worlds have been created over millions of years by the movement of the Earth, water and wind, rain and drought, freezes and thaws and, especially, erosion. Even today, these same elements continue to change the face of the parks. After more than 150 million years, they are still works in progress.

Nearby Canyonlands National Park requires a 4-wheel drive vehicle –- preferably with a driver. At 6,000 feet, the view from the Island in the Sky mesa looks down at cliffs 2,000 feet tall, arising out of a magnificently gouged and painted landscape. The panorama at Grandview Point is unequaled in terms of sheer expanse, providing a broad view over the entire park, stretching across countless canyons -– and beyond. Indeed, Canyonlands is a series of spectacular views strung across hundreds of miles of remote wilderness. Suffice it to say, “Scenic Overlook” signs are redundant. The highlight of the park for me was the Shafer Trail. The dirt road, rough in spots, very rough in others, is bordered on one side by perpendicular cliffs; on the other, the afore-mentioned sheer 1,300-foot drop. Riding along the very narrow, bumpy ledge, I found myself leaning far to the

Bryce Canyon National Park’s myriad rock formations were created by the park’s unique rain and ice patterns.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE UTAH OFFICE OF TOURISM

Delicate Arch rises above Arches National Park. Visitors can take an arduous uphill hike to reach the 65-foot arch, which is depicted on Utah’s license plate.

right in the hopes of influencing the car further in that direction. Even so, I managed to appreciate the other-worldly landscape we were passing. Halfway down, the mountain on our right was so high I could barely see its top. On the other side, the drop to the vast valley below was vertigo-inducing. The drive itself -– in lowest gear -– is slow-going. Bouncing up and down and rocking side to side 2,000 feet above any sane person’s comfort level for four hours, you can lose several pounds without ever leaving the car. A plus, as I saw it.

An arid reef Although geologic history is stressed in every park, at Capitol Reef, it’s what defines it — ranging from 80 to 270 million years old. Dana and Milo Breite from Shingle Springs, Calif., were as giddy as two kids in a video game store. “We’ve been collecting rocks and exploring geologic sites together for decades, and this is one of the highlights of all our excursions,” exclaimed Dana. A stroll along the dry Grand Wash River bed nearby, so narrow in parts you can touch both canyon walls at the same time, evoked old western film images of the lonely cowboy out on the trail. Here cinema meets cinema verite. This is Butch Cassidy country. He used

to ride along this same stream bed (though it had water in it, then) and hide among the cavernous cliffs overhead –now called, not surprisingly, Cassidy Arch.

Bryce Canyon A park away, Bryce Canyon is synonymous with hoodoos — phantasmagorical images emerging from weird and wonderful rock formations. There are thousands of the little (and not so little) formations in all shapes, colors and sizes. The park’s unique rain and ice patterns sculpt these fanciful spires of rusted limestone; erosion at its most imaginative. More than geologic oddities, hoodoos cast a magical spell on all who return their stony gaze. Stan Weintraub of St. Augustine, Fla., claimed he could spend hours in Bryce Canyon National Park just looking at the hoodoos and assigning them different imaginary configurations. “You can write books about what you think you are seeing,” offered Weintraub. The color-intense view from Aqua Canyon — vivid coppers glowing in ochres and vermillion, vying with slashes of oranges and invading magentas — challenges the most expensive of cameras or cell phones to reproduce it accurately. Just below, sandstone statSee UTAH PARKS, page 29

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

For a great cruise deal, start planning now • Straight price-cutting — selling cabins If you’re looking for a good deal on a cruise, think about the rest of this year. for less than the list or “brochure” price. Even cruise line execs admit that the in- You see a lot of this, the purest form of discounting, especially with lastdustry is currently doing a lot minute sales and promotions. of discounting, while, at the • Cabin upgrades — offersame time, they tout efforts to ing better cabins to buyers at “discipline” the marketplace the lowest prices. Keep in next year. mind, however, that the megaEven though those execs ships have so many cabin routinely promise to end disclasses that even a “two- or counting, their track record three-class upgrade” may not has been notoriously poor. be much of a change. Still, as with so many travel • Onboard credit — offerservices, when you see some TRAVEL TIPS ing credits to be spent in shipreally great prices, buy; don’t By Ed Perkins board shops, casinos, and wait for even more price drops. I don’t often look to the business pages for food venues not included in the base rate. guidance about the best deals, but Carnival’s Credit, of course, beats an equivalent dolCEO’s conference call for investment ana- lars-off discount, because the cost of prolysts earlier this summer provided some fas- viding whatever you use your shipboard cinating tidbits. He blamed competitors for credit on is a lot less than the cash price. Some discounting employs two or even all “aggressive discounting” in the Caribbean this year, adding that his own company was three of these forms on the same promotion. trying to limit the bargains, even to the extent of “holding the price and giving up occu- Getting the best discounts Beyond looking at the various forms of pancy,” anathema to many lines. But, on a more positive note, he noted that discounting, consider a few basic “rules” the excess capacity in that primary cruise of cruise deals. • The best discounts — along with the market should ease by the end of this year and that the number of ships in the lowest starting prices — are with the giant Caribbean will drop, leading to higher prices. mass-market cruise lines and on the large Carnival’s views are obviously important; it’s megaships. Cruise brands with the lowest the world’s largest cruise line, with 11 indi- ratio of revenues to passengers include vidual brands, including Carnival, Cunard, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and Holland America, and Princess, that account MSC. Smaller “boutique” cruise lines don’t for almost half the worldwide cruise market. typically discount as much, and even after discounts, their rates can be several times Types of discounts those of the mass-market lines. Cruise discounting takes three major • The best discounts are also in the forms: most popular mass-market cruising areas;

BEACON BITS

Sept. 4

ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER + LUNCH

The American Music Theatre in Lancaster, Pa., is the destination of a bus trip on Thursday, Sept. 4 leaving at 9:30 a.m. and returning at 7:30 p.m. Sponsored by the Department of Recreation & Parks, the excursion includes an early lunch at Shady Maple Smorgasbord in East Earl, followed by the matinee of Music of the Night: Songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber. Tickets are $125. To reserve, call (410) 313-7275, or for more information, call (410) 313-7279 or visit howardcountymd.gov.

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the Caribbean, Mexico, and Alaska. • As a special case, the lowest per-day cabin prices are on transatlantic repositioning cruises, as cruise lines move their megaships from summers in Europe to winters in warm weather areas and back to Europe in the spring. • The fourth quarter of the year is traditionally the slowest for all U.S. and Canadian tourism to the nearby warm-water areas. This is partly due to seasonal work/school schedules and partly because that’s in the hurricane season. • Cruise lines still sell mainly through travel agents, from online giants such as cruisesonly.com and cruise.com to momand-pop local agencies. AAA agencies have traditionally had some good deals. And you don’t have to worry about agency fees: Cruise agencies still work on commission. • If you have a special requirement — a

good solo traveler rate, for example, or a family — don’t limit your search to the Internet. Instead, call or visit an agency, even an online agency, to check out your options. • If you’re interested in cruising, visit cruisecritic.com and other online information sources. I won’t promise that discount prices will be scarce next year: The cruise industry almost always promises that “next year we’ll stop discounting,” and they rarely come through on that pledge. Still, prices should be good for the rest of 2014, so go for it. Send e-mail to Ed Perkins at eperkins (at)mind.net. Perkins’ new book for small business and independent professionals, “Business Travel When It’s Your Money,” is now available through www.mybusinesstravel.com or www.amazon.com © 2014 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BEACON BITS

Sept. 14

KALORAMA HOUSE AND EMBASSY TOUR A bus trip to a walking tour of several Washington, D.C. landmark

residences will be offered by the Department of Recreation & Parks on Sunday, Sept. 14. Leaving at 10:30 a.m., the tour will return at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $49; lunch on your own. Call (410) 313-7275 to register or (410) 313-7279 for more information.

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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

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Utah parks From page 26 ues of a Pioneer Woman with bustled skirt and Mad Hunter with Hat reign as king and queen over a hoodoo chessboard. Hiking brings an intimacy with surroundings impossible to experience from an observation ledge. Hikers way below negotiating in, around and through the hoodoo pillars resemble colorful, marching toothpicks.

Riparian Zion Arriving at Zion reinforces the idea that each park is unique. At the other parks, your line of sight extends out toward the horizon as well as down into the canyons. At Zion, you look straight up —and up — and up. Towering cliffs —- some of the tallest in the world — flank you on either side. You’re now on the canyon floor, looking up at straight, sheer masses of Navajo sandstone unencumbered by frilly outgrowths and hoodoo pillars. They meet the sky at a point that strains both the neck and the imagination. Water is an anomaly here, in contrast to the harsh drought of the other parks. The soft-running Virgin River, which accompanied me on many of the hikes throughout the park, is responsible for creating the huge rock gorges that encircle the park — and it took only 5 to 16 million years to do so. At Bryce, riding the shuttle is optional; at Zion, it’s mandatory -– the only way visitors may tour the park. Running at six-

minute intervals, it takes you to eight stops, which are simply starting points for further exploration by foot. Because you’re so close to the canyons, “towering” replaces “expanse” as the word of the day. Viewing options at Zion are more under-looks than overlooks. For those who are afraid of heights, Zion is the park! The Riverside Trail hike passes through surprisingly lush vegetation to streams where you can cool your feet; skip stones with the kids; picnic or simply sit upon a rock and get lost in the scenery. The Virgin River makes its less-than-virgin run through and over rocks, emitting self-satisfied sounds as a backdrop to the reverie.

If you go Visitors, depending upon personal preference, can start at Zion and head north for increasingly spectacular views (my choice), or begin at Arches and drive south to save the best for last, as many consider Zion to be. Either way, it is impossible not to be enthralled by the unimaginable replay of expansive beauty and scenic motifs that present themselves in so many different ways from one park to the other. There are numerous options for accommodations. The lodge in Bryce Canyon National Park was built in the 1920s. It is designated as a historic landmark, and the décor is reflects the period. There are no TVs on the property or air conditioning, although

temperatures rarely get into the 80s. Wifi is available in the lodge. Cabins are $213 a night, while motel rooms start at $183. For reservations, see http://brycecanyonforever.com/lodging or call 1-877-386-4383. Zion National Park has a lodge with hotel rooms and 40 cabins. Hotel rooms are $197 a night and cabins are $200. There are two restaurants onsite. See www.zionlodge.com or call 1-888-297-2757. Harvest House Bed & Breakfast is located a half mile from the entrance to Zion National Park. It is run by the daughter of a prominent Boston caterer, and guests can enjoy hearty breakfasts with spectacular views. Rooms range from $130 to $160 a night. For more information, see www.harvesthouse.net or call (435) 772-3880. None of the parks is near a large airport or urban area, and most are nearly equidis-

tant from Las Vegas’ McCarron International Airport and Salt Lake City International Airport. Bryce Canyon is about a four-hour drive from either airport, while Zion National Park is closer to Las Vegas, about a two-hour and 45-minute drive. Spirit Airlines offers an overnight, nonstop roundtrip flight from BWI to Las Vegas for just $247 in mid-September, but beware of extra fees, including one for carryon luggage, that can add up with this airline. Daytime flights on American and Frontier Airlines start at about $325. The lowest roundtrip fare to Salt Lake City is $414 on American and Delta Airlines. For more information, call the Utah Office of Tourism at 1-800-200-1160 or check the website at visitutah.com. Gaithersburg, Md.-based writer Fyllis Hockman is the wife of the Beacon’s travel writer, Victor Block.

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H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

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

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

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Style Arts &

Agatha Christie’s beloved Mousetrap tale is told in September at Laurel Mill Playhouse.

Premieres & old favorites on local stages

Rep Stage For more than two decades, Rep Stage has been performing challenging comedies and dramas. This season, it begins with David Ives’ Venus in Fur, a play based on an erotic novel from the 1800s. It has been called “seriously smart and very funny” by The New York Times. In January, Rep Stage will host the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. premiere of Samuel D. Hunter’s The Whale — a play that tells the story of a morbidly obese man who is determined to eat his way to the grave. But before doing that, he seeks to restore a relationship with his estranged teenage daughter. Annie Baker’s Circle Mirror Transformation is the story of those in a small town

community who enroll in a drama class to investigate seemingly harmless theatrics. The result? Love triangles, family problems and personal successes abound in this critically acclaimed play. Wrapping up its season is another area premier. Playwright Dominique Morriseau has been compared to Lorraine Hansberry, August Wilson and Tennessee Williams. Her play Sunset Baby is the story of a former black revolutionary who, seeking to reunite with his daughter, discovers the challenges of parenting, especially when the personal and the political lock horns. Rep Stage, 10901 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia, (443) 518-1500, www.repstage.org.

Chesapeake Shakespeare Company The Chesapeake Shakespeare Company is kicking off its new season with a 250seat theatre in the heart of downtown Baltimore. While The Comedy of Errors next summer will take place at Patapsco Female Institute Historic Park in Ellicott City, the theater’s traditional venue, the rest of the season will be performed in its

Another Regional Premier Coming to Toby’s! OPENING SEPTEMBER 5

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By Mary Medland Howard County theatre aficionados have the luxury of having easy access to a number of top-flight theatre companies right in their backyards, meaning there no need to travel to New York or Washington, D.C. to indulge their passion. Here are some of the highlights of the new theater season that starts in September.

Chesapeake Shakespeare Company will begin its season with Shakespeare’s fantasy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Shown are Titania, the queen of the fairies, played by Kathryn Elizabeth Kelly, and Bottom, who has been turned into a donkey, played by Gregory Burgess.

new Baltimore home. “On August 1, we began working in the former Mercantile Trust and Deposit building,” said Jean Thompson, the company’s communications manager. “Beginning in September, we will present the Bard’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. That will be followed by Shakespeare’s historical drama Richard II.” Right in time for the holiday season, the company will present A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Ringing in the New Year is Anton Chekhov’s Russian classic Uncle

Vanya, which is followed by the classic Victorian farce, The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde. Chesapeake Shakespeare Company will wrap up its season with two of William Shakespeare’s most beloved works, Romeo and Juliet and The Comedy of Errors. Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, 7 S. Calvert St., Baltimore, (410) 244-8570, www.chesapeakeshakespeare.com.

See LOCAL STAGES, page 32

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Local stages From page 30

Toby’s Dinner Theatre Toby’s Dinner Theatre is staging Memphis beginning in early September. This Tony Award winner tells the story of Memphis disc jockey, Dewey Phillips, who was known as one of the first white radio per-

sonalities to introduce black music in the 1950s. Following that, Toby’s has up lined Mary Poppins, the nanny of every child’s dreams, beginning in November. Based on the books by P.L. Travers, the story, set in England in 1910, continues to enchant those who saw the movie in the 1960s. These days, many have the pleasure of

BEACON BITS

Sept. 2+

FABULOUS 50+ SINGERS NEEDED Composed of both novices and professionals, the Fabulous 50+

Players, who will be performing at senior centers in the county during November and December, are putting out a call now for rehearsals beginning Tuesday, Sept. 2 for anyone 50 years or older who wants to be involved with the group. Rehearsals begin Tuesday, Sept. 2 at the Howard County Center for the Arts, 8510 High Ridge Rd., Ellicott City. For more information or to sign up for the Players, visit hocoarts.org or call (410) 313-2787.

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

sharing that love with their grandchildren. On the other hand, there is also The Addams Family — every parent’s nightmare. Here we see Wednesday Addams, the princess of peculiar, finding herself a beau. She introduces dad, Gomez Addams, and mom, Morticia, to the sweet, “normal” with whom she has fallen in love. In April, 1776 makes its debut at Toby’s. This musical shows the individual men behind the Declaration of Independence as uncertain, annoying, charming, brave, but ultimately determined to do the right thing for the new nation they are creating. Toby’s Dinner Theatre, 5900 Symphony Woods Rd., Columbia, (410) 730-8311, www.tobysdinnertheatre.com.

Laurel Mill Playhouse Laurel Mill Playhouse will present Agatha Christie’s perpetually popular The Mousetrap in September. In it, a peculiar group of people find themselves stranded in a boarding house.

The cast includes an unmarried woman with a past, a retired Army officer, a most unpleasant jurist and others. They are joined by a police officer who arrives on skis, and then the fun begins with the first murder. As the policeman begins his investigation, old, dark secrets about the visitors begin to emerge before the mystery is resolved. In October, Laurel Mill presents Ntozake Shange’s For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf. A series of poetic monologues interspersed with dance and music, the play introduces a form of theater Shange describes as a “choreopoem.” In For Colored Girls, seven unnamed women tell their stories — of confronting racism and sexism, rape, abortion and domestic violence. For the holiday season, there is White Christmas. Based on the 1954 movie that starred Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye and Bing Crosby, the musical features the songs of Irving Berlin, including classics such as “White Christmas” and “Count Your Blessings.” Finally, The Comedy of Errors, one of Shakespeare’s earliest plays, brings together hilarity, slapstick and cases of mistaken identity in a way that only a genius like William Shakespeare could manage to pull off. Laurel Mill Playhouse, 508 Main St. Laurel, (301) 617-9906, www.laurelmillplayhouse.org. See LOCAL STAGES, page 33

FROM PAGE 34

ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD S K I D P L P E N N E T W I N P E A A N T L A N M U S E F U L L M E T A R O S E C I O D E G A R E A S T T H E A F R I T R A D S H O O T S L E O T H E A L T E M B M P H R O B

O I N T A T E R K S W A T U R S M A L J A T O O R E E S A E C A N Q E V O U O N E L I O N E D C E S E

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H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

Local stages From page 32

Red Run Theatre Company Red Run Theatre Company opens its season in September with the Stephen Sondheim one-act revue, You’re Gonna Love Tomorrow. In this production, theatergoers will be treated to some of Sondheim’s lesser-known works throughout the course of his career. You’re Gonna Love Tomorrow features works from Sondheim musicals including A Little Night Music, Sweeny Todd, The

Frogs, Company and others. Next up is Triumph of Love, a musical with a book by James Magruder, lyrics by Susan Birkenhead, and music by Jeffrey Stock. Originally a 1732 commedia dell’arte (masked) play by Pierre de Marivaux, Triumph of Love revolves around the Spartan princess Leonide, whose love for Agis is thwarted as a result of her throne having been wrongly taken by her family from her beloved. Triumph of Love is a comedy that demonstrates — through gender confusion, deception and an absurd look at the world — the perils and pleasures of amour.

BEACON BITS

Aug. 31

SUBMIT YOUR ARTWORK

The Arts Council is accepting entries until Saturday, Aug. 31 from visual artists in any medium for Art Maryland 2014, a biennial exhibit that will run from Oct. 31 to Dec. 12. For more information and to download a prospectus and entry form, visit the exhibits page at www.hocoarts.org or call the council at (410) 313-2787.

Sept. 12+

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

For young audiences, Red Branch is presenting A Year with Frog and Toad, a musical based on the children’s books of Arnold Lobel. The play, which follows the adventures of the cheerful Frog and his grouchy companion Toad as they make their way through the seasons — planting

in the spring, swimming in the summer, raking leaves in the fall, and sledding in winter — is a wonderful celebration of two unique friends. Red Branch Theatre Company, 9130-I Red Branch Rd., Columbia, (410) 997-9352, www.redbranchtheatrecompany.com.

• Inspiring & Motivating Services 7 days/week • A Rabbi with great stories • A Cantor you can sing with • A Dynamic Religious School • Interfaith families welcome

Order your High Holiday seats today!!!!

ROAD TO THE ARTS WEEKEND

Take a self-guided tour of county art galleries and explore local art spaces during the Arts Council’s annual “Road to the Arts” weekend, beginning Friday, Sept. 12 with the annual meeting and grant awards ceremony at the Center for the Arts, 8510 High Ridge Rd., Ellicott City. The tours continue through Sunday, Sept. 14. For a map of the “Road to the Arts” sites and other information on the weekend, visit www.hocoarts.org or call (410) 313-2787.

Expires 9/23/14 • New Members Only

Free Admission • 160+ Exhibitors • Health Fair Flu Shots • Seminars • Entertainment

Friday, October 17 9 am - 4 pm Wilde Lake High School 5460 Trumpeter Road Columbia 21044

Anatomy of a Scam - How to Detect and Avoid the Latest Cons Sleep from A to Zzzzz’s - How to Sleep Well as You Age Designing Your Life’s Next Chapter Wisdom Through the Ages Eat This, Treat That

Use the FREE COURTESY SHUTTLE from The Mall in Columbia for a STRESS-FREE parking experience. On-site parking is VERY limited.

410-313-6410 (VOICE/RELAY) • www.howardcountyaging.org/50plusexpo If you need accommodations to attend this event, contact MAP at 410-313-5980 at least one week in advance.

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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

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Puzzle Page

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

21 24

40 45

34 37

Scrabble answers on p. 32.

41 46

Across 1. Lose traction 5. Play “eeny meeny miny moe” 10. ___ gloves 13. Pasta shape 14. Closer to midnight 15. Are backwards 16. City, St. locale of the prequel to a mysterious TV show 18. Start of the 8th president’s last name 19. Opposite of syn. 20. PC linkup 21. British WWII codecracker, the “father of artificial intelligence” 23. Those in silent thought 26. Left-side calendar column 27. An adaptation of the Vietnam War novel The Short-Timers 33. Stumbled out of bed 34. Excessively 35. Preakness winner Seattle ___ 36. Corp. tech. director 37. Bachelors’ rewards 41. Great anger 42. Direction not in any state names 44. Notre Dame coach Parseghian 45. Bert’s best buddy 47. In 2007, it fell 48 spots to number 65 in the AFI’s Top 100 Movie List 51. ___ la la 52. Saintly 53. Attempts a free throw 56. Score from a free throw 57. Afternoon delight 60. August babe, probably 61. The source of Elton’ John’s Academy Award 65. Neighbor of the Ctrl key 66. Insert into (as in this puzzle’s theme movies) 67. A la ___ 68. Indy 500 stat. 69. Puts on clothes 70. Twister centers

Down 1. Darned 2. Create a sweater 3. Hotel, out in the country 4. Removed feathers 5. Hubble discovery 6. Poison ___ 7. “___ a trap!” 8. Silent amphibian, or vocal Speaker 9. Serious injury 10. He won a Tony and an Oscar in the 80’s 11. Modern-day Persia 12. “Darn-it” 13. Book fair host org. 17. Simplicity 22. Legendary birds of prey 23. D.C. United’s org. 24. Pointless pursuit 25. Gin flavoring 27. Diamond surface 28. Dickens’s ___ Heep 29. Warning sign for a night-time fairy 30. Bazooka ___ 31. Spoooooky 32. 1 who likes 2 txt 38. Musical talent 39. Street layout 40. Alphabetize 43. Ingredient in Chicken Luau 46. Groove 48. More like Hardy than Laurel 49. Gives the cold shoulder to 50. Taboo topic 53. Criticize severely 54. Beatles album 55. A dull, boring jerk 57. Become drowsy at the wheel 58. Head docs. 59. Complete another calendar 62. Fade away 63. Far left of Oswald 64. Key letter in 10 Down’s monogram

Answers on page 32.

Answer: The couple left the restaurant because the accordion music was -- "DRAWN" OUT Jumbles: GAUDY WHOOP RATIFY JUNGLE

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

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

Caregivers KIND, DEPENDABLE, EXPERIENCED caregiver for live-out care or live-in care for a flat rate. Hygiene care, Meal preparation, Housekeeping, Errands, Appointments, Medication reminders. Call 301-490-1146.

Computer Services PROBLEM WITH YOUR PC/MAC OR NETWORK? Computer Systems Engineer will come to you with help. Call: David G at 301-642-4526.

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Finanical Services ACCOUNTING, BOOKKEEPING, TAXES – conscientious CPA, 37 years experience, reasonable rates, looking for additional business, personal and eldercare clients. Call 410-6533363.

For Sale CHOLESTEROL SPINACH and other medicinal plants for diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and triglycerides, kidney problems, etc. (propagate and grow your own easily). Email: alpong@verizon.net. 301-8549969. 2 SALVADOR DALI woodblock prints from Dante’s Divine Comedy. Signed and framed. Asking $900 for the pair. Can email pictures if desired. Call Steve 410-9131653.

Home/Handyman Services BALTIMORE’S BEST JUNK REMOVAL – Clean Outs: Whole House, Emergency, Attics/Basements. Furniture and Junk Removal, Yard Waste Removal, General Hauling, Construction Debris Removal. Free estimates. 10% Senior Discount. Licensed, Bonded and Insured. Call Jesse, 443-379-HAUL (4285). SANFORD & SON HAULING & RECYCLING. Trash + Junk removal, house & estate cleanouts, garage+ basement cleanouts. Demolition – Shed, deck fence + pool removal. Licensed + insured. Free estimates over the phone. Call 7 days a week, 7 am to 7 pm. 410746-5090.

Personal Services LEARN ENGLISH – SPANISH – ITALIAN – FRENCH – PORTUGUESE Conversational. Grammatical. Private lessons. Reasonable Rates. Tutoring students. 443-352-8200.

BEACON BITS

Sept 12+

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

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

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

Wanted

WE BUY OLD AND NEW COINS, Jewelry, Silver and Gold, Paper Money too. Watches, Clocks and Parts, Military Badges and Patches Old and New. Call Greg, 717-658-7954.

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

VINYL RECORDS WANTED from 1950 through 1985. Jazz, Rock-n-Roll, Soul, Rhythm & Blues, Reggae and Disco. 33 1/3 LPs, 45s or 78s, Larger collections of at least 100 items wanted. Please call John, 301-596-6201. OLD AND NEW WE BUY Sterling Silver Flatware, Tea Sets or Single Pieces., Furniture, Tools, Cameras, Good Glassware, Artwork Too. Toys From Trains to Hotwheels, Action Figures to Star Wars. Call Greg, 717-658-7954. CASH BUYER for old costume jewelry, pocket and wrist watches (any condition). Also buying watchmaker tools and parts, train sets and accessories, old toys, old glassware & coins. 410655-0412.

Columbia-based Try It Out Theatre Company will present “Act 3” on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 12 and 13 at 8 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 14 at 3 p.m. at the Red Branch Theatre, 9130-1 Red Branch Rd., Columbia. The show includes four one-act plays, a monologue, and a poetry reading by Act 3 performers and writers. Tickets are $12, $10 for seniors. For more information, call (410) 997-9352 or visit www.tiotheate.com

Ongoing

VENDORS SOUGHT FOR HOLIDAY SALE

The Arts Council is looking for artists and artisans to sell their original artwork and handmade craft items at the Council’s Open House and Holiday Sale on Friday, December 5 at the Howard County Center for the Arts, 8510 High Ridge Rd., Ellicott City. Interested artists should contact Amanda Harvey at visitorservices@hocoarts.org or call (410) 313-2787.

ADVERTISERS IN THIS ISSUE NeurExpand Brain Center . . . . . .13 Ideal Health Study . . . . . . . . . . .13 UM Elderly Falls Prevention . . . .12

Events

COGS Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Howard County 50+ Expo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19, 33 Walk to End Alzheimer’s . . . . . . .23

Funeral Services

Dignity Witzke Funeral Homes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Going Home Cremations . . . . . . .25 Sol Levinson & Bros., Inc. . . . . .29

Home Health Care

A-1 Action Nursing Care . . . . . . . .5

MILITARY ITEMS Collector seeks: helmets, weapons, knives, swords, bayonets, webgear, uniforms, inert ordnance, ETC. From 1875 to 1960, US, German, Britain, Japan, France, Russian. Please call Fred 301-910-0783, Thank you. Also Lionel Trains.

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Clinical Research Studies

Homewatch Caregivers . . . . . . . .11 Options for Senior America . . . . .22 Right at Home of Central Maryland .15

Housing

Alta at Regency Crest . . . . . . . . .11 Brooke Grove . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Charlestown Independent Living/Erickson . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Clarksville Assisted Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Heartlands of Ellicott City . . . . . .6 Homecrest House . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Ivy Manor Normandy . . . . . . . . .30 Paradise Assisted Living . . . . . . . .4 Park View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Shangri-La Assisted Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Shriner Court/Quantum . . . . . . . .27 Somerford Place/5 Star Senior Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Vantage House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

NEW!

Housing Referral Service

Howard Pharmacy . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Rite Aid Pharmacy . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Legal Services

Columbia Association/Golf . . . . . .9

Care Patrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Carney Kelehan Attorneys at Law Firm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Frank, Frank & Scherr Law Firm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Medical/Health

Low Vision Specialists of Maryland & Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Dr. Taylor & Associates Vision and Learning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Maryland Relay Dial 711 . . . . . . .15 Medical Eye Center . . . . . . . . . . . .6 The Perfect Sleep Chair . . . . . . . .28

Pharmacies

CVS Pharmacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Recreation Religious

Beth Shalom Congregation . . . . .33

Retail

Columbia’s Village Centers . . . . . .4 WOW Computer! . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Senior Services

Senior Connection . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Theatre/ Entertainment

Toby’s Dinner Theatre . . . . . . . . .30

Tour & Travel

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

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

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Living Well Series Resumes with Fall Seminars Brooke Grove Retirement Village (BGRV) will resume its Living Well Community Seminar Series in September, according to Director of Marketing Toni Davis. Designed to help participants navigate a variety of health and wellness challenges, each of these free, monthly presentations will be held from 7 to 8:15 p.m. in the terrace level conference room of Brooke Grove Rehabilitation and Nursing, located at 18131 Slade School Road on BGRV’s

Sandy Spring, Maryland, campus. Each seminar will be preceded by a complimentary light supper beginning at 6:30 p.m. Dr. Majid Fotuhi, founder and chief medical officer of NeurExpand Brain Center, will take the podium on Wednesday, September 17, to discuss how to “Grow Your Brain at Any Age.” Dr. Fotuhi is one of the world’s foremost authorities on memory, cognitive performance and aging. He will review the latest research, explain what

✃ ❒ I would like to know more about Brooke Grove's independent living, assisted living, rehabilitative, long-term care, memory support or respite services. ❒ Reserve my seat for the September 17 “Grow Your Brain at Any Age” seminar. ❒ Reserve my seat for the October 15 “Story of GMOs” seminar. ❒ Reserve my seat for the November 5 “Medicare 2015” seminar. Name: Address: City, State, Zip: Daytime Phone:

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Please mail this coupon to: Brooke Grove Retirement Village, Attn: Community Relations, 18100 Slade School Road, Sandy Spring, MD 20860 Phone: 301-260-2320 Fax: 301-924-1200. Web: www.bgf.org

happens to the brain with aging, and share information on how to reverse age-related brain atrophy while literally growing your brain, including simple changes that can make a lasting difference for years to come. On Wednesday, October 15, Chef Bonita Woods, executive director of the Bonita Woods Wellness Institute, will present a multimedia program and cooking demonstration on “The Story of GMOs: What to Do If Food Becomes the Enemy.” If you wonder what impact genetically modified (GMO) foods have on you and your family, Chef Bonita can answer your questions! Participants will learn about the science, nutritional comparisons, social ethics and global effect

of the GMO food industry while also sampling tasty, healthy snacks. Popular speaker Leta Blank, program director of the Senior Health Insurance Assistance Program, returns on Wednesday, November 5, to present “Medicare 2015: What You Need to Know to Get the Best Benefits.” Guests will discover the answers to questions such as: “What do Medicare A and B cover? How does Medicare Part D work? Do I need Part C? What state and federal programs am I eligible for? Medicare doesn’t pay for everything, so what else do I need?” For reservations or more information, contact Ms. Davis at 301-388-7209 or tdavis@bgf.org by the Monday prior to each seminar.