May 2011 Howard County Beacon Edition

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Third career in fourth quarter

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I N S I D E …

PHOTO BY FRANK KLEIN

By Barbara Ruben After serving for 20 years in the Maryland General Assembly, Gloria Lawlah thought it might be time to retire at 68.

“I was quite ready to come home and hit the golf balls,” she recalled of what ended up being a very short-lived hiatus from public service.

Just a month later, in February 2007, Governor O’Malley appointed her as Maryland’s Acting Secretary of Aging, a cabinet-level job made permanent the following month.

Lawlah said she thought to herself, “I have landed a heck of a job, and just in the nick of time, since I’m in the midst of aging myself.”

As head of Maryland’s Department of Aging (MDOA), Lawlah is working to manage and expand healthcare, housing and other programs as the proportion of older adults in Maryland, as elsewhere across the country, continues to climb rapidly.

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A natural beauty beyond words in Alaska; plus, volunteers mix altruism with global travel to enjoy “voluntourism” page 24

The fourth quarter With our steadily increasing longevity, many people’s lives can now be divided into quarters, Lawlah said — the fourth quarter being from 75 to 100 years old.

“The system has to be geared now to take care of the fourth quarter, which didn’t exist years ago. We [thought we] didn’t need to worry about that, because we were all going to be dead,” she said with her customary forthrightness. “Our [support] systems were not designed for us to live this long.”

Much of Lawlah’s work now focuses on how to provide the services this age group needs and how to prepare for the rapid growth we are facing in its numbers.

Some think of this demographic change as a catastrophe, referring to it as a “tsunami” of older adults. But Lawlah sees it differently. Yes, “we’re surrounded by our elders,” she said. But that means “we’re surrounded by wisdom. That’s the way I look at it.”

One of the most important things we can do, she thinks, is figure out how best to help people stay in their homes as they age. It’s often called “aging in place.”

The goal is to provide “wrap-around services in the home, where [people] feel comfortable and secure. If you can keep them healthier and keep them in their homes, you’re going to cut in half the amount of money” it costs to maintain their independence.

ARTS & STYLE

Maryland Secretary of Aging Gloria Lawlah enjoys gathering her extended family — from her 100-year-old mother-in-law to her six grandchildren — in the backyard of her home. She and the Department of Aging she heads are working to provide more ways to help older adults stay in their homes as they age.

“They’re [also] going to be much better off mentally,” she said, citing a program called Money Follows the Person. This Medicaid demonstration project helps bring people out of nursing institutions and puts them back into their homes and communities, both saving money and increasing satisfaction at the same time. [See “If you need care, will the funds be there?” on page 23 for more information on Medicaid and long-term care.]

Helping Howard County Lawlah’s efforts have made a significant impact on the services Howard County provides to its older residents, said Sue Vaeth, Howard County Office on Aging Adminis-

trator. Before her current position, Vaeth worked with Lawlah at the MDOA as the chief of Client and Community Services.

“The one thing that really impressed me was how [Lawlah] never wanted to miss an opportunity to carry out the mission of the department. So if there was an opportunity for a federal grant, it was something we were encouraged to apply for. As a state, we have a lot of federal grants in the budget,” Vaeth said.

One of these grants is funding the new Maryland Access Point (MAP), which offers older Marylanders (and those of any See LAWLAH, page 8

Revisit Richie and the Fonz in a musical based on the “Happy Days” television show; plus, Ben Vereen talks about his career and passions page 27

FITNESS & HEALTH 4 k Do you need that medical test? k Producing pleasure in the brain THE SENIOR CONNECTION 16 k Howard County Office on Aging newsletter LAW & MONEY 18 k Choosing the next big stocks k Inflation-proof your portfolio PLUS CROSSWORD, BEACON BITS, CLASSIFIEDS & MORE

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A time for cutting Are we under attack? doesn’t receive its expected appropriation?

Are powerful forces in the country and It feels like it.

Congress out to eliminate, or Or ask the millions of Soat least decimate, the most efcial Security recipients who fective and efficient federal didn’t receive a COLA (cost programs that feed, transport of living increase) for the past and preserve the health and two years (and may well not wellbeing of America’s sensee any increase in their iors? checks for a third year, either Well, yes and no.

— see this month’s Money & The word “cut” can be apLaw section inside). plied in many ways. I think When your costs go up but we can all agree that a 64 per- FROM THE your revenues don’t, your cent reduction in the budget PUBLISHER budget has effectively been cut. of a long-time program that By Stuart P. Rosenthal Call me a heretic (I’m sure trains thousands of low-inmany will do that and worse), come seniors and temporarily employs but I can see both sides of the federal budgthem constitutes a cut. et battles. I find our exploding federal But what about a program that’s been deficits — $1.65 trillion this year alone — to supplemented by stimulus funds for two be alarming. I don’t believe we can continue years? Is it “cut” when the extra money to expand our national debt by trillions (or dries up? even mere hundreds of billions) every year It is if you ask any of the people who were without serious economic consequences able to get off long waiting lists and obtain for all of us. services thanks to the stimulus funds. But But I’m also terribly upset by the impact it’s not a true cut if you look at the pro- our steps to reduce the deficit will have on gram’s base spending levels over time. many citizens. That means I see the situaIs a program that has received annual tion as a classic dilemma: whatever steps increases for so many years that it simply we take, even no steps at all, will inflict pain. budgets for modest growth “cut” when it Congress has just cut $38 billion from

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this year’s federal budget. And yet, as painful as these cuts will be to the individuals and groups that lose funding, the effect looks pitifully weak compared to the size of the problem: $38 billion is only 2.3 percent of this year’s deficit.

So, what can we do to bring our costs more in line with our revenues?

I think the time has come to look at the three entitlement programs that constitute one-third to one-half of our entire federal budget: Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

I have written about Social Security frequently in this column. I’ve tried to explain how this ostensibly pay-as-you-go program — and yes, one into which most Americans have paid into considerably over most of our lives — has begun to add to our federal deficit. And these additional deficits will grow tremendously over the next 20 years as 68 million baby boomers retire while our workforce shrinks.

This problem will grow despite (or really because of) the “Trust Fund” we hear so much about. But that’s for another column.

I have also written before about Medicare, and how Congress’ recent expansion of healthcare coverage for the uninsured will reduce Medicare’s funding for seniors by $400 billion over the coming decade. And that’s not Medicare’s only problem. In many ways, it’s worse off than Social Security.

Both Congress and the president are finally starting to talk seriously about these programs, and it’s a good thing, too. As a nation, we must start reining in our expenses or compensate by raising taxes or limiting many programs to those with the greatest need.

We who consider ourselves senior advocates cannot continue to unequivocally support new and existing programs while asking for more tax breaks and fighting modest revisions to Social Security and Medicare.

Instead, we need to support adjustments that protect those in or near retirement and spread cuts and cost increases in a broad and fair way.

If we aren’t part of the solution, we’re part of the problem.

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CIVIL WAR EXHIBIT AT CAMDEN STATION

The Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards continues its ongoing exhibit commemorating the Civil War and events 150 years ago involving Camden Station, the present home of the museum. During the mid to late 1800s, Camden Station was the headquarters of the B&O Railroad, ferried telegraph messages of Civil War movements, and hosted four visits by President Abraham Lincoln, including the transfer of the slain president’s body on its return to Illinois. The museum is open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission for seniors is $4. For more information, call (410) 727-1539 or visit www.baberuthmuseum.com

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

Health Fitness &

DIFFERENT STOKES… Stoke rates drop for those over 65, but rise alarmingly for the young EATING ENOUGH PROTEIN? Protein is essential to your diet, and your needs change over time COFFEE, THE NEW HEALTH DRINK Coffee is packed with antioxidants and can also inhibit diabetes SHINGLES STUDY Help test a new, possibly more effective, vaccine for shingles

Is that test really necessary, doctor?

By Marilynn Marchionne Orthopedic CT scans, MRIs and other pricey imaging tests are often performed more for the doctor’s benefit than the patient’s, new research confirms.

Roughly one-fifth of tests that bone and joint specialists order are because a doctor fears being sued, not because the patient needs them, a first-of-its-kind study in Pennsylvania suggests. The study comes on the heels of a push to overhaul state medical malpractice laws as a way to reduce unnecessary tests that drive up healthcare costs.

“This study is a glimpse behind the curtain of what’s happening in a doctor’s mind,” said Dr. John Flynn of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, who led the study.

If doctors sense you might second-guess them or cause trouble, “you could potentially be risking more tests being done.”

Worrisome radiation exposure Patients expect the highest level of care and think this means the most advanced technology, Flynn said. Many patients feel better when a doctor orders lots of tests — until they get the bill.

Besides hurting your wallet and adding

to healthcare costs, unnecessary or “defensive” tests can expose people to radiation that accumulates over a lifetime and can raise the risk of cancer.

Ordinary X-rays are rarely a concern, but an MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging scan, can cost $1,000 or more. And supersharp, three-dimensional images called CT scans are even more expensive and can involve radiation doses equal to 100 X-rays or more, depending on body part.

Yet doctors often order tests they don’t really think a patient needs because they fear being sued if the diagnosis is wrong or they miss detecting a problem.

Previous studies of how often this happens have relied on doctor surveys. This is the first one to enlist doctors in advance to track their decisions over time.

It involved 72 orthopedic surgeons throughout Pennsylvania who tracked tests they ordered on 2,068 patients, mostly adults, in ordinary office visits, emergency rooms and other settings. Doctors checked a box saying a test was either required for clinical care or done “for defensive reasons.”

Defensive imaging accounted for 20 percent of total tests — 11 percent of X-rays,

38 percent of MRIs, 33 percent of CT scans, 57 percent of bone scans and 53 percent of ultrasounds.

Defensive medicine also accounted for 35 percent of costs, nearly all of it from MRIs. One example: a torn meniscus — a knee cartilage injury that is a leading reason for knee surgery. Studies have shown that a doctor’s judgment based on symptoms and an exam is even better than an MRI to diagnose the condition. Yet patients hardly ever go to surgery without having the imaging test, Flynn said.

Newer docs order fewer tests Surprisingly, the study found that newer doctors were less likely to be defensive.

“That’s counterintuitive,” Flynn said.

“You would expect when you’re new in practice, not as trustful of your clinical judgment, you’d order more.”

Doctors who have been sued in the last five years were more likely to order tests defensively, said Robert Miller, a Temple University medical student who helped lead the study and presented the results at a recent orthopedic conference. The authors said similar studies are needed on

defensive imaging in other specialties.

Dr. Lawrence Wells, a Philadelphia surgeon who participated in the study, said doctors learn to develop “a radar” for problem patients. “It’s disheartening” to be sued, he said.

“Someone’s accusing you of a bad outcome or a wrong,” and that can affect how a See UNNECESSARY TESTS, page 5

What to ask before a medical test • Is it truly needed? How will it change my care?

• Have you or another doctor done this test on me before?

• Does the test involve much radiation, and is there an alternative that does not?

• How many images are needed?

• Do you have a financial stake in the machines that will be used?

This is your brain on drugs or…music?

By Malcolm Ritter Whether it’s the Beatles or Beethoven, people like music for the same reason they like eating or having sex: It makes the brain release a chemical that gives pleasure, a new study says.

The brain substance is involved both in anticipating a particularly thrilling musical moment and in feeling the rush from it, researchers found.

Previous work had already suggested a role for dopamine — a substance brain cells release to communicate with each other. But the new work, which scanned people’s brains as they listened to music, shows it happening directly.

While dopamine normally helps us feel the pleasure of eating or having sex, it also helps produce euphoria from illegal drugs.

It’s active in particular circuits of the brain.

Why music is “universal language” The tie to dopamine helps explain why

music is so widely popular across cultures, according to authors Robert Zatorre and Valorie Salimpoor of McGill University in Montreal, writing online in the journal Nature Neuroscience.

The study used only instrumental music, showing that voices aren’t necessary to produce the dopamine response, Salimpoor said. It will take further work to study how voices might contribute to the pleasure effect, she said.

The researchers described brain-scanning experiments with eight volunteers who were chosen because they reliably felt chills from particular moments in some favorite pieces of music. That characteristic let the experimenters study how the brain handles both anticipation and arrival of a musical rush.

Results suggested that people who enjoy music but don’t feel chills are also experiencing dopamine’s effects, Zatorre said.

PET scans showed the participants’ brains pumped out more dopamine in a region called the striatum when listening to favorite pieces of music than when hearing other pieces.

Functional MRI scans showed where and when those releases happened.

Dopamine surged in one part of the striatum during the 15 seconds leading up to a thrilling moment, and a different part when that musical highlight finally arrived.

Happy anticipation Zatorre said that makes sense: The area linked to anticipation connects with parts of the brain involved with making predictions and responding to the environment, while the area reacting to the peak moment itself is linked to the brain’s limbic system, which is involved in emotion.

The study volunteers chose a wide range of music — from classical and jazz to

punk, tango and even bagpipes. The most popular were Barber’s “Adagio for Strings,” the second movement of Beethoven’s “Ninth Symphony” and Debussy’s “Claire de Lune.”

Since they already knew the musical pieces they listened to, it wasn’t possible to tell whether the anticipation reaction came from memory or the natural feel people develop for how music unfolds, Zatorre said.

That question is under study, too.

Dr. Gottfried Schlaug, an expert on music and the brain at Harvard Medical School, called the study “remarkable” for the combination of techniques it used.

While experts had indirect indications that music taps into the dopamine system, he said, the new work “really nails it.”

Music isn’t the only cultural experience that affects the brain’s reward circuitry.

Other researchers recently showed a link when people studied artwork.

— AP

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doctor behaves the next time he sees a similar case. Patients need to trust their doctor’s judgment on what is needed, Wells said.

In February, President Obama made a budget proposal that includes money to

help states rewrite their malpractice laws so doctors don’t feel the need to act so defensively. Possible measures include caps on damage awards.

The administration also has proposed health courts where specially trained judges rather than juries would decide such cases.

— AP

★ F R EE I N FOR MATION ★ F R EE I N FOR MATION ★ F R EE I N FOR MATION ★

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From page 4

Looking to power up your workout?

Rather than buying new tennis shoes or a heart-rate monitor, you can use your senses to add exercise oomph — without spending a cent.

Next time you hop on your bike, try dabbing a few drops of peppermint essential oil on your wrists. Smelling peppermint can help you ride harder and faster, upping your caloric burn by 15 percent. A study conducted at Wheeler Jesuit University found that athletes who sniffed mint ran faster, gripped stronger, and pumped out

I N F O R M AT I O N

Unnecessary tests

Pep up workouts with scents, music

You can boost your effort by up to 10 percent and your endurance by up to 15 percent by listening to upbeat tunes, particularly songs with 120-140 beats per minute.

Get the sense of touch into the act by taking your routine outside. “Thanks to wind and terrain changes, which you feel against your body and under your feet, your heart rate is on average 5 to 10 beats per minute higher,” said John Porcari of the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse.

“You burn 10 to 15 percent more calories.”

Exercising outside has other potential benefits. Not only are several senses actively engaged in a natural environment, but your mind is also diverted by the constant change of scenery — leading to less boredom, more enjoyment and, consequently, a better workout.

— Psychology Today

F R E E

Last month, the Food and Drug Administration extended its approval of the shingles vaccine to those age 50 to 59. The vaccine, called Zostavax, is already approved for people 60 and older.

“The likelihood of shingles increases with age. The availability of Zostavax to a younger age group provides an additional opportunity to prevent this often painful and debilitating disease,” said Karen Midthun, director of the FDA’s center for biologics.

Shingles causes blisters and severe pain that can last from several weeks to years.

The illness is caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox. The virus lies dormant for years in the nervous system of those who once had chicken pox, but can reappear in the form of shingles for reasons that are not entirely understood.

The FDA said in a statement that it approved the drug based on a 22,000-patient

more push-ups.

The scent of jasmine can boost performance, too. When bowlers in a study wore a mask emitting the scent of jasmine, their scores improved.

“We think these two scents jolt the reticular activating system, a part of the brain that makes you feel more alert,” said Alan Hirsch of the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago.

A pep-o-mint Lifesaver might salvage a lackluster workout session. “Chewing on minty gum or a Lifesaver can have the same effect, since taste and smell are so closely connected,” said Hirsch.

Why do so many gym rats wear earphones? The sound of music blocks nerves from signaling body fatigue and perception of effort, said Costas Karageorghis of Brunel University in London.

F R E E

More are eligible for shingles vaccine

study in which Zostavax decreased the risk of shingles by 70 percent. Side effects with the vaccine were minor, including redness, pain and swelling at the injection site.

Shingles affects roughly 200,000 people in the U.S. each year between the ages of 50 and 59.

[For more information about shingles and the vaccine, see “Explaining shingles, and how to avoid it” on our website. at http:// bit.ly/shinglesarticle] — AP

F R EE I N FOR MATION ★ F R EE I N FOR MATION ★ F R EE I N FOR MATION ★

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

Strokes drop after 65, rise among young

By Marilynn Marchione Strokes are rising dramatically among young and middle-aged Americans while dropping in older people, a sign that the obesity epidemic may be starting to shift the age burden of the disease.

The numbers, reported at an American Stroke Association conference, come from the first large nationwide study of stroke hospitalizations by age. Government researchers compared hospitalizations in 1994 and 1995 with ones in 2006 and 2007.

The sharpest increase — 51 percent — was among men 15 through 34. Strokes rose among women in this age group, too, but not as fast — 17 percent.

“It’s definitely alarming,” said Dr. Ralph Sacco, American Heart Association president and a neurologist at the University of Miami. “We have worried for a while that the increased prevalence of obesity in chil-

dren and young adults may take its toll in cardiovascular disease and stroke,” and that appears to be happening, he said.

Stroke still takes its highest toll by far on older people. For those over 65, there were nearly 300 stroke cases among 10,000 hospitalizations in the more recent period studied.

For males 15 to 34, there were about 15 stroke cases per 10,000, and for girls and women in that age group there were about 4 per 10,000.

Several small studies had recently suggested an ominous rise among the young and among middle-aged women. “We were interested in whether we could pick that up in a much larger, nationwide dataset,” said Dr. Mary George, a stroke researcher at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Age and gender differences The researchers examined federal records from a sample of hospitals in 41 states, covering about 8 million cases each year. They looked at the percentage of all hospitalizations for stroke by gender and in six age groups.

For every 10,000 hospitalizations in 1994-95 compared with 2006-07, strokes rose: • 51 percent, from 9.8 to 14.8, among males 15 to 34 years old • 17 percent, from 3.6 to 4.2, in females 15 to 34 • 47 percent, from 36 to 52.9, in males 35 to 44 • 36 percent, from 21.9 to 30, in females 35 to 44 “The increases seen in children are very modest, but they are [higher] in the young adult age groups, and we feel that de-

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serves further study,” George said.

Better awareness of stroke symptoms and better imaging methods for detecting strokes in young people could account for some of that change, but there is no way to know, she said.

Trends went the opposite way in older people. Strokes dropped 25 percent among men 65 and older (from 404 to 303 per 10,000 hospitalizations), and 28 percent among women in this age group (from 379 to 274).

Blood pressure a likely reason Doctors think better prevention and treatment of risk factors such as high blood pressure in older people may be contributing to the decline.

On the other hand, doctors at the University of California at Los Angeles are seeing more strokes related to high blood pressure and clogged arteries in younger people, said Dr. Jeffrey Saver, director of the stroke center there.

Early estimates from 2007 death certificates suggest that stroke is now the nation’s fourth leading cause of death instead of the third, partly because of better treatments and prevention among the elderly.

“But at the same time we’re seeing this worrisome rise in mid-life,” Saver said.

Allison Hooker, a nurse who coordinates stroke care at Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C., said her hospital also is seeing more strokes in younger people with risk factors such as smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, alcohol overuse and diabetes.

“I’d say at least half of our population [of stroke patients] is in their 40s or early 50s,” she said, “and devastating strokes, too.”

— AP

BEACON BITS

Apr. 28

TALKING WITH ADULT CHILDREN

Tackling the sensitive discussions adult children need to have with their aging parents is the focus of this seminar sponsored by the SPRING (Senior Peer Resources: Individuals, Networks & Groups) program of the Office on Aging. The seminar, on Thursday, April 28 from 4 to 6 p.m., will cover topics commonly faced, communication tools, emotional and relationship aspects, and resources. Attorney Kandace L. Scherr is the keynote speaker, and small group discussions follow. Light refreshments will be served. The seminar will be held at the Glenwood 50+ Center at 2400 Rt. 97, Cooksville. To register or for more information, call Karen Hull at (410) 313-7466 or email khull@howardcountymd.gov by Tuesday, April 26.

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

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Lawlah From page 1 age with disabilities) convenient access to programs and services that can help them.

In addition to placing one-stop-shop offices in each county (a project well underway, but not yet complete), the new MAP website provides information about and links to long-term care services and other resources throughout the state. See www.MarylandAccessPoint.info.

Howard County had developed a similar local site on its own, but the federal grant has allowed the county to be a pioneer in

the state in developing new services through MAP, including hospital discharge planning and help for coordinating long-term care plans.

These programs will also help set nationwide standards on these issues, Vaeth said.

“It’s pretty cool. We have a fantastic MAP in Howard County, and we’re very privileged to be the one in the state to be chosen to take part in that aspect of the grant,” she said.

Putting theory into practice One component to helping seniors age in place is strong family ties, Lawlah believes. That’s why she and her husband

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

moved her mother-in-law (now 100 years old) to the home next door to theirs in Prince George’s County back in 1997.

Lawlah praises her mother-in-law, who graduated from the University of Chicago in 1933, as a great role model.

“She always was so progressive in her thinking, always saying women should be equal to men in all ways. She always supported me in everything I wanted to do and supported me when I wanted to run for office.”

Lawlah, who has three children and six grandchildren, likes to gather her extended family at her house and in the large backyard that they share with her motherin-law. There the family can play games or hang out in the rose garden or large screened carriage house.

“It’s intergenerational fun. It certainly helps our young people appreciate their elders. They get a chance to see their great-grandmother.

“They have seen her in the best of health. They have seen her in the worst of health. They understand all those things we have to do for her and how we treat her,” she said.

In addition, Lawlah and her husband Jack, a retired civil engineer, remodeled and expanded their rambler three years ago, more than doubling its size to include five bedrooms and seven bathrooms.

While one of their goals was to make the house comfortable for Jack’s mother and their grandchildren to visit, Jack convinced her it was also important to make it accessible so they could grow older in the house themselves.

They added an elevator to connect all three levels. In addition, they added a kitchenette and extra washer and drier to the third floor, along with an extra bedroom for a potential future caregiver.

Lawlah reasoned that if they become infirm, they could live just on that floor.

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Lawlah’s come a long way from the tiny South Carolina town of Newberry, where she grew up in the deeply segregated South. But in some ways, she’s following a path her parents laid out.

Because African-Americans weren’t allowed to use the recreation facilities in town, Lawlah’s father, a technical engineer, built for Lawlah and her sister their own regulation-size basketball court on the cornfield they owned. As a result, their home became a haven for the black children in the neighborhood.

Her mother was a teacher, and while Lawlah studied journalism at Hampton University in Virginia, she decided to become a teacher as well. Lawlah met Jack, a native Washingtonian, at Hampton, and they

moved to the District after graduation.

Lawlah taught at Terrell Junior High in D.C. for 30 years and earned her master’s degree in English and administration from Trinity College.

She also became swept up in the farreaching changes for women and AfricanAmericans that began during the late 1960s and continued into the 1980s.

“Those were the heady days of protest and opening doors and shattering glass ceilings and just making way for equality,” she recalled.

She attended the 1984 Democratic National Convention in San Francisco as an alternate for Walter Mondale. While there, she discovered that many male politicians, including Jesse Jackson, didn’t want to include women in their circle.

This led to her helping found the National Political Congress of Black Women to organize greater participation in the political process. Other members included Coretta Scott King, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Donna Brazille and Rosa Parks, “who was my heroine.”

Inspired by the experience, Lawlah decided to run for office herself. She was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1986. Four years later, she became the first woman from Prince George’s County to be elected to the state Senate.

In another step toward diversity, Lawlah said she treasures the intergenerational atmosphere in the Maryland Department of Aging, noting that she has hired some enthusiastic young employees. ”Isn’t that exciting? You’re wedding the latest technology and research and methodology and young people with older people who need these services. Now that, to me, is important.”

As she looks toward the future, Lawlah also reflects back over her long career and what she’s seen in the world of politics.

“I look at everything that happened. We opened the doors for the new women politicians…We helped bring in Barack Obama…We opened the doors wide, so everyone could walk through those doors, and I think it’s wonderful.

“I never dreamed I would see all of these things done,” she said. “It just wows me. I have to pinch myself sometimes.”

Lawlah recently kicked off a weekly callin show on Baltimore's WOLB talk radio, 1010 AM, that the MDOA is sponsoring every Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m. through June. Called "Living Well," the show features a variety of guests, timely topics, and interactive discussions with listeners.

The show is designed to encourage boomers, older adults and their caregivers to think positively and plan ahead for healthy and independent community living.

BEACON BITS

Apr. 28

SETTING BOUNDARIES

Executive coach and consultant Mark Sachs teaches how to set limits and handle boundary conflicts at this seminar on Thursday, April 28 from 7 to 9 p.m. Gain confidence and control, and enjoy more productive relationships with skills learned at this free workshop, which will be held at the Central Branch Library, 10375 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia. Call (410) 313-7850 for more information.

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com | Fitness & Health

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

9

How much protein do you need each day?

By Dr. Celeste Robb-Nicholson Protein is essential in our diets. It forms the structure of the cells in our bodies and participates in almost every cell activity necessary for growth, development and tissue repair. Protein also supplies fuel for meeting the body’s energy needs.

In the normal course of metabolism, the protein in our bodies is broken down into smaller molecules called amino acids. Some of these amino acids are used as fuel. Others are reassembled into protein molecules to replace the protein used each day by our cells.

The protein we eat is also broken down into amino acids. Some of these are “essential amino acids,� so named because the body can’t make them, and they must be obtained through food.

We don’t need to get all the essential amino acids in every protein source, but we do need all of them in our diets. We can’t store amino acids, so we need to replenish them daily through the proteins we eat.

Needs change over time The amount of dietary protein we need every day depends, in part, on weight and physical activity. Some people need to restrict their protein intake because of kidney dysfunction or a metabolic disorder.

But for the average healthy adult, the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) is 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day. (One kilogram equals 2.2 pounds.) That’s about 46 grams for a 128-pound woman.

Sources of protein Hard-boiled egg Serving size: 1 large Protein (grams): 6.3 Cottage cheese, low-fat, 1 percent milkfat Serving size: 1 cup Protein (grams): 28 Cheese, cheddar Serving size: 1 oz Protein (grams): 7.1 Milk, 1 percent Serving size: 1 cup Protein (grams): 8.2 Yogurt, plain, low-fat Serving size: 1 cup Protein (grams): 11.9 Beef, ground, 85 percent lean Serving size: 3 oz.

Protein (grams): 22

Chicken, roasted, white meat Serving size: 3 oz.

Protein (grams): 26.7 Turkey, roasted, white meat Serving size: 3 oz.

Protein (grams): 25.1 Salmon, sockeye Serving size: 3 oz.

Protein (grams): 23.2 Peanut butter, smooth Serving size: 1 tablespoon Protein (grams): 4.0 Potato, baked, medium-sized Serving size: 1 Protein (grams): 5.1 Source: USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 22, “Protein content of selected foods.�

To view it online, visit: www.health. harvard.edu/usda-protein.

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The RDA is higher during childhood, pregnancy, lactation, and recovery from a serious illness, trauma or major surgery — when our bodies have increased protein needs.

Very active people and athletes in training probably need more protein as well, but no special RDAs have been established for such individuals.

The Institute of Medicine recommends that adults get 10 to 35 percent of total daily calories from protein. The percentage should reflect changes in diet and activity level. For example, if a woman reduces her calorie intake, she should consume a larger proportion of those calories as protein, in order to meet her daily requirement.

Most animal sources of protein contain all the essential amino acids, but many vegetable sources do not. To get the full

range of essential amino acids, vegetarians and vegans need to eat a variety of proteincontaining plant-based foods every day.

Animal and vegetable proteins have roughly the same effects in our bodies, but it’s important to pay attention to what comes along with the protein when you make food choices.

For example, steak is a great source of protein but it’s also a source of saturated fat. Poultry and fish are better animal sources of protein, and oily fish such as salmon also provide healthful omega-3 fatty acids.

Beans and whole grains are good protein sources as well as excellent sources of fiber. Š 2011 President and fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc.

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

Brewing up a healthier image for coffee

By Laura Janecka There’s something inexplicable about our relationship with coffee. It percolates through our day from the moment we wake, enlivening our senses and galvanizing us into action. It’s an affair that’s been going on for over 500 years, since the first cafes set up tables in the Middle East.

And it’s now gathering steam as qualityobsessed kiosks add conviviality and connoisseurship to the psychoactive substance for America’s chronically sleep-deprived hordes, more used to medicinally gulping down a cup on the go than stopping to savor the experience.

This new, more appreciative approach to the coffee bean and its handling — fresh-roasting, on-site grinding, custombrewing, and sipping at communal tables — comes just as a whole new array of scientific findings are turning coffee, espe-

cially in its darkest, most aromatic roasts, into something of a health food.

Once demonized for its stimulant powers, coffee has also long been appreciated for its ability to improve alertness, enhance concentration, and ameliorate the effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance.

But stopping to savor the brew and transform it into a social tool was left to the kaveh kanes — coffee houses of 15th century Arabia and, starting in the 17th century, Europe.

Fanning out from the West Coast, the new reverence for coffee bears a striking resemblance to appreciation of wine and cheese. And, as with wine connoisseurship, it starts with terroir, the particular patch of land the coffee is grown on.

An artisanal approach “Specialty” coffee purveyors — as dis-

tinguished from mass-marketed brands using beans of unspecified provenance and age — pride themselves on an artisanal approach and seek out small, sometimes family-run, farms where each hand that plucks a raw coffee berry could belong to a relative or community member.

With their small crops, such farms can maintain a high standard of quality control — and provide a back story about the cultivation and craftsmanship that goes into the beans.

But unlike wine or cheese, java does not improve with age. Once the ripe, red, grape-size “coffee cherry” is plucked from the bush-like tree, the skin and pulp removed, and the inner bean soaked, dried, rested — yes, rested! — shipped, and roasted, decomposition begins.

James Freeman, owner of San Francisco’s noted Blue Bottle (named for Central Europe’s first coffeehouse), prints the

roast date on each bag so consumers can avoid beans gone stale by oxidation.

Grown in 50 countries, coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world, after oil. And although specialty coffee makes up only 10 percent of java consumed, it’s still an $8 billion business.

Depending on the country, coffee is harvested once or twice a year, although in countries like Kenya, straddling the equator, growers harvest coffee year-round.

Farms cultivate either the Arabica or Robusta species of bean.

Most specialty coffee utilizes the finer Arabica, while mass-produced brands favor the slightly bitter Robusta, which is less selective about its habitat and can be harvested large-scale. It also has more caffeine.

Part science, part art, coffee roasting takes the green coffee beans and caramelizes them to varying degrees, releasing their natural oils and aroma. And then they are ground and ready for brewing.

A pressurized brewing process like espresso (the basis for cappuccino and latte, as well) concentrates the flavors and extracts all the beneficial compounds in coffee. It has more caffeine per ounce than any other beverage, but it takes a doppio — a double shot, to you, grazie — to supply you with as much caffeine as a cup of drip-brewed coffee.

It’s no secret that caffeine boosts mental performance. It keeps attention focused and elevates mood. Studies conducted by the military show that it improves reaction time, vigilance, and logical reasoning, especially when you’re tired. Neuroscientists attribute caffeine’s effect on alertness to its ability to bind to adenosine receptors and to stimulate dopamine release.

Antioxidant benefits But there’s much more to coffee than caffeine. Researchers have found that coffee boosts a sense of well-being independent of its caffeine content, and that there are many other pharmacologically active substances in the brew.

Coffee is the number one source of cellprotecting antioxidants in the U.S. diet.

Green coffee beans contain about a thousand antioxidants; roasting adds some 300 more, most of them unique to coffee.

Many of the compounds have biological effects, from minimizing inflammation to favorably affecting glucose metabolism.

The health effects of antioxidants cover a broad range, as oxidation is a major factor in brain aging, cardiovascular disease, cancer and many other diseases. Coffee compounds also deter Parkinson’s disease and offset Alzheimer’s disease.

In a recent study of nearly 70,000 French women, conducted by scientists at the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil, researchers probed the ability of coffee to deter diabetes.

They looked at the impact of coffee on insulin metabolism in relation to the amount of coffee and the time of day it was consumed.

Consumption of both regular and decafSee COFFEE, page 13

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You’re on top of your medications.

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You know it’s important to stay on your medications exactly as prescribed.

However, if you miss a dose, want a lower-cost alternative, or experience any side effects, we can answer any questions. Speak to your local CVS Pharmacist to learn more.

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

13

Brush your teeth to protect your heart Dear Pharmacist: published a study that lends major support to Heart disease runs in my family, so the recommendation to keep the mouth clear naturally I’m worried. A of plaque. The researchers friend told me that brushing looked at results from the Scotyour teeth can prevent heart tish Health Survey, which coldisease. I was polite, but I lected health data from more don’t believe him. Can this than 11,000 men and women, a be true? representative sampling of the — K.M. general population of Scotland.

Dear K.M.: Over a period of eight years, You’re friend is right. Oral the researchers recorded 555 hygiene is very important to cardiovascular “events” (inheart health. In 2005, recluding heart attacks, strokes searchers at Columbia Univer- DEAR and similar problems), 170 of sity Medical Center found that PHARMACIST which were fatal. the bacteria that grow in your By Suzy Cohen Now here’s where the mouth — promoting the forstudy gets really interesting mation of plaque on your pearly whites and from a tooth-brushing point of view. Even causing gum disease — are the same allowing for things like smoking, obesity germs that contribute to plaque forming in and poor diet, the London researchers your arteries to cause heart disease. found that those who reported that they Sounds to me like a darned good reason seldom or never brushed their teeth to brush and floss each day. (By the way, if were 70 percent more likely to experiyou avoid bacon because of cholesterol ence a cardiovascular event than those concerns, I actually found bacon-flavored who paid greater attention to dental care. dental floss on the Internet!)

It’s so easy to brush and floss your Earlier this year, researchers in London teeth, and now you know it impacts the

health of your most important muscle.

Even people with dentures have to be vigilant about plaque formation.

Everyone should visit a dental hygienist twice a year for a thorough exam and cleaning. I’m shy about X-rays, so I just opt for the cleaning when I go. A good dentist office will respect your wishes and not pressure you for X-rays each time.

Here’s another idea to make your mouth healthier and less of a host to plaque forming bacteria. Scrape your tongue. You can buy a tongue scraper at any pharmacy and all you have to do is use it after you brush your teeth.

Draw the scraper gently down your tongue a few times, and rinse it after each scrape. That brownish white gunk that comes off your tongue? That’s mostly bacteria. Flushing that down the sink is much better than swallowing them. This is great for people with bad breath, too.

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

Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist and the author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist and Real Solutions from Head to Toe. To contact her, visit www.dearpharmacist.com.

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LOW VISION SUPPORT SPRING (Senior Peer Resources: Individuals, Networks & Groups),

a peer support program of the Office on Aging, offers three low-vision peer support group meetings. The groups meet weekly on Tuesdays: 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 2 p.m. at the Bain Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia; also 12:30 to 2 p.m. at Ellicott City Senior Center, 9401 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City. Learn coping strategies and techniques for living with vision loss, plus get emotional support from others who are dealing with the same concerns. For more informa-

Coffee From page 10 feinated coffee with meals, and especially with lunch, was inversely related to diabetes incidence. Only black coffee had an effect; not coffee with milk.

Coffee inhibits iron absorption, and body iron stores are known to increase the risk of diabetes. However, the researchers found, the inhibition of iron absorption occurs only when coffee and the iron source are consumed at the same time, as at lunch or dinner. (Having coffee at dinner does not have an additional benefit beyond

that provided by sipping at lunch.)

But coffee delivers at least a one-two punch against diabetes. While the polyphenol antioxidants in coffee block iron absorption, researchers found that other antioxidants in coffee — like chlorogenic acid — slow the release of glucose into the bloodstream after a meal.

So sit back, relax, chat with the other folks nearby, and down that espresso with impunity. Just skip the latte.

— Psychology Today © 2011 Sussex Publishers. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc.

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Health Studies Page

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

THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Help develop a better shingles vaccine

By Carol Sorgen If you have had chickenpox — and more than 90 percent of adults in America have — you are at risk for developing shingles.

Shingles is a painful, blistering skin rash caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox.

Once you have had chickenpox, usually as a child, the virus remains inactive in certain nerves in the body. Shingles occurs after the virus becomes active again many years later, though the reason why it suddenly re-activates is not clear. Shingles can affect anyone at any time without warning.

A vaccine to prevent shingles has been available for several years. Adults over the age of 50 who receive the vaccine are less likely to develop shingles or to have complications from it if they do.

Finding a better vaccine Columbia Medical Practice is currently conducting a clinical study that is investigating a new shingles vaccine. Volunteers for the study are being sought now.

“We would like to have a more effective vaccine that offers even greater protection,” said Christine Pierre, president of

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Affordable • Locations • Services

Rx Trials, which is coordinating the study.

According to the National Institutes of Health, shingles may develop in any age group, but is most likely to occur if you are older than 60, had chickenpox before age 1, and have a weakened immune system because of medications or disease.

In addition to the characteristic blistering rash (usually preceded by pain, tingling or burning), additional symptoms of shingles may include: abdominal pain, chills, difficulty moving some of the muscles in the face, fever, chills and headache.

Shingles sufferers may also experience drooping eyelid and loss of eye motion, taste and vision problems, as well as hearing loss if shingles affects the nerves in their head.

Shingles usually clears up in two to three weeks and rarely recurs. If, however, the virus affects the nerves that control movement, you may develop temporary or permanent weakness or paralysis.

Additionally, the pain in the area where the shingles occurred may go on for months or even years. This condition, called postherpetic neuralgia, occurs from shingles-related nerve damage. The pain ranges from mild to very severe and is more likely to occur in people over 60.

While treatments are available for shin-

gles — including antiviral medications to reduce pain and complications, and anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce swelling — it is best not to get shingles in the first place as the treatments are not always effective.

Taking part in the study Participants in the Columbia Medical Practice study, who must be 50 or older, will be divided into two groups: One group will receive a placebo; the other, the new shingles vaccine, given in two injections.

The groups will be followed for three to five years to see if they develop shingles, and if so, how severe was the case, and whether complications arose.

There is no upper age limit for volunteers. In fact, the older, the better, Pierre said, since one out of two people who live to 85 will have shingles.

If you have already had the shingles vaccine or have had shingles, you are not eligible to participate in the study.

Participants will receive $40 per office visit and $5 per phone consultation. There is no cost to participate, and health insurance is not required.

The study is recruiting only through the end of May, so interested participants need to call soon. For more information, call (410) 505-5594.

BEACON BITS Affordable Living For Those 62 or Better

Ongoing

The Alzheimer’s Association has support groups for patients and caregivers throughout Howard County. Call 1-800-272-3900 to find the one nearest you.

Anne Arundel County

Eastern Shore

• Park View at Furnace Branch: 410-761-4150

• Park View at Easton: 410-770-3070

• Park View at Severna Park: 410-544-3411

Harford County

Baltimore City

• Park View at Box Hill: 410-515-6115

• Park View at Ashland Terrace: 410-276-6440

• Park View at Bel Air: 410-893-0064

• Park View at Coldspring: 410-542-4400

Howard County

Baltimore County

• Park View at Colonial Landing: 410-796-4399

• Park View at Catonsville: 410-719-9464

• Park View at Columbia: 410-381-1118

• Park View at Dundalk: 410-288-5483

• Park View at Snowden River: 410-290-0384

• Park View at Fullerton: 410-663-0665

• Park View at Ellicott City: 410-203-9501

• Park View at Miramar Landing: 410-391-8375

• Park View at Ellicott City II: 410-203-2096

• Park View at Randallstown: 410-655-5673

• Park View at Emerson: 301-483-3322

• Park View at Rosedale: 410-866-1886

Prince Georges County

• Timothy House (Towson): 410-828-7185

* Park View at Bladensburg: 301-699-9785

• Park View at Taylor: 410-663-0363

• Park View at Laurel: 301-490-1526

• Park View at Woodlawn: 410-281-1120

• Park View at Laurel II: 301-490-9730

ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT

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Call 410-246-7499 or Email SeniorLiving@sheltergrp.com to inquire about eligibility requirements and to arrange a private tour.

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15

Ignore most health claims on food labels Q: When the label of a food or supple- you polish off a seven-ounce solid choco- plant foods. ucts or alternatives will meet the protein ment says that it supports the immune late bunny, you’ve consumed more than Beans, nuts and seeds are the most con- requirements of most adults. system, does that mean it 1,000 extra calories. centrated sources of plant protein, and If you prefer to omit or minimize meat or will help prevent cancer, or As with all treats, limit por- they provide fiber, magnesium, potassium dairy products, you will also get protein well does it refer only to fighting tions, substitute it for some and natural protective phytochemicals. above the Dietary Reference Intake (RDI) if off colds and flu? other higher calorie treat, and Grains and vegetables also supply small each day you include about three servings A: Here’s the confusing part eat it when you can sit down amounts of protein that add up when you of vegetarian sources of protein — such as for shoppers: It doesn’t necesand really taste and fully enjoy make them a major part of your meals. beans, nuts and seeds. One serving of beans sarily mean the food or suppleit.

As you eat less of the animal sources of is ½ cup; seeds and nuts are 1 ounce each. ment will do either one.

Behavior researchers also protein, keep in mind the need for balance.

The American Institute for Cancer ReA food or supplement comadvise us to limit how much If you eat very little meat, you can’t just eat search offers a Nutrition Hotline, 1-800pany might be able to make a candy we bring home, because a rice cake and plain salad and assume 843-8114, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday “structure/function claim” the odds are that once it comes you’ve met nutrient needs. through Friday. This free service allows you like this one because a prod- NUTRITION home with you, it may disapAs you shift the balance of plant and ani- to ask questions about diet, nutrition and uct contains vitamin A, C, B-6, WISE pear faster than you planned. mal foods on your plate, look for places cancer. A registered dietitian will return D or E, for example. But the By Karen Collins, Q: Can the plant-based diet you can include beans (in salads, soups, your call, usually within three business days. food might contain as little as MS, RD, CDM you so often recommend re- casseroles and more), as well as nuts and Courtesy of the American Institute for 10 percent of the recommendally provide enough protein? seeds.

Cancer Research. Questions for this column ed daily amount of one of these nutrients.

A: Yes, people sometimes think of proA mostly plant-based diet that includes may be sent to “Nutrition Wise,” 1759 R St., Actually, our immune systems require a tein as only coming from meat and dairy five to six ounces a day of lean poultry, fish N.W., Washington, DC 20009. Collins canhost of nutrients, including enough protein products, but we also get protein from or meat and three servings of dairy prod- not respond to questions personally. and calories to produce antibodies, in order to function well.

Try not to get distracted by claims like this on the front of food packages. Focus on choosing plenty of unprocessed whole grains, vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts and seeds, and check the Nutrient Facts panel for sodium, fiber or fat content information.

Don’t let front-of-package claims that may have questionable support convince you to pay more for something that’s not really better or to buy something unhealthy hoping it could actually be good for you.

Q: Easter candy is everywhere now.

Can I avoid gaining weight by choosing jelly beans, marshmallow candies or other low or no-fat sweets?

A: The most important step for keeping candy, whether high in fat or not, from causing unwanted weight gain is portion control.

A quarter-cup of jelly beans (a portion CURRENTLY ENROLLING FOR A the size of a golf ball or egg) or a serving of five marshmallow chicks has about 160 VACCINE CLINICAL RESEARCH STUDY calories. Even though there’s no fat added, these candies have as much sugar as a 12ounce can of regular soda.

A small one-ounce piece of chocolate contains slightly fewer calories, but some people fool themselves by just eating a bite here and there without paying attention to You may be eligible if you: how much it adds up.

■ are a healthy adult 50 years of age or older In the end, whether you eat it all at once ■ have never had shingles or received a shingles vaccination or mindlessly nibble a bit at a time, when

Vaccines Save Lives 410.505.5594

SHINGLES (Herpes Zoster)

BEACON BITS

May 15

Compensation available for time and travel

Investigator: Dr. Marshall Freedman

A POSITIVE ATTITUDE

Self talk (or internal dialogue) influences attitudes and behaviors, career choices and relationships. Susan Samakow, certified business and life coach, shows how eight key strategies can transform mindsets and encourage civility at a seminar on Monday, May 9 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Central Branch Library, 10375 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia. Call (410) 313-7850 for more information.

If you would like more information about this study, please call 410.505.5594. We will answer any questions and set up your appointment. Thank you for considering volunteering for a clinical research study.

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

VOLUME 1, NO. 2 • MAY 2011

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A Message from Sue Vaeth

Howard County Office on Aging Administrator

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Don’t miss the 2011 Gospel Extravaganza

Celebrate Older Americans Month with Us

Every May, during Older Americans Month, we take time to show our appreciation and support for seniors, and to recognize the many ways they continue to enrich and strengthen our Howard County communities.

The Office on Aging is pleased to offer special activities and events this month at each of our senior centers which carry out the theme of this year’s celebration — Older Americans: Connecting the Community.

I urge you to take part in one or more of these special events; if you have never visited a senior center before, this is a great time to stop in and see what you have been missing!

We have listed just a few of the options on these pages. Visit our website, www.howardcountyaging.org, for many more opportunities to get out, get active, and show your pride to be an older American.

Kindred Spirits Social Club

Designed to meet the needs of individuals with a medical diagnosis of early memory loss or a related memory disorder, the Kindred Spirits Social Club offers a safe, nurturing environment for those walking the same journey to come together for socialization, companionship, support, education, and a sense of purpose.

This innovative pilot program is a partnership between the Office on Aging and the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Maryland Chapter.

The Social Club meets at the Glenwood 50+ Center on Wednesdays and Fridays, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., offering structured therapeutic support activities such as music, art and yoga. The $26 per day fee also includes coffee and tea, snacks and a nutritionally balanced lunch. For more information, contact Judy Miller, 410-313-5441 or email jumiller@howardcountymd.gov

The 2011 Gospel Extravaganza commences Saturday, April 30 at 6 p.m. at the Jim Rouse Theater for the Performing Arts at Wilde Lake High School, 5460 Trumpeter Lane, Columbia. Presented by the Office on Aging and the Tau Pi Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, the ninth annual event will feature spiritual vocal performances by Gospel Revelations, Sons of Harmony, the James Fenimore Cooper Male Chorus and the McDaniel College Gospel Choir (pictured, above), plus a riveting steel drum performance by Tage’ on Steel. Tickets are $20 for adults, $8 for children 12 and under, and are available from the Office on Aging.

Proceeds benefit the Vivian L. Reid Community Fund and the Tau Pi Foundation Scholarship Fund. Call 410-313-6410 or visit www.howardcountyaging.org for more information.

Howard County Senior Centers

THE BAIN CENTER 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia / 410-313-7213 EAST COLUMBIA 50+ CENTER 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia / 410-313-7680 ELKRIDGE SENIOR CENTER 6540 Washington Blvd., Elkridge / 410-313-5192 ELLICOTT CITY SENIOR CENTER 9401 Frederick Road, Ellicott City / 410-313-1400 GLENWOOD 50+ CENTER 2400 Route 97, Cooksville / 410-313-5440 LONGWOOD SENIOR CENTER 6150 Foreland Garth, Columbia / 410-313-7217 SAVAGE SENIOR CENTER 9525 Durness Lane, Laurel / 410-880-5915 ELLICOTT CITY SENIOR CENTER PLUS 9401 Frederick Road, Ellicott City / 410-313-1425 GLENWOOD SENIOR CENTER PLUS 2400 Route 97, Cooksville / 410-313-5442 OWEN BROWN SENIOR CENTER PLUS 7080 Cradlerock Way, Columbia / 410-313-7218

Maryland Access Point of Howard County (MAP) 410-313-5980 / 1-800-506-5806 / Maryland Relay 711

Email: map@howardcountymd.gov Website: www.marylandaccesspoint.info Maryland Access Point (MAP) is the information, referral and assistance arm of the Howard County Office on Aging. MAP provides information and assistance for adults age 50 and older, or age 18 and older with a disability, and their family members or caregivers, who are looking for services to help them remain in the community and lead full lives.

The Senior Connection is published monthly by the Howard County Office on Aging, Department of Citizen Services. We welcome your comments and suggestions. To contact us, or to join our email subscriber list, email seniorconnection@howardcountymd.gov with ‘subscribe’ in the subject box.

The Senior Connection from Howard County Office on Aging 6751 Columbia Gateway Drive, Columbia, MD 21046 410-313-6410 | www.howardcountyaging.org Sue Vaeth, Administrator Advertising contained in the Beacon is not endorsed by the Howard County Office on Aging or by the publisher.

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

Coming Events

Wed., May 4, Noon – Older Americans Month Celebration, Glenwood 50+ Center Featuring dancing to the music of “Pet Rock”; for information, call 410-313-5440.

Fri., May 6, 10 a.m. to noon – Mother's Day Hat & Tea Brunch, The Bain Center A Mother's Day Celebration filled with food, fun and music. Cost: $5, includes brunch and live entertainment. Call 410-313-7213 for reservations.

Tues., May 10, 7 p.m. — Howard County Commission on Aging Recognition Awards, The Bain Center RSVP to coa@howardcountymd.gov or to Kathleen Krintz, 410-313-6079. Free.

Wed., May 11, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. — “Goodbye Savage — Hello North Laurel” Celebration, Savage Senior Center After 14 years, Savage Senior Center is moving – join us for lite fare and learn about our new quarters in the North Laurel Community Center.

RSVP to Edie Bennett, 410-880-5915, by May 4.

Tues., May 17, 11 a.m. — Lou Redd Performs, Ellicott City Senior Center Music and comedy by the reigning Howard County Senior Idol, Lou Redd; sign up early, space is limited. Call 410-313-1400 for information.

The Senior Connection

Tuesday, May 17, 5:30 to 7 p.m. — Mental Health Players, The Bain Center The Mental Health Players will perform vignettes on the sandwich caregiver, work stress, and downsizing. Free; refreshments served. Call 410-3137213 to register. Presented by SPRING.

Fri., May 20, 4 to 7 p.m. — Older Americans Day Spring Fling Celebration, The Bain Center Join the Bain Center Council to enjoy fine dining, with a cash bar and a live band. Cost: $12.50 per person, due by May 6. Call 410313-7213 for reservations.

Tues., May 17, 7 to 9 p.m. — Local Author Showcase, East Columbia Meet and greet local authors as they discuss their latest works and share tips about the creative process. Call 410-313-7700 to register.

Sun., May 22, 2 p.m. — The Show Time Singers Live in Concert, Ellicott City Senior Center Free tickets available beginning May 9 (donations accepted to benefit the Linwood Center).

For information, call 410-313-1400.

Wed., May 18 — "Better not Older," Elkridge Senior Center Enjoy a chair massage, facial, blood pressure check, manicure, and more! Cost: $4; includes lunch. For reservations, call 410-313-5192.

Wed., May 18, noon — Brunch with Us, Longwood Senior Center Enjoy a delightful brunch with the Longwood Community. Suggested donation: $3. For reservations, call 410-313-7217.

Wed., May 18, 11 a.m. to noon — Dr. Dan Storch, Savage Senior Center Join Dr. Storch, older adult specialist, for an enlightening discussion. Free.

17

Wed., May 25, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. — AARP Driver Safety Program, East Columbia 50+ Center Refreshing your driving skills may qualify you for lower insurance rates. Cost: $12 (AARP members), $14 (non-members). Call 410-3137680 to register.

Fridays, beginning May 27, 9 a.m. — Meditation, Glenwood 50+Center This class will focus on deep relaxation, rejuvenation and healing; taught by Susan Kane.

Cost: $25.50 for 8 weeks. For information, call 410-313-5440.

“New” Dietary Guidelines for Americans

By Rona Martiyan, MS, RD, LDN, Office on Aging Nutritionist Happy Older Americans Month! Did you know that there are new Dietary Guidelines for Americans which provide nutritional advice for both congregate and home delivered meal programs as well as individuals to follow? These new guidelines also include recommendations specific to older adults, including: • If you are overweight, try not to gain any additional weight. Older adults who are obese, espe-

cially those at risk for heart disease, can decrease • Choose low fat varieties of dairy foods (milk, their risk of disease and increase their quality of life yogurt); choose whole grains (whole wheat breads by losing weight. and cereals made with whole grains); and foods • Get regular physical activity. As little as 10 with no trans fats. minutes of activity at a time, for a total of 30 minTo schedule a free one-on-one nutritional counselutes a day, 5 days a week is ideal, but any activity is ing session with Rona Martiyan, call Maryland Access better than none at all; just do as much as you can! Point (MAP), 410-313-5980, or contact a senior Check out one of the many activities at senior cen- center near you for an appointment. ters that focus on maintaining strength and balance.

As far as what you eat, there are several things to think about: • Be aware of the amount of sodium in the foods you eat.

Bethany Lane Baptist Church New recommendations call for less than 1,500 mg of sodium 3030 Bethany Lane per day if you are age 51 or Ellicott City, MD 21042 older; are African American; or already have high blood pressure, Fridays, May 6, 13, 20, 27, diabetes or chronic kidney disJune 3, June 10 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. ease. Check the Nutrition Facts on food labels to make sure you Learn techniques to cope with the frustration, fatigue, aren’t eating too much sodium; pain and isolation often associated with chronic conditions it adds up fast! such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and • Vitamin B12 is one vitamin obesity. Also, learn exercises to maintain and improve strength, that older adults often need but flexibility and endurance, and how to communicate more do not get enough of. Adding effectively with family, friends and health professionals.

B12 fortified foods such as cereals The class and accompanying materials cost $28. to your diet, or taking suppleIf you are interested, contact Maryland Access Point ments, is encouraged for those (MAP) at 410-313-5980. over age 50.

“Living Well...Take Charge of Your Health”

18

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

Money Law &

TAKE STOCK OF CERTIFICATES Old stock certificates may still have value even if the company is no longer in existence AN INFLATION-PROOF PORTFOLIO Inflation is expected to rise this year.

Invest in I-bonds and TIPS to help stem its effect on your portfolio THE FUTURE OF MEDICAID Budget cutting fever may lead to some big changes in Medicaid at both the federal and state levels

Should you invest in potential high-flyers?

By Dave Carpenter Stocks that rocket out of nowhere are a dangerous temptation for the average investor.

If only you could catch the next Netflix, Apple or Google before it takes off, you’d really make some serious money, right?

The problem is that line of thinking mixes investing with gambling. And you shouldn’t dip into savings or jeopardize your financial security in the hope you’ll hit a stock market home run.

But if you’re meeting your financial needs and not taking undue risks, it’s OK to take a small flier on a stock that could hit it big.

“You can’t go without dessert all the time,” said Charles Rotblut, vice president of the American Association of Individual Investors.

A small portion of your portfolio can have an excess of risk. “You just don’t want [the equivalent of] Boston cream pie every day.”

Watch out for a nosedive There are plenty of recent precedents to

fuel stock fantasies.

Netflix Inc.’s stock has quadrupled in barely a year. Shares in the movie subscription service have gone from under $50 a share in January 2010 to above $235.

And it’s not just tech stocks that can skyrocket. Shares of CME Group Inc., which operates securities exchanges including the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, rose more than 20-fold in its first five years after going public. The price shot from $35 to $714 between 2002 and 2007. And Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. has soared about 1,400 percent in five years.

High fliers, however, can turn into deep divers.

The stock of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. tripled in less than a year. It reached a high of nearly $50 in 2003 before crumbling to under $5 within two years.

Before that was eToys, the Internet retailer whose shares went from $20 to $84 to 9 cents in less than two years during the dot-com bubble.

For that reason, many financial advisers frown on the idea of buying stock “lottery tickets.” Investors need to be prepared to lose that money because it’s very hard to pick such stocks, said Eleanor Blayney, consumer advocate for the nonprofit Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards.

“I’d rather see people look at a small-cap growth fund and enjoy the bounce up that may be expected,” Blayney said.

Some companies to consider If you have that appetite for extra risk and some extra money, however, there are some under-the-radar stocks with well-run businesses and promising futures.

As with any stock, you want one with strong management, demonstrated potential, and a business you can understand. And you should look for one with a unique product or service that can benefit from a broader trend — as Netflix did with its movies-bymail service and then streaming video.

Here are three companies that have the

potential to see significant jumps in their stock prices: Financial Engines Inc. (FNGN) Sector: Financial services Headquarters: Palo Alto, Calif.

Mid-March stock price: $23.20 Financial Engines provides portfolio management services and retirement planning help to participants in 401(k)s and other employer-sponsored retirement plans. Customers include individual investors, large companies and financial advisers.

The company is well-positioned to benefit from the continuing transition from traditional pension programs to more self-directed retirement accounts, according to Chris Retzler, manager of the top-performing Needham Small Cap Growth fund, which holds the stock.

Its fee-based business model — earning fees based on assets under management — See HIGH-FLYERS, page 19

Answers to questions about Medicare

By Kimberly Lankford Q: I just received my first Medicare Part B bill of the year, and my monthly premium is $115.40, rather than the $96.40 that most people are paying.

Why am I paying so much more than everyone else? I don’t earn enough to be hit by the high-income surcharge, and I’ve been covered by Medicare for several years. I’m 68, but I haven’t started collecting Social Security benefits.

A: You are correct: Most people are still paying $96.40 per month for Medicare Part B benefits, which cover doctors’ visits and outpatient care. That’s because the majority of Medicare beneficiaries are protected by the so-called hold-harmless provision, which prohibits their Social Security benefits from going down in any year.

Here’s how it works: There was no costof-living adjustment in Social Security benefits for 2011 because inflation has been so low. Because most people have their monthly Medicare premiums deducted from their Social Security check, applying the increase in Medicare Part B premiums would have resulted in a reduced benefit.

Therefore, most existing Medicare beneficiaries are exempt from the premium increase. But because you do not yet collect Social Security benefits, you’re not protected by the hold-harmless provision and you have to pay the increased premium for Medicare Part B. There are other exceptions. People who enroll in Medicare Part B for the first time in 2011 are not protected by the holdharmless provision because they have not received Medicare benefits in the past.

Likewise, retirees who aren’t part of the Social Security system — for example, some former public-sector employees — are not protected by the hold-harmless provision. Both groups must pay the $115.40 monthly premium.

A few other groups will also pay more than $96.40 a month for Part B. Retirees who enrolled in 2010 will pay $110.50 per month, which is the same premium that they paid last year.

And individuals with modified adjusted gross income of $85,000 or more (or $170,000 or more if married filing jointly) will pay a high-income surcharge on both

their Part B and their Part D premiums.

For more information about who pays what Medicare premiums in 2011, see the Kiplinger article “How Much You’ll Pay for Medicare in 2011” at http://bitly.com/ MedicareCosts.

Q. What is expected to happen to Medicare and Social Security premiums in 2012?

A. Millions of retired and disabled people in the United States had better brace for another year with no increase in Social Security payments.

The government is projecting a slight upward cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security benefits next year, the first increase since 2009.

But for beneficiaries whose Medicare premiums are deducted from their Social Security, the increased cost of Medicare is expected to wipe out any increase in Social Security benefits, leaving them without a raise for a third straight year.

As explained above, when Medicare premiums rise and Social Security benefits don’t, most beneficiaries don’t see their benefit check go down because of the hold-

harmless provision. But even in years when Social Security payments rise, if Medicare premiums rise as much or more, beneficiaries won’t see their checks go up, either.

David Certner of AARP estimates that as many as three-fourths of beneficiaries will have their entire Social Security increase swallowed by rising Medicare premiums next year.

Q: How does Medicare Part D’s new 50 percent discount on brand-name prescription drugs work for seniors affected by the so-called doughnut hole?

Doesn’t it just mean that we end up in the doughnut hole for longer?

A: The prescription-drug coverage gap, known as the doughnut hole, has been the big downside of the Medicare Part D program since it was launched in 2006.

But beginning in 2011, the gap will start to shrink. Once your total drug costs reach $2,840 for the year (including your share and the insurer’s share of the costs), you will get a 50 percent discount on your brand-name drugs.

See MEDICARE, page 19

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

High-flyers From page 18 should help it grow significantly, particularly as inflation increases, Retzler said.

The stock price has doubled since the company went public last May at $12 a share, lifting its market capitalization to over $1 billion.

Imax Corp. (IMAX) Sector: Leisure Headquarters: Toronto Mid-March stock price: $26.58 Imax, which provides the technology for giant-screen movies, already has taken off.

Shares have gone from $4 to $27 in two years and doubled just since July, propelled partly by rumors that Sony or Dis-

Medicare From page 18 Your pharmacy will apply the discount automatically when you purchase the medications. After your out-of-pocket costs reach $4,550 for the year, you qualify for catastrophic coverage and your Part D plan picks up most of the tab.

As you mention, this discount would have merely left you in the doughnut hole longer if they hadn’t changed the way the doughnut hole is calculated, too.

ney could take it over.

Still, the stock is poised to rise even higher thanks to the company’s joint-venture expansion strategy and the improving economy, which is encouraging moviegoers and moviemakers alike to spend more on higher-priced Imax films. As an early adopter of 3-D technology, it also will benefit as filmmakers pile into that trend.

The company shares its earnings with film companies and theater owners, which has accelerated the installation of new Imax theaters and motivated studios to make more Imax-compatible films.

With fewer than 500 theaters nationwide, it is still relatively early in the adoption phase, according to Rob Lutts, chief investment officer of Cabot Money Man-

agement in Salem, Mass. His firm has owned the stock since 2009 and bought more last fall, with Lutts citing its “killer” business model and huge opportunities both in the rural U.S. and abroad.

“You can’t underestimate the American appetite for high-quality entertainment, and Imax theaters certainly deliver that,” he said.

SodaStream International Ltd. (SODA) Sector: Consumer goods Headquarters: Airport City, Israel Mid-March stock price: $42.65 Long established in Israel, the maker of home carbonating systems held a public offering here in November and now sells in U.S. retail chains including Bed Bath & Beyond, Macy’s and Williams-Sonoma.

SodaStream’s soda-making machines,

which cost $80 and up, turn tap water into sparkling water and soft drinks. During the third quarter of 2010, the company reported $57 million in revenue from selling 449,000 soda makers in 41 countries. As evidence of what could happen if it catches on here, it has sold a million of the kits in Sweden.

The company has potential similar to Green Mountain Coffee and its single-cup brewing business, according to Dave Dispennette, founder and president of The Stock Playbook, a Florida-based stock advisory service.

“Just as many people drink soda as coffee, maybe more,” he said. “It’s a product that has phenomenal growth in front of it.”

The stock has doubled since its first day of U.S. trading in November.

— AP

To avoid this problem, the entire cost of the drug — before the 50 percent discount is applied — counts toward the amount needed to fill the coverage gap. If the drug costs $100, for example, and you pay $50, the entire $100 will count toward your out-of-pocket costs that trigger catastrophic coverage.

The discount comes off the price that the Part D plan has negotiated with the pharmacy for that specific drug, said Jim Turner of Humana. The dispensing fee (often $2 to $5) isn’t discounted, but it is added to the discounted amount of the pre-

scription and does count toward the $4,550 in out-of-pocket costs.

Also starting this year, you’ll only pay 93 percent of the cost of generic drugs, with the government picking up the remaining 7 percent. But in this case, only the 93 per-

cent of the cost that you pay yourself counts toward leaving the doughnut hole. © 2011 Kiplinger. All rights reserved.

Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc. The Associated Press also contributed to this article.

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May 10

DEVELOP YOUR OWN BRAND

Develop and implement a winning “brand” that sets you apart from your competition whether you’re climbing the corporate ladder or at the helm of your own business. The American Association of University Women Howard County and Jennifer Ransaw Smith of ROAR are partnering to present this workshop. The workshop is a fundraiser for AAUW Howard County (www.aauwhocomd.org) to raise money for its philanthropic funds, including scholarships. The event will be held on Tuesday, May 10, at 6:30 p.m., at Historic Oakland Manor on Vantage Point Rd. in Columbia. Donation is $35. To register, contact Jennifer Ingram at aauwhocomembers@gmail.com or (410) 7404276 by May 6. Pre-registration required.

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

Old stock certificates may still have value

By Joyce B. Siegel “No value,” my stockbroker said to me.

“You might just as well use ‘em for wallpaper.

Just toss them.” He was talking about the pile of stock certificates my husband and I found more than 20 years ago when we were cleaning out my father-in-law’s house.

This was just after I’d found a stash of mint condition U.S. postage stamp blocks I’d put aside, hoping one day they’d be valuable. I took them to a philately store for evaluation. “Lick ‘em and stick ‘em,” the stamp expert said. “They are only worth the face value.”

Lick ‘em and stick ‘em is just what I did.

Every letter I sent out was a display of the history of American postage stamps. So I didn’t find any amazing treasures there.

After my disappointment with the stamps, I had a hard time accepting that the stock certificates were worthless. The

only way I could research the companies that I was told were “belly up” was through my broker and some publications on company history he provided, so I had to accept his judgment. We didn’t have computer search engines back then.

But as certain as he was that the stocks were worthless, I couldn’t bear to throw them away. They were attractive products in their own right, carefully engraved work of craftsmen. I filed them away. After all, they didn’t take up much space.

Tracking down old companies Then, a few years ago, traveling on Amtrak between D.C. and New York, I looked up from a book I was reading. It was a second’s worth of serendipity.

There, somewhere in New Jersey, were newly painted oil tanks clearly labeled Meenan Oil. Wait a sec! I had a stock certifi-

cate for several thousand shares of Meenan Oil, but I was told the company was defunct.

By the time this happened, I had a computer and access to online search engines.

As soon as I got home I hunted for Meenan, and sure enough, it was still in existence. It had simply gone from a public to a privately held company.

I contacted the company’s finance officer at its Long Island New York headquarters.

He told me a fund had been established to pay off old stockholders. My husband sent in the necessary paperwork and we received a check for several thousand dollars.

Inspired, I took out the pile of my fatherin-law’s “valueless” stocks and started looking into what had happened to the companies whose shares were supposed to be worthless. I found four more that had gone from publicly held to privately held.

We reaped a few thousand dollars more.

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Last resort — collectors Two companies absolutely no longer existed, but there were two small businesses with the exact name as the defunct companies. Both small business owners were intrigued and asked if they could buy the stock certificate to display in their offices.

No problem, I said. We earned $100 more.

If you have old stock certificates you may have the same luck. You may have some certificates of interest to collectors.

There are businesses that buy and sell old stock certificates, and individuals hawking them on eBay, Amazon, etc. The buying, selling, displaying and collecting of old stock certificates is called scripophily. Does that make me a scripophilist?

Why do these old certificates fascinate so many people? For starters, just as I found out with my Meenan moment, they may actually have some retained value.

Some currently profitable companies were once organized under different names, but the old certificates are still valid.

Xerox, for instance, was first called Haloid, then Haloid Xerox and in the 1960s, it became just plain Xerox. If you had a share of Haloid and held on to it, you’d find it’s now worth a bundle.

American Oil Company became AMOCO and then was bought by BP. Who knows what that’s worth these days?

Some certificates may have some special, historic value, representing an especially interesting aspect of our nation’s past. Some may be signed by an “important” person like J.P. Morgan, Rockefeller, Eastman of Eastman Kodak or Henry Ford. Who knows? Some are valuable because of the quality of the engraving.

Gone are the days when stock certificates are held in “bearer form” by individual investors. Now they’re in electronic form and held “in street name” on brokers’ computers. The use of paper stocks ended around the 1990s.

Old stock certificates are getting increasingly rare, so while they may have no redeemable value as a security, they may have value to collectors (as long as they’re in pretty good condition). Either way, it may be fun — and worth a little detective work to find out if you have some treasures….or just wallpaper.

Joyce B. Siegel is a freelance writer in N. Bethesda, Md.

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May 17

TRAVELING HEART SHOW

In celebration of Older Americans Month, the Bain Center will feature the Music & Art Traveling Heart Show that pays homage to the ways in which older adults bring inspiration and continuity to the fabric of our communities. The free event will take place on Tuesday, May 17 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Bain Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia, Md. Call (410) 313-7213 for reservations and more information.

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21

Ways to inflation-proof your fund portfolio

By Dave Carpenter Warnings of high inflation ahead have been around so long it’s easy for investors to take them for granted. Heavy government spending was supposed to have driven inflation sharply upward. Some experts predicted it would hit 8 percent by now.

So far, inflation is still tame. However, the long era of low inflation likely is nearing an end. Prices have accelerated abroad due to super-heated economic growth in China, Brazil, India and other emerging markets.

The U.S. consumer price index rose by .4 percent in January and .5 percent in February, increasing prospects that we will eventually have significantly higher inflation at home. Over the past year the index has risen 1.6 percent.

“Investors ignore inflation at their own peril,” said Christine Benz, director of personal finance at Morningstar Inc. Even those who normally leave their mutual funds on auto-pilot would be well-advised to consider inflation-proofing their portfolios.

Ways to protect yourself include overhauling your mix of funds, paring back on riskier international funds, and adding offerings that focus on inflation-protected bonds such as Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) — a type of Treasury bond whose payout is adjusted every six months for inflation. Investing in commodities funds and dividend mutual funds also may help.

Benz discussed the options and best moves for individual investors in an interview: Q: Why can’t investors rely on fund managers to mitigate the effects of inflation?

A: Not many managers spend a lot of time thinking about the macroeconomic environment, whether it’s inflationary, deflationary, recessionary or whatever. Instead, most hew to a specific style (such as growth, value, small cap, large cap).

For example, it’s not typical for most core bond funds to buy TIPS. That means that investors who want to ensure that their portfolios have insulation against inflation should take steps to put it in place themselves.

Q: There aren’t any mutual funds composed of I-bonds — inflationlinked government savings bonds — so isn’t it better for inflation-wary investors to invest in TIPS? A: Both TIPS and I-bonds are fine options. I-bonds make good sense for investors’ taxable accounts in that they won’t owe federal income taxes from year to year — only when the bond matures or they sell.

But with TIPS, investors are not limited to purchases of $10,000 per year as they are with I-bonds. By buying a TIPS fund you also get the advantage of professional management.

For plain-vanilla, low-cost possibilities, both the conventional mutual fund Vanguard Inflation-Protected Securities (VIPSX) and iShares Barclays TIPS Bond (TIP), an ETF, are solid. For an actively managed fund, investors might consider PIMCO Real Return (PRTNX) or Harbor Real Return (HARRX).

For investors concerned that inflation is a global phenomenon, our analysts also like the exchange-traded fund SPDR DB International Government Inflation-Protected Bond (WIP).

Q: How effective are commodities in fighting inflation?

A: In theory, buying an investment that tracks commodities prices is a good way to hedge against inflation. As you’re paying higher prices for food, gas, and other stuff you need, an investment in commodities should also be going up, helping offset those higher costs.

Unfortunately, the best way to obtain pure exposure to commodities is to take physical delivery of the stuff — whether it’s pork bellies, cotton or oil — and that’s simply not practical for mutual funds.

Instead, most commodities funds obtain exposure by buying commodity index fu-

tures, which don’t perfectly reflect commodity prices at any given point in time.

Q: With those shortcomings in mind, do you still recommend any particular commodities funds?

A: If investors are OK with that imprecision, they could look to an exchange-traded note like iPath DJ-UBS Commodity Index (DJP) or to actively managed commodity futures funds such as Harbor Commodity Real Return (HACMX) or PIMCO Commodity Real Return (PCRAX).

Traded on major exchanges, exchangetraded notes are a type of debt security that combines the aspects of bonds and ETFs. Q: Why should investors see dividend-stock funds as an inflation hedge as opposed to, say, bonds?

A: Stocks should be part of most investors’ inflationary toolkits because their long-run potential to beat inflation is much greater

than is the case for bonds, and certainly cash.

And dividend-paying companies offer an important advantage that fixed-rate investments like bonds don’t: If business is good, they can actually increase their dividends. Those higher payouts, in turn, can help offset higher prices.

Among our favorite dividend-growth funds are Vanguard Dividend Growth (VDIGX), a traditional actively managed mutual fund, and Vanguard Dividend Appreciation (VIG for the ETF and VDAIX for the traditional index mutual fund).

Q: Who should be thinking the most about inflation-fighting investments?

A: Retirees. Only a portion of the income that most retirees earn, such as their Social Security income, will automatically step up with inflation. The income they draw from their portfolios, by contrast, will be worth less and less as inflation increases. — AP

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

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23

If you need care, will the funds be there?

By Larry Blosser One of the consequences of our booming longevity is that more of us — especially those who may require extensive medical care for extended periods — will outlive our personal resources and need to apply for public benefits.

Apart from Medicare (the federal program providing health insurance benefits for those 65-plus and those of any age with disabilities), the main program that provides general healthcare to those with low incomes and limited assets is Medicaid.

Furthermore, only Medicaid will pay for long-term care in a nursing home or longterm custodial care of any kind. Medicare only covers short-term care in a nursing or rehabilitation facility.

Therefore, those who fear they might need help with nursing home expenses at some point should be paying close attention to the budget battles now going on in Washington and the options outlined in a March report by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) entitled “Reducing the Deficit: Spending and Revenue Options.”

One chapter of the CBO report focuses on ways to reduce federal spending on mandatory programs, including Medicaid long-term care. Many of the options contained in the CBO report will likely serve as the basis for legislative proposals that will soon be the subject of hearings in Congress.

And because the cost of Medicaid is shared by state governments, any reforms enacted at the federal level are inevitably going to impact the Maryland budget and, consequently, the availability of Medicaid long-term care benefits here in Maryland over the coming years.

How Medicaid works First, a bit of history: the Medicaid and Medicare programs were key anti-poverty programs created in 1965. While Medicare is fully funded by the federal government (so far), the cost of the numerous Medicaid programs (of which long-term care is

only one) is shared between the federal government and each state, based on a formula defined in law.

States with low per capita income receive a higher federal matching percentage than those with higher income residents. On average across all states, for every dollar a state pays out in Medicaid long-term care benefits, the federal government contributes $1.33.

The existing system provides no incentive for states to adopt cost-effective methods of providing services to individuals needing long-term care. In fact, the CBO found that some states purposely paid inflated rates to institutions providing longterm care and then subjected those facilities to special state taxes, with the net result that those states garnered more than their fair share of federal matching funds.

One option under study would convert the federal share of Medicaid payments for long-term care into a block grant to the states. The CBO estimates that, compared with leaving the current system in place, federal expenditures for Medicaid longterm care could be reduced by about 16 percent over the next decade if a block grant program were adopted.

If the federal share of Medicaid longterm care costs is reduced, whether through a system of block grants or otherwise, Maryland and other states will be faced with the need to make changes in the way Medicaid long-term care benefits are distributed.

More for in-home care?

Given flexibility to tailor programs to meet local needs, Maryland legislators and regulators could certainly “do more with less.”

Numerous surveys have shown that, given the choice between receiving longterm care at home or in a nursing home, the vast majority of older adults (usually upwards of 80 percent) would prefer to receive care at home.

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Ongoing

In-home care generally costs between one-quarter and one-half the cost of institutional (nursing home) care. The average cost of a year’s care in a nursing home in Maryland is around $90,000, while the cost for providing services to a person in his or her home (through a program known as the Medicaid waiver) currently costs around $32,000 a year.

Furthermore, there is a strong demand for home-based care, as evidenced by the fact that there are now nearly 20,000 Marylanders waiting to be considered for the Medicaid waiver program. (The Maryland General Assembly has approved funds for only about 4,000 people on the waiver at a time.)

Despite the clear preference of individuals for staying in their homes and communities, Medicaid continues to spend the vast majority of its funds on nursing home

care. In one recent year, over a billion dollars was spent on elderly Medicaid recipients in nursing homes, while a paltry $65 million went to in-home care support.

In my own elder law practice, I have already seen families — desiring to honor their parents’ wishes to stay out of a nursing home — send them to live with relatives in other states where home-based care benefits are more readily available.

Not every family has that option, and it’s not too soon to talk with your state legislators about providing more funding for home-based long-term care services. After all, some day the person on the waiting list may be you.

Larry A. Blosser is an attorney in private practice in Ellicott City. His practice focuses on elder law, life care planning and veterans’ benefits. He can be reached at (443) 420-4096.

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Oct. 21

50+ EXPO Last call for vendors, exhibitors and sponsors for the Howard

County 50+ expo. Be part of the premier event for older adults in Howard County, featuring with space for more than 140 vendors and exhibitors, free seminars, all day entertainment and much more. To download registration forms, or for more information, visit www.howardcountyaging.org and click on the 50+EXPO logo, or contact Lisa Madera, 50+EXPO coordinator at (410)313-5990 or e-mail lmadera@howardcountymd.gov.

ALL ABOUT E-READERS

May 11

Learn more about e-readers and e-book content from Maryland’s ELibrary Consortium and how it works with your Nook, PocketRead-

er, iPad, Kobo or Android device. Bring your device, if you have one. The session takes place on Wednesday, May 11 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Elkridge Branch Library, 6540 Washington Blvd., Elkridge. Call (410) 313-5088 for more information.

LifeCare ADVISORS

HOWARD COUNTY RESOURCE GUIDE Do you provide services to assist older adults in Howard County?

Elder Law and Life Care Planning

You may qualify for a free listing in the Howard County Resource Guide, published each October by the Howard County Office on Aging. To see if you qualify, visit www.howardcountyaging.org and click on the Inclusion Guidelines. For more information about listings or advertising in the 2012 Resource Guide, contact Barbara Harris at (410) 313-6448 or email bharris@howardcountymd.gov

May 1

COMMUNITY DRUM CIRCLE Promote your wellness through hand drumming. Jonathan Murray of FunDrum Rhythm Circles will lead a group in collective rhythm

• Wills • VA Benefits • Asset Protection • Estate Planning • Crisis Medicaid Planning • Home Visits Available

on Sunday, May 1 at 3:30 p.m. Drums will be provided, and no musical experience is necessary. Cost is $5 per person. Register your name, number of guests, and contact info by calling (410) 730-4610 or e-mail omcaadmin@columbiavillages.org.

The drum circle will be held at Other Barn, Oakland Mills Village Center, 5851 Robert Oliver Pl., Columbia.

Larry A. Blosser, P.A. 3565 Ellicott Mills Drive, Suite C-2 • Ellicott City, MD 21043

443-420-4096

www.lifecarelegal.com

24

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

Travel Leisure &

Places where you can volunteer while on vacation. See story on page 26.

A natural beauty beyond words in Alaska Bountiful outdoor pursuits

PHOTO BY BRUCE GENDERSON

Apart from struggling to write about it, there are numerous ways to enjoy one of Mother Nature’s most splendid settings.

Those who prefer to spend their time just basking in the beauty may think they have found the ultimate in dramatic landscapes — until they round the next turn of the road.

Visitors who prefer engaging in sports and other activities as they take in the views have a seemingly endless choice of alternatives. Popular warm-weather pastimes range from hiking and biking, to fishing, rafting, sea kayaking and much more.

In winter, downhill and cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, snow-shoeing and dog mushing are among activities that induce people to brave the cold.

Opportunities to observe wildlife in its natural setting, sometimes at close hand, are virtually everywhere. Many Alaska itineraries include a stop in Denali, a world of Arctic tundra and soaring mountains known for sightings of the “big five” — grizzly bear, caribou, moose, wolves and dall sheep. This vast wilderness is also home to a menagerie of other creatures.

But those who don’t make it to Denali need not despair. Towns throughout Alaska are never far from the wilderness, and in many places they overlap. Parks often begin within city limits and extend to backcountry landscapes.

Moose, bear and other critters looking for food sometimes wander into urban settings, eliciting little surprise from two-legged residents used to such intrusions. For example, the Far North Bicentennial Park at the eastern edge of Anchorage provides inviting habitat for bears and moose.

People gather along river banks there and elsewhere during spring and summer to observe the spawning run of salmon. As the fish uncannily return to their birthplace, after spending several years at sea, they battle their way up rushing water, leaping to surmount low falls along the way.

A bear catches a leaping salmon as it swims upAnother obstacle they face stream to spawn in an Alaska river. From moose and is the phalanx of hungry bear to dall sheep, visitors can take a gander at a bears that congregate to wide range of wildlife in the nation’s 49th state.

PHOTO BY BRIAN ADAMS/ALASKA TRAVEL INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION

By Victor Block The most immediate, and dramatic, impression Alaska is likely to make on you comes from its sheer size. Alaska has more than twice the area of Texas, and is rimmed by more coastline than all of the other states combined. No wonder the Aleutian people named it “the Great Land.”

Mount McKinley — the tallest peak in North America, at more than 20,000 feet — looms over Denali National Park and Preserve. The park itself is larger than Massachusetts, helping to explain how Alaska contains more than two-thirds of the United States’ total national park acreage.

Not only is Alaska huge, it is magnificent. The unbelievable scenery is what first catches the eye. Row after row of glacier-garbed mountains stretch to the horizon. Some are reflected in the water of lakes dyed a bluish hue by the silt of melting ice and snow.

Braided rivers, which find new routes around ice dams that form during winter, meander through U-shaped valleys that were gouged out eons ago by advancing glaciers.

Whether flying over, driving through, walking in, or viewing it from the deck of a ship, the sheer drama of Alaska’s scenery is difficult to express in words.

Kayaking outside of Juneau offers views of the bluish-white Mendenhall Glacier. The glacier is 12 miles long, ending in this lake studded with icebergs that have “calved” from the glacier.

gorge on their favorite food as they stoke up for the long, frigid winter that instinct tells them lies ahead.

Whale-watching cruises offer close-up viewings of those behemoths, if you time it right. Between April and November some 600 humpbacks congregate in waters near Juneau.

Anchoring in Anchorage and Juneau Population centers in Alaska share a unique rough and rugged history. With a population just under 300,000, Anchorage has an urban setting that resembles other U.S. cities of comparable size, along with its share of chain stores and traffic jams.

But there also are welcome differences.

For one, untamed nature is never far away.

Chugach State Park, at the edge of the city, has huge stretches of alpine terrain that are visited by more animals than humans.

The Far Nor th Bicentennial Park/ Campbell Tract provides habitat for bears, moose and spawning salmon. People hiking or biking on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail can spot beluga (white) whales swimming nearby and come face-to-face with as many as a half-dozen moose during a brief outing.

A favorite stop of mine is the Alaska Native Heritage Center to delve into Native cultures, part of the state’s mystique. The

customs and traditions of the 11 major cultural groups are presented through dance, music, art, storytelling and other mediums at this living history museum.

Outside, encircling a pond, stand authentic Native dwellings representing six indigenous groups. Each is staffed by people from villages around Alaska who clearly delight in relating stories of their people.

The population of Juneau, the state capital, is slightly more than 30,000, but that number swells during mid-summer tourist season when cruise ships disgorge hordes of passengers.

Gold was responsible for the town’s location when it was discovered there in 1880, about 15 years before the Klondike Gold Rush began. Visitors today may relive those heady days during visits to several mining sites, or by trying their hand at panning.

Another claim to fame is that the terminus of the most readily accessible of the 10,000 or so glaciers in Alaska, the Mendenhall, is not far outside town. Looming above the suburbs of Juneau, bearing the typical bluish-white glacial hue, it flows about 12 miles from the ice field where it originates. At the lake where the glacier ends, large chunks dramatically break off to become icebergs, in a process called “calving.”

See ALASKA, page 25

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

Alaska

southeastern corner of Alaska for thousands of years. Everywhere, the rich Native cultures are close at hand.

From page 24 Ketchikan occupies the site where Tlingit natives set up summer fishing camps near salmon-rich waters, and it lays claim to the title “Salmon Capital of the World.” It also boasts the largest display anywhere of standing totem poles, in three formal collections as well as in front of private homes.

Another popular attraction is Creek Street, a wooden boardwalk over the stream that runs through the heart of town.

For about three decades beginning in the Prohibition era, some buildings perched above the water served as brothels.

That time is recalled by a sign welcoming visitors to Creek Street, “Where fish and fishermen go up the creek to spawn.”

Those structures now house restaurants, galleries and gift shops.

The setting is very different in Sitka, where evidence remains of Russia’s incursion and effort at colonization, which ended in 1867 with the sale of the territory to the United States. The Russian Bishop’s House (built 1842-43), onion-shaped domes of St. Michael’s Cathedral, and a replica of a Russian fort blockhouse are among reminders of that chapter of history.

Remnants of Russia’s brief influence merge comfortably with constant reminders that the Tlingit, and to a lesser extent Haida and Tsimshain (sim-shee-an) people, have lived in what now is the

Native influences Along with Alaska’s breathtaking natural beauty, constant opportunities to interact with wildlife and colorful history, its people also leave an indelible impression. I found this to be so in part because of the respect accorded the cultures of the Native people, and the extent to which they have been woven into the fabric of life.

One example is that both many Native and other Alaskans continue to use the word Denali — Athabascan Indian for “The Great One” — as their name for Mount McKinley. Another is that representations of totem poles and other traditional images adorn many T-shirts worn by locals.

I was moved by the pride with which an Aleut guide at the Alaska Native Heritage Center described how men from his village hunt for whales from kayaks using poisontip spears, and how the women weave baskets that are among the finest in the world.

Non-Native residents manifest pride and independence in their own ways. This is evident in the motto on state license plates, “Alaska — The Last Frontier,” and on a sign I came across in a small town claiming, “Where the road ends and life begins.”

It was voiced by Elizabeth Arnett, a 40something nurse who said she came to Alaska 15 years ago, then added, “It takes an in-

dependent spirit to live this far from family and friends.” This spirit was expressed more succinctly by a shop keeper in Ketchikan who, when I inquired why she had moved to the state, replied simply, “adventure.”

Travelers seeking an adventure vacation couldn’t do better than to think Alaska. Others who prefer simply to observe wild animals and equally wild scenery from a distance, combined with a lifestyle different from theirs, also are likely to find much to like about the 49th state.

If you go Trips may be timed for viewing the wildlife that holds the most interest for you.

Because many animals bear their young during June, newborn sightings are most likely then. July and August are the best times to see bears congregating along rivers to catch salmon swimming upstream to spawn. During August, animals that go on an eating binge in preparation for winter tend to be more visible than at other times.

Alaska is a destination best explored by air, land and water. Airline flights between towns provide stunning views of flat tundra, glacier-carved valleys, and snowcapped mountain peaks stretching to the horizon. “Flightseeing” in small planes brings passengers up close and personal with majestic, must-see sites like Mount McKinley and sprawling glaciers.

My wife Fyllis and I chose to join a tour group as the best way to pack as many at-

tractions as possible into a limited time.

We selected the eight-day Escorted Alaska Explorer trip, one of a number offered by Gray Line of Alaska.

It combines train and motorcoach travel, tours of Denali park, Anchorage and other cities, and additional sites. Rates begin at $2,439 per person. For more information, log onto www.graylinealaska.com or call 1-888-452-1737.

The tours do not include airfare. United Airlines currently has the lowest roundtrip fare for June, with flights starting at $549 from Dulles and $589 from BWI. To experience the Inside Passage — the strip of protected waters between Alaska’s southeastern coast and the string of islands that run parallel to it — we chose the Alaska Ferry System over more glamorous, and costly, cruise line vessels. Its 11 ships connect 31 communities in an area where water serves as the highway.

While ferry facilities are not luxurious, they are comfortable and clean. Other bonuses are frequent sightings of both sea and land creatures, and opportunities to meet and chat with Alaska residents, including Native people, who frequent the ferries.

For information, go to www.ferryalaska.com or call 1-800-642-0066.

For information about visiting Alaska, see www.travelalaska.com or call 1-888655-4020.

Victor Block is a Washington, D.C.-based travel writer.

C GS Coalition of Geriatric Services

ANNAPOLIS KIDNEY WALK

Sunday, June 5 9:00 AM Quiet Waters Park

Monthly Membership Meeting Wednesday, May 25, 2011 8:30 – 10:00 a.m.

Location: Howard County General Hospital Wellness Center Medical Pavilion at Howard County, 10710 Charter Drive, Suite 100, Columbia, MD 21044

Speaker: Phyllis Madachy, Program Coordinator for Opting for Independence

410-494-8545 www.kidneymd.org

COGS is an organization of senior care professionals working to improve the lives of seniors in our community. If you are a professional senior care provider and would like membership information, please email us at info@cogsmd.org

Family-friendly and dog-friendly event featuring music, refreshments and more.

For more information email COGS Administrator at info@cogsmd.org or visit our website at www.cogsmd.org Coalition of Geriatric Services, Inc., P. O. Box 2131, Ellicott City, MD 21041

COGS Sponsors

Presenting Sponsor:

It is with great pride and pleasure that we recognize the following organizations and individuals for their commitment and support of the Coalition of Geriatric Services:

Corporate Sponsors:

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

Media Partners:

Silver Sponsors Bayada Nurses Carney, Kelehan, Bresler, Bennett & Scherr, LLP Dr. Dan Storch Deborah Herman, CPA

25

Ellicott City Health & Rehab – A Communicare Health Facility Gary L. Kaufman Funeral Home at Meadowridge Memorial Park The Beacon

Bronze Sponsors Felinton Elder Law and Estate Planning Centers Gentiva Health Services Homewatch Caregivers

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

26

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

Volunteers mix altruism with global travel Opportunities to lend a hand in other countries are catching on among those nearing or in retirement as a way to see the world while contributing in at least a small way.

Here’s a sampling of organizations that offer international service or voluntourism opportunities:

Cross-Cultural Solutions Headquarters: New Rochelle, N.Y. International volunteer opportunities: The nonprofit’s programs are available in 12 countries, last from two to 12 weeks, and cost $2,923 and up. Work is in orphanages and child care centers, schools, health clinics and hospitals, homes for the elderly, centers for the disabled, and other community organizations.

Seniors: From 10 to 20 percent of participants are age 50-plus, often repeat volunteers. Through a partnership with AARP, members get a 25 percent discount on one upcoming trip to spend a week volunteering at a senior care center in Lima, Peru.

The cost is $1,482 and includes meals and lodging, not airfare.

More information: www.crosscultural solutions.org; 1-800-380-4777.

Earthwatch Institute Headquarters: Boston International volunteer opportunities:

Nonprofit sends about 4,000 volunteers a year on conservation field research projects worldwide. Expedition costs range from $450 to $5,750, averaging $2,662 for a duration of three to 22 days.

Seniors: The number of volunteers age 60 or older has doubled in the past decade.

Last year, 19 percent of U.S. volunteers were 67 or over.

More information: www.earthwatch .org; 1-800-776-0188

Global Volunteers Headquarters: St. Paul, Minn.

International volunteer opportunities: Nonprofit’s offerings in 18 countries outside the U.S. include teaching English, caring for at-risk children, providing healthcare services, working with community elders, and painting, constructing or repairing buildings.

Seniors: About 50 percent of volunteers are at least 50, and roughly 30 percent are over 60. 2,251 volunteers in 2009.

More information: www.globalvolu nteers.org; 1-800-487-1074

Peace Corps Headquarters: Washington, DC International volunteer opportunities: The government-run organization places volunteers in countries from Asia to Central America and from Europe to Africa.

They get a living allowance comparable to local pay, then $7,425 at the close of 27 months of service.

Seniors: Retired professionals can put their skills to use on projects such as working on HIV/AIDS and malaria prevention in Africa, addressing teacher shortages worldwide, improving the technical knowledge of farmers in Central America, or developing strategic management or marketing plans for small sustainable businesses. Of the 8,655 volunteers in fiscal 2010, 376 (4 percent) were 60-plus, including 42 who were 70-plus.

More information: www.peacecorps. gov; 1-800-424-8580

Volunteers for Peace Headquarters: Burlington, Vt. International volunteer opportunities: Nonprofit sends 500 to 800 volunteers a year to overseas projects operated by partner organizations. For a $30 membership, a $300 registration fee and airfare, participants might spend two to three weeks building latrines, putting roofs on houses, clearing brush for trails, or doing HIVAIDS education in the developing world.

Longer-term projects are also available.

Seniors: About 10 percent are over 50; less than 5 percent over 60.

More information: www.vfp.org; 1-802540-3060.

Road Scholar (formerly Elderhostel) Headquarters: Boston International volunteer opportunities: Only a handful of its 8,000 educational programs involve service abroad. They include recording archaeological sites on Easter Island, assisting in humpback whale research in Costa Rica, and helping to build new classrooms in rural Bolivia.

Costs average $260 a night, including accommodations, meals, lectures, activities, transportation within the program, taxes, gratuities and insurance.

Seniors: Almost all of the 100 people who enrolled on international service programs last year were in their 60s or older.

More information: www.roadscholar. org; 1-800-454-5768

Projects Abroad Headquarters: Sussex, England International volunteer opportunities: About 1,300 Americans participated in this for-profit company’s programs in 25 less-developed countries last year. Teaching English is a common volunteer job; more physical work also is available on nature reserves.

Seniors: 9 percent of the 8,000 volunteers worldwide last year were 50 or over.

More information: www.projects-abroad. org; 1-888-839-3535 — AP

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

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27

Arts &

Ben Vereen talks about his career and giving back. See story page 28.

Revisit Richie and the Fonz in Happy Days

From Garry Marshall, Paul Williams Garry Marshall, creator of the TV series, teamed up with songwriter Paul Williams to develop the musical version a few years back. It’s easy to see why it never made it to Broadway.

Marshall took the easy route, eschewing character development or even new plot progression. He merely has all the characters trot out their favorite catchphrases and ticks, introduces a negligible storyline about saving Arnold’s, the malt shop hangout, and hopes it holds together with what turns out to be a disappointingly bland score from Williams.

The composer may be an Oscar winner (“Evergreen” from A Star is Born), but he’s best remembered for his 1970s pop hits, such as “Rainy Days and Mondays” and “We’ve Only Just Begun.” And in this show, Williams barely stretches beyond generic light pop.

The show is supposed to remind us of

the 1950s, or at least the sanitized, cleancut kind of 1950s with fresh-faced white kids enjoying sock hops and malt shops and going home to an apron-wearing mom.

But Williams’ music offers little 50sstyle rock-and-roll or authentic doo-wop sound. The best song remains the memorable theme song from the TV show, which is presented several times.

The worst song is the wretched “What I Dreamed,” as homemaker Marion Cunningham (Esther Covington) explores early feminist stirrings with such overwrought lyrics as “I never expected apron strings to be chains.” Mom Marion is joined in the song by daughter Joanie (Amy Sonntag), who seems to be yearning for traditional domestic bliss in a kind of tortured cultural counterpoint.

Enthusiastic fans of the show probably won’t care. Not when they can experience the Fonz saying “Aaayyy” and Richie calling somebody “Bucko” and Ralph declaring “I still got it” once again.

Poking fun at the TV show Marshall does exhibit some sense of self-deprecation as he injects a few zingers

lampooning the TV show. There’s a joke about Chuck, the older Cunningham brother who disappeared without explanation early in the series’ run, and even a reference to “jumping the shark.”

The latter is a term that has come into wide use, referring to a moment when something or someone descends into self-parody. It’s based on an episode when a surfing Fonzie literally jumps over a shark in Pacific waters.

The digs cut a little closer to the truth when Richie (Jamie Boyle), Potsie (Dan Sonntag), Chachi (Chris Rudy), and Ralph Malph (Dan McQuay) attempt some a

capella singing. While the harmonies are pleasant, Williams’ song, “Romeo MidSee HAPPY DAYS, page 28

PHOTO COURTESY OF TOBY’S DINNER THEATRE

By Michael Toscano It’s fitting that, prior to the performance of Happy Days, A New Musical at Toby’s Dinner Theatre in Columbia, a buffet of steaming entrees and vegetables occupies the same middle-of-the-room space as the actors later fill.

That’s because the show, based on the old TV sitcom “Happy Days,” is the theatrical equivalent of the comfort food served up by Toby’s chefs. It’s warm and familiar, there’s lots of cheese, and it goes down easily, if not memorably.

Somebody in the kitchen must have noticed, as names from the show have been affixed to some of Toby’s standard fare. For example, that’s not just any spinach you’re eating; that’s “Spinach Fonz Casserole” on the plate next to the roast beef! And look, it’s “Richie’s Redskin Mashed Potatoes.”

That’s right, the Fonz and Richie Cunningham, and all the other guys and gals who populated a Milwaukee high school around 1959, are back. Only now they sing and even dance. Devoted fans of the TV show, which ran on ABC from 1974 to 1984, will probably find Happy Days, A New Musical to be joyfully nostalgic.

The rest of us can enjoy a dynamic cast turning in high-energy performances.

Under Toby Orenstein’s rigorous direction, they strut and sing and wring all that’s possible from the thin material.

The Fonz, played by Greg Twomey, shares a dance with Pinky Tuscadero, played by Lauren Ball, in Happy Days, A New Musical now at Toby’s Dinner Theatre in Columbia, Md. The musical is a collaboration between Garry Marshall, who created the TV show “Happy Days,” and composer Paul Williams.

www.columbiaorchestra.org (410) 465-8777

28

Arts & Style | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

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

Ben Vereen gives all, not only on stage

By Carol Sorgen Entertainer Ben Vereen has a schedule that other performers would envy — and probably have trouble keeping up with (other than maybe Betty White!).

To name just a few of his current gigs, Vereen crisscrosses the globe touring his one-man show, “Ben Vereen Sings Broadway and More,” is filming a documentary of his life, working up a play about Muhammad Ali, creating a CD, appearing on television (on such shows as “How I Met Your Mother” and “Grey’s Anatomy”) and is active on the lecture circuit, speaking on topics ranging from overcoming adversity, to arts in education, black history, and recovery.

The legendary song-and-dance man, who won 1973’s Best Actor Tony Award for his role in Pippin, is now 64 and has no in-

Happy Days From page 27 night” sounds a lot more like a barbershop quartet number than doo-op, prompting Fonzie to blurt out, “That’s the kind of music my dentist likes.”

Arthur “The Fonz” Fonzarelli,” is the center of the show and is played here by Greg Twomey. Twomey is not really a Fonz type, physically. Still, he possesses a rich baritone

tention of slowing down.

“There’s time to slow down when you’re in the grave,” he said, adding that he “can’t wait” to turn 65 in October. “Get me that [Medicare] card!” he exclaimed.

Early start fired his passion A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Vereen now lives in California. Entertaining was not in his family genes, but he had encouraging parents and got an early start.

The first money he ever earned as a performer — $5 when he was 10 years old — came from singing U.S. Bonds’ “Quarter to Three” at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in his neighborhood.

“Wow, they pay you for this, I thought,” Vereen recalled, and that was the beginning of his stage ambitions — what he

that serves him especially well in the catchy, upbeat “Heartbeat,” a contemporary-sounding tune, and in the thoughtful act one ender, “Maybe It’s Time to Move On.” But the real star of this production is the effervescent Jessica Lauren Ball, who plays Fonzie’s lost love, the tough Pinky Tuscadero. She blazes through “The Pink’s in Town” and the scintillating “Message in the Music,” a robust dance number with a big band sound.

calls his “first love and passion.”

“The theater was my first training ground,” he said. “It taught me discipline, dedication and appreciation of hard work and values that will stay with me a lifetime.

The stage sharpens the creative instrument and encourages you to go deeper inside and try new things.”

In addition to his star-making turn in Pippin, Vereen has appeared on Broadway in Wicked, Fosse, I’m Not Rappaport, Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Grind, Jelly’s Last Jam, and A Christmas Carol.

Of his role in Pippin, renowned drama critic Clive Barnes wrote, “Ben Vereen — unquestionably one of the finest performances seen on Broadway.”

Vereen sees his work on stage as a metaphor for his work in life. “Life is art,”

he said. “Whatever we do in life — whether it’s performing or teaching or writing or raising kids — is a form of art.

“Whatever you do, if you embrace it, it will move you to the next level,” he said.

Because Vereen credits many of his mentors, including Sammy Davis, Jr., and Frank Sinatra, with setting him on the right path, he likes to do the same for other young people. That’s true whether they’re entertainers, like the R&B superstar Usher, or youngsters living with diabetes, from which Vereen himself suffers as well.

“Young people need to be empowered,” said Vereen. “I try to teach them to ‘love thyself,’ as well as ‘know thyself.’”

To give people the tools to do that,

Her voice soars in the souped-up ballad “Legend in Leather,” while showing us vulnerable sensuality beneath the tough exterior. Twomey joins her in that song, a pairing that provides the strongest vocals of the show. Both shine again in their tender duet “Dancing on the Moon.”

As always, Orenstein makes efficient and effective use of the crowded in-theround performance area, and the unaccredited choreography keeps the show pumped with high energy.

A cartoon-like wrestling match is a highlight of act two, and the female ensemble members get a shout-out for managing to sing and move about on roller skates while balancing trays during a scene at Arnold’s.

Just like the TV show, all the issues are resolved by show’s end, and the audience exits to the sounds of the small but vibrant band pumping out that infectious theme song, which will likely rattle around inside

your head for the entire ride home, and maybe beyond.

Happy Days, A New Musical continues through June 12 at Toby’s Dinner Theatre, 5900 Symphony Woods Rd., Columbia.

The show runs seven days a week with evening and matinee performances.

The doors open at 6 p.m. for evening shows Monday through Saturday and at 5 p.m. on Sundays. Doors open for matinee performances at 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays and Sundays. Following a buffet, the evening performances begin at 8:15 p.m. except Sundays, when the show time is 7:15 p.m. Matinee performances begin at 12:30 p.m.

Reservations are required. Ticket prices, including an all-you-can-eat buffet, range from $47 to $52, depending on performance time. There is ample free parking on the premises.

For reservations and information, call (301) 596-6161 or visit www.tobysdinnertheatre.com.

See VEREEN, page 29

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More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com | Arts & Style

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

Vereen From page 28 Vereen has also founded the Angels of Love Spiritual Center in Culver City, Calif.

The center is for all people, no matter what their religion, said Vereen. “I simply want to give them the tools to lead a better life.”

Overcoming adversity Despite his professional successes, Vereen has had his share of personal struggles. A teenage daughter was killed in an automobile accident in 1987, leading Vereen — a recreational drug user for years — into a serious cocaine addiction.

He entered drug rehab, became clean, and later founded Celebrities for a DrugFree America, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating young people about the dangers of drugs.

In 1992, Vereen underwent another crisis when he was hit by a car. He needed several operations and months of physical therapy to recover.

Once again healthy, Vereen has “quite a few things in the cooker,” as noted above, but said that even though he makes plans, he accepts that life might always have something else in store for you.

“You can set a plan in motion, but then you need to let it go,” he said. “Trust that when the time is right — which may not be when you think it’s right — it will all work out for the highest good.”

Apart from looking forward to his prized Medicare card, Vereen is also sanguine about old age. “Getting older is a treasure,” he said. “We should be proud and stand strong. We are wise and we know the way.

“Let’s keep our eye on the prize…healing ourselves, our family, our community, our society and our planet.”

Vereen will appear in Baltimore at a benefit for the Edward A. Myerberg Center on Monday, May 16, at 7 p.m. Tickets for “An Evening with Ben Vereen” are $40 general admission; $125 for patron seating, which includes a CD signing and a dessert-and-wine reception with Vereen. For more information and reservations, call (410) 358-6856 or visit www.myerbergseniorcenter.org.

BEACON BITS

Apr. 30

ROCK ‘N’ ROLL

Dance the night away to the classic rock music of Big Cam & the Lifters on Saturday, April 30 from 8 p.m. to midnight. Admission is $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Proceeds go to the Jessup Improvement Association. The dance will be held at the Jessup Community Hall, 2920 Jessup Rd. (Route 175). Call (410) 796-7999 for tickets. For more information, go to www.thelifters.com.

Apr. 28+

MILLTOWN QUILTERS SHOW

More than 275 quilts, wall hangings, vendors, quilt raffle, peddler’s table, silent auction and free demonstrations will be featured at the Milltown Quilters Quilt Show from Thursday to Saturday, April 28 to 30, at the First Presbyterian Church of Howard County, 9325 Presbyterian Circle, in Columbia. Admission is $5. Call (301) 854-3189 or see www.milltownquilters.com for more information.

Apr. 28

MEET THE AUTHORS

Ali Kahn and Peggy Fox discuss their book, Patapsco: Life Along Maryland’s Historic River Valley, a collection of oral history narratives, essays and photographs that bring to life a bygone era on Wednesday, April 27 from 7 to 9 p.m. The talk takes place at the Elkridge Branch Library, 6540 Washington Blvd., Elkridge. Call (410) 313-5077 for more information.

COLUMBIA PRO CANTARE CHORUS Frances Motyca Dawson, Director Mary Ann McCormick, mezzo • Jared Denhard, stringed instruments THE LEXINGTON BRASS QUINTET present

AMERICA SINGS!

Featuring Ballads, Spirituals, Appalachian songs, Moravian Brass Who will lead CPC in “When the Saints Go Marching In?” VOTE in our BATTLE FOR FRANCES’ BATON Media sponsor:

May 7, 2011 at 8 pm Jim Rouse Theatre, Columbia Advance: Adults $23, Seniors & Students $20, At the Door: $25 and $22, Group rates for 10 or more For Tickets & Information,call 301-854-0107 or 410-799-9321 Visit our website www.procantare.org

Veteran singer and dancer Ben Vereen will bring his one-man show to Baltimore on May 16 as a senior center fundraiser.

BEACON BITS

May 7+

29

BEAD BAZAAR

The Bead Society of Greater Washington presents its Bead Bazaar on Saturday, May 7 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and Sunday (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.) at Bohrer Park Activity Center, 506 S. Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg, Md. Explore and enjoy an eclectic collection of antique and contemporary beads, designer jewelry and related books. There will be demonstrations on bead-making techniques. Tickets are $7. For more information, go to www.bsgw.org and click on bazaar or call (202) 624-4500.

ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

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Free pre-concert lecture at 7 pm

Generously supported by:

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

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Crossword

Puzzle Page

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

By Stephen Sherr

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1. ___ dark stranger 6. Brain portion 10. Dapper and Desperate 14. Chicago Bears’ charming head coach Smith 15. Head honcho 16. Parting words 17. Longing for lollipops 19. Top quality 20. Switch ups 21. Grill type 22. “... ___ to disagree” 24. Came down with (as a cold) 25. Abstain from alcohol 26. Portion of the U.S.A. 29. The world’s second most popular drink 31. Sign of a hit play 32. Govern 33. It may be well done by a medium (abbrev.)

34. The 43rd state 38. Attentive 40. Held closely 42. Voice of Pepe Le Pew 43. “___ is me” 44. “Good grief!”

45. Compass letters, clockwise from the top 47. Astonish 48. Visits a diner 49. Washington Post employee 53. King or queen, perhaps 55. Well balanced individual 56. They may be Red or White (but not Blue) 57. Paul’s partner on Mrs. Robinson 60. Null neighbor 61. Accountant (or librarian) 64. Israeli airline 65. Part of 2011 AD 66. Pee Wee, whose number was retired by the Dodgers 67. It could get you a stamp in 1974 68. Autocrat 69. Cantankerous

1. “And another thing...”

2. Burg 3. Parallel lines on a Manhattan map (abbrev.)

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Answers on page 29

Answer: What the lightweight boxer turned into when he retired - A "MIDDLE" WEIGHT Jumbles: LUNGE WHEAT BANDIT NUDISM

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

CLASSIFIEDS The Beacon prints classified advertising under the following headings: Business & Employment Opportunities; Caregivers; Computer Services; Entertainment; For Sale; For Sale/Rent: Real Estate; Free; Health; Home/ Handyman Services; Miscellaneous; Personals; Personal Services; Vacation Opportunities; and Wanted. For submission guidelines and deadlines, see the box on the bottom of this page.

CAVEAT EMPTOR! The Beacon does not knowingly accept obscene, offensive, harmful, or fraudulent advertising. However, we do not investigate any advertisers or their products and cannot accept responsibility for the integrity of either.

Respondents to classified advertising should always use caution and their best judgment.

EMPLOYMENT & REAL ESTATE ADS: We will not knowingly or intentionally accept advertising in violation of federal, state, and local laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, familial status or handicap in connection with employment or the sale or rental of real estate.

Caregivers LIVE-IN OR LIVE-OUT NURSE with 25 years medical experience and a heart for the elderly. Will provide live-in care for your loved one. Call Liz at 240-672-1767.

For Sale/Rent Real Estate LEISURE WORLD® - $119,500. 2BR 1FB “Hampton” model with access to Broadwalk. Wood floors, upgraded carpet, recent updates. 1200 sq ft.

Stan Moffson, Weichert Realtors, 301-928-3463.

LEISURE WORLD® - $89,000. 1BR 1FB “A” model in “Greens”. Close to the elevator, new paint and carpet, enclosed balcony. 850 sq ft.

Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors 301-928-3463.

LEISURE WORLD® - $99,000. 2BR 1FB 2HB “Berkeley” townhouse with new appliances, fresh paint and carpet, custom Florida sunroom. 1600 sq ft, Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors, 301-928-3463.

LEISURE WORLD® - $89,900. 1BR 1FB “A” model in the “Fairways”. Fresh paint and carpet, updated kitchen, close to elevator. 850 sq ft.

Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors 301-928-3463.

LEISURE WORLD® - $58,500. 2BR 1FB “Carlyle” model coop. Renovated, new appliances, new windows. 1035 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors 301-928-3463.

LEISURE WORLD® - $89,900. 1BR 1FB “B” in “Greens”. Move-in condition with table space kitchen with window, new flooring, sunroom with view of trees. 1210 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert Realtors 301-928-3463.

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For Sale/Rent Real Estate

Wanted

Wanted

LEISURE WORLD® - $99,000. 2BR 1FB 1HB “Elizabeth” model. Rare first floor location with custom patio enclosure, Extras and upgrades.

1308 Sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors 301-928-3463.

HIGHEST CASH PAID FOR ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES. Compare my price before you sell! Serving entire metro area. Call for a free consultation, and professional service. I will purchase one piece or your entire estate. Including Furniture, Artwork, Glassware, Jewelry, Rugs, Costume, Gold and Silver, Watches, Sterling Items, Flatware, Lladro & Hummel Figurines, All Military Items, Guns, Swords, Helmets, Bayonets, Medals, Scout Items, Clocks, Music Boxes, Toys, Baseball Memorabilia, Trains, All String Instruments, Including Guitars, Banjos, Mandolins, Fishing Rods and Reels, Lures, Historical Items, American tools, Posters, Outside Iron Furniture. I am a very reputable dealer with two locations in Silver Spring and Bowie, MD. Please call Christopher Keller 301408-4751 or 301-262-1299. Thank you.

OLD HIFI, STEREO EQUIPMENT PreAmps, Amplifiers, Tuners, Large Old Speakers, James B Lancing, Altec, Tannoy, Quad, Basement-Garage-Attic. Honest Pricing. Please Call Alan 240-478-1100.

LEISURE WORLD® - $219,000. 2BR + den, 2FB “R” model in “Fairways”. Ceramic tile enclosed balcony, table space kitchen, garage parking, new carpet. 1420 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors,301-928-3463.

LEISURE WORLD® - $119,000. 2BR 2FB “Riviera” model. Loaded with extras and upgrades, covered carport parking. 1273 sq ft.

Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors 301-928-3463.

LEISURE WORLD® - $109,000. 2BR 2FB “Warfield model on second floor. Remodeled kitchen, new appliances, recent HWH and AC. Enclosed porch. 1043 sq ft, Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors 301-928-3463.

LEISURE WORLD® - RENTAL $1050. 1BR 1FB 1HB “B” in “Fairways”. Freshly painted, new carpet, table space kitchen with window.

930 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors 301928-3463.

LEISURE WORLD® - $92,000. 1BR 1FB 1HB “B” model in “Fairways”. New paint and carpet.

Ready to move in. 930 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors, 301-928-3463.

LEISURE WORLD® - $139,000. 2BR 2FB “GG” model in “Greens”. Fresh paint and carpet, Garage space included, enclosed balcony, golf course view. 1195 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors, 301-928-3463.

LEISURE WORLD® - $155,900. 2BR 2FB “H” with Garage parking in “Greens”. New paint and carpet throughout, table space kitchen, enclosed sunroom with golf course view. 1210 sq. ft. Stan Moffson, 301-928-3463.

LEISURE WORLD® - $215,000. 2BR 2FB E” model in “Villa Cortese”. Table space kitchen, enclosed balcony with view of trees and park.

Extra storage. 1350 sq ft. Stan Moffson, 301328-3463.

SOUTHERN HOWARD COUNTY – $200,000. 2BR 2FB patio style townhome in Seniors Community of Lilac Park. Fenced yard for pets and grandkids. Only $105/month condo fee. Charming and affordable. Bob Parker, RE/Max Advantage, 240-295-6000.

For Sale MOVING SALE: Beautiful oak diecast car display case, 27x26x6” deep. Includes 2-64 ½ diecast Mustangs, holds 10 cars -$45. Weber gas grill, 2 years old -$45. Call 410-418-8750.

Place a classified ad.

They work!

BEACON BITS CAREGIVER RECEPTION

Apr. 28

Home with You Companion Care will present “Locals Helping Locals,” a free neighborhood eldercare reception on Thursday, April 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the King’s Contrivance Restaurant, 10150 Shaker Drive, Columbia. Learn how to avoid caregiver burnout and ask for help. Gain insight through the support of fellow baby boomers. Learn new coping and caring methods for aging parents and loved ones. Complimentary drinks and light fare will be served. RSVP to (410) 926-9229 or bledford@homewithyou.net by April 25.

May 17+

NIH MEDICINE LECTURE SERIES

Discover the latest in research and treatment for obesity and depression with experts from National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Johns Hopkins Medicine and Suburban Hospital. The first lecture, “Confronting Obesity: Updates in Prevention and Treatment Research,” will take place on Tuesday, May 17, and the second lecture “Challenging Depression: New Insights into Research and Treatment” will be held on Tuesday, May 24. Both lectures will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Suburban Hospital Auditorium, 8600 Old Georgetown Rd., Bethesda, Md. Register by calling (301) 896-3939. Lectures are free and open to the public. Light refreshments available at 6:30 p.m. Visit this website for more information www.cc.nih.gov/about/news/mfp.shtml.

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

Wanted STAMP COLLECTIONS, AUTOGRAPHS purchased/appraised – U.S., worldwide, covers, paper memorabilia. Stamps are my specialty – highest price paid! Appraisals. Phone Alex, 301309-6637. Stampex1@gmail.com.

TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED

Deadlines and Payments: Ad text and payment is due by the 5th of each month.

Note: Only ads received and prepaid by the deadline will be included in the next month’s issue. Please type or print your ad carefully. Include a number where you can be reached in the event of a question. Payment is due with ad.

We do not accept ads by phone or fax, nor do we accept credit cards.

Private Party Text Ads: For individuals seeking to buy or sell particular items, offer a personal service, or place a personal ad. Each ad is $10 for 25 words, 25 cents for each additional word.

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

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

The Howard County Beacon, Classified Dept.

P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915-2227

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

$12/year via Third Class Mail* Please send a one-year subscription to: Name:______________________________________________ Address:______________________________________________ City:________________________State:_____Zip:____________ HC511

❐ THIRD CLASS One Year = $12 (in MD = $12.72)

❐ Check here if this is a gift subscription.

Write the recipient’s name above. A gift card will be sent in your name: _____________________________ Return this form with your check, made payable to The Beacon, to: The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915-2227 *Maryland residents: add 6% for sales tax.

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