October 2014 | Baltimore Beacon by The Beacon Newspapers

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His inventions help millions PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBERT FISCHELL

By Robert Friedman It was just another 11-hour workday for Robert Fischell, 85, who was putting in time recently on a medical device that he says will lower blood pressure by at least 30 points. After having brought relief to sufferers of heart disease, epileptic seizures, diabetes and migraines, among other ailments, physicist-inventor Fischell is now focusing on hypertension. Fischell, who lives in Dayton, Md., has been credited with improving the health of millions, and saving the lives of countless others through the medical instruments he has invented or perfected. He will speak about his work at the Beacon’s 50+ expos in October. In his innovative 15-minute procedure to lower blood pressure, “three steel needles will each deliver a drop of alcohol into the nerves surrounding the renal artery…which will dramatically reduce both the systolic (the top number) and the diastolic (bottom number)” readings, Fischell said. The procedure will “decrease pill usage and dramatically improve the lives of hypertension sufferers,” he said.

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

The Berkshires — like living in a Norman Rockwell painting; plus, what to expect at New York’s 9/11 memorials page 23

Pacemakers, stents, migraines That’s only the latest in a string of problem-solving inventions. In 1962, Fischell developed the first widely-accepted rechargeable pacemaker. The device, implanted in heart disease sufferers, had lifetime batteries and was one-tenth the size of competing designs. He then invented the implantable insulin pump, which delivered the drug internally to diabetics, rather than requiring patients to inject themselves. Fischell devised flexible coronary stents that open clogged arteries to keep blood flowing from the heart. The Fischell invention accounts for most of the coronary stents now used worldwide. More than 10 million of them have been placed, he noted. He and colleagues have come up with a device that can stop or diminish epileptic seizures. The device is implanted in the cranial bone, wired to that part of the brain that senses an oncoming seizure, and prevents it from happening. And then Fischell created a device implanted like a pacemaker with a wire into

Robert Fischell’s medical inventions, from pacemakers to insulin pumps, are credited with improving the health, and saving the lives, of millions of people. His device to zap away migraines was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

the heart that vibrates like a cell phone to warn of a heart attack. “The warning will be provided even before the patient has any symptom …which is really vital to the 25 percent of all patients who never get any warning that they are having a heart attack,” Fischell said. And that’s not all, folks. The work on life-changing instruments continues. Fischell has put the final touches on an invention that stops migraine headaches at their inception. The portable device is held against the back of the head, a button is pressed, and two magnetic pulses tell the neurons of the brain to hibernate and forget about causing the migraine. “The patients feel a not unpleasant tingle in their scalp,” he said, from the Tran-

scranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) produced by the Spring TMS device. The Food and Drug Administration recently gave the device its final approval. What this will mean, he said, is that migraine headaches will be a scourge of the past for many, and current sufferers will no longer have to buy expensive pills. And, unlike so many medications advertised on TV, there are no side effects from its use. Fischell expects medical insurers to cover the cost of the device, which would require a doctor’s prescription. In another recent effort, Fischell and a University of Maryland colleague are working on a way to significantly reduce See INVENTOR, page 6

ARTS & STYLE

Re-enactors become Mr. and Mrs. Francis Scott Key; plus, a painter and cartoonist’s lifelong love of art page 28

INNOVATIONS k Tech that keeps you safe k A library in your pocket

FITNESS & HEALTH k Check up on your doc’s vitals k A pill that can end allergies?

LAW & MONEY k Benefitting from mergers k Don’t outlive your money

PLUS CROSSWORD, BEACON BITS, CLASSIFIEDS & MORE

OCTOBER 2014 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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Get expos-ed in October While the month of May is known as Palace on the fairgrounds. U.S. Older Americans Month, the month The event features everything but cows. of October is the metro area’s There will be hundreds of exMonth of 50+Expos. hibitors, numerous speakers Over a 10-day period this and exercise demonstrations, October, there will be 5 days of vaccinations and health entertaining and informative screenings, an art fair, an emevents within easy driving disployment fair for all ages, and tance of Baltimore residents a new Veterans Muster, with who are over 50 or love someresources and referrals for one who is. veterans wanting to know The Baltimore County Demore about their benefits. partment of Aging presents Entertainment includes its annual two-day extrava- FROM THE music for dancing (ballroom, ganza at the Maryland State PUBLISHER line and square) as well as for Fairgrounds in Timonium. By Stuart P. Rosenthal listening, including a return The Baby Boomer and Senof the Drifters, who also perior Expo will take place Tuesday, October 22 formed in 2012. and Wednesday, October 23 at the Cow Admission is $2; free with your donation

BEACON BITS

Sept. 28

A TASTE OF MARYLAND

Learn about the history of Maryland’s most iconic food traditions and food businesses, such as Maryland Beaten Biscuits, crab cakes, coddies, McCormick Spices and Old Bay, on Sunday, Sept. 28, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Hampton National Historic Site, 535 Hampton Ln. in Towson. For more information, visitwww.nps.gov/hamp/ or call (410) 823-1309.

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of two cans of nonperishable food. For more information, see the ad on the back page of this issue.

In Howard County Just next door in Howard County, and a few days earlier, is the Howard County 50Plus Expo. It takes place Friday, October 17, at Wilde Lake High School. Thousands attend the free event each year, to speak with representatives of over 150 organizations and businesses who exhibit and provide free information and giveaways. There are also speakers on a variety of topics, including a keynoter from AARP who will talk about that organization’s “Life Reimagined/Real Possibilities” campaign. And entertainment happens throughout the day, including two performances by the Capital Steps political comedy troupe. It might seem hard to imagine that there are funny things to say about today’s political climate, but they always find a way to lighten things up. The expo runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and there is a free shuttle bus from parking areas at the Columbia Mall. For more information, look for the announcements and ads in this issue of the Beacon.

Beacon Expos Last but not least, the Beacon is proud to present our 15th annual 50+Expos, taking place at locations in Maryland and Virginia. And, unlike the events above, these occur on the weekends, for those of you who may work or are otherwise occupied during the week. From noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, October 19, our 50+Expo will be at the Silver Spring Civic Center, in downtown Silver Spring. As at the other expos around the region, you can obtain health screenings and a flu shot, pick up information from (and ask questions of) dozens of government agencies and nonprofit organizations, and visit booths of area businesses providing services and products of special interest to older adults and their families. Of course, many of them will also be offering free giveaways and holding prize drawings. And we will have live entertainment and door prizes as well. We are especially excited about this year’s keynote speaker, Robert Fischell, who is featured on the cover of this issue. As you will read inside, he is one of the most prolific inventors of our day — creator of the first widely-used rechargeable See FROM THE PUBLISHER, page 33

Letters to the editor Readers are encouraged to share their opinion on any matter addressed in the Beacon as well as on political and social issues of the day. Mail your Letter to the Editor to The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915, or e-mail to barbara@thebeaconnewspapers.com. Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification. Dear Editor: Thank you, Mr. Rosenthal, for the dignity with which you bring to us news of your mother's death. It is clear that she brought great light with her everywhere

in her life, a gift she has passed on to you. Deep condolences for having lost your parents. Leslie Kassal Baltimore

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

LEGAL SERVICES IN BALTIMORE COUNTY The Legal Services for Senior Citizens program provides free legal

assistance, consultation and/or representation to Baltimore County residents age

• Publisher/Editor ....................Stuart P. Rosenthal

60 or over for specific types of cases. They can defend a senior in a lawsuit when

• Associate Publisher..............Judith K. Rosenthal

there is a substantial risk to the client’s person, property or civil rights. The pro-

• Vice President, Operations........Gordon Hasenei • Director of Sales ................................Alan Spiegel • Assistant Operations Manager ..........Roger King • Managing Editor............................Barbara Ruben • Contributing Editor ..........................Carol Sorgen

gram offers assistance with legal problems involving: healthcare issues, income maintenance, nutrition, housing and utilities, protective services and unemployment benefits. The program cannot handle wills, deed changes, estate planning, power of attorney, criminal charges, personal injury cases, traffic tickets and dis-

• Graphic Designer ..............................Kyle Gregory

putes with neighbors. In some instances, callers may be referred to other sources

• Advertising Representatives ............Steve Levin,

for free or reduced-fee legal help. Call the Maryland Legal Aid hotline at (410)

........................................................................Jill Joseph • Editorial Assistant ........................Rebekah Sewell

951-7750 for access to the Legal Services for Senior Citizens program.

The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915 (410) 248-9101 • Email: info@thebeaconnewspapers.com

Oct. 8+

Submissions:

The Beacon welcomes reader contributions. Deadline for editorial is the 1st of the month preceding the month of publication. Deadline for ads is the 1st of the month preceding the month of publication. See page 35 for classified advertising details. Please mail or email all submissions.

TAKE YOUR CHANCES IN LAS VEGAS Victory Villa Senior Center is hosting this trip to Las Vegas from Oct. 8 to 21. See some of the wonderful sights of Nevada and the Grand

Canyon by motor coach. Cost is $1,040. Call (410) 686-1352 to reserve a spot.

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2014

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OCTOBER 2014 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Technology &

Innovations Technology that gives you peace of mind By Carol Sorgen as they age (age in place) is of paramount Using technology to maintain the health concern to those 65 and older. While and safety of older adults is not new — awareness of assistive technology is not medical alert jewelry, for example, is one yet widespread, those who were surveyed example. But advances in technolosaid they would be interested gy have now given family memin using such devices. bers and caregivers an opportu“This technology has nity to monitor for themselves been used for a long the well-being of the ones they time in the professional care for. security industr y,” said A number of in-home safety Dr. Boris Kerzner, medsystems and personal tracking ical director of Health devices being offered by BaltiTrends. “But it is only now bemore-based Health Trends is afginning to be used to moniTrilock GPS watch fording elders (as well as individtor the elderly and the disuals with disabilities) the ability to remain abled.” in their own home, while providing peace of Among the systems available are wiremind to their family and caregivers. less home sensors, GPS locator watches According to a survey conducted by with the ability to detect falls, medication AARP, being able to remain in their homes management systems, easy-to-use wrist

BEACON BYTES

Oct. 2+

COMPUTER KNOW-HOW Learn basic computer skills at various Baltimore County libraries.

The class is offered from 9 to 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 2 at the Rosedale branch, 6105 Kenwood Ave. Call (410) 887-0512 to register. The class will also be offered at the Randallstown branch, 8604 Liberty Rd., Randallstown, from 9 to 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4. Call (410) 887-0770 to register. Check http://www.bcpl.info for additional class times.

blood pressure monitors, and remote monitoring systems.

Sensing something amiss

“The devices can be customized for the individual living situation, and can be added on to as conditions change,” said Kerzner, who is consulting not only with individual families but home health agencies and assisted living facilities as well.

With the wireless home sensor system, for example, up to 10 sensors can be placed throughout the home. By selecting locations such as the bed, the bathroom, How much does it cost? The equipment is leased, and the monitorthe stove, the front door, etc., family members, neighbors or professional caregivers ing service costs an additional $100 to $175 a who have been designated to receive month. Some costs may be covered by longalerts (via email, text or phone call) can term care policies or charitable programs. According to Kerzner, all of the products determine if there is a shift in a pattern of have been tested by behavior: (“Mom used to Health Trends for reliaget up at 8 a.m., but now bility, consistency and she’s staying in bed all accuracy. “The choices morning,” or “Dad hasn’t available and the decibeen to the kitchen today; sion about what would maybe he’s not eating”). be best for your individThere may be a possible ual situation can be emergency if the senoverwhelming,” he sors have picked up no said. “We not only test motion at all. all the products, but The notifications can Medfolio pill dispenser provide insight and edgo out to as many people as you would like and in any order. They ucation so you can make the best decision can also go out to multiple individuals at for yourself or your loved one.” For more infor mation about the one time. In addition to the wireless motion sen- company, call (410) 484-9400 or visit sors, door sensors and lock controls are www.healthtrends.us.com. For more information on home monitoravailable, as are refrigerator door sensors, surface and area temperature sensors (so a ing and other useful technologies for aging stove, for example, could be turned off au- in place, see “High-tech gadgets monitor tomatically), video surveillance, and wear- safety at home” and “Gadgets to consider” in able health- or location-alert personal emer- the Housing & Homecare Options section of the July Baltimore Beacon. gency response solutions.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Technology & Innovations

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2014

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on another, though I’ve often run into syncing problems with both. You can see where you are in a book, change text size and even add notes. The options aren’t as extensive as what I’m used to with Kindle devices and apps, though. Oyster lets you store up to 10 books per device to take with you on the road, while Scribd lets you save up to 20 books. Both services permit reading on up to six devices. Of the two, I like Oyster’s apps and ebook selection better, and it’s been adding features and device support quickly to

F R E E

Treating Difficulty Standing or Walking, attributed to Arthritis, Spinal Stenosis, Neuropathy, Poor Circulation or Poor Balance

Neither Oyster nor Scribd works on dedicated e-readers such as Amazon’s Kindle Paperwhite. Rather, you need a device that lets you install apps. Both work on iPhones, iPads and Android devices, including Kindle Fire tablets. Oyster also works on Nook tablets, while Scribd has apps for Windows devices. Only Scribd lets you read on Web browsers on personal computers, though Oyster plans to add that soon. Apps for both services offer features typical for e-books. You can start a book on one device and pick up where you left off

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I checked several titles from my wish list and asked colleagues for other suggestions, including a few for kids or in foreign languages. Of the 75 titles I checked, Oys-

You’ll need the apps

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How good is the selection?

ter had 17 and Scribd had 16. For some popular novels, such as The Hunger Games series and The Fault in Our Stars, I got readers’ guides and other companions, but not the actual books. Both services have selected titles from Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins and lots of smaller publishers. But other major U.S. publishers — Hachette, Macmillan and Penguin Random House — remain holdouts. And even when there’s a deal with a publisher, newer books tend to be excluded. Avid readers won’t be bored, though. When I signed up, Scribd asked about the types of books I like. Oyster didn’t, but still made good recommendations based on what other subscribers are reading. I quickly found about two dozen books between the two services. Each time I added a title, I got recommendations for more. I just finished books on lobster populations and the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream company. I’m now reading about Lance Armstrong and the doping scandal — another book I wouldn’t have known about if it hadn’t popped up on Scribd. In that sense, both services are much like Netflix. Netflix’s streaming selection looks poor when you are searching for a specific title, but Netflix is smart enough to recommend enough movies to keep you paying $8 or $9 a month.

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By Anick Jesdanun Own a tablet or a smartphone? Then for a few bucks a month, you can have a (virtual) library in your pocket or carrying case. Two startups are trying to do for ebooks what Netflix does for movies: Oyster and Scribd let you read as many books as you want for a fixed monthly price — $10 for Oyster and $9 for Scribd. I was skeptical at first. I can never find enough time to read, and I’m picky about what I do read. I was worried about their limited book selections. But I found plenty to read in no time, and I found myself reading more than I normally would. There are enough books on these e-book services to keep you busy for years. Oyster has more than 500,000 titles, while Scribd has more than 400,000. These services are great if you have a long weekend or a vacation coming up or, as in my case, three weeks of travels from California to New York. Just don’t think it’ll be the same as walking into a library and finding just about any book you want.

Technology & Innovations | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Inventor From page 1 brain concussions among football players by connecting the helmet to the shoulder pads. He said the National Football league and Under Armour Corp. are considering funding development of the design.

A brilliant mind For a person to think up one of these devices and bring it to market would be a major accomplishment. How does Fischell produce so many, and retain his creative abilities into his 80s?

His answer may at first sound impertinent or egotistical: “When I see a medical problem, my mind often sees the solution, often in less than a minute,” he said. But it takes much more time and effort to turn the idea into a working prototype that can be mass produced and commercialized. William Bentley, chairman of the Fischell Department of Bioengineering at the University of Maryland, shared his view of Fischell with the Baltimore Sun. “Bob has an amazing mental acuity that allows him to just parse the noise and cut to the chase,” Bentley said. This unique ability has not only made

OCTOBER 2014 — BALTIMORE BEACON

him a highly sought after inventor, but also a wealthy man. He and his family reportedly earn a $12 royalty on the sale of each stent based on his designs. With more than 10 million sold, that amounts to more than $120 million. Not surprisingly, Fischell uses much of his money, like his brain power, to help others. In 2006, he and his family contributed $31 million to endow the University of Maryland department now named for him. He and his wife, Susan, also recently donated $1 million to Howard County General Hospital. “You can even make some money by helping people,” Fischell noted. “This gives you the ability to be philanthropic.”

Rough start Fischell didn’t begin life in a world of privilege. He started out as a “poor kid, growing up in the Bronx,” who worked hard and got “lucky.” He didn’t even have much in the way of role models or support from his family.

E-books From page 5 catch up with Scribd. But it’s also $1 a month more. I tend to prefer distraction-free reading on a dedicated e-reader, but phones and tablets work when I’m able to exercise some discipline from checking email and Facebook. Plus, I’m more likely to be carrying a phone, so I’m able to get reading done while waiting for a bus or tardy friends.

What about Amazon? There are plenty of other ways to get ebooks for free or for a set price. Check your local library for starters. If you have Amazon’s $99-a-year Prime membership, you can read an e-book for free each month if you also have a Kindle device or the Fire phone, though you’re not offered everything that Amazon

His father, he said, didn’t think that he would ever be successful. In fact, his parents mostly ignored him when he was a child. “So I set out to prove I was going to be OK,” Fischell recalled. After earning a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Duke University in 1951, he got his master’s in physics from the University of Maryland (which later awarded him an honorary doctoral degree in 1968). After graduation, he spent eight years as a civilian engineer for the Navy, then moved to the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, where he worked for 32 years. There, as chief engineer and associate director of the space department, he helped devise some 50 satellites, including the Global Positioning Satellite, now used on devices all over the world as a direction finder. See INVENTOR, page 7

makes available for purchase. That’s where the new Kindle Unlimited service comes in. The $10 a month Kindle Unlimited lets you download 10 books at a time on up to six devices. Those devices don’t have to be Amazon devices, as Prime requires. But the selection is somewhat limited; I only found six of the 75 books I was looking for. But Kindle Unlimited beats its rivals in several ways. It has 2,000 audiobooks from Amazon’s Audible business. They’re synchronized to the corresponding books, so if you need to break off reading to drive, you can have the audiobook play instead, starting where you left off reading. Also, Kindle apps are available for a greater range of devices. Oyster works on iPhones, iPads and Android devices. Scribd supports those, plus Macs and Windows devices. Kindle does all that, plus webOS and BlackBerry devices. — AP

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Technology & Innovations

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2014

Beacon Links By Barbara Ruben

Test your knowledge Keep your brain nimble by learning new words and information — and help world hunger at the same time. Free Rice donates grains of rice to the World Food Programme for every correct answer you provide in progressively harder vocabulary quizzes, math problems, painting identification, chemistry questions and more. www.freerice.com

Changing Aging Dr. Bill Thomas is an international expert on seniors and geriatric medicine, and is the founder of the Eden Alternative and Green House project to transform nursing homes. His blog examines everything from Shakespeare’s old age, to treating dementia with music, to the concept of kindness. http://changingaging.org

Unleash your inner abstract artist

Inventor From page 6 He left the lab in 1997 to devote all his time to inventing medical devices. Fischell now holds more than 200 U.S, and foreign patents, and has started up 10 medical device companies. Among his many honors: in 1984, named by the Intellectual Property Owners Association as the Inventor of the Year in the USA; in 2002, inducted into the Space and Technology Hall of Fame; in 2005, he won the first $100,000 (now one million dollar) TED Prize, “awarded to an extraordinary individual with a creative and bold vision to spark global change.” So, as he is happy to point out, despite the lack of a role model and parental predictions otherwise, the poor boy from the Bronx has turned out more than OK.

Retirement not an option

most the same as when he was 35, except that when he gets up from a long stint at his desk, his legs stiffen up somewhat. He plays doubles tennis about three times a week and works out in his home gym with a personal trainer, who visits twice a week. His three sons — a physicist, a cardiologist and a business executive — work with him on developing and marketing his many medical devices. When he has spare time, he mostly concentrates his reading on books about history. “It’s interesting to see how humans have acted over the centuries. The same things compel people in all ages: the desire for power, money, sex, control,” he noted. Fischell may go out to the movies “about twice a year,” but he is a steady TV viewer, especially of crime shows like

“Law and Order,” which he likes to watch in bed with his wife, Susan. Well, isn’t it about time for him to retire? Not on your life, which he still may save one day. “If you have the ability to improve the health of tens of millions of people, do you have a right to stop working?” he asked rhetorically. “I feel that when I get an idea that could dramatically improve the life of a human being, I’m obligated to [develop it]. Besides, working makes me happy.” If Robert Fischell could write his own epitaph what would it be? He laughed, thought a few seconds — about as long as it took him to come up with some inventions — then said: “He did well by doing good.”

Tell them you saw it in the Beacon!

Health-wise, Fischell said he feels al-

More physicians. More locations. More access than ever. Get back to an active life without going out of your way.

And now for a little fun. Create your own Jackson Pollack painting. Just move the mouse quickly or slowly to create splotches or squiggles on the screen. Left click to change colors. http://manetas.com/pollock

Senior health information from NIH The NIH SeniorHealth website, providing information for older adults, was developed by the National Institute on Aging and the National Library of Medicine, both part of the National Institutes of Health. This website contains a wide range of information on many health topics including: Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, balance problems, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, diabetes, exercise for older adults, hearing loss, lung cancer, prostate cancer, taking medicines, and many more. www.nihseniorhealth.gov

Accessible travel Looking for a barrier-free hotel in Italy, or a wheelchair rider’s guide to Los Angeles? This site pulls together dozens of resources to help travelers with disabilities navigate around the world. Look for links to magazines; databases, like the Accessible Vacation Home Exchange; outdoor recreation sites and more, such as Accessible Virginia, a new website about exploring the state. www.travelguides.org

Six of the Baltimore area’s most respected orthopaedists are now part of MedStar Orthopaedics: Steven Kulik, MD; Mesfin A. Lemma, MD; Darioush Nasseri, MD; Robert M. Peroutka, MD; Steve A. Petersen, MD; and Carmen Pichard-Encina, MD. Along with Michael Jacobs, MD, and Derek Papp, MD, these MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital specialists add their expertise to that of more than 70 others, providing the highest level of care through a network of four hospitals and more than 20 locations. They all work together to help you get back to your active life. MedStarOrtho.org/More • 877-34-ORTHO MedStar Orthopaedics combines the expertise of MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center, MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital, MedStar Harbor Hospital, MedStar Union Memorial Hospital, and The Curtis National Hand Center.

OCTOBER 2014 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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Health Fitness &

GOODBYE ALLERGY SHOTS New daily pills for several kinds of allergens may replace allergy shots NEVER TOO LATE How to get started with aerobic exercise, weight training and meditation QUIT SMOKING Want to kick the habit? Get paid to test a smoking cessation website TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE Eating more often does not boost your metabolism or help you lose weight

Before docs check your vitals, check theirs By Lauran Neergaard and Jennifer Agiesta Americans consider insurance and a good bedside manner in choosing a doctor, but will that doctor provide high-quality care? A new poll shows that people don’t know how to determine that. Being licensed and likable doesn’t necessarily mean a doctor is up to date on best practices. But consumers aren’t sure how to uncover much more. Just 22 percent of those questioned are confident they can find information to compare the quality of local doctors, according to the poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Today, 6 in 10 people say they trust doctor recommendations from friends or family, and nearly half value referrals from their regular physician. The poll found far fewer trust information from online patient reviews, health insurers, ratings websites, the media, even the government. “I usually go on references from somebody else, because it’s hard to track them any other way,” said Kenneth Murks, 58, of Lexington, Ala. His mother suggested a bone and joint specialist after a car accident. “I guess you can do some Internet searches now,” he added, but he questions the accuracy of online reviews. The United States spends more on healthcare than most developed nations, yet Americans don’t have better health to show for it. A recent government report found we miss out on 30 percent of the care recommended to prevent or treat common conditions. At the same time, we undergo lots of unneeded medical testing and outmoded or inappropriate therapies. Yet people rarely see a problem. In the poll, only 4 percent said they receive poor quality care. About half believe better care is more expensive, even as the government, insurers and health specialists are pushing for new systems to improve quality while holding down costs. Doctors who listen are important, but “some of the nicest doctors are the least competent,” cautioned Dr. Elliott Fisher of the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice. Higher-quality care actually tends to be less expensive, by keeping people healthy and out of the hospital, and avoiding errors and the complications of unneeded care, he said.

Compare doctors’ “report cards” It’s hard to imagine buying a car without checking rankings, but checking out a doctor is much more difficult. Many specialists say standardized measures of health outcomes are key, though very little is available. It’s getting a little easier to compare multi-physician offices, if not individual doctors. Online report cards in a few states have begun offering some information on quality outcomes from group practices. In Minnesota, for example, consumers can compare how many people have diabetes, high blood pressure and some other chronic conditions under control in different practices, plus how satisfied patients are. Report cards in California and Massachusetts add how well certain group practices follow guidelines on cancer screening and avoiding unneeded X-rays and MRIs for back pain. By year’s end, Medicare plans to have released quality measurements for more than 160 large group practices, with more information on smaller clinics set for 2015. Called Physician Compare, the online star ratings also will include patient feedback. The goal is to spur better care as doctors check out the competition. The arrival of large amounts of quality information “is a big deal. It’s a huge shift in terms of transparency and driving quality improvement,” Dr. Patrick Conway, Medicare’s chief medical officer, told the AP. Consumers think it would help. More than 7 in 10 say quality would improve if doctors had to publicly report their patients’ health outcomes and how satisfied they are. The AP-NORC Center poll found about 1 in 5 Americans recall seeing information comparing the quality of health providers in the last year. Nearly half aren’t confident they even could learn if their doctor had been disciplined.

Costs and wait times In choosing a doctor, not surprisingly the top factor is insurance coverage, the poll found. For the uninsured, it’s cost. Eight in 10 look for the doctor’s experience with a specific procedure. A nearly equal number say bedside manner — their impression after a face-to-face meeting and how much time is spent with a patient — is crucial. About three-quarters say a helpful office

staff and how long it takes to get an appointment are important. A majority, 62 percent, also factor how long they sat in the waiting room. Asked the characteristics of a high-quality doctor, a good listener is by far the top answer. Others value the right diagnosis, a caring attitude, a good bedside manner and knowledge, in that order. “Some don’t even give you the time of day. They just look at you and write you a prescription,” said Vince Jimenez, 51, of Albuquerque, New Mexico. When his primary care physician retired, Jimenez got a reference for a new doctor but checked online for complaints. “You can’t believe one person, but if there’s a bunch of people, if there’s a lot of complaints,” he said he’d pay attention. Dartmouth’s Fisher said consumers should ask how the office — the doctor’s

team — supports safe and effective care: Are patient outcomes tracked? Do they check on patients with chronic diseases between visits? Does the person taking after-hours calls know what medications you take? “We tend to think, ‘Oh our friend had a great experience with this doctor.’ But I’d encourage people to think about the systems around that as well,” he said. The AP-NORC Center survey was conducted with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. How can you check out your doctors? The Federation of State Medical Boards offers reports based on a search of their national database for $9.95 per doctor. Visit https://s1.fsmb.org/docinfo. Some state licensing boards offer free online searches. Maryland offers a free search at https://www.mbp.state.md.us/bpqapp. — AP

Tips for choosing a doctor • Check if the doctor is board-certified, which indicates particular expertise in an area such as internal medicine, gynecology, allergy or immunology. You don’t want plastic surgery from a primary care physician, said Doris Peter, director of Consumer Reports’ Health Ratings Center. • If you need surgery or a specific procedure performed, ask how often the doctor provides that treatment to patients like you. Studies show volume makes a difference. • Interview the doctor. Do you want someone who discusses the pros and cons of tests and treatments upfront? Avoid physicians who discourage seeking a second opinion, said Dr. Elliott Fisher of the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice. Also, ask if the doctor has any financial relationships with drugmakers or device manufacturers, said Consumer Reports’ Peter. • Ask about specific health conditions. What percent of their diabetic patients have their blood sugar under control? Do they follow national guidelines on cancer screenings? That’s the kind of information many quality programs are seeking. Fisher said physicians can’t work to improve patients’ outcomes if they don’t track them. • Team-based care makes a difference, he said. Is there a nutritionist to help dia-

betics control blood sugar? Someone who calls to tell the blood pressure patient he’s overdue for a check? • Ask how a primary care physician and specialist will coordinate care, perhaps via electronic medical records, so you’re not prescribed conflicting medications or duplicative tests. • Ask about after-hours care. Will the person who answers the phone have access to your medical record? • Does your doctor accept gifts, meals, payments, travel or other services from companies that make the drugs and medical products they prescribe? Nearly 95 of U.S. doctors do, and studies show it affects what medicines doctors prescribe. Patients will be able to learn about these payments starting September 30, thanks to a new online database hosted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Under a section of the healthcare overhaul passed in 2010, most makers of drugs and medical supplies are required to report all payments, gifts and other services worth $10 or more that they provide to U.S. physicians and hospitals. The information will be available on the database, which can be found at http://bit.ly/open_payments. — AP

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BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2014

Causes, treatments for common dizziness By Paul Takahashi, M.D. Dear Mayo Clinic: I am 68 and have periodic spells of dizziness. They don’t last long, and I don’t seem to have any other symptoms. Should I see a doctor? What might these spells indicate? A: Dizziness is a common problem with many possible causes. They can range from relatively minor issues, such as a certain medication triggering dizziness, to more serious underlying medical problems. When dizziness persists, as in your case, it is a good idea to see your doctor and have the condition evaluated. Although the term “dizziness” sounds quite specific, there are actually several kinds of dizziness. One involves feeling a loss of balance, as if you’re unsteady on your feet or feel like you may fall. Another includes a sensation of being lightheaded or feeling faint, as if you might pass out. A third is feeling as if you’re spinning or that the world is spinning around you. This type of dizziness is called vertigo. It is helpful for you to be able to describe to your doctor exactly what you’re experiencing during episodes of dizziness. Your description can offer clues to the potential source of the problem. For example, conditions that affect the balance mechanism in your inner ear frequently lead to dizziness with a feeling of vertigo

that happens when you move your head. One such condition is called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV. One of the most common causes of vertigo, BPPV is characterized by brief episodes of mild to intense feelings of spinning. The spinning sensations are triggered by specific changes in the position of your head, such as tipping your head up or down, or by lying down, turning over or sitting up in bed. When you keep your head still, symptoms of BPPV improve. Another frequent cause of dizziness is reduced blood flow to your entire brain. This can be triggered by a common condition known as orthostatic hypotension or postural hypotension. The disorder is a form of low blood pressure that happens when you stand up from sitting or lying down. It often causes brief episodes of lightheadedness just after you stand and improves after you’ve been upright for a minute. Dehydration can also lower blood flow to the brain and lead to dizziness. More serious conditions related to reduced blood flow to the brain include cardiovascular disorders, such as hardening of the arteries, or arteriosclerosis, and heart rhythm problems. A tumor or mass in the brain also can lead to dizziness. If left untreated, these conditions tend to get

worse over time.

May be caused by drugs Some types of prescription drugs can cause dizziness. Some of the common ones include antidepressants, medications that control high blood pressure, sedatives, anti-seizure medications and tranquilizers. A thorough physical evaluation, as well as additional tests and exams based on your situation can help your doctor deter-

mine a diagnosis. Reviewing your symptoms, medical history, family history and current medications with your doctor may offer some clues. When dizziness keeps coming back, it’s important to have the condition evaluated. If left unchecked, dizziness puts you at risk for falling and that can lead to serious injury. So make an appointment to see your doctor. See DIZZINESS, page 10

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OCTOBER 2014 — BALTIMORE BEACON

New daily tablets may replace allergy shots By Linda A. Johnson For decades, seasonal allergy sufferers had two therapy options to ease the misery of hay fever. They could swallow pills or squirt nasal sprays every day for brief reprieves from the sneezing and itchy eyes. Or they could get allergy shots for years to gradually reduce their immune system’s over-reaction.

Now, patients can try another type of therapy to train their immune system — new once-a-day tablets that dissolve quickly under the tongue and steadily raise tolerance to grass or ragweed pollen, much like the shots. “It’s been several decades since the last big breakthrough,” Cleveland Clinic allergy specialist Dr. Rachel Szekely said.

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The downside: The pills must be started a few months before the grass or ragweed pollen season, which began in August, so it’s too late for this year. In April, the Food and Drug Administration approved two tablets from drug maker Merck & Co. — Grastek for grass pollen and Ragwitek for ragweed — plus a grass pollen tablet called Oralair from Stallergenes SA, a French manufacturer. The tablets could become popular with people who dislike pills, which can make them drowsy or don’t provide enough relief. They’ll likely appeal even more to patients with severe allergies who fear needles or can’t make frequent trips to the allergist — key reasons that only about 5 percent of U.S. patients who would benefit from allergy shots get them. Meanwhile, new treatments for other types of allergies, including to peanuts and eggs, are in various stages of testing and could turn out to be big advances.

Dust mites, tree pollen and cats

Dizziness

arm weakness, or seizures — seek emergency medical care right away. These could be symptoms of a serious medical problem, such as a heart attack or stroke. © 2014 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

From page 9

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If you develop other symptoms along with your dizziness — such as chest pain, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, changes in your vision or speech, leg or

Merck has a tablet for house dust mite allergies in final patient testing that could hit the market in two or three years, and it’s considering other therapies. Stallergenes is testing a tablet for birch tree allergies and, with partner Shionogi & Co. Ltd. in Japan, tablets for allergies to dust mites and Japanese cedar pollen. Britain’s Circassia Ltd. has a cat allergy treatment in final testing and six others in earlier testing. A handful of companies also are looking at possible new ways to administer immunotherapy, including drops under the tongue, capsules and skin patches, said Dr. Linda Cox, former president of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, and an allergist in Fort Lauderdale, FL. The new tablets are not right for everyone, particularly patients with allergies to multiple substances, Szekely cautioned. See ALLERGY PILLS, page 11

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

BALTIMORE BEACON â&#x20AC;&#x201D; OCTOBER 2014

Allergy pills From page 10 That was the case with one of her patients, 10-year-old Samantha Marshall of Mentor, Ohio, who has been getting allergy shots since last fall. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not loving the [shots],â&#x20AC;? said her mother, Rachel, who recently asked Szekely about switching to the tablets. Szekely explained that shots are more effective because Rachel is also allergic to weeds and dust mites, and the shots she receives are a customized mix of extracts to all those substances.

Differences between treatments Treatment can be tricky because of body chemistry differences and the complexity of the immune system, which is still poorly understood. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just have one size fits all,â&#x20AC;? Szekely said. For people with mild hay fever, inexpensive pills that suppress immune chemicals called histamines work well. Allegra, Benadryl, Claritin and Zyrtec are available without prescription, often competing with store brands. Other patients fare better on prescription pills or nasal sprays. But for patients with severe allergies, those arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t enough. They suffer â&#x20AC;&#x201D; though hardly in silence â&#x20AC;&#x201D; or try allergy shots. Rarely, the shots cause systemic allergic reactions, from hives and itching to dan-

gerous airway narrowing, because small amounts of allergen circulate in the bloodstream. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why patients must be observed by a nurse for a half-hour after each shot. Allergy tablets are less likely to trigger a dangerous allergic reaction than shots, which have been used for a century, Cox said. In Merckâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s testing, about 5 percent of patients experienced tingling, itching or swelling in the mouth or tongue, said Dr. Sean Curtis, Merckâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s head of respiratory and immunology research. Less than 1 percent had serious reactions, nearly all after the first dose. With the new tablets, as they dissolve, the grass extract inside drains into lymph nodes in the neck, which produce protective antibodies against the effects of pollen thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inhaled or gets in the mouth. Since the extract is unlikely to enter their blood, patients need only be watched the first time, then can take the pills at home.

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COOKING FOR HEALTH Sign up for an informative, entertaining cooking class offered by

the American Heart Association, Baltimore Chapter. Simple Cooking with Heart Kitchen classes are offered for just $5 at 210 S. Central Ave. Call (410) 246-6715 or visit www.heart.org/baltimorekitchen for a complete schedule of classes.

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Gentle Foot Care in Your Home Diabetic foot exams Corns/calluses Wound/infection care Toenail fungus

Pricier than shots However, the tablets are expensive compared with shots: Merck is charging about $8.25 per daily tablet and Stallergenes about $10. Insurers are expected to cover most of the cost, as they usually do with allergy shots. Shots generally cost only $15 to $25 per visit without insurance, because theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re See ALLERGY PILLS, page 12

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OCTOBER 2014 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Exercise and meditation for beginners By Howard LeWine, M.D. and Michael Craig Miller, M.D. Q: I’m a 66-year-old man. My doctor told me I need to exercise more to maintain good health. What’s the best exercise for a man my age? How often should I do it? What symptoms should I watch out for?

A: Great to hear that you’re taking your doctor’s suggestions to heart! Physical training should include three parts: aerobic exercise, resistance (weight) training and stretching. I also recommend balance exercises for anyone in their 60’s. Tai Chi is an excellent choice. Aerobic exercise is what you will do

most days of the week. So choose something that’s appealing. No matter what you choose, start at a low pace. Walking and jogging are easiest because you don’t need to go to a gym or buy expensive equipment. My favorite is riding a stationary bike. I personally enjoy it more than running, and it’s easier on my joints.

You should do resistance training two to three times per week, and never two days in a row. Start with low resistance (light weights). Don’t increase the weight until you can comfortably do three sets of 8 to 12 repetitions. Always warm up before any exercise,

Allergy pills

mal symptoms, while most of the rest have reduced symptoms. With the tablets, patients start at the top dose, at least three months before allergy season, and continue through the season or even year-round.

declined slightly since 2000, according to data from the National Center for Health Statistics. In 2012, about 17.6 million adults, or 7.5 percent, reported having hay fever, as did about 6.6 million children, or 9 percent. Millions more don’t see a doctor and get by with nonprescription medicines like Benadryl or Claritin. Longtime hay fever sufferer Kim Steen of Sidman, Pennsylvania, participated in one of Merck’s studies of the new pills last year. “After the second, maybe third week, I started noticing a difference in the symptoms,” said the 41-year-old contracts administrator. “It was pretty significant, not

feeling like you have a cold all the time.” Merck has followed study participants through three years of treatment and then two years after that, when patients still reported significantly reduced symptoms. But Cox, the Florida allergist, expects that benefit to last at least eight years after treatment ends, nearly as long as with allergy shots. It won’t be clear whether the tablets will be a hit with patients or big moneymakers for their manufacturers until next spring, when patients and more doctors will be familiar with them. — AP

From page 11 given by a nurse. Typically, patients get allergy shots of gradually increasing dosage two or three times a week initially, then once a week for up to nine months, then monthly. After three years, at least two-thirds have mini-

Large potential market Prevalence of hay fever in the U.S. has

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DE-STRESS THROUGH MEDITATION

Baltimore Insight Meditation meets every Wednesday for one hour at 7 p.m. at Universalus Community, 2-B Oakway Rd., in Timonium. For more information on these free sessions, visit www.universalusmonks.org.

Oct. 6

VETERAN ASTRONAUT TALK

On Monday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m., the Glenn L. Martin Maryland Aviation Museum’s free Aviation Speaker Series will present veteran astronaut and Kenwood High School graduate Dr. Tom Jones with a presentation on everything from asteroids to Mars. The monthly speaker series is held at the Lockheed Martin auditorium, 2323 Eastern Blvd. in Middle River. The event is free, with a photo ID required for entry to the facility. For additional information, call (410) 682-6122 or visit www.mdairmuseum.org.

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Exercise From page 12 even after you become more advanced. Take 5 to 10 minutes while you slowly bring your heart rate up. I recommend stretching after exercise. This way your muscles are warm. Stretching should feel good. Be gentle and gradually increase how far you go with each stretch. The goal is to start slowly. Work up to higher intensity gradually. That way, you’re less likely to injure your muscles, joints and tendons. Symptoms to be concerned about during exercise include: a) Chest pain. b) Severe shortness of breath. c) Feeling like you might pass out. d) A sudden, drenching sweat or cold sweat. (Sweating is good, but it should come on gradually during exercise.) If you experience any of these symptoms, stop exercising immediately. Don’t restart any exercise without first talking to your doctor. Howard LeWine, M.D., is a practicing internist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston., Mass., and Chief Medical Editor of Internet Publishing at Harvard Health Publications, Harvard Medical School. Q: How do you pull yourself out of a funk or slight depression? A: Mood shifts frequently result from minor or trivial disappointments. So, much that gets us down is inconsequential. Yet it can be quite difficult to let meaningless matters go. A small funk can turn into a persistent depressive episode. Therefore, early detection is vital. Often, a mood shift starts as an automatic reaction to a small disturbance. You can prevent or interrupt a funk by becoming a better observer of your thoughts. Pay attention to reactions that you usually allow to happen

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

mindlessly. The simple act of paying attention can help you control your reactions. Some experts recommend practicing mindfulness meditation to become a better observer of your thoughts. Sitting quietly, focus on your breath. You’ll probably notice your mind running away with itself. Refocus on your breath. Upsetting, irritating or anxiety-provoking thoughts may continue to bubble up. Try to cultivate a less critical attitude toward them. Notice instead what, if anything, is triggering them. There are proven benefits to this kind of practice, but you don’t have to meditate to be mindful. Your goal can be simpler: — Recognize the patterns that make you feel sour. — Don’t just give yourself over to the bad feelings. — Ask whether the triggers are really worth the distress you feel. It’s at this point that you can try to refresh yourself or press your own reset button. Take a break. Connect with a friend or family member you like. Exercise. Do something you enjoy. Use a relaxation technique. If it appeals to you, meditate. You may continue to be stuck. Your bad feelings may persist or recur. The trigger may be something important rather than trivial. If that’s the case, then you may want to seek help from a professional who can help you evaluate the problem. Michael Craig Miller, M.D., is an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and an associate physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Mass. He is a senior medical editor at Harvard Health Publications. For additional consumer health information, visit www.health.harvard.edu. © 2014 President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Sept. 23

FALLS PREVENTION WORKSHOP

Join an interactive discussion on fall prevention and how to be safe in your home at the Catonsville Senior Center on Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 10:30 a.m. The center is located at 501 N. Rolling Rd., Catonsville. Call (410) 887-0900 for more information.

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Health Studies Page

OCTOBER 2014 — BALTIMORE BEACON

THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Study explores Parkinson’s genetic roots By Carol Sorgen One million people in the United States (five million worldwide) suffer from Parkinson’s disease (PD), a neurodegenerative disease second only to Alzheimer’s in numbers of people affected. Motor symptoms of PD include tremor, stiffness and/or slowing of movement, and walking problems. Parkinson’s can also affect neurological and mental health. While they vary from person to person, some common non-motor symptoms include depression, memory loss and loss of smell. The cause of PD is unknown, but 10 per-

cent of all cases can be traced to genetics. The LRRK2 gene, in particular, is an important known genetic contributor to Parkinson’s disease. A LRRK2 mutation is found among 15 percent of Parkinson’s disease patients of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. While having a mutation in the LRRK2 gene can increase your chances of developing Parkinson’s disease, many people with the mutation will not go on to develop the disease. The LRRK2 gene is the subject of intense investigation by Parkinson’s disease researchers around the world because of its potential to lead to medical break-

throughs for all people with PD, not just those with a genetic form. Over the past decade, studies focused on the genetics of Parkinson’s disease have pursued a “disease-modifying treatment” — a therapy that can slow or stop the progression of PD. To date, no diseasemodifying treatment has been discovered — it is the single greatest unmet need of Parkinson’s patients today. For this reason, families of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage that carry a LRRK2 mutation have a vital role to play in this research.

Jewish volunteers needed One study in particular, the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), is seeking to learn more about how the LRRK2 gene can sometimes lead to Parkinson’s disease. PPMI is a $60 million dollar landmark clinical study being conducted by the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. It is taking place at 32 clinical sites worldwide, including Baltimore’s Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. The goal of PPMI is to identify indicators of PD progression to ultimately enable early and accurate detection, and potentially to help identify new and better treatments. PPMI is seeking volunteers to participate in this study who meet either of the following criteria: • people with PD who are of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry, or • people without PD who are related to someone with PD, and are of Eastern European Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry.

Genetic testing for the purposes of participating in PPMI is available to individuals of Ashkenazi Jewish descent at no charge. Individuals with blood-related ancestors from Eastern European Jewish communities are needed if they have had PD for any length of time and are of any age, or do not have PD, are over 50 years old, and are related to someone who does have PD.

What the study entails Participation in PPMI involves: 1. A brief PPMI online survey — Visit www.michaeljfox.org/ppmigenetics to find out if you may qualify for genetic testing in PPMI at no cost. 2. A genetic test — If you are eligible for genetic testing, you will be contacted by a PPMI representative and sent a “saliva kit” to provide a DNA sample. 3. Counseling and results — All PPMI volunteers who complete genetic testing will receive genetic counseling at no cost to review the results of their genetic test. 4. A visit to a PPMI site — Based on the results of your genetic test, you may be invited to participate in additional tests and evaluations at Johns Hopkins. Because PPMI is an observational study, participants do not take any experimental drug or placebo. All costs associated with activities that are part of this study, including the genetic test, are covered by the research study. You do not need to disclose your results to your health insurance company. For more information or to volunteer, visit www.michaeljfox.org/ppmigenetics or call 1-888-830-6299.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2014

Get paid to test smoking cessation website By Barbara Ruben Just 4 to 7 percent of people who try to give up smoking cold turkey are able to kick the habit on any given attempt, according to the American Cancer Society. Studies show that about a quarter of smokers who use medications can stop smoking for at least six months. And counseling and other types of emotional support can boost success rates higher than medications alone. That’s the hope of a new online quit-smoking program now being studied. The WebQuit study, funded by the National Cancer Institute, is testing two online quit-smoking programs to learn which one is most useful to help people stop smoking.

Nationwide study for smokers WebQuit is being conducted by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, but because the program is online, it is open to anyone in the U.S. “WebQuit provides online tools with the goal of helping you quit smoking, and experiencing all the personal benefits that

come with [quitting],” said Jonathan Bricker, Ph.D., the study’s principal investigator and a scientist who specializes in smoking cessation. The free program offers a step-by-step guide to quitting, tools to help deal with urges to smoke, help staying motivated while quitting, and 24/7 online access. Participants are encouraged to work with their doctors to explore whether medications and nicotine replacement would be helpful if used in conjunction with WebQuit. However, medication is not provided by the study. WebQuit is studying two different formats of the website to determine which works best for smokers who want to kick the habit. “Both interventions provide tools and tips for how to quit smoking, 28 days worth of tips sent via text, and information on medications. However the exercises are different in each group, as is the underlying approach to quitting smoking. This is the heart of what we are testing,” Bricker said. The goal is to provide the best website

to the general public in the future, he said. WebQuit is looking for U.S. smokers over age 18 who smoke daily, can read English, have Internet access, and want to quit in the next 30 days.

Complete five surveys To take part in the study, visit WebQuit.org and fill out a short online survey to find out if you are eligible. If you are, you’ll be asked to fill out another online survey about you and your smoking.

Then you’ll be randomly assigned (like tossing a coin) to one of the two groups. Over the next year, you’ll be asked to fill out three more surveys either by phone or mail. Your survey information will be entered on a secure website and kept confidential by WebQuit staff. In addition to getting support in quitting smoking, you’ll be paid up to $105 for filling out the surveys. For more information, email WebQuit@fhcrc.org or visit WebQuit.org.

Health Study ads continue on p. 16.

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Sept. 17

DANIEL ELLSBERG TO APPEAR

Daniel Ellsberg, one of the most prominent political whistleblowers in U.S. history, will headline Constitution Day on Wednesday, Sept. 17 from 7 to 9 p.m. in MICA’s Brown Center Falvey Hall, 1301 W. Mount Royal Ave. Titled “One Nation Under Watch: Surveillance, Privacy and National Security in America,” the symposium will also include Kade Crockford, director of the Technology for Liberty project at the ACLU of Massachusetts, and interdisciplinary artist Hasan Elahi, whose work has explored the implications and consequences of surveillance for more than a decade. A limited number of free tickets will be available to the general public starting at 3 p.m. on the day of the event. The free annual symposium is co-sponsored by the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) and the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland (ACLU–MD).

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Are there benefits to eating more often? Q: Is it true that eating several small amounts of food throughout the morning could rev up my metabolism and help me lose weight better than eating one breakfast? A: Despite how often you may hear people say that eating more frequently boosts metabolic rate and increases the calories we burn, well-controlled studies do not show that eating more often promotes weight loss. If you cut your calorie consumption to the same total, the amount of weight you’ll

lose does not seem to change based on whether you eat those calories all at once or spread throughout the morning in several “mini-breakfasts.” Some studies do suggest that compared to eating your whole breakfast at once, the same food choices spread out over a few hours could offer some other health benefits, including a smaller rise in blood sugar and insulin in the hours after eating. But the key questions are which eating pattern best allows you to consistently in-

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clude foods that meet your nutritional ing information from your workouts on the needs and support overall health, and same equipment over time. keeps calories at a level that According to the American helps you reach and maintain Council on Exercise (ACE), a healthy weight, sustains treadmills have been around your energy, avoids excess longer and are more tested hunger and fits into your than other equipment, and so lifestyle? treadmills may have more reFor some people, spreadliable formulas than other ing eating out over the mornequipment, such as ellipticals. ing reduces total calorie conAccuracy also depends on sumption by avoiding late correct use of the equipment: morning hunger that could if you lean on side rails or prompt them to grab candy or NUTRITION bars, you allow them to suppastries, or to overeat at WISE port some of your weight. By Karen Collins, lunch. This burns fewer calories and However, for other people, MS, RD, CDM adds another reason that the spreading out their eating calories you see listed may means they are more likely to quickly grab over-estimate what you have actually less-healthy options, or provides more oc- burned. casions to eat portions beyond what is In addition, different people doing identineeded to satisfy hunger, with an end re- cal exercise burn different amounts of calosult of increasing total calorie consump- ries. Heavier people tend to burn more calotion. ries than lighter people doing the same acDepending on your habits, either choice tivity. People who are less fit or less accuscan fit with your goal of weight loss, so tomed to a particular type of equipment choose whatever breakfast pattern you can burn more calories than people who are sustain and implement in a way that sup- more fit and trained on the equipment. ports your total health. Even your stride length, amount of lean Q: How accurate is the information muscle tissue, individual metabolism and treadmills and step machines provide medications can affect calorie-burning. about calories burned? To increase the calories you burn, work A: The listing of calories used during ex- toward gradually increasing your speed, ercise on equipment like treadmills, steppers resistance/incline or amount of time you and ellipticals is calculated based on formu- spend exercising. las unique to each equipment manufacturer. The American Institute for Cancer ReThe formulas use time and speed, combined search offers a Nutrition Hotline, 1-800-843with any relevant resistance settings and the 8114, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through personal information you input. Friday. This free service allows you to ask Accuracy of the calculations varies, de- questions about diet, nutrition and cancer. A pending on how well the formula was test- registered dietitian will return your call, usued on a large number of different people, ally within three business days. how well-calibrated the equipment is kept, Courtesy of the American Institute for and the amount and accuracy of the infor- Cancer Research. Questions for this column mation you provide. may be sent to “Nutrition Wise,” 1759 R St. The most accurate use of information on NW, Washington, DC 20009. Collins cannot calories from these machines is for compar- respond to questions personally.

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

Natural antidepressants can help long-term Dear Pharmacist: clinical presentation. I am saddened by the suicide of Robin I adored Robin Williams, he was brilWilliams. I’ve dealt with deliant, and behind his smiling pression on and off for eyes and hysterical jokes, he years, and I was wondering battled depression for years. if you have any natural antiYou may feel the same way as depressants for me to ask you read this today, and I am my doctor about? glad you’re still holding on. — L.C. Depression is one of those Dear L.C.: conditions that people judge. When I hear a person say Here are some reasons for they’ve battled depression “on depression that you might exand off” for a long period of plore with the help of your time, I ask the question why it DEAR physician: PHARMACIST is on and off? Hypothyroidism and hypoaBy Suzy Cohen Something you are eating, drenia — I’ve mentioned this one doing or taking is impacting already, however, I want you to you so much that your mood is affected. get a copy of my Thyroid Healthy book so you Hormone imbalances are frequently the learn how to test properly. Testing and treatproblem, especially estrogen and testos- ment is the key to your happiness. terone. Also, do not take thyroid medicine until If your thyroid hormone level drops too your adrenal glands are strong and healthy. low, you get depressed. When it moves You may need to be supported by adaptointo a healthy range, you feel happy and genic herbs, a healthy diet, relaxation and content. other stress reducers. When I say “normal range,” I don’t The Pill — Synthetic hormones for birth mean the normal reference range indicat- control or menopause reduce your body’s ed on your lab test. My opinion is that the levels of B vitamins and minerals to the so-called normal range is based upon a point where you cannot manufacture happy sick and hypothyroid population. This may brain chemicals. A reduction in key neuroexplain why you feel terrible but your lev- transmitters, such as norepinephrine, els are “normal.” I don’t go by labs, I go by dopamine and serotonin, causes depres-

sion. It could be on and off as you describe. Statins and binders — We know these drugs reduce CoQ10, but do you realize they crash your ability to activate vitamin D? Ever heard of seasonal affective disorder or SAD? That is often related to low vitamin D levels, so you might need vitamin D supplements if you take cholesterol reducers. Medications — Many drugs deplete you of life-sustaining nutrients (I call them “drug muggers.”) Ibuprofen steals folic acid, and diabetic drugs steal B12. Read my Drug Muggers book for more drug-induced nutrient depletions. If you take medications periodically, then you can’t make neurotransmitters. Then you deal with that ”on and off” situation you

describe. Infections — Last on my list, but huge news: Certain infections that we carry in our body can affect the brain. You can have bipolar, depression, insomnia and/or anxiety because of Bartonella, Lyme, syphilis, HIV, fungal infections (and their mycotoxins), herpes and many others. Clearing the infection improves mood better than any prescribed antidepressant. 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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Money Law &

DON’T RUN SHORT Ensure enough income for a long life with a deferred income annuity, which begins paying you money later in life NEWS ON DISTRIBUTIONS A new tax rule postpones required distributions from certain annuities until age 80 or 85 CONSIDER ALTERNATIVES Alternative funds are becoming more popular, but the high-fee funds should be just a fraction of your portfolio

How you can profit from the merger surge By Anne Kates Smith Every week, it seems, brings news of a corporate coupling (or at least an invitation). Buyouts are brisk in industries ranging from technology to healthcare, from finance to consumer goods. Halfway through 2014, U.S. companies had announced more than 9,000 deals (counting minor ones, including those for parts of businesses), with a collective value of more than $771 billion. “We’re on track for the first trillion-dollar year since 2007,” said Richard Peterson, who tracks merger activity for S&P Capital IQ. A number of factors are behind the boom. Firms have an abundance of cash on corporate balance sheets — some $2 trillion for nonfinancial companies in Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index. Credit is easy, with interest rates low and demand for corporate bonds robust. And with stock prices at record highs, companies can pay for acquisitions with inflated shares.

High U.S. tax rates play a role Taxes are also playing a part. Some U.S. companies are bidding for overseas firms so they can change their country of incorporation in a quest for more-favorable income tax rates. For instance, Minneapolis-based Medtronic recently announced that it’s buying Covidien, another medical device maker, for $43 billion in cash and stock. Covidien has offices in Mansfield, Mass., but the company is registered in Ireland. In addition to the tax advantage, the companies have complementary product lines. Shareholders, sometimes spurred by activist investors, support the takeover trend. Companies that made an acquisition in 2013 saw their stock increase by an average of 48 percent for the year, said Bank of America Merrill Lynch. [Editor’s note: President Obama and some members of Congress are criticizing the mergers, noting they seem primarily de-

signed to reduce the companies’ U.S. tax bill, which in turn will add to budget deficits here. Others point out that U.S. corporate tax rates are the highest in the developed world and that corporate income is taxed twice, both at the company earnings level and when paid to stockholders as dividends.]

Trends of success Investors looking to cash in on the merger boom might consider investing in stocks of companies with a track record of successful acquisitions. For example, Valeant Pharmaceuticals (symbol VRX, $126) recently garnered headlines for its hostile bid for Allergan (AGN, $169), the maker of Botox. The firm has executed an aggressive acquisition strategy, almost flawlessly, for years, said Morningstar analyst David Krempa, thus boosting profit margins and reducing the risk of expiring patents. Danaher Corp. (DHR, $79), which man-

ufactures everything from industrial tools to dental supplies, is a master at consolidating businesses, achieving synergies and maximizing productivity. Danaher acquired 14 businesses in 2013; roughly 75 percent of its sales growth during the past five years has come from acquisitions. Deal adviser Lazard (LAZ, $52) could see double-digit-percentage revenue growth this year as its investment-banking unit profits from a pickup in dealmaking, said S&P Capital IQ, which rates the stock a “strong buy.” Finally, consider Merger Fund (MERFX), a member of the Kiplinger 25. The fund invests in stocks of announced takeover targets. Anne Kates Smith is a senior editor at Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. Send your questions and comments to moneypower@kiplinger.com. And for more on this and similar money topics, visit Kiplinger.com. ©2014 Kiplinger’s Personal Finance; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Sun and wind energy empower portfolios By Jonathan Fahey You can now fit a wind or solar farm into your portfolio, even if your portfolio isn’t exactly vast. Energy companies are wrapping renewable energy projects and other power-related assets that generate steady cash into new companies they hope attract investors hunting for dividends. In an unfortunate victory for corporate speak, they are called yieldcos. They’re the electric power industry’s answer to real estate investment trusts, which distribute rental income to investors, and master limited partnerships, which distribute income from oil and gas pipelines to investors. Yieldcos aim to distribute most of the proceeds from generating or delivering electricity to shareholders through a steady stream of dividends. They try to grow the dividend by buying more power projects. Analysts say they are a relatively safe way to invest in renewable energy — much safer, for example, than buying shares in notoriously volatile solar panel makers. Warren Buffet agrees. He’s invested $15

billion in the same type of wind and solar projects that yieldcos own, and he plans to double that amount.

Promising, but risky, too But analysts caution there are risks for yieldco investors because their popularity has inflated share prices and the concept is so new. “They are new types of companies, so we have very little visibility into what they might evolve into in the future,” said Mihoko Manabe, an analyst at Moody’s, the credit rating agency. So far, many are doing quite well. NRG Yield (NYLD), which was created by the power producer NRG Energy, went public in 2103 at $22 a share and is now trading at $54. Next Era Energy Partners (NEP), which was created by the electric utility Next Era Energy, went public in July at $25 and is now trading above $34. TerraForm Power (TERP), created by SunEdison, also went public in July at $25 and now trades near $30. These yieldcos own power plants that have entered into long-term power purchase agreements at set prices with local utilities. For example, Next Era Energy’s

Tuscola Bay wind farm in Michigan will sell all of its power over 20 years to DTE Energy. And assets go beyond wind or solar projects, or even ones that generate power. Abengoa Yield owns power transmission lines in Peru and Chile along with solar farms in Arizona and California. NRG Yield owns a coal-fired plant in Delaware. Because these companies own assets operating under long-term agreements, they aren’t subject to wild swings in the price of wholesale electricity the way traditional power producers are. The idea is that while some investors would like to pay for the risk and upside of a traditional power producer, many others would rather have a steady flow of cash. For the companies, these new businesses have created a new and cheaper source of funding to buy or build new power projects. “It’s the biggest thing going on in energy finance,” said Peter Davidson, executive director of the Energy Department’s loans programs office, which lent money to projects that are now in yieldco portfolios. “We think it’s the next great step in the evolution of clean tech.”

Other concerns to consider One big concern for investors is that share prices could fall, perhaps sharply, if interest rates rise. That’s because comparable yields will then be available from safer investments, such as bonds. Another is that investor enthusiasm in these companies has pushed yields down so far that some barely justify the name yieldco. NRG Yield now pays out just 2.7 percent, not much more than the 2.2 percent that the components of the Dow Jones industrial Average pay, on average. Investors are banking on fast dividend growth, which all the companies project. NRG has told investors it hopes to grow the dividend an average 10 to 15 percent per year over the next five years. But that requires buying more projects at good prices. With more and more yieldcos chasing these projects, there might not be enough to go around, or they might get too expensive. Manabe, of Moody’s, recommends sticking with yieldcos controlled by large, stable companies that have many projects available to sell to the yieldco, such as See ENERGY STOCKS, page 19

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2014

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

Survive, even thrive, in market correction By Anne Kates Smith Stock market “corrections” are an inevitable part of investing. Since 1932, declines of 10 to 20 percent (the traditional definition of a correction) have occurred an average of every two years, according to InvesTech Research. Are we due for a big drop? Probably. The current bull market has brushed off unfavorable economic news, but there’s no guarantee that it will brush off future disappointments. Still, if you believe the bull market has more room to run, don’t panic when it stumbles. Here’s how to put a downturn to good use. Beef up your buying power. While

stocks continue to hit record highs, take some profits from your winners and build a cash reserve. When the market finally sinks, scoop up bargains. Prepare a shopping list. Jot down a list of stocks you’d like to acquire at lower prices. Wasatch Funds chairman Sam Stewart said he likes healthcare and would start to nibble at Walgreens (symbol WAG, $71) if it fell to the high $50s. Scott Klimo, director of research at Saturna Capital, which manages the Amana funds, would use a 10-percent correction to add to a stake in search engine giant Google (GOOG, $585) and BorgWarner (BWA, $66), a leading maker of turbochargers. Don’t miss a stealth correction. Broad

Energy stocks

Springs financial advisory firm, said he thinks yieldcos could have a place in his clients’ portfolios along with REITs and MLPs — someday. “I like what they are doing,” he said. “But right now it’s probably a little premature for us to get in. It needs to be proven a little more.” — AP

From page 18 Next Era Energy Partners. It’s controlled by Next Era Energy, the biggest wind power producer in the U.S. and one of the largest solar power producers. Nathan Kubik, a principal at a Colorado

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Senior Legal Services (formerly The Legal Services to the Elderly Program) provides free legal advice, services and representation to Baltimore City residents 60 and older. Assistance is provided regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation. Outreach and education is also an integral part of the program’s mission. Senior Legal Services has a dedicated staff and an active panel of volunteer attorneys. SLS hosts an annual Law Day for Seniors at which hundreds of seniors and their caregivers participate in discussions of relevant legal issues. Attorneys make home visits and do legal consultations at senior citizen apartment buildings and at senior centers. For more information, visit www.baltimoreseniorlegalservices.org.

measures such as Standard & Poor’s 500stock index have been marching to new highs, but a closer look at the market shows that some sectors have already taken big hits and are starting to recover. Two examples: Internet services and biotech stocks. Turn off the TV. If a decline starts to snowball, you’ll hear about it — over and over. “Don’t become your portfolio’s worst enemy by allowing yourself to get caught up in the negative hysteria,” said Sam Stovall, chief stock strategist at S&P Capital IQ. Instead, remind yourself that the market has experienced 20 drops of 10 to 20 percent since World War II (plus 13 bear-market tumbles of at least 20 percent). Even so, large-company stocks have returned 11.1

percent annualized since the war’s end. Have a strategy. You’ve probably heard of dollar-cost averaging, a strategy of investing a set amount in the market at periodic intervals. Consider a correction-market twist: Invest periodically, but use decline thresholds instead of time intervals to determine when. For example, you might put a set amount into stock funds in your 401(k) after every 5-percent dip. Anticipate better days: The effects of corrections don’t last long. After a drop of 10 to 20 percent, it typically takes just four months to break even, said Stovall. ©2014 Kiplinger’s Personal Finance; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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OCTOBER 2014 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; BALTIMORE BEACON

Secure for long life with a longevity annuity The life expectancy for both men and women in the United States continues to increase. This is obviously good news, yet it raises a prospect many fear: that they will outlive their assets. Interest rates are low and will likely remain so for some time, so many people nearing or at retirement age are looking for financial products that will preserve their resources through their remaining years. One worth looking at is a deferred income annuity (DIA), also known as a

longevity annuity.

How it works The buyer of a DIA, in its simplest form, invests a lump sum with an insurance company and in return is guaranteed a lifetime income stream beginning at a designated future date. (An immediate annuity, by contrast, guarantees an income stream beginning immediately.) Just how large are the payments in that lifetime income stream? That depends on a

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lot of different factors: current interest Naturally, a joint-life option comes with a rates, life expectancy, the amount of the cost: The monthly income will be smaller premium(s) deposited, the length of the de- than the self-only option (given the same ferral period, and the various premium). The insurance comincome options. pany will base the monthly Consider this example, stream of income not only on based on typical rates as of May your age but also the age of the 2014, taken from the website joint party. ImmediateAnnuities.com Another option is a guaran(which, incidentally, is a good teed income for a specified perisource of information, as well as od, such as five, 10 or 15 years. rates and quotes from insurThe longer the specified period, ance companies): the lower the income stream. If If you were to invest a lump you die during the specified inTHE SAVINGS sum of $100,000 at age 55, spec- GAME terval, the remaining income ifying in your contract that you By Elliot Raphaelson payments will be made to speciwant your income stream to fied beneficiaries. begin at age 65, you would begin receiving $10,609 a year at that time. Options, disadvantages With an immediate annuity, you would re- to consider There are other options that you can discuss ceive $5,621 annually, beginning immediately. As expected, the longer the interval be- with your insurer. These include riders that tween your initial investment and the date protect you from inflation, that protect beneficiyou elect to begin receiving your income aries if you die before receiving payments (e.g., by returning to them the initial lump sum you stream, the larger your income will be. With DIAs, you have several options re- invested plus nominal interest), or that give garding your income stream. For example, you access to some of your initial premium in you can choose lifetime income for you only, case of an emergency. Naturally, adding any or you could select a joint-life option that al- such rider will either increase your upfront lows another party (such as a spouse), if you cost or decrease your future income stream. predecease him or her, to continue to reSee ANNUITY, page 21 ceive the same monthly income.

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2014

New tax rule adds to value of annuities By Kimberly Lankford Question: I understand that the Treasury Department just changed the tax rules so people can now invest IRA money in deferred income annuities without worrying about required minimum distributions. Should I invest in this kind of annuity? Answer: If you’re starting to plan for retirement income, it’s worth considering. A deferred income annuity lets you invest a lump sum now and lock in a guaranteed lifetime payout that starts at a later date. [See “Secure for long life with a longevity annuity” on page 20.] Knowing you can count on a guaranteed income stream after a certain age can help you plan withdrawals from the rest of your

Annuity From page 20 DIAs need not be purchased only with a one-time lump sum. You can buy one over time in a “flexible premium purchase.” If you will be able to make additional purchases prior to retirement, consider this option. No one can predict interest rates, but if you expect them to increase in the near term, you can postpone investing some of your capital. However, if you use this strategy, it will reduce the subsequent deferral period, which might offset the advantage of higher interest rates. There are two basic disadvantages of DIAs. The first is that you may die before

savings. And the longer you defer payouts, the bigger the bang for your buck. The required minimum distribution rules in effect before the Treasury’s ruling made it difficult to make the most of these annuities. Because you need to start taking money from traditional IRAs and 401(k)s at age 70 1/2 and pay taxes on the withdrawals, some insurers would only let people invest in deferred annuities with money from taxable accounts. Other insurers let people invest IRA money in deferred income annuities, but required them to start receiving payouts before age 70 1/2. The short deferral period limited the value of their investment. For example, MetLife allowed customers to invest in deferred income annuyour time, actuarially speaking. Riders can mitigate this risk, of course, but an annuity is a lot like a bet with an insurance company that you will live long enough see a favorable return on your investment. The other risk is loss of liquidity. You should invest in this type of policy only if there is a low probability that you will need access to the initial premium prior to the date when your income stream starts. An investment in DIAs may not do as well as a long-term diversified investment, such as a target fund. However, you can take some comfort in knowing you are receiving a guaranteed positive return. If you decide to purchase a DIA, buy it only from a company with top rating, such

ities in their 401(k)s, but required payouts to begin at age 70 1/2. Or you could invest traditional IRA money in an annuity as long as you agreed to take RMDs from another IRA account.

What the new rule does The Treasury Department’s new rule would permit people to invest up to 25 percent of their IRA or 401(k) account balance (or $125,000, whichever is less) in a longevity annuity without having to take RMDs on the money. Insurers are now expected to extend the deferral age to 80 or 85. The average buyer of deferred income annuities is about 59 and defers payouts for seven or eight years, said Joe Montminy, as A, A+ or A++. Ratings from A.M. Best, Moody’s or Standard & Poor’s are reliable. Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions

LIMRA Secure Retirement Institute annuity research director. Removing the RMD issue creates an opportunity for people to get higher payouts by deferring longer. Montminy expects that more companies will enter the market and more advisers will start recommending these products. To keep in mind: It may take a few months for state regulators to approve changes to new products from insurers. Insurers are also determining what this means for people who bought deferred income annuities before the rules were changed. Kimberly Lankford is a contributing editor to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. ©2014 Kiplinger’s Personal Finance; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. and comments at elliotraph@gmail.com. ©2014 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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OCTOBER 2014 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Alternative funds draw dollars, questions By Stan Choe They’re hot, yet many investors have no idea what they do. These mutual funds go by a few names, and it doesn’t help that some are inscrutable like “liquid alts,” but they generally fall under an umbrella known as alternative mutual funds. Managers of alternative funds pitch that they can offer smoother returns than traditional stock and bond funds because they have access to more trading tools and markets. And their popularity is surging, though they come with their own risks and generally higher fees. Investors plugged a net $35 billion into alternative mutual funds over the last 12 months, according to Morningstar. That’s more than went into bond mutual funds, and nearly as much as into diversified U.S. stock funds.

The growth is more striking in percentage terms because many alternative funds are still relatively young and small. Over the last year, total assets of alternative funds have grown by 30 percent, not including investment gains. But the spurt of money doesn’t mean widespread acceptance. Mention alternative funds even to savvy investors like financial advisers, and the default response is often a shrug. Matt Straut should know. He’s a sales manager for Wells Fargo Funds Management, who is traveling around the country to talk with investment advisers about alternative funds. But instead of trying to make a sale, he’s focused more on helping them understand just what alternative funds are and if their clients would want them. “We’re almost in education-only mode,” he said. “We’re not placing any gauge on

sales” because many advisers are in such an early stage of getting familiar with alternative funds.

Questions to ask Here’s a look at questions investors should ask as they consider whether alternative funds are for them: What do they do? Many alternative fund managers use tools that are typically the province of hedge funds. Brian Singer, for example, invests in everything from stocks to bonds to currencies with his William Blair Macro Allocation fund (WMCNX). And he invests not only when he expects an investment to rise in price, but also when he’s forecasting a drop. He does that through short-selling. Now, for example, he isn’t excited about U.S. stocks, which are more expensive after nearly tripling since early 2009. But

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he believes some parts of the market are pricier than others, particularly small-cap growth stocks. Late last year, he positioned the fund to benefit from a drop in their share prices. But he also made a trade that would profit if another part of the market, large-cap value stocks, rises. Singer also invests in bonds — his fund is shorting many types of bonds — and in currencies, which he sees as some of the most fertile ground available. He expects gains for the Indian rupee and Malaysian ringgit, and he has investments set up to profit if the Australian dollar falls. What kinds of returns expected? Alternative funds aren’t supposed to match the stock market, said Will Kinlaw, head of portfolio and risk management research at State Street Global Exchange. Their main purpose is to offer diversification to investors — something that can hold steady or rise when stock markets are falling. “If stocks are a car, these products are like bikes,” Kinlaw said. “A biker is never going to outrun a car on an open highway, but in a traffic jam, a bike can weave through and be more consistent in its speed.” Given that many alternative mutual funds are less than 5 years old, many don’t yet have a track record to show how they perform during sharp down markets. What role should they play in a portfolio? Managers of some of the largest pension funds and university endowments have been using alternative investments for years, but usually only in a supporting role. The nation’s largest public pension fund, the California Public Employees’ Retirement System, has less than 2 percent of its total assets in hedge-fund strategies. Yale University’s endowment, a famous advocate, has about 18 percent. What about the high price tag? Alternative mutual funds are cheaper than hedge funds, which can charge a 2 percent fee on assets and an additional 20 percent of profits. But they’re still more expensive than traditional mutual funds, and higher fees mean an immediate disadvantage that a fund must surmount through better performance. The average expense ratio for an alternative mutual fund is 1.84 percent. That means $184 of every $10,000 invested in the funds go toward covering operational expenses. Across all stock mutual funds, investors incurred an average expense of $74 last year for every $10,000 invested. Actively managed stock funds have higher expense ratios than index funds, but they also tend to be cheaper than alternative funds. What other risks are there? Some alternative funds invest in narrow segments of the market where finding a buyer can be difficult during tumultuous markets. That could exacerbate losses. Other funds can use borrowed money to amplify returns, which can also accelerate losses. — AP

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2014

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An overview of the 9/11 Memorial Museum and other NYC commemorative sites. See story on page 25.

Live it up like the rich in the Berkshires A little over two hours from New York City and Boston, the Berkshires were a favorite summer retreat and playground for the aristocracy in the Gilded Age, when the barons of business erected multi-roomed behemoths that they called “cottages.” Think Carnegies, Vanderbilts and Westinghouses. These lavish, late 19th century manses today offer a glimpse into how the rich got away from it all — all except conspicuous consumption, that is. Today, you too can get away by exploring picturesque towns, visiting the mansions, hiking verdant trails, imbibing mountain air, and mellowing out on a local gin, named Ethereal.

PHOTO BY GLENDA C. BOOTH

By Glenda C. Booth LENOX, Mass. — A century ago, writer Edith Wharton wrote of this town in Massachusetts, “Lenox has its own tonic effect on me, and I feel like a new edition, revised and corrected.” Wharton’s guest at the time, novelist Henry James, concurred: “I am very happy here, surrounded by every loveliness of nature and every luxury of art, and treated with a benevolence that brings tears to my eyes.” Lenox, in the heart of the Berkshire Mountains in western Massachusetts, has long attracted writers, artists, performers and vacationers. The Berkshires, part of the Appalachian mountain chain, still intoxicate and rejuvenate, whether you are meandering along the Housatonic River, climbing 3,491 feet up Mount Greylock, poking around 32 quaint towns, admiring fall foliage or enjoying the arts. The Berkshire region stretches from Connecticut’s northern border to Vermont’s southern border and 40 to 50 miles from west to east. If you drive without stopping, you can travel from bottom to top in an hour and a half — but you’ll want to stop. Here you’ll find a gentle melding of the bucolic and the cultural. En route as I rounded a curve on Route 23, I was startled by a black bear standing on its hind legs, front paws planted on the guardrail, evidently poised to cross the road. Only seven percent of the region is considered to be developed, and half of that is residential. The area is particularly famous for its outstanding performance venues, like Tanglewood and Jacob’s Pillow, as well as theater, art, yoga retreats and fine cuisine.

Great Barrington Great Barrington, population, 7,000, exudes small town charm. It’s a compact, walkable village of cafes, boutiques and eclectic architecture, including a Gothic Revival church, a Queen Anne-style mansion, a 19th century storefront and a saltbox house. Friendly staff at the visitor center, at 362 Main St., will load you up with a walking tour brochure and local lore. A marker in front of the courthouse honors the first open resistance to British rule in America. Here in 1774, 1,500 unarmed men obstructed court business to protest British edicts, according to the Great Barrington Historical Society (www.gbhistory.org). The town was also the first in the world to enjoy electric streetlights and electric lights in homes, another historic marker states. In 1886, William Stanley demonstrated how to use alternating current for commercial purposes and proceeded to

Writer Edith Wharton designed her home in Lenox, Mass., built in 1902 and called the Mount, using the principles in her book, The Decoration of Houses. It features hardware imported from France and marble baseboards from Italy. The house and gardens are open for public tours.

STOCKBRIDGE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

light 20 businesses on Main Street. His electrical products manufacturing business evolved into General Electric. Another first: a statue fronting town hall honors Mum Betts, the first slave to successfully sue for her freedom. She was awarded 30 shillings in damages in 1781 and helped end the slave trade in Massachusetts. Her great-grandson, William Edward Burghardt (W.E.B.) Dubois (1868-1963), the famous civil rights activist, scholar and cofounder of the NAACP, is honored by a midtown garden near his birthplace. He was the first African American to graduate from Harvard. The Housatonic River Walk along the west bank of the river offers a touch of the wild right in town. Dubois wrote that the Housatonic was “the lifestream of the town.” He also wrote, “That river of my birth was golden because of the woolen and paper waste that soiled it. The gold was theirs, not ours; but the gleam and glint was for all.” It still gleams and glints today. Passenger trains once Norman Rockwell lived the last 25 years of his life in the quintessential New England village of Stockbrought New York perbridge, MA. This wintertime panoramic photo of main street (also painted by Rockwell) shows the Red Lion Inn (just to the right of center), which dates back to 1773. formers to the Mahaiwe

Performing Arts Center, a 1905, restored vaudeville theater known for good acoustics. It’s hosted Broadway shows, silent movies, “talkies” and concerts.

Stockbridge Stockbridge, another picture postcard town, is immortalized in the 1965 Arlo Guthrie song, “Alice’s Restaurant.” You may remember the 18-minute musical monologue about a hippie and his friend, who dump a Volkswagen minibus-load of trash off a cliff near Stockbridge before falling prey to Officer Obie. The actual Alice’s Restaurant is now in a new incarnation called Theresa’s. Trinity Church, where Alice and Ray actually lived and hosted the Thanksgiving meal in the song, is now known as the Guthrie Center. Arlo performs there several times a year. He says he sings his famous song every 10 years, and he’ll sing it again in 2015, the song’s 50-year anniversary. Today, Stockbridge is more artsy-preppy than counterculture. But it still lacks stop lights and strip malls. It’s an iconic New England village — steeples, picket fences and all — truly Rockwellian. In fact, Norman Rockwell was himself a local. He painted Main Street in 1967, and the town looks just as it did then. Rockwell See BERKSHIRES, page 24

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Berkshires From page 23 lived in Stockbridge for the last 25 years of his life, and died in 1978. The Norman Rockwell Museum (www.nrm.org) houses the world’s largest collection of his original art, including 321 Saturday Evening Post covers, 100,000 photographs, letters and other mementos. A chronicler of 20th century Americana, Rockwell produced 60 years of art depicting the everyday and the ordinary with painstaking attention to detail. Visitors can learn more by visiting his studio behind the museum. To learn how the wealthy vacationed in the Gilded Age in those summer “cottages” — some with 75 to 100 rooms and acres of manicured gardens — take a house (and/or garden) tour of Naumkeag. It was the elegant summer home of the Choate family. Joseph Choate was Ambassador to England and built the house in 1885. It features

OCTOBER 2014 — BALTIMORE BEACON

rare Chinese porcelain, family portraits by John Singer Sargent, a decorative entrance to the Chinese garden called the Moon Gate, and eight acres of landscaped gardens.

Source of literary inspiration The scenic beauty and tranquility of the Berkshires inspired several American literary giants, including Herman Melville, William Cullen Bryant and Edith Wharton. Touring their homes invites you into the psyches of those engaged in “a disquieting profession,” as Wharton described it. At Wharton’s home in Lenox, the Mount, you’ll learn that in the summers from 1901 to 1911 Edith Wharton wrote by hand, perched up in bed all morning, before becoming sociable around the mansion and grounds she designed. Born into wealth, she created what she called “a spacious and dignified house,” incorporating hardware from France, marble baseboards from Italy, and electricity from George Westinghouse next door. Her three

acres of gardens reflect her passion for European landscape design — a series of outdoor “rooms,” which, as she directed, possess “a charm independent of the seasons.” The Mount is one of the few National Historic Landmarks dedicated to women. On Sundays and Thursdays, visitors can learn about those who made the mansion tick on “backstairs tours” a la “Downton Abbey.” Herman Melville finished Moby Dick at Arrowhead, an 18th century farmhouse in Pittsfield (www.mobydick.org). “I have a sort of sea-feeling here in the country,” he wrote “...I look out of my window in the morning when I rise as I would out of a porthole of a ship in the Atlantic.” Ever wonder how and where Daniel Chester French designed and built the 19foot statue of President Abraham Lincoln in Washington’s Lincoln Memorial? The answer: at Chesterwood (www.chesterwood.org), the sculptor’s country home and studio near Lenox and Stockbridge. The final Lincoln monument was shipped

in 28 pieces to Washington, D.C., for assembly. At Chesterwood, you can see a miniature Lincoln monument, models and tools of the artist. Also worth visiting in the region: Tanglewood (www.bso.org), in Lenox, is the region’s famous outdoor musical venue, home to the Boston Pops in the summer. The last performance this year was Tony Bennett on August 31. You can still drop by and imagine throngs captivated by world-famous performers. Hancock Shaker Village (www.hancockshakervillage.org) in Pittsfield, honors the 350 brethren and sisteren who lived there in the 1870s and practiced “hands to work, hearts to God.” Today, it’s a living history museum of crafts, heritage breeds of livestock and historic buildings (20 in all). Think big when visiting MassMOCA (www.massmoca.org) in North Adams. A museum of contemporary art in a 19th century factory, it features very large art works in spacious galleries.

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Driving distance to the Berkshire region is about 350 miles from downtown Baltimore. The closest airports are in Albany, N.Y. (45 miles), and Hartford, Conn. (90 miles). In early October, roundtrip flights from BWI to Albany start at $207; rates to Hartford start at $166, both on Southwest Airlines. Berkshire locals love to tout their culinary “trails”— beer and cider, cheese and charcuterie (www.berkshirefarmandtable .com/taste-trails). You can sample hormone-free chevre, Berkshire blue cheese, nose-to-tail sausages and solar-brewed beer. Other foodie adventures: • The Berkshire Mountain Distillers in Great Barrington handcrafts spirits like Ethereal Gin, Berkshire Bourbon and Ragged Mountain Rum. • In Great Barrington, the Castle Street Café specializes in small plates, local cheeses and calves liver glazed with pearl onions. The Neighborhood Diner serves notable lamb burgers, eggplant fries and fried green beans. To experience the decadence of life in the Gilded Age, consider staying at Blantyre (www.blantyre.com), in Lenox. The 117-acre, former summer estate was built to resemble a castle. The least expensive room is $600 a night. In Stockbridge, consider the Red Lion Inn, a prominent town fixture since 1773, and host to six U.S. presidents. The inn has 100 individually-decorated rooms. Room prices in October start at $155 for two. Visit www.redlioninn.com. Other options: • Rookwood Inn (http://rookwoodinn .com, Lenox, B&B in a Victorian house, a former tavern. Rooms, $185 and up. • Racebrook Lodge (www.rblodge.com), Sheffield, a rustic getaway. Rooms, $110 and up. • Days Inn, Great Barrington, basic, adequate and very convenient for walking about town. Rooms are $101. For information, see Berkshires Visitors Bureau, www.berk shires.org.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel

BALTIMORE BEACON â&#x20AC;&#x201D; OCTOBER 2014

The Big Appleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 9/11 sites pack a punch By Beth J. Harpaz Out-of-towners and locals alike have shown enormous interest in New York Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sites connected to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. More than 700,000 people from all 50 states and 131 countries have been to the National Sept. 11 Museum in New York City since it opened May 21. More have come from New York than any other state, but the museum also hosts so many international tourists that you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even identi-

fy all the languages being spoken. In addition, nearly 15 million people have visited the Sept. 11 Memorial since it opened three years ago on the footprints of the twin towers. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1 million more a year than visit the Statue of Liberty. And yet the very idea of 9/11 tourism remains controversial to some. Some New Yorkers are still so traumatized theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve avoided the area. Others think 9/11 tourism is unseemly, however respectful the intent.

Indeed, the memorial plaza could now be mistaken for a leafy urban park, with visitors taking smiling selfies or leaning on bronze parapets that bear the names of the dead. And yet, one could argue that recreating a sense of normality downtown is part of the 9/11 story, too. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s this tension between a nice park where you can come out and have your lunch, but you might be sitting next to a family member paying respects to a loved one,â&#x20AC;? said Brenda Berkman, a re-

tired fire lieutenant who was there on Sept. 11, 2001, and worked on the recovery effort. Berkman now leads guided tours from the 9/11 Tribute Center. For those who do want to visit, pay respects or learn more about the events of 13 years ago, here are some options.

9/11 Memorial The memorialâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s waterfalls and twin reflectSee BIG APPLE, page 27

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OCTOBER 2014 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; BALTIMORE BEACON

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2014

Big Apple From page 25 ing pools are set deep in the twin towers’ footprints. The pools are surrounded by panels inscribed with the names of the nearly 3,000 people who perished in the attacks, including those who died at the site, on the planes and at the Pentagon. Also listed are six who died in the 1993 Trade Center bombing. Hundreds of oak trees line the plaza, but be sure to find a tall, callery pear tree called the Survivor Tree, grown from an 8-foot stump found in the rubble of the fallen towers. The memorial is free and open daily, 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; http://www.911memorial .org/visit-911-memorial. Visitor passes and security checks are no longer required.

9/11 Memorial Museum The museum tells the definitive story of the World Trade Center, from construction to destruction to rebirth. Artifacts large and small include tower beams, the Survivors’ Stairs used by hundreds to escape, a wrecked fire truck, and shoes worn by a photojournalist who was injured that day. You’ll hear phone messages left by people trapped in the towers, and if you dare peek behind an exhibit labeled “disturbing,” you’ll see photos of those who jumped. Numerous videos and photos show Lower Manhattan before the attacks, as the planes hit, while the towers burned, and after they fell, as enormous debris

clouds covered downtown. Tissue boxes around the galleries testify to the museum’s visceral, emotional impact. But some of the simplest exhibits are among the most memorable. Blue squares represent an artist’s effort to remember the sky color that day. And a massive wall bears this quote from Virgil: “NO DAY SHALL ERASE YOU FROM THE MEMORY OF TIME.” The museum is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., with the last entry at 7 p.m. through Sept. 21 (after Sept. 21, 7 p.m. closing). Get timed tickets online in advance to avoid long waits. Admission, $24; http://911memorial.org.

Sundays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with walking tours at 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Center admission, $15; tours, $10; combined admission plus tour, $20; http://tributewtc.org.

One World Trade Center The observatory at One World Trade Center won’t open until next year. But the gleaming skyscraper itself, with its trademark spire and graceful angles, can be

seen from all over the city. Two free, official apps can help you explore the memorial and museum in person or virtually: the 9/11 Memorial Guide and 9/11 Memorial Audio Guide. Access the 9/11 Museum via Liberty and Greenwich streets, or Fulton and West streets. Nearby subways include the Chambers and Fulton Street stations, which are served by many lines. The E train has a World Trade Center stop — AP

Send a letter to the editor. See page 2.

9/11 Tribute Center and tours In contrast to the large, formal exhibits of the Memorial Museum, the 9/11 Tribute Center is a small, intimate, low-key place. The walls are covered with victims’ photos and missing posters; handmade paper cranes — a symbol of peace — hang over a stairwell. It’s like looking through someone’s scrapbook and sharing memories. The Tribute Center also offers terrific guided tours of the memorial led by individuals with a connection to Sept. 11th — first responders, survivors, those who lost loved ones. The tours offer personal memories and insights as well as an informed appreciation of the memorial’s design and symbolism. “We try and bring you to that day based on what we witnessed,” Berkman said. The Tribute Center at 120 Liberty St. is open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.;

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Style Arts &

Former Baltimore Sun cartoonist Bill Wilson is still at the drawing table. See story on page 30.

Becoming Mr. and Mrs. Francis Scott Key President Madison to rescue a Maryland physician who had been arrested by the British and imprisoned on of their ships anchored in the Chesapeake Bay. Key, assisting the American prisoner of war exchange agent, negotiated for the captive’s release. The British, having completed a successful invasion of Washington, D.C., began an attack on Baltimore while Key was aboard ship. Together with the exchange agent and the doctor, Key first watched the unsuccessful British attempt to invade Baltimore by land via North Point, then the “rockets’ red glare,” as the British began their bombardment of Fort McHenry. His drafting of the poem that was to become our national anthem also took place on the ship. “Not many people today know that Key was such a well-known attorney,” said Socha, whose “day job” is serving as executive director of the South Baltimore Learning Center.

And who was Mrs. Key? Mary (aka “Polly”) Tayloe Lloyd met her future husband in 1797 when she was 13 years old and he was 17. Although

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Francis (who went by “Frank”) was smitten by her beauty and stately bearing, Polly tore his poems into curling papers for her hair. Like Key, Lloyd came from an established and wealthy family; her greatgrandfather had been Royal Governor of Maryland. Her childhood home, now known as the Chase-Lloyd House, still stands in Annapolis, as does her family’s summer plantation on the Wye River. Francis Scott Key valued Polly as a good wife, a

loving mother to their 11 children (!) and an efficient manager of their large houseSee FRANCIS SCOTT KEY, page 29

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALAN GEPHARDT

By Carol Sorgen Alan Gephardt and Sonia Socha may not be husband and wife in real life, but they have portrayed a real married couple for the past 25 years. As Francis Scott Key and his wife Mary, the two have appeared throughout Maryland at living history re-enactments, festivals, museums, classrooms and more. Their interactive historic interpretations bring this 19th century “power couple” to life for 21st century audiences. Though this is an “avocation, not a vocation,” said Socha, she and Gephardt have fully embraced the lives of the Keys. They feel they have gotten to know them intimately from researching the history of the time, reading personal correspondence, visiting their family homes, even meeting some of their descendants. Among the interesting facts: Before Francis Scott Key became known as the author of The Star Spangled Banner, he was a prominent Georgetown lawyer who often argued cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. He also was something of a diplomat. In 1814, toward the end of the War of 1812, he was sent on a mission approved by

Sonia Socha and Alan Gephardt have spent 25 years portraying Francis Scott Key and his wife Mary at events throughout Maryland. They have been particularly popular in recent years, with the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812, during which Key wrote “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2014

Francis Scott Key

Hampton National Historical Site in Towson.

From page 28

Bringing history to life

hold staff. On the other hand, she was often described as haughty and proud, and very conscious of her aristocratic ancestry. Her views did not always agree with the democratic spirit of the early 19th century. “Key ‘married up’ when he married into the Lloyd family,” said Socha. “She was from the wealthiest family in Maryland.”

When appearing as Mr. and Mrs. Key, Gephardt and Socha wear period clothes, sometimes performing as the Keys themselves, sometimes giving a more formal presentation. “We want people to understand this piece of our history,” said Socha. “We want them to understand who the Keys were.” Socha’s journey to becoming “Polly” began in 1987 when she was working at Dundalk Community College. The college president received a call from the executive director of the Chamber of Commerce wanting to “borrow” Socha for several weeks to implement a historical re-enactment. Though that wasn’t her area of expertise, she was an experienced event planner so she agreed. Two years later, the Francis Scott Key Foundation asked for “Francis Scott Key” to appear at a groundbreaking ceremony for its new park in Georgetown (the site of the Keys’ home). Socha accompanied Gephardt to the ceremony, and the Foundation decided that at its next event at the Smithsonian, Mr. Key needed a “Mrs.” Socha threw herself into the research and even had period-appropriate clothing made for the occasion. Since that time, she and Gephardt have appeared together as part of the Living Flag Celebration and Defender’s Day events held every year at Fort McHenry, in addition to making presentations at local schools, historical societies, and events in Annapolis and Frederick. They have also accompanied the original manuscript of the “Star Spangled Banner” from the Maryland Historical Society to the Miller Senate Building in Annapolis. Though Socha and Gephardt don’t have as much time as they once did to portray

Anchored in the past Gephardt, 58, became interested in Francis Scott Key about 25 years ago, purely by chance, when he passed a historical re-enactment on a farm owned by his high school history teacher in North Point in Baltimore County. Gephardt stopped to watch, and soon was asked to portray Francis Scott Key in the re-enactment of the Battle of North Point. A history major in college who also studied drama, the role seemed tailormade for Gephardt. Now, 25 years later, he’s still portraying Key. “I find Francis Scott Key himself and the story very interesting,” said Gephardt. “Here was a man who was a trained lawyer and an amateur poet who finds himself on a ship watching events unfold that led to his writing what would become our national anthem. It’s almost serendipity.” Ironically, Gephardt observed, Key was opposed to the War of 1812 and found it both foolish and immoral. “It’s a twist of fate that he felt that way and still wrote what became our national anthem” based on a battle of that war, he said. When he’s not playing his alter ego, Gephardt is a seasonal park ranger for the National Park Service. From May to October, he works at the James A. Garfield National Historical Site near Cleveland, and from October to April, he works at the

the Keys — their full-time jobs keep them well-occupied — neither wants to give up the “companions” who have accompanied them during the last quarter-century. “I find him to be an admirable human being,” said Gephardt of Francis Scott Key. “He was a person of faith, dedicated to improving American society, sincere, kindhearted and affectionate. I think he would have been a very interesting person to meet.” Gephardt tries to end every presentation with a recitation of all four verses of the “Star Spangled Banner.” Every time, he finds a different meaning.

“The words speak to me in different ways at different times,” he said. “I find that very compelling, and one of the reasons I continue doing this.” Most recently, “Mr. and Mrs. Key” helped celebrate the “Star Spangled Spectacular,” commemorating the 200th anniversary of the national anthem. Their next appearances will be at the Baltimore Office of Promotion and Art’s Bicentennial Village outside Ft. McHenry, on Friday, September 12, from 4 to 6 p.m. and Saturday, September 13, from 4 to 7 p.m., as well as at Rash Field on Sunday, September 14, from 1:30 to 2 p.m.

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

Radio Flea Market Heard every Sunday, 7-8:00 a.m. on 680 WCBM

kaleidoscope Lifelong Learning at Roland Park Country School Fall programs for everyone who enjoys learning! Language Adventures Creative Pursuits Military History Culinary Arts Baltimore at its Best

Children/Family Matters Multi-Day Trips Book Talks Technology

Environmental Sustainability

Expand your horizons! For information, please call 410.323.5500, ext. 3091 or visit us on-line at www.rpcs.org

ROLAND PARK COUNTRY SCHOOL 5204 ROLAND AVENUE

BALTIMORE, MD 21210

Arts & Style | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

OCTOBER 2014 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Painter and cartoonist does what he loves By Mel Tansill and Carol Sorgen Former Baltimore Sun illustrator Bill Wilson cannot stop creating art — not even in his retirement. Wilson, 86, paints watercolors every day from his Charlestown retirement community apartment, and contributes a comic strip to the community’s in-house monthly newsletter. In addition to his artwork, Wilson is currently writing a how-to book on

watercolors and on his life as an artist. Using the second bedroom in his apartment as his studio, Wilson often has five or six paintings going at the same time. “My apartment faces west, so I get a lot of great sunsets,” he said. “I’ve painted Our Lady of the Angels Chapel and different spots around the Charlestown campus. I’ve also painted events, like the kite fly that was held here in the spring.”

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

AMADEUS AT CENTER STAGE Eighteenth-century Vienna is the setting for this Tony Award-winning play, adapted for Center Stage and running through Oct. 12.

It’s music, mayhem and Mozart. For more information, visit www.centerstage.org or call (410) 332-0033. Tickets range from $19 to $59. Center Stage is located at 700 N. Calvert St.

Wilson moved to Charlestown 13 months ago from Knollview Court in Catonsville, where he had lived for 35 years with his late wife, Bonnie. He also had an in-house art gallery and studio. He still maintains the gallery, and has an annual show of his work every Thanksgiving weekend.

Wanted to be Walt Disney Wilson began drawing at a young age, duplicating many of his favorite comics. “When I was young, I wanted to be Walt Disney,” he said. “I would copy Popeye and Prince Valiant from the newspaper. My mother used to introduce me to people and say, ‘This is Billy, my artist son.’ “She would display my art in the dining room of our row home, and whenever someone stopped by the house, she would drag them in there and insist they look at my drawings,” Wilson continued.

After graduating from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute in 1947, Wilson spent six years in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He returned to Baltimore to study art at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). In 1957, he took a job as an artist at the now-defunct Baltimore News American, and then for 35 years co-owned the advertising agency, Wilson and Peck, whose clients included such local and regional businesses as Columbia Banking, Price Honda and Becton Dickinson.

Op-ed cartoons for fun and profit In the 1980s, Wilson — an avid reader of The Evening Sun — noticed that one of the op-ed cartoonists had died. He called the newspaper to inquire about the possibility See PAINTER, page 31

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

HELP A CHILD READ

By becoming a reading partner and volunteering as little as one hour a week, you can help a child strengthen their reading skills, build confidence and discover a passion for reading. Ongoing support and a structured curriculum are provided. You choose a time that works for you (Monday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.). For more information or to register to volunteer, visit www.ReadingPartners.org.

Ongoing

GIVE OTHERS HOPE Hope Inside Love is an

all-volunteer based movement looking to expand and grow a Baltimore group. Its mission is to empower people to rise above mental illness and sexual assault. For more information, visit http://hopeinsidelove.com/baltimore/.

Oct. 3

LUNCHING OUT IN BALTIMORE Lansdowne Senior

Center invites you to join this Lunch Bunch Trip on Friday, Oct. 3, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Dine at Mathews 1600. The cost is $2.50 each way for CountyRide and the cost of the meal. Call (410) 887-1443 for more information and reservations.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2014

From page 30 of filling the slot, and was invited down for an interview. Though he still worked in his ad agency, Wilson found time to contribute weekly cartoons satirizing local politicians and events. “They were never nasty,” he said. “They were just caricatures of people and events in the news, done in a light and airy fashion...I would have done it for free,” he chuckled, “but they actually paid me.” At Charlestown, Wilson has joined an art group, and sells his watercolors during the community’s art shows. He also makes giclee copies of his work (high-quality inkjet prints). “I’ve found that people are more apt to buy a $50 print than a $2,000 painting,” he said. During his years at MICA, Wilson studied all media, including oils and pastels. But he remains partial to watercolors. “It’s a technique that fits me well,” he said, explaining how he loves how the water and the paint mix together to create different colors, shades and intensity. “It’s a very fun, free technique,” he said. “You just let them run together and do

what they want.” Wilson’s sons have followed in their father’s footsteps with successful careers of their own in the art world. Will, the eldest, is an award-winning painter based in San Francisco, and Jeff is an active member of the Baltimore Watercolor Society and art director for a local advertising agency. “The boys grew up in the art world,” said Wilson. “They never knew anything else. “I’m so proud of them both,” Wilson continued. “They are terrific artists. My wife and I encouraged both of them to pursue a career in art. To have them follow in my footsteps is the greatest joy of my life.” Wilson’s late wife was not an artist herself, Wilson said, but enjoyed the yearly trips to Europe they would take with other artists. “She always encouraged me to live a life in art,” he said, adding, “I love being an artist. Being able to do what you love is a great way to make a living.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHARLESTOWN

Painter

Bill Wilson has spent a lifetime creating art, from cartoons for The Baltimore Sun to watercolor paintings. He often has five or six paintings in progress in his studio.

Location! Location! Location! We are everywhere you want to be!

BEACON BITS

Oct 20+

Apartments for those 62+

CALL FOR ARTISTS AND PERFORMERS

The annual Loch Raven Festival of the Arts, being held on Nov. 15 at 6622 Loch Raven Blvd. from 1 to 5 p.m., invites artists of all ages and all skill levels to submit works of art to showcase their paintings, photographs, sculpture, ceramics, needlepoint, recyclable recreations, and other art forms. All submissions

CALL TODAY FOR A TOUR!

must be family-friendly for viewing. The deadline for submitting entry forms is Oct. 20. Dance, vocal and instrumental groups are also needed for 30- to 50-minute performances

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throughout the day. For applications, contact (410) 825-0900 or email tnhedutainment@aol.com.

Ongoing

BMA 100 DAY CELEBRATION Beginning Tuesday,

Sept. 23 Baltimore Museum of Art curators will share their 100 favorite objects in the museum, kicking off the BMA’s birthday celebration and $28 million renovations. For more information, visit www.artbma.org or

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Arts & Style | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

OCTOBER 2014 — BALTIMORE BEACON

From the publisher From page 2 pacemaker, the implantable insulin pump, and the flexible coronary artery stent, among other life-saving devices. Any one of those inventions would earn a person a place in history. And thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more to come. At the age of 85, he continues to work daily on new advances. Come see his inventions and hear him speak about biomedical engineering and its promise for the future. Our keynote topic ties in with the Beaconâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new focus on technology and innovation. You may have noticed we have introduced a new section on these topics last month. You will find another example of this focus at our Expo: hands-on digital device seminars taught by experts from AARPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new TEK (Technology Education Knowledge) program. At our Silver Spring event, we will be offering three sessions of training, where each attendee will have their own device for the duration of the class and learn how to use its key features in 45 minutes. You will notice I am being somewhat vague about the â&#x20AC;&#x153;device.â&#x20AC;? Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s because we hope (but cannot yet be sure) to be introducing at our Expo the brand-new AARP â&#x20AC;&#x153;RealPadâ&#x20AC;? tablet â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a device geared to older adults who have not yet become comfortable with iPads or other widely marketed tablets. The tablet is preloaded with applications

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

BALTIMORE BEACON â&#x20AC;&#x201D; OCTOBER 2014

and instructional materials designed specifically for older adults, various â&#x20AC;&#x153;easyfixâ&#x20AC;? features that require only one click to activate, and comes with 24-hour live tech support. In short, it promises to address many of the fears some of us have about using the latest technology. The existence of the Real Pad was announced publicly only a few weeks ago (September 4) and it will not be available in stores until the end of October. But we are hoping to have an advance supply in time for our October 19 Expo and hope you will join us to get the first hands-on experience with it. If we are unable to obtain these in time for the event, however, the classes will still take place, but with either an iPad or a smartphone. Seating is limited at these seminars. To

Classified from page 35 Wanted OLD AND NEW WE BUY Sterling Silver Flatware, Tea Sets, Single Pieces, Fountain Pens, Lighters, Tools, Cameras, Glassware, Art Work. Toys From Trains to Hotwheels to Star Wars. Call Greg, 717-658-7954. CASH BUYER FOR OLD COSTUME JEWELRY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; pocket and wrist watches (any condition). Also buying watchmaker tools and parts, train sets and accessories, old toys, old glassware & coins. 410-655-0412.

reserve a place, call the Beacon at (301) 949-9766. Our N. Virginia expo takes place the following Sunday, October 26, again from noon to 4 p.m., on the third level of Ballston Mall (near the movie theatre) in Arlington, Va. Almost everything from our Silver Spring Expo will be found at our Ballston event: nonprofit and government resources, businesses, entertainment, health screenings, etc. We will also have Robert Fischell as our keynote speaker. However, for reasons beyond our control, we will have speakers on technology subjects instead of hands-on digital device classes at Ballston. We hope to have handson classes at next yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Virginia event. So much to see and do in October! I hope you will look for the Beacon at all these events, and I invite you to visit one

(or both) of our own 50+Expos this year. If you do, please come up to me to say hello.

FROM PAGE 34

ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD

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

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OCTOBER 2014 — BALTIMORE BEACON

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Crossword Puzzle

Puzzle Page

Daily crosswords can be found on our website: www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com Click on Puzzles Plus Ape-Man by Stephen Sherr 1

25 30

32 35

41 45

44 48

BB10/14

Scrabble answers on p. 33.

21 23

42 46

47 50

65 68 70

Across 1. Setting in 2001: A Space Odyssey 5. Unstable 10. “Kapow!” 13. Senator’s assistant 14. Copter’s spinners 16. In the style of 17. Execute the escape plan 19. ___ leaf (Eve’s first wardrobe decision) 20. Arab nation with two stars on its flag 21. Catches flies 22. Fed. org. with motto “Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity” 23. Relaxation location 25. Like most of the clue to 1 Across 27. Quick as lightning 33. ___ and crumpets 34. Passenger ship 35. ___ Park (Home of the Thomas Edison Center) 38. Babe’s bed 40. Bath store supplies 42. Borscht or bisque 43. Golfers’ goals 45. Funnel-shaped 47. Distribute pink slips 48. Receive a guilty verdict 51. Background noise 53. “Yes, ___!” 54. Fedora or Fez 55. Alternative to home fries 59. Stellar explosions 63. Slugger’s stat. 64. Ape-man (or the condition of each of this puzzle’s key phrases) 66. Long, looong, loooooog time 67. Burning 68. Byline in The Daily Planet 69. Used, as a book (with 70 Across) 70. See 69 Across 71. Picnic side dish

Down 1. Gather together 2. Slick 3. It’s down at the dumps 4. Fairly recent 5. Make onion rings 6. Setback 7. Its largest city is named for a lake 8. Its largest city is named for a river 9. Present something unpleasant (as a cat) 10. Board the ark out of sequence 11. Plausible excuse 12. Witchcraft 15. Gambler’s strategy 18. Boutonniere target 24. “To the left ___” 26. Approvals 27. Constant desire 28. Roman Emperor for XIII years 29. Throwing a pre-game party 30. Standing by 31. Serious criminal 32. ___ we so clever 36. Elegance 37. Cartel founded 1960 in Baghdad 39. Paragon of redness 41. Prepares the agenda 44. Black mark 46. Getting off the couch 49. Note-taker 50. Stupid creatures, in Harry Potter’s world 51. Tiny bit of evidence 52. Prohibited 56. Cuba, por ejemplo 57. Russian ruler 58. Key decision at Ben and Jerry’s 60. Potion bottle 61. Palindromic girl 62. Manipulate the results 65. Homer’s nextdoor neighbor

Answers on page 33.

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2014

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 right. CAVEAT EMPTOR! The Beacon does not knowingly accept obscene, offensive, harmful, or fraudulent advertising. However, we do not investigate any advertisers or their products and cannot accept responsibility for the integrity of either. Respondents to classified advertising should always use caution and their best judgment. EMPLOYMENT & REAL ESTATE ADS: We will not knowingly or intentionally accept advertising in violation of federal, state, and local laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, familial status or handicap in connection with employment or the sale or rental of real estate.

Caregivers HIGHLY EXPERIENCED CNA seeks caregiving position. References available. If interested, call Drinda, 443-769-5674.

Financial Services ACCOUNTING, BOOKKEEPING, TAXES – conscientious CPA, 37 years experience, reasonable rates, looking for additional business, personal and eldercare clients. Call 410-653-3363.

Say you saw it in the Beacon

For Rent WE BUY HOUSES FOR CA$H – Call today, 240-670-6797. Iwant2helpyou.com. TIME TO DOWNSIZE BUT DON’T KNOW where to start? Let me handle the details of your move, and I will help you step by step. Seasoned, patient, caring realtor for 30 years. Free consultation & home evaluation. Don’t be overwhelmed. Call me today. Ask for Rosemary Taylor, 443-474-2784, Coldwell Banker Residential Realty, 410-461-7600.

For Sale MEADOWRIDGE MEMORIAL PARK – 1 double lot for sale in Garden of Remembrance. Vault included. Retail $7,200. Sell for $4,000. Call Alice, 443-851-3681. DULANEY VALLEY MEMORIAL GARDENS – Two/two-grave lots priced lower than cemetery asking price, or best offer. Call: 410252-7471, 443-465-7915. 2 SALVADOR DALI woodblock prints from Dante’s Divine Comedy. Signed and framed. Asking $900 for the pair. Can email pictures if desired. Call Steve, 410-913-1653.

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

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

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

Personal Services

SWF, PETITE, 62, ISO PLATONIC women friends who enjoy concerts, lunch, window shopping at mall, dining out, picnics, movies, walks, daytrips, hiking, playing cards, Scrabble, Monopoly, museums, zoo, amusement parks, festivals. Call me at 410-340-3778.

PIANO LESSONS – START A NEW HOBBY or brush-up old skills. Experienced, patient teacher. Children age 6 through seniors. Keyboards accepted. Near Towson. Call Linda at 410-532-8381.

Wanted

SWF, 62, PETITE, ISO SWD MEN 55 plus who enjoy going to movies, watching TV, eating out, picnics, plays, hiking, bicycling, concerts (especially free concerts), museums, amusement parks, day trips, sightseeing, playing board games (Monopoly, Scrabble), cards, zoo, amusement parks, festivals. Call me at 410-340-3778.

VINYL RECORDS WANTED from 1950 through 1985. Jazz, Rock-n-Roll, Soul, Rhythm & Blues, Reggae and Disco. 33 1/3 LPs, 45s or 78s, Larger collections of at least 100 items wanted. Please call John, 301-596-6201. WE BUY OLD AND NEW JEWELRY, Coins, Silver and Gold, Paper Money Too. Watches, Clocks and Parts, Military Badges and Patches Old and New. Call Greg, 717-658-7954.

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

Continued on page 33.

ADVERTISERS IN THIS ISSUE Clinical Research Studies

Blood Clot Prevention Study . . .14 Dementia Caregivers Study . .15 Elderly Falls Study . . . . . . . . .16 Falls & Balance Training Study14 Free HIV Testing . . . . . . . . . . .14 Healthy Aging Study . . . . . . . .16 Memory Study . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Stroke Rehabilitation Study . .15

Education

Funeral Services

Holly Hill Memorial Gardens . . .30 Sterling Ashton Schwab Witzke Funeral Home . . . . .16

Hearing Services

Clarity & Comfort Hearing Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Hearing & Speech Agency . . . .17 Maryland Relay . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Home Health Care

Kaleidoscope LifeLong Learning29

Options for Senior America . . . .29

Events

Housing

Baby Boomer/Senior Expo . . . .36 Beacon 50+Expo . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Susan B. Koman Race for the Cure . . . . . . . . .33

Financial Services

American Bullion Center . . . .19 The Associated . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Debt Counsel for Seniors and the Disabled . . .21 Golden Real Estate . . . . . . . . .13 JSR Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Ridgebrook Insurance . . . . . . .19

Aigburth Vale Apts . . . . . . . . . .4 Alta Regency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Atrium Village . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Charlestown . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Cove Point Apartments . . . . . .31 Evergreen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Greens/Hammond Lane . . . . .31 Greens/Irvington Mews . . . . .31 Greens/Liberty Road . . . . . . . .31 Greens/Rolling Road . . . . . . . .31 Heritage Run at Stadium Place 33 The Meadows of Reisterstown 13 Memorial Apartments . . . . . . .11

Oak Crest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Osprey Landing on Marley Creek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 The Neighborhoods at St. Elizabeth . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Paradise Assisted Living . . . . .25 Park Heights Place . . . . . . . . . .9 Park View Apartments . . . . . .24 Shangri-La Assisted Living . . .25 St. Mary’s Roland View Towers 27 Weinberg Manor South . . . . . .27 Westminster House Apts . . . . . .6

Legal Services

Frank, Frank & Scherr Law Firm . . . . . . .21

Medical/Health

Low Vision Specialists of Maryland & Virginia . . . . . .17 Dr. Stuart Goldman, DPM . . . .5 Medstar Orthopaedics . . . . . . . .7 Mishpacha Dental . . . . . . . . . .10 Dr. Richard Rosenblatt . . . . . .11 State Health Insurance Assistance Program . . . . . . . .9

Movers

Easy Movers . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

NEW! Pharmacies

CVS Pharmacy . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Rite Aid Pharmacy . . . . . . . . .32 Walgreen’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation

Bluepoint Nursing & Rehabilitation . . . . . . . . . .12 Forest Haven Nursing & Rehabilitation . . . . . . . . . .13 The Greenhouse Residences . . . .20 Holly Hill Nursing & Rehabilitation . . . . . . . . . . .9 Manor Care Health Services . .10 Northwest Nursing & Rehabilitation . . . . . . . . . .12

Theatres/ Entertainment

The Lyric/Madame Butterfly .28 Radio Flea Market . . . . . . . . . .30 Toby’s Dinner Theatre . . . . . .28

Tour & Travel

Eyre Bus, Tour & Travel . . . . .25

Volunteers

Baltimore City RSVP . . . . . . .20

OCTOBER 2014 — BALTIMORE BEACON

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

BABY BOOMER/SENIOR EXPO 2014

Wednesday, October 9, 2013 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, October 10, 2013 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Timonium Fairgrounds

ADMISSION:

$2 or two cans of non-perishable food.

Free Gift - Document Organizer Sponsored by BGE & GBMC

410-887-2594 • www.seniorexpoonline.com

Wednesday, October 22, 2014 • 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, October 23, 2014 • 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Timonium Fairgrounds

ALL AGES WILL ENJOY THE FOLLOWING SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDING: • Encounter over 300 exhibitors with information and specialty products • See two days of continuous entertainment on the Main Stage • Experience free exercise classes in the Senior Center Demonstration Area • Unearth a treasure in the Silent Auction • Determine the best older adult artist in the Power of Age Art Show/Exhibit • Locate preventive health screenings and flu/pneumonia vaccinations • Explore how to make a difference at the RSVP Volunteer Fair • Visit the Vetaran Resource Muster for resources and information • Explore vocational counseling and search for a new job at the Employment Fair Special performance by

The Original DRIFTERS

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22 • 4-6 P.M.

50+ 5 0+

E X P O

Baltimore County Department of Aging