April 2017 | Baltimore Beacon

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Getting up to speed on tech

Making it work for others

And she enjoys helping others get the most out of technology as well. “Most of the people who attend our classes are beginners,” said MacKay, who is 73. “Some have come to it on their own, others have received ‘hand-me-down’ phones or tablets from their kids and need to know how to use them.”

While many of the new users find the technology daunting at first, MacKay is quick to offer encouragement. “Technology is just a tool,” she tells them. “There’s a lot of entertainment and information you can find online, but you don’t have to use it for everything. Find your balance and make technology work for you.”

Experts on aging agree that technology can be a boon to older adults, many of whom, like Cathy Milando, have lost a spouse and may be feeling lonely and isolated.

APRIL 2017

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PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER MYERS

By Carol Sorgen Can’t get to your granddaughter’s ballet recital in person? Wonder what happened to your best friend from high school? Want to start your Christmas shopping?

It’s all there waiting for you, thanks to the world of technology.

“If you can think of it, it will be on your iPad,” said Cathy Milando, 77, a Perry Hall resident. Thanks to technology classes offered at the Seven Oaks Senior Center, Milando has joined the growing numbers of older adults taking advantage of all that today’s technology can offer — from staying in touch with family, to ordering groceries online, to making new friends.

Unlike Milando, who is relatively new to the cyberworld, Charlestown Retirement Community resident Ann MacKay was first introduced to computers in 1985. She is so proficient and enthusiastic about technology that she leads Charlestown’s Apple Users Group, which has been offering monthly classes to residents for the past four years.

Even though MacKay says she has been “immersed” in technology for the past 30 years, she continues to learn and stretch herself — whether it’s about new products (from iPhones to iPads to Apple watches) or new ways to use technology (she’s an avid blogger).

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L E I S U R E & T R AV E L Kathleen Young (left) teaches Cathy Milando how to use an iPad at one of the technology classes offered at the Seven Oaks Senior Center. Community college programs and retirement communities also offer classes to help older adults learn not just the mechanics of their devices, but also how to keep connected via social media, Skype and email.

“Being online — from checking email to visiting Facebook —can give people a way to stay in touch with their family and friends,” said Jean Coppola, associate professor of information technology and director of the Gerontechnology Program at Pace University in New York.

A social outlet

As Milando and MacKay illustrate, being online and even using social media is not just for the young.

Take the popular site Facebook. According to the Pew Research Center, 64 percent of online American adults between the ages of 50 and 64 use Facebook, as do 48 percent of those 65 and older.

Facebook may be the most popular social media site for those over 50 (though

Milando admits she’s not a fan, at least not yet), but it’s not the only one. You can also find older adults on such sites as Pinterest, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Engaging in hobbies online — such as scrapbooking, watching videos and playing games — can also offer a greater sense of well-being, improve quality of life and keep the brain active, according to Coppola.

There are even social networking sites like Stitch (www.stitch.net) and Tapestry (www.tapestry.net), designed to help people over 50 meet new friends, find a new romance, or discover a new activity.

Kathleen Young teaches technology-related classes at Seven Oaks senior center, part of the Baltimore County Department See TECH CLASSES, page 5

Québec City: for all things French without going to France; plus, inexpensive but worthy Rust Belt destinations page 19 TECHNOLOGY k Is your fridge eavesdropping?

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APRIL 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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The pendulum swings Recently, there has been an explosion of four patients on long-term opioid therapy studies, lawsuits and newspaper articles in a hospital, rehab or nursing home struggles with addiction, accordhighlighting what many are ing to the CDC. calling America’s opioid crisis What surprises me in all this or epidemic. reporting is that no one seems While the term opioid into recall that, about a decade cludes illegal drugs like heroago, there was a drumbeat of in, it also encompasses a varistudies and articles on the subety of prescription painkillers, ject of pain management that including OxyContin, Percoled to a relaxing of the barriers cet and Vicodin. to prescription opioid use.

The Centers for Disease Many of these reports deControl (CDC), referring to cried the inadequate recogniour nation’s “opioid overdose FROM THE tion of pain as a widespread epidemic,” notes that deaths PUBLISHER By Stuart P. Rosenthal problem, and the costs to pafrom overdoses of these types tients and to the nation’s econof drugs have more than omy of what was then called the under-treatquadrupled since 1999.

Some of these deaths are of abusers ment of pain.

I know we ran a number of articles on this who steal prescription drugs from family members or pharmacies, obtain prescrip- topic in the Beacon at the time, including tions illegally, or buy the drugs on the one about a major report on the subject issued by the well-respected Institute of Medblack market.

But it appears that ordinary older adults icine (now called the National Academy of are among the biggest users and victims of Medicine). That report was actually mandated by the 2010 Affordable Care Act, showthese addictive drugs.

The Inspector General of the U.S. Dept. ing that the concern over under-treatment of Health and Human Services recently re- had been around for some time.

The IOM report, which came out in 2011, ported that nearly one-third of all Medicare beneficiaries received, on aver- opened by noting that acute and chronic age, five prescriptions or refills of opioid pain affects “at least 116 million U.S. adults burdened by chronic pain alone.” Its aupainkillers in 2015.

One study found that more than 300,000 thors were so concerned by this fact that Medicare recipients battle with something they described the following as an “underlycalled opioid use disorder. Nearly one in ing principle” of the report: “Effective pain

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management is a moral imperative, a professional responsibility, and the duty of people in the healing professions.”

Among the report’s recommendations were calls for our healthcare system to take more seriously the issue of pain and those suffering from it, and to address the “significant barriers to adequate pain care,” which included “the regulatory and cultural barriers that inhibit the medically appropriate use of opioid analgesics.”

The report did not ignore the risks of addictive drugs. Calling it a “conundrum,” the authors noted the serious potential for abuse, and raised questions about the drugs’ long-term use. But the report’s authors said they believed “when opioids are used as prescribed and appropriately monitored, they can be safe and effective.”

I have not seen any studies or articles attempting to connect the issuance of that report in 2011 to today’s current epidemic.

But it seems likely to me that the study, and the many supportive statements from other pain management professionals that followed, tilted our healthcare system toward a more relaxed approach to the use of opioids for otherwise intractable or chronic pain.

I think the intentions at the time were completely honorable, and indeed, that the report addressed a real problem of widespread untreated pain at the time.

The devil is in the details. The report and its aftermath seem to have not just raised the consciousness of the medical profession to the need to manage pain, but to have led to a disregard by those in the supply chain of the addiction risk posed to patients by these medications, and to turning a blind eye to those who greedily exploit those with addictions for personal gain.

I speak of greed because recent reports indicate that literally hundreds of millions of pills have found their way from wholesale drug distributors to the black market nationwide.

For example, the Washington Post, reporting on a lawsuit filed against drug dis-

tribution companies by the state of West Virginia — which has the highest opioid overdose rate in the country — said that 40 million pills were shipped by distributors to West Virginia’s Cabell County, whose total population is only 96,000 (that’s over 400 pills per person), and 66 million pills were sent to Kanawha County, with a population of 190,000.

Furthermore, the deputy administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid testified before Congress in February that the agency “is aware of potential fraud at the prescriber and pharmacy levels through ‘pill mill’ schemes,” as reported by the Associated Press.

My fear is that lawsuits like this and related publicity will cause the pendulum to swing too far the other way (a problem we seem to be having in this country in several other respects as well).

There should be ways to limit the distribution and over-prescribing of addictive painkillers without making them inordinately difficult for those in true need to obtain them.

One good step towards this was taken recently by the CDC. It has issued “guidelines” for doctors writing prescriptions for opioid painkillers.

Among other things, they recommend that doctors weigh benefits against risks and discuss both with patients, start with the lowest necessary dose and increase slowly and only if needed, limit opioid therapy to a 3- to 7-day period in most cases, and offer additional treatments to patients with a history of abuse or dependence problems.

These sound to me like common-sense guidelines that should have been in place for years. Let’s hope coupling this reasonable guidance with a crackdown on illicit activities will help us strike the right balance this time.

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: Here are some thoughts on your February editorial addressing decreased support for capital punishment and increased support for assisted suicide. (I think that term more accurately and directly describes it than “death with dignity.”)

Less crime — at least less stranger-onstranger murder — means less demand for the ultimate punishment. If the risk of getting killed by a stranger is reduced, capital punishment is needed less.

More people living longer — and kept alive though in poor health because of

modern medicine — means, especially in the context of people in this country becoming much less religious, more people wanting a painless way to die to be available to them.

In both cases, I think of it as supply and demand: Less crime of certain sorts means less demand for the most extreme punishment. In the second case, more older people in declining and painful health means more demand that it be definitively ended.

Steve Rossenberg Via Email

BALTIMORE BEACON — APRIL 2017

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Technology &

Innovations Voice-activated assistants do your bidding

By Mae Anderson Does your home really need a “smart speaker” that can answer questions, call you an Uber, turn off the lights, or play music when you ask? You may be about to find out.

Two years ago, Amazon introduced the Amazon Echo, an unassuming, $180 cylinder that sits atop a kitchen counter or bookshelf, acting as a personal assistant that listens to you and does your bidding.

Initially, the gadget’s main purpose was a little difficult to discern. But Echo and its Alexa voice-recognition software have since become a sleeper hit, with millions sold.

The Echo’s hands-free operation filled an undiscovered niche in the smart-home universe. Users can just say the wake word “Alexa” and direct it to do a task, such as turn on lights or set a timer. Alexa can also respond to requests verbally, using its encyclopedic database to answer a variety of questions.

The fact that you don’t need to use a smartphone or tablet to activate Alexa sets it apart from other smart home systems, like those offered by Samsung or Apple.

Then last fall, Echo got some competition. Google is selling a similar smart

speaker called Google Home, priced at $129. It performs many of the same tasks as Echo, including playing music and fielding questions, plus controlling compatible lights and appliances.

The Google Assistant that works with Home will also be able to access your Google Calendar, Google Maps and other services, if you allow.

Learning new skills

One key to the Echo’s success was Amazon’s willingness to work with third-party software developers, allowing it to add new functions each week, making it easy for owners of the speaker to discover new ways to use it. (It launched with a few dozen socalled ‘skills’ and now has thousands.)

“Initially we got it for music,” said Brian Bishop, a business analyst in Tomball, Texas, whose family uses two Echos. “Later, when it controlled the lights and fans and outlets, that just made it even better.”

Apple and Google have also opened up their personal assistants — Apple’s Siri and Google Assistant — so that third-party developers can create new features for them. Sony is working on Xperia Agent, a digital assis-

tant that connects to devices in the home.

All these companies are chasing the smart-home market, which could grow to be a $71 billion global industry by 2018, up from $33 billion in 2013 and $25 billion in 2012, according to Juniper Research.

Interest in smart homes appears to be rising as more people become enamored with their smartphones. A recent online survey of more than 4,600 adults in the U.S.

by Forrester Research’s Technographics found 57 percent of them either had used, or were interested in using, a smart home device — such as lights or thermostats — designed for remote control.

A box with personality

People seem to have an easier time talking to a speaker that has no other interface than they do talking to a smartphone.

“I’ve never used Cortana [Microsoft’s personal assistant]. I don’t use Google, and my wife doesn’t use Siri. But everybody talks to Alexa,” Bishop from Texas said. “I couldn’t really tell you why. That was the only way to communicate, so we all got in the habit.”

Buck Wise, an advertising executive in Portland, Oregon, tried several variants of

smart home systems, but said the Echo worked best for him because of the handsfree speaker. He has lights, blinds, and his garage door synced with the Echo.

“Alexa truly is the brain of our home, and it would feel like 100 steps backwards to get through a day without her,” Wise said.

What won him over? Commanding the device just by speaking — and without having to fire up an app — basically did the trick, he said. [But some users are beginning to worry about the privacy concerns raised by such devices. See “Are your appliances eavesdropping?” below.]

Amazon has also launched two other Echo-like devices, the smaller $50 Dot — which it now sells in six-packs so people can have one in every room — and the portable $100 Tap, to give Alexa even broader reach.

Dave Limp, Amazon’s senior vice president for devices, says the goal is for Alexa to keep getting smarter as it continues to build new “skills” over the coming years.

“The hope is you can ask Alexa anything, and it will be able to respond correctly, quickly and be able to be there,” he said.

— AP

Are your appliances eavesdropping?

By Bree Fowler and Mae Anderson Alexa, are you spying on me?

It’s a fair question in light of attempts by authorities investigating the slaying of an Arkansas man to obtain voice recordings collected by an Amazon Echo speaker and its Alexa digital assistant.

Echo is a “smart speaker,” a nine-inch cylinder that connects to the voice-controlled personal assistant service Alexa, which responds to the name “Alexa.”

The device can perform a number of tasks using voice interaction — including music playback, making to-do lists, setting alarms, playing audiobooks, and providing weather, traffic and other real time information.

The popularity and capabilities of voiceenabled products such as the Echo continue to grow. Whirlpool, Samsung and other manufacturers are unveiling new ways to use voice services to control laundry machines, refrigerators and other home systems.

Privacy concerns

Consumers are apparently willing to trade a certain amount of privacy for convenience.

So what exactly is being collected, stored or shared by these devices?

To do its job, the Echo must always be listening. Once it hears someone utter a keyword, such as “Alexa,” it shares what it hears with Amazon’s servers, which process a response. Those conversations are then stored indefinitely. Google’s Home speaker works in a similar fashion.

The Echo “has to listen to everything.

That’s kind of disturbing,” said Ryan O’Leary, vice president of WhiteHat Security’s threat research center.

“It doesn’t capture voice until it hears the keyword, but it could [do so at any time].

You’re trusting the devices to not [listen in unbidden], but it’s entirely possible.”

In the Arkansas case, authorities investigating the death of a man found floating face-up in a hot tub at a friend’s home requested the contents of the home’s Echo

and Amazon’s stored recordings in hopes they might contain evidence. The friend is charged with murder.

A judge has signed off on the search, but Amazon has balked. Amazon has declined to comment specifically on the case, but said the company objects to “overbroad or otherwise inappropriate demands as a matter of course.”

Some experts worry that allowing such a search would erode people’s privacy.

“It’s not necessarily a direct threat for the average person, but the same thing can be said with any kind of privacy concern,” O’Leary said. “People say you shouldn’t be concerned if you’re not doing anything wrong, but that’s a dangerous precedent to set.”

More appliances get voice control

Meanwhile, companies keep asking consumers to invite them into their homes.

Whirlpool is adding Alexa voice control to its smart-home appliances — including a

washing machine, a stove and a refrigerator.

Someone can instruct the oven to pre-heat to 400 degrees by speaking a command to an Alexa-enabled device, such as the Echo.

Simplehuman has a voice-activated trash can, and GE Lighting has a table lamp using Alexa voice control.

For now, voice control is mainly an add-on feature rather than a core component of gadgets. It’s there for those who want to use it, but it’s not essential for the product to function.

Many manufacturers are opting to use Amazon’s Alexa service for now, though some are embracing voice systems from Google, Apple or Samsung.

Nvidia’s Shield TV streaming device, for instance, employs Google’s Assistant service so viewers can control video playback or find out the weather with just a voice command.

Meanwhile, Samsung’s new Family Hub See EAVESDROPPING, page 4

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Eavesdropping From page 3

lets people use their voice to add items to shopping lists and order groceries online.

Shawn DuBravac, chief economist of CES (Consumer Electronics Show, an annual trade show of new consumer products) said dozens of companies announced Alexa-integrated products during this year’s show, on top of more than 1,500 existing ones.

As the smart home becomes more entrenched, DuBravac said, voice control could change the way we interact with technology in much the way the computer

mouse did in the 1980s.

“Connected microphones are starting to appear in everything from cars to children’s toys,” said James Plouffe, lead solutions architect at mobile-security company MobileIron.

“Consumers should think carefully about how comfortable they are with the prospect of a live mic in common household items,” he added.

Because Amazon says it uses information gathered by the Echo to improve its voice technology, that information has the potential to “live forever” online, Plouffe said.

The issue first grabbed headlines a cou-

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APRIL 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

ple of years ago, after Samsung said sensitive conversations could be captured by its voice-controlled smart TVs. Based on the flood of new voice-con-

trolled gadgets headed to market, tech companies are betting that consumers will get over their fears.

— AP

Heart devices can be hacked

By Tami Abdollah and Matthew Perrone The Homeland Security Department recently warned about an unusual cybersecurity flaw for one manufacturer’s implantable heart devices that it said could allow hackers to remotely take control of a person’s defibrillator or pacemaker.

Information on the security flaw, identified by researchers at MedSec Holdings in reports months ago, was only formally made public after the manufacturer, St. Jude Medical, made a software repair in January.

MedSec is a cybersecurity research company that focuses on the health-care industry. MedSec CEO Justine Bone said on Twitter that St. Jude’s software fix did not address all problems in the devices.

The government advisory said security patches will be rolled out automatically over months to patients with a device transmitter at home, as long as it is plugged in and connected to the company’s network. The transmitters send heart device data back to medical professionals.

Abbott Laboratories’ St. Jude said in a statement it was not aware of deaths or injuries caused by the problem. The Food and Drug Administration also said there was no evidence patients were harmed.

St. Jude’s devices treat dangerous irregular heart rhythms that can cause cardiac failure or arrest. Implanted under the skin of the chest, the devices electronically pace heartbeats and shock the heart back to its normal rhythm when dangerous pumping patterns are detected.

The company’s Merlin@home Transmitter electronically sends details on the device’s performance to a website where the patient’s physician can review the information. But that device can also be hacked.

The FDA’s review is ongoing, agency spokeswoman Angela Stark said. Its investigation confirmed the vulnerabilities of the home transmitter, which could potentially be hacked and used to rapidly deplete an implanted device battery, alter pacing, and potentially administer inappropriate and dangerous shocks to a person’s heart.

The software patch issued by St. Jude “addresses vulnerabilities that present the greatest risk to patients,” Stark said.

Stark said the company is working to address remaining vulnerabilities quickly. She said any new cardiac devices submitted to the FDA for review that use the affected transmitter will not be cleared or approved without the software update.

— AP

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Technology is so popular among residents of Roland Park Place (RPP) that staff members there decided to offer monthly onsite “tech talks.”

“Some of our residents have physical challenges, such as poor eyesight, that make it difficult for them to use some of the devices they own,” said media specialist John Sargent. “Many also have a hard time realizing that technology can help with daily tasks and enrich their life.”

Antoinette Peirson, an RPP resident, was reluctant to learn to use a computer because of her visual impairment, but decided to give it a try.

“First, I was able to get an email ad-

The Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) also offers technology instruction for those 60 and over through its Senior Programs Division. Classes range from basic introductory courses on word processing and spreadsheets, to using social media and apps for smartphones.

Most of CCBC’s senior classes are offered at either its Hunt Valley or Owings Mills campuses. But this spring, the school is collaborating with the Baltimore County Public Libraries (BCPL) to offer training on Chromebooks — a convertible laptop/tablet that is designed to be used primarily while connected to the Internet.

All BCPL branches will have Chromebooks available to use for up to two hours in the library or to check out for seven days. CCBC will roll out the Chromebook classes in April at the Hereford, Perry Hall and Arbutus library branches. The fivesession class will cost $35 for those 60 and older; $45 for those under 60.

“We want to reach those who may be

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Learning where they live

Community colleges and libraries

of your comfort zone.”

Milando uses her iPad as a camera when she travels, creates jigsaw puzzles out of family photos, sends birthday cards from a greeting card app and, like many of us, watches funny videos of dogs and cats on YouTube. “That really brightens my day!”

If you’re unable to attend classes in person or prefer to learn in the comfort of your own home, check out the AARP Academy at https://aarptek.aarp.org/ for a catalog of interactive videos and webinars.

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of Aging. She offers a variety of subjects, from what you should know before buying a new smartphone or tablet, to how to use it once you have it, sending and receiving email, watching YouTube, and selling on eBay, to name just a few.

“Many of the individuals who attend the classes are not aware of all the capabilities of their devices,” said Young. She noted that so many Seven Oaks regulars now have smartphones and tablets that the center has replaced its computer lab with iPads.

hesitant to learn about technology and/or those who do not have the financial means to have access to their own computers or devices,” said CCBC Director of Senior Programs Stephan Edmonston.

For mor e infor mation, see www. ccbcmd.edu/Programs-and-Courses/LifeEnrichment/Seniors/Computers.aspx or call (443) 840-1685.

For Cathy Milando, learning to use her iPad was daunting at first — “At 77, I have to ask questions more than once!” — but advises others that “it’s good to come out

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From page 1

dress,” she said. “And then I asked what else this machine can do. My teacher pulled up a program called Printshop and made a birthday card for my husband. I was hooked!”

So hooked, in fact, that Peirson now makes posters for RPP’s different departments. “It’s just great!” she said.

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Tech classes

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Health Fitness &

THYROID OVERLOOKED Thyroid disorders are common in older adults, but can be tricky to detect BACK AND LEG PAIN Newer drugs and physical therapy can help alleviate pain from sciatica DO YOU HAVE COPD? Join a health study and find out if indoor air cleaners can improve your health TUG OF WAR OVER TALC There’s no solid evidence that talc contributes to genital or ovarian cancer

Well-being is more complex than we think

By Lauran Neergaard Your mother’s cholesterol is OK, but maybe your doctor should be asking about her social life, too.

Think about health as you grow older, and a list of common ailments pops to mind. But that’s not the whole story. New research suggests factors such as loneliness and whether they’ve broken any bones since middle age also play a role in the well-being of older adults.

In fact, layering on that extra information better predicts whether a senior’s next five years will be fairly robust or whether they’re at higher risk for death or disability than just focusing on what chronic diseases they have, researchers reported in a

recent issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

“Aging is not a linear process of wear and tear,” said University of Chicago biopsychologist Martha McClintock, who led the study. “It’s a different way of thinking about aging.”

Studying risk factors

Using a government study of 3,000 middleaged and older people, the researchers compared the medical conditions that doctors look for in the average check-up — blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, cancer — with information about psychological health, mobility, hearing and other sensory capabilities, and additional charac-

teristics of day-to-day functioning.

Of course having a cluster of serious diseases and being frail can mean a greater risk of death. Having uncontrolled diabetes and high blood pressure was particularly risky on top of other illnesses.

But factoring in the extra harder-to-measure characteristics showed some seniors with chronic diseases actually were more likely to survive the next five years than their medical charts indicate. And about half who by disease diagnoses alone would be considered healthy really were more vulnerable to decline, the study found.

Those extra factors “are harbingers, they’re canaries in the coal mine of some biological processes that are aging,” said McClintock, who hopes the findings spur policymakers to focus more on these other non-disease conditions of aging.

The work may help redefine how doctors determine older patients’ vigor and quality of life, said Dr. John Haaga of the National Institute on Aging, which funded the research.

“We really have to look at more than the collection of diagnoses that they have. We’ve got to look at some of these life circum-

stances, and really ask a few questions about mental health, about recent events, that will help trigger more watchful care,” he said.

Among the findings

• Poor mental health, which affects 1 in 8 older adults, makes people more vulnerable to certain illnesses. The researchers weren’t measuring a diagnosis of depression, long known to complicate overall health. Instead, they asked whether people feel lonely, if they’re socially isolated, if they have trouble sleeping, if they’re anxious or stressed or have low self-esteem.

Why did that matter? Separately, McClinton has studied the biology behind social isolation in rats caged separately or in groups, and found the loners got more aggressive breast cancer sooner, with a worse prognosis.

The isolation triggered physiologic changes — hormones that overreacted to the stressors of everyday life, and differences in fatty breast tissue that supported the growth of cancer cells.

• Breaking a bone any time since age 45 See WELL-BEING, page 9

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

BALTIMORE BEACON — APRIL 2017

7

Thyroid disorders often missed in seniors Dear Savvy Senior: Can you write a column on the overlooked problem of thyroid disease? After struggling with chronic fatigue, joint pain and memory problems, I was finally diagnosed with hypothyroidism.

Now, at age 70, I’m on thyroid medication and am doing great. For five years I felt lousy. I wish I’d have known what to do sooner.

— Frustrated Patient Dear Frustrated: I’m glad to hear that you’re finally feeling better. Unfortunately, thyroid problems are quite common in older adults, but can be tricky to detect because the symptoms often resemble other age-related health problems.

In fact, as many as 30 million Americans have some form of thyroid disorder, but more than half of them aren’t aware of it.

Here’s a basic overview: The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of your neck. It has a huge job. It produces hormones (called T3 and T4) that help regulate the rate of many of your body’s activities — from how quickly you burn calories to how fast your heart beats.

It also influences the function of the brain, liver, kidneys and skin.

If the gland is underactive and doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormones, it causes body systems to slow down. If it’s

overactive, and churns out too much thyroid, it has the opposite effect, speeding up the body’s processes.

The symptoms for an underactive thyroid (also known as hypothyroidism) will vary, but may include fatigue, unexplained weight gain, increased sensitivity to cold, constipation, joint pain, muscle stiffness, dry skin and depression. Some patients may even develop an enlarged thyroid (goiter) at the base of the neck.

However, in older adults — where it is the most common type of thyroid disorder — hypothyroidism can cause other symptoms, such as memory impairment, loss of appetite, weight loss, falls or even incontinence.

In contrast, with an overactive thyroid (or hyperthyroidism), which is more common in people under age 50, symptoms may include a rapid heart rate, anxiety, insomnia, increased appetite, weight loss, diarrhea, excessive perspiration, as well as an enlarged thyroid gland.

Too much thyroid can also cause atrial fibrillation, affect blood pressure and decrease bone density, which increases the risk of osteoporosis.

Those with the greatest risk of developing thyroid disorders are women who have a family history of the disease. Other factors that can trigger thyroid problems include: autoimmune diseases like Hashimo-

to’s or Graves disease; thyroid surgery; radiation treatments to the neck or upper chest; and certain medications including interferon alpha and interleukin-2 cancer medications, amiodarone heart medication and lithium for bipolar disorder.

Get tested, get treatment

If you have any of the aforementioned symptoms, or if you’ve had previous thyroid problems or notice a lump in the base of your neck, ask your doctor to check your thyroid levels. The TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) blood test is used to diagnose thyroid disorders.

Thyroid disease is easily treated once you’ve been diagnosed. Standard treatment for hypothyroidism involves daily

use of the synthetic thyroid hormone levothyroxine (Levothroid, Synthroid and others), which is an oral medication that restores adequate hormone levels.

And treatments for hyperthyroidism may include an anti-thyroid medication such as methimazole (Tapazole), which blocks the production of thyroid hormones.

Another option is radioactive iodine, which is taken orally and destroys the overactive thyroid cells and causes the gland to shrink. But this can leave the thyroid unable to produce any hormone, and it’s likely that you’ll eventually become hypothyroid and need to start taking thyroid medication.

For more information on thyroid disorders, visit the American Thyroid Association at www.thyroid.org.

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APRIL 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Some Qs and As from Harvard physicians

By Dr. Howard LeWine Q: I recently had an ultrasound that showed a fatty liver. What causes this?

Is it dangerous?

A: The largest organ inside your body, your liver performs hundreds of vital functions. It converts food into fuel, processes cholesterol, clears harmful toxins from the blood, and makes proteins that help your blood clot, to name a few.

But an increasing number of people have a potentially dangerous accumulation of fat inside their livers. Doctors call it nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Prior to 1980, fatty liver disease was rarely diagnosed except in people who drank large amounts of alcohol. However, scientists discovered that excess body fat

and diabetes can also cause fatty liver disease, even in people who drink very little.

As Americans have gotten fatter, so have their livers. Up to one-third of American adults have NAFLD. Nearly all people with severe obesity and half of people with diabetes have NAFLD. Some people with fatty livers have none of these risk factors, suggesting that genes and other factors play a role.

Fatty liver disease does not cause symptoms. But it does increase the risk of developing other medical problems, such as heart disease and diabetes. Also it can progress to cause a more serious liver condition, called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

In this condition, the fat within the liver causes the liver to become inflamed. In a

CT Lung Scans Save Lives Lung Cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women. That’s why the MedStar Health Cancer Network offers a lung screening program for individuals at high risk for developing lung cancer. The earlier lung cancer is detected, the better it can be defeated.

If you meet these criteria, you should consider a lung scan: • 55 to 77 years of age • Smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for 30 years or more or two packs a day for 15 years • Currently smoking or have quit less than 15 years ago Most insurances cover the cost of this screening.

A written doctor’s order is needed. Lung cancer screening is completely painless and takes less than 10 minutes.

To learn more about the program and find out if you are eligible, call 855-218-6778 .

MedStarCancer.org/LungScan

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subset of those with NASH, scarring of the liver will develop. Severe scarring, known as cirrhosis, increases the risk of liver cancer and end-stage liver disease.

Treating fatty liver focuses on reducing or preventing further fatty buildup in the liver. Exercise and losing weight are the mainstays of treatment. Even a little exercise and shedding just a few pounds can reduce liver fat.

As for diet, the recommendation is similar to what doctors advise for preventing heart disease: Eat plenty of vegetables, fruits and whole grains, and modest amounts of lean protein, like fish and chicken. Avoid all sugary beverages and foods, and limit refined carbohydrates.

Q: I recently heard about two friends diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. And I seem to be reading about more celebrities with the disease. Is it becoming more prominent? Is there a screening test?

A: Indeed, the incidence of pancreatic cancer is rising. This year approximately 53,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with the disease. It occurs slightly more often in men than women.

Although pancreatic cancer accounts for just 3 percent of all cancers, it has a poor prognosis. About 42,000 people die of pancreatic cancer each year. It’s the fourth

leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. If the current trend continues, pancreatic cancer could become the second most common cause of cancer death in men, overtaking deaths due to prostate and colorectal cancer. In women, it could become the third most common cause behind lung and breast cancer deaths.

Why is the incidence rate of pancreatic cancer increasing? It’s likely related to the strong association with smoking. Fewer people are smoking now, but there are still many former smokers. Smoking cigarettes is linked to approximately 30 percent of the cases.

The other major reason for the increase in pancreatic cancer is the rapid rise in obesity. It could be the extra weight, or the higher risk of diabetes in obese people. Diabetes seems to also increase the chance of developing pancreatic cancer.

Too often cancer of the pancreas grows without symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they are often not specific, making early diagnosis challenging. Once the cancer becomes too large or has spread, it cannot be cured surgically.

I wish we had a good test for early detection of pancreatic cancer. But right now, we don’t. There is no screening blood test or imSee Qs & As, page 10

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

BALTIMORE BEACON — APRIL 2017

9

Sciatica can resolve with time, treatments Dear Mayo Clinic: Three weeks ago I was diagnosed with sciatica. I didn’t have much pain initially, but it has been extremely painful the past few days — usually when I’m sitting.

Would physical therapy be an option for treatment? I don’t like to take medications for pain. Are there other treatments I should try? Could surgery help?

Answer: Sciatica can cause significant discomfort. The good news is that time and treatment often successfully resolve this condition. In most cases, surgery is not necessary to treat sciatica.

Sciatica typically refers to pain from irritation of one of the spinal nerves in your low back. Although the source of the irritation is in your back, you feel the pain of sciatica along the affected nerve where it is located in your leg after it exits the spine, typically in the buttock and leg. Sciatica usually affects only one side of the body.

Sciatica pain is often a dull pain, but it also

Well-being From page 6

is a marker of future health problems.

That’s surprising, and needs further study, said NIA’s Haaga, adding that meanwhile it’s something doctors might consider.

A broken hip during the senior years has long been known to send patients on a downward spiral. But this study implicated long-healed fractures of any type as early as middle age to poor health later on.

Those breaks might be an early signal of bone-thinning osteoporosis, or the beginning of balance and muscle problems that increase the risk of later frailty, Haaga speculated.

• Good mobility — no trouble walking

can be sharp and, at times, you may feel the pain travel or shoot down your leg. Symptoms of sciatica may include numbness, tingling or weakness along with the pain.

What causes sciatica?

Sciatica develops due to a change in one of the cartilage pads in your spine, called discs. A small component of the disc pokes into the spinal canal, creating inflammation or swelling.

That, in turn, leads to inflammation of the nerve, and triggers the symptoms of sciatica. Pressure on the nerve from the disc may contribute to sciatica, as well.

Other, less likely, causes of nerve irritation include bone spurs, cysts or other lesions in the spine that grow near a nerve.

Physical therapy can be an excellent treatment option for sciatica. It often involves learning stretches to improve your flexibility, techniques for pain control, and exercises to strengthen and condition the

quickly or getting up from chairs — is one of the best indicators of well-being. Indeed, prior fractures were a risk for poor later mobility.

• Obesity seems to pose little risk to seniors as long as they’re otherwise in good physical and mental health — without the diabetes or heart disease that so often accompanies extra pounds. Haaga noted there’s controversy about whether being overweight in the senior years might even be helpful.

• Sensory function — problems with hearing, vision and smell — also plays a role in seniors’ vulnerability. McClintock said it contributes to social isolation, and mobility and nutrition problems.

— AP

muscles that support your back.

This type of physical therapy helps reduce sciatica pain and lowers your risk for future injuries. In addition to physical therapy, staying active in whatever type of physical activity you can best tolerate can help ease pain and other symptoms, too.

Newer drugs that help

Though you mention that you prefer to avoid medications, newer drugs are available that can work quite well for pain caused by sciatica. They are not potentially habit-forming like narcotic drugs, or opioids, can be.

Drugs like gabapentin, duloxetine, nortriptyline and pregabalin can be useful for managing severe pain or pain that makes it hard to sleep.

Corticosteroids are another treatment option. These potent anti-inflammatory drugs are delivered via an injection that places the medication just where it is needed. You have an imaging exam, such as a CT scan or an MRI, before a corticosteroid injection, so your healthcare provider can see where the medication should go. Imaging also is used to guide the injection as it’s being delivered to ensure safety and accuracy.

In about 90 to 95 percent of sciatica cases, the problem is successfully resolved with time and conservative, nonsurgical treatments. If sciatica persists despite these treatments, though, surgery may be considered.

See SCIATICA, page 10

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Qs & As From page 8

aging test that has been shown to decrease the chance of dying from pancreatic cancer in people at average risk for the disease.

If early detection is still in the future,

APRIL 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

how about prevention? Here’s the good news. Studies do show that you can significantly lower your risk of pancreatic cancer.

It means not smoking, limiting alcohol use, getting regular exercise, maintaining a normal body mass index, and adhering to a Mediterranean-style dietary pattern.

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MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNICARE FAMILY OF COMPANIES

Q: I expect to take the blood-thinner Coumadin indefinitely. I see so many ads suggesting I should switch to one of the newer drugs. My Coumadin dose rarely changes, and my blood tests show I am almost always in range. How do I decide?

A: For decades, warfarin (Coumadin) was the only choice for people that needed to take oral anticoagulant drugs, commonly called blood thinners. While warfarin is a cheap drug, it has downsides.

People taking it require regular blood testing to be sure the dose is correct. The blood test, called an INR, needs to fall into a predetermined range. A result within the proper range means the person’s blood is “thin” enough not to clot easily, but not “too thin” to cause a high bleeding risk.

Studies have shown that many people on warfarin frequently have an INR out of the desired range. This makes their blood clot prevention ineffective, or puts them at risk for significant bleeding.

Over the last few years, new oral anticoagulants have been approved that are given in a fixed dose, don’t require regular blood tests, have no food restrictions, and have fewer drug interactions. These drugs are known as direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs).

But they are much more expensive than warfarin. A year’s supply of generic warfarin costs about $200, or approximately $17 per month. There are no generic ver-

sions of the DOACs. The retail cost of a year’s supply of the newer drugs is about $4,200 per year, over $300 per month.

Since you already take warfarin and rarely need adjustments to your dose, then clearly your best economic choice is to not switch to a DOAC. There are other good reasons medically why warfarin can be considered the better medical choice as well.

Warfarin has been around for decades.

Except for the bleeding risks, which the DOACs also have, there are rarely any other side effects. The DOACs don’t yet have the same long term safety record regarding potentially unknown side effects.

If unwanted bleeding happens when taking warfarin, it can be quickly and rather inexpensively reversed. Other than a very expensive antidote for one of the DOACs, the blood thinning effects of the other DOACs cannot be quickly reversed.

Also, practicing doctors have much more experience using warfarin compared to these newer drugs.

Howard LeWine, M.D. is an internist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. For additional consumer health information, please visit www.health.harvard.edu. © 2017 President and Fellows of Harvard College. All Rights Reserved. Distributed By Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Sciatica

lem — as it is in most typical cases — and surgery is required, it can be quite effective.

The procedure involves removing the portion of the disc that’s affecting the nerve.

This surgery usually takes about 75 minutes and requires only one day in the hospital.

— Randy Shelerud, M.D., Spine Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. E-mail a question to MayoClinicQ&A@ mayo.edu, or visit www.mayoclinic.org. © 2017 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All Rights Reserved.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

From page 9

Although uncommon, surgery may be recommended as a first step in treatment if weakness associated with sciatica is moderate to severe, if weakness gets worse over time, if symptoms affect both legs, or if you are experiencing incontinence due to sciatica.

Very rarely, sciatica can lead to extensive numbness in the buttocks and pelvic floor. When that happens, prompt surgical intervention is often required.

When sciatica is the result of a disc prob-

BEACON BITS

Mar. 23

JEWISH HERITAGE AND HEALTH Get up-to-date information on the genetic conditions that occur

most frequently in the Ashkenazi Jewish population. Sponsored by LifeBridge Health, this workshop will be held on Thursday, March 23, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., at the Weinberg Park Heights Jewish Community Center, 5700 Park Heights Ave. For more information, call (410) 601-9355 or visit www.lifebridgehealth.org/communitycalendar.

Ongoing

SUPPORT FOR THOSE WITH DISABILITIES People Encouraging People provides rehabilitation and support services for persons with disabilities, including mental health,

vocational and housing assistance. For more information, call (410) 728-2080.

Ongoing

PRO BONO COUNSELING PROJECT A free mental health referral service is available to those who are financially eligible. Call (410) 825-1001 to learn more.

BALTIMORE BEACON — APRIL 2017

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

11

Good ways to deal with grown children Dear Solutions: his child can be his passport to a visit in How much are we expected to cater to that warm place where you’re spending our grown children’s wants? the winter.

My son wants to park his Good luck. I hope you’re a very big truck in my drivegood negotiator! way while I’m away for the Dear Solutions: winter.

There are certain dishes I have an arrangement that I’ve always cooked with a plowing company that that my son always loved. will plow the driveway when He married recently, and I the snow reaches a certain know his wife is not interdepth. I think the truck will ested in cooking and never be in the way, and they won’t makes anything complicatSOLUTIONS be able to do the work, so I ed.

By Helen Oxenberg, said no to my son.

I’m invited to their MSW, ACSW He got very angry at me, house during Easter, and and said he doesn’t want to I’m wondering if it would have a relationship with me anymore. be insulting to her if I made these I’m very upset about that, but also about dishes and brought them so he could the fact that he has my only grandchild. have the food he loves.

He’s divorced, and I only get to see the I don’t know if I should just bring child when he visits my son. them, say something to her first, or How to handle this? not bring it at all. What is the right an— Feel like a Hostage swer?

Dear Hostage: — Agnes Surely you’ve heard of “hostage negotia- Dear Agnes: tions.” Two suggestions: 1. If this contin“Not bring it at all” is the right answer ues next winter, allow the truck to be — at least not yet. parked in your driveway only until the first First, invite your son and his wife to big snow is predicted. After any necessary your house for your food. Then ask your plowing, he can put it back until the next daughter–in-law if there’s something you big snow heads your way. can bring to the Easter gathering that will 2. Point out to your son that it’s hard be helpful to her — including any food she enough for his child to be part of a di- would like you to make. Allow her to make vorced family, and that the more love he suggestions, and follow those suggestions. can get, the better off he’ll be. That’s It may be that your son will get to eat where Grandma’s special, one-of-a-kind, your food only at your home when invited, unconditional love has no equal. because what you think is better for his And, oh, one more thing. Tell your son taste buds may not be better for his marthat whether he’s friendly to you or not, riage.

Please patronize our advertisers.

Dear Solutions: We saw your column at our mother’s house and hope you can give us some advice. Our parents have been separated for many years. Now, finally, my mother is going to sue my father for money he owes her.

My sister, brothers and I love them both, but don’t want to take sides. My mother keeps trying to tell us why she’s doing this, and my father keeps trying to tell us how he has no money.

We’re with my mother most of the time. How can we get her to stop trying to involve us? Thanks for your advice.

— The Grown Up Kids Dear Grown Ups: Declare a neutral zone with your sister

and brothers.

Tell your mother that you love her, and whatever she has to do for herself is OK with you. Tell your father you love him, and will continue to do so no matter how this turns out. Tell them both to please leave all of you out of it and refuse to give an opinion.

Recognize that your mother is trying to involve you because she’s afraid of losing your approval and love. Reassurance is what she needs. © Helen Oxenberg, 2017. Questions to be considered for this column may be sent to: The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915. You may also email the author at helox72@comcast.net. To inquire about reprint rights, call (609) 655-3684.

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Health Studies Page

APRIL 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Study examines if cleaner air helps COPD Johns Hopkins Medicine is currently conducting a study to investigate whether indoor air cleaners can improve air quality and the health of those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Although the respiratory effects of outdoor air pollution are well-known, indoor environment is also of particular concern to researchers, as most people spend over 85 percent of their time indoors.

COPD refers to a group of illnesses that includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. In people with COPD, the airways in the lungs become partly blocked, which makes it harder to breathe.

COPD is a progressive disease, and is the third-leading cause of death in the

United States. More than 12 million people have been diagnosed with it, but many more may have it without knowing.

Risk factors for COPD include a cough that doesn’t go away; shortness of breath, especially with physical activity; recurrent lower respiratory infections such as pneumonia; and chest tightness.

COPD can be diagnosed by a test called spirometry, which measures how much air a person can blow in and out of the lungs and how fast.

An incurable disease

Unfortunately, treatment options for patients with this very common disease are limited. Quitting smoking can slow disease

progress and decrease mortality. However, not all people benefit from quitting, and many continue to have airway inflammation and respiratory problems despite abstinence from smoking.

Currently, there are no therapies that can cure COPD, so the standard of care focuses on controlling the illness through medications and avoidance of factors that exacerbate the disease, such as poor outdoor air quality.

Recent evidence from the Johns Hopkins research group led by principal investigator Dr. Nadia Hansel shows that increased indoor air pollutant concentrations in homes of former smokers with COPD are associated with respiratory ill-

ness — including increased respiratory symptoms, a worsened quality of life, and increased respiratory complications.

Unlike outdoor air, the indoor air environment may be modified at the individual level by implementing simple methods to improve indoor air quality. The researchers have found that air cleaner intervention strategies improve respiratory symptoms in other chronic respiratory diseases, such as childhood asthma.

Smokers needed for study

The Clean Air COPD study is recruiting 120 former smokers with COPD who will be randomized in two groups. One group will receive HEPA and carbon filter air cleaners in their home, the other will receive sham air cleaners.

The study lasts for nine months, and the start date is up to each participant. The study includes one clinic screening visit, five home visits, five clinic visits to confirm COPD status and monitor heart and lung function, and monthly phone calls.

Indoor air quality monitoring will be conducted over a seven-day period in the bedroom and the room where the participant is expected to spend the most time over the monitoring period.

All participants will be evaluated at the study site at Johns Hopkins University’s Bayview Medical Campus.

Participants should be 40 or older with COPD, chronic bronchitis or emphysema, or cough or produce phlegm regularly.

Study participants will receive up to $915 during the nine-month study for their participation and time. In addition, they will be able to keep the two air cleaners, which have a value of $1,530. No health insurance is required.

All participants will receive test results upon completion of the study.

For more information or to volunteer, contact the COPD Study Team at (410) 550-9345 or (410) 550-2810.

BEACON BITS

Apr. 13

VISION SCREENING

Make an appointment for free vision screening at the Ateaze Senior Center on Thursday, April 13 between 9 and 11 a.m. Sign up at the front desk, 7401 Holabird Ave., Dundalk. For more information, call (410) 887-7233.

Mar. 2

Ongoing

LEGAL SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY

The Bar Association of Baltimore City provides legal services to older adults. For more information, call (410) 396-1322.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

BALTIMORE BEACON — APRIL 2017

13

Is the dementia rate rising or falling? Yes. According to the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2015 Facts and Figures sheet: “The number of Americans with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias will grow each year as the size and proportion of the U.S. population age 65 and older continue to increase.

The number will escalate rapidly in coming years as the baby boom generation ages.”

Despite these alarming projections, a report from a recent issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) offered a few words of encouragement. Researchers from the longstanding Framingham study found that the rate of dementia has declined over the course of three decades.

Framingham researchers had been studying more than 5,000 men and women since 1975. The participants had physical exams, including tests for dementia every five years.

The researchers determined that the five-year rate of dementia was 3.6 percent between 1982 and 1986, 2.8 percent between 1991 and 1996, 2.2 percent between 1998 and 2003, and 2.0 percent between 2009 and 2013. Moreover, the average age when dementia was diagnosed increased from 80 to 85 over the 30 years.

Grounds for optimism

Do these results fly in the face of the Alzheimer’s Association’s predictions?

Perhaps somewhat, according to Dr. David S. Jones at Harvard Medical School.

He notes that a 2005 report based on data from the National Long-Term Care Surveys showed that severe cognitive impairment among Medicare recipients had decreased significantly between 1982 and 1999.

The decrease in the rate of dementia was attributed largely to two things that we have some control over — education and heart disease. The decline was registered only in high-school graduates, but they made up most of the Framingham participants. The rate of cardiovascular disease — including stroke, atrial fibrillation, and heart failure — was also falling during the study period years.

In that sense, the results give further support to evidence that education, which may build up a “cognitive reserve,” protects against dementia — and that cardiovascular disease, which restricts blood

BEACON BITS

Mar. 28

SPRING CLEAN YOUR CUPBOARDS

Stay healthy and cook with fresh ingredients when you attend this seminar “Cleaning Kitchen Cupboards: What to Keep and What to Toss” on Tuesday, March 28 at 11 a.m. It will take place at the Reisterstown Senior Center, 12035 Reisterstown Rd., Reisterstown. Call (410) 887-1143 for more information.

flow to the brain, may promote it.

Some evidence raises concern

But even as rates of cardiovascular disease declined, rates of obesity and diabetes were beginning to creep up among the Framingham participants. Both are also risk factors for dementia, as well as for heart disease, and their continued rise could dampen or even reverse a decline in the dementia and heart disease rates.

Moreover, the overwhelming majority of Framingham participants are white and middle-class. Whether the results apply to people in other racial and ethnic groups and economic classes remains to be seen.

As the Alzheimer’s Association predicts, the numbers of people with dementia may ultimately increase simply because people are living longer. At the same time, the Framingham researchers offer “cautious

hope that some cases of dementia may be prevented or at least delayed.”

The Framingham results bolster the notion that what’s good for the heart is good for the head. If you’re pursuing a hearthealthy lifestyle — following a Mediter-

ranean-style diet, getting the equivalent of 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week, managing your stress, and engaging with friends and family — you’re likely lowering your risk of dementia in the bargain as well.

— Harvard Women’s Health Watch

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APRIL 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Is talc cancerous? Juries ignore studies

By Linda A. Johnson Two lawsuits ended in jury verdicts worth $127 million. Two others were tossed out by a judge who said there wasn’t reliable evidence that the talc in Johnson & Johnson’s iconic baby powder causes ovarian cancer.

So who’s right? And is baby powder safe?

Most research finds no link, or a weak one, between ovarian cancer and using baby powder for feminine hygiene — a practice generations of American mothers have passed on to their daughters.

Most major health groups have declared talc harmless. Yet some 2,000 women have sued, and lawyers are review-

ing thousands of other potential cases, most generated by ads touting the two big verdicts.

Talc is a mineral that is mined from deposits around the world, including the U.S. The softest of minerals, it’s crushed into a white powder.

It’s been widely used in cosmetics and other personal care products to absorb moisture since at least 1894, when Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder was launched.

But it’s mainly used in a variety of other products, including paint and plastics.

What research shows

The biggest prospective studies have found no link between talcum powder applied to the genitals and ovarian cancer.

But about two dozen smaller, look-back studies over three decades have mostly found a modest connection — a 20 to 40 percent increased risk among talc users.

However, that doesn’t mean talc causes cancer. Several factors make that unlikely, and there’s no proof that talc — which doesn’t interact with chemicals or cells — can travel up the reproductive tract, enter the ovaries and then trigger cancer.

In fact, one large study published in June, which followed 51,000 sisters of breast cancer patients, found genital talc users had a reduced risk of ovarian cancer — 27 percent lower than in nonusers.

An analysis of two huge, long-running U.S. studies, the Women’s Health Initiative and the Nurses’ Health Study, showed no increased risk of ovarian cancer in talc users.

If there were a true link, large studies that tracked women’s health for years would have verified results of the smaller look-back ones, according to Dr. Hal C. Lawrence III, vice president of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

“Lord knows, with the amount of powder that’s been applied to babies’ bottoms, we would’ve seen something” if talc caused cancer, he said.

The National Cancer Institute’s Dr. Nicolas Wentzensen said the federal agency’s position is that there’s not a clear connection.

“A lot of ovarian cancers occur in women who have never used talc, and many women have used talc and not gotten ovarian cancer.”

Research director Elizabeth Ward of the American Cancer Society says, “the risk for any individual woman, if there is one, is probably very small.”

While ovarian cancer is often fatal, it’s relatively rare. It accounts for only about 22,000 of the 1.7 million new cases of cancer expected to be diagnosed in the United States this year.

What lawyers and courts say

Like the studies, courts have produced mixed results. In the first trial two years ago, a South Dakota jury found Johnson & Johnson liable for one woman’s ovarian cancer but didn’t award any damages.

Last year, state court juries in St. Louis awarded plaintiffs $72 million and $55 million — verdicts the company is appealing But U.S. District Judge Nelson Johnson in Atlantic City threw out the first two of the 400 lawsuits in his court. He reviewed the research and testimony from two doctors who are the plaintiffs’ key expert witnesses and concluded the two aren’t reliable, noting they had previously written that there was no proof talc causes ovarian cancer.

J&J attorney John Beisner said the healthcare giant plans to fight every lawsuit, rather than settle, “for the fundamental reason that the science on which they’re based is totally lacking.”

— AP

BALTIMORE BEACON — APRIL 2017

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APRIL 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Innovative housing options are on the rise

By Carol Sorgen Traditionally, housing options offered older adults were a choice between living alone, which often meant growing increasingly isolated; moving in with their kids; or moving to a traditional retirement community.

Fortunately, in recent years, people are coming up with alternative ways to live with more community, according to Beth Baker, author of With a Little Help from our Friends — Creating Community as We Grow Older.

“From village models to cooperative housing to home-sharing, new options give folks a way to have a strong support network —and it turns out that’s incredibly important,” said Baker, who lives in Maryland.

She said research is finding that loneliness and isolation contribute to all sorts of medical problems, such as high blood pressure, inflammation and elevated stress hormones. “At the same time, a strong social network strongly contributes to physical and mental well-being,” she said.

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The importance of social connectedness is also being seen in the design and architecture of retirement communities now being built, according to Meg LaPorte.

She contributes to the blog www.ChangingAging.org, founded by Harvard-trained geriatrician Bill Thomas, who is known for his healthcare systems and nursing home innovations, including the Eden Alternative and the Green House Project.

“Many retirement communities are seeking to integrate with the community at large so that residents can access restaurants, banks and other services in the town center, making them more walkable and transportable in the process,” said LaPorte. She added that there are also communities that intentionally locate next to or even on a college campus so that residents can take advantage of lifelong learning opportunities.

Here are some of the housing innovations that Baker and LaPorte have seen nationwide.

It takes a village

The village model is a neighbors-helping-neighbors membership organization, formed within existing neighborhoods.

Home owners in a limited area contribute annually to support a concierge or administrator who can dispatch volunteers to shovel show or rake leaves, provide transportation, send over a handyman, and provide other assistance allowing members to remain independent in their existing homes.

Nationwide, more than 200 villages have been formed, including two in Baltimore: Northwest Neighbors Connecting/CHAI (www.chaibaltimore.org/nnc or (410) 5005300) and Village At Home, serving North Baltimore (www.villageathome.com or (410) 235-3171). Another 150 are current-

ly in the process of being organized across the country.

In addition to providing needed services and volunteer assistance, villages also give members a social network and provide opportunities to give back. For more information on the village model in general, visit the Village to Village Network at www.vtvnetwork.org or call (617) 2999638.

Co-op and co-housing

Cooperative housing gives residents democratic control over their property, as well as a natural way to create community among neighbors.

In the Baltimore area, there are 11 affordable housing co-ops for older adults organized by nonprofit organization CSI: Walker Co-Op; Wabash Estates; Arlington Estates; Terrace Garden; Golden Ring; Highlandtown Plaza; Bowley’s Garden Villa; Essex Co-Op; Randallstown Pavilion; Randallstown Villa; and Old Court Estates.

At CSI, the residents vote on all major operating decisions, from the color of the walls to writing the annual budget. Co-ops exist to benefit the member residents, not investors. The co-ops emphasize continuing education, and encourage member participation in activities and programs.

For more information on co-op housing in Baltimore, visit www.csi.coop/en/locations/MD, or call (586) 753-9002.

A similar concept is co-housing, where members have their own apartments, but share communal living spaces and often dine together.

Most are multi-generational, but a growing number focus exclusively on older adults, such as Elderspirit in Abingdon, Va., and Elderberry in Rougemont, N.C. See INNOVATIVE HOUSING, page B-3

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BALTIMORE BEACON — APRIL 2017

Innovative housing From page B-2

The closest multi-generational co-housing community is Liberty Village in Libertyville, Md., about midway between Frederick and Westminster.

For a directory of co-housing nationwide, visit www.cohousing.org/directory.

Home-sharing

Home-sharing can mean moving into a home or apartment with one or more close friends, or using a housing service, such as St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center in Baltimore, which matches older homeowners who have a room to rent with younger renters looking for affordable housing.

Sometimes rent is paid by tenants in kind, by helping the homeowner with chores and rides.

St. Ambrose screens applicants and

tries to find a good match. For more information, visit www.stambros.org or call (410) 366-8550.

The Golden Girls Network, headquartered in Bowie, Md., provides a national database that enables older homeowners looking for roommates or housemates to find other mature adults who want a place to live, and vice versa.

In addition, the network’s Home Companion program assists homeowners in finding a suitable live-in companion who will assist with household chores. To learn more, see http://goldengirlsnetwork.com.

Small and specialized groups

“universal care” staff make dinner and do other household chores alongside residents every day.

In Baltimore, Green House Residences at Stadium Place offer this model of housing.

For more information, visit www.catholiccharities-md.org/greenhouse or call (410) 554-9890. For more information on the Green House Project overall, visit www.thegreenhouseproject.org.

Population-specific communities are another innovative housing option, with residences that cater to specific populations, such as LGBTQ, ethnic or religious groups, or those who enjoy a particular

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hobby or profession.

Examples include the Burbank Senior Artists Colony in Burbank, California, and Jimmy Buffett’s Latitude Margaritaville, for active adults, currently being built in Daytona Beach, Fla. Buffett envisions a string of similar Margaritaville communities, and received 10,000 inquiries in the first few weeks after announcing the project in February.

Whichever option is best for you, Baker has this advice: “Don’t wait. Being in denial about aging leaves you vulnerable.

Think about the future that you want, and prepare for it.”

Green Houses are small, usually 10-bedroom homes (or floors of a building) designed for nursing home or assisted living residents. Each person has a private room and bathroom, and the house is centered around the kitchen, where specially trained PHOTO COURTESY OF KAREN HEYWARD-WEST

St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center has a program that matches older homeowners who have room to spare with older tenants who need a place to live.

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Housing Notes

By Talia Denicoff

New day and night dementia programs InteGrace Copper Ridge in Sykesville recently launched the region’s only program that offers both adult day care and a night program for families caring for loved ones with dementia.

Dementia patients can come to the Peabody Club during the day or night to socialize, participate in structured activities, and get extra medical attention. Participants have access to all the amenities at Copper Ridge, including its podiatry and memory clinics.

Because dementia patients are often awake and wander during the night, the night program allows caregivers to rest.

Currently, only the day program is open, and the night program will open when there are enough interested participants.

“Our mission at the Peabody Club is to provide individuals living with dementia a

APRIL 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

safe and engaging environment where they can experience joy and meaning in life that is consistent with their daily or nightly routines,” said Jessica Larson, R.N., program director of the Peabody Club.

“Our program will be tailored to the individual, honoring each member’s interests, strengths and abilities. And in addition, we’ll be providing their families with the break they may need to work, rest, or take care of other aspects of life.”

In addition to providing dementia-focused assisted living, skilled nursing and short-term rehabilitation, Copper Ridge is also the site of the Senator William and Ellen Proxmire Memory Clinic, specializing in comprehensive evaluations and customized plans for people experiencing changes in memory or cognitive ability; and the Copper Ridge Bistro, a restaurant created with the needs of those living with dementia in mind.

For more information, contact Jessica Larson at (410) 552-3207 or jessica.larson@integrace.org.

Baltimore: not a good place to retire?

Your Stylish Retirement STARTS AT CHARLESTOWN OR OAK CREST

Our Baltimore-area senior living communities feature a variety of beautiful, maintenance-free apartment homes.

12019092

Call 410-415-1628 for your free brochure.

A new study by Place for Mom, a senior living referral service, looked at which cities are the best and worst for older adults who seek affordable and safe living.

They analyzed senior living prices and crime reporting data to determine the most affordable low-crime cities, the least affordable high-crime cities, and the best balance of safety and affordability for senior housing.

Baltimore landed fifth from the bottom nationally due to its high housing costs and crime. A Place for Mom cited the relatively high average monthly rates for inde-

pendent living ($2,771), assisted living ($4,327) and memory care ($4,327) among the determining factors.

According to the report, the more affordable cities with low crime rates are small cities in the South and Midwest.

These cities usually offer the best balance of safety and affordability. Bristol, Tenn., Dalton, Ga., Bristol, Va., and Sebastian, Fla., rank amid the top 10 most affordable cities with low crime rates.

On the other hand, the least affordable cities with high crime rates are found primarily in densely populated urban areas.

Other cities besides Baltimore in the bottom 10 include San Jose, Calif., Worcester, Mass. and San Francisco, Calif.

For more information, visit http://bit.ly/seniorcities or call 1-877-573-2736.

New book on choosing long-term care Eldercare advocate Chris Cooper’s new book, Eldercare Confidential: Cautionary Tales for Adult Caregivers and Caretakers of Parents and Spouses, helps advise those selecting care options.

Cooper includes such tips as: • The best time to tour a nursing home is on a Saturday evening, when administrative and marketing staff aren’t working.

• Make sure you visit when a meal is being served.

• Find out how often a nursing home brings in nurses from a staffing agency.

• Look for assisted living and long-term care where the caregiving staff is consistent rather than changing day to day.

For additional tips, visit http://chriscooper.com/ or call 1-800-865-4744. The book is available through a variety of online booksellers, and links are available on the website. The book sells for $20 on Amazon.com.

Please tell our advertisers, “I saw you in the Beacon!”

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BALTIMORE BEACON — APRIL 2017

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Devices summon help at home or away

By Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior: Do you know of any medical alert SOS buttons for seniors who work away from the home? I would like to get one for my 80-year-old mother, but would like to find one that’s not limited to the house.

— Shopping Son Dear Shopping: There are actually a number of medical alert products on the market today that give people the flexibility to call for help both inside and outside the home.

For years, medical alert devices (also known as “personal emergency response systems” or PERS) have been popular home safety products for older persons who live alone. These systems come with a wearable SOS pendent button — usually a necklace or wristband — and a base station that connects to the home phone line.

At the press of a button, your loved one could call and talk to a trained operator through the system’s base station receiver, which works like a powerful speakerphone. The operator will find out what’s wrong, and will notify family members, a neighbor, friend or emergency services as needed.

These devices were limited because they only worked in and around the house.

If you were away from home and needed help, you were out of luck.

Fortunately, today there are numerous mobile products that work anywhere.

Here are some top options.

works like a two-way communication device, allowing your mom to speak and listen directly through the pedant.

If your mom were to fall or need help at home, she could press the button, and the home-base communicator system would be activated to make the call to the response center, which would then dispatch help as needed. But if she fell or needed help away from home, the system’s AT&T wireless network would kick in and place the call.

This system also has six sophisticated locating technologies so the response center would know your mom’s exact location, even where GPS signals are weak.

Also, it has fall detection sensors built into the pendent that can automatically summon help if a fall is detected and your mom is unable to push the button.

The GoSafe is available at www.lifelinesys.com (or call toll-free 1-855-276-7761)

for $149, with monthly service fees that start at $55.

Most affordable alert

If the GoSafe is more than your mom needs, another option that’s easier on the budget is the GreatCall Splash, which costs only $50, with a $35 activation fee and monthly service fees that start at $20.

This pendent-style waterproof device, which fits in the palm of your hand, works like a cell phone with GPS tracking capabilities, and can be worn on a belt, around the neck, or attached to a key chain.

To call for help, your mom would push one button, and an operator from the device’s emergency monitoring service would be on the line to assist her. Because of the GPS technology, her general location would also be known.

Or, for even more peace of mind, there’s the Splash with fall detection capabilities

(this option costs $35 per month, and the pendent must be worn around the neck for it to work) that will automatically call for help when a fall is detected.

The Splash can be purchased at www.GreatCall.com (1-800-918-8543), or at Walmart, Sears, Best Buy and Rite Aid Pharmacy stores.

If you want some additional options to shop and compare, there are other good companies that offer moderately priced mobile alerts, including Consumer Cellular (www.consumercellular.com/ally); Bay Alarm Medical (www.bayalarmmedical.com); MobileHelp (www.mobilehelp. com); Medical Alert (www.medicalalert. com) and Life Alert (www.lifealert.com).

Send your questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

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High-end device

If you’re interested in getting your mom a comprehensive, high-end medical alert device that works everywhere, consider the Philips Lifeline GoSafe system. It provides a necklace pendent button, which

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Ongoing

ENGLISH CONVERSATION CLUB

The Owings Mills Branch of the Baltimore County Public Library welcomes people of all ages to practice their English in a small group setting. There is no fee. Meetings are held from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on Mondays at 10302 Grand Central Ave. Call (410) 887-2092 or visit www.bcpl.info for more information.

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The American Legion Post 130, 8666 Silver Lake Dr. in Perry Hall, hosts bingo every Thursday from 7 to 10 p.m. Light dinner fare is available from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. The jackpot is up to $1,000. Call (410) 870-0625 for more information.

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ASSISTED LIVING LIVING COMMUNITY ASSISTED

APRIL 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Weinberg Park Assisted Living 410-664-0100

Linden Park Apartments in Bolton Hill 410-523-0013

5833 Park Heights Avenue Baltimore, MD 21215

301 McMechen Street Baltimore, MD 21217

Weinberg Park is a vibrant Assisted Living community where you can live with confidence and independence. Whether you need help getting dressed, managing medications or friendly conversation, we are there for you with a gentle helping hand.

We offer private or semi-private suites, certified nursing assistance, medication management, a 24-hour emergency response system, laundry & housekeeping services, delicious & nourishing kosher meals and individualized service plans. Our doors are open to everyone, regardless of income level, and we strive to keep our fees at a competitive market rate. Call today to schedule a tour! We look forward to showing you the comfort and care we offer to all our treasured residents!

SPRING into a New Home! What better way to start off Spring than in a new apartment in a community such as Bolton Hill that boasts beautiful gardens and plenty of social activities — a lifestyle that encourages engagement and wellness in one location. Offering efficiency apartments at $777 a month, for ages 62 plus, there are many activities for you to enjoy, from fitness workshops to art programs! Newly renovated and updated, Linden Park Apartments in Bolton Hill has undergone $24 Million in Renovations! FREE parking, FREE utilities and 24-hour concierge, plus small pets are welcome! Stop by for a tour today! www.LindenParkApartments.com

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITY

Oak Crest 410-877-6624 8820 Walther Boulevard Parkville, MD 21234 www.ericksonliving.com What makes Oak Crest different? Year after year, Oak Crest continues to be Baltimore County’s first choice for retirement living. Bigger is better. The 87-acre campus is home to a wealth of activities and amenities, including five restaurants. Yet, it retains the warmth of a small town. A charming Location.

Residents are surrounded by walking paths, mature trees, and a residential neighborhood. The value of experience. For 20 years, Oak Crest has provided financial security with their Refundable Entrance Deposit.* Learn More. Call 410-877-6624 for your brochure, or to schedule a visit. *Carefully read the Residence and Care Agreement for the conditions that must be satisfied before the Provider is required to pay the Entrance Deposit Refund.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

An Equal Housing Opportunity Community.

Shangri-La Senior Living of Catonsville 410-744-8433 6348 Frederick Road Catonsville, MD 21228 www.ShangrilaSeniorLiving.com At Shangri-La Senior Living of Catonsville, we combine comfortable living with compassionate, yet affordable care. From our interiors to our smiling residents and exceptional staff, there is an aura of warmth and caring that sets us apart. We offer three levels of assisted living care. In addition, we are happy to provide: private and semi-private rooms; delicious meals and snacks with special diet requests available; daily assistance with bathing, dressing, and management of medications; daily offerings of activities; weekly religious services offered; housekeeping & laundry services; regular wellness visits by a licensed nurse; emergency call system with secured environment; hospice services; and respite, short-stay care.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Brightwood 410-339-3210

Charlestown 410-988-4070

100 Brightwood Club Drive Lutherville, MD 21093 www.brightwoodliving.org

715 Maiden Choice Lane Catonsville, MD 21228 www.ericksonliving.com

There’s no need to compromise your standard of living when choosing a retirement community. Homes at Brightwood all include fireplaces, 9 ft. ceilings, large rooms, storage and garage parking included at no extra cost! A pet-friendly community conveniently located in Greenspring Valley, Brightwood is minutes from both the attractions of the city and the beauty of the countryside. The small size of the community (only 80 homes total) provides a neighborhood feel. Life at Brightwood is easy and safe: services include 24/7 security, activities, dining, maintenance, housekeeping and an on-site nursing staff for care and coordination.

Schedule your tour today – you’ll be amazed at the difference!

What makes Charlestown different? Year after year, Charlestown continues to be Baltimore County’s first choice for retirement living.

Bigger is better The 110-acre campus is home to a wealth of activities and amenities, including six restaurants. Yet, it retains the warmth of a small town.

A charming location Residents are surrounded by nature trails, mature trees, and stunning views of the historic Our Lady of the Angels Chapel.

The value of experience For 31 years, Charlestown has provided financial security with their Refundable Entrance Deposit.

Learn more. Call 410-988-4070 for your brochure, or schedule a visit.

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FREE HOUSING AND OTHER INFORMATION # For free information from advertisers in this special section, check off those that interest you and mail this entire coupon to the Beacon. Please do not request info if you are not interested.

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APRIL 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Rules give patients new rights at home

By Judith Graham Medicare-certified home health agencies will be required to become more responsive to patients and their caregivers under the first major overhaul of rules governing these organizations in almost 30 years.

The federal regulations, published in January, specify the conditions under which 12,600 home health agencies can participate in Medicare and Medicaid, serving more than 5 million older adults and Americans with disabilities through these government programs.

The new regs strengthen patients’ rights considerably, and call for caregivers to be informed and engaged in plans for patients’ care. These are “real improvements,” said Rhonda Richards, a senior

legislative representative at AARP. Home health agencies also will be expected to coordinate all the services that patients receive, and to ensure that treatment regimens are explained clearly and in a timely fashion.

Rules could be revised

The new rules are set to go into effect in July, but they may be delayed as President Donald Trump’s administration reviews regulations that have been drafted or finalized but not yet implemented. The estimated cost of implementation, which home health agencies will shoulder, is $293 million the first year and $234 million a year thereafter.

While industry lobbying could derail the regulations or send them back to the

drawing board, that isn’t expected to happen, given substantial consensus with regard to their contents. More likely is a delay in the implementation date, which several industry groups plan to request.

“There are a lot of good things in these regulations, but if it takes agencies another six or 12 months to prepare, let’s do that, because we all want to get this right,” said William Dombi, vice president for law at the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC).

Home health services under Medicare are available to those 65 and older, and to younger adults with disabilities who are confined to home and have a need, certified by a physician, for intermittent skilled nursing services or therapy. Many patients need these services after a hip replacement, heart attack or stroke. (See www.medicare. gov/coverage/home-health-services.html for more information.)

Patients qualify when they have a need to improve functioning (such as regaining the strength to walk across a room) or maintain abilities (such as retaining the capacity to get up from a chair), even when improvement isn’t possible.

These services are not for patients who need full-time care because they’re seriously ill or people who are dying.

Patient-centered care

Live Well.

Be Well.

Several changes laid forth in the new regulations have significant implications for older adults and their caregivers: In the past, patients have been recipients of whatever services home health agencies deemed necessary, based on their staffs’ evaluations and input from physicians. It was a prescriptive “this is what you need and what we’ll give you” approach.

Now, patients will be asked what they

feel comfortable doing, and what they want to achieve. Then their care plans will be devised by agencies with their individual circumstances in mind.

“It’s much more of a ‘help me help you’ mentality,” said Diana Kornetti, an industry consultant and president of the home health section of the American Physical Therapy Association.

While some agencies have already adopted this approach, it’s going to be a “sea change” for many organizations, said Mary Carr, NAHC’s vice president for regulatory affairs.

Patient rights

For the first time, home health agencies will be obligated to inform patients of their rights — both verbally and in writing. And the explanations must be communicated clearly, in language that patients can understand.

Several new rights are included in the regulations. Notably, patients now have a right to receive all the services deemed necessary in their plans of care. Those plans are devised by agencies to address specific needs approved by a doctor, such as speech therapy or occupational therapy, and usually delivered over the course of a few months, though sometimes they last much longer.

Also, patients must be informed about the agency’s initial comprehensive assessment of the patient’s needs and goals, as well as all subsequent assessments.

A patient’s rights to lodge complaints about treatment and be free from abuse, which had already been in place, are described in more detail in the new regulations.

The government surveys home health See HOME HEALTH, page B-9

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Home health From page B-8

agencies every three years to make sure that its rules are being followed.

NAHC officials said they planned to develop a “notice of rights” for home health care agencies, bringing greater standardization to what has sometimes been an ad hoc notification process.

Caregiver involvement

For the first time, agencies will be required to assess family caregivers’ willingness and ability to provide assistance to patients when developing a plan of care.

Also, caregivers’ other obligations — for instance, their work schedules — will need to be taken into account.

Previously, agencies had to work with patients’ legal representatives, but not “personal representatives” such as family caregivers.

“These new regulations stress throughout that it’s important for agencies to look at caregivers as potential partners in optimizing positive outcomes,” said Peter No-

tarstefano, director of home and community-based services for LeadingAge, a trade group for home health agencies, hospices and other organizations.

Plans of care

Now, any time significant changes are made to a patient’s plan of care, an agency must inform the patient, the caregiver and the physician directing the patient’s care.

“A lot of patients tell us, ‘I’ve never seen my plan of care; I don’t know what’s going on; the agency talks to my doctor but not to me,’” said Kathleen Holt, an attorney and associate director of the Center for Medicare Advocacy. The new rules give “patients and the family a lot more opportunity to have input,” she added.

In another notable change, efforts must be made to coordinate all the services provided by therapists, nurses and physicians involved with the patient’s care, replacing a “siloed” approach to care that has been common until now, Notarstefano said.

Discharge protections

Allowable reasons for discharging a pa-

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tient are laid out clearly in the new rules, and new safeguards are instituted. For instance, an agency can’t discontinue services merely because it doesn’t have enough staff.

The government’s position is that agencies “have the responsibility to staff adequately,” Carr of NAHC said. In the event a patient worsens and needs a higher level of services, an agency is responsible for arranging a safe and appropriate transfer.

B-9

“Agencies in the past have had the ability to just throw up their hands and say, ‘We can’t care for you, or we think we’ve done all we can for you and we need to discharge you,’” Holt said. Now a physician has to agree to any plan to discharge or transfer a patient, and “that will offer another layer of protection.”

From Kaiser Health News (www.khn.org), a nonprofit health newsroom that is part of the Kaiser Family Foundation.

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A convenient location, the pet-friendly senior apartments feature a chef-style kitchen, microwave, wall-to-wall carpeting & walk-in closets. Enjoy activities within the community, including seasonal celebrations, arts & crafts, fitness & Internet classes. Amenities include a sheltered front porch, sitting area, courtyard terrace, raised gardening beds & walking path. Call for more information!

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B-10

Housing Options | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

APRIL 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Facing foreclosure? Don’t delay; get help

By Amy Hennen The idea of foreclosure — losing your home because of a delinquent payment (even just one day late) — can be scary and daunting for anyone. It can be particularly intimidating for those who do not have the means to hire an attorney to guide them through the legal process.

Maryland has the third-highest foreclosure rate in the country, according to RealtyTrac, Inc., with 1 in every 834 homes in foreclosure. In Baltimore City, the rate is 1 in every 476 homes, and in Baltimore County, it is 1 in every 951 homes. Nationally, the rate is about 1 in every 1,600 homes.

Pension cuts, increasing medical bills, lack of savings and fixed-incomes make older adults extremely vulnerable to foreclosures. The Federal Reserve reports that half of households who head is between the ages of 64 and 74 do not have money available in retirement accounts.

What’s more, AARP estimates that approximately 3.5 million homeowners are underwater on their loans and have no home equity. Furthermore, one out of every 30 of those age 80 and older faces foreclosure.

Help is available

As the managing attorney for housing and consumer law at Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS), I work with older adults who need help making sense of the extremely complicated foreclosure process while trying to stay in their homes.

A significant number of MVLS’ older clients purchased their homes between 2004 and 2008 because they were convinced to purchase or upgrade during the housing boom. Today, two-thirds of the properties in foreclosure were purchased during this time.

In 2016, MVLS assisted in nearly 100 cases involving homeowners 55 and over

who were facing foreclosure.

I share the following three steps with clients to give them confidence in starting the process on their own, while giving them the tools they need to create the best outcome possible — hopefully, keeping their home!

Step No. 1: Get help as early as you can There is no shame in asking for help.

Staying in your home is serious business when big banks and other lenders are pushing for foreclosure.

If you are late on your mortgage, seek help from a qualified housing counselor.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (www.consumerfinance.gov/find-ahousing-counselor) can help you locate a HUD-approved counseling agency.

If you receive a “Notice of Intent to Foreclose” and a “Loss Mitigation Application” in the mail, take action quickly and

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ask for help immediately.

The Maryland Judiciary recently released new videos as a part of their self-help video library. See www.mdcourts.gov/video. They are comprehensive videos that explain the foreclosure process without a lot of legal jargon.

The Maryland Hope Helpline (1-877462-7555) is a key resource that can connect homeowners facing foreclosure with experienced housing counselors.

And MVLS (www.mvlslaw.org) connects pre-qualified low-income Maryland residents with volunteer lawyers who provide legal counsel and representation during the lifespan of their case.

Step No. 2: Investigate and exercise your rights Foreclosure mediation is an option in many jurisdictions. The mediations are arranged to facilitate negotiations between a lender and homeowner through an unbiased third party.

Even if mediation is not available, there are several ways you may be able to stay in your home or recoup some of the money already invested in your home. These options are called loss mitigation: • Loan modification — you and your lender agree to changes in the terms of your loan, so you can continue living in your home • Cash for keys — you agree to move out of your home in exchange for a specified amount of money • Short sale — the lender allows you to sell your home for less than you owe on the mortgage • Deed in lieu of foreclosure — you agree to give the house back to the lender and, in exchange, the lender will forgive the debt that you owe Step No. 3: Be prompt and track the process If you are at risk of losing your home in a foreclosure, it is imperative that you take action immediately to give yourself the best chance at keeping your home.

You will receive a lot of communications and instructions, which can be very frustrating and sometimes confusing. Collect all of the information and documents you need, make copies, and reply promptly. I recommend that clients keep a journal to track dates when documents are received and when information is returned.

The foreclosure process is swift. For instance, in Maryland, the lender may file foreclosure paperwork with the court 45 days after sending the “Notice of Intent to Foreclose.”

While it is never easy to face the loss of a home, there are ways to keep your home, or to walk away with money to purchase a new home.

The keys are to ask for help, move to mediation, and act fast. There are several housing and legal services organizations ready to help.

Amy Hennen is the housing and consumer law managing attorney with the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service.

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com | Housing Options

BALTIMORE BEACON — APRIL 2017

B-11

Home money pits that sap your savings

By J. Brian Bishop There are so many expenses associated with paying the bills for a home that it is easy to miss money leaks that are costing you big dollars. Putting a plug into these leaks can make a big difference in your budget.

From old-school thermostats to faulty plumbing, here are some of the top moneypits to watch for: 1. Old School Thermostats I recently replaced my 1980s-era thermostat with a new one for about $50. Why? Because the old thermostat was leaking money every day. My new thermostat is programmable, so I can automatically avoid heating or cooling the house when no one is home. It’s paid for itself in just the first few months.

2. Drafty Windows It may sound extreme to replace windows to save money on your heating bill, but I was paying hundreds of dollars every month for propane when I moved into an old house with drafty single-pane windows.

Old windows are almost as inefficient as having your windows open all winter. Replacing them will reduce your utility bill and add to the resale value of your house.

If replacing windows is too big of a project, you can install clear plastic film over your windows for a few dollars each to help keep the money from flowing out.

3. Old HVAC Systems I once lived in a house with a 40-year-old furnace. My home inspector said it was built like a tank, and I think it was about as energy efficient as a tank, too.

If you plan to stay in your house for a few years, an energy efficient HVAC system can easily pay for itself through lower energy bills. Plus, the new system will increase the value of your house.

4. Poor Insulation Don’t be fooled: It can be hard to notice a

poorly insulated home because the furnace can compensate for this by running more to try to maintain the desired temperature.

The most effective place to upgrade your home’s insulation is in the attic, since warm air is less dense than cold air and a lot of heat transfer happens through the attic and roof as warm air rises.

If your floors are cold, you may benefit from adding insulation under your house, as well. Insulating walls can be a bigger project, but insulation can be often blown into the joint space in walls in a matter of just hours.

5. Old Appliances Old appliances are energy hogs compared with newer, more efficient models — especially refrigerators, freezers and dishwashers. It may be hard to notice that old appliance sitting there quietly sucking down extra electricity all the time, but the cost adds up every month.

Some utility companies will even take away old appliances in order to encourage people to replace them with energy efficient models. And you may even qualify for tax credits related to energy efficient appliances.

6. Bad Mortgage Rates When you got your mortgage, you probably shopped around and got the best rate you could find. But have you checked your rate lately? You may be paying more than you need to for interest every month.

If you plan to stay in your house for a few years, refinancing your mortgage to get a better interest rate can help you hang on to more of your money each month instead of giving it to the banker.

7. Leaky Roof or Gutters You won’t get a bill right away if you have a leaky roof or gutters that don’t work properly. But deferred maintenance is like a time bomb that can cost you a huge

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amount of money in the future in the form of repair bills and reduced property value.

Take care of water leaks before they become a money pit.

8. Too Much House If your house is bigger than you really need, you are paying extra every month for your mortgage, utility bills, and property taxes. Consider downsizing to avoid

sinking money into paying for space you are not fully utilizing.

This article is from Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. © 2016 The Kiplinger Washington Editors All contents © 2016, The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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B-12

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BALTIMORE BEACON — APRIL 2017

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Money Law &

15

FILE TAXES FOR FREE Seven ways to avoid paying for filing taxes — for taxpayers with simple or complex returns DRIVING A BARGAIN New and used car buyers ought to find good deals throughout this year.

See how to maximize your savings

How to invest wisely in today’s market Many readers have written asking for ad- represent money you will need in 2017. vice about how to invest for consistent inWhat investments would benefit from come in 2017 with minimal risk. this scenario? Treasury inflaAs I have emphasized many tion-protected securities times, it’s impossible to reap (TIPS), or mutual funds or high returns on your investETFs investing in them, ments — whether it’s in the should do well. You won’t reform of income or equity apceive a great deal of income or preciation — without assumcapital gains in these investing some risk. ments, but you won’t be takThat being said, it is possible ing a great deal of risk, either. to anticipate likely occurrences Other investments that in 2017 and make investments should do reasonably well in THE SAVINGS taking these into account. this scenario are investments GAME in high-quality bank loan portBy Elliot Raphaelson Rising interest rates folios whose income is based What is likely? It is likely on variable interest rates. If that the Federal Reserve will increase short- the Fed does increase rates, then the return term interest rates a few times in 2017. Most on those loans will increase accordingly. experts following the Fed agree.

Will stock investments do better than If that is the case, then bond markets bonds in 2017? No one can be sure. There will be volatile, and some long-term invest- are reasons to believe that corporate profments — such as long-term Treasury itability will increase because it is likely bonds — will likely decrease in value, even that Congress will enact legislation that if only in the short term. will reduce the corporate tax rate.

Accordingly, I would caution investors The incoming administration camnot to have significant holdings in long- paigned on that basis, and most members term bonds, especially if those holdings of the incoming Congress seem to agree.

However, common stock prices are at a pretty high level, in terms of price-earnings ratios, so there is no guarantee that stock prices will continue to increase in 2017.

As I have said many times, there are time frames in which bonds outperform stocks and vice versa, and no expert is right all the time.

That is why for the last 20 years in my own retirement I have maintained a balanced portfolio of stocks and bonds. I don’t pretend to know in which year one or the other category of investment will do better.

What stock sectors are best?

As for equities, which sectors are better to invest in? Many of the experts believe that when interest rates are expected to increase, the banking sector does well. However, bank stocks have already increased in value recently, so there is no guarantee that they will outperform other sectors in 2017.

I try not to concentrate my investments in one or two sectors, because it is difficult to predict which patterns will persist.

That is why I think it is prudent to invest in low-cost, well-diversified index mutual funds or ETFs. For example, I like the Van-

Frank, Frank

guard Total Stock Market Index Fund (VTSAX) because of its low costs and broad base of investments. Other fund families such as Fidelity and T. Rowe Price have similar offerings.

I also like investing in funds that have a long history of increasing dividends and low costs. For this reason, for many years I have invested in the Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund (VDADX).

Bond funds to consider

As for bond investments, I generally prefer investments in intermediate-term funds, especially when it’s likely that interest rates will increase.

Two of my favorite funds for long-term investors are the Vanguard IntermediateTerm Investment Grade Fund (VFIDX) and the Vanguard High Yield Corporate Fund (VMEAX).

There is more risk in high-yield funds, but I have found that on a long-term basis, it is worth the higher risk.

Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at raphelliot@gmail.com. © 2017 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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16

Law & Money | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

APRIL 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Seven ways to file your taxes for free

By Sandra Block Most do-it-yourself filers prepare their own taxes for one and only one reason: They want to save money.

But tax software isn’t cheap, and hidden costs can sometimes blindside you. You might be forced to upgrade to another product midway through your tax return, or to pay extra to file your state tax return.

Fortunately, the tax software business is fiercely competitive, and in an effort to attract new customers, software providers have expanded their free offerings. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to prepare and e-file your federal and state tax return without paying a dime.

Make sure you read the fine print and disclaimers before you start plugging

numbers into an online program. Otherwise, you could discover that you don’t qualify for the free product, forcing you to switch to a paid version or to abandon your tax return midway through a program.

Neither option makes for a satisfying taxpaying experience.

And keep information security in mind throughout your tax prep and filing. Use a strong password for your software log-in (not “password” or your dog’s name).

Be wary of e-mails purporting to be from your software provider; so-called phishing e-mails are used by scammers to obtain your personal information. Don’t click on links included in e-mails. If you need to communicate with the software provider, do it through the provider’s website.

Here are ways to get filing — for free!

H&R Block More Zero

Who can use it: Taxpayers who file 1040EZ or 1040A, and itemizers who claim the most common deductions on Form 1040 State tax return included: Yes In an audacious move to attract new online customers, H&R Block has significantly expanded eligibility for its free online program. Taxpayers who deduct mortgage interest, charitable contributions and/or medical expenses on Schedule A of Form 1040 can file a federal and state tax return free. Block estimates that 87 million taxpayers will be eligible to use the new product.

Users can electronically import last year’s tax return, whether it was prepared using H&R Block’s program or a competitor’s product.

You can use More Zero if you have income from interest and dividends. However, if you need to report capital gains and/or losses on Schedule D, or if you have self-employment income, you’ll need to pay to upgrade to H&R Block Deluxe or H&R Block Premium.

TurboTax Absolute Zero

Who can use it: Taxpayers who file 1040EZ or 1040A State tax return included: Yes This is a good option for taxpayers with simple tax returns. But you’ll have to pay to upgrade to TurboTax Deluxe if you have investment or self-employment income, or if you contributed to a health savings account last year.

The free Absolute Zero product lacks some of the features that have made TurboTax the most popular tax prep program.

For example, you can’t electronically im-

port last year’s return, even if you used TurboTax to prepare and file your return.

Credit Karma Tax

Who can use it: Most taxpayers, including those with self-employment and/or investment income State tax return included: Yes Unlike many other free tax prep programs, Credit Karma Tax isn’t restricted to users with simple tax returns. Taxpayers with income from investments or selfemployment can use this program.

There are a few limitations — the program won’t handle income from estates, for example — but 90 percent of taxpayers will be eligible to use the product, according to Bethy Hardeman, chief consumer advocate for Credit Karma.

As it does with its offer of free credit scores, the company plans to market related products to taxpayers based on the personal information they provide when filling out tax forms.

For example, Credit Karma could use your income to trigger an offer for a specific credit card. If you sign up for the credit card, Credit Karma receives a fee. If that makes you uncomfortable, you can opt out and still use the tax-filing product.

DIY Tax

Who can use it: All taxpayers State tax return included: Yes This program, offered by tax preparation company Liberty Tax, is available to all taxpayers, even those with complex forms.

So why would Liberty Tax, which has more than 4,300 tax preparation offices in the U.S. and Canada, offer this giveaway?

See FILE TAXES, page 18

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

BALTIMORE BEACON — APRIL 2017

17

Car buyers will find good deals this year

By Dee-Ann Durbin U.S. car shoppers will find plentiful deals, relatively low interest rates, and lots of high-tech choices in the market this year.

“It’s a good time to buy a car now, and it should be for the rest of the year,” said Jessica Caldwell, an analyst with the car-shopping site Edmunds.com.

New-vehicle sales hit a record of 17.55 million in the U.S. last year. While they’re not expected to top that this year, demand is still strong.

Many of the factors that fueled sales last year are still in place, like solid consumer confidence and low gas prices. New technology like Apple CarPlay and automatic emergency braking is luring buyers.

And many people still need to replace aging cars. The average age of a vehicle on U.S. roads climbed to 11.6 years in 2016.

Here are some things to watch in the car market this year:

Prices

The average price people pay for a new car rose to $32,000 in December, a monthly record, according to the consulting firm LMC Automotive. Analysts say new-vehicle prices will continue to rise in 2017.

There are two main reasons: More customers are buying SUVs, which are pricier than cars. And they’re loading them up with features, like the premium audio and automatic lift gate package that adds $940 to the cost of a Toyota RAV4 SUV. As a result, more buyers are leasing, which helps lower the monthly payment.

The average monthly lease payment for a new car is currently $405, while the average monthly loan payment is $495, according to Experian Automotive.

Buyers are also lengthening the terms of their car loans to lower their payments.

The average new-vehicle loan term is now 68 months, up from 62 months in 2009.

About 1 percent of loans stretch out 85 months or more.

Incentives

Prices may be at record levels, but — luckily for consumers — deals are, too. Automakers were offering around $4,000 per vehicle in incentives at the end of 2016, and that could inch up even further this year, said Jesse Toprak, CEO of the carshopping site CarHub.com. Deals are often coming in the form of bonus cash, or low- or zero-interest financing.

Look for some of the highest incentives on slow-selling small and midsize cars, like the Toyota Camry and Chevrolet Sonic, as well as hybrids like the Ford C-Max. Incentives will likely pick up in March and April, when more buyers tend to head to dealerships.

Analysts say automakers are trying to be smarter with incentives, having been burned in the past. Deals are targeted at specific vehicles, regions, and even individual dealerships. Incentives could also taper off a bit if automakers cut car production to match the lower demand.

current average monthly payment on a used car is $362, Experian said, up only slightly from a year ago.

One downside for consumers: Falling used-car values mean they’ll get less for vehicles that they’re trading in, said Patrick Min, a senior industry analyst at the car-buying site TrueCar.com.

Low gas prices, interest rates

prices — which ended 2016 at $2.25 per gallon — are expected to average $2.38 per gallon this year and $2.41 in 2018, according to the U.S. Energy Department.

The Federal Reserve boosted its benchmark rate by a quarter-point last month, to a still-low range of 0.5 percent to 0.75 percent. The rate has been near zero since the recession.

Toprak said the impact on car buyers will

Low gas prices have fueled the U.S. SUV boom, and that’s likely to continue. Gas

See CAR BUYERS, page 18

Used cars

A big supply of vehicles leased two or three years ago is returning to the market.

Prices for used SUVs and trucks, which are in high demand, will likely stay stable this year, but used car prices will fall, said Michelle Krebs, a senior analyst with AutoTrader.com. Krebs said buyers will have to do their homework to see if they should buy a new or a nearly-new car.

New cars might have the latest technology, but a certified-pre-owned car might offer perks like free maintenance or a few months of OnStar or satellite radio. The

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Law & Money | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

File taxes From page 16

It’s counting on DIY fatigue. A “find an office” link is always visible when you use this program, and a Liberty tax preparer can pick up where you left off — for a fee, of course.

But if you don’t need help, this utilitarian program will help you get the job done free. It’s not as flashy as other online programs, but it does offer online support, and you won’t discover midway through the process that you have to upgrade to a paid product.

TaxSlayer

Who can use it: Taxpayers who file 1040EZ State tax return included: Yes Eligible taxpayers can prepare, e-file and print their tax returns free. E-mail and phone support are included at no extra cost.

If you have taxable income of more than $100,000, have dependents, or have taxable interest of more than $1,500, you must pay to upgrade to TaxSlayer Classic.

TaxAct

Who can use it: Taxpayers who file

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

BALTIMORE CITY VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES For volunteer opportunities in Baltimore City, call (410) 396-4932.

Ongoing

ANIMAL RESCUE NEEDS VOLUNTEERS Tails of Hope Sanctuary, a nonprofit animal rescue, seeks volunteers. For more information, visit www.tails-of-hope.org.

Apr. 12+

LEARN TO MAKE WOVEN BRACELETS

APRIL 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

1040EZ or 1040A State tax return included: Yes TaxAct has expanded its free product to include tips and guidance on 19 “life events” — such as getting married or buying a home — up from two last year.

You can electronically import a previous year’s TaxAct return for $5. In the past, users who wanted to import a prior year’s tax return had to upgrade to a paid product.

While Form 1040A allows you to report income from investments and capital gains, if you itemize and/or have taxable income of more than $100,000, you must pay to upgrade to TaxAct Plus.

IRS Free File

Who can use it: Taxpayers with 2016 adjusted gross income of $64,000 or less State tax return included: Varies, depending on tax software company This year, 12 private tax software companies are participating in the Free File

Car buyers

Learn to make Nantucket bracelets using the Nantucket Lightship

From page 17

Basket traditional weave. This class is sponsored by the Roland

likely be negligible. Even an increase of 2 percentage points would only add about $50 per month to a car payment, he said.

Park Country School Kaleidoscope Lifelong Learning Program on Wednesday, April 12 and 19. The course fee is $65 plus materials fee of $75. For more information, call (410) 323-5500 or visit www.rocs.org.

program. Each participant has its own criteria. TurboTax All Free, for example, is limited to taxpayers with AGI of $33,000 or less, or who are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit. eSmart Free File is available to anyone with AGI of $64,000 or less, as long as they’re between the ages of 18 and 54.

Some programs are only available to taxpayers who live in specific states. Find the right tool for you via the IRS’ look-up tool.

Free File isn’t limited to taxpayers with simple returns. If you itemize, or have income from investments or self-employment, you can prepare and e-file your federal tax return (and in some cases, your state tax return) free, provided you meet the AGI requirements.

Copyright 2017 The Kiplinger Washington Editors All contents copyright 2017 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC “That’s not going to stop people,” he said. But increasing interest rates could cause lenders to tighten their criteria, which could shut some buyers out of the market.

— AP

BEACON BITS

Mar. 31

ASK A LAWYER Attorney Steven Heinl will hold a question-and-answer session

talking about estate planning, probate administration and small business matters at a free program at the Pikesville Senior Center on Friday, March 31 from 1 to 2 p.m. He also prepares wills, trusts, powers of attorney, advance medical directives and other planning documents in his practice. The center is located at 1301 Reisterstown Rd. To learn more, call (410) 887-1245.

BALTIMORE BEACON — APRIL 2017

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Travel

19

Leisure &

Many sites are worth seeing in “flyover country.” See story on page 21.

All things French without going to France liquid mercury at night. The river’s tide can reach 20 feet, and ice breakers have to make it navigable in the winter.

Québec, the oldest port in Canada, is North America’s only walled city north of the Rio Grande. But the 2.9-mile wall today is not a barrier. It’s a key part of four centuries of history. A walk along the top offers spectacular views and perspectives.

The city is a UNESCO World Heritage site, full of historical superlatives — for example, the continent’s first stone church, oldest hospital, and Canada’s first Anglican cathedral and first girls’ school. And they all remain in some form.

PHOTO BY MEUNIERD

By Glenda C. Booth Starting in the 1600s, and escalating in the 1700s, the British and the French battled back and forth over eastern Canada.

In the end, the French won in what is today’s Québec province, at least culturally, making a trip to Québec City a vicarious visit to France.

The city, about 160 miles northeast of Montréal, is Québec’s provincial capital. Its twisting warren of cobblestone streets, chic boutiques, and sidewalk cafés exuding enticing aromas create a Parisian ambience.

Québec City also has soaring cathedrals, 18th and 19th century buildings, fine French cuisine, and the sounds of the mellifluous French tongue. The fleur de lis, symbol of the old French monarchy, adorns the flag. French is the official language of the Parliament’s debate.

Move over New Orleans! French explorer Samuel de Champlain founded Québec City in 1608, and the residents (called Québécois) consider the province to be the cradle of French civilization in North America. The city’s motto is: “Je me souvenir,” which translates to “I remember” — meaning, “I remember my origins, my history.”

The city’s location is stunning, 300 feet above the mighty, 2,500-mile-long St. Lawrence River. Champlain named it Kebec, the Algonquin word meaning “the river narrows here.”

Some say the St. Lawrence looks like

Roaming around town

The ideal way — most say the only way — to fully absorb this city, its aesthetics and its vibes is by leisurely meandering along the labyrinthine streets of the historic Old Town, Vieux Québec.

A funicular, which opened in 1879 and travels at a 45-degree angle, connects Old Town’s two parts: Haute Ville (Upper Town) and Basse Ville (Lower Town).

The city’s architecture is distinctive — steep sloped roofs of tin, aluminum and copper that can last 200 years, modeled after French chateaus. The slopes and ladders on the roofs help deal with the typical winter’s 150 inches of snow.

Old Town is crammed full of 100-yearold granite buildings with mansard roofs

Québec City’s skyline is dominated by the hotel Château Frontenac. With its soaring turrets and copper roof, the 1893 hotel can been seen from anywhere in the city. It is located within the historic Old Town area, which is itself a UNESCO World Heritage site.

PHOTO BY SONGQUAN DENG

The Fontaine (fountain) de Tourny’s 43 water jets are illuminated at night. It stands in front of the Québec City Parliament Building, which was completed in 1877 and stands just outside the walls of Old Town. The fountain was added just 10 years ago.

reflecting the city’s French roots.

The “crown jewel” of the city’s architecture is the world-famous, iconic Château Frontenac hotel, which opened in 1893. With soaring turrets, it is perched like an elegant castle atop Cap Diamant (Cape Diamond).

The hotel’s signature copper roof is visible from all over the city. Tourists are welcomed and, in fact, expected to wander through the lobby — a place that usually has more tourists than hotel guests. A bit of trivia: Château Frontenac was designed by Bruce Price, father of manners guru Emily Post.

From 1693 to 1831, the French and British took turns constructing La Citadelle, a starshaped fort nicknamed “the Gibraltar of America” because of its strategic location above the river. Today, visitors can beef up on military life from colonial times to the present in the fort’s museums.

La Citadelle is still home to the Royal 22 Regiment, a squad also known as the Vandoos. Its ceremonial changing of the guard occurs at 10 a.m. daily in the summer.

The French and British clashed in the city’s Plains of Abraham multiple times.

For example, in 1759 the Brits scaled 300 feet up the cliff and, after a 15-minute battle, defeated General Montcalm.

There’s no sign of conflict today at what some call the “lungs of the city.” At 103 acres, it’s the tenth largest park in North America, and to locals is what Central

Park is to New Yorkers. It’s been the stage for artists like the Beatles, Celine Deleon, Rush and more.

Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral, built by the French in 1647 and rebuilt in 1925 after it burned to the ground, is the final resting place for four governors. The priest preached from its elegant pulpit, completed in 1784, before the microphone’s invention. Louis XIV gifted the pewter sanctuary lamp, one of the few pieces of the cathedral’s early history to survive the fire.

Earliest inhabitants

The European invaders were not the first people in the region. The Museum of Civilization offers a tutorial on Canada’s 10 provinces and three territories, the history and people, including the First Nations.

Visitors learn from a model how the Iroquois lived in log houses near the river.

You can also gain insights into the Inuits’ lifestyle from over 500 objects on display, including a 3,000-year old copper necklace.

An Inuit stone lamp is fueled by whale oil because there’s no wood above the 56th parallel. These hardy people made snow goggles from bone to protect against the snow’s glow. Inukshuks, figures of piled stones, served as landmarks or navigational aids for Inuits in the Arctic snow.

See QUÉBEC CITY, page 20

20

Leisure & Travel | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Québec City From page 19

There is no charge to tour the Parliament Building, Hôtel du Parlement, completed in 1886. Bilingual guides explain how laws are made Canada-style, based on

APRIL 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

the United Kingdom’s system.

A stained glass window — Champlain greeting North American native people — reminds visitors of the province’s French heritage (or invasion, depending on your point of view).

Busts of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Win-

BEACON BITS

Mar. 26

TAMING OF THE SHREW

Join the Pikesville Senior Center on Sunday, March 26, from 1 to 7 p.m., for a performance of Taming of the Shrew, by the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company. Tickets are $65 and include transportation and the show. Call (410) 887-1245 or email pikesvillesc@baltimorecountymd.gov for more information.

Mar. 29

A DAY AT THE CASINO

Spend the day at the Harrington Casino, on this day trip hosted by the Arbutus Senior Center, on Wednesday, March 29. Tickets are $30 and include $15 in slot play and $7 discount on the buffet. Call the Arbutus Senior Center at (410) 887-1410 to reserve a spot.

ston Churchill stand on the grounds because they planned World War II’s Normandy invasion here.

Gastronomy

This is a place to seriously eat and eat seriously, to channel your inner Julia Child and Larousse Gastronomique.

In intimate cafés, cozy bistros and fine restaurants, classic French food and good wine can be found at all prices. Always popular and tasty are the tourtières, hearty meat pies of venison, beef, pork and even elk. Savory crêpes, pâtés, frog legs, escargots, quiches, cheeses and baguettes rarely disappoint.

Or in the pricier range, scrumptious Cognac-infused lobster bisque, caribou filet mignon, beef Bourguignon, deer tartare and duck confit delight. Fondues and raclettes are staples.

For dessert, chocolate mousse, multicolored macaroons, éclairs, truffles, petits fours and more abound.

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Recreated First Nations village

For a glimpse into some of the people the French encountered when they arrived, the Huron-Wendat traditional site, a 30-minute drive from Québec City, travels back in time to a recreated village of 1,000 Huron people on the Akiawenhrahk River.

The museum and log house are a journey into a proud First Nations’ culture.

Outside are examples of traditional gardens planted with corn, beans and squash — “the three sisters” that support each other (The beans climb the corn and fix nitrogen which the corn needs. The squash leaves help prevent weeds.)

The site’s restaurant serves wild game charcuterie, deer sausage, maple cream sauce, braised bison shoulder, and smoked meat sandwiches. Powwows are held once year in June or July.

If you go

You can easily navigate in English as most locals are bilingual.

Visit www.quebecregion.com, and when in Québec City, start at the tourist information office, 12 Rue St. Anne, where a very efficient, helpful staff can provide information on tours, festivals, maps and more.

The Hôtel Clarendon at 57 Rue SainteAnne is a centrally-located base for touring the city on foot, by bus or horse-drawn carriage. Rooms start at $101 in Canadian dollars, which is currently $72 in American money. See www.hotelclarendon.com or call 1-888 222-3304.

June to September are the most popular months for tourists, with high temperatures in the 60s and 70s. Spring and fall have smaller crowds, but note that the average high temperature is 46 °F April and 51°F in October.

Roundtrip flights to Québec City from BWI in early April start at $311 on Air Canada Express.

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel

BALTIMORE BEACON — APRIL 2017

21

Inexpensive, rising Rust Belt destinations el go-to lists. Indianapolis and Cincinnati turned up on Travel + Leisure’s list of best destinations for 2017. Cincinnati also turned up on Thrillist’s “where to go next year” list, along with Columbus, Ohio.

Even international visitors have discovered some of the region’s attractions: The Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee draws visitors from around the world, as do the Motown Museum in Detroit, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

Flyover country?

Unfortunately I also find plenty of fellow Americans — especially those who live on either coast — who are more likely to cross Paris or Machu Picchu off their bucket lists than Indianapolis or Milwaukee.

“As soon as someone says ‘flyover country,’ I know you’re from New York or Los Angeles,” said Stephanie Klett, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism. Folks who grow up near the ocean, she added, are often especially surprised when they first catch sight of one of the Great Lakes.

“When they fly into Milwaukee, they notice Lake Michigan,” she said. “They thought it was a little lake, but they see

The Milwaukee Art Museum is an architectural landmark. Its graceful Quadracci Pavilion, shown here, is a postmodern addition designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. Highlights of the building include a cathedral-like space with a vaulted 90-foot-high glass ceiling, a moveable sunscreen with a 217-foot wingspan that folds and unfolds twice daily, and the Reiman Bridge, a pedestrian suspension bridge that connects the museum to the city.

how massive it is.”

Understandably, the region is rarely a first stop in the U.S. for foreigners. But on a second or third trip — after they’ve done New York, Orlando and Vegas — that’s when tourists from Britain and Germany come “looking for a little bit of the real America,” said Toby McCarrick, executive director of the regional marketing organization Great Lakes USA. “It’s the small towns, the backroads, the real people. We want them to pull over and see Aunt Bee’s Cafe that makes homemade cherry pie with Michigan cherries.”

PHOTO BY JEFF MILLIES

By Beth J. Harpaz Here’s why tourists should take the Rust Belt about as seriously as they take politicians these days: Because the food, art and sightseeing in “flyover country” is well worth your precious vacation days — not to mention cheaper than in trendier destinations.

In the last two years, I’ve visited Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin — sampling art museums, historic sites, architecture, hipster neighborhoods, ethnic culture and great food. I was mostly in big cities, but I was also able to enjoy botanical gardens, hiking and biking trails, along with spectacular Great Lakes waterfronts.

I live in Brooklyn, N.Y., but I can honestly say that neighborhoods like Fountain Square in Indianapolis and Midtown in Detroit give my home turf a run for the hipsters’ money.

Not to mention that the farm-to-table cuisine at a restaurant like Braise in Milwaukee is much better than what often passes for locally sourced meals in Manhattan — and at half the price.

And it’s not just me who thinks this part of the country deserves to be high on trav-

Eating well

The Midwest’s food scene doesn’t al-

ways get the attention other destinations receive, but I had many memorable meals on my travels there. In addition to Braise in Milwaukee, another spectacular dinner was in Cleveland at Michael Symon’s Lola.

But I don’t just go for upscale dining when I travel. I like the fun and funky spots too.

When in Detroit, you’ve got to sample coneys — what the locals call hot dogs — at either or both Lafayette Coney Island and American Coney Island. I also liked the crazy hot dog toppings at Happy Dog in Cleveland.

In Indianapolis, I loved the old-school See RUST BELT, page 22

22

Leisure & Travel | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

APRIL 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

A geezer relearns the driving rules in Italy

By Ed Perkins Italy is one of the world’s top destinations: Great beauty, great history, great people, and great food – what’s not to like?

And one of the best ways to enjoy this fabulous country is to rent a car and drive through some of the great places.

But if you decide to do this, you have to modify some of your usual driving habits.

The last 10 days driving in Southern Italy reminded me of the “rules” here: 1. Rent an automatic. I don’t care if you’re a dedicated stick-shift addict, Italian touring requires too much start-and-stop and slow-down speed-up driving to make stick shifting practical. You need to devote

100 percent of your attention to what’s in front of you and in back of you to cope with changing the gears every two or three minutes.

2. Get used to being tailgated. I can’t begin to count the times someone tailgated me for a few blocks, as if they had to pass, then turned off on a side street. Or maybe they did pass, then still turned off almost immediately.

3. If you’re touring the countryside, stay in the countryside. Even in the smaller cities, the center areas almost always feature stop-and-go levels of traffic in narrow, crowded streets. If you really want to do city and town centers, forget the

rental car and get a railpass.

4. Be prepared for automatic gas.

Although Italy has lots of full-service stations, you often find that the only available fuel supply is at an automated and unattended pump station. Many such stations accept U.S. credit or debit cards, but not all of them. To be sure you can gas up when you want, always have enough euros to put into the “banknotes” slot.

5. Those big, busy service complexes you see every 10 or 20 miles along the Autostradas exact a stiff penalty for convenience. Typical prices along regular highways run about 1.40 euros a liter, but on the autostrada, the price is

more like 1.70 per liter.

6. Expect bumps. Except for the Autostrada, most regular highways, at least in the region where I visited, were rough and full of bumps and holes.

7. Be assertive. Watch local drivers and learn: Often, the only way to make a (legal) turn into traffic is to just start turning, figuring someone will let you in line. If you timidly wait for a gap, you may be there an hour.

8. Relax and enjoy. If this report sounds like a put-down, it really isn’t. I love Italy, its drivers, and its roads. Just respect how their system works, and go with the flow. (c) 2016, Tribune Content Agency, LLC

Rust Belt

Works of art

save the museum’s most valuable works from being sold off to help solve the city’s fiscal problems. Knowing how close Detroit came to losing some of these jewels made seeing them truly special.

The Diego Rivera murals are perhaps the museum’s best-known works, but any visit should include a look at “The Wedding Dance” by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, “Annunciatory Angel,” by Fra Angelico, and Tintoretto’s “The Dreams of Men,” installed in a ceiling that was designed specifically for it.

If I had to pick a favorite art destination

on my travels through the Rust Belt, though, it would have to be the Milwaukee Art Museum. Sure, the collection is wonderful — the spooky, unforgettable “Saint Francis of Assisi in His Tomb” and lots of Georgia O’Keeffe.

But here the building is its own work of art: a white, winged Santiago Calatrava structure that seems ready to soar, or sail, right into the water of one of those Great Lakes (in this case, Lake Michigan). It’s a sight that this New Yorker will not soon forget.

— AP

From page 21

goodness of corned beef at Shapiro’s, shrimp cocktail with the hottest horseradish on earth at St. Elmo’s, and the ‘50sstyle decor at Edwards Drive-In. And I’d get the pierogis at Sokolowski’s in Cleveland again in a heartbeat.

I also had fun shopping the food stalls in Cleveland’s beautiful, historic West Side Market. But it’s Wisconsin that holds a truly special place in my heart. Two words: cheese curds.

For me, there’s no better way to spend a day on vacation than wandering around a museum. And these cities don’t disappoint.

The Indianapolis Museum of Art is wonderful not only for its art collection, but for sprawling grounds which include formal gardens, rustic trails, and a 100-acre park with outdoor installations like the haunting “Park of the Laments” — a walled field with stone walls and a tunnel.

I visited the Detroit Institute of Arts not long after a judge worked out a deal to

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BALTIMORE BEACON â&#x20AC;&#x201D; APRIL 2017

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Style

23

Arts &

In St. Bartâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Way, a collection of short stories, Patricia Shultheis explores a fictional well-to-do Baltimore suburb thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s packed with many secrets.

See story on page 24.

Shifting shapes at renovated Center Stage

The power of transformation

The play is based on a Chinese legend rooted in Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oral tradition that, as the audience learns via humorous exposition, has a variety of different versions (some of which, research shows, get rather convoluted).

Zimmerman, known for her stage adaptations of Metamorphoses, The Odyssey and

THE TH HE H E CO COLUMBIA C OLUM OL LUMB BIA IA A ORCHESTRA

The Jungle Book, as well as a number of Metropolitan Opera productions, trims the tales down to focus on three main characters: the animal spirits of the White Snake (Aime Donna Kelly) and the Green Snake (Eileen Rivera), and pharmacist assistant Xu Xian (Joe Ngo).

Centuries of study have raised the White and Green Snake to near immortal status, granting them the power to change shape.

Transforming themselves into a beautiful lady and her servant, Lady Bai (Bai means white) and Greenie leave their lonely mountain retreat to visit the world of humans.

In short order, Lady Bai falls in love with the highly gullible Xu Xian. Toss in some magic, a gold heist, the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s briefest courtship, and a level of business acumen and medical knowledge beyond the ability of your average snake, and soon the three are running a highly successful drug store.

Conflict appears in the form of a powerful Buddhist monk, Fa Hai (Peter Van Wagner), who suspects that there might be more to the two ladies than meets the eye. Van Wagner, whose character, complete with flowing robes and a magical staff, reminded this reviewer of J.R.R. Tolkeinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Saruman, the White Wizard, is a seemingly benevolent figure who turns out to have quite malevolent intentions.

It is Fa Hai who encourages Xu Xian to have Lady Bai, now his wife, drink realgar wine during the Duanwu Festival which, for reasons unknown to the audience, robs Lady Bai of her shape-shifting power, re-

PHOTO BY RICHARD ANDERSON

By Dan Collins Those coming to Center Stage to see award-winning playwright Mary Zimmermanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s adaptation of The White Snake, an ancient Chinese fable, may expect to see dazzling lights and remarkable transformations on the Head Theater stage. But they will also be surrounded by the transformations wrought by the theaterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recent $28 million renovation.

The entrance, the lobby, the box office, the bar and cafĂŠ, all three theatrical venues (the Head, the Pearlstone, and now the new 99-seat â&#x20AC;&#x153;Third Spaceâ&#x20AC;? stage) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; even the restrooms â&#x20AC;&#x201D; have a dramatic new look that makes theater patrons rotate 360 degrees to take it all in.

A feast for the eyes, with whimsical touches like the glowing walls featuring famous quotes from plays, the reimagined theater transports visitors to a new world of entertainment.

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only fitting, as The White Snakeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s director Natsu Onoda Power also takes each eveningâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crowd on a fantastical journey of magic, love and enlightenment.

AimĂŠ Donna Kelly and Eileen Rivera dazzle as different forms of animal spirits in the Chinese fable The White Snake, now playing at Center Stage through March 26. The show is the first show to unveil the theaterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s $28-million renovation.

vealing her to be a snake â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a sight so shocking, Xu Xian literally drops.

Lady Bai then begins another journey, this time to face the Stag (Damian Thompson) and the Crane, who protect a rare

flower with life-giving powers. The scene where Lady Bai confronts these two animal spirits is a blast of percussion and raw See WHITE SNAKE, page 25

C OMING JUNE 15

Concert sponsored by: Dr. John Steinberg & Joyce Cox

APR 22 7:30PM 2017 Jim Rouse Theatre

Robert Cantrell, baritone

BartĂłk: Bluebeard's Castle (concert performance) featuring Robert Cantrell and Kyle Engler Kyle Engler, mezzo soprano

Winners of the 2017 Young Artist Competition

Tickets range from $10-$28 ($3 service fee may apply) Call 410-465-8777 or visit www.columbiaorchestra.org

MAR CH 23 - JUNE 11

410-730-83111

TobysDinnerTheatre.coo m Due to the nature of theatrical booking kings, DOO VKRZV DQG GDWHV DUH VXEMHFW WR FKDQJH Â&#x2021; 7RE\ÂľV 'LQQHU 7KHDWUH &ROXPELD 0'

24

Arts & Style | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

APRIL 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Local writer imagines a Baltimore suburb middle class ennui, however, she would set it on St. Bart’s Way — a place partially inspired by her girlhood in the enclave of Bridgeport, Conn., and by her adopted hometown of Baltimore, where she married and raised sons.

Baltimore society, Schultheis noticed, had a more proscribed set of mores and a social decorum that was rigidly enforced.

These observations percolated inside her for quite a while until she was ready to transfer them to the page.

Struck by polio when she was 6 years old, Schultheis became an introspective child, more comfortable “observing than participating.” Her parents encouraged her to “read, read, read,” and Schultheis recalls that she was “drawn to writing from a young age.”

For years, however, she worked first as an English teacher. Then, after raising her sons, she became a proofreader who went on to a variety of publishing and public relations positions while building a freelance portfolio of articles and essays.

Late to the writing life

Schultheis didn’t vigorously pursue her ambitions as a fiction writer until she was in her early 50s, after her older sister’s sudden death.

“Your 50s are really a time to claim part of yourself,” she explained. “Embrace your

University of Maryland Sunday, April 30th Check-in: 9 a.m.

Baltimore County Walk Starts at 10 a.m.

passion, regardless of age. It gives you strength, a chance to rejuvenate yourself.”

Schultheis submitted one story, “After the Service” (which was only the fourth story she’d ever written), to the celebrated Bread Loaf’s Writer’s Conference. It’s acceptance was a clear sign that she was on the right path as a writer.

In fact, “After the Service,” which follows a young physician’s attempt to determine why his father is estranged from other members of the family, is now one of the stories in St. Bart’s Way, which won the 2015 award for fiction from Washington Writers’ Publishing House.

As a writer, Schultheis has sought inspiration from legendary short story writers like William Trevor, Alice Munro and Stewart O’Nan. O’Nan in particular, she said, is “very humane and forgiving” of his characters.

Eventually, Schultheis realized that she had quite a rich fictional world established on St. Bart’s Way, and enough stories to comprise a collection.

A struggle to publish

Getting the book out into the world, however, proved to be an exercise in persistence.

Short story collections are a hard sell in a literary market geared more toward novels and longer works of creative non-fiction.

Schultheis sent her stories to a variety of contests, and placed as a finalist for the prestigious Flannery O’Connor Award for Short Fiction, before St. Bart’s Way found its home with Washington Writers’.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PATRICIA SCHULTHEIS

By Laura Bogart St. Bart’s Way could be any affluent suburb in America: rich with the histories — and the secrets — of the families who believe that their opulent homes with wellmanicured lawns, and the high-powered jobs that keep the lights on, will somehow protect them from the seedier side of life.

However, this well-to-do Baltimore ‘burb comes straight from the imagination of debut fiction writer Patricia Schultheis.

In her story collection, called St. Bart’s Way and published by Washington Writers Publishing House, Schultheis takes her readers into the lives of everyday people who must live through and survive such traumas as death, illness, infidelity and school shootings.

The characters in the 13 stories range from a Holocaust survivor to a woman in her 70s, whose dream of her own mother drive her to revisit her childhood home.

Schultheis, who lives in Roland Park, is also the author of the nonfiction book, Baltimore’s Lexington Market, published by Arcadia Publishing in 2007.

When she turned her hand to fiction, Schultheis didn’t initially consider writing a complete, integrated story collection. “I just wrote a story or an essay here and there,” she said.

Whenever she started a story about

Patricia Schultheis’s book of short stories, St. Bart’s Way, is inspired by both her childhood home in Connecticut, and her adult years living in Baltimore. Schultheis taught English for many years, but didn’t start writing fiction until her early 50s.

The collection has earned Schultheis rave reviews from fellow writers like Leslie Pietrzyk, author of This Angel on My Chest, who wrote, “After reading these exquisite stories, I was left breathless, pondering the new ache in my heart.”

For Schultheis, one of the more interestSee ST. BART’S WAY, page 25

Kidneywalk.org 410.494.8545

BEACON BITS

Mar. 30+

IRISH PLAY, THE PILLOWMAN

MICA students present a production of Irish playwright Martin McDonagh’s 2003 play, The Pillowman, which tells the story of a fiction writer living in a police state who is interrogated about the gruesome content of his short stories, and their similarities to a number of bizarre child murders occurring in his town. The play runs from Thursday, March 30, to Sunday, April 9, with performances Thursday-Sunday at BBox Theater, in the Gateway building at 1601 Mount Royal Ave. Tickets are $12. For more information, visit www.mica.edu or call (410) 225-2516.

C

elebrity Ambassador International Recording Artist Philadelphia Freeway Special performance & world premiere of his documentary Free Will

.

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

provides much for the audience to contemplate, thus providing insights on how this tale has stood the test of time.

White Snake From page 23 power, designed to simultaneously engage yet unsettle the audience, making it clear they are entering a strange new world.

Will Xu Xian and Lady Bai live “happily ever after”? Does Fa Hai have a point that a man shouldn’t marry a snake…and father a child by it?

Is this play’s message ultimately that we are who (and what) we make ourselves out to be? Isn’t the fabric of our hearts more important than the fabric of our skin (or scales)? And once joined in love, is one ever alone…even in death?

For a story about shape-shifting snakes and pharmacy assistants, The White Snake

St. Bart’s Wayw From page 24 ing aspects of having a book published is the varied reactions to individual stories.

“People have different takes on different stories. Some [readers] see darkness, and others see humor.”

Not one to rest on her laurels, Schulthe-

Actors play multiple roles

It is clear that the actors revel in their roles and, given the variety of parts many in the ensemble have to play, it’s little wonder why.

Pooya Mohseni, Lucy Lavely, Brett Messiora, Linden Tailor, Damian Thompson, Samy El-Noury, Caitlin Cisco, and others do their own “shape shifting” on stage, embracing such varied characters as Xu Xian’s relatives and their homage to the classic radio show “The Bickersons,” an immortal goddess, a slightly dim but honorable monk, townsfolk with assorted ailments, etc.

is currently has a memoir and a mystery novel circulating. Going to long-form fiction after having such success with short stories was a challenge, but it’s one that Schultheis was keen to master. “You’ve got to respect the form,” she said.

St. Bart’s Way is available at the Ivy Bookshop, and online from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Powell’s.

BEACON BITS

Apr. 1+

CONTEMPORARY PRINT FAIR AT THE BMA

The Baltimore Museum of Art will hold its annual Contemporary Print Fair on Saturday, April 1, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 2, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are available at the door: free for BMA members; $10 for non-members. For more information, visit www.artbma.org or call (443) 573-1800.

Apr. 1

25

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

BALTIMORE BEACON — APRIL 2017

“ST. MATTHEW PASSION” AT THE BALTIMORE BASILICA

Concert Artists of Baltimore presents Bach’s powerful “St. Matthew Passion” on Saturday, April 1, at 3 p.m. at the Baltimore Basilica, 409 Cathedral St. Tickets are $30 and can be ordered at www.cabmusic.org or by calling (410) 625-3525, ext. 101.

Call for Vendors!

Join us for the

9th Annual

Saturday, April 29 • 10 am - 3 pm Gary J. Arthur Community Center at Glenwood 2400 Route 97, Cooksville, MD 21723 Contact: Lisa Brusio Coster 410-442-3734 or lcoster@howardcountymd.gov

www.howardcountymd.gov/womenfest

Interspersed throughout the play, the audience is given brief “chapter and verse” lessons in Chinese etiquette, such as how a host greets a guest, as well as insights into how different versions of this fable might explain why Lady Bai would fall for Xu Xian in the first place.

Costume designer Nicole Wee delivers a rainbow of silk fashions for the actors, and Andrea “Dre” Moore, the puppet designer and constructor, deserves special accolades for creating the white and green snake creatures that Kelly and Rivera manipulate so expertly.

Kudos to Center Stage’s ever-creative artistic team, which found ways to create huge rain storms, flowing rivers and boats,

FROM PAGE 26 ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

and a mythical landscape with little more than lights, streams of fabric, colorful umbrellas and image projection.

In The White Snake, director Natsu Onoda Power delivers a lovely, funny, touching tale — a dance of delight filled with lanterns, lights and magic — all in just two hours with a 15-minute intermission. That left attendees just enough time to enjoy the second production — the beautifully renovated Center Stage.

The White Snake continues its run at Center Stage, 700 N. Calvert St., through March 26. Tickets range from $20 to $66.

For more information, visit www.centerstage.org, or call the box office at (410) 332-0033.

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD R O L L A W A I F E V E A S A L L T E A M E M O S P R A C O S T O U T O S T A R T A G A G E R E D

T R I B E I N S F A C E

U N C L M O L A S P R I N A M C E R E A K S D T I A N F N G F O R E C M I N E S P R I N A L E D L E A K S O B R A N E M Y

E R G

A T T F A P R I H I N E D W A R Y O E A D G Y E S P R I T O D S E

W O O I N G

E M E R G E

D U R K A E W N G O S T A

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APRIL 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Crossword Puzzle

Daily crosswords can be found on our website: www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com Click on Puzzles Plus On Daylight Time 1

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BB417

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Scrabble answers on p. 25.

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1 Start a Monopoly turn 5 Claudius, to Caligula 10 Shock and ___ 13 Plan to meet with Godot 15 Root canal locale 16 Male turkey 17 Sudden desire to play instead of study 19 Item on a podiatrist’s top-10 list 20 30% of the land on Earth 21 Merced, CA airport code 22 Like Snow White 23 ___ kidding aside 25 When Florida’s beach population swells 28 Alternative to coffee or me 29 Home security co.

30 Be contingent upon 31 Office note 33 Ending for thesp- or lesb35 Employee of the US government 36 What all of this puzzle’s theme answers do 41 “I would like to purchase ___, Pat” 42 XVII x LIII 43 ___ place or mine?

45 “Peace if possible; truth at all ___” (Martin Luther) 48 Portia DeGeneres ___ de Rossi 50 Rap sheet letters 51 Emerge from a cake 55 Frost : winter :: ___ : summer 56 Name above the title 57 Ginger drink 58 Modifies beer for St. Patrick’s Day 60 Identify the person in a photo 61 Start to take on water 65 Improve (as wine) 66 More common name for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act 67 Task list items 68 Type of blood cell 69 Lex Luthor, to Superman 70 ___ record (qualify for the Guinness book)

1 UK defenders in the Battle of Britain 2 Have a car loan 3 Dorm room lighting 4 Prevarications 5 Arbiter of what’s really fair 6 14th tropical storm, in some years 7 Activate a web link 8 Destinations for lovers (or bowlers) 9 A little bit of work 10 Achieve a goal 11 Pursuing (romantically) 12 Exit the cocoon 14 Nickname for the Cleveland Indians 18 Rider on a crowded subway car 22 Start of a 3-day weekend 23 20’s dispenser 24 Writers Harper and Spike 26 “GATE”, crashed 27 “That was a close one” 32 Public speaker 34 Grp. of 16 football teams 35 2000’s top-rated sitcom 37 I Left My Heart ___ (T. Bennett tune) 38 Potent beginning 39 Lemonade stand location 40 John Wayne nickname 44 Extremely undercooked 45 Name below the title 46 Power failure 47 Planned out ahead of time 49 Filming location for The Mummy Returns 52 Beauty parlor 53 West Point freshman 54 Improve the arsenal’s stock 59 A love god 61 Good reveal on Card Sharks 62 “Kick” start 63 ___ a dry eye in the house 64 Govt. property overseer

Answers on page 25.

BALTIMORE BEACON — APRIL 2017

CLASSIFIEDS The Beacon prints classified advertising under the following headings: Business & Employment Opportunities; Caregivers; Computer Services; Entertainment; For Sale; For

Say you saw it in the Beacon

For Sale 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.

Health

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 ob-

WEIGHT LOSS CENTER. Medically supervised weight loss center offering nutritional guidance, appetite suppressants, B-12 injections, body fat analysis, chromium and blood workup. Located in Essex. Stem-Ross Weight Loss Center. 410-780-3640. www.weightlossbaltimoremd.com.

Home/Handyman Services

scene, 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

BORN AGAIN REFINISHING c/o Vernon E. Madairy Sr. Because your antique and fine furniture is an investment. Photographs at www.bornagainrefinishing.com. Furniture refinishing & repairs. All pieces hand stripped.

Restorations. Missing pieces hand-carved. Veneer repair and replaced. Upholstery. Kitchen cabinets refinished. Hand-woven natural cane.

Cane webbing. Natural rush. Fiber rush. Wood splint. Residential and commercial. Since 1973 (43 years). 410-323-0467.

Personals

race, color, national origin, sex, familial status or handicap in connection with employment or the sale or rental of real estate.

RETIRED NURSE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE COFFEE with potential fishing buddy/travel companion. PO Box 22138, Baltimore, MD 21203.

ROOMS MONTPELIER/LAUREL: Female, non-smoker, no pets, upstairs, drug free and quiet. Kitchen (own refrigerator), laundry, patio. 1-301-676-3996.

YOUTHFUL, BLACK, SINGLE 62 YO woman in search of activity friend to enjoy various kinds of social entertainment with. Some of my interests are: dining out, museums, dancing, movies, karaoke, theatre, concerts, thrift store shopping. If you are a woman, please also feel free to contact me. 443-622-5475.

For Sale

Personal Services

BURIAL PLOT + VAULT for sale. Moreland Cemetery, Parkville. Section DD152. Deed available. $3,000. Call Sharon, 410-668-3261.

CREATIVE STYLES BY LISA. Upscale magical makeovers, 4001 Clarks Lane, Baltimore, MD. Tuesday and Saturday specials. Wet sets, $35. Relaxers, $55. Wraps and curls, $35. Blow dry and curl, $35. Sew-in weaves, $100. Bond glue-ins, $65. $75 bob cut. Prices may vary. Call Lisa today for an appointment. 443-630-7481.

For Rent/Real Estate

15 LADIES JACKETS, some designers (10/15), all $100. 2 chairs: new wingback and Queen Anne, beige. Both $300. 410-828-7552.

4 BURIAL PLOTS located in picturesque Woodlawn Cemetery. Value $2,575 each or best offer. Call 410-944-1131 or 410-466-1719.

GARDENS OF FAITH, Trumps Mill Road, between Overlea and Rosedale. 4 grave plots across from sales office. Value $16,000. Asking $5,000. 410-761-6206.

COIN CONSULTANT. Have a coin collection?

See me before you go to a dealer or buyer. US and foreign coins and currency, related numismatics, general collectibles. Appraisals, sales, auctions, advice and expertise. Drage Vukcevich, 410-744-8139, dragevukcevich@yahoo.com.

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

Note: Only ads received and prepaid by the deadline will be included in the next month’s issue. Please type or print your ad carefully.

Include a number where you can be reached in the event of a question.

Payment is due with ad. We do not accept ads by phone or fax, nor do we accept credit cards.

Private Party Text Ads: For individuals seeking to buy or sell particular items, 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 Wanted

Wanted

COLLECTOR BUYING MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, weapons, knives, swords, bayonets, web gear, uniforms, etc. from all wars and countries. Also Lionel Toy Trains, and coin operated machines. Will pay top prices for my personal collection. Discreet consultations. Call Fred, 301-910-0783.

BUYING VINYL RECORDS 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.

CASH FOR ESTATE BUYOUTS, estate cleanouts, jewelry to furniture, one item or whole estate. Free Estimate, Will Travel. 301-520-0755.

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.

WE BUY STERLING SILVER FLATWARE, tea sets, single pieces of silver, large pieces of silver plate. Attic, basement, garage. You have something to SELL, we like to BUY. Call Greg, 717-658-7954.

WE BUY GOLD AND SILVER JEWELRY. Costume too. Gold and silver coins, paper money, military, crocks, old bottles and jars, etc.

Call Greg, 717-658-7954.

BUYING ANTIQUES, ESTATES. 20-year Beacon advertiser. Cash paid for jewelry, gold, silver, old coins, pens, art, old toys, dolls, trains, watches, old comics, sports memorabilia, military guns, knives, swords, all collections. Tom, 240-476-3441.

CASH BUYER FOR OLD COSTUME JEWELRY – wrist and pocket watches (any condition). Also buying watchmaker tools and parts, coins, quilts, old toys, postcards, trains, guns, pocket and hunting knives, linens, fishing equipment and tackle boxes, fountain pens, Christmas garden items, crocks and jugs, lamps and lanterns, pottery, military items, sports memorabilia, advertising signs, paintings and contents of attics, basements and garages. Professional, no pressure individual with over forty years of experience. Lloyd D. Baker. 410-409-4965.

Thanks for reading!

ADVERTISERS IN THIS ISSUE Clinical Research Studies

Hearing Services

Brain Imaging Study . . . . . . . . .14 Fall Prevention Study . . . . . . . .14 Former Smoker Study . . . . . . . .14 Gestalt Healthy Volunteer Study 13 Leg Pain Research Study . . . . . .14 Resveratrol Study . . . . . . . . . . .12

Hearing & Speech Agency . . . . .7 Maryland Relay . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Dental Services

Housing

Denture Doctor . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Maryland Center for Periodontal and Dental Implants . . . . . . . . .9 Mishpacha Dental . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Bayleigh Chase/Integrace . . .B-11 Brightwood . . . . . . . . . . .B-6, B-9 Buckingham’s Choice/ Integrace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-11 Carroll Lutheran Village . . . . .B-8 Catholic Charities Senior Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-3 Charlestown/Erickson . .B-4, B-6 Christ Church Harbor Apts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-11 Cove Point Apartments . .B-5, B-9 Evergreen Apartments . . . . . . .B-5 Fairhaven/Integrace . . . . . . . .B-11 Gatherings at Quarry Place/ Beazer Homes . . . . . . . . . .B-10 Greens, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-5 Linden Park Apts. . . . . . .B-3, B-6 Lutheran Village

Events Kidney Walk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Myerberg Center . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Womenfest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Financial Services Bennett Senior Services . . . . . .16 Debt Counsel for Seniors and the Disabled . . . .17 First Maryland Disability Trust .17 Jeffrey Cooper . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 JS Richardson Insurance . . . . . .16 PENFED Credit Union . . . . . . .17

Home Health Care Genesis Select Care . . . . . . . . .B-9 Options for Senior America . . . .18

27

at Miller’s Grant . . . . . . . . . .B-8 Oak Crest/Erickson . . . .B-4, B-6 Park Heights Place . . . . . . . . .B-4 Park View Apartments . . . . . . . .20 Pickersgill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-11 Shangri-La Senior Living .B-2, B-6 St. Mary’s Roland View Towers 22 Timber Ridge Apts. . . . . . . . . .B-3 Virginia Towers . . . . . . . . . . . .B-4 Weinberg Park Assisted Living . . . . . . .B-6, B-8 Weinberg Senior Living . . . . .B-12 Woodholme Gardens . . . . . . . .B-2

Shopping Radio Flea Market . . . . . . . . . . .24

Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation CommuniCare Health . . . . . . . .10 Keswick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Manor Care Health Services . . . .9

Subscriptions The Beacon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Legal Services

Technology Services

Frank, Frank & Scherr Law Firm15 Law Office of Karen Ellsworth .16 Southard & Greenbaum, LLC . .15

TechMedic4U . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Medical/Health Adult Day Health . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Advanced Center for Plastic Surgery . . . . . . . . .11 Dr. Richard Rosenblatt, DPM . .10 Hamilton Foot Care . . . . . . . . . . .6 Medical ED Therapeutics . . .6, 13 MedStar Health Cancer Network 8 Skin Cancer EB . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Theatres/ Entertainment Center Stage . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-7 Columbia Orchestra . . . . . . . . . .23 Toby’s Dinner Theatre . . . . . . . .23

Travel Eyre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Festive Holidays . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Nexus Holidays . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

28

APRIL 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

| 410-358-6856 | myerberg.org

beginning April 2017

HAPPENINGS AT THE EDWARD A. MYERBERG CENTER Meditation for Seniors

NEW! The Gilded Victorian Age

Thursdays, May 4, 11, 18, 25, June 8, 10:00 - 11:15 a.m.

Tuesdays, May 30, June 6, 13, 20, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

$55 members / $75 nonmembers

$55 members / $75 nonmembers

Increase personal ease, reduce stress with techniques that include breathing, body scan, sitting and walking meditation, mindful listening and breaking from automatic responses.

Instructor: Eva Sivan

Travel back to that genteel time of protocol, baroque style and industrial revolution that was the Victorian Era. We’ll study the developments of the time and see what customs we have held onto. This course will fascinate and ask the question, “Were the good ‘ol days really always good?”

Instructor: Robert Karp

NEW! Gentle Yoga Fridays, May 5 - Aug 25, 9:00 - 9:45 a.m.

NEW! Happy Club

$100 members / $140 nonmembers

Thursdays, May 4, 11, 18, 25, 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Yoga can improve the lives of people of all ages in a variety of ways, including reducing stress, anxiety and depression, and reducing risk of heart condition, obesity, diabetes and cancer. This class will include both seated and standing poses and participants will use a chair for added support and stability.

Instructor: Mica Saunders

Baltimore Happiness Club is a group for people who would like to experience more happiness and peace of mind in their daily lives. We will use Dr. Richard Carlson’s groundbreaking book, You Can Be Happy No Matter What, as our handbook. Facilitator: Betty Cherniak

NEW! Moxie Movez (Dance Fitness) Wednesdays, May 3 - Aug 23, 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. $110 members / $140 nonmembers This program will incorporate low impact movements, yoga, and resistance training, using dance style movements.

Instructor: Mica Saunders; (No classes on May 17, 29, 31)

NEW! Collaging Thursdays, May 4, 11, 18, 25, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. $60 members / $85 nonmembers Learn a variety of collaging techniques in this fun, process-oriented class.

No experience needed.

Instructor: Becky Slater

First Thursdays: Women @ the Myerberg Monthly, 1:30 p.m. $10 per lecture or 3 lectures for $25 May 4 Ellen Katz, a talented performer, will perform “SuperMusicals: 50 Years of Great Hits,” including the 40’s through the 80’s.

June 1 Maria Drumm, attorney and teacher will take you to The Silk Road in an hour’s time, as you tour various Buddhist sites including India and China.

$20 members / $25 nonmembers

Experience the Difference Personal Training Can Make For the month of April, the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation Fitness Center is offering afternoon personal training to new clients.

A package of eight 30-minute personal training sessions for the price of six ($120 fitness center members/$200 non members).

Call us at 443-963-1451 to get started today.

Offer valid through April 30, 2017