Howard County Beacon | May 2023 by The Beacon Newspapers

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The Columbia Orchestra was organized in the fall of 1977 and has performed throughout Howard County for more than four decades. Originally known as the Columbia Cham-

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE COLUMBIA ORCHESTRA

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Jason Love has been music director of the Columbia Orchestra for nearly a quarter of a century. He is retiring to pursue other musical interests. The orchestra is in its 45th season at the Jim Rouse Theatre in downtown Columbia, Maryland.

ber Orchestra, it expanded in 1988 to include wind and percussion instruments. Under Love’s direction, it was named by the Baltimore Sun “Howard County’s premier ensemble for instrumental music.” The orchestra reportedly reaches more than 1,000 concert-goers yearly. Its all-volunteer, non-paid members include some musicians who also perform for a salary with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and D.C.’s National Symphony Orchestra.

But most have nine-to-five jobs in other fields. “This is essentially a community orchestra,” Love explained. “Its members basically come from Howard and surrounding counties. “Since many of its voluntary members work as full-time engineers, we say there is a connection between mathematics and science in the orchestra’s music.”

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Longtime conductor moves on By Robert Friedman Although Jason Love, 52, will be stepping down after 24 years as music director of the Columbia Orchestra, he intends to keep his music career moving in several directions, including more cello recitals, further composing and exploring ways to film musical events. “Columbia has been my dream job,” Love said in a recent interview with the Beacon. “I loved being with the orchestra. We were always trying new things and always growling artistically, and I hope they have been as inspired by me as I have been by them.” During Love’s career at the Columbia Orchestra, it has more than doubled in size, to 90 musicians. Now in its 45th season, the community orchestra performs 11 classical concerts a year, with a recent addition of a couple of concerts featuring jazz musicians. After nearly a quarter of a century with the musicians at Columbia, Love said, “I feel that I have gotten pretty good at what I do…But on the other hand, so many artists say that if you are going to do your best work, you have to force yourself away from what you know — you have to take away the safety net.” Love’s full-time orchestral job has meant “not being able to devote time” to his other musical interests, like playing the cello. But, he said, while directing the orchestra was “almost all I could do with my time, I have absolutely no regrets about that.”

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M AY 2 0 2 3 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

From ageism to age pride PHOTO BY ADRIAN BUCKMASTER

[Ed. Note: In honor of May, Older Ameri- need to understand what we’re up against. cans Month, we are pleased to excerpt this When people in retirement communiessay, which appeared in the ties don’t want walkers clutJan./Feb. issue of Generations tering up the dining room, Today, a publication of the they’re being ableist. When American Society on Aging, people who support commuwww.asaging.org.] nity living for young people It doesn’t take a lot of headwith disabilities think nursing scratching to realize that homes are fine for old people much of our apprehension with disabilities, they’re around aging is really about being ageist. how our minds and bodies If an employer is reluctant might change as we move to hire an older person bethrough life. cause they might retire soon, AS I SEE IT That’s not ageism, that’s By Ashton Applewhite it’s ageism; if they’re relucableism. It’s not actually about tant because the person age: plenty of youngers live with disability might require special accommodations, and plenty of olders do not. Instead, it’s the it’s ableism. belief that being non-disabled is “normal” and When an acoustic neuroma destroyed that leading meaningful, desirable lives most of the hearing in my left ear, I caught means staying youthful and impairment-free. myself thinking, “At least it’s sexy brain We’re being ageist anytime we assign tumor deafness instead of sad old-person value to someone on the basis of how old deafness.” Which makes me both ageist we think they are, and ableist when we as- and ableist. It took five years, and more sign value on the basis of how we assume hearing loss, for me to begin identifying as their minds or bodies function. We’re disabled. What was I waiting for? being ageist and ableist when we attribute Everyone is ageist and everyone is capacity — or incapacity — to someone ableist. Although much bias is unconbased on their age. scious, prejudice is learned. From childWhy is it important to distinguish be- hood on, we’re barraged by messages tween ageism and ableism? Because we about how awful it is to grow old and how

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tragic it is to be disabled. Unless we stop to challenge them, such messaging becomes part of our identity and warps our sense of self and our place in the world. Have you ever been reluctant to reveal your age? Attempted to conceal the fact that you couldn’t follow a conversation in a noisy room, or needed a railing to steady yourself? Been offended by the polite offer of a seat on the bus? All these behaviors are ageist, or ableist, or both. We all do them, no judgment. But we can’t challenge bias unless we’re aware of it. And these behaviors aren’t good for us because they’re rooted in shame about things that shouldn’t be shameful. We olders can be the most biased of all, because we’ve had a lifetime to absorb these messages, and most of us have never stopped to challenge them. Ironically, people in aging services are far from exempt. When your expertise lies in caring for olders at the most debilitated end of the spectrum — incredibly skilled, challenging, valuable work — it reinforces a view of aging as decline. Reconciling that deficit view of old age with what we hope lies ahead for ourselves is really hard to do. Again, no judgment. This stuff runs so deep that we tend to act as though old people don’t become disabled and disabled people don’t grow old, and an ageist and ableist culture gives us cover. Part of the reluctance is just human: it’s scary to think about the loss of physical or cognitive function. Part of the reluctance is tactical. People in ageland are understandably leery of seeming to equate aging and disability. Of course, disability and aging are different, just as Illness and disability are not the same; many disabled people will assure you that they are not sick. Likewise, aging with a disability is very different from aging into disability. It’s im-

portant to acknowledge and respect these differences. But disability and aging overlap in ways that are important to learn from and build upon. Otherwise, we rule out collective advocacy and reinforce dual stigma: I may need help getting around but at least I’m not in a wheelchair! I may be disabled but at least I’m not old! Like a not-yet-40-year-old friend with a broken foot who chose crutches instead of a cane, because crutches signal “injured,” not “old.” That’s how prejudice works: it frames the other group as alien and lesser than ourselves. But olders and people with disabilities are not “other.” They are us or future us. Young people have created joyous, ingenious, creative communities, many of whose members celebrate interdependence and identify proudly as disabled: I am who I am because of my disability, not despite it. Disability pride! Think what older people could learn from them about asking for help, adapting to impairment, and age pride! Think what younger people with disabilities could learn from olders about moving through life. Think how we’d all benefit if hearing and mobility aids were stripped of stigma. Let’s get interdependent! All of us lucky enough to grow old will age into impairment of some kind. As people in ageland are well aware, we age well not by avoiding chronic illness and disability but by adapting to them. These are powerful, generative processes that unite us all, and inform what it means to be human. Pretending otherwise sets us up to fail and pits us against each other. Ashton Applewhite is the author of This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism, a co-founder of the Old School Anti-Ageism Clearinghouse (oldschool.info), and at the forefront of the emerging movement to raise awareness of ageism and to dismantle it.

Letters to the editor Readers are encouraged to share their opinions on any matter addressed in the Beacon as well as on political and social issues of the day. Mail your Letter to the Editor to The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915, or email info@thebeaconnewspapers.com. Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification.

Publisher/Editor – Stuart P. Rosenthal President/Associate Publisher – Judith K. Rosenthal Executive Vice President – Gordon Hasenei Managing Editor – Margaret Foster Art Director – Kyle Gregory Advertising Representatives – Steve Levin, M.K. Phillips, Alan Spiegel Marketing & Operations Manager – Ashley Griffin Assistant Editor – Ana Preger Hart Client Liasion – Jaclyn Thompson

The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915 (410) 248-9101 • Email: info@thebeaconnewspapers.com Submissions: The Beacon welcomes reader contributions. Deadline for editorial is the 1st of the month preceding the month of publication. Deadline for ads is the 1st of the month preceding the month of publication. See page 23 for classified advertising details. Please mail or email all submissions.

Dear Editor: Responding to your From the Publisher column (“Who’s your real friend?” April 2023): Social Security can be improved and secured by switching contributions to an inheritable annuity backed by U.S. Treasury Bonds. That would protect contributed funds from political wrangle. And there would be less concern about numbers of workers contributing to it. Having an heir means contributions would not be lost if contributors die before reaching collecting age. And accumulated funds could be credited to the Social Security account of an heir who has one without immediate payout, further extending Social Security’s life.

This and other alternatives can be found in my recently published book, Progressive Values — Libertarian Solutions. Gerald Schneider Kensington, MD Dear Editor: Thank you for your From the Publisher editorial, “Who’s your real friend?” Time and time again there are articles concerning the preservation of Social Security. I have yet to see any mention of the income received from the tax on Social Security that is reported on individual income tax returns. It has to be a very large amount of money. Roman Novak Silver Spring, MD

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H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — M AY 2 0 2 3

Health Fitness &

MOTHER DIDN’T KNOW BEST Dairy doesn’t increase mucus and other untrue factoids about getting sick FREE TO EAT FATS A low-fat diet isn’t even healthy, but focus on good fats like olive oil and avocados MAGIC MUSHROOMS? Lion’s mane mushrooms may improve cognition and boost the immune system THINNING HAIR It’s common for women to lose hair, too. Here are some potential solutions

Tech may reverse paralysis due to stroke By Lauran Neergaard A stroke left Heather Rendulic with little use of her left hand and arm, putting certain everyday tasks like tying shoes or cutting foods out of reach. “I live one-handed in a two-handed world, and you don’t realize how many things you need two hands for until you only have one good one,” the Pittsburgh woman said. So Rendulic volunteered for a first-of-itskind experiment: Researchers implanted a device that zaps her spinal cord in spots that control hand and arm motion. When they switched it on, she could grasp and manipulate objects — moving a soup can, opening a lock and, by the end of the fourweek study, cutting her own steak. It’s not a cure — the improvements ended after scientists removed the temporary implant — and the pilot study included only Rendulic and one other stroke survivor. But the preliminary results, published in February, mark a step toward one day restoring mobility for this extremely common type of paralysis. “They’re not just getting flickers of movement. They’re getting something important,” said Dr. Jason Carmel, a Columbia University neurologist who wasn’t in-

volved with the new experiment but also studies ways to recover upper-limb function. “It’s a very exciting proof of concept.’’ Nearly 800,000 people in the U.S. alone suffer a stroke each year. Even after months of rehabilitation, well over half are left with permanently impaired arm and hand function that can range from muscle weakness to paralysis. Experiments by multiple research groups have found that implanting electrodes to stimulate the lower spine shows promise for restoring leg and foot movement to people paralyzed after a spinal cord injury — some have even taken steps. But upper-limb paralysis has gotten little attention and is inherently more challenging. The brain must signal multiple nerves that control how the shoulder lifts, the wrist turns and the hand flexes. Stroke damage makes it harder for those messages to get through. “People still retain some of this connection; they’re just not enough to enable movement,” said University of Pittsburgh assistant professor Marco Capogrosso, who led the new research with colleagues at Carnegie Mellon University. “These messages are weaker than normal.’’ His idea: Stimulate a pathway of related

nerve cells, so they’re better able to sense and pick up the brain’s weak signal. “We’re not bypassing their control. We’re enhancing their capabilities to move their own arm,” he said.

How the study worked Researchers turned to implants the size of spaghetti strands already used to stimulate the spine for chronic pain treatment. The implants carry electrodes that are placed on the surface of the spinal cord to deliver pulses of electricity to the targeted nerve cells — which for hand and arm control are in the spine’s neck region. Rendulic and a second, more severely impaired volunteer could move better as soon as the stimulator was switched on — and by the study’s end, showed improved muscle strength, dexterity and range of motion, researchers reported in the journal Nature Medicine. Surprisingly, both participants retained some improvement for about a month after the implants were removed. Rendulic, now 33, was performing finemotor tasks for the first time since suffering a stroke in her 20s. That unusually young stroke, caused by weak blood vessels that bled inside her brain, initially paralyzed her entire left side.

She learned to walk again but — with the exception of those four weeks with spinal stimulation — cannot fully open her left hand or completely raise that arm. “You feel like there’s a barrier between your brain and your arm,” Rendulic said. But with the stimulation on, “I could immediately sense that, like, oh my arm and hand are still there.’’ Two other researchers who helped pioneer experiments stimulating the lower limbs of people with spinal cord injuries say it’s logical to now try the technology for stroke. While bigger and longer studies are needed, the new results “are really promising,” said Mayo Clinic assistant professor Peter Grahn. Scientists have learned from research with lower limbs that “it may not matter where that injury occurs, if it’s something in the brain or it’s a spinal cord injury,” added University of Louisville professor Susan Harkema. “Targeting the human spinal cord circuitry has a lot of potential.’’ With National Institutes of Health funding, Capogrosso is studying the approach in a few more stroke survivors. The researchers also formed a company to develop the technology further. —AP

What to do if food you bought is recalled By Kimberly Holland, Real Simple Magazine Food recalls are certainly unsettling. However, they can also be reassuring. Food manufacturers and inspectors are getting better at finding potential problems. If you discover you have a food item that’s been recalled, don’t panic. Take these steps to protect yourself, your family, your animals and others — and possibly get your money back. Educate yourself Most food recalls are not the result of possible bacterial contamination, such as E.coli or Listeria. Instead, the majority of recalls are related to potential contamination issues from foreign objects (metal or plastic shavings) or undeclared allergens (milk, peanuts, eggs). Some recalls are also a precautionary measure; a company may discover that proper inspection protocol was not followed. However, not every food recall gets na-

tional attention. Recalls for romaine lettuce, flour and ground turkey have made headlines in the past because the size of the recalls was quite large. Smaller recalls happen every day but may not be known. To fully understand any food recall, see the Food and Drug Administration Recalls, Market Withdrawals & Safety Alerts web page at fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts. Don’t eat any recalled foods If a food has been recalled merely for an undeclared allergen, such as milk, and no one in your family has a milk allergy, you may feel safe eating the food. It’s still wise to heed the company’s recall. Similarly, do not donate the food, give it to anyone else or feed it to a pet. Don’t open the food You cannot see, smell or taste foodborne pathogens like E. coli and Listeria. But you can transfer the bacteria from the

contaminated food to your entire kitchen if you open the food and touch it. If you must handle the food to throw it away, wash your hands afterwards with warm water and soap. Wash any containers in which the food was stored, too. Follow the guidelines With each food recall, companies are required to offer consumers guidance on what to do with the food. Companies will likely suggest you do one of two things: • Throw out the food immediately. Wrap it in multiple layers of plastic and packaging to prevent animals or other humans from getting to it. • Return the product to the store where you purchased it for a refund. If you cannot get to the store, just throw the food away. Clean your kitchen

Once the food is out of your house, clean your refrigerator thoroughly. Use antibacterial wipes or a bleach solution and paper towels to clean areas where the food may have been prepared or cooked. Watch for future food recalls You can continue to check the FDA’s Alerts website or sign up for its delivery alerts, which will be emailed to you with every new recall or withdrawal. (These happen frequently, so your inbox will be busy.) Lastly, if you’re concerned about food recalls specifically because of allergy issues, you can monitor the Food Allergy Research & Education Allergy Alerts page at foodallergy.org. © 2023 Dotdash Meredith. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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M AY 2 0 2 3 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Much of mom’s wellness advice is myths By Carmen Dargel, M.D. Dear Mayo Clinic: My mom always scolded me for not drying my hair after washing it, telling me I’d catch cold. She also talked about dressing right for the weather, star ving a fever and lots of other things. I’m wondering if there is any truth in any of these sayings. With Covid still lingering, I’m tr ying to convince my grandchildren, ages 8 and 12, to be more mindful about germs. A: Does wet hair cause the common cold? The short answer is no. Colds are caused by viruses, so you can’t catch a cold from going outside with wet hair. And wet hair won’t make you more attractive to germs. The same is true with respect to dressing for cold temperatures. While it might be optimal to dress in warmer clothes when it’s cold outside, research indicates that cold weather — just like going outside with wet hair — doesn’t make you sick. People often associate going outside with wet hair or being underdressed with getting sick because exposure to germs is often more likely when you go outside. The common cold is transmitted through bodily fluids, such as when people who are sick sneeze, cough or blow their

nose. So, you have just as much of an opportunity to be exposed to germs indoors, especially when you are in close contact with others. Other myths I’m often asked about include: Myth: Vitamin C will help stave off illness. Fact: Though it has been subject to much research, no definitive body of work says high doses of vitamin C prevent or treat colds. Myth: Star ve a fever; feed a cold. Fact: While it might be hard to remember the adage, the bottom line is that when you don’t feel well, eating may not be on the top of your list. And that is OK. Hydration is more important when you are ill. The best advice is to drink plenty of water or other fluids to stay hydrated, and rest and relax. Myth: Avoid dair y products if you have a cold because they can produce more mucus. Fact: Ingesting dairy products will not cause more mucus. Most likely, the texture of certain foods or drinks may coat your throat, which would give the feeling that you have more phlegm. Certain dairy products can be good when you are under the weather, though. Cold ice cream can soothe a sore throat,

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and probiotics in yogurt can help alleviate stomach upset if you are taking antibiotics for an infection. Check with your primary healthcare provider or pharmacist to get a list of foods you should avoid with medications.

Some advice worth following The best advice I have is to rely on the most common safe behaviors to avoid falling ill: Wash your hands. Clean your hands thoroughly and often with soap and water. If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Disinfect your space. Clean kitchen and bathroom countertops with disinfectant, especially when someone in your family has a cold. Be diligent about wiping down doorknobs and frequently touched surfaces. Use tissues — and masks. Sneeze and cough into tissues. Discard used tissues right away. Then thoroughly wash your hands. If you are wearing a mask, discard the mask and replace it with a clean one. Don’t share. Don’t share drinking glasses or utensils with other family members. Use your own glass or disposable cups when you or someone else is sick. Label the cup or glass with the name of the

person with the cold. Practice social distancing and safe behaviors, especially if others are ill. Avoid close contact with anyone who is ill. Consider wearing a mask if you are going to be out in public or around a lot of people in an intimate setting. Since Covid is still a threat, it’s important to practice safe behaviors regardless of whether you have been vaccinated for Covid. And cold and flu germs are still prevalent. Take care of yourself. Eating well, getting exercise and enough sleep, and managing stress might help you avoid getting sick. You can rest assured that if you go outside with wet hair, or without a jacket, you won’t increase your chances of getting sick, but it may cause temporary discomfort. — Carmen Dargel, M.D., Family Medicine, Mayo Clinic Health System, Onalaska, Wisconsin. Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. Email MayoClinicQ&A@mayo.edu. For more information, visit mayoclinic.org. © 2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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The reasons low-fat diets disappeared

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How does fat help — and hurt — your health? Too much saturated fat can raise “bad” LDL cholesterol levels. High blood LDL can lead to plaque buildup in arteries throughout the body, which increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes, and also erectile dysfunction and poor leg circulation. If you cut out saturated fat in your diet, you can lower your risk for all these problems. In comparison, consuming monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats helps lower blood pressure and reduce chronic inflammation, which translates to lower cardiovascular risk. Another benefit of switching fats is that it might help keep your brain healthy. Obser vational studies suggest that following the MIND diet is linked to a lower risk of memory loss and cognitive decline. This research-based diet — the name stands for Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay — advocates eating more of certain foods that are high in unsaturated fat, like nuts, fatty fish and olive oil. The diet also stresses cutting down on foods that contain high amounts of saturated fat, such as butter, red meat, pastries, and fried and fast foods.

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Omega-6s are in oils like soybean, corn, sesame and canola. They’re also abundant in walnuts, peanuts and pumpkin seeds. Omega-3s are in canola oil, soybean oil and walnuts, as well as in fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, herring, tuna and trout.

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By Howard LeWine, M.D. Q: Why for so many years was a lowfat diet the craze and now it seems to be gone? A: For decades, the message was loud and clear: High intake of fat causes weight gain, heart disease and maybe even cancer. The solution? Go low-fat. Unfortunately, that often meant consuming more carbs and more sugar, and the advice turned out to be misguided. Nutritionists now suggest people actually need adequate amounts of fat for optimal health — but only the right kind. Good fat gives your body energy and helps your body absorb vital nutrients. There are two main kinds of fat: saturated and unsaturated. Saturated fat is in animal products like beef and pork, and dairy products like butter, cream and cheese. Saturated fat is also a staple in most fast, snack and processed foods, such as pizza, dairy desserts, bacon and cookies. If it’s considered junk food, odds are it contains saturated fat. Unsaturated fat comes in two categories: monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. Monounsaturated fats are found in avocados, peanuts, peanut butter and nuts like almonds, hazelnuts, cashews, pistachios and pecans. High amounts are also in oils, such as olive, peanut, safflower, sunflower and canola oil. Polyunsaturated fats include omega-6 fatty acids and omega-3 fatty acids. They are also considered “essential” fats because your body can’t make them, and you have to get them from food.

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Health Shorts Can’t take statins? Try this new pill Drugs known as statins are the firstchoice treatment for high cholesterol, but millions of people who can’t or won’t take those pills because of side effects may have another option. In a major study, a different kind of cholesterol-lowering drug named Nexletol reduced the risk of heart attacks and some other cardiovascular problems in people who can’t tolerate statins, researchers reported in early March.

Statins remain “the cornerstone of cholesterol-lowering therapies,” stressed Dr. Steven Nissen of the Cleveland Clinic, who led the study. But people who can’t take those proven pills “are very needy patients; they’re extremely difficult to treat,” he said. This option “will have a huge impact on public health.” Too much so-called LDL or “bad” cholesterol can clog arteries and lead to heart attacks and strokes. Statin pills like Lipitor and Crestor (or their cheap generic equivalents) are the mainstay for lowering LDL cholesterol and preventing heart disease or treating those who already have it. They work by blocking some of the liver’s cholesterol production. But some people suffer serious muscle pain from statins. While it’s not clear exact-

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May 15

COVID VACCINE BOOSTER CLINIC

The Howard County Health Department offers COVID-19 bivalent boosters free of charge with no insurance information required on Mon., May 15, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Central Library, 10375 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia. To register on HC Health Department’s website, visit howardcountymd.gov/health. For more information, call (410) 313-7800.

June 1

HOW TO SPOT NEGLECT AND ABUSE

Attend a free interactive presentation on identifying signs of elder neglect and abuse, followed by a Q&A session. It takes place on Thu., June 1, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Elkridge 50+ Center, 6540 Washington Blvd. For more information or to register, visit WEADD2023.eventbrite.com (registration opens May 1).

M AY 2 0 2 3 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

ly how often that occurs, by some estimates, 10% of people who’d otherwise qualify for the pills can’t or won’t take them. They have limited options, including pricey cholesterol-lowering shots and another kind of pill sold as Zetia. Nexletol also blocks cholesterol production in the liver but in a different way than statins and without that muscle side effect. The new five-year study tracked nearly 14,000 people who were unable to tolerate more than a very low dose of a statin. Half got daily Nexletol and half a dummy pill. The main finding: Nexletol-treated patients had a 13% lower risk of a group of major cardiac problems. Then researchers teased apart those different conditions and found a 23% reduced risk of a heart attack, the biggest impact. The drug also cut by 19% procedures to unclog arteries. There wasn’t a difference in deaths, which researchers couldn’t explain but said might require longer to detect. The data was published in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented in March at a meeting of the American College of Cardiology. The study was funded by Nexletol maker Esperion Therapeutics. The results are “compelling,” Dr. John H. Alexander of Duke University, who wasn’t involved with the study, wrote in the journal. They “will and should” spur the use of the drug by patients unwilling or unable to take statins. “It is premature, however, to consider bempedoic acid as an alternative to statins,” he cautioned. “Given the overwhelming evidence of the vascular benefits,” statins remain the top choice for most patients. —AP

Prostate cancer treatment can wait for most men Researchers have found long-term evidence that actively monitoring localized prostate cancer is a safe alternative to immediate surgery or radiation. The results are encouraging for men who want to avoid treatment-related sexual and incontinence problems, said Dr. Stacy Loeb, a prostate cancer specialist who was not involved in the research. The study directly compared the three approaches — surgery to remove tumors, radiation treatment and monitoring. Most

prostate cancer grows slowly, so it takes many years to look at the disease’s outcomes. “There was no difference in prostate cancer mortality at 15 years between the groups,” Loeb said. And prostate cancer survival for all three groups was high — 97% regardless of treatment approach. “That’s also very good news.” The results were published in March in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at a European Association of Urology conference in Milan, Italy. Britain’s National Institute for Health and Care Research paid for the research. Men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer shouldn’t panic or rush treatment decisions, said lead author Dr. Freddie Hamdy of the University of Oxford. Instead, they should “consider carefully the possible benefits and harms caused by the treatment options.” A small number of men with high-risk or more advanced disease do need urgent treatments, he added. Researchers followed more than 1,600 U.K. men who agreed to be randomly assigned to get surgery, radiation or active monitoring. The patients’ cancer was confined to the prostate, a walnut-sized gland that’s part of the reproductive system. Men in the monitoring group had regular blood tests, and some went on to have surgery or radiation. Death from prostate cancer occurred in 3.1% of the active-monitoring group, 2.2% in the surgery group, and 2.9% in the radiation group, differences considered statistically insignificant. At 15 years, cancer had spread in 9.4% of the active-monitoring group, 4.7% of the surgery group and 5% of the radiation group. The study was started in 1999, and experts said today’s monitoring practices are better, with MRI imaging and gene tests guiding decisions. “We have more ways now to help catch that the disease is progressing before it spreads,” Loeb said. In the U.S., about 60% of low-risk patients choose monitoring, now called active surveillance. Hamdy said the researchers had seen the difference in cancer spread at 10 years and expected it to make a difference in survival at 15 years, “but it did not.” He said spread alone doesn’t predict prostate cancer death. “This is a new and interesting finding, useful for men when they make decisions about treatments,” he said. —AP

Makes a great gift! | Fitness & Health

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — M AY 2 0 2 3

A memory supplement from mushrooms Recently, I was asked what the bestselling from the mushroom’s compounds called memory herb is. The truth is that there are erinacines and hericenones, which can stimulate the growth and remany herbs and supplements generation of nerve cells in marketed for memory and cogthe brain and protect them nitive function, and it can be from damage. difficult to determine which Some studies have shown one is the most popular. that lion’s mane extract may So, my answer is it’s the reduce inflammation and oxone that people can rememidative stress, both of which ber the name of: Lion’s mane. can contribute to neurodeA type of mushroom known generative diseases such as botanically as Hericium erinaceus, Lion’s mane has gained DEAR Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s a lot of attention and has been PHARMACIST disease. clinically studied in recent years By Suzy Cohen As for mood improvement, as a dietary supplement due to a 2013 paper outlined how its potential cognitive benefits.” lion’s mane extract reduced symptoms of Lion’s mane mushrooms got their name depression and anxiety, at least in because these shaggy mushrooms have menopausal women. long, flowing tendrils. Some people who have Alzheimer’s also take a popular medication called NamenEffect on cognitive function da®, and you may wonder if lion’s mane inSeveral studies have shown that lion’s teracts with it. How the herb and the drug mane extract may improve cognitive func- work is completely different, so I’d say it’s tion, memory and concentration. probably fine to take both — but ask your For example, a 2010 study found that physician to be sure. lion’s mane extract improved cognitive function in elderly Japanese men and women. Potential immune system benefits More recently, a 2019 study found that lion’s Another potential benefit of lion’s mane is mane extract improved cognitive function in its ability to boost the immune system. Aniindividuals with mild cognitive impairment. mal studies have shown that lion’s mane exThe neuroprotective properties come tract can increase the activity of natural killer

cells and macrophages. This action helps your body fight off infections and diseases. Lion’s mane is a medicinal mushroom sold as a dietary supplement (and it’s even in my own Memory Script supplement, which is patented). The mushroom is also eaten as a food, similar to portobello and shiitake mushrooms. Lifestyle factors such as regular exercise and healthy eating habits play a crucial role in maintaining cognitive health. So, if you want to improve your memory,

don’t forget to exercise your brain along with your body. I’ve written a longer version of this article at suzycohen.com. This information is opinion only. It is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose your condition. Consult with your doctor before using any new drug or supplement. Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist and author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist and Real Solutions from Head to Toe.

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Ongoing PHOTO CONTEST

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is now accepting entries for its annual photo contest. Novice and professional pho-

tographers are encouraged to enter to win cash, park passes, calendars and other great prizes. Entries may include images from anywhere in Maryland featuring birds, insects, flora, recreation, scenic landscapes, weather and wildlife. For details, contest rules, and how to submit, visit bit.ly/PhotoContestMD.

WALKING WITH EAST COLUMBIA 50+ CENTER

Ongoing Walk with other older adults around the East Columbia Library on Mondays, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., at 6600 Cradlerock Way. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a water bottle. In inclement weather, walking will occur inside the East Columbia Library. Registration is not required.

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M AY 2 0 2 3 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

What can be done for women’s hair loss? By Howard LeWine, M.D. Q: Since menopause, my hair keeps getting thinner. Why do older women lose their hair? What treatments are available? A: Among postmenopausal women, as many as two-thirds develop hair thinning or bald spots. The main type of hair loss in women is the same as it is in men. It’s called androgenetic alopecia, or female (or male) pattern hair loss.

In women, the condition begins with gradual thinning at the part line, followed by increasing diffuse hair loss radiating from the top of the head. A woman’s hairline rarely recedes, and women rarely become bald. There are many potential causes of hair loss in women, including medical conditions, medications and physical or emotional stress. If you notice unusual hair loss of any kind, it’s important to see your primary care provider or a dermatologist to deter-

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mine the cause and appropriate treatment. Almost every woman eventually develops some degree of female pattern hair loss. It can start any time after the onset of puberty, but women tend to first notice it around menopause, when hair loss typically increases. The risk rises with age, and it’s higher for women with a history of hair loss on either side of the family. Medications that can help with hair loss in women include: Topical minoxidil. The FDA originally approved over-the-counter 2% minoxidil to treat hair loss in women. Since then, a 5% solution has also become available when a stronger solution is needed for a woman’s hair loss. While it can produce some new growth of fine hair in some — not all — women, it can’t restore the full density of the lost hair. It’s also not a quick fix for hair loss in women. You won’t see results until you use the drug for at least two months. The effect often peaks at around four months, but it could take longer, so plan on

a trial of six to 12 months. If minoxidil works for you, you’ll need to keep using it to maintain those results. If you stop, you’ll start to lose hair again. Anti-androgens. Androgens include testosterone and other “male” hormones, which can accelerate hair loss in women. Some women who don’t respond to minoxidil may benefit from the addition of the anti-androgen drug spironolactone (Aldactone) for treatment of androgenic alopecia. This is especially true for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) because they tend to make excess androgens. Iron supplements. Iron deficiency could be a cause of hair loss in some women. Your doctor may test your blood iron level. If you do have iron deficiency, you will need to take a supplement and it may stop your hair loss. However, if your iron level is normal, taking extra iron will only cause side effects, such as stomach upset and constipation. © 2022 Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Pair tender cutlets with a bright sauce By America’s Test Kitchen These sautéed, super-thin chicken cutlets are easy to make and look so good, they evoke the feeling of an evening out. Paillard is a French term that refers to boneless meat that has been pounded thin to tenderize it and help it cook faster. In this recipe, we halve boneless chicken breasts horizontally and pound them to an even thickness under plastic wrap, so they cook at the same rate and turn out moist, tender and juicy. (To make slicing the chicken easier, freeze breasts for 15 minutes first.) To further ensure juiciness, we brown them on only one side. Getting a brown crust is key, but browning both sides dries the meat out. The cutlets can be paired with a number of sauces. We offer the sweet, tangy combination of apple cider and cider vinegar with the kick of whole grain mustard.

Chicken Paillard Servings: 4 Total minutes: 40 Ingredients: 4 (6- to 8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, tenderloins removed and breasts trimmed 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided Instructions: 1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 200 degrees. Halve chicken horizontally, then cover chicken halves with plastic wrap and use meat pounder to pound cutlets to an even ¼-inch thickness. Season both sides of each cutlet with salt and pepper. 2. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Place 4 cutlets in skillet and cook, without moving, until browned, about 2 minutes. Using spatula, flip cutlets and continue to cook until second sides are opaque, 15 to 20 -

BEACON BITS

May 2

HOW TO CHOOSE A MOVING COMPANY

If you are planning a move in the near future, join this free webinar by the Howard County Office of Consumer Protection. Learn what services movers provide, tips to hire a reputable mover, what should be included in the contract, common moving company scams and how to spot them, and what to do if you’ve been a victim of a moving scam. This interactive session with a Q&A takes place online on Tue., May 2, from 7 to 8 p.m. You must register at bit.ly/MovingWebinar.

seconds. Transfer to large heatproof plate. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil to nowempty skillet and repeat with remaining cutlets. Cover plate loosely with foil and transfer to oven to keep warm while making the sauce.

Mustard Cider Sauce Servings: 4 Ingredients: 1 shallot, minced 1¼ cups apple cider 2 tablespoons cider vinegar 2 teaspoons whole-grain mustard 2 teaspoons minced fresh parsley 2 tablespoons unsalted butter Instructions: 1. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat from

skillet. (If necessary, add oil to equal 1 tablespoon). 2. Add shallot and cook over medium heat until softened, about 1 minute. 3. Adjust heat to medium-high and add cider and vinegar. 4. Bring to simmer, scraping pan bottom with wooden spoon to loosen any browned bits. 5. Simmer until reduced to ½ cup, 6 to 7 minutes. 6. Off heat, stir in mustard and parsley, then whisk in butter, 1 tablespoon at a time. 7. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and serve immediately with cutlets. Excerpted from the new America’s Test Kitchen cookbook, Modern Bistro.

BEACON BITS

May 15

SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING

This training will show you how to recognize the warning signs of people considering suicide. Free beginner training takes place on Mon., May 15, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Miller Library, 9421 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City. For more information, call (410) 313-1950.

May 7

NATIVE PLANT SALE

Visit the Robinson Nature Center to shop Howard County Recreation & Parks’ annual outdoor native plant sale. This free event takes place on Sun., May 7, from noon to 4 p.m. at 6692 Cedar Ln., Columbia. For more information, call (410) 313-0400 or visit houwardcountymd.gov/plantnatives.

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Recreation & Parks

M AY 2 0 2 3 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Upcoming Programs for 55 Years +

To view all of our programs and activities, visit www.HowardCountyMD.gov/rap. Dance • Info: Tessa Hurd , 410-313-7311 or thurd@howardcountymd.gov.

Beginner/Intermediate Soul Line Dance

Adventure & Outdoors • Info: Matt Medicus, 410-313-1769 or mmedicus@howardcountymd.gov.

Encore Adventure Series This is your opportunity to dabble in a variety of outdoor skills! Try paddling a kayak, learn the basics of archery, go fishing around Centennial Lake, and more. Earn a certificate and patch for completing at least five Encore Adventure activities within a two-year period. All equipment is provided. 55 yrs + Centennial Pk South Encore Adventures Potomac Kayaking Trip Jun 8 Encore Adventures Kayaking Club Jun 23

Crafts & Fine Arts • Info: Tracy Adkins, 410-313-7279 or tadkins@howardcountymd.gov.

This beginner/intermediate level line dance class is fun for all. Line up and learn the step-by-step choreography. Line dancing provides such a good mix of balance, strength, endurance, and cognitive training while having fun. Multiple dances are performed to great pop, rhythm, and blues music. 55 yrs + Instructor: Jessie Barnes Classes: 1 RP3511.401 Harriet Tubman Ctr Jun 7 11am-noon W $12 RP3511.402 Harriet Tubman Ctr Jun 14 11am-noon W $12 RP3511.403 Harriet Tubman Ctr Jun 21 11am-noon W $12 RP3511.404 Harriet Tubman Ctr Jun 28 11am-noon W $12

Dancing for Fun Mixer Enjoy moving to the music while trying a variety of dance styles. From line dancing to ballroom, swing to Latin, we try them all! This class gives you the chance to get active and have some fun! No partner necessary. 55 yrs + Instructor: Tom Sellner Classes: 1 RP3513.401 N Laurel CC Jun 1 7:30-8:30pm Th $12 RP3513.402 N Laurel CC Jun 8 7:30-8:30pm Th $12 RP3513.403 N Laurel CC Jun 15 7:30-8:30pm Th $12 RP3513.404 N Laurel CC Jun 22 7:30-8:30pm Th $12 RP3513.405 N Laurel CC Jun 29 7:30-8:30pm Th $12

You Can Draw & Paint with Carol Zika Instructor provides fun and supportive atmosphere for artists who wish to work on self-chosen individual activities among other creatives. Bring your own materials and projects to work with an art educator experienced in a wide variety of media. Personal feedback and guidance given to each student in this open studio format. 55 yrs + Classes: 8 No class 4/7 RP0305.401 E Columbia 50+ Ctr Jun 2 1-3pm F $149

Stained Glass Panel Workshop Come create an advanced piece that requires curved cuts and uses different sized and shaped irregular pieces. On the first day, select your pattern, cut it out, select glass and cut/grind pieces. On the second day, continue cutting/grinding, foiling the pieces, and soldering the panel together. Your finished product is a 10-12 piece panel that you can proudly display in your home. Supplies include patterns, glass, and tools. 55 yrs + Instructor: Maureen Stone Classes: 2 RP3557.401 N Laurel CC Jun 6 11am-3pm Tu,W $155

Scan the QR code or visit tinyurl.com/55plusprograms for more 55 yrs + programs!

May 20 & 21 | Symphony Woods • Maryland Wineries

• New Explorer Area

• Maryland Breweries

• Juried Artisans

• Live Bands

• Wine Seminars

• Gourmet Food

www.WineInTheWoods.com

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H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — M AY 2 0 2 3

Fitness (55 yrs +) • Info/Fitness Waiver: Tessa Hurd, 410-313-7311 or thurd@howardcountymd.gov.

Balance for Active Aging with Courtney Bracey, SCW With the help of light weights and a chair, you are guided through exercises that support and improve balance, flexibility, posture, and strength to reduce your risk of falling and increase your confidence! Please bring light weights (2lbs-5lbs) to class. 55 yrs + Cedar Lane Rec Ctr Classes: 10 No class 7/4 RP3587.401 Jun 6 10:10-11:10am Tu,Th $85

Yoga and Light Weights with Kathy Greisman Come practice yoga with light weights for stronger bones, better heart efficiency and increased core and joint strength. Together, these exercises leave you with a healthier and happier state of being. Bring a yoga mat and 2-3 lb weights to each class. 55 yrs + Classes: 10 RP3588.401 Belmont Jun 22 10-11am Th

Yoga in the Park- Pop Ups with Kathy Greisman Relax while you take in the sights and surrounding beauty of nature as you get fit and improve your health in this outdoor yoga class. All classes are held under the tent at the beautiful Belmont and Historic Park. Walk away feeling refreshed, energized, and ready to take on the day that lies ahead. Join us for the classes that fit your schedule. 55 yrs + Classes: 1 RP3541.401 Belmont Jun 5 10-11am M $14 RP3541.402 Belmont Jun 12 10-11am M $14 RP3541.403 Belmont Jun 19 10-11am M $14 RP3541.404 Belmont Jun 26 10-11am M $14

Speaker Series • Info: Tessa Hurd, 410-313-7311 or thurd@howardcountymd.gov.

Archaeology at the Patapsco Female Institute: 67,333 Artifacts and Counting Archaeology on the grounds of the once famous 19th century female academy began in 1988 and continues in the present. Join Archaeologist Preston as he sheds new light on the important role the school played in female education in pre- and postCivil War America. This presentation focuses on the diagnostic artifacts and unearthed sub-surface features associated with the school, as well as 20th century occupations of the site including a hotel, a private residence, and a hospital. 55 yrs + Harriet Tubman Ctr Instructor: M. Lee Preston Jr. Classes: 1 RP3506.402 Jun 15 10-11:30am Th $20

Sports & Leagues Fencing Field Hockey Football Golf Gymnastics Jump Rope

Kickball Lacrosse Martial Arts Pickleball Running Soccer

Kate Pearl Tea Room – Royal Tea Housed in Westminster, Maryland’s William Winchester House, the Kate Pearl Tea Room is rich with historic charm and features menus primarily based on traditional recipes. All aspects of the tea cuisine are freshly prepared on the day of your visit. The inn has many amenities, rural setting, and beautiful grounds. 21 yrs + Bus provided RP4544.401 Jun 2 10am-2pm F $85

Choptank Cruise and Crab Feast Join us for a spectacular crab feast lunch prepared by the Suicide Bridge Restaurant aboard the Choptank Riverboat Company’s reproduction of an authentic 80-foot turn-of-the-century paddle wheeler. Fully enclosed lower deck with air conditioning and stunning views of the Choptank River and Maryland’s Eastern Shore! 21 yrs + Bus provided RP4545.401 Jun 9 9am-5pm F $169

Charleston, South Carolina Excursion This 3-day/2-night excursion is headed to some beautiful and historic southern cites. Shop in the Charleston City Market; and see White Point Garden, Rainbow Row, Magnolia Plantation, the College of Charleston, the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, and other amazing sights! This adventure includes an afternoon harbor cruise and visit to Fort Sumter, where the first shots of the Civil War occurred; tours of Charleston, Fort Sumter, and the Magnolia Plantation; round-trip deluxe charter coach; 2 nights lodging; 2 breakfasts; and 2 full-course dinners. 21 yrs + Bus provided RP4560.401 Single-Occupancy Jun 9-11 F-Su $839 RP4560.402 Double-Occupancy Jun 9-11 F-Su $649

Meet You There! ClayGround – American Glass Fusion

• For info, visit www.hcrpsports.org. • Sign up for the following programs has begun! Aquatics Badminton Baseball Basketball Billiards Cricket

• Info: Tracy Adkins, 410-313-7279 or tadkins@howardcountymd.gov.

Softball Tennis Volleyball Therapeutic Rec

Get creative and make a patriotic creation! in this fused-glass class. Enjoy an overview about fused glass that includes its history, some physics, kilns, and other mold formations. 21 yrs + RP4557.401 Jun 14 11am-1pm W $69

Scan the QR code or visit tinyurl.com/hcrptrips for more trips & tours!

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M AY 2 0 2 3 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

A Publication of the Department of Community Resources and Services

Volume 13, No. 5 • May 2023

Aging Unbound: Living Calvin Ball longer and aging well

A message from Howard County Executive

geism is everywhere. According to the World Health Organization, while both younger and older people frequently experience age-based discrimination, an estimated 50% of the population holds biased attitudes towards older people. Age stereotypes contribute to assumptions about a person’s physical and mental capabilities, social skills, political and religious beliefs, and other traits based on their age.

This May, we celebrate the 60th anniversary of Older Americans Month, and the 2023 theme, Aging Unbound. “This is a perfect opportunity for all of us to put aside the negative stereotypes of aging, and embrace the positive aspects of longevity,” said Ofelia Ross Ott, acting administrator of the Office on Aging and Independence (OAI). “People are living and working longer there are currently six generations in today’s workforce.” A multi-generational approach opens the door for a positive discourse on aging and can dispel many of the myths surrounding older adults. “But step one is getting older adults to reframe how they think about themselves as they are getting older,” says Ott. “OAI’s lifelong learning opportunities, active aging programs and support services can help them stay engaged and continue to grow in a positive manner.” Aging Unbound, cont. on p. 13

ay is Older Americans Month (OAM) and the perfect opportunity to explore diverse aging experiences throughout our community and work to promote positive thinking about aging. In Howard County, OAM is the perfect time to celebrate our accomplishments to become an Age-Friendly community. When we make our community more walkable, provide better options to connect and engage with one another, and support more accessible housing – people of all ages benefit. Age-Friendly communities foster independence, allowing residents of all ages and abilities to have greater access to our amenities and services, and that is something to truly celebrate during Older Americans Month. It is important Howard County remains a welcoming and engaging community for everyone, regardless of age or ability. Our Office on Aging and Independence (OAI) offers a wide array of programs and resources to support and celebrate healthy aging, as well as activities and services at 50+ Centers throughout our community. I invite all our older adults to take part in the Older Americans Month Passport Challenge beginning May 1. Please be sure to pick up a passport card at your local 50+ Center to get started! And don’t miss the “Aging Unbound” kickoff event on May 10, from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. at the Ellicott City 50+ Center, 9401 Frederick Road in Ellicott City. The event features exhibitors, tours of the center and the adjacent 50+ Fitness Center, exercise demos, live music, and giveaways. Finally, I want to share the good news that OAI is extending operating hours at four of its 50+ Centers to accommodate older adults who are still working or not able to participate in activities during standard business hours. Visit www.howardcountymd.gov/50pluscenters for more details.

IN HONOR OF

1. Identifying Early Signs of Neglect June 1 • Noon to 2:00 pm Elkridge 50+ Center

2. What Happens After You Report Financial Fraud? June 8 • 6:00 to 8:00 pm Ellicott City 50+ Center JOIN US FOR THE

Community Education Series

3. Financial Exploitation Protection June 15 • Noon to 2:00 pm Bain 50+ Center

YOU MUST REGISTER TO ATTEND ONE, TWO OR ALL THREE SESSIONS — Secure YOUR seat today! REGISTER ONLINE AT https://bit.ly/HoCoProtectWeek2023 OR SCAN QR CODE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Katy Lee • 410-313-6423 (VOICE/RELAY) • klee@howardcountymd.gov

AND

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — M AY 2 0 2 3

The 50+ Connection

Makes a great gift!

May Featured Events Maryland Law Day NORTH LAUREL 50+ CENTER May 1, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Meet with an attorney to prepare an advance directive (45 minutes/individuals or 60 minutes/couples). Name your health care agent and express your wishes about life-sustaining procedures and organ donation. Free; register at the front desk.

All about teapots ELKRIDGE 50+ CENTER May 8, 1 to 2 p.m. Discover what Fraunfelter, Greenwood, the Windshield, and the Donut are all about! Phil Lord, retired Elkridge Library Manager, will discuss the colorful history of teapots and highlight the work of American pottery makers. Free; to reserve your space, call 410-313-5192.

Senior Planet presents: Money Matters ELLICOTT CITY 50+ CENTER May 10, 11 a.m. (A02647.301) The internet offers new ways to save money and manage your finances. Learn the basics of online banking and how to safeguard your financial information. Get online shopping tips and explore digital resources to save money on entertainment, prescription drugs, and everyday items. Free; register on ActiveNet.

Candlelight Concert featuring The Iris Music Project BAIN 50+ CENTER May 16, 11 a.m. (A01520.300) Join Lauren on cello, and Joanna, on violin, of the Iris Music Project, to explore music celebrating the creativity of our later years. Selections from a range of genres include music written by Beethoven after he lost his hearing, and Frank Sinatra's classic anthem "My Way." Free; register on ActiveNet.

AARP presents CarFit ELLICOTT CITY 50+ CENTER May 22, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (A02629.300) Improve your safety and comfort behind the wheel with help from CarFit, AARP’s interactive and educational assessment tool. In just 20 minutes, a CarFit technician will assess your fit and make recommendations for improvements. Register on ActiveNet or call 410-313-1400.

Sound sculpture with Josh Howell EAST COLUMBIA 50+ CENTER May 25, 2 p.m.

Community Kick-Off Event ELLICOTT CITY 50+ CENTER May 10, 2 to 4:30 p.m. Join us to celebrate Aging Unbound! Fun for all ages, this free (mostly) outdoor event features: • Community resources • Food and entertainment • Tours of the Ellicott City 50+ Center and Fitness Center • Exercise demonstrations • And much more

Breaking Age Stereotypes: Laura Allen, Ph.D. BAIN 50+ CENTER May 13, 10 to 11:30 a.m. Dr. Laura Allen, adjunct professor at the Erickson School of Aging Studies, University of Maryland Baltimore County, joins us to discuss ageism and its impact on our community. Learn more about the definition of ageism, common age-based stereotypes, and ways to combat these biases and embrace your own aging experiences. For more information, contact Morgan Spliedt at 410-313-5952.

Aging Unbound, from. p. 12 During Older Americans Month, OAI and our 50+ Centers invite you to explore activities to stimulate your mind, body and soul through the OAM Passport Challenge. From May 1 – June 9, experience firsthand the benefits of Aging Unbound by participating in at least six 50+ center activities. Pick up a passport at any Howard County 50+ Center, then receive one stamp for each activity you attend (other than congregate meals). Everyone who completes six or more entries will receive a premium giveaway item, while supplies last. Plus, all participants are entered into a raffle; two winners will receive either a GO50+ or group exercise package ($75 value). For more information, view the OAM Passport Challenge events calendar at www.howardcountymd.gov/aging/OAM23. For positive aging inspiration, follow @hococommunity on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, and join the conversation using #OlderAmericansMonth.

Relax and enjoy a healing sound bath and gong meditation session with Sound Sculptor, Josh Howell. Tea and sweet treats will be served. Free; register in advance at the front desk.

Culture, conversation and cuisine GLENWOOD 50+ CENTER May 31, noon (A03635.300) Learn about the culture of Mexico, enjoy a traditional Mexican meal, and share memories of trips you’ve taken. Cost: $15. Register in advance on ActiveNet.

To register or ﬁnd more events, visit https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/howardcounty/

9830 Patuxent Woods Drive, Columbia, MD 21046 410-313-6410 (VOICE/RELAY) • www.howardcountymd.gov/aging Find us @HoCoCommunity on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Nextdoor Kim Higdon Henry, Editor • EMAIL: kahenry@howardcountymd.gov AVAILABLE IN ALTERNATE FORMATS UPON REQUEST

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Money Law &

Fed up with requests for tips? See story below.

Credit unions share profits with members By Melissa Lambarena In the past year, the Federal Reserve has employed several interest rate hikes in an effort to stabilize the U.S. economy. Depending on your situation and financial institution, your debt may have gotten more expensive or your savings might have grown. As rates continue to change, it’s worth exploring whether you’re still getting the best offer around. Compared with big banks, a credit union can offer decent rates for stashing your cash or borrowing money, especially during these economic times. “For folks who are looking for loans, they can often find a credit union with lower rates because credit unions are willing to spend some of their would-be profits on lower rates,” said Andrew Leventis, chief economist at the National Credit Union Administration, or NCUA. “That’s one way, traditionally, credit

unions have helped out their members, particularly in times when you have rising rates and there’s more of an urgency to get the best deal.” Here’s what you should know about these not-for-profit cooperative financial institutions and their potential to offer big savings:

How credit unions work Unlike banks that have shareholders to consider, credit unions return their profits to their members. So, once you join a credit union, you have access to the benefits. They offer many of the same products and services that banks do, but those might go by different names. For instance, a checking account may be referred to as a “share draft account.” Credit unions may also belong to an ATM network that allows you to perform transactions beyond a specific branch. Generally, credit unions allow you to join based on where you live, work or worship.

Other avenues may include joining through a family member or making a small donation to a charitable partner organization. “We’re required to have a field of membership, so the member coming in to open an account has to provide proof of that affiliation,” said Jim Norris, president and CEO of SkyPoint Federal Credit Union, an institution that serves counties in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia. There’s typically a one-time membership fee to join a credit union, sometimes as low as $5, which may be used to open a savings account.

How they compare Profits at credit unions are returned to members in the form of low fees, better rates on loans, and higher rates on savings. The rates for specific products will vary by credit union. For instance, in the last quarter of 2022, the national average rate

for a “classic” credit card was 11.96% at credit unions and 13.34% at banks, according to data extracted by the NCUA from S&P Global Market Intelligence databases, a provider of financial information services. And while rates may be lower at credit unions, they can still rise when the Fed makes increases. At SkyPoint Federal Credit Union, rates are automatically adjusted within a month based on Fed rates, Norris said, but there’s a limit. Federal law caps the interest rate charged on most loans and credit cards at federally chartered credit unions at 15%, although the NCUA can raise that limit temporarily “if interest rate levels could threaten safety and soundness of individual credit unions,” according to an NCUA bulletin. For several years, the NCUA has maintained an 18% cap, extending it through See CREDIT UNIONS, page 15

Many say tipping is getting out of control By Haleluya Hadero Across the country, there’s a silent frustration brewing about an age-old practice that many say is getting out of hand: tipping. Some fed-up consumers are posting rants on social media complaining about tip requests at drive-throughs, while others say they’re tired of being asked to leave a gratuity for a muffin or a simple cup of coffee at their neighborhood bakery. What’s next, they wonder. Are we going to be tipping our doctors and dentists, too?

Automatic prompts annoy As more businesses adopt digital payment methods, customers are automatically being prompted to leave a gratuity — many times as high as 30% — at places they normally wouldn’t. And some say it has become more frustrating as the price of items has skyrocketed due to inflation. “Suddenly, these screens are at every establishment we encounter. They’re popping up online as well for online orders. And I fear that there is no end,” said etiquette expert Thomas Farley, who considers the whole thing somewhat of “an invasion.” Unlike tip jars that shoppers can easily ignore if they don’t have spare change, experts say the digital requests can produce

social pressure and are more difficult to bypass. And your generosity, or lack thereof, can be laid bare for anyone close enough to glance at the screen — including the workers themselves. Dylan Schenker is one of them. The 38year-old earns about $400 a month in tips, which provides a helpful supplement to his $15 hourly wage as a barista at a Philadelphia café. Most of those tips come from consumers who order coffee drinks or place carryout orders. The gratuity helps cover his monthly rent and eases some of his burdens while he attends graduate school and juggles his job. Schenker says it’s hard to sympathize with consumers who are able to afford pricey coffee drinks but complain about tipping. And he often feels demoralized when people don’t leave behind anything extra — especially if they’re regulars. “Tipping is about making sure the people who are performing that service for you are getting paid what they’re owed,” said Schenker, who’s been working in the service industry for roughly 18 years.

Not the same as a restaurant Traditionally, consumers have taken pride in being good tippers at places like

restaurants, which typically pay their workers lower than the minimum wage in expectation they’ll make up the difference in tips. But academics who study the topic say many consumers are now feeling irritated by automatic tip requests at coffee shops and other counter service eateries where tipping has not typically been expected, workers make at least the minimum wage, and service is usually limited. “People do not like unsolicited advice,” said Ismail Karabas, a marketing professor at Murray State University who studies tipping. “They don’t like to be asked for things, especially at the wrong time.”

No need to feel embarrassed In the book Emily Post’s Etiquette, authors Lizzie Post and Daniel Post Senning advise consumers to tip on ride-shares, like Uber and Lyft, as well as food and beverages, including alcohol. But they also write that it’s up to each person to choose how much to tip at a café or a take-out food service, and that consumers shouldn’t feel embarrassed about choosing the lowest suggested tip amount, and don’t have to explain themselves if they don’t tip. Digital payment methods have been

around for a number of years, though experts say the pandemic has accelerated the trend towards more tipping. Michael Lynn, a consumer behavior professor at Cornell University, said consumers were more generous with tips during the early days of the pandemic in an effort to show support for restaurants and other businesses that were hard hit by COVID-19. Many people genuinely wanted to help out and felt sympathetic to workers who held jobs that put them more at risk of catching the virus, Lynn said. Tips at full-service restaurants grew by 25.3% in the third quarter of 2022, while gratuities at quick service restaurants went up 16.7% compared to the same time in 2021, according to Square, one of the biggest companies operating digital payment methods. Data provided by the company shows continuous growth for the same period since 2019. Some customers, like those who’ve worked in the service industry in the past, want to tip workers at quick service businesses and wouldn’t be irritated by the automatic requests. But for others, research shows they might be less likely to come back to a particular business if they are irritated by the —AP requests, Karabas said.

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H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — M AY 2 0 2 3

Understand the new RMD Rules for 2023 Dear Savvy Senior, to age 75 in 2033. This change means that if What are the new rules on required you turn 72 this year, as you stated in your minimum distributions from question, you can delay your IRAs and 401(k)s? I will RMDs one more year, allowing turn 72 this year and want your savings in these accounts to be clear on what I’m reto grow longer, tax deferred. quired to do. But once you turn 73, you —Planning Ahead must start taking annual Dear Planning, RMDs from the tax-deferred Thanks to the SECURE Act retirement accounts you own 2.0 that was passed by Con— including traditional IRAs, gress last December, there SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, are several new rules that af401(k)s, 403(b)s and 457(b)s SAVVY SENIOR fect required minimum distri— and pay taxes on those withbutions (RMDs) from tradi- By Jim Miller drawals. Distributions are tional IRAs, 401(k)s and other taxed as ordinary income in tax-deferred retirement accounts. your tax bracket. These changes, which build on the origThere are, however, a few exceptions. inal SECURE Act of 2019, are a benefit to Owners of Roth IRAs are not required to retirees by increasing the RMD age and take a distribution, unless the Roth is inherlowering the penalty for missing a ited. And starting in 2024, Roth 401(k)s will withdrawal. Here’s what you should not be subject to RMDs either. know: There’s also a work waiver for RMDs you should know about. If you are still working Starting age has changed beyond age 73, and you don’t own 5% or As of Jan. 1, 2023, the starting age for tak- more of the company you work for, you can ing RMDs is now 73, up from 72. And it rises delay withdrawals from your employer’s re-

Credit unions From page 14 Sept. 10, 2024, this year. The cap is not affected by the Fed’s interest rate hikes, so the limit can be helpful for borrowers with loans or credit card balances with variable interest rates that might exceed that amount. If you tend to carry a balance, it’s one way a credit union credit card can lower costs. Credit unions may also offer higher savings rates than big banks, depending on the account. For instance, in the last quarter of 2022, the national average rate for a five-year

credit union certificate of deposit was 2.33%, compared with 1.58% at banks, according to that same data set extracted by the NCUA. You’re likely to find higher savings rates at an online bank, but credit union rates make it easy to house accounts under one roof, if that’s your preference.

tirement plan until after you retire. But if you have other non-work-related accounts, such as a traditional IRA or a 401(k) from a previous employer, you are still required to take RMDs from those after your turn 73, even if you’re still working.

Distribution amounts

Generally, you must take your distribution every year by Dec. 31. First timers, however, can choose to delay taking their distribution until April 1 of the year following the year they turn 73. But be careful about delaying, because if you delay your first distribution, it may push you into a higher tax bracket because you must take your next distribution by Dec. 31 of the same year. Also note that you can always withdraw more than the required amount, but if you don’t take out the minimum, you’ll be hit with a 25% penalty (it was 50%) on the amount that you failed to withdraw, plus the income tax you owe on it. This penalty drops to 10% if you take the necessary RMD by the end of the second year following the year it was due.

Your RMD is calculated by dividing your tax-deferred retirement account balance as of Dec. 31 of the previous year by an IRS estimate of your life expectancy. A special rule applies if your spouse is the beneficiary and is more than 10 years younger than you. IRA withdrawals must be calculated for each IRA you own, but you can withdraw the money from any IRA or combination of IRAs. If you own 403(b) accounts, they too allow you to total the RMDs and take them from any account or combination of accounts. With 401(k) plans, however, you must calculate the RMD for each plan and withdraw the appropriate amount from each account. To calculate the size of your RMD, you can use the worksheets on the IRS website — see IRS.gov/Retirement-Plans and click on “Required Minimum Distributions.” Or contact your IRA custodian or retirement-plan administrator who can do the calculations for you. For more information, see IRS publication 590-B at IRS.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p590b.pdf. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org.

cial education program for students. Jayah Kai-samba, a credit union member based in Texas, has also seen many programs offered at his institution.

“They do a good job of offering webinars or in-person sessions to do trainings on financial education,” he said. —AP/NerdWallet

Deadlines and penalties

Other credit union services Profits are also returned to members through educational programs. SkyPoint Federal Credit Union, for example, works with a credit counseling agency to help members who are struggling to pay off debts. SkyPoint also offers Banzai, a finan-

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PHOTO BY L’AUBERGE PROVENÇALE BED & BREAKFAST

Travel Leisure &

For a relaxing mini-break, stay at the L’Auberge Provençale Bed & Breakfast, above, or another inn in the region. See story on page 18.

Three-generation travel adventure to Italy to appreciate their heritage. Not a hard sell.

Better than the pictures When you rent, you never know completely how your accommodations will look, feel and smell. But our villa was glorious — even better than the photos. As a bonus, it had an almost identical second building with an office on the ground floor, plus two full apartments. My husband and I chose the second-floor, twobedroom apartment for its view. We assigned all the rooms beforehand, so there was no scrambling or hard feelings. They were all beautiful. The 18 of us arrived at the villa in waves — and during a heat wave. July was a lessthan-ideal time to go, with high temperatures and bees buzzing around the poolside flowers. But with so many school-age grandchildren, we couldn’t schedule the trip in a more desirable month. Our six grandsons and two granddaughters, toddler to pre-teen, skipped all over the place on arrival, exploring everything from the outdoor pool to the indoor spa. Our family joined millions of others in Italy last summer. We called it our “trip of a lifetime,” partly because we spared almost no expense. But as a survivor of stage 3 lymphoma, I say go for it if you can.

PHOTO BY SIENA HILT

By Ann Cochran Our lovely two-bedroom apartment in a Tuscan villa is all warm yellows and muted shades of rose. Vineyards and olive groves surround the villa, stretching far into the hills. Through the large windows, we can see the pool sparkling and, in another direction, the terrace where our family gathers for breakfast. Our eight grandchildren often run across the driveway and up the steps from their villa to ours for a snack. Later, two by two, they arrive with toothbrushes and PJs to spend the night in the twin beds of our second bedroom. Our oldest grandson, age 12, brings his late-rising grandmother, LaLa, an espresso every morning. Heaven? No, Tuscany! But it felt like heaven. After the Covid years, which included two family members’ bouts with cancer and one death, my husband and I rented a villa in the Chianti region of Tuscany and invited our four adult children and their families. Why Italy? Why not? But in my case — because my late mother was Italian, and Italy has always been a big part of my identity — I wanted my sons and grandchildren

PHOTO COURTESY OF CUCINA GIUSEPPINA

Cucina Guiseppina’s staff passes on Italian cooking techniques to tourists. Taking a cooking lesson while on vacation is a great way to meet local chefs, learn a few skills and have fun.

Ann Cochran and her husband splurged on a trip to Italy for their children and grandchildren. They rented a villa in Tuscany and took day trips to Siena and other towns.

Hired some experts to help We hired a wonderful small company to plan our week. Pam Mercer, owner of Tuscany Tours, and her team did an excellent job mixing day trips — always including large, delicious lunches — with enough relaxed time at the villa. With eight children, pool time was a priority. We visited Siena, Montalcino and Lucca. The longest bus ride was 90 minutes, but it was relaxing and fun. The kids had snacks and played with each other in various combinations. The oldest three joined the adults as fans of Wordle and Spelling Bee. Every excursion began with gelato and coffee. Tours followed, always with a second guide dedicated to the children. There were Italian language lessons at the beginning and along the way. In Siena, we learned about the ancient traditions of the Palio horse races. My husband and I met with my Zoom Italian teacher, Chiara, for a joyful in-person coffee. In Lucca, most of us rented bikes and rode along the thick city walls under canopies of leafy trees. One son veered off to visit a tailor and had a suit made. In Montalcino, those not doing a Brunello wine tasting explored a large

fortress and had more gelato before lunch.

Local flavor and cooking lessons Since we were in Italy, food was a huge focus. The refrigerator and cabinets had been fully stocked for us at the villa, according to a list I had emailed our host a week ahead. Giuseppina, the owner of a cooking school called Cucina Giuseppina, prepared our first and last dinners. She also taught the grandchildren to make pici from scratch. Made with just flour, water, salt and olive oil, this thick Tuscan pasta dates back to the Etruscans. Of all the outings, the cooking lessons with Giuseppina and her family were a family favorite. With the benefit of her 20 years of experience, she set up the lunch lesson well for this group, ages 2 to 75. Even the littlest one was handed a mezzaluna knife and, with supervision, chopped rosemary. The kids did so much: mixed dough, rolled gnocchi and prepared zucchini flowers and sage leaves for frying. One of her sons laid out a checkered blanket, and the See ITALY, page 17

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H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — M AY 2 0 2 3

Italy From page 16 eight kids gathered there, talking and playing, framed by olive trees and hillsides. It was a scene out of a movie or a dream. When we returned and told friends about the trip, many remarked that the time must have flown by. In part because so much planning was in place, I didn’t let it. I soaked in every moment, holding on, appreciating this dream becoming a reality. I can close my eyes right now and feel the cool terracotta tiles under my feet. I can hear the laughter of a granddaughter and grandson playing in the next room, too giddy to sleep. I can taste the homemade lasagna, the zucchini flowers and the delicious grocery store pizza. Perhaps my favorite memory was the afternoon one grandson came up to me when we were alone in the apartment and,

in a serious tone, said, “LaLa, I’m glad you’re my grandmother.” I lowered my post-chemo, barely-haired head to him and said, “I am so lucky to have you!”

Some tips if you go Round-trip tickets to Italy in the summertime can be pricey. There are no direct flights to Rome or Florence from BWI. Multi-stop flights from BWI start at $1,200 to Florence. If you’re planning a large group vacation in Italy, here are some tips: Hire a bus. Our bus and bus drivers were wonderful, and we never had to worry about navigating unfamiliar roads, directions or parking. Rent a villa with air conditioning. We also made sure to rent a villa where the windows had screens. We didn’t open the windows in July’s heat, but they’d be great in spring or fall.

Hire a professional photographer. Even though iPhones take fantastic shots, you will want some of the whole family. Carr y along snacks for children. Even though you can buy food everywhere, pulling something out of a bag or backpack is nice if you are stuck.

Make time before and after the trip to rest. Arriving a couple of days early in Rome allowed us to adjust to the time change. Moving on to Lake Como after ward gave us a much-appreciated rest after the joyful chaos of the family week.

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M AY 2 0 2 3 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Nearby, off-the-beaten-path B&Bs to try look more like grandma’s house. So, anytime I book a getaway, I check the website and the reviews first. A few negative reviews never bother me, but if there are many, that’s a definite red flag and a deal-breaker.

Inn at White Oak, Gettysburg, PA For my first foray into B&Bs, I chose the Inn at White Oak in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. And it didn’t disappoint. Actually, it was beyond our expectations. It’s nestled on 30 private acres with ponds, woodlands, waterfalls and, in season, beautiful gardens. Yet it’s just minutes from historic Gettysburg. Upon arrival, my husband and I were greeted by innkeepers Shiree and her husband, Craig, who gave us a tour of the billiard room, tea room, library, formal parlor and small spa. A big bonus is the romantic indoor pool, complete with a fireplace. In addition to the main house, there are

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PHOTO BY L’AUBERGE PROVENÇALE BED & BREAKFAST

By Alice Shapin There are times I need to get away but don’t want to spend weeks planning a trip or having to fly. I just want a change of scenery, good food and some interesting activities. A quick getaway, maybe a day or two, is all I need. So, I decided to look into B&Bs within a couple hours’ drive of our area. The fun thing about B&Bs is that no two are alike. And even within one B&B, no two rooms are the same. Of course, all serve a gourmet breakfast, often have coffee and home-baked goodies available all day, and a few even host a cocktail hour. Most have a communal dining table or smaller tables if you prefer not to socialize. Many innkeepers mingle with the guests and happily help you plan your day. Some B&Bs are housed in historic homes or estates with beautiful antiques, four-poster beds, fine linens, comfy common rooms and fireplaces, while others

The Renoir Room is one of 11 chic rooms at L’Auberge Provençale Bed & Breakfast, a 1753 inn and restaurant 90 minutes from D.C.

two free-standing outbuildings: the twobedroom, two-bathroom Carriage House (with a full kitchen), and the one-bedroom, two-story Cottage House, where we stayed. All guest rooms have high-end linens, plush robes and a luxury bathroom. Shiree’s love for interior design and attention to detail was on full display with our Sleep Number bed, custom frame and headboard, matching dresser and antiques everywhere. The two-course breakfast served in the bright dining area included a poached pear with a delicious sauce and an artfully plated egg dish. Coffee, tea, Shiree’s signature gingerbread chocolate chip cookies and other goodies were available all day. As the seasons and holidays change, so does Shiree’s decor.

Rent starts at $607. Income restrictions apply. Call or visit our web site to view this community. T/A Quantum Property Management

L’Auberge Provençale, White Post, VA L’Auberge Provençale Bed & Breakfast in White Post, Virginia, beckons wine lovers, foodies and those wanting to explore nearby Shenandoah National Park or stroll through Middleburg. The restored main house (dating from 1753) has 11 guest rooms and suites. Your room may have an aromatherapy steam shower, whirlpool tub, mountain views, sitting room, fireplace, private balcony or private entrance. Three miles from the main house is a second campus, Villa La Campagnette, on 18 landscaped acres, with three rooms and a swimming pool open to all guests. The inn is known for its French-American gourmet cuisine. Its owners proudly say they’ve been doing “farm to table” long before it became trendy. The bar area is less formal and offers a bistro menu as well as fine dining. The charming, cozy restaurant has a tasting menu and à la carte choices. We chose the tasting menu and started with the best French onion soup I’ve ever had, along with homemade bread. Everything is exquisitely plated. The wine list reads like an unabridged novel, and the sommelier

can help you choose the perfect pairing. Breakfast included homemade croissants, breakfast bread, creative entrees, fresh juice and café au lait.

Hambleton Inn Bed & Breakfast, St. Michaels, MD We kicked off 2023 at Hambleton Inn Bed & Breakfast in St. Michaels, Maryland. Owner-innkeeper Debra Alms, architectural designer, and her partner Richard P. Beavers, who works in construction, took a neglected waterfront B&B and totally restored and renovated it. They modernized the historic 1840 shipbuilder’s home with a Victorian ambiance and filled it with antiques, rugs and chandeliers. As we toured the house, Debra showed us pictures of the original structure and artifacts they found during the renovations. Each of the seven rooms in this luxurious B&B has a unique decor. Of course, they all have plush robes, bedspreads and pillows, and a magnificent faux fur throw draped over each bed. Its ensuite bathrooms have jetted tubs and showers; one even has a large copper tub. Outdoors, guests can sip wine or make s’mores at the firepit while enjoying water views and local wildlife like green herons, mallards, ospreys and bald eagles. And for a little extra romance, there’s Honeymoon Bridge — a late 19th-century pedestrian bridge in St. Michaels. For the Eastern Shore gourmet breakfast, we had orange juice, toast with caviar, bacon, homemade biscuits and two fried green tomatoes, topped with large crabcakes and a poached egg finished with Hollandaise sauce. During the day, our hosts offered snickerdoodle cookies and coffee. Now that we’ve experienced the wonderful world of nearby B&Bs, we’re ready to discover more hidden gems. For more information, visit innatwhiteoak.com, laubergeprovencale.com and hambletoninnbb.com. Note: Some B&Bs have steep stairs, so if you have mobility issues or don’t want to climb stairs, ask for a first-floor room.

Makes a great gift!

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — M AY 2 0 2 3

PHOTO COURTESY OF CCBC

Style Arts &

Hector Reynoso plays Goya in a play by Willy Conley. See story below.

Play opens eyes without use of words By Margaret Foster If you like Charlie Chaplin films, you’ll enjoy an upcoming production from The Performing Arts at Community College of Baltimore County in Catonsville. Although Goya: en la Quinta del Sordo (Spanish for “in the house of the deaf man”) doesn’t have any words, it has a little bit of comedy, music and food for thought. It’s a play about the works of Francisco de Goya (1746-1828) — a Spanish painter who produced his best works after he went deaf at age 46. The nonverbal play was written and directed by Willy Conley, a Deaf photographer, painter, educator and theater artist who lives in Hanover, Maryland. Conley, who has written dozens of plays, hopes this performance will help audiences realize “that there are other avenues of communication to explore and use when faced with a language barrier,” he said in an email to the Beacon. “I think this is a dream that most Deaf people have — that those who do not know sign language become flexible and creative enough to find alternative ways to communicate and work together.”

U UMMER N REASED WE GO TO W O HANDDRIVE IN • D HINGS I C IGHTS • IGH I IGH OG O AN DRIV D HIN IGH IIGH OG O AN DRIV D HIN IGH

Baltimore County roots Conley was born and raised in Lutherville by hearing parents who “are amazing people — well-educated, worldly, gregarious and incredibly resilient,” he said. Both educators, they encouraged Conley and his sister, who is also deaf, to get a good education and pursue their talents. Conley’s father, who was an elementary school principal, helped him build a darkroom where Conley could develop his photographs. His mother, a special education teacher, “turned me on to literature and often proofread my writings while offering encouragement along the way.” Conley earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biomedical photographic communications at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and initially worked as a pathology photographer. During his college years, he attended high-quality stage plays at RIT’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf. “It was the first time theater became accessible to me,” he said, and he was inspired to take some theater classes and perform in some plays. “I fell in love with the theater arts.” After a few years in the biomedical pho-

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MY NDR P•B EA ORS SUM • GR W TO T RS UM GR W TO T RS UM GR

tography field, Conley decided it was time for a change. “I made the jump because I was hitting the glass ceiling at my medical photography jobs due to my deafness,” he said. He auditioned for the National Theatre of the Deaf and won a spot in the worldrenowned theater company that performs internationally and has appeared on Broadway, the Disney Channel and Sesame Street. After a few years touring with the company, Conley decided to study playwriting in graduate school at Boston See PLAYWRIGHT, page 20 Willy Conley’s play Goya: en la Quinta del Sordo will be performed at the Community College of Baltimore County Performing Arts from April 27 to May 1. Conley, a retiree in Hanover, Maryland, has written 45 plays and published his eighth book this month.

Columbia Pro Cantare 46th Season Concerts

“AMERICAN TAPESTRY” Celebrating the enriching cultural tapestry of American music.

Saturday, May 6, 2023, 8 PM Jim Rouse Theatre for the Performing Arts 5460 Trumpeter Road, Columbia, MD 21045

Information & Tickets: www.procantare.org

Arts & Style | Subscribe online! See how on p. 22

Playwright From page 19 University. With that degree, he got a job teaching theater arts at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. Conley retired in December after 30 years at Gallaudet, where he was a professor and chair of the theater department. During his career, Conley has published eight books and amassed at least eight awards for his 45 plays. His eighth book, which will be pub-

M AY 2 0 2 3 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

lished this month, is Photographic Memories: Selected Essays, Playlets, and Stories. He’s currently working on two more screenplays and a coffee-table book of his photographs.

Product of two creative minds Conley co-wrote Goya in 2001 with an admired colleague, Russian-born actor Iosif Schneiderman, with whom he wanted to collaborate on a play. Schneiderman suggested a work about Goya’s life. At Conley’s suggestion, the

BEACON BITS

May 6

AMERICAN TAPESTRY CONCERT The Columbia Pro Cantare chorus will perform American music in a concert on Sat., May 6, from 8 to 9:30 p.m. at the Jim Rouse

Theatre for the Performing Arts, 5460 Trumpeter Rd., Columbia. Advance tickets are $23 for adults and $20 for students and senior citizens. To purchase, call (301) 854-0107 or visit procantare.org.

play became a “visual, nonverbal movement piece,” as he put it. Conley created a sequence of scenarios based on Goya’s paintings and drawings. Schneiderman crafted the actors’ masks and taught them creative movement and pantomime. The play has evolved a bit since it was first performed in 2002. “The newest version delves deeper into my imaginings of the psycho-social impact that Goya’s deafness had on his life, art and interactions with people,” Conley said. “Also, when I learned that CCBC’s theater program offered projection technology, I decided to add this design element into the play, where we fuse some of Goya’s art with the set.” Hearing members of the audience might need a few minutes to adjust to a non-speaking play, Conley said. “But as things progress, and with the help of music, they become used to it and get caught up in the story,” he said.

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Roots of universal language The turning point of the play is the moment when Goya, afflicted with a sudden illness that may have been an autoimmune disease, loses his hearing. For this scene, Conley highlights one of Goya’s etchings titled “Dream of Universal Language.” Intrigued by the work’s title, Conley wondered what Goya meant: gestures, paintings, body language? All of the above? A shared language may be easier to develop in the absence of sound or sight, Conley suggested. “When one loses the sense of hearing or sight, does humanity’s truth become clearer and more honest? And what happens when an artist strives to reveal the truth? “Any or all of these thoughts are what I hope may pop up in the audience’s mind when they leave the theater.” The Community College of Baltimore County Performing Arts presents Goya: en la Quinta del Sordo from April 27 to May 1 in the theater at the Center for the Arts, CCBC Catonsville, 800 South Rolling Rd. Showtimes will be Thursday, April 27 at 11 a.m., Friday and Saturday, April 28 and 29, at 7 p.m., Sunday, Apr. 30 at 3 p.m., and Monday, May 1 at 10 a.m. Tickets are $10, $5 for students, seniors, CCBC faculty and staff, and free for CCBC students with ID. Tickets can be purchased at the CCBC Box Office one hour before performances or by calling (443) 840-ARTS (2787), or visiting ccbctickets.com.

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HOWARD COUNTY

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Deaf audiences have enjoyed earlier versions of the play, praising it as a “total theater experience,” he said, where they “don’t have to strain to understand whatever language is being expressed.”

FROM PAGE 22 ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

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Makes a great gift! | Arts & Style

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — M AY 2 0 2 3

Conductor From page 1

New jazz focus During the 2016-2017 season, the orchestra expanded its musical offerings beyond symphony orchestra and chamber concerts to also include jazz. These performances were made possible by bringing the Columbia Jazz Band, under the Columbia Orchestra umbrella as a partner organization, to present its jazz series in tandem with the Columbia Orchestra’s other programs. The Columbia Jazz Band has been presenting modern jazz since 1989, performing at venues such as the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival in Rockville and the world-famous Mon-

treux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland. Since 2017, it has been directed by jazz pianist and brass musician Fred Hughes, who has performed, conducted and presented jazz workshops nationally and internationally for more than three decades. Love noted the importance of jazz and its influence on classical music, and viceversa. “The language of jazz and the language of classical music have influenced one another,” he pointed out.

Deciding what comes next While Love did perform some cello recitals during his conducting years, he hopes to play more with the bow when he puts down the wand. Love began playing the cello back in his

Classifieds cont. from p. 23 TV/Cable

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North Carolina public school days, then moved with the instrument to the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore. He graduated from there in 1994 with a Master of Arts in orchestral conducting. Five years later, at the ripe young age of 28, he was appointed conductor of the Columbia Orchestra. “My desire now is to give more cello,” Love said. There are two last chances to see Love conducting the Columbia Orchestra. The season’s official finale will be May 20 at the Jim Rouse Theater, when the Columbia Orchestra plays an all-American program of

Aaron Copeland’s Symphony No.3, George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” and “Umoja, Anthem of Liberty” by Valerie Coleman. Love and the orchestra will wind up with soon-to-be scheduled “mostly American” concert June 11 in Clarksville. When Love’s orchestra members asked him what he plans to do next, he told them, “My first priority is to take some time to learn and observe and think about where the next 24 years will take me. “Not knowing is scary,” Love said, “but it’s exciting, too.” For tickets and showtimes, visit columbiaorchestra.org or call (410) 465-8777.

Subscribe online! See how below

M AY 2 0 2 3 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Crossword Puzzle Find a new crossword every day on our website at www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com/puzzles. Boing! 1

Stephen Sherr 2

33 37

42 46

HB523

Scrabble answers on p. 20.

20 22

4. Battleship marker Across 5. The x usually runs horizontally 1. Beanie or beret 6. Tallest U.S. president 4. Lose color 7. Gas with 6 hydrogen atoms around 8. Skedaddle 2 carbons 13. John Belushi wore one in Animal House 8. Backtalk 14. Word visible in a dark theater 15. Going to ___ (Smokey Robinson tune) 9. Maritime security orgs. 10. Misfortune 16. An enthusiastic boy has one 11. Advancing through demographics 19. Goal of the United Nations 12. Vehicles with both motors and pedals Security Council 13. 1/96th of a pint 20. Whole lotta 17. One of six naturally occurring 21. Seal up a balloon noble gases 22. Ground breaker 24. Average number of ovaries per person 18. “I haven’t got the faintest ___” 23. Subject of 60% inflation in 2022 25. “___ my regards” 25. Farm structure 26. Spruce-ups 26. Murder, ___ Wrote 31. Paint swatch element 27. “A backwards poet writes inverse,” 32. Most of a martini for example 33. “__ work and no play...” 28. Eligible to vote 34. Captivate 29. Intro to Roman Studies course 37. Roundabout routes numbers 41. Debt that is part of your subconscious 30. ___ King Cole 42. Rep. from NYC 35. Clue murder weapon 43. Stage manager’s signal 36. Days of ___ Lives 44. Any AARP member 37. Leader of the Seven Dwarfs 50. MOLTEN center 38. Nymph cursed to only be able to repeat 51. Diminutive words 52. Cry of surprise 39. Regret 53. Lyric poem 40. One of 100 in D.C. 54. “When a poor man ___ chicken, one 42. Way back when of them is sick” (Fiddler on the Roof) 44. Gallows requirements 56. Traveler’s rest stop 45. One who knows all the tricks 60. Conclusion drawn from this puzzle 46. ___ my finger at them 63. Not slouched 47. Start of -lands or -world 64. “Holy Toledo!” 48. 95% of their diners are actually in 65. Religious offshoot the U.S. 66. 7-Up and Coke Zero 49. Like 60-grit sandpaper 67. Paul and Howard 54. MDs that treat adenoids 68. Cy Young’s lowest was 1.26 in 1908 55. Big ___ ox Down 57. Litigant 1. There was a new one in Star Wars: 58. Ancient Peruvian Episode IV 59. Cpl.’s superior 2. The Taj Mahal’s city 61. End for basil- or arab3. Chinese shadowboxing 62. Radical 60s org.

Answers on page 20.

Makes a great gift!

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — M AY 2 0 2 3

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M AY 2 0 2 3 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

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