May 2024 | Baltimore Beacon

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Pigeons have carried messages for their owners dating back to ancient Egypt. The birds even helped the United States fight World Wars I and II by carrying messages in tiny capsules attached to their legs.

Soldiers in the field would release the pigeons to fly to their home loft. When the pigeons arrived, a member of the Signal Corps

he Skip Th To T o-Do L List & Start Y Yo our To T oo-Fun List.

I N S I D E …

PHOTO BY DREW LESOFSKI

Some carrier pigeon history

MAY 2024

More than 125,000 readers throughout Greater Baltimore

Devoted to raising, racing pigeons

By Glenda C. Booth When Beverly Gottlieb was growing up in Hanover, Maryland, other teenagers had to clean the house after school. She had to clean the pigeon coop.

Her father taught her not only how to raise pigeons, but how to race them. “I was born into it,” said Gottlieb of the hobby.

She still races pigeons today with the Greater Baltimore Pigeon Club.

Pigeon racing is a sport — some say an art — in which pigeons compete against each other in a flying race. Owners take their birds miles away from their home coops, called lofts, and release them to race home, tracking their time.

People who race pigeons are sometimes called “pigeon fanciers.” They buy or breed fast-flying pigeons and train them to enhance their chances of winning.

Several breeds of pigeons exist, but many pigeon racers say that the racing homer pigeon is the best for racing because it has a slim body shape and powerful wing and chest muscles. These pigeons can fly up to 70 miles per hour and cover 600 to 700 miles per day.

Five Baltimore, Washington and Virginia clubs form the Metropolitan Washington Racing Pigeon Concourse. These clubs race against each other, and winners receive cash prizes or trophies, depending on the race.

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LEISURE & TRAVEL

Disney World isn’t only for kids — adults should plan early and stay late; plus, a lakeside “staycation” in Columbia, Maryland page 16

Errol Ecker, 75, has raised pigeons since he was eight years old. Today, the Maryland retiree is considered a top “pigeon fancier,” training birds that have won hundreds of races. He and other Marylanders devote their lives to racing pigeons. “It’s a passion,” Ecker said.

would remove the message from the canister and send it on to its destination by telegraph, field telephone or human messenger.

The most famous war pigeon, Cher Ami (French for “dear friend”), is credited with saving 197 soldiers in World War I. Born in England, Cher Ami was awarded the French Croix de Guerre for delivering a message that led to the rescue of the 77th Division’s “Lost Battalion” in 1918.

In 2019, Cher Ami posthumously received the Congressional Animals in War and Peace Medal of Bravery. During her travels, the bird was shot in the chest, blinded in one eye and injured in one leg, requiring amputation. Today, the taxidermied, one-legged Cher Ami is in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

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See you at the gym!

My wife and I started the Beacon 35 strong as one ages in order to better face years ago, when we were relatively young. the challenges ahead.

While I was never what you’d I decided I could no longer call athletic, I was trim at the fail to follow the Beacon’s time and in decent shape for good advice. my age.

So, for my 50th birthday, I By the time I turned 50, asked my family for two however, I realized that was no things: a package of sessions longer the case. Though we with a physical trainer and had two young children at the forbearance to let me eat home, I still managed to be something completely differmostly sedentary, and it ent from the rest of them for showed. some months, in keeping As you might guess, pub- FROM THE with the recommendations of lishing a newspaper is not a PUBLISHER that trainer. physically demanding occu- By Stuart P. Rosenthal It wasn’t easy, but it worked. pation. But it did repeatedly I lost a good bit of accumulatexpose me to articles about healthy eating ed fat and learned how to properly use the and the importance of staying active and equipment at a typical gym.

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The Beacon is a monthly newspaper dedicated to inform, serve, and entertain the citizens of the Greater Baltimore area, and is privately owned. Other editions serve Howard County, Md. and Greater Washington, D.C. Subscriptions are available via third-class mail ($12), prepaid with order. Maryland residents add 6 percent for sales tax. Send subscription order to the office listed below.

Publication of advertising contained herein does not necessarily constitute endorsement. Signed columns represent the opinions of the writers, and not necessarily the opinion of the publisher.

Publisher/Editor – Stuart P. Rosenthal President/Associate Publisher – Judith K. Rosenthal Executive Vice President – Gordon Hasenei Managing Editor – Margaret Foster Art Director – Kyle Gregory Vice President of Operations – Roger King Advertising Representatives –

Fortunately, the somewhat extreme diet I went on was not something I had to follow long-term. But the exercise program was.

It’s been more than 15 years, and I still “follow the program.” Well, it’s not exactly the same program, but another set of weight-bearing exercises designed specifically for us “over 60” types.

Even when I travel, as I did recently, I do my best to find a nearby gym where I can work out every day or two.

Sometimes those gyms are peppered with huge guys and fit ladies who look like they would make great personal bodyguards.

But on this trip, I ended up at two different gyms, each with a widely diverse clientele. There were teenagers working out after school, gym rats, younger seniors (like me) trying to hold it together, and a significant number of truly older adults (I’m guessing 80 and up) who clearly knew what they were doing and did it well.

I’m used to seeing young studs hoist weights in each arm that I would be lucky to roll across the floor. But this time, I saw older men and women, some looking rather frail to my eye, doing leg presses and other exercises with about double the weight I can currently muster.

It all goes to show that the more you do, the more you can do.

The point, however, is not to impress other people with how much you can lift or

press. The important message is that we can all increase our strength by engaging in regular exercise (either under supervision or following excellent training) and thereby boost our quality — and enjoyment — of life.

Study after study has shown that, at any age, starting an exercise program — especially weight-bearing exercise — brings health benefits.

Carrying groceries, playing with grandchildren, climbing stairs, and even just keeping our balance and avoiding falls all require core strength and overall fitness.

Aerobic endurance is also important.

If you aren’t currently able to do those things with ease, try to find a personal trainer at a reputable fitness facility who can teach and inspire you.

And don’t worry if the best program you can bring yourself to do is very limited. It’s essential to find something you can keep doing regularly, which means you should find something you enjoy, at least somewhat — whether it’s walking, swimming, using free weights or doing chair exercises.

I’m not saying you will necessarily find the effort satisfying for its own sake (though you might). But you’ll probably find that it helps you live your best life over the years to come.

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.

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ince 1968, Family & Nursing Care has helped tens of thousands of families by providing access to caregivers w wh ho help older adults with activities of daily living — including bathing, dressing, mobility assistance, errands, meal prep, light ht housekeeping,

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an older spouse are at the greatest risk to be readmitted to the hospital and could beneffiit fr f rom additional help, especially immediately upon their return home.

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preparation, bathing, dressing and support fo for those who may be at risk fo for a fall.

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Health Fitness &

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Silent brain changes precede Alzheimer’s

By Lauran Neergaard Alzheimer’s disease quietly ravages the brain long before symptoms appear. Now scientists have new clues about the dominolike sequence of those changes — a potential window to one day intervene.

A large study in China tracked middleaged and older adults for 20 years, using regular brain scans, spinal taps and other tests.

Compared to those who remained cognitively healthy, people who eventually developed the mind-robbing disease had higher levels of an Alzheimer’s-linked protein in their spinal fluid 18 years prior to diagnosis, researchers reported last month.

Then every few years afterward, the study detected another so-called biomarker of brewing trouble.

Scientists don’t know exactly how Alzheimer’s forms. One early hallmark is that sticky protein called beta-amyloid, which over time builds up into brain-clogging plaques. Amyloid alone isn’t enough to damage memory — plenty of healthy

people’s brains harbor a lot of plaque. An abnormal tau protein that forms neuronkilling tangles is one of several co-conspirators.

The new research, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, offers a timeline for how those abnormalities pile up.

The study’s importance “cannot be overstated,” said Dr. Richard Mayeux, an Alzheimer’s specialist at Columbia University who wasn’t involved in the research.

“Knowledge of the timing of these physiological events is critical” for testing new ways of treating and maybe eventually even preventing Alzheimer’s, he wrote in an accompanying editorial.

The findings have no practical implications yet.

cure. But last year a drug named Leqembi became the first approved medication with clear evidence that it could slow the worsening of early Alzheimer’s — albeit for a few months.

It works by clearing away some of that gunky amyloid protein. The approach also is being tested to see if it’s possible to delay Alzheimer’s onset if high-risk people are treated before symptoms appear. Still other drugs are being developed to target tau.

Tracking silent brain changes is key for such research. Scientists already knew that in rare, inherited forms of Alzheimer’s that strike younger people, a toxic form of amyloid starts accumulating about two decades ahead of symptoms and at some point later tau kicks in.

One drug seems to slow progression

What the study found

More than 6 million Americans, and millions more worldwide, have Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia. There’s no

The new findings show the order in which such biomarker changes occurred with more common old-age Alzheimer’s.

Researchers with Beijing’s Innovation

Center for Neurological Disorders compared 648 people eventually diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and an equal number who remained healthy. The amyloid finding in future Alzheimer’s patients was the first, 18 years or 14 years prior to diagnosis depending on the test used.

Differences in tau were detected next, followed by a marker of trouble in how neurons communicate. A few years after that, differences in brain shrinkage and cognitive test scores between the two groups became apparent, the study found.

“The more we know about viable Alzheimer’s treatment targets and when to address them, the better and faster we will be able to develop new therapies and preventions,” said Claire Sexton, the Alzheimer’s Association’s senior director of scientific programs.

She noted that blood tests are coming soon that promise to also help by making it easier to track amyloid and tau.

—AP

Study questions plastic’s effect on heart

By Carla K. Johnson We breathe, eat and drink tiny particles of plastic. But are these minuscule specks in the body harmless, dangerous or somewhere in between?

A small study published recently in the New England Journal of Medicine raises more questions than it answers about how these bits — microplastics and the smaller nanoplastics — might affect the heart.

The Italian study has weaknesses, but it is likely to draw attention to the debate over the problem of plastic pollution. Most plastic waste is never recycled and breaks down into these particles.

“The study is intriguing. However, there are really substantial limitations,” said Dr. Steve Nissen, a heart expert at the Cleveland Clinic. “It’s a wake-up call that perhaps we need to take the problem of microplastics more seriously. As a cause for

heart disease? Not proven. As a potential cause? Yes, maybe.”

What did the study find?

The study involved 257 people who had surgery to clear blocked blood vessels in their necks. Italian researchers analyzed the fatty buildup the surgeons removed from the carotid arteries, which supply blood and oxygen to the brain.

Using two methods, they found evidence of plastics — mostly invisible nanoplastics — in the artery plaque of 150 patients and no evidence of plastics in 107 patients.

They followed these people for three years. During that time, 30 (or 20%) of those with plastics had a heart attack, stroke or died from any cause, compared to eight (or about 8%) of those with no evidence of plastics.

The researchers also found more evi-

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dence of inflammation in the people with the plastic bits in their blood vessels. Inflammation is the body’s response to injury and is thought to raise the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

“I hope that the alarming message from our study will raise the consciousness of citizens, especially governments, to finally become aware of the importance of the health of our planet,” said Dr. Raffaele Marfella of the University of Campania in Italy, who led the study, in an email.

What are the problems with the study?

It’s very small and looked only at people with narrowed arteries, who were already at risk for heart attack and stroke. The patients with plastics had more heart disease, diabetes and high cholesterol than those without plastics. They were more likely to be men and more likely to be smokers.

The researchers tried to adjust for these risk factors during their statistical analysis, but they may have missed important differences between the groups that could account for the results. This kind of study cannot prove that plastics caused their problems.

The researchers had no information on

what the people consumed or breathed that might account for the plastics.

The specimens could have been contaminated in the lab. The researchers acknowledge as much in their paper and suggest that future studies be done in clean rooms where air is filtered for pollutants.

The researchers suggest the risk of heart attack, stroke or death was four times greater in the people with the plastics. That seems high, Nissen said.

“It would mean that these microplastics are the most important cause of coronary heart disease yet discovered. And I just don’t think that’s likely to be right,” he said.

More research is needed, said Dr. Philip Landrigan of Boston College. Landrigan, who wrote an accompanying editorial in the journal, said it is the first report suggesting a connection between microplastics and nanoplastics with disease in humans. Other scientists have found plastic bits in the lungs, liver, blood, placenta and breast milk.

“It does not prove cause and effect, but it suggests cause and effect,” he said. “And it needs urgently to be either replicated or disproven by other studies done by other investigators in other populations.”

—AP

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Medications that can interfere with sleep

By Howard LeWine, M.D. Q: I am wondering if one of my medications is interfering with my sleep. Which types of drugs are more likely to do that?

A: Medications that affect sleep can be prescription drugs or over-the-counter remedies. Here are some common culprits: Antidepressants. Antidepressants are typically prescribed to treat depression or anxiety, and they have varying side effects, even within the same drug class.

For example, among selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), fluoxetine (Prozac) can be stimulating and may make it hard to fall or stay asleep.

Beta blockers. Beta blockers such as metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL) and atenolol (Tenormin) are used primarily to treat high blood pressure or an irregular heartbeat. These medications can sometimes decrease the body’s natural levels of melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate your sleep-wake cycle.

Decongestants. Oral decongestants such as pseudoephedrine help shrink

swollen membranes in the nasal passages, allowing more air to pass through them.

But they can be stimulating. They can raise your blood pressure and heart rate, and may cause insomnia in some people.

Diuretics. Diuretics such as furosemide (Lasix), torsemide (Demadex), and hydrochlorothiazide reduce the amount of sodium and water in the body. They’re prescribed to treat high blood pressure, kidney disorders, liver disease, and fluid retention caused by heart failure. Diuretics don’t affect sleep directly, but they can interrupt sleep if they make you go to the bathroom during the night.

Smoking-cessation drugs. Over-thecounter nicotine replacement medications such as nicotine patches, gum, or lozenges can cause someone to have unusual dreams or nightmares and wake them up.

The prescription drug varenicline (Chantix) also can cause nightmares.

Steroids. Oral steroids such as prednisone are used to reduce inflammation inside the body. Prednisone stimulates the production of the stress hormone cortisol and mimics what stress does to

BEACON BITS

the body, which can make it hard to fall asleep and disrupt the sleep cycle.

What to do about it There are a number of things you can do if you think your sleep problems could be related to one of your medications.

Practice good sleep hygiene. Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day; avoid caffeine after lunch; don’t drink alcohol or eat close to bedtime; turn off electronic screens an hour before bed; and sleep in a cool, dark, comfortable spot.

Take the medication during the day. This applies to drugs that make it hard to fall or stay asleep, cause night-

mares, or make you get up and go to the bathroom.

Take a lower dose. Ask your doctor if lowering your medication dose will help you get better sleep.

Switch to a new medication. If you’ve tried everything and sleep problems are becoming distressing, ask your doctor if you can switch to a medication that won’t affect your sleep.

Howard LeWine, M.D., is an internist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. For additional consumer health information, visit health.harvard.edu. © 2024 Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Health Shorts People over 65 should get another Covid shot Older U.S. adults should roll up their sleeves for another COVID-19 shot, even if they got a booster in the fall, U.S. health of-

M AY 2 0 2 4 — B A L T I M O R E B E A C O N

ficials said in February.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Americans 65 and older should get another dose of the updated vaccine that became available in September — if at least four months has passed since their last shot. In making the recommendation, the agency endorsed guidance proposed by an expert advisory panel.

“Most COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations last year were among people 65 years and older. An additional vaccine dose can provide added protection ... for those at

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highest risk,” CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen said in a statement.

Some doctors say most older adults are adequately protected by the fall shot, which built on immunity derived from earlier vaccinations and exposure to the virus itself. And preliminary studies so far have shown no substantial waning in vaccine effectiveness over six months.

However, the body’s vaccine-induced defenses tend to fade over time, and that happens faster in seniors than in other adults. The committee had recommended COVID-19 booster doses for older adults in 2022 and 2023.

COVID-19 remains a danger, especially to older people and those with underlying medical conditions. There are still more than 20,000 hospitalizations and more than 2,000 deaths each week due to the coronavirus, according to the CDC. And people 65 and older have the highest hospitalization and death rates.

In September, the government recommended a new COVID-19 shot recipe built against a version of the coronavirus called XBB.1.5. That single-target vaccine replaced combination shots that had been targeting both the original coronavirus strain and a much earlier omicron version.

The CDC recommended the new shots for everyone 6 months and older, and allowed that people with weak immune systems could get a second dose as early as two months after the first.

Most Americans haven’t listened. Ac-

cording to the latest CDC data, 13% of U.S. children have gotten the shots and about 22% of U.S. adults have. The vaccination rate is higher for adults 65 and older, at nearly 42%.

“In each successive vaccine, the uptake has gone down,” said Dr. David Canaday, a Case Western Reserve University infectious diseases expert who studies COVID19 in older people.

“People are tired of getting all these shots all the time,” said Canaday, who does not serve on the committee. “We have to be careful about over-recommending the vaccine.”

CDC officials say that among those who got the latest version of the COVID-19 vaccine, 50% fewer will get sick after they come into contact with the virus compared with those who didn’t get the fall shot.

—AP

Should you drink water with meals?

There has been some confusion about the importance of drinking water with meals and snacks. In fact, there have even been some concerns regarding water intake and potentially negative impacts on digestion.

However, Michael F. Picco, a physician See HEALTH SHORTS, page 7

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Can probiotics help with weight loss?

By Meera Shah Dear Mayo Clinic: My friend insists that taking a probiotic supplement has helped her lose 50 pounds by keeping her gut bacteria in check. Will taking a probiotic in conjunction with a balanced diet and exercise help me lose weight?

A: It is true that the gut bacterial population in people who are obese differs from the population in people who are lean. Whether this difference contributes to obesity or is a consequence of obesity is unknown.

So far, research hasn’t yielded clear answers. Although taking a probiotic is unlikely to cause harm, it may not help fight obesity.

First and foremost, it is important to understand that weight gain is essentially a function of energy imbalance. You gain weight when you take in more calories than your body burns.

And there is some evidence that bacteria in the gut play a role in how efficiently the body extracts energy from the food that reaches the small intestine.

Your digestive tract, also called the gut, contains trillions of bacteria. Many of those bacteria play useful roles in the body, including metabolizing nutrients from food.

While much of the bacteria in the gut are valuable, some are not. Studies have been performed about how an imbalance between good and bad gut bacteria could contribute to certain medical disorders.

Eating foods such as yogurt and sauerkraut that contain probiotics — “good” bacteria — or taking a probiotic supplement have been credited with health bene-

Health shorts From page 6 from the Mayo Clinic, notes, “There’s no concern that water will dilute digestive juices or interfere with digestion. In fact, drinking water during or after a meal actually aids digestion.”

Regular and adequate water intake is essential for good health. Especially important is to consume enough water (and other beverages) to ensure that your body can effectively absorb and use the nutrients in the food you eat.

Water also acts as a natural stool softener and helps prevent or lessen constipation. Drinking water around meal time may help take the edge off hunger and may assist in weight management.

It’s always important to consider your own personal situation. If you have been advised by a physician to limit water or fluids at any point throughout the day, you should heed that advice. If you want to increase your water intake, be sure to bring it up at your next medical appointment.

Reprinted with permission from Environmental Nutrition, a monthly publication of Belvoir Media Group, LLC, 1-800829-5384, EnvironmentalNutrition.com. © 2024 Belvoir Media Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency LLC.

fits. There is some evidence that probiotics might improve gut health.

To date, however, the only studies that have shown convincing results that changing the composition of gut bacteria — sometimes called the gut microbiome — affects weight have been performed using germ-free mice.

An analysis of the results of published research studies that have investigated probiotics and weight loss revealed no clear answers. That is partly because research methods varied widely among those studies, and a range of different probiotics were included.

What is clear is that the most important factor determining the makeup of the gut microbiome is diet. But, that calls into question which comes first. Does obesity lead to a certain type of microbiome? Or does a certain type of microbiome lead to obesity? At this point, this is unknown.

Plant-based foods help the gut Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables appears to help good bacteria in your gut thrive. It also can be beneficial in filling you up and limiting overeating of snack foods and other unnecessary calories.

Also, limiting fat, sugar and animal sources of protein can help maintain a healthier gut microbiome because research shows that diets high in those

foods correlate with a more unfavorable bacteria makeup in the gut.

The most reliable way to lose weight is to eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly, so you’re burning more calories than you’re consuming. © 2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All Rights Reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BEACON BITS VISIONWALK VOLUNTEER

June 2

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You can volunteer for any amount of time to help with tasks such as passing out refreshments or helping with registration. For more information and to volunteer, visit tinyurl.com/VisionWalkBaltimore.

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M AY 2 0 2 4 — B A L T I M O R E B E A C O N

Breaking down acute and chronic pancreatitis

By Sebastian Strobel, M.D. Dear Mayo Clinic: I’m in my late 50s and was recently diagnosed with pancreatitis. My symptoms came on suddenly.

My wife is concerned my symptoms may develop again, and she wants me to have testing to determine the cause.

What are the testing and treatment options available for pancreatitis?

A: Simply put, pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. Located behind the stomach in the upper abdomen, your pancreas produces digestive enzymes and hormones that regulate how your body processes sugar.

Pancreatitis is caused by the irritation and inflammation of the cells of your pancreas. This occurs when digestive enzymes released by the pancreas become active while still in the pancreas.

Pancreatitis can occur in two forms:

acute or chronic. More people experience an acute form of pancreatitis, which appears suddenly.

Mild cases of pancreatitis typically can be resolved in days with treatment. Severe cases of acute pancreatitis can cause life-threatening conditions, such as kidney and lung failure.

Acute pancreatitis symptoms include severe upper abdominal pain, abdominal pain that extends to your back and shoulders, yellowing of the skin, tender abdomen, nausea and vomiting, and fever.

Treatment for acute pancreatitis consists of IV fluids and medication to manage pain. You can eat if tolerated, or tube feeding may be necessary. Once your pancreatitis is under control, your healthcare team will determine what caused the pancreatitis attack. Treatment depends on the cause.

A procedure called endoscopic retro-

grade cholangiopancreatography, or ERCP, uses a long tube with a camera on the end to take pictures of your pancreas and bile ducts. This helps your healthcare team see if stones are blocking the bile duct.

If so, the stones can be removed using tools passed through the endoscope.

The bile duct and pancreatic duct enter the bowels in the same area. This is why a blockage of the bile ducts can cause pancreatitis.

If gallstones caused your pancreatitis — with or without bile duct blockage — your healthcare team may recommend surgery to remove your gallbladder. This procedure is called a cholecystectomy.

Surgery may be done before you go home if your attack is mild. In severe cases, surgery may be done later to let the inflammation go down.

Causes and symptoms

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Consuming several alcoholic drinks a day over many years can be one cause of pancreatitis.

If this is the cause of your ailments, your healthcare team may recommend you enter a treatment program. Continuing to drink alcohol may worsen your pancreatitis and lead to serious complications, including chronic pancreatitis.

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Pancreatitis that occurs over many years can damage your pancreas and lead to chronic pancreatitis. It causes permanent damage and scarring of the pancreas.

Chronic pancreatitis can lead to weight loss, pain, diabetes and pancreatic cancer.

Its symptoms include upper abdominal pain, indigestion, abdominal pain that worsens after eating, or unexpected weight loss. Oily, smelly stools, called steatorrhea, or jaundice, which is yellowing of the eyes and skin, can occur with pancreatitis.

Treating chronic pancreatitis may involve changes to your diet, pain management and taking enzymes to improve digestion.

Additional factors that increase your risk of developing pancreatitis include cigarette smoking, obesity, diabetes and a family history of pancreatitis.

Talk with your healthcare team about sudden or persistent symptoms related to pancreatitis. —Sebastian Strobel, M.D., Gastroenterology, Mayo Clinic Health System, La Crosse, Wisconsin Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. E-mail a question to MayoClinicQ&A@mayo.edu. For more information, visit mayoclinic.org. © 2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

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B A L T I M O R E B E A C O N — M AY 2 0 2 4

Roasted chickpeas add crunch to salad

Chopped Salad with Spiced Skillet-Roasted Chickpeas Serves 2 Note: any salad greens can be substituted for the arugula. If Peppadews are unavailable, substitute pepperoncini.

2 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas, rinsed and patted dry ½ teaspoon smoked paprika ¼ teaspoon plus teaspoon table salt, divided ¼ teaspoon plus teaspoon pepper, divided ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra as needed 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar 1 teaspoon honey ¾ teaspoon Dijon mustard ½ teaspoon minced fresh thyme 1 English cucumber, quartered lengthwise and cut into ½-inch pieces 8 ounces cherry tomatoes, quartered 2 ounces (2 cups) baby arugula, chopped coarse 2 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (½ cup), divided 1 cup jarred hot Peppadew peppers, sliced thin 1. Line a large plate with a double layer of paper towels. Spread chickpeas over the plate in an even layer. Microwave until exteriors of chickpeas are dry and many have ruptured, 8 to 12 minutes. Meanwhile, combine paprika, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper in a small bowl.

2. Line a rimmed baking sheet with a single layer of paper towels. Heat oil in a 12inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Transfer chickpeas to skillet, spreading into a single layer.

Cook, stirring occasionally, until chickpeas are golden brown and make a rustling sound when stirred, 4 to 8 minutes.

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3. Using a slotted spoon, transfer chickpeas to a large bowl and toss with paprika mixture to coat. Transfer chickpeas to the prepared sheet to cool slightly (do not rinse bowl). Carefully pour off oil from skillet into a liquid measuring cup. (You should have about 3 tablespoons. Add extra oil as needed to equal ¼ cup.)

4. Whisk vinegar, honey, Dijon, thyme, remaining teaspoon of salt, remaining teaspoon pepper, and reserved oil together in a small bowl. Combine cucumber, tomatoes, arugula, ¼ cup feta, Peppadews, and half of chickpeas in the now-empty large bowl. Drizzle with three-quarters of vinaigrette and toss to evenly coat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle remaining feta and chickpeas over top and serve, passing extra vinaigrette separately. © 2024 America’s Test Kitchen. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

PHOTO BY AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN

By Steve Dunn, America’s Test Kitchen Our hearty, chickpea-centric chopped salad began with zapping the chickpeas in the microwave to dry out their plump interiors and rupture their exteriors. Then, pan-frying the slightly dehydrated legumes caused their papery skins to blister and crackle while their dense insides puffed and crisped.

We tossed the crunchy chickpeas with a zippy spice mix and set them aside to cool before scattering them atop a salad of arugula, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, sweet-hot Peppadew peppers, and saltyrich feta.

A gutsy honey-Dijon vinaigrette finished things off with sweetness and tang.

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M AY 2 0 2 4 — B A L T I M O R E B E A C O N

Nine reasons for shortness of breath Experiencing shortness of breath, medically termed dyspnea, is common. It’s a sensation where you’re uncomfortably gasping for breath, feeling suffocated, yet it’s distinct from air hunger. This could be a fleeting issue, often tied to exercise or temporary ailments like bronchitis, but for some, it becomes a persistent whisper of a deeper problem, hinting at inefficient oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange within the lungs.

Let’s go over the most common conditions linked to shortness of breath: 1. Respirator y disorders: Asthma, COPD, pneumonia, COVID-19, pulmonary embolism, pleurisy, lung cancer and pul-

monary edema significantly affect lung function, making breathing a laborious task. Treatments for this may include steroid inhalers like betamethasone, or bronchodilators like albuterol, and possibly antibiotics for infection clearance.

2. Cardiovascular issues: Conditions like heart failure, cardiomyopathy, or heart attacks disrupt efficient blood pumping, limiting oxygen supply to the lungs and causing breathlessness. Treatments may include ACE inhibitors, digoxin, nitroglycerin, and/or natural supplements like CoQ10 or lifestyle changes are crucial.

3. Anemia: This condition, due to a

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RETIRED & SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

Ongoing If you are 55 or older, consider joining the Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Baltimore County. RSVP partners with more than 30 agencies looking for volunteers like you. For more information, contact (410) 887-3101 or RSVP@baltimorecountymd.gov.

lack of healthy red blood cells, reduces cessitating supplementation. Did you know oxygen transport, leading to fatigue and drinking caffeinated beverages will reduce shortness of breath. Blood your levels of magnesium? tests can reveal anemia, with That’s right, coffee is a drug treatments including iron or mugger of mag! vitamin supplements.

9. Hypothyroidism: A de4. Anxiety and panic ficiency in thyroid hormone disorders: The physical mancan lead to fatigue and breathifestations of psychological lessness, often intertwined stress or panic attacks can inwith B12, iodine and iron deficlude episodes of shortness of ciencies. Treatment may inbreath, emphasizing the need clude hormone therapy or supfor mental health support. plements to enhance T3 conDEAR 5. Obesity: Excess weight version.

PHARMACIST strains the heart and lungs, If you’re battling unexplained

By Suzy Cohen making minor activities feel shortness of breath, consulting overwhelmingly exhausting. with healthcare practitioners is 6. Pet allergies: For those with aller- paramount, especially if the problem is pergies, especially chronic asthma, pets can sistent or worsening. Multiple opinions can trigger allergies and shortness of breath. provide a broader perspective on your condiAntihistamines and inhalers can provide tion, aiding in uncovering the root cause. temporary relief.

Finding the root cause and taking care of it 7. Vitamin B12 and zinc deficien- will allow you to embrace life more fully, and cies: Essential for red blood cell production get up the stairs more easily too! Be careful and immune function, respectively, deficien- with exercise if you suffer from this condicies in these nutrients can compromise res- tion, and just work out to your comfort. piratory health. Genetic factors like the This information is opinion only. It is MTHFR genetic polymorphism may also im- not intended to treat, cure or diagnose pact B12 levels impacting oxygen transport. your condition. Consult with your doctor.

8. Magnesium deficiency: Crucial for Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist and aumuscle and nerve function, a lack of magne- thor of The 24-Hour Pharmacist and Real Solusium can weaken respiratory muscles, ne- tions from Head to Toe.

Have confidence in every conversation.

Do you find it difficult to use a standard phone? Do people ask you to repeat yourself during telephone conversations? Do you miss important calls because you can’t hear the phone ring? The Maryland Accessible Telecommunications (MAT) program is here to help by giving Maryland residents the opportunity to apply for State-provided telecommunications equipment to independently make and receive calls. Once you qualify, a skilled evaluator meets with you to determine the best device to support your day-to-day communications. The MAT program has a variety of equipment solutions to support clearer communication, including: • • • • • •

Amplified phones Tablets Ring signalers Phones with large and/or high contrast buttons Captioned Telephones And more

For more information: 800-552-7724 | 410-767-7253 (Voice/TTY) 410-801-9618 (Video Phone) | MDMAT.org

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B A L T I M O R E B E A C O N — M AY 2 0 2 4

11

Health Studies INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS Study aims to improve older adults’ sleep

By Margaret Foster If you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, you know how difficult it can be to feel alert the following day. How well we sleep at night affects how we think, feel and act during the day.

Now researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine have launched a new study for older adults with sleep problems such as insomnia — and no in-person visits are required.

“It’s an exciting study because we are applying a smartphone-based approach to measure daytime function in participants’ homes and daily lives,” said Dr. Emerson Wickwire, section head of Sleep Medicine at the University of Maryland Medical Center’s Midtown Campus and professor

of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

“The long-term goal of this project is to advance understanding and improve quality of life through improved sleep, especially as we age,” Wickwire said in an email.

“Improving sleep is one potential avenue to maintain brain health as we age. Volunteering for this study is one important way to participate in that scientific process. And our research team is highly experienced and fun to work with,” he added.

proved sleep medication or to a placebo.

The study takes several weeks. Researchers will conduct assessments over the phone and by mobile app on participants’ own smartphones.

A home sleep apnea test (HSAT) will be mailed to them prior to enrollment. Once enrolled, participants will also be mailed a Fitbit-like device to wear on their wrists.

Then they’ll receive training to use the

BEACON BITS

May 30

How the study works All adults aged 60 to 85 years old are welcome to apply to participate in this remote study. Those with sleep problems such as insomnia will be randomized to an FDA-ap-

BEACON BITS

May 4+ TOWSONTOWN SPRING FESTIVAL

Enjoy summertime foods, unique vendors and a variety of entertainment at the 55th annual Towsontown Spring Festival on Sat., May 4 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sun., May 5 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. The festival is set up near 400 Washington Ave., Towson. For more information, visit towsontownfestival.com or call (410) 825-1150.

Here, assisted living is living, with the right amount of personal assistance…

wristband and answer questions on the mobile app. Compensation will be provided.

“Our goal is for volunteers to have a seamless, rewarding experience as participants in this study,” Wickwire said. “Study staff are available throughout the study to answer questions and provide support.”

For more information, contact the study team at (410) 706-5957 or emaclinicaltrial@som.umaryland.edu.

MYERBERG SPRING ART SHOW

Visit the Edward A. Myerberg Center on Thu., May 30 from 4 to 7 p.m. to view the Spring Art Show featuring ceramics, watercolors, oils, pastels and acrylics from the center’s students and instructors. Free and open to the community; kosher refreshments will be available. This event takes place at 3101 Fallstaff Rd., Baltimore. RSVP by calling (410) 358-6856 or emailing info@myerberg.org.

PET LOSS SUPPORT GROUP

Ongoing Baltimore Humane Society’s free bereavement group helps people cope with the loss of beloved pets. It meets on the first Tuesday of each month from 7 to 9 p.m. at 1601 Nicodemus Rd., Reisterstown. The free group is open to everyone. For more information and to register, call (410) 8338848, ext. 219 or email cemetery@bmorehumane.org.

TROUBLE SLEEPING?

…at a great value.

A place of independence Pickersgilll assisted living residents are rarely in their rooms! Instead,, theyy’re out and about— participating in a community activity or event or dining with friends.

Researchers at University of Maryland Baltimore are partnering with people living with insomnia for a remote research study. Qualified participants can receive up to $500!

A place of beauty Living Livi ng iin th this is ccom ommu muni nity ty—ttuc ucke kedd into into aa beau be autiful West Towson neighborhood—you or your lo love vedd on onee will eenj njooy a warm welcome and daily activities, and they’ll appreciate thhe walking pa path ths, beautifully landscaped grounds, lovely gardens and more.

A place of caring

Individuals who have trouble sleeping (trouble falling asleep, trouble staying asleep, or not getting enough sleep) are invited to participate in a compensated research study examining the connection between sleep and daytime functioning.

Each assisted livingg resident re enjoys three chef-prepared meals per day, housekeeping and laundryy services, ho se medication administration, help with daily tasks an and more—always by reques quest, and all included in a reasonable monthly fee. Eachh re resi s dent also has access too all of the Pickersgilll amenities.

Our assisted liv ivin ingg residences include a private, priv full bath, and residents are encouraged to decoraate their homes as they wish. This is a lifestyle dedicated to independence and assured ed by a caring, professional fessional al sta staff. sttaff.

Call 888-877-9883 today for more information or to schedule your personal tour.

Qualified participants: • Are between

60-85 years old and

• Sleep less than

6.5 hrs per night

• Have a smartphone

To see if you qualify, call 410-706-5957

6 5 Chestnut Avenue • To 61 Tows wson, MD 21204 • www.Pi Pick ckersgillRetirement.org BEAC

or email: emaclinicaltrial@som.umaryland.edu

12

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M AY 2 0 2 4 — B A L T I M O R E B E A C O N

PHOTO BY JEFF GETEK

Money Law &

For five steps to take before marrying later in life, see opposite page.

The biggest regrets financial planners see

By Andrew Rosen, CFP®, CEP The old adage is to live with no regrets.

It is a great mantra, to be honest, and we regret the things we don’t do much more than the things we do.

Thinking back on my life, I have two large regrets. First, I regret not doing study abroad in college over winter break, as I sat home and missed out on the experience of a lifetime. Second, I definitely regret not having those heart-to-heart fatherson conversations with my old man before he passed prematurely.

A front-row seat to regret Financial planners get a front-row seat to learn about people’s regrets and accomplishments. Here are some of the biggest regrets I’ve seen, read and heard about from clients, friends and even journalists I truly respect. I hope one of these items strikes a chord with you and can encourage you not to make the same mistakes others have.

Regret No. 1: Spent too much time working. In almost every list I’ve read and people I’ve spoken to, they all say the same thing: They wish they had worked less. The blood, sweat and tears they spilled for their jobs simply were not worth it.

Regret No. 2: Not taking better care of themselves. Most older people look back and wish they’d taken better care of themselves. If they had, in most cases, they would have a better quality of life in their later years. Of course, it is a hard thing to do in your younger years, when you consider yourself invincible, to think what that extra smoke, drink, food and lack of exercise can lead to in your later years.

Regret No. 3: Not enjoying the moment more. This one comes up all the time in my client meetings. I’ve also heard this from big-time executive friends of mine who tell me they’ve traveled the world through work and haven’t seen a

damn thing. When asked, they almost exclusively wish they’d stopped to smell the roses more often.

Regret No. 4: Not following their dreams. So many elders express regret for not following their dreams. Maybe it was because they were scared or didn’t have the right cheerleader urging them on. Perhaps it was life’s circumstances of needing a “safe job” to support their young family.

In any event, not following passions and dreams is something many people end up regretting when they look back on their lives.

Regret No. 5: Not being a better parent/child/sibling, etc. It is always those closest to us whom we tend to treat the worst. Maybe it is because we are so comfortable around them that we lose any filter or consideration for their feelings.

Whatever it is, there probably isn’t one of us who doesn’t feel they could be better in this department.

Regret No. 6: Not spending enough time with the kids. This aligns with No. 5, but I think it is worth its own regret. They say you spend most of your time with your children when they are a newborn until they’re 18 years old. As a matter of fact — mind-blowing statistic here — if you take from age 18 through the rest of your life, you will spend the equivalent of a 19th year with your kids.

That is it. So, if you want a motivator to spend more time with your kids, look no further.

Regret No. 7: Not sharing their feelings with those closest to them.

This goes in line with my life’s biggest regret. It’s one of those “tomorrow is never promised” concepts. Tell me there isn’t someone right now with whom you need to share how you truly feel about them.

If you want to make someone’s day or have a paradigm shift in a relationship, be See REGRETS, page 14

Four questions to ask your financial planner

By Kate Ashford Only one-third of men correctly estimated how long a 60-year-old man in the U.S. could expect to live, according to a 2022 TIAA Institute survey. And fewer than half of women got it right for a 60-year-old woman.

Advisers call this longevity literacy — understanding how long you’ll live in your retirement years. It’s a crucial part of your retirement strategy, and it’s important that you and your financial professional are on the same page. You should be talking about things like what your planner is using as your life expectancy, how you’ll cover future healthcare costs and whether you need to account for any spending related to aging parents.

Getting this right means your money will last for as long as you do. Here are the questions to ask your adviser: 1. What are you using as my life expectancy?

No one can know when they’re going to die, but your health and family history can help your planner make a good guess.

How long did your parents or your grandparents live? Do you have any health conditions?

“I’ve started, a few years ago, asking a

lot of health questions of my clients,” said Mitchell Kraus, a certified financial planner in Santa Monica, California. “They should let their adviser know of any health concerns that might cause their life expectancy to be shorter.”

Planners often work with software that can model what will happen to your finances if you die at different ages based on the assumptions you’re making. You can explore various scenarios together and decide what makes the most sense.

“If you’ve got longevity in your family, let’s boost it up to [age] 97 or even 100,” said Timothy Knotts, a CFP in Red Bank, New Jersey. “We want to make sure we don’t have this thing that keeps you up at night, which is, ‘Am I going to run out of money?’”

2. What should I be doing about long-term care?

The big wild card in your financial plan is whether (and how long) you’ll need long-term care. There’s a reasonable chance you’ll need some kind of support, so talk to your planner about the best way to prepare.

You may want to plan to purchase longterm care insurance at some point or a hybrid policy that combines permanent life

insurance with a long-term care rider. Or it may be better to self-insure and plan to use savings for long-term care needs if insurance is too expensive.

“It’s something that, unfortunately, many of us aren’t good at — the risk and uncertainty thing,” said Paul Yakoboski, a senior economist with the TIAA Institute.

“This is where an adviser could be extremely valuable — to help us understand likelihoods and scenarios and the costs attached to them.”

3. How should I prepare to pay for healthcare needs?

You may have seen Fidelity’s statistic that a 65-year-old couple today may need $315,000 to pay for healthcare expenses in retirement. It’s a daunting figure. But making the right healthcare decisions once you’re eligible for Medicare can help.

“I think if people have Medicare and a Medicare Supplement, I’ve actually found they have a pretty good chunk of their healthcare paid for,” said Clark Randall, a CFP in Dallas.

This is because Medicare Supplement Insurance, otherwise known as Medigap, can pay for most out-of-pocket costs associated with your Medicare plan. As long as you can

pay the premiums, many of your costs may be covered if you have a big health event.

“We also build in some percentage for out-of-pocket expenses,” Knotts said.

4. Should we include any planning for my parents?

If there are older adults in your life who may need your support later, make sure your adviser knows this and builds it into your retirement plan to the extent that’s possible. Do you anticipate bringing them to live with you or potentially moving in with them? Do you expect an inheritance, or do you expect to have to help pay their bills?

“I will ask, ‘Do your parents have enough money to support themselves in retirement?’” said Catherine Valega, a CFP in Winchester, Massachusetts. Clients may be doing everything right, she said, but it doesn’t mean their parents have done everything right.

Considering these questions may facilitate a conversation with your loved ones about the future, which can be helpful for everyone. If they’re young enough, you can also encourage your parents to look into long-term care insurance for themselves.

—AP/NerdWallet

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B A L T I M O R E B E A C O N — M AY 2 0 2 4

13

Five steps to take before marrying after 50

By Kate Ashford Getting married when you’re an older adult comes with complications: You and your spouse may have assets from years of working, and you may have children from previous relationships. Tying the knot could affect your Social Security benefits if you’re widowed or divorced. You will need to update estate documents and beneficiary designations and may even want to consider a prenuptial agreement.

Working together to create a financial plan that incorporates your new family structure is essential. Here are the steps you should take if you walk down the aisle in your later years: 1. Talk to each other Before you marry at this stage of your life, have a frank conversation about money with your spouse-to-be — and consider involving a financial professional.

“Working with a planner can really help because there can be some conversations people aren’t used to having,” said Jaymon Meikle, a certified financial planner in St. Joseph, Missouri. This is a time to set expectations: Are you keeping your money separate or commingling your funds? How will you divide expenses going forward?

What will happen when one of you dies?

Even if you aren’t combining finances, you must understand your partner’s finan-

cial situation to organize your tax planning, from tax bracket management to Roth IRA conversions. “There has to be coordination,” said Rob Schultz, a CFP in Encino, California. “You can’t do financial planning for one spouse and not consider the other spouse’s situation if they’re married.”

2. Update your beneficiaries A new marriage is a significant change in legal and financial status, and your financial plan should incorporate it. That means, among other things, updating beneficiaries on all accounts since beneficiaries trump anything you have in a will.

“What we do typically is we have all the beneficiaries laid out so nothing goes through probate,” said David Demming, a CFP in Aurora, Ohio. “That’s where we have the dialog: Who do you want to have these funds?”

Check both primary and contingent beneficiaries to ensure that you still agree with your choices — and that there are no surprises. “Someone has come to me after a death, and we go through what they’re going to be receiving,” Schultz said. “And their current spouse had an ex-spouse as a beneficiary, and that’s heartbreaking.”

3. Weigh a prenuptial agreement You or your betrothed may be coming into the marriage with significant assets or property, which can get sticky if you ever di-

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If you have property, significant retirement assets, a pension, a business ownership or an ownership interest in a family business, or you have children from a previous relationship, it’s something to think about.

“Prenups are really flexible documents,” Dillon said. “Contract law leaves a lot of room for people to be creative.”

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vorce. A prenuptial agreement can outline what you owned before the marriage and what will happen should the marriage end.

“Usually there’s a primary goal that drives what the focus of the prenup is,” said Kaylin Dillon, a CFP in Lawrence, Kansas.

“If it’s to make sure you have protections in place for children from a previous relationship, that prenup is going to look very different than if your primary goal is to make sure that income from a family business remains separate property.”

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Marrying after 50 From page 13 benefits, so make sure you understand the ramifications of taking that step. If you’re not yet 60, remarrying makes you ineligible for any survivor’s benefits if you’re a widow or widower. If you’re divorced, remarriage means you can’t collect benefits based on your ex-spouse.

M AY 2 0 2 4 — B A L T I M O R E B E A C O N

“That’s something to consider, especially if Social Security is going to be a significant portion (of your retirement) or something you’re going to depend on,” said Kassi Fetters, a CFP in Anchorage, Alaska.

Your financial professional can advise on this, or you can call your local Social Security office for more information.

5. Ask about a trust One of the considerations of marrying

later is whether and how you’ll leave assets to any children you may already have. If you die without a will, your assets will generally go to your spouse. A trust gives you more control over the inheritance you want to leave.

Consider if two people — Bob and Susan — marry each other, and both have children from a previous marriage. “If Bob predeceases Susan, the worry could be

that she’ll take the inheritance and give it to her kids,” Meikle said. “You can lay things out in a trust so that Susan is still taken care of while she’s alive, but then Bob’s money will go to Bob’s kids, and Susan’s money will go to Susan’s kids.”

An estate attorney can assess your situation and recommend a trust that will accomplish your goals.

—AP/NerdWallet

Regrets

and most people are too proud to take the first step in making amends. This tends to be a big regret for most, even if we tell ourselves that we are better off without those people in our lives.

Regret No. 9: Not saving more. No surprise that I hear this one often. Funny, though, as usually people fall into two camps — wishing they’d saved more or wishing they’d saved less and lived more.

In any event, it is a tricky balance, leaving many of us questioning whether we could have done a better job. I get it, and financial planners are here to help!

There are plenty more regrets out there, but these tend to be some of the ones I come across most often. My only hope in writing this is that you are motivated to avoid at least one of these. © 2024 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BEACON BITS CCBC DANCE COMPANY ANNIVERSARY

May 2+ Celebrate 50 years of the Community College of Baltimore

From page 12

County Dance Company by joining them for a Spring Dance Concert on Thu., May 2 at 11 a.m. and on Fri., May 3 and Sat., May 4 at 7 p.m. in the Center for the Arts Theatre, CCBC Catonsville, 800 S. Rolling Rd. The performance will feature new works by guest artist Alvin Mayes and CCBC alum and artist-in-residence Peter Pucci and more. Tickets are $10; $5 for students, seniors, CCBC faculty and staff. For more information and to reserve tickets, call the CCBC Box Office at (443) 840-27787 or visit ccbctickets.com.

vulnerable and simply share your true feelings. It will be reciprocated in most cases and appreciated in almost all cases.

Regret No. 8: Holding grudges and/or not tr ying to reconcile. Being angry takes so much more effort than being happy. Now, I’m not telling you there are people who haven’t wronged you or vice versa. But as we know, life is short,

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May 4

STEAM SHOW AT THE FIRE MUSEUM

Visit The Fire Museum of Maryland on Sat., May 4 to see real steam engines in action. The annual Steam Show takes place at the museum, located at 1301-R York Rd., Lutherville. Enjoy family games and activities and free admission to the show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the museum from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit firemuseummd.org or call (410) 321-7500.

May 10

FREE PLANETARIUM SHOW

Visit the CCBC Planetarium for a free “Back to the Moon!” show and learn about the pros and cons of returning to the moon, and the Artemis 1 and Artemis 2 rocket missions. This event takes place on Fri., May 10 at 8 p.m. at the Benjamin Banneker Planetarium, 800 S. Rolling Rd., Catonsville. Reservations and tickets are not required. For more information, call (443) 840-4560.

Makes a great gift! | Law & Money

B A L T I M O R E B E A C O N — M AY 2 0 2 4

15

Watch out for new Medicare card scam

By Toni King Dear Toni: I am concerned about a phone call I received yesterday from a representative with Medicare asking all types of personal questions and informing me that there was a new plastic Medicare card with a chip like a credit card. I told the caller what you said during your online Medicare webinar about not giving personal information over the phone.

I’m concerned that I could have made a mistake and that I have missed the new Medicare card. What should I do, or who should I call to see if Medicare is trying to contact me? Sometimes it is hard to know the right thing to do when it involves Medicare.

—Deidre Hello Deidre: Don’t stress yourself out because there is NOT a new plastic Medicare card with a chip being issued!

This is a Medicare scam that is targeting America’s Medicare population. Your Medicare card is still the same card you currently have.

Medicare and Social Security will NEVER call your home or office and ask for your personal or banking information.

Medicare already has all the information needed to verify that its agents are speaking with you when they call. If the government needs information from you, a letter would be sent from the specific government agency (such as Medicare), telling you what information is needed and how to contact them with any questions.

The most recent Medicare card update was in April 2019 to include a random identification number of numbers and letters. It no longer displays a Social Security number.

Taxpayers are losing over $100 billion a year to Medicare and Medicaid fraud, according to estimates from the National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association.

Fraud hurts Americans because when thieves steal from Medicare and Medicaid, less money is available for healthcare claims.

There is an organization called Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) that helps Medicare beneficiaries learn to detect fraud and abuse. To report Medicare fraud or abuse, call the SMP toll-free number, 1877-808-2468, or visit the SMP website at smpresource.org to locate the closest SMP office in your state.

The SMP website discusses common Medicare Fraud Schemes such as telemedicine, genetic testing, hospice, Medicare card scams, and the list goes on.

Here are a few tips to help protect you against Medicare fraud: — Have a safety script by the phone, and do not give out personal information to anyone who calls.

Stick to the script no matter what! (Have someone help you write your script.)

— Never give your Medicare or Social Security number to strangers who call you on the phone or come to your door. Just like you tell your grandkids not to talk to strangers, you need not speak to these strangers either.

Play the “Stranger Danger” game.

— Do not accept “free” offers in exchange for your Medicare number. Remember, there is nothing “free.”

The fraudsters will have Medicare pay for whatever they are offering and will use your Medicare number to get it paid for.

My team members are instructed never to write a client’s Medicare number in our files. We also advise clients never to email

us sensitive information, such as Social Security numbers or a picture of their new Medicare card.

Medicare/Medicaid fraud is exploding, and the only way to stop it is to let your friends know what I have just told you. We need to stand together and stop those who only want to make a fast dollar from Medicare and Medicaid and, most especially, from you.

Toni King is an author and columnist on

Medicare and health insurance issues. She has spent nearly 30 years as a top sales leader in the field. If you have a Medicare question, email info@tonisays.com or call (832) 519-8664. The “Medicare Survival Guide” advanced edition and her new “Confused about Medicare” video series are available at ToniSays.com. © 2024 The Moultrie Observer, Moultrie, Ga., moultrieobserver.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BEACON BITS FOR HISTORY AND CULTURE May 2+ CENTER Enjoy free admission to the Maryland Center for History and Culture (MCHC) on the first Thursday of each month. In May, visit MCHC’s Meyerhoff Courtyard for the Baltimore School for the Arts’ Black Student Union’s celebration of music and literature, inspired by the Center’s civil rights exhibition, “Passion and Purpose.” This event takes place on Thu., May 2 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at 610 Park Ave., Baltimore. For more information and to register, visit tinyurl.com/MCHCFirstThursday or call (410) 685-3750.

June 16

HAMFEST AND SWAP MEET

Join the Baltimore Amateur Radio Club (BARC) for their annual Father’s Day Hamfest and Swap Meet on Sun., June 16 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Arcadia Volunteer Fire Company grounds, 16020 Carnival Ave., Upperco. The event features a flea market with miscellaneous items, tailgating, amateur radio gear, electronics, radio control, disaster preparedness items, food and door prizes. Attendance is $5; $10 per tailgating space. For more information, visit w3ft.com/hamfest.

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M AY 2 0 2 4 — B A L T I M O R E B E A C O N

PHOTO OF TINA AND DAN COLLINS

Travel Leisure &

Baltimore writer Tina Collins took her husband, theater reviewer Dan Collins, to Disney World for his 60th birthday. See story below.

Disney World is worth a visit at any age All four main theme parks have attractions for all ages. EPCOT (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow), a favorite of adult guests, is a utopian park Walt Disney himself envisioned in the 1950s and 60s. The park has two sections: The World Showcase travels the globe with architecture, cuisine and entertainment from 11 countries. The World of Discovery features rides with a unique blend of science, technology and intergalactic travel. EPCOT is sprawling but has many delightful detours and corners to discover.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios combines charming settings with thrilling rides.

Adults will appreciate its well-appointed streets and old Hollywood glamour. One of its newer neighborhoods, Galaxy’s Edge, is an impressive, immersive area modeled after the Star Wars movies where storm troopers interrogate tourists and even the bartenders stay in character. This is where the future of Disney is on display, and it takes entertainment to a whole new level.

For a quiet respite, Animal Kingdom takes you on safari (Disney cares for more than 2,000 live animals), through the ruins of an Indian palace, and into Pandora: The World of Avatar. The beautiful landscapes and roaming wildlife make this park a lovely and relaxing escape.

The Magic Kingdom remains the heart of Disney World. Nostalgic adults will find

PHOTO © JONI HANEBUTT | DREAMSTIME.COM

By Tina Collins Walt Disney once said, “Growing old is mandatory, but growing up is optional.”

Visiting Disney World in 1974 remains my happiest childhood memory. Before our family trip, I spent months poring over pamphlets and guidebooks in that world without the internet. Decades later, I found myself obsessively studying websites and apps to plan my husband’s 60th birthday adventure, his first visit to the mecca of magic.

The park may be much larger, but the warm and cozy feelings that Disney creates remain the same. We gleefully donned the large buttons they give guests to designate special status as a first-time visitor.

There are no age limits to special treatment in Disney World.

If you’re an adult visiting Disney World for the first time in decades, prepare to be wowed and possibly overwhelmed. Located in Orlando, Florida, Disney World is a huge immersive bubble of fantasy, both nostalgic and futuristic. Opened in 1971, it is an everevolving place that embodies Disney’s spirit of guest service known as the Four Keys: safety, courtesy, show and efficiency.

Disney World is the size of San Francisco, with four theme parks, two water parks, four golf courses, two miniature golf courses, at least 25 hotels, more than 200 restaurants and a 120-acre shopping and dining complex called Disney Springs.

PHOTO © WISCONSINART | DREAMSTIME.COM

No, it’s not Africa; it’s Florida. At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the newest of the four theme parks that make up Disney World, guests glimpse giraffes, lions, elephants, rhinos and monkeys on a safari ride through Disney’s 110-acre sanctuary.

Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Florida opened in 1971, and its castle, like the rest of Disney World, has evolved since then. The best time to visit the park is early in the morning or late at night, when crowds are smaller.

new magic to add to their old memories of Peter Pan’s Flight or Space Mountain. The park is beautifully laid out with artistic touches and creative elements that returning adults may notice for the first time.

Escape from the real world Despite its reputation for cuteness, Disney World maintains a level of sophistication that enchants both adults and children. More than once, I saw a parent joyfully crying more than the child upon meeting beloved storybook characters in person.

Adults can appreciate the tremendous effort required to maintain the parks: thorough security checks, costumed cleaning crews and unique food. No detail is overlooked, right down to the designs of the trash cans.

Two things stand out: The park and its employees are there to serve you with a smile, and the guests embrace the positivity. No one complained about the security checks or waiting in line.

Also, it is a world without cars — unless they’re the cartoon variety. For those of us who drive everywhere and spend hours in traffic, taking Disney World’s free buses, monorail, boats and skyliner can be a relief.

The number one thing to know about visiting Disney World is that it encompasses approximately 40 square miles, and you may walk 10 miles in one day. This traveler

went from a sedentary 1,500 steps a day to over 18,000 steps trekking through “The Most Magical Place on Earth.”

To maintain that happiness, pack extra comfortable shoes and first aid for feet.

Some travelers say, “There is no tired like Disney tired,” but it’s an exhilarated exhaustion. Plus, there are cookies the size of dinner plates to fortify your excursion.

Go early, stay late You will not follow the strict budget you set for yourself. I thought I had no interest in the nearly endless arrays of collectible Disney pins in every store in every park, but somehow, I ended up with quite a haul of these mini souvenirs along with multiple ears. Such is the spell cast by Disney.

The most magical time in every park is when the gates first open and during latenight hours (usually for guests staying in one of the 25 Disney resorts). It’s a good idea to retreat to your hotel to rest during the middle of the day, which can be hot and crowded.

We rode all the most popular rides in the Magic Kingdom by ourselves at midnight.

The Haunted Mansion is still the best ride in the park, and even better at midnight.

Wandering the beautifully lit streets under the night sky will transform your experience into a true fairytale.

See DISNEY, page 18

Makes a great gift! | Leisure & Travel

B A L T I M O R E B E A C O N — M AY 2 0 2 4

17

For a lakeside escape, head to Columbia

By Glenda C. Booth At dawn, as the sun’s rays glinted across Lake Kittamaqundi, 30 Canada geese floated silently across the water, casting their longnecked shadows on the silvery surface.

This is the view from a balcony room at the Merriweather Hotel in Columbia, Maryland. Although the hotel is within sight of the Mall in Columbia and earshot of Route 29’s steady drum of traffic, it feels like a world away from D.C.’s urban and suburban hubbub. Sure, the 212-room hotel sits beside suburban office buildings, parking lots, a Wegman’s and townhouses. But inside and on the lakeside of the hotel, nature is at the forefront.

Located between D. C. and Baltimore, the Merriweather Hotel, one of Marriott’s 200 worldwide Autograph Collection hotels, offers a convenient weekend getaway or “staycation.” A few nights there would be a perfect gift for harried parents who need a little time away, but not too far away.

Each of the Autograph hotels has a theme, and for the Merriweather, it is nature and music combined. The Merriweather Post Pavilion, a concert venue, is steps away.

Inside and out The Merriweather’s décor features birdthemed art by local artists. Some reservation packages include an in-room Crosley record player and a long-playing record set with more than 200 tracks titled “For the Birds: The Birdsong Project.” A collective of artists and conservationists, the Birdsong Project blends music, poetry and art representing cultures from 31 countries. Proceeds from the record sales benefit the National Audubon Society. Some of the records are actual bird calls, like doves and sparrows.

One poem, titled “Counting Birds,” was writ-

ten by Jim Harrison and is read by Sean Penn. Even the chocolates on your pillow, in the shape of Maryland crabs, invoke nature.

The hotel lobbies display posters of Merriweather Post concert performers, like Peter, Paul and Mary, Linda Ronstadt, Cyndi Lauper, the Everly Brothers and Bruce Springsteen.

Lake Kittamaqundi The hotel’s rooftop pool and lounge, open Memorial Day to Labor Day, is a favorite place to decompress and soak in vistas in all directors.

Guests are easily lured outside to Lake Kittamaqundi, or “meeting place” in the Piscataway language. The 27-acre manmade lake is one of five in Columbia, all connected.

A one-mile paved trail through the woods around the lake offers wildlife viewing opportunities. In the winter, waterfowl that paddle around the lake include common mergansers, hooded mergansers, piedbilled grebes, ring-necked ducks, wood ducks, American black ducks, buffleheads and year-round great blue herons. Visitors might spot a beaver, red fox, river otter, muskrat or white-tailed deer.

In the warmer months, observers might see an Eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly, a common whitetail dragonfly or a red-eared slider turtle.

People can launch their own canoe and kayak from a public dock nearby. Anglers, amateur and pro, might catch bluegills, pumpkinseeds, black crappies, carps and large-mouth bass from the shoreline, dock or a boat.

For quick eats, the hotel’s café sells homemade pastries, sandwiches and Lavazza coffee.

Nearby attractions The Merriweather Post Pavilion, located in a park called Symphony Woods, is a 0.7-mile walk from the hotel. For more than 50 years, the venue has featured rock, countr y, rhythm and blues, pop, jazz, hip-hop, alternative, electronica and classical music. The concert season is typically from the beginning of May to the middle of October. The hotel’s VIP Concert Package includes shuttle service to See COLUMBIA, page 18

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Farm-to-table restaurant The Lake Restaurant called Lāk spotlights farm-to-table fine cuisine at lunch and dinner daily. Chef Kristina Brown, trained

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at the Culinary Institute of America, serves a mouthwatering grilled muenster sandwich, duck confit and balsamic cherries on sourdough. Other distinctive dishes are homemade ricotta, bourbon sourdough and Maryland crab cakes. She beautifully presents a Frenched chicken breast topped with grilled peaches and a bourbon-peach sauce.

Another top choice of her diners is mahi mahi with chimichurri, a mix of olive oil, parsley and red pepper flakes.

The hotel’s Rookery Bar (yes, it’s named for a colony of birds) offers special seasonal cocktails like a Lāk Old Fashioned with a splash of vanilla to bring out the flavor of the bourbon and warm the innards in winter. The bar’s toddies do the same.

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18

Leisure & Travel | Subscribe online! See how on p. 22

Disney From page 16 Perhaps the real magic of Disney is how the ideas of one creative visionary from the last century live on in this one. Disney World makes those ideas tangible and expands upon them with every generation.

What Disney knows is that a happy life is always rooted in wonder and delight.

If you go Plan ahead, but don’t worry about seeing

M AY 2 0 2 4 — B A L T I M O R E B E A C O N

everything. Six to eight months is not too early to start mapping out your vacation.

Crowds, costs and weather are the main factors. Late summer and early fall have lower costs and smaller crowds. The months of January to March have milder weather and less rain.

Round-trip flights to Orlando cost around $250, depending on when you go.

For travelers who want to take their cars but skip the 14-hour drive, splurge on Amtrak’s Auto Train from Lorton, Virginia, to Sanford, Florida.

PHOTO © JONI HANEBUTT | DREAMSTIME.COM

At one of Disney's four theme parks, visitors can take a 3-D ride in the Millennium Falcon from Star Wars.

If you insist on being a planner and not an aimless wanderer, you will need three things: The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World by Bob Sehlinger and Len Testa.

The size of this book may seem offputting, but it covers everything and is updated yearly.

Next, download the My Disney Experience app to check park hours, showtimes and wait times. You can also book rides, dining reservations (up to six months in advance) and place same-day food orders.

Finally, consider booking your trip with a Disney-specialized travel agency. I connected with Ann & Tara, an Affiliate of Academy Travel. At no cost to you, these delightfully well-versed Disney experts will guide you every step of the way, offer advice, make reservations and create a trip as simple or complicated as you desire.

As an adult over 50, you may be eligible for some discounts and perks at Disney World. For example, you can get a senior discount on your tickets if you’re a member of AARP or AAA.

Columbia

Washington International Airport’s Amtrak station.

The Merriweather Hotel is located at 10209 Wincopin Cir., Columbia. For nightly rates, call (410) 730-3900 or visit merriweatherlakehouse.com. For more local attractions, see VisitHowardCounty.com and check the lineup of concerts at Merriweather Post Pavilion, merriweathermusic.com.

From page 17 the pavilion.

There’s plenty of “retail therapy” at the Mall in Columbia, half a mile away, with more than 200 stores.

For travelers wanting a car-free stay, taxis and Ubers are available from the Baltimore-

BEACON BITS MART AT MOUNT VERNON PLACE May 3+ FLOWER Dating back more than 100 years, Flower Mart is Baltimore’s oldest-running festival. Enjoy lemon sticks, workshops, lectures and live music while shopping from nearly 70 Baltimore-area plant and craft vendors.

The Mount Vernon Place Conservancy presents the Flower Mart at Mount Vernon Place, 699 Washington Pl., Baltimore, on Fri., May 3 and Sat., May 4 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, visit mountvernonplace.org or email flowermart@mvpconservancy.org.

Go to

jmorreliving.ccom for news, s deliciouss recipes and fun featurres.

Makes a great gift!

B A L T I M O R E B E A C O N — M AY 2 0 2 4

19

PHOTO BY DREW LESOFSKI

Style Arts &

Pigeon “fanciers” devote much of their time to raising and racing the birds. Our cover story continues on page 20.

How to make yourself a happier person

Why aren’t we happier?

Nonetheless, when all five of her children were grown and had children of their

own, Cherniak started wondering why she wasn’t as happy as she thought she should be. She had a good marriage, loved spending time with her children and grandchildren, and enjoyed the sense of community the family found when they moved to Baltimore in 1994.

“I wasn’t unhappy, but there was no reason that I shouldn’t be happier,” she recalled thinking.

At 65 and approaching retirement from her job as a copyeditor at a scientific journal, Cherniak began studying the subject of happiness. She found that there was no lack of information to address the problem of unhappiness.

“It’s ironic: Life is better today than it has ever been, but there is still so much unhappiness,” she said.

Her research led her to books by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin, a Baltimore native living in Israel who started the Joy Club of Jerusalem.

Through Pliskin, she learned about Lionel Ketchian, owner of a printing business in Fairfield, Connecticut. He launched the Happiness Club in 1999, spawning a movement. Today, there are estimated to be more than 1,000 happiness clubs in towns and universities nationally and internationally.

Both Pliskin and Ketchian believe that our thoughts control our moods. For instance, we can be upset because we’re worried about the future.

There’s a simple remedy for that, Pliskin said. “You imagine things that

[most likely won’t] happen. So, therefore, imagine great things that might happen,” Pliskin advised.

Cherniak also credits author Richard Carlson, best known for his book Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff, for his teachings on happiness. From Carlson she learned to choose her battles and let go of the things not worth fighting over.

She also adopted his belief in the importance of living in the present.

“I wore out his CD, titled ‘You

PHOTO COURTESY OF BETTY CHERNIAK

By Audrey Partington “Don’t believe everything you think.”

According to Baltimorean Betty Cherniak, who sports that advice on a bumper sticker, our thoughts get in the way of our happiness.

“Thoughts run our lives 24/7,” Cherniak explained in an interview with the Beacon. “They create our reality, but they are not real. We must learn to use our minds instead of letting our minds use us.”

After researching what leads to happiness, Cherniak founded the Baltimore Happiness Club in 2011 to share her knowledge with others. Simple habits such as focusing on the present moment and being grateful for the good things in our lives can help.

Cherniak has been a spiritual seeker since the 1970s, when she began practicing Zen meditation in Berkeley, California. She met and married kindred spirit Jay Cherniak and converted to Judaism along the way.

Cherniak wasn’t always the positive thinker she is today. “I decided as a teenager that it is better to be negative,” she recalled. “That way, you won’t hurt as much when things don’t work out.”

But when her first child was born in 1980, Cherniak decided to put an end to that way of thinking. “I can’t mope,” she decided.

See HAPPINESS CLUB, page 21

Betty Cherniak started a Happiness Club in Baltimore County more than a decade ago to help herself and others find greater happiness in life. At club meetings, conducted via conference call, she encourages people to be grateful and to stay in the present moment. “Learning to be happy is the most valuable skill in life, and it’s an acquirable skill,” Cherniak said.

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Pigeons From page 1 As for pigeon racing as a sport, it probably began in Belgium in the early 1800s and was introduced in the United States around 1875. Today, races take place all over the world.

er. For older birds, races are usually held in the spring, when they are raising young birds, because the pigeon parents are eager to return home.

The younger bird races are held in late summer and early fall, after the pigeons have matured and become good flyers.

A pricey hobby Race days Before each race, Greater Baltimore Pigeon Club members take their birds to the clubhouse in College Park and load them onto a truck with louvered crates.

The driver then takes the pigeons to a predetermined starting point, such as Orange, Virginia, 125 miles from Baltimore, and releases them there the next morning, notifying the owners of the precise release time.

“If they get a good tailwind, they can be home from Orange in less than two hours,” Gottlieb said.

Each bird has an identifying band on one leg. Owners can determine the time it takes for each bird to cover the predetermined distance by dividing the distance of the flight by the time it takes to complete the race. Wind and the pigeon’s health can affect its speed.

Club members also fly their birds from farther distances, for example, from Atlanta, Georgia; Lexington, North Carolina; and Danville, Virginia.

Races take place in April and from June to November to avoid problematic weath-

Some people, experts at breeding birds, raise their own prize pigeons. Others buy them. Either way, raising and racing pigeons can be an expensive hobby.

Tim Heidrick, with the National Pigeon Association (whose members show pigeons but do not race them) said, “The cost of buying a pigeon, racing or for show, can vary greatly depending on the variety and how good it is in races or shows.

“The price for a good racing pigeon will probably start out at a couple hundred dollars and quickly go up to several thousand dollars for a single bird.”

Add to that the ongoing costs of feed, housing, race fees and transporting the pigeons, and it adds up quickly..

Gottlieb, who believes she is one of the few women who race pigeons, usually has 200 to 300 pigeons in a loft behind her house.

“It’s not like a toy. They are live animals,” she said. “They have to be cared for every day and fed twice a day. I have to clean the loft at least once a week.”

Why does she race pigeons?

“It gives me pleasure,” she said, adding

M AY 2 0 2 4 — B A L T I M O R E B E A C O N

that she especially relishes the anticipation of their return. “You’re out there waiting to see your bird come home. It’s such a feat.”

Like Gottlieb, Charles Sykes, another member of the Baltimore club and owner of eight racing homer pigeons, also grew up with the birds.

“I’ve been around pigeons all my life,” he said. “When I was little, I’d go to the store and buy them as pets and companions.”

He joins with other racers to hire a truck driver who can drive as many as 2,000 pigeons and start races from spots up to 600 miles away in Ohio and North Carolina. “We try to get the bird home on the same day,” Sykes said.

Having pigeons “soothes your soul and spirit,” he added. “It makes you feel good.

They keep me grounded, focused.”

A lifelong calling (cooing?)

Errol Ecker, 75, has loved the birds since age eight, when he started raising racing pigeons. A resident of Boring, Maryland, he has been president of the Green Spring Valley Racing Pigeon Club for 45 years. The group numbered as many as 55 in 1956 but now has seven members with a clubhouse in Owings Mills.

Ecker has been racing since 1960 and today has 400 pigeons he keeps in a loft 160 feet long.

“It’s a passion for me,” he said. “I’m genetically predisposed. My great-grandfa-

ther from Germany raised pigeons and horses. That’s what I do. People say I’m a clone of him.”

Pigeon racers strive to breed and select the best birds, feed them special diets and, most importantly, train them.

Ecker explained that he begins training a bird when it’s only three to four weeks old. He gets the young birds accustomed to their surroundings by letting them fly around in wire pens at home.

When released, these birds will instinctively fly back to where they were born.

“Their homing system kicks in,” he explained.

Raising and racing pigeons takes devotion 365 days a year, with some days starting at 4 a.m., according to Ecker. “‘Fun’ is not the right word,” he said. He compares it to raising and racing thoroughbred horses.

“It’s all about breeding, nutrition, loft conditions, training, and working on a yearly schedule. It’s all related,” he said.

People tell him he has “stock sense” — an innate ability to work with pigeons. He has won hundreds of awards and mentored many students over the years.

“It’s a calling; it’s just there. It’s knowing your pigeons and knowing how to get the best out of them. You can’t read it in a book. It has to come to you,” he said.

For more information, contact the American Racing Pigeon Union, a national organization of 700 pigeon-racing clubs with 10,000 members, at pigeon.org.

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B A L T I M O R E B E A C O N — M AY 2 0 2 4

Happiness club From page 19 Can Be Happy No Matter What,’” which she listened to in the car, Cherniak said.

In his lectures, which can be found on YouTube, Ketchian also acknowledges that the phrase “no matter what” is key.

“You can be happy in the moment even if you’re not happy with everything that’s happening,” Ketchian observed in his lecture titled “The Happiness Decision,” an installment of The Happiness Show, available on YouTube.

‘GPS’ guides the way Cherniak synthesized everything she read about happiness into three essential elements, which she calls GPS: Gratitude, Present, Smile.

“When you get lost in your head, you need GPS for directions,” she said.

She uses those three concepts in a fivesecond exercise: “Breathe in and say, ‘I know I am breathing in,’ so you remain in the present. Then breathe out, smile, and say thank you.”

Studies have demonstrated that the physical act of smiling or laughing can change our body chemistry.

“Smiling is a free face-lift. It sends a message to your brain, and it’s contagious,” Cherniak maintains.

The same can be said of laughter, according to Cherniak, who will soon be taking a course in “laughter yoga” — a combination of poses, breathing exercises and laughing.

Those who preach the gospel of happiness acknowledge that people can’t always be happy. After all, people experience loss and other challenges.

But Cherniak believes we can “maximize

the ‘up’ times and shorten the intervals of unhappiness.” As a case in point, Cherniak noted that she was in Israel visiting her daughter during the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.

“We heard sonic booms, rockets from Gaza [hit by] the Iron Dome’s air defense system. But you really know you’re in a war zone when you can’t get out,” recalled Cherniak, whose return flight home was delayed.

To stay positive, Cherniak limited her sources of information to a few reputable online news sites, since it is her belief that “the news does not reflect reality.”

She also joined a WhatsApp group called “Am Yisrael Chai Positivity,” which Israelis created after the attack to “help us all share the beauty and strength of our nation and family.”

You can learn to be happy After immersing herself in the study of happiness, Cherniak felt compelled to share her knowledge with others.

“Learning to be happy is the most valuable skill in life, and it’s an acquirable skill,” she said.

She clicked on “How to Start a Happiness Club” on Ketchian’s website (happinessclub.com) and completed and submitted the form. Almost immediately, she heard from Ketchian, expressing his support.

Next, Cherniak needed a meeting place, so she reserved a conference room at the Enoch Pratt Free Library.

When asked how many people would attend, Cherniak said, “One,” not sure anyone would join her. But to her surprise, several showed up, and attendance continued to grow.

The meetings are not a place to vent the day’s gripes, she pointed out. Instead,

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FROM PAGE 22 ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

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

members might discuss how to find a purpose in life, or how to allow negative thoughts to pass instead of getting stuck on them.

“I’m not a psychotherapist, and the club’s not therapy. It’s not about fixing specific problems. It’s a support group for people who want to be happier,” she explained. She describes her approach to leading the group as “eclectic — incorporating mindfulness.”

Cherniak ran the weekly group in person for about a decade before Covid forced the move to Zoom.

She recently held an in-person group for members of Northwest Neighbors Connecting (NNC), a senior village in north-

west Baltimore. The “village” concept allows members to give and receive services on a volunteer basis, which helps older people age in place.

She reminds older people that they can continue to change and grow. “We can’t add quantity to our lives, but we can add quality.”

This spring, Cherniak has adopted a new habit for a happier lifestyle. “My motto for the new year is ‘Laugh out loud more in 2024,’” she said. “I need a bumper sticker saying that.”

You can join The Happiness Club, which meets on Thursdays at 1 p.m., via conference call: Dial (848) 220-3300, use meeting code 641-9914#.

Resources to boost happiness Gratitude with Grace, by Sarah Berkovits You Can Be Happy No Matter What,

by Richard Carlson Conversations With Yourself; Gateway to Happiness, by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment, by Eckhart Tolle “The Happiness Decision,” The

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Happiness Show #79, by Lionel Ketchian (on YouTube); Happinessclub.com “The Essence of Non-Duality: Guided meditations and conversations on the source of happiness,” by Rupert Spira (rupertspira.com) Thich Nhat Hanh’s books, guided meditations and talks (free Plum Village app, YouTube, plumvillage.org)

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Arts & Style | Subscribe online! See below

M AY 2 0 2 4 — B A L T I M O R E B E A C O N

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

Silenc(e) 1

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Scrabble answers on p. 21.

BB524

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1. The only band in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame whose name is a palindrome 5. Angelic instrument 9. Shirts and blouses 13. Start a backgammon turn 14. Banned apple spray 15. Container for refining gold 16. Sound of Amish transport 17. Not in the game 18. Wombs 19. Vitriol toward visors 21. Bob or weave 23. “Z __ zebra” 24. Gaze at too long 25. Text-slang for “so very sorry” 28. Sylvester, to Tweety 29. ___ Miss (Univ. in Oxford MS) 30. Eggs 33. Have the matching ticket in a Napa raffle 35. Offering at a beach town’s hobby shop 37. Canal called “The Nation’s First Superhighway” 38. Alliance that added Finland in 2023 39. Milquetoast 43. Friend who likes to stay inside all day 46. Dir. from Fort Myers to Fort Lauderdale 47. Lisa Simpson’s instrument 48. Sign of a summer birth 49. Fighting off a bug 50. Water pit 51. Eurasia’s ___ Mountains 53. Mullet or pompadour 56. Enraged 60. Identical 61. Use instant messaging 63. Well ventilated 64. Saturday and Sunday, to most workers 65. “But I have promises to keep, and miles ___ before I sleep” (Robert Frost) 66. Take to one’s heels 67. Small coffee size (at Starbucks) 68. Soothsayer 69. Jupiter’s lasts for 4,333 Earth-days

1. St. Louis landmark 2. Gaucho’s weapon 3. Splotch 4. First heading in a Greek dictionary 5. One from Port-au-Prince 6. Not mushy at all 7. End of cent- and vent8. Shorten future food prep time 9. Disciple 10. Oil cartel 11. South American nation on the same time zone as South Carolina 12. Cut in a skirt 15. Breaded meat portion 20. Italian wine region 22. Tangelo with an unsightly name 25. Any member of 1 Across 26. SARS-CoV-2, for example 27. Contemptuous 30. Giraffe cousin of Central Africa 31. Absolutely necessary 32. Floating community in Waterworld 34. Become man and wife 36. Hydrocarbon suffix for benz- and butyl40. Frequent customers’ requests 41. “___ the torpedoes...”

42. “Blessed is he that ___ nothing, for he shall never be disappointed” (Ben Franklin) 43. Peacock’s pride 44. Spiked gardening tool 45. Fill up a truck 50. First column on a T-shirt size chart 52. Having much foliage 53. Act like butter on a pancake 54. ___ fitness (exercise at the pool) 55. Without legal force 57. Middle-distance track race 58. Painter’s or carpenter’s cost basis 59. One who changes brown to blonde 62. Ground breaker

Answers on page 21

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Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation St. Elizabeth Rehab/Nursing . . . .17

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M AY 2 0 2 4 — B A L T I M O R E B E A C O N

The Bath or Shower You’ve Always Wanted

IN AS LITTLE AS 1 DAY

1000 OFF

*

$ • Tub-to-Shower Conversions • Replacement Tubs • Replacement Showers • Walk-in Tubs • Low-Barrier Showers • Soaker Tubs • Accessories and more!

AND

No Payments & No Interest for 18 Months **

Military & Senior Discounts Available

CALL NOW!

(855) 653-0087 • 900+ Authorized Dealers • Made in the U.S.A.

!

• Limited Lifetime Warranty

*Includes product and labor; bathtub, shower or walk-in tub and wall surround. This promotion cannot be combined with any other offer. Other restrictions may apply. This offer expires 6/30/2024. Each dealership is %$#"!"$#"$ $"# $# !" "# % # ! $ $ %$ % % " " " % "" #" " #" % % $