May 2024 | Howard County Beacon

The Howard County

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F O C U S

VOL.14, NO.5

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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

Disney World isn’t only for kids — adults should plan early and stay late; plus, how much travel insurance do you really need? page 20

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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Some carrier pigeon history

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More than 30,000 readers throughout Howard County

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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M AY 2 0 2 4 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

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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Applications are now open for the Maryland Department of Taxation’s 2024 Homeowners’ and Renters’ Tax Credit programs.

The deadline for both is Oct. 1. These programs provide tax relief to Maryland residents. For more information, to check eligibility or to apply, visit tinyurl.com/MDTaxRelief2024.

Beacon The

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The Beacon is a monthly newspaper dedicated to inform, serve, and entertain the citizens of the Howard County area, and is privately owned. Other editions serve Greater Baltimore, 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 – Steve Levin, M.K. Phillips, Alan Spiegel Marketing & Operations Manager – Ashley Griffin Assistant Editor – Ana Preger Hart

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.

Letters to the editor Readers are encouraged to share their opinions on any matter addressed in the Beacon as well as on political and social issues of the day.

Mail your Letter to the Editor to The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915, or email info@thebeaconnewspapers.com.

Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification.

Dear Editor: I enjoyed your April “From the publisher” column, “I can see clearly now.”

I am retired and need glasses for reading and TV, but I enjoy my quiet time and ME time.

Sitting on my balcony just resting my eyes on the trees on the road, early morning sunrises, birds chirping, etc., brings my life into focus. A trip to a park or a farm is an added

gift [when] one of my children take me.

Yes, time spent with nature, the gentle breezes of morning clouds and sunrise, awaken the spirit and set life aright.

I’ll be 91 next month, and even though I have many aches, each day is a gift I am grateful for. Just enjoy the beauty of every moment, sing and eat ice cream!

Rosemarie LoMonaco Via Email

BEACON BITS

May 11

ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER FESTIVAL

Celebrate the vibrant cultures, traditions and contributions of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community in Howard County when you visit this free festival on Sat., May 11 from noon to 5 p.m. Fun and entertainment for the whole family, including music, dance, martial arts, food trucks and local artisans. This event takes place at Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods, 10431 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia. For more information and to register, visit tinyurl.com/2024HoCoAAPIFestival.

WHISPERING WINDS POWWOW

The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915 (410) 248-9101 • Email: info@thebeaconnewspapers.com Submissions: The Beacon welcomes reader contributions. Deadline for editorial is the 1st of the month preceding the month of publication. Deadline for ads is the 1st of the month preceding the month of publication. See page 27 for classified advertising details. Please mail or email all submissions.

© Copyright 2024 The Beacon Newspapers, Inc.

June 13+ The public is welcome to the Whispering Winds Powwow on Sat., June 13 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sun., June 14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Grand Entry will take place at noon on both days. This event will be held inside an air-conditioned building at the Howard County Fairgrounds, 2210 Fairgrounds Rd., West Friendship. Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for children per day. For more information, contact Barry Richardson at (252) 532-0821.

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H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — M AY 2 0 2 4

Ask the Ho H me Care Exper xpert Tom Smith, To h, Reegional gional Manager, Bu Business D Dev evelopm elopment, Family & Nursing ng Carre e

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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 housekeeping,

medication reminders, ders, companionsship and more.

Now servving Howard County ty, Family & Nu Nursing ursing Care is a leading resource ffo or private duty home care services, providing clients and their families with access to compassionate and

expert-level caregivers regi to help older adults older ad l maintain their independence and quality of liffee as tthey age age. Ninety Ninety-eight eight percent of surveyed clients hav ave said they would recommend tthese services to a ffrriend or family member.

This month, we asked T To om

Smith, Regiional Manager, Business Deevelopment at Family & Nursing Car C e ffo or answers to a couple of the t most common questions that arise regarding home care ffo or a client ffo ollowing an inpatient stay in the hospital or rehab.

Q: How should older patients and their families prepare for discharge from a hospital or rehab?

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.

While recovery may continue with home-based therapy, y, depending on coverage (Medicare and/or insurance) it may not begin right away.

Family & Nursing Care’s Hospital to Home program can arrange fo for a dedicated caregiver to be on hand to aid the transition home . We We also have a team of liaisons avai l abl ble to v i sit w it h p at ients an d t heir fa f mi lies in hospit a l s an d re h abs to h e lp t hem un derrst and t heir opt ions for coverage an d c are

at home. There are no longterm commitments required.

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

Caregivers can also ensure the patient adheres to any special diet, practices breathing techniques and required exercises, and more. Many caregivers have used their background knowledge and training to recognize “red f lag” symptoms so that postdischarge issues of note can be treated at a lower level of care and help avoid readmission.

y, A: Aftfter an inpatient stay, patients are at their weakest, can be conffu used, and are at a greater risk ffo or a fall. It is essential that the right help is available at home, especially in the critica l ffiirst 48 hours.

Those who live alone or have

Q: How does Family & Nursing Care step in to help with the transition home?

A: We arrange fo for a caregiver to help manage tasks of daily living such as errands, medication pick-up and reminders, groceries, meal

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M AY 2 0 2 4 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Health Fitness &

HEART-HEALTHY FRUIT Apricots, apples, bananas and berries can reduce cholesterol, lower blood pressure PLASTIC INSIDE OF US A new study finds nanoplastics in our arteries might promote heart disease PROBIOTIC POWER Some people swear by probiotics for weight loss, but there’s no proof yet CATCH YOUR BREATH Short of breath? Anemia, allergies or vitamin deficiencies could be the cause

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.

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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.

Call 410-461-9494 today to schedule your visit.

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

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

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H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — M AY 2 0 2 4

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.

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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, com-

fortable spot.

Take the medication during the day.

This applies to drugs that make it hard to fall or stay asleep, cause nightmares, 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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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 the body, which can make it hard to fall asleep and disrupt the sleep cycle.

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M AY 2 0 2 4 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Seven fruits that are good for your heart

By Brierley Horton, MS, RD Fruit (yes, fruit!) has the power to improve your heart health. That’s because it’s loaded with nutrients that can help lower your cholesterol and blood pressure — which are good for your overall heart health. Plus, research shows that people who eat four or more servings of whole fruit a day significantly lower their risk of developing high blood pressure.

Fresh, frozen, canned, and dried are all great ways to add more fruit to your diet.

Do aim, however, to eat whole fruit as much as possible to reap the most rewards.

The best heart-healthy fruits 1. Apples: Turns out an apple a day could actually keep the doctor away. Not only are apples a good way to add fiber to your diet and good-for-you flavonoids, but a couple of studies also found that people who regularly eat apples are less likely to develop high blood pressure.

Seek out shiny-skinned apples that are

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blackberries, raspberries, or strawberries that you’re drawn to most, all berries are great sources of vitamin C and fiber. And eating a high-fiber diet has the potential to help lower cholesterol and your risk of heart disease. Don’t forget, frozen berries are just as healthy as fresh so you can enjoy berries year-round.

5. Grapefruit: Serve up grapefruit for a dose of vitamin C, potassium, and fiber.

Plus, in a study of women (published in 2014 in the journal Food & Nutrition Research), those who regularly ate grapefruit or drank its juice had higher “good” HDL cholesterol and lower triglycerides.

When shopping, look for a grapefruit

Alzheimer’s

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

From page 4

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firm and free of bruises. Then, store them in the refrigerator fruit crisper to extend their juiciness and crispness.

2. Apricots: Apricots deliver a handful of vitamins (A, C, E and K), plus fiber. And their orange hue comes from carotenoids, an antioxidant. Fresh apricots have a fleeting season from May to August (look for fruits that are firm and plump). Fortunately, dried apricots deliver the same nutrients.

3. Bananas: Eat a banana and you’ll get vitamins B6 and C. You’ll also get fiber, potassium and magnesium — all three of which are key nutrients that may help keep blood pressure in check. When shopping, look for firm bananas at any size as size doesn’t affect quality.

4. Berries: Whether it’s blueberries,

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pared 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

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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: • • • • • •

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H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — M AY 2 0 2 4

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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.”

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 evidence 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

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

Seven fruits

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Hospital Discharge

that’s heavy for its size and springy to touch. At home, store it in the fridge, but for a juicier fruit, serve it at room temp or warm, not chilled. Remember that grapefruit (and its juice) interacts with some prescriptions, so check with your doctor before adding it to your meal plan.

6. Oranges: This citrus favorite is a real winner in the heart-healthy fruits category: research shows that the flavonoids in oranges have strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory powers. They also may help improve blood pressure and can ward off your risk of developing atherosclerosis. Like the other fruits in this list, oranges also give you potassium and fiber.

7. Peaches: Pick up yellow peaches for a hit of beta-carotene. Men who have higher blood levels of beta-carotene were less likely to die of heart disease or stroke, per a study published in 2018 in the journal Circulation Research. Peaches also deliver fiber, potassium, and vitamins C, E and K. Better Homes and Gardens is a magazine and website devoted to ideas and improvement projects for your home and garden, plus recipes and entertaining ideas. Online at www.bhg.com. © 2024 Dotdash Meredith. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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M AY 2 0 2 4 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y 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. Treat-

ment depends on the cause.

A procedure called endoscopic retrograde 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

HOWARD COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS

Presiden al Primary Elec on Day Tuesday, May 14, 2024 The first choice you will make this elec on is which day to vote!

Maryland voters can vote in-person BEFORE Elec on Day at Early Vo ng!

Early Vo ng will be held from Thursday, May 2, 2024, through Thursday, May 9, 2024 (including Saturday and Sunday) from 7:00 AM un l 8:00 PM daily.

Early Vo ng will be held at the following five loca ons:

Causes and symptoms 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.

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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St. John Bap st Church 9055 Tamar Drive Columbia, MD 21045 The Bain Center 5470 Ruth Keeton Way Columbia, MD 21044

cases, surgery may be done later to let the inflammation go down.

May 18+ HIT MOVIES ON ICE Enjoy the best hit

Gary J. Arthur Community Center 2400 State Route 97 Cooksville, MD 21723

movies on ice with a fun display of beautiful choreography filled with jumps and spins, colorful costumes and great music. Shows take place on Sat., May 18 at 5:15 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. and on Sun., May 19 at

Meadowbrook Athle c Complex 5001 Meadowbrook Lane Ellico City, MD 21043

North Laurel Community Center 9411 Whiskey Bo om Road Laurel, MD 20723

Please Note: If you vote during early vo ng, you cannot vote on Elec on Day (May 14, 2024), or by mail-in ballot. If you have requested a mail-in ballot and choose to not vote that ballot and come to in-person vo ng, you will vote a provisional ballot.

4:30 and 6:30 p.m. at the Columbia Ice Rink, 5876 Thunder Hill Rd. Tickets are $22 for regular; $40 for reserved seating and can be purchased at tinyurl.com/HitMoviesOnIce. For more information, visit columbiafsc.com or email ColumbiaFSCShows@gmail.com.

Makes a great gift! | Fitness & Health

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — M AY 2 0 2 4

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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 benefits. 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.

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Take a tour of Charlestown You’re invited to tour Catonsville’s premier senior living community. Enjoy a firsthand look at our vibrant lifestyle.

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M AY 2 0 2 4 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y 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 pulmonary 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,

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limiting oxygen supply to the lungs and 8. Magnesium deficiency: Crucial for causing breathlessness. Treatments may muscle and nerve function, a lack of magneinclude ACE inhibitors, digoxsium can weaken respiratory in, nitroglycerin, and/or natumuscles, necessitating supral supplements like CoQ10 or plementation. Did you know lifestyle changes are crucial. drinking caffeinated bever3. Anemia: This condition, ages will reduce your levels of due to a lack of healthy red magnesium? That’s right, cofblood cells, reduces oxygen fee is a drug mugger of mag! transport, leading to fatigue 9. Hypothyroidism: A and shortness of breath. Blood deficiency in thyroid hormone tests can reveal anemia, with can lead to fatigue and breathtreatments including iron or vi- DEAR lessness, often intertwined tamin supplements. with B12, iodine and iron defiPHARMACIST 4. Anxiety and panic By Suzy Cohen ciencies. Treatment may indisorders: The physical manclude hormone therapy or supifestations of psychological stress or panic plements to enhance T3 conversion. attacks can include episodes of shortness If you’re battling unexplained shortness of of breath, emphasizing the need for mental breath, consulting with healthcare practitionhealth support. ers is paramount, especially if the problem is 5. Obesity: Excess weight strains the persistent or worsening. Multiple opinions heart and lungs, making minor activities can provide a broader perspective on your feel overwhelmingly exhausting. condition, aiding in uncovering the root 6. Pet allergies: For those with aller- cause. gies, especially chronic asthma, pets can Finding the root cause and taking care of it trigger allergies and shortness of breath. will allow you to embrace life more fully, and Antihistamines and inhalers can provide get up the stairs more easily too! Be careful temporary relief. with exercise if you suffer from this condi7. Vitamin B12 and zinc deficien- tion, and just work out to your comfort. cies: Essential for red blood cell production This information is opinion only. It is and immune function, respectively, deficien- not intended to treat, cure or diagnose cies in these nutrients can compromise res- your condition. Consult with your doctor. piratory health. Genetic factors like the Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist and auMTHFR genetic polymorphism may also im- thor of The 24-Hour Pharmacist and Real Solupact B12 levels impacting oxygen transport. tions from Head to Toe.

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A WALK FOR PARKINSON’S

May 1

DOWNSIZING AND MOVING SEMINAR

Learn how to simplify your life, including what senior sellers should know but realtors won’t tell them and how to make downsizing easy. Lunch is included in this free event that takes place on Wed., May 1 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Heartlands at Ellicott City, 3004 N. Ridge Rd. For more information and to register, call (410) 313-9415 or email lsorna@5ssl.com

May 11

WECARE WEFIGHT WEMOVE

Moving Day DC Saturday, May 4, 2024 Activities Begin: 9:30 a.m.

Register today at MovingDayDC.org.

Moving Day Baltimore Saturday, June 1, 2024

PATAPSCO VALLEY PARK WALK

Learn how the B&O Railroad influenced the development of the Avalon Area when you join the B&O Ellicott City Station Museum for this special walking tour on Sat., May 11, from 1 to 3 p.m. Meet at the William Offutt Johnson History Center in Halethorpe. Tickets are $15. For more information and to register, contact Kelly Palich at (410) 313-0423 or kpalich@howardcountymd.gov.

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Makes a great gift! | Fitness & Health

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

Ingredients: 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 Directions: 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.

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.

BEACON BITS

June 10+ TWO FREE EXHIBITS WITH RECEPTION Howard County Arts Council presents two new exhibits in their galleries this summer. In Gallery I, “Paint It! Ellicott City 2024” is the annual ju-

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, sweethot Peppadew peppers, and salty-rich feta.

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

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ried showcase of the plein air paint-out in Ellicott City’s historic district. In Gallery II, artists Christine Lee Tyler and Sookkyung Park exhibit mixed media and paperbased artworks. The opening reception for both takes place on Mon., June 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Howard County Center for the Arts, 8510 High Ridge Rd., Columbia. The exhibits close on Sat., Aug. 3. For more information, including gallery hours, email info@hocoarts.org or call (410) 313-ARTS (2787).

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M AY 2 0 2 4 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Recreation & Parks

Upcoming Programs for 55 Years +

To view all of our programs and activities, visit www.HowardCountyMD.gov/rap.

Crafts & Fine Arts

Dance

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

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

Try Something New in Watercolor with Zina Poliszuk

Dancing for Fun Mixer

Create a Victorian Cage Card (come to class to find out what that is!) “Cook” your colors and paint with natural homemade dyes like beet juice, onion skin yellows, coffee, and tea. Create a value study in monochrome black and gray.

55 yrs + Gary J Arthur CC Classes: 5 No class 5/27 RP0302.701 May 6 1:15-3:15pm M $106

Enjoy moving to the music while trying a variety of dance styles.

From line dancing to ballroom, swing to Latin, we try them all.

This class, which is led by instructor Tom Sellner, gives you the chance to get active and have some fun. No partner necessary.

55 yrs + Classes: 4 $45 RP3513.701 Harriet Tubman Ctr May 14 1-1:45pm Tu RP3513.702 Gary J Arthur CC May 15 1:30-2:15pm W

NEW! Pen and Ink Basics with Carol Zika

Fitness

Beginners are introduced to the use of pen strokes such as hatching, cross-hatching, stippling, contour lines, and scumbling to create value and texture in ink drawings. This time-honored medium can be applied to finely detailed work, as well as to loose sketching. Bring a good quality top spiral drawing pad (9x12) and Size 03 Micron Pigma black pen (or an equivalent with archival, permanent ink).

55 yrs + E Columbia 50+ Ctr Classes: 4 RP0305.703 May 7 1-3pm Tu $109

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

Pop Up Yoga with Kathy Greisman Relax while you take in the sights and surrounding beauty of nature as you get fit and improve your health in this outdoor yoga class. All classes held under the tent at the beautiful Belmont Manor and Historic Park. Walk away feeling refreshed, energized, and ready to take on the day that lies ahead.

55 yrs + Belmont Manor Classes: 1 RP3541.704 Apr 29 10-11am M $14 RP3541.705 May 6 10-11am M $14 RP3541.706 May 13 10-11am M $14 RP3541.707 May 20 10-11am M $14

Scan the QR code or visit tinyurl.com/activeaging55 for more 55 yrs + programs!

Makes a great gift!

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — M AY 2 0 2 4

13

• Info: Tracy Trac Tr a y Adkins, Adki Ad kins ki ns,, 410-313-7279 ns 410 41 0-31 313 3-72 7279 79 or or tadkins@howardcountymd.gov. tadk ta dkin dk ins@ in s@ho s@ howa ho ward rdc dcoun county tymd md.gov.

National Nati ional Cath Cathedral hed drall F Flower lower M Mart artt

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

How to use your Phone/Tablet effectively Learn how to get more use out of your mobile devices (smartphone, iPad). Discover social media and how to use it to stay in contact with family members, or receive important information automatically. Bring your smart phone, computer or tablet.

55 yrs + Instructor: Constance Lowe Classes: 1 $25 RP3523.701 N Laurel CC Apr 24 10-11am W RP3523.702 N Laurel CC May 17 10-11am F

Nature Programs • Info: Robinson Nature Center, 410-313-0400.

Senior Naturalist Program This program provides a foundation of understanding on a variety of environmental topics through hands-on exploration and demonstrations in a casual, social atmosphere. Topics change monthly based on seasonal happenings.

Spring Tree ID: Take a walk on the trails to learn how to identify common trees in the spring using their buds and emerging flowers.

Reptiles & Amphibians: Search for frogs, toads, and salamanders around the property while learning how to recognize the differences between species.

50 yrs + Robinson Nature Ctr Classes: 1 $15 RP4831.702 Spring Tree ID Apr 17 3-4:30pm W RP4831.703 Reptiles & Amphibians May 15 3-4:30pm W

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

Protecting Your Personal Information Online This presentation covers the ins and outs of how to protect your personal information online. We’ll cover tips for staying safe in cyberspace, like creating strong passwords, managing spam, recognizing email and text scams, and understanding when it’s OK — or not — to share your personal information online.

Preregister: tinyurl.com/HCRPSeniorPlanet 55 yrs + Gary J Arthur CC Apr 24 10am-11:30am W Free

Since 1939, All Hallows G Guild uilild dh has as h hosted osted ted TThe he N National ati tional Cathedral Flower Mart, an irresistible array of festival foods, boutique gifts, herbs, and flowers which fill the nave and grounds of the historic Cathedral. This is a very popular trip and sells out quickly! Lunch is on your own at the café or from one of many on-site food vendors. Some walking with seating available.

21 yrs + Bus Provided RP4576.701 May 3 9am-3pm F $85

The National Archives Museum – Founding Documents of Liberty and Freedom Congress established the National Archives in 1934 to preserve and care for the records of the U.S. government.

Previously, federal records were kept in various basements, attics, abandoned buildings, and other storage places.

The National Archives Museum houses some of this nation’s priceless documents, including the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Record of Rights featuring the 1297 Magna Carta. Enjoy a wonderful gift shop and the onsite Charter Café to enjoy lunch on your own. Lots of walking with some opportunities to sit.

18 yrs + Bus Provided RP4568.701 May 10 9am-3pm F $89

Register Today! Nashville, Tennessee The Country Music Capital of the World Join us for this amazing, six-day/five-night excursion. Enjoy accommodations at the beautiful Opryland Resort Hotel, located next door to the Grand Ole Opry. This complex hosts over 20 onsite restaurants, cafés, and lounges. Learn the history of the Ryman Auditorium, known as the Mother Church of Country Music. Explore the interactive exhibits at the Country Music Hall of Fame. Trip includes a guided tour of Nashville, including Bicentennial Park, Music Row, Historic Downtown, and a stop at The Parthenon and the American Pickers. Lastly, tap your toes to the music of some of the greatest country stars at the Grand Ole Opry. This is a very popular trip destination and will sell out quickly! Lots of walking with opportunities to sit.

21 yrs + Sep 5-10 Bus Provided RP4553.801 Single Occupancy Sep 5-10 Th-Tu $1,979 RP4553.802 Double Occupancy Sep 5-10 Th-Tu $1,679

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

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M AY 2 0 2 4 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

A Publication of the Department of Commuunity Resources and Services

Connect to a neew career during O Older Americans Monnth

P

owered by Connection, the 2024 Older Americans Month (OAM) theme recognizes the profo found impact that at meaningfu ful relationships and social connections hav ave on our health l and well-being as we age. age Older adults l contemplating contemplatin a ng retiremen nt are exploring waayys to remain connected to the community, y, av avoiding loneliness and isolation a while maintaining their independence.

For many reasons, including financial implications, retirement may not be a viable option. According to AARP P,, instead of leaving work behind after age 65, many older adults are diving back into the workfo force, trying out a new career or exploring volunteer opportunities. These encore careers can include ffu ull-time work in the nonprofit sector, r, part-time schedules in a field that interests them or turning a hobby into a new business.

If you are an older adult looking ffoor employment opportunities, the Howard County Virtual 50+ Employment Expo on May 30 can help.

Sponsored by the Howard County Office on Aging & Independence (OAI) and the Jewish Council ffoor the Aging (JCA) of Greater Washington, D.C., the virtual event will be held via Zoom fr from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration is ffrree but u required ffoor ALL jobseekers https://bit.ly/HoCoEmploymentEXPO. b k age 50+ at h //b l C l O

Volume 14, No. 5 • May 2024

A message from Howard County Executive

Calvin Ball

M

ay is Older Americans Month, and the 2024 theme is Powered by Connection. I am excited to present several budget items in my FY25 proposed capital budgget that specifically benefit older residents.

Too make our world-class park system even more accessible fo T for residents of all ages, I’ve included $12.2 million fo for new projects, as well as renovations to existing facilities, to improve accessibilityy.. Additionallyy,, I’m investing $400,000 in the design of a new vibrant public garden fo for the whole community to enjoyy..

Providing reliable and saffee transportation fo for older adults who haavve trouble getting around is also a prioorityy,, so I am committing $2 million fo for bus staattions fo for the proposed exxtension of the Montgomer y County FLASH bus rapid d transit ser vice, whic h h will connect Silver Spring to Downtown Columbia. I’m also investing $14.5 million into improving our pedestrian and bicycle inffrrastructure to enable older residents to access alternate modes of transportation.

A planned $4 million renovaation and expansion of our Elkridge Branch Librar yy,, and a $300,000 investment in a new Southwest Branch librar yy,, will support liffeelong learning fo for all. My My proposed budget also lays out $11.5 m llion fo mi for a state-of-the-art community center in Elkridge, with top-notch amenities thaatt target the physical, mental and social needs of older adults.

In Howard Countyy,, we strive to make everyone ffeeel like they can lead a fulfilled, dignified liffee thaatt respects their evolving needs. fu

Jooi Jo oin inn uuss foor tth the hee 20 22024 0 4 OAI Showcase!

Limited accessible parking on-site, all others must use free sshuttle service.

At the Virtual 50+ Employment Expo, you can • Network with other jobseekers via Zoom chat.

• At Attend two virtual morning workshops relevant n to your job search.

• Listen to area employers talk about their organization and openings.

• Ask potential employers questions and get answers in chat. a Complimentary registration is also open ffoor potential employers.

The employer’s section of the Expo opens at noon; take advantage of this chance to find the right candidates ffoor your company.

Register at https://bit.ly/HoCojobEXPOemployers to connect virtually with experienced jobseekers age 50+ and highlight your company’’ss job openings. Y Yoou must have at least three job openings to participate in the Expo.

May M ay 2 • 22-6 2 p.m .m m.

E Columbia East Ea ia 50+ + Ceenter enter er 6 6610 Cradlerock Way, Coolumbia o bia 21045 21

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M AY 2 0 2 4 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

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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 17

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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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 financial 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 divorce. 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.”

If you have property, significant retirement assets, a pension, a business ownership or an

l g a Finasin Le

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.”

4. Check with Social Security Marriage affects your Social Security 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.

“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 See FIVE STEPS, page 18

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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, 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.

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Should you sell your home for a smaller one?

By Sandra Block If you spent your teenage years waiting anxiously for one of your siblings to get out of the shower, the idea of selling your spacious, multi-bathroom home and moving into a smaller house or condo may feel like a reversal of fortune.

Yet for many retirees, downsizing makes financial and practical sense. Younger baby boomers — those currently ranging in age from 57 to 66 — made up 17% of recent home buyers, while older boomers — ages 67 to 75 — accounted for 12%, according to a 2022 report from the National Association of Realtors Research Group.

Boomers’ primary reasons for buying a home were to be closer to friends and family, as well as a desire to move into a smaller home, the report said.

A smaller house or condo typically requires less maintenance and may be more accessible than a two-story suburban house. And at a time when homeowners age 62 and older have more than $12 tril-

lion in home equity, downsizing offers a way to free up some of that equity for other purposes, such as shoring up retirement accounts or saving for long-term care.

For retirees Fred and Shelby Bivins, selling their home will enable them to realize their dream of traveling in retirement.

The Bivinses have put their 2,050-squarefoot Arizona house on the market and relocated to their 1,600-square-foot summer condo in Wisconsin. Eliminating the cost of maintaining their Arizona home will free up funds for overseas trips.

With help from Chris Troseth, a certified financial planner based in Plano, Texas, the Bivinses plan to invest the proceeds from the sale of their home in a lowrisk portfolio.

Once they’re done traveling and are ready to settle down, they intend to use that money to buy a smaller home in Arizona.

“Selling their primary home will generate significant funds that can be reinvested to support their lifestyle now and in the fu-

Five steps

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.

From page 17 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.

ture,” Troseth said. “Downsizing for this couple will be a positive on all fronts.”

The effect of mortgage rates For all of its appeal, downsizing in today’s market is more complicated than it was in the past. With 30-year fixed interest rates on mortgages at 7.5%, many younger homeowners who might otherwise upgrade to a larger home are unwilling to sell, particularly if it means giving up a mortgage with a fixed rate of 3% or less.

More than 80% of consumers surveyed in September by housing finance giant Fannie Mae said they believe this is a bad time to buy a home, citing mortgage rates as the top reason.

As a result, buyers are competing for limited stock of smaller homes, said Hannah Jones, senior economic research analyst for Realtor.com.

Here, though, many retirees have an advantage, Jones said. Rising rates have priced many younger buyers out of the 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

market and made it more difficult for others to obtain a loan.

That’s not an issue for retirees who can use proceeds from the sale of their primary home to make an all-cash offer, which is often more attractive to sellers.

While the U.S. median home price has soared more than 40% since the beginning of the pandemic, prices have risen more slowly in parts of the Northeast and Midwest, Jones said.

“Out of all of the regions, the Midwest tends to be the most affordable,” she said.

“You can still find affordable homes in areas that offer a lot of amenities.”

The Mortgage Bankers Association reported in October that mortgage purchase applications slowed to the lowest level since 1995, as the rapid rise in mortgage rates has pushed many potential buyers out of the market.

However, because of tight inventories, See SHOULD YOU SELL?, page 19

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

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Should you sell?

From page 18 there’s still demand for homes of all sizes, Jones said, so if your home is well maintained and move-in ready, you shouldn’t have difficulty selling it.

“The market isn’t as red-hot as it was during the pandemic, but there’s still a lot to be gained by selling now,” she said.

Other costs to factor in If you live in an area where real estate values have soared, moving to a less expensive part of the country may seem like a logical way to lower your costs in retirement.

But before you move to a lower-cost locale, make sure you take inventory of your short- and long-term expenses, which could be higher than you expect.

Selling your current home, even at a significant profit, means you will incur costs, including those to update, repair and stage it, as well as a real estate agent’s commission (typically 5% to 6% of the sale price).

In addition, costs for your new home will include homeowners insurance, property taxes, state and local taxes, and homeowners association or condo fees.

Nicholas Bunio, a certified financial planner in Berwyn, Pa., said one of his retired clients moved to Florida and purchased a home that was $100,000 less expensive than her home in New Jersey.

Florida is also one of nine states without an income tax, which makes it attractive to retirees looking to relocate.

Once Bunio’s client got there, however, she discovered that she needed to spend $50,000 to install hurricane-proof windows.

Worse, the only homeowners insurance she could find was through Citizens Property Insurance, the state-sponsored insurer of last resort, and she’ll pay about $8,000 a year for coverage.

Her property taxes were higher than

she expected, too. When it comes to lowering your cost of living after you downsize, “it’s not as simple as buying a cheaper house,” Bunio said.

Don’t forget good healthcare Before moving across the country, or even across the state, you should also research the availability of medical care.

“Oftentimes, those considerations are secondary to things like proximity to family or leisure activities,” said John McGlothlin, a CFP in Austin, Texas. McGlothlin said one of his clients moved to a less expensive rural area that’s nowhere near a sizable medical facility. Although that’s not a problem now, he said, it could become a problem when they’re older.

If you use original Medicare, you won’t lose coverage if you move to another state.

But if you’re enrolled in Medicare Advantage, which is offered by private insurers as an alternative to original Medicare, you may have to switch plans to avoid losing coverage.

To research the availability of doctors, hospitals and nursing homes by Zip code, go to medicare.gov/care-compare.

At a time when many older adults suffer from loneliness and isolation, a sense of community matters, too. Bunio said one of his clients considered moving from Philadelphia to Phoenix after her daughter accepted a job there. The cost of living in Phoenix is lower, but the client changed her mind after visiting her daughter for a few months.

“She has no friends in Phoenix,” he said.

“She’s going on 61 and doesn’t want to restart life and make brand-new connections all over again.”

Bunio said some of his clients who are behind on saving for retirement or have high healthcare costs have sold their homes, invested the proceeds and become permanent renters. This strategy frees them from property taxes, homeowners insurance, homeowners association fees and other expenses.

Thanks to the construction of new rental properties in several markets, the rental market has softened in recent months, according to Zumper, an online marketplace for renters and landlords. In 75 of the 100 cities Zumper surveyed, the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment was flat or down from the previous month.

Tap into home equity Even if you opt to age in place, you can tap your home equity by taking out a home equity line of credit, a home equity loan or a reverse mortgage.

At a time when interest rates on home equity lines of credit and loans average around 9%, a reverse mortgage may be a more appealing option for retirees. With a reverse mortgage, you can convert your home equity into a lump sum, monthly payments or a line of credit. You don’t have to make principal or interest payments on the loan for as long as you remain in the home.

To be eligible for a government-insured home equity conversion mortgage (HECM), you must be at least 62 years old and have at least 50% equity in your home, and the home must be your primary residence.

The maximum payout for which you’ll qualify depends on your age (the older you are, the more you’ll be eligible to borrow), interest rates and the appraised value of

19

your home. In 2024, the maximum you could borrow was $1,149,825.

There’s no restriction on how homeowners must spend funds from a reverse mortgage, so you can use the money for a variety of purposes, including making your home more accessible, generating additional retirement income, or paying for long-term care.

You can estimate the value of a reverse mortgage on your home at reversemortgage.org.

Up-front costs for a reverse mortgage are high, including up to $6,000 in fees to the lender, 2% of the mortgage amount for mortgage insurance, and other fees. You can roll these costs into the loan, but that will reduce your proceeds.

For that reason, if you’re considering a move within the next five years, it’s usually not a good idea to take out a reverse mortgage.

Another drawback: When interest rates rise, the amount of money available from a reverse mortgage declines. Unless you need the money now, it may make sense to postpone taking out a reverse mortgage until the Federal Reserve cuts short-term interest rates, which is unlikely to happen until late 2024 (unless the economy falls into recession before that).

Even if interest rates decline, they aren’t expected to return to the rock-bottom levels seen over the past 15 years, according to a forecast by “The Kiplinger Letter.”

And with inflation still a concern, big rate cuts such as those seen in response to recessions and financial crises over the past two decades are unlikely.

This article first appeared in Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine. © 2023 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Consider renting for a while Once you’ve settled on a community, consider renting for a few months to get a feel for the area and a better idea of how much it will cost to live there.

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M AY 2 0 2 4 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

PHOTO COURTESY OF TINA COLLINS

Travel Leisure &

Writer Tina Collins took her husband, Dan Collins, to Disney World for his 60th birthday. Read about their experiences below.

Disney World is worth a visit at any age 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 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.

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 ever-evolving 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.

All four main theme parks have attractions for all ages. EPCOT (Experimental

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.

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 ex-

haustion. 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.

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.

See DISNEY, page 21

Makes a great gift! | Leisure & Travel

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — M AY 2 0 2 4

Disney From page 20

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

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 off-putting, 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

BEACON BITS

May 3

Disney-specialized travel agency. I connected with Ann & Tara, affiliates 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

21

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.

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COLUMBIA ORCHESTRA FUNDRAISER

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May 4

BROADWAY HITS CONCERT

The Columbia Pro Cantare chorus presents Broadway Hits in a concert on Sat., May 4 at 8 p.m. in The Jim Rouse Theatre at Wilde Lake, 5460 Trumpeter Rd., Columbia. Advance tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for students and seniors. For more information and to purchase tickets, call (301) 854-0107 or visit procantare.org/Tickets. Neighbor Ride offers evening transportation to the concert for people 60 and over. For more information, call (410) 884-RIDE (7433) or visit neighborride.org.

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M AY 2 0 2 4 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

How much travel insurance do you need?

You’ve probably seen a lot of stories ex- money risks — risks that could amount to plaining why you need travel insurance. They many thousands of dollars: concentrate on speculating • Loss of nonrefundable about all the bad stuff that prepayments and deposits if might happen before or during you have to cancel a trip beyour trip. Although the bad fore you leave home or while stuff is important, focusing on it you’re traveling because is misdirected: You need travel something bad happens to insurance for only one reason: you or a family member. money.

These days, many airfares Insurance is all about money. let you retain the value if you It can’t stop a war or quiet a volcancel, but cruises, tours, vacano; all it can do is make sure cation rentals and many rethat you don’t lose money due TRAVEL TIPS sort hotel packages involve to that war or volcano. So the By Ed Perkins totally nonrefundable advance formula is simple: If you have more money at risk than you can comfortably walk away from if something bad unexpectedly happens, you need insurance. If you don’t have money at risk, fuggedaboutit.

Most of you face two big potential

payments or stiff cancellation penalties. Trip-cancellation/trip-interruption (TCI) insurance covers the risk of losing those payments if you have to cancel.

• High transportation costs if you suffer an accident or illness during a trip that ne-

cessitates special transport home. Travel medical insurance (Medevac) covers the costs of repatriation, as high as the cost of a private jet if you can’t get home the way you arrived. It also covers hospital and doctor costs if your regular health insurance doesn’t cover you while you’re traveling. This is especially important for seniors who depend on Medicare, which does not cover outside the United States.

Many forms of travel insurance cover nuisance items such as a hotel bill if your air connection is canceled or buying stuff you need if your baggage is lost. But in total dollar risk, these items are chump change — and your regular insurance or credit card may cover them, anyhow.

How travel insurance works You need to know a few technicalities of travel insurance, as well:

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• Travel insurance is “named peril” insurance: It pays only if the bad stuff that happens to you is specifically included in the fine print.

• Travel insurance covers only unexpected bad stuff. It won’t cover a volcano eruption if the volcano is erupting at the time you buy the policy. And it won’t cover you if grandma dies due to an illness she was suffering when you bought the policy.

• Most policies exclude coverage if anyone covered by the policy cancels because of a pre-existing medical condition. Many policies, however, waive that exclusion if you buy a policy covering the full value of your trip within a week or two of the time you make your first payment.

A comprehensive bundled policy, including both TCI and Medevac, usually costs 5% to 15% of the total trip costs. The price of most such policies is based, in part, on your age, with rates getting very high past age 70.

You can buy “cancel for any reason” TCI, often as an add-on to a regular policy, in effect removing the “named peril” limitation. It usually won’t cover the full amount — maybe 50% to 75% — but it lets you decide when to cancel.

You can, of course, avoid the big money risks entirely: Don’t have any money in the game up front. Over the last few years, I’ve never needed TCI because I never had any big bucks at risk. I’ve been flying on frequent-flyer miles, which I could redeposit if I had to cancel, and made only no-deposit hotel reservations. But you can’t do that with cruises, vacation rentals and many tours.

If you need travel insurance, don’t blindly take whatever your airline, cruise line or tour operator suggests; instead, check the big online travel insurance agencies that publish elaborate side-by-side comparisons of different policies, including insuremytrip.com, quotewright.com, squaremouth.com and others.

Email Ed Perkins at eperkins@mind.net and visit his rail travel website at railguru.com. © 2024 Ed Perkins. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BEACON BITS

May 11

BOOKS IN BLOOM LITERARY FESTIVAL

This free festival celebrates the joy of books and meaningful dialogue on Sat., May 11 from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 6000 Meriweather Dr., Columbia. In addition to authors and speakers, the festival features inter-

Right at Home

active, family-friendly fun, including a

Vantage Point

pop-up bookstore and local food and drink specials. For more information and to register, visit tinyurl.com/BooksinBloom2024.

Makes a great gift!

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — M AY 2 0 2 4

23

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 24.

Toby’s enchanting Beauty and the Beast

Transformative power of love The tale of how Belle, a young woman in a French village, transforms a bitter Beast into a loving person continues to interest audiences today.

A haughty prince mistreats a witch, who casts a spell on his castle, turning him into a menacing, furry beast (played by Justin Calhoun) and all his servants into physical objects. In order for the Beast and the castle’s other captives to return to human

form, he is told he must fall in love.

Enter Belle (Rachel Cahoon), who is held captive in the Beast’s castle because she trades her father’s freedom for her captivity. Meanwhile, the uber-macho Gaston (Patrick Gover) wants Belle as his wife.

Belle and the Beast become friends, but time is of the essence. There is a magic rose losing petals, and when all the petals have fallen, it will be too late for the spell to be broken.

In Toby’s production, director and choreographer Mark Minnick hits all the right buttons. The music is live, performed by a small orchestra on an elevated platform out of sight of the audience. The orchestra never overwhelms the voices.

The music here, directed by Ross Scott Rawlings, is terrific. In “Be Our Guest,” 15 actors are on stage, all with superb voices that can be heard from the last rows. Cahoon and Brandon Bedore (who plays Monsieur D’Arque) are stand-outs.

Of the 14 songs in the show, I especially liked “Human Again,” when many of the cast members sing about being freed from the curse.

The costumes by Janine Sunday were magnificent. Each outfit was better than the last.

If there was someone in the cast I felt a bit sorry for, it was Chip (played by Dylan Iwanczuk). The poor lad is stuck in a teacup costume for most of the show: The only body part showing is his head. He looked happy, though, singing along with the troupe.

PHOTO BY JERI TIDWELL PHOTOGRAPHY

By Eddie Applefeld The current production at Toby’s Dinner Theatre is the family-friendly Beauty and the Beast, based on Disney’s 1991 animated film (which itself was based on an 18th century fairy tale of the same name).

Featuring the voices of Angela Lansbury and Jerry Orbach, the Disney movie made $331 million at the box office and was the first animated film to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture.

(It lost to The Silence of the Lambs.)

With songs composed by Alan Menken, the film was a natural to be remade into a Broadway musical. It became the first of several Disney blockbuster musicals, opening in New York in 1994 and closing 13 years later.

In 2017, Disney released a live-action version of the animated film starring Kevin Kline, Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci and Emma Watson. The remake also did well, becoming the second-highest-grossing film of 2017. Disney went on to create restaurants and theme park rides based on the story, too.

Rachel Cahoon as Belle brings out the softer side of Justin Calhoun, who plays the Beast, in Toby’s production of the beloved Disney musical Beauty and the Beast.

Performances are through June 16.

A respite from reality The set, with lighting by Lynn Joslin and scenic design by David Hopkins, transforms you to another time and place.

We seek out entertainment — be it sports,

movies, theater or books — to escape from the real world. If your chosen entertainment venue is good, that mini-vacation works.

See BEAUTY & BEAST, page 25

NOW W ON S TAGE!

Columbia Pro Cantare 47th Season Concerts “BROADWAY HITS” Saturday, May 4 at 8 p.m.

Pre-concert lecture 7 p.m.

Plus post-concert reception Featuring classics by Rodgers & Hammerstein, selections from “Hamilton” and more!

To obysDinnerTh heatre.com Information & Tickets: www.procantare.org

CELEBRATING 45YEARS

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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.

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

pre-determined 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.

M AY 2 0 2 4 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

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 weather. 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 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 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 See PIGEONS, page 25

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H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — M AY 2 0 2 4

Beauty and Beast From page 23 This is what Beauty and the Beast does at Toby’s. Your attention is either on the castle or the town, and nothing else seems to matter.

You don’t have to worry about eating, of course, because this is a dinner theatre, and dinner (or brunch) are included in the ticket price. Note: Your servers are also ac-

Pigeons From page 24 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.”

tors in the play, and your tips are their main source of compensation.

There were quite a few children in the audience, and this is a perfect show for them. Some of the really young ones even called out to the actors on stage, which always gets a laugh from the audience. Just be advised, parents, that the evening performances let you out at about 10:30 p.m.

Beauty and the Beast runs through June 16. Toby’s is located at 5900 Symphony

Woods Rd. in Columbia. Advance reservations are required.

Performances take place Tuesday through Saturday night at 8 p.m. (doors open for buffet at 6 p.m.) and Sunday night at 7 p.m. (doors open at 5 p.m.). There are matinees on Wednesday and Sunday at 12:30 p.m. (buffet brunch for matinees opens at 10:30 a.m.).

The pre-show all-you-can-eat buffet consists of a salad bar, veggies, pasta, baked fish, a carving station, shrimp, chicken,

meat loaf and a dessert bar in the lobby. Specialty drinks and desserts are available for an extra charge.

Tickets are $79-$86 for adults and $60$63 for children 12 and under, depending on performance.

Those 65 and over may attend any Tuesday or Wednesday performance for $67.15.

Tickets may be purchased from the box office at (410) 730-8311, or online via Ticketmaster for an extra service fee.

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.

Know your pigeons 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-grandfather from Germany raised pigeons and horses. That’s what I do. People say I’m a

FROM PAGE 26 ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD A B B A H A R P T O P S A L A R C U P E L R O L L I D L E U T E R I C L O P H A T H A T E C U T E C U T A S I N O G L E S V S T A T O L E O V A W I N W I N E K I T E K I T N A T O E R I E D U D D U D E P A L E P A L 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

ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

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ENTERPRISE RESIDENTIAL MOST COMMUNITIES ARE 62 AND BETTER ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY

BALTIMORE COUNTY (CONT.)

The Greens at Hammonds Lane: 410-636-1141 Park View at Furnace Branch: 410-761-4150 Park View at Severna Park: 410-544-3411

Park View at Rosedale: 410-866-1886 Park View at Taylor: 410-663-0363 Park View at Towson: 410-828-7185 Park View at Woodlawn: 410-281-1120

BALTIMORE CITY Ednor Apartments I: 410-243-0180 Ednor Apartments II: 410-243-4301 The Greens at Irvington Mews: 410-644-4487 Park Heights Place: 410-578-3445 Park View at Ashland Terrace: 410-276-6440 Park View at Coldspring: 410-542-4400

EASTERN SHORE Park View at Easton: 410-770-3070

HARFORD COUNTY Park View at Bel Air: 410-893-0064 Park View at Box Hill: 410-515-6115

HOWARD COUNTY

BALTIMORE COUNTY Cove Point Apartments I: 410-288-2344 Cove Point Apartments II: 410-288-1660 Evergreen Senior Apartments: 410-780-4888 The Greens at English Consul: 410-789-3000 The Greens at Liberty Road: 410-655-1100 The Greens at Logan Field: 410-288-2000 The Greens at Rolling Road: 410-744-9988 Park View at Catonsville: 410-719-9464 Park View at Dundalk: 410-288-5483 • 55 & Better Park View at Fullerton: 410-663-0665 Park View at Miramar Landing: 410-391-8375 Park View at Randallstown: 410-655-5673

Park View at Colonial Landing: 410-796-4399 Park View at Columbia: 410-381-1118 Park View at Ellicott City: 410-203-9501 Park View at Ellicott City II: 410-203-2096 Park View at Emerson: 301-483-3322 Park View at Snowden River: 410-290-0384

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY Park View at Bladensburg: 301-699-9785 • 55 & Better Park View at Laurel: 301-490-1526 Park View at Laurel II: 301-490-9730

Call the community of interest to you to inquire about eligibility requirements and to arrange a personal tour.

EnterpriseResidential.org PET-FRIENDLY

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M AY 2 0 2 4 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

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

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Scrabble answers on p. 25.

HB524

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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 25.

Makes a great gift!

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — M AY 2 0 2 4

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

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

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

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

Caregivers MOBILE HAIR & NAIL SERVICES - WE COME TO YOU. Professional Licensed Hair Stylist. Women and Men’s Services - All Hair Types. Cuts, Styles, Roller Sets, Color, Perms, Men’s Cuts & Facial Grooming, Manicures & more. Call 410-415-1760.

Computer Services FRIENDLY IN-HOME TECH HELP AT VERY AFFORDABLE RATES. I am a Senior who has been successfully serving Seniors technology needs since 2014. Solve problems with computers (Windows, Apple and Chrome), Tablets and smartphones (iPhone/iPad and Android), Smart TVs, Printers, Wifi etc. sProvide set-up for new computers, printers, tablets, smartphones, Wifi, smart TVs. Patient, clear tutoring available on how to use all electronics and software. Satisfaction guaranteed or no charge.

Call Gary for more information and estimates.

443 827-9785 or email: techmedic57@gmail.com.

Website: www.techmedic4u.com

Events SHOP LOCALLY AT THE MULTI-ANNUAL CRAFTS GALORE Marketplace in Baltimore County, MD. Find unique handmade goods and homemade food from juried artisans of Vendor Members Group. Interested vendors can inquire exclusively on: www.vendormembersgroup.com

Financial WESLEY FINANCIAL GROUP, LLC Timeshare Cancellation Experts. Over $50,000,000 in timeshare debt and fees cancelled in 2019.

Get free informational package and learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. Call 855-6268703.

UP TO $15,000.00 OF GUARANTEED LIFE INSURANCE! No medical exam or health questions. Cash to help pay funeral and other final expenses. Call Physicians Life Insurance Company 866-212-1092 or visit www.Life55plus.info/beacon

For Sale NEW WINDOWS FROM WINDOW NATION. Special money saving offer - zero down, zero payments, zero interest for TWO years AND buy 2 windows and get 2 FREE! Offer is valid for select models. Labor not included.

Other restrictions apply. Call Window Nation today! 855-909-2278.

PREPARE FOR POWER OUTAGES TODAY with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 1-301-960-3174 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator.

It’s a power move.

Health PORTABLE OXYGEN CONCENTRATOR May Be Covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and long-lasting battery of Inogen One. Free information kit! Call 855-851-0949.

DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 400 plus procedures. Real dental insurance - NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-844366-1003 www.dental50plus.com/320 #6258 MOBILEHELP, America’s Premier Mobile Medical Alert System. Whether You’re Home or Away. For Safety and Peace of Mind. No Long Term Contracts! Free Brochure! Call Today!

1-240-650-9189.

STROKE AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE are leading causes of death, according to the American Heart Association. Screenings can provide peace of mind or early detection!

Contact Life Line Screening to schedule your screening. Special offer - 5 screenings for just $149. Call 1-844-485-7035.

Home/Handyman Services DON’T LET THE STAIRS LIMIT YOUR MOBILITY! Discover the ideal solution for anyone who struggles on the stairs, is concerned about a fall or wants to regain access to their entire home. Call AmeriGlide today!

1-866-365-5170.

HOW TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD All classified ads must be submitted and paid for online, via our website, www.thebeaconnewspapers.com/classifieds Deadlines and Payments: To appear in the next issue, your ad text and payment must be entered by the 5th of the preceding month (for Baltimore and Howard County editions); by the 20th (for Washington edition).

Cost will be based on the number of characters and spaces in your ad: • $25 for 1-250 • $35 for 251-500. • $50 for 501-750 (maximum length).

The website will calculate this for you.

Note: Maryland contractors must provide a valid MHIC number.

• Each real estate listing qualifies as one ad. • All ads are subject to publisher’s discretion. Payment will be refunded if unacceptable for any reason.

To place your classified ad, visit www.thebeaconnewspapers.com/classifieds Home/Handyman Services

Miscellaneous

SAFE STEP. North America’s #1 Walk-In Tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-theline installation and service. Now featuring our FREE shower package and $1600 Off for a limited time! Call today! Financing available. Call Safe Step 1-866-478-2363.

THE PARTNERSHIP FOR ANIMAL WELFARE (“PAW”) a rescue based in Montgomery and Howard Counties, pulls dogs from the Prince George’s County shelter. However, because of concerns about kennel cough (contagious to other dogs but not humans), the dogs we rescue from that shelter must be quarantined for 10 to 14 days. We need volunteers who are currently dogless to house these dogs for this brief period of time. We provide medical care for the dogs. This is a perfect opportunity for those who haven’t yet fostered but want to try it out. If you can help, please contact Michelle Games, volunteer coordinator, at volunteer@paw-rescue.org.

AMERICAN RESIDENTIAL HEATING & COOLING. As temps outside start to climb, the season for savings is now. $49 cooling or heating system tune up. Save up to $2000 on a new heating and cooling system (restrictions apply.)

FREE estimates. Many payment options available. Licensed and insured professionals. Call today 1-877-691-0273.

JACUZZI BATH REMODEL can install a new, custom bath or shower in as little as one day. For a limited time, we’re cutting installation costs in half and offering a FREE safety upgrade! (Additional terms apply. Subject to change and vary by dealer.) Offer ends 3/31/24.

Call 1-833-994-0538 THE BATHROOM OF YOUR DREAMS in as little as 1 day. Limited Time Offer - $1000 off or No Payments and No Interest for 18 months for customers who qualify. BCI Bath & Shower.

Many options available. Quality materials & professional installation. Senior & Military Discounts Available. Call Today! 1-855-653-0087.

Legal Services APPLYING FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY or Appealing a Denied Claim? Call Bill Gordon & Assoc. Our case managers simplify the process & work hard to help with your case. Call 1-866-970-0779 FREE Consultation.

Local Attorneys Nationwide [Mail: 2420 N St NW, Washington DC. Office: Broward Co. FL (TX/NM Bar.)]

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Classifieds continued on page 24

We thank our advertisers who make our publication possible.

Please patronize them and let them know you saw their ad in the Beacon.

Classes/Events

Funeral Services

Housing

Brooke Grove . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Howard Co. 50+ Connection . .14-15 Howard Co. Office on Aging & Independence Showcase . . . . .22 Howard Co. Recreation & Parks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-13 Parkinson’s Moving Day . . . . . . .10

Cremation Society of Maryland . .24 Going Home Cremation . . . . . . . .10 Harry H. Witzke’s Family Funeral Home, Inc. . . . . . . . . .19 MacNabb Funeral Home . . . . . . .24 Sol Levinson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Brooke Grove . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Charlestown/Erickson . . . . . . . . . .9 Enterprise Residential . . . . . . . . .25 Flats at Sandy Spring . . . . . . . . . .17 Heartlands Senior Living . . . . . . . .4 Park View Apartments . . . . . . . . .25 Residences at Vantage Point . . . . . .1

Election Information Howard Co. Board of Elections . . .8

Employment Virtual 50+ Employment Expo . .18

Home Healthcare/ Companions A-1 Action Nursing Care . . . . . . .11 Family & Nursing Care . . . . . . . . .3 Right at Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

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Medical/Health Hearing Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Ikon Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Medical Eye Center . . . . . . . . . . .10

Home Improvement

Senior/Government Services

ShelfGenie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

COGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Howard Co. 50+ Connection . . .14-15 Maryland Relay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 RTA/Transportation . . . . . . . . . . .21

Theater/ Entertainment Columbia Orchestra . . . . . . . . . . .24 Columbia ProCantare . . . . . . . . . .23 Toby’s Dinner Theatre . . . . . . . . .23

Travel Eyre Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Howard Co. Recreation & Parks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-13 RTA/Transportation . . . . . . . . . . .21

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M AY 2 0 2 4 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

april-M r -Ma ay y 2024

UPPCOMING COMINGG SSEMIN MINNARS MIN AARS & CLASSE CLA SES at t Broo o oke e Grove r etirement m t village v ll e

As experts in sen nior care, Brooke Grovee Retirement Village is pleased to offer seminars and claasses that promote ph hyyysical, spiritual and men ntal well-being.

All programs am will be held in-person er n in the Gathering Roo om at Brooke Grov ove R dN Nurrsing Center, Rehabilitation and located at at 1813 31 SSlade SSchool Road on the Sandy Spring, Maryland, campus am of Brooke Grov ove Retirem ment en Villa llage. g R Register as indicated di db below or contact To Toni n Dav avis at tdav avis@bgf.org with questions.

LIVING L N G WELL LL SEMINAR R AND A BALANCE ASS SS ME SESSMENT: “How t to o Pre ev ent t Fa Fa lls” s” Offered in partnershiip with MedStar Offer dSt Health’s Center fo for Successfu S ful Aging

Offered red in partnership wit w h Up Uplif lifftt Yo Yoga ga APRIL 22 2T THROUG RO GH H JUNE 3 MONDAY AYS & FRID DAY AYS • 1-1:45 P. P.M.

THURSDAY AY, APR RIL 18 10:30-11:45 A.M M. Falls are the leadingg cause of serious in njjury in adult adultss aaged ged 65 an nd older. Learn Learn about the risk fac a tors that contribute to faalls and discoveer tips fo or minimizing those risks.

Brief, individualized balance assessments will be offered follo o wing the seminar.

FREE To register, visit: bit.ly/BGPreventF e alls a by April 16

HEALT LT HY LIVING G CLASS: A “Yoga f for o O Old d e Adult der lt s” ”

This gentle yoga class is i gear g ed fo for older adults and accessible fo for ALL as positions maayy be done from from a yyo oga maatt, sitting og sitting in a chair or standing with a chair/wall fo or support. Conducted att a slow pace, this class incorporates mindfulne u ss and breathing techniques, while participants learn and practice poses that will increase strength, balance and flexibility.

Six-week Session Fee: $35 To re ter, visit: bit.ly/ y BGYoga2024

LIVING LI V WELL L SEM MINAR: N “Unlocking o g the e Secrets o Healthy of ea Brai a i n Aging” Offered ffered in partnership withh MedStar Star Health’s Center fo for Suc Successsfu ful Aging THURSDAY AY, MAY AY 23 1:30-2:45 P. P.M. It’s neve ver too soon to starrt preve venting cognitivvee dec cognit decline—or line or tto o understand nderstand it once it’s begun. Yo ou can keep your brain healthy as you age by practicing proper maintenance and learning to identify problems as they arise. Learn how to tell the difference between normal and abnormal decline and discovveer the best practices fo or addressing both.

FREE To register, visit: bit.ly/ y BGHealthyBr y ain by May 21

18100 Slade School h Road Sandy Spring, MD M 20860

301- 301 www.bgf . f.org Independent n n n living ng

assisted living ng

rehabilitation n

long-term ng m care

memory m m support