November 2024 | Baltimore Beacon

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In style, thrifty and over 50

The Zone

Jenkins frequents thrift stores nationwide to find high-quality clothing for her shop. “I

NOVEMBER 2024

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PHOTO BY LAURA MELAMED

By Laura Melamed Donna Jenkins, 68, owner of The Zone, a popular used clothing store in Mount Vernon, remembers how she discovered her love of vintage. “It was ’77, and I hated the clothing of that time period,” she said, “so I started hunting around for other clothing.”

Jenkins, then a senior at the University of Maryland, found a warehouse in D.C. full of industrial bales of old clothes for sale. The owner, son of a Philadelphia rag dealer who had inherited the old clothing from his father’s business, would pop open the bales for people like Jenkins, who were shopping for something different to wear.

“The stuff would just lie around on the floor and you would just go through piles, try something on, if it didn’t fit, throw it back down, dig around a little more,” Jenkins said. “So I went to him and said, ‘Hey, do you want someone to hang that stuff up for you?’ and so I got a job.”

That job led her to a career in consignment. “It had nothing to do with my major — which was art history — other than that I was using my eyeballs,” Jenkins said.

Now The Zone has been in business 43 years, and Jenkins is a local legend.

At The Zone and Baltimore’s other consignment shops, shoppers can get a great deal on high fashion while reducing waste and contributing to a more sustainable world. And many of these shops were founded by women now over 50, who have dedicated their lives to the hunt for unique clothes, shoes and jewelry for their customers.

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LEISURE & TRAVEL

Enjoying the Scottish Highlands by boat and on foot; plus, visit Cooperstown, N.Y., for the baseball and stay for the history, food and natural beauty page 15

Donna Jenkins curates The Zone, a popular vintage store in Mount Vernon she opened in the 1980s. Her shop is “a good place to get good deals on both fashion-forward and ordinary clothing,” Jenkins said. Baltimore’s thrift and consignment shops, many of them run by women over 50, offer unique bargains.

do the hunting for you,” she explained.

Half of her store is vintage clothing, and the other half includes good, usable denim, sweaters, cotton and linen — “anything that seems like really good fabric and a good design,” she said.

Her customers are often people who have the means to buy new clothing but don’t want to contribute to fast fashion,

that is, cheaply made, throwaway clothes.

“They don’t want that,” Jenkins said.

“They want something that’s more durable…

There’s a lot of consciousness about that.”

Jenkins has always had an eye for quality. When she was working at the warehouse in the late 1970s, she befriended a

ARTS & STYLE

What to expect of the creepy, kooky Addams Family musical; plus, the story behind the newly-renamed Chamber Music Maryland page 18

See VINTAGE SHOPS, page 13

INDEPENDENT LIVING • ASSISTED LIVING • MEMORY CARE

FITNESS & HEALTH k Five protein myths k Is it really an allergy?

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LAW & MONEY k Your data has been stolen k Medicare choices to make

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NOVEMBER 2024 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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A nice pat on the back I am happy to share with you the kudos second place for his August 2023 cover the Beacon received at the annual confer- story on glass blowing in Baltimore, “Put your lips together and blow.” ence of the North American The Howard County BeaMature Publishers Associacon won first place in the “feation, whose journalism comture writing” category for petition we enter every year. an arts story last September Each of our editions gets by freelancer Susan Ahearn. entered in a different categoCalled both a “beautiful” ry, based on circulation. And and “fun” article, her story this year, all three of our edi“Artists pass down folk art to tions reaped honors. apprentices” was also praised The Baltimore Beacon by the judges as “A wonderful brought home three firststory about keeping a tradiplace awards and one second- FROM THE PUBLISHER tion — the art of Black storyplace award.

Last September’s cover By Stuart P. Rosenthal telling — alive.”

In the profile categor y, story, “Enjoy being a student again” by our managing editor Margaret Foster won second place for her profile of Foster, shared first place in the “senior an artist in “Turning scrap wood into issues” categor y with last October’s wildlife paintings,” earlier this year. She cover, “Elevating new writers over 50” by also won a first-place award for her freelance writer Laura Melamed, who Howard County version of “Enjoy being a also wrote this month’s cover story. The student again.”

As you may know, many of the travel and judges found both articles “fun, lively and extremely informative.” They also arts stories we write, along with my monthpraised each article’s “excellent list of re- ly column, also appear in our flagship edition, the Greater Washington Beacon. sources.”

And Glenda C. Booth, who regularly And because it has the largest circulation writes features for us, won first place in of our publications (100,000+), any story feature writing for her “fascinating and that appears there cannot also be entered well-written” May cover story, “Devoted to in the smaller circulation categories.

As a result, many of our awards this raising, racing pigeons.”

In the “How-to” feature category, our year were won by our Washington edition, long-time writer Robert Friedman won even though all our readers had the

Beacon The

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ion” category, three other columns I wrote were honored with first, second and third place awards.

Another trifecta occurred in the “personal essay” category. Foster won another first place, while two freelance submissions that we printed won second and third. May Benatar was honored for her piece on “Move to a new home is a mixed blessing,” while Taya Jackson won for “Lessons learned from a job search at 77.”

So for all you writers out there, if you have a personal story to tell that you think our readers will appreciate and/or relate to, feel free to send it to us. (We get a lot of such submissions, but we’re proud to note that we print the best ones and even submit them for awards.)

Of course, the most important honor we receive is from you, our readers, who pick up your copy of the Beacon each month from one of our thousands of free distribution sites, subscribe by mail or read us online at thebeaconnewspapers.com.

However you choose to do it, we thank you for reading the Beacon!

By the way, you can look up and read any of the articles mentioned above on our website.

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.

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

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

Publisher/Editor – Stuart P. Rosenthal President/Associate Publisher – Judith K. Rosenthal Executive Vice President – Gordon Hasenei Managing Editor – Margaret Foster Art Director – Kyle Gregory Vice President of Operations – Roger King Advertising Representatives – Steve Levin, M.K. Phillips, Alan Spiegel Assistant Editor – Ana Preger Hart

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

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chance to see them.

We were especially thrilled when the Washington Beacon won first place in the “general excellence” category. The judges said: “This newspaper is rich with outstanding, well-written articles and impeccable editing…Every high-quality issue offers a distinct and easy-to-read layout, good sectioning, good headline writing and a consistent presentation.”

We also won first-place awards in the “profile,” “feature” and “how-to” categories. The second-place award for a feature went to freelancer Laura Sturza, for her cover story “Bachelorettes of the DMV.” (Stay tuned for another story about that reality TV show next month!)

Long-time travel writers Don Mankin and Victor Block were both honored for their “wonderfully written” travel pieces.

In the “theatre review” category, where we had to submit two articles by each reviewer, we were thrilled that two of our freelance reviewers were recognized: Mark Dreisonstok won first place for “insightful” reviews of Sister Act at Toby’s and Hair at Signature Theatre in Virginia.

Lynda Lantz won second place for her reviews of others plays in Washington and Virginia.

In the “senior issues” category, two of my “From the Publisher” columns took first place this year. Under the “editorial/opin-

Dear Editor: When our book group formed in 1988, we were seven women with teenage or young adult daughters and sons. We read an eclectic selection of fiction and nonfiction, enjoying lively conversations about the chosen book of the month.

Each person hosted a Friday afternoon gathering in her living room, accompanied by tea, coffee, cheeses, crackers and homemade sweets.

Serious readers, we all completed the books — most of the time — but put aside time to chat about our work and catch up on our kids’ schooling, marriages and grandchildren.

Over the ensuing two decades, we noticed that fewer of us could remember the names of books and authors, even our favorite ones.

In our 60s, only one or two of us could recall parts of a title, an author’s first or last name, or bits of plot. We worried about los-

ing our memories and whether dementia was invading our now close circle of friends.

One of us researched the kind of forgetting we were experiencing and learned, to our relief, that it was a normal part of aging.

Forgetting the name of a book or a movie, in the absence of other kinds of forgetting, happens to everyone over their 50s.

What a relief for us! Wrinkled brows that had accompanied our book-forgetting conversations fell away. After all, we’d retained the gist of these tales.

And then something surprising happened. Over the decades, we’ve gone from grinning to hiccupping laughter each time our group’s “forgetting ritual” occurs. This is a joy limited to our select club of septuagenarians and octogenarians.

As one of our members exclaimed, “I’m so glad we’re all in our 70s and 80s and can laugh together about forgetting!”

Patricia Steckler, Ph.D. Bethesda, MD

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Say you saw it in the Beacon

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Health

NOVEMBER 2024 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Fitness &

PROBLEM FOODS Food allergies are dangerous; an intolerance or sensitivity is manageable SHINGLES SHOTS The two-dose Shingrix vaccine is the best way to reduce the risk of shingles HOPKINS STUDY If you have Type 2 diabetes, take a survey and earn a gift card in about an hour NATURAL REMEDIES Some foods, vitamins and herbs that potentially reduce symptoms of depression

Choosing next year’s Medicare drug plan Dear Savvy Senior, Here are some tips and tools to help you What’s the easiest way to compare shop and compare Part D plans.

Medicare Part D prescription drug plans? My Part D prePlan Finder Tool mium is increasing again in If you have internet access 2025, so I would like to use and are comfortable using a the fall open enrollment to computer, you can easily find and sign up for a cheapshop for and compare all er plan.

Medicare drug plans in your —Shopping Around area and enroll in a new plan Dear Shopping, online, and it only takes a few I’m happy to hear you’re minutes. comparing your Medicare Just go to Medicare’s Plan SAVVY SENIOR Finder Tool at Medicare.gov/ coverage options this fall!

Research shows that many By Jim Miller find-a-plan. You can do a general Medicare beneficiaries with search on the right side of the Part D coverage can lower their prescrip- page, under the title “Continue without logtion drug costs by shopping among plans ging in.” each year during the open enrollment seaIf you wish to save your drugs and pharson, which runs Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. macy information (for future ease in reThere could be another Part D plan in turning to the site), you can log into or your area that covers the drugs you take create your Medicare account on the left with fewer restrictions or with lower costs. side of the page.

You never know until you look.

Next, type in your ZIP code and choose You’ll also be happy to know that, thanks the type of coverage you’re looking for, to the Inflation Reduction Act, in 2025, an- enter the drugs you take, choose the pharnual out-of-pocket costs will be capped at macies you use, and indicate whether you $2,000 for all Medicare Part D beneficiaries. are interested in a mail order option.

The plan finder will then display results for plans available in your area.

Be aware that a plan may not cover all the drugs you take, but it may cover alternatives. It will also tell you if the plan has a deductible and how much the monthly premium is.

Initially, the plans will be sorted by “lowest drug + premium costs.” This is the closest estimate to what you may pay out of pocket for your Part D coverage for the year.

You can select “plan details” to find out more specifics about coverage, including any coverage restrictions that might apply to your drugs.

Before enrolling, it is a good idea to call the plan directly to confirm any information you read on the plan finder, as information may not be completely up to date.

If you need help, you can call Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 and they can do this comparison for you over the phone.

Or contact your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which provides free, unbiased Medicare counseling. To reach SHIP in Baltimore City, call (410) 396-2273; Baltimore County:

(410) 887-2059.

Any changes to coverage you make will take effect Jan. 1, 2025. If you take no action during open enrollment, your current coverage will continue next year.

Extra Help

If you’re lower-income and having a hard time paying your medication costs, you may be eligible for Medicare’s “Extra Help” program. This is a federal low-income subsidy that helps pay Part D premiums, deductibles and copayments.

To be eligible, your annual income must be under $22,590 ($30,660 for married couples living together), and your assets (not counting your home, personal possessions, vehicles, life insurance policies or burial expenses) must be below $17,220 ($34,360 for married couples).

For more information or to apply, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or visit SSA.gov/medicare/part-d-extra-help.

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

Facts to counter five myths about protein

By Matthew Kadey Your body needs protein — that’s a fact.

“Protein does a lot of great things for us.

It helps build and repair muscle and other tissues, moves oxygen and nutrients around our bodies, and is involved in many important bodily functions, including digestion,” said registered dietitian Caroline Susie, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

But many of us are confused about everything from how much protein we need, to whether all sources are created equal.

Let’s clear up some common myths.

Myth 1: We all need the same amount.

For adults, the U.S. Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for protein is 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight. “This should not be considered an optimal amount for many people,” said Susie. “The RDA is the lowest bar to prevent deficiency.”

Susie said that our ideal intake depends on many factors, including our activity level, age and whether one is pregnant or lactating.

“As we age, we start to lose muscle mass, so we can benefit by eating more protein,” Susie said. All this is to say that you need to individualize your protein intake based on your specific needs.

“You need to be more careful with plantbased eating that you are getting all the protein you require,” Susie said. There are plant options like tofu, tempeh and seitan that tend to be more protein-dense.

But as long as you are meeting your individual total protein requirements, Susie said it does not matter much if they mostly (or all) come from plants.

Myth 2: All plants are created equal.

Myth 3: Eat only lean protein.

With the rising popularity of plant-based eating, you may have heard that foods like beans and nuts are great sources of nonmeat protein. Not necessarily.

A cup of cooked black beans has 15 grams of protein, but 41 grams of carbohydrates, so it should be considered as more carbs than protein.

An ounce of almonds has 6 grams of protein, yet double that amount of fat, so should be thought of primarily as a fat source and protein secondary.

You’ve probably heard that if you are eating animal-based proteins you should focus mostly on “lean proteins.”

The loose definition of a lean protein is one that has no more than three grams of fat per ounce. That would include items like chicken breast and pork tenderloin.

Salmon, full-fat yogurt and eggs, on the other hand, would not be considered lean proteins.

Some of the focus on lean proteins is a holdover from the days when fat was the enemy.

“You want to limit your intake of saturated fat from meats like beef, but you still can eat animal-based protein foods that are higher in fat,” Susie said.

For instance, she zeroes in on salmon, a serving of which has three times as much fat as a serving of ham. But some of those fats are in the form of heart-healthy omega-3s.

Eggs provide not just fat and cholesterol, but also a range of essential micronutrients as well as very high-quality protein.

“Fat in yogurt can make it more satiating,” Susie noted. You need to look at the whole nutrition picture of non-lean proteins.

Myth 4: You need protein powder.

While protein powders are a great protein source, Susie stressed they shouldn’t act as a substitute for whole food sources, both animal and plant alike.

“Food is so much more than protein, and can provide valuable nutrients that See PROTEIN, page 5

Protein From page 4

you don’t get in powders,” Susie said.

And she believes most people can meet their protein needs without using powders.

Myth 5: High protein diets are best for weight loss.

By increasing both the thermic effect of eating — the energy (calories) you need to spend to process what you eat — and satiety, protein is often heralded as the macronutrient you need more of to shed pounds. And, yes, some research suggests that focusing on eating a bit more protein can help with weight loss efforts.

But Susie cautioned that there is a limit to this effect, and simply adding a lot more protein to your diet is not a weight loss guarantee. “Too much of anything is excess calories that can contribute to weight gain.”

She recommends taking a more personalized approach to your nutrition, and finding what works for you instead of just eating large amounts of protein.

And, yes, it is possible to lose weight and keep it off on a diet that contains a good balance of carbohydrates, protein and fat.

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

BEACON BITS

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BALTIMORE BEACON — NOVEMBER 2024

Honor our veterans at Baltimore’s annual Veterans Day Parade on Sat., Nov. 9. The parade starts at noon from the Washington Monument, 699 N. Charles St., proceeds down to Baltimore St. and then Gay St., and ends at War Memorial Plaza. Open to all. If interested, you can apply to participate at bit.ly/bmoreveterans24. For more information, call (443) 615-3363 or email MayorsOffice.Event@baltimorecity.gov.

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Is it an allergy, intolerance or sensitivity?

By Howard LeWine, M.D. Q: My gut seems to be more sensitive to a variety of foods. Does this mean I have developed food allergies?

A: Many people confuse food sensitivity with a food allergy or food intolerance.

While these conditions can have similar symptoms, they are quite different.

Food allergy: A food allergy happens when the body mistakes a food ingredient as harmful and defends itself by turning on your immune system, such as producing

high levels of a type of antibody called immunoglobulin E. Sometimes a food allergy is life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.

Common food allergies include immune reactions to shellfish, nuts, fish and eggs. A person with a food allergy may have symptoms similar to an intolerance or sensitivity, but he or she can also experience hives, throat swelling and shortness of breath.

Food intolerance: A food intolerance usually means you lack or have an insuffi-

on Question 1

cient amount of one or more enzymes needed to break down certain ingredients.

For example, the inability to digest lactose — the sugar in dairy products — is a common food intolerance. When lactose is not absorbed, it ferments in the colon and leads to symptoms like gas, bloating, nausea and intestinal pain.

Food sensitivity: This is an individual’s adverse physical response to a certain food, beverage or ingredient. The symptoms might be only digestive problems, such as abdominal pain, bloating and gas. However, you may also have fatigue, headache or “brain fog.”

For example, some people have digestive problems and other symptoms after eating too much gluten — a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. This is different from celiac disease, which is caused by an immune reaction to gluten that requires complete avoidance of the protein.

A good approach to manage food sensitivity is to adopt a short-term elimination diet.

It works like this: You eliminate a particular

food for about two to four weeks to see if your symptoms recede. Then you reintroduce the food gradually, according to your tolerance, to see if your symptoms reappear.

Elimination diets are trial-and-error, and you may have to try different foods and amounts until you find the right combination. While it’s possible to follow an elimination diet on your own, consider requesting consultation with a nutritionist or dietitian.

These professionals can guide you through the process and help you track your progress, as well as offer support tools like creating a food diary and symptom chart.

A dietitian or nutritionist also can make sure you don’t cut out foods that provide necessary vitamins and nutrients.

Once you’ve identified the problem food (or foods), you are guided on whether to adjust portions, change your eating habits — like when, and how fast, you eat — or switch out the food entirely. © 2024 Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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7

Shingles are not just a band of blisters

By Jeffery Wheeler, M.D. Dear Mayo Clinic: A friend recently went through a bout of shingles. I really don’t know much about this condition, but I know it was painful.

How do you get it? Is there a treatment or vaccine for it?

A: Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a common condition caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox.

Not everyone who has had chickenpox will develop shingles. However, after years of lying dormant in nerve tissue near the spinal cord and brain, the virus can reactivate in some people.

As it becomes active again, the virus causes pain, tingling and, eventually, a rash of blisters that doesn’t last long.

The reason for shingles is unclear. But it may be due to lowered immunity to infections as you age.

Preventing shingles

Vaccines reduce the risk of developing shingles. The Shingrix vaccine is approved and recommended for people 50 and older, including those who have had shingles or previously received the Zostavax vaccine, which is no longer sold in the U.S. Studies suggest that Shingrix protects against shingles for more than five years.

Y EA

ERV FS O RS

The vaccine is given in two doses, with two to six months between doses.

weeks. Most people get shingles only once, but it’s possible to get it two or more times.

Signs and symptoms

It’s important to see a doctor

Shingles usually affects only a small section on one side of your body and may include: • Pain, burning, tingling, itching, numbness or extreme sensitivity to touch • Red rash with fluid-filled blisters that begins a few days after the pain and lasts two to three weeks before scabbing over and healing • Fever, headache and/or chills • Sensitivity to light • General feeling of unease and discomfort Pain is usually the first symptom of shingles. For some, it can be intense.

Depending on the location of the pain, sometimes it can be mistaken for a symptom of problems affecting the heart, lungs or kidneys. Some people experience shingles pain without ever developing the rash.

The shingles rash commonly occurs on one side of the torso. It often appears as a band of blisters that wraps from the middle of the back to the breastbone, following the path of the nerve where the virus has been dormant.

However, the rash can occur around one eye, or on the neck or face.

Shingles generally lasts between two to six

See a healthcare professional as soon as symptoms of shingles appear, especially if: • The pain and rash occur near an eye — if left untreated, this infection can lead to permanent eye damage • You’re 60 or older — because age significantly increases the risk of complications • You or someone in your family has a weakened immune system due to cancer, medications, chronic illness or other conditions • The rash is widespread and painful When identified early, shingles can be treated with prescription medications to

shorten the infection and reduce the risk of complications.

Shingles normally isn’t serious, although the rash can cause an eye infection. Another complication, called “postherpetic neuralgia,” causes the skin to remain painful and sensitive to touch for months or years.

While shingles cannot be cured, getting vaccinated and seeking prompt treatment with antiviral drugs can speed healing and reduce your risk of complications.

Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. For more information, visit mayoclinic.org. © 2024 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All rights reserved.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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• Controlled Access Community • Elevator • Bocce & Pickle Ball Courts • Electric Charging Stations • Game Room • Fitness Center • Walking Path

Apartment Amenities:

• Handicap Accessible • Water, Sewer, Trash Included in Rent • Walk-In Closet • Plush Carpeting & Flooring • Microwave & Dishwasher • Cable Ready

Call today for your personal tour!

INDEPENDENCE

410-612-2280 TTY: 711

POSSIBILITIES

Ask for Merion Village or leave a voicemail message.

Learn more at BrightviewSeniorLiving.com or call your Brightview today!

COLUMBIA 410.498.7259

HUNT VALLEY 443.933.8025

ROLLING HILLS 410.835.4507

CATONSVILLE 410.220.4842

PERRY HALL 410.734.3506

TOWSON 410.883.5814

WHITE MARSH | 410.936.4640

www.MerionVillageSeniorApts.com

*Income guidelines apply. Guidelines and specials are subject to change.

904 B Edgewood Rd, Edgewood, MD 21040 Pets are welcome!

8

Fitness & Health | Subscribe online! See how on p. 22

NOVEMBER 2024 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Trust the eH Ho ome Care Expert x ert With T To om mS Sm Smith, Regional Manager, Manage Business Dev ve v e ment Fam elopment, Family & Nur Nursing sing Carre e

Coordinating g Care During the Ho olidays W

Accommodating commodating Clients Clients’ Unique Needs Home care is not a one-sizefits-all approach. So, during the intake process, our Client Servi vices Managers will work one-on-one with clients and their families to determine what level of care and servi vices best suit their holiday ay needs.

Clients may ay preffeer to simply request the same services they regularly use throughout the yyeear on a specified holiday ay. In other cases, clients and their families Planning Ahead needing extra support during the It can be challenging ffo or busy season may ay request onefamilies to find caregivers during time servi vices outside of their typical care plan. the holiday ays. Kelly Ann Sharp, Director of Client Servi vices ffo or Examples of holiday ay-specific Family & Nursing Care, explains care that clients may ay request that “industry-w wide, the holiday ay include: season is typically when demand • Overnight support, while a for quality caregivers is aatt its primary family caregiver is out highest, as many ny families plan off town to traavvel and gaatther out of town wn, • Mobility or companionship assistance during family and as winter weather eve vents gatherings increase, so do older adults’ risk of fall-related in njjuries.”

• Tr Transportation to and ffrrom gatherings outside the home As a 24/7/365-day ays-a-year business, Family & Nursing • Assistance with packing ffo or Care prides itself on being ready holiday ay traavvels to help older adults and their • Support/assistance ffo or seasonal families whenever a sudden traditions, such as mailing home care need arises. However, holiday ay cards or preparing a it’s never too early to begin special recipe • Companionship, to ensure your evaluat ating and planning ffo or loved one isn’t alone during this holiday ay care needs. time To better provi vide high-quality support, Sharp and ffeellow “The holiday ays can be a special Director of Client Servi vices, opportunity to gaatther, celebrate Natalie Blickman, recommend and reconnect with love ved ones clients reach out to their Client near and far. It’s also a time when Services v Manager as soon as families may ay ffeeel the most time holiday ay traavvel and gathering and resource-starve ved,,” said Sharp. plans are solidified.

“Our aim at at Family & Nursing hether your plan is to host love ved ones at home or to join the millions of Americans hitting the road during the holiday ay season, managing a care plan ffo or yyo ourself or a loved one shouldn’t be a source of added holiday ay stress.

Below we’ve outlined several waays Family & Nursing Care can help clients ensure the smooth planning and execution of their care plan heading into the end of the year.

Care is sim mp ple: give ve clien ntts an and their families peace of mind wh when they need it most. This promise is one we up uphold ye year-round a , wi with compassionat ate, genuine support and Caregive vers wh who fe feel like family, y, so older adults and their love ved ones can spend less time stressing and more time en njjoyi ying liffe’s fu fullest momentts.”

“During During ho holiday liday ay gatherings, people tend to spend more one-on-one time with older family members and may ay notice waayys in which their loved one could benefit ffrrom additional support. Whether they’re interested in help with daily living or companionship services, v our team is a resource for helping older adults access the quality care they need to Getting Started To arrange home care services maintain their independence at during the holiday ays, current home,,” said Blickman. clients and families simply need To get started, new clients maayy to contact their Client Services call Family & Nursing Care aatt Manager, who will review clients’ 410-697-8200 to connect w with unique care requests and answer one of the company ny’s Clients any ny questions you may ay hav ave.

Servi vices Managers.

The holiday ays may ay also be a To learn a more aab bout Family ly & time when older adults consider Nursing Car are and its holiday ay and initiating first-time home care 24/7/365 servi vices, please vviisit our services. website aatt family lynursingcare.com.

d s¾ for Balttimore For ííĘÝ s¾ÂĘs« Ę ±Í«È « , Family & Nursin ng Care has helped families rest eassy knowing their loved ones are in good hands. When you u need home care, and y you need it now, we are here to help. p

410-697-820 00 famiilynursingcare.c com Licensed as an RSA by the e MD DOH, OHCQ, MD RSA License R2 2519R; MD NRSA 070605

Makes a great gift! | Fitness & Health

BALTIMORE BEACON — NOVEMBER 2024

9

Sheet pan panko honey mustard chicken

By The Associated Press Plain ol’ boneless, skinless chicken breasts are given new life in this sheet-pan meal by Caroline Chambers.

The chicken gets coated in a honey mustard sauce, then topped with buttery breadcrumbs that get crunchy and browned in the oven.

Her kids love this dish — they call it giant chicken nuggets (feeding kids is all about the marketing, right?).

The broccoli gets the frico (melted cheese) treatment — crisped up with Parmesan.

Then dunk everything in the extra honey mustard sauce — that’s what it’s there for.

Panko Honey Mustard Chicken (with Frico Broccoli) Serves 4 Ingredients: ½ cup grainy Dijon mustard

/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1½ teaspoons garlic powder ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes Kosher salt 4 (6- to 8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts 4 tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter ¾ cup panko breadcrumbs ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese 1 pound broccoli florets Directions: 1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl, stir together the mustard, honey, 3 tablespoons of the olive oil, 1 teaspoon of the garlic powder, the red pepper flakes, and 1 teaspoon salt. Reserve 3 tablespoons of the sauce in a serving bowl.

3. Add another ½ teaspoon salt to the sauce in the large bowl, then add the chicken and turn to coat evenly. If you have time, let the chicken marinate at room temperature for up to 30 minutes (or up to overnight in the refrigerator). But don’t worry if you need to cook it right away!

4. Melt the butter in a microwave-safe medium bowl in 20second bursts, stirring after each, or in a skillet over medium heat.

Stir in the panko, ¼ cup of the Parmesan, the remaining ½ teaspoon garlic powder, and a big pinch of salt (do this right in the skillet if you used one to melt the butter).

5. On the prepared baking sheet, toss the broccoli florets with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and ¾ teaspoon 1

salt to coat evenly. Nestle the chicken breasts among the florets. Top with the panko mixture, pressing firmly to adhere.

6. Roast for 12 minutes, then gently toss the broccoli and sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan on top. Roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken registers 160°F, 5 to 7 minutes more.

7. Serve the chicken and broccoli with the reserved honey mustard sauce along-

side for dunking.

Swap: Use finely chopped almonds or hazelnuts instead of breadcrumbs for a gluten-free spin. Swap in asparagus or green beans for the broccoli.

Shortcut: Use store-bought honey mustard instead of making your own.

Reprinted with permission from What to Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking by Caroline Chambers © 2024. Published by Union Square & Co. Photos © Eva Kolenko.

PHOTO BY EVA KOLENKO

24 locations for older adults in Maryland Senior living, services and supports for older Marylanders and their families.

TAX C APART REDIT M AVAILAENTS BLE

St. Elizabeth Rehabilitation and Nursing Center

Senior Communities

667-600-2600

Email – housing@cc-md.org Supportive, affordable apartment communities. Total of 24 locations in Maryland, home to more than 1,800 older adults.

Short-term rehabilitation and skilled nursing, long-term and memory care.

– 2025 Newsweek – Top Rehabilitation and Nursing facility in the Greater Baltimore region 5TH YEAR IN A ROW

Caritas House Assisted Living

667-600-2660 A residential community of care with personalized assistance in daily activities for adults 62 and older.

St. Ann Adult Day Services

667-600-2680 Activities, socialization and medical supervision so older adults can continue to live at home.

667-600-2280

Caring Home Service Program The Caring Home Services (CHS) Program, available at nine of our communities, offers services to support safely aging in place. Services include daily meals served in a group setting, weekly housekeeping, laundry, and personal services, and service management provided by the on-site CHS Supervisor.

See cc-md.org/senior-communities for list of 9 locations where CHS is available.

ONE APPLICATION NO APPLICATION FEE

www.cc-md.org/seniors Inspired by the Gospel mandates to love, serve and teach, Catholic Charities provides care and services to improve the lives of Marylanders in need.

10/08/24 Catholic Charities welcomes people regardless of faith and is an Equal Housing Opportunity provider.

10

Fitness & Health | Subscribe online! See how on p. 22

NOVEMBER 2024 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Health Studies INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS Survey seeks those with Type 2 diabetes

By Margaret Foster If you’re a Marylander over 65 years old who is living with Type 2 diabetes, Johns Hopkins researchers would like to hear from you.

The survey, called the Diabetes Care Network Study, hopes to determine how our family and friends interact with our

healthcare network.

“We’re interested in seeing if that connection between family and friends and healthcare providers may be related to using services like urgent care or the emergency room,” said Catherine Clair, a researcher at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Cognition And Metabolism in Prediabetes (CAMPS) Study Are you 50 years or older?

Are you relatively healthy, without a diabetes diagnosis?

If so, you may be eligible for a new research study in which you learn about your daily blood sugar fluctuations and cognitive abilities.

Receive $100 for participating.

For information call 410-605-7179.

Mention “CAMPS”

“One of the great things about the survey is that if we’re looking at these groups and their connection, we can be more targeted in the future to help these folks,” she said.

Unlike a clinical trial, this study is simply a series of questions.

“There’s no medication or device. It’s just sitting down with a study team member,” Clair said. Researchers can either ask questions in person — at home or at the Hopkins campus in East Baltimore — or over the phone or Zoom.

The entire survey takes a little over an hour to complete. However, Clair said, “If that feels like a lot of time, we can do it [over] multiple sessions.”

BEACON BITS

Nov. 18

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

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

SUBMIT FAMILY PICS TO JEWISH MUSEUM

The Jewish Museum of Maryland invites anyone who identifies as Jewish and has a connection with Maryland to include their historical and contemporary family photos in the museum’s new core exhibition, “Picturing Past & Present.” Bring three photos representing your family history to the Pikesville Library, 1301 Reisterstown Rd., on Mon., Nov. 18 between 1 and 4 p.m., and a museum staff member will walk you through the submission process.

For more information and to register, call (410) 887-1234.

Have confidence in every conversation.

• • • • • •

After the survey is completed, participants will receive a $30 gift card to Target or Walmart.

People 65+ with Type 2 diabetes are eligible to participate unless they are currently living in a retirement community.

The survey enrollment period ends on December 9, but it’s only “the first step,” Clair said. She envisions future clinical trials that can help design programs to support people with Type 2 diabetes.

“Understanding what these care networks look like and their connections will help us better create programs and interventions that can actually help,” Clair said.

To find out more about the Diabetes Care Network Study, call (443) 885-0842.

Makes a great gift! | Fitness & Health

BALTIMORE BEACON — NOVEMBER 2024

11

Six nutrients that may lessen depression 4. Magnesium plays a multifaceted role Depression, a pervasive mental health issue, often leads people into a relentless in mental health, affecting serotonin regulation and helping prevent micycle of medication adjustgraines, a common comorbidiments without addressing unty with depression. derlying causes.

5. Nutrients that support The prevalent use of antithe thyroid, such as tyrosine depressants, although benefiand iodine, are essential for cial for some, has drawn critithe production of thyroid horcism due to side effects and mones. Additionally, mood inthe inability to address root stability is commonly associatcauses, such as nutritional deed with hypothyroidism. ficiencies or hormonal imbal6. Eleutherococcus senticosus ances.

DEAR SSRI antidepressants can PHARMACIST (Siberian ginseng) is an adaptoincrease serotonin activity, but By Suzy Cohen genic herb that supports adrenal only temporarily. And this health and helps the body cope comes at a cost. Common side effects in- with stress, enhancing overall well-being. clude nausea, insomnia and sexual dysfuncSeek a holistic strategy tion, among others.

While it’s tempting to seek a simple soDespite these drawbacks, the medications are not designed to correct funda- lution through medication or natural rememental biochemical imbalances, which are often the precursors to mood disorders.

These meds don’t provide any minerals or vitamins, which are required to make serotonin and norepinephrine — two key neurotransmitters involved in producing “happiness” and mood stability.

Serotonin is predominantly made in the gut, not your brain. Foods rich in tryptophan — such as dates, papaya and bananas — can naturally enhance serotonin levels, potentially reducing depression symptoms.

On the supplement front, several nutrients play crucial roles in neurotransmitter synthesis: 1. Vitamin C is essential for the metabolic pathways that produce serotonin and other neurotransmitters.

2. Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) influences the release of serotonin and norepinephrine, impacting mood and energy levels.

3. The active form of folic acid called 5MTHF facilitates the production of moodregulating neurotransmitters. The prescription drug called Deplin is made of this B vitamin.

dies alone, the most effective approach to managing depression involves a comprehensive strategy that addresses dietary, biological and psychological factors.

It’s crucial to consult with healthcare professionals to tailor treatment — whether through dietary adjustments, supplements or conventional medications.

The conversation around depression treatment is evolving, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach that respects both the complexity of the human body and the individual experiences of those affected by mood disorders.

Millions of people are searching for alternatives that tackle the root causes of depression beyond just managing symptoms. And you will probably agree that mental health concerns have become more prevalent in the post-pandemic season…not to mention the constant social

media “irritations” that never let our brain shut off.

This shift towards a more integrative perspective broadens treatment options and aligns more closely with the body’s natural processes. I’m a big believer in holistic approaches and nourishing the body’s metabolic pathways.

Does this topic interest you? I have a more comprehensive version of this article with additional treatment options. To have it emailed, please sign up for my free weekly newsletter at suzycohen.com.

This information is opinion only. It is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose your condition. Consult with your doctor before using any new drug or supplement.

Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist and author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist and Real Solutions from Head to Toe.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing CALLING POTENTIAL

VOLUNTEERS

Join the Baltimore City Health Department’s Retired Senior Volunteer Program to volunteer at local schools, the aquarium and other community locations. Flexible schedules are available. For more information, call (410) 361-9400.

IGNATIAN

Ongoing VOLUNTEER CORPS

Serve one or two days a week, assisting communities in need.

Opportunities for those 50+ to use their skills and make a difference through partnerships with nonprofits.

For more information, visit ivcusa.org or call (410) 752-4686.

INDEPEN DENT LI VING • A ASSISTED LI VING • MEMORY CARE

12

NOVEMBER 2024 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Subscribe online! See how on p. 22

PHOTO BY LAURA MELAMED

Money Law &

Lisa Shannon runs a consignment shop in Mount Washington. Our cover story continues on the facing page.

2.7 billion IDs hacked in recent breach You are probably affected By the Dominion Post Editorial Board National Public Data (NPD) is a private company based in Florida that collects information for background checks. Its databases held 2.7 billion people’s full name, address, date of birth, Social Security number and phone number, alternate names and birth dates and email addresses.

NPD was hacked in April, and possibly again this summer, and all that information became available for purchase on the dark web — the seedy underbelly of the internet where criminal activity thrives. [Ed. Note: In addition, the personal information of almost one million Medicare beneficiaries was exposed during a data breach in May 2023.]

This is a sobering reminder that our personal data — everything from our usernames and passwords to our birth dates and Social Security numbers — is just a few keystrokes away from falling into the hands of criminals.

What you need to do

There are a few ways to check if your in-

formation was part of the leak. You can visit NPDbreach.com to see if you were part of this specific leak and, if so, which pieces of your personal information may have been compromised.

Even if you have no reason to think NPD would have your information, it’s still important to check their site. Criminals can do a lot of damage to your credit, finances — even your reputation — with just your full name, date of birth and address, let alone your Social Security number.

If your information has been leaked, you can protect your credit by putting a freeze on it with the three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. The process is not difficult, but you have to contact each of these companies individually. [See box at right for more information.]

If you plan to make any major purchases (like a car or a house) or open any new accounts (like a credit card or with a new bank) that require a credit check, you will have to contact each agency to lift the freeze temporarily. Call it a “thaw,” if you will.

Five tips to protect your ID • Sign up for 24/7 credit monitoring and activate two-factor authentication.

• Never respond to unsolicited requests for information.

• Review credit card, bank accounts and loans on a regular basis.

• Place a free fraud alert on your credit file. A fraud alert tells creditors to contact you before they open any new accounts or change your existing accounts.

• Freeze your credit reports with these three primary companies: Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. In this context, “freezing” means that you prohibit your credit reports from being ac-

Scammers go phishing

One of the things that worries experts about the NPD hack is that it compromised not only identifying personal information but also people’s email addresses.

Those things in combination make it easier for scammers to impersonate some-

cessed by most third parties. When you need to access your credit reports to open new accounts or obtain loans, contact all three companies to “unfreeze.”

You can open an account and freeze your credit reports at no cost at all three companies (though they offer paid plans for additional services).

Here are the websites you will need to visit: experian.com/freeze/center.html; transunion.com/credit-freeze; equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze.

—Donna LeValley © 2024 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. one (spoof their email) or create sophisticated phishing emails targeting specific users.

Phishing scams are designed to get people to voluntarily offer up personal information — usually Social Security or See DATA BREACH, page 14

Got Medicare? You have choices to make

By MedicareResources.org Here are some tips for choosing insurance and prescription drug coverage for the coming year during Medicare’s open enrollment period, which opens October 15 and closes December 7.

In 2024, about 34 million Americans were enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans — more than half of all Medicare beneficiaries. That’s more than double the percentage enrolled in 2007.

“Medicare Advantage plans are growing in popularity because they are very good at communicating with consumers and offering benefits like dental, vision and hearing care that attract interest,” said Jenny Chumbley Hogue, an analyst for medicareresources.org.

“Ultimately, the choice is one that deser ves careful consideration each year.

A plan that appears attractive at first glance could end up costing you more

down the road if it’s not the right plan for your needs. The devil is always in the details.”

During Medicare open enrollment, Medicare beneficiaries who are already enrolled have a handful of decisions regarding their coverage. Options include: • Switching from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage, or vice versa.

• Switching from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.

• Switching from one Part D (that is, prescription drug) plan to another.

“There are trade-offs depending on which option you choose,” said Chumbley Hogue.

“Advantage plans tend to have a more limited healthcare provider network, and coverage for specific services may not be as robust as you can get with Original Medicare plus a supplemental (Medigap) policy to fill Medicare’s gaps. But Advan-

tage plans also tend to be less expensive.

“On the other hand, if you are enrolled in Original Medicare and have additional coverage through Medigap and standalone Part D drug coverage, that could end up saving you money in the long run if you develop a serious or chronic health condition.”

Weighing pros and cons

Medicareresources.org suggests consumers take into consideration several factors when deciding between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage: • Provider network: Original Medicare has a broader provider network with nationwide coverage. Medicare Advantage plans each have their own network, which may be more limited in terms of providers and coverage area.

• Premiums: The average total of premiums for Medicare Advantage (including

the Part B premium that is also paid by Medicare Advantage enrollees) is less than the average total of premiums for Original Medicare plus Medigap and Part D drug coverage.

• Out-of-pocket costs: Original Medicare coupled with Medigap coverage may come at a higher monthly premium, but could result in little to no out-of-pocket exposure (other than the cost of medications, which are covered separately under Part D).

With most Medicare Advantage plans, you’ll pay coinsurance and copays that could total as much as $9,350 in 2025 for services that would be covered under Original Medicare with Parts A and B (plus the cost of medications).

• Prescription drug costs: Most Medicare Advantage plans include Medicare See MEDICARE, page 14

BALTIMORE BEACON — NOVEMBER 2024

Vintage shops From page 1 coworker with a degree in clothing and textiles. The two went into business together, becoming street vendors in D.C.’s Dupont Circle and at the Adams Morgan Festival.

Working outside took its toll, though, so she started looking for an affordable brickand-mortar shop.

Jenkins ended up in Baltimore because a friend from college invited her to sell her clothing in the back of his mother’s craft store on Charles Street in Mount Vernon.

Jenkins’ clothing sold a lot more than the crafts, and eventually it became her store.

“I didn’t even plan that,” Jenkins said. “I didn’t really know what I was going to do.”

Lisa’s Luxury Consignment

Lisa Shannon, 62, owner of Lisa’s Luxury Consignment in Mount Washington, has always known that, as she puts it, “Fashion is my passion.”

Shannon started out in retail at the age of 18. She received a scholarship to study commercial art and fundamentals of design from Baltimore City College. She became a model at 23, working with Flare Modeling Agencies, one of the first Blackowned modeling agencies in Baltimore.

Later, she freelanced, doing murals, face painting and designing prom and wedding dresses.

Shannon was working as a manager at La Chic Boutique, a consignment shop in Mount Washington, when she bought it from the owners and rebranded it as Lisa’s Luxury Consignment LLC. Her shop opened in January 2020, right before the pandemic, so she “had to survive almost a year on faith and support of the community and trying different ideas,” Shannon said.

In the spring of 2020, for instance, she

hosted happy hours on the wraparound veranda outside her shop on Friday evenings. A few visitors wandered into the shop, wearing masks, and bought unique designer tops, pants and skirts.

Shannon also hosted fashion shows and skate parties. She visited public schools and taught students how to build an affordable, sustainable wardrobe. “I also donated prom dresses to schools,” she said.

Now that business is picking up postpandemic, Shannon is excited to share her fashion knowledge with more people in the community. Shannon brings her dog, Sammy, to work with her every day, and he is excited to meet customers, too.

ReDeux Apparel

ReDeux Apparel, a consignment shop in Roland Park, houses a carefully curated collection of designer labels. Its curators are co-owners Jan Braun and Linda Eisenbrandt.

Their shop sits in a cozy nook of stores, somewhat hidden away in a charming outdoor space where, twice a year, you can shop at the ReDeux Apparel Sidewalk Sale.

Braun was inspired by her mother, a world traveler and shopper. From her mother, she learned to spot the latest trends and choose quality fabrics.

Eisenbrandt was an interior designer before she was a consigner. Putting together colors and textures comes naturally to her. She loves to help her customers combine the old with the new. “Re-use, Refine, Re-wear, Rejoice,” is their motto, Eisenbrandt said.

ReDeux Apparel donates clothing to Johns Hopkins and the Maryland nonprofit Success in Style.

Makes a great gift! | Law & Money

Before she opened Last Tango, Rosson was creating knitwear for Neiman Marcus.

Rosson grew up in Russia and learned to knit when she was in school in Leningrad.

She has a degree in library science and loves treasure hunting.

“We want to find treasure,” she said. “I am sure my customers, when they come here, they are trying to find treasure. Most of the time, they are successful. It’s just a question of what you see as treasure.

Sometimes it’s a ring. Sometimes it’s a scarf. Sometimes it’s a dress.”

Rosson sees her industry as a way to time travel, in a sense.

“A consignment shop gives you a variety of things — you can go through time and just to be able to touch and see things that have not

13

been around for a while,” Rosson said.

“I love to shop consignment myself because it gives you the ability to find something that’s not widely available,” Rosson said.

“You want to be you,” she added.

“Everyone is different.”

Shoppers are invited to sell their clothing by appointment only. Contact each store at the number below: The Zone, 813 N Charles St. A, Baltimore, (410) 539-2817.

Lisa’s Luxury Consignment Shop, 1501 Sulgrave Ave. # 104, Baltimore, (443) 869-2247.

ReDeux Apparel, 5002 Lawndale Ave., Baltimore, (410) 323-2140.

Last Tango, 1017 Reisterstown Rd., Pikesville, MD, (410) 484-9958.

BEACON BITS

Nov. 2

AFRICAN AMERICAN POLITICAL MOVEMENTS Explore ideologies like Black Feminism and Black Marxism, fol-

lowed by a discussion between participants on Sat., Nov. 2 at 2:30 p.m. at the Central Library, 400 Cathedral St., Baltimore. Free and open to the public. For more information, call (410) 396-5430.

Nov. 26

FAMILY HISTORY RESEARCH STRATEGIES Learn how to start researching your family history and explore resources with Eva Slezak from the Enoch Pratt Free Library. This

free class is on Tue., Nov. 26 from 2 to 3 p.m. at Keswick, 700 W. 40th St., Baltimore, or virtually. For more information and to register, call (410) 662-4363.

Affordable Living for 62+ in the Heart of Towson

Last Tango

Ella Rosson, 68 opened her cozy Pikesville shop, Last Tango, in 2000.

Special Offer!

Peace of Mind is Priceless

The first 25 accepted applicants will receive $50.

Call for details.

Since 1841 When you pre-plan your funeral, you give both yourself and your family a great gi .

Your service will be exactly as you wish, and your family won’t be burdened with arrangements.

Pre-planning also fixes the cost at today’s prices.

Plus: We offer a price-match guarantee!

Call today to learn more.

Ask for Jim or Chris at (410) 747-4770

• Free Reserved Resident Parking • Weekly Exercise Classes • Pet Friendly • Laundry Facilities • Close to Shopping and Theatres • Evening Bible Study Classes • Monthly Food Bank Deliveries

Virginia Towers A PA R T M E N T S

If you’re 62 or over, call and apply.

410-705-2690 for more information

It is our policy to admit residents without regard to race, color, religion, sex handicap or national origin and any other federal, state or local fair housing protections.

Note: Housing for Older Persons is exempt from the prohibitions against age or familial status.

14

Law & Money | Subscribe online! See how on p. 22

NOVEMBER 2024 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Can you change your mind?

Medicare From page 12

Part D drug coverage. Check it to make sure.

Each Medicare Advantage plan will also have its own preferred drug list, which determines how much you will pay.

If you stick with Original Medicare, you will need to choose and pay for a standalone Part D plan if you need prescription drug coverage. [See "Choosing next year's Medicare drug plan" on page 4.]

• Extra benefits: Medicare Advantage plans often include extra benefits — like dental, vision, hearing aids and gym memberships — that are not offered by Original Medicare (or typically covered by a Medigap plan).

• Special plans: People with certain health conditions or applicants with low incomes (e.g., eligible for Medicaid) may be eligible for special types of Medicare Advantage plans with additional benefits.

Consumers should also consider their ability to change their Medicare coverage later on.

“If the ability to easily switch back and forth among plans is important to you, a Medicare Advantage plan offers that flexibility,” Chumbley Hogue said.

“On the other hand, your ability to switch from Medicare Advantage altogether (and enroll in or return to Original Medicare plus Medigap) could be hindered by your medical history. That’s because enrollees who have had Medicare Advantage coverage for more than a year may be denied Medigap coverage for preexisting conditions,” she said.

[Ed. Note: The only times a Medicare beneficiary can be guaranteed a choice of any Medigap plan without regard to pre-existing conditions is during their initial enrollment period, which occurs around the time one turns 65 or if they qualify for guaranteed issue (for example, their Medicare Advan-

tage plan stops offering coverage in their area).]

How to compare plans

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[The same holds true for those on Origi-

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Data breach From page 12

credit card numbers — or click on malicious links, often by pretending to be legitimate companies or by scaring people into clicking links to avoid supposed late fees or other strange charges to their accounts.

Unfortunately, it’s fairly common for people’s email addresses to be leaked as part of — for lack of a better word — minor data breaches. So many apps and websites require us to put in our email addresses, even if we don’t set up an account with them. That information gets stored and can be compromised. Same with usernames and passwords.

You can check to see if your email address — and related information — has been leaked in any data breach at haveibeenpwned.com. If your email address has been part of any known hack, this site will tell you, along with which data breach compromised your address and what other kind of information may also have been exposed by that hack.

Prevention

There are several things we can do to protect ourselves: use unique passwords for every site (we know — much easier said than done), two-factor authentication, and specific online security services, including antiviral software, to safeguard our information, and credit monitoring to alert us when something has happened.

The hazard of modern life is that even the most basic things we do now require us to give up personal information that is then stored electronically. And unfortunately, that information is never as safe as we wish it to be. © 2024 The Dominion Post, Morgantown, W.Va., DominionPost.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BALTIMORE BEACON — NOVEMBER 2024

Makes a great gift!

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Travel Leisure &

15

Check out Cooperstown, N.Y. for the baseball, but stay for much more.

See story on page 16.

Visit Scottish Highlands aboard a barge River walk and Old Town

Our trip started in Inverness, the largest city in the Scottish Highlands. This walkable city features an Old Town, with historic buildings dating back to the 18th and 19th century, and the River Ness flowing through the heart of the city to Loch Ness.

For three days prior to our cruise, we wandered leisurely through Old Town and along the Ness Walk, a leafy promenade that lines the river on both banks. Along the flat, peaceful walk are stately homes, cafes, restaurants, a botanical garden and the 19th-century Saint Andrew Cathedral.

One of my favorite sights was the 18thcentury Old High Church, the oldest church in Inverness, whose graveyard overlooks the river.

A series of Victorian footbridges less than a mile from the city center led to a cluster of small, wooded islands in the middle of the river, then across to the other bank.

On one of the islands, I sat on a fallen tree trunk that had been carved into an imagined likeness of Nessie (the Loch Ness monster). From my perch on the Nessie log, I contemplated the rivulets on the shallow river as it flowed past.

PHOTO BY DON MANKIN

By Don Mankin I leaned back in my deck chair, basking in the sun and enjoying the warm breeze.

Languorously I gazed at the lush Scottish scenery slowly slipping by.

Wait, what? Sun? Warm breeze? Scotland?

It was August, and my wife, Katherine, and I were cruising down the Caledonian Canal from Inverness, through Loch Ness, to Fort William on a colorful, retrofitted barge during what passes for a heat wave in Scotland.

The Caledonian Canal was constructed in the early 19th century to connect the west coast of Scotland near Fort William to the east coast at Inverness on the Moray Firth.

About a third of the 60-mile length of the canal is manmade. The rest runs through several lakes, including Loch Ness.

In addition to lochs, there are locks — 29 of them — to raise the canal more than 100 feet at its highest point.

The canal is located along the Great Glen, a straight geological fault that runs through the highlands, featuring some of the most historic and beautiful scenery in Scotland.

The Ros Crana — the name of the red, green and yellow barge operated by Caledonian Discovery — contains six cabins with private baths, a lounge, dining area, and spacious outdoor deck where I spent much of the week-long cruise.

Through lochs and locks

After three days in Inverness, it was time to board the barge and begin our cruise. For the first couple of hours, the PHOTO © AYOME WATMOUGH | DREAMSTIME.COM

Inverness, Scotland, has a walkable historic downtown as well as a waterfront path along the Ness River.

A “Wee Hill” in the Scottish Highlands was a challenging hike for the author and his wife, Katherine, above. The couple spent six days cruising on a retrofitted barge down a 60-mile waterway with 29 locks, stopping for short hikes along the way.

boat glided down the narrow canal, the gentle put-put of the engine and the tinkling of water flowing past the bow were the only sounds.

Everyone sat on the deck, drinking beer or gin and tonics, soaking up the sun and gazing at the lush, emerald green countryside.

For the next several days, we cruised, basked in the sun and hiked. The hikes ranged from a few easy miles along the shore of a loch past a castle, to a more challenging trek up and down “Wee Hill,” which wasn’t anywhere near as “wee” as we expected.

We trudged through knee high heather and pointy, shoulder high gorse. Roots, weeds and underbrush grabbed at our boots. When we finally reached the crest of the hill, we were rewarded with a spectacular view of Loch Oich in the distance.

We also hiked up a gorge, alongside plunging falls, to a café at the top for ice cream. Then we took an easy stroll on shore to explore the ruins of Invergarry castle, stronghold of the MacDonells of Glengarry, built in the 17th century.

After the castle, we walked through the woods along the shoreline, then stopped for tea and scones at the Glengarry Castle Hotel, an elegant 19th-century baronial

mansion.

Leisurely hikes

My favorite hike was up a gentle slope overlooking Loch Lochy to the estate of the Cameron Clan in Achnacarry. Besides being the historical home of such luminaries as David Cameron, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and James Cameron, director of the movies Terminator, Titanic and Avatar, it was also the training site for WWII commandos from the U.S., Britain and other allied nations.

More of a leisurely walk than a hike, it was the most serene of all the hikes we took. It was just Katherine and I plus another couple, so the peaceful walk unfolded at our own pace.

The scenery was bucolic, the views of the bay and our colorful barge at anchor were sublime, and the weather was balmy and bright. The easy path took us past flocks of grazing sheep, the Clan Cameron Castle, a small clan museum, and an old, rustic church.

A sailboat, stand-up paddle boards, bikes and canoes were also available on board the cruise for use by the guests.

Most every day, many of the guests rode See SCOTLAND, page 17

16

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NOVEMBER 2024 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Hitting a homerun in Cooperstown, N.Y. to as “America’s most perfect village” and included by Travel + Leisure magazine on lists of best places to visit and best road trips from New York City.

The setting is a magnet for those seeking breathtaking scenery: rolling farm fields tucked among pockets of forest, tranquil lakes surrounded by low mountains. The town could be a movie set. (Indeed, four movies were filmed in the area in the past five years.)

The centerpiece of the landscape is Otsego Lake, a glacier-created body of water. Cooperstown’s walkable streets lead to a spectacular lakefront park, and other leafy parks add welcome touches of Mother Nature.

Adding to the storybook décor is an architectural mixture of stone, brick and wood-frame colonial buildings and gingerbread Victorian homes, many painted in vibrant eye-catching colors.

Beyond baseball

It’s not easy to escape references to the sport for which Cooperstown is most famous. While the Hall of Fame is the main attraction here, it’s only one of an eclectic plethora of other attractions related to the sport.

At the Heroes of Baseball Wax Museum, I came face-to-face with life-size repli-

After my introduction to countless baseball-related displays, I did a little more exploring and came up with this marketing motto for the town: “Come for the baseball, stay for a lot more.”

Begin with Cooperstown itself. There are good reasons why it has been referred

Historic Main Street

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE FARMERS' MUSEUM

By Victor Block I recently got an up-close view of the types of World Series winner rings given to baseball players of the 1966, 1970 and 1893 Baltimore Orioles.

Nearby, in another display case, were ballcaps worn by Orioles Rick Dempsey and Stephen Strasburg when they were named Most Valuable Player in the World Series.

These almost sacred artifacts are part of the collection at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown — a mecca for fans of America’s pastime. It’s the main reason why many people visit the little village (population about 1,800) in the foothills of New York’s Catskill Mountains.

The museum showcases the popular game through memorabilia and exhibits that provide both entertainment and education. When I asked how much time most visitors spend there, I was told, “From two hours to two weeks.”

A Cooperstown farm once owned by James Fenimore Cooper has been a living history museum since 1944. At The Farmers’ Museum, guests can peek into more than two dozen historic buildings, including a tavern, blacksmith’s shop, doctor’s office and general store where interpreters portray workers from the 1800s.

cas of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and other iconic players, along with surprises like Bud Abbott and Lou Costello of “Who’s on first” fame.

On historic Main Street, I dropped by the Cooperstown Bat Company to see their professional models. You can also

tour its factory, a short drive away in Hartwick, where the wood bats are made for major league players, minor leaguers and college teams.

I stepped into Main Street’s other shops See COOPERSTOWN, page 17

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BALTIMORE BEACON — NOVEMBER 2024

Cooperstown From page 16

and became immersed in an avalanche of apparel, baseball cards and other collectibles. I spotted men wearing baseball uniforms who had just played a few innings at Doubleday Field, which is named for the man who has been credited (erroneously) with inventing the game.

Strolling into the Doubleday Café, I encountered walls plastered with baseball paraphernalia and photos, including one myth-spreading picture titled “Abner Doubleday, Father of Dreams.”

James Fenimore Cooper

As enjoyable as reliving the glory days of the Washington baseball team was, that only scratched the surface of the history Cooperstown offers visitors.

Some sites warrant a look-see. The 1790 House is the oldest in town, and the Nancy Williams House (1797) ranks as the oldest

Scotland From page 15

bikes along the canal path, meeting up with the barge at the next dock or lock.

A transcendent moment

This was a trip filled with memorable moments, but nothing matched the afterdinner light show on the fourth day of the cruise.

We were anchored in a secluded corner of Loch Oich, just offshore the castle ruins. There was little else around us, other than water, trees, sky and a couple of other boats. The slanting rays of the setting sun, filtered through patches of mist, turned the emerald hills to gold.

As we were finishing our dinner, we spotted a rainbow through the windows of the dining cabin. We rushed outside with our cameras to capture the most incredible rainbow I have ever seen.

brick home. Pomeroy Place (1804) was built by William Cooper as a wedding gift for his daughter Ann. William, the founder of Cooperstown in 1786, was the father of James Fenimore Cooper, the renowned author who spent his boyhood and last 15 years there.

Cooper is best known for his 1826 novel The Last of the Mohicans as well as the earlier Leatherstocking Tales, historical novels of the frontier period that he wrote between 1823 and 1841.

Otsego Lake’s name was derived from the Iroquois word meaning “place of the rock,” which referred to a boulder known as Council Rock, a meeting place for Native Americans.

But the body of water is known as Lake Glimmerglass in Cooper’s books. So you’ll spot references to Glimmerglass all over town, in café names and an annual summer festival at the Glimmerglass Opera.

Among welcome surprises in a town so

With a full 180-degree arch and brilliant sunbreaks illuminating the rainbow, ground and puffs of mist, it was a spectacular symphony of vivid color. All chatter stopped. We stood hushed, enthralled by the scene.

Then our guide, sitting on the roof of the wheelhouse, began to play a wistful tune on a recorder, followed by Martin, our skipper, playing a traditional Scottish tune on a tin whistle. A sweet sound of music to accompany a long moment of breathtaking beauty.

In the words of one of the guests, “I think we found God.”

If you go

Round-trip airfare with one stop to Inverness is about $1,000 on British Airways, American Airlines, KLM and Air France.

Contact Caledonian Discovery, our hosts for the canal cruise, for more information: caledonian-discovery.co.uk.

BEACON BITS

Nov. 18

POWWOW AT THE LIBRARY

This free powwow-style event features dancing, drumming and singing by the Indigenous people of the Chesapeake Bay and Tidewater regions of Maryland. The performance takes place at the Central Library, 400 Cathedral St., Baltimore. For more information, call (410) 396-5430.

Nov. 21

DAN DEACON AT THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM

Experience an interactive musical experience by Dan Deacon, inspired by ecosystem feedback loops. Enjoy the National Aquarium exhibits and a party at this unique event that combines art and science on Thu., Nov. 21 from 6 to 11 p.m. at the National Aquarium, 501 E. Pratt St., Baltimore.

Food and drinks are available for purchase. Ages 21+. For more information and to purchase tickets ($60), visit tinyurl.com/DanDeaconattheAquarium, call (410) 576-3833 or email reserve@aqua.org.

HELP DELIVER MEALS ON WHEELS

Ongoing Deliver meals and companionship to homebound seniors throughout Baltimore. Various roles are available, including meal packing and grocery assistance. For more information and to volunteer, or to receive meals yourself, visit mealsonwheelsmd.org or call (410) 558-0827.

small is the Fenimore Art Museum. It houses world-class displays of American folk and Indian art, and offers a constant lineup of changing exhibits.

While hardly any of the historic sites related to James Fenimore Cooper have survived, there is one place that literary fans can visit.

The Farmers’ Museum, a living history village that re-creates mid-19th-century rural life, has been a working farm since 1813, when it was owned by Cooper. Collections run the gamut from an early 18thcentury plow to home-made hay rakes and a 19th-century milkfat tester.

If you go

My stay at The Otesaga, a luxurious resort hotel perched at the edge of Otsego Lake, was part of my immersion in the des-

17

tination. The property transports guests back to a time of elegance and gracious hospitality.

When it was built, in 1909, it offered such then-modern amenities as an icecooled refrigerator, individually adjusted heating and a telephone in each room.

The hotel has an imposing front portico and broad veranda overlooking the 700-foot waterfront vista. Its high-ceilinged guest rooms feature chandeliers and oversized windows with views of the lake. Every detail combines comfort with opulence.

Adding to the mix is a golf course rated among the best on the East Coast, a heated swimming pool, and tennis and pickleball courts. Rooms start at $180 per night.

For more information about Cooperstown, visit thisiscooperstown.com. For The Otesaga, go to otesaga.com.

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Dutch Apple Dinner Theater “White Christmas” Lunch & Show – December 11

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NOVEMBER 2024 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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PHOTO BY HUGO GLENDINNING

Style Arts &

The Candlelight Concert Society is now known as Chamber Music Maryland. See story on page 20.

They’re creepy and kooky, but so funny A familiar story line

For a show based on the, shall we say, unique characters created by Charles Addams, the musical’s plot feels familiar.

It centers around daughter Wednesday (L ydia Gifford) surprisingly bringing home to dinner a “normal” boyfriend (with whom she’s fallen in love) and his parents.

As in La Cage aux Folles, the tension is about whether the offbeat family hosting the meal can keep a lid on their eccentricities long enough for both sets of parents to agree to the match.

What turns out to be an even bigger part of the tension comes from Wednesday’s begging Gomez (played by Helen Hayes Award winner Jordan B. Stocksdale) to keep the pending engagement a secret from Morticia (well played by MaryKate Brouillet).

That puts him in an untenable position between the two women in his life — “Trapped,” as he sings in one of the show’s funniest numbers. Stocksdale does an excellent job portraying Gomez as both dashing and hen-pecked at the same time.

PHOTO BY JERI TIDWELL PHOTOGRAPHY

By Stuart Rosenthal The iconic television show “The Addams Family” aired for only two seasons on ABC in the mid-1960s. But it influenced generations of viewers (in part due to decades of syndication), who to this day can chant the theme song with its fingersnapping syncopation.

To be fair, some of us got our first taste of the macabre humor of the Addams Family from the collections of New Yorker cartoons by Charles Addams that graced the waiting rooms of pediatricians and dentists from coast to coast.

But it was the television show, followed by several full-length feature films, that generated the popular interest that led to the successful Broadway musical production in 2010.

Starring Nathan Lane as Gomez and Bebe Neuwirth as Morticia, the show was nominated for multiple Tony, Drama Desk and Drama League Awards, including for outstanding musical, best original score and best actors.

The musical is now on stage at Toby’s Dinner Theatre in Columbia, Maryland, through November 10.

The stellar cast of The Addams Family, now playing at Toby’s Dinner Theatre in Columbia, Maryland, brings plenty of morbid and physical humor to the Tony Awardnominated musical. The rather racy show runs through November 10.

Almost Broadway

Despite the feelings of déjà vu from the plot, Toby’s pulls off the musical with both humor and heart. Much of that has to do with the excellent direction and choreography (yes, both) by Mark Minnick, who has worked alongside Toby’s founder and artistic director, Toby Orenstein, for some years.

The score, which as noted above was nominated for a Tony, doesn’t feature many tunes you are likely to start humming. But the major numbers manage to convey the spectacle of a big Broadway

stage even on Toby’s intimate theaterin-the-round.

That’s especially true of the numbers that feature a large cast of Addams Family “ancestors” — ghosts who play a prominent role in the night’s events.

The principal cast members all have excellent voices and powerful delivery. But it’s the women who really get to show their chops.

I was particularly struck by Gifford (Wednesday), not only for her superb See ADDAMS FAMILY, page 19

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Addams Family From page 18

singing, but also her distinctive speaking voice. Call me crazy-with-a-z, but she kept reminding me of the young Liza Minelli in Cabaret. Perhaps it was the heavy eye makeup and black hair, but she really channeled Minelli.

Maybe I had Cabaret on my mind because of the attire worn by Morticia. First, the neckline of her floor-length black gown extends “down to Venezuela,” as Gomez describes it. And for their “Tango De Amor” number near the end of the show, she removes the bottom of the dress to reveal a fishnet hose and garter ensemble worthy of Sally Bowles.

Then there’s Alice Beineke (Anna Phillips-Brown), the mother of Wednesday’s intended. Accidentally given a potion meant to bring out the beast in a person, she convincingly transforms from a ditzy, vapid middle-aged mom into a sex-starved tigress in the middle of the family dinner.

To make it clear, while you might have assumed young children (or grandchildren) would be the intended audience for an Addams Family musical, you would be mistaken. On the other hand, at least some of the constant sexual innuendo might go over the heads of tender youths.

As always, Toby’s live orchestra does an excellent job giving life to the score. And the make-up department deserves special accolades, particularly for the wardrobe of the ancestors, who include character types from throughout world history, all appro-

BEACON BITS

Nov. 9+ BOOK DONATION AND GIVEAWAY

The Book Thing of Baltimore is a monthly book giveaway on the second full weekend of each month. Hours for browsing are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., no reservations required. Bring donations or choose free books at 3001 Vineyard Lane, Baltimore. For more information, see bookthing.org or call (410) 662-5631.

Nov. 16

FREE CLASSICAL GUITAR CONCERT

Shriver Hall Discovery Series presents Raphaël Feuillâtre in his Baltimore debut on Sat., Nov. 16 at 3 p.m. at the Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Dr. The classical guitarist will perform works by J.S. Bach and his French contemporaries, as well as selections by South American composers spanning the centuries. Free, with a suggested donation of $10. Register at tinyurl.com/ClassicalGuitarinBaltimore.

For more information, call (410) 516-7164.

priately dressed for their time and powdered like the ghosts they are.

A special shout-out goes to Toby’s scenic and properties designer, Shane Lowry, for designing jaw-dropping set pieces and props, including the disembodied hand (“Thing”) that fences with Gomez, a walking skeleton pushing a cart, and the “monster under the bed” that helps little Pugsley sleep at night.

All in all, The Addams Family is a fun and funny Broadway musical, well suited for those who are into the macabre humor the characters are known for. On the other hand, if you’re usually (or currently) not in the mood for songs extolling pain and death, you might want to take a pass.

Ticket information

As always, Toby’s includes in the ticket price a multi-course, all-you-can-eat buffet: dinner prior to evening performances or brunch prior to Wednesday and Sunday matinees.

Depending on performance, tickets range from $84 to $92 for adults (those 65+ pay $74 for Tues. evening or any Wed. performance); children 4 and older are $64 to $67. Remember, the tips you leave for waiters also constitute the majority of the ac-

19

tors’ pay, so be generous.

Tickets are available from the box office by calling (410) 730-8311 or online via TicketMaster (with a service fee). Toby’s is located at 5900 Symphony Woods Rd. in Columbia, Maryland.

BEACON BITS

Nov. 2

FREE LUTE CONCERT

Enjoy a fusion of Renaissance and modern music with Grammynominated lute player Ronn McFarlane and Ayreheart, featuring Heather Aubrey Lloyd, on Sat., Nov. 2 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Central Library, 400 Cathedral St., Baltimore. Free, but registration is recommended at tinyurl.com/FreeLuteConcert. For more information, call (410) 396-5430.

Nov. 10

FREE STEEL BAND CONCERT

Celebrate the Catonsville High School Steel Band’s 33rd anniversary with a diverse performance of classical, jazz and rock music.

Directed by Andrew Hamilton, this concert showcases the sounds of Trinidad and Tobago. It takes place on Sun., Nov. 10 at 4 p.m. at Church of The Immaculate Heart of Mary, 8501 Loch Raven Blvd., Towson. Free admission; a freewill offering will be collected. For more information, visit ihmchurchmd.org or call (410) 668-7935.

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The events listed are open to the public. Register today by calling the Osher staff cell phone: 240-595-2219.

Discover the Johns Hopkins Intelligent Systems Center November 12, 1—3 p.m. at Grace Methodist Church 5407 N. Charles St. Baltimore, 21210 $28 includes lecture, plus tour the following week (see next item) Dr. Bart Paulhamus’s lecture will showcase The Intelligent Systems Center, which brings together Hopkins’ expertise in national security, space exploration, and health to address our nation’s challenges.

Tour the Intelligent Systems Center at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab November 19, 1—3 p.m.

11100 Johns Hopkins Rd. Laurel, 20723 Included with the lecture above.

Tour the Intelligent Systems Center to see its research and development in Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Neuroscience for yourself.

Music by the Octopodes: Johns Hopkins’ A Capella Group December 10, 1—3 p.m. at Grace Methodist Church 5407 N. Charles St. Baltimore, 21210 $28 Enjoy amazing student voices as they bring a tour de force of raw energy and sound to a mix of music for your listening pleasure.

To sign up for our large variety of classes during the Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer sessions, an Osher Membership is required.

For details, visit osher.jhu.edu, call the Osher staff cell phone at 240-595-2219, or email osher@jhu.edu.

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NOVEMBER 2024 — BALTIMORE BEACON

New name reflects music group’s growth

Group has grown beyond Columbia

Founded in 1972, Candlelight Concert Society began shortly after the establishment of Columbia, Maryland. As the planned community grew, so did the music organization, deepening its ties there and bringing great music from all over the world to the county.

The 2024-2025 season will be the organi-

zation’s first as Chamber Music Maryland and its biggest to date. What remains the same, its leaders say, is the group’s commitment to bringing world-class chamber music concerts, children’s programs, community outreach programs, master classes and pre-concert lectures and discussions to the area’s music lovers.

The group announced its new name in May during the final concert of the 20232024 season, featuring Grammy Awardwinning wind quintet Imani Winds.

However, the organization had been considering how best to accommodate its evolving identity for some time now.

“Over the years, we’ve been expanding the number of people in Maryland that we serve and the number of communities that we serve,” said Bryan Young, board president.

“And so today, we’re not just in Howard County. We also have a series in Baltimore County at Linehan Hall at UMBC,” referring to the organization’s popular piano concerts that take place there. In addition, the group launched a new series at Baltimore’s Peel Museum two seasons ago.

Another reason for the change was the confusion created by the frequent use of the name “candlelight” by other organizations. Some of these include an international concert presenter doing a lot of on-

PHOTO BY HUGO GLENDINNING

By Ana Preger Hart After more than half a century as the Candlelight Concert Society, the Howard County-based arts organization has changed its name to Chamber Music Maryland.

The new name brings with it some artistic and organizational changes as well. The website and logo have a new look, and the organization is expanding its concert series and educational outreach.

“Next year, we have quite a few very famous international groups,” its artistic director, Irina Kaplan Lande, said of the upcoming season.

It opens on October 5 with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields chamber ensemble from London. The Tallis Scholars vocal ensemble performs on December 8 at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ellicott City.

“It’s a lot of expansion in every direction,” Kaplan Lande said.

The Tallis Scholars, hailed by the New York Times as “the rock stars of Renaissance vocal music,” will perform a traditional Christmas celebration on December 8 for Chamber Music Maryland.

line advertising, a concert series at Baltimore’s First Unitarian Church, and even a Howard County funeral home.

While considering rebranding, the Chamber Music Maryland board received support and encouragement from the Howard

County Arts Council, which helped them finalize the “bold decision and the big change” concerning the organization’s identity, said Kaplan Lande.

See CHAMBER MUSIC, page 21

Go to

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

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BALTIMORE BEACON — NOVEMBER 2024

Chamber music From page 20

State budget cuts of concern

Despite its extensive programming expansion over the past several years, Chamber Music Maryland aims to maintain its close relationships with core audiences, patrons, public schools and institutions within Howard County.

At the same time, “We see places around the state that are either underserved or would just love to have more great music,” Young said.

“And since we’re in a position to share our artists out of Howard County into Baltimore City, Baltimore County and per-

haps other places in the future, we’re looking forward to adding those as opportunities for people, especially for people who can’t get into Columbia.”

Young emphasized the need for increased access to chamber music for people across Maryland and to bring music closer to where people live.

The nonprofit organization started its first endowment fund in the last few years, before the rebranding, as part of its overall push for sustainability and accessibility.

The group wants to take on the “mantle as one of Maryland’s leading music presenters,” Young said.

Speaking of Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s plan to cut nearly $150 million

Classifieds continued from p. 23 Personals

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FROM PAGE 22 ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD S H A R D S E L F 1 A R M A X E L 0 S U M P E T E R L I E U D A T A I D E A S B A T S T O P S E G A D D E M I G O D S H O W N E T A L I E N A T E P L A N I C O N U S A G E W R O N G N E R D S T U B H E F T O G R E S P E R I H A S S M A L L E S T L I E S F I F T E E N S P I L L D O T R E D O I D O L M E R I T M O O N N O E L D E I C E P L U G G O R Y S T E T S H O T S

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and that’s why we go into schools, to community centers, and [why we] work with the kids, do a lot of master classes, workshops,” she said. “We’re really trying to nurture it from the very, very early ages.

It’s very important to us.”

You can explore Chamber Music Maryland’s 2024-2025 season in detail, buy a subscription package or tickets to individual concerts, and learn more about the rebranding at their new website, chambermusicmaryland.org or call (410) 997-2324.

Write a letter to the editor.

See page 2.

Thank you for reading the Beacon!

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from the state’s budget for the current fiscal year, Young noted that “The governor has proposed some cuts to arts funding, and so we’re very interested in having people be aware of that…and of how important that funding is to organizations like ours.”

“We’re really deeply concerned about the future of classical music and classical contemporary, and, especially in our case, chamber music,” Kaplan Lande added.

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Arts & Style | Subscribe online! See below

NOVEMBER 2024 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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

Downtowning 1

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By Stephen Sherr

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Scrabble answers on p. 21.

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BB1124

1. Piece of ancient pottery 6. Music teacher of Prince and David Bowie 10. Classic slot machine feature 14. Guy in multiple nursery rhymes 15. Cop Eddie Murphy played for the fourth time in 2024 16. Game theory game 17. Some of the best ones come in the shower 18. Stead 19. Facts and figures 20. “Goodness gracious!”

21. Louisville Slugger product 22. Pull out all the ___ 24. Mortal, with a promotion 26. Finish in the money 27. Next most popular after .com and .org 28. Estrange 32. Lexicographer’s interest 35. A secret evil one is often called a scheme 36. A digital thumb-up, for example 37. Ticket remnant 38. “Sorry, ___ number” 39. Hermione Granger or Napoleon Dynamite 40. Prefix with -scope or -meter 41. Weightiness 42. Shrek and Fiona’s triplets 43. Dopey, of the Seven Dwarfs 45. Possesses 46. Uses “alternative facts” 47. Taylor Swift song inspired by her freshman year 51. Release oil into water 53. Part of 27 Across’ clue 54. Take another stab at 55. It has eight phases 56. Homophone for idle and idyll 58. Type of badge or pay 59. Give a shoutout 60. Yuletide 61. Make the wings safe for flight 62. Mix of spicy toppings 63. Like any movie in the I Spit on Your Grave series 64. Leaves in, as text

58

Down

1. Worked for the CIA 2. Living fence 3. 1980s TV mercenaries 4. Good towns for accounts payable clerks 5. M*A*S*H officers 6. Pittsburgh ___ (veggies and french fries) 7. Visible word in a dark theater 8. Writer Stan or Harper 9. Good NY town for plumbers 10. Appropriately placed vacation address for this puzzle’s characters 11. Stat!

12. Unproductive habits 13. Sport often battled in an octagon 21. Autonomous program 23. Last body part in the pool for a diver, usually 25. It is silent in design, but not in designation 26. It is usually about 8 degrees for italic letters 28. Towards the heavens 29. Serena Williams, 70 times in the 1999 US Open 30. Suffered an Achilles injury 31. Burn the candle at both ___ 32. Letter carrier’s letters 33. Boutonniere attachment spot 34. Ambience 35. First Amendment word 38. Good WV town for a motorcycle gang 42. Stumblebum 44. Rapper Wayne or Kim 45. ___ the Road Jack (Ray Charles #1 hit) 47. Foolishness 48. Goosebumps inducing 49. Official proclamation 50. Do, re and mi 51. Skywalker’s pal 52. Make a sulky gesture 53. One who walks the walk 55. Dashboard info.

57. ___-wop (1950s musical style) 58. ENTs and OB/GYNs

Answers on page 21.

BALTIMORE BEACON — NOVEMBER 2024

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24

NOVEMBER 2024 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Subscribe online! See how on p. 22

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Use it when you feel any sign of bad germs in your nose or when you are around sick SHRSOH RU SHRSOH ZKR PD\ EH FRQWDJLRXV EXW QRW VKRZLQJ V\PSWRPV \HW &RQWDJLRQ FDQ VWDUW EHIRUH V\PSWRPV DSSHDU 8VH RQ \RXU KDQGV DQG ¿QJHUV DIWHU EHLQJ around others or in any crowd, gathering, store, UHVWDXUDQW WKHDWHU VFKRRO GRFWRU¶V R൶FH KRVSLWDO HWF :KHQ \RX WUDYHO XVH LW RQ KDQGV DQG ¿QJHUV often during the day and in your nose 3-4 WLPHV 0DQ\ SHRSOH KDYH VWRSSHG JHWWLQJ VLFN DIWHU DLU WUDYHO <RX FDQ WDNH &RSSHU=DSV® on ERDUG DLUSODQHV &RSSHU WDUQLVKHV QDWXUDOO\ EXW (3$ WHVWV VKRZ WDUQLVK GRHV QRW UHGXFH FRSSHU¶V JHUP NLOOLQJ SRZHU 7KH GLUHFWLRQV WHOO KRZ WR SROLVK it if you want, but it is not necessary. &RSSHU=DSV® are easy to use, easy to clean, DQG LQFOXGH GLUHFWLRQV &DUU\ LQ SXUVH RU SRFNHW ZHLJKV R] 0DGH LQ 86$ RI SXUH $PHULFDQ FRSSHU Save money. Save time. Cut VWUHVV 6OHHS better. Probably live longer, too.

Buy once, use forever. Never wears out. Price $79.95. Get R൵ HDFK with code NMPA. Guaranteed to work or your money back. &RSSHU=DS //& LV WRS UDWHG E\ %HWWHU %XVLQHVV %XUHDX ZLWK ]HUR FRPSODLQWV Users say, “Best money I ever spent.” And “Worth every penny.” Also “I would pay ten times as much for this.”

2UGHU DW FRSSHU]DS FRP RU FDOO WROO IUHH 888411-6114 3DFL¿F WLPH RQ EXVLQHVV GD\V 5HDO SHRSOH LQ WKH 86 DQVZHU Statements not evaluated by the FDA. Not claimed to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.