December 2025 | Howard County Beacon

The Howard County FREE

Park ranger has stories to tell

By Ed Warner

At Patapsco Valley State Park in Ellicott City, history has a face: that of Edward Johnson, who has volunteered there for nearly 30 years.

If you visit the park’s famous Swinging Bridge on a sunny Saturday, you’re likely to meet Johnson, 82, and hear his stories of the park’s history.

Before directing you to the popular Cascade Trail nearby, Johnson may tell you that the bridge was built over the Patapsco River in 1859 for mill workers. He might add that in the 1920s, the Baltimore department store Hutzler’s gave its salesmen and their families free company tents in this park (though the salesmen still had to commute to work).

“Some authors have called the Patapsco ‘the river that built America,’” Johnson told the Beacon.

Johnson started as a park volunteer in 1996, working with children’s summer programs, then spent 16 years as a volunteer. When work was slow at the visitor center, he’d pick up one of its history books.

“I started reading all the materials” on the park’s history, Johnson said. “It was fascinating.”

Some of its history is tragic. The Swinging Bridge was destroyed several times, including once in 1925 when a group of 42 youths tried jumping on it simultaneously; the 30-foot fall killed one.

Perhaps the park’s worst tragedy was the 1868 Great Flood, which killed 39 people in what’s now the Orange Grove area. The flood also destroyed homes and mills along the river, including a nail factory.

This destruction set the stage for the land to become a 43-acre state forest reserve in 1907 and a state park, Maryland’s

LEISURE & TRAVEL

The remote Faroe Islands, located in the North Atlantic, blend grandeur with serenity page 10

ARTS & STYLE

first, in the 1930s. It’s now a 16,000-acre state park.

As Johnson often tells visitors, there were 33 “firsts” that happened in the area.

Author and painter

Much of this history is in a 127-page

For instance, the nation’s first commercial railroad, the Baltimore and Ohio, ran through the park on the Thomas Viaduct, which is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

Margaret Atwood publishes a memoir; plus, our new advice column, Love After 50 page 19

Ed Johnson, 82, has been a volunteer park ranger in Patapsco Valley State Park in Ellicott City for three decades. Since Johnson retired as a teacher and principal, he has put in 4,000 hours as a volunteer and all-around historian.

PHOTO BY ED WARNER

A time for thanks

I want to thank the thousands of readers and their guests who attended our 26th annual 50+Expo events in Maryland and Virginia recently.

Our entire staff spent months preparing our Expos, which offered attendees numerous health screenings, important vaccinations, and nearly 150 exhibitors, including government agencies, nonprofits and area businesses sharing information, resource materials, volunteer opportunities and gobs of chocolate and useful giveaways.

with me about the Beacon, our writers, our sales staff and the events themselves. On a personal note, several took me aside to tell me how one of my recent columns had affected them or members of their family. I was very touched by that.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

By Stuart P. Rosenthal

I was especially happy to see so many familiar faces and to have a chance to speak with you, catch up on your lives, and hear your views on the issues of the day. More than one of you told me you have attended each of our Expos for more than 20 years!

Of course, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that one of the best parts was hearing all the glowing compliments people shared

Our exhibitors were equally happy to have the opportunity to meet so many active older adults who were sincerely interested in the housing communities, health providers, financial and legal advisors, recreation and travel opportunities, and community resources that participated.

I want to thank our hard-working staff for putting together these fantastic events. I also want to thank our gold sponsors: AARP Virginia and Giant Pharmacy who, together with our many other sponsors, made the free events possible.

In addition, Giant deserves special thanks for providing a variety of vaccines

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

The Beacon is a monthly newspaper dedicated to inform, serve, and entertain the citizens of the Howard County area, and is privately owned. Other editions serve Greater Baltimore, Md. and Greater Washington, D.C. Subscriptions are available via third-class mail ($20), 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 Emeritus – Stuart P. Rosenthal

President/Associate Publisher – Judith K. Rosenthal

Executive Vice President – Gordon Hasenei

Editor – Margaret Foster

Art Director – Kyle Gregory

Vice President of Operations – Roger King

Advertising Representatives

Jill Joseph, Steve Levin, M.K. Phillips, Alan Spiegel

Assistant Editor – Ana Preger Hart

Editorial Assistant – Tori Cleveland

Submissions:

and health screenings. We also thank new exhibitor, Georgetown University Ophthalmology Department, for offering glaucoma screenings this year.

We are already making plans for next fall’s Expos and intend for them to be even bigger and better than this year’s.

As we enter the holiday season and the year draws to a close, I want to add here my thanks to, and admiration for, everyone on the Beacon staff. It takes diligent work from each of them to keep our printed publications and website brimming with useful content (and relevant advertising) month after month.

I’d like to thank each of them here by name: Executive Vice President Gordon Hasenei ; Vice President of Operations Roger King; Art Director Kyle Gregory; Editor Margaret Foster; Assistant Editor Ana Preger Hart; Editorial Assistant Tori

Cleveland ; Advertising Representatives Jill Joseph, Steve Levin, M.K. Phillips and Alan Spiegel; and, of course, my wife, the Beacon’s President and Associate Publisher, Judy Rosenthal. The Beacon would not exist without all of their efforts — nor without you who read our publications each month. I offer my sincere appreciation to each of you, too! Please keep reading the Beacon and encourage your friends to do so as well. And when you call or visit any of our advertisers, please be sure to mention where you saw their ads! It’s their support that keeps the Beacon free.

I wish you and yours a happy and healthy holiday season and new year.

Letters to the editor

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

Dear Editor:

Concerning last month’s From the Publisher column (“How we learn to be afraid”), some advice would be to say, “Excuse me” when passing someone in a store.

In the retirement community where I live, residents say “Hello” when passing from behind. Once, when I walked past someone without saying anything, the person said, “Some people here are so rude!”

Since then, I join others in greeting everyone here with a “hello” and/or a wave, and a “hello” when walking past someone. I sometimes just avoid passing people who walk slowly because I would not gain that much time by walking past them.

Regarding a different column a few months ago regarding near-death experiences, I did have an experience that, at the time, I attributed to a dream. But the experience was unlike a dream. However, I had free will to break from the magnetic pull.

Name withheld by request Catonsville, MD

Dear Editor:

My take on your November From the Publisher column is that a psychoanalytic approach to understanding the frightened man’s reaction is unnecessary.

I am 80 and, though I use no aids to get around, I am watching every step I take. Chances are the man was using everything he had, mentally, emotionally and physically, to concentrate on getting himself safely where he wanted to go. Your suddenness destabilized him.

This happens to me all the time in this fast world we live in — rushing delivery boys and young children in my senior

building’s hallways, in store aisles, on the sidewalk and in parking lots. Frankly, it’s a sock in the (psychic) stomach.

My policy when I am antsy and irritable at being held up, as you were, is to take deep breaths and remind myself that this slow person could be me in the future for any number of reasons.

It takes practice, but it is kinder — and I feel better, too.

Carol Buell Columbia, MD

Dear Editor:

I was interested to read your anecdote about “scaring” the old guy you followed into the supermarket. I was reminded of something I experienced years ago while walking early one evening and found an old lady ahead on the sidewalk, moving slowly.

I thought, I don’t want to scare this old lady, so I slooooowed my gait and made sure to give her a wide berth, to avert fear that someone was rushing up behind her. (The sidewalk is fairly wide at that spot.) Yet she STILL gasped and shrank away dramatically. Once past, I resumed my normal pace, hearing from behind a cranky warble to “Slow down!”

The fact is, old age and its challenges (including frustration with a world that WILL rush by, whether we like it or not), don’t excuse perpetual bad temper, or a constant readiness to feel slighted. Or rudeness.

Startled these oldsters may have been; as well a younger person might. But truly afraid? I doubt it.

Nathan Dotson Via email

Health Fitness & Fitness & Health

Health

What do pharmacists actually do?

See story on page 8.

Music could ease pain from surgery or illness

By Christina Larson

Nurse Rod Salaysay works with all kinds of instruments in the hospital: a thermometer, a stethoscope and sometimes a guitar or ukulele.

In the recovery unit of UC San Diego Health, Salaysay helps patients manage pain after surgery. Along with medications, he offers tunes on request and sometimes sings. His repertoire ranges from folk songs in English and Spanish to Minuet in G Major and movie favorites like “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”

Patients often smile or nod along. Salaysay even sees changes in their vital signs like lower heart rate and blood pressure, and some request fewer painkillers.

“There’s often a cycle of worry, pain, anxiety in a hospital,” he said, “but you can help break that cycle with music.”

Over the past two decades, live performances and recorded music have flowed into hospitals and doctors’ offices as research grows on how songs can help ease pain.

How music affects pain perception

The healing power of song may sound intuitive given music’s deep roots in human culture. But the science of whether and how music dulls acute and chronic pain — technically called music-induced analgesia — is just catching up.

No one suggests that a catchy song can fully eliminate serious pain. But several re-

cent studies, including in the journals Pain and Scientific Reports, have suggested that listening to music can either reduce the perception of pain or enhance a person’s ability to tolerate it.

What seems to matter most is that patients — or their families — make the music selections themselves and listen intently, not just as background noise.

Levels of pain vary

Two people with the same condition or injury may feel vastly different levels of acute or chronic pain. Or the same person might experience pain differently from one day to the next.

“Pain is a really complex experience,” said Adam Hanley, a psychologist at Florida State University. “It’s created by a physical sensation, and by our thoughts about that sensation and emotional reaction to it.”

Acute pain is felt when pain receptors in a specific part of the body — like a hand on a hot stove — send signals to the brain, which processes the short-term pain.

Chronic pain usually involves long-term structural or other changes to the brain, which heighten overall sensitivity to pain signals. Researchers are still investigating how this occurs.

“Pain is interpreted and translated by the brain,” which may ratchet the signal up or down, said Dr. Gilbert Chandler, a specialist in chronic spinal pain at the Talla-

hassee Orthopedic Clinic.

Researchers know music can draw attention away from pain, lessening the sensation. But studies also suggest that listening to preferred music helps dull pain more than listening to podcasts.

“Music is a distractor. It draws your focus away from the pain. But it’s doing more than that,” said Caroline Palmer, a psychologist at McGill University who studies music and pain.

Scientists are still tracing the various neural pathways at work, said Palmer.

“We know that almost all of the brain becomes active when we engage in music,” said Kate Richards Geller, a registered music therapist in Los Angeles. “That changes the perception and experience of pain — and the isolation and anxiety of pain.”

Music genres and active listening

The idea of using recorded music to lessen pain associated with dental surgery began in the late 19th century, before local anesthetics were available. Today researchers are studying what conditions make music most effective.

Researchers at Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands conducted a study on 548 participants to see how listening to five genres of music — classical, rock, pop, urban and electronic — extended their ability to withstand acute pain, as measured by exposure to very cold temperatures.

All music helped, but there was no single winning genre.

“The more people listened to a favorite genre, the more they could endure pain,” said co-author Dr. Emy van der Valk Bouman. “A lot of people thought that classical music would help them more. Actually, we are finding more evidence that what’s best is just the music you like.”

The exact reasons are still unclear, but it may be because familiar songs activate more memories and emotions, she said.

Active, focused listening also seems to matter.

Hanley, the Florida State psychologist, co-authored a preliminary study suggesting daily attentive listening might reduce chronic pain.

“Music has a way of lighting up different parts of the brain,” he said, “so you’re giving people this positive emotional bump that takes their mind away from the pain.”

It’s a simple prescription with no side effects, some doctors now say.

Cecily Gardner, a jazz singer in Culver City, California, said she used music to help get through a serious illness and has sung to friends battling pain.

“Music reduces stress, fosters community,” she said, “and just transports you to a better place.”

© 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Less butter, more plant oils, longer life?

By Francesca Coltrera

Not such good news for butter lovers like me: Seesawing research on the health risks of butter received a firm push from a recent Harvard study published in JAMA Internal Medicine. Drawing on decades of data gathered through long-term observational studies, the researchers investigated whether butter and plant oils affect mortality.

One basic takeaway? “A higher intake of butter increases mortality risk, while a higher intake of plant-based oil will lower it,” said Yu Zhang, lead author of the study.

As it turns out, choosing to substitute certain plant oils for butter might help people live longer.

What did the study find?

The researchers divided participants into four groups based on how much butter and plant oils they reported using on dietary questionnaires. They compared deaths among those consuming the highest amounts of butter or plant oils with those consuming the least, over a period of up to 33 years.

Plant oils won out handily. A 15% higher risk of death was seen among those who ate the most butter compared with those who ate the least. A 16% lower risk of death was seen among those who consumed the highest amount of plant oils compared with those who consumed the least.

Higher butter intake also raised risk for

cancer deaths. And higher plant oil intake cut the risk for dying from cancer or cardiovascular disease like stroke or heart attack.

While the study looked at five plant oils, only soybean, canola and olive oil were linked with survival benefits. Swapping out a small amount of butter in the daily diet — about 10 grams, which is slightly less than a tablespoon — for an equivalent amount of those plant-based oils was linked with fewer total deaths and fewer cancer deaths, according to a modeling analysis.

How could less butter improve health?

“Butter has almost no essential fatty acids and a modest amount of trans fat —

the worst type of fat for cardiovascular disease,” Dr. Walter C. Willett, professor of epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, noted by email.

By contrast, the plant oils highlighted in this study are rich in antioxidants, essential fatty acids and unsaturated fats, which research has linked to healthier levels of cholesterol and triglycerides and lower insulin resistance.

Especially when substituted for a saturated fat like butter, plant oils also may help lower chronic inflammation within

Tai chi may be best exercise for healthy aging

By Christy Bieber

If you’re getting older, martial arts may not be on your radar as an activity you should take up. In fact, when most people think about how they want to spend their days in retirement, activities like golf or gardening are more likely to come to mind.

Maybe that’s a mistake, though.

In fact, research from Harvard suggests that opting for a tai chi class over more traditional exercises, such as walking or swimming, could be the best way to stay fit after 60. Here’s why.

How tai chi helps aging

According to the Tai Chi Foundation, this ancient Chinese martial art is practiced at a slow pace and focuses on harmonizing the body and mind.

Its purpose is to help your “inner life energy” flow powerfully throughout the body, and it includes a heavy focus on fluid, graceful movement, deep breathing and mental concentration.

However, don’t underestimate this martial art just because it’s not a fast-paced exercise like cardio workouts.

“The slowness that you see from the outside can be deceptive,” said Dr. Peter Wayne, research director of the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

Butter

From page 4

the body. Making such substitutions aligns with American Heart Association recommendations and current Dietary Guidelines for Americans for healthful eating that lower risk for chronic disease.

And for the butter lovers? “A little butter occasionally for its flavor would not be a problem,” Dr. Willett said. “But for better health, use liquid plant oils whenever possible instead of butter for cooking and at the table.”

Try sampling a variety of plant oils, like different olive oils, mustard oil or sesame oil, to learn which ones you enjoy for different purposes, he suggests. Additionally, a blend or mix of butter with oils — or sometimes a bit of butter on its own — can satisfy taste buds.

Study limitations and strengths

The study crunched data collected

Tai chi is equivalent to a brisk walk in terms of its aerobic potential, and may be more vigorous than training with weights, according to Wayne, who cited studies showing its benefits. It’s also been proven to offer these benefits:

• Help promote bone strength and joint stability.

• Improve cardiovascular health.

• Boost your immune system.

• Develop your emotional well-being.

• Boost your overall fitness levels.

• Improve cognitive function and focus.

It can also reduce falls by as much as 45%, which is an enormous benefit, as more than one in four older Americans falls each year. Parkinson’s patients, in particular, may benefit from improvements in balance by practicing tai chi.

Give tai chi a try

While this long list of benefits may sound like an infomercial for a too-good-tobe-true weight-loss system, the reality is that tai chi’s benefits are backed by real science. Experts believe tai chi offers more health benefits than many other forms of exercise, while still being well-suited for older adults.

“You don’t have to have a health issue to do tai chi. But if you do, you should find a way to incorporate tai chi into some part of

through a questionnaire answered every four years by more than 221,000 adults participating in the Nurses’ Health Study, Nurses’ Health Study II and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study.

As is true of all observational studies, this type of research can’t prove cause and effect, although it adds to the body of evidence. Because most participants were white healthcare professionals, the findings may not apply to a wider population.

The researchers adjusted for many variables that can affect health, including age, physical activity, smoking status and family history of illnesses like cancer and diabetes. What makes the study strong are the size of the study, the length of follow-up and multiple adjustments like these.

Francesca Coltrera is the editor of the Harvard Health Blog.

© 2025 Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

your life,” Wayne said in his book, The Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai Chi.

The good news is, you can find online instructions for getting started with tai chi if you want to give the practice a try. You can sign up for an online class on the Tai Chi Foundation website or explore their free videos at taichifoundation.org/videos.

YouTube also offers a number of free videos, some of which include “chair” tai chi if you need to exercise in a seated position.

You may also be able to find a class in your area that’s geared toward older adults, and Silver Sneakers may cover the costs if you have a qualifying Medicare Advantage plan. In fact, Senior Planet from

AARP and Silver Sneakers offer online tai chi classes that you can take from home. Be sure to consult your doctor before starting any new type of exercise, including tai chi.

While you likely won’t be the next Michelle Yeoh, who at 59 performed her own martial arts fight scenes in the film Everything Everywhere All at Once, you can certainly take a tip from her and practice tai chi daily. You may just find that your physical and mental health improve, and that you feel more powerful as you age.

© 2025 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

For free materials about area housing communities, just complete and clip this coupon and mail, or take a picture and email, to the Beacon.

Housing Communities

o Brooke Grove (see ad on page 24)

o Charlestown (see ad on page 7)

o Homecrest House (see ad on page 9)

o Lutheran Village at Miller’s Grant (see ad on page 8)

o Park View at Colonial Landing (see ad on page 17)

o Park View at Columbia (see ad on page 17)

o Park View at Ellicott City (see ad on page 17)

o Park View at Emerson (see ad on page 17)

o Residences at Vantage Point (see ad on page 1)

Check the boxes you’re interested in and return this form to: The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915 or take a picture and email to housing@thebeaconnewspapers.com.

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6. Cultivate a culture of connection. Societal norms significntly impact people’s relationships, and it’s critical f foor connection to be embedded y’ in the fabric of the countr s culture.

The Family & Nursing Care Difference

y & N Famil Nuursing Care is one of the oldest and most well-respected private duty home care businesses y a in the gre ter Mar ylland and a. W W Waashington, D.C. are We e pride ff ourselves on offering access to empathetic, personal companion tsf care that helps clien feeel valued, secure, and connected to the

can become close confi ants and provide older adults with an outlet and space to share f feeelings, thoughts, and stories. Loneliness can be curbed with something as simple as sharing a meal or having regular conversations. Caregivers and clients often develop a faf connection like that o frriend or family member.

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embrace the companionship of a , V Caregiver,”said Kelly Salb Vice icesf President of Client Serv foor Family & Nursing Care. “Human connection has both mental and physical health benefits, and our team is passionate about providing our clients access to customized personal care services in order to help with health needs but also create a better quality of liffe e through social interaction.” Living independently doesn’t nf haavve to mea feeeling alone, and a 2026 is a gre t year to decide to spend more time in the communityy. . Family & Nursing ff Care offers access to a range of care services to help with this and ensure human connection.

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based on six pillars: l inf 1. Strengthen socia frrastructure. Creaatte communities and institutions — including parks, libraries, playgrounds, and a programs — thattbring people together. communityy. . r me wa So ayys the Ca egivers l e w w we woork with can help p combat f feeeling isolated or lonely include:

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Vegetable couscous is an adaptable side dish

By Diane Rossen Worthington

When you need a side dish that works with simple or spicy entrees, try this one.

Pearl couscous, sometimes called Israeli couscous or “ptitim” in Israel, is baked semolina or wheat pasta. It is larger than regular tiny couscous and tastes great sautéed and lightly browned.

Since couscous is mild with a delightfully nutty texture on its own, it’s best to add some vegetables, nuts or other flavorings to spice up the little pearls. They resemble barley but have a decidedly different flavor.

This simple side pasta is very adaptable. If you are in a hurry, go for frozen petit pois instead of the carrots and zucchini, since the peas are a quick and tasty lastminute addition.

You can also make this into a salad with the addition of diced tomatoes, tiny mozzarella balls and finely chopped basil. A mustard citrus vinaigrette dressing would bring all the flavors together.

Whether you serve this as a hot side dish or create your own chilled couscous salad, you and your guests will enjoy it.

Vegetable Pearl Couscous

Serves 6

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 leek, white and light green part only,

cleaned and finely chopped

1 small carrot, peeled and finely diced

1 small zucchini, finely diced

2 ½ cups Israeli couscous

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 cups hot water or chicken or vegetable broth

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley

2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese, optional

Directions

1. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, heat the oil. Add the leek and sauté for 5 to 7 minutes or until lightly browned and caramelized. Add the carrot and zucchini and continue to stir for 2 minutes or until slightly softened. Turn up the heat to high and add the couscous. Brown the couscous for about 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Season with salt and pepper.

2. Add the hot water or broth to the couscous, stir with a fork, and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce the heat to medium-low. Let the couscous simmer for about 10 minutes, cooking until all the liquid has been absorbed and the couscous is tender.

3. Add the parsley and optional Parmesan; blend them in with a large fork. Taste for seasoning and serve immediately. Recipe note: This dish can be prepared up to two hours ahead and kept at room

temperature. Reheat carefully in the top part of a double boiler over medium heat for 10 minutes.

What do pharmacists do every day?

By Michael Schuh, Pharm.D.

Dear Mayo Clinic: I’m sure pharmacists are busy, but what do they do?

No one likes to wait for a prescription, especially if you’re not feeling well. When you see a pharmacist on the

mission Test (MCAT) physicians take.

• Amplified phones

• Tablets

• Ring signalers

• Phones with large and/or

• Captioned Telephones

• And more

news, you see them counting pills. When I get prescriptions filled, I see the pharmacist looking at a computer. What training do pharmacists have? And what do they do?

https://helpx.adobe.com/firefly/get-set-up/learn-the-basics/ generative-credits-faq.html#standard-and-premium-generative-ai-features

A: I’m glad you asked. Being a pharmacist is more complicated than it might look. Pharmacists are quite educated, and they must be. Diseases and the medications used to treat them are complex. As therapies have become more advanced, so has pharmacist training.

Pharmacists have a minimum of five to six years of college, and some have eight years or more, plus one or two years of residency where they receive more training — just like physicians.

The final degree a pharmacist earns is called a doctor of pharmacy degree (Pharm.D.). After earning their advanced degree, graduates must earn a license by passing national and state board exams to become a registered pharmacist.

To apply for pharmacy school, students must take the same basic undergraduate college courses as medical doctors, veterinarians and dentists, including calculus, chemistry, biology, physics and other courses.

After these prerequisites are successfully passed with good grades, pharmacists take the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT), like the Medical College Ad-

conversation.

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

Pharmacy school is typically a three- or four-year program. Classes include infectious diseases, endocrinology, gastroenterology, cardiovascular and pulmonary systems and more.

In most states, pharmacists also must take many hours of continuing education yearly to maintain their licenses and specialty certifications.

So, what is the pharmacist doing on the computer? The pharmacist must verify the prescription is formatted correctly and legally signed by the medical professional.

The pharmacist must verify the prescription is appropriate for the patient and has proper directions. Pharmacists run drug interaction reports, review allergies and duration of therapy and screen for side effects.

There to help

Pharmacists are available to counsel patients on how to take the medication, side effects and drug interactions.

Then pharmacists must dispense the amount the patient’s insurance allows. If the insurance does not pay for the prescribed medication, the pharmacist must contact the healthcare professional to change the drug or the amount.If the

Over-the-counter meds may harm heart

Most people think of laxatives and stool softeners as harmless aids for occasional constipation. They sit on drugstore shelves right beside vitamins and antacids, which makes them appear safe enough for everyday use.

Yet hidden behind their gentle image is a serious health risk. Overuse of laxatives and stool softeners can upset the body’s electrolyte balance, creating the perfect setup for dangerous heartrhythm problems.

magnesium, calcium, chloride and phosphate. Stool softeners may also reduce absorption of fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E and K. Your heart depends on these minerals to keep its rhythm steady. When potassium or magnesium levels fall, the electrical system becomes unstable, and the heart can slip into arrhythmias.

By Suzy Cohen

Stool softeners like docusate sodium (Colace) work by pulling water and fats into the stool, while laxatives come in several forms, from osmotic types such as polyethylene glycol (MiraLAX); to stimulant products like senna (Senokot) and bisacodyl (Dulcolax); saline agents such as magnesium citrate; and bulk-forming fibers like psyllium (Metamucil).

Taken occasionally, these remedies are usually effective and harmless. Taken every day, however, they can rob your body of essential minerals — what I call the “drug mugging” effect — a well-documented form of nutrient depletion.

The nutrients most at risk are electrolytes, including sodium, potassium,

Electrolytes shift quietly, so you won’t notice unless you get a cramp, start to crave salt or get fatigued. Other symptoms of electrolyte imbalance include confusion, headaches, nausea and vomiting.

If depletion becomes more severe, the heart begins to misfire. Now you may notice palpitations, dizziness or feeling faint. The most feared rhythm problem is called torsades de pointes, which can quickly spiral into ventricular fibrillation, a chaotic rhythm that can be fatal.

Check with your doctor

What can you do if you rely on these medications? First, do not ignore symptoms. If you develop sudden palpitations, dizziness, chest pain or fainting, go directly to the emergency room.

If you use these drugs more than occa-

ment to a pharmacy in the future, only on claims made in real time. This can extend the time it takes to fill a prescription.

sionally, ask your physician to check your electrolytes with a blood test. Replenishing nutrients is essential. Electrolyte powders or oral rehydration salts may be useful for ongoing support.

Your body is not constipated because it is short on laxatives. Treating constipation with daily pills while ignoring nutrition and hydration is like patching a leak with tape instead of fixing the pipe.

I have more information on this subject at drugmuggers.com, where you can per-

sonally search any medication you take. For more detailed health tips and the full version of this article, visit suzycohen.com and sign up for my free newsletter. 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

medication must be changed, sometimes research must be done to find a preferred medication that will be paid for by the patient’s insurance.

Pharmacists do this while you wait because insurance will not guarantee pay-

Some pharmacists also administer immunizations, such as the flu shot and shingles shot.

© 2025 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Travel Leisure &

The stark beauty of the Faroe Islands

By Don Mankin

The wind blasted me as I neared the edge of the cliff. Leaning into the gust, I struggled to stay on my feet. Deciding that my safety was more important than another spectacular view, I reluctantly turned back.

I was in the Faroe Islands, an archipelago of 18 islands in the North Atlantic about midway between Norway and Iceland. With more sheep (about 80,000) than people (about 50,000), the Faroe Islands, literally the “sheep islands,” are beautiful, bucolic and peaceful, except for the occasional raging wind.

The islands are an awe-inspiring land of jagged rock pillars overlooking pounding seas, waterfalls cascading from hills and cliffs, fjords serrating green hills dotted with sheep, and villages of grass-covered houses.

“If Ireland and Iceland had a baby, it would be the Faroes,” declared Michael Bennett, founder of the travel company Explorer X, who accompanied me on my trip last fall.

Return to the North Atlantic

I have been drawn to the rugged lands at the extremes of the earth — Antarctica, Iceland, northern Alaska, northern Scotland, the Canadian High Arctic, among others — since a trip in 1969 that sparked a passion for remote regions of the world.

On that trip, I drove my new Volvo, fresh from the factory in Sweden, from Copenhagen to the North Cape, the northernmost point in Europe, then down the northern fjords of Norway and back to the factory in Sweden to ship home to Pennsylvania.

I’m not sure what it is about these lands — dramatic, vast, even a bit scary — that appeals to me. Perhaps it’s the sense that there is something bigger than myself, which takes me out of my head and reminds me that I am just a mere speck in the universe. Whatever it is, the Faroes were the ideal place to once again experience this feeling of transcendence.

Copenhagen comeback

As a self-governing part of Denmark, the Faroes are easy to reach from Copenhagen, the starting point for my seminal trip in 1969. Before heading to the islands, I spent my one day in Copenhagen on a long, nostalgic walk revisiting hazily remembered sites.

I wandered through Christianshavn, a bohemian neighborhood, to Nyhavn, a historic 17th-century canal district with colorful buildings, classic wooden ships and many restaurants lining the canal.

I continued to the Rosenborg Castle, a Renaissance castle that houses the Danish crown jewels. Instead of taking a tour of the building, I opted for a leisurely stroll through the King’s Garden, a large park in front of the fortress, then on to Strøget, a long, car-free pedestrian shopping street, one of the first in Europe.

From there I headed to Tivoli Gardens, a historic amusement park that opened in 1843 and is one of the oldest in the world.

By the time I reached my destination, however, I was tired from jet lag and the more than four miles I had already walked. That, plus the $35 admission charge, dis-

suaded me from revisiting the fondest and most vivid memory of my earlier visit, so I headed back to my hotel instead. All in all, I had a full, nostalgic day.

Five days in the Faroes

The next day, it was on to the Faroes. Our five days there kicked off in dramatic fashion, with a high-octane RIB (rigid inflatable boat) tour around Hestur Island.

The boat roared across the sound, then slowed down as it circled the island to give us a view of its many sea caves, including the world’s biggest sea grotto, etched into 1,000-foot cliffs. As we twisted on the large, choppy swells, I marveled at the sheep nonchalantly nibbling grass on the steep slopes, just a slight misstep away from plunging into the crashing surf below.

Over the next few days, we gawked at waterfalls, heard legends worthy of a Netflix series, and visited the home of a local family for dinner. Over heaping platters of local salmon, lamb, roasted potatoes and rhubarb crisp, Anna and Oli described their everyday lives, especially the challenges of raising and herding sheep in this rugged land.

We even took a helicopter from the main island of Streymoy to the tiny, westernmost island of Mykines. This wasn’t a tourist experience but a regularly scheduled route run by Atlantic Airways, the national carrier of the Faroe Islands. Since the purpose of our trip was to get

an aerial view of the precipitous cliffs, we didn’t get off in Mykines. If I ever have a chance to go back to the Faroes, I’ll spend a night or two in the tiny village on the island and visit the puffin colonies that populate the cliffs during the summer months.

Hiking to the best views

The hikes we took were the ultimate highlight for me — an opportunity to be immersed in the majestic environment, rather than just gawk at it from a distance.

Our first hike, the most popular one in the Faroes, was to the iconic Kallur lighthouse on Kalsoy Island, the site of the finale of the James Bond movie No Time to Die

It’s not an easy hike — about an hour or more uphill on a muddy trail — but the breathtaking views from the lighthouse are worth the effort. A huge massif of sheer basalt looms over the scene on one side, while on the other, a narrow blade of land with steep drop-offs juts into the ocean.

A potentially treacherous trail runs along the narrow ridge. If I were younger and nimbler, I might have braved the trail, but at 83, good sense and age-tempered wisdom prevailed.

Our other hike, to the Lake Above the Ocean on the island of Vágar, was so enjoyable that we did it twice. The lake is sometimes referred to as the “floating lake”

In the Faroe Islands of the North Atlantic, the island of Kalsoy is home to the remote, 98-year-old Kallur Lighthouse. Puffins and other seabirds populate the jagged cliffs of the Faroe Islands.

Puffins, sheep and only 56,000 people live on the Faroe Islands, located between Iceland and Norway.

By bike or on foot, Copenhagen’s trendy Nyhavn neighborhood is easy to navigate. The Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen lived in Nyhavn.

PHOTO BY DAVIDEGORLA/FLICKR

Faroe Islands

From page 10

because it’s on the edge of a cliff, about 100 feet above the ocean. Yet another spectacular waterfall spills from the lake into the ocean.

The first time, we hiked through a land reminiscent of northern Scotland on a relatively flat trail that runs to the cliff at the end of the lake. It was drizzly and foggy, though, so we couldn’t see much.

We gave it another try on our last day in the Faroes. Michael and Kevin, Michael’s

Tips for a Faroes trip

While once the Faroe Islands might have slipped under the radar, more tourists than ever are arriving on the remote archipelago in the north Atlantic.

According to Statistics Faroe Islands, a record 94,954 check-ins occurred last year at hotels, hostels and guesthouses.

That’s relatively small for a European destination, but authorities are already thinking about how to protect the windswept 18 islands from the tourism pressure that has led to backlash elsewhere. Here’s what to know about visiting.

The weather above all: Be ready for anything, especially when hiking. At some point, it will rain. Strong winds can pick up quickly, and fog can be disorienting.

The Landsverk local authority has weather cams on its site, and so does FaroeIslandsLive.

Keep in mind that hiking times and difficulty levels have been estimated by locals. A few of the most heavily traveled routes ask for a fee. The popular hike to the Kallur lighthouse on Kalsoy Island is about $30. Do not miss it.

It’s best to explore with a rental car for more flexibility. Public buses are available to many locations, but timetables are limited. They are available at the Strandfaraskip site. Multi-day travel passes can be purchased at the airport’s visitor center.

The Faroe Islands now have four undersea tunnels linking a few of the most visited islands, but prepare to pay. Fees range from over $15 for a round trip to over $27 one way. Plan day trips accordingly. Fees are paid to the rental car company at the end of a visit.

The need for cash is almost nonexistent. Pay with cards and phones.

—Cara Anna, AP

friend from his college days, both in their mid-40s, surged ahead while I followed doggedly behind. After a few minutes, I had the trail pretty much to myself.

This time I almost made it to the end, but the wind stopped me dead in my tracks. Nonetheless, I felt a sense of accomplishment and was exhilarated by the effort and the lonely beauty of this harsh land.

It was the perfect manifestation of the passion that has driven me for much of the past 20 years — a true adventure, accessible to an aging traveler who continues to thirst for challenging, transcendent journeys off the beaten track. I’m still not too old for adventure.

If you go

Round-trip, one-stop economy fares to Copenhagen start at $800 on American Airlines, British Airways and Scandinavian Airlines. Round-trip airfare between Copenhagen and the Faroe Islands on Atlantic Airways is about $350.

In Copenhagen, I stayed at the hip Bryggen Guldsmeden for about $250 per night. In Tórshavn in the Faroes, we stayed at the Hotel Hafnia and the Hotel Føroyar. Both hotels are about $250 a night.

In Tórshavn, we ate at Áarstova, The Tarv Grill House and HAPS. For a dinner with locals, see heimablidni.fo/en.

Don’s trip was organized and partially hosted by Explorer X (explorer-x.com).

NATURAL HOLIDAY SALE

Howard County Conservancy’s annual Natural Holiday Sale features local artisans, nature-inspired gifts, kids’ crafts, live music, raffles and more. This free event takes place on Sat., Dec. 6 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 10520 Old Frederick Rd., Woodstock. For more information, visit bit.ly/ConservancyHoliday, call (410) 465-8877 or email programs@howardnature.org.

Ongoing

ROAD SCHOLAR’S ONLINE LECTURE SERIES

Road Scholar’s new online lecture series, Age Well, explores every aspect of aging: maintaining strength in body and mind, staying connected and purposeful, and remaining confident and graceful into life’s Fourth Age. The one-hour sessions are free and include access to a Facebook Group, blog posts and book recommendations. For more information, visit roadscholar.org/agewell.

Recreation & Parks

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Events

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Genealogy

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Piano and V Vooice Lessons

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18.

Stay safe when making cashless payments

By Lawrence Sprung, CFP®

We manage more of our financial lives through screens than ever before. We tap phones to pay for purchases and use apps instead of cash.

Digital payments are fast, convenient and arguably safer than carrying wads of cash, but with this speed and convenience comes an element of risk.

What happens when systems go down? Or, worse yet, what happens when someone breaks into the system?

Scams, hacks and system failures continue to rise, but implementing a few smart habits can easily help you enjoy the convenience of digital payments with greater safety.

Fraud is on the rise

Whether you use Apple Pay at the grocery store or send money through an app like Venmo, PayPal or Zelle to cover your share of dinner with friends, you’re part of a massive shift. In 2024, more than 4.3 billion people used “digital wallets” worldwide. That number is expected to hit 5.8 billion by 2029.

Most Americans now use some form of digital payment. According to McKinsey’s 2024 Consumer Payments Survey, 92% of U.S. adults used digital payments last year, including mobile wallets, apps and contact-

less cards. That number keeps growing.

Unfortunately, fraud is growing, too. In 2024, the Federal Trade Commission reported a record $12.5 billion in consumer losses to fraud, an increase of 25% over the previous year.

Investment scams alone accounted for $5.7 billion. Identity theft, phishing and scams involving money transfer apps are becoming more frequent and more sophisticated.

Unlike a credit card, where you can dispute charges, money sent through a digital payment app is often gone for good unless the recipient returns the funds or the platform intervenes.

If you accidentally send money to the wrong person or a scammer, there’s no easy way to get it back without initiating a time-consuming fraud investigation that may or may not be successful.

Eight ways to stay safe

These simple habits can help you enjoy the convenience of digital payments while lowering the threat of fraud:

Check before you send money. Whether you’re paying someone for work or sending money to a friend, take an extra moment to verify their name, email address or phone number.

One wrong letter or number can send your money to a stranger, and in most cases, you won’t be able to reverse the payment.

Turn on transaction alerts. Most banks and payment apps let you receive real-time notifications when money leaves your account. These alerts can help you spot fraud quickly, which is key to minimizing damage.

Use a strong lock on your phone. If your phone is lost or stolen, a fingerprint, Face ID or PIN can prevent someone from accessing your payment apps.

You can also enable “remote wipe” features on Apple and Android devices, which let you erase your phone if it’s stolen.

Keep a little cash on hand. Digital payments don’t always work, especially during power outages or service disruptions. A small amount of cash in your wallet can help in an emergency.

Don’t click on suspicious links. Scammers can send fake texts or emails pretending to be your bank or payment provider. If you get a message asking you to “verify” a transaction or reset your password, don’t click on anything, and don’t call the number they provide. Instead, call your bank directly or go directly to its app or official website.

Report fraud fast. If you notice a suspicious charge or lose your device (or if some-

thing simply feels “off”), contact your bank or provider right away. Most services have time limits for resolving fraud or recovering lost funds, and your own liability typically increases the longer you wait to report it.

Use two-factor authentication. This extra layer of security, usually a text message or authentication code, can prevent someone from logging into your accounts even if they have your password.

Update your devices. Software updates aren’t just about new features — they often fix security vulnerabilities. Keep your phone and apps up to date to stay protected against the latest threats.

Stay in control

Technology moves quickly, and digital payments are only going to become more common. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. By building a few good habits now, you can stay a step ahead of fraudsters and keep your money where it belongs. Digital convenience is here to stay. Just make sure your guardrails are, too.

This article was written by and presents the views of a contributing adviser, not the Kiplinger editorial staff. You can check adviser records with the SEC or with FINRA. © 2025 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Essential legal docs everyone should have

Dear Savvy Senior,

What kinds of legal documents do I need to help my family take care of me in my elder years? I would like to get my affairs in order but could use some help.

—Approaching 80

Dear Approaching,

All adults, especially an older adult like yourself, should have at least five legal documents to protect yourself and your family. These documents will make sure your wishes regarding your estate are legal and clear and will help minimize any conflicts and confusion with your family and your healthcare providers if you become seriously ill or when you die.

along with some tips to help you create them.

Durable power of attorney: This document allows you to designate someone you trust to handle your financial affairs if you become incapacitated.

By Jim Miller

Advance directive: This includes two documents that spell out your wishes regarding your end-of-life medical treatment. The first is a “living will,” which tells your doctor what kind of care you want to receive if you become incapacitated. The second is a “healthcare power of attorney” (or healthcare proxy), which names a person you authorize to make medical decisions on your behalf if you’re unable.

Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (see POLST.org). This is a state specific form that your doctor would fill out that translates your end-of-life wishes into medical orders to ensure your wishes are carried out.

A will: This lets you spell out your wishes of how you’d like your property and assets distributed after you die, whether it’s to family, friends or a charity. It also allows you to designate an executor to ensure your wishes are carried out and allows you to name guardians if you have dependent children.

In addition to a will, if you own real estate or have considerable assets, another option you may want to consider is a “revocable living trust.” This functions like a will but allows your estate to avoid the time and expense of probate (the public legal process that examines your estate after you die).

your medical care and medical bills with those you designate. You may need specific HIPAA release forms for each medical professional you deal with.

Do-it-yourself tips

If you have a simple estate and an uncomplicated family situation, there are doit-yourself resources that can help you create all these documents for a few hundred dollars. Some include Quicken WillMaker & Trust software (see WillMaker.com), Trust & Will (TrustandWill.com) and Legal Zoom (LegalZoom.com).

Where to get help

If, however, you want or need assistance or if you have a complicated financial situation, blended family or have considerable

Here are the key documents you need,

To complement your advance directive, you should also consider getting a Physician

HIPAA release: This form gives your healthcare provider permission to discuss

Christine Benz, director of personal finance and retirement planning at Morningstar, discusses annuities on page

SAVVY SENIOR

Should you prepay for your own funeral?

By Maurie Backman

Q: A good friend recently died and it made me wonder, should I prepay for my own funeral? Is it worth it to set up now while I’m in my 50s?

A: I’m sorry to hear about your friend. Sometimes it takes a loss to make us face our own mortality — and the costs that come with it.

Chances are, you’ve put a lot of thought into planning for different milestones during your lifetime — buying your first house, sending your kids off to college, and retirement. But it’s just as important to plan for what happens once you’re no longer around.

In the course of your estate planning, you might write up a will or put a living trust in place for an easier transfer of assets.

Another important aspect of estate planning you may want to consider is arranging your funeral ahead of time. That could mean choosing a location and providing detailed instructions to your loved ones about the type of service you want.

It might also involve paying for your funeral ahead of time so your loved ones don’t have to. Here’s what to consider.

The benefits of prepaying

• Beat inflation: The National Funeral Directors Association said that in 2023, the median cost of a funeral with a viewing and burial was $8,300. That will rise over the years.

“Funeral costs have historically increased 3% to 5% annually, so a $10,000 funeral today might cost $16,000 in a decade,” according to Phillip Reed, estate and asset protection attorney at Reed Law PLC. “My friend who lost his wife unexpectedly had a $36,000 funeral expense, which he had to pay within weeks of his wife’s passing.”

• Avoid probate : Plus, Reed said, “Prepaid funeral plans bypass probate entirely, meaning your family isn’t scrambling for cash.”

Assets left to loved ones in a will have to go through probate, which means they

Savvy Senior

From page 16

assets, you should hire an attorney. An experienced lawyer can make sure you cover all your bases — especially when writing a will or living trust — which can help avoid family confusion and squabbles after you’re gone. The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA.org) and the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils (NAEPC.org) are two good resources that have directories on their websites to help you find someone in your area. If money is tight, check with your state’s bar association (see FindLegalHelp.org) to find low-cost legal help in your area. Or call the Eldercare Locater at (800) 677-1116 for a referral.

Send your questions or comments to questions@savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

could be tied up for months or even years, said Renee Fry, CEO at Gentreo, Inc.

But a funeral can’t wait months or years, which means your family may have to scramble to come up with the funds for a funeral.

“It’s a common misconception that monies left to your heirs in a will can be used right away to pay for one’s funeral,” Fry explained. “Given that so few of us have money on hand to pay for a burial and funeral, pre-need planning has become popular.”

• Remove your family’s stress : Another benefit to prepaying for your funeral? It removes the burden of decision-making from grieving loved ones, Reed said.

“I’ve watched families argue over burial versus cremation, casket choices, and service details, all while emotionally devastated,” he said. “When you make these decisions yourself, you spare them that anguish.”

Drawbacks and pitfalls to consider

While there are benefits to prepaying for your funeral, there are some pitfalls.

• Your circumstances may change: “One big issue with prepaying for your funeral,” said Reed, “is if you move or change your mind about where you want services held, transferring prepaid plans can be complicated and sometimes impossible. Some plans aren’t portable, meaning you could lose money.”

Allocating funds to your funeral in a different way, without prepaying for a specific location, is something you may want to consider.

• What if the funeral home goes out of business?

“This can be solved by making sure your money goes into a trust or insurance product, not just directly to the funeral home’s operating account,” Reed said. Reed cautions that insurance products

can vary by state, so it’s important to consult with a professional to understand how this option might work.

• Beware of Medicaid eligibility rules: Another issue that could arise if you prepay for your funeral, said Reed, is complications with Medicaid.

“Prepaid funeral plans, up to certain limits, are typically exempt assets that won’t affect Medicaid eligibility, but only if structured correctly,” he said. However, Reed said, “If set up correctly, this can be a smart estate planning move for those concerned about long-term care costs.”

Many ways to prepay

Funeral costs are only likely to rise over time, and tools like wills or even trusts may not give your loved ones access to

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What you need to know about annuities

By Margaret Giles

Retirement researchers are often enthusiastic about annuities, but many consumers are reasonably skeptical.

Christine Benz, Morningstar’s director of personal finance and retirement planning, discussed basic information about annuities and their pros and cons. (This interview has been edited for length and clarity.)

Q: How do income annuities work, and how are they different from investing in something that pays out income, like bonds?

A: An annuity is a contract with an insurance company. In the most basic annuity type, income annuities, you give the insurance company a pool of your money, and they send it back to you as a stream of income over your lifetime.

Those types of products give you more income than you could earn by investing in a bond.

They do that because you benefit in the annuity by what’s called “longevity risk pooling,” which means that some people who are buying that same annuity will die sooner, which enlarges the payout for the whole group of you.

If you’re the one who lives to be 99, you’re the winner in that situation. That’s one reason that payouts are higher than you’d see for traditional fixed-income instruments.

The other big reason is that if you buy an annuity, your money is gone, effectively. You get cash flows, but you can’t get your principal back. In contrast, when you buy a bond, you receive income, but you receive your principal back at the end.

Q: How can these types of annuities help with retirement planning?

A: These very basic income annuities can be helpful in terms of addressing a household’s basic living expenses.

Say my household basic expenses — housing, taxes, healthcare — total $40,000, and Social Security is going to give me another $30,000 of that $40,000. I could buy an annuity that will supply me with $10,000 a year to help meet those basic cash flow needs.

That’s an elegant use of an annuity, and it can help retirees figure out how much they would want to put into such a product by examining how much they actually need from it.

Q: Savings annuities, or “deferred annuities,” allow investors to get market exposure in addition to income. What are some key savings annuity types?

A: The most familiar one is a variable annuity, where you’re in control of the investment allocations.

There are also increasingly popular “fixed index” annuities, where you get market exposure, but there are caps on your gains.

There are also caps on your losses. Registered index-linked annuities fall between those two product types on the risk spectrum.

Q: These products are more complicated than income annuities, and they carry more risk and higher costs. How can investors make sure they know what they’re getting into?

A: Typically, these products carry really long contracts with lots of fine print. That can be very difficult for consumers to wade through. You can hire an objective third party to help you understand what you might be getting into.

At a minimum, write down all of your questions. There are no stupid questions in this context, because transparency isn’t there for consumers.

Ask about costs, withdrawals and what you’re getting with this product that you couldn’t get with a very vanilla investment portfolio that would also give you more liq-

Prepay funeral

From page 17

money to pay for a funeral quickly.

“Even ‘simple’ estates can take six to 12 months to settle,” Reed pointed out.

All told, Reed calls prepaying for a

uidity and more access to your funds. Until you have exhausted all of those questions, don’t sign on the bottom line.

You also want to ask about the financial strength of the insurance company backing the annuity, because this is a long-term relationship. You need to make sure that they’re able to make good on whatever promises they’re making.

Q: What are the tax implications of annuities?

A: It depends on the account that you use to fund the annuity, but generally, you will owe taxes. You get some tax deferral as long as the funds are in the annuity, and then you’ll owe taxes on any money that hasn’t been taxed yet.

If you put pretax dollars into an annuity and it makes investment gains, all of your withdrawals will be taxable at your ordinary income tax rate.

This article was provided to The Associated Press by Morningstar.

funeral “a good option.” But you may want to consult a financial adviser or estate planning attorney to see if it’s a good one for you.

© 2025 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Arts & Style

In a new column,

Atwood reflects on her life in new memoir

By Hillel Italie

The cover of Margaret Atwood’s memoir shows a close-up of the author holding up a finger to her mouth, a mischievous look in her eyes, as if to suggest a riddle or two: Is this a book in which secrets will be revealed, or perhaps one in which secrets are kept?

Yes, and yes.

Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts is a 600page look at the personal and creative life of one of the world’s most acclaimed, influential and provocative authors.

The 85-year-old at times has been called a prophet — a reluctant one — for the repressive society she conjured in the 1985 dystopian classic The Handmaid’s Tale. And she has lived many lives, as the new book’s title suggests, probing her journey from the Canadian wilderness to the international stage.

While Atwood has discussed everything from childhood to parenthood in essays and interviews, she has otherwise been more at home with understatement than with confession.

But after years of resisting requests from her publishers to tell her story, she came to like the idea of a memoir, of sorts, about “what you remember, rather than a

biography, which is a lot of things you don’t remember or would rather not remember,” she told The Associated Press.

Atwood’s book is, in part, a story of how a writer writes — and gets inspired. The Handmaid’s Tale began with a concept Atwood once thought too “weird”: What if the United States became a totalitarian theocracy? Alias Grace was based on a pair of murders in 19th century Canada. The Robber Bride is her take on a Brothers Grimm fairy tale.

Book of Lives has its moments of frustration, grief and betrayal: One of her most vivid childhood memories, a source for her novel Cat’s Eye, was of being tricked by a circle of alleged friends into letting herself be buried in a hole and left in the snow and endure other ordeals meant to “improve” her.

But, as Atwood acknowledges, her memoir is also a story of good fortune. She is a prize-winning author who has lived off her work without having to compromise. She is the child of parents she loved and admired and was the longtime companion of the late author-adventurer Graeme Gibson.

Atwood says that mortality is another reason she felt ready to write Book of Lives. Her parents are long gone, as are any num-

ber of onetime friends and rivals. Asked if she would have published the book were Gibson, who died in 2019, still alive, she said no. She added that she didn’t struggle to return to their years together.

“I quite enjoyed writing those parts,” she said. “I didn’t like the part where he dies — that wasn’t fun. But it’s real life. And in real life, people die.”

During a recent interview, Atwood also spoke of luck, feminism, the reason for imagining the worst and why she didn’t rebel against her parents. This conversation has been edited for brevity and clarity.

AP: I came out of this book thinking you’ve had a good life.

ATWOOD: On the whole, yes. I think I was part of a quite lucky generation in many ways. And on the whole, nothing terrible happened to me. Hooray for me (laughs). And I lived in a place where, you know, it wasn’t war-torn. People were not dropping bombs on it. They were not massacring everybody. And that cannot be said of other parts of the world.

AP: Did the relative stability of your life make it easier for you to explore some of the dark themes in The Handmaid’s Tale and elsewhere?

ATWOOD: I am part of the World War II generation. And it may seem odd to say that we were a lucky demographic. But

Love After 50, Laura Stassi answers your questions. See page 20.

See MARGARET ATWOOD , page 21

PHOTO BY JENIFER

MORRIS PHOTOGRAPHY

Best known for her novel The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood, 85, has published a 600-page memoir.

PHOTO BY LIAM SHARP

Ask Laura anything: What price love?

Q: I’m 69 and have been divorced for 30 years — a few boyfriends here and there, but my last relationship was over a decade ago. I recently moved to support my family. While I’m loving the grands and being close to my daughter, I’m lonely.

I’ve tried dating apps, but I’m not interested in the people who reach out to me, and I feel bad telling them that. And the ones I reach out to don’t respond.

By

I recently made an inquiry with a dating service that would select matches for me and make all the arrangements. It’s very expensive: $6,000-plus. The well-experienced dating coach said it’s worth it to land a secure, top-rate man. She also told me since I’m almost out of my 60s, I’d better hurry up because I’m not getting any younger, and she doesn’t have many men in their 70s and older who are dating.

The sum is doable for me financially but such a gamble. Do you think it’s worth it?

A: Finding love … sigh. It might seem logical that the amount of money we spend

From page 1

book Johnson co-authored in 2019. The book is filled with photos, such as one of families swimming in the Patapsco, which was deeper in the 1800s because each of the many mills operating on the river had its own dam.

The book, Images of America: Patapsco Valley State Park, was a local hit. Johnson said he asked a Barnes and Noble store to stock 105 copies for the book-signing event, and only one remained afterward.

The book illustrates how much has changed over time, Johnson said. For example, photos show cars driving into the park on River Road, but that road no longer connects to Ilchester Road. It was washed away by Hurricane Agnes in 1972, and today it has been transformed into a hiking trail.

Yes, Johnson is a walking, talking encyclopedia, but he’s also an accomplished artist who’s received 96 ribbons for his paintings, including one Best in Show at the Howard County Fair. Once a year for the past three years, he has brought 50 of his paintings to the park and given them all away.

As a self-taught painter, Johnson is humble about his portraits and nature paintings.

“I don’t really have talent,” he said. “I’ve had 49-and-a-half years of practice.”

A native Baltimorean, Johnson has painted Anquan Boldin in his Ravens number 81 jersey. But Johnson’s most moving image may be of his late friend, a Sioux

will correlate with success. But in talking with older daters all over the country who’ve shelled out various sums for a variety of ways to find potential partners, and with mixed results, one thing seems certain: We don’t necessarily get what we pay for.

Like you, a lot of us have turned to the apps. While some are completely free — here’s looking at you, Facebook Dating — others require users to pay for additional features. On Match, for example, you pay more for unlimited messaging and boosts to increase your profile’s visibility.

The main difference between a dating app and a service like the one you’ve described is that basically, you’re hiring someone to do all the scrolling, reaching out and vetting you’d otherwise do on your own.

But there’s another key difference: The services usually turn to their existing pool of clients to make love connections. Dating apps typically offer a more robust pool of potential partners. Dating services claim to offer quality over quantity.

I can relate to “app fatigue” on the one hand and the desire for romantic compan-

man named Roy Spotted Warbonnet.

They met through Johnson’s volunteer work. For 15 summers, Johnson spent a week on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, building homes and making and serving 275 meals a day.

The two men got to know each other, and when Johnson returned home, he collected books to send to his buddy’s 15 grandkids. Johnson was heartbroken when his friend died of Covid three years ago.

Former teacher and principal

Despite five coronary bypasses and a third pacemaker, Johnson remains energized by his love of service. That, he said, goes back to the 30 years he spent working in the Prince George’s County public schools, first as an elementary school teacher and then as a principal.

“The kids who I taught in my very first elementary school class are now 70 years old,” he marveled.

After retiring from the school system in 1995, Johnson and his wife moved from Catonsville to Ellicott City. The following year, he started volunteering at the park, first by working with children and later by offering an art class.

Now a volunteer ranger, Johnson meets people of all backgrounds at the park.

“People come from far and wide,” he said, noting he’s met travelers from Russia, China, and even one Nepalese man who said the park was lovelier than anything in the Himalayas.

In a typical year, more than a million people visit the park. The high numbers

ionship on the other. But I’m turned off by your prospective dating coach’s doom-andgloom attitude about finding love after a certain age. Even if I had $6,000 to gamble — because that’s what it is, a gamble — I’d probably look to invest in a service with a more positive outlook.

Before committing to spending a significant sum on any dating service, I’d want answers to the following questions, preferably in writing:

• How large is the service’s existing pool of daters in my specified parameters, including geographic location, age and education level?

• How many dates is the service promising to deliver, and in what time frame?

• What information is shared by the service before the actual date? (Will we each know what the other looks like, for example, or how we fit each other’s desired qualities?)

• Do no-shows count toward the total number of dates promised?

• Am I able to cancel within a certain time period and get money refunded if I’m dissatisfied?

For a wider perspective on the invest-tofind-love topic, I asked my podcast listeners to take an informal survey on how much they’d spent, and whether they felt

reflect the fact that the park is spread across several sections, from near Catonsville all the way to Woodstock, the site of the McKeldin Area.

As a year-round volunteer, Johnson can be found in inclement weather at the visitor center in the park’s Avalon Area. At other times, he’ll pick up trash or lead a group hike.

He puts in at least 100 hours annually as a volunteer, and one year clocked 400 hours when some painting had to be done (and not the kind on an easel). Next year, his 30th as a park volunteer, he’ll hit 4,000 hours total.

That’s an incredible amount of work, said Johnson’s boss, Park Manager Rob

the cost was justified. Here are excerpts from some of the responses:

• “I spent a total of $1,730 on seven different apps. Now that I see the numbers, I am embarrassed and disheartened by the money I spent. My current relationship status is domestic bliss with a man found on an app.”

• “I spent $6,000 for three months on a dating service — absolutely worthless. My partner is someone I’ve known since college. Longtime friends, and we started dating a few years ago. I couldn’t be happier!”

• “Two apps, total of $30? I spent hardly any money, but I spent time, and that has value.”

• “I spent nothing for a free week with one app, met someone, and we were together until he died. Four years later, I got on a different app for a month and met a man I eventually married. I don’t remember what I paid, maybe $75 to $150? But it was well worth the cost. I was always on a budget so was cautious about spending too much on dating sites.”

Laura Stassi is the host of the podcast “Dating While Gray: The Grown-Up’s Guide to Love, Sex, and Relationships” and author of Romance Redux: Finding Love in Your Later Years. Send your questions to Laura at newloveafter50@gmail.com

Dyke, adding that he can’t think of any volunteer whose time investment comes close.

Sharing the park’s history is crucial, Dyke said, because “many [visitors] know nothing about it. They’re always enlightened.”

Johnson plans to continue to enlighten visitors from his post in Ellicott City for as long as he can.

“I figure everybody’s here to enjoy [the park],” he said, “and I’m there to help with whatever they want.”

Do you know a 50+ person with an interesting hobby, second career or volunteer role? Let us know at info@thebeaconnewspapers.com

LOVE AFTER 50

Laura Stassi

Margaret Atwood

From page 19

remember, we were children during that time, so we weren’t being sent to the war. We knew people, we had relatives, but we ourselves were too young to actually be in it. But it made me very interested in not only the war, but dictatorships in general.

AP: There are so many stories of writers rebelling against their parents, the need to break from them. I don’t sense that’s true for you.

ATWOOD: I was a sneaky little teenager. But no, I didn’t have a sense of rebelling against my parents. But I did have a sense of not always doing what they would have preferred.

And their preferences were reasonable. I mean, they didn’t think that being a writer was a good choice in 1957. Only 10% of writers ever actually make their living in it, unless they’re employed by somebody. So my mother said, “If you’re going to be a writer, you better learn to spell.” And I said, “Others will do that for me.”

AP : You write about the girls who tricked you when you were nine. Something that strikes me about that story is

BEACON BITS

Dec. 3

WAFFLES AND BINGO

how hard it is for me, and probably for a lot of people who know you and your work, to imagine you as naive and easily fooled.

ATWOOD: Well, it’s not that I hadn’t known any children, but they’d mostly been boys. And boys are, excuse me, easier to figure out. And sort of simple. But girls are quite complex. Boys have a hierarchy which is predicated on actual things: Who’s best in baseball? Who’s the best at video games? Things like that you can measure. Whereas girls, somebody can be queen one day and deposed behind her back the next. And she doesn’t know why.

AP: You’ve talked about this a lot, saying please don’t turn women into saints. And don’t just say the patriarchy made them do it.

ATWOOD: You can live within the system and still make moral choices, as many have done.

AP: Especially because of The Handmaid’s Tale, people say, “There’s Margaret Atwood, the great feminist.”

ATWOOD: So we have to be a bit careful with that word, right? Because I do think words are important. And that word has been overused and applied to all sorts of things, like “Communist” and “Christian,” just for instance. So there are at least

Come for the waffles and stay for the company — plus bingo with fun prizes from the Senior Council. This free event takes place on Wed., Dec 3 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the Glenwood 50+ Center, 2400 Route 97, Cooksville. For more information and to sign up, visit bit.ly/wafflesandbingo or call Cathy Burkett at (410) 313-4832.

FREE CONCERTS AT SAVAGE MILL

Dec. 6+

This holiday season, visit historic Savage Mill for free concerts as well as shopping and snacks. Catch a jazz concert on Sat., Dec. 6 from 12 to 4 p.m. Charm City Flutes will perform holiday tunes on Sat., Dec. 13 from 12 to 3 p.m. The renovated cotton mill is located at 8600 Foundry St., Savage, MD. For more information, visit savagemill/events or call (410) 792-2820.

December 7, 2025, 7:30 PM

Jim Rouse Theatre at Wilde Lake, Columbia Handel’s Messiah

CPC, Laura Lee Fischer, conductor, with Amy van Roekel, soprano; Leah Serr Gibson, mezzo; Charles Reid, tenor and Lester Lynch, baritone, Henry Lowe, positif organ, and Festival Orchestra, present the Christmas portion and selections of Parts I and II of this favorite Masterwork. Pre-concert Lecture by Prof. Ernest Liotti, 6:30; Post-concert Reception.

December 20, 2025, 4 PM Christ Episcopal Church, Columbia A Christmas Noël with the CPC Chamber Singers. CPC’s small group presents seasonal selections from four

in a

75 different kinds of feminism, and you can find them, I believe, on Wikipedia.

AP: Which type of feminist are you?

ATWOOD: The kind that’s interested in equality under the law. So that means I’m interested in organizations like Equality Now, because that’s what they work on. So I was never interested, during second-wave feminism, let’s say 1972, in the part that said you had to wear overalls and work boots. That did not appeal to me. I didn’t mind wearing overalls and work boots, but I didn’t feel I had to wear them all the time.

AP: Do you view your life differently now, having written this memoir? Did it

make you say, “My life looks a little bit different to me now”?

ATWOOD: I think by the time you’re 85, you pretty much know how you think. And if you don’t know, maybe you should go take a cognitive test (laughs).

AP: We’ve talked about how on balance you feel you’ve had a good life. Is gratitude a word you would apply to yourself?

ATWOOD: For sure, “lucky” is a word I would apply.

AP: But you didn’t want to call your book “Lucky.”

ATWOOD : That sounds like somebody’s dog. —AP

Scrabble answers on p. 20

Crossword Puzzle

Across

1. Dog tag data

5. Sheet of stamps

9. Donned

13. Billiards bounce

14. North Carolina university whose mascot is “The Phoenix”

15. Command to military marchers

16. The Western part of Hispaniola

17. “Now you know the ___ of the story”

18. “It’s ___” (excitement at Broadway or the ballpark)

19. Response to adored dancewear

22. Debt vowels, scrambled

23. Web portal with HQ in Redmond, WA

24. Only referenced Yogi Bear

33. Infuriates

34. Emmy-winning actress, Ward

35. Like some trail surfaces

36. Plumber’s vehicle

37. ___ pal (lady friend)

38. Dir. from Annapolis to West Point

39. Where you can gamble on most cruise ships

42. Product of the liver

44. Role in Young Frankenstein

45. Tours the fashion dairy

48. It is covertly in both focaccia and ciabatta breads

49. Part Steven and Stephen both agree on

50. Rail car full of Marlboros

59. Restaurant chain that used a kangaroo in its commercials in the ‘70’s

60. About 2.2 lbs. (on Earth)

61. Features of all Great Wolf Lodges

62. It’s just a river in Egypt

63. Vigorous spirit

64. Further under the weather

65. Bag with a shoulder strap

66. Unit of force

67. Applies a tip to the bill

Indian bread

2. Like Death Valley

3. Proposals to the board

4. Actor Estevez

5. Peeping Tom, perhaps

6. Downwind, nautically

7. All up in someone’s business

8. Put a mummy in long-term storage

9. Additional unnamed items

10. Most visited Hawaiian island

11. Letters in both UNDERLIT and OVERLIT

12. “___, Brute?”

13. When doubled (or tripled), a dance

20. Most innings have six

21. GI entertainment

24. Mariah Carey and Beyonce

25. About to blow your top

26. Unable to float

27. Artistic transition

28. Unit of fire severity

29. Ivy foe of UPenn

30. Drums Ringo played in You’re Going to Lose That Girl

31. Live (as a TV show)

32. Those expressing Yiddish angst

40. One who checked out of the Big House early

41. Ending for fan- and lun-

43. Response to “are not”

44. Like a beer from the cooler

46. What you may get if your password is PASSWORD

47. Dream world

50. Darken car windows

51. Endpoint of the B&O

52. “Like a ___ out of the blue”

53. Greasy

54. Extended family

55. Fine-tune

56. You may do it to your own nose or someone else’s hand

57. Cheers for the matador

58. Open-Source Robotics (briefly)

CLASSIFIEDS

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

CAVEAT EMPTOR!

The Beacon does not knowingly accept obscene, offensive, harmful, or fraudulent advertising. However, we do not investigate any advertisers or their products and cannot accept responsibility for the integrity of either. Respondents to classified advertising should always use caution and their best judgment.

EMPLOYMENT & REAL ESTATE ADS:

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

DRIVERS WANTED / GREAT FOR RETIREES / Locally 35-year-old family-owned company is looking for dependable people to make delivers to businesses. / Make your own schedule / Call (410) 234-3100 for more information and schedule an appointment to apply.

SAVVY SENIOR TECH HUB - Friendly 1:1 tech support designed for seniors! Learn smartphones, tablets & computers at your own pace. Patient instruction, affordable rates. Don’t let technology intimidate you - master it! Call Stefan at 443-281-3638.

UP TO $15,000.00 OF GUARANTEED LIFE INSURANCE! No medical exam or health questions. Cash to help pay funeral and other final expenses. Call Physicians Life Insurance Company866-212-1092 or visit www.Life55plus.info/beacon

OAK WOOD ENTERTAINMENT SET - $65 (47”L x 25”H x 21”D). 2pc Storage Oak Wood$100. Smoke Glass Door 4 Shelves (53”H x 24”W x 19”D) New White Storm Door - $100 (79”H x 32”W). New Toaster oven - $50 (23”L x 13”D x 30”H). Steel Storage shelves No rust$40 (3ft W x 3ft H) And $20 (2ft W x 30”H). 443739-7734.

CEMETERY PLOTS Ft. Lincoln Cemetery. Brentwood, MD. 4 plots Section K-B Lot 30 Sites 1-4. Single depth. Monument privilege. Number of plots and price negotiable. Contact Steve Frank. stevefrank22@verizon.net. 301807-5645.

NEW WINDOWS FROM WINDOW NATION. Special money saving offer zero down, zero payments, zero interest for TWO years AND buy 2 windows and get 2 FREE! Offer is valid for select models. Labor not included. Other restrictions apply. Call Window Nation today! 855-909-2278.

DISCOVER NORTH STAR NAVIGATORS:

Your Trusted Partner in Elder Support Services. At North Star Navigators, we are dedicated to making a positive impact in the lives of our aging population. We understand the challenges that come with aging and are driven by a personal quest to enhance the well-being of seniors. Our telehealth services include: - Comprehensive Assessments & Recommendations - Golden Years PlanningHealthy Ship (Membership). Get Ready to Set Sail with North Star Navigators! Where YOU remain the Captain, and our Stars guide the way. Visit NorthStarNavigators.net or call 833-735-1983 for more information. Your Trusted Team: Anchored in Compassion, Driven by Passion.

PORTABLE OXYGEN CONCENTRATOR

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

DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 400 plus procedures. Real dental insurance - NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-844366-1003 www.dental50plus.com/320 #6258

MOBILEHELP, America’s Premier Mobile Medical Alert System. Whether You’re Home or Away. For Safety and Peace of Mind. No Long Term Contracts! Free Brochure! Call Today! 1240-650-9189.

Home/Handyman Services

DON’T LET THE STAIRS LIMIT YOUR MOBILITY! Discover the ideal solution for anyone who struggles on the stairs, is concerned about a fall or wants to regain access to their entire home. Call AmeriGlide today! 1-866-365-5170.

AMERICAN RESIDENTIAL HEATING & COOLING. As temps outside start to climb, the season for savings is now. $49 cooling or heating system tune up. Save up to $2000 on a new heating and cooling system (restrictions apply.) FREE estimates. Many payment options available. Licensed and insured professionals. Call today 1-877-691-0273.

THE BATHROOM OF YOUR DREAMS in as little as 1 day. Limited Time Offer - $1000 off or No Payments and No Interest for 18 months for customers who qualify. BCI Bath & Shower. Many options available. Quality materials & professional installation. Senior & Military Discounts Available. Call Today! 1-855-653-0087.

JACUZZI BATH REMODEL can install a new, custom bath or shower in as little as one day. For a limited time, waiving ALL installation costs! (Additional terms apply. Subject to change and vary by dealer. (Offer ends 9/30/25.) Call 1-833-994-0538.

HOW TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD

All classified ads must be submitted and paid for online, via our website, www.thebeaconnewspapers.com/classifieds

Deadlines and Payments: To appear in the next issue, your ad text and payment must be entered by the 5th of the preceding month (for Baltimore and Howard County editions); by the 20th (for Washington edition).

Cost will be based on the number of characters and spaces in your ad:

• $25 for 1-250 • $35 for 251-500. • $50 for 501-750 (maximum length). The website will calculate this for you.

Note: Maryland contractors must provide a valid MHIC number.

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

NO MORE CLEANING OUT GUTTERS.

Guaranteed! LeafFilter is the most advanced gutter protection for your home, backed by a noclog guarantee and lifetime transferrable warranty. Call today 1-855-977-6078 to schedule a FREE inspection and no obligation estimate. Plus get 20% off! Seniors and military save an additional 10%. Restrictions apply, see representative for warranty and offer details.

WE ARE IN SEARCH OF DARREN TAYLOR who has previously lived at an address in Baltimore City and whose last known address was Montgomery Drive, Forest Hill, Maryland. Please contact Kathryn at kathimullins@gmail.com.

BECOME A PUBLISHED AUTHOR. We want to Read Your Book! Dorrance PublishingTrusted by Authors Since 1920. Book manuscript submissions currently being reviewed. Comprehensive Services: Consultation, Production, Promotion and Distribution. Call for Your Free Author’s Guide 1-833-992-0110 or visit dorranceinfo.com/beacon CONSUMER CELLULAR - the same reliable, nationwide coverage as the largest carriers. No long-term contract, no hidden fees and activation is free. All plans feature unlimited talk and text, starting at just $20/month. For more information, call 1-833-742-1303.

HOW TO PREVENT FALLS

WORLD CLASS PERSONAL TRAINER/ Rehab Specialist. I have over 16 years of successful experience. Call Anthony at 410-7393318 to set up a free evaluation. I am offering 12, 24, 36 and 48 session packages that save you a lot of money.

DIRECTV - All your entertainment. Nothing on your roof! Sign up for Directv and get your first three months of Max, Paramount+, Showtime, Starz, MGM+ and Cinemax included. Choice package $84.99/mo. Some restrictions apply. Call DIRECTV 1-888-572-4953.

PAYING TOP CASH FOR ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES. House calls made with prompt, courteous service seven days a week and 25 years of experience! Buying toys, trains, militaria, glassware, advertising merchandise, paper items and much more! Contact Mason or Megan at: 443-306-8816.

This free presentation by the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Fall Prevention Program covers the essentials of fall prevention, tips for talking to your doctor, home modifications, exercises and more. It takes place on Fri., Dec. 19 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the East Columbia 50+ Center, 6610 Cradlerock Way, Columbia. For more information and to register, visit bit.ly/preventfallspresentation or call Meridy McCague at (410) 313-7680.

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