April 2026 | Baltimore Beacon

Craig Kipnes, left, and Herm Oglesby, right, founded OK Natural Food Store in Baltimore’s Mount Vernon in 1978. The store is still going strong, thanks to its longtime employees and customers. See story on page 12.

Photo by Ken Quam

Joining a dream team

My name is Steve Gurney, founder of Positive Aging, and I am honored to now serve as associate publisher of the Beacon Newspapers following the recent merger of our organizations.

Over the years, I have deeply admired the Beacon, especially for its powerful, real-life stories that highlight the experiences, wisdom and voices of older adults. The Beacon has long been an invaluable and trusted source of news and information for our community, and I am truly thrilled to join the team.

rience. In the late 1980s, I watched my family help my grandfather make the difficult transition from his longtime home to a nursing center. That experience inspired me to create a comprehensive guidebook to help other families navigate similar challenges. What started as a small project grew into a fulfilling career in aging services spanning more than three decades.

versation with renowned broadcaster Kojo Nnamdi. He will share insights from his brand-new podcast, Young at Heart on Thursday, March 18 at 11:30 a.m. I hope you will tune in! If you miss the live event, you can catch the recording on the Beacon’s website, thebeaconnewspapers.com, or at ProAging.com.

believe could inspire others, we would love to hear from you.

I am especially excited about the potential of our combined platforms. Together, we can expand how we connect with Beacon readers and engage more deeply with professionals, families and older adults throughout our region.

By Steve Gurney

When the pandemic hit, I began exploring new ways to help people connect online. This led to the creation of the Positive Aging Community — an interactive platform where older adults, families and professionals come together to talk with authors, thought leaders and each other about everything from aging to longevity to living with purpose.

At the heart of it all, I am passionate about helping people live their lives with purpose, no matter their age or ability. Like the Beacon, I’ve found that sharing authentic, personal stories is one of the most powerful ways to connect people with resources, remind them that they have choices, and show that they don’t have to walk their journey alone.

If you’re looking for a resource or solution, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me personally at gurney@thebeaconnewspapers.com. And if you have a story that you

Stay tuned for many exciting things to come. I encourage you to pick up your copy of the Beacon every month and become part of our growing combined community. Thank you for reading the Beacon. I look forward to connecting with you as we continue celebrating Positive Aging together.

Letters to the editor

Like many in the senior housing field, my journey began with a personal family expe-

This month, I will be joining Margaret Foster, editor of the Beacon, for a live con-

Tell them you saw it in the Beacon!

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 enter tain the citizens of the Greater Baltimore area, and is privately owned. Other editions serve Howard County, Maryland and Greater Washington, D.C.

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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.

Gordon Hasenei, Publisher, CEO

SteveGurney, Associate Publisher

MargaretFoster, Editor

KyleGregory, Art Director

RogerKing, Vice President of Operations

Advertising Representatives:

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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 15 for classified advertising details. Please mail or email all submissions. © Copyright 2026 The Beacon Newspapers, Inc.

Dear Editor:

Two recent Beacon columns, “How we learn to be afraid” (November 2025) and “How I learned to be brave” (February 2025), carry an important message for our community.

They remind us that courage and compassion are learned — and that each generation must teach the next. We must guide our children with kindness and courage, showing them how to live without harming others and how to stand up for what is right.

At the same time, we must not forget our senior citizens. Many older people feel lonely and forgotten. A simple visit, a conversation, or a few hours of our time can mean the world to them. Too often we spend more time raising our children but give too little time to our aging parents.

Thoughtful journalism like the Beacon’s helps remind us of these responsibilities. I hope more readers will reflect on these values and act on them.

Eric K. H. Wang Rockville, MD

Dear Editor:

I read your newspaper every month. The new inclusion of the column “Love after 50” is extremely smart and very touching; the first one was absolutely terrific.

The article on prescriptions was fantastic, and your other articles were quite good also. Terrific newspaper — and this new column is a nice addition.

Harvey Sherman Via email

Dear Editor:

After I was let go from my federal government contract at the National Institutes of Health due to cost cutting, I decided to keep my 50-year-old hands busy.

I collaborated on a book with my 80year-old aunt, poet Nancy C. Allen. We selfpublished a book of her poems with my photographs. I used my uncle’s camera, which he brought back from his U.S. Army service in Korea.

So our book, titled Whispers of Song, was a full family affair.

Vincent Lee Smith Washington, DC

Scan this code to watch Steve Gurney read this column:

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STEADY EDDIE

Health Fitness &

Health Fitness & How late nights can affect the heart

By Lauran Neergaard

Being a night owl can be bad for your heart.

That may sound surprising, but a large study found people who are more active late at night — when most of the population is winding down or already asleep — have poorer overall heart health than the average person.

“It is not like, that, night owls are doomed,” said research fellow Sina Kianersi of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, who led the study. “The challenge is the mismatch between your internal clock and typical daily schedules” that makes it harder to follow heart-healthy behaviors.

And that’s fixable, added Kianersi, who describes himself as “sort of a night owl” who feels a boost in his “analytical thinking” after about 7 or 8 at night.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. The American Heart Association has a list of eight key factors that everyone should heed for better heart health: being more physically active; avoid-

ing tobacco; getting enough sleep and a healthy diet; and controlling blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and weight.

Where does being a night owl come in?

That has to do with the body’s circadian rhythm, our master biological clock. It follows a roughly 24-hour schedule that regulates not just when we become sleepy and when we’re more awake but also keeps organ systems in sync, influencing things like heart rate, blood pressure, stress hormones and metabolism. Everybody’s circadian rhythm is a little different. Prior research had suggested night owls might have more health problems, as well as risk factors like higher rates of smoking and less physical activity, than people with more typical bedtimes, Kianersi said.

Large study pool

To learn more, Kianersi’s team tracked more than 300,000 middle-age and older adults in the UK Biobank, a huge health database that includes information about people’s sleep-wake preferences.

About 8% of those people classified themselves as night owls, more active physically and mentally in the late afternoon or evening and up past most people’s bedtime. About a quarter were early birds, most productive in the daylight hours and likewise early to bed. The rest were average, somewhere in the middle.

Over 14 years, the night owls had a 16% higher risk of a first heart attack or stroke compared to the average population, the researchers found.

The night owls, especially women, also had overall worse cardiovascular health based on meeting the heart association’s eight key factors, the researchers reported last month in the Journal of the American Heart Association

Unhealthy behaviors — smoking, insufficient sleep and poor diet — appear to be the main reasons.

“It comes down to the problem of a night owl trying to live in a morning person’s world. They’re getting up early for work because that’s when their job starts, but it may

If you’re over 65 and at risk of falling, a current UMD study could improve your balance, strength and reflexes

WOMEN AND ALZHEIMER’S Why does Alzheimer’s progress more rapidly in women than in men? Mayo Clinic research has found a culprit: a Parkinson’s-related protein in the brain

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The old adage has some truth to it: Apples can lower inflammation and may prevent several diseases

not align with their internal rhythm,” said Kristen Knutson of Northwestern University, who led recent heart association guidance on circadian rhythms but wasn’t involved in the new study.

That affects more than sleep. For example, metabolism fluctuates throughout the day as the body produces insulin to turn food into energy. That means it might be harder for a night owl to handle a highcalorie breakfast eaten very early in the day, during what normally would still be their biological night, Knutson said.

As for sleep, even if you can’t meet the ideal of at least seven hours, sticking to a regular bedtime and wake time also may help, she and Kianersi said.

The study couldn’t examine what night owls do when the rest of the world is asleep. But Kianersi said one of the best steps to protect heart health — for night owls and anyone — is to quit smoking.

“Focus on the basics, not perfection,” he said — again, advice that’s good for everyone. AP

Medicare helps older smokers kick the habit

Dear Savvy Senior,

Does Medicare offer any coverage that helps beneficiaries quit smoking?

—New Beneficiary

Dear New,

If you’re ready to quit smoking, Medicare can indeed help! Medicare Part B covers up to eight face-to-face counseling sessions per year to help you kick the habit, and if you have a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, certain smokingcessation medications are covered as well. Here’s a guide to help you get started.

It’s never too late

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable illness, responsible for an estimated one-fifth of deaths in the United States each year.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 8.3% of Americans age 65 and older still smoke. Many older smokers indicate that they would like to quit, but because of the nicotine, which is extremely addictive, it’s very difficult to do.

But research shows that quitting, even after age 65, greatly reduces your risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, osteoporosis and many other diseases. It also helps you breathe easier, smell and taste better, and can save you money. A $8 pack-a-day smoker, for example, saves about $240 after one month without cigarettes, and nearly $2,880 after one year.

How to quit

The first step you need to take is to set a “quit date,” but give yourself a few weeks to get ready. During that time, you may want to start by reducing the number or the strength of cigarettes you smoke to begin weaning yourself off.

Also check out over-the-counter nicotine replacement products — patches, gum and

lozenges — to help curb your cravings (these are not covered by Medicare). And just prior to your quit day, get rid of all cigarettes and ashtrays in your home, car and place of work, and try to clean up and even spray air freshener. The smell of smoke can be a powerful trigger.

Get help

Studies have shown that you have a much better chance of quitting if you have help. So, tell your friends, family, and coworkers of your plan to quit. Others knowing can be a helpful reminder and motivator.

Then get some counseling. Don’t go it alone. Start by contacting your doctor about smoking cessation counseling covered by Medicare and find out about the prescription antismoking drugs (bupropion and varenicline) that can help reduce your nicotine craving.

You can also get free one-on-one telephone counseling and referrals to local smoking cessation programs through your state quit line at 800-QUIT-NOW or call the National Cancer Institute free smoking quit

line at 877-44U-QUIT.

It’s also important to identify and write down the times and situations you’re most likely to smoke and make a list of things you can do to replace it or distract yourself.

Some helpful suggestions when the smoking urge arises are to call a friend or one of the free quit lines, keep your mouth occupied with some sugar-free gum, sunflower seeds, carrots, fruit or hard candy, go for a walk, read a magazine, listen to music or take a hot bath.

The intense urge to smoke lasts about three to five minutes, so do what you can to wait it out. It’s also wise to avoid drinking alcohol and steer clear of other smokers while you’re trying to quit. Both can trigger powerful urges to smoke.

For more tips on managing your cravings, withdrawal symptoms and what to do if you relapse, visit 60plus.SmokeFree.gov. There are also a variety of helpful quit smoking apps you can download, like EasyQuit, QuitNow and Quit Genius.

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

SAVVY SENIOR

By Jim Miller

Practice thoughtful grief etiquette online

By Feature Impact

These days, news of a death can spread online in seconds, often before people have notified close family members privately. That’s why grief experts urge people to rethink how they share condolences, tributes and loss-related information on social media.

“Grief etiquette is about putting the needs of the grieving family first, not our urge to say something publicly,” said Dr. Camelia L. Clarke, National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) spokesperson, funeral director and grief educator. “Just because information can be shared instantly doesn’t mean it should be,” she added.

Social media has become a common place for sharing condolences, tributes and memories. However, grief experts caution that, without thoughtful consideration, online posts can unintentionally cause harm. Knowing when to post, what to say and when to remain silent can make a meaningful difference for families experiencing loss.

Grief etiquette refers to the unspoken guidelines for how individuals acknowledge death, loss and mourning, particularly online.

According to Clarke, one of the most important principles is restraint.

“When a death is shared online too quickly, families can feel exposed and overwhelmed at a moment when they’re still processing the loss themselves,” she said. “Waiting is an act of compassion.”

Best online practices

As social media continues to play a role in modern mourning, grief professionals encourage users to pause before posting and consider a few key guidelines. Consider this advice from the experts at the NFDA:

• Let the family lead. Don’t post about a death until the immediate family has made it public.

• Ask permission. Obtain consent before sharing photos, stories or tributes.

• Reach out privately first. A direct message, call or handwritten note can be more meaningful than a public comment.

• Avoid speculation. Don’t ask about or share details regarding the cause of death.

• Offer ongoing support. Grief extends far beyond the first days or weeks after a loss.

What to say (and avoid)

When expressing condolences online, experts recommend simplicity, sincerity and sensitivity. Messages that acknowledge loss without attempting to explain or minimize it are often the most supportive.

Helpful phrases include:

“I’m sorry for your loss.”

“Thinking of you and your family.”

“I’m here if you want to talk or need anything.”

By contrast, well-meaning cliches can unintentionally cause harm. Phrases such as “They’re in a better place” or “Everything happens for a reason” may reflect the speaker’s beliefs, but they can feel dismissive to someone grieving.

“Grieving people don’t need answers — they need presence,” Clarke said. “Listening matters more than saying the perfect thing.”

Resources for families and friends

As digital spaces continue to shape how people communicate during life’s most difficult moments, experts agree empathy, patience and respect remain timeless.

“Grief is deeply personal,” Clarke said. “When we slow down and lead with compassion, we honor both the person who

has died and those who are left to grieve.”

To learn more about how to support a grieving person and access free, expertreviewed resources for navigating grief, expressing condolences and supporting

loved ones before, during and after a loss, visit RememberingALife.com, an initiative of the NFDA.

This article was sponsored by the National Funeral Directors Association.

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MAIL OR EMAIL FOR FREE INFORMATION

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 Brightview Senior Living (see ads on pages B3, B5)

o Caritas House Assisted Living (see ad on page B3)

o Catholic Charities Senior Communities (see ad on page B3)

o Charlestown/Erickson (see ads on pages B3, B4)

o Christ Church Harbor Apts (see ad on page B6)

o Oak Crest/Erickson (see ads on pages B3, B4)

o Park View Laurel (see ad on page B2)

o Park View Towson (see ad on page B2)

o Park View Fullerton (see ad on page B2)

o Park View Rosedale (see ad on page B2)

o Pickersgill (see ad on page 10)

o Roland View Towers (see ad on page B7)

o Virginia Towers (see ad on page 10)

o Warren Place Senior Apartments (see ad on page B7)

o Westminster House (see ad on page B4)

Clinical Health Studies

o Exercise & Sleep Study/mPATH (see ad on page 6)

o Caregiver & Sleep Study/TAILOR Sleep (see ad on page 7)

o Falls Prevention Study (see article on page 6)

o Smell Test Study (see ad on page 6)

o Spring Clinical Trial (see ad on page 7)

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.

You may return this coupon together with the coupon on page B8.

Health Studies INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Unsteady? UMD study may improve balance

By Margaret Foster

For people over 65, falls can be devastating. One in four Americans in that age group have a fall every year.

“Falls among adults aged 65 and older are common, costly and preventable,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Falls are the leading cause of

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fatal and nonfatal injuries among older adults.”

As we age and lose muscle mass, we can lose our balance more often. Sometimes medications are to blame; in other cases, diseases like diabetes, heart disease and stroke or problems with your vision or inner ear can throw you off balance.

To help, researchers at the University of Maryland, Baltimore are studying the best ways to prevent falls. In one study, they are training participants over age 65 to prevent falls in real time with the help of a treadmill.

“The major aim of this study is to improve their balance,” said Anke Hua, the postdoctoral researcher who is leading the study. Dr. Kelly Westlake is the principal investigator.

Her team will outfit participants with a safety harness, then guide them onto a treadmill. During 36 sessions, participants will practice “balance challenges” on the treadmill, walking slowly as it veers to one side, then the other.

“We use balance challenging because people usually fall during daily activities. If we put them in specific contexts, it will improve their balance,” Hua said.

“When you’re walking at your normal

pace, the treadmill will suddenly move,” she explained.

“We start at the easy levels, and people learn to react naturally. Of course, they will be wearing a harness to protect them during the whole protocol.”

In addition to the treadmill sessions, the program also involves strength training.

Everyone will be compensated for the 12week study, which requires three in-person visits per week to UMD’s Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, located at 100 Penn Street in downtown Baltimore. Parking is free.

After the study, Hua’s researchers will follow up every three to six months by phone.

Why sign up for these training sessions?

Hua believes that by building muscular strength as well as practicing real-life situations, we can avoid falls.

If researchers can target exactly what exercises work, they can share that data with the public. That way, she said, “It will benefit other older adults their age.”

To learn more about the study, email ahua@som.umaryland.edu or call (410) 458-4348.

Four ways to prevent falls

Take the

Ongoing smell loss may be one of the most important signals of brain health as we age.

A new study from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research is exploring this link. We’re calling on everyone with and without Parkinson’s to request a simple scratch-and-sniff test and contribute to important research. Test Challenge Today

Request your test at or scan the QR code.

Request your test at 877-525-PPMI (7764) mysmelltest.org/beacon or scan the QR code.

1. Speak up. Talk openly with your healthcare provider about fall risks and prevention. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to review your medicines.

2. Keep moving. Begin an exercise program to improve your leg strength and balance.

3. Get an annual eye exam. Replace eyeglasses as needed.

4. Make your home safer.

Remove clutter and tripping hazards such as loose rugs and furniture.

Learn More

Stop by your local community or senior center for information on exercise, fall-prevention programs and ways to improve home safety. Or visit cdc.gogov/falls and homemods.org. —Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

We are looking for older adults (65+) to participate in a research study on personalized exercise. Learn how a tailored exercise program can help you feel stronger and improve your health and well-being. You will be compensated for your time and participation upon successful completion of the study.

For more information, please scan the QR code, call 443-692-7169 or email mpathstudy@jh.edu

Parkinson’s-linked protein speeds Alzheimer’s

By Susan Murphy

Alzheimer’s-related brain changes progressed up to 20 times faster in women who also had abnormal levels of a Parkinson’srelated protein, according to a Mayo Clinic study published in JAMA Network Open in March. The same pattern was not observed in men.

The findings suggest that when alphasynuclein — a protein linked to Parkinson’s disease — accumulates alongside Alzheimer’s pathology, it may drive faster disease progression in women.

That interaction could help explain a longstanding disparity: women make up nearly two-thirds of people living with Alzheimer’s disease in the U.S.

Kejal Kantarci, M.D., a Mayo Clinic neuroradiologist and senior author of the study, uses advanced brain imaging to track Alzheimer’s progression.

“Recognizing these sex-specific differences could help us design more targeted clinical trials and ultimately more personalized treatment strategies,” Dr. Kantarci said.

“When we see disease-related changes unfolding at dramatically different rates, we cannot keep approaching Alzheimer’s as though it behaves exactly the same way in everyone. Co-pathologies may impact the disease process.”

The role of tau protein

Alzheimer’s disease is marked by the buildup of tau protein in the brain.

Many people along the Alzheimer’s disease continuum also develop abnormal clumping of α-synuclein, a protein associated

with Lewy body diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies.

Tau and α -synuclein occur naturally in the brain. In neurodegenerative diseases, however, these proteins can misfold and clump together, forming abnormal deposits. This pathological buildup disrupts communication between brain cells and contributes to cognitive decline.

How the study worked

Researchers set out to determine whether having both abnormal protein buildups alters how the disease progresses and whether that effect differs between women and men.

To investigate, the team analyzed data from 415 participants in the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, a national research consortium that tracks brain changes over time.

Participants underwent cerebrospinal fluid testing to detect abnormal α-synuclein and repeated brain imaging to measure changes in tau accumulation. About 17% of participants showed evidence of abnormal α-synuclein.

Among participants with both Alzheimer’srelated pathology and α-synuclein abnormalities, women accumulated tau dramatically faster than men with the same coexisting protein changes.

Elijah Mak, Ph.D., first author of the study and a Mayo Clinic neuroimaging researcher, studies how multiple brain pathologies interact and drive disease progression.

“This opens an entirely new direction for understanding why women bear a disproportionate burden of dementia,” Dr. Mak said. “If we can unravel the mechanisms be-

ADULTS

Jewish Community Services is looking for volunteers to help older adults in a variety of ways, such as running errands like grocery shopping or offering companionship by phone or in person. The hours are flexible. To volunteer, fill out an inquiry form at bit.ly/JCSvolunteerBaltimore, and a volunteer coordinator will reach out to you. For more information, call (410) 466-9200 or email info@jcsbaltimore.org.

Are you caring for a loved one with memory problems or dementia?

Caregivers and their loved ones are invited to a study about sleep and daily life. You will join a guided conversation, and both will wear a Fitbit for a week to track sleep patterns. Your insights will help design a tailored home-based sleep support program. Compensation will be provided.

hind this vulnerability, we may uncover targets we haven’t considered before.”

The researchers are now examining whether these sex-specific effects also appear in patients with dementia with Lewy bodies, where α -synuclein is the primary disease driver rather than a coexisting pathology.

The work will help determine whether

the observed difference is unique to Alzheimer’s disease or reflects a broader sex-specific vulnerability across neurodegenerative conditions.

For a complete list of authors, disclosures and funding, review the study at bit.ly/newmayostudy.

—Mayo

Clinic News Network

Contact Us:

PHONE: (443) 333-9398

EMAIL: TAILORSleep@jh.edu

SPRING is a clinical trial evalua ng whether an inves ga onal oral drug is safe and can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease by reducing the damage caused by bacteria in the brain. Eligible study par cipants are being recruited at study sites around the country.

You or a loved one may be eligible for the study if you:

Are 55 to 80 years old

Have been diagnosed with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease

Have a caregiver or family member who will aŸend study visits, report on daily ac vi es and oversee you taking medica on

Does an apple a day keep the doctor away?

By Maggie Aime

An apple a day alone won’t save you a trip to the doctor, but it may be a good start toward better health. The phrase “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” comes from an old Welsh saying that encouraged eating apples at bedtime to ward off illness. While they’re not quite the medical miracle the saying makes them sound like, apples do have many health benefits.

1. May support heart health: Apples contain soluble fiber that can help lower low-

density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. LDL is considered the “bad” cholesterol since high levels can lead to plaque buildup in your arteries, which can cause heart issues.

Apples also have polyphenols, which are plant compounds that may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

2. May manage and lower the risk of Type 2 diabetes: Despite their natural sweetness, apples have a low glycemic index, meaning they don’t cause big spikes in blood

sugar. The fiber in apples slows down how quickly sugar is absorbed, helping to keep your levels steady.

The polyphenols in apples may also help your body use insulin more effectively.

3. May protect cells from damage: Polyphenols and vitamin C in apples act as antioxidants. These substances help protect cells from oxidative stress, which is linked to chronic conditions like heart disease and cancer. Eating apples regularly may help your body boost its natural defenses against cell damage.

4. May reduce inflammation: Chronic inflammation is at the root of many serious health problems. Quercetin, a type of polyphenol in apples, helps lower levels of substances that trigger chronic inflammation and calm the body’s immune response. Over time, this may help reduce your risk of conditions linked to long-term inflammation, such as arthritis and high blood pressure.

5. May support gut health : Apples have pectin, a substance that acts as a natural thickener. Pectin feeds the good bacteria in your gut and helps them thrive. These friendly bacteria support digestion, help reduce inflammation, and keep your gut healthy. A healthier gut helps maintain a strong immune system and may even influence your mood and mental well- being.

6. May help manage weight: Because they’re high in water and fiber, apples can help you feel full longer. People who regularly eat apples tend to have better overall diet quality and lower obesity rates. Plus, the polyphenols in apples may help reduce visceral fat (a type of belly fat linked to metabolic problems).

7. May lower cancer risk: While apples aren’t a guaranteed protection against cancer, including them in your diet may help lower your risk of certain types of cancer. Regular apple consumption has been linked to a reduced risk of breast, lung and colorectal cancer. Polyphenols may help stop abnormal cells from multiplying and trigger the death of damaged cells.

8. May support brain health: As you get older, your brain becomes more vulnerable to oxidative stress, which is linked to memory problems and dementia. The antioxidants in apples, especially phloretin, may help protect brain cells from this damage and reduce inflammation that can lead to cognitive decline.

Health delivers relevant information in clear, jargon-free language that puts health into context in peoples’ lives. Online at Health.com.

© 2026 Dotdash Meredith. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Virtual reality opens doors for older people

By Michael Liedtke

Like many retirement communities, The Terraces serves as a tranquil refuge for a nucleus of older people who no longer can travel to faraway places or engage in bold adventures.

But they can still be thrust back to their days of wanderlust and thrill-seeking whenever caretakers at the community in Los Gatos, California, schedule a date for residents — many of whom are in their 80s and 90s — to take turns donning virtual-reality (VR) headsets.

Within a matter of minutes, the headsets can transport them to Europe, immerse them in the ocean depths or send them soaring on breathtaking hanggliding expeditions while they sit near each other.

The selection of VR programming was curated by Rendever, a company that has turned a sometimes-isolating form of technology into a catalyst for better cognition and social connections in 800 retirement communities in the United States and Canada, including two in Maryland.

A group of The Terraces residents who participated in a VR session earlier this year found themselves paddling their arms alongside their chairs as they swam with a pod of dolphins while watching one of Rendever’s 3D programs.

“We got to go underwater and didn’t even have to hold our breath!” exclaimed 81-year-old Ginny Baird following the virtual submersion.

During a session featuring a virtual ride in a hot-air balloon, one resident gasped, “Oh my God!” Another shuddered, saying, “It’s hard to watch!”

Travel to childhood home

The Rendever technology can also be used to virtually take older adults back to the places where they grew up as children. For some, it will be the first time they’ve seen their hometowns in decades.

A virtual trip to her childhood neighborhood in New York City’s Queens borough helped sell Sue Livingstone, 84, on the merits of the VR technology even though she still is able to get out more often than many residents of The Terraces, which is located 55 miles south of San Francisco.

“It isn’t just about being able to see it again; it’s about all the memories that it brings back,” Livingstone said.

“There are a few people living here who never really leave their comfort zones. But if you could entice them to come down to try out a headset, they might find that they really enjoy it.”

A conversation starter

The technology is catching on in our area. Country Meadows, with locations in Frederick, Maryland, and York, Pennsylvania, partnered with Rendever to allow its residents to fly.

“We have a World War II veteran who wanted to experience being in the cockpit of a plane again. Through Rendever and their creativity, we were able to recreate that type of experience for him,” Kim Eichinger, executive director of Dynamic Living, Country Meadow, told a local TV station.

Adrian Marshall, The Terraces’ community life director, said that once word about a VR experience spreads from one resident to another, more of the uninitiated typically become curious enough to try it out.

“It turns into a conversation starter for them. It really does connect people,” Marshall

said of Rendever’s VR programming.

“It helps create a human bridge that makes them realize they share certain similarities and interests. It turns the artificial world into reality.”

Grant from NIH

Rendever, a privately owned company based in Somerville, Massachusetts, hopes to build upon its senior living platform with a recent grant from the National Institutes of Health that will provide nearly $4.5 million to study ways to reduce social isolation among seniors living at home and their caregivers.

The tech company also offers dementia and empathy training via VR, showing staff, caregivers and family members what it’s like to live with dementia.

Some studies have found VR programming presented in a limited-viewing format can help older people maintain and improve cognitive functions, burnish memories and

foster social connections with their families and fellow residents of care facilities.

Experts say the technology may be useful as an addition to (and not a replacement for) other activities.

“There is always a risk of too much screen time,” said Kate Dupuis, a neuropsychologist and professor who studies aging issues at Sheridan College in Canada.

“But if you use [VR] cautiously, with meaning and purpose, it can be very helpful. It can be an opportunity for the elderly to engage with someone and share a sense of wonder.”

Never too old for tech

VR headsets may be an easier way for older people to interact with technology instead of fumbling around with a smartphone or another device that requires navigating buttons or other mechanisms, said Pallabi Bhowmick, a researcher at the University of

Watching 3-D videos can be a fun way to visit places, past and present. Older adults who live in retirement communities typically get to know each other better after virtual-reality experiences.

Plan a caregiving strategy for anyone

By Anna M. Rappaport

American retirees often become both givers and receivers of care and financial support. Usually, they are providers early in their retirement and end up as the recipients as they grow older and possibly outlive their retirement funds.

People don’t often include these situations in their retirement planning. Figuring out how to prepare for them can protect you in retirement.

Providing support in retirement

A growing percentage of U.S. retirees care for family members. A 2025 AARP/National Alliance for Caregiving survey estimates 63 million Americans provide care for loved ones with serious health issues without pay.

Most of these caregivers are over 50, and about 22% are 65-plus. This unpaid care is

typically for a spouse, sibling or parent with a chronic health condition, disability or functional limitation.

Grandparent caregiving is also becoming more common. About a third of the 6.7 million grandparents living with grandchildren are responsible for their care, according to the 2021 U.S. Census.

Additionally, retirees often help loved ones financially, perhaps after an illness, job loss or divorce. Many retirees also assist with college costs, daycare costs or specialneeds care. And, as people live longer, they financially support their own aging parents when they outlive their savings.

Generosity needs a plan

Retirees who are caregivers or financial supporters often find fulfillment in helping loved ones, but it can also be stressful. They may neglect their own health or give

away too much money, depleting their own retirement funds.

Often, retirees find themselves providing care or financial support because of unplanned events that happen to their family. Because the impacts on retirement security can be profound, it’s best to plan for these risks as much as possible.

The first step is for the retiree to talk with family members about everyone’s expectations. Part of that conversation should include backup plans in case the retiree becomes incapable of providing care.

It is also important for retirees to consider the feasibility of helping family members financially. For example, if a retiree wants to provide financial gifts to loved ones or pay for college, it should be done carefully to ensure the retiree can maintain financial stability throughout their retirement.

Additionally, retirees should have an emergency fund for the possibility of unexpected events that impact loved ones. They should also stress-test their plan before giving recurring help: Take into account market downturns, inflation and a long lifespan.

Care and financial support

As retirees age, they might need help with errands, appointments, medications and money management, or they might require simple companionship. This help most often comes from family. In fact, about 70% of people receiving family caregiving in the U.S. are 65 or older.

The 2024 Retirement Risk Survey found that 78% of U.S. retiree respondents expect strong or moderate levels of support from family or friends.

It’s also not unusual for older family members to receive financial assistance from loved ones, especially adult children. Often, the need for support happens when the retiree loses a spouse, which can affect retirement income.

However, most retirees don’t expect to need financial support from their family. The survey revealed that 49% expect no support, and only 26% expect minimal support.

The importance of planning ahead

While family is a major source of care for retirees, many people don’t prepare for this circumstance, and when needs arise, it can disrupt loved ones’ lives. Both physical care and financial support can put stress on a caregiver’s job and finances, resulting in lost wages and Social Security benefits, and lower retirement savings.

Just as the stress of caregiving can affect retirees, it can also impact younger caregivers’ physical and mental health.

Even before retirement, people should talk with family members to ensure they know where to find important financial and legal documents, such as power of attorney, advance directives and wills.

Retirees should also plan where they’re going to live if they need assistance and who will be part of their support network.

Retiring couples should consider what happens to retirement income (e.g., Social Security survivor benefits and pensions) when one member dies. Surviving spouses and unmarried retirees should also take into consideration the aging of their support network.

For example, by the time a retiree needs care, the people they planned to rely on themselves might be incapable.

In short, it’s important to have backup plans when it comes to care or financial support later in life.

For many Americans, family is central during retirement. Working with loved ones to identify roles, set boundaries and save for surprises can protect retirees’ well-being and their nest egg, and give their

ones peace of mind.

Virtual reality

From page B-1

Illinois Urbana-Champaign who is examining the use of VR with older adults.

“The stereotypes that older adults aren’t willing to try new technology needs to change because they are willing and want to adapt to technologies that are meaningful to them,” Bhowmick said.

“Besides helping them to relieve stress, be entertained and connect with other people, there is an intergenerational aspect that might help them build their relationships with younger people who find out they use VR and say, ‘Grandpa is cool!’”

Rendever CEO Kyle Rand’s interest in helping his own grandmother deal with the emotional and mental challenges of aging pushed him down a path that led him to cofound the company in 2016 after studying neuroengineering at Duke University.

“What really fascinates me about humans is just how much our brain depends on social connection and how much we learn from others,” Rand said.

“A group of elderly residents who don’t really know each other that well can come together, spend 30 minutes in a VR experience together and then find themselves sitting down to have lunch together while continuing a conversation about the experience.”

It’s a large enough market that another VR specialist, Dallas-based Mynd Immersive, competes against Rendever with services tai-

lored for senior living communities.

Besides helping create social connections, the VR programming from both Rendever and Mynd has been employed as a possible tool for potentially slowing down the deleterious effects of dementia. That’s how another Silicon Valley retirement village, The Forum, sometimes uses the technology.

Bob Rogallo, a Forum resident with dementia that has rendered him speechless, seemed to be enjoying taking a virtual hike through Glacier National Park in Montana as he nodded and smiled while celebrating his 83rd birthday with his wife of 61 years.

Sallie Rogallo, who doesn’t have dementia, said the experience brought back fond memories of the couple’s visits to the same park during the more than 30 years they spent cruising around the U.S. in their recreational vehicle.

“It made me wish I was 30 years younger so I could do it again,” she said of the virtual visit to Glacier.

In another session at The Forum, 93year-old Almut Schultz laughed with delight while viewing a virtual classical music performance at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado and later seemed to want to play with a puppy frolicking around in her VR headset.

“That was quite a session we had there,” Schultz said with a big grin after she took off her headset and returned to reality.

© 2025 The Associated Press

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Find the right retirement community for you

By Joel Theisen

In my hometown, my aunt worked at what everybody called the “old folks’ home.” I used to tag along as a boy because I liked the people who lived there.

In the old folks’ home, ageist as that term is, people had roommates and ate community meals and maybe joined a weekly bingo game for entertainment.

Oh, how times have changed.

Four decades later, shopping for a new place for my mom, 85, and my dad, 87, to live

was a stark reminder of just how much housing for older people has changed. The old folks’ home? Maybe it’s still out there, but it’s definitely not the norm.

Fortunately the marketplace has been transformed in a way that gives older people unprecedented choices.

As a licensed nurse and CEO of a senior health company serving 5,500 people each day in their homes and in more than 45 senior living communities, I know something about how senior living has improved over the years

— and how to look for the best fit for you.

Modern options

With more Americans turning 65 now than at any time in history — more than 4 million per year, a total of 76 million people in the biggest generation of older people ever — the balance of power has shifted toward consumers, and older people are moving the market toward their wants.

After decades of transforming business, politics, music, education, arts and culture, Boomers are changing the way America ages.

The biggest shift from the former days of the old folks’ home is all the choices in modern senior living.

An AARP survey found that three of every four older people want to age in place at home, but professional home healthcare aides are increasingly hard to find, with agencies reporting major labor shortages that will grow to as many as 2.5 million unfilled jobs in the next decade.

Many older people are instead opting for community life. This route has developed the newest options that far surpass the former basics of the old folks’ home.

Today, older people can move to:

• Age 55-plus communities for independent living with shared amenities

• Assisted living with staff that helps with bathing, dressing and eating

• Memory care for people with Alzheimer’s and dementia

• Nursing homes with specialist nursing facilities and round-the-clock medical care

• Managed communities that allow people to live within all of the stages mentioned above as health changes over time

The key here is comparison shopping. It’s crucial to visit prospective senior living options before you need them — the idea is to see if the community, culture and space feel right for you. Many communities offer overnight stays.

Though some liken the experience of shopping for senior communities to kicking the tires on a prospective car, I think it should be more like considering a college — you may be living there for years, and the experience can change your life.

Key items for your checklist

While the typical old folks’ home of my youth had a one-size-fits-all approach to the people who lived there, modern communities reflect the Boomer culture that values personal control over health choices.

Most older people have numerous doctors and specialists in several different medical offices. It pays to look for a senior community with professionals who work as a

How to find a quality nursing home

By Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior,

Can you give me some tips on picking a good nursing home for my father?

Since his stroke, I’ve been taking care of him at home, but he’s gotten to the point where it’s too much for me to handle.

—Exhausted Daughter

Dear Exhausted,

Choosing a nursing home for a loved one that provides quality is a very important decision that requires careful evaluation and some homework. Here are some steps you can take that can help you find a good facility and avoid a bad one.

Make a list: There are several sources you can turn to for referrals to top nursing homes in your area, including the Area Agency on Aging (call 800-677-1116 or visit eldercare.acl.gov for contact information); your dad’s doctor or nearby hospital discharge planner; and friends or neighbors with a loved one in a nursing home.

Also check Medicare’s nursing home compare tool at medicare.gov/care-compare. This tool will not only help you locate nursing homes in your area, but it also provides a five-star rating system on recent health inspections, staffing, quality of care and overall rating.

Also, keep in mind that it’s always best to choose a nursing home that’s close to family members and friends who can visit often, because residents with frequent visitors usually get better care.

Call your long-term care ombudsman:

Retirement

From page B-4

point person to coordinate healthcare. [Ed. Note: Some retirement communities offer onsite medical and dental appointments.]

Today there’s much greater priority on daily wellness and prevention. Workout facilities have become standard for both exercise and rehab; many offer staff who are physical therapists, personal trainers and dieticians.

Shopping for the right senior living experience means making sure the dining options serve healthy food and accommodate individual requirements for people who want vegetarian, gluten-free or low-salt diets.

Another important shopping point is to see how much personal risk each community allows you to have. Few older people want to live in a protective cocoon. How important is it for you to keep your own schedule, be outside daily or continue hobbies that may carry consequences, such as woodworking or pickleball? Check out the community ethic before committing to a new place to live.

Not too long ago, the old folks’ home was designed and run to be a basic safety net. In our lifetimes, though, senior living has become more than just a place to go — it can be a place to grow.

The senior living market is big enough and diverse enough that you should be able to find the right fit for you. It pays to shop around. © 2026 The Kiplinger Washington Editors. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency LLC.

This is a government official who investigates nursing home complaints and advocates for residents and their families. This person can tell you which nursing homes have had complaints or problems in the past and can help you locate a good facility. Visit LTCombudsman.org for local contact information.

Contact the nursing homes : Once you’ve narrowed your search, call the nursing homes you’re interested in to verify that they can facilitate your dad’s needs. Also, find out if they have any vacancies, what they charge, and if they accept Medicaid.

Tour your top choices : During your nursing home visit, notice the cleanness and smell of the facility. Is it homey and inviting? Does the staff seem responsive and kind to its residents?

Additionally, be sure to taste the food, and talk to the residents and their family

members, if available. It’s also a good idea to make multiple visits at different times of the day and different days of the week to get a broader perspective.

And be sure to find out about their staff screening and training procedures, staff-topatient ratio and the staff turnover rate.

To help you rate your visit, Medicare offers a helpful checklist of questions to ask that you can print and take with you on your visit.

Paying for care

With nursing home costs now averaging $324 per day nationally for a semi-private room and nearly $371 for a private room, paying for care is another area you may have questions about or need assistance with. Medicare only helps pay up to 100 days of rehabilitative nursing home care, which must occur after a hospital stay of at least three days.

Most nursing home residents pay for care from either personal savings, a long-term care insurance policy, or through Medicaid once their savings are depleted. Or, if your dad is a veteran, he may be able to get funds through the VA’s Aid and Attendance benefit (see VA.gov/pension/aid-attendance-housebound).

To learn more about the payment options, ask the nursing home director. You can also get help from your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which provides free counseling on all Medicare and Medicaid issues. Visit aging.maryland.gov/ship or call (800) 243-3425..

And for more information, see Medicare’s booklet “Your Guide to Choosing a Nursing Home” (product #02174). You can view it online at medicare.gov/publications. Send your questions or comments to questions@savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

Solo aging in place can be bad for your health

By Neale Godfrey

For most of human history, people did not age alone. They lived in villages, extended families and small communities because sharing resources was not just a nice idea — it was survival.

Somewhere between suburban sprawl and high-rise living, we replaced that model with something far more expensive and far more isolating: aging by yourself, in a house you can no longer maintain or in a facility you can barely afford.

That is why I developed “The Pod” — a new way for older adults to live together that is not an institution or a lonely apartment with a panic button. It is a small, intentional community.

Okay, I didn’t invent communal living; I just made it more fun. My Pod idea is that four to eight older adults who are friends would live together in a shared home or cluster of homes.

One of you may never have downsized after your spouse died, and this is a great

way to use your space. Each person has a private bedroom and bath, but shares kitchens, living areas, outdoor space and — most importantly — daily life.

Think of it as a smart, modern version of the old neighborhood, designed specifically for people who want independence without isolation.

No long hallways. No corporate dining rooms. Just friends.

Older adults are cost-burdened

Across the U.S., many older adults want to age independently — in their own homes or apartments — but the financial realities make that increasingly difficult.

As a Harvard study deemed it, the key issue is housing cost burden, meaning people spend a high share of their income on housing. For older adults living alone on limited and, in many cases, fixed incomes, this translates into real insecurity.

According to research from the American Society on Aging (ASA), in 2023, about 33.5% of households with someone age 65-plus spent 30% or more of their income on housing costs.

Spending more than 30% of income on housing leaves less for essentials such as food, medicine, utilities or care services — pressures that mount especially quickly when income is fixed.

Homeowners aren’t the only group struggling; older renters are also hit. Rental costs have risen sharply in many areas, even as incomes for many older adults remain stagnant or grow very slowly. As of 2024, about 58% of older renters were also cost-burdened by housing costs, according to the ASA. Even with Social Security or savings, millions of older adults have limited resources. As the National Council on Aging has highlighted, U.S. Census data shows that at least 15% of older people age 65-plus (more than 9 million people) live below the poverty line. Aging has become brutally expensive. Between the rent or mortgage, utilities, food, transportation, home maintenance, health aides and emergency care, even middle-class retirees are being squeezed dry. One fall, one illness or one broken furnace can blow up a budget.

Housing costs can be bad for your health

As people age, so do their houses, and repairs are costly. Many homes may also require accessibility modifications that can be expensive.

Living alone means all housing costs fall on one person. When utilities, property taxes, maintenance and care costs all rise

conversation.

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

• Amplified phones

• Tablets

• Ring signalers

• Phones with large and/or high contrast buttons

• Captioned Telephones

• And more

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

while incomes, especially fixed incomes, lag behind, many older adults end up:

• Cutting back on healthcare, food or utilities

• Delaying necessary home repairs or mobility modifications

• Facing instability or even homelessness

• Relying on family or community support

• Becoming depressed

• Becoming sick

These pressures make independent living far less affordable and sustainable for a large and growing segment of older Americans.

My Pod idea

My Pod was going to be all women — friends of mine who were looking forward to our “golden years” together.

I had a big house that was going to be our central living quarters. Another prospective member had a beach house in Florida, and that was to be our winter retreat.

We were going to pool resources and share expenses. Kids and grandkids could visit, but not board with us. There was a cute B&B close by, and they could all stay there.

Our goal was to live, laugh, cook and support one another through thick and thin. The idea is not gone, but life happened. I had to sell my humongous home. A hurricane

washed away my friend’s Miami home, and we still think we are young enough to live separately. We will eventually create our Pod.

Fewer expenses, more security

Here’s the part people miss: The Pod is not just cheaper; it is financially safer.

When you live alone and something goes wrong, you pay for it alone. In a Pod, costs, risks and labor are shared, so monthly expenses drop dramatically.

The Pod shares utility bills, lawn service, even in-home caregivers. A Pod can often operate at less per person than living alone — or in assisted living — while providing more support and safety. That is not theory. That is math.

A Pod is safer, too. After all, someone notices if you do not come down for breakfast. Someone helps if you twist your knee. Someone calls your doctor before it becomes an emergency.

That reduces hospital stays, delayed care and catastrophic expenses.

We have been sold the idea that “aging in place” means staying in a house you can no longer afford or manage. The Pod offers a better version: aging in community. Loneliness is expensive. Community is preventive medicine.

You still have your own space. You still make your own choices. You just don’t have to do everything alone — or pay for everything alone.

And in an economy where housing costs,

Warren Place Senior Apartments in Cockeysville, Maryland, is a 62+ senior community in a convenient location just minutes away from shopping centers, banks, pharmacies and restaurants on York Road.

• All Utilities Included

• On-site Parking

• Laundry on Every Floor

• Rents are $1,222–$1,467

• Elevators

• Light Rail and Bus Stop Nearby

• Small Pets Welcome

Steps away from Cockeysville Senior Center to fit with your active lifestyle. We are a pet friendly community!

healthcare and inflation are squeezing older Americans harder every year, that difference can mean everything.

The Pod is not a luxury. It is the future of affordable aging.

Neale Godfrey is a New York Times best-

selling author of 27 books that empower families (and their kids and grandkids) to take charge of their financial lives.

© 2026 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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FREE HOUSING AND OTHER INFORMATION

For free information from advertisers in this special section, check off those that interest you below and mail, or take a picture of, and email, this coupon to the Beacon. All coupons received by April 20 will be entered into a random drawing for tickets. You need not request advertiser info to win.

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Travel Leisure &

Ride the new Maya Train through Mexico

By Edward Warner

A new rail line spanning the circumference of Mexico’s Yucatán peninsula now offers easy access from Cancún to many of the lovely, less-visited towns of the region.

Called Tren Maya, the rail line was completed in December 2024 at a cost of $20 billion. Among its 24 stations are Cancún International Airport; Izamal, with its Mayan pyramids; and Valladolid, a Spanish colonial city where you can watch an evening light show projected onto a 1552 convent.

The train’s other stops include wellknown tourist destinations like the Mayan ruins at Chichén Itzá and the Caribbean resort of Tulum, as well as less-visited destinations like Mérida, which is the capital of Yucatán and the peninsula’s biggest city.

Beautiful Mérida

Historic Mérida, considered the safest city in Mexico, is the perfect place to begin exploring the peninsula, which extends into the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.

Known as the “White City” for the aging limestone mansions that line its central avenue, Mérida was a boomtown in the 1800s, when henequen, a plant local to the peninsula, was used to manufacture ropes for the shipping industry. With the arrival of synthetic substitutes in the 1940s, Mérida’s economy crashed, but the recent influx of tourists and expats has revived this lovely city.

Great places to stay are in henequenraising haciendas or in the lively neighborhood near Santiago Church. Don’t miss the Santiago Market, which features Taqueria La Lupita, highlighted in Netflix’s “The Taco Chronicles,” and the English Library, where visitors can borrow a book, sip coffee or take a yoga class.

From Mérida, you can go by car or bus to Río Lagartos, a charming coastal town where small boats take tourists into a nature preserve to see its flocks of flamingos.

Low-key Playa del Carmen

For those who want to stay at a hotel on the beach but far from the glass-box-monoliths of Cancún, there’s another Tren Maya destination worth visiting: Playa del Carmen.

Here hotels aren’t taller than five or six stories, and its promenade, Quinta Avenida, is lined with stores and restaurants and open only to bikes and pedestrians.

In Playa del Carmen, a fun place to stay is

the Colosio neighborhood, which has plenty of small, locally owned hotels as well as corner stores stocked with fresh avocados and pineapples. Explore the area around Parque la Ceiba, where gigantic trees shade play structures, art installations and a coffee shop.

Two colonial towns

For a Spanish colonial immersion, check out the towns of Izamal and Valladolid, both only a couple of hours from the airport via Tren Maya. The two are among the few Yucatecan towns designated by the government as Magical Towns.

Izamal is known as the “Yellow City,” as its downtown colonial buildings, including a large former convent, were all painted yellow for the 1993 visit of Pope John Paul II. (Supposedly, he liked the color.)

While the convent is eye-catching, the biggest draws are the town’s lively market, the restored monastery (across the street) and two Mayan pyramids, both of which you can scale — unlike Chichén Itzá.

One pyramid is relatively small and sprawls across a city park, but the other occupies the landmass of a city block and offers wide-ranging vistas across the largely flat Yucatán Peninsula. Often, they’re devoid of locals or tourists.

The town of Valladolid also has two impressive colonial buildings: a monastery located near its arts district and a cathedral across from its central park. There, in the evening, a laser light show is projected onto the church’s exterior, telling the story of Mexico’s history.

Those who enjoy Mexican folk art will also want to tour Casa de los Venados, the mansion of a wealthy retiree who collected crafts from all over Mexico.

Swimming in cenotes

Valladolid has another draw: cenotes. These underground freshwater ponds are one of Yucatán’s natural wonders.

Most cenotes are in privately owned caves outfitted with stairs, lighting and guides. You put on a life jacket and float under the stalactites, watching tiny fish flit about as sunlight pours in from the hole in the cave’s roof.

In Valladolid, the grandest is Cenote Zaci, a huge open-air pool located downtown by the central market. It’s open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and admission is about $10.

Another is Cenote Suytun, about 15 min-

utes away (also about $10). This one features a hole in its ceiling that brings a “spotlight” of sunshine onto the cave’s waters. A two-cenote complex is nearby.

About an hour from Valladolid is the fascinating city of Tizimín. It too has a big, open-air cenote, Kikil, located a quick cab ride from the station. Admission is about $10 for adults — but watch your step on the slippery wooden staircase down to the water!

If you go

Round-trip tickets to Cancún start at $379 on Southwest. Note that the area is under a Level 2 travel advisory to “exercise increased caution.”

From Cancún’s airport, four daily trains,

with one-way tickets starting at $50, go to Mérida. Tren Maya runs six trains daily to Valladolid ($25 one-way from Cancún International). Tickets can be purchased in Tren Maya stations or online. Keep in mind that most of Tren Maya’s stations were built at each city’s edge. That means you’ll likely need to catch a cab or Lyft to your hotel. However, if you want to arrive in the center of any of these towns, or want to get there outside of the Tren schedule, nearly all Yucatecan cities are served by bus.

Thankfully, you don’t have to wait in line or trust your rusty Spanish to buy tickets: A smartphone app lets you buy tickets in English, then display them to the driver as you board.

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St Michaels Crab Claw Restaurant

All You Can Eat Crab Feast June 7 and July 12

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Nashville Tennessee 6 Days/5 Nights • October 11-16

Santa Catalina’s buffalo herd remains on the Southern California island after a 1924 movie shoot. See story on page 10.

SoCal’s Catalina Island has a magical vibe

By Don Mankin

Twenty-six miles across the sea, Santa Catalina is a-waiting for me.

In 1957, the Four Preps crooned about an “island of romance” off the coast of southern California. Back then, the song caught the imagination of this anxious, tortured, barely pubescent 14-year-old with visions of swaying palm trees, balmy breezes and California blondes.

Now, 70 years later, an older, wizened version of that teenager was heading to that island of romance with his wife, Katherine (previously blonde, now white-haired), for a two-night excursion unlike anything else on the U.S. mainland.

Santa Catalina, as it is formally known, was originally inhabited by various Native American tribes, then claimed by Spain and later by Mexico. It became part of the United States, along with California, in 1848.

In 1919, William Wrigley Jr., of chewing gum and Chicago Cubs fame, bought most of the island and invested millions to develop the resort town of Avalon, its only incorporated city. His descendants created the Catalina Island Conservancy in 1975.

This magical island, with its Mediterranean vibe, is the perfect side trip on a visit to Southern California, a refreshing counterpoint to Disneyland, Venice Beach or Hollywood. Although it’s part of Los Angeles County, it

feels like a trip to another country.

Only 4,000 people live on Catalina, but with one million visitors a year, it can be crowded during the summer. The recent best-selling book, Nightshade, by famed mystery writer Michael Connelly is set in Avalon and may bring even more crowds during high season. Fortunately for Katherine and me, it was almost deserted during our visit in January.

Catalina’s harbor

The fun begins with the Catalina Express, a scheduled passenger service offering frequent trips from Long Beach, just south of Los Angeles, the starting point for our trip.

Our trip, on a comfortable high-speed catamaran, took about an hour — a scenic jaunt that began with views of downtown Long Beach, then the Queen Mary and the massive cranes of the port of Long Beach before the boat headed out into open water.

As we approached Avalon, we saw the iconic Catalina Casino at the far end of the harbor. At 12 stories high, it’s the largest building on the island, and architecturally distinct in Art Deco and Mediterranean styles. Despite its name, it was never used for gambling but primarily as a venue for movies and dances. It is still used as a theater as well as for community events and festivals.

At the other end of the harbor is the pier for the Catalina Express. Curving between

the pier and the casino, the harbor is dotted with all kinds of boats at anchor, a narrow beach and a promenade lined with shops, restaurants and boutique hotels. Off the walkway, houses and apartment buildings extend for a few blocks, then thin out on the brush- and tree-covered hills above the town.

Exploring Avalon

For our two-night visit, we stayed at the historic Atwater Hotel, located near the promenade. The hotel was built by the Wrigley family in 1920 and named after William Wrigley’s daughter-in-law, Helen Atwater.

The charming lobby is decorated with artifacts from Helen’s life, including various board games, the original Wrigley safe from Chicago, and several musical instruments, including a full-size harp. It was the first time I have ever been directed to my room by looking for the “elevators behind the accordion.”

We dropped the luggage off in our room and took a leisurely stroll on the promenade. We checked out the Casino, some historic buildings associated with the Catalina Island Yacht Club, founded in 1925, and the Tuna Club (not a sandwich), one of the oldest fishing clubs in the world, founded in 1898.

The next morning, we hiked the steep Country Club Loop that heads uphill from downtown Avalon, then descends along winding streets past quaint wooden houses precar-

iously perched on the hills above the town. The 1.5-mile walk was challenging at first, but the elevated views of downtown Avalon and the harbor were well worth it.

The island’s interior

In the afternoon, we went on a threehour “eco tour” through the interior of the island in an open four-wheel-drive vehicle offered by the Catalina Island Conservancy.

Access to the interior is limited, so the only way to see it in a vehicle is on a private tour. Hiking and backpacking, with permits, are also allowed.

The highlight of the trip, aside from the views of the rocky coastline, was spotting some of the massive, shaggy beasts, descendants of a small herd left on the island after a movie shoot in the 1920s.

Our short, sweet excursion brought me back to that time many years ago, when, as a young teenager anxiously facing an unknown future, I first heard those lyrics and dreamed of a life that seemed hopelessly out of reach. Who knew back then that I would be visiting the “island of romance” years later with my beloved wife?

The trip was well worth it, from Long Beach to Catalina, from then to now.

For more information on Catalina Island in general, go to visitcatalinaisland.com or catalinaconservancy.org.

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Arts & Style

for almost 50 years. See our cover story on page 12.

Artist illuminates Baltimore’s changes

By Tina Collins

For half a century, painter, gallery owner, muralist and mentor Minas Konsolas has helped both shape and reflect Baltimore’s creative spirit.

The youngest of six children, he grew up on the Greek island of Karpathos in a village where making things — boats, tools, paintings — was simply part of daily life.

His own talent emerged gradually and came fully into focus in 1976, when Konsolas crossed the Atlantic to study painting at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA).

Baltimore was meant to be temporary. But Baltimore, as many have discovered, has a way of persuading people to stay.

“I didn’t just learn how to paint in Baltimore,” he said. “I learned how to live as an artist.”

After earning his BFA from MICA, Konsolas settled into the city whose grit, generosity and contradictions would shape his artistic identity.

Many of his paintings are infused with light and shadow. He says Baltimore’s light is different from the Mediterranean light of his childhood. It is softer, often clouded, sometimes unexpectedly generous.

“The light here is more complicated,” Konsolas said. “You have to pay attention to see what it’s doing.”

Konsolas describes his work as “visual poetry.” His paintings hover between abstraction and recognition: Colors gather slowly. Shapes emerge, dissolve and reassemble. Some viewers see landscapes. Others see memory, weather or emotion. Konsolas is comfortable with all of it.

“I don’t want people to solve the painting,” he said. “I want them to stay with it.”

Gallery owner since the 1990s

Persistence — with a place, with a discipline, with uncertainty — has shaped his life in Baltimore.

In 1997, Konsolas opened Minas Gallery in Hampden. Part exhibition space, part cultural living room, it welcomed poets, painters, musicians, wanderers, insomniacs and the occasional lost soul who only meant to stop in for a minute.

They stayed. On many nights, the gallery was open long past its official hours.

Ideas collided. Conversations wandered. Exhibitions blurred into readings, which blurred into friendships.

“It was never just a gallery,” Konsolas said. “It was a place to gather, to feel at home. Art thrives in community and evolves through connections.”

For 22 years, the gallery served as a small but steady cultural anchor in Baltimore. When Konsolas eventually closed the space in 2014, his decision was practical, economically speaking, but emotional.

“Everything has its season,” said Konsolas, who now works in a studio in Charles Village.

“The gallery taught me how to listen to other artists. The studio teaches me how to listen to myself — which is harder than you think.”

He paints every day if he can, moving slowly and allowing the work to unfold in its own time.

“These paintings are about listening,” he said. “Listening to what stays with you after everything else fades.”

Greek philosophy imbues art

Konsolas’ career has never followed a conventional commercial path. Instead, it has grown through relationships, shared spaces and a belief that art is not a luxury but a daily necessity.

Konsolas approaches painting not as a fixed style but as an ongoing inquiry, so his work resists easy categorization. Exhibitions such as Nature of Light, Harmony of Opposites and Garden Symphony explore balance, contradiction and renewal — ideas drawn as much from Greek philosophy as from everyday observation.

In Harmony of Opposites, for instance, inspired by the philosopher Heraclitus, bold strokes meet delicate passages, and chaos settles into calm. The paintings invite viewers to slow down and sit with complexity, something Konsolas believes art should encourage, especially later in life.

In more recent work, including his Instinctual Nature series, Konsolas turns inward, exploring what he calls the “landscape within,” showing how memory, intuition and emotion shape what appears on the canvas.

Murals around town

Beyond the studio and gallery walls, Konsolas has also left his mark on the city itself. He has created murals in several Baltimore neighborhoods, including Greektown and near the Baltimore Farmers Market.

For him, public art is about accessibility. Not everyone walks into galleries, but everyone walks down streets. A mural, he believes, can offer a moment of reflection or beauty in the middle of an ordinary day.

“It’s enough if someone notices it for a moment,” he said. “That moment matters.”

His work has been exhibited widely in Baltimore and beyond, including at the Creative Alliance, Fleckenstein Gallery, Manor Mill and the Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower. His paintings and prints are held in private collections across the country and internationally.

Yet those who know him well tend to speak less about his accomplishments and more about his generosity. Always willing to listen, he encourages younger artists, believing that creativity flourishes in community.

Adapted to changes

Of course, Baltimore has changed significantly since Konsolas arrived 50 years

ago. Neighborhoods have shifted; buildings have disappeared. The city’s art community has expanded and contracted more than once.

Konsolas remains patient, observant and as adaptable to the changing times as the changing light.

Craig Kipnes and several of his employees have kept OK Natural Food Store going

Artist Minas Konsolas studied at MICA.

PHOTO BY KEN QUAM

See ARTIST , page 13

Mount Vernon’s natural food store still thrives

By Laura Melamed

John Waters films feature some of Baltimore’s famous landmarks, like the Charles and Senator theaters, Bengies Drive-In Theatre and The Avenue in Hampden.

Only slightly less famous, a brick rowhouse on Preston Street in Mount Vernon appeared in Waters’ 1972 film Pink Flamingos as the retail establishment of the infamous egg lady, played by Edith Massey.

A few years later, OK Natural Food Store moved into that building. Launched in 1978 in a rinky-dink basement at 7 W. Preston Street, the health-food store is the city’s oldest natural grocery.

In the mid-70s, owner Craig Kipnes was attending University of Maryland and playing basketball, which he associated with a healthy lifestyle. Yet he struggled with

headaches and digestive issues.

At the time, Kipnes was living on a diet of soda, white bread and burgers.

“I lived on junk, which, back then, everyone did,” Kipnes said. “Natural food was more of a hidden thing, a subculture.”

Through a friend, he met Hermadula Oglesby, who suggested a macrobiotic lifestyle, which involved eating whole grains and fresh vegetables and avoiding meat and dairy products.

Kipnes ignored him; Oglesby’s advice just seemed too bizarre. After all, everyone Kipnes knew ate meat. There was no such thing as whole wheat bread in mainstream grocery stores.

Then, while vacationing in the Florida Keys, Kipnes ate some tainted meat and got food poisoning. When he came back,

he began taking Oglesby’s advice more seriously.

After he started eating healthier foods, his headaches went away, and his digestion improved. Even his complexion cleared up.

“It was a huge awakening to what a healthy diet could do, and I wanted to share this knowledge with as many people as I could,” Kipnes said.

After college, Kipnes didn’t want to work a traditional job. When Oglesby suggested opening a natural food store, Kipnes thought it was a great idea.

First, though, he took a road trip to do some market research. He and a friend traveled across the country for four months.

“We stopped at many natural food stores

along the way — mostly out west, as that [healthy food movement] was happening there. When I got home, Herm [Oglesby] had found a place to rent at 7 West Preston,” Kipnes said.

They built some shelves and a counter, bought a cash register and scale, and named their store OK Natural Foods for the initials of their two last names.

“We bought a bunch of inventory, and a friend of Herm’s made an OK sign, and there we were,” Kipnes remembered.

A year after opening, a bank bought the building and ended their lease. Fortunately, Kipnes and Oglesby were able to move into the building just down the street at 11 W. Preston.

“We did it in one day. We just carried everything from 7 to 11,” Kipnes said.

First years of real food

At the current location, they built a kitchen and opened the OK Café on the first floor. The shop proved to be quite popular.

“We had things like our homemade sourdough rice bread and buckwheat pancakes where we ground the buckwheat, fresh, ourselves, by hand, with a stone grinder,” Kipnes said. Oglesby made millet balls. “People loved them.”

Despite its popularity, in OK Natural’s first four years, neither the café nor the store made a profit. Oglesby had a wife and children to support, so Kipnes, who was single and living above the store, bought Oglesby’s half of the business from him.

After Oglesby moved on, Kipnes invested in renovating the store, paying a skilled contractor to build a French door and a big wood-framed glass window, both of which are still there today. The contractor also installed new hardwood floors, among other design improvements.

Within two years, the store was making a profit and is still going strong today.

Loyal customers

Longtime customers say they prefer down-to-earth stores like OK Natural. In fact, they seek out the 800-square-foot store for its size and scale.

“I shop there because they are a small business,” said Don Clark, a graphic designer who lives in Hampden. He frequently stopped in when he attended the University of Baltimore and still shops there, more than 10 years after graduation.

Clark knows several of its employees from local shows and events and chats with them at the counter.

A local artist in her 60s (name withheld by request) also goes out of her way to shop at OK Natural because she prefers local businesses.

“I don’t want to give my money to big corporations,” she said. At family-owned

Left to right: Lucien Hervé. The large studio at the Régina. June

Hervé,

4th

OK Natural

From

businesses, she said, “I remember the people. You get better service. You get better quality stuff.”

Baltimore is full of small shops, from hardware stores to bakeries.

“It’s the reason I live in the city — you

From page

have small independent stores. You can walk to them. Everyone ends up talking to one another.”

Longtime employees

Kipnes attributes his store’s longevity and friendly feel to his employees. His friends Peter Barry and Chris Taylor worked there for 28 years and 30 years, respectively.

“So many people contributed” to the store over the years, Kipnes said.

Kipnes’ son, Sam, has been working there for the past 15 years. An employee named Doug McConnell has been there just as long, and McConnell’s wife, Kerith, also helps out. The store also hires MICA students.

Kipnes added that he couldn’t have done it without his wife, Noelle, who he met at a party in the building.

“Having her beside me has been a big part of the success of OK,” he said.

During their first conversation, Noelle mentioned that she needed some groceries.

“We were closed, but we went down the

steps so she could get a few things,” Kipnes said. “That’s when I asked her out. Our first date was a natural-food tradeshow convention at the Convention Center. I was in love with her that first day and still am.”

After 48 years, Baltimore remains in love with OK Natural. One frequent customer, Juma (last name withheld), a local visual artist, seasoned bicycle mechanic and frequent customer of the store, makes a point to shop at OK Natural.

“Supporting small businesses is still one of the best ways to make America great again,” he said.

Radio

Scrabble answers on p. 13

Crossword Puzzle

Innocent Beasts

By Stephen Sherr

Across

1. He thinks he’s better than you

5. In the middle of a car wash

10. Those with late bedtimes

14. Currency used by Gregory Peck in Roman Holiday

15. Not showing a test pattern

16. Prepare onions for chili

17. Those who resent having to get up early to find worms

19. Amy’s partner on Weekend Update

20. Mama’s baby, papa’s ___

21. Vanderbilt or Villanova’s logo

22. ID export

23. Those who go straight to the puzzle page every month

26. ___ sixth grader (preteen)

29. Violated the honor code

30. DFW data

31. One of 150 biblical hymns

34. Catch ___ Zs

37. After moose, the next largest type of deer

38. Historian’s word

39. Bedevil

40. Rosebud (if spoilers are OK for an 85-year-old movie)

42. Blood’s partner

44. “The Biggest Little City in the World”

45. Start to resent

47. Becomes less demanding

49. Mammals that did not get their daily 80-pounds of grass yet

53. To any degree

54. Jeff Lynne’s band before The Traveling Wilburys

55. Obtain furniture to stage a house

59. Travel by foot

60. They do not get to come to Churchill Downs

62. Best cards, in War

63. Result of exposure to allergens

64. JD Vance, for one

65. Back talk

66. Use force

67. Obtain a brownie point

Down

1. Powerful move in multiple sports

2. Girl : Canada :: ___ : Granada

3. Swingers’ party

4. Challenges for free drinks

5. Have a bawl

6. Compatible with all brands

7. Risk taker

8. The less popular song, usually

9. A B.S. usually requires four

10. Groups of eight notes

11. Symbols of peace

12. Hermit

13. Prepares for the next bout

18. Uh-huh

22. Mai ___

24. Its first POTUS was Lincoln

25. Name of more than 4,000 U.S. streets

26. Extra charges

27. “___ All Work Out” (Tom Petty song)

28. Items in gag-shop cans

32. Gain wisdom

33. Suffer from a dead battery

35. It may be improved on Restaurant: Impossible

36. Executive Office of the President, in briefs

41. Without canine companionship

42. Prepare rice at Panda Express

43. The first three letters many people say each year

44. Sign up for a conference room

46. ‘net address

48. He made the Kessel Run in 12 parsecs

49. Big laughs

50. City between Albany and Syracuse

51. Coil spring shape

52. First words on many Valentine’s Day cards

56. On a naval excursion

57. Psychic

58. Broadcaster of NBA Countdown

60. ___ Blinded Me with Science

61. Next after FDR

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