July 2014 | Howard County Beacon

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Opening in 1955, the year Disneyland debuted in California, the Enchanted Forest quickly became a popular family destination. Based on nursery rhymes and fairy tales, the park allowed kids the chance to see life-sized versions of their favorite characters and their habitats.

They could clamber over the Old Woman’s Shoe or sit in Willie the Whale’s mouth, ride the Mother Goose Train on land or the Little Toot tug boat on a pond where Robinson Crusoe’s island could be visited.

Unlike Disneyland, it was low-tech; the

JULY 2014

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PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER MYERS

Nursery rhymes come to life

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Farmer reaps fruitful fantasy

By Michael Toscano The past, the present and the future comingle gracefully in the pastoral Howard County setting of Clark’s Elioak Farm.

It’s a place where fairy tale figures and fanciful settings from the pages of children’s books greet visitors on ground once trod by colonial farmers and still tilled by their descendants.

Grandparents and middle-aged tourists enjoy a nostalgic visit, remembering a favorite childhood destination, its original incarnation now gone, while toddlers squeal with excitement as they run through the fields. The occasional bleat of a goat or the cluck of a chicken can be heard on the wind.

Nearby, farmers continue working the land’s gently rolling contours, finding ways to co-exist with encroaching development in one of the region’s fastest growing areas.

There is a gaily painted (and massive) shoe — the kind the fabled Old Lady must live in, as well as the house settled by the Three Bears. And there’s Humpty Dumpty, chilling out atop a wall, unaware he’ll soon be scrambled.

But beyond the Easter Egg-colored structures and storybook figures, giant rolls of hay dot a hillside. At the top of a ridge, a hay-baler methodically makes its way back and forth, rolling up the grasses that will feed a herd of cattle.

This is a working farm, but one that features a popular petting zoo. And it has lately become better known as the new home of some of the original attractions of the Enchanted Forest — a now-defunct, storybook-themed amusement park that was located on U.S. Route 40 at Ellicott City.

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Martha Anne Clark rescued the whimsical Mother Goose structures — such as this shoe in which the Old Lady lived with all her children — from the former Enchanted Forest theme park, restoring them on Clark’s Elioak Farm in Ellicott City. The still-active farm has been run by Clark’s family for seven generations, and is also a magnet for families with children and grandchildren.

figures were made of wire and wood and a form of plasticized canvas. They did not move or make sounds. There was no roller coaster or other thrill rides. But there was a family-centered ambiance that created a generation of devoted guests.

It thrived for decades, attracting a peak of 400,000 visitors a year to its 20 acres.

But by 1988, increasing appetites for more exciting entertainment, and rising land values, resulted in a sale of the valuable land to developers. The gentle theme park was abandoned a year later, and a shopping center rose on the site.

Most of the figures and structures were left in place in a fenced off area. Nature gradually reclaimed the Enchanted Forest,

with new growth covering it up, hiding it from view and eroding the artifacts. Pieces of the familiar attractions began ending up in collector’s garages, basements and back yards.

Restoring the magic Things began to change in 2004, two years after Martha Anne Clark had opened a petting zoo on a 20-acre parcel of her family’s 540-acre farm, located about four miles away from the old Enchanted Forest.

A major attraction at her site was the pumpkin patch. Cinderella’s Pumpkin Coach had long since left the Enchanted See ENCHANTED FARM, page 28

L E I S U R E & T R AV E L

Portland, a hip city known for its food, beer and coffee; plus, visiting Normandy 70 years after D-Day page 23

FITNESS & HEALTH 3 k 10 top medical breakthroughs k “Unhealthy” foods that are good for you THE SENIOR CONNECTION 16 k Howard County Office on Aging newsletter LAW & MONEY 18 k Good stocks in “frontier” markets k How to invest in the energy boom PLUS CROSSWORD, BEACON BITS, CLASSIFIEDS & MORE

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Is everybody happy?

When I was in high school, in the early to fill in the blank of a “Happiness is...” car1970s, the comic strip “Peanuts” was toon. Rather, human beings were underdeeply into the “Happiness stood to have a particular is...” craze, which, I think, its “Good” — that is, a set of creator Charles Schulz may goals or purposes related to have launched. our essence or nature.

Day after day, the popular Philosophers claimed that strip would present another when we take action toward acanswer to the question “what complishing those goals, we is happiness?” by providing a are engaged in living the different ending to the phrase, “Good life, “ or at least are pur“Happiness is...” In the context suing our true happiness. of Charlie Brown and Snoopy, In my first philosophy paper, one of the most memorable FROM THE on the Nicomachean Ethics of was, “Happiness is a warm PUBLISHER Aristotle, I impishly affixed a puppy.”

By Stuart P. Rosenthal “Peanuts” comic strip to the In my first year of college, cover page. If I remember it as a dutiful son engaged in “pre-law” stud- correctly, Linus asks Charlie Brown, “What’s ies, I took a class in political philosophy. your philosophy of life?” Charlie thinks for a In it, I was quite surprised to learn that moment, then answers with a satisfied smile, one of the central questions asked by the “Happiness is having three things to look forearly philosophers Aristotle and Plato/ ward to and nothing to dread.” Linus reSocrates (and, through them, pursued by sponds, “I asked for your philosophy, not a medieval philosophers as well) could be bumper sticker.” phrased as, “What constitutes human hapBut I actually think Linus wasn’t giving piness?”

Charlie enough credit. In practical terms (if Of course, philosophers weren’t seeking not Aristotelian ones), having things to look

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forward to is probably one of the defining characteristics of happy or satisfied people.

The financial writer Andrew Tobias made the point in one of his books, I don’t remember which. He said there is no objective answer to the question, “who is rich?” That’s because the definition of rich isn’t a specific amount of money that applies to everyone. It’s not even a specific, but different, amount for each person.

Rather, people have positive feelings about their wealth if they perceive themselves as “moving up,” financially speaking. If they expect to earn more money next year, or to see their investments grow, they can feel rich, or at least secure, even if they’re currently making bupkis.

But if they see the coming year as likely to diminish their savings or earnings, they can feel poor or financially fragile, even if they are worth millions of dollars.

If Tobias is right, and I think he has really hit on something there, then so is Charlie Brown. Having things to look forward to, and nothing to dread, makes people feel good about their lives.

I think we can expand this concept beyond material goods, and nudge it closer to Aristotle’s, by saying we feel better or happier about our life when we have more power to control it or at least to assert our independence.

Being able to make choices is a human trait. As we expand our independence, we improve our lives. When we lose that ability, or simply have fewer choices to make, we can feel less human, less happy.

We see this throughout our lives. As a child, we are eager to become mobile, to be able to crawl, then walk, then run. As toddlers, we revel in the power to say “no!” and to scamper away from our parents, those tyrants who hem us in.

As teenagers and young adults, we start to decide things for ourselves and take re-

sponsibility for our actions. We determine what we will wear, how we spend our day, what our career path will be. And our independence expands exponentially when we start to drive and earn our own money.

By the time we reach adulthood, particularly parenthood, we start to realize that having control over our own lives and those of our children is actually a heavy responsibility, even a burden sometimes.

The choices and the responsibilities are ours alone. It can become overwhelming.

As the nest empties and we enter late middle age, one of the main changes that occurs for many of us is not so much loss of control or independence as a limiting of the sphere of our influence.

We may still advise our kids, but the decisions and choices are theirs. We may still be employed, but we are looking towards retirement, when we will have less to do (or less that we “have” to do). Retirement can be liberating, but for some, it can also be stultifying.

Finally, we reach later life, where, if we live long enough and/or experience chronic or disabling conditions, we may see our abilities and choices — the roots of our independence — continuously pared down, sometimes to the nub.

Yes, we all, ultimately, have something to dread. But the key to a happy life, in my book, is continuing to set and pursue worthy goals, within our ability, so that we always have something to look forward to.

There are so many things we can do with our lives. Those choices and abilities change and diminish over time. But if we always strive to do the most we can with what we have, we can still be said to be living the good life.

Letters to the editor Readers are encouraged to share their opinion 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 e-mail to barbara@thebeaconnewspapers.com. Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification.

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BEACON BITS

Ongoing

ROVING RADISH DELIVERS HEALTHY MEAL KITS

Beginning in July, the county’s new effort to bring fresh, affordable and healthy foods to residents will be launched via the “Roving Radish,” a refrigerated vehicle bearing meal kits of fruit, vegetables and meats with recipes at drop-off sites in Columbia, Laurel and Ellicott City. Each kit contains ingredients sufficient to make two meals for a family of four and costs $24, with price assistance provided to families in need. Individuals and families can sign up for one week at a time or for a four-week package. For more information, visit www.rovingradish.com or call Kelly Dudeck, Howard County Food Policy Director, at (410) 313-0417.

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EYEING TROUBLE Floaters and flashes are often harmless, but sometimes serve as a warning APPS THAT TRACK MEDS Phone apps can remind you to take pills and help you keep a record BONE UP ON BONE LOSS Learn how aging affects your bones, and ways you can strengthen yours SKIPPING A BEAT Most heart palpitations are benign, but report symptoms to your doctor

10 innovations will reshape medical care The Cleveland Clinic asked 100 of its top experts — people who focus on patient care every day — to offer insights on which medical breakthroughs are set to reshape healthcare this year. Here are their “top 10” answers: 10. Targeted cancer therapy There’s new hope for people with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a cancer responsible for 4,400 American deaths per year. After promising clinical trial results, the first-in-class oral drug ibrutinib is expected to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treatment of CLL. The drug targets malignant cells while sparing a patient’s immune system.

9. Heart risk screened through the gut In 2013, researchers added a new biomarker to the hunt for heart disease: TMAO. Your body produces TMAO (trimethylamine N-oxide) when your gut bacteria digest choline, which is found in egg yolks, red meat and dairy products.

Choline is thought to promote hardening of the arteries. TMAO provides an accurate screening tool for predicting future risks of heart attack, stroke and death.

8. Personal sedation station Novel, personalized “sedation station” technology will allow healthcare profession-

als other than anesthesiologists to deliver the light sedation required for life-saving colonoscopies. The technology could help bring the nationwide cost of this crucial test down by an estimated $1 billion per year.

7. Hope for acute heart failure Heart failure accounts for 55,000 deaths annually in the U.S. There had not been a major treatment breakthrough in two decades — until serelaxin. This synthetic version of a human hormone gained “breakthrough” status from the FDA in 2013. Serelaxin study results reported a 38 percent reduction in death rates after six months in patients with acute heart failure, compared with those who received standard therapy.

6. Fecal transplant restores balance In fecal microbiota transplantation, doctors transfer a liquid suspension made from a healthy person’s fecal matter into a sick person’s colon. The goal is to restore bacterial balance and fight infections and diseases. This approach could become a primary therapy not only for treating deadly and difficult C. diff infection, but also for inflammatory bowel disease.

5. Decision support for smarter surgery A new anesthesia management system helps surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses

and others make smarter decisions in the operating room. The system not only records everything that happens before, during and after surgery, it also has an alert system — inspired by technology used in jets — that highlights potential problems in real time.

4. Breakthrough for hepatitis C Until 2011, there were no proven medicines for patients who didn’t respond to traditional therapy for hepatitis C. But two drugs, telaprevir and boceprevir, made the top 10 innovations list that year. Now, another — Sovaldi (sofosbuvir), the first all-oral therapy — further expands the list of treatment options. The drug promises the highest cure rates ever, reduced treatment time and fewer side effects. [See “New hepatitis C pill is quick, costly cure,” May Beacon.]

3. Device disrupts seizures The seizures that come with epilepsy disrupt life, but a new neurological device can disrupt seizures. For patients with intractable epilepsy, in which treatment fails to control seizures, the experimental technology is especially promising. The surgically implanted device can detect triggers of an impending seizure and deliver short electrical pulses to interrupt them before symptoms occur.

2. Genomic tests for managing cancer Genomic-based tests have brought a new age of cancer diagnosis and precision medicine. These tests analyze the genes in an individual’s tumor to predict how it will behave. Past tests have improved management of breast and colorectal cancers, and in 2013, the FDA approved a similar test for prostate cancer. The goal of these tests is to avoid aggressive treatment when it is not needed — and save lives when it is.

1. The bionic eye becomes reality In the past, there was no effective treatment for late-stage retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a disease that causes most patients to be legally blind by age 40. A new technology featuring a retinal prosthesis — commonly called the “bionic eye” — will make a big difference. While the technology does not restore complete vision, it does allow people to detect light and dark in the environment and to identify the location or movement of people and objects.

WhatDoctorsKnow is a magazine devoted to up-to-the minute information on health issues from physicians, major hospitals and clinics, universities and healthcare agencies across the U.S. Online at www.whatdoctorsknow.com. © 2014 Whatdoctorsknow.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Some ‘unhealthy’ foods are good for you When you envision foods that wreck your diet or sabotage your health, what pops into your mind?

There’s a good chance the list of foods you imagine includes options that could actually help you reduce stress, prevent heart disease, and ward off certain cancers.

Unfortunately, once a food gets labeled “bad for your health,” it never seems to lose that description — even when new studies contradict previous claims.

You can buck the trend. Here are five foods to consider adding back to your diet.

1. Eggs Old thinking: Eggs will raise cholesterol and your chances of developing heart disease.

New thinking: Eggs are loaded with antioxidants, protein and nutrients vital to good health. For example, a 2011 study

found that regular egg consumption helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer due to their high antioxidant content. Additional studies have found that eggs may help reduce blood pressure.

Further, new research out of Yale University has found that eggs can be incorporated into a heart healthy diet without negative effects on cholesterol, weight or endothelial function. As with all good things, though, just be sure to eat eggs, and particularly egg yolks, in moderation.

2. Nuts Old thinking: Nuts are too fattening.

New thinking: In truth, any food consumed in too great a quantity will cause weight gain. However, when eaten in appropriate portions — always check the serving size as a guideline — the protein and healthy fats found in nuts may actually help you lose weight.

In addition to weight loss, eating nuts has been associated in several studies with reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Walnuts, which contain heart-healthy omega-3 fats, are a particularly good option.

3. Chocolate Old thinking: It’s a sweet treat, so it must be bad.

New thinking: The old thinking does apply to chocolate treats with a lot of added sugar. However, dark chocolate — look for cocoa content of at least 70 percent — is loaded with flavonoids, the same beneficial compounds found in berries, red wine and tea.

An ounce of chocolate a day has been shown to reduce risks for heart disease, and an ounce and a half may help reduce stress.

tening.

New thinking: Potatoes are naturally high in fiber and contain virtually no fat.

Furthermore, certain potatoes may play a role in reducing the risk of a silent killer — but the type of potato matters.

A 2012 study found that purple potatoes helped lower blood pressure in hypertensive, obese individuals without causing weight gain.

Sweet potatoes and purple potatoes are tops when it comes to nutrient density, but what you put on your potato (or don’t put on it) will make or break an attempt at a healthy meal. Forgo the sour cream, bacon bits, butter and cheese. Opt for fresh veggies and herbs instead.

5. Soy Old thinking: Eating soy increases

4. Potatoes Old thinking: All potatoes are too fat-

See ‘UNHEALTHY’ FOODS, page 5

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Floaters and flashes warn of eye trouble

By Patrick J. Skerrett “Floaters” and flashes are a common sight for many people. Floater is a catchall term for the specks, threads, or cobweb-like images that occasionally drift across the line of vision. Flashes are sparks or strands of light that flicker across the visual field.

Both are usually harmless, but can be warning signs of trouble in the eye, especially when they suddenly appear or become more plentiful.

A floater is a tiny cluster of cells or fleck of protein lodged in the vitreous humor.

This clear, stable gel, which looks like raw egg white, supports and fills the rear twothirds of the eyeball.

The vitreous provides a pathway for light coming into the eye through the lens. The vitreous also connects to the retina — the

patch of light-sensitive cells along the back of the eye that captures images and sends them to the brain via the optic nerve.

What you see isn’t actually the floater itself, but the shadow it casts onto the retina. Floaters move as your eyes move.

They appear to zoom away when you try to look directly at them, and drift slowly when your eyes stop moving.

Incidence rises with age The vitreous slowly shrinks with age, causing it to become a bit stringy. The strands cast shadows on the retina, causing floaters.

About one-quarter of people have some vitreous shrinkage with floaters by their 60s; that rises to about two-thirds of 80-year-olds.

Floaters also appear more often in people who are nearsighted, those who’ve had

BEACON BITS

July 8

ONE-ON-ONE SESSIONS WITH DIETICIAN Howard County General Hospital is offering an opportunity to

meet individually with a registered dietician to discuss weight loss, high blood pressure and other concerns in 30-minute appointments on Tuesday, July 8 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the hospital’s Wellness Center, 10710 Charter Dr., Columbia. The fee is $35. To learn more about the program and to register, visit www.hcgh.org or call (410) 964-9100.

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cataract surgery or a previous eye injury, and those with diabetes. Although most people tolerate floaters just fine, others feel that floaters affect their vision and disrupt their ability to read.

Flashes occur when the vitreous gel bumps, rubs or tugs against the retina.

Like floaters, flashes are generally harmless and require no treatment.

Sometimes, however, floaters and flashes signal a condition that can lead to vision loss.

“A new onset of floaters may herald retinal disease,” said Dr. Jeffrey Heier, director of the retina service at Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston and clinical instructor in ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School.

Retinal detachment The shrinking vitreous can tug on the retina and pull away from it. This event, called a posterior vitreous detachment, is common, and usually doesn’t threaten vision.

In about one in six people, however, a posterior vitreous detachment causes the retina to tear. Fluid from inside the eye can then seep through the tear and separate the retina from the tissues that nourish it.

This separation, called retinal detachment, can lead to permanent vision loss.

Retinal tears and detachments are painless. Key warning signs include: —A new onset of floaters and flashes —Gradual shading of vision from one side (like a curtain being drawn across your field of vision) —Rapid decline in sharp, central vision.

This occurs when the macula (the area of the retina responsible for central vision) detaches.

If you experience any of these warning signs, call your doctor right away. You’ll need to see an ophthalmologist for an eye exam as soon as possible. If a tear is de-

tected early, treatment can prevent the retina from detaching.

Tears can be treated several ways. Pinpoints of laser light can be used to fuse the retina to the back wall of the eye. Laser photocoagulation is usually done in a doctor’s office. The ophthalmologist uses a laser to make a series of tiny burns around the retinal tear. This creates a barrier of scar tissue that stops the tear from getting bigger.

Extreme cold, a procedure called cryopexy, does much the same thing.

Cold and laser light can also be paired with the injection of a gas bubble into the eye (pneumatic retinopexy) to repair a detached retina. Two operations, scleral buckling and vitrectomy, can also be used to reattach a retina.

Living with floaters If your floaters aren’t a sign of retinal damage, they may disappear, become less noticeable, or stay and become irritating.

Some clinicians perform and promote laser treatment for benign floaters, but this approach hasn’t been carefully studied in a clinical trial, Dr. Heier said.

Floaters can be removed, but for most people the risk the surgery poses to vision is greater than the problem posed by the floater.

If floaters become a nuisance, Dr. Heier recommended this trick in “The Aging Eye,” a special health report from Harvard Medical School for which he is a medical editor: Move your eyes up and down, or left and right. That can shift the floater and provide temporary relief.

Patrick Skerrett is executive editor of the Harvard Health Letter. © 2014. President and Fellows of Harvard College. All Rights Reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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your risk of disease.

New thinking: Soy is certainly controversial, but as with some of the foods mentioned above, the type of soy you eat matters.

Many concerns are associated with highly processed soy products, but numerous studies looking at isoflavones and protein in whole soy sources — think miso, tofu and edamame — demonstrate the

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‘Unhealthy’ foods

benefits associated with this legume.

Highlights include reduction in cancers of the breast (for women on certain types of therapy), prostate and colon, and improvement in heart health.

WhatDoctorsKnow is a magazine devoted to information on health issues from physicians, major hospitals and clinics, universities and healthcare agencies across the U.S. Online at www.whatdoctorsknow.com. © 2014 Whatdoctorsknow.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Ten years of U.S. data suggest cholesterol-lowering statins are giving patients a license to pig out.

Calorie and fat intake increased among statin users during the decade — an indication that many patients might be abandoning heart-healthy lifestyles and assuming that drugs alone will do the trick, the study authors said.

They said the goals of statin treatment should be to help patients achieve benefits unattainable by other methods, “not to empower them to put butter on their steak.”

Statins may keep cholesterol low even if people eat less healthy food and slack off on exercise. But those bad habits can con-

tribute to obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and other problems that are bad for the heart.

Dr. Rita Redberg, the editor of JAMA Internal Medicine, which published the study, said it “raises concerns of a potential moral hazard of statin use,” in addition to already known potential side effects risks including muscle aches and diabetes.

“Statins provide a false reassurance,” she said. “People seem to believe that statins can compensate for poor dietary choices and sedentary life.”

The researchers examined 1990-2010 government health surveys involving nearly 28,000 adults aged 20 and older. Different people were surveyed each year, underwent physical exams and blood tests,

F R E E

If Mickey Mouse is feeling his age at 86, scientists might have found just the tonic: the blood of younger mice.

Older mice got stronger, exercised longer and performed better mentally after they were injected with blood from young mice, or even just with a substance that’s more abundant in younger blood, U.S. researchers found.

Someday, if more research goes well, this may lead to a way to treat some infirmities of old age in people. In the meantime, scientists have a warning for do-ityourselfers.

“Don’t try this at home,” said Saul Villeda of the University of California, San Francisco, an author of one of three papers published by the journals Nature Medicine and Science.

He worked with mice that were roughly the equivalent of people in their 20s and 60s. Researchers repeatedly injected the

Statin users eat less healthily

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Young blood rejuvenates old mice

older mice with blood from either the younger animals or other aged mice.

Those that got the young blood did better in learning and memory tests than the mice given the older blood. For example, they performed better at recalling where to find a submerged platform in a maze.

Villeda said the researchers are trying to figure out what’s in the young blood that made the difference.

The two other papers, from Harvard University, focused on a substance that is more abundant in the blood of younger mice than old. That protein, called GDF11, is also found in human blood and its concentration also appears to decline with age, said Amy Wagers, an author on both papers.

On average, aging mice that got injections of it showed greater grip strength and more endurance on a treadmill than untreated mice.

The Harvard scientists also found that exposing older mice to the blood of younger mice produced more blood vessels and blood flow in the brain. Injections of GDF11 had a similar effect.

Lee Rubin, a study author, said those results suggest further work may lead to a way to treat age-related mental decline and perhaps dementia in people.

— AP

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J U L Y 2 0 1 4 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Phone apps can help keep track of meds

By Linda A. Johnson Medicine only helps if you take it properly. And adhering to an exact schedule of what to take, and when, can be challenging for patients who are forgetful or need to take numerous medications each day.

Doctors warn about the consequences, and urge patients to use various techniques to remind them to take their morning and bedtime medicines — such as using divided pill boxes or putting their pill bottles beside their toothbrush.

Still, only about half of patients take medication as prescribed, resulting in unnecessary hospital admissions and ER visits that cost the U.S. healthcare system an estimated $290 billion a year.

To help combat the problem, many doctors are trying a more high-tech approach: They’re recommending smartphone apps that send reminders to patients to take their medications and record when they

take each one.

“I think it’s going to become pretty standard” for doctors to recommend them, said Dr. Michael A. Weber, a cardiologist at SUNY Downstate Medical Center. Weber began recommending apps to patients a few months ago, and already has seen better lab results from some who are using them.

“Some people say, ‘That’s a great idea,’” Weber said. “Even ones who claim they’re conscientious like the reminders.”

He said the apps are particularly helpful for patients with symptomless conditions, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Those patients are less likely to regularly take their medications than someone with pain or an infection.

“I don’t think [the apps are] going to change the world,” Weber said. Though he recognizes the benefit of smartphone apps, he said they won’t do much to help people who simply don’t like taking medicine, fear

BEACON BITS

June 26

TASTY, HEALTHY FERMENTED FOODS Certified health coach Gina Rieg and farmer Nora Crist from

Clark’s Elioak Farm discuss the nutritional benefits of fermented food on Thursday, June 26 at 7 p.m. at the Miller Branch Library, 9421 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City. Call (410) 313-1950 for additional information.

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side effects or can’t afford their prescriptions.

It’s too soon to tell how well the apps keep patients compliant or how long they keep using them.

Darrell West, director of the Center for Technology Innovation at the independent public policy group Brookings Institution, said some doctors have reported better medication adherence, but there haven’t been large scale studies on the effectiveness of such apps.

Apps galore The apps began appearing a few years ago and now there are dozens. Available functions include providing more detailed information on the patient’s medication and illness, prompts to refill prescriptions, email alerts about possible drug interactions, doctor locators and more.

Some have symptom checkers, and one called iPharmacy can identify pills when patients enter their shape, color and imprinted text.

Others are for patients with complex chronic diseases, such as cancer (CareZone Cancer), diabetes (Diabetes Pacer, which also tracks blood sugar and exercise) or HIV (My Health Matters, from drugmaker Merck & Co.). For those patients, getting off schedule or ignoring symptoms can have particularly serious consequences.

Still more apps take distinct approaches.

For instance, Mango Health lets users earn points for complying with their medication schedule. Those points can be turned into gift cards or charitable donations.

CEO and founder Jason Oberfest, formerly head of game platforms at MySpace, said Mango Health partners with doctors and health insurers who are recommending its app to patients and customers.

The app, featured in Apple’s iTunes store, gives a history showing users daily results and point total, plus graphs comparing an individual’s adherence to other app users. According to the company, 46 percent of its monthly visitors use the app daily and 60 percent are still using it after four months.

For widely used classes of drugs for depression, diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure, the company claims at least 80 percent of its users take their meds as prescribed. That’s compared to 59 percent or less in independent studies of overall patient adherence for those drug classes.

“We’ve heard from people using the application as old as their mid-’70s and older,” Oberfest said, but it’s especially popular with the 35-to-55 age group, people familiar with video games.

How to choose an app • Check whether it’s available for your smartphone’s operating system. Some are only available for one system or haven’t been updated for the latest phones.

• Ask your doctor’s opinion. Some may not be up on the different apps, but have staff members who can help patients pick and install apps.

• Start with one of the many free or lowcost apps. Search your app store for “medication reminder.”

• Think about what you’ll really use. If you only want reminders to take your pills, that’s all you need. If you’re taking multiple drugs or change medications often, you might prefer an app with information on your condition, drug interactions and other details.

• To protect your privacy, pick one with password protection.

• If your life is hectic, consider one with a snooze function.

— AP

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H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 4

7

FDA reconsiders safety of pelvic mesh

By Matthew Perrone Makers of trouble-prone implants used to surgically repair women’s pelvic problems would be subject to stricter safety requirements under a recent federal proposal.

The Food and Drug Administration says plastic mesh used to repair pelvic collapse should be reclassified as a “high-risk” medical device, following years of reports of pain, bleeding and infection among women who have received the implants.

If adopted, the change would require

manufacturers to submit studies demonstrating that their products are safe and effective before they can be sold.

The FDA proposal does not apply to mesh products used to treat incontinence, hernia and other conditions not related to women’s health.

Plastic mesh has been used since the late 1990s to strengthen the pelvic wall in cases of pelvic organ prolapse, in which the bladder or other reproductive organs slip down into the vagina. The condition is com-

Health shorts

statin users increased from 29 — just below the cutoff for obesity — to 31, or one point higher than that cutoff.

Diabetes also increased — 29 percent of statin users had it in 2010 versus 22 percent in the study’s first year. A link between statin use and diabetes has been documented previously, but reasons for the trend in the study are uncertain.

Calories and fat intake were lower among statin users than nonusers early on, but by the final years that difference vanished.

Calories, fat intake and diabetes remained stable among adults not using statins, and there was a smaller increase in body-mass index among nonusers, although the average BMI remained in the

From page 5 and reported their food intake. The portion who used statins steadily increased, from 8 percent in the first year to 17 percent in the final year.

Statin users in the first year consumed on average 2,000 calories daily; those in the final year consumed 2,192 daily calories.

Average fat intake also increased, from 72 grams daily to 82 grams daily. Experts generally recommend no more than 77 grams daily for adults consuming 2,000 calories daily. The increase was seen in total fat intake and saturated fats, the least healthy kind.

Average body-mass index (BMI) among

mon among older women and those who’ve had children. The most common technique for implanting the mesh involves a surgical insertion through the vagina.

More complications The FDA’s proposal comes nearly three years after the agency first concluded that women getting the mesh have more complications than women who undergo traditional surgery with stitches.

An agency analysis found that 10 per-

overweight category throughout.

— AP

Falls a problem for middle-aged, too Falls are just as much of a problem for middle-aged adults with arthritis as they are for older people, according to a new government survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In a telephone survey, about a third of adults 65 and older with arthritis said they had taken a tumble in the last year. But slightly more of those aged 45 to 64 reported falling.

More of the middle-aged group report-

cent of women experienced mesh erosion within 12 months, meaning their mesh had worn its way through the vaginal wall into the surrounding tissue or organs. More than half of these women required followup surgery to remove the mesh — sometimes two or more procedures.

Mesh products were initially pitched to doctors as a high-tech improvement over surgery, but the FDA found no evidence See PELVIC MESH, page 8

ed being injured from falls; 17 percent compared to 12 percent in the older group.

About half of Americans 65 and older complain of arthritis symptoms, such as joint pain and stiffness. Nearly a third of middle-aged people have arthritis. The number has been growing, mostly because of overweight baby boomers.

Arthritis can make it harder to balance and it can sap lower-body strength, contributing to falls. Walking and moderate physical exercise are recommended for those with arthritis to keep symptoms from getting worse, said the CDC’s Kamil Barbour, the study’s lead author.

The report is based on a 2012 survey of 339,000 people ages 45 and older.

— AP

8

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J U L Y 2 0 1 4 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Ways to strengthen bones and slow loss

By Dr. Bart Clarke Dear Mayo Clinic: What’s the difference between osteoporosis and osteopenia? Are they treated differently?

Answer: Osteoporosis and osteopenia are related conditions connected to bone health.

Bones are in a constant state of renewal.

Your body regularly makes new bone and breaks down old bone. When you’re young, your body makes new bone faster than it breaks down old bone, and your bone mass increases. Most people reach their peak bone mass in their mid-20s to mid-30s.

As people age, bone mass is lost faster than it’s created. That means the higher your peak bone mass is when you’re young, the more bone your body has to sustain bone health throughout the rest of your life.

Osteopenia develops when a person’s

Pelvic mesh From page 7 that they improve safety outcomes.

“The FDA has identified clear risks associated with surgical mesh for the transvaginal repair of pelvic organ prolapse, and is now proposing to address those risks for

bone density is below normal. This condition raises the risk of bone fractures. Osteopenia can be a precursor to osteoporosis, but that’s not always the case.

Osteoporosis occurs when the body’s creation of new bone can no longer keep up with the breakdown of old bone. This leads to bones becoming weak, brittle and easily broken.

Treatment for these disorders is similar because the treatment goals for both are to strengthen bones and slow bone loss.

Diagnosing bone loss Osteopenia and osteoporosis are often diagnosed based on results of a bone density test. The test measures how many grams of calcium and other bone minerals are in a segment of bone.

Bones that are most commonly tested are in the spine, hip and forearm. The higher the bone mineral content, the

more safe and effective products,” said William Maisel, chief scientist for the FDA’s device center.

The first pelvic mesh products for women received fast-track approval from the FDA because they were deemed similar to mesh long used to treat hernias. At the time, the FDA classified all pelvic mesh

denser the bones are. The denser the bones are, the stronger they are and the less likely they are to break.

Results of bone density tests are reported in a number called a T-score. A T-score of -1 or higher is considered normal. Tscores between -1 and -2.5 are labeled as osteopenia. A T-score of -2.5 or lower indicates osteoporosis.

In some situations, a person may be diagnosed with osteoporosis if she or he has a bone that breaks easily, even if the Tscore is not in the osteoporosis range.

Osteoporosis requires treatment. Treatment may be appropriate for osteopenia in some cases.

Medications called bisphosphonates are often prescribed for people who have osteoporosis and osteopenia. These drugs are useful because they have been shown to slow the bone breakdown process. Examples of bisphosphonates include alen-

as a “moderate-risk” device, not subject to the rigorous testing of high-risk implants.

Under the proposal, companies would have to submit clinical data establishing their devices’ safety for pelvic collapse before gaining FDA approval. The agency will take comments on the plan through July 28.

Thousands of lawsuits Injuries caused by mesh for pelvic collapse are the subject of more than 22,000 personal injury lawsuits against leading manufacturer Johnson & Johnson.

Women suing the company allege that New Brunswick, N.J.-based J&J was aware of the risks of its product but did not warn the public.

Gay Courter of Crystal River, Fla., said

dronate (brand name: Fosamax), risedronate (Actonel) and ibandronate (Boniva), among others.

Diet and exercise can help Getting enough calcium and vitamin D in your diet also can help keep your bones healthy. Men and women between the ages of 18 and 50 need 1,000 milligrams of calcium a day. This daily amount increases to 1,200 milligrams when women turn 50 and men turn 70.

Good sources of calcium include low-fat dairy products, dark green leafy vegetables, canned sardines with bones, canned salmon, and soy products. Many cereals and juices also are calcium-fortified.

Vitamin D is necessary for your body to absorb calcium. People may get all the vitamin D they need from sunlight, but See STRENGTHEN BONES, page 9

she was “heartened” by news that the FDA plans to reclassify the devices. “We look to the FDA to protect women because corporations who profit from these products have not responsibly done long-term testing or reporting of adverse events,” said Courter, one of several mesh patients who spoke against J&J at its annual shareholders’ meeting.

J&J spokeswoman Sheri Woodruff said in a statement that J&J stopped selling its pelvic prolapse mesh products in 2012, “in light of changing market dynamics.” The company continues to sell mesh to treat stress urinary incontinence, which causes bladder leaks.

Woodruff said those devices “are considered by many to be the gold standard of treatment” for incontinence.

— AP

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 4

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

9

Gene therapy may boost cochlear implants

By Lauran Neergaard Australian researchers are trying a novel way to boost the power of cochlear implants: They use the technology to help gene therapy better penetrate into nerve cells in the ears of deaf animals, and they found the combination improved hearing.

The approach isn’t ready for human testing, but it’s part of growing research into ways to let users of cochlear implants experience richer, more normal sound.

Normally, microscopic hair cells in a part of the inner ear called the cochlea detect vibrations and convert them to electrical impulses that the brain recognizes as sound. Hearing loss typically occurs as those hair cells are lost, whether from aging, exposure to loud noises or other factors.

Cochlear implants substitute for the missing hair cells, sending electrical impulses to directly activate auditory nerves

Strengthen bones From page 8 many do not. If you’re diagnosed with osteopenia or osteoporosis, your doctor can do a blood test to check your level of vitamin D. If it is too low, you may need a vitamin D supplement.

Regular exercise can help build strong bones and slow bone loss, too. A combination of strength training exercises with weight-bearing exercises is usually best.

Strength training helps strengthen muscles and bones in your arms and upper spine. Weight-bearing exercises — such as walking, jogging, running, stair climbing, skipping rope or skiing — have a positive effect on the entire skeleton, and in particular benefit the bones in your legs,

in the brain. They’ve been implanted in more than 300,000 people. While highly successful, they don’t restore hearing to normal, missing out on musical tone, for instance.

Boosting nerves The idea behind the project: Perhaps a closer connection between the implant and the auditory nerves would improve hearing. Those nerves’ bush-like endings can regrow if exposed to nerve-nourishing proteins called neurotrophins. Usually, the hair cells would provide those.

Researchers at Australia’s University of New South Wales figured out a new way to deliver one of those growth factors.

They injected a growth factor-producing gene into the ears of deafened guinea pigs, animals commonly used as a model for human hearing. Then they adapted an electrode from a cochlear implant to beam in a

hips and lower spine.

Swimming, cycling and exercising on machines such as elliptical trainers can provide a good cardiovascular workout.

Because these exercises are low impact, however, they are not as helpful for improving bone strength as weight-bearing exercises.

— Bart Clarke, M.D., Endocrinology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

Medical Edge from Mayo Clinic is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. To submit a question, write to: medicaledge@mayo.edu. For health information, visit www.mayoclinic.com. © 2014 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All Rights Reserved Distributed By Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BEACON BITS

June 25

NUTRITION COUNSELING

Nutritionist Rona Martiyan will offer tips and answer questions about foods and eating habits on Wednesday, June 25 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Ellicott City Senior Center, 9401 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City.

To schedule an appointment, call (410) 313-1400.

few stronger-than-normal electrical pulses.

That made the membranes of nearby cells temporarily permeable, so the gene could slip inside. Those cells began producing the growth factor, which in turn stimulated regrowth of the nerve fibers — closing some of the space between the nerves and the cochlear implant, the team reported in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

The animals still needed a cochlear implant to detect sound — but those given the gene therapy had twice the improvement, researchers concluded.

Human studies in a few years Senior author Gary Housley estimated small studies in people could begin in two

or three years.

“That’s a really clever way” of delivering the nerve booster, said Stanford University otolaryngology professor Stefan Heller, who wasn’t involved with the Australian work. “This is a promising approach.”

But Heller cautioned that it’s an early first step, and it’s not clear how long the extra improvement would last or if it really would spur richer sound.

He said other groups are exploring such approaches as drug coatings for implants.

Heller’s own research is aimed at re-growing hair cells.

The work was funded by the Australian Research Council and manufacturer Cochlear Ltd. — AP

10

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Health Studies Page

J U L Y 2 0 1 4 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Study focuses on diabetes complications

By Carol Sorgen Type 2 diabetes affects nearly 20 million people in the United States, while impaired glucose regulation — which includes impaired glucose tolerance, impaired fasting glucose, and early diabetes — is believed to affect a considerably larger population group.

Impaired glucose regulation is a growing problem among older adults, and its association with many functional limitations, particularly when it comes to mobility, is not always recognized — even though diabetes-related disability occurs in up to two-thirds of older adults with diabetes.

Researchers have found that over 90

percent of patients with impaired glucose regulation report such symptoms as lightheadedness, dry mouth or dry eyes, pale or blue feet, feet that are colder than the rest of the body, decreased sweating in the feet or increased sweating in the hands, nausea or bloating after eating, persistent diarrhea or constipation, and leaking of urine.

One of the complications of diabetes is neuropathy, a type of nerve damage that most often affects the legs and feet, and can cause pain, tingling, difficulty walking and standing, and increased risk of falls.

In addition, autonomic dysfunction (damage caused by miscommunication between the brain and portions of the auto-

BEACON BITS

July 23

BUY AND EAT LOCAL Learn about nutritional, environmental and economic benefits of

locally grown foods, and share recipe ideas with area chefs during a program on Wednesday, July 23 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Miller Branch Library, 9421 Frederick

nomic nervous system, such as the heart and blood vessels) is a significant problem in patients with diabetic neuropathy.

While neuropathy is rarer in those with pre-diabetes or early diabetes, it can still occur, especially in those who already have high blood pressure.

Can exercise help?

The VA Medical Health Care System in Baltimore is currently recruiting men with pre- or early diabetes between the ages of 30 and 80 to examine whether intense physical activity has an effect on autonomic function and balance in such patients.

Although previous research has shown that diet and exercise in patients with diabetes led to an overall improvement in autonomic function and an improvement in standing balance, currently there are no published studies that assess the effect of physical activity on autonomic function in those with diabetic neuropathy.

The VA study will test how aerobic and balance exercises may help.

Rd., Ellicott City. Call (410) 313-1950 for details.

Two study groups The study — which researchers hope will enhance the chance of reversing autonomic neuropathy and balance impairment — is open to men who are pre-diabetic as well as those with early or mild diabetes. They will be randomly divided into two groups.

The first group will undergo a struc-

tured weight loss program for six months, followed by six months of weight maintenance.

During the year, they will also be assigned a personalized aerobic exercise program that stresses activities that are meaningful to, and tailored for, individual participants. They will work with a dietician and trainer to establish and review goals.

Participants in this group will also have their activity levels monitored by questionnaires and telephone contact, as well as heart rate monitoring. The program stresses aerobic exercise, rather than other types of exercise, because it appears to correlate best with improved autonomic function.

Participants in the comparison group will be assigned an “interventionist assessor,” who will meet with them during an orientation meeting. They will be provided guidelines and a weight loss and physical activity target to achieve, but will not get an individualized program. Participants will be contacted weekly during a 12month period.

To be eligible to participate, volunteers must have impaired glucose regulation as well as autonomic neuropathy.

For more information, or to see if you are eligible to participate in the study, contact Dr. James W. Russell at (410) 706-6689 or James.Russell6@va.gov, or Dr. Lindsay A Zilliox at (410) 328-3100 or lzilliox@som.umaryland.edu.

BEACON BITS

July 15

WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY Learn about weight loss surgery from Johns Hopkins Center for

Bariatric Surgery in a free program on Tuesday, July 15 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Howard County General Hospital’s Wellness Center, 10710 Charter Dr., Columbia.

For further details, visit hopkinsmedicine.org/jhbmc/bariatrics or call (410) 5505669.

Want to Prevent Falls in the Elderly?

Seeking Men and Women to participate in a research study at the University of Maryland &Veterans Affairs of Baltimore to better understand balance and the prevention of falls in aging individuals.

You will receive:

• Health evaluation • Balance, step, strength, and/or flexibility exercises • Compensation for your time If interested call: 410-605-7179 & Mention code: LIFT at Baltimore VA/University of Maryland Gerontology Recruitment Line *You must be at least 65 years old and in good health *Participants will be seen at the Baltimore VA Medical Center and University of Maryland School of Medicine *You will attend approximately 41 visits for 1 to 4 hours each per visit

CALL TODAY!

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 4

11

Spotting pneumonia early can be difficult Pneumonia is treatable, but spotting the infection early is a challenge. The disease has multiple symptoms that can lead people to think their illness is nothing more than the common cold or flu.

“It’s a tough disease to diagnose,” said Dr. Marie Budev, pulmonologist and the medical director of Cleveland Clinic’s lung transplant program. “Both can have the symptoms of coughing, fever and chest pain.”

Budev urges any person experiencing chest pain or breathing complications to immediately see a doctor. Pneumonia-like symptoms in very young children or adults over 65 are a particular cause for concern.

It’s critical to get treatment for pneumonia as soon as possible. It can cause permanent

lung damage if left untreated for too long.

Because pneumonia shares symptoms with the common cold and flu, people often rely on home treatment instead of seeking medical help. But if you don’t see improvement in a few days, don’t just let it go.

“Pneumonia symptoms last longer than the cold and flu,” said Budev. “Using the home therapy of rest, fluids and over-thecounter medicine is OK, but if you’re still experiencing coughing, chest pain and congestion after three to five days, you should go see a doctor.”

Viral vs. bacterial Those with viral pneumonia often experience mild fatigue, congestion and coughing

without mucus. Since the symptoms of viral pneumonia are usually considered mild, minimal treatment is required. It can be more serious, however, for young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems.

People with bacterial pneumonia will often have colored mucus, a fever and chest pain. They should seek medical attention to prevent lung damage.

Bacterial pneumonia can sometimes develop after a cold or flu, and often is caused by exposure to the streptococcus pneumonia germ.

Budev stressed the importance of flu shots and good hygiene because influenza can leave people vulnerable to more serious infections such as pneumonia.

BEACON BITS

BEACON BITS

July 18

July 12+

CELEBRATE NELSON MANDELA DAY In 2009, Nelson Mandela’s birthday was declared “Mandela Day”

“The flu can be prevented,” said Budev.

“Antibiotics can’t fight off viruses, so in some severe cold and flu cases they will be ineffective.

“People just need to get a flu shot in preparation for the flu season months of January and February. People need to consistently wash their hands to prevent contraction and spreading of the infection.”

Cause for concern: Symptoms beyond three to five days.

These persistent or severe symptoms are red flags: Serious congestion or chest pain, difficulty breathing, a fever of 102 or higher, and coughing that produces pus. ©2014 Whatdoctorsknow.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

NATIVE AMERICAN POW-WOW AND SHOW The 20th annual Maryland Pow-Wow and Show will be held

to promote global peace and celebrate the South African leader’s legacy. The

Saturday, July 12 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, July 13 from 10 a.m. to 6

Bain Center will do just that on his birthday on Tuesday, July 18 at 10 a.m. Hear

p.m. in the Exhibition Hall at the Howard County Fairgrounds, 1022 Fairgrounds

Derek Smith share his encounter with Mandela. A special lunch will be served,

Rd., W. Friendship. Native American foods, craft demonstrations, storytelling and

but you must sign up in the lunch room. Donations accepted. A special showing

face painting will be featured. Tickets are $12 for adults, $7 for children. For fur-

of Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom will be screened at 1 p.m. Participants must

ther information, call the Fairgrounds Office at (410) 442-1022 or email pow-

sign up in advance at the Bain Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia. For

wow@vance.net.

more information, call (410) 313-7213.

July 17

PLANT NOW FOR THANKSGIVING VEGETABLES Gardener Kent Phillips will discuss planting late summer and early fall vegetables in mid-July for fresh greens, broccoli and root veg-

etables to harvest at Thanksgiving on Thursday, July 17 at 7 p.m. at the Miller Branch Library, 9421 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City. For more information, call (410) 313-1950.

12

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J U L Y 2 0 1 4 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Heart palpitations are usually benign Have you ever experienced the sensation that your heart has skipped a beat or suddenly started to race or even pound?

Those sensations are known as palpitations. While frightening, they’re not usually a sign of something serious.

“Palpitations are most often benign in nature,” said Dr. Peter Zimetbaum, a heart rhythm specialist and associate professor at Harvard Medical School. Still, palpitations occasionally may be a symptom of a potentially serious condition, so it’s important to evaluate them.

Causes and symptoms Palpitations are very common. They can be caused by many things, such as caffeine, stress or thyroid problems.

People describe different sensations as “palpitations” — an occasional sudden and forceful “thump” in the chest, a pounding (but not rapid) heartbeat, a very rapid heartbeat, or a heartbeat that’s not regular.

Some people experience palpitations when they’re upset or stressed. Others notice palpitations that don’t seem related to any event or feeling; they simply appear out of the blue and then suddenly disappear.

So how do you know when palpitations warrant a visit to the doctor?

“Palpitations that are experienced as a fleeting symptom generally require no evaluation. Palpitations that last for more than a few seconds to minutes, or are associated with lightheadedness or passing out should be evaluated thoroughly,” Dr.

BEACON BITS

July 25

GHOST WALK (IF YOU DARE) The Robinson Nature Center is hosting a nighttime ghost walk on

the center’s grounds on Friday, July 25 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. The route weaves through the woods to the historic Simpsonville Mill ruins, where eerie stories abound. The journey begins at the nature center, 6692 Cedar Ln., Columbia.

Tickets are $10 per person or $25 for a family. For more information call the center at (410) 313-0400.

Zimetbaum said.

Some people are more likely to experience them, including people who: —have heart problems such as heart failure, heart valve disease, previous heart attack or cardiomyopathy, —take medications with stimulants, such as thyroid medicines or those prescribed for asthma, or —have high levels of anxiety or stress.

Diagnosis and treatment Because palpitations come and go, your doctor will rely on other symptoms to help diagnose the underlying cause. You’ll need to share information such as when the palpitations occur, how often, and what they feel like. You should mention additional symptoms if you have them, such as chest pain, a feeling of breathlessness, or lightheadedness.

It’s also important to note how you were feeling emotionally when a palpitation occurred, and the activity you were performing.

After hearing about your symptoms, your doctor may order an electrocardiogram (ECG). In this test, technicians place small, thin metal plates (electrodes) on your chest to measure your heart’s electrical activity. The test takes no more than a minute. Your doctor may also have you wear a small monitor that records your heart rhythm for up to 48 hours.

If your palpitations are associated with chest pain or provoked by exertion, your doctor may order an exercise stress test. If your doctor is worried that you may have serious blockages in the arteries of your

heart, he or she may order a coronary angiogram to take pictures of the arteries.

Once your doctor pinpoints the problem, treatment can begin. Sometimes the cause is an abnormality of the heart, such as atrial fibrillation (a heart rhythm disorder) or mitral valve prolapse (a leaky heart valve).

Sometimes palpitations are the result of another condition such as anxiety or stress, a thyroid disorder, low blood sugar, asthma or low potassium. Treating the underlying condition can often resolve the palpitations.

Common palpitation triggers include: Stress, anxiety, or panic; dehydration; low potassium; low blood sugar; too much caffeine or alcohol; nicotine; exercise; standing up; swallowing; fever; asthma medication; thyroid medication; other medications; menopause or heartburn.

What you can do If you are experiencing palpitations, it’s important to take notes on your symptoms, including how often they occur and when, and bring the notes with you to a doctor appointment. This information helps your doctor begin to diagnose the cause of the palpitations.

If you notice that your palpitations aren’t interfering with your daily life, try simple home remedies: practice meditation and relaxation exercises, cut back on caffeine and alcohol, make sure you eat regularly to avoid low blood sugar, and drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.

— Harvard Health Letter © 2014. President and Fellows of Harvard College. All Rights Reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

OUTDOOR SCULPTURES The Howard County Arts Council invites area residents to enjoy a

self-guided tour of 12 outdoor sculptures at sites throughout the county. For a complete listing of sites, visit the exhibits page at hocoarts.org. The county-wide exhibit will be in place through July 15 of next year.

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 4

13

Natural remedies for high blood pressure Dear Pharmacist: ACE inhibitors — Popular ones are Are there any natural remedies I lisinopril, benazepril and enalapril. These can take for high blood medications block your ACE pressure? I do take medienzyme. cine, but I want to get off it Natural foods and supplebecause it makes me ments that do the same thing cough. Can you help? in a gentler way include gar— T.L. lic, seaweed, pycnogenol, Dear T.L.: omega-3 fatty acids, egg Promise to remain superyolks, zinc and hawthorn vised by your physician before berries. going off your medicine. You Calcium channel blockmust be weaned off some; you ers — Medications in this catDEAR can’t suddenly stop. egory, including Verapamil, PHARMACIST High blood pressure is one amlodipine and nifedipine,

By Suzy Cohen of those things I consider a cause relaxation of the blood symptom rather than a disease vessels. itself. It is “silent” meaning there are few Natural options are omega-3 fatty acids, obvious signs that you have it until you ex- calcium, magnesium, vitamin E, vitamin C, perience a big event, such as a heart attack. hawthorn berries, NAC and lipoic acid.

As blood pressure rises, you may get You should also eat celery. headaches in the back of the head, which Diuretics — Blockbusters such as may feel worse in the morning upon aris- furosemide and hydrochlorothiazide ing. You may also experience dizziness, cause you to urinate more, which reduces blurred vision, ringing in the ears, fatigue, the amount of fluid in your blood vessels. nosebleeds or the urge to urinate at night. When you reduce the squeeze in those So what are your options? Losing weight tiny cramped vessels, pressure goes down. by exercising will help. A better diet is a Natural, gentle “water pills” include vitamust. Because hypertension is a risk fac- min C, potassium, vitamin B6, hawthorn tor for heart attack and stroke, physicians berry, taurine and CoQ10. Celery, too! take quick action and prescribe medicaCertain foods and supplements are ditions to lower blood pressure: rect vasodilators, meaning they open up

the blood vessels, thus relieving some pressure. These include taurine, potassium, omega-3 fatty acids and, you guessed it, celery!

Even four stalks of celery a week could help; eat more if you like it. Juice it, dip it in hummus or sunflower butter. And if you just can’t eat it, then consider supplements of “celery seed” extract.

Compounds in celery such as “3-nbutylphthalide” are known to reduce blood pressure. In China, this compound (extracted from celery seed) is sold as a drug to reduce beta amylase-induced neuronal apoptosis, which confers protection for people with stroke, dementia and traumatic brain injury.

The final piece of the anti-hypertensive

puzzle is the beautiful beet. Solid research shows that beets, and beetroot juice, can help with blood pressure and cholesterol.

Drink about a cup a day. I juice a beet quite often myself.

Consider massage to control cortisol.

And yoga. It’s another fun, non-pharmacological way to reduce blood pressure and stress hormones. Plus, it makes you more flexible and strengthens your spine.

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 the author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist and Real Solutions from Head to Toe. To contact her, visit www.dearpharmacist.com.

BEACON BITS

July 11

RECEPTION HONORS TWO LOCAL ARTISTS The Artists’ Gallery will hold a public reception for the two local

artists featured this month on Friday, July 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the gallery in the American City Building, 10227 Wincopin Circle, Columbia. The artists are Marian Gilese who works in oils and Cathy Sawdey, who is exhibiting her figure drawings.

For more information, call (410) 740-8249 or visit www.artistsgallerycolumbia.com.

BEACON BITS

June 27

JIMMY BUFFET PARTY Dance to favorite Jimmy Buffet songs and enjoy a patio lunch on

Friday, June 27 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Glenwood 50+ Center, 2400 Rt. 97, Cooksville. Call (410) 313-5440 to register.

Coalition of Geriatric Services We’re a coalition of nonprofits, agencies, businesses and professionals who come together to advocate for and help older adults.

FALL FEST / CASINO NIGHT 2014 Friday, November 14, 2014 6:00 – 10:00 p.m.

The Great Room at Historic Savage Mill 8600 Foundry Street, Savage, MD 20763 Featuring a fabulous silent auction, dinner, dancing and casino gaming entertainment.

All proceeds to benefit Neighbor Ride and the Howard County Office on Aging’s Vivian L. Reid Community Fund.

Early Bird Tickets are $65 (through 8/31/14) & $75 thereafter (Tables of 10 available).

Tickets on sale at www.cogsmd.org Thank you to our 2014 Executive Members PLATINUM MEMBER Howard County General Hospital – A Member of Johns Hopkins Medicine The Beacon Newspapers

GOLD MEMBERS Being There Senior Care, LLC • Howard County Office on Aging

SILVER MEMBERS Brooke Grove Retirement Village • Carney, Kelehan, Bresler, Bennett & Scherr, LLP Copper Ridge – EMA • Deborah L. Herman, CPA • Oasis Senior Advisors The Bob Lucido Team of Keller Williams Select Realtors

BRONZE MEMBERS Earl Wilkinson, M.D., ENT • Gentiva Health Services • Home Instead Senior Care Homewatch CareGivers • Lighthouse Senior Living Village at Ellicott City Paladin Advisor Group • Professional Healthcare Resources, Inc.

PATRON MEMBERS Alzheimer’s Association – Greater MD Chapter • Candle Light Funeral Home by Craig Witzke Home Call of Maryland • Home With You Senior Care • Ivy Manor Normandy, Inc. New Life Assisted Living • Right At Home In Home Care & Assistance • Visiting Angels

14

Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

J U L Y 2 0 1 4 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Can you target fat loss at specific spots?

Q: My friend says that spot reducing exercises can’t really target fat at particular areas of the body. Is that true?

A: Exercises that focus on particular body parts can be very effective at strengthening the specific muscles involved and may lead to a more toned appearance, but they do not reduce the amount of fat in that particular area of the body.

Depending on the specific muscle an exercise works, it can help you maintain good posture, thus reducing or avoiding lower back pain; promote better balance, thus reducing risk of falls; improve performance in sports, including cycling, tennis and golf; and improve your ability to keep up with life activities, such as climbing stairs, gardening or carrying suitcases

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

FRIDAY STROLLS AT ROBERT E. LEE PARK Get in some free exercise every Friday morning from 9 to 10 a.m.

at Robert E. Lee Park, 1000 Lakeside Drive. The terrain is varied, but mostly flat with some hills. Hiking boots are recommended. Bring water with you. Call (410) 887-4156 for more information.

June 27

BARBEQUING AND GRILLING SAFETY Get ready for the summer months ahead with an interactive dis-

cussion on cooking safely outdoors. The class will be held at the Catonsville Senior Center, 501 N. Rolling Rd., Catonsville on Friday, June 27 at 9:30 a.m. For more information, call (410) 887-0900.

and groceries. recent study, sleep deprivation produced What’s more, research is looking at how changes in brain activity in the “reward exercising a muscle may activate signaling center,” which could explain links between in cells that controls horlack of sleep and preference mones involved in blood for sweets and other highsugar control and other imcalorie foods. portant health functions If too little sleep leaves you Exercise does burn calotoo tired to be physically acries, so as long as you don’t tive, or more likely to turn to make up for the extra calories sweets and other foods to perk burned by eating or drinking up your energy, it could inmore, exercise should help crease the calories you conreduce body fat over time. sume and decrease calories Individuals differ in where burned, thus leading to weight body fat tends to decrease first, NUTRITION gain. On a practical basis, if WISE and where it’s harder to reyou stay up late, more time duce. For many men and post- By Karen Collins, awake means more time availmenopausal women, fat MS, RD, CDM able for eating. around the waist is the most Note that it’s getting the difficult to trim, while for other women, es- right amount of sleep that supports healthy pecially before menopause, the hips and weight. In a study of more than 120,000 peothighs seem to be the last areas to lose ex- ple, getting more than eight hours of sleep a cess fat. night was also linked to long-term weight Q: Is it true that getting more sleep gain. could help me lose weight?

These links, while important, were A: If you are already getting adequate small compared to links with changes in sleep (six, seven or up to eight hours a eating and physical activity. In other night), getting more sleep is unlikely to words, keep your focus on healthy habits help you lose weight. overall. Get the sleep you need to live a However, if you are currently getting too lifestyle that supports health, including a little sleep, more shut-eye might help. A healthy weight.

2008 analysis of studies found that adults The American Institute for Cancer Rewho get less than six hours of sleep are search offers a Nutrition Hotline, 1-800about 55 percent more likely to be obese.

843-8114, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday These associations can’t prove that lack through Friday. This free service allows you of sleep is what caused excess weight. Yet to ask questions about diet, nutrition and several studies that followed people for 10 cancer. A registered dietitian will return to 20 years do link getting less than six or your call, usually within three business days. seven hours of sleep a night with greater Courtesy of the American Institute for likelihood of weight gain.

Cancer Research. Questions for this column Short-term trials tie lack of sleep to may be sent to “Nutrition Wise,” 1759 R St. changes in hormones that control appetite NW, Washington, DC 20009. Collins cannot and to greater perception of hunger. In one respond to questions personally.

Are you online? So are we!

Visit our website: www.theBeaconNewspapers.com You’ll find topical articles, as well as blogs, recipes, useful links, games, puzzles and event listings.

Add your event to our calendar.

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 4

Real relationships or racy romances?

Dear Solutions: It’s probably very exciting to give in and Because I’m a senior, I feel embar- go all-out with this new relationship and at rassed asking about roleast have a fling. mances. But there is a man But if you want the fling to living nearby to whom I’ve flow, be cautious. He’s on the always been attracted. rebound. People who have The trouble is that, up been rejected can become until recently, he was datvery anxious to jump into a ing a woman who lives new relationship and prove to nearby. I don’t know her, themselves that they’re still but I see her occasionally. desirable and worthwhile.

According to the gossip cirIf you just want a fling, be cle here, they were a real willing to pay the price, which SOLUTIONS couple, and he was conmay include feeling hurt. But

By Helen Oxenberg, stantly hugging and kissing if you want a long-term relaMSW, ACSW her in public. tionship, get to know him and I’m told that she broke be a sympathetic friend before up with him a couple of months ago. I making big moves. Good luck. don’t know the reason, but now he’s Dear Solutions: been acting more and more friendly My boyfriend has admitted that he’s with me, and I know he’s going to ask had sex with other women while he’s me out. been going out with me. When I conI’m a widow, but I understand that fronted him, he said he just gets tempthe was divorced by his wife and then ed once in a while, but he thinks he’d started dating the woman here. I think die without me, and I should stick with we’re very attracted to each other, but him.

I’m afraid of being a fool.

He’s a ver y attractive guy, and I Do you think someone like him can know if I dump him there’ll be other really go on to new relationships and women lined up waiting for him. He is be sincere? Or do you think if I give in a lot of things I want in a man, but can to this attraction I’ll become a fool?

I ever trust him? When he cheats, I — Afraid turn away, but then I get pulled back in Dear Afraid: when he says he would die without me.

Don’t become a fool. Become a friend.

—I

BEACON BITS

July 11+

PAINTERS TAKE OVER ELLICOTT CITY

Dear I: Tell him to prove it! Mr. Seduction could give you a sexually transmitted disease (yes it happens to older people also) that could cause you to beat him to the morgue.

So, he says he would die without you, are you willing to die with him? Get out of this play before the die is cast or you may be the one to end up in that role!

Dear Solutions: I’m Barr y’s grandmother, and Barr y is living with his girlfriend.

They’re not married, so how should she introduce me, since I can’t be called her grandmother-in-law?

He’s not her husband, she’s not his wife, so what does that make me?

— Lena

Dear Lena: That makes you Barry’s grandmother.

Not to worry. You’re not an in-law and you’re not an out-law. She can introduce you as “Barry’s grandmother” or as “my companion’s grandmother.” A little awkward? Yes. Unusual today? No. The best thing she can, hopefully, introduce you as is “my loving friend.” Your loving attitude toward them can, hopefully, help you win official “grandmother-in-law” status one happy wedding day. © Helen Oxenberg, 2014. Questions to be considered for this column may be sent to: The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915. You may also email the author at helox72@comcast.net. To inquire about reprint rights, call (609) 655-3684.

NewBegins Here

Your

Lifestyle

APARTMENT HOMES FOR THOSE 62 AND BETTER!

Ask about our Smoke-Free Communities

DESIGNED AND MANAGED FOR TODAY’S SENIORS AT THESE LOCATIONS:

“Paint It! Ellicott City,” a celebration of “plein air” or open air painting, begins on Friday, July 11 and continues through Monday, July 14 at vari-

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY

EASTERN SHORE

ous locations throughout the town. Members of the public are encouraged to ob-

• Furnace Branch 410-761-4150

• Easton 410-770-3070

serve the artists at work. Paintings will be featured at a one-night exhibit and re-

• Severna Park 410-544-3411

HARFORD COUNTY

BALTIMORE CITY

• Bel Air 410-893-0064

ception on Monday, July 14 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Howard County Center for the

• Ashland Terrace 410-276-6440

• Box Hill 410-515-6115

Arts, 8510 High Ridge Rd., Ellicott City. The exhibit of juried artists’ paintings will

• Coldspring 410-542-4400

HOWARD COUNTY

continue at the center through Aug. 22. For more information, visit the Howard

BALTIMORE COUNTY

County Arts Council website hocoarts.org or call (410) 313-2787.

• Catonsville 410-719-9464

• Columbia 410-381-1118

• Dundalk 410-288-5483

• Ellicott City 410-203-9501

Aug. 3

*Newly Renovated! • Colonial Landing 410-796-4399

ALL STATE BAND CONCERT

* Fullerton 410-663-0665 *Newly Renovated! • Ellicott City II 410-203-2096

A free concert by the 2014 Maryland All State Community Band will

• Miramar Landing 410-391-8375

• Emerson 301-483-3322

• Randallstown 410-655-5673

• Snowden River 410-290-0384

be presented by the Columbia Bands on Sunday, Aug. 3 at 3 p.m. in the Jim Rouse Theater, 5460 Trumpeter Rd., Columbia. The All State Band is com-

* Rosedale 410-866-1886 *Newly Renovated! PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY • Taylor 410-663-0363

* Bladensburg 301-699-9785

posed of community band musicians throughout the state who auditioned to be part

• Towson 410-828-7185

• Laurel 301-490-1526

of the All State Community Band. Conductor is Dr. Harlan Parker, conductor of the

• Woodlawn 410-281-1120

• Laurel II 301-490-9730

Peabody Conservatory’s newly-formed Peabody Modern Orchestra. For more information, visit www.columbiabands.org or email MASCBinfo@columbiabands.org.

July 10

CRABS ON DECK A Recreation & Parks bus trip on Thursday, July 10 will feature an all-you-can- eat crabs luncheon at the Fisherman’s Crab Deck in

Grasonville, just over the Bay Bridge. The bus leaves at 10:30 a.m. and returns at 4 p.m. Tickets are $72 per person. For more information, call (410) 313-7279.

• 55 or BETTER!

www.ParkViewSeniorLiving.com Call the community nearest you to inquire about eligibility requirements and to arrange a personal tour or email parkviewliving@sheltergrp.com.

Professionally managed by The Shelter Group. www.thesheltergroup.com

16

J U L Y 2 0 1 4 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

VOLUME 4, NO. 7 • JULY 2014

A Message from the Administrator

By Dayna Brown, Office on Aging Administrator By now, you’ve probably heard about Howard County’s 20-year Master Plan for the Aging Population, which was announced by County Executive Ken Ulman in May. Now we need your help! We are conducting a short, yet important, survey of residents 45 and older to provide valuable input to the County’s Master Planning process. The survey results will help determine what programs and services will best meet the needs of Howard County’s increasing older adult population over the next two decades.

If you are a Howard County resident and age 45 or older, please visit www.howardcountysurvey.com to participate in the survey and let your voice be heard! It takes just 15 minutes to complete, and all answers will remain confidential. Encourage your co-workers, friends and neighbors to participate as well! If you need assistance to complete the survey, or need it in an alternate format, call Maryland Access Point at 410-313-5980 (voice/relay). Inperson assistance is also available at all Howard County Senior centers. Thank you for your help to spread the word!

Of course, while those of us at the Office on Aging are thinking ahead to the next 20 years, we haven’t forgotten about those who rely on us for quality programs and healthy aging services today.

Our senior centers have planned a whole summer’s worth of classes and concerts, outings and other offerings to appeal to almost everyone.

Check out our Calendar of Events, opposite, or visit our website for more information and plan to join us soon!

And don’t forget that Office on Aging staff provide assistance year round to answer your caregiving and Medicare questions, address transportation and home modifications issues, plan healthy aging programs and much, much more.

Give us a call at 410-313-5980 or email map@howardcountymd.gov to discuss your concerns with a Maryland Access Point information specialist. Have a happy and healthy summer!

Increase Physical Activity to Boost Successful Aging Are you aging “successfully”?

According to the Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov), “successful aging” is largely determined by individual lifestyle choices and not by genetic inheritance.

Few factors contribute as much to successful aging as having a physically active lifestyle. Regular physical activity can prevent or delay the onset of many chronic diseases like coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity; disabling conditions like osteoporosis and arthritis; and chronic disease risk factors like high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Here are some other good reasons from the CDC to add regular physical activity to your routine: • Regular physical activity substantially delays the onset of functional limitations and loss of independence. One recent study reported a 58 percent reduction in falls among older women who began an exercise program; another reported that regular walking reduced pain and improved function among people with arthritis in the knees.

• Evidence suggests regular physical activity can improve the quality of sleep

The Senior Connection is published monthly by the Howard County Department of Citizen Services’ Office on Aging.

We welcome your comments and suggestions.

To contact us, or to join our email subscriber list, email seniorconnection@howardcountymd.gov with “subscribe” in the subject box. !"#$%&'!()*+&,-./0&!)&123)2 4567&'!8(9:3#&;#*0"#+&<$= '!8(9:3#>&?<&@7AB4 B7ACD7DC4B7A """=E!"#$%/!()*+#23)2=!$2 """=F#/0:!!G=/!9H !'!'3*3I0) <#+)#&?=&J$!")>&1%93)3K*$#*!$ Advertising contained in the Beacon is not endorsed by the Howard County Office on Aging or by the publisher.

Joining Cycle2Health is a great way to get fit while having fun, too.

among older adults and reduce symptoms of depression. One study found strength training as effective as medication in reducing depressive symptoms among older adults.

• A recent study suggests that physical activity may help older adults reduce the amount of cognitive decline they experience as they age.

While it’s clear older adults can gain substantial health benefits from regular physical activity, (30 minutes of brisk walking, five or more days a week), even small amounts of activity are healthier than a sedentary lifestyle. To find exercise options that are affordable, accessible and adaptable to your current fitness level, check out your local Senior or 50+ Center. There you will find a wide range of classes from gentle yoga and sit & fit to high intensity interval training and Zumba.

If you need help finding an activity that’s right for you, call the Office on Aging’s Exercise Specialist at 410-313-5940 or visit apm.activecommunities.com/howardcounty.

You’ll soon be on your way to a summer of successful aging!

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 4

Say you saw it in the Beacon

The Senior Connection

CALENDAR OF EVENTS Thursdays, 10 to 11:30 a.m.

NewsTalk • North Laurel 50+ Center

Wednesday, July 16, Noon Tea with the Butler & Verona • East Columbia 50+ Center

Join our SeniorsTogether group to discuss current local, national, and global news. Free; to register, call 410-313-0380.

Meet White House Butler and author, Alan Devalerio, and Amy Carter's teacher, Verona Meeder. Cost: $6; call 410-313-7680 to register.

Tuesday, July 1, 11 a.m.

Social Security Administration Chorus • Ellicott City Senior Center

Wednesday, July 16, 1 to 2:30 p.m.

Power Over Pain • North Laurel 50+ Center

This talented group of singers will entertain you with songs from the past. Free; call 410-313-1400 to register.

Those with chronic pain will learn how to sustain a positive attitude, find information & resources, and identify ways to cope. Free; call 410313-0380 to register, or 410-313-7466 for details.

Tuesday, July 1, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Connecting to the Community Party • Bain Center Join the brothers of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity to enjoy live music, lunch and more. Call 410-313-7213 to RSVP; reserve lunch by by June 20.

Tuesday, July 1, 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Prepare to Care • Town Center Community Association, 5430 Vantage Point Rd., Columbia Learn about services and programs to assist aging family members, how to assess needs, and design a care plan. Free; call 410-313-5980 to register.

Wednesday, July 2, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Beatles 4th of July Tribute • North Laurel 50+ Center Enjoy a Beatles tribute and a cookout with summer treats. Cost: $3 plus lunch contribution. For tickets, call 410-313-0380.

Thursday, July 3, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.

Rack ‘Em Up Pool Party • North Laurel 50+ Center Meet new friends and enjoy a friendly pool competition. Free; refreshments & snacks provided. Call 410-313-0380 to register.

Monday, July 7, 5 p.m.

Urinary Incontinence in Women • East Columbia 50+ Center Dr. Basharat Aziz, M.D., Obstetrics & Gynecology will discuss the latest urinary incontinence treatments available for women. Free; call 410-313-7680 to register.

Tuesday, July 8, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Meet the Author • Bain Center Meet Tom Glenn, author of No-Accounts, a novel about the friendship that develops between a gay dancer dying of AIDS and a straight college music professor. Call 410-313-7213 to register.

Wednesday, July 9, 10 a.m.

60 Hikes Within 60 Miles of Baltimore • Glenwood 50+ Center Join author Evan Balkan to learn about 60 great hikes, all within an hour of Baltimore. To register, call 410-313-5440.

Wednesday, July 9, 11 a.m. to noon Butterfly Gardening • North Laurel 50+ Center Learn how to attract butterflies to your garden from Master Gardeners.

Free; call 410-313-0380 to register.

Friday, July 18, Noon Crab Cake Luncheon • Glenwood 50+ Center Don’t miss our annual summer luncheon featuring crab cakes made fresh, just for you! Cost: $15; call 410-313-5440 to RSVP.

Wednesday, July 23, 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Medicare 102 • Bain Center Learn about Medicare Part C/Health Plans and Medicare Supplement Policies. Free; sponsored by SHIP. Call 410-313-7391 to register.

Friday, July 25, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

Beautiful & Simple Jewelry Design • Elkridge Senior Center Create your own piece of jewelry to give as a gift or keep for yourself.

Cost: $5; call 410-313-5192 to register.

Wednesday, July 30, 11:30 a.m.

Film: The Umbrellas of Cherbourg • Bain Center Join us for a catered lunch and a foreign film discussion led by retired librarian Sharon Unger. Cost: $10; call 410-313-7213 to register.

Tuesday, Aug. 5, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Senior Day at the Fair • Howard County Fairgrounds Features free all day fair admission for adults age 62+ plus music, exhibits, information and free bingo with great prizes – mark your calendars and plan to join us! For details, call 410-313-6410.

To request accommodations to attend any of these events, call 410-313-5980 one week in advance.

Are You on Medicare and Have Limited Income?

You May Be Eligible for Assistance.

Know your options. Contact us for help.

Wednesday, July 9, 12:30 p.m.

Billy Finch Musical Comedy Legends • Ellicott City Senior Center Billy Finch highlights the personalities and voices of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Elvis and more. Free; sign up at the front desk.

Wednesday, July 9, 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Medicare 101 • Bain Center Learn how Medicare Parts A (Hospital), B (Medical) and D (Prescription Drug) work, and what the benefits are. Free; sponsored

by SHIP. Call 410-313-7391 to register.

LOCAL HELP FOR PEOPLE WITH MEDICARE

Thursdays, July 10, 17, 24, 31 at 1:30 p.m.

History with Gary Kavanagh • Ellicott City Senior Center This series highlights events in American History from the 1960s through the turn of the century. Free; call 410-313-1400 for more info.

Friday, July 11, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Independence Day Celebration • Elkridge Senior Center Celebrate with us and enjoy a fresh salad bar and an Ice Cream Social.

Play trivia to win prizes! Cost: $5; call 410-313-5192 for details.

Information/Counseling • New to Medicare • Prescription Drug Plans Supplemental Policies • Help with Costs • Fraud and Abuse

410-313-7392 EMAIL ship@howardcountymd.gov www.howardcountyaging.org/ship

17

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J U L Y 2 0 1 4 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Money Law &

ALTERNATIVE ACCOUNTS After maxing out retirement accounts, look at taxable accounts, annuities and SEP IRAs GETTING A USED CAR DEAL Look to luxury, leased and rental cars for good deals when buying a used vehicle DON’T GET OFF BALANCE It may feel counterintuitive, but fight your instincts in rebalancing your portfolio

Frontier markets feature attractive stocks

By Stan Choe Finding stocks that zig when others zag is a key goal for investors, and mutual fund managers say they’re finding candidates in places that may be unfamiliar. They’re delving deeper into less-developed economies, buying stock in Nigerian breweries, banks in Kazakhstan and cement companies in Colombia.

Trading in such markets is more difficult, and the threat of big losses is higher.

But proponents of so-called frontier markets say they are where Brazil, China, India and other big emerging markets were 20 years ago. And while investing in stocks from those countries may have seemed wild then, today they’re just a de rigueur part of an emerging-markets portfolio.

Frontier-market investing covers a wide range of economies from huge countries like Pakistan, one of the world’s 10 largest by population, to Mauritius, which has fewer people than Idaho.

What they have in common are economies or stock markets that are less developed than traditional emerging markets, such as China and Brazil, which are themselves less developed than the U.S., Japan or Germany.

Because of their smaller size and increased risk, conventional wisdom said that frontier-market stocks should behave like emerging-market stocks on steroids: They should have higher highs and lower

lows. But over the last year, frontier-market stocks haven’t been dragged down by worries dogging large emerging markets.

Over the 12 months ended in April, the MSCI Frontier Markets index returned 27.9 percent in U.S. dollar terms, including dividends. China, Brazil and other more established emerging markets, meanwhile, lost 1.5 percent as measured by the MSCI Emerging Markets index.

Unaffected by global trends Part of the allure is that frontier markets aren’t yet fully part of the global economy.

They don’t have big exporters like South Korea’s Samsung, whose revenue depends heavily on the global economy’s strength.

That means the direction of a frontier market’s stocks is more heavily reliant upon the strength of its own economy. And expectations for many frontier economies are high.

The focus on the growth of the local economy can lead to big differences in performance. Consider the United Arab Emirates.

Through the end of April, it surged 40.4 percent. Meanwhile Kazakhstan, also a member of the frontier index, fell 7.1 percent.

Such differences are a positive for investors, said Rick Schmidt, portfolio manager at Harding Loevner’s Frontier Emerging Markets fund (HLMOX), which has returned 18.8 percent over the last year.

“The individual country risk is very high: You can have a coup over here and an invasion over there,” Schmidt said. “But because none of them affects what happens in other markets, when you own a portfolio of those, you’re actually reducing risk.”

To be sure, as frontier markets grow, their ties to the global economy will likely strengthen. That means their stock markets would eventually move more in sync with other global markets. But investors now are noticing the strong performance and diversification that frontier markets have recently provided.

Big institutional clients and financial advisers are asking more often whether they need to be in frontier markets, Schmidt said. So, what’s the answer?

“If you can handle the risks and hold through this thing for five years, frontier is an asset class that is very exciting,” he said.

Research the risks Frontier markets would likely be a small part of an investor’s portfolio. But investors need to be aware of the risks involved.

Coups, wars and other political risks: When the protests of the Arab Spring swept through Tunisia and other countries, markets quickly tumbled.

Tunisian stocks lost 19 percent in the first eight weeks of 2011.

Earlier this year, tensions between Rus-

sia and the United States about Ukraine led to falling markets around the world.

Surprisingly, Ukraine’s stocks have done well: They returned 4.6 percent through April. That’s because of the increased global attention, which has led to billions of dollars in loans for Ukraine, said Nathan Rowader, portfolio manager of the Forward Frontier Strategy fund (FRONX).

“As hard as it is, the annexation caused a real change in fortunes,” Rowader said.

Big losses are possible: Frontier-market stocks are still below their 2008 peak.

That’s in part because of their particularly steep declines. In 2008, frontier markets plunged 54.1 percent, compared with a 37 percent fall for the Standard & Poor’s 500 index. In 2011, frontier markets lost 18.4 percent, when the S&P 500 returned 2.1 percent.

One of the risks in frontier markets is that stocks are tougher to trade: It can be difficult to find a buyer when you want to sell.

Prices are higher following a big run: As a group, frontier-market stocks are more expensive than those of other regions. At the end of the first quarter, they were trading at an average 14 times their earnings per share over the last 12 months. That’s higher than the average price-earnings See FRONTIER MARKETS, page 19

Energy investments offer strong returns

By Kathy Kristof Because the U.S. energy market is rapidly expanding, thanks in large part to the shale boom, the master limited partnership (MLP) market offers plenty of choices.

True, some old-time darlings are running aground because their pipes are in areas that have been supplanted by new fields far away. But that doesn’t mean investors should shun MLPs altogether.

MLPs are given special tax treatment as a way of fostering the development of energy infrastructure in the U.S. As long as the firms have at least 90 percent of their assets engaged in the extraction or transportation of energy, they’re not taxed at the corporate level.

Instead, they pass earnings and tax de-

ductions directly to investors. MLP shares, which are called units, trade like stocks.

(Each year, investors get a Schedule K-1 form detailing their share of income as well as deductions.) We think the four companies below are appealing.

Energy Transfer Partners (symbol ETP; recent price, $56; 6.6 percent yield) once focused on transporting oil and gas in the state of Texas. But as production increased, demand did not, which sounded a death knell for its business model, said Morningstar analyst Jason Stevens.

Forced to remake itself, the MLP bought a utility, a refiner and a business that transported natural gas, as well as a terminal built to import gas through the Gulf of Mexico. The nation’s glut of natural gas ob-

viated the need for imports, but this terminal has become one of a few authorized to export liquefied natural gas overseas.

Spectra Energy Partners (SEP; $51; 4.3 percent) was spun off from Spectra Energy Corp. last November. With a presence in the Marcellus shale district in Pennsylvania, Spectra has been building new pipes to New England, Canada, the Midwest and the Atlantic seaboard. The firm already has 1,510 miles of pipelines in and around Tennessee, and a significant presence on the Gulf Coast. Stevens thinks payouts will grow at a 7 percent annual pace.

Enterprise Products Partners (EPD; $73; 4.1 percent) is a well-established player operating both pipelines and storage facilities. It stores and transports natural gas,

crude oil and refined products in the U.S. and offshore, and is developing facilities for exporting propane and butane. Enterprise is among the few MLPs that retain much of their cash to fund future growth, yet it still lifted payouts by 5 percent in 2013.

OneOK Partners (OKS; $55; 5.4 percent), which specializes in all aspects of the natural gas market, is also attractive.

The firm has been able to grow by building new processing plants and new pipelines for liquefied natural gas, and by expanding through the Williston basin in Montana and North Dakota.

Kathy Kristof is a contributing editor to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. © 2014 Kiplinger’s Personal Finance; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Israeli stocks show nice growth potential

By Kathy Kristof and Barbara Hoch Marcus With more start-up businesses per capita than anywhere in the world, Israel is brimming with tantalizing investment prospects. Moreover, many Israeli stocks trade in the U.S, making it simple for Americans to buy in.

Granted, the risks are substantial. Not only do the country’s businesses grapple with a hostile geopolitical environment, but many are youthful enterprises that have yet to post a profit. Still, for long-term investors who don’t mind assuming some risks, the rewards could be great.

Few companies illustrate the contrast between an ancient land and modern technology better than Caesarstone Sdot-Yam (symbol CSTE; recent price, $60). Caesarstone’s headquarters is located just miles from the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Caesarea.

Caesarstone makes high-end quartz

Frontier markets From page 18 ratio of 12 emerging markets.

Fund managers say much of that gain is due to just a few countries and may soon be alleviated. The United Arab Emirates has nearly doubled over the last 12 months, while Qatar is up nearly 50 percent. The pair together makes up about a third of the MSCI Frontier Markets index.

But both markets are graduating to the MSCI Emerging Markets index after the end of the month. Following that, price-earnings

floors and countertops, and thanks in part to the housing revival in the U.S. (Caesarstone’s biggest market), sales and profits are rocking. The stock, which has climbed more than fivefold since Caesarstone went public in March 2012, sells for 27 times forecast earnings — not cheap, but not outrageously expensive in light of the company’s rapid growth.

Israel’s Silicon Valley The corridor between Tel Aviv and Haifa to the north, nicknamed Silicon Wadi, is brimming with companies that are working on ways to speed and secure Web commerce. Silicom (SILC; $69) makes adapters that serve as building blocks for all sorts of technological appliances.

With an increasing number of consumers speeding through cyberspace, computer networks are finding themselves be-

ratios for frontier markets will likely drop.

Costs are higher: Trading stocks in frontier markets is more expensive than trading in the U.S., which has translated into higher expense ratios for frontier-market funds.

Harding Loevner’s Frontier Emerging Markets fund has a net expense ratio of 2.23 percent, for example. That means $223 of every $10,000 invested in the fund goes to cover annual costs after waivers made by the managers.

Lower expenses are available among frontier funds that track an index.

— AP

BEACON BITS

Aug. 1

DISABILITY LEADERSHIP AWARDS

The Howard County Commission on Disability Issues has set Friday, Aug. 1 as the deadline for nominations for its annual leadership awards recognizing efforts in advancing participation in community life for all residents, promoting the spirit and intent of the American with Disabilities Act. Categories for nominations include leadership in business and accessibility, as well as an adult and a youth with a disability who have achieved success as a role model for others. For details about the award categories or to download a nomination form, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/CDIawards.htm or call (410) 313-6400 and ask to have a form mailed. The awards will be presented Oct. 2.

deviled by a familiar problem: traffic jams.

Radware (RDWR; $17) makes products to unplug those bottlenecks while maintaining the security of computer networks.

Healthcare companies Many promising Israeli companies are in healthcare. Consider Compugen (CGEN; $11), located in Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem-based Oramed Pharmaceuticals (ORMP; $15). Neither biotech firm is profitable yet, but both appear to be on the verge of breakthroughs that are likely to put them on the map.

At a time when attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder appears to be reaching epidemic proportions, Alcobra (ADHD; $23) is developing an alternative to traditional ADHD medications that appears to be both effective and less addictive than other ADHD medications.

No discussion about Israel would be complete without a few words about Teva Pharmaceuticals (TEVA; $49), which is by far the largest company on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange and the world’s biggest maker of generic drugs.

Surprisingly, the stock has been a mediocre performer over the past few years. But William Scholes, assistant investment manager of the Aberdeen Israel Fund (ISL), a closed-end fund, thinks the stock, at just 11 times estimated 2014 earnings and boasting a dividend yield of 2.8 percent, is a bargain.

Kathy Kristof is a contributing editor to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine.

Barbara Hoch Marcus is managing editor of the magazine. © 2014 Kiplinger’s Personal Finance; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BEACON BITS

June 26

FIND A MEDICARE PLAN An explanation of the “Plan Finder” tool to help compare and re-

view Medicare prescription drug plans on the www.medicare.gov website will be offered in a free program on Thursday, June 26 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Bain Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia. Call (410) 313-7391 to register.

Ongoing

FREE LIBRARY DOWNLOADS The Howard County Library System has expanded online access

for cardholders to include more than 90 current magazines, thousands of movies, television shows, music albums and audio books available via www.hclibrary.org.

Full details on all HCLS Now! e-content and how to access it are available at www.hclibrary.org/hclsNOW!

Let Nursing Home Costs Take Every Dime You’ve Worked For. Medical Assistance Planning and Eligibility Advance Medical Directives / Living Wills Trusts / Estate Planning Administration Wills / Powers of Attorney Disability Planning / Special Needs Trusts Guardianship

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Elder Law, Estate & Special Needs Planning 410.337.8900 | www.frankelderlaw.com | 1.888.338.0400 Towson | Columbia | Easton

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Alternative accounts for retirement savings

By Sandra Block Say you’re saving the maximum in your retirement accounts. For most employees, that means you can stash up to $17,500 in 2014 in your 401(k), 403(b), federal Thrift Savings Plan or 457 plan.

You can also contribute up to $5,500 to a traditional or Roth IRA. And if you’re 50 or older, you can make “catch up” contributions of up to $5,500 to an employer retirement plan and $1,000 to an IRA. Or maybe you earn too much to contribute the maximum. Employers are required to limit contributions by highly compensated employees if an insufficient number of lower-paid employees participate in the plan.

And you can’t contribute to a Roth IRA if your adjusted gross income is more than $129,000 in 2014 ($191,000 for married

couples filing jointly).

If any of these scenarios put up a roadblock to further savings, consider these alternatives:

Taxable accounts Saving in a taxable account is an especially good idea if you’re putting aside cash for college as well as retirement. If you come up short when the bursar calls, you can tap a taxable account without paying income taxes and early-withdrawal penalties.

Taxes on these accounts aren’t deferred, but most investors pay just 15 percent on long-term capital gains and qualified dividends.

Withdrawals from your tax-deferred accounts, on the other hand, will be taxed at your ordinary income rate, which current-

ly ranges from 10 percent to 39.6 percent.

To keep taxes in check, select tax-efficient investments, such as tax-free municipal bonds or stock index funds and other investments that qualify for long-term capital-gains rates.

SEP IRAs If you have self-employment income from your own business or freelancing, consulting or other part-time work, these SEP IRAs let you break free of the regular IRA limits.

You can contribute up to 20 percent of your self-employment income (your business income minus half of your self-employment tax), up to a maximum of $52,000 in 2014. Contributions are tax-deductible — regardless of how high your income — and grow tax-deferred until retirement.

Variable annuities Contributions to these accounts aren’t deductible, but investment gains grow taxdeferred until you take withdrawals.

Variable annuities were once encumbered by high fees that crippled investment returns, but many now feature low fees and modest or no surrender charges. Investors can purchase annuities directly from Vanguard Group and Fidelity Investments, for example, without paying a commission.

Still, variable annuities are most appropriate for high-bracket taxpayers with income of at least $250,000 because they stand to benefit the most from compounded tax-deferred earnings.

Sandra Block is a senior associate editor at Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. © 2014 Kiplinger’s Personal Finance; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

How to get a sweeter deal on a used car

By Jessica Anderson Used-car deals are getting better. Desirable trade-ins and vehicles at the end of their lease are streaming onto the used market, and that means more choices at lower prices.

New-car leasing and finance deals create competition with used cars, too, and that also

helps drive down used-car prices, according to Laurence Dixon, senior manager of market intelligence at www.NADAguides.com.

Look to luxury cars Some vehicle categories are riper for a deal than others. Right now, you’ll find the best prices on luxury models.

Talking on the phone can be easy again. You have our word.

If you, or a loved one, have difficulty hearing over the phone, Maryland Relay is committed to keeping you connected with services such as Captioned Telephone. Using voice recognition technology, a Captioned Telephone Operator makes it possible for you to receive on-screen captions of what your caller says, as you listen.

Plus! You may qualify for a free Captioned Telephone,* amplified phone or other assistive device through the Maryland Accessible Telecommunications program.

Captioned Telephone t Word-for-word captions t Easy-to-read display t Simple to use Just dial 7-1-1 to make a Relay call.

Visit mdrelay.org to learn more.

800-552-7724 (Voice/TTY) 443-453-5970 (VP)

*Available to qualified applicants with traditional landline service only.

Leasing of luxury cars didn’t decline with the economy, so a steady supply of off-lease luxury vehicles has headed to used-car lots. Plus, luxury vehicles typically lose more of their value more quickly than mainstream models do.

Prices are also coming down on small and midsize cars. Midsize cars are the most popular models, and sell the most in the new-car market. As a result, midsize prices are falling a little more than prices in the used market as a whole.

The same goes for compact and subcompact models, but prices are even better. As the fuel economy of midsize models has risen and gas prices have leveled off, small cars (and hybrids) have lost some of their cachet.

Prices of crossovers and SUVs are a mixed bag. Many buyers of compact crossovers choose used, so high demand is propping up used prices.

Traditional, truck-based SUV sales have increased as fuel costs have leveled off, so prices for those vehicles are holding steady. But as buyers move back to truckbased models, larger crossovers are less

in demand, and prices are down.

Consider leased or rental cars Even if prices haven’t dropped across the board for the type of car you’re considering, there are ways to find a deal in any segment. Look at models that are most often leased, or ones purchased by car rental companies.

For example, a high percentage of leases are written for entry-level luxury cars, such as the BMW 3 series, MercedesBenz C-Class and Audi A4. The Toyota Prius and Camry, the Ford Focus and Fusion, and the Chevrolet Cruze and Malibu are often found in rental fleets.

And look for recently redesigned models. With a new-generation model on the market, there’s an inherent discount on the previous version.

Don’t limit your search to go-to brands, such as Honda and Toyota. The improving quality of all vehicles means you can cast a wider net.

Keith Griffin, the used-car expert at See USED CAR DEALS, page 21

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To balance portfolio, go against instincts

By Anya Kamenetz Risk management and a safe glide to retirement sometimes require fighting your instincts. Yes, I said fighting them. That’s what it takes to keep your portfolio diversified.

Now that tax season is behind us, it’s a good time to look at what you have in the bank and come up with a good rebalancing strategy.

What is portfolio rebalancing?

Perhaps the best way to explain it is with a simple hypothetical. Let’s say you chose an 80/20 allocation of stocks and bonds in a retirement portfolio worth $200. You buy $80 worth of Google stock and $80 worth of Walmart stock, plus $40 worth of bonds ($160 in stock/$40 in bonds = 80/20).

A year later, the Google shares have doubled in value to $160. The Walmart stock has tanked to $40. And the bonds’ prices have barely moved at all — they’re stable, by design.

Now you have two problems. The first is that your overall allocation is messed up.

You now have $200 worth of stocks and only $40 in bonds — that’s an 83/17 split.

The second is a little problem called reversion to the mean. Obviously, since Google is doing well, you would like to buy more of it. That would be exactly the wrong thing to do, though.

The law of averages tells us that over the long term, Walmart is going to recover and Google is going to fall. This is what I mean by going against your instincts.

The investment experts tell us that what

Used car deals From page 20 About.com, suggests looking at Korean carmakers Hyundai and Kia. They have five-year/60,000 mile new-car warranties, and used-car buyers get the remainder of

you should do now to hedge against risk is rebalance the portfolio. That means buying more Walmart stock and more bonds, until you’ve recovered your original asset allocation and the desired diverse portfolio.

Another important time to consider rebalancing is when changing jobs. If you are rolling over a 401(k), either into a new 401(k) or an IRA, you have a chance to pick new positions and new funds.

Buy, don’t sell

Rebalance at 5% beyond target

There’s a reason I say that you should rebalance your portfolio by buying, rather than by selling. That’s because if you sell a stock that’s just gone up, you are going to realize capital gains and have to pay taxes on them.

Some possible sources of fresh money to top up your allocations could be a bonus, gift or raise; or you could direct your funds’ income or capital-gain distributions into a money-market account instead of to current positions, and then use that cash to buy.

Of course it isn’t always possible to rebalance without selling anything, but it’s worth trying.

The next question to ask is how often to rebalance. Vanguard, the world’s largest mutual fund company, put out a paper in 2010 that ran simulations ovn various portfolios and concluded, “Risk-adjusted returns are not meaningfully different whether a portfolio is rebalanced monthly, quarterly or annually; however, the number of rebalancing events and resulting costs (taxes, time and labor) increase significantly.”

Translation: you are safe, and will probably save money, if you rebalance just once a year.

Vanguard also recommends a 5 percent threshold, which means you don’t rebalance until your portfolio mix has moved more than five percentage points away from the target.

That means, in the example above, you actually wouldn’t have to buy more bonds yet because you’re within three percentage points of your desired stock/bond mix. However, you would still have to buy more Walmart stock, because you went from 50/50 Google/Walmart to 80/20.

Rebalancing is key to risk management

that time. (Their 10-year/100,000-mile power train warranties do not transfer to new owners.)

Jessica Anderson is an associate editor at Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. © 2014 Kiplinger’s Personal Finance; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BEACON BITS

June 28

DIANA ROSS IN CONCERT Legendary pop star Diana Ross performs on Saturday, June 28 at

8 p.m. at Modell Performing Arts Center at the Lyric, 140 W. Mt. Royal Ave. The concert will benefit the Edward A. Myerberg Center’s programs and services for adults 55 and older. Tickets range from $59 to $175. For more information, call (410) 900-1150 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Ongoing

SOUND OFF ON AGING ISSUES The Howard County Dept. of Citizen Services and the Office on

Aging are conducting a short survey of residents 45 and older to provide input for the county’s 20-year Master Plan for the Aging Population. The survey will help determine what programs and services will best meet the future needs of the county’s older adults. Go to www.howardcountysurvey.com to take the survey.

in any investment strategy, but it requires that you be confident of your portfolio mix to begin with. In the real world, optimal diversification gets much more complicated than just buying two stocks.

The final point to keep in mind is that you don’t always rebalance to keep the status quo. The best balance between equities and safer investments will change based on when you expect to retire and your risk preference. The 80/20 stocks/bonds mix looks good when I’m in my 30s, but by my 50s, it should be more like 60/40.

Anya Kamenetz’ latest book is DIY U: Edupunks, Edupreneurs, and the Coming Transformation of Higher Education. She welcomes your questions at diyubook@gmail.com © 2014 Anya Kamenetz. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BEACON BITS

June 30

BRUSH UP ON YOUR DRIVING SKILLS An AARP driver refresher course for persons age 50 and over will

be held on Monday, June 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Howard County General Hospital Wellness Center, 10710 Charter Dr., Columbia. There is a $20 fee for participants, reduced to $15 for AARP members. To learn more, call (410) 964-9100.

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Say you saw it in the Beacon

Travel

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Leisure &

Visiting Normandy on D-Day’s 70th anniversary. See story on page 25.

Portland, hip city of roses and gourmands

Ageless hipsters Portland is hip, whatever your age.

Fresh, affordable, intriguing food almost falls out the food truck windows. Low-polluting streetcars and light rail make getting around a cinch. Seniors, “honored citizens,” can travel for $1 a day.

Bikers abound, and the new Tilikum Crossing Bridge over the Willamette will serve only public transit, pedestrians and bicyclists, no cars, when it opens in 2015.

Walkers stroll city blocks that are only 200 by 200 feet. “It’s a small town masquerading as big city. It does not feel hustly-bustly here,” resident Alacia Lauer told me.

Entrepreneurs nurture specialty shops, like one that sells only lightbulbs. And Fido is welcomed even at Nordstroms.

Take-out wine and beer at the Local Choice market comes in a returnable growler, a large resealable bottle. The city encourages food waste composting by providing a bucket and bi-weekly pickup.

Solar-powered, compacting trash cans dot city streets, and the roof on the Indigo@12West apartment building has windmills.

Aging hippies and young hipsters sport a “Keep Portland Weird” bumper sticker.

The city has even reached TV in the IFC television satire, “Portlandia.”

But Portland is more than eco-sophisticates, foodies and idealists. There are world-class corporations like Intel and Nike, a symphony, opera, chamber music, art museum, theater, and a university.

Portlanders practice a “civic ecology,” some say. In the 1970s, to prevent Portland from becoming another sprawling, car-dependent Los Angeles, city fathers and mothers set an urban growth boundary to preserve land.

The city ripped up concrete and pavement to “daylight” Tanner Creek, a stream

PHOTO COURTESY OF TRAVEL PORTLAND

By Glenda C. Booth Roses have figured prominently in plays, poems, songs and movies, but manhole covers? Welcome to rose-obsessed Portland, Ore. The City of Roses has an internationallyacclaimed rose garden. Shops sell a postcard picturing roses bursting out the top of a skyscraper. There’s even a song, “The Portland Rose.” And in a prickly twist, the women’s professional soccer team is the Thorns.

Roses symbolize love and beauty, so go for it. Embrace Portland.

Perched on both sides of the Willamette River, Portland is a friendly, walkable city of 600,000 with a small-town feel. It’s won ratings like “most liveable city” (Places Rated Almanac), “America’s cleanest city” (Readers Digest), and “Best Urban Destination for Summer Travel in the U.S.” (Travel and Leisure magazine).

At more than 11,000 feet, Mt. Hood towers over downtown Portland, deemed America’s “most livable city” by Places Rated Almanac. The city boasts both the largest rose show and book store in the nation.

© ERICA SCHROEDER | DREAMSTIME.COM

More than 400 food carts in Portland offer a diverse range of delicacies, from a bacon cheeseburger dumpling to Saigon-style fried chicken.

buried for 100 years, and restore a wetland in center city. Portland boasts 35 acres of green roofs.

There’s even a 141-acre wildlife refuge within the city limits, Oaks Bottom, with 120 species of birds. Peregrine falcons nest under one of the 10 bridges. Snowcapped all year, Mount Hood seems to float above the city, a comforting symbol of stability.

More nature’s nearby. Portland is 90 minutes to the coast, 45 minutes to the mountains. The Columbia Gorge and the Willamette Valley wine country are not far.

For the culinarily curious Central to Portland’s vitality is the “food culture,” locals brag — from organic dishes to exotic fusion offerings and everything in between. What other city would claim kale as the “city vegetable”?

There’s a farmers’ market almost every day, and “liquid assets” in almost every block. Portland has more breweries than any city in the world, claimed a tour guide, noting with a giggle that Cologne, Germany, is second.

There are 45 coffee roasteries. For gourmands and non, Portland Walking Tours (www.portlandwalkingtours.com) offers Chocolate Decadence, Epicurean Excursion and food cart tours, led by self-

described “food dorks.”

At the craft chocolate maker, Cacao, you can sip silky drinking chocolate during a tutorial on the delicate nuances of this universally popular product. The Salt and Straw offers ice cream with flavors like beer, pear and blue cheese, and olive oil.

The Flying Elephant sells a zingy tomato-orange soup. Hungry for bread? Try the Pearl Bakery, where Julia Child watched baguette making. Farmatherapy serves a cucumber-orange-lemon juice drink to die for. Need a hangover cure? Order the cucumber-kale-spinach-parsley-lemon soother.

Real everyman symbols of Portland’s food culture are the not-to-be-missed 400 food carts (www.foodcartsportland.com) — stationary vehicles crammed onto parking lots or pods. Vendors slide open their windows late morning to dish out delicacies from all over the world into the evening, prompting CNN to give Portland the title: the city with “the world’s best street food.”

Examples: The Dump Truck, for a bacon-cheeseburger dumpling; Eurotrash, foie gras; Big Top Waffles, build your own; Rua, Saigon fried chicken; Brazilian House, coxinha, drumstick-shaped chickSee PORTLAND, page 24

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Portland From page 23 en balls; Mama Chow’s wontons. There are oodles more.

Try Voodoo Donuts, where there’s always a line for the popular peanut butter donut. Voodoo made the Guinness Book of World Records for the “World’s Largest Box of Doughnuts,” a jumbo, pink 200-cubicfoot box weighing 666 pounds and holding 3,880 doughnuts. Check the “Where to Eat Guide” and indulge at eateries like Andina (Novo-Andean), Bollywood (Indian), Jake’s Famous Crawfish, Uchu Suchi and Fried Chicken, and more.

Back to roses: Mixologists at the Hotel

DeLuxe’s Driftwood Room push a champagne cocktail dubbed Rose-Colored Glasses — gin, rose syrup, lemon juice and champagne. Yum.

Art, books and gardens Besides eating and drinking, there’s plenty to see and do. Pioneer Courthouse Square, “Portland’s living room,” has 300 events a year, including free concerts.

The Portland Art Museum showcases Pacific Northwest artists, starting with Native Americans. There are also Arctic natives’ crafts (wooden snow goggles and ivory toggles) and 19th and 20th century paintings of Mount Hood. The Portland History Museum tells the state’s story

BEACON BITS

July 23

LUNCH WITH “PIRATES” A Recreation & Parks bus leaves at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July

23 for lunch and a performance of Gilbert & Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance at Toby’s Dinner Theatre in Columbia, with return trip scheduled for 3:30 p.m. $49 fee includes lunch. Call (410) 313-7279 for more information or to purchase tickets.

June 27

ENJOY A DAY IN ATLANTIC CITY The Elkridge Senior Center is sponsoring a bus trip to Atlantic City on Friday, June 27, leaving at 8 a.m. and returning at 8 p.m. There

is a $30 fee. For additional information and registration, call (410) 313-5192.

J U L Y 2 0 1 4 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

from Native Americans to the Oregon Trail to today’s industries.

The must-see Powell’s City of Books is synonymous with Portland. The largest bookstore in the U.S., it’s a block square, three stories tall and always populated with bibliophiles plying the miles of bookshelves filled with over one million old and new offerings, out of print books, and books on every conceivable subject.

At 1,000 feet above the city stands the Pittock Mansion, a sandstone edifice with 14 styles of architecture, built by former Oregonian newspaper owner Henry Pittock. On a clear day, the Columbia River and Washington state are visible from the garden. Mrs. Pittock established the Portland Rose Society in 1888, which still today is a “rose support group” that advises on cures for rose problems.

Portland’s Japanese Garden is the most authentic outside Japan, 5.5 acres of peace — formal gardens, streams, koi ponds, raked sand, and a teahouse. Garden designer Takuma Tono has said that the running water “initiates a dialogue through the garden.”

In mid-town, the Chinese Gardens are a city block of manicured tranquility and reflecting ponds that engage all the senses with materials from China, including 500 tons of rock and 300 plant species and cultivars.

And yes, roses. The five-acre, International Rose Test Garden has roses of every shape, size and color — over 590 varieties and 10,000 plants. It was started in 1917, when Europeans sent roses to the states for protection during World War I, and Portlanders realized they have a perfect

rose-growing climate.

An annual June festival (www.rosefestival.org) celebrates roses with the largest rose show in the nation, the coronation of the rose queen, and a grand floral parade led by the Royal Rosarians. Businesses and volunteers layer floats with roses — enough roses, promoters say, to send your mother a dozen roses, every day for 30 years.

If you go Portlanders say any time is a good time to visit. Weather-wise, there are few days over 100 degrees and few days in the 20s.

Summer averages in the 80s. Portland is known to be rainy, but the rains are rarely heavy.

There are festivals all year, such as the Waterfront Blues Festival in July, literary festival in October, holiday ale fest in December, and the Chocolate Fest in January.

Check with the Visitor Center (below) for lodging options.

The downtown Heathman Hotel (www.heathmanhotel.com, 1-800-551-011), on the national register of historic landmarks, gained “visibility” as the setting for parts of the racy tome, 50 Shades of Grey.

Rooms start at $224 a night.

US Airways has July flights from BWI for around $560 round trip. The 38-minute, airport-to-downtown trip on MAX light rail (www.trimet.org/max) costs $2.50.

For more information, contact the Portland Visitor Information Center, www.travelportland.com, (503) 275-9750.

Glenda C. Booth is a freelance writer living in Alexandria, Va.

BEACON BITS

July 1

VISIT THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS A bus trip organized by the Department of Recreation & Parks

leaves for the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, July 1 at 9 a.m. and returns at 4 p.m. Tickets are $49; lunch on your own at Union Station. For more information, call (410) 313-7279.

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H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 4

Visiting Normandy, 70 years after D-Day

By Greg Keller Weather in Normandy had been iffy for days. Showers and wind gave way to sunshine, then lightning storms over the sea.

We watched and waited for the signal to jump. With a window of only a few hours, I began to doubt our chances.

Finally the message my companions and I had been waiting for arrived: The jump was on.

Unlike the paratroopers of the 101st and 82nd Airborne divisions who jumped into Normandy on D-Day 70 years ago, our orders came not from General Dwight D. Eisenhower, but via text message from our paragliding instructor.

My wife and I had come to Normandy ahead of the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings to explore the region’s history, cuisine and culture.

I’d been to the U.S. military cemetery at Omaha Beach years before, a trip that’s still a must for many Americans visiting France.

But this time we wanted to explore farther afield. We’d crisscross the region from the cheese-making town of Pont l’Eveque in the east to the isolated Gatteville Lighthouse in the west.

Near Omaha Beach, Claude Bellessort runs Elementair, a paragliding school in Port-en-Bessin. An expert pilot who’s led paragliding excursions as far afield as Nepal and Morocco, Bellessort has offered tandem paragliding flights here since 2002.

The thrill of taking off from the cliff top and swooping over the beaches, imagining how it appeared on D-Day, made the 10minute flight an unforgettable highlight of three days in Normandy.

An invasion of tourists Local officials estimate that the invasion anniversary will attract several hundred thousand tourists to Normandy this summer.

On June 6 U.S. President Barack Obama, French president Francois Hol-

lande and Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II gathered in Ouistreham to remember the more than 9,000 Allied soldiers killed or wounded that day.

We spent the night after our jump in Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, a tiny village in Omaha Beach. This was one of the invasion’s five famous landing areas spread over 50 miles of coast where 160,000 U.S., British and Canadian troops came ashore on D-Day. Omaha, where the U.S. 1st and 29th divisions landed, saw some of the day’s bloodiest fighting.

To look out to sea here or at the nearby Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, and imagine the scene at dawn on June 6, 1944 is breathtaking: 5,000 landing ships and assault craft assembled in the largest armada in history lined up across the horizon.

Our host for the night was Sebastien Olard, 46, a bakery supply salesman and passionate amateur D-Day historian. Olard grew up in the village of 200 inhabitants on a bluff overlooking Omaha Beach.

Fifteen years ago, he bought a stone house surrounded by a sheep pasture that village elders say was the first home liberated by American troops on D-Day. He’s turned the home into a museum-cum-vacation rental called “La Maison de la Liberation” (House of the Liberation). For 80 euros, guests can overnight there and enjoy a history lesson.

Olard’s grandfather, who lived in the neighboring village of Vierville-sur-Mer, feared a German counterattack after the invasion, and walked with his wife and children to Saint-Laurent to seek evacuation to Britain.

“They had to step over bodies. My grandfather told his children, ‘Don’t worry, just walk. They’re sleeping. Go!’” he recalled.

Museums and memorials There are many D-Day museums in Normandy, so I narrowed our selection to two

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using a $5 smartphone app, “Normandy DDay 1944.” I chose the Battle of Normandy Memorial Museum in Bayeux and the Airborne Museum in Sainte-Mere-Eglise.

Bayeux uses film, photographs and other artifacts to provide an overview of the battle. The Airborne Museum narrows the focus to paratroopers who dropped behind enemy lines the night before the invasion.

Its displays include one of the C-47 “Skytrain” aircraft that flew them from England.

A few miles south, near Carentan, we met Franck Feuardent, owner of the Manoir de Donville. This 18th century manor house was the site of the Battle of Bloody Gulch, made famous in an episode of the television series “Band of Brothers.”

American paratroopers were nearly routed by an SS tank division until saved by the arrival of the U.S. 2nd Armored Division, aka “Hell on Wheels.”

On a tour of the manor grounds, Feuardent pointed out foxholes, and let us handle examples of the 12 tons of weapons, helmets, grenades and other artifacts he’s dug up. “Two days ago I was searching the other side of this hedge, and the metal detector just started going ‘Ding! Ding! Ding!’” he said.

In his 200-year-old home, Feuardent pointed to traces of blood stains on the wooden floor of his sons’ bedroom, where

two soldiers’ bodies, one German, one American, were discovered after the battle. “They fought hand-to-hand in my home!” he said with awe.

“We try to keep the spirit of the Americans who died here alive,” Feuardent said.

“We never forget. This isn’t a museum for me, it’s my home.”

There’s more to do in Normandy than visit war memorials. The Pays d’Auge around the small town of Cambremer is the heart of Normandy’s traditional apple cider- and apple brandy-making region.

We stopped at Stephane and Lucile Grandval’s distillery, Manoir du Grandouet. The family has made cider here for three generations; one of the giant oak barrels — where the heady, intoxicating apple brandy known as calvados is aged — dates from 1792. We bought a few bottles of a lush, creamy, award-winning cider and they added one as a gift.

The friendly gesture reminded me of a line from the classic D-Day war film, The Longest Day. Gen. James ‘Jumpin’ Jim’ Gavin of the 82nd Airborne tells his troops, “When you get to Normandy, you’ll only have one friend — God ... and this,” lifting a rifle.

For visitors 70 years after the invasion that helped liberate Europe from Adolf Hitler, that’s happily no longer true.

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H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 4

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Style

27

Arts &

The Proverbs Reggae Band will perform on Aug. 13 as part of the Sunset Serenades concert series at Centennial Park South in Ellicott City.

Free outdoor music and movies begin

On the waterfront The Columbia events make up the Lakefront Summer Festival, which will be held on the lawn bordering, not surprisingly, the downtown Columbia lakefront, off of Little Patuxent Parkway. Admission is free and so is parking. The Columbia Association urges those attending to bring a blanket or a lawn chair and enjoy the live performances or movies.

The live concerts will take place five times a week — Tuesday through Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Sunday concerts begin at 6:30 p.m. The other performances start at 8 p.m. and end by 10 p.m.

Movie nights are Monday and Friday, then after Aug. 23, Friday, Saturday and

Sunday. The films begin at about 8:30 p.m., and they are for the whole family, with an accent on Disney productions for the kids.

If you feel like dancing away the summer, you can take part in the Dancin’ Under the People Tree from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Fridays, at the lakefront site. There will be free lessons on how to move to the music.

Among the movies set for the lakefront showings for the rest of June and into July are Moonrise Kingdom, starring Columbia’s own Edward Norton, along with Bruce Willis and Bill Murray. The movie, directed by Wes Anderson, has been hailed as a whimsical and wonderful tale of young love (June 20).

That will be followed by such Disney fare as The Incredibles (June 23), Saving Mr. Banks (June 27), Mary Poppins (June 30), Monsters University (July 7), and Frozen (July 11).

Then comes How to Train Your Dragon (July 14), Thor: The Dark World (July 18), Despicable Me (July 21), Iron Man 3 (July 25), and Dolphin Tale (July 28).

The free concerts, which run on the outdoor lakefront stage through July, include Image Band (June 21), Blue Train (June 22), Kia Bennett Band (June 24), the Eric Byrd Trio with the Brother Ray Band (June 26), RUUT (June 28) and the Rhonda Robinson Ensemble (June 29).

July will feature Little Sammy and Soulification (July 2), Retro-Rockets (July 6), Damon Foreman and Blue Funk (July 9),

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE COLUMBIA ASSOCIATION

By Robert Friedman Summertime, and the outdoor movies and concerts are free —at least many of them around Howard County.

While most of these events will take place in Columbia and Ellicott City, the communities of Cooksville and Highland, among others, are also slated for free entertainment under the stars.

On tap for the hopefully soft summer nights are movies for adults, movies for kids, and jazz, rock, soul, blues, folk and bluegrass concerts.

The free events are being brought to the communities by the Columbia Association, Howard County Recreation and Parks, and the Wine Bin, a boutique wine store in Ellicott City.

Movies for the whole family will be shown at no charge on summer evenings at the Lakefront Summer Festival sponsored by the Columbia Association.

Gary & the Groove (July 10), Project Natale (July 12), Part Harmony (July 13), Dave Chappell Band (July 16), Rich Walton (July 17), Carl Filipiak (July 19), Julie Hall (July 26), Daniel Rego (July 27), Sal-

bomple (July 30) and the Rollex Band (July 31).

For inclement weather postponements, See FREE SUMMER FUN, page 29

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Enchanted farm From page 1 Forest and ended up in private hands.

Clark acquired it to enhance her site.

Realizing the old orange model was generating a positive response with nostalgic area residents, she asked the shopping center’s owners about the Enchanted Forest site.

Soon she had permission to remove everything she could, and relics of the Enchanted Forest began dotting her farm.

After 10 years of recovery, transportation and restoration, everything that could be salvaged is on display again, reminding grandparents of their younger days and delighting a new generation of children.

“I had a woman come in the other day, and she had on her Facebook page a picture of herself sitting in Willie the Whale’s mouth at age 6,” said Clark, 59. “And then she took a picture of herself sitting in Willie the Whale’s mouth here, and put it side-by-side with the old picture on the Facebook page.

“The parents and grandparents are very excited about sharing these memories with their children and grandchildren, because they thought all this was gone.”

Clark, who traces her family ties back to the Clark brothers who began farming the area in 1797, had to learn a new set of skills and assemble an eclectic group of craftspeople. Creating the petting zoo was

one thing, but these next steps were something entirely different.

Restoring the artifacts has been laborious, painstaking work. Most of the objects were in bad shape, crumbling to pieces when moved. Fiberglass and concrete have replaced the antiquated materials, and Clark taught herself about the constant work of maintaining the Dish and the Spoon, the Tortoise and the Hare, and all the familiar characters that have once again come alive.

A replica of the Enchanted Forest’s Castle fronts the entrance building. Something of the original spirit of the Enchanted Forest has been regenerated.

“We pride ourselves on not having a lot of bells and whistles. We want a place where the kids can run and play and take their shoes off and walk in the grass and have a kind of low-key experience. Maybe have a pony ride, but also to be introduced to the Enchanted Forest characters and structures their parents enjoyed and go down Memory lane with,” said Clark.

It seems to be working. On this day, the farm is active. Clark says they can manage up to 12 birthday parties a day, and visitors come from all over the region, from Baltimore and Washington, D.C., Montgomery and Anne Arundel counties, Pennsylvania and more.

The real pumpkin patch remains the biggest draw overall, enticing 20,000 visitors each October, and school groups take edu-

J U L Y 2 0 1 4 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

cational trips to the farm and petting zoo.

A resurgence in farming Clark is determined to keep the farm going, to follow in the footsteps of the generations that preceded her, and to pass it on to her descendents.

When her husband, Douglas Crist, died in 2002, she faced difficult choices. Until then, they had farmed their own parcel of land. But after his passing, she decided to join her father, the late State Senator James Clark, Jr., in running the ancestral farm.

Her daughter Nora Crist, a graduate of University of Delaware College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, has now taken up farm management.

“Our roots are awfully deep, and I just love this area,” Clark said. “It’s a great area to farm. The weather’s good, the land’s good.

“But the challenge is, it’s also a great place to live, halfway along the BaltimoreWashington corridor, so the pressure on the land for development is really, really, high.”

Salvation may have arrived in the burgeoning “locavore” movement, which has devotees preferring to buy and eat locally grown food.

The Clark’s 150 cows are grass-fed.

They sell the meat from the cattle, pigs, sheep and chickens, as well as eggs and seasonal vegetables, at a produce stand and in the farm’s public entrance building.

“We can’t produce enough meat or enough vegetables for our local market here,” Clark said. “We sell retail, and can’t even begin to scratch the surface of restaurants and hospitals and schools and that type of thing.

“The neatest thing I’ve seen in the last 10 years is young people like my daughter coming back to the farm and realizing they can make a living here, because they didn’t

think they were going to be able to do that.

“There’s at least 10 young people in Howard County who have come back to their farms, and are producing vegetables and going to farmer’s markets, and working with restaurants to make a living selling food,” Clark said.

The demands of the locavore movement require a mix of old and new farming techniques.

“Nora processes her pork without any nitrates, and she goes all the way up to Pennsylvania to buy non-GMO [genetically-modified organisms] grain,” Clark explained, “because she wants to provide her customers what she would like to eat herself.”

Preserving a legacy The desire to hold onto the land runs deep. James Clark, Jr., who served as president of the Maryland State Senate, helped create the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation.

Established by the Maryland General Assembly in 1977, the Foundation purchases agricultural preservation easements that forever restrict development on prime farmland and woodland. Maryland has now preserved in perpetuity more agricultural land than any other state.

Being a good steward of the land is important to Clark, who has a number of Ellicotts and even Hopkins in her deeply-rooted family tree. She says proper land management is essential, and the family keeps up with the latest advances in agricultural science as they also work to handle increasingly complicated environmental regulations.

As farming has turned into “agri-business,” Clark has taken on a diversified set of responsibilities. She finds herself a member of the Farm Bureau, the Tourism See ENCHANTED FARM, page 29

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 4

Free summer fun From page 27 and further information, call (410) 715-3127 or see www.columbiaassociation.org/services/lakefront-summer-festival.

Sunset serenades in Ellicott City Meanwhile, Howard County Recreation & Parks will offer an outdoor stage for its Sunset Serenades on Wednesdays at 7 p.m., at Centennial Park South in Ellicott City.

Up until the end of July, there will be shows by the U.S. Army Field Band: the Jazz Ambassadors, which will swing out on

Enchanted farm From page 28 Council, and the Howard County Historical Society. And she is a leader in the new field of “agri-tourism.”

She has also written two books. “My business goes from April to November, so I’ve got to find something to do in the winter time,” she explained about her writing.

One book is for children, called Trusty the Tractor, and is about the hay ride tractor at the farm. Her second book, released last year, is a collaboration with local writer Janet Kusterer called The Enchanted Forest: Memories of Maryland’s Storybook Park.

The name Clark is embedded here.

Clarksville. The Clarksville Pike. And now the Clark Elioak Farm is attracting a new generation of visitors to the area.

But Martha Anne Clark has a tangible reminder of her family legacy. By the family home, situated behind a stand thick trees on the farm, is a large memorial stone.

It has the names of her parents, and their birth and death dates carved into it.

FROM PAGE 30

ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD A C H E B O O T S T U N S A C A T A M O R S A N S A N I V S A N P I S L E

C A I R O

I N F E R

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T E E N V I A N D O I P I L F L U E N G G A I L

S T A L E

K I N D A

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both patriotic and jazz tunes (July 2) and Barry Louis Polisar, who provides children’s music (July 9).

Also set for Sunset are the Razors, known as a variety cover band (July 16), the U.S. Naval Academy Electric Brigade, offering a popular mix (July 23), and Ocho de Basto, offering Latin rock (July 30).

Taking to the road for Rec & Parks will be the Soul Island Rebels, which will play electric blues funk at the East Columbia Library Park on Cradlerock Way in Columbia (June 27), Charm City Limits, offering country and bluegrass at the Gary J. Arthur Community Center on Route 97 in

Wine and movies The Wine Bin, located on Main Street in Ellicott City, is screening outdoor movies each Saturday through the summer. It also is offering free wine samples before the 9 p.m. movie time. The films are shown in the store’s private parking lot, which will be closed at 8 p.m., so chairs can be set up.

The Wine Bin is not averse to patrons buying some wine to sip while watching the movies. In fact, the store will provide coolers to keep the wine and purchased beer nice and cool.

The first night of summer will be welcomed with Dirty Dancing (June 21). followed by Risky Business (June 26). The movies in July include, Iron Man, the first version, (July 5), Moonstruck (July 12), When Harry Met Sally (July 19) and Grease (July 26).

For further information, call (410) 4657802 or see www.winebinec.com/summermovies.php.

And below the names, as a stark reminder from her father, is this mandate: Never Sell The Land.

Clark’s Elioak Farm is located at 10500 Clarksville Pike (State Route 108) in Ellicott City. It is open to the public from April 1 to November 2. Hours of operation:

Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last admission at 4 p.m.); Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (last admission at 4 p.m.). The farm is also open Labor Day and every Monday in October.

Admission is $5 per person, no fee for children under 12 months. Tickets for the

hayride, cow train and pony rides are $2 each. Tickets for gem mining are $7.

There are season passes available, and special pricing for birthday parties and educational tours.

For information, visit www.clarklandfarm.com or call (410) 730-4049.

Cooksville, and Naked Blue, a folk pop group at Schooley Mill Park on Hall Shop Road in Highland.

For further information, call (410) 313-4700 or see www.howardcountymd.gov/summerconcerts.htm.

J U L Y 2 0 1 4 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

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Puzzle Page

Crossword Puzzle Daily crosswords can be found on our website: www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com Click on Puzzles Plus Saints Go Marching by Stephen Sherr 1

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Across 1. Require ibuprofen 5. Oodles 9. Avail oneself of Vail 12. ___ camp 13. Microwave 14. Entrapment scheme 16. Phaser setting 17. Provide a challenge 18. Star of the National Zoo 19. North American city marches into South American harvester 22. Brazilian Shorthair, for example 24. Grp. of former Soviet republics 25. Mountain climber’s tool 26. Indifferent between right and wrong 28. Levelheaded 30. Cuzcatlan city marches into Catalan artist 36. “Nurse: give this patient ___” 37. Clay, later 38. Remote Local Area Network (acronym) 39. Golden state bay marches into gold medal painter 44. “Children should be ___ ...”

45. His last film was Plan 9 From Outer Space, 28 years after starring in Dracula 46. Least welcoming 50. End of a souffle or waffle 51. Tennessee athlete 52. Tech city marches into tequila seller 56. Permanent inmate 57. Proof of engagement 58. It will give you heartburn 61. Not slouching 62. Not at all 28 Across 63. ___ in America 64. Scrap of food 65. Garden store package 66. Remove snow 1. They are toned up by sit-ups

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Answer: How the sponge merchant described his business -- ABSORBING Jumbles: VILLA SOGGY TURBAN BROKER

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2. Item in M*A*S*H’s swamp 3. “___ the blind” (Sandra Bullock’s repeated distress cry in Gravity) 4. Highly active volcano 5. Jack ___ 6. Tropical shindigs 7. Ingredient in Creole cooking 8. Prom-goer 9. Hackneyed 10. Sort of (sort of) 11. Sort files 14. Sort of tooth separator 15. Stare at curiously 20. Org. that spreads madness (in March) 21. Dionysus’ love 22. Castilian castles 23. It sells a “Top load washer with dual action agitator” 27. Invitation rqst.

28. It will curl your hair 29. ___ in the pool 31. Low-lying area 32. Bummer 33. Not just quietly offended 34. Calf catcher 35. Packed like tuna 40. Categorize 41. Parlays 42. Against the letter and the spirit 43. User of body language 46. Small patch of land 47. “The city of a thousand minarets” 48. Speculate 49. Remove (as from James Bond’s Aston Martin) 50. Mushrooms and mold 53. Units of work 54. Goodbye, Giuseppe 55. Femme fatale 59. Expected wedding response 60. Winter : frost :: Spring : ___

Answers on page 29.

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 4

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

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

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

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

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ACCOUNTING, BOOKKEEPING, TAXES – conscientious CPA, 37 years experience, reasonable rates, looking for additional business, personal and eldercare clients. Call 410653-3363.

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Personal Services LEARN ENGLISH – SPANISH – ITALIAN – FRENCH – PORTUGUESE Conversational. Grammatical. Private lessons. Reasonable Rates. Tutoring students. 443-3528200.

Wanted WE BUY OLD AND NEW COINS, Jewelry, Silver and Gold, Paper Money too. Watches, Clocks and Parts, Military Badges and Patches Old and New. Call Greg, 717-658-7954.

VINYL RECORDS WANTED from 1950 through 1985. Jazz, Rock-n-Roll, Soul, Rhythm & Blues, Reggae and Disco. 33 1/3 LPs, 45s or 78s, Larger collections of at least 100 items wanted. Please call John, 301-5966201.

TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED Deadlines and Payments: Ad text and payment is due by the 5th of each month.

Note: Only ads received and prepaid by the deadline will be included in the next month’s issue. Please type or print your ad carefully. Include a number where you can be reached in the event of a question. Payment is due with ad. We do not accept ads by phone or fax, nor do we accept credit cards.

Private Party Text Ads: For individuals seeking to buy or sell particular items, or place a personal ad. Each ad is $10 for 25 words, 25 cents for each additional word.

Business Text Ads: For parties engaged in an ongoing business enterprise.

Each ad is $25 for 25 words, 50 cents for each additional word.

Note: Each real estate listing counts as one business text ad.

Send your classified ad with check or money order, payable to the Beacon, to:

The Beacon, Howard County Classified Dept.

P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915-2227 BEACON BITS

June 28

HEAR NBC “SING-OFF” WINNERS Home Free, the country a cappella group of five men who won the

NBC Sing-Off in December, will perform on Saturday, June 28, at 8 p.m. at the Rouse Theater, 5460 Trumpeter Rd., Columbia. Tickets start at $40. The event is part of the Columbia Festival of the Arts, and further information can be found at www.columbiafestival.org or by calling (410) 715-3044.

OLD AND NEW WE BUY Sterling Silver Flatware, Tea Sets or Single Pieces., Furniture, Tools, Cameras, Good Glassware, Artwork Too. Toys From Trains to Hotwheels, Action Figures to Star Wars. Call Greg, 717-6587954.

CASH BUYER for old costume jewelry, pocket and wrist watches (any condition). Also buying watchmaker tools and parts, train sets and accessories, old toys, old glassware & coins. 410-655-0412.

FINE ANTIQUES, PAINTINGS AND QUALITY VINTAGE FURNISHINGS wanted by a serious capable buyer. I am very well educated [law degree] knowledgeable [over 40 years in the antique business] and have the finances and wherewithal to handle virtually any situation. If you have a special item, collection or important estate I would like to hear from you. I pay great prices for great things in all categories from oriental rugs to Tiffany objects, from rare clocks to firearms, from silver and gold to classic cars.

If it is wonderful, I am interested. No phony promises or messy consignments. References gladly furnished. Please call Jake Lenihan, 301-279-8834. Thank you.

MILITARY ITEMS Collector seeks: helmets, weapons, knives, swords, bayonets, webgear, uniforms, inert ordnance, ETC. From 1875 to 1960, US, German, Britain, Japan, France, Russian. Please call Fred 301-9100783, Thank you. Also Lionel Trains.

Thanks for reading!

BEACON BITS

July 31+

ART SHOW ENTRIES SOUGHT Area artists age 18 and over may submit their work on Thursday,

July 31 and Friday, August 1 to the Artists’ Gallery in Columbia for the “Local Color Juried Show” that will be held Aug. 4 through 29. The Artists’ Gallery is located in the American City Building, 10227 Wincopin Circle. For more information, HB7/14

call (410) 740-8249 or visit www.artistsgallerycolumbia.com.

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J U L Y 2 0 1 4 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

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