July 2025 | Baltimore Beacon

Author finds humor everywhere

By Hannah Collins

Since author Peggy Rowe turned 80, she has published three New York Times bestselling books, proving that it’s never too late to start something new.

“Don’t sit back and say, ‘I’ve had my time; I’m going to sit back and watch other people now.’ Because it really isn’t too late,” Rowe said in an interview with the Beacon

Her most recent book, Oh No, Not ‘The Home:’ Observations and Confessions of a Grandmother in Transition, was published last October. The memoir details her move to Oak Crest Senior Living Community in Parkville, Maryland, and the people she met there.

“I am surrounded by people who are facing [the] end of life, many of them, with dignity and courage — and humor. It’s been very inspirational for me to witness that,” she said.

Always a writer

Writing has always been a part of Rowe’s life. She grew up in Baltimore and attended Towson University in the 1950s, when it was still called Maryland State Teachers College at Towson. She met her husband, John, there and went on to become a third-grade teacher.

One year, while gathering material for a class, Rowe couldn’t find a poem to match her vision, so she wrote her own — and the children loved it. She fondly recalls hearing a group of girls chanting her poetry at recess while jumping rope. “I felt like a celebrity,” she said.

From there, Rowe continued writing outside the classroom: She wrote poetry for friends’ parties, articles for her church newsletter, and stories of all genres for college courses and critique groups.

When she was 64, Rowe published a short, humorous piece of fiction in a small magazine, and she was hooked.

As an older adult, she explained, writing gives her a freedom that many female writers don’t have at younger ages, when looking after children, for example, takes precedence.

Celebrity son

Rowe’s book publishing journey was sparked, in a way, by social media. She happened to relate an anecdote to one of her

three sons, Mike Rowe, who famously hosted the Discovery Channel television series “Dirty Jobs” and “Deadliest Catch” and the CNN series “Somebody’s Gotta Do It.”

Her son asked her to send the story in writing and then shared it with his Facebook followers, garnering 70 million views.

Though publishers thought Rowe’s first book, About My Mother: True Stories of a Horse-Crazy Daughter and Her BaseballObsessed Mother would be a tough sell, Mike Rowe published it himself in 2018. It sold 10,000 copies in three weeks.

Soon after, Simon & Schuster acquired and distributed the book, which went on to hit the New York Times Best Sellers list. (That list typically includes books that sell more than 5,000 copies in a week.)

Two years later, Rowe published her second book, About Your Father, and Other

Celebrities I Have Known: Ruminations and Revelations from a Desperate Mother to Her Dirty Son.

In 2023, Vacuuming in the Nude: And Other Ways to Get Attention came out.

At the request of Simon & Schuster’s publicity department, Rowe began writing Facebook posts for her new fans. She continues to write two 200-word stories a week for her Facebook followers, who she says are her best critique group.

Rowe also has written multiple children’s books as well as comedic poetry.

The secret to writing so consistently? Rowe reported that she takes copious notes and journals daily.

She occasionally wakes in the middle of the night with an idea she knows she’ll forget

After flying rescue missions to Haiti, Harrison Ford is honored for his “visionary” help page 11

Baltimore author Peggy Rowe wrote three New York Times bestsellers after turning 80. Her most recent book is about the unexpected pleasure of moving to a Baltimore retirement community.

…As others see us

When I sit down to write one of my columns, I often find that I have more to say than the space allows and I need to make cuts.

This month, I want to weave together some of those previously omitted thoughts to deliver a message of their own.

In my April column (“Say cheese!”), I noted that we tend to behave differently when we’re being watched or recorded. The mere act of being observed has a big impact.

In my June column (“Practice makes (im)perfect”), I noted that practice only makes perfect when the practice itself is perfect. I wrote there about a neurologist, Dr. Molly Gebrian, who said that only when athletes and musicians are careful not to make mistakes when practicing will they lay down the neural pathways in the brain that enable them to habitually perform an activity easily and without error. What I cut from that column for space was something else she said that tied into my April message.

ing yourself while practicing, then listening closely and critiquing how you played, as if hearing someone else play it.

When you can hear how you play the way others would hear it, you are in a better position to judge your performance objectively. Then you can make the changes necessary to achieve the result you really want.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

By Stuart P. Rosenthal

The way we hear the sound of our own voice, the music we make with an instrument, even the intent and meaning behind the words we speak, are seldom identical to what others hear.

sounded.

And we might — if we try — develop more empathy for others and their mistakes, once we realize how commonly we make them as well.

Once we become aware of all these things, we start to understand what’s needed to become better — both better at what we do and better people.

There’s a popular saying in business: “What’s measured improves.” Listening to ourselves is one way of measuring what we do and say, and may well lead to some substantial changes in our behavior.

An example of how seeing ourselves the way others do can enable us to improve can be found in popular lore. It’s said that when we die, we see our whole lives pass in front of us before we are “judged.” That way, we are reminded of the things we have done wrong.

of their actions from the perspective of those whom they affected.

They felt in each situation how they made others feel (including both physical and emotional pain), and heard what others were thinking about them and their behavior at the time.

NDEs are often life-changing for those who go through them, in part for this reason. It completely changes their perspective. They have been gifted a visceral ability to understand how others see and hear them, which brings about a profound change in their future behavior.

We are only human, and mistakes are a major way we learn. But if we can manage to stop repeating our mistakes, we stand a greater chance of changing a lifetime of bad habits and becoming the person we want to be.

For a pianist to fix a mistake that has become habitual, Gebrian suggested record-

If you’ve ever seen a computer-generated transcript of a live presentation that’s not read from a script, you may be surprised by the number of ahs, uhs and misstatements even highly experienced speakers make. There are at least two major things we can expect to learn from making recordings and listening to ourselves more often and more objectively: We will become conscious of outright mistakes as well as statements or performances we would have done differently had we known how we

TheBeacon is a monthly newspaper dedicated to inform, serve, and entertain the citizens of the Greater Baltimore area, and is privately owned. Other editions serve Howard County, Md. and Greater Washington, D.C.

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Publisher/Editor Emeritus – Stuart P. Rosenthal

President/Associate Publisher – Judith K. Rosenthal

Executive Vice President – Gordon Hasenei

Editor – Margaret Foster

Art Director – Kyle Gregory

Vice President of Operations – Roger King

Advertising Representatives –Jill Joseph, Steve Levin, M.K. Phillips, Alan Spiegel

Assistant Editor – Ana Preger Hart

Editorial Intern – Tori Cleveland

There appears to be good evidence that something like this “life review” actually happens, as reported by thousands of people all over the world who have had “near death experiences” (NDEs).

This includes, for example, people who have medically “died” on the operating table or after being struck by lightning, but then are surprisingly resuscitated and report on what they saw and heard while “dead.”

A large percentage of these people say they not only saw their entire life in review, but that they were able to experience each

One way to do that is to try hearing and seeing ourselves as others do, and then acting accordingly. Sounds like a golden rule to me.

For information about near death experiences, see iands.org. There are also hundreds of personal videos from near death experiencers on YouTube. For a recent program on the subject with Dr. Mayim Bialik, visit: tinyurl.com/BialikNDE.

Letters to the editor

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

Dear Editor:

I hope the “tire change” is going well. Love to read the Beacon. I always grab a copy at my Safeway. Glad you are pursuing your love of music more now. Thank you, publisher and musician!

Craig Griffin Via YouTube

Dear Editor:

I was dismayed by the Leisure & Travel article, “See Great Smoky Mountains National Park,” in the Beacon’s May 2025 issue. The author, Glenda Booth, makes a passing reference to a major attraction of the park: “[V]isitors can walk, hike, bike, paddle or just drive...taking to the trails.” She never specifically mentions any of the hiking trails, focusing instead on the more mundane option to “just drive.”

Having visited the Smokies several times in my youth, I recall the awesome Alum Cave Bluffs, the spectacular views from Mt. Le Conte and Charlie’s Bunion, and the less arduous hike to Laurel Falls.

Inc.

Booth’s article states, “Unfortunately, [the park’s one lodge] is accessible only by foot.” She seems to imply that the park

has a great lodge, but that “unfortunately,” you have to negotiate an annoying mountain “on foot” to reach it.

The lodge is not the goal; it exists to allow hikers to rest, rather than attempting the strenuous round trip up the peak and back down in one day. Booth never mentions the name of the mountain: Mt. Le Conte. As the third-highest peak in the park, it offers spectacular views of nearly 360 degrees.

Hannah Klein Wheaton, MD

Dear Editor:

I recently met a woman at the local supermarket who told me that she recently retired from the federal government. When I asked if it was a forced retirement, she responded, “Let’s just say it came earlier than expected.”

As for her retirement plans, she had none. She said that she was bored and lonely at home taking short walks, reading and watching Netflix.

So I told her about the Osher Learning Institute at George Mason University. There are lifelong learning programs affiliated

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Think before asking Google for medical help

By Tom Murphy

“Dr. Google” is often on call for worried patients, but it may not give the best advice. Doctors say internet searches for medical information should be done cautiously, especially with artificial intelligence playing a growing role.

Information from the right websites can teach patients about symptoms and prepare them for a doctor’s visit.

But a poorly done search might inflame anxiety well before someone reaches the waiting room. It’s important to know the source of the information you find and to avoid trying to diagnose our health issue.

Here are questions to keep in mind if you seek medical help online.

What’s your source?

When you do a search, don’t automatically click the first link. It may not contain the best answers. That’s because some companies pay to have their websites listed at the top of a results page. Those links may

be listed as sponsored.

Scroll for results that come from a source you can trust for medical information. That can include big health systems like the Mayo Clinic or websites run by government agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“We’ve gotten so used to clicking on that first link,” said John Grohol, a psychologist who specializes in online behavior. “For your health information, especially when it is personal, you want to think about it.”

Should I use AI?

That depends on what it tells you.

More people are using artificial intelligence (AI) to get quick answers pulled from a variety of internet sources. Some Google searches also will generate an AI summary at the top of the results page.

But an AI answer may not say where it got the information. That makes it hard to judge credibility.

AI also can be prone to “hallucinations,” an industry term for issues that cause the

technology to make stuff up. Be especially wary of this if no source is cited.

What should I ask?

How you phrase a question plays a big role in the results you see. Doctors say patients should search for information based on symptoms, not an expected diagnosis.

“You’ve got to ask at the very beginning the right questions,” said Dr. Eric Boose of the Cleveland Clinic.

That means asking, “What could cause a lump to form under my skin?” instead of “Is the lump under my skin cancer?”

Focusing on a diagnosis means you may miss other explanations, especially if you just click the first few links listed in the results.

For some issues, you should skip the search altogether. If you are having chest pains, experiencing dizziness of showing signs of a stroke, seek help immediately.

“You don’t want to delay something that should be treated within a certain amount of time,” said Dr. Olivier Gherardi, medical

director of Brown University Health Urgent Care.

Can the internet diagnose a problem?

No. Leave that to the real doctors who are trained to ask questions that lead to a diagnosis.

Blood in your urine could mean cancer. It also might be caused by kidney stones or an infection.

Unexplained weight loss also could be a sign of cancer. Or it could reflect an overactive thyroid or a new job that causes you to move around more.

Some testing and a visit with a doctor who knows your medical history may be the best medicine in these situations.

“There are a lot of symptoms that overlap between minor conditions and major medical problems,” said Dr. Sarah Sams, a board member with the American Academy of Family Physicians.

© 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Shingles vaccine may fight dementia

By Lauran Neergaard

A vaccine to fight dementia? It turns out there may already be one — shots that prevent painful shingles also appear to protect aging brains. A new study found shingles vaccination cut older adults’ risk of developing dementia over the next seven years by 20 percent.

The research, published last month in the journal Nature, is part of growing understanding about how many factors influence brain health as we age — and what we can do about it.

“It’s a very robust finding,” said lead researcher Dr. Pascal Geldsetzer of Stanford University. And “women seem to benefit more,” important as they’re at higher risk of dementia.

The study tracked people in Wales who were around 80 when receiving the world’s first-generation shingles vaccine over a decade ago. Now, Americans 50 and older are urged to get a newer vaccine that’s proven more effective against shingles than its predecessor.

The new findings add another reason for people to consider rolling up their sleeves,

said Dr. Maria Nagel of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, who studies viruses that infiltrate the nervous system.

The virus “is a risk for dementia, and now we have an intervention that can decrease the risk,” Nagel said.

With Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia on the rise in an aging population, “the implications of the study are profound,” Dr. Anupam Jena, a Harvard physician and health economist, wrote in the Nature commentary.

What is shingles?

Anyone who’s had ever had chickenpox — nearly everybody born before 1980 — harbors that virus for the rest of their life. It hides in nerves and can break out when the immune system weakens from illness or age, causing painful, blister-like sores typically on one side of the body that last for weeks — what’s called shingles.

About 1 in 3 Americans will get shingles, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While most recover, it sometimes causes severe complications. If

it infects an eye it can cause vision loss. Up to 20 percent of shingles patients suffer excruciating nerve pain months or even years after the rash itself is gone.

What’s the link between shingles and dementia?

It’s not clear exactly how Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia form. But certain viruses that sneak inside the nervous system — especially members of the herpes family including the chickenpox virus — have long been suspected of adding to genetic and other factors that make people more vulnerable.

Last summer, doctors at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital reported that an episode of shingles could raise someone’s risk of dementia by about 20 percent.

Partly, it’s because that virus can cause inflammation, bad for organs including the brain. It also can directly infect blood vessels in the brain, causing clots and impeding blood flow, said Colorado’s Nagel, a risk both for strokes and for dementia.

More intriguing, her lab also discovered shingles can spur formation of a sticky pro-

tein called amyloid that’s one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s.

Do shingles vaccines protect against dementia?

Adults who get recommended vaccines tend to have other brain-healthy habits including exercising and a good diet, which made it hard to prove an extra benefit.

Stanford’s Geldsetzer took advantage of “a natural experiment” in Wales, which opened shingles vaccinations with an age limit: anyone 80 or older on Sept. 1, 2013, was ineligible but those still 79 could squeeze in. Comparing seniors who just met or just missed that cutoff would mimic a research study that randomly assigned otherwise similar people to be vaccinated or not.

Geldsetzer’s team analyzed more than 280,000 medical records and found evidence that vaccination did offer some protection against dementia. At the time, people received a first-generation vaccine called Zostavax.

An important next step is testing whether

today’s vaccine, Shingrix, also offers dementia protection, Nagel said. Another research group recently reported some evidence that it does. Vaccine manufacturer GSK last month announced a collaboration with UK health officials to track seniors’ cognitive health as they get vaccinated.

Geldsetzer also hopes to further study that earlier shot to see if the type of vaccine might make a difference.

What are the shingles vaccine recommendations?

Shingrix is a onetime vaccination, given in two doses a few months apart. The CDC recommends it starting at age 50 for most people

but also for younger adults with certain immune-weakening conditions — including those who years ago got that first-generation shingles vaccine. Fewer than 40 percent of eligible Americans have gotten vaccinated.

Side effects including injection-site pain and flu-like fever and achiness are common. The CDC cautions if you’re currently fighting another virus such as the flu or Covid-19, to wait on a shingles shot until you’re well.

While there’s no proven prevention for dementia, doctors also recommend other commonsense steps to lower the risk. Stay socially and cognitively active. Control high blood pressure and, for people with diabetes, high blood sugar, both of which are linked to cognitive decline.

Are you 50 or older? Then it’s time to sign up to participate in the Maryland Senior Olympics (and you don’t even have to reside in Maryland). Table tennis is scheduled for July, while bowling, racquetball, golf and other events take place in August, September and October. The first event costs $15 to $50; additional ones are $5 each. To register, visit mdseniorolympics.org.

Ongoing

PRIDE DISCUSSION GROUP FOR SENIORS (VIRTUAL)

Join Senior Planet from AARP for a weekly social hour and connect with other older adults in the LGBT+ community. This group meets on Mondays from 4 to 5 p.m. on Zoom. To join, email info@seniorplanet.org for the meeting link.

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

Housing Communities

o Brightview Senior Living (see ad on page B4)

o Caritas House Assisted Living (see ad on page B4)

o Catholic Charities (see ad on page B4)

o Charlestown/Erickson (see ads on pages B3, B6)

o Christ Church Harbor Apts (see ad on page B7)

o Oak Crest/Erickson (see ads on pages B3, B6)

o Park View Laurel (see ad on page B2)

o Park View Towson (see ad on page B2)

o Park View Fullerton (see ad on page B2)

o Park View Rosedale (see ad on page B2)

o Pickersgill (see ad on page 12)

o St. Mary’s Roland View Towers (see ad on page 10)

o Terraces at Park Heights (see ad on page B7)

o Virginia Tower Apartments (see ad on page B8)

o Warren Place Senior Apartments (see ad on page 12)

o Westminster House (see ad on page B6)

Clinical Health Studies

o Alzheimer’s Memory Test Study (see ad on page 7)

o Inactive Movement Study (see ad on page 6)

o Prediabetes Blood Sugar Study (see ad on page 6)

Check the boxes you’re interested in and return this form to: The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915 or take a picture and email to housing@thebeaconnewspapers.com. You may return this coupon together with the coupon on page B5.

BEACON BITS

Health Studies INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Why participate in a local clinical trial?

By National Institutes of Health

Clinical trials are part of clinical research and at the heart of all medical advances. Clinical trials look at new ways to prevent, detect, or treat disease.

Treatments might be new drugs or new combinations of drugs, new surgical procedures or devices, or new ways to use existing treatments.

The goal of clinical trials is to determine if a new test or treatment works and is safe. Clinical trials can also look at other aspects of care, such as improving the quality of life for people with chronic illnesses.

People participate in clinical trials for a variety of reasons. Healthy volunteers say they participate to help others and to contribute to moving science forward.

Participants with an illness or disease also participate to help others, but also to possibly receive the newest treatment and to have the additional care and attention

from the clinical trial staff.

Clinical trials offer hope for many people and an opportunity to help researchers find better treatments for others in the future.

Types of clinical trials

Clinical trials can study:

• New drugs or new combinations of drugs

• New ways of doing surgery

• New medical devices

• New ways to use existing treatments

• New ways to change behaviors to improve health

• New ways to improve the quality of life for people with acuteor chronic illnesses.

The goal of clinical trials is to determine if these treatment, prevention and behavior approaches are safe and effective.

Who participates?

Many different types of people take part

in clinical trials. Some are healthy, while others may have illnesses.

Research procedures with healthy volunteers are designed to develop new knowledge, not to provide direct benefit to those taking part.

Healthy volunteers are needed for several reasons. When developing a new technique, such as a blood test or imaging device, healthy volunteers help define the limits of “normal.”

These volunteers are the baseline against which patient groups are compared and are often matched to patients on factors such as age, gender or family relationship. They receive the same tests, procedures or drugs the patient group receives. Researchers learn about the disease process by comparing the patient group to the healthy volunteers.

Factors like how much of your time is needed, discomfort you may feel, or risk involved depends on the trial. While some require minimal amounts of time and effort, other studies may require a major commitment of your time and effort and may involve some discomfort.

The research procedure(s) may also carry some risk. The informed consent process for healthy volunteers includes a detailed discussion of the study’s procedures and tests and their risks.

Some studies seek participants with illnesses or conditions to be studied in the clinical trial.

A patient volunteer has a known health problem and takes part in research to better understand, diagnose or treat that disease or condition. Research with a pa-

tient volunteer helps develop new knowledge. Depending on the stage of knowledge about the disease or condition, these procedures may or may not benefit the study participants.

Patients may volunteer for studies similar to those in which healthy volunteers take part. These studies involve drugs, devices, or treatments designed to prevent or treat disease.

Although these studies may provide direct benefit to patient volunteers, the main aim is to prove, by scientific means, the effects and limitations of the experimental treatment. Therefore, some patient groups may serve as a baseline for comparison by not taking the test drug, or by receiving test doses of the drug large enough only to show that it is present, but not at a level that can treat the condition.

Hope for the future

Only through clinical research can we gain insights and answers about the safety and effectiveness of treatments and procedures.

Groundbreaking scientific advances in the present and the past were possible only because of participation of volunteers, both healthy and those with an illness, in clinical research.

Clinical research requires complex and rigorous testing in collaboration with communities that are affected by the disease. As research opens new doors to finding ways to diagnose, prevent, treat or cure disease and disability, clinical trial participation is essential to help us find the answers.

The Johns Hopkins University research study is examining if sitting less by moving more helps promote an

• You may qualify if you are 65 years and older and inactive

• There are a total of 2 visits at Johns Hopkins ProHealth, Woodlawn, MD

• We offer compensation of $200 for your participation and free parking

For more information and to find out if you qualify, please call 410-281-1600.

Get enough protein; plus, tricks to perk up

By Howard LeWine, M.D.

Q: I am worried about losing muscle mass now that I am in my 60s. How much protein do I need to help prevent it?

A: Age-related muscle loss, called sarcopenia, is a natural part of aging. Sufficient protein intake and strength training are two ways to maintain muscle mass and combat sarcopenia.

Many people, even at younger ages, don’t get their optimal daily protein intake, especially if they also are cutting calories to lose weight.

The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of protein is 0.8 gram per kilogram of body weight, or about 0.36 gram per pound. However, most experts suggest greater daily dietary protein intake than the RDA, 1.0 to 1.2 grams per kilogram of body weight (about 75 grams per day for a 150-pound person). People trying to regain muscle mass after an injury or illness should aim for even more, up to 1.6 grams per kilogram of body weight, but no more than 2.0.

The body can make use of only 20 to 30 grams of dietary protein at one time. So there is no benefit from getting most of your daily protein from one meal. Instead, try to evenly distribute your protein over breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.

It’s important to get a realistic estimate of how much protein you consume daily. People tend to over- or underestimate how much protein they actually eat. Track your protein intake with each meal for a week to get a daily average. Read labels and assess your protein per serving as accurately as possible, rather than guessing at amounts.

Once you have a general idea of your usual intake, you can adjust it as needed. Your protein should focus on high-quality food sources, like lean poultry, fish, dairy,

and plant-based foods, such as soy, legumes, nuts and whole grains.

Another option is whey protein powder or vegan powders made from soy, peas, or brown rice. They can be added to oatmeal and smoothies or stirred into a glass of water. Because powders come with measuring scoops, they can help you track how many protein grams you add to your daily diet.

In addition to sufficient protein intake, maintaining muscle mass also requires two to three sessions per week of strength training. To help maximize muscle growth and improve recovery, consume a portion of your daily protein within 30 minutes to one hour after your strength training workout, through either a drink or snack.

Q: What are some natural ways to help boost your mood and energy when you feel stressed and worn out?

A: “Down” episodes are common and usually pass, but sometimes, you get stuck in a mental and emotional rut. When that happens, here are some strategies that can help pull you out.

Get moving. Exercise stimulates your brain’s production of endorphins — chemicals that create a sense of euphoria.

A review of more than 1,000 trials published online on Feb. 16, 2023, by the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that compared with people who were sedentary, those who engaged in regular physical activity, like walking, resistance training, Pilates and yoga, reduced their anxiety levels and improved mild depression-related symptoms.

Other research suggests aerobic exercise can have a powerful effect on mood. Any type of exercise is helpful. Your exercise could be as simple as tending your garden or working on house projects.

Hang out with nature. Scientists believe

spending time in a natural environment can calm neural activity in the prefrontal cortex, a brain region associated with negative emotions. Research also has found that interacting with nature can lower blood pressure and cortisol, the stress hormone. The type of setting doesn’t matter as long as you find it soothing.

Train your brain. Engaging in mentally stimulating activities like painting and other art forms, learning to play a musical instrument, or learning a language can be a great mood booster, as they provide a sense of accomplishment.

Practice gratitude. Identifying and writing down things for which you are grateful can help offset feeling anxious or stressed. Begin a journal to record these examples of gratitude. Your entries might include big-picture items like your ability to exercise daily and enjoy a circle of close friends, or even satisfying occurrences like a friendly exchange at a store. Try to provide details about why you are thankful and how these items improve your outlook. You don’t have

to write every day — some studies have found that even just once a week is helpful. Lend a helping hand. You can reap many emotional rewards through volunteering. A study of older adults found that people who volunteered at least two hours per week felt happier and more optimistic than those who didn’t. Volunteering also can boost selfesteem by providing a sense of purpose. Make time to meditate. Practicing meditation can help you reduce stress by focusing on the present moment rather than ruminating about the past or future.

[Ed. Note: Music is also a mood-altering method, according to NIH.]

If your symptoms last for two weeks or longer or begin to interfere with daily life — for instance, if you’re not sleeping well, becoming more isolated, or losing interest in favorite activities — you should talk with your doctor.

Howard LeWine, M.D. is an internist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. © 2025 Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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

Add these summer superfoods to your list

By Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner

Summer is arguably the best season for eating fresh produce, and it’s a top time to fill up on superfoods. Though it’s not an official scientific category, superfoods are noted by nutrition specialists as foods that are especially nutritionally dense and offer multiple benefits in each serving. Superfoods can help with building a strong immune system, support gut health, and do so much more.

Here are the best summer superfoods to stock up on ASAP.

Cherries

Nothing hits like a ripe summertime cherry. “Cherries are great for snacking poolside, and easy on the go,” said Joanna Gregg, RD at MyFitnessPal. “They’re full of antioxidants that help reduce inflammation and pro-

BEACON BITS

July 12+

tect the body from cell damage.” They’re also high in potassium and vitamin C.

“Cherries have a lower glycemic index than many other fruits,” added Jennifer House, M.Sc., RD and founder of First Step Nutrition. “They are rich in polyphenol compounds, which may protect against metabolic syndrome. Plus, cherries contain anthocyanins, which may contribute to brain health and protect against cancer.”

Sweet corn

Is any summer meal complete without corn in some form? And yes, corn is a summer superfood. “It’s a good source of vitamins and minerals, and one medium ear has 2 grams of fiber,” Gregg said, noting that this fiber acts as prebiotics to aid digestion and gut health.

BALTIMORE CARRIBEAN FESTIVAL

Celebrate Caribbean culture with music, food, dance and vendors at Druid Hill Park, 900 Druid Park Lake Dr., on Sat., July 12 and Sun., July 13 from noon to 10 p.m. This festival features vibrant performances, authentic Caribbean cuisine and family-friendly fun. Tickets are $24 per person per day; children 12 and under are admitted free of charge. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit bit.ly/2025BaltimoreCaribbeanFestival.

Tomatoes

An abundance of tomatoes is great for your tastebuds and health. “Tomatoes get their bright red color from lycopene, a potent antioxidant that reduces inflammation throughout the body and may improve conditions such as diabetes, skin and bone diseases, heart complications, and prevention of certain types of cancers, according to a 2020 review in Antioxidants,” explained Lauren Fleck, M.S., RD.

Another antioxidant, lutein, is linked to improved eye health, heart health, and sustained cognitive function, Gregg notes. She recommends adding fresh tomatoes to salads or sandwiches, or enjoying small tomatoes as a snack.

Mint

This bountiful herb can be a great flavor agent in summer food and drink recipes, and it’s also a superfood. “Mint is an aromatic herb that is in-season throughout summer and packed with nutrients such as vitamin A and other antioxidants to protect against cell damage,” Fleck said.

According to a 2022 review in the Journal of Herbal Medicine, menthol — a key component of mint leaves — may help relieve mild digestive concerns such as gas, bloating and indigestion. Fleck recommends adding it to fruit salads or car-

Have confidence in every conversation.

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

• Amplified phones

• Tablets

• Ring signalers

• Phones with large and/or high contrast buttons

• Captioned Telephones

• And more

For more information:

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

bonated water, or brewing it in hot water for tea or iced tea.

Mushrooms

Eat fungus in abundance this summer! “Mushrooms are one of the few food sources of vitamin D,” House said. “They are low-calorie and very nutrient-dense, containing 12 vitamins and minerals. Mushrooms are also one of the few sources of the amino acid ergothioneine, which is an antioxidant that supports brain health. Grilled portobello mushrooms make a great burger bun [or burger] alternative in the summer.”

Blueberries

Fill up on blueberries all season; they’re so good for you. “Anthocyanins are antioxidants that give blueberries their deep color and provide numerous health benefits, such as prevention of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cognitive decline, and support of a healthy gut,” Fleck said. Add blueberries to yogurt, salads and smoothies, or simply enjoy them on their own.

Real Simple magazine provides smart, realistic solutions to everyday challenges. Online at realsimple.com.

© 2025 Dotdash Meredith. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

By Lisa Gerstner

Thinking about moving to a 55+ community? Once limited to the Sunbelt, these developments, designed for people 55 and older, can now be found throughout the nation, from Washington state to right here in Maryland.

And more of them are popping up, like Bloomfields in Frederick, Maryland. Its single-family homes and townhouses surround a pool, clubhouse, potting shed and pickleball courts.

Residents often have a built-in social life. Marilyn Burke, 60, and her husband, Martin, 66, sold their five-bedroom home in California and purchased a three-bedroom contemporary in Cresswind Wesley Chapel, a 55+ community in Monroe, N.C. Now they fill their days with trivia contests, happy hours, community concerts, pickleball and mah-jongg games.

“We wanted a community that had activities because we were moving somewhere where we knew no one,” Burke said. “We’ve met so many people from different walks of life, but with similar interests, and all from our same age group.”

The pros and cons

Like the Burkes, many older adults are drawn to 55+ communities because they want to live an active lifestyle — playing tennis or pickleball, meeting friends for coffee, joining clubs, attending educational or cultural activities and more — and they want to have plenty of amenities at their fingertips.

“They’re seeking the ability to host family and friends, explore hobbies, and maybe get into a sport they always wanted to play,” said Karl Mistry, executive vice president of Toll Brothers, a luxury builder that constructs 55+ communities under the brand name Regency. “These are active communities. The clubhouses and fitness centers are always busy.”

Is a 55+ community right for you?

Many builders create developments that are akin to country clubs, with large and glitzy clubhouses, full-time lifestyle directors, on-site entertainment and dining venues. These facilities make it easy to meet new friends, socialize, get exercise, and avoid the isolation and loneliness that older adults often face.

Although many people think of a 55+ community as a place to land after they retire, you can move in before then. Residents can enjoy a low-maintenance lifestyle, with the homeowners association (HOA) handling landscaping and snow removal. Some communities offer transportation to nearby grocery stores or medical facilities for residents who don’t drive.

Keep in mind that 55+ communities differ from those that offer supportive care, such as assisted-living, memory-care and skilled-nursing facilities. These communities typically provide healthcare, dining and other services that vary as the needs of the residents evolve. Many of these communities also offer independent living and lots of amenities and activities.

Amenities included

Depending on the market and the development, you may pay more to buy a home in a 55+ community than a similar home in a place that’s not age-restricted.

According to the National Association of Home Builders, the median price of an agerestricted, single-family home on which construction started in 2023 was $500,000, compared with $422,000 for one that wasn’t agerestricted. That’s because the cost of the amenities is built into the home’s pricing.

You should also be prepared to pay fees. Not only do 55+ communities charge monthly HOA fees to cover operating expenses, but such communities also often charge new homeowners an up-front “initiation fee” or “entrance fee.”

Fees at even the best-run HOAs are escalating as associations struggle to keep up with increases in operating costs, par-

ticularly insurance premiums. According to an August 2024 report from real estate brokerage Redfin, which examined HOA fees in Florida over a three-month period, the median monthly fee in the Tampa area jumped 17.2% compared with the same period a year earlier. Other areas had similar increases, including Orlando (up 16.7%) and Fort Lauderdale (up 16.2%).

Many 55+ buyers finance their purchases by selling the homes they raised their families in. Some use the home equity they’ve built to pay cash for their new home; many homeowners are sitting on a pile of cash that could be available to use toward a new home when they sell.

Caution: costs may rise

Although older adults commonly assume that their living costs will decline when they downsize or move into a 55+ community, experts say that isn’t always true.

“There are a lot of extra expenses that they may not have thought about,” said Michael Silver, a certified financial planner with Baron Silver Stevens Financial Advi-

sors in Boca Raton, Fla. “If they’re living in a community with a lot of amenities, the costs to maintain them have become astronomical, and there have been all sorts of assessments and extra fees.”

Roberta Lee knows that firsthand. Lee, 77, a retired real estate broker, purchased a house in a 55+ development in Lake Worth, Florida, in September 2022, paying $395,000. When she moved in, her monthly HOA fee was $728. Two years later, it was $961. Additionally, she paid an up-front membership fee of $10,000 for access to the on-site golf course. Back then, the monthly golf membership fee was $628; now, it’s $900.

“My home expenses, including taxes, insurance and my mortgage payment, were OK when I bought, and I thought it was a great deal,” Lee said. “Well, it turns out it’s not such a great deal.”

Lee is considering financial alternatives, such as moving, dropping out of the golf club or getting a part-time job to augment her income.

New housing communities designed for people over 55 are popping up all over the country. Bloomfields in Frederick, Maryland, is selling new homes built by NV Homes and Ryan Homes.

Housing News

By Beacon Staff

Baltimore senior living apartments now open

Just five blocks south of Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore is a new senior apartment building for people over 62. Opened in

May, The Terraces at Park Heights includes 100 one- and two-bedroom apartments.

The affordable senior housing community has a rooftop deck, lounge, coffee shop, library and computer center. It’s also “green,” with raised beds for gardening and solar panels.

Outside the building stands an original mosaic statue of George “Spider” Anderson, a Baltimore jockey who was the first Black man to win the Preakness.

The NHP Foundation, a not-for-profit affordable housing provider, partnered with The Henson Development Company, the

TEACH ENGLISH TO REFUGEES

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City of Baltimore, the state’s Department of Housing and Community Development, and Park Heights Renaissance Community Development Corporation (CDC) to celebrate the ribbon-cutting last month.

Apartments are available for those 62 and up who qualify for affordable housing; that is, people whose household income is 60% of the area median income (AMI), based on household size. The Terraces at Park Heights are managed by Habitat America.

To find out more, visit theterracesatparkheights.com or call (410) 578-8000.

Dundalk apartments snapped up

There’s a new affordable senior living community in Dundalk, Maryland, for people 62 and up. Merritt Station Senior Apartments welcomed dozens of new residents in May. Their brand-new apartment build-

ENTERPRISE RESIDENTIAL

MOST COMMUNITIES ARE 62 AND BETTER

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY

The Greens at Hammonds Lane: 410-636-1141

Park View at Furnace Branch: 410-761-4150

Park View at Severna Park: 410-544-3411

BALTIMORE CITY

Ednor Apartments I: 410-243-0180

Ednor Apartments II: 410-243-4301

The Greens at Irvington Mews: 410-644-4487

Park Heights Place: 410-578-3445

Park View at Ashland Terrace: 410-276-6440

Park View at Coldspring: 410-542-4400

BALTIMORE COUNTY

Cove Point Apartments I: 410-288-2344

Cove Point Apartments II: 410-288-1660

Evergreen Senior Apartments: 410-780-4888

The Greens at English Consul: 410-789-3000

The Greens at Liberty Road: 410-655-1100

The Greens at Logan Field: 410-288-2000

The Greens at Rolling Road: 410-744-9988

Park View at Catonsville: 410-719-9464

Park View at Dundalk: 410-288-5483 • 55 & Better

Park View at Fullerton: 410-663-0665

Park View at Miramar Landing: 410-391-8375

Park View at Randallstown: 410-655-5673

BALTIMORE COUNTY (CONT.)

Park View at Rosedale: 410-866-1886

Park View at Taylor: 410-663-0363

Park View at Towson: 410-828-7185

Park View at Woodlawn: 410-281-1120

EASTERN SHORE

Park View at Easton: 410-770-3070

HARFORD COUNTY

Park View at Bel Air: 410-893-0064

Park View at Box Hill: 410-515-6115

HOWARD COUNTY

Park View at Colonial Landing: 410-796-4399

Park View at Columbia: 410-381-1118

Park View at Ellicott City: 410-203-9501

Park View at Ellicott City II: 410-203-2096

Park View at Emerson: 301-483-3322

Park View at Snowden River: 410-290-0384

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

Park View at Bladensburg: 301-699-9785 • 55 & Better

Park View at Laurel: 301-490-1526

Park View at Laurel II: 301-490-9730

ing, Merritt Station II, includes a salon, library, arts-and-crafts room, community kitchen and plenty of outdoor seating.

“The seating out front has been the main gathering place for everybody — they’re there every morning and afternoon,” said Nichol Fortier, regional manager at Habitat America, which manages the property, along with several others in our area.

“The owners wanted to make it a place where people could gather and foster a good sense of community, so they planned some nice community spaces for the residents to sit and gather,” she said.

Construction began in the spring of 2023, and the property opened to residents in September 2024. The building has been fully occupied since May. Next door is a multifamily housing community known as Merritt Station I, which has a café, tax service, daycare and nail salon.

Besides the outdoor seating area, the library is a popular spot, Fortier said. “They all love the library. The construction company had an interior designer who installed floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and bought brand-new books from thrillers to fiction to nonfiction.”

For more information on Habitat America’s properties, visit habitatamerica.com.

55+ community

From page B-1

Try it on for size

If you’ve decided that living in a 55+ community may suit you, study the options in the area where you’d like to settle. Visit communities in person. Nothing substitutes for going to each community, touring the models, checking out the amenities and talking to your future neighbors.

Consider a “stay-and-play weekend,” offered by many builders to allow prospective homebuyers to stay in a home on-site and partake in activities as though they were residents. Latitude Margaritaville Hilton Head, for instance, offers stay-and-play weekends for $199 per night for two or three nights, during which you have access to all of the community’s amenities and use of a golf cart.

This article first appeared in Kiplinger Personal Finance magazine, a monthly, trustworthy source of advice and guidance. Subscribe to help you make more money and keep more of the money you make. Margaret Foster contributed to this article. © The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

July 27

ROLAND PARK FREE SUMMER CONCERT

Enjoy a relaxing evening at the Roland Park Community Center, 502 Roland Ave., for their Summer Concert Series on Sunday, July 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. This family-friendly performance is free and open to all. Bring blankets or chairs and enjoy live music outdoors. For more information, call (410) 435-1506.

BEACON BITS

BEACON BITS

Some home improvements are tax-deductible

By Kate Schubel

Over the years, after countless aesthetic and maintenance upgrades, you’ve finally decided to retire in your forever home. But is your house ready for retirement?

According to AARP, more than 75% of adults age 50 and older want to “age in place” in their current homes. However, one-third say they need modifications to make that happen.

Fortunately, the IRS allows tax deductions for medically necessary home improvements, so long as the upgrades meet certain requirements. But be aware of how the renovation might impact your house value, which could raise instead of lower your tax bill.

Let’s start by looking at how to deduct home improvement costs with the medical expense tax deduction.

Medical expense tax deduction

To claim the medical expense deduction, you must itemize your tax return rather than claim the standard deduction. Only 1 out of 10 people itemize when filing federal taxes.

Medical expenses are deductible to the extent that costs exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI).

For instance, if you have an AGI of $200,000 and medical expenses of $20,000, 7.5% of your AGI is $15,000.

Deduct that from $20,000 in medical expenses and you get $5,000. That means

you can deduct $5,000 of medical expenses on your federal income tax return.

But the “7.5% rule” isn’t the only requirement to claim a medical expense deduction. If you’re claiming home modifications for medical purposes (more on that below), the cost of your home upgrade must also:

• Benefit yourself, your spouse or your dependents.

• Be incurred to primarily alleviate or prevent a physical or mental disability or illness.

• Not be covered by insurance.

Check out the IRS website for medical expense tax deduction requirements. But next, we’ll cover a few key qualifications.

Aging-in-place and the medical expense tax deduction

You may think that any qualifying medical expense counts for the deduction. However, permanent improvements that increase your home’s value can only be partly included as a medical expense. The difference between the upgrade cost and your property’s increased value determines your total medical expense tax deduction.

Also, the IRS only considers reasonable costs for medical care. Upgrades that increase a home’s architectural or aesthetic value are not permitted.

Remember: Your home improvement must be for medical purposes only if you want to claim the medical expense deduc-

tion. It’s important to get a doctor’s note citing a disability, illness, or disease to substantiate why you need the upgrade.

That said, let’s examine a survey of the top aging-in-place projects to identify a few potentially tax-deductible home improvements.

Home improvement ideas for retirement

The National Association of Home Builders recently surveyed a group of remodelers about which aging-in-place projects homeowners choose. Here are a few ideas for your next home improvement project:

The top three home improvements were in the bathroom, with 93% reporting support bar fixtures, 83% reporting a curbless shower, and 77% reporting higher toilet installations.

The fourth highest home improvement was widening doorways. This is important for individuals with mobility limitations. An older home doorway may be less than the ADA standard of 32 inches wide.

The fifth most popular home improvement was lighting, such as adding more lights, lowering light switches, or replacing older switches with “rockers” that are easier to toggle back and forth.

Other projects included adding a full bedroom and bathroom on the main floor, introducing ramps outside, installing nonslip floors, and lowering countertops and

kitchen cabinets.

However, not all of these home improvements may qualify for a tax deduction. If in doubt, consult with a tax professional and be sure to obtain a doctor’s note proving why these upgrades are medically necessary for your household.

For instance, elevators, even if medically necessary, are assumed to add significant value to a home. This can increase your property tax bill (more on that below). Stair lifts may be a suitable alternative to help save on medical costs.

Renovations can increase property tax

Your home’s property tax is assessed based on the original cost you paid for the house plus any additions or improvements (with a periodic reassessment completed by the corresponding municipality).

So, if you add a home improvement, you may increase your property tax liability. For significant home improvements, consult a tax professional to determine how your taxes may be impacted.

Capital gains tax impact on home improvements

Just because you want a home improvement tax deduction doesn’t mean you want

See RENOVATION , page B-4

Long-term care insurance more flexible

By Derek Miser

As people live longer and health care costs continue to rise, the need for longterm care (LTC) insurance has become increasingly important in retirement planning.

This type of insurance has evolved significantly in the past decade.

Before 2010, LTC policies were largely traditional, with a “use-it-or-lose-it” approach.

Today, new product structures such as asset-based solutions and return-of-premium policies are available, offering flexibility, financial protection and even opportunities to fund long-term care with qualified retirement funds. So, what does this mean for your retirement plan?

Renovation

From page B-3

an astronomical tax bill if you decide to move later. That could happen if you overlook capital gains taxes.

However, you can avoid the capital gains tax if your home sale qualifies for the capital gains tax exclusion. If you meet the requirements for the exclusion, you can exclude up to $250,000 (or $500,000 for married filing jointly couples) of capital gain from your primary home sale.

How LTC insurance has changed

Historically, long-term care insurance policies were structured similarly to traditional health insurance. These pre-2010 policies typically required ongoing premium payments and provided coverage only if the policyholder needed care. If the policy was never used, the premiums paid were not recoverable, making it a less appealing option for many people.

This “use-it-or-lose-it” structure was also vulnerable to premium increases and, in some cases, left policyholders with difficult choices about maintaining coverage as they aged.

In recent years, companies like One America and Nationwide have developed asset-based LTC solutions, such as One

Let’s see how that works, assuming you meet all exclusion requirements and you are a single filer:

If you purchased a home for $200,000 and later sold the house for $500,000, part of your $300,000 difference could be subject to capital gains tax.

But if you can prove $50,000 of home upgrades, your home’s tax basis would be $250,000. The difference between the selling price of $500,000 and the new tax basis of $250,000 is less than before and may not be taxed.

So how do you “prove” your home up-

America’s Asset Care and Nationwide’s CareMatters, that allow retirees to purchase LTC coverage within a life insurance policy or annuity.

These hybrid policies provide access to long-term care benefits if needed but also offer a return-of-premium feature or a death benefit if long-term care is not required. This makes it possible for retirees to preserve some of their investment.

Additionally, premiums for these policies are typically fixed, which helps retirees avoid the cost uncertainty of older LTC policies.

The Asset Care solution from One America even allows for long-term care insurance funding with qualified retirement accounts, including IRAs. This can be a powerful tool for retirees who want to

grades to a tax assessor? Well, start by keeping good documentation of every improvement you make.

Tax documentation for renovation projects

Documents like the following can help you prove your home project increased your tax basis and therefore reduce your capital gain if you decide to sell:

• Contractor agreements and invoices

• Purchase orders

• Receipts and cancelled checks You should also keep these documents

leverage their retirement funds for future care needs, reducing the impact on other savings or cash flow.

Self-funding vs. buying coverage

One of the first considerations retirees face is whether to self-fund long-term care costs or buy coverage. Self-funding, or paying for care out of pocket, allows retirees to avoid premiums. This approach may work for those with significant assets who believe they can absorb the potential costs of long-term care without compromising their standard of living.

However, long-term care costs can be unpredictable and steep. You may need

if the IRS has questions about your home improvement medical expense tax deduction. For more information on which tax records you should hold onto, check out Kiplinger’s report “How Long Should You Keep Tax Records?”.

When making an aging-in-place plan, include home improvements that will adapt to future health challenges. And bear in mind any helpful (or pesky) tax considerations you could encounter.

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

FREE HOUSING AND OTHER INFORMATION

For free information from advertisers in this special section, check off those that interest you below and mail, or take a picture of, and email, this coupon to the Beacon. All coupons received by July 24 will be entered into a random drawing for tickets. You need not request advertiser info to win.

Adult Day Programs

q St. Ann Adult Day Services . . .B4

Housing

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Check the boxes you’re interested in and email a photo of it to housing@thebeaconnewspapers.com or mail this entire coupon to: The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915-2227. You may return this coupon together with the coupon on page 5 of this issue. Name

When collectors and cleaners collide

By Lori Borgman

I like to say that I am married to a “collector” because “pack rat” sounds unkind.

My husband comes from a long line of collectors. When they closed out the farmhouse his father lived in all his life, the lead auctioneer kicked off the three-ring, two-day auction under the main tent bellowing, “Ladies and gentlemen! The same family has lived in this house for 103 years! As near as we can tell, they never threw a thing away!”

Nailed it.

Naturally, I was raised in a family of the other extreme. If you dropped your napkin on the floor at dinner, by the time you bent over, picked it up and sat back up, your dinner plate could be gone, scraped, washed, dried and put away.

My philosophy is that there is a place

for everything and everything has a place — and it better well be there.

My husband says he is married to a woman who is highly organized and efficiency-driven because extremist sounds unkind. Being it is the start of a new season and fresh starts, I gently broach the matter of thinning out our every-growing accumulation of clutter — I mean treasures — by mentioning the Swedish Death Cleaning method.

My voice is soft and calming, and the giant box of construction-grade trash bags is hidden behind my back. I explain that the idea is to remove the burden of decluttering so after you’ve moved on (and I don’t mean to a storage room), only the essentials have been left behind for your loved ones.

He says that’s fine for people who are

Swedish, but he’s not Swedish. I say I’m not Swedish either, but Swedish or non-Swedish, we all face death and then our kids will face our collections of clutter. Typically, this is when he experiences a bout of sudden hearing loss. This occurs frequently when you’ve been married as long as we have.

A few days later, I casually mention the Four Box Method where you take four boxes, label one “keep,” the others “throw away,” “donate” and “sell,” and divide your goods accordingly. It is touted as a good method for when you don’t have a lot of time.

He says he can slash the time on the Four Box Method by knocking those four boxes down to one: “keep.”

I then suggest the 12-12-12 Challenge. You declutter by identifying 12 items to donate, 12 items to throw away and 12 more that need to remain in the home.

He says he has already identified the things that need to remain in the home: everything.

I am digging through papers in our safe deposit box, the bulk of which are expired home and auto insurance policies. I ask why we need to keep policies no longer in force. He says he needs them so he can compare the rates from year to year.

I tell him I can give him comparison rates for this year, the next year and every year after that: Every single policy will be more expensive than the year before.

He acts like he’s not impressed, but I see him chuckle in the reflection of an old mirror as I drop it into a box marked “donate.”

Lori Borgman is a columnist, author and speaker. Her new book, What Happens at Grandma’s Stays at Grandma’s is now available. Email her at lori@loriborgman.com. © 2025 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

8820 Walther Boulevard

Parkville, MD 21234

www.OakCrestCommunity.com

Experience Vibrant Living at Oak Crest

A warm, welcoming environment. Modern residences with contemporary finishes. Clubs, activities, and a variety of amenities for engaged living. All of this, and more awaits, you at Oak Crest®, a beautiful 87-acre senior community nestled in Baltimore County. You’ll enjoy maintenance-free living and a predictable Monthly Service Package that includes virtually all services and amenities. Our 90% Refundable Entrance Fee* provides peace of mind for you and your loved ones. Plus, should you ever need them, advanced care options are available right on campus.

Call 1-888-429-6391 to request your free brochure or schedule a tour.

*Carefully read the Residence and Care Agreement for the conditions that must be satisfied before the Provider is required to pay the Entrance Fee Refund.

LTC insurance

From page B-4

long-term care for years, potentially creating a significant financial burden, especially if you or your spouse requires care at different times. Without LTC insurance, the cost of care could erode retirement savings, reduce inheritance for heirs and affect the lifestyle of the healthy spouse. Buying LTC insurance mitigates these risks by providing a pre-established pool of funds for care.

While premiums are required, modern policies offer return-of-premium or death benefits. Retirees who do not need care can, with the return-of-premium option, receive a portion of the premiums paid either as a death benefit or through a return of the invested premium. This option ensures that money set aside for care doesn’t go unused.

Control and choice in care

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Another advantage of LTC insurance is that some plans cover a broader choice of care settings, including in-home care, assisted living facilities or nursing homes. For retirees who prefer to stay in their

homes, LTC insurance can provide the financial resources to make that possible, often covering the cost of in-home care providers and necessary medical equipment.

Buying LTC insurance with qualified money, such as funds in an IRA or 401(k), allows retirees to leverage tax-deferred savings for future needs without withdrawing large sums from other accounts.

Bottom line

Today’s long-term care insurance options are a far cry from the rigid, high-premium policies of the past. With asset-based solutions that offer return-of-premium benefits and the ability to use qualified funds, LTC insurance has become a versatile, cost-effective way to prepare for care needs.

As retirees weigh the decision to selffund or buy LTC insurance, it’s essential to consider the potential financial risks of care costs. With modern LTC insurance, retirees can take a balanced approach that combines flexibility, asset protection and peace of mind for themselves and their loved ones.

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

How to choose the best walk-in bathtub

Dear Savvy Senior,

Because of my back pain and mobility problems, I’m interested in getting a walk-in bathtub that’s safe and easy to get in and out of. What can you tell me about walk-in tubs, and can you recommend some top options?

—Old and Achy Dear Old and Achy,

For mobility-challenged people, a walk-in bathtub can be a terrific option to consider because they’re much easier to get into and out of than a standard tub, which also helps prevent falls.

By Jim Miller

Here’s what you should know, along with a reliable resource to help you choose one:

Age-friendly tubs

Walk-in bathtubs have a watertight, hinged door built into the side of the tub that provides a much lower threshold to step over (usually three to seven inches) versus a standard tub that’s around 15 inches.

Most walk-in tubs have high sidewalls, usually between three and four feet high, and are between 28 and 32 inches wide, but will fit into the same 60-inch-long space as your standard tub without having to reconfigure the room.

In addition to the low threshold, most

walk-in tubs also have a built-in seat, grab bars, anti-slip floors and anti-scald valves. Some tubs also come with handheld showerheads and quick drains (that drain the tub in under a minute), and many higher-end models offer therapeutic spa-like features that are great for seniors with arthritis and other ailments.

Be aware that walk-in bathtubs are not cheap. Prices range anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000 or more for the tub and installation costs.

Insurance and aid

Because walk-in tubs are not considered durable medical equipment, original Medicare does not typically cover them nor do Medicare supplemental (Medigap) policies. But some Medicare Advantage plans may help pay.

If you’re receiving Medicaid, many states have home and community-based services that may provide some assistance. Or if you’re a disabled veteran, the VA has some home modification grants that may help pay.

There are also grants and loans available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture that help older low-income residents of rural areas make home modifications, which may be used to pay for a walk-

in bathtub. And there may be local programs that can help, like Habitat for Humanity or Rebuilding Together.

To find out if these options are available in your area, contact your Area Aging Agency (call 1-800-677-1116) or nearby center for independent living (see ilru.org).

If, however, you can’t locate any financial assistance and you can’t afford to pay upfront for a walk-in tub, most manufacturers offer financing so you can make monthly payments. If you’re using a walkin tub for a specific medical condition, you

may also be able to deduct the costs of the tub from your taxes as a medical expense.

Best walk-in bathtubs

To help you choose a walk-in bathtub, the National Council on Aging, which is a national nonprofit organization that advocates for older Americans, put together a review team to research the different companies and tubs. Their list of best walk-in bathtubs of 2024 includes:

Some herbs come back year after year

By Jessica Damiano

If you like to cook, odds are you’re painfully aware of the price of herbs at the supermarket. But for the cost of a 1- or 2ounce plastic clamshell packet, you can buy a plant that will produce aromatic herbs for your kitchen all summer long — and even year after year.

Perennial herbs are among the easiest edibles to grow at home. All they require is sunlight (with some shade), modest amounts of water (more during hot, dry

spells) and well-draining soil. They typically don’t even need fertilizer.

You can plant a dedicated herb garden or use herbs as edging plants in your perennial flower beds; many of them are pretty enough. Consider sage’s fuzzy, purple-tinged leaves, onion chives’ purple spring flowers or garlic chives’ white summer blooms. Heck, just stick them wherever you have room, as long as the sun can reach them.

My thyme, oregano, chives, sage, tarragon and Roman chamomile fill most of a

How to make a home safe and accessible

By National Institute on Aging

Many older adults want to “age in place” — stay in their own homes as they get older — but may have concerns about safety, getting around, or other daily activities.

Living at home as you age requires careful consideration and planning. A few changes could make your home easier and safer to live in and help you continue to live independently.

• Reduce fall hazards: Place no-slip strips or non-skid mats on tile and wood floors or surfaces that may get wet.

• Don’t use area rugs, and check that

all carpets are fixed firmly to the floor.

• Replace handles on doors or faucets with ones that are comfortable for you to use.

• Install grab bars near toilets and in the tub or shower.

• Place light switches at the top and bottom of stairs, and remember to turn on night lights.

• Install a ramp with handrails to the front door.

Learn more about aging in place at nia.nih.gov/health/aging-place-growing-older-home.

4-by-4-foot raised bed near the back steps, leaving just enough room for me to tuck in some annual herbs.

All are cold-hardy down to zone 4, with chives pushing the limit as far north as zone 3. [Ed. Note: The Baltimore area is in zones 7 and 8.] And they all can handle heat down to zones 8 or 9, with oregano returning reliably as far south as zone 11.

Mint and lemon balm are fast-spreading perennials hardy in zones 4 through 9, but they will take over your garden if you plant them in the ground. Grow them only in pots and keep the pots on a porch, deck or patio.

Some annual herbs tend to return, too.

When self-seeders like dill and cilantro (aka coriander) drop seeds at the end of the season, leave them where they lie. They’ll germinate and sprout more plants

Walk-in tubs

From page B-7

• Best Walk-in Tub Overall: Ella Ultimate Walk-In Tub

• Best Walk-in Tub with Shower: Kohler Walk-In Tub with Shower Package

• Most Affordable Walk-in Tub: Ariel Walkin 3052 Soaker

• Best Soaking Tub: American Standard Gelcoat Entry Series

• Best Wheelchair-Accessible Tub:

the following spring.

Other herbs are biennials, completing their life cycles at the end of their second growing season. Parsley produces plenty of fragrant foliage in its first year and slightly stunted but still perfectly edible leaves in its second before it flowers and calls it quits.

Caraway, another biennial, produces seeds only in its second year, but getting to boast about growing your own spices makes the wait worthwhile.

At the end of the growing season, you can dry or freeze your homegrown herbs for year-round, fresh-from-the-garden ingredients.

Another bonus? They’ll all attract pollinators and other beneficial insects, which will help make the rest of your garden more productive. —AP

Ella Transfer

• Best Walk-in Tub for Small Spaces: AmeriGlide Sanctuary 2646 WIT

See NCOA.org/adviser/walk-in-tubs/ best-walk-in-tubs for detailed reviews and product links.

Contact a few walk-in bathtub retailers who can send a professional to your home to assess your bathroom and give you product options and estimates. Lowe’s and Home Depot also offer free evaluations and a wide range of walk-in tub options.

MoneyMoney Law &

Before leaving an IRA to heirs, fill out the beneficiary form, not just a will. See story on page 10.

Annuities provide guaranteed income

By Donna Fuscaldo

Annuities, a type of guaranteed income, can give you peace of mind in retirement. After all, having an annuity means you can count on a payment arriving regularly, regardless of how the stock markets are performing.

But is an annuity a must-have? Some 401(k) plan sponsors, insurance companies and money managers think so, but not every financial pro is on board with that assessment.

That’s what Cerulli Associates, the wealth and asset management research firm, found when it recently polled asset managers. In 2019, 42% of asset managers believed a retirement income solution needed a guaranteed component to be effective, but in 2024, only 37% believed that to be true.

The slight shift in sentiment comes as annuities are finding their way into more 401(k) plans, thanks to SECURE Act 2.0. On the books since the end of 2022, the Act enables annuities to be included in 401(k)s. The idea is to create a lifetime guaranteed income stream for retirees.

While annuities have fans, including among retirement savers, the complexity, fees and nuances associated with this type

of financial product are leaving some financial advisers questioning if they’re necessary.

“If you look at the results of the survey over five years, there’s more doubt whether or not it’s actually a necessity,” said Idin Eftekhari, senior analyst at Cerulli. “Some folks are now looking at it as it’s nice to have, not a need to have.”

Is it worth it to give up liquidity?

A big knock on annuities, said Eftekhari, is the fact that you forfeit liquidity when you put money into an annuity. To fund an annuity, you either invest a lump sum or make a series of payments over time, and in exchange, you get paid out at a later date.

Once the free look period, or the window in which you can cancel the annuity, expires, which is typically 10 to 30 days, you can no longer access that money without paying penalties and fees.

But if something comes up in retirement that requires you to access a significant amount of capital, you can’t touch the annuity. That means you’ll have to tap your savings or draw down from other retirement accounts. The less money you have

in, say, a 401(k) or IRA, the less opportunity you have to benefit from growth and compounding.

Plus, Eftekhari said a lot of annuities don’t have inflation protection, which means the money you put in today may not be worth the same amount in five, 10 or 20 years when you begin receiving payments. There are annuities that offer inflation protection, but they tend to be more costly. “If most participants were truly educated about what they are getting, they would probably say no, thank you,” said Eftekhari.

Are the fees worth it?

Another factor to consider when it comes to annuities: the associated fees. Depending on the type of annuity and extra bells and whistles, fees can range from 1.5% to 4% on average. Within a 401(k) plan it can be difficult to determine the fees. Over the years those fees can add up and take away from your returns.

“Annuities tend to be quite expensive,” said Jane Delashmutt O’Mara, a certified financial planner at FBB Capital Partners. “If there are any products out there that guarantee something, they come with a price tag. You have to understand what you

are paying for and what the price tag is.” That’s not to say annuities don’t make sense for some individuals. If someone wants to spend down assets to qualify for Medicaid, doesn’t want to invest in the stock markets, or has won a lawsuit or the lottery and has a large sum of cash, then an annuity can make sense, said O’Mara.

But an annuity should be part of an overall financial plan, not the only component, she said. An alternative to an annuity is to build a portfolio of bonds or a bond ladder that generates income each year as the bonds mature, said O’Mara. Spread out over years, bonds can give predictable income in retirement.

There is a place for guaranteed income

Rick Sweeney, director of insured solutions at RBC Wealth Management, said many clients are worried about outliving their savings, and some will turn to an annuity to protect against that. In addition to guaranteed lifetime income, some clients purchase annuities to give them downsize protection.

See ANNUITIES , page 10

With AI, scammers have more ways to deceive

By Walt Houser

Late at night, while watching television at home, your cell phone suddenly lights up with a FaceTime call. On the screen, you see the tear-streaked face of your beloved grandchild, visibly distressed and pleading for your assistance. She explains that she’s in a foreign country in trouble, desperately needing money for bail. She implores you to keep this situation secret from her parents because she’s embarrassed and ashamed about her predicament.

Then a supposed lawyer joins in, emphasizing the situation’s urgency. You’re told that $50,000 is needed for bail within two hours or your grandchild will face conviction and imprisonment. The attorney directs you to a nearby ATM offering cryptocurrency.

Despite the late hour and mounting financial strain, you reluctantly comply, maxing out credit cards to ensure the funds reach the

individual promising to secure your grandchild’s release from their perilous situation.

The following day, you call your children to let them know what you have accomplished to keep your granddaughter safe. They reply, “Of course she’s safe: She’s here right now!” A tide of confusion and fear washes over you.

Scammers specialize in preying on our emotions. When you receive an email or text message from a friend or relative requesting financial assistance, it’s crucial to pause and consider: Is the person on the other end truly who they claim to be?

These scams often start with a phone call, video call or email. The caller might claim to be a family member facing legal trouble, medical emergencies, or unexpected travel expenses. They’ll insist that you keep their request for help a secret.

They’ll often request payment through wire transfers, cash pick-ups or even gift

cards. These payments are hard to trace and nearly impossible to recover.

Warning signs

Look out for inconsistencies in the caller’s story, such as changes in details or vague information about their identity. Take the time to verify the caller’s identity by asking personal questions that only the actual family member would know. If you have any doubts, contact the alleged victim or another family member to confirm the situation. It’s smart to establish a “safe word,” or verbal password, with your family to signal the legitimacy of a call. Staying calm and collected is crucial. Resist the urge to act impulsively. Take a moment to think critically and assess the situation before making any financial transactions.

Unfortunately, with the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), scammers can sample the internet for short clips of family

and friends on social media to create convincing deceptions. Be cautious of unexpected video calls or messages that seem out of character, and always verify the caller’s identity before taking any action.

What to do after scam

If you or a loved one falls victim to one of these scams, report the incident to local law enforcement and provide as much detail as possible about the scammer. If you’ve been the victim of a fraud like this, call your local police department’s nonemergency number.

If money was transferred, contact the bank or financial institution to report the fraudulent transaction. Organizations specializing in fraud and scams can help you navigate the aftermath.

To report elder fraud, call Adult Protective Services at 1-800-91 PREVENT (1-800-9177383). You can also report it at ic3.gov, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

The importance of naming beneficiaries

Unfortunately, when a retirement plan owner or beneficiary makes an error regarding naming beneficiaries or managing his account assets, the result can be a loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars that don’t go to the beneficiary of their choice.

If you are the owner of a retirement plan with significant assets, it is crucial that you make your decisions regarding naming beneficiaries and managing these assets with the advice of a well-trained financial planner. It is too easy to make a costly mistake. In this column, I will address many of the ways in which costly mistakes can be avoided.

Annuities

From page 9

IRA forms supersede wills

Many IRA account owners do not understand the importance of the IRA beneficiary form. This is the document that controls whether your chosen beneficiary will receive the assets you want them to receive.

By Elliot Raphaelson

Many retirement account owners believe that they can name the beneficiary of their IRA in their will. That is wrong! Even if you name beneficiaries in your will, it has no relevance. Only the beneficiaries named on the IRA beneficiary form will be the recipients of your IRA assets.

If you don’t specify your beneficiaries on the IRA beneficiary form, then the result

will be the same as not naming a beneficiary at all. In that case, your IRA assets will be part of your estate and become probate assets, which will be distributed according to state law.

When you specify your beneficiaries on the beneficiary form, make sure that the total amount of your assets you specify adds up to 100%.

For example, if you have more than one beneficiary, you should specify the percentage each should receive. If the total does not add up to 100%, then the beneficiaries will not receive what you intended.

Contingent beneficiaries

It is also important to specify “contingent” beneficiaries. So, for example, if you name your surviving spouse as the beneficiary of 50% of your IRA, specify who would receive

the assets if your spouse predeceases you. You should specify the percentage that the contingent beneficiary would receive. For example, you would specify that 50% of your wife’s inheritance would go to a named son and 50% to a named daughter.

Naturally, if one of your named beneficiaries predeceases you, immediately revise the beneficiary form and specify the new beneficiary, as well as the new contingent beneficiaries.

When your situation changes, such as a remarriage, immediately update the beneficiary form, not the will. Changing the terms of the will is not relevant. If you remarry and fail to revise the beneficiary form, after your death, the assets will go to whoever you specified on the form.

© 2025 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Typically the annuities are part of a welldiversified plan that includes different streams of income, he said.

“Annuities are not well suited for everybody,” adds Eftekhari. “When you are sitting down reviewing the paperwork (with annuities), it’s at least a 40- or 50-page con-

tract you are signing with the insurance company. Most people don’t have time to read the fine print, only to realize after the fact what they purchased.”

A balanced approach

Ultimately the best approach may be a balanced one, where you have a little bit of everything. That’s the case for clients at Boldin, the maker of financial and retire-

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ment software.

Of the company’s 41,000 PlannerPlus subscribers, roughly 3,000 have 100% of their expenses in retirement covered through guaranteed income. The average expenses covered by guaranteed income is 54%. That is typically derived from Social Security, pensions and annuities.

“What people try to do is have enough guaranteed income to cover necessary ex-

penses like food, housing, insurance, healthcare and transportation, and use their investment portfolio for fun money such as travel, entertainment and gifting,” said Nancy Gates, lead educator and financial coach at Boldin. “The most important thing is to have a long-term financial plan tailored to your personal circumstances.” © 2025 Kiplinger Consumer News Service. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency LLC.

Arts & Style

Harrison Ford honored for philanthropy

By Glenn Gamboa

Harrison Ford received an award for his philanthropy in June from the global surgery and training nonprofit Operation Smile.

But the star of the Indiana Jones and Star Wars film franchises, as well as this year’s Captain America: Brave New World, says all the attention should go to the award’s namesake: Ford’s friend, the late humanitarian and noted plastic surgeon Dr. Randy Sherman.

Like Ford, Sherman, who was director of the Cedars-Sinai Division of Plastic Surgery in Los Angeles and a specialist in reconstructive surgery who developed numerous training programs, was an avid pilot.

The two met when they shared the same home airport. Sherman told Ford of his volunteer work with Operation Smile, providing cleft palate surgery to children in countries where access to such services is limited, and Angel Flight West, which provides free medical transportation to patients.

“The things that he contributed to my life and to my family’s lives are beyond anybody’s wildest imagination,” Ford said of Sherman, who died in 2023 when his plane experienced engine failure and crashed in New Mexico. “He was a very important person to me and…to all of the people that he’s associated with in the medical community. All of them recognize his selfless service.”

The Associated Press recently spoke with Ford about receiving the Dr. Randy Sherman Visionary Award from Operation

Smile and how he hopes it will inspire others to give what they can. The interview was edited for clarity and length.

Q: How did you get to know Dr. Sherman?

A

: When the earthquake in Haiti struck [in 2010], I reached out to Randy and asked if he thought there was anything that we could do with an airplane that I had, which was particularly suited to the kind of work that’s done in these circumstances. We flew my Cessna Caravan to Miami and picked up supplies and medical professionals — doctors, nurses, anesthesiologists — and flew to Port-au-Prince.

We flew missions to bring supplies and medical personnel to a community called Hinche, in the highlands of Haiti, a town that had no airport but did have a field that we were able to land the aircraft in. We were there for about a week, going back and forth each day to Hinche to bring in supplies.

Q: What made you want to be a part of that — a dangerous mission under tough circumstances?

A: Well, I didn’t consider it to be dangerous. I considered it to be an opportunity to be able to use something that I had that was needed.

We knew there was a hospital in Hinche that was staffed by two Cuban doctors, and they had no supplies, no anesthetics. And because of the delay in assets reaching them, there were a lot of people suffering amputations and other very significant medical issues.

Q: You don’t talk about your philanthropy much, especially what you do to fight climate change. Do you feel that it should get more attention?

A: I think it gets attention when it needs to be recognized — not my work, but the issues I’m talking about.

I’ve been working in conservation for 35 years with an organization called Conservation International. We work internationally, as the name suggests. The only work we do here in the United States is fundraising. And we’re under enormous threat now with the rise of nationalism and isolationism.

Peggy Rowe’s newest book describes moving to Oak Crest in Parkville, Md. Our cover story continues on page 12.

Peggy Rowe

From page 1

by morning, so she keeps a pad of paper and a pencil next to her bed. Sometimes she even gets up to go to her computer to record her idea.

“If you’re a writer, you can’t not write,” she said. “Everything is a story.”

Moving to Oak Crest

Take her most recent book, for example.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

When Rowe suggested moving to a senior living community, her husband’s response became its title: Oh No, Not ‘The Home.’

Yet the transition has been wonderful, Rowe said, and provides her with more stories than ever. In fact, she wishes she’d moved in sooner.

“In a way, it’s like this is our last stand, and I’m so inspired by people who want to make the most of it,” Rowe said.

Rowe uses her encounters with Oak

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

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Crest’s 2,000 residents to fuel her stories. Because the bulk of her content is humor and human-interest stories, approaching other people is a component of her work.

Rowe enjoys drawing striking characters from the world around her and capturing humor in unexpected places. She beautifully recounts several funny encounters with others at Oak Crest, finding humor in the pharmacy, fitness center and even the bathroom.

“Everything is a scene. I don’t care what I’m witnessing; it’s a story, and I can’t wait to write about it…There is material everywhere,” she said. “I don’t care where I am; there is humor, and I just love it.”

Though he was hesitant to move at first, John came around to Oak Crest, too, and finds joy in swimming, shuffleboarding and other activities.

Not surprisingly, everywhere John Rowe goes, people seem to know everything about him. This is due to his wife’s large following on social media, where she publishes anec-

Letters to the editor

From page 2

with many universities across the country. If you think it’s just classes, I said, you are so wrong. It is as much about meeting new friends and participating in fun activities, cultural events and travel. By the time our short conversation was

dotes about family, friends and strangers. Readers will come away from Oh No, Not ‘The Home’ realizing there’s nothing to fear about aging.

Though isolation is common in older adults, Rowe reports that Oak Crest, with its wealth of activities, has a strong sense of community. Like her, other residents embrace hobbies and activities they’ve always loved and are even trying new ones.

“I see people here who’ve always wanted to dabble in art or writing, and they’re writing their memoirs, and they’re lovely,” Rowe said.

“It’s never too late — I mean, unless you wanted to be a prima ballerina for the New York City Ballet, or if you want to be a running back for the Baltimore Ravens. That ain’t gonna happen. But within reason,” she said.

Rowe’s most recent book, Oh No, Not ‘The Home’: Observations and Confessions of a Grandmother in Transition, is available at bookstores and on Amazon.

over, she told me that she was seriously considering giving it a try. I know that once she does, she will become a full member. More retirees should try it out. There are low membership fees for prospective new members. So many people have told me, “It saved my life.”

Lillian Brooks Springfield, Virginia

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Q: Does that make your work even more pressing? Especially with the cuts to USAID that previously funded environmental work?

A: Of course. Yes. In the last 10 years, we have had a real, substantial contribution from USAID addressing and mitigating issues that have suddenly disappeared from our moral flowchart. It’s a travesty. It’s a tragedy.

Q: Will Conservation International do something differently this year to make up for those cuts?

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A: Unfortunately, we will not be able to do that because we don’t have extra funds to distribute. We don’t have the structures of a scientific community that have been established and nurtured and cultured over the years. They’ve been dissolved. We can’t do it.

Q: Do you hope the Operation Smile award and the attention that comes with it will convince some people to donate more?

A: I hope so. I hope it motivates some people to recognize they will have to create new mechanisms of funding and support.

We’re in such a fragile point of inflection here… There will be moments when all of

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us will be called upon to think about these things again and to make our individual efforts to address the imbalance of the situation that now exists. There are many peo-

BEACON BITS

July 12

ple upset with this stuff. But will we coalesce around these things and become a political constituency, a moral army?

CRAB FEST AT B&O RAILROAD MUSEUM

Enjoy Maryland’s beloved seafood favorite at Baltimore Magazine’s Crab Fest on Sat., July 12 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the B&O Railroad Museum, 901 W. Pratt St. The event features crab feasts, live music, historic train tours and family entertainment. Early bird general admission tickets start at $21 (fees included); children 12 and under get in for free. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit bit.ly/2025BaltimoreCrabFest.

Scrabble answers on p. 13.

Crossword Puzzle

June Guys By Stephen Sherr

Across

1. Pay phone token, circa 1970

5. Abbreviation for abbreviation

9. Still breathing

14. “Good grief!”

15. Too good to be ___

16. Corporal punisher

17. Actress Bancroft or Hathaway

69. Cough syrup amts.

Down

1. Harder of hearing

2. Give the cold shoulder

3. Book of operating instructions

4. First nudist resort

5. Wearing

6. Back from the ___

18. Replacement part from www.unicycle.com

19. Absolute

20. 2000 mini-series about George Washington and Thomas Jefferson

23. Stat. on a baseball card

24. Ship containing an even number of animals

25. “___ can make you smart; it made Bud wiser”

26. Draw a connection

28. McDonald’s Happy ___

30. M&M center, sometimes

33. 2003 Eddie Murphy movie with two sequels

36. Prefix meaning “one-billionth”

39. ___-Wan Kenobi

40. Arm bone

41. Top grossing movie of 1972

46. Witchy woman

47. “Referred,” in brief

48. Antsy

52. Most of the top-right of American-made world maps

54. Leader of U.S. Army basic training drills

55. He played Richie on “Happy Days”

56. Radio series that moved to TV in 1954

61. Movie that claimed “In space, no one can hear you scream”

62. Costa ___

63. Take away roadblocks

64. Violate Commandment number 10

65. Tattoo shop inventory

66. Arab chieftain

67. Members of The Breakfast Club

68. It might say “Miss Mississippi”

7. End of Harris- or Ham- in an atlas

8. Part of an aquarium display

9. In a severe manner

10. Carpenter’s machine

11. On the inside

12. Swerve off course

13. Commits a faux pas

21. “Experts often possess more ___ than judgment” (Colin Powell)

22. Rhyme scheme in a villanelle poem

27. Man’s best friend

28. “I accept the blame”

29. Make a change to some DNA

31. Carry-out container from a funeral home

32. Earl Grey, e.g.

34. Lose a hand of strip poker

35. It may be worse than the disease

36. Last in a long series

37. Moment in every episode of Columbo

38. About 26% of blood donors

42. Gets one’s bearings

43. ___ John letter

44. Malarkey!

45. Docs that treat deviated septums

49. Soap opera fake-outs

50. Dish the dirt

51. Uses an automatic door

53. Actor Martin or Charlie (but not Emilio)

54. Stereotypically bad holiday present

56. Bit of trivia

57. Rash-soothing plant

58. Santa Claus’ first name, sometimes

59. Guest at a quinceanera

60. Borscht vegetable

CLASSIFIEDS

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COMPANION NEEDED FOR 2 ELDERLY GENTLEMEN. Seeking help with personal care, scheduling requiring computer skills, driving, light housekeeping and meal prep and other help as needed. In Potomac, MD. 30+ hours/week. Reference required. Respond to lensrink@yahoo.com.

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HOW TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD

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

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