May 2025 | Howard County Beacon

The Howard County

News man covers the county

By Hannah Collins

In a world of disappearing small-town newspapers, a new source of news has emerged in Howard County.

The Howard Courier is an independent, web-based news platform that endeavors to report on local happenings with integrity and without bias.

Founded by Ricardo Whitaker, the Courier is less than a year old and has already provided Howard County and surrounding areas with information on local crime and justice, sports, entertainment and more.

“A newspaper for me is about caring for the community,” said Whitaker, 64, of Columbia. “Our aim is not to go head-to-head with the Baltimore Sun or the Baltimore Banner,” he said, emphasizing that the Courier’s “niche is local coverage.”

Whitaker was hooked on journalism from a young age. Growing up in Washington, D.C., he and his classmates had the opportunity to visit the U.S. Capitol, where they met with a senator. Whitaker recalled that the local news affiliate was late to the meeting.

“I was like, ‘This is not good news coverage,’” he laughed. “So we had to reenact the meeting. That gave me a bad impression about journalism, which I was starting to get interested in. I was reading Newsweek every week, the Washington Post, and so forth.”

Despite this first impression, Whitaker continued to pursue journalism. At Allegheny College, he took every elective course that had to do with writing and interned at the Inter-High Connection, the newspaper of the D.C.-based Lemuel A. Penn Center (a now-defunct high school), to fulfill the college writing requirement.

But Whitaker credits his entire newspaper education to the time he spent writing for the Capitol Spotlight, a Black-owned

LEISURE & TRAVEL

Beaches abound on the British Virgin Islands, but so do opportunities for boating and learning history page 10

paper founded in the 1940s.

During his time at the Spotlight, in 1979 and 1981, Whitaker learned how to write headlines, conduct interviews, lay out the newspaper and prepare it for weekly publication — all on a manual typewriter.

Though he left journalism to do social work and “bounced around,” working as a buyer for Lockheed Martin and the Railway Products Group in Baltimore, he was drawn back to the field. He tried a few times to start a newspaper in D.C. before

Making local connections

Whitaker’s outreach to county residents began with a search for a good school system for his two sons. When he moved to Howard County, he noticed a disparity between white and minority families. Some parents didn’t necessarily have access to resources or know how to operate within

ARTS & STYLE

Toby’s current production of The Music Man brings the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical (and especially the 1962 movie) to life page 19

moving to Howard County in 2009.

PHOTO BY KEN

Columbia resident Ricardo Whitaker launched the Guilford Gazette in 2011 and gradually expanded its focus to cover the entire county. It morphed last year into the web-only Howard Courier, which covers local politics, sports and more.

Time to rotate the tires

At the moment, retirement — whether voluntary or imposed — is a topic on people’s minds, particularly in the Beacon’s readership area. This region is being hit especially hard by the government cutbacks we read about daily.

So, it hasn’t been surprising that the question, “So, are you thinking of retiring?” comes up in almost every casual conversation I’ve recently had.

Some years ago, I came up with the idea (probably not original) that “re-tirement” is when you get yourself a new set of “tires,” figuratively speaking.

tread, been worn down by all that rubber meeting the road over the years, and it’s time for some fresh, springy new ones: tires you can take out for a spin and feel great about again.

I like that image because it pictures retirement as an opportunity for well-deserved change and as a positive way to increase our longevity.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

By Stuart P. Rosenthal

The old ones have lost most of their

BEACON BITS

May 3+

In the Beacon, we’ve written many times about how our readers — whatever their present circumstance — would do well to give serious thought to what they’d like to do if/when they either retire from work or retire from retirement.

A GRAMMY TRIBUTE ON ICE

Enjoy a performance by the Columbia Figure Skating Club set to iconic Grammy-winning hits by Michael Jackson, Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift, Queen and more. Shows will take place on Sat., May 3 at 5:15 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. and on Sun., May 4 at 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. at the Columbia Ice Rink, 5876 Thunder Hill Rd. Tickets are $22 for regular seating or $40 for reserved seating and can be purchased at bit.ly/GlitteringBeats. For more information, visit columbiafsc.com or email ColumbiaFSCShows@gmail.com.

Beacon

Subscriptions are available via third-class mail ($12), prepaid with order. Maryland residents add 6 percent for sales tax. Send subscription order to the office listed below.

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

Publisher/Editor – Stuart P. Rosenthal

President/Associate Publisher – Judith K. Rosenthal

Executive Vice President – Gordon Hasenei

Managing Editor – Margaret Foster

Art Director – Kyle Gregory

Vice President of Operations – Roger King

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

Assistant Editor – Ana Preger Hart

Editorial Intern – Tori Cleveland

The options are varied, and selecting the right one or ones requires both investigation and forethought. Ideally, it also includes a try-out.

That may involve taking a class, doing internet research, talking to friends and role models, and even taking a sabbatical to try out a new career or job before leaving the security of the present one.

There’s that word again: “sabbatical.”

Yes, I’ve been using it a lot in my columns the last few years because I’ve been taking my own advice and taking a few weeks off from the Beacon now and then to explore the possibilities of writing and producing original music — a passion since my youth.

I’ve decided the time is ripe to stop exploring and start living that life. However, I’m not trading in for an entirely new set of tires. I’ve decided to rotate some and replace others, you might say.

As of May 1, I will become the Beacon’s editor emeritus, and our managing editor, Margaret Foster, will become our editor.

Margaret has been an invaluable member of our team for more than six years. She says she’s excited about taking on the additional responsibilities of editor, and I know she’ll do a fantastic job.

As for me, I’ll remain the Beacon’s publisher and continue to be involved with both story selection and advertising. But I’m definitely going to be spending more of my days (I hope, more than half) compos-

ing music for solo piano as well as voice and piano.

I’ll continue writing this column as I have for 36 years (most months, anyway), and I plan to be there to greet you at our 50+Expos this fall.

I would also love to continue hearing from readers like you whenever you have a thought about the Beacon or a critique to share.

When you have a chance, please visit my website — StuartsMelodies.com — where you can listen to many of my compositions and watch my music videos.

If you like what you hear, you can email me through the site, share links to my songs with your friends, and/or repost videos on your Facebook and other social media pages.

And if you click “subscribe” while watching any of my videos (which won’t actually cost you anything), it will encourage YouTube to share my music with even more people online.

I look forward to having these new ways to interact with you as well as the world at large.

Oh, and please keep reading the Beacon, patronizing our advertisers and recommending us to your friends!

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 would like to see a monthly article about online, phone and any other kind of scams. This could be general advice about avoiding getting scammed or active scams going on in the region.

May 3

I think it would be helpful for everyone in the community no matter their age. Thank you.

Terri H. Via email

MUSIC FROM ASIAN AND PACIFIC NATIONS

The Columbia Pro Cantare chorus presents Asian American and Pacific Islander Music in a concert with special guest Korean Culture & Art of MD. This event takes place on Sat., May 3 at 8 p.m. in The Jim Rouse Theatre at Wilde Lake, 5460 Trumpeter Rd., Columbia. Advance tickets are $25 ($20 for students and seniors; $10 age 15 and younger), with an extra $2 charge at the door. For more information and to purchase tickets, call (301) 854-0107 or visit procantare.org/Tickets.html. Neighbor Ride offers evening transportation to the concert for people age 60 and over. For more information, call (410) 884-RIDE (7433) or visit neighborride.org.

Ongoing

HOMEOWNERS’ AND RENTERS’ TAX CREDITS

Applications are now open for the Maryland Department of Taxation’s 2025 Homeowners’ and Renters’ Tax Credit programs. The deadline for both is Oct. 1. These programs provide tax relief to Maryland residents. For more information or to check eligibility and apply, visit bit.ly/2025TaxCreditApplication.

BEACON BITS

Health Fitness & Fitness & Health

There are many reasons you might need to visit the bathroom during the night, but there are things you can do to help

Spring allergy season is here. Many antihistamines and decongestants, while helpful, also deplete important vitamins and minerals, so consider supplements

Diabetes can creep up on you. Watch out for thirst, numbness and other subtle signs, and get regular blood tests

How GLP-1 drugs could revolutionize retirement

By Jacob Schroeder

You know something is a big deal when Big Food gets nervous.

The culprit? Popular weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, which mimic the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) to curb hunger, aren’t just suppressing appetites. They’re reshaping eating habits, steering people away from sweet and salty cravings.

A Cornell study found households with a GLP-1 user cut grocery spending by about 6%, with the largest drop in caloriedense, processed items, including an 11% decline in savory snacks. As The New York Times reports, companies like Pepsi are scrambling to reformulate products, such as adding protein and whole grains to match shifting consumer tastes.

The rise in GLP-1 drugs is undeniable. Morgan Stanley projects that by 2035, 24 million Americans, or 7% of the population, will be using these medications.

But that estimate may be too low. GLP-1 medications are proving remarkably effective beyond weight loss, showing promise in treating substance abuse and even psychological disorders. These early signals suggest the impact could extend far beyond a healthier bag of chips. They could spark a broader health revolution.

David Blanchett, head of retirement research at PGIM, believes these medications could change how we plan for retirement: “We’re going to have more of these advances in the future, that result in increasing lifespans in retirement. It’s not really possible to know what these are, but

the implications for retirement are somewhat staggering.”

With healthier adults living longer, the future of retirement could be rewritten entirely.

So, what could that future look like?

GLP-1 drugs and fewer doctor visits — and bills

The cost of healthcare looms large for retirees. Fidelity estimates that the average retiree today will spend $165,000 on medical expenses. Rising costs are driven by longer lifespans and chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and arthritis.

“If GLP-1 medications can effectively reduce the incidence and severity of chronic diseases, retirees may indeed experience lower healthcare costs,” said Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, obesity medicine physician and associate professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School.

What’s more, research indicates GLP-1 drugs may help prevent a range of serious conditions, lowering the risk of stroke, kidney disease and even neurodegenerative diseases we’ve thought practically incurable, like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

The potential benefits extend beyond healthcare savings. “This could allow more disposable income to be spent on travel, hobbies and other activities, enhancing quality of life,” Stanford added.

More retirees on the go

Age naturally slows us down, with slow-

er metabolism, muscle loss and inactivity as common culprits. That’s why retirement is often described in three stages: the Go-Go years, the Slow-Go years and the No-Go years. It’s during the Go-Go years — those early, active retirement days — that people travel and pursue longawaited adventures.

But GLP-1 drugs could help rewrite that narrative — more “go” than “slow.” These medications could help retirees remain active well into their later years.

According to a PwC study, over half of users said they made healthier food choices, and about a third reported less binge eating and drinking. Most kept or increased their exercise routines, signaling a stronger commitment to a healthier lifestyle.

“If retirees can be healthier for longer, they may want to do more things, for longer, than we’re seeing today from retirees,” Blanchett said.

Yes, a more active retirement could mean more spending on travel, leisure and experiences, but here’s the kicker: GLP-1 drugs could reduce one of the biggest obstacles to financial security — the health problems that force people into early retirement.

Longer careers, larger savings

More than half of respondents in an EBRI survey retired earlier than planned, citing health problems or disabilities as the top reason.

GLP-1 drugs could help people stay

healthier and work longer, providing a crucial opportunity to catch up on savings.

“With better health management, individuals may be able to extend their working years, contributing to increased workforce participation among older adults,” Stanford said.

The concept of a fixed retirement age may fade altogether. If people have healthier, longer lives, retirement could become more of a flexible transition than a hard stop.

The bottom line

While GLP-1 drugs offer promising benefits, they come with notable drawbacks. In fact, 50-75% of people stop using them within a year. Cost is the leading factor (hundreds of dollars per month).

“They are expensive, particularly in the U.S., compared to other countries with national insurance, such as Canada and the UK,” Stanford notes.

Side effects also cause concern, with users reporting nausea, gastrointestinal issues and sleep disturbances. Rare cases of eye complications, including conditions linked to blindness, have surfaced.

Still, the buzz around GLP-1 drugs continues to build, fueled by study after study showcasing their potential. Whether they spark a health — and retirement — revolution or fade like a fleeting trend, one thing is certain: They already have more staying power than Crystal Clear Pepsi.

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

Ease pharmacy visits, nighttime waking

By Howard LeWine, M.D.

Q: I have been using the same pharmacy for many years. Recently, it has been more of a struggle to get my prescriptions. The lines can be very long, and I feel rushed when the staff finally gets to me. Is this common?

A: The types of changes you describe are happening across the country. Like many other businesses, pharmacies are struggling with budget cuts and staffing shortages. That’s leading to challenging working conditions for pharmacists and the technicians who support them.

They’re doing more with less, and yet they’re expected to fill hundreds of prescriptions per day, administer vaccines, consult with customers, and call insurance companies to resolve billing issues.

As a result, many pharmacy workers are experiencing burnout. They say they don’t have the time to do their jobs properly, and they worry about patient safety. Meanwhile, customers are sometimes scrambling to get their prescriptions filled or wondering if they should be concerned about the safety of their medications.

Sometimes there’s a problem because

the drug is out of stock. Your pharmacy may be unable to fill a prescription in a timely manner because they don’t have the medication on hand. It could just be that the drug is temporarily out of stock. Or it could be due to a manufacturing issue causing a shortage.

If it’s a manufacturer issue, call your doctor’s office. Your doctor may need to change to a different medication that can work just as well. If the prescription is temporarily out of stock, ask your pharmacist to see if another store in the chain has it, make the call yourself, or ask your doc-

tor to call in a prescription to a different pharmacy — one where it’s already confirmed that your medication is in stock and available.

Don’t wait until the last minute to refill your prescription. Consider putting the prescription on auto-refill, which should allow the pharmacy to refill the prescription within a week of when it is due.

Pharmacists work hard to fill prescriptions accurately, making sure you receive the right drug at the right dose. Yet mis-

What foods to avoid when you’re anxious

By Betty Gold

Nowadays it’s easy to feel stressed out.

While there are several things you can do to try to manage stress, you might not realize the foods you eat — or don’t eat enough of — can play a large role in the state of your mental health.

For a better sense of what not to eat (at least, not in excess) when trying to feel better, Kristin Kirkpatrick, MS, RDN, shares some of the worst foods for anxiety.

1. Fast food and junk food

A 2019 study found that poor diet quality was linked to poor mental health, regardless of factors such as gender, age, education, marital status and income level. The study showed that fried foods, foods high in added sugar, and refined grains (which are stripped of their natural fiber) were all associated with increases in depression.

An earlier study in 2013 found that individuals who consumed fast food were more likely to develop depression.

2. High-sugar foods

For how tasty it can be, sugar can play a surprisingly negative role in your mood and mental health. A 2019 study examining depression during the winter months found that consumption of sugar exacerbated depressive symptoms by increasing inflammation in the brain. This finding correlates with several other studies linking excess sugar, inflammation and mood disorders.

3. Low-fiber foods

Low-fiber diets — lacking in plant foods

like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds — are associated with poor gut health. In turn, gut health is highly correlated with mental health.

Multiple studies show that improvements in gut health (through nutrition) may help to improve overall health and can positively impact anxiety and depression.

4. Alcohol

A 2013 study found that heavy drinkers had a rewiring of brain activity that made them more likely to have anxiety. Other studies in teens found that binge drinking increased future occurrence of depression and anxiety.

Alcohol takes a toll on our systems in several ways. Primarily, it’s very dehydrating, which can affect your mood and disrupt your metabolism (which can then further impact your mood as your body tries to regain balance).

According to American Addiction Centers, “Alcohol can induce panic because of its effects on GABA, a chemical that normally has a relaxing effect. Mild amounts of alcohol can stimulate GABA and cause feelings of relaxation, but heavy drinking can deplete GABA, causing increased tension and feelings of panic.”

5. Foods high in saturated fat

Most of the research linking high-fat diets to depression and anxiety has been conducted on mice. That said, there’s a fair amount of convincing evidence that food high in unhealthy, saturated fats — like fatty cuts of beef and pork, lard, heavy cream, butter, cheese — should be en-

joyed in moderation to keep anxiety at bay. Plus, many fatty foods fall into the other categories listed above: low in fiber, high in added sugars and/or sodium, and

ultra-processed. © 2024 Dotdash Meredith. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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

Housing Communities

o Brooke Grove (see ad on page 24)

o Charlestown (see ad on page 9)

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

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

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

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

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

Home Care Ti

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Client

Pharmacies

From page 4

takes sometimes occur. It’s unclear if that’s happening more frequently now. Always double-check medications before leaving a pharmacy. Look at your pills to become familiar with their appearance. If you get a batch that looks different, ask your pharmacist about it or search online to find an image of the pill you have and what it’s used for. Generic medications can come in a variety of shapes and colors, which can vary by manufacturer.

Q: Why might a person start waking up more often to urinate during the night?

A

: Most people, once they reach middle age, will feel the need to empty their bladder at least once during the night. Doctors call it nocturia. Whether the need to urinate wakes a person up or it’s just that he or she wakes up for another reason and has the urge usually can’t be determined.

Sometimes lifestyle is to blame. For example, it could be that you drink caffeinated beverages too late in the day. Caffeine increases your kidneys’ production of urine. Or maybe you’re drinking a lot of fluids close to bedtime. The kidneys never stop making urine, and many people make urine more efficiently when they’re lying flat than when they’re sitting or standing. Underlying conditions can cause nocturia. In women, an overactive bladder that

BITS

results in a larger number of urinations is common, particularly after menopause. In men, an overactive bladder is frequently caused by an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH).

Both men and women can experience nocturia due to various medical conditions. For example, in individuals with type 2 diabetes, the kidneys remove the extra sugar that’s in the blood and produce more urine to carry that waste out of the body. Also, people with diabetes tend to drink more fluids because of increased thirst.

In people with sleep apnea, the brain recognizes it isn’t getting enough oxygen at night. To increase oxygen circulating in the blood, the brain signals the kidneys to increase blood volume and tells the heart to pump faster. That increases urine production.

Other reasons for nocturia include kidney disease; taking a diuretic (water pill) for heart disease or high blood pressure; or varicose veins associated with daytime retention of fluid, which shifts from the legs to the blood and kidneys at night.

What you can do

Treating nocturia starts with lifestyle changes. Try to stop drinking fluids several hours before bed and eliminate caffeinated beverages 10 hours before bedtime.

Also, ask your doctor if you need to be tested for the various possible medical conditions that can cause nocturia, which

HOWARD COUNTY NARFE

The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association works to protect and increase the earned pay, retirement and healthcare benefits of federal employees, retirees and their survivors. The Howard County chapter meets on the third Wednesday of each month, except in July and August, at the East Columbia 50+ Center, 6600 Cradlerock Way. The meetings start at 1 p.m. and are free and open to all. Membership is $48 per year. For more information, visit narfe.org/chapter1734.

GOOD COMPANY OVER ZOOM

If you are in need of good company and interesting conversation, join this free virtual group for people 60 and older that meets the first Wednesday of each month on Zoom or via phone. For more information or to register, contact the facilitator, Rozi Rice, at rrice@jcsbaltimore.org or (410) 843-7325.

OPEN HOUSE AT VANTAGE POINT

Visit the Residences at Vantage Point on Saturday, May 10 between 10 a.m. and noon to learn about this community for older adults. Explore the campus, services and programs available, and learn about on-site options for independent and assisted living, memory support and skilled nursing. The open house takes place at 5400 Vantage Point Rd., Columbia. For more information, visit VantagePointResidences.org or call (410) 964-5454.

may not yet have been diagnosed. Medications can sometimes help ease nocturia. In men with BPH, this could include drugs (alpha blockers) that improve the flow of urine, helping empty the bladder before bedtime. But you won’t go from getting up five times a night to zero times. It might just go from five to two.

For women, bladder medications may help ease nocturia. But the drugs have possible side effects, and the risks and

benefits have to be weighed carefully. Pill-free approaches include pelvic floor exercises, injections of botulinum toxin (Botox) or nerve stimulation.

Howard LeWine, M.D., is an internist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. For additional consumer health information, visit health.harvard.edu. © 2025 Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Optical Department

Outpatient No-Stitch Cataract Surgery • Laser Surgery

MEDICARE ASSIGNMENT ACCEPTED

LENARD H. HAMMER, M.D., F.A.C.S.

GORDON LUI, M.D.

SCOTT B. BECKER, M.D.

YIYUN ZHOU, M.D.

50+ Jobseekers Join Us!

Registration is Free and Required REGISTER TODAY at Howard.Expo.AccessJCA.org

Jobseekers, attend morning Workshops on current trends and topics relevant to age 50+ Jobseekers!

Network with Employers in the afternoon

If you need this information in an alternate format or need accommodations to participate, call Maryland Access Point at 410-313-1234 (voice/relay) at least one week in advance.

Employers with 3 or more openings, find your next hire at the Virtual Employment Expo!

Employers, do you have forty minutes on May 1st? Then register today!

Registration is complimentary at HowardExpo.AccessJCA.org

• Email employmentexpos@accessjca.org

• Call Ann Happ (301) 255-4209

Best ways to combat springtime allergies

Spring is here, and so is allergy season! Beyond the obvious pollen, mold spores thrive in damp environments, especially after seasonal rains, while dust mites multiply as temperatures rise. Pet dander also becomes a bigger problem as animals shed their winter coats.

Meanwhile, grass pollens like Bermuda, Timothy and ryegrass kick into high gear in late spring, especially in May and June. These lightweight particles travel easily on the wind, making you miserable in your skin.

For fast relief, many people turn to overthe-counter (OTC) antihistamines like cetirizine (Zyrtec) or loratadine (Claritin). Cetirizine works quickly but can cause drowsiness, so it should be taken at night, while loratadine is non-drowsy but may take slightly longer to kick in. Both block histamine, the chemical responsible for sneezing and itching.

Nasal sprays like fluticasone (Flonase) reduce inflammation and congestion, but they take a few days to work and may

cause nosebleeds if overused. This is effective for mild-to-moderate allergies, but if symptoms persist, you may need stronger support.

If OTC meds aren’t cutting it, your doctor may prescribe montelukast (Singulair), which blocks leukotrienes, another inflammation trigger that your body makes when faced with pollen. It’s great for asthmarelated allergies, but some people experience mood changes or vivid dreams. Ask your doctor about that one.

Here’s what to watch for:

• Antihistamines can lower vitamin C and zinc, both crucial for immunity.

DEAR PHARMACIST

By Suzy Cohen

Antihistamines come in two generations, and a lot of people don’t know that. The first-generation meds (like diphenhydramine, or Benadryl) work fast but cause drowsiness. That’s why it got rebranded as a sleep aid! It’s great for nighttime relief but not for daytime function.

The second-generation medications (like cetirizine, loratadine and fexofenadine) provide longer-lasting, non-drowsy relief. They’re better for daily use but can still cause dry mouth or headaches.

Some people live on these medications. However, you should know that taking antihistamines or steroid nasal sprays yearround can deplete essential nutrients — what I call the “drug mugging” effect.

• Nasal steroids may reduce vitamin D, leading to weakened bones and increased infections.

• Montelukast can impact magnesium and B vitamins, affecting mood and energy. If you rely on these meds daily, consider supplementing with what they deplete; your body will thank you.

Natural remedies

I love weaving in natural options for allergy relief. Consider the following:

• Vitamin C acts as a natural antihistamine, reducing sneezing and itching.

• Vitamin D keeps your immune system balanced.

• B Complex helps regulate histamine and supports energy.

• Catalase helps detox oxidative stress, which can worsen allergy symptoms. If OTC meds aren’t helping or your symptoms include wheezing, facial swelling or sinus infections (like sinus fun-

Know the early signs and symptoms of diabetes

Dear Savvy Senior,

What are the early signs and symptoms of diabetes? I’m 60 years old and in pretty good shape, but I was just diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. What did I miss?

—Diabetic Dan Dear Dan,

The signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes can be so mild that many people miss them. That’s why testing is so important. Here’s what you should know.

This excess blood sugar damages blood vessels and affects circulation, putting you at risk for a host of ailments, from heart attack and stroke to blindness, kidney failure and nerve damage.

Signs and symptoms

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention more than 38 million Americans have diabetes today, and another 97 million have prediabetes, but many of them don’t even know they have it.

Type 2 diabetes is a disease that develops slowly over decades. Most people have prediabetes for a long time before the disease becomes full-blown diabetes, and even then, it progresses gradually.

Diabetes occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high.

So how can you tell if you have diabetes? The earliest signs, which are usually subtle, include urinating more frequently (often at night), being thirstier and hungrier than usual, weight loss without trying, feeling very tired, having dry, itchy skin and blurry vision.

And the symptoms that can indicate advanced diabetes and long-term damage has occurred include cuts or sores that heal slowly, having more infections than usual and pain or numbness in your feet or legs.

Who should get tested?

Because prediabetes typically causes no outward symptoms, and the signs of early type 2 diabetes can easily be missed, the

it’s time to see a doctor.

gal balls, which I’ve written about before),

You don’t have to suffer all season! If you’re interested in a deeper dive into this topic, I’ve written a longer, more comprehen-

only way to know for sure if you have it is to get a blood test.

Everyone age 45 years or older should consider getting tested for diabetes, especially if you are overweight with a body mass index (BMI) above 25. See CDC.gov/bmi to calculate your BMI.

If you are younger than 45 but are overweight, or have high blood pressure, a family history of diabetes, or belong to an ethnic group (Latino, Asian, African or Native American) at high risk for diabetes, you should get checked too.

To help you determine your risk for diabetes, the American Diabetes Association has a quick, online risk test you can take for free at Diabetes.org/risk-test.

Diabetes tests

There are three different tests your doctor can give you to diagnose diabetes. The most common is the “fasting plasma glucose test,” which requires an eight-hour fast before you take it. There’s also the “oral glucose tolerance test” to see how your body processes sugar, and the “hemoglobin A1C test” that measures your average blood

sive article on my website, suzycohen.com. This information is opinion only. It is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose your condition. Consult with your doctor before

sugar over the past three months. It can be taken anytime, regardless of when you ate. Most private health insurance plans and Medicare cover diabetes tests; however, if you’re reluctant to visit your doctor to get tested, an alternative is to go to the drug store, buy a blood glucose meter and test yourself at home. They cost around $20. If you find that you are prediabetic or diabetic, see your doctor to develop a plan to get it under control. In many cases lifestyle changes like losing weight, exercising, eating a healthy diet and cutting back on carbohydrates may be all you need to do to get your diabetes under control. For others who need more help, many medications are available. For more information on diabetes and prediabetes or to find help, join a lifestyle change program recognized by the CDC (CDC.gov/diabetes-prevention). These programs offer in-person and online classes in more than 1,500 U.S. locations.

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

using any new drug or supplement. Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist and author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist and Real Solutions from Head to Toe

By Jim Miller

By Victor Block

When I last visited the British Virgin Islands 20 years ago, I checked out its inviting beaches, visited historic and natural sites, and oohed and aahed at the magnificent scenery.

During a return trip there last fall, I relived those experiences and discovered some new ones.

The British Virgin Islands, or BVI, transcend a typical sun, surf and sand vacation with opportunities to delve into intriguing touches of Caribbean culture. The BVI became a British colony in 1672, but today it’s considered a British overseas territory with its own government.

What’s missing in the BVI? High-rise hotels, gambling casinos, chain restaurants and the commercialism found at many Caribbean destinations.

About 60 islands and tiny cays make up the archipelago located east of Puerto Rico. The largest island, Tortola, is 20 square miles, and the smaller ones, at barely two acres, are no more than sandbars.

On Tortola’s almost-vertical hills, roads rise and fall, twist and turn. Because many stretches of road are more pothole than pavement, and vehicles drive on the British side, I recommend taking taxis and tour buses rather than renting a car.

The first place many Tortola visitors

head for are beaches, which come in many sizes with amenities to meet most tastes.

Cane Garden Bay combines a swath of inviting sand with a wide choice of waterbased activities. Smuggler’s Cove, fringed by cactus and palm trees, offers good snorkeling close to shore.

For BVI history, head to the capital, Road Town. Its Virgin Islands Folk Museum brims with pre-Columbian artifacts from people who once inhabited the islands. The museum also tells stories of pirates and buccaneers who found a home base for seeking quick treasure and British colonists who came to stay, enslaving thousands of people.

The J.R. O’Neal Botanic Gardens is an oasis of tropical plants that represent the different habitats of the BVI. Given the lush foliage that proliferates the island, even such a magnificent garden seemed almost redundant to me.

One spot many visitors miss is the Jenesis Studio. It showcases paintings of BVI life, some of which also decorate a mural that stretches along a roadside wall nearby. Behind the building is a garden of tropical herbs and medicinal plants with signs indicating what ailments each has been used to treat.

Island hopping

I also took time to visit three other islands in the BVI. They’re relatively easy and inex-

How can you access an airport lounge without flying first class? See facing page.

Travel Leisure & British Virgin Islands: More than beaches

pensive to reach by ferry, or you can pay more for a private flight or boat charter.

Virgin Gorda has remnants of early African, Spanish and Indian settlements, but it is best known for the Baths, a collection of enormous granite boulders and grottoes.

Because of its coral and limestone topography, which contrasts with the volcanic origin of the others, Anegada is rimmed by the loveliest sparkling sand beaches. It’s also surrounded by colorful reefs and old shipwrecks, making it a popular dive and snorkeling destination.

Jost Van Dyke, said to be named for a Dutch privateer, measures only about 3.5 square miles. It’s dotted by the ruins of early sugar mills and laced with early explorer footpaths. But the international reputation of this tiny enclave also rests upon the Soggy Dollar Bar, a nondescript but inviting beachfront watering hole that reputedly is the birthplace of the popular local beverage known as the Painkiller.

The name of the establishment came from the fact that before a road had been built, people docked their boats nearby, swam to shore and paid their bar bill with wet paper money.

The British Virgin Islands have long been a paradise for boaters. The first visitors came by sea, and since then, the con-

sistent trade winds, clear water and countless islands close enough to navigate by sight have made the archipelago known as the sailing capital of the Caribbean.

For many people, the larger islands serve as a stopover before they rent a catamaran or sailboat and head out to discover tucked-away coves, deserted beaches, caves and other attractions inaccessible to landlubbers.

Even so, I highly recommend spending time on the islands. Each has its own scenic appeal, activities and intriguing history — and plenty of peaceful beaches.

If you go

Round-trip flights to Tortola from BWI start at $640, with one stop in San Juan. You can also fly through St. Thomas.

The Wyndham Tortola BVI Lambert Beach Resort fronts an outstanding beach and offers gourmet dining, an inviting pool, cabanas and low-rise accommodations set amid Caribbean foliage. Room rates begin at $220 a night.

A favorite restaurant find was the Coconut Lounge in Road Town, which overlooks the harbor. My personal favorites were the coconut-crusted shrimp and seafood pasta.

For more information, contact wyndhamhotels.com and bvitourism.com.

Cane Garden Bay, on the island of Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, has plenty of beachfront dining. Each of the BVI’s 60 islands has its own secluded beaches, historic sites and fresh seafood restaurants.

PHOTO

The Baths National Park, located on a white-sand beach on the island of Virgin Gorda, is a maze of granite boulders to wade through and explore.

PHOTO BY DAVEYNIN/FLICKR

Why and how to access an airport lounge

By Becca Van Sambeck

Spending time in airports is one of the worst parts of travel. They’re uncomfortable, loud and crowded. And even a measly bottle of water will cost two or three times as much when purchased at an airport.

However, there is a more enjoyable way to pass time in an airport, whether you’re awaiting your first leg or killing time during a layover: an airport lounge.

A lot of people assume airport lounges are an inaccessible luxury, only available to certain rewards credit card holders or first-class travelers.

That simply isn’t the case. There are a variety of ways to get access to an airport lounge, including day passes and special programs. Here is what you need to know:

What are lounge benefits?

Even a short stay in a lounge is vastly more appealing than sitting in an uncomfortable seat at your gate and dragging your carry-on around to find a reasonably priced snack.

Not only do lounges have better WiFi, tons of comfortable seating and televisions, they also usually offer free food and drinks, including alcoholic options. Some even have showers for those coming off long-haul flights or running to an important destination.

Ways to access a lounge

Travelers have many different options for gaining airport lounge access, including:

• Buy a first class or business ticket. A higher-class ticket often comes with many perks to justify that cost — including lounge access. However, not every airline still offers lounge access with this ticket level if you’re flying domestic, so you’ll want to confirm before you purchase.

• Gain status with an airline. Joining a loyalty program with an airline is one of the most consistent ways to get access to an airport lounge. After all, airlines want you to keep choosing them over the competition, so the more flights you book with them after signing up for a frequent flyer program, the more benefits you’ll receive.

• Sign up for the right credit card. Many credit cards will offer you lounge access as a perk, especially if you sign up for a travel rewards card.

Some of these cards are directly partnered with specific lounges (such as the American Express Centurion card and lounge), while others give you access to ones operated by certain airlines (the Platinum card from American Express gets you into Delta lounges, among others).

Still others work directly with Priority Pass (more on that later) to get you into a wide range of lounges across the globe.

• Buy a day pass. Many lounges will allow you to purchase a day pass so you can access all the amenities. The fee is usually somewhere from $35 to $80 — which might actually save you money if you were going to purchase food, drinks or WiFi anyway. Of course, day passes are not offered by every lounge, so check online in advance to see what your options are at the airport.

• Purchase an annual pass. If you really like a certain lounge, you can get a pass for more access than a day. Several offer annual membership programs, including Delta ($695) and American Airlines ($750).

• Enroll in Priority Pass. Priority Pass, as mentioned above, is a program that grants people access to lounges all over the world.

If you don’t get it for free through your credit card, you can simply enroll in a membership on your own. There are different tiers with different benefits, ranging from $99 to $469 a year.

Priority Pass, like any option, has its pros and cons. If you’re traveling quite a bit, like the idea of spending time in an airport lounge and want to avoid high fees, Priority Pass is a smart choice, offering 1,600 lounges all over the globe (including 150-plus in the United States).

There are three tiers of membership:

• Standard, $99. You pay $35 to get into a lounge, and it’s $35 to bring a guest in.

• Standard Plus, $329. You get 10 free visits a year before you have to pay the $35 to enter a lounge. A guest costs $35.

• Prestige, $469. You get unlimited free visits a year, and a guest costs $35 each visit.

However, there are certainly downsides to Priority Pass. It’s not a given you’ll actually get into a lounge, as they have limited spaces set aside for Priority Pass members.

Also, the lounges available aren’t always as nice or high-end as others in the airport, and you never get to bring in a guest for free.

Plus, while there’s a tier range, the membership price may end up being just as high as getting access to lounges through the other options listed.

It may also be more economical to sign up for a day pass each time you want to use a lounge. This largely depends on how much you’re traveling and your travel habits.

The bottom line

Airport lounges aren’t just for first-class travelers! Research your credit cards and frequent flier programs to make sure you aren’t missing out on any lounge perks.

If you don’t have that and still want to enter a lounge, there are other affordable options so you can make your airport experience as comfortable as possible.

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

Upcoming Programs for 50 Years + Recreation & Parks

To view all of our programs and activities, visit www.HowardCountyMD.gov/rap.

Special Events

Wine in the Woods

Join us for the 31st year and celebrate the charm and character of an event that has aged to perfection! Wine in the Woods is the largest wine festival in Maryland and has been voted Best Festival in Howard County. Enjoy a glass of wine during the festival (or a bottle to share with friends) from Maryland’s finest wineries. Prefer a beer? Purchase a beverage from one of the on-site, local craft breweries. At this two-day event, enjoy great food, shopping, music, wine, and beer! Placed throughout the festival grounds are the 30 juried artisans and specialty crafters and over 20 high-quality restaurants and caterers. Bring your picnic blanket and dancing shoes as six live bands play each day. Advance ticket sales start in March. Tickets are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged. This event is held rain or shine. A free, souvenir wine glass is given to each 21 yrs + ticket holder upon entrance. Info: www.wineinthewoods.com.

Symphony WoodsMay 1711am-6pmSa

Symphony WoodsMay 1811am-5pmSu

Nite Bite Fishing

Have you ever wanted to fish at Centennial Lake at night? Now’s your chance! Join Howard County Recreation & Parks for a unique opportunity to fish the lake after hours. Bring your own fishing pole, bait, tackle, bug repellant, flashlight or lantern, and chair or boat. On-site registration only; all anglers must be checked in by 7pm. Those under 16 years old must be accompanied by a registered adult. Complete details available at www.howardcountymd. gov/nightfishing. Our 2025 Nite Bite fishing dates are scheduled for the following dates: 5/9, 5/23, 6/13, 6/27, 7/11, 7/25, 8/8, 8/22, 9/12, 9/26, 10/10, 10/24. Fish from 6-11pm in April, May, September and October, and 6pm until midnight in June, July, and August. Info: Matt Medicus, 410-313-1769. All ages

Centennial Pk South Boat LaunchF$5

NEW! Bookworm Bash

It’s a read aloud party, and everyone is invited! Join local authors, Howard County Public Library, and Robinson Nature Center for this imaginationfueled adventure in our nature play space. Enjoy story times with local authors before making your own story through interactive play and crafts. Collaborate with other families to create your own puppet show or embrace your creativity and make your own masks. Local authors’ books available for purchase during the event in the gift shop. Info: 410-313-0400. All agesRobinson Nature CtrFree RP4815.301May 1010am-noonSa

Sensory-Friendly Sunday

These events are designed for families with kids, teens, and adults with sensoryprocessing differences, autism spectrum disorder, or developmental disabilities. Exhibits, trails and outdoor play area is open early. Enjoy self-paced activities that include sensory bins and pathways, scavenger hunts, crafts, or games. Planetarium open from 11am to noon. Info: www.howardcountymd.gov/RobinsonNatureCenter or 410-313-0400.

All agesRobinson Nature CtrPreregistration recommended Free, ctr member & 0-2 yrs; $3, 3-17 yrs; $5, 18 yrs +

RP4876.301Busting into BloomMay 1810:30am-noonSu

RP4876.401Wild in WaterAug 1010:30am-noonSu

Good Vibes and Voices Concert and Event

Double time it over to Rockburn Branch park for a night of FREE music, entertainment, healing conversations, lawn games, food, and fun! Learn about local resources for service members, veterans, and their families. Feel free to bring lawn chairs and blankets to sit on! Info: www.howardcountymd.gov/goodvibes.

All agesRockburn Branch Pk West Jun 56-8pmThFree

Scan the QR code or visit tinyurl.com/activeaging50 for more 50 yrs + programs!

Dance

• Info: Tessa Hurd, 410-313-7311 or thurd@howardcountymd.gov.

Dancing for Fun

Mixer

Enjoy moving to the music while trying a variety of dance styles. From line dancing to ballroom, swing to Latin, we try them all. This class, which is led by instructor Tom Sellner, gives you the chance to get active and have some fun. No partner necessary. 50 yrs +Classes: 4No class 5/21

RP3513.301Harriet Tubman CtrMay 61-1:45pmTu$45

RP3513.302Gary J Arthur CCMay 71:30-2:15pmW$45

RP3513.401N Laurel CC Jun 127:30-8:15pmTh$45

Fitness

• Info: Tessa Hurd, 410-313-7311 or thurd@howardcountymd.gov.

Pop Up Yoga with Kathy Greisman

RP3541.304Belmont ManorMay 79-10amW$14

RP3541.305Belmont ManorMay 14 9-10amW$14

RP3541.306Belmont ManorMay 21 9-10amW$14

RP3541.401Belmont ManorJun 49-10amW$14

RP3541.402Belmont ManorJun 119-10amW$14

Nature

• Info: Robinson Nature Center, 410-313-0400.

Sr. Naturalist Program

50 yrs +Robinson Nature CtrClasses: 1

RP4831.302Spring BirdingMay 153-4:30pmW$15

Photography

• Info: Tessa Hurd, 410-313-7311 or thurd@howardcountymd.gov.

Digital Photography 102

Relax while you take in the sights and surrounding beauty of nature as you get fit and improve your health in this outdoor yoga class. Classes held under the tent at the Belmont Manor and Historic Park. Join us for the classes that fit your schedule. 50 yrs +Classes: 1

This program provides foundational understanding on a variety of environmental topics through hands-on exploration and demonstrations in a casual, social atmosphere. In May, practice bird ID and learn the best ways to support migrating birds.

Ready to take your photography to the next level? Then this is the class for you! Practice intermediate photography techniques: lighting, action, composition, and more. Digital camera required (DSLR, mirrorless, or point-and-shoot with manual controls).

50 yrs +Instructor: John GuionClasses: 4

RP3533.301Belmont ManorMay 209:30-11:30amTu$95

Technology

• Info: Tessa Hurd, 410-313-7311 or thurd@howardcountymd.gov.

NEW! Beginner’s Guide to Genealogy

Learn about the world of genealogy! Gain an understanding of the basics of family history research, the important tools needed to perform research, and how to navigate the information. Learn strategies to help you organize your research. You should have computer literacy. Bring a laptop or tablet to each class.

50 yrs +Instructor: Karen GieseClasses: 3

RP3500.301Gary J Arthur CCMay 81-2:30pm Th $72

RP3500.401Gary J Arthur CCJun 61-2:30pm F $72

RP3500.402Gary J Arthur CCJul 10 1-2:30pm Th $72

How to use your Phone/Tablet effectively

Learn how to connect your iPhone with your iPad. Discover useful free apps for your phone. Learn about backing up your phone and how to use voice communication to gain information. Bring your smart phone and/or tablet.

50 yrs +Instructor: Constance LoweClasses: 1

RP3523.301N Laurel CC Apr 2310-11amW$25

RP3523.302Gary J Arthur CC May 1610-11amF$25 m y.

•

Info: Tracy Adkins, 410-313-7279 or tadkins@howardcountymd.gov.

Meet You There –

Mother’s Day Candle-Making with Candy

Celebrate Mother’s Day early with a unique, candle-making experience! Meet at the Savage, Maryland location (New Weave Building) for a hands-on workshop where you can create beautiful, personalized candles. Whether it’s a gift for mom, a bonding activity with friends, or a special treat for yourself, this class is designed to inspire creativity and connection.

18 yrs+Historic Savage Mill RP4586.301May 1210am-noonM$59

The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery

The National Portrait Gallery was authorized and founded by Congress in 1962 to acquire and display portraits of “men and women who have made significant contributions to the history, development, and culture of the people of the United States.” Today, the gallery continues to narrate America’s multi-faceted and everchanging story through the individuals who have shaped its culture. Lunch on your own is available at the café. Moderate walking is required.

21 yrs +Bus Provided RP4557.301May 239:30am-3:30pmF$89

Fall Escape: Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Enjoy comfortable transportation, five days/four nights of accommodations, breakfast, and three dinners as Cape Cod’s wonders unfold before you! Relax by the serene waters of Hyannis Harbor, tour the bustling city of Boston, shop at Quincy Market, or find a treasure in the artist town of Provincetown. Historic sites, landmarks, sandy dunes, seaside cottages, artsy towns, and quaint shops make Cape Cod the “something for everyone” destination! This trip sells out quickly! Moderate walking is required. Plan for an early morning departure on Sunday, September 7, 2025.

18 yrs + Bus Provided from Bain 50+ Ctr

RP4553.501Single OccupancySep 7-11Su$1,449

RP4553.502Double OccupancySep 7-11Su$1,129

Voolume 15, No. 5 | Ma

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MoneyMoney

You’ve saved up; do you have an income plan?

By Cliff Ambrose

Retirement planning is often compared to climbing a mountain. The ascent — the accumulation phase — is about building your wealth, while the descent — the distribution phase — is about strategically living off those savings.

The sequence of returns risk

One of the most significant challenges during the descent is managing sequence of returns risk, which refers to the impact of the order in which investment returns occur during retirement. While the average rate of return dominates discussions during accumulation — because consistent contributions smooth out fluctuations — the sequence of returns becomes crucial during distribution.

Negative returns early in retirement, when withdrawals are being made, can significantly erode a portfolio’s value. This occurs because withdrawals lock in losses, leaving less capital to recover when markets rebound. Managing this risk is critical to ensuring your savings last throughout retirement.

Consider two retirees, each starting retirement at age 66 with $684,848 and withdrawing 5% annually while both achieving an 8% average return over time.

Retiree A begins retirement in a bear market. Early losses in the portfolio, combined with regular withdrawals, deplete his savings to nothing by age 82.

Retiree B starts retirement in a bull market. Early gains provide a strong foundation, allowing her portfolio to grow even after accounting for withdrawals. By age 90, she has $2.5 million in her portfolio.

Why the dramatic difference? While the average rate of return is the same for both retirees, the sequence of returns risk comes into play. For Retiree A, withdrawing during periods of negative returns compounds losses, leaving less capital to benefit from market recoveries. In contrast, Retiree B’s early gains create a cushion, protecting her portfolio from being quickly eroded by withdrawals.

This contrast demonstrates the critical role timing plays in the distribution phase and why managing early losses is essential.

Steps to mitigate sequence risk

Diversify with safe assets. Allocate part of your portfolio to safe, stable assets such as annuities, bonds or CDs. They can be a safety net during market downturns. Design a flexible withdrawal plan. Work with your adviser to create a strategy

that prioritizes pulling from safe assets during bear markets, reducing the need to sell equities at a loss.

Engage experts early. Assemble a team that includes financial professionals, tax advisers and estate planners to ensure your retirement withdrawal strategy aligns with your broader financial goals.

Accumulation to distribution

Reaching the retirement summit is a major milestone, but transitioning from accumulation to distribution requires critical decisions and adjustments. Start by evaluating whether your current financial adviser is equipped to guide you through this phase. Ask yourself:

• Have they created a comprehensive income distribution plan with tax, estate and health care strategies?

• Have they reviewed how your savings will be taxed, including Roth conversions and required minimum distributions (RMDs)?

• Have they helped plan for long-term care and legacy goals?

If these areas haven’t been addressed, you may need a financial professional specializing in retirement distribution planning.

Build a resilient portfolio

A key aspect of retirement distribution is

withstanding market volatility while meeting your income needs. To help weather unstable markets:

Balance growth and safety. Combine growth-oriented investments with stable asset.

Visualize your income plan. Use historical market data to simulate potential outcomes, providing confidence in your ability to sustain your lifestyle.

Plan for tax efficiency

Understanding the taxation of different income sources is critical in retirement. “Buckets” of money — taxable, tax-deferred and tax-free — must be strategically managed to reduce tax burdens and maximize income. Strategies like Roth conversions can be particularly effective in lowering future RMDs and reducing taxes on Social Security benefits.

Avoid common retirement myths such as:

The 80% income rule. Many assume retirees need only 80% of their preretirement income, but most aim to maintain their full lifestyle. Plan for a realistic spending level to avoid shortfalls.

The 4% rule. While once considered a

Why you need to make a home inventory

By Karl Susman

When was the last time you really took a long, hard look at what’s inside your home? Let me tell you a story about why it is important that you do so — and do it as soon as possible.

You never know when something could destroy it all. After one of the many devastating wildfires that hit California, I was speaking with a client whose home burned to the ground. I’m not talking about having a shell of the home left. There was nothing left other than the concrete slab. I walked the space with him, and we were actually able to make out, melted into the concrete, remnants of a pool table that once was the center of attention in the basement. Everything was gone.

The monumental loss experienced by someone who in one day lost all of their worldly possessions truly cannot be expressed in a few sentences, so I won’t even

try. Yet, even after the last of the ashes blew away, a new panic became all to clear: How could he ever know everything that was there so he could properly file his insurance claim and start rebuilding?

The physical house, whose construction required building permits (a tangible record of what was involved and what it cost), seemed doable. There was clear documentation on the bones of the place. Sure, they might have done some minor upgrades without getting permits, but they were nothing earth-shattering. The house could be rebuilt.

But what about all of his stuff?

He kept closing his eyes and telling me, “I had this, and I had that.” I told him, “Start your phone’s recorder and take notes. Lots of notes. Things will continue to come to you a little at a time.”

I told him to refer to photos and video clips taken in the house, anything he had

that was, thankfully, backed up in the cloud. What a job that would be, though, to study every photo or video clip to see what’s in the background. Ignore the people; look at the stuff.

So he embarked on the arduous process of looking at photos and videos and recording voice memos to describe what he used to have. The memories of his belongings came in waves, as did the fact that many items could not be replaced — such as the ring his grandmother had managed to hold on to while being held in a concentration camp during the Holocaust.

You can’t depend only on your memories

While we can do all we can to prevent losses from happening — for instance, undertaking a process called “home hardening” to help protect our valuables from wildfires —

losses still happen. Just last year, Hurricane Helene caused massive damage across Florida and the Southeast. It is bad enough to lose it all, but what can be even worse is not being able to remember what it is you’ve lost. When you’re done reading this article, pick up your phone and start the video recorder. Walk around your house and capture every room, every nook and cranny. Be sure you go everywhere, from the garage to the bathrooms to the basement. Open each cabinet and each drawer. Document it all.

If you are ever so unfortunate as to suffer a catastrophic loss, this video, or videos, will remind you what you had in your house. It will be one less thing to torment you while you’re recovering.

© 2024 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. See RETIREMENT INCOME , page 17

Where solo agers can find help, support

By Jim Miller

Dear Savvy Senior,

I’m a divorced 68-year-old childless cat lady and have been thinking a lot lately about who will look after me when I get older and my health falters. What resources are available to solo seniors like me, and where can I turn to find a reliable person to be my emergency contact, as well as lookout for my health, financial matters and living arrangements in my elder years?

—Solo Ager

Dear Solo,

This is a very common concern for the 22 million solo agers across the United States who don’t have adult children or other family they can depend on to watch out for their well-being. Here are some tips and resources that can help you plan ahead.

Choosing helpers and decision makers

While older adults who have children or are married usually name offspring or spouses as proxies/decision makers, solo agers most often choose a sibling, niece or nephew, or rely on a trusted friend or neighbor. Whomever you choose, talk to them first to make sure they’re up for the task. If, however, you don’t have anyone you feel comfortable with, or who is willing to take on that responsibility, you can hire someone.

One of the best resources for this is an aging life care manager. These are trained professionals in the area of geriatric care who often have backgrounds in nursing or social work and can serve as your emergency contact, oversee your care and even act as your executor. They can also connect you with professional legal and finan-

Retirement income

From page 16

safe withdrawal rate, the 4% rule doesn’t account for market volatility or today’s low-interest-rate environment. A tailored strategy based on your unique circumstances is more reliable.

Market volatility can derail even the bestlaid plans. Working with an adviser who can proactively adjust your portfolio ensures you remain on track despite economic shifts. © 2025 Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

BUTTERFLY SURVEY VOLUNTEER

Middle Patuxent Environmental Area needs volunteers to keep a tally of each butterfly of each species they observe during survey sessions within select areas in Howard County. Time commitment is a minimum of one hour per two weeks. For more information and to apply, contact Allen Dupre at adupre@howardcountymd.gov or (410) 313-4035.

cial services in your area that can help you manage your affairs.

Aging life care managers typically charge anywhere from $100 to $300 an hour, depending on their location and experience. To search for an expert near you, visit aginglifecare.org.

If you can’t afford this, there are other reliable sources you can turn to for specific help. For example, if you haven’t already done so, you need to prepare a basic estate plan (including a power of attorney, advance directive and a will) to ensure your wishes are carried out if you become incapacitated and when you die.

To help you prepare these documents, your best option is to hire an experienced estate planning attorney, which can cost anywhere between $500 and $2,000. He or she may also be able to act as your power of attorney or executor, or help you locate

a professional in your area that can.

To locate someone, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (naela.org) and National Association of Estate Planners & Councils (naepc.org) have online directories to help you search.

If you need help with bill-paying, there are services like SilverBills (silverbills.com), or you can work with a daily money manager (aadmm.com) who, in addition to paying bills, can handle tasks like balancing your checkbook and organizing tax information. And to help you navigate care and senior housing options there are certified senior advisors (csa.us).

It’s also a good idea to meet with a financial adviser to help figure out what services and living arrangements you can afford and what steps you can take to ensure that your financial resources last your lifetime. If you don’t have an adviser, you can find a

fee-only, fiduciary financial planner trough the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors at napfa.org.

Some other helpful resources you can turn to include Aging Alone Together (dorotusa.org/agingalonetogether), a program offered by Dorot, which is a nonprofit social services organization that provides practical ways to help solo agers prepare for the future. They are offering a free, six-session virtual workshop (offered weekly) via Zoom starting April 24.

Also see Navigating Solo (navigatingsolo.com), a national clearinghouse of resources for solo agers and information about solo-ager groups.

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

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

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Evergreen Senior Apartments: 410-780-4888

The Greens at English Consul: 410-789-3000

The Greens at Liberty Road: 410-655-1100

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

Park View at Fullerton: 410-663-0665

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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

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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

Retirement lessons learned over my career

I worked 34 years before retiring and have been retired from full-time work for 29 years. I have made some good decisions and some not so good, and I hope you can learn from both. First, I will discuss what I believe were good decisions.

1. When you look for fulltime employment, see if you can find an employer that offers a defined benefit plan. Although most employers no longer offer defined benefit plans, unions are now being more aggressive and are insisting on them. Since I retired at 58, I have received over $700,000 in pension payments from my defined benefit plan.

58, the account was worth several hundred thousand dollars, which I rolled over into an IRA account.

By Elliot Raphaelson

2. If your employer offers a defined contribution plan, such as a 401(k), always contribute at least as much as necessary to obtain the maximum employer match. By making maximum contributions to my plan and receiving a 50% match, when I retired at age

May 17

3. Whenever your yearly taxable income is lower than usual, convert your traditional, non-Roth retirement plan into a Roth account. [Ed. Note: This will increase your tax that year, but you’ll pay tax at a lower rate provided the conversion doesn’t raise your tax bracket.] Try to avoid pushing your taxable income into a higher marginal tax bracket.

4. If you have reached your required beginning date — which means you are required to take required minimum distributions (RMD) from your traditional retirement accounts — use the qualified charitable deduction (QCD) to make charitable contributions before you take any yearly RMD. This will reduce the amount you have to withdraw to meet your

AMERICAN REFLECTIONS CONCERT

You are invited to “American Reflections,” a Columbia Orchestra concert, on Sat., May 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Jim Rouse Theatre for the Performing Arts, 5460 Trumpeter Rd., Columbia. Enjoy selections from Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story, Ulysses Kay’s “Pietà” and Walter Piston’s Symphony No. 4. Tickets start at $20 for ages 60 and older, with a $2 fee per ticket. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit columbiaorchestra.org/orchestra-series/american-reflections or call (410) 465-8777.

RMD by the amount of your charitable contribution. [Ed. Note: Do this in a year when you itemize deductions so you can take advantage of the charitable deduction.]

5. If you have earned income from selfemployment, make sure you take all legal tax deductions, including premiums and Medicare premiums, as deductions on their tax returns.

6. If you have a hobby or skills you enjoy, try to find a way to turn these hobbies and skills into profitable side income.

For example, even though I was employed full-time at a major bank for 23 years, I was able to earn substantial income with considerable tax deductions as a college instructor, a freelance writer and book author. I was able to earn almost as much in these activities as I earned in my full-time positions.

Because I had already been making retirement planning presentations at my bank, Dow Jones hired me as a consultant to conduct retirement planning seminars

BEACON BITS

May 4+

for its employees.

Not all my decisions were optimal. The following are some maxims that I didn’t always follow. If I had, the results would have been more favorable.

—Always make your new contributions to retirement accounts to Roth accounts rather than traditional accounts.

—Establish retirement accounts for nonworking spouses with contributions from your earned income. Using this option, you can create an additional IRA for your spouse using the same maximum annual limit.

—Allocate more than 50% of your retirement account assets to equities. I generally allocated no more than 50% of my retirement accounts to equities. Allocating more than half of your retirement assets to stocks will maximize growth, especially for young workers.

Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at raphelliot@gmail.com. © 2025 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

ARTISTS’ GALLERY SHOW AND RECEPTION

Artists’ Gallery presents “Kaleidoscope,” an art show featuring mixed media by Amanda Miller and kiln-formed glass by Karen Wallace. The exhibit runs from Wed., April 30 through Sun., June 1, with a reception on Sun., May 4 from 2 to 5 p.m. at 8197 Main St., Ellicott City. Free. For more information, including gallery hours, visit artistsgalleryec.com or call (443) 325-5936.

BOOKS IN BLOOM LITERARY FESTIVAL

May 10

This free festival, which takes place on Saturday, May 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 6000 Meriweather Dr., Columbia, celebrates the joy of books and meaningful dialogue. In addition to authors and speakers, the festival features interactive, family-friendly fun, including a pop-up bookstore and local food and drink specials. For more information and to register, visit merriweatherdistrict.com/books-in-bloom.

Peace of Mind is Priceless

BEACON BITS

Arts & Style

Music Man offers fun blast from the past

By Mark Dreisonstok

Toby’s Dinner Theatre in Columbia is now presenting The Music Man, the brash, classic American musical through May 18.

The show opened on Broadway in 1957, garnering five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and inspiring a motion picture released five years later that starred Robert Preston, Shirley Jones and Buddy Hackett.

The Music Man centers around Harold Hill, a self-proclaimed “professor of music,” actually a con artist, who arrives in “stubborn Iowa” (per the musical’s lyrics) in 1912.

Played by Toby’s seasoned leading man Jeffrey Shankle, Hill convinces the people of River City that the panacea to their problems, real and imagined, is to form a band made up of the town’s children. He asks for funds to purchase all the instruments and uniforms, with the intent of skipping town before the band is assembled.

The situation changes when “Professor” Hill falls in love with Marian, the skeptical town librarian, played by the charming Janine Sunday. At great personal risk of exposure, Hill contemplates staying in River City to win her love.

Hill fulfills his promise to deliver the

band’s instruments and uniforms. But then, he must invent a way to teach his new band members to play. Hill employs the spurious “think” method, whereby if one believes hard enough, one can play music.

The magic of the story is that even though this tale starts off with an outrageous swindle, the lovable rogue Hill ends up giving the town something far more valuable than a mere band. He creates a wonderful sense of community and comradery that River City had been lacking.

Familiar numbers

Director and choreographer Mark Minnick has assembled a strong cast to revive this vintage Broadway musical to delight diehard fans as well as those new to its amusing plot and melodic tunes.

Many will recognize the song “76 Trombones,” directed by conductor Ross Scott Rawlings and performed by Toby’s ensemble of talented musicians, who sound like a very professional small-town band, albeit a bit shy of the magic number of 76 trombones.

“Marian the Librarian” was performed fabulously by the orchestra, whose haunting repetition of the accompaniment in a

somewhat minor key makes the love song stand out in this upbeat musical.

This number also showcases the smooth, charming acting and singing of Shankle as Hill, who must overcome Mari-

an’s skepticism to win her affection. The show’s choreography is strikingly similar to the 1962 film adaptation. Fans of

PHOTO BY

COLUMBIA CAFE

Jeffrey Shankle as the fast-talking swindler Harold Hill and Janine Sunday as his love interest, Marian Paroo, star in The Music Man, on stage at Toby’s Dinner Theatre until May 18. The show debuted on Broadway in 1957 and had several revivals, most recently the 2022 production starring Hugh Jackman.

PHOTO BY JERI TIDWELL PHOTOGRAPHY

Columbia resident Ricardo Whitaker launched the online Howard Courier Our cover story continues on page 20.

the PTA structure.

So, in partnership with his sons’ school principal, Jason McCoy of Cradlerock Elementary School, Whitaker implemented a volunteer program called “Raising the Bar.” He and other volunteers knocked on doors to share information with parents. (This year, Whitaker is reviving that program as a parenting class led by volunteers.)

The act of delivering news door to door got Whitaker thinking, “This would be a great area to have a newspaper,” he said. With encouragement from his future spouse, Glynis Brown, Whitaker launched

a hyper-local newspaper called the Guilford Gazette, which focused on Guilford, Savage, North Laurel, Jessup and King’s Contrivance. The Gazette ran from 2011 to 2014, initially as a print newspaper before transitioning to an online publication.

Before the Gazette , which gradually grew to become the Howard Courier , Whitaker said residents had to jump from website to website to gather information about their community. He now wants to offer them a centralized space to access that crucial information.

“We’re looking to be the one-stop shop, and we’re doing that gradually,” he said.

The Howard Courier operates with a small staff of reporters dedicated to cover-

ing local news “one piece at a time,” Whitaker said, “building big from small.” He has been surprised by its growth.

“I was really trying to develop a small-town scenario, where you had your local paper in the town, and you covered everything. I never had any dreams to cover an entire city or an entire county or state,” Whitaker said.

Empowering readers

The Howard Courier ’s mission statement emphasizes its focus on “real journalism” at a time when concerns over AI-generated content, misinformation and “fake news” are on the rise.

Whitaker wants readers to learn how to evaluate the information they encounter, especially online.

“Number one: Find a trusted source,” he said. “Avoid responding to headlines that you see on social media, especially if you don’t know what the source is.”

For instance, it’s important to distinguish between news articles, whose purpose is to share news, and advertisements, which try to sell something.

Whitaker also recommends that readers consider whether an article was written with bias: Is there an alternate view of the topic, or is the writer only giving one side? Opinions, he warned, can be rooted in even the simplest words.

‘We’re about integrity’

At the Howard Courier, Whitaker and

his reporters strive to deliver complete, unbiased news and to prioritize investigative reporting, especially on local politics.

“We will zero-in on the politicians with a light on what they do and say prior to legislative votes or executive decisions. We want our readers, who are probably voters, to know their elected officials more intimately,” Whitaker said.

“We’re only interested in policy and what [local politicians] do within office,” Whitaker clarified. “We don’t want to get into salacious reporting. We’re about integrity.”

Like most newspapers, the Courier is supported by advertisement revenue, but it also receives donations. When readers visit the website on a daily basis, it trends higher on search enginges, boosting the bottom line.

Whitaker’s publication is thriving in a tough environment for journalism. Small newspapers’ digital and print circulation has dwindled significantly in recent years. From 2015 to 2022, according to Pew Research Centers, the estimated circulation value for weekday publications dropped from 37.7 million to 20.9 million.

“There are so many things that newspapers offer,” Whitaker said. “Folks love it when they have it, but I’m not sure that they appreciate it fully until they’re gone.”

To read the Howard Courier , visit howardcourier.com or download the mobile app. A one-year membership is $45, a monthly membership is $3.99, and a one-week trial costs $1.

From page 19

the motion picture version will delight in the footbridge scene — a fond movie memory, such is its closeness to the film.

At the footbridge, of course, we hear “Til There Was You,” one of the show’s most famous tunes. Shankle and Sunday’s duet here is excellent.

Sunday, who also designed the production’s period costumes, performs a poignant “My White Knight,” a song from the Broadway show. Although moviegoers may not be familiar with the number, it’s reminiscent of an operetta.

Touches of Americana

As part of Hill’s designs to avoid discovery of his scheme, he assembles a classic barbershop quartet. Carter Crosby, Vince Gover, Alec Brashear and David Bosley-Reynolds perform “Ice Cream/Sincere,” “It’s You” and,

most famously, “Lida Rose.” The quartet solidifies the “All-American Musical” promotion Toby’s is “trumpeting” for The Music Man

On this note, classic American references to W.C. Handy and John Philip Sousa blend agreeably with high-culture literary references to Chaucer, Rabelais and Balzac.

Mayor Shinn, a foil to Hill, is played to the hilt by Alan Hoffman. He unleashes outrage and bluster when Hill resists his demands for his credentials and rails against the mayor’s new pool hall in the familiar song lyrics: “Ya Got Trouble in River City with a capital ‘T’ and that rhymes with ‘P’ and that stands for pool.”

Depending on performance, Music Man tickets range from $84 to $92 for adults (those 65+ pay $74 for Tuesday evening or any Wednesday performance); children 4 and older are $64 to $67.

Tickets are available from the box office by calling (410) 730-8311 or online via Ticketmaster (with a service fee).

Celebrate the music of India, Indonesia, Japan, China, Taiwan, South Korea and more! at a concert by Columbia Pro Cantare Saturday, May 3 at 8 p.m.

GET DISH SATELLITE TV + INTERNET! Free Install, Free HD-DVR Upgrade, 80,000 On-Demand Movies, Plus Limited Time Up To $600 In Gift Cards. Call Today! 1844-560-5837.

WANTED OLD MOTORCYCLES Any condition “AS IS” picked up at your location. Paying Top Dollar for 1920-1980 Harley Kawasaki Z1 KZ900 H2 Honda CB750 BMW Indian BSA Norton others. Call for CASH offer 1800-220-9683. Website: www.wantedoldmotorcycles.com

BUYING COINS, ANTIQUES, MOVING? Downsizing, liquidating an estate? Cash paid for gold, silver, jewelry, wristwatches, old toys, old halloween and xmas decorations, books, records, musical instruments, american coins, old baseball cards and comics, old golf and sports memorabilia, etc. Please call Tom 240-476-3441 thank you.

PAYING TOP CASH FOR ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES. Housecalls made with prompt, courteous service seven days a week and 25 years of experience! Buying toys, trains, militaria, glassware, advertising merchandise, paper items and much more! Contact Mason or Megan at: 443306-8816.

BUYING VINYL RECORDS from 1950 to 1990 JAZZ, ROCK, BLUES, R&B, DISCO, SOUL, REGGAE, GOSPEL, ANY VINYL FORMAT 33 1/3 RPM Albums, small 45 RPM’s some 78 RPM, Also CD’s, Prefer LARGER COLLECTIONS AT LEAST 100 items, PLEASE CALL JOHN 301-596-6201.

The Jim Rouse Theatre at Wilde Lake For info and tickets, visit www.procantare.org Thank you for reading the Beacon!

“It’s simple. At Osher, I learn new things from excellent instructors and make new friends with similar interests. What could be better?”

DEBBY VIVARI

“In-person classes provide an invigorating opportunity to socialize with other members, not only in class but over lunch or coffee. The Zoom classes are convenient and allow us to learn from instructors who are outside the Washington metropolitan area—as far away as Pennsylvania and California.”

MILLIE ROGERS

“I belong to Osher at JHU because I like nurturing my mind and interacting with peers who share my interests. Through Osher, I’m exposed to different viewpoints from people locally, and from as far away as California... and even England!”

BILL LEWIS

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Johns Hopkins offers enrichment classes, field trips, and travel opportunities for adults. Memberships include one, two, four, or six classes per semester. Keep your mind active and have fun like these members do.

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

Scrabble answers on p. 20.

Crossword Puzzle

In Your Own Words By Stephen Sherr

Across

1. Covering for a tooth, or tube of toothpaste

4. “Sure; that’s what ___ all say”

8. Elephant tines

13. Start of a bone doc

14. Capital city east of Madrid

15. Song title words, before “Extremes” or “Pieces”

16. Basis of being a bit bananas

5. English words that follow HIP HIPs

6. Flightless bird

7. “___ out!” (ump’s call)

8. Busy

9. Type of tangelo

10. Briefly microwaved the butter

11. Middle of a BACKTRACK

12. Sauce on a Chinese restaurant table

19. One of twelve on a Manhattan map

20. It helped to deliver the canoe in Deliverance

21. Cut and paste frames of film

22. Settings for Road Runner cartoons

24. Toodle-oo in Toulouse

27. Wide shoe size

30. Foundation of the fidgets

33. Agreed to make monthly payments

34. Kill a bill

35. Detests

38. Half that usually has the bigger hits in a jukebox

40. It may go down Memory Lane

41. “I ___ disturbance in the Force” (Qui-Gon Jinn)

44. Powerful fuel, according to some ads

50. Start of the first A in NCAA

51. Fashion magazine issues

52. “Hurry! The bus is ready to go”

53. With Sunni, a branch of Islam

55. Mai ___

57. Widow of a Beatle

58. Compulsion cause

63. “___ this a 10/10 for annoyance”

64. Newspaper nickname

65. Hamilton has two

66. Item on a cop’s belt

67. Nation with common interests

68. Any third of Fat Albert’s catchphrase

Cowardly 2. Sign a police statement

Greek letter that is an anagram for HIP

Little Tenderness (Otis Redding hit)

13. The Patriots won the most Super Bowls during his term in office

17. More apt to peek in windows

18. “___ before liquor, never been sicker”

23. Tilted

25. Anonymous litigant

26. T-shaped contraceptive device

28. Ending for bachelor- or luncheon-

29. Employee Stock Options, briefly

31. Answers to irrelevant survey questions

32. Fly through the air

35. “___ boy!”

36. Englishman

37. International waters

38. It joined the Big 12 conf. in 2024

39. Director Leone, who pioneered the spaghetti Western

41. George Carlin hosted its first ep. in 1975

42. It helps you to see

43. It helps you to smell

45. (Mel) Brooks’ best friend

46. Second and third words of a bedtime prayer

47. Immediately!

48. Degrees in a right angle

49. Nautical miles per hour

54. Sexologist, Shere

56. Pen name of advice columnist Pauline Phillips

58. 12 1/2 cents

59. It has been Common for over 2000 years

60. The NFL’s “Organized Team Activities”

61. ‘Net address

62. “No dice”

CLASSIFIEDS

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

CAVEAT EMPTOR!

The Beacon does not know ingly accept ob scene, of fensive, harmful, or fraudulent advertising.How ever, we do not investigate any advertisers or their products and cannot ac cept responsibility for the integrity of either. Respondents to classified advertising should always use caution and their best judgment.

EMPLOYMENT & REAL ESTATE ADS:

We will not knowingly or intentionally accept advertising in violation of federal, state, and local laws prohib iting discrim ination based on race, color, national origin, sex, famil ial status or handicap in connection with employment or the sale or rental of real estate.

MOBILE HAIR & NAIL SERVICES - WE COME TO YOU. Professional Licensed Hair Stylist. Women and Men’s Services All Hair Types. Cuts, Styles, Roller Sets, Color, Perms, Men’s Cuts Facial Grooming, Manicures more. Call 410-415-1760

SUMMER STRING ORCHESTRA IN COLUMBIA, MD Looking for adult string players who would be interested in playing in a string chamber orchestra during the summer in Columbia. Perhaps eight weekly rehearsals followed by a concert. The orchestra to aim for an intermediate level of playing. No auditions necessary. We want to be open to all abilities. If you are interested email IntermediateChamberStrings@gmail.com.

THE MARKETS OF CRAFTS GALORE! Shop, Eat, Mingle. Homemade goods and food. 5/3, 6/7, 9/6, 10/4, 11/1, 12/6. Free admission to public 9:30am-2:30pm. Held by Vendor Members Group at Timonium United Methodist Church 2300 Pot Spring Road, Timonium, MD. www.VendorMembersGroup.com

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2 CEMETERY PLOTS AT KING DAVID MEMORIAL GARDENS in Falls Church Virginia. (Jewish Cemetery). Reduced sale price $3995.00/ each or best offer 510-326-2493.

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DISCOVER NORTH STAR NAVIGATORS:

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PORTABLE OXYGEN CONCENTRATOR

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HOW TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD

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

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

Cost will be based on the number of characters and spaces in your ad: • $25 for 1-250 • $35 for 251-500. • $50 for 501-750 (maximum length). The website will calculate this for you.

Note: Maryland contractors must provide a valid MHIC number.

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

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

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