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Finding the ‘art’ in martial arts
OCTOBER 2013
I N S I D E …
PHOTO COURTESY OF DOUGLAS LAKE
By Carol Sorgen What might have been a tragedy for Douglas Lake served, instead, not only as a wake-up call, but also as creative inspiration. Nine years ago, Overlea resident Douglas Lake, then just 50, woke up one morning and, as he put it, “fell over dead with a heart attack.” Despite having been a lifelong martial arts practitioner, Lake was out of shape and, at 275 pounds, 100 pounds overweight. Fortunately, doctors were able to save Lake’s life, and he made a commitment to regain his health through t’ai chi, meditation, running and better nutrition. Five years later, Lake, who owns Comprehensive Survival Arts Martial Arts and Wellness School in Owings Mills, decided to pay tribute to his near-death experience with a series of pen and ink drawings. A “mostly” self-taught artist, Lake, who has been inspired by such artists as Arthur Rackham, Peter Max, Joseph Clement Coll, Maxfield Parrish, Howard Pyle and N.C. Wyeth, embarked on an ambitious task — to create one hand-drawn, hand-inked inspirational drawing a day.
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Contemporary attractions in Spain’s Basque Country and Catalonia; plus, getting your car to a distant destination page 29
Drawing inspiration The first was entitled “Hope,” and 150 days later, Lake had 150 drawings, each with a different theme, such as “Angels,” “Compassion,” and “Joy.” While Lake’s favorite drawings have to do with emotions, his drawings fall into categories ranging from the four seasons to cultural arts and creativity, family, the military, nature, food and drink, sports, children, wellness, and the five “elements” — earth, fire, water, metal, and wood. Lake called the series “Art of Inspiration,” and today he sells prints and notecards of his drawings on his website, www.artfulinsights.com. He also sells at art shows such as the upcoming Sugarloaf Crafts Festival at the Maryland State Fairgrounds, Oct. 4-6. “I felt like I was in a trance,” Lake said about his “cathartic,” prodigious artistic output in such a short period of time. “But I had been through so much physically and mentally that I wanted to create something from the experience that perhaps other people could relate to as well.”
Douglas Lake demonstrates his drawing style to young artists. Lake took up art after surviving a heart attack, creating a series of ink drawings with inspirational themes, such as compassion and joy, while continuing to manage his martial arts studio.
Turning to art to make sense of an illness is not uncommon. In Psychology Today, art therapist Cathy Malchiodi wrote that “art expression often becomes a pathway for transforming feelings and perceptions into a new life story and, as a result, creating a new sense of self.” According to Malchiodi, “re-authoring” one’s life story may take on different aspects — such as developing a new outlook on life, making changes in how one lives one’s life, or creating a new “post-illness” identity, among others. “Making art is a form of ‘meaning making’ that can be ultimately helpful in an individual’s adjustment and acceptance of serious or lifethreatening conditions,” Malchiodi wrote.
Sharing lessons with others The discipline and intricacy that Lake had always found so appealing in martial arts is reflected in his art. And what he loves about being a martial arts instructor — the interaction with his students and teaching them not to be afraid of life — is what he tries to do through his art as well. “I’m trying to touch people the way the changes in my life have touched me,” he continued. “I hope the story I have to tell will inspire others, and that they can take inspiration from it and learn from it.” Though his daughter now runs the martial arts school and teaches the younger, See ARTIST, page 27
ARTS & STYLE
A masterful Les Miserables at Toby’s Dinner Theatre; plus, art galleries abound on local college campuses page 34
FITNESS & HEALTH 4 k Blood sugar linked to dementia k How to eat to avoid wrinkles LAW & MONEY 20 k Alternative investments to consider k What papers to shred or keep VOLUNTEERS & CAREERS k RSVP volunteers fill a void
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OCTOBER 2013 — BALTIMORE BEACON
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Common (lack of) sense An item from the “be careful what you sions, and taking ownership of the home. wish for” department: I was having a probNone of this is illegal, and in fact, the lem coming up with a topic city relies on individual infor this month’s column. I vestors and businesses to colwas praying for some inspiralect and pay such back taxes. tion. But the story identified a Then I glanced at the day’s number of cases where newspaper, and oh, was I homes worth hundreds of sorry! While it provided a thousands of dollars were nearly instant topic, it also taken from their owners over made my blood boil, not a property tax bill as low as once, but three times. $50! Many of the victims of Here, in a nutshell, are the this scurrilous behavior have first three items I read in that FROM THE been older adults who either day’s paper. thought they had paid their PUBLISHER Story #1: A series of arti- By Stuart P. Rosenthal tax, didn’t understand the cles described how the D.C. consequences of not paying Office of Tax and Revenue imposes liens the tax, or were suffering from dementia on the homes of residents who have not or other disabilities. paid their property taxes, then auctions Eventually, a couple of the investors those liens off to the highest bidders. The who bought and foreclosed in these egrebidders, in turn, may impose additional gious cases were charged with a crime — fees and interest to the point where they not for taking homes away from people, may legally foreclose on the property, but for colluding at the auctions. Apparentevicting the residents and their posses- ly, they “took turns” allowing each other to
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be the highest bidder on every other property, and that broke the rules. Story #2: This one comes from Pine Bluff, Ark., and concerns a 107-year-old man whose granddaughter and a friend had come to help him move to a new home. Apparently, the gentleman mistook the ladies for burglars, brandished a pistol, and told them, “You better stop breaking into my house.” They called police for assistance, and when the man shot at officers through the door, they threw tear gas and a “distraction device” into the house, then stormed inside, guns drawn. When he fired at them, they shot back and killed the 107-year-old. Story #3: This one took place in Maryland. A middle-aged daughter was the caregiver for her elderly parents. Her father had suffered three strokes and could no longer do many things for himself. The daughter claims he told her repeatedly that he wanted to die, and that he refused the food she brought him. When she finally called 911 to come take his body away, the found an emaciated corpse with more than a dozen open sores, five so deep “that bones were exposed.” Investigation revealed that in the months leading up to her father’s death, his doctors and nurses had reported him looking increasingly unkempt. When social workers came to the home to assist, the daughter turned them away. The judge, who found evidence in the record that the daughter was “an otherwise very fine person,” sentenced her to one year in prison for involuntary manslaughter. The situations are different, the motivations are different, the consequences are different, but to me, all three of these cases have some things in common. I’m going to call them the five (lack of) senses: Lack of common sense, lack of a sense of decency, lack of a sense of proportion, lack of a sense of fairness, lack of a sense of shame. Maybe we aren’t born with a moral compass, and no doubt many people grow up without either being taught morality or coming to their own sense of right and wrong through experience. And certainly there are criminals in every town and every society, as well as sociopaths who prey on innocents. But the situations above are not necessarily, or not wholly, examples of immoral or illegal behavior. It’s something else that leads otherwise decent people to make a living acquiring property at pennies on the dollar by “following the rules”; that sometimes leads
law enforcement officers to shoot before they understand the situation; that leads children to think they are “honoring their parents’ wishes” when they withhold care or neglect them. Of course, each of these stories made it into the paper precisely because most of us find them outrageous. It is implied in their very reporting that such behaviors are antithetical to our social norms. That’s the good news part of the bad news. But don’t most of us desire to, or actually, act in some of these ways some of the time? Do we allow ourselves to benefit at others’ expense as long as the others are not visible to us? Do we overreact or jump to conclusions before fully assessing a situation? Do we persuade ourselves we are acting as others have asked, or would want, without truly putting ourselves in their shoes? There’s something very close to “human nature” reflected in these attitudes. Nearly all of us look out for “number one” first and foremost. But there’s also something redeeming about human nature, in that we can see — in others, at least — how dark and dangerous a person’s thoughts and actions can be. Perhaps it’s time we turned the spotlight more on ourselves.
Come to our Expo If you’ve attended one of our 50+Expos in the past, you know about the useful information, government and nonprofit resources, excellent speakers, exercise demonstrations, health screenings and great entertainment you’ll find there, and we hope you’ll return this year. We also invite newcomers to visit the Beacon’s 14th annual 50+Expo on Sunday, October 13 from noon to 4 p.m. The event will be in a new location for us: the Silver Spring Civic Center in downtown Silver Spring, Md. In addition to the change in venue, we will also be adding an outdoor Arts & Crafts Fair. I hope you’ll join us for a free and enjoyable afternoon. In particular, I think you’ll enjoy hearing Dr. Luigi Ferrucci, scientific director of the National Institute on Aging, speaking about the latest research in longevity and healthy aging. Come, and bring your friends! I look forward to seeing you there.
• Contributing Editor ..........................Carol Sorgen • Graphic Designer ..............................Kyle Gregory • Advertising Representatives ............Steve Levin, ........................................................................Jill Joseph
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Health Fitness &
HEPATITIS — WHO ME? Baby boomers are at greater risk for hepatitis C; only testing will tell FOODS THAT AGE YOUR SKIN Sugar, saturated fats and fried foods increase your wrinkles SPECS FOR BUYING SPECS Websites abound for buying cheap glasses online; what to look for WHILE YOU WERE UNDER Learn what happens to your body while you’re under anesthesia
Live to 120? Most Americans say ‘no thanks’ By Lauran Neergaard Ninety birthdays maybe, but not 120. Americans hope to stretch out life expectancy another decade or so, but they are ambivalent, even skeptical, about a fountain of youth. A recent poll by the Pew Research Center explores attitudes about a scientific quest: Creating treatments that one day might slow the aging process and let people live decades longer than is normal today. Scientists already can extend the life span of certain laboratory animals — mice, worms, flies — with various techniques. They’ve also tried with monkeys, although the evidence in that species is mixed. There’s no way to know if there ever will be some type of Methuselah pill for humans. But with the field growing, Pew took the public’s pulse and found most Americans wouldn’t want a treatment that would let them live to 120. Fifty-six percent said no thanks — although two-thirds expect most other people would want to try such a step, according to the report. Few expect such a radical idea to become reality, at least by 2050, although most of those surveyed expect other medical advances that could more gradually extend life expectancy, such as better cancer care.
When asked about living to 120 or beyond, the survey found 51 percent of people said that would be bad for society. They worried about a strain on natural resources, and that such treatments probably would be available only to the rich rather than to everyone.
Not just longer, but better What is the ideal life span? To most Americans, it’s between 79 and 100; the median answer was 90 years, Pew reported. In the U.S., a child born today can expect to live 78.7 years. Women’s life expectancy is longer, 81 years, than men’s, 76.2. With a rapidly graying population that is bringing concern about the growth of Alzheimer’s disease and an overburdened Medicare system, caution about the idea of one day living even longer may not be surprising. But longevity pioneer Cynthia Kenyon of the University of California, San Francisco, wonders if the public understands the real goal of such research, which is better health. Many of the experimental animals whose lives have been extended look and act far younger — and are far healthier — than their untreated counterparts of the
same age, she said. “It would be the equivalent of a 90-yearold person that you think is looking like a 45-year-old,” Kenyon told the Associated Press. Because aging itself underlies the development of many chronic diseases as our bodies break down, the theory is that slowing the aging process might help keep people healthier for longer — even if it’s never as dramatic as what has happened with animals. “We are very interested in not only life extension, but extension of the health span,” said Dr. Marie A. Bernard, deputy director of the National Institute on Aging, which pays for much of this research.
Genetic research underway Research into life extension began with the discovery that severely restricting calories in lab animals — they regularly consume 25 to 30 percent less than normal — makes them live longer. Remarkably, they also were healthier than their litter mates. That led to the discovery of various genetic alterations that control life span. Kenyon’s research, for example, found that altering a single gene doubled the life
span of roundworms, which stayed healthy until near the end. Other researchers have discovered similar agingrelated gene mutations in different species. What about people? Some research has found healthy centenarians are more likely to harbor similarly protective genes. The next step is to find medications that might somehow switch on those protective pathways, rather than drastic dieting or gene manipulation. A number of candidates have worked in animals. In July, NIA researchers reported that a low dose of the diabetes drug metformin improved the health and longevity of middle-aged mice. No anti-aging pill is ready to try in people yet. Aging specialists say, for now, common-sense is the best medicine: Eat a healthy diet, maintain a healthy weight and exercise. The Pew Research Center’s Religion & Public Life Project survey was conducted from March 21 to April 8, 2013. The nationally representative survey involved interviews, conducted on cell phones and landlines, with 2,012 adults. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points. — AP
It’s true: our bodies fight weight loss By Sharon Palmer, R.D. If you’ve ever tried to lose weight, you probably know how frustrating it is to cut back on your calorie intake only to see no weight loss reflected on the bathroom scales. But there may be a good scientific explanation for this phenomenon. It does seem clear that as people lose weight, their resting energy expenditure — the amount of calories the body needs when it’s at rest — drops due to a lower body mass. It may seem like a cruel trick, but this response is actually an ingenious strategy that humans evolved over centuries in order to withstand times of famine, according to Christopher Gardner, Ph.D., associate professor at the Stanford Prevention Research Center. Gardner, who researches weight loss, said, “It isn’t so much that metabolic needs
decline as you lose weight, but your metabolic efficiency increases. Either way, it means the more weight you lose, the less energy you burn doing simple things like making your lungs breathe, heart beat, and kidneys work.”
New ideas about weight loss A new understanding of weight loss has developed, as scientists learn more about the body’s energy needs during weight loss. In fact, it turns out that the old adage — reducing your calories by 3,500 will result in one pound of weight loss — is inaccurate. According to a consensus panel convened by the American Society of Nutrition and the International Life Sciences Institute, the “3,500 calorie equals 1 pound” rule is wrong, because it assumes that body weight changes are uniform over long periods of time. However, the panel
pointed out that as people lose weight, resting energy expenditure drops due to less body mass. So, that 3,500 calorie reduction will no longer result in a pound of weight loss. In fact, the National Institutes of Health created a mathematical modeling approach for weight loss over time that takes into account the body’s adaption to energy expenditure during weight loss, which was published in the Lancet in 2011. The NIH researchers reported that people with higher body fat lose larger amounts of weight than those with lower body fat, and that the body’s weight response to a change in energy intake is slow.
Everyone is different Another facet of the weight loss dilemma is that people have very individualized energy needs. Everyone knows someone
who can literally eat whatever they want and never gain a pound, as well as someone who is careful with every bite of food and still struggles with maintaining a healthy weight. Dr. David Katz, founding director of Yale University’s Prevention Research Center, reports that the energy needs for individuals is highly variable and not a matter of choice. Any two people doing the same physical activity will burn different numbers of calories due to a complex interplay of genes, body composition and physiology. And any two people eating the same foods in the same quantities may experience entirely different effects on weight, dependent on genes, resting energy expenditure, body composition, body mass and other factors, he said. See WEIGHT LOSS, page 5
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All of this information on weight loss may seem discouraging for the thousands of people trying to lose weight, but there’s also some good news. Gardner believes that, if you lose weight and keep it off for months or years by eating the same amount of calories, your body may eventually “agree” with this new weight and go back to being less “efficient.” Although this theory makes sense, it has yet to be proven, said Gardener. Is there one particular diet that can help counter the body’s metabolic response to weight loss? While one study linked a lower carbohydrate diet with benefits, researchers stress that there’s not enough evidence supporting one diet over another. “I doubt there will ever be one best diet. My hunch is there are multiple best diets, and certain people are more predisposed to be successful on one vs. another,” Gardener said. We do know that thousands of people
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From page 4
have successfully maintained a significant amount of weight loss. This has been proven in The National Weight Control Registry (www.nwcr.ws), the largest investigation of long-term weight loss maintenance in the U.S. Led by researchers from Brown Medical School and the University of Colorado, the NWCR tracks more than 10,000 individuals who have lost a significant amount of weight (at least 30 pounds) and kept it off for at least a year. Findings from the NWCR point out that long-term weight loss is achievable. It just takes time, diligence and hard work. Indeed, research shows that 20 percent of overweight people are successful, according to a 2005 study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. And the longer the weight loss is maintained, the fewer maintenance strategies are necessary, according to research published in the journal Obesity. While we have much more to learn about the complicated science of weight loss, the NWCR may hold some of our most promising answers and results. Reprinted with permission from Environmental Nutrition, a monthly publication of Belvoir Media Group, LLC. 1-800-8295384. www.EnvironmentalNutrition.com. © 2013 Belvoir Media Group. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc.
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OCTOBER 2013 — BALTIMORE BEACON
FDA targets illegal diabetes remedies By Matthew Perrone The Food and Drug Administration is cracking down on more than a dozen companies that market illegal treatments for diabetes — ranging from bogus dietary supplements to prescription drugs sold online without a prescription. All of the products aim to cash in on the country’s diabetes epidemic, which affects nearly 26 million Americans. Regulators worry that consumers who buy such unapproved products could put off getting legit-
imate medical care, which could exacerbate heart disease, kidney failure and other deadly complications. The FDA sent warning letters to 15 companies, both in the U.S. and abroad, ordering them to stop selling diabetes treatments that violate U.S. drug laws.
False claims and ingredients Three of the products targeted are marketed as “natural” supplements, but actually contain unlisted pharmaceutical ingredients.
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For example, Diexi, which is sold as a traditional Indian “herbal formula,” actually contains metformin, the most common prescription drug used to treat diabetes. The product is sold by Amrutam Life Care, of Surat, India. “Consumers should exercise caution before using products claiming to be herbal or all-natural alternatives to FDA-approved prescription drugs,” the agency said in a statement. “These products should be considered unsafe and should not be used.” Other products include genuine dietary supplements that make unproven claims to treat or prevent diabetes. For example, Diabetes Daily Care is a capsule-based supplement containing cinnamon extract and other herbs. Its manufacturer, Nature’s Health Supply Inc., claims it “safely and effectively improves sugar metabolism.” Under U.S. law, only FDA-approved medicines are permitted to make claims for treating or preventing disease.
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Other companies targeted by the FDA run online pharmacies that sell prescription drugs for diabetes without a prescription. The FDA issued a warning letter to www.bestcheapmedsonline.com for marketing unapproved versions of diabetes drugs like Januvia, from Merck & Co. Inc. The FDA warns patients against buying
UÊ i` V>Ì Ê> `Ê>«« Ì i ÌÊÀi `iÀÃ UÊ ,i}Õ >ÀÊÛ Ã ÌÃÊvÀ Ê>ÊÀi} ÃÌiÀi`Ê ÕÀÃi Call 855-807-1085 | bayada.com
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prescription medications on the Internet. Only 3 percent of online pharmacies actually comply with all U.S. pharmacy laws, according to a review by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. People with diabetes are unable to properly break down carbohydrates, either because their bodies do not produce enough insulin or because they’ve become resistant to the hormone, which controls blood sugar levels. These patients face higher risks of heart attacks, kidney problems, blindness and other serious complications. Many diabetics require multiple drugs to control their blood sugar levels. The U.S. market for prescription diabetes drugs is the largest in the world, with sales of $22 billion last year. Sales have ballooned more than 60 percent in the last four years from $13.6 billion in 2008, according to health data firm, IMS Health. The FDA said it has not received any reports of injury or illness connected with the products, but is taking action as a precautionary measure. The FDA sent the warning letters to the companies in July. The letters gives each company 15 business days to reply and explain how they will come into compliance with U.S. law. FDA warning letters are not legally binding, but the agency can take companies to court if they are ignored. — AP
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Boomers should be tested for hepatitis C By Dr. Stacey Rizza Dear Mayo Clinic: I recently heard that the CDC now recommends baby boomers be tested for hepatitis C. Is that true? If so, why is testing necessary? Wouldn’t I have symptoms if I had the disease? Answer: It is true that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends anyone born between 1945 and 1965 get tested for hepatitis C infection. Americans born during that time are five times more likely than other people to be infected. Most people with hepatitis C don’t have symptoms, so testing for this serious infection is very important. Hepatitis C is an infection caused by a virus that attacks the liver. In about 60 to 80 percent of adults infected by hepatitis C, the virus lingers in the body. But in most cases, it’s impossible to know it’s there without testing for it. Eventually, as people age, the hepatitis C virus can cause damage to the liver. Many of those with hepatitis C don’t know they have the infection until liver damage shows up, often decades after the initial infection.
How infection occurs The hepatitis C virus is spread from contact with contaminated blood. The reason for the higher hepatitis C infection rate
in baby boomers is not entirely clear. It may be linked to the fact that before 1992, blood-screening tests for hepatitis were not as reliable as they are now. So it was possible to get the virus through a blood transfusion or organ transplant without knowing it. Some people may have become infected with hepatitis C by sharing contaminated needles when injecting drugs. This can happen even if a person comes in contact with an infected needle only once. In some mild cases of hepatitis C, treatment may not be necessary because the risk of future liver damage is very low. If so, follow-up blood tests and monitoring for liver problems may be all that’s needed.
several decades, hepatitis C infection can lead to scarring of the liver tissues, a condition known as cirrhosis. Cirrhosis makes it hard for the liver to work properly. In time, that can lead to liver failure and possibly the need for a liver transplant. In addition, some people with hepatitis C develop liver cancer. Blood tests that can detect the hepatitis C virus are available. If the virus is found, it may be necessary to take a small sample of liver tissue — a procedure called a liver
biopsy. A biopsy can help doctors determine the severity of liver damage and guide treatment decisions. If you were born between 1945 and 1965, talk to your healthcare provider about being tested for hepatitis C. — Stacey Rizza, M.D. specializes in infectious diseases at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. © 2013 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All Rights Reserved Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc.
Treatment options In many cases, though, hepatitis C infection is treated with antiviral medications that can clear the virus from the body. Usually, a combination of antiviral medicine is taken over several weeks to several months. Once the treatment is completed, blood tests are done to check for hepatitis C. If the virus is still present, a second round of treatment may be recommended. Frequently, no further treatment is necessary beyond that. If hepatitis C goes undetected and the infection is not treated over many years, it can cause serious liver problems. After
Treating Difficulty Standing or Walking, attributed to Arthritis, Spinal Stenosis, Neuropathy, Poor Circulation or Poor Balance I am a patient who had severe foot pain for 2 years, with no relief in sight....by the end of the 4 days I was 85% pain free in both feet. I thank God for Dr. Goldman and his passion for research in healing people with foot and leg pain.
How fortunate I feel to have found a doctor who could not only diagnose an underlying problem that many specialists missed, but who has been able to find a painless and rapid method of relieving the worst symptoms.
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As a podiatrist with over 30 years experience, I have always focused on non-surgical treatment of foot and leg pain. I find that most people with foot or leg symptoms (arthritic, aching, burning, cramping or difficulty walking) , even those who have had other treatments, including surgery of the foot (or back), can be helped, usually in 1or 2 visits.
Stuart Goldman, DPM
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Avoid these foods that can age your skin By Gretel H. Schueller Wrinkles are a natural part of aging, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do anything to prevent them. While plenty of us spend lots of money on creams and cleansers, the best place to find anti-aging products is in your grocery store or garden. What we eat is as important — if not more so — as what we slather on our skin. Nourishing our skin from the inside out can help beat the clock. And just as some foods can help slow the effects of time, other foods can speed up our skin’s aging process, contributing to wrinkles and sagging. Your skin is important; it’s actually your body’s biggest organ. What keeps skin looking healthy? Oil and collagen. Our skin is coated in a layer of natural oils that protect it and lock in moisture. As we age, the oil production slows down, and skin cells lose the ability to repair themselves as easily. Our skin’s reserve of collagen — a type of protein that keeps skin firm, elastic and youthfully plump — also begins to run low, making skin thinner. And thin skin wrinkles more easily than thicker skin. Environmental factors, such as smog, cigarette smoking and sun exposure, can make your skin look older, drier and dull. What you eat matters, too. Avoid the fol-
lowing skin-aging foods to help minimize wrinkles and keep your skin healthy. 1. Sugars and sweets The average American eats a whopping 22 teaspoons of sugar a day. According to dermatologist Dr. Jessica Wu, author of Feed Your Face, “a diet high in sugar” activates enzymes that “devour healthy collagen,” leaving behind damaged fragments of collagen. When skin’s healthy collagen-making cells run into these fragments, they get confused, shut down and stop making collagen. As a result, the collagen-depleting effect, a process called glycation, is exponential. If collagen is a rubber band that keeps your skin looking firm, then glycation is tying it into knots and rendering it useless. The end products of glycation (“advanced glycation end products,” typically and appropriately shortened to AGEs), damage skin and other tissues. Among healthy people, the effects of glycation on skin start to show at about age 35 and increase after that, according to a 2001 study in the British Journal of Dermatology. 2. Saturated fats It’s not new news that a diet high in saturated fat is bad for your heart, but saturated fat may also be a major contributor to aging skin. A 2007 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition study that looked at more than
4,000 middle-aged women concluded that dietary differences did appear to influence the degree of wrinkling. A 17-gram increase in daily fat intake increased the likelihood of a wrinkled appearance. And a study in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that people who ate more butter experienced more wrinkling. The reason for the sad fat-wrinkle connection is those pesky AGEs (again!). It turns out that fats can also react with collagen to produce AGEs. 3. Fried, grilled and broiled foods When certain foods are cooked in certain ways, guess what forms? Fat plus protein plus high, dry heat ages us! Broiling,
grilling and high-heat frying can all create AGEs. Those sear marks on a deliciously grilled steak, the finger-licking crispy bits on fried chicken, the crunch of browned bacon and basically any charred bits are all evidence of AGEs. Researchers are noticing higher levels of AGEs in people, in part because of the spread of processed foods. Yes, AGEs are also present in many processed foods, such as crackers, chips and cookies, that have been exposed to high temperatures to lengthen their shelf life. That high heat reacts with the sugars and fats to form AGEs. See FOODS THAT AGE, page 10
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OCTOBER 2013 — BALTIMORE BEACON
What to consider if buying glasses online By Tom Murphy The Internet is enticing a rapidly growing number of shoppers to make a very personal purchase, prescription eyeglasses, online. Deep discounts and greater variety are prompting many to try something new. Customers can’t pluck a pair of glasses from their smartphone screen to learn
how they feel, but shoppers can try on frames virtually or have them delivered for a free test. They also can quickly scroll through hundreds of choices and send pictures to friends for a second opinion. Technology, however, hasn’t erased all the advantages of buying glasses in a store. Here are some issues to consider
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before clicking on a pair of glasses and adding them to your virtual shopping cart. 1. What are some options for buying eyeglasses online? A mix of websites sells eyewear in men’s and women’s styles, with some featuring well-known brands such as Oakley and Gucci. They include established vendors, like Framesdirect.com and 39dollarglasses.com, and more recent entrants like Warby Parker. These sites let customers scroll through hundreds of options and styles in different colors. Some, like Framesdirect.com, allow visitors to upload pictures so they can see how a pair of glasses would look on their face. Retailer 1-800-Contacts will offer a three-dimensional version of this concept next month, when it launches a free app that enables users to virtually try on glasses after taking a picture of their face with a smartphone or tablet. The app will produce an image that is scaled so the glasses appear more like they would if the customer picked them off a store shelf. It will enable visitors to turn the image and slide the glasses up and down the nose. 1-800-Contacts runs the website Glasses.com. 2. What are the advantages of shopping online? Virtual vendors can offer page after
page of variety. Framesdirect.com, which dates back to 1996, says on its website that it carries more than 100,000 products and 500 brands. Bargains also can be found online. The website 39dollarglasses.com features glasses that sell for — wait for it — $39. That price includes single-vision lenses and the frame. Warby Parker advertises prescription glasses starting at $95. The company developed its own styles for men’s and women’s glasses, plus a monocle it sells for $50, in part because its founders thought prescription eyewear shouldn’t cost $300 or more. Of course, bargains are not limited to online vendors. Some Walmart stores offer prescription, single-vision lenses that start at $29. Convenience can be another benefit. Warby Parker will send up to five pairs of glasses to a customer to try on at home for five days and then return with a pre-paid shipping label. 1-800-Contacts will send five frames and give customers seven days to try them. “I think a lot of people feel that they need to touch and hold the frame before buying,” said Neil Blumenthal, a Warby Parker co-founder.
Foods that age
the liquid offsets the heat. So the more you cook with water, the more you stop AGEs. EatingWell is a magazine and website devoted to healthy eating as a way of life. Online at www.eatingwell.com. © 2013 EatingWell, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc.
From page 9 There’s no need to switch to a raw diet, however. Cooking methods that involve lots of water — such as steaming, stewing, poaching, braising and blanching — reduce the AGE-creation process because
See GLASSES, page 12
Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health
BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2013
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1 For our Standard Option Plan. You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium and any other applicable Medicare premium(s), if not otherwise paid by Medicaid or another third party. 2 Rated by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Health Plan Management System, Plan Ratings 2013. Kaiser Permanente contract #H2150. Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-Star rating system. Star Ratings are calculated each year and may change from one year to the next. 3 Free with no obligation. Kaiser Permanente is a Cost plan with a Medicare contract. You must reside in the Kaiser Permanente Medicare health plan service area in which you enroll. Benefits, formulary, pharmacy network, provider network, premium and/or copayments/coinsurance may change on January 1 of each year. The benefit information provided is a brief summary, not a complete description of benefits. For more information contact the plan. Limitations, copayments, and restrictions may apply. A sales person will be present with information and applications. For accommodations of persons with special needs at sales meetings, call toll free 1-877-497-9728 (TTY 711). Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc., 2101 East Jefferson Street, Rockville, MD 20852. Y0043_N009582_MAS accepted 130647_PO08SEP_P_ad
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OCTOBER 2013 — BALTIMORE BEACON
Glasses
BEACON BITS
Oct. 6
RUSCOMBE ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE
From page 10
An open house at the Ruscombe Mansion Community Health Center, 4803 Yellowwood Ave., will be held in Sunday, Oct. 6, from 1 to 4 p.m. Meet the holistic health practitioners at this free event. For more information, call (410) 367-7300 or visit www.ruscombe.org.
Oct. 4+
DEATH, GRIEF AND END-OF-LIFE PLANNING
Senior Care Specialist Janet Kurland will lead this two-session workshop on Friday, Oct. 4 and 11, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The course will address the many issues surrounding death, as well as different religious and cultural funeral practices, the process of grieving, and the process of healing. The course is sponsored through Johns Hopkins University’s Odyssey Program. Fee is $195. For more information, call (410) 516-4842 or visit www.odyssey.jhu.edu.
3. What are the limitations? Store visits connect customers with eyewear experts who can walk them through a purchase. For instance, if a customer wants rimless glasses, a store employee might point out that the lenses may be thicker than they anticipate and could be uncomfortable to wear, said Sam Pierce, a trustee with the American Optometric Association. The employee also could tell a customer whether his or her prescription would fit properly in the style they want or whether the frame may be too big or too small for their face. The initial cost for glasses advertised on a website may be a bargain, but extra fees for a strong prescription or tinted lenses can add to the bill. Traditional eyewear stores also can bump up the amount a customer spends by pushing features like anti-smudge protection. Some online companies also may charge shipping fees. Know the extra costs that come with a pair of glasses before buying. Online shoppers also may want to do a little research on their vendor before buying glasses, since the customer can’t simply drive to the store to talk to someone if a problem arises. Find out how the vendor handles adjust-
ments to a prescription or returns. Some sites offer money-back guarantees on returns if the glasses are sent back within a certain time frame. 4. Will eyewear stores become obsolete? Online sales eyewear sales jumped 31 percent from 2010 to last year, when they totaled $1.1 billion, according to the Vision Council, a trade group representing industry manufacturers and suppliers. That’s a big growth spurt, but online sales won’t take over the industry soon. Last year, they represented just 4 percent of the roughly $27.5 billion eyewear product market. In contrast, online sales for apparel and accessories totaled $36.3 billion, or 12 percent of that total market of $303.8 billion, according to Forrester Research Inc. 1-800-Contacts CEO Jonathan Coon said he thinks online eyewear sales can eventually reach and surpass the same percentage of its total market. But Warby Parker’s Blumenthal still sees a need for physical store locations that customers can visit. His company operates showrooms in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, among other cities. “We think there is always going to be some sort of balance there because humans are social creatures, and shopping is a form of entertainment. It’s not just about convenience,” Blumenthal said. — AP
BEACON BITS
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Baltimore County Department of Aging and Maxim Healthcare Services will hold flu shot clinics at senior centers across Baltimore County and at Senior Expo through Oct. 31. Flu and pneumonia shots are no cost to Medicare B beneficiaries, Bravo and Aetna participants. Cost to all others: $30 for flu shots, $70 for pneumonia. You must bring your original Medicare card or health insurance card and picture identification to receive a shot. For more information, call (410) 887-2594 or visit www.baltimorecountymd.gov/agencies/aging/healtheducation.
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What happens to you under anesthesia? unconscious during a procedure. The drugs that help you go under are either breathed in as a gas or delivered directly into your bloodstream. Most of these drugs act quickly and disappear rapidly from your system, so they need to be given throughout the surgery. A specially trained anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist gives you the proper doses and continuously monitors your vital signs — such as heart rate, body temperature, blood pressure and breathing. “When patients are going under, they experience a series of deficits,” said Dr. Howard Nash, a scientist at the National Institute of Mental Health, part of the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md. “The first is an inability to remember things. A patient may be able to repeat words you say, but can’t recall them after waking up.” Next, patients lose the ability to respond. “They won’t squeeze your fingers or give their name when asked,” Nash said. “Finally, they go into deep sedation.”
tients may gain some awareness when they should be unconscious. They may hear the doctors talking and remember it afterward. Worse yet, they may feel pain but be unable
to move or tell the doctors. “It’s a real problem, although it’s quite See ANESTHESIA, page 15
E M ! CO U E YO W TO
When you face surgery, you may have many concerns. One common worry is about going under anesthesia. Will you lose consciousness? How will you feel afterward? Is it safe? Every day, about 60,000 people nationwide have surgery under general anesthesia. It’s a combination of drugs that’s made surgery more bearable for patients and doctors alike. General anesthesia dampens pain, knocks you unconscious, and keeps you from moving during an operation. “Prior to general anesthesia, the best ideas for killing pain during surgery were biting on a stick or taking a swig of whiskey,” said Dr. Emery Brown, an anesthesiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Things improved more than 150 years ago, when a dentist in Massachusetts publicly demonstrated that the anesthetic drug ether could block pain during surgery. Within just a few months, anesthesia was being used in Australia, Europe and then around the world. “General anesthesia changed medicine practically overnight,” said Brown. Lifesaving procedures like open-heart surgery, brain surgery or organ transplantation would be impossible without general anesthesia. General anesthesia affects your entire body. Other types of anesthesia affect specific regions. Local anesthesia — such as a shot of novocaine from the dentist — numbs only a small part of your body for a short period of time. Regional anesthesia numbs a larger area — such as everything below the waist — for a few hours. Most people are awake during operations with local or regional anesthesia. But general anesthesia is used for major surgery, and when it’s important that you be
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Very different from sleep Although doctors often say that you’ll be asleep during surgery, research has shown that going under anesthesia is nothing like sleep. “Even in the deepest stages of sleep, with prodding and poking we can wake you up,” said Brown. “But that’s not the case with general anesthesia. General anesthesia looks more like a coma — a reversible coma.” You lose awareness and the ability to feel pain, form memories and move. Once you’ve become unconscious, the anesthesiologist uses monitors and medications to keep you that way. In rare cases, though, something can go wrong. About once in every 1,000 to 2,000 surgeries, pa-
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Health Studies Page
OCTOBER 2013 — BALTIMORE BEACON
THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS
Volunteers with kidney disease are sought By Carol Sorgen Our kidneys remove waste products from our blood, regulate water fluid levels, and produce important hormones and enzymes. Twenty-six million American adults have chronic kidney disease (CKD), and millions of others are at increased risk, ac-
cording to the National Kidney Foundation. CKD includes conditions that damage our kidneys and decrease their ability to function. It may be caused by diabetes, high blood pressure and other disorders. If kidney disease worsens, resulting in increased levels of wastes in your body,
Participate in MRI Studies of Memory The Neuroscience of Memory in Aging and Dementia Lab is seeking healthy adults for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) research studies of memory and cognition. •Must be between the ages of 60-89 •2 sessions each lasting 1-2 hours •Compensation for time and travel expenses •Located at the Kennedy Krieger Institute at the Johns Hopkins Medical Campus •Located on the JHU Homewood Campus.
For more information, contact Liz Murray at (410) 516-3813 or email jhumemorylab@gmail.com Principal Investigator: Dr. Michael Yassa Protocol: NA_00046839
you may develop complications such as high blood pressure, anemia, weak bones, poor nutritional health and nerve damage. Kidney disease also increases your risk of heart and blood vessel disease. Early detection and treatment can often keep chronic kidney disease from getting worse. When kidney disease progresses, however, it may eventually lead to kidney failure, which requires dialysis or a kidney transplant to maintain life. Though CKD is common, it is often overlooked by medical professionals when patients who have it are receiving medical treatment for other conditions. Patients with CKD have special needs when it comes to medical treatment, and when these needs are not taken into account during medical care, unintended harm can result, which can lead to frequent hospitalization, accelerated loss of kidney function, increased risk of endstage renal disease, and even death.
Identifying kidney patients The University of Maryland is conducting an observational study to determine whether increased recognition of the disease can decrease the number of adverse events in patients with CKD. The research study has two purposes: The first is to determine how participants feel about wearing a medical alert bracelet or necklace that identifies them as having decreased kidney function so that healthcare workers can more easily identify them. Medical alert jewelry is often recommended for people who have other medical problems, such as diabetes.
For CKD patients in the study, the medical alert accessory has an address to an informational website about the safe care of patients with kidney problems. Study investigators think that informing healthcare workers that a person has decreased kidney function may improve the patient’s care and reduce risk of injury. The second purpose of the study is to track how often people with kidney problems may be exposed to medicines, tests or procedures that might increase their chance of having an accidental medical injury or safety event.
Volunteers sought The study is seeking participants age 21 and older with CKD who are not undergoing dialysis. They will be assessed annually to observe the frequency of adverse events over time. The first 100 participants (Phase I) will be provided with a standard medical alert necklace or bracelet that states, “decreased kidney function. For my care, please visit www.safekidneycare.org.” Participants are also asked to log onto the website using a unique four-digit ID to track their use of the site. The website does not collect or store patient health information. It tracks only the IP address of the device used to access the site (which generally tracks the city, state, ZIP and area codes where the computer is located). The volunteers in Phase I will be tracked over time as to how they use and tolerate their medical alert bracelet or See KIDNEY DISEASE, page 15
Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health
BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2013
Anesthesia From page 13 rare,” said Dr. Alex Evers, an anesthesiologist at Washington University in St. Louis. “Anesthesia awareness can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder,” a severe anxiety disorder that can arise after a terrifying ordeal. Scientists have developed strategies to identify and prevent anesthesia awareness. Small studies suggested that brain monitors might help. But in 2008, Evers and his colleagues reported the results of the largest study to compare different techniques. Brain monitoring did no better than standard monitoring in preventing anesthesia awareness. Addiction to alcohol or drugs increases the risk for anesthesia awareness, but doctors can’t accurately predict who will be affected. A research team in Canada identified variations in a gene that may allow animals to form memories while under anesthesia. Ongoing studies are exploring whether this gene plays a role in anesthesia awareness in people.
Recovering from anesthesia After surgery, when anesthesia wears off, you may feel some pain and discomfort. How quickly you recover will depend on the medications you received and other factors, like your age. About 40 percent of elderly patients and up to one-third of children have lingering
Kidney disease From page 14 necklace, and for their incidence of CKDrelated patient-safety incidents. In Phase II, 250 participants will be tracked on an identical study schedule for detection of CKD-related events, but without the use of the medical alert accessory.
confusion and thinking problems for several days after surgery and anesthesia. Right now, the best cure for these side effects is time. Brown and his colleagues are working to develop drugs to help patients more quickly emerge and recover from general anesthesia. Anesthesia is generally considered quite safe for most patients. “Anesthetics have gotten much safer over the years in terms of the things we’re most worried about, like the patient dying or having dangerously low blood pressure,” Evers said. By some estimates, the death rate from general anesthesia is about 1 in 250,000 patients. Side effects have become less common, and are usually not as serious as they once were. Don’t delay important surgery because of fear of anesthesia. If you have concerns, talk with your doctor. It might help to meet in advance with the person who will give you anesthesia. Ask what kind of anesthesia you will have. Ask about possible risks and side effects. Knowing more might help you feel less concerned about going under. From WhatDoctorsKnow, a magazine devoted to up-to-the minute information on health issues from physicians, major hospitals and clinics, universities and healthcare agencies across the U.S. Online at www.whatdoctorsknow.com. © 2013 Whatdoctorsknow.com. Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc.
•
!"#$%&'("&%$)$"%
Johns Hopkins University investigators seek healthy adults ages 40 and up to participate in research studies designed to investigate ways to improve cognitive abilities. You will be compensated for your time. For more information call:
Julia Hernandez (410) 955-7789 Protocol Number: NA_00015657 PI: Barry Gordon, M.D., Ph.D.
Clinic visits may include a combination of blood and urine samples and nose, throat and skin swabs. Clinics are located at the Baltimore VA Medical Center and the University of Maryland Medical Center. The study concludes in 2015. For more information, or to volunteer, call (410) 605-7000, ext. 5280 or email jfink@medicine.umaryland.edu.
Approved August 22, 2013
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STUDIES ON ANEMIA Are you 65 years or older?
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Have you been recently diagnosed with anemia? OR Have you had anemia in the past? en you may be interested in: “THE JOHns HOPkins registry of older adults with anemia” • Several new research studies are being designed by researchers at Johns Hopkins University specifically for older adults with anemia. • By volunteering to join our anemia registry, you will be kept up to date on anemia research studies that match your situation.
FREE GUIDE
Call us at 410-550-2113 to join the Anemia Registry today!
We look forward to hearing from you! Principal Investigator: Dr. Jeremy Walston, MD. IRB application No: NA_00035307
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We can conduct the study in your home. No travel is required. If you choose to come to Bayview to participate, your parking will be paid.
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OCTOBER 2013 — BALTIMORE BEACON
High blood sugar increases dementia risk Have You Fallen? Seeking Men and Women to participate in a research study at the University of Maryland & Veterans Affairs of Baltimore to better understand balance and the prevention of falls in aging individuals.
you will receive: • Health evaluation • Balance, step, strength, and/or flexibility exercises • Compensation for your time If interested call: 410-605-7179 & Mention code: LIFT Baltimore VA/University of Maryland Gerontology Recruitment Line *You must be at least 65 years old and in good health *Participants will be seen at the Baltimore VA Medical Center and University of Maryland School of Medicine *You will attend approximately 41 visits for 1 to 4 hours of time per visit
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By Marilynn Marchione Higher blood-sugar levels, even those well short of diabetes, seem to raise the risk of developing dementia, a major new study finds. Researchers say it suggests a novel way to try to prevent Alzheimer’s disease — by keeping glucose at a healthy level. Alzheimer’s is by far the most common form of dementia, and it’s long been known that diabetes makes it more likely. The new study tracked blood sugar over time in all sorts of people — with and without diabetes — to see how it affects risk for the mind-robbing disease. “It’s a nice, clean pattern” — risk rises as blood sugar does, said Dallas Anderson, a scientist at the National Institute on Aging, the federal agency that paid for the study. “This is part of a larger picture,” he said, and adds evidence that exercising and con-
trolling blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol are viable ways to delay or prevent dementia. Because so many attempts to develop effective drugs have failed, “It looks like, at the moment, sort of our best bet,” Anderson said. “We have to do something. If we just do nothing and wait around till there’s some kind of cocktail of pills, we could be waiting a long time.” About 35 million people worldwide have dementia; in the United States, about 5 million have Alzheimer’s disease. What causes it isn’t known. Current treatments just temporarily ease symptoms. People who have diabetes don’t make enough insulin, or their bodies don’t use insulin well, to turn food into energy. That See BLOOD SUGAR, page 17
BEACON BITS
Oct. 20
Walk, run or volunteer at the 21st Annual Komen Maryland Race for the Cure on Sunday, Oct. 20, in Hunt Valley. If each race participant asks 10 people to donate at least $10, each participant will raise $100 to fight breast cancer in Maryland. For more information, visit www.komenmd.org/2013.
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The Baltimore Humane Society offers a free pet bereavement support group the first Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m., at 1601 Nicodemus Rd. in Reisterstown. For more information, call (410) 833-8848 or visit www.baltimorehumane.org.
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Twelve Step Recovery Workshop hosts a free weekly meeting for those suffering from any addictive or compulsive behavior. The group meets on Thursdays at 7 p.m. at Ascension Lutheran Church, 7601 York Rd. in Towson. For more information, call (410) 880-2439 or visit www.12stepsrecovery.org.
BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2013
Blood sugar From page 16 causes sugar in the blood to rise, which can damage the kidneys and other organs — possibly the brain, researchers say.
Further study needed The new study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, just tracked people. It did not test whether lowering someone’s blood sugar would help treat or prevent dementia. That would have to be tested in a new study. In the meantime, people should not seek blood-sugar tests they wouldn’t normally get otherwise, said the study’s leader, Dr. Paul Crane of the University of Washington in Seattle. “We don’t know from a study like this whether bringing down the glucose level
will prevent or somehow modify dementia,” but it’s always a good idea to avoid developing diabetes, he said. Eating well, exercising and controlling weight all help to keep blood sugar in line. The study involved 2,067 people 65 and older in the Group Health Cooperative, a Seattle-area healthcare system. At the start, 232 participants had diabetes; the rest did not. They each had at least five blood-sugar tests within a few years of starting the study, and more after it was underway. Researchers averaged these levels over time to even out spikes and dips from testing at various times of day or before or after a meal. Participants were given standard tests for thinking skills every two years and asked about smoking, exercise and other things that affect dementia risk.
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FREE COLON CANCER SCREENINGS
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Free screenings for colon cancer are available to Baltimore County residents who are age 50 and over, or younger if high risk, and have no health insurance to cover the screening, and have limited income. To learn more, call 1-866-MD-COLON.
Part D open enrollment for Medicare takes place between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7. Be sure to have an annual review of your Part D coverage to determine the best 2014 Medicare prescription plan for you. Call SHIP at (410) 887-2059 to make an appointment.
Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health
Dementia risk raised by 18% After nearly seven years of follow-up, 524, or one quarter of them, had developed dementia — mostly Alzheimer’s disease. Among participants who started out without diabetes, those with higher glucose levels over the previous five years had an 18 percent greater risk of developing dementia than those with lower glucose levels. Among participants with diabetes at the outset, those with higher blood sugar were 40 percent more likely to develop dementia than diabetics at the lower end of the glucose spectrum.
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The effect of blood sugar on dementia risk was seen even when researchers took into account whether participants had the apoE4 gene, which raises the risk for Alzheimer’s. At least for diabetics, the results suggest that good blood-sugar control is important for cognition, Crane said. For those without diabetes, “it may be that with the brain, every additional bit of blood sugar that you have is associated with higher risk,” he said. “It changes how we think about thresholds, how we think about what is normal, what is abnormal.” — AP
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Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com
OCTOBER 2013 — BALTIMORE BEACON
Even short exercise ‘breaks’ boost health Q: Is it true that simply taking short breaks to walk around throughout the day actually has an impact on health? A: Yes, evidence continues to grow stronger suggesting that it does. Accumulating a total of at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity a day in bouts of 10 or 15 minutes each has been shown for some time to improve fitness and measures of heart health, such as blood lipids and blood pressure, as well as body composition. Now studies suggest that even doing mini-bouts of a few minutes that add up to at least 30 minutes over the day might also reduce health risks. A review article published this year concluded that short bouts of frequent activity throughout the day
may decrease blood triglyceride levels following meals, enough to lower risk of heart disease. And in one study, 70 adults who walked for less than two minutes every 30 minutes throughout one day more effectively reduced the rise in blood sugar and insulin following meals compared to when those same adults walked for 30 minutes and then sat all day. More research is needed, especially among people with the insulin resistance of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. However, scientists say we know enough to encourage people whose day includes a lot of sitting to include some standing or brief walking every hour or so all day.
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It’s good to know that when we’re too sized portion, the Florida variety has 36 busy or out-of-condition to walk for even 10 calories versus 50 for the California one. minutes at a time, small breaks Otherwise, nutritional do seem to make a difference. value of the two types is simYet, since accumulating ilar. Avocados contain the B more than 30 minutes of modvitamin folate (especially erate activity daily brings clear California avocados), vitahealth benefits, such as reducmin K and fiber. ing cancer risk, don’t think of Both avocados also conshort activity breaks as a subtain lutein (the carotene stitute for other activity; think “cousin” of beta-carotene of them as an easy way to get that may promote eye even more health benefits. health), but the amounts Q: Is there a difference in NUTRITION don’t come close to what’s in WISE nutritional value between truly high-lutein vegetables By Karen Collins, California avocados and like kale, spinach and other MS, RD, CDM Florida avocados? cooked greens. A: Florida avocados are the Many people prefer the larger, smooth-skinned choices. California rich flavor of California avocados, and for avocados sold in supermarkets are the guacamole and other dips, it’s hard to beat Hass variety, and are smaller and have a their creamy texture. For slices in a salad, pebbly skin that turns from green to a pur- however, some prefer the way the Florida plish-black when ripe. type holds its shape. The biggest nutritional difference beEither is a great way to add flavor, fiber tween California and Florida avocados is and a healthy fat to your meal while adding their fat content. More than half the fat in essentially zero sodium. For weight conavocados is the healthy monounsaturated trol, simply enjoy their good taste in modfat (the type in olive oil), and saturated fat erate portions. is minimal. The American Institute for Cancer ReFor each golf ball-sized portion (two ta- search offers a Nutrition Hotline, 1-800blespoons, or two to three thin slices), a 843-8114, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday California avocado such as Hass contains through Friday. This free service allows you 4.6 grams of fat, while the same portion of to ask questions about diet, nutrition and a Florida avocado averages 3 grams of fat. cancer. A registered dietitian will return You may sometimes see Florida avoca- your call, usually within three business days. dos marketed as “lite” avocados — an efCourtesy of the American Institute for fort to highlight their lower fat content. Cancer Research. Questions for this column This difference in fat content means Flori- may be sent to “Nutrition Wise,” 1759 R St., da avocados are a little lower in calories NW, Washington, DC 20009. Collins cannot than the California types. For that golf ball- respond to questions personally.
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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health
BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2013
Women who value their independence Dear Solutions: money. Now, after being widowed for I’m a senior, and I admire inde- many years, I’ve been married for pendent women, as it was over a year. I work and harder to be that when I have my own bank acwas young. However, there count. is one young woman who My husband wants me to works where I volunteer put my money together who is really sharp, but too with his. I don’t feel comoften aggressively nasty. fortable doing this, even When I finally objected though we have a good to her tone of voice, she marriage. My husband said, “Oh, if a man said says I’m fearful of a joint that, you’d admire him for account because my parSOLUTIONS being assertive. You just ents were divorced, and By Helen Oxenberg, think I shouldn’t act like a my mother had a hard MSW, ACSW man, but this is what I pretime. How can I convince fer because it gets things him that’s not it? done.” — Irene What can I say to her to explain Dear Irene: there’s a difference? Gently give him a history lesson: — Nora “Women and Money 101.” Explain that for Dear Nora: decades women had no control over Tell her if she insists upon thinking money, and had to ask permission from she’s acting like a man, instead of just their husbands or fathers before they being an inconsiderate person, she should could spend any. So your mother wasn’t try at least acting like a gentleman. She can the only one with a problem. look up the definition, which includes The inability of women to control their “kind, chivalrous, well bred, not rough or own money translated into the inability to severe.” control their own lives. Explain to your Dear Solutions: husband that having your own money alSince I was a little girl, I was told lows you to be a volunteer in this marthat a woman should have her own riage, not a hostage.
Suggest a joint account for household bills only, and work out how much each of you will contribute to that. Tell him that women should have their own money. Men, too. Dear Solutions: I’ve become good friends with a man in my volunteer group. We’re strictly platonic friends and enjoy having lunch together. He’s married and I’m single, so the group gossips are talking about us. Should I continue to have lunch with him? — Donna Dear Donna: Make it an open lunch every other time.
That means invite other people from the group to join you. If you hear of rumors, nip them in the bud. Say to someone you believe is saying these things, “I’ve heard of rumors about Steve and me. I know it could be exciting to talk about, so it’s too bad it’s not true. We’re friends — period.” Leave it at that. It’s too bad, but I guess there really is no free lunch. © Helen Oxenberg, 2013. Questions to be considered for this column may be sent to The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915. You may also email the author at helox72@comcast.net. To inquire about reprint rights, call (609) 655-3684.
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OCTOBER 2013 — BALTIMORE BEACON
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Money Law &
MAXIMIZING SOCIAL SECURITY Careful planning is necessary to make the most of benefits; factors such as age and marital status are important deciding factors LEAVE A PAPER TRAIL Learn which documents, from bills to insurance policies to medical records, you should keep, and which you can safely shred.
Alternative investments for regular Joes The stock, bond and commodities mar- /rice/2013/06/18/liquidity-detox-preparekets saw steep price declines after Chairman for-the-shakes, and you should read it. Ben Bernanke indicated that He discusses the danger of the Federal Reserve would investors holding longer-term likely slow down its purchase of bonds in the current environgovernment bonds a few ment because it is likely that inweeks back. Unfortunately, the terest rates will increase. [See volatility is unlikely to stop. also “Protecting bonds when inInvestors have a right to be terest rates rise,” September concerned. Traditional safe inBeacon, page 20.] vestments — such as Treasury He discusses duration risk, bills, money-market instrualso termed interest rate risk, ments, and short-term certifiwhich I have talked about in THE SAVINGS cates of deposit — still earn less GAME prior columns. His main point than 1 percent, while inflation is By Elliot Raphaelson is that small increases in rates approximately 1.4 percent. generate disproportionately What alternatives are availlarge reduction in value for able for investors who want reasonable in- bonds. come but without a great deal of risk? Rice gives the example of an investor Bob Rice, Bloomberg’s alternative invest- holding 10-year Treasury bonds. He points ment editor and founder of Tangent Capital, out that in recent trading, these bonds wrote an excellent article in June titled “Liq- dropped 1/10 percent in value for each uidity Detox: Prepare for the Shakes.” It is 1/100 percent increase in interest rates. available online at www.forbes.com/sites He believes that investors should lower
their exposure to traditional bonds. He points out that if rates increase 4 or 5 percent for intermediate Treasury instruments, investors stand to lose one-third of their value.
Replacements for bonds In the article, Rice cites some alternative investments that have generated superior returns for the best money managers. He goes into a lot more detail in his excellent book, The Alternative Answer: The Nontraditional Investments that Drive the World’s Best-Performing Portfolios (HarperBusiness, 2013). Rice believes that the following alternative investments will provide higher income with lower risk than traditional investments: master limited partnerships (MLPs), royalties, catastrophe bonds, emerging market debt, multiclass ETFs, specialty finance and corporate loans (including business development companies). He explains these alternatives are now available to every investor. He believes that it is time for average investors to abandon the
traditional 60/40 mix of stocks and bonds and use alternative investments. He believes this approach will dramatically increase returns and reduce overall investment risk. He also discusses what he categorizes as “not-so alternative sources,” namely REITs, high-yield bonds, and high-dividend and preferred stocks. Rice argues that these are often overpriced, and that his alternatives provide better risk/return characteristics and better inflation protection. MLPs are an underappreciated asset class, according to Rice. Congress created these vehicles in the 1980s to spur energy infrastructure, creating attractive investor incentives. They trade publicly, do not pay entitylevel taxes, and pay out almost all their net income to investors. They can be actively managed in order to increase earnings. MLPs, in general, provide better returns than conventional bond alternatives. See INVESTMENTS, page 21
Retirement plan fees can eat up earnings A Yale professor is, providing a perfect November 2012, but despite all of the media follow-up to the PBS “Frontline” episode hype, those disclosures did not make much “The Retirement Gamble” of an impact. that aired earlier this year. According to the EBRI 2013 The program detailed AmeriRetirement Confidence Survey, ca’s retirement crisis and how about half (53 percent) of dethe financial services indusfined contribution plan particitry feasts on high fees inside pants reported having noticed of many employer-sponsored these new disclosures, and only plans. 14 percent of those who noticed Professor Ian Ayres has re(7 percent of all plan particicently completed an exhauspants) said they made changes tive analysis of company-spon- RETIRE SMART to their investments as a result. sored 401(k) plans and found By Jill Schlesinger How big a bite? that many charge excessive To review, there are a bunch of fees that fees. But Ayres has taken the research to a new level by sending about 6,000 letters to participants pay, including administrative, the companies, writing that he would dis- trustee and investment fees. The average seminate the results of his study next spring plan costs about 1.5 percent, with larger and would specifically identify and expose company plans coming in at closer to 1 percent, and small to medium sized ones those companies with high-cost plans. The concept of reeling in retirement plan sometimes costing in excess of 2 percent. You may think that a half of a percent fees gained a bit more momentum last year, when the Department of Labor put new does not seem like a big difference, but rules into effect, which required 401(k) that fraction could cost you literally hunsponsors to disclose fees and performance dreds of thousands of dollars over time. data to plan participants. The first round of As a baseline, if you were to start with the more detailed information was sent in $100,000 and invest it over 50 years at a 7
percent return (compounded monthly) with no fees, you would end up with approximately $3.2 million. If you apply the average plan fee of 1.5 percent, the future amount is more than halved to just over $1.5 million. But if you are in an expensive plan and the fee is 2 percent, your future value drops to $1.2 million at the end. That’s $300,000 that could be falling to your bottom line!
Finding lower fees What should you do if your retirement plan is more expensive than the average? One benefit to the disclosure rules is that plan participants can be empowered to effect change. The first step is to review the disclosure that was sent. If your plan costs more than the average of 1.5 percent, gather as many co-workers as possible and lobby your boss for a cheaper plan. It may surprise the boss to learn that he or she can find cheaper alternatives. But it is notoriously difficult for smaller companies to get the best plans. The reason is that the financial services industry likes scale. It takes a lot of money to pro-
vide all of the services necessary to operate a retirement plan, so financial companies like to land the big fish. If you hit a brick wall on a new plan, then at the very least try to have cheaper investment options added to the current plan. Index funds, which carry much lower fees, can make a big difference. I recently helped a radio caller navigate her 401(k) plan investment options. By shifting from costlier actively managed funds to index funds, her cost of investing dropped from over 1 percent to just 0.25 percent. It can feel burdensome to stay on top of all of these issues, but the long-term benefit could seriously outweigh the short-term work involved. Jill Schlesinger, CFP, is the Emmy-nominated, Senior Business Analyst for CBS News. A former options trader and CIO of an investment advisory firm, Jill covers the economy, markets, investing and anything else with a dollar sign on TV, radio (including her nationally syndicated radio show), the web and her blog, “Jill on Money.” She welcomes comments and questions at askjill@jillonmoney.com. © 2013 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money
BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2013
Investments From page 20
Diversified multi-asset ETFs Rice indicated that multiclass ETFs are an interesting new entry as a “one-stop shop” for diversified and uncorrelated income. They combine investments in categories such as REITs, MLPs, royalties, and domestic and foreign high-dividend stocks. This is a convenient way to obtain income from diverse sources with the prospect of higher income in inflationary periods. Rice does not recommend specific investments. However, he does cite reliable sources for these alternatives. He recommends Morningstar as a source for all traded securities offering
nontraditional products. For example, Morningstar provides a four-star rating for Guggenheim Multi-Asset Income ETF (CVY), which was established in 2006. Rice recommends Miller/Howard Investments for their expertise in MLPs. In their portfolio, they hold Enterprise Product Partners (EPD) and Markwest (MWE). Recently, we have seen that traditional portfolio diversification did not protect most investors. Investors who are interested in higher income as well as protecting their capital should consider the alternatives Rice presents. Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at elliotraph@gmail.com. © 2013 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc.
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BEACON BITS
Sept. 24
OUTSMART INVESTMENT FRAUD
Join a representative from the Better Business Bureau to learn about the growing problem of investment fraud and get a helpful toolbox to evaluate your risk level at a presentation titled “Tricks of the Trade: Outsmarting Investment Fraud.” The event takes place Tuesday, Sept. 24 from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Pikesville Senior Center, 1301 Reisterstown Rd. Call (410) 8871245 for more information.
BEACON BITS
Ongoing
GET DANCIN’ WITH DANCE BALTIMORE Dance Baltimore celebrates Entertainer of the Year Emeritus
Michael Jackson (“MJ”) with a special series of dance classes. Learn the steps to one of the most popular videos of all time, “Thriller,” throughout September and October, with a final performance set for Halloween night, Oct. 31.“Thriller” will be taught at the Eubie Blake Center, 847 North Howard St. Street parking is available. Space is limited; advance registration is not required but suggested. No previous dance experience is necessary, and ages 8 and older are welcome. Classes are offered on a pay-what-you-can basis. For more information, visit the Dance Baltimore website at www.dancebaltimore.org or register online at ctg@dancebaltimore.org. Call the Dance Baltimore Hot Line to register by phone, (443) 470-9084.
Sept. 25
HONOR FLIGHT FILM View a 90-minute film tribute to the veterans of World War II called Honor Flight: One Last Mission about the organization re-
sponsible for flying WWII veterans to the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C. The program at the Bykota Senior Center on Wednesday, Sept. 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. includes a free lunch. The center is located at 611 Central Ave., Towson. To RSVP, call (410) 887-3094.
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OCTOBER 2013 — BALTIMORE BEACON
Make the most of Social Security benefits By Elliot Raphaelson When most individuals prepare for retirement, they count on three streams of income: employer-administered retirement plans, typically a defined-benefit plan and defined-contribution plan such as a 401(k); independent savings and investment; and Social Security. All too often, retirees end up depending on Social Security income to a greater extent than they had planned. That makes it all the more important that they make the right
decisions about maximizing their benefits. Once a person has made basic choices about benefits, they will not be able to change them, so it is imperative to understand all options and their implications. You have a fair amount of leeway as to when you claim your Social Security income. You can start receiving benefits as early as 62, as late as 70, or at full retirement age (FRA), which falls in between. Taking your benefits earlier reduces their amount.
A guide that can help When should you begin? That depends on a lot of personal factors that you will need to sort out. An excellent resource to help you do that is Social Security Inside Out, a booklet written by Robert Bruce. Bruce worked for the Social Security Administration (SSA) for 31 years, and he retired as a district manager. He knows how to avoid common mistakes people make regarding applying for Social Security benefits. His 38-page booklet (available at SocialSecurityInsideOut.com, $19.95) contains a great deal of useful information, including a list of retirement pitfalls, along with worksheets to help in your decision-making. The worksheet asks for information relating to your marriage, including dates, your children, and military and civilian career information. You will use the worksheet to discuss retirement options with a SSA claims representative. Once you have filled out the worksheet, Bruce recommends that you write down what questions you want to ask SSA about benefits. Then call 1-800-772-1213 to reach a representative. The worksheet allows you to write down
the information you receive from the claims representative. The worksheet is broken down into three categories for each spouse: retirement benefits, spousal benefits, and widow/widower benefits. You should obtain information from the representative for each category for benefits at age 62, at FRA and age 70. In addition, you should get additional information such as the starting date of your benefits for each option. After recording all the information, you will be in a position to analyze it, and determine which options make sense for you and your spouse. You can then apply for benefits over the phone or in person with a claims representative. You can apply for benefits when you are within three months of being eligible to receive them. However, to make the best decision, you should contact SSA well before that to review your options.
Disability and widow benefits There are a lot of special cases for initiating benefits, and the booklet highlights See SOCIAL SECURITY, page 24
BEACON BITS
Sept. 28
FINANCIAL PLANNING AND BENEFITS WORKSHOP
Attend a free workshop on “Financial Planning, Government Benefits and Access to Healthcare” on Saturday, Sept. 28 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Union Baptist Church, hosted by Maryland Senator Delores Kelley. Topics include healthcare reform, veterans and Social Security benefits, selecting a retirement community, benefits of a will, selecting contractors and college savings plans. Speakers will be from the Maryland Dept. of Aging, Consumer Rights Coalition, Center for Veterans Education and other organizations. Refreshments will be served. The church is located at 1219 Druid Hill Ave., Baltimore. No RSVP required. For more information, call (410) 523-6880.
BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2013
Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money
Target Pharmacy has you covered. Members of AARP® MedicareRx plans, insured through UnitedHealthcare,® could save on Medicare prescription copays at Target Pharmacy. For more information, visit www.UHCPreferredPharmacyNetwork.com/Target.
Additional Medicare plans are also accepted. See pharmacy for details. Plan is insured or covered by UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or one of its affiliates, a Medicare-approved Part D sponsor. UnitedHealthcare pays a royalty fee to AARP. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. ©2013 Target Stores. Target and the Bullseye Design are registered trademarks of Target Brands, Inc. All rights reserved. 483404 Y0066_PDPSPRJ14842 _000 IR
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OCTOBER 2013 — BALTIMORE BEACON
What documents to keep, what to shred? By Jill Schlesinger You’ll be receiving bank, investment or retirement quarterly statements in the mail in early October, which makes it a perfect time to plan to fire up the shredder and organize that stack of documents piling up on the table. Here are some thoughts on financial paperwork that you can toss: Bank statements: Generally speaking, you only need to keep bank statements for one year, BUT, if you think that you may be
applying for Medicaid, many states require that you show five year’s worth of bank statements. Also, you should hold on to records that are related to your taxes, business expenses, home improvements, mortgage payments and major purchases for as long as you need them. Credit card bills: Unless you need to reference something on your credit card statement for tax or business purposes, or for proof of purchase for a specific item, you can shred credit card statements after
45 days. As with the bank statements, hang on to those statements that you may need for your taxes, as proof of purchase or for insurance. Tax returns/supporting documents: Despite being able to amend your tax returns going back three years, the IRS has seven years to audit your returns if the agency suspects you made a mistake, and up to six years if you likely underreported your gross income by 25 percent or more. As a result, you need to hold on to your returns and all supporting documents for seven years. Retirement account statements (including 401(k), 403(b), 457, IRA, Roth IRA, SIMPLE, PSP and Keogh): Keep notices of any portfolio changes you make intra-month (or intra-quarter for some plans) until the subsequent state-
ment arrives to confirm those changes. After making sure the statement is correct, you can shred away. One note: keep evidence of IRA contributions until you withdraw the money. Brokerage and mutual fund account monthly statements/periodic trade confirmations (taxable accounts): Retain confirmations until the transaction is detailed in your monthly report. For tax purposes, flag a month where a transaction occurs because you may need to access this information in the future. Otherwise, shred monthly statements as new ones arrive, but keep annual statements until the sale of each asset within the account occurs and for seven years thereafter, in case you get audited.
Social Security
benefits after your FRA, your retirement benefits increase 8 percent a year up to age 70. Either spouse can elect spousal benefits and postpone filing for retirement benefits based on their work record until age 70 in order to obtain higher monthly benefits then. A widow can apply for widow’s benefits at age 60, and then apply for her own retirement benefits later. There is no penalty for claiming widow’s benefits. If you marry before you are 60, you can still get widow’s benefits even if that marriage ends. Even if you are not close to any of the eligibility dates, it pays to plan in advance. If you wait to collect the relevant data, you may make a decision in haste that can cost you thousands of dollars. Do your homework in advance. For most retirees, Social Security income will be a major factor affecting your lifestyle. © 2013 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc.
From page 22 them. For example, disabled widows or widowers can begin claiming benefits at 50, or at 60 if they are a widow or widower surviving a divorced spouse. If you apply for retirement benefits at age 62, your benefits typically will be less than what you would receive at FRA. However, if you qualify for disability benefits, you will not be penalized even if you receive benefits before your FRA. Accordingly, you should file for retirement and disability if you have health problems. A spouse cannot claim spousal benefits if the husband (or wife) has not applied for retirement benefits. However, to get around this restriction, one could apply for and suspend benefits upon reaching FRA. Then the spouse can apply for spousal benefits. If you can afford to postpone retirement
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To learn more, visit mdrelay.org or call 1-800-552-7724 (Voice/TTY).
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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money
BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2013
Documents From page 24 Pay stubs: Keep for one year, and be sure to match them to your W-2 form before you shred. Medical records: Given how hard it is to deal with health insurance companies, you should keep medical records for at least a year, although some suggest keeping records for five years from the time when treatment for the symptoms ended. Retain information about prescription information, specific medical histories, health insurance information and contact information for your physician. Utility and phone bills: Shred them after you’ve paid them, unless they contain tax-deductible expenses.
Paperwork to keep Appliance manuals and warranties: Keep these documents handy in case something goes wrong and you need to cash in on the warranty or contact a repairman. Vehicle titles and loan documents: Do you want to wait in line for an hour at your local department of motor vehicles office in order to request a duplicate of your vehicle title? Me neither, so keep this paperwork in a safe and accessible place. House and mortgage documents: Hang on to your deed as well as home purchase, mortgage, sale and improvement records until six years after you sell. Re-
BEACON BITS
Oct. 9+
BABY BOOMER SENIOR EXPO
Learn about resources, products and services available for baby boomers and seniors at the Baltimore County Department of Aging’s Baby Boomer Senior Expo on Wednesday, Oct. 9, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursday, Oct. 10, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium. Flu shots and health screenings will also be available. Admission is $2 or two cans of non-perishable food. For more information, visit www.seniorexpoonline.com.
Oct. 13
ALL ABOARD!
The Chesapeake and Allegheny Live Steam Preservation Society gives rides on scaled-down steam trains for both adults and kids at Leakin Park. Train rides are available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free, though donations are welcome. Parking is available near the Eagle Dr. entrance to the park, off of Windsor Mill Rd.
Ongoing
ENTER THE AGE OF ELEGANCE PAGEANT
If you’re 55 or older and can commit to four practice sessions, you can apply to be a contestant in the Age of Elegance Senior Pageant. If interested, contact Nicole Braxton or Leslie Yancey at Zeta Senior Center, (410) 396-3535.
member that improvements you make and expenses such as your real estate agent’s commission can increase the basis in your house and potentially lower your capital gains tax. Insurance policies: Keep your homeowners, auto, disability and life insurance policies and declaration pages for as long as the policies remain in force. You can shred old policies. Paperwork to keep forever (in a fireproof safe, in the cloud or in a safe deposit box): • Birth/death certificates and Social Security cards • Marriage licenses and divorce decrees • Pension plan documents • Copies of wills, trusts, healthcare proxies/living wills and powers of attorney (attorneys/executors should also have copies) • Military discharge papers • Copies of burial deeds and plots • Safe-deposit box inventory © 2013 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
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BEACON BITS
Sept. 27
LEGAL AIDE HELP Discuss one-on-one any legal issues you have with Legal Aide As-
sistance. Appointments start at 9 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 27 at the Catonsville Senior Center, 501 N. Rolling Rd. Make an appointment in advance at the front desk. For more information, call (410) 887-0900.
26
More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com
OCTOBER 2013 — BALTIMORE BEACON
Careers Volunteers &
Does your organization use senior volunteers or do you employ a number of seniors? If you do and you’d like to be considered for a story in our Volunteers & Careers section, please send an email to info@thebeaconnewspapers.com.
RSVP volunteers fill a void in community food from the federal government, which is supplemented by food purchased by the organization using donations from area churches, businesses and individuals. While the pantry is open two half-days a week, Lebhar’s work involves much more time — purchasing groceries, setting up, managing volunteers and raising funds. But that’s OK with her. Lebhar is filling an important role in the community and is glad she’s able to offer her services. “I really enjoy meeting the people who come through here,” she added. “You hear all kinds of stories” from those who may have lost their job, perhaps their home, and are so grateful to have a place willing to help them out.
While volunteers and food donations are always welcome, “at the moment, we really need financial support from the public,” she said, because the organization may have to move.
Wide variety of volunteer jobs Eastern Interfaith is one of the many community agencies served by volunteers of RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) — one of the largest volunteer networks in the nation for people 55 and over.
According to Tonee Lawson, RSVP Project Director for the Baltimore County Department of Aging, RSVP volunteers choose how, where and how often they want to serve. Commitments range from a few hours to 40 hours per week. Volunteer opportunities vary from helping preserve the environment, to reducing homelessness, helping seniors remain in their own homes, and advocating for a See RSVP, page 27
PHOTO COURTESY OF RSVP
By Carol Sorgen TJ Lebhar got more than she bargained for when she began volunteering at Eastern Interfaith Outreach in Essex more than two years ago. “I didn’t really know what I was getting into,” the 65-year-old Middle River resident chuckled. Eastern Interfaith provides emergency food assistance to people who reside in the Essex, Middle River, Chase and Rosedale sections of Baltimore County. Emergency food supplies are provided up to four times per year per family. Lebhar said she is in charge of “getting groceries in and getting them out” to the people who need them. Eastern Interfaith’s food pantry receives non-perishable
Richard Amey, a volunteer with the food pantry at Eastern Interfaith Outreach, helps pack groceries for families in need. He found the position through RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program), a volunteer network for those 55 and over.
Say you saw it in the Beacon | Volunteers & Careers
BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2013
Artist From page 1 more active set, Lake is teaching more gentle martial arts, such as t’ai chi, to older adults at locations such as the YMCA and the Parkville Senior Center. “I learn so much from them,” said Lake, “but I also want to teach them about maintaining their quality of life at any age.” As part of Lake’s commitment to staying active and healthy, he has taken up running on a regular basis. He’s written numerous poetic “insights” about what running means to him, such as this poem: Streaming flow of energy, Gathers strength in synergy,
RSVP
Muscles, sinew, tendons act, Collective power on a fast track, Body heat releases tension, Solar powered by the Sun Perspiration cleanses pores Channeled “Chi” makes me soar Body, Mind with Spirit lively, Feeling spry, stagnation free! Though he’s now recuperating from a hip replacement, Lake hopes to be, well, up and running again soon. In the meantime, he’s taking long, daily walks to speed the process along.
Personalized art In addition to his inspirational drawings and note cards, Lake also creates individganizations, including the American Red Cross, Maryland Food Bank and Baltimore County Public Schools, among others.
From page 26 healthy future, to name just a few. The program is open to all U.S. citizens, nationals and lawful permanent-resident aliens who are 55 years of age and over. Volunteers receive pre-service orientation, training from the organization where they will serve, and supplemental insurance while on duty. RSVP volunteers do not receive monetary incentives, but sponsoring organizations may reimburse them for some costs incurred during service. The Baltimore County RSVP program has about 1,100 volunteers and 30 partnering or-
Running a museum Fred Hall, 84, an RSVP volunteer and resident of Carney, serves as the coordinator for volunteers at the Glenn L. Martin Maryland Aviation Museum. Hall keeps track of volunteer hours, arranges for volunteer staffing at museum events, makes phone calls and more. There are about 61 active volunteers at the museum, said Hall, all of whom come from RSVP. “We’re always glad to get more volunteers,” Hall said. “We can use all the help
ual “namesakes” — drawings that include a person’s name and visually say something unique about that individual. “At every show or exhibition, I get so many requests for these,” said Lake, who has created more than 300 “namesake” drawings. “They’re ver y personal, and they ignite something in the recipient,” he said, recalling one young girl whose eyes lit up at the book-related drawing Lake created for her at her mother’s request. Lake’s pen and ink drawings are part of a long line of artistic endeavors that have included watercolors (he’s a lifetime member of the Baltimore Watercolor Society), a line of furniture called “Burniture,” in
which he burned images into wood, and his new interest — woodcarving. “It’s very detailed and disciplined, and requires almost a surgical touch,” Lake said. But he’s finding it so interesting that he may put down his pens for a while. While Lake does sell his work — the signed, double-matted, framed prints are $50 each, and a set of eight note cards costs $10 — he said it’s not the money that matters to him. “It’s the interaction with the people I meet, and the opportunity to communicate with them about how to get through life’s struggles that matters the most to me,” he said.
we can get. We wouldn’t be able to run the museum without volunteers.” Whatever your interests are, RSVP is sure to have a volunteer opportunity for you, said Lawson, the county project director. Volunteers enjoy being active and using their life-learned skills in service to others, while the organizations served by RSVP volunteers are grateful for the help they receive in achieving their goals. “Volunteers can really help push the mission of an organization for ward,”
Lawson said. For more information about RSVP, or to volunteer, call (410) 887-3101, visit www.baltimorecountymd.gov, or stop by the RSVP booth at the Senior Expo Volunteer Fair, Oct. 9-10, at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium. To make a donation to Eastern Interfaith Outreach, send a check to them at P.O. Box 7878, Essex, MD 21221, or drop off your contribution at 155 Orville Rd. in Essex.
Tell them you saw it in the Beacon!
Alzheimer’s care is more than meets the eye.
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Volunteers & Careers | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com
You’re on top of your medications. But we make a good back up. You know it’s important to stay on your medications exactly as prescribed. However, if you miss a dose, want a lower-cost alternative, or experience any side effects, we can answer any questions. Speak to your local CVS Pharmacist to learn more. Find a store near you at www.cvs.com
OCTOBER 2013 — BALTIMORE BEACON
014331RXX11
BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2013
Say you saw it in the Beacon
Travel
29
Leisure &
There are many ways to get your car to a distant destination besides driving it. See story on page 31.
Age-old Spain's contemporary landmarks more, together with 33 others who had also booked the challenging study tour arranged by the Flying Longhorns, the travel arm of the University of Texas Alumni Association. We were a large, diverse group with different backgrounds and political leanings. But we had a sense of camaraderie thanks in large part to the patience and abiding sense of humor shown by Antonio Ruiz, our tour guide in Spain. A native of Spain with a degree in linguistics, Ruiz escorted us to scores of famous landmarks as well as to bars, restaurants and concerts. When we encountered waiting lines Ruiz waved us past like a seasoned maître d’. Four other local tour guides, all graduates of Spanish universities, also spoke to us about local lore and culture as we explored northern Spain, starting with Catalonia and the Basque Country.
Autonomous regions © SERBAN ENACHE | DREAMSTIME.COM
Casa Batlló in Barcelona was built by Antoni Gaudí between 1904 and 1906, commissioned as a private home by the textile industrialist Josep Batlló. Today, the spectacular facade is an iconic landmark in the city, and the building houses a modernist museum open to the public.
Here are some of the tidbits we learned. The history of these areas predates the formation of Spain as a unified country. Indeed, the medieval kingdoms of Navarre and Aragón helped to create Spain. But neither Catalonia nor the Basque Country has ever been an official nation. Despite this, they cling to their centuries-old culture, while occasionally threatening to secede from their “mother country.” The Spanish Parliament granted autonomy to Catalonia and the Basque Country in 1979, but the debates go on even as these areas bask in their glory as some of Europe’s most popular tourist areas. The Basque language, still spoken by many, does not derive from any other language. It originated locally. Spain is geographically the highest country in Europe outside of Switzer-
© BOTOND | DREAMSTIME.COM
By Gwen Gibson To fully enjoy the riches of Catalonia and the Basque Country of northern Spain, it helps to have stamina, curiosity, a hearty appetite for fine wines and gourmet foods — and a knowing, multi-lingual guide with friends in high places. I realized this during a recent, 10-day trip to this beautiful, autonomous corner of Spain. Initially, four items were on my “must-do” list. One, visit La Sagrada Familia, the magnificent cathedral created by Barcelona’s famously controversial architect, Antoni Gaudi. Two, eat pintzos (Basque-style tapas) while strolling the soft sands along San Sebastian’s sea walk. Three, visit the newest Guggenheim museum in Bilbao. Four, eat in Pamplona, where Ernest Hemmingway dined and wrote part of The Sun Also Rises. I accomplished this and a great deal
Colorful buildings line a canal in the city of Bilbao in Basque Country. Bilbao is home to the curving limestone, glass and titanium Guggenheim Museum designed by Frank Gehry.
land; Catalonia and the Basque Country are the highest points in Spain. The flags of Catalonia, the Basque Country and Spain are all red and yellow, but with different designs — and different admirers. Be careful what you salute. Our tour started in Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia and a bustling port city on the Mediterranean Sea. Barcelona, with a metropolitan population of 4.5 million, lies between the sea and the foothills of the Pyrenees and cannot grow “any way but up,” the locals complain with a dry laugh. The second largest city in Spain, after Madrid, Barcelona is home to a famous opera house; a 100,000-seat football stadium; a 60,000-seat Olympic stadium; noted museums like the Picasso, Miró and Maritime, and the popular Las Ramblas Boulevard that reaches from the heart of the city to the sea. Busy shops, cafes, markets and street performers keep this stretch alive, day and night. But nothing here attracts tourists like the works of Antoni Gaudi, the modernisme, or art nouveau, architect who was 100 years ahead of his time. His creations include ornate early lampposts, the several houses he designed (and which locals boast inspired Star Wars creator George Lucas), the magnificent Parc Guell in suburban Barcelona, and La Sagrada Familia, or the Sacred Family, the city’s number-one tourist attraction and a
UNESCO World Heritage site. Construction on La Sagrada Familia started in 1832. Gaudi worked on it for 41 years and is buried in the crypt. But the magnificent cathedral is not yet finished. Six architects are still at work here. Completion is scheduled for 2026, on the 100th anniversary of Gaudi’s death. “But don’t bank on that,” one worker laughed. From Barcelona we travelled by private bus to Zaragoza, San Sebastian, Bilbao and Pamplona. Since billboards are limited on these roads, we could see clearly the green fields, poppies and wildflowers along the way. We also hiked on city streets, rural routes and mountainsides. Antonio equipped us with headphones, called “whispers,” to keep us informed — and in line, so no one wandered off to a bazaar or bar.
Capital of Basque country We also needed the headphones in San Sebastian, the proud capital of the Basque Country, which extends from the foothills of the Pyrenees into southern France. Site of many landmarks, museums and parks, San Sebastian also beckons tourists with a four-mile oceanfront promenade that wraps around the city’s beaches. You get a sweeping view of this from atop nearSee SPAIN, page 30
30
Leisure & Travel | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com
Spain From page 29 by Mounte Igeldo where — on a clear day — you can also see France. Like Antonio, our lecturer here, David Bumstead, emphasized that San Sebastian “is one of the safest cities in the world.” He alluded to the ETA — the violent separatist group that operated out of the Basque country of Spain and southern France for years. ETA translates in English to “Basque independence and security.” “The ETA is no longer big,” Bumstead stressed. “It went too far, did some terrible things. But they have since become marginalized and have declared a permanent ceasefire.” We also learned that Ferdinand Magellan was not the first to circumnavigate the
world. He was killed during a battle in the Philippines. His second in command, Juan Sebastian Elcano, a Basque explorer, took over and completed the voyage. A monument to Sebastian Elcano stands in Gitaria, a seaside community near San Sebastian. Bilbao, another city with little crime, was transformed from a dark industrial town, known for exporting steel and coal, into a clean and popular tourist site after the Guggenheim Museum opened here in 1997. Designed by Frank Gehry, the distinctive building is constructed of limestone, glass and more than 30,000 thin titanium plates that change color dramatically as the weather changes. From some angles, it looks more like a sculpture than a building. Bilbao landed the handsome museum by paying millions for the building and the
BEACON BITS
Oct. 1
TAKE A TRIP TO THE EASTERN SHORE
Enjoy an all-you-can-eat crab feast at Kentmorr Restaurant, and travel to Delaware Park Casino, on Tuesday, Oct. 1, with the Parkville Senior Center. Cost is $78. Call (410) 882-6087 to reserve a seat.
Oct. 2
OCTOBER 2013 — BALTIMORE BEACON
CRUISE THE CHESAPEAKE BAY
Join the Liberty Senior Center on this Pony Express Nature Cruise traveling across the Chesapeake Bay to Virginia’s Eastern Shore, home of the Assateague wild ponies, on Wednesday Oct. 2. The cost is $120. Call (410) 887-0780 for information and reservations.
Guggenheim name with taxpayer dollars. The Guggenheim Foundation chooses the art exhibited, which is mainly modern or Impressionistic.
Running of the bulls In sharp contrast, the principal attraction in Pamplona is the raucous, week-long Festival of San Fermín, which opens with hundreds of bullfighting fans running through city streets to the bull ring, ahead of six frightened bulls. Held each year from July 6 to July 14, it honors Saint Fermín, the city’s first bishop and patron saint, who was beheaded in France in the third century. All of Catalonia and San Sebastian in the Basque country have banned bull fighting, but this remains Pamplona’s most lucrative attraction. The hotel room where Hemingway stayed during the bullfighting festival now costs 2,000 euros per day. Orson Wells stayed here once and skipped out on his bill. Proudly framed, the bill hangs in the hotel lobby. “If you have anything bad to say about Hemingway, don’t say it here,” lecturer Guillem Genestar said. “If you have anything bad to say about France, go right ahead.” Our close-knit group of 34 had a fourcourse meal fit for a matador at Café Iruña, where photos of Hemingway still line the walls.
As I told you, this trip took stamina. But if I could do it in my 80s, so can you. It’s worth the effort. Catalonia and the Basque Country, combined, are no larger than New Hampshire. But the welcome you feel here is many times as big.
Planning your trip British Airlines offers the lowest midOctober fare from BWI to Barcelona at $1,005 roundtrip. If you aren’t taking a package tour, like the one I and my fellow alumni took, I recommend the Hotel Cristal Palace in Barcelona (www.eurostarscristalpalace.com), where rates start at about $190 a night, and the seaside Hotel Londres y de Inglaterra (London and England) in San Sebastian (www.hlondres.com/en), for about $310 a night. Both have great dinner and breakfast restaurants and are located in the heart of the city near many sights. Restaurants we enjoyed in Barcelona, outside the hotel, included the Citrus Restaurant on the Passeig de Gracia, which specializes in Mediterranean cuisine, and the Catalan restaurant Pomarada, on the same street. In San Sebastian, we enjoyed a seaside dinner at the La Perla restaurant. For lunches, we strolled the waterfront looking for the best places to try “pintxos” (pinchos) or tapas, the local specialty. Gwen Gibson is a freelance writer living in Austin, Texas.
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BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2013
Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel
31
Getting your car to a distant destination By Victor Block Every year, countless residents of the Washington area follow migrating birds south to Florida and other warm-weather destinations to escape frigid winter temperatures and the snow and ice that accompany them. Others from the same region and across the country are on the go because they are vacationing or wintering elsewhere or moving to a new state. Whether traveling for a vacation, work or another reason, a major decision people face is how to get where they wish to go and how to have transportation when they arrive. The choice boils down to four basic alternatives, each of which has pros and cons. If you’re planning a “snow bird” winter escape to Florida or another southern sun spot, or a temporary or permanent move elsewhere, it pays to give some thought to the available options.
On the road Driving your vehicle to your destination has both advantages and disadvantages. On a positive note, you can fill a car with more suitcases and personal belongings than you could transport by plane or train, and you don’t have to rent a car at your destination. On the other hand, driving means paying
for tolls, hotel stays, meals and fuel. There’s also the hidden cost of wear and tear on your vehicle (not to mention on yourself), which can be substantial during a trip of hundreds or even thousands of miles.
Taking to the air Some people prefer the speed of traveling by air, which gets you where you want to be in the quickest possible way. Of course, airline tickets can be expensive, but part of that cost may be offset because there are no expenditures for hotel or motel rooms, meals and gas en route, as there are for those who drive their car. On the other hand, while they reach their destination quickly, people who fly are subject to the whims of public transportation when they arrive, unless they rent a car, which can be costly for an extended stay. Another challenge for folks who fly is that the size and number of suitcases they can check through and carry on a plane are limited. That can be a big drawback for anyone planning a lengthy vacation trip, though there are ways to ship bags ahead of time as well. [See “Airlines will shlep your bags for a price,” June Beacon, page 20.]
Riding the rails Passengers aboard trains don’t have to
worry about high excess luggage fees like those who fly. (Amtrak allows two checked bags free, and charges $20 each for up to 2 additional bags.) Still, dealing with enough suitcases for a lengthy stay in a home away from home can be cumbersome at best. Train travel also has added costs, including food purchased aboard, and the added price of sleeping accommodations for those on overnight trips who don’t want to try to snooze sitting up. Some Florida-bound travelers take the
Amtrak Auto Train, which transports passengers together with their automobile from Lorton, Va., to Sanford, Fla., just outside of Orlando. The daily trip takes 17 and a half hours. The basic one-way price for two passengers and one car varies by date, but runs in the range of $400 to $600 in coach, and $750 to $1,200 for a sleeper (the upper end includes a private toilet and shower). DinSee CAR TRANSPORT, page 33
32
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OCTOBER 2013 — BALTIMORE BEACON
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Car transport From page 31 ner and continental breakfast are included in the ticket price. Of course, those heading for places in Florida other than Orlando (or to other southern or western states) still have to drive to their final destination, which adds more hours, and dollars, to the trip.
Cars on trucks Then there are those who combine the speed of flying, or a nostalgic journey by train, with the benefits of having use of their own vehicle at their vacation destination. While they fly or ride, their car is carried there on an open or enclosed transport truck. The truck, but not the cars on it, adds hundreds of miles to its odometer. Your car’s trunk may be filled with luggage, clothing bags and other items needed for an extended stay. Some companies do not encourage this, however, as they do not take responsibility for materials lost or stolen from the vehicles. Auto transport companies offer terminal-to-terminal service, door-to-door pickup and delivery, or both. Charges for car transportation vary, and it’s important to know exactly what you’re getting for your money. For example, a comparison of prices from several companies for picking up a car in the Washington, D.C., area and delivering it to Sarasota, Fla., ranged from $570 to $740. Also, most companies schedule pick-up and delivery of cars during a range of dates that can be as long as a week. Each transportation service offers its own benefits and deals. Here are some to consider: Autolog Auto Transport, the originator of
shipping privately owned cars, schedules vehicle pick-ups on a specific date, and — unlike some companies — does not charge a cancellation fee. It delivers door-to-door and also has a partnership with the Auto Train. For a free price quote, call 1-866-425-1125 or visit autologmarketing.net/beacon. Carbone Auto Transportation picks up vehicles within one to seven days and offers only door-to-door service. Visit www.carbonetransportation.com or call 1888-511-1888 for pricing. Corporate Auto Transport offers open and enclosed carriers. It encourages planahead scheduling (one to two weeks) but also offers expedited shipping (pick up within 72 hours) for an extra fee. Visit www.corporateautotransport.com for a price quote. Both Stateway Auto Transport and Harvester Trucking offer door-to-door service only. They also provide vehicle tracking while en route and the option of enclosed carriers at a higher fee. Enclosed carriers offer more protection for vehicles, which
Cars, boats, furniture, antiques, tools, appliances Everything and anything is sold on
Radio Flea Market Heard every Sunday, 7-8:00 a.m. on 680 WCBM
I’m here for you. Naum Tizenberg, lead security valet at North Oaks, is the kind of person whose job title only begins to tell the story. Security duties, yes. But when something needs fixing or someone needs a hand doing something, count on him to be right there – often beyond his regular work hours. Tinker with a computer, repair a fan, you name it. Residents think of Naum as one of the family, and he sees them that way as well. Every retirement community should have a Naum. Live here and you’ll have one as well.
LES MISERABLES AT TOBY’S
See Les Miserables at Toby’s Dinner Theatre in Columbia on Sunday, Oct. 6, and enjoy a delicious brunch, hosted by the Pikesville Senior Center. Tickets are $70; reserve at (410) 484-5285.
Oct. 12
visit www.harvestertrucking.com or call (815) 679-6742. Washington, D.C.-based Victor Block is the Beacon’s travel writer.
“Whatever needs to be done I’m ready to do.”
BEACON BITS
Oct. 6
may be worthwhile for luxury or newer cars. For more about Stateway and a price quote, visit www.statewayauto.com or call 1-877-848-7474. For Harvester Trucking,
APPLE FESTIVAL IN BIGLERVILLE, PA
Breakfast at Cozy Restaurant on your own and then travel on to the National Apple Harvest Festival on Saturday, Oct. 12. Tickets are $32. For reservations, call Victory Villa Senior Center at (410) 887-0235.
When you live in this senior living community, you’ll
Ongoing
MARYLAND RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL
Join jousters, jugglers, archers and more at this annual step back in time to the 16th century. The Maryland Renaissance Festival takes place weekends through Oct. 20 at the Crownsville Festival Fairgrounds. Tickets are $8$22. For more information, visit www.marylandrenaissancefestival.com.
enjoy a close connection with staff members whose work and wishes are to connect you to the best in life. Please call (410) 486-9090 to learn more. 725 MOUNT WILSON LANE
33
PIKESVILLE, MARYLAND 21208
(410) 486-9090
Vi s i t o u r w e b s i t e a t w w w. N o r t h O a k s LC S . c o m
34
OCTOBER 2013 — BALTIMORE BEACON
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Style Arts &
Local colleges stage more than 100 art exhibits each year. Shown above is an installation at the gallery of the Maryland Institute College of Art.
Toby’s robust, masterful Les Miserables the human spirit the lush score explores. The timing is ironic, as this bold production coincides with the sudden closing of Toby’s sister theater in Baltimore. Like the quiet passing of drive-in theaters from the American landscape, dinner theaters are edging ever closer to extinction, a victim of...what, exactly? Changing demographics? A bad economy? Have people stopped enjoying the comforts of an ample buffet and drinks on the table in addition to seeing a show? I’m not sure why some self-styled theater aficionados (and a certain daily newspaper which itself is going the way of the drive-in) view dinner theater as something not deserving of attention. But let them miss out, as long as you go see this show. Enjoy the brunch or dinner that’s included in your ticket price, too. And then, when the show picks up some coveted Helen Hayes Award nominations, you can brag that you were there.
A gritty opera lite This is the Cameron Mackintosh production of Victor Hugo’s 250-year old novel, adapted into a sung-through musical in which many of the songs encompass entire
Two Amazing Shows You Won’t Want To Miss! NOW PLAYING
OPENING NOVEMBER 15
PHOTO BY CHRIS CHRISTIANSEN
By Michael Toscano Garishly sentimental, and with a score that’s fully drenched in overheated melodrama, the musical Les Misérables could be a long, three-hour slog for theatergoers who appreciate subtlety. Almost all of the songs are mighty anthems, with only a rare break for a ballad or fun tune; characters are drawn with a broad brush; and it is a significant challenge for singers, as it relentlessly tries to grab you by the heartstrings and shake you all about. And yet, as we know, Les Misérables is a magnificent, sumptuous feast of a show when it is performed properly. So, good news! All the strengths of the Boubil and Schönberg Tony Award-winner are on full display in a robust, colorful and full-throated production at Toby’s Dinner Theatre in Columbia. They’re touting it as their most ambitious show ever, and while scenic elements are necessarily constrained because of Toby’s in-the-round layout, a newcomer to the show will get a deep appreciation of why this is now the world’s longest-running musical. And longtime fans will enjoy another chance to wallow in the epic passions, broken dreams and redemption of
In its inspiring production of Les Miserables, Toby’s Dinner Theatre creatively accommodates its in-the-round stage by using see-through scaffolding as a barricade. The epic musical continues through Nov. 19.
long scenes. It’s not light opera, but with almost no spoken dialogue, and with the heavy subject matter explored in technically demanding singing, it could be called opera lite. Les Misérables pulls us back in time to the grim prisons, raucous inns and gritty factories, the sewers and streets of France
from 1815 to 1832. Saint-like Jean Valjean (Daniel Felton) has been jailed for 19 years after stealing bread to feed a starving child. Finally released, but under the watch of an obsessed police inspector Javert (Lawrence See LES MISERABLES, page 35
MOVE IN BY END OF THE CURRENT MONTH AND GET A 32” FLAT SCREEN TV
OPEN HOUSE Oct. 19 10 am to 2 pm
A Must See in-the-round
A true classic; this joyous, heart-warming musical is perfect for the holidays.
TOBY’S DINNER THEATRE OF COLUMBIA • CALL 410-730-8311
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BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2013
Les Miserables From page 34 B. Munsey), he skips parole, which would have further condemned him to a life of poverty and misery, and becomes a successful factory owner under an assumed name. Along the way, he takes in the waiflike Cosette (Katie Heidbreder), daughter of an ill-fated employee, Fantine (Janine Sunday). With Javert relentlessly stalking him, Valjean gets drawn in to a citizen uprising against the unpopular government, and a giant barricade is erected in the streets for a bloody final showdown.
Innovative sets and choreography The unique feature of Toby’s production is, of course, that it is performed in the round. As always, directors Toby Orenstein and Steven Fleming make efficient use of the cramped space. They creatively use pools of darkness and light to aid in quick scene transitions, and they position and rearrange their two dozen cast members in tightly choreographed action that make it all seem quite natural. Those familiar with the show, and Toby’s, will wonder how the heck they manage to stage a giant barricade. Well, set designer David Hopkins utilizes scaffolding to brilliant effect. Massive segments are squeezed in through side entrances and rapidly assembled. Because it’s scaffolding, you can see through the set even as actors
clamber all over it, singing their hearts out. You don’t miss a thing from any angle. (Although I did worry a few times that a wig or two was perilously close to hot lights in the ceiling and might burst into flames. Then again, that added some edgy suspense.) Those sewers? A bridge from which someone plummets to death (while singing, yet)? Again, inventive use of scaffolding.
Onstage chemistry Felton and Munsey, as Valjean and Javert, provide inspired interpretations of their roles, the pairing creating combustible chemistry. Felton’s sweetly inflected tenor capably climbs the upper reaches of songs, sounding positively angelic in the high registers of act two’s “Bring Him Home.” He obviously works hard to plumb some of the lower depths of the score, which occasionally tires out his voice when he then has to reach for big, loud notes. But it is an award-worthy performance, his face a study in humility and pain. Munsey is a more-than-worthy counterweight, looking as though he just stepped out of an oil painting. His Javert is a malevolent figure in dark, form-fitting costumes, his face a permanent sneer. Munsey’s powerful baritone befits the character, and if his body is rightly rigid with authority and intensity, his singing is fluidly dynamic. In Act One’s “Come to Me,” Felton and Munsey circle each other like boxers, facing off in an escalating cycle of revelation
as Valjean realizes he can no longer live a lie. It’s a rare moment of introspection in the show, as he saves an innocent man but makes himself vulnerable to his enemy. Playing off Munsey’s glowering visage and mounting emotion, Felton’s work is delicate here, the power of the song and the turning point it represents completely realized. And yet, it’s just a pair of actors in a pool of light. So much for scenic extravaganza, shown to be irrelevant here.
Vibrant performances
35
ningham as the conniving innkeeper Madame Thenardier. Cunningham is paired with David James as her monsieur. The scene in their inn — with the lively “Master of the House” and “Thenardier Waltz” — is a show highlight, with energetic fun and toe-tapping music. While both supply plenty of wily charm, Cunningham radiates a vibrantly ribald presence every second she is onstage. It’s hard to imagine she is the same actor who took home the Hayes award as the tragic Sofia in Toby’s The Color Purple.
Providing substantial backup is the work of Helen Hayes winner Theresa Cun-
See LES MISERABLES, page 37
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Jed Gaylin, Music Director
Jed Gaylin, conductor Shriver Hall Auditorium Johns Hopkins Homewood Campus, 3400 N. Charles St. FREE pre-concert talk one hour before each concert
Season Premiere: Saturday, October 19, 2013 • 8pm Pyotr Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 • Jung-Eun Kim, piano Johannes Brahms: Symphony No. 3 Join us for the entire season... • Saturday, December 7, 2013 • 8pm Verdi’s Requiem • Saturday, March 1, 2014 • 8pm Pictures at an Exhibition and Grand Canyon Suite • Saturday, April 26, 2014 • 8pm Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite
TICKETS: $8 Seniors, jhu affiliates, & non-jhu students $10 general admission CONTACT: 410.516.6542 • hso @ jhu.edu • www.jhu.edu/jhso
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36
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OCTOBER 2013 — BALTIMORE BEACON
Universities expand their artistic offerings By Carol Sorgen Art abounds in Baltimore — from the world-class collections at the Baltimore Museum of Art and the Walters Museum, to the many privately-owned galleries that showcase the works of both established and up-and-coming artists. But what many visitors — and even many hometown folks —might not be familiar with are the art galleries to be found at Baltimore’s many institutions of higher learning. Why are university galleries and museums important? In comparing a student-curated exhibition with one presented at a major art museum several years ago, New York Times art critic Holland Cotter wrote, “The august public museum gave us fabulousness. The tucked-away university gallery gave us life:
organic, intimate and as fresh as news.” University art galleries not only serve as a teaching tool, according to Geoff Delanoy, director of the Gormley Gallery at Notre Dame of Maryland University, but also enable artists to engage with the campus community, the wider Baltimore community, and the artistic community locally, regionally and nationally. Notre Dame of Maryland Currently at the Gormley Gallery through Oct.10 is an exhibit titled “Gladys Goldstein: Retrospective and Alumnae Invitational.” It features the work of Baltimore artist Gladys Goldstein, who taught painting at Notre Dame from 1964 to 1982, as well as pieces by several of her former students, who have been invited to exhibit alongside.
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Gladys Goldstein was a prolific Baltimore artist whose career spanned six decades. She is widely known for her abstract paintings and groundbreaking work with collage and handmade paper. Concerning her abstractions, Goldstein, who died in 2010, said, “My canvases are not explicit statements, but hints of things that are, or were, or might have been — of memories, of feelings.” Director Delanoy is also looking forward to the gallery’s upcoming exhibit, “Basics,” which runs from Oct. 21 to Nov. 22. In this exhibit, artist Erika Kim Milenkovic explores the human and natural world by examining how things live, grow, age and die. Milenkovic uses materials that are commonplace in modern society — such as newspaper, advertisements and junk mail — to archive the daily human experience. For more information, visit www.ndm.edu /gormleygallery. University of Baltimore At its mid-town location, the University of Baltimore also has a small gallery, located on the fifth floor of the Student Center. This dedicated space, between the Performing Arts Theater and the Bogomolny Room, offers a large, specially designed exhibition wall. The gallery is complemented by a number of works of art placed throughout the building, giving much of the facility the
feel of an exhibition hall. “Though the gallery space is small, limiting exhibits to 20 to 30 pieces at a time, I’ve tried hard to show as many different kinds of works as possible,” said curator Edwin Gold. The range has included oil paintings, photographs, charcoal portraits, World War I recruiting posters, old record albums, magazine and advertising illustration, medical illustration and more. The current exhibit is one in which a group of students was given specific daily themes over a 20-day period that they were asked to interpret photographically any way they chose. MICA Not surprisingly, the Maryland Institute College of Art (www.mica.edu) has an abundance of gallery space on its campus, where nearly 100 curated exhibitions are mounted every year of faculty and student work as well as that of outside artists. According to director of exhibitions Gerald Ross, MICA’s programming “enriches and extends” the community’s interest, awareness, education and appreciation of contemporary art. Upcoming exhibitions include: the 2013 Faculty Exhibition, which will highlight the personal and professional work of the College’s teaching staff, from Sept. 27 to Oct.
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Les Miserables From page 35 As Eponine, daughter of the Thenardiers, MaryKate Brouillet is a soothing presence. Her warm, full voice is an expressive balm as she aids the attempted revolution and â&#x20AC;&#x201D; despite her own love for the revolutionary Marius (Jeffrey Shankle) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; assists in his burgeoning love affair with Cosette. Brouilletâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work is exquisitely nuanced, and she adds a welcome sensual ambiance. Sundayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fantine and Heidbrederâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cosette are workmanlike performances, but each actor lacks the full vocal abilities required by some of the songs. The duets between Cosette and Marius thus fail to reach their full potential, despite Shankleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
Art shows From page 36 13 in the Decker, Meyerhoff and Pinkard Galleries, and the 2013 Juried Undergraduate Exhibition, which will display a selection of the best of the collegeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s undergraduate student artists in a variety of disciplines, from Oct. 23 to Nov. 24, in the Decker and Meyerhoff Galleries. The aforementioned galleries are only a few of Baltimoreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s many university art spaces. Consider adding the following to your upcoming gallery-hops: Morgan State University The collections of the James E. Lewis
37
Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style
BALTIMORE BEACON â&#x20AC;&#x201D; OCTOBER 2013
tender singing. Also of note is the work of the small orchestra tucked away in a second-floor room adjacent to the stage. With just a couple of keyboards, a rare live violin, and trumpet, reeds and trombone, they fill the space with pulsing, eardrum-pressing music. Musical director Christopher Youstraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s whittling down of the sumptuous, demanding music to a handful of instruments maintains the scoreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s integrity quite well. This show is usually operating at fever pitch, emotionally, which can exhaust an audience. But directors Orenstein and Fleming shake up the dynamics whenever possible, allowing the audience a chance to refresh their sensibilities. There are considerable shifts in Act Twoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Museum of Art at Morgan State University (www.jelmamuseum.org) include African art, African American art, American art, Asian art, European art, global art, oceanic art, and works on paper. Through Oct. 2, the museum will feature the exhibition, â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Wondering Ethnic Artist: Wasyl Palijczuk,â&#x20AC;? who was profiled on the cover of the Dec. 2012 Beacon. Johns Hopkins University Johns Hopkins University (www.museumes.jhu.edu) galleries include the Homewood Museum, which consists of fine and decorative arts objects, and the Evergreen
lengthy â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Little Fall of Rain,â&#x20AC;? which ranges from hope to promise to tragedy. The ensembleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s energy never flags as they segue from one complicated moment to the next, and the audience can keep up every step of the way. In short, this is a satisfying, worthwhile production. Les MisĂŠrables continues through Nov. 19 at Tobyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dinner Theatre, 5900 Symphony Woods Rd., Columbia. The show runs seven days a week, with evening (dinner) and matinee (brunch) performances. The doors open at 6 p.m. for the all-you-can-eat dinner buffet Monday through Saturday, with the show at 8 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m. for the Sunday evening 7 p.m. performance. Doors open for matinee performances at 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays and Sundays for
brunch. The performance begins at 12:30 p.m. Reservations are required. Ticket prices range from $37.50 to $56, depending on date and time. Ticket prices include the allyou-can-eat buffet, dessert, and coffee or tea. Specialty drinks and desserts are available at extra cost. Waiters are actually the actors as well, and they rely heavily on tips for their pay. There is ample, free parking on the premises. For reservations and information, call (410) 730-8311 or 1-800-88TOBYS (8886297). You may also visit www.tobysdinnertheatre.com. Michael Toscano is the Beaconâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s theatre critic.
FROM PAGE 38
ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD
ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE
N O F A E R A S T I N K L E E V E R R A T A U T O S L E P T R E R C H A C H I T L O K I O R E O D E R N
T E E N S Y T E E N
D D E E R N S R W I T H O L A O O S L I G M A L U S I T N D E B D E L S E L U P C E M E E A M A L D O U B L E N V Y S E E
H I E S S T E E D S
S H O R T S W I M I M P E L
H O T E L
U N I F Y
E T E R N A L L Y
R E T A G
N E S S
D E N S
A Y T A L Y
See ART SHOWS, page 39
MOM STAYS SAFE & HAPPY with Nursing Care at Charlestown and Oak Crest
APARTMENT HOMES FOR ACTIVE ADULTS 62 OR BETTER Regency Crest is an extraordinarily carefree community because of the convenient lifestyle enjoyed by those who live here. We go the extra mile to provide our residents with distinctive amenities and service that cannot be found in ordinary active adult communities.
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OCTOBER 2013 — BALTIMORE BEACON
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Puzzle Page
Crossword Puzzle Daily crosswords can be found on our website: www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com Click on Puzzles Plus Pro-gression by Stephen Sherr 1
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44 48
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Scrabble answers on p. 37.
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1. Yogurt shop’s claim 6. The first supreme commander of NATO, in 1951 9. Punish, socially 13. Reset a contacts list 14. Sea eagles 16. Make a point 17. Manipulate, experimentally 19. Cookie-meister Spunkmeyer 20. Midnight rambler 21. Neighbor of a Vietnamese 22. Umps’ striped cousins 23. Almost imperceptibly 27. Maze enthusiast 28. Singer Sumac 29. San ___ Obispo, Calif. 30. Type of loan 32. Try to get into a bar 34. Less exciting, to a historian 37. Used the bears’ third bed 39. Cotillion girl 41. Positioned 43. Like a shady park 45. Windy City trains 47. Distribute 48. Kite line holder 50. Good times 52. Tried to become Class President 53. Elevator encounters 57. Voucher 58. Org. with a snake in its logo 59. Champagne Tony of golf 60. Norse god 61. Result of the name pro-gression from 17 to 23 to 53 Across 65. Ice cream flavor 66. Emotion in Snow White 67. travelocity option 68. Actress Laura 69. Understand 70. In a foxlike way
1. Ping pong table accessory 2. “Stop ___ shoot!” 3. Autograph request 4. Jeopardy! contestant 5. Itsy-bitsy 6. Mountain ___ 7. Work on a tooth 8. Necessitate 9. Just a few laps 10. Flophouse 11. Join together 12. Bitter end 15. General Japanese term 18. 10 Down units 23. Renaissance and Reformation 24. Underground chamber 25. “That’s what she ___” 26. Hurries up 31. It added “Brain Freeze” in a 2004 contest 33. Piece of golf course litter 35. In perpetuity 36. Price less 38. Cotillion girl 40. Cloudless 42. Lairs 44. Period between censuses 46. Distinguish between so and sew 49. Poorly made cars 51. War horses 53. Item on a wheel of misfortune 54. Consumer of trail mix 55. Magenta’s neighbor, on a color wheel 56. Drive on 57. Simpleton 62. “Toodles” 63. Div. rival to NYM 64. “Whoopee!”
Answers on page 37.
JUMBLE ANSWERS Jumbles: PARTY GOOSE EXHORT AERATE Answer: What the diner said when the server sprinkled cheese on the pasta -- THAT’S “GRATE”
BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2013
CLASSIFIEDS The Beacon prints classified advertising under the following headings: Business & Employment Opportunities; Caregivers; Computer Services; Entertainment; For Sale; For Sale/Rent: Real Estate; Free; Health; Home/ Handyman Services; Miscellaneous; Personals; Personal Services; Vacation Opportunities; and Wanted. For submission guidelines and deadlines, see the box on the right. CAVEAT EMPTOR! The Beacon does not knowingly accept obscene, offensive, harmful, or fraudulent advertising. However, we do not investigate any advertisers or their products and cannot accept responsibility for the integrity of either. Respondents to classified advertising should always use caution and their best judgment. EMPLOYMENT & REAL ESTATE ADS: We will not knowingly or intentionally accept advertising in violation of federal, state, and local laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, familial status or handicap in connection with employment or the sale or rental of real estate.
Business & Employment Opportunity LOOKING FOR INVESTMENTS of $25,000, $105,000 and up. University students, investment club. Never be alone again. Dinner out, bowling, dancing, movies, travel the world with the students. Call Rita Davis, 443-544-9032, evening, 9 p.m.
Caregivers CNA/CMT WITH 17 YEARS EXPERIENCE seeks sick/elderly care at home/nursing home Saturday/Sunday nights. Baltimore, Harford and Howard Counties. Call 443-559-2987. TRANSPORT/CAREGIVER WITH CNA/ CMT/CPR/FIRST AID certifications seeks private duty. Errands: shopping, doctor’s appointments, social engagements, bathing, dressing, do laundry, and prepare light meals. I am available full/part-time. Call, 443-559-2987.
For Rent QUIET ROOM – MT. WASHINGTON. Share kitchen and baths. References. Security Deposit. Near light rail. 410-542-0550. GARDENVILLE – LARGE FURNISHED ROOM, private bath, with microwave and refrigerator for rent on 2nd floor of private home. Reasonable references. 410-485-1702.
Art shows From page 37
For Rent ROOM IN BEAUTIFUL SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD for a senior veteran or a mildly handicapped person. All utilities included for $500 a month. Share kitchen and bath, 443-630-4782.
For Sale GLEN HEAVEN MEMORIAL PARK – Glen Burnie. 1 space double vault. Complete package deal. $3,500. 443-618-1263. 1 SINGLE FLUSH GRAY GRANITE VAULT – casket and lot in Forest Lawn sec. at Loudon Park Cemetery, Wilkins Ave. $4,200. Good Deal. 410-247-3644. CREST LAWN MEMORIAL GARDENS, Sermon on the Mount, two plots, each valued at $4,125. Best offer on each one or both. 443-8585799. Leave message. 2 SALVADOR DALI woodblock prints from Dante’s Divine Comedy. Signed and framed. Asking $900 for the pair. Can email pictures if desired. Call Steve 410-913-1653.
Home/Handyman Services BASEMENT OR FOUNDATION PROBLEMS? LEVELIFT SYSTEMS, INC. offers honest, professional, no-pressure inspection, consultation & repair quotes for owner-occupied homes with settling, cracking & buckling basement walls. Our 23-yearold Jessup, Maryland-based firm has a spotless record with Angie’s List, Better Business Bureau and Maryland State Home Improvement Commission. Ask for Paul. Office: 301-369-3400. Cell: 410365-7346. Paulm@levelift.com. MHIC #45110. MIKE RUPARD – A FULL SERVICE PAINTING contractor. Interior. Exterior. “No job is too small.” 30 years experience. Free estimates. Fully-licensed and insured. 301-674-1393. BALTIMORE’S BEST JUNK REMOVAL – Clean Outs: Whole House, Emergency, Attics/Basements. Furniture and Junk Removal, Yard Waste Removal, General Hauling, Construction Debris Removal. Free estimates. 10% Senior Discount. Licensed, Bonded and Insured. Call Jesse, 443-379-HAUL (4285). HANDYMAN MATTERS will help you stay safe in your own home. Professional, Reliable Skilled Craftsmen. Grab Bar Installation, Bathroom Modifications and your to-do list! 410-549-9696. MHIC # 89094. SANFORD & SON HAULING Trash removal, house & estate clean-outs, garage cleanouts, yard work & cleanups, demolition, shed removal. 410-746-5090. Free Estimates. Insured. Call 7 days a week 7am – 7pm.
Miscellaneous ATLANTIC CITY BUS TRIP. Saturday, October 19. Departing/returning Security Blvd. Park and Ride. 8am to 8pm. $40 (roundtrip, breakfast, free slots). Payment due September 30. For more information, call Lucy, 410-371-1345.
pus, the gallery will host “3 Songs, No Flash: My Adventures as a Rock ‘n’ Roll Photographer,” by Jefferson Jackson Steele. Towson University Towson University (www.towson.edu) is home to four galleries on its campus: the Asian Arts & Culture Center, which introduces and promotes the arts and culture of Asia and also houses an arts collection of approximately 1,000 objects from all over Asia; the Center for the Arts Gallery, which is the main venue for viewing some of the region’s and nation’s finest artwork, and the Holtzman MFA Art Gallery, which focuses on shows related to the MFA program. UMBC UMBC’s Center for Art, Design and Visual Culture (www.umbc.edu/cadvc) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to organizing comprehensive exhibitions, publishing catalogs, CDs, DVDs, and books on the arts, and educational and community outreach projects.
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TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED Deadlines and Payments: Ad text and payment is due by the 5th of each month. Note: Only ads received and prepaid by the deadline will be included in the next month’s issue. Please type or print your ad carefully. Include a number where you can be reached in the event of a question. Payment is due with ad. We do not accept ads by phone or fax, nor do we accept credit cards. Private Party Text Ads: For individuals seeking to buy or sell particular items, or place a personal ad. Each ad is $10 for 25 words, 25 cents for each additional word. Business Text Ads: For parties engaged in an ongoing business enterprise. Each ad is $25 for 25 words, 50 cents for each additional word. Note: Each real estate listing counts as one business text ad. Send your classified ad with check or money order, payable to the Beacon, to:
The Beacon, Baltimore Classified Dept. P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915-2227 Personal Services
Wanted
LEARN ENGLISH – SPANISH – ITALIAN – FRENCH – PORTUGUESE Conversational. Grammatical. Private lessons. Reasonable Rates. Tutoring students. 443-352-8200.
MILITARY ITEMS Collector seeks: helmets, weapons, knives, swords, bayonets, webgear, uniforms, inert ordnance, ETC. From 1875 to 1960, US, German, Britain, Japan, France, Russian. Please call Fred 301-910-0783, Thank you. Also Lionel Trains.
ESTATE SPECIALIST, experts in estate clean-outs and preparing your house for sale. Trash removal, house cleanouts, light moving, demolition, yard work, cleaning. 410-746-5090. Free estimates. Insured. Call 7 days 7am - 7pm.
Wanted CASH BUYER FOR OLD COSTUME JEWELRY – pocket and wrist watches (any condition). Also buying watchmaker tools and parts, train sets and accessories, old toys, old glassware & coins. 410-655-0412. VINYL RECORDS WANTED from 1950 through 1985. Jazz, Rock-n-Roll, Soul, Rhythm & Blues, Reggae and Disco. 33 1/3 LPs, 45s or 78s, Larger collections of at least 100 items wanted. Please call John, 301-596-6201. WE BUY OLD AND NEW COINS, Jewelry, Silver and Gold, Paper Money too. Watches, Clocks and Parts, Military Badges and Patches Old and New. Call Greg, 717-658-7954.
FINE ANTIQUES, PAINTINGS AND QUALITY VINTAGE FURNISHINGS wanted by a serious capable buyer. I am very well educated [law degree] knowledgeable [over 40 years in the antique business] and have the finances and wherewithal to handle virtually any situation. If you have a special item, collection or important estate I would like to hear from you. I pay great prices for great things in all categories from oriental rugs to Tiffany objects, from rare clocks to firearms, from silver and gold to classic cars. If it is wonderful I am interested. No phony promises or messy consignments. References gladly furnished. Please call Jake Lenihan, 301-279-8834. Thank you. LADIES 25-75 WHO LOVE TO SING. Join us in a cappella harmony. www.dundalksweetads.com for details.
Thanks for reading the Beacon!
OLD AND NEW WE BUY Sterling Silver Flatware, Tea Sets or Single Pieces., Furniture, Tools, Cameras, Good Glassware, Artwork Too. Toys From Trains to Hotwheels, Action Figures to Star Wars. Call Greg, 717-658-7954.
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Museum and Library, which includes paintings, decorative arts, rare books and more. Goucher College Silber Art Gallery at Goucher College (www.goucher.edu) is the new home to Goucher’s permanent collection and its program of contemporary art exhibitions. The gallery also hosts a range of programming, from the traditional to the experimental, featuring the work of students, emerging artists, and established names alike. Stevenson University Stevenson University Art Gallery (www.stevenson.edu) is a significant venue for regional artists and collectors, and offers seven shows per year in a variety of media, including paintings, prints, sculpture and photography. Through Oct. 5 on the Greenspring Cam-
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OCTOBER 2013 — BALTIMORE BEACON
More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com
Wednesday, October 9, 2013 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, October 10, 2013 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Timonium Fairgrounds
ADMISSION: $2 or two cans of non-perishable food FREE GIFT - NIGHT LIGHT Sponsored by BGE & GBMC
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