September 2025 | Howard County Beacon by The Beacon Newspapers

The Howard County

Back to school with the Bard

By Edward Warner

It’s that time of year again, when one’s memories turn to school days — and perhaps to that singular teacher or professor who seemed to live and breathe their subject, passing on their enthusiasm to students.

Howard County resident Lynne Johnson is such a teacher. Johnson leads a Shakespeare reading group at the East Columbia 50+ Center, one of several free classes and clubs offered this fall at the county’s 50+ centers.

At the same center, older adults can take baduanjin classes, which explore the ancient Chinese qigong exercise. Or they can head over to the North Laurel 50+ Center, which offers a weekly drop-in jam session for musicians.

But Johnson, 75, holds the distinction of offering the only class where attendees encounter each of Shakespeare’s plays, reading the lines in round-robin fashion. In her class, no one has just one role: One student may by happenstance get only a “hark” during her turn, while another may end up reading all of Marc Anthony’s soliloquy over the slain body of Julius Caesar. Johnson’s teaching method has a way of engaging her students and showing them how relevant these plays can be in their modern lives.

“I am an ambassador to Shakespeare,” she said, noting that she aims to make students aware of how relatable he is today. “It’s not some old-fashioned form of literature.”

A hefty gift

Not surprisingly, Johnson’s love of the Bard began in England, where Johnson arrived in the 1970s as a young woman. Her husband, Johnny, who was stationed there as an Air Force officer, bought her a threeinch-thickcopy of The Riverside Shake-

LEISURE & TRAVEL

Hop aboard a small cruise ship to see Japan’s lesser-known coastal villages and national parks; plus, plan a road trip to Massachusetts to mark our nation’s 250th anniversary page 10

speare, which contains every play and sonnet. Johnson was off and running.

She began watching performances of the plays on the BBC, which had just promised to broadcast all of the Bard’s works over a six-year period.

Later, she saw plays at the theater in his hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon. All the while, she filled up her Riverside with mar-

ginal notes in red or black that now seem to outnumber the lines on each page.

Since her English sojourn, Johnson has seen every single one of Shakespeare’s plays performed, some several times.

But her greatest joy has been teaching Shakespeare, which she began doing at a

ARTS & STYLE

First-time Maryland authors and old pros are featured in a new anthology of essays by women page 19

PHOTO BY EDWARD WARNER

Lynne Johnson is a volunteer teacher at Howard County’s newest 50+ Center. Johnson, who has decades of teaching experience and a love of literature, teaches a free Shakespeare class.

It’s Expo season again

Baltimore County’s annual Power of Age Expo returns to the Timonium Fairgrounds on Wednesday, October 29. This massive event is a longstanding Baltimore tradition — and well worth a visit. Be sure to stop by the Baltimore Beacon booth while you’re there.

I’d also like to personally invite you to the Beacon’ s own 50+Expos. For 26 years, we’ve hosted these popular events in Maryland and Virginia, bringing our readers valuable resources, engaging activities and a chance to connect with the community.

50+Expos will take place:

Sunday, September 28, noon to 4 p.m., at the Silver Spring Civic Building in Silver Spring, Maryland Sunday, October 5, noon to 4 p.m., at Springfield Town Center in Springfield, Virginia

FROM THE PUBLISHER

By Stuart P. Rosenthal

Our Expos attract thousands of older adults and their families each year. Attendees can take advantage of important health screenings , get flu shots and other vaccines , hear from interesting speakers, and gather information from dozens of exhibitors and sponsors — including government agencies, nonprofits and local businesses offering products and services geared toward older adults.

This year’s Greater Washington Area

To help safeguard your health, the Expos will feature free screenings for blood pressure, glaucoma, blood glucose and cholesterol. A full range of vaccines will be available, including the latest Covid booster, regular and high-dose flu shots, RSV, Shingrix (shingles), pneumonia and tetanus. Please remember to bring your Medicare and/or insurance card.

In Silver Spring, our keynote program will be a Community Conversation with Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich — a great opportunity to share your questions and comments directly with him.

In Springfield, we’re partnering with the Fairfax County Area Agency on Aging to present Ventures in Volunteering — more than 35 agencies and nonprofits offering exciting ways to get involved in the community.

The Beacon is a monthly newspaper dedicated to inform, serve, and entertain the citizens of the Howard County area, and is privately owned. Other editions serve Greater Baltimore, Md. and Greater Washington, D.C. Subscriptions are available via third-class mail ($12), prepaid with order. Maryland residents add 6 percent for sales tax. Send subscription order to the office listed below. Publication of advertising contained herein does not necessarily constitute endorsement. Signed columns represent the opinions of the writers, and not necessarily the opinion of the publisher.

Publisher/Editor Emeritus – Stuart P. Rosenthal

President/Associate Publisher – Judith K. Rosenthal

Executive Vice President – Gordon Hasenei

Editor – Margaret Foster

Art Director – Kyle Gregory

Vice President of Operations – Roger King

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

Assistant Editor – Ana Preger Hart

Editorial Assistant – Tori Cleveland

Editorial Intern – Luke Sanelli

As always, our exhibitors will include hospitals, healthcare providers, retirement communities, home improvement contractors, home care agencies, financial and legal advisors, insurance companies, travel and fitness services, and many other valuable resources.

We’re grateful to our sponsors for making these events possible:

Gold Sponsors : AARP Virginia and Giant Pharmacy

Silver Sponsors: Adventist HealthCare, Johns Hopkins Health Plans, and Pepco

Bronze Sponsors: Maryland Relay, Xfinity, Trinity Health PACE, Montgomery County Recreation, Montgomery County Aging &

Disability Services, Autumn Lake Healthcare, and the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging. For more details — or to exhibit, sponsor or volunteer — call (410) 248-9101, email info@thebeaconnewspapers.com, or visit thebeaconnewspapers.com/50expos. There’s still time for additional sponsors and exhibitors to join us!

I look forward to seeing you on September 28 and/or October 5. If you spot me at either Expo, please say hello.

Letters to the editor

Readers are encouraged to share their opinions on any matter addressed in the Beacon as well as on political and social issues of the day.

Mail your Letter to the Editor to The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915, or email info@thebeaconnewspapers.com.

Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification.

Dear Editor:

I love the Beacon. As a senior in Howard County, I find it a valuable resource and enjoy reading the paper.

I was dismayed to see a classified advertisement in the Beacon for ragdoll cats for sale. Please do not support people selling animals for profit. These “businesses” are not regulated, inspected or in any way legitimate avenues for the treatment of animals. They may in fact increase the breeding of more unwanted animals.

I would ask you to reconsider the advertisement of the sale of animals in your classified section.

Name withheld by request Ellicott City, MD

From the Publisher:

Thank you for reaching out and sharing your concerns.

We respect that many individuals feel

strongly about the importance of adopting pets from shelters and rescue organizations. In fact, Maryland enacted a law in 2020 generally banning the sale of cats and dogs in retail pet stores.

However, Maryland law specifically permits responsible individual breeders to sell dogs and cats directly to the public. The advertiser in question, a specialty cat breeder in Laurel, adheres to state laws, to the best of our knowledge.

Our classified advertising policy permits legal businesses and services to promote themselves, provided they meet ethical and regulatory standards.

We are grateful to have readers like you who care deeply about the welfare of animals and the integrity of our publication. Your feedback is always welcome and helps inform our editorial and advertising decisions moving forward.

ANTIDEPRESSANT STUDY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Sunstone Therapies is currently recruiting participants for a Phase II study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of up to two doses of psilocybin for the treatment of major depressive disorder in adults with cancer. For more information or to sign up for the study, visit bit.ly/SunstoneStudy or call (301) 750-3401.

PET FOSTER VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Operation Paws for Homes (OPH) is a nonprofit devoted to the rescue, rehabilitation and placement of dogs and cats. The average fostering period is two weeks but can be as short as an overnight stay. OPH covers all veterinary expenses and pet supplies. For more information or to volunteer, visit bit.ly/CatFosterHoCo or call (703) 344-7320.

VOLUNTEER WITH AARP

The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915 (410) 248-9101 • Email: info@thebeaconnewspapers.com

Beacon Newspapers, Inc.

Sept. 9

Looking to give back to your community? AARP Maryland is seeking Howard County residents to join their team of volunteers. Enjoy a cup of coffee and learn about volunteer opportunities Tues., Sept. 9 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the East Columbia 50+ Senior Center, 6610 Cradlerock Way, Columbia. AARP account and registration required. For more information or to register, visit bit.ly/AARPhoco or email mdaarp@aarp.org.

Health Fitness & Fitness &

Health

DINNER AT YOUR DOORSTEP

Meal kits can be healthy, arriving readymade or prepped for cooking

HOPE FOR DEMENTIA

Know someone suffering with dementia?

BALANCING ACT

Medication, diabetes and loose footwear can make you unsteady on your feet

AI may soon interpret your test results

By John Miley

As artificial intelligence (AI) gets better at interpreting images, the tech industry is setting its sights on healthcare. Cue the AI radiologist.

The futuristic vision includes AI providing an accurate analysis of multiple medical scans, combining it with an understanding of patient history, and delivering a personalized diagnosis and course of treatment.

When paired with a trained clinician, AI tools have the potential to improve the quality of care, save time and expand access to specialist expertise, among other benefits, according to a new paper, “Multimodal generative AI for medical image interpretation,” in the medical journal Nature

The authors say early research suggests that AI “could one day match human expert performance in generating reports across disciplines, such as radiology, pathology and dermatology.”

Interpreting medical images and writing reports is a time-consuming challenge for human specialists, who may make mistakes or take a long time to release results.

Many current AI medical tools have narrow uses, like finding specific issues in a certain type of scan. A future AI model could have an expansive knowledge of multiple

types of scans, all sorts of medical conditions and a range of treatments to recommend.

Opportunity for profit

Tech giants and start-ups alike see huge moneymaking potential. Microsoft, Google and OpenAI all have AI models or research in medical imaging.

Start-up Harrison.ai recently raised $112 million in funding to speed up diagnoses for radiologists, calling its widely used tool “a second set of eyes for clinicians.”

Microsoft is working with major hospitals on AI tools to interpret thousands of conditions, trying to tap into the tens of billions of dollars health systems spend annually on imaging and uncover cost savings.

“Generative AI has transformative potential to overcome traditional barriers in AI product development and to accelerate the impact of these technologies on clinical care,” said Keith J. Dreyer, D.O., Ph.D., chief data science officer and chief imaging officer at Mass General Brigham, in a news release last summer about the Microsoft collaboration.

Risk of inaccuracy, tampering

But there are “formidable obstacles” to finding a truly helpful AI assistant in radiol-

ogy, notes the paper. AI models have been plagued by biases, inaccuracies and socalled hallucinations — the industry term for made-up answers, including false or misleading text that sounds authoritative.

Those types of flaws are nonstarters in a high-stakes medical setting unless there are strict guardrails.

There are also concerns that AI could overlook rare diseases for different populations, plus cyber fears of the tools being tampered with to deliver certain results, “leading to overprescription, insurance fraud and falsifying clinical trials,” says the paper.

However, AI models are getting better and multiple models can be used together for better results.

Human oversight needed

One thing the researchers make clear: “Human evaluation is critical.” AI tools for medical imaging need doctors to fine-tune them and better benchmarks so they can be tested and improved. Hospitals need to agree on metrics to decide when and how to rely on AI.

In the near term, AI could become a reliable assistant to clinicians, taking initial readings, drafting preliminary reports and even answering questions via a chatbot.

Increased use of generative AI will seriously pick up in coming years, aiming to save time for radiologists and help train the next generation of students.

The future for patients includes interacting with an AI doctor about test results and getting answers or even treatment suggestions in plain language. Also likely: getting a second opinion from one or multiple AI models, rather than a real doctor.

The hope is patients will have higher compliance with treatment and better outcomes through being able to ask a lot more questions and not feeling rushed during a short visit with a human doctor.

In the meantime, be wary of using free public AI tools for medical advice with your own medical scans. Uploading personal images and medical information poses big privacy risks, on top of concerns about accuracy.

So, are human radiologists on the road to extinction? No, it’s likely human judgment remains solidly in the loop, even as AI greatly improves. Plus, future regulations may prevent AI from completely taking charge.

Loneliness may not always shorten lives

By Christy Bieber

Loneliness can increase your risk of early death. This has been conventional wisdom for a long time.

Past research has shown a clear connection between social isolation and mortality, and two years ago the U.S. Surgeon General even published a lengthy advisory on

the “epidemic” of loneliness and isolation that was putting Americans at risk.

Now, however, new research is calling into question this long-held belief and, surprisingly, found that loneliness may not be quite the threat we thought it was.

In fact, the problem may be one of confusing cause and effect.

Worldwide study results

To gain further insight into the relationship between loneliness and health, researchers conducted a global study of home care recipients across three countries.

More than 300,000 older adults were included in the study, with home care recipients chosen for the research because this

population is likely to have high rates of loneliness due to complex health needs and mobility issues. This differed from other loneliness studies, many of which focused on the general population.

Surprisingly, these researchers discov-

What are the best foods for bone health?

By Caroline Thomason

Maintaining strong, healthy bones is a cornerstone of healthy aging, and it requires a combination of proper nutrition, adequate energy intake and consistent weight-bearing exercise.

Those who eat a diet high in fruits, vegetables, nuts, dairy, lean proteins and whole grains have better bone health, according to the USDA.

Essential nutrients like vitamins D and K, magnesium and protein help build and maintain bone density. Incorporating specific foods rich in these nutrients into your diet can significantly impact bone health as you age and reduce the risk of osteoporosis and fractures.

Here are six of the best foods to eat to make sure your bones are resilient throughout your life:

Dairy. Dairy products are rich sources of calcium, vitamin D and protein. Calcium is essential for building and maintaining strong bones, while vitamin D enhances calcium absorption and bone growth. Protein supports bone structure and repair.

Consuming dairy products like milk, cheese and yogurt can provide these vital nutrients, helping to prevent osteoporosis and maintain bone density throughout life.

Leafy greens. Leafy greens are rich in vitamin K content. Vitamin K plays a crucial role in bone metabolism by helping to regulate calcium and promoting the binding of calcium to the bone matrix, which strengthens bones.

Eating leafy greens like kale, spinach and broccoli can significantly contribute to maintaining bone density.

Collagen. Collagen is essential for bone health, as it provides the structural framework for bones, contributing to their strength and flexibility.

Collagen-boosting foods include bone broth, proteins, zinc and copper-dense foods (e.g., beans, beef and chicken), and vitamin C-rich foods (e.g., citrus fruits and peppers).

Nuts. Nuts have a high magnesium content, which is crucial for bone formation and maintenance. Magnesium helps in the conversion of vitamin D into its active form, enhancing calcium absorption and supporting bone density.

Prunes. Prunes are uniquely beneficial for bone health due to their composition of vitamin K, potassium, boron and polyphenols, which support bone density and may reduce the risk of fractures. They

also contain dietary fiber, calcium and magnesium, which may improve nutrient absorption and reduce inflammation.

Research shows that regular consumption of prunes can improve bone mineral density and prevent bone loss in postmenopausal women.

Salmon. Salmon is an excellent food for healthy bones because it provides vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids. Vitamin D works together with calcium for proper absorption, while consuming omega-3s may reduce bone breakdown and improve inflammation.

Reprinted with permission from Environmental Nutrition, a monthly publication of Belvoir Media Group, LLC, 1-800829-5384, EnvironmentalNutrition.com. © 2025 Belvoir Media Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

ered that lonelier individuals actually fared better than those with stronger social connections, stating, “the risk-adjusted rates of mortality were consistently lower among lonely home care clients than among those who were not lonely.”

While between 15% and 25% of home care recipients included in the study ex-

hibited loneliness, those with more complex health issues and reduced levels of activity were the most likely to be lonely — yet, their risk of death was still lower.

This meant, contrary to past evidence, this research showed that “when adjusting for age-related confounding factors, loneliness is not predictive of increased mortality risk.”

It remains important for retirees to continue to build strong social networks. Joining clubs, making regular plans with friends

and neighbors, volunteering, and enjoying nature with others are ways to tackle the loneliness problem.

MAIL OR EMAIL

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

Housing Communities

o Brooke Grove (see ad on page 24)

o Charlestown (see ad on page 6)

o Homecrest House (see ad on page 5)

o Park View at Colonial Landing (see ad on page 21)

o Park View at Columbia (see ad on page 21)

o Park View at Ellicott City (see ad on page 21)

o Park View at Emerson (see ad on page 21)

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

Clinical Health Studies

o Alzheimer’s Clinical Trials Consortium – LiBBY Study (see article on page 8)

o Smell Test Study (see ad on page 8)

Convenient, nutritious meal delivery kits

By Lori Zanteson

It takes time and energy to plan, shop and prepare meals that align with dietary needs in the midst of a calendar already bursting with daily demands. And what about nutrition knowledge and cooking skills?

Meal delivery services can help by providing healthy meals without all of that preparation and know-how. Here are some points to consider if you think meal delivery might be right for you.

How they work

A meal delivery kit is a subscription service that delivers ready-to-heat and eat meals (such as Mom’s Meals or Top Chef Meals) or pre-portioned ingredients for quicker home cooking right to your door (Blue Apron, HelloFresh).

Subscribers order meal kits on the company’s website or app, choosing the number and frequency of meals and menu choices for a week or other set period of time. The customized meal kits arrive

packaged as complete pre-cooked meals to be stored until ready to eat or packaged with meal ingredients to prepare with easyto-follow recipes.

“Meal delivery kits can be a great tool for supporting your health goals because they take the guesswork out of meal planning,” said Andrea Mathis, MA, RDN, LD, owner of Beautiful Eats & Things.

“They typically offer balanced, portioncontrolled meals that are convenient which makes it easier to stay on track,” she said.

Not only do they save time by taking care of planning, grocery shopping and meal prep, they eliminate the need for desperate dashes to the market or fast-food restaurant when the temptation to grab a less than healthy meal threatens to upend healthy dietary goals. All you need to do is choose which meals you want each week.

Discover new foods, recipes

Meal delivery kits offer many different types of flavors and cuisines, including many with global and cultural flair.

Many services to choose from

With more than 300 meal delivery kit services in the U.S., there are lots of options. Mathis suggests starting by deciding what’s most important to you, such as health goals, dietary preferences, budget or convenience.

Some meal delivery services are built upon a particular dietary pattern, like low sodium, plant-based, keto, high protein or vegan.

Whichever appeals to you, Mathis said, “Always check the nutrition information to make sure the meals align with your needs and preferences. A good meal kit should include a balance of protein, fiber and healthy fats to keep you full and satisfied.”

She also advised to double-check the sodium and added sugars and be wary of buzzwords like “clean” or “guilt-free” and marketing claims that promise unrealistic results.

If your family members have different dietary goals or food preferences, Mathis said meal delivery kits can still work.

GORDON

SCOTT

YIYUN

Each week you can try something new, which is just as enjoyable as it is inspiring. You might discover a novel way to eat asparagus or a healthy chicken recipe to add to your favorites and prepare on your own even after your meal delivery service ends.

“Many services offer customized options, allowing family members to choose meals that fit their preferences,” she said. “Some allow for add-ons or modifications, so one person can enjoy a plant-based dish while another gets a higher-protein option.”

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Health Studies INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Hope for dementia patients with agitation

By Margaret Foster

Dementia is a cruel disease, not only for the patient but everyone in their orbit. People with advanced dementia may become agitated and angry.

“Agitation in the later stages of life with dementia can be a devastating symptom for both participants and their loved ones and caregivers,” said Brigid Reynolds, Georgetown University faculty member and co-principal investigator of a new study for dementia patients.

But the go-to medications to treat agitation, such as narcotics, anti-psychotics and benzodiazepines, come with unpleasant side effects.

Meal kits

From page 6

Do a test drive

Many companies offer significant discounts on your first order to encourage people to give their service a try. Mathis recommends starting with a trial period.

“We’re very aware of significant caregiver burden associated with agitation symptoms at the end of life. We’d like to find something to improve quality of life at the end of life,” Reynolds said.

Nicknamed the LiBBY Study, the trial will determine if an oral combination of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) is effective in treating agitation in hospice-eligible participants with dementia. It will also evaluate whether or not the oral combination of THC and CBD can help to reduce potential side effects of medications typically used to calm patients.

“This is the first of its kind study,” Reynolds said. “This is the first time THC-

“Available treatments often have unwanted side effects like sedation, falls or itching. And they often don’t work to treat the agitation,” Reynolds said.

After a week, she said, “evaluate the meal delivery service to determine if it’s something that you would like to continue. If it helps reduce stress, adds variety, and supports balanced eating, great! But if it feels too rigid or expensive, there are plenty of other ways to eat well without it.”

Environmental Nutrition is the award-

CBD has been tested in this population.”

Seven visits

People age 40 and over who have dementia and agitation may be eligible for the LiBBY Study. “You don’t have to have severe dementia to be in this study,” Reynolds noted. But potential participants should be in hospice or be eligible for hospice. Her study team will help determine eligibility.

In this 12-week study, visits may take place at the participant’s residence. Each visit lasts from one to two hours. In between home visits, the study team will check in with the caregiver by phone.

The study is a randomized, double-blind trial, meaning that participants will be ran-

winning independent newsletter written by nutrition experts dedicated to providing readers up-to-date, accurate information about health and nutrition in clear, con-

domly assigned to take a digestible oil that is either THC-CBD or a placebo. At the end of 12 weeks, all study participants are invited to participate in a 12-week extension without the chance of getting the placebo.

The LiBBY Study is funded by the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Aging and coordinated by the Alzheimer’s Clinical Trials Consortium.

There are 13 clinical trial sites that are enrolling participants in the LiBBY study, including the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Howard University and Medstar Georgetown University Hospital.

For more information, see libbystudy.org, email libby@som.umaryland.edu or call (410) 328-7849 or 1-800-LiBBY-11.

smell loss

new study from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research is exploring this link. We’re calling on everyone with and without Parkinson’s to request a simple

test and contribute to important research.

or scan the QR code.

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

Wobbly? Ways to boost your balance

By Howard LeWine, M.D.

Q: Why does age affect balance, and what can help offset the change?

A : As we age, physical changes and health conditions often affect our balance, raising risk for serious injuries like hip fractures and head trauma. Everything we do to maintain our health, alertness, fitness and mobility will slow the trajectory of our declining balance.

Steady balance relies on input from your eyes, inner ears, nerves, muscles and joints — all processed by the brain. With advancing age, vision and hearing tend to diminish, nerve signals become less reliable, muscles lose strength and power and reflexes slow.

Yet good balance is the foundation for nearly every movement you make. Even if you are strong and flexible, poor balance can make routine tasks difficult — or unsafe. By identifying possible risks, you can take steps to improve your balance.

Three major categories of risk that can impair balance are those related to health, medication effects and your environment.

Health-related balance risks

Vision problems like cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration can hinder your ability to relay your location to the brain.

Inner ear conditions such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, infections or Meniere’s disease can cause vertigo. Neuropathy , often from diabetes or spine issues, reduces sensation in legs and feet.

Foot conditions, like fallen arches, can alter gait and stability.

Orthostatic hypotension, a drop in blood pressure upon standing, can cause dizziness.

Mild cognitive impairment can affect your reaction time and ability to sense where you are in a space.

Medication-related balance risks

Certain drugs can make you woozy or unsteady, such as:

• Anti-anxiety drugs

• Older antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl)

• Blood pressure medications

• Diabetes medications

• Opioids and sleep aids

Environmental balance risks

Falls can also result from your surroundings and footwear choices.

• Outdoor hazards: uneven paths, paths blocked by shrubbery or large tree roots, poor lighting, snow, ice or rain, especially if you’re not wearing footwear that grips

• Indoor hazards: clutter, loose rugs, dim lighting, slippery floors, extension cords, pets or even ill-fitting slippers or shoes that keep you from sensing the ground properly

Ways to boost balance and avoid falls

• Remove home hazards and install

safety features (grab bars, nonslip treads, handrails)

• Talk with your doctor if you think balance issues are related to medication

• Wear supportive shoes with laces to keep them snug on your feet

• Build better balance: Engage in activities like walking, yoga, tai chi or dance

• Try this exercise: Stand on one leg with the other foot lifted a few inches. Hold, then switch legs. Repeat 10 times each side. If you’re unsteady, position yourself near a counter or wall before trying the exercise. Practicing regularly will help.

Howard LeWine, M.D., is an internist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. For additional consumer health information, see health.harvard.edu.

The University of Maryland’s Legacy Leadership Institute on Public Policy, in partnership with the state of Maryland, is looking for volunteers age 50+ to serve as volunteer legislative leaders during the 2025-2026 legislative session of the Maryland General Assembly.

The twelve-week classroom training (two days per week) begins on Tuesday, September 23, 2025 and ends on Wednesday December 3rd, 2025.

Classes will be held at the University of Maryland Extension, 8930 Stanford Blvd, Suite 25, Columbia, MD 21045

The volunteer assignment will be in the legislative ofﬁces of members of the Maryland General Assembly in Annapolis. Participants will serve a minimum of two (2) days per week starting Wednesday, January 14, 2026 and ending on Monday, April 13, 2026

For more information or an application contact Wesley Queen at wqueen@umd.edu ng on April 13, 2026

Travel Leisure &

Off Japan’s beaten track via small ship

By Don Mankin

I wandered through the grounds of Japan’s Daisho-in Temple until I found the perfect spot: a small pond covered in lily pads and surrounded by trees, flowering bushes and mossy rocks. A tiny, perfectly crafted pavilion sat at the pond’s edge.

With a contented sigh, I lowered myself onto a bench for a moment of quiet contemplation.

I was on Miyajima Island, on a hill overlooking the strait between the island and the port of Hiroshima, on Heritage Expedition’s “Japan’s National Parks, Art & Culture” voyage, a small-ship expedition cruise circumnavigating Honshu, Japan’s main island.

For two weeks we docked at small towns and cities on Japan’s coastline — most of them inaccessible to large cruise ships — to see national parks, temples, shrines, museums and gardens rarely visited by Western tourists. We also stopped in Ulsan, South Korea, as well as Hiroshima and Osaka, where the cruise began and ended.

I’ve been to Japan many times but never realized just how beautiful it can be. Outside its cities and towns, the country’s largely rural landscape was carved by volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis. The scenery is dotted with rice paddies, and lush dense forests cover the hills and mountains.

As we left most every port, the locals cheered, waved, sang, shot off firecrackers, played taiko drums, or in one case, treated us to a choreographed exhibition with dancing high school girls painting calligraphy on a large canvas on the ground.

A small cruise ship

The ship, the Heritage Adventurer, accommodates 140 guests on four decks, with a lounge and two dining rooms. Most of the passengers on this cruise were from the U.S., New Zealand, Australia, the UK and Germany. They were in their 60s and 70s, educated, well-informed, thoughtful and curious, especially about the political and economic situation in the U.S.

Every day, we had at least two options for full-day shore excursions, including spectacular hikes and visits to museums, art galleries, historic villages, temples or shrines. We also had the option of staying on the ship and getting a massage; using its pool, spa or gym; lounging on the deck or in the library; or taking a nap in our staterooms.

The staff and crew gave daily presentations on topics ranging from Japanese history to its current obsession with exotic ice cream flavors.

The quaint villages we explored had at least one ice cream shop that showcased this national trend. They demonstrated Japanese ingenuity in the often unusual — if not downright bizarre — flavors, such as wasabi, squid ink, gold leaf, red bean, miso and sweet potato. I indulged often, though I stayed away from the more offbeat flavors.

National parks

Since this cruise’s theme was the national parks, art and culture of Japan, we visited several of Japan’s 34 national parks. From waterfalls to scenic hikes; placid lakes to migratory birds soaring over idyllic wetlands; a bay cruise among hundreds of pine-covered islands to cable cars hovering over steep, lush forests — the natural attractions were diverse and often breathtaking.

My favorite park was Akiyoshido Cave, one of the largest limestone caves in Japan. A one-kilometer path winds through the cave along a roaring underground river, through a soaring cavern and past astounding stalactites and stalagmites. Since my youth, when I was an avid reader of science fiction, I’ve always been interested in the otherworldly, and my leisurely stroll through this subterranean wonderland scratched this ethereal itch.

Art museums

Many of our daily options included visits to art museums, craft shops and galleries. I especially enjoyed the Adachi Museum of Art, which is a 45-minute ride from the port of Sakaiminato. This museum is renowned for its collection of modern Japanese art, as well as its award-winning gardens.

I appreciated the soft, graceful art of Yokayama Taikan, a pioneer in the development of pre-WWII Japanese painting. Most of his paintings depict landscapes swirling with clouds, mist and fog. The minimal shapes, subtle shades and gentle monochromatic gradations soothed me like no other art ever has.

Peaceful culture

Nothing has shaped contemporary Japanese culture more, particularly its attitudes toward war and peace, than the atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945.

We made a short but impactful visit to the city to see the Peace Memorial Museum, Peace Memorial Park and, most moving of all, the Children’s Peace Monument. At the monument, a large group of schoolchildren recited and sang what I assume was a wish for peace. We didn’t understand the words, but we felt the meaning and intent. Many of us, including yours truly, dabbed more than one tear from our eyes.

Traditional Japanese culture is perhaps best reflected in the Japanese garden. Among the ones we visited were two of the

most famous gardens in Japan. The first was the extensive, award-winning garden that adjoins the Adachi Museum of Art. The mix of forests, grassy hills, rocks, ponds, streams, bridges, pavilions, gravel lawns and waterfalls is framed by mountains in the background, a “borrowed landscape” that is not actually part of the garden but enhances its beauty.

The other was the Ritsurin Garden in Takamatsu, on Shikoku Island. We spent a good two hours wandering through its forests and along its koi-filled streams, observing its teahouses, pavilions, colorful water lilies, bridges and stone lanterns.

Smaller, more intimate gardens surrounded the many Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines we visited, like the Daisho-in Temple. Maybe it was the steep hill, the time of day, or the lure of stores in the charming town below offering fried oysters and “deer poop” ice cream (with chunks of chocolate) inspired by the island’s famous wild deer, but for several tranquil minutes I had the pond, pavilion and garden all to myself.

In Japan’s small cities and countryside, I found intimacy and calm. If I were rich, I would buy a house with lots of ground, cover the walls of the house with Yokayama Taikan wall hangings and screens, and install a Japanese garden or two. Then I would throw away my blood pressure meds and spend a good portion of the day just gazing, strolling and chilling out.

Heritage Expeditions hosted Don

Mankin.

Miyajima Island, located an hour from Hiroshima, is known as “shrine island” for its famous Shinto shrine. The Buddhist Daisho-in Temple is also located on the island.

Kids check out the Concord Museum in Concord, Mass. See story on opposite page.

Tourists can ride on a traditional Japanese boat in Ritsurin Garden, one of the country’s oldest “strolling gardens,” maintained for almost 400 years.

PHOTO BY MIKE RITTER

Revolutionary road trip to Massachusetts

By Glenda C. Booth

As our nation begins the celebration of its birth 250 years ago (our “semi-quincentennial”), a road trip to Massachusetts can bring to life historic events and the American revolutionary spirit.

The state started celebrating on April 18, 2025, with a re-enactment of the Battle of Lexington by the Lexington Minute Men. At 5:15 a.m., folks in period costume replicated the day in 1775 when the British sent 700 soldiers from Boston, some 20 miles away, to destroy ammunition and other supplies there.

The town’s militia confronted them, and a battle — some say a skirmish — ensued, leaving eight colonists dead and 10 wounded. “The first blood was spilt,” wrote George Washington, and the American Revolutionary War began.

Lexington, then, made the perfect starting point for a closer look at this chapter of U.S. history. My walking tour was a refresher of my high school history class. I started in the history museum and then explored the 1710 Buckman Tavern, where the militia awaited the Redcoats. The bell in the Old Belfry, erected in 1762, summoned the militia and rang out the alarm that the British were coming. The Munroe Tavern, which British troops seized during the war, hosted both Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette after

the war; it’s now a museum.

After Lexington, the Brits marched to Concord to ransack more supplies. I spent some time in the Concord Museum, which has more artifacts from April 1775 (including Paul Revere’s iron-and-glass lantern that signaled the British arrival) than any other museum.

Minute Man National Historical Park, located in nearby Lincoln, tells the story of these early conflicts amid a still-pastoral landscape. The visitor center’s film recounts how these men, named because they were ready to fight on a moment’s notice, bravely took up arms against trained British forces.

The Old North Bridge over the Concord River in the park was another battle site. Ralph Waldo Emerson later immortalized the bridge in his 1837 poem “Concord Hymn” about the start of the Revolutionary War, coining the phrase “the shot heard ‘round the world.” (Historians debate which was the first shot, who fired it and why.)

Revolutionary thinkers

The area’s history started long before 1775, of course. The Concord Museum’s exhibits relate that Indigenous people wintered in the area 10,000 years ago. The Algonquin called the region “water running through grasses.” English settlers

displaced most of them.

I meandered along Main Street in Concord, which looks much as it did in Colonial times, with the addition of several hip restaurants. The 1716 Colonial Inn and 1747 Wright Tavern don’t serve food anymore, but they’re both open for tours.

The Lexington-Concord area was home to revolutionary free thinkers in the 19th century: Emerson, Louisa May Alcott and Henry David Thoreau. Emerson drafted his essay “Nature” in the Old Manse, a 1770

Georgian clapboard house. You can also visit Orchard House, known as “the Home of Little Women,” because it’s where Alcott wrote her book in 1868.

As Americans ponder the origins of America’s independence, this hub of revolutionary thinking and activism affirms the fundamentals of our democracy and the need to preserve them.

For upcoming events, see tourlexington.us/ events, lexington250.com/events or visitconcord.org/concord-250/concord-250-events.

allow families to make arrangements online or over the phone; we work on your schedule and in your budget.

Upcoming Programs for 50 Years + Recreation & Parks

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

Special Events

NEW! Salsa Sensations

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month as we immerse ourselves in the energetic and fun world of Latin dance. Join a community of music lovers and feel the spirit of our vibrant Hispanic community. All experience levels welcome. Snacks and water provided. Food available for purchase. Info: 410-313-0860.

All agesHarriet Tubman Ctr

RP4461.501Sep 177-9:30pmWFree

RP4461.502Oct 17-9:30pmWFree

RP4461.503Oct 157-9:30pmWFree

NEW! Sitting at the Feet of Our Elders

Join us for an afternoon of intergenerational sharing and learning! This storytelling event provides participants with the opportunity to hear firsthand from experienced community members and history makers. Choose two topics to engage with and learn about. Participants under 10 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Volunteers welcome. Preregistration recommended but not required. Info: 410-313-0860.

All agesHarriet Tubman Ctr

RP4460.501SpeakersSep 132-4:30pmSaFree

RP4460.502LearnersSep 132-4:30pmSaFree

NEW! Comic Book Exchange

Immerse yourself in the world of comics surrounded by people who are just as interested as you are. Program is aimed to help and promote literacy and a joy of reading. You are welcome to come read, review, and take a few! Comic book donations in good condition are being accepted. Donations can be dropped off September 1-19 during center hours. Volunteers are welcome. Preregistration is recommended. Info: 410-313-0860.

All agesHarriet Tubman Ctr

RP4463.502Sep 254-7pmThFree

NEW! Howard County Veteran-Owned Small Business Expo and Fall Fest

Join us and support this one-of-a-kind event highlighting veteran-owned small businesses! Enjoy live entertainment, food and fun activities for the family. This is in collaboration with the Howard County Office of Veterans & Military Services and the Howard County Economic Development Authority. Info: Danielle Bassett, 410-313-4634 or dbassett@howardcountymd.gov.

All agesMaryland Innovation Center (Columbia) Sep 27Noon-4pmSa Free

NEW! Naturalmente Latino: A Hispanic Heritage Celebration

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with the Robinson Nature Center and community partners! Explore the influences of nature in Latin American culture through a guided walk on the trail. Focus on plants related to those of Hispanic heritage. Create masks and percussion instruments using natural materials and connect with literature. End the night with a planetarium show highlighting the constellations only visible in the Southern Hemisphere and folklore surrounding the sky. All children must be accompanied by a registered adult. Info/Registration: 410-313-0400.

6 yrs +Robinson Nature Ctr RP4815.501Sep 273-5pmSa$10

NEW! Suicide Awareness & Prevention Resource Fair

Join us as we partner with local organizations to provide community resources to members and families dealing with mental health challenges. Volunteers are welcome. Registration for vendors and service providers is required. Preregistration for event attendees is recommended but not required. Info: 410-313-0860.

All agesHarriet Tubman Ctr

RP4462.501Service ProvidersSep 186-9pmThFree

RP4462.502AttendeesSep 187-8:30pmThFree

NEW! Fall Native Plant Palooza

Shop our outdoor native plant sale in the fall! Select from a large variety of shrubs, wildflowers, ground covers, trees, and edible native plants. Fall is the perfect time for planting native plants that are more tolerant to the local climate, pest species, and soil nutrients. Native plants are a great food and habitat source for local species of insects and birds. Off-site parking with complimentary shuttle is available. Info: 410-313-0400 or www.howardcountymd.gov/plantnatives.

All agesRobinson Nature Ctr

RP4873.501Sep 21Noon-4pmSuFree

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

Dance

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

Beginner/Intermediate Soul Line Dance

Explore your own style of dance while learning fun, social line dances that can be done at weddings, holiday functions, and more. The class is partner-free and designed for all levels. Line up and learn the step-by-step choreography taught by instructor Jessie Barnes. Multiple dances are performed to great pop and rhythm and blues music. 50 yrs +Instructor: Jessie BarnesClasses: 6No class 9/23

RP3511.501Harriet Tubman CtrSep 911am-noonTu$59

Dance

on Broadway

Explore dance steps inspired by current and long-time Broadway musicals! Learn musical theater choreography that challenges your mind and body while you get a workout! Appropriate for all levels. Wear clothing you can move in and bring a water bottle. No shoes are required, but a jazz shoe/ sneaker may be worn for ankle support. 50 yrs +Classes: 13

RP3504.501Kinetics Dance ThtrSep 811am-noonM$165

Fitness

NEW! Strength & Agility with MaxxFit

Join Maxxfit for a comprehensive fitness journey designed for active adults who want to build strength, improve agility, and enhance their overall fitness! This dynamic 45-minute class is structured into three focused segments and combines strength training, cardiovascular conditioning, and core stabilization to deliver a complete full-body workout. Increase strength and muscle tone, improve cardiovascular fitness, enhance balance and coordination, gain better core stability and posture, and increase metabolic rate and energy levels. The class offers modifications suitable for all levels. Info: Tessa Hurd, 410-313-7311 or thurd@howardcountymd.gov.

50 yrs +Classes: 10

RP3534.501Roger Carter CCSep 14Noon-1pmSu$119

Genealogy

Beginner’s Guide to Genealogy

Learn about the world of genealogy! Gain an understanding of the basics of family history research and the tools needed to navigate the information. Gain strategies to organize your research. You should have computer literacy. Bring your laptop or tablet to each class as there are hands-on activities that require using your devices for research. Info: Tessa Hurd, 410-313-7311 or thurd@howardcountymd.gov.

50 yrs +Instructor: Karen GieseClasses: 3

RP3500.501Gary J Arthur CCSep 251-2:30pmTh$72

Photography

Digital Photography 101

With today’s digital cameras, anyone can take great pictures! Come learn by focusing on the fundamentals. Learn the elements and techniques that produce compelling photos; then practice your new skills while photographing Belmont’s historic manor and grounds. Digital camera is required (DSLR, mirrorless or point-and-shoot with manual controls). Info: Tessa Hurd, 410-313-7311 or thurd@howardcountymd.gov.

50 yrs +Instructor: John GuionClasses: 4

RP3521.501Belmont ManorSep 99:30-11:30amTu$95

STEM

NEW! Brain Builders

Looking for a fun and engaging way to exercise your brain? With LEGO®, participate in hands-on science and engineering challenges to life, helping you strengthen problem-solving skills, enhance memory, and enjoy social learning in a collaborative setting. Using interactive building activities, engage in exciting logic puzzles, creative design challenges, and hands-on experiments that keep your mind active and engaged. Whether you’re recognizing patterns, constructing unique designs, or translating ideas into models, every session is designed to boost cognitive function while having fun! Info: Tessa Hurd, 410-313-7311 or thurd@howardcountymd.gov.

50 yrs +Instructor: Whiz Kid AcademyClasses: 6

RP3546.501Gary J Arthur CCSep 1810:30-11:30amTh$99

•

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

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts: “Frida – Beyond the Myth”

Twentieth-century Mexican Artist Frida Kahlo continues to fascinate with her arresting gaze, signature fashion, and trailblazing legacy. The exhibition showcases many of her most important paintings and drawings from the beginning of her career in 1926 until her death in 1954. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts opened in 1936 and is one of the largest museums in the United States. Enjoy viewing 5,000 years of art from around the world. Have a delicious and relaxing lunch on your own at either the onsite Amuse Restaurant or Best Café! Moderate walking required. 18 yrs +Bus provided RP4791.501 Sep 188:30am-5pmTh$99

Meet You There! The ClayGround –Falling Leaves Mosaics

All are welcome. Enjoy your first mosaic class and walk away with something beautiful! With guidance from your instructor, learn how to cut glass into desired shapes, (or choose pieces that have already been cut). You may select pre-cut mosaic tiles, beads, sea glass, and more to create a fantastic piece of personalized art.

18 yrs +ClayGround Studio

RP4571.501Sep 2511am-1pmTh$79

The National Arboretum

The U.S. National Arboretum is a collections-based research facility and public garden of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Established in 1927 by an act of Congress, the Arboretum aims to increase the aesthetic, environmental and economic importance of landscape and ornamental plants. The attraction does so through gardens and exhibits, long-term botanical research and conservation of resources. The gorgeous, 446-acre property makes for an inspiring and visually captivating visit at any time of the year. Nine miles of winding roadways and many more paths connect the gardens and natural areas across the grounds. Pack a picnic lunch and enjoy the beautiful scenery! Moderate walking required.

18 yrs +Bus provided RP4546.501Sep 269am-3pmF$89

Scan the QR code or visit tinyurl.com/RPtrips for more trips & tours!

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September is National Senior Center Month!

Powering Possibilities: Flip the Script, the 2025 Senior Center Month theme, challenges outdated perceptions of aging and senior centers; more than 10,000 senior centers across the country offer inclusive, engaging spaces where older adults thrive. Visits to Howard County’s six 50+ Centers increased 27% last year, with more than 55,000 participants in 12,000+ program sessions. Center directors say the friendships are what keeps their members coming back. Older adults find purpose and a sense of community at our centers and enjoy the health benefits of social connection, physical exercise and mental stimulation. Sign up for a topic of interest – history, art, music, fitness – and you will meet like-minded people in a low-pressure environment. Find a center near you at www.howardcountymd.gov/50pluscenters or explore programs and register on ActiveNet.

English Conversation Class

North Laurel 50+ Center | September 3, 4 p.m. | A50610.400

Open to all levels, this free class offers a relaxed space to practice speaking English and build confidence. Meet new people and improve your skills through casual, supportive conversation.

Gardening for Birds

Elkridge 50+ Center

September 11, 1 p.m. | A05609.400

Calling all bird lovers! Want to see more feathered friends in your yard? Join Master Gardener Paul Bears from the UMD Extension Program and learn how to create a bird-friendly garden that invites frequent visits from your favorite feathered friends!

Social Security: Your Questions Answered

East Columbia 50+ Center

September 15, 11 a.m. | A04914.401

Are you nearing retirement and have questions about Social Security? Explore how Social Security fits into your retirement income plan, when you should start taking benefits, tax issues and more.

Senior Planet presents: Saving Money with Tech

Ellicott City 50+ Center

September 16, 23 & 30, 1 p.m. | A20673.404

Learn about free tools available on your device which can help you manage and save money. Attend any or all sessions:

Week 1: Saving Money with Tech

Week 2: Digital Coupon Tools

Week 3: Understanding Internet Plans

9830 Patuxent Woods Drive, Columbia, MD 21046 410-313-6410 (VOICE/RELAY) • www.howardcountymd.gov/aging

Find us @HoCoCommunity on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and Nextdoor

AVAILABLEINALTERNATEFORMATSUPONREQUEST

Join the subscriber list https://bit.ly/HoCosubscribe

Listen to the HoCo Community Chat podcast on Buzzsprout

Leave the Leaves

East Columbia 50+

September 16, 1 p.m. | A04625.400

Allowing fallen leaves to remain in place on lawns and gardens instead of raking, blowing, or bagging them can improve soil health, reduce pollution and support wildlife. Join Master Gardener Elizabeth Rhoades to get the details.

Energy Assistance Presentation

North Laurel 50+ Center

September 18, 10:30 a.m. | A06645.401 or call 410-313-0380

Brandi Nieland from the Maryland Office of People’s Counsel will discuss available options like payment arrangements, energy assistance programs and weatherization services to help with high utility costs.

Almost Fall Tea Time

Ellicott City 50+ Center

September 19, 2 p.m. | A02744.401 or call 410-313-1400

Welcome fall with a cup of tea and sweet treats – it’s the perfect time to gather, chat and savor the season together. Fancy hats are optional but encouraged! Sponsored by Visiting Angels.

A Grand Day Out: Wild About Grandparents!

Ellicott City 50+ Center

September 23, 10:30 a.m. | A02744.400

Celebrate Grandparents’ Day with a walk on the wild side. A Carrie Murray Nature Center naturalist will introduce us to friendly animal ambassadors; learn what makes them unique. It’s a school holiday, so bring your grandchildren aged 4-11! Cost: $5/person.

KASA Thrift Sale

Bain 50+ Center | September 24, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Looking for bargains? The Korean American Senior Association of Howard County (KASA) will hold a thrift sale to benefit the Vivian Reid Fund. Shop for gently used clothing, jewelry, small household items, handcrafts and more. Food will be available for purchase.

History Alive: Juliette Gordon Low

Glenwood 50+ Center | September 24, 11 a.m. | A03466.400

Get to know the remarkable. Juliette Gordon Low, founder of the Girl Scouts of the USA, brought to life by award-winning actress and historian Mary Ann Jung. Discover how Daisy Low’s vision and determination helped shape generations of young women into leaders.

To register or find more events, visit bit.ly/HoCoRegistration

Search the Department of Labor’s “lost and found” database for missing IRAs. See opposite page.

MoneyMoney Law & For good discounts, join orgs or just ask

By Jim Miller

Dear Savvy Senior,

My husband and I are in our 50s and would like to know what resources you recommend for locating senior discounts, and what age do they kick in?

—Frugal Fay

Dear Fay,

One of the great perks of growing older in America is the many discounts that are available. There are literally thousands of senior discounts on a wide variety of products and services, including restaurants, travel and lodging, entertainment, retail, health, grocery stores, automotive services and much more.

These discounts — typically ranging between 5 and 25 percent off — can add up to save you hundreds of dollars each year.

So, if you don’t mind admitting your age, here are some tips to help you locate the discounts you may be eligible for.

Always ask

The first thing to know is that most businesses don’t advertise them, but many give senior discounts, so don’t be shy about asking.

You also need to know that while some

discounts are available as soon as you turn 50, many others may not kick in until you turn 55, 60, 62 or 65.

Search online

Because senior discounts frequently change and can vary depending on where you live and the time of year, the internet is the easiest way to locate them.

A good place to start is at TheSeniorList.com (click on the “Money” tab), which provides a large list of discounts in restaurants, grocery stores, retail stores, prescription medications, travel and more.

You can also search for discounts by provider. Go to any standard search engine like Google and type in the business or organization you’re curious about, followed by “senior discount” or “senior discount tickets.” Or use an AI tool like Chat GPT or Gemini to do a search.

If you use a smartphone, you can even use an app called the “Senior Discounts & Coupons” app (available in the App Store), which categorizes discounts by age and type.

Join a club

Another good avenue to senior dis-

counts is through membership organizations like AARP, which offers its members age 50 and older a wide variety of discounts through affiliate businesses. See AARP.org/ViewMyBenefits.

Other organizations you can join that provide discounts include the Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC.us), the American Automobile Association (AAA.com) and, for retired federal workers, the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE.org).

Types of discounts

Here’s an abbreviated rundown of some of the different types of discounts you can expect to find.

Restaurants : Senior discounts are common at restaurants and fast-food establishments like Chili’s, Denny’s, Golden Corral, Outback Steakhouse, McDonald’s and Sonic, ranging from free/discounted drinks to discounts off your total order.

Retailers : Many thrift stores, like Goodwill, Value Village and Salvation Army, and certain retailers like Kohl’s, Michaels, Ross, Petsmart and Walgreens stores offer a break to seniors on certain days of the week.

Supermarkets: Many locally owned grocery stores offer senior discount programs, as do some chains like Harris Teeter or Fred Meyer, which offer discounts on certain days of the week. Ask your local store.

Travel: American, Delta and United Airlines provide discounted senior fares for select destinations in the U.S. to passengers 65 plus, while British Airlines offers AARP members $65 off economy seats. Amtrak provides a 10 percent discount to travelers over 65. Most car rental companies give discounts to 50-plus customers or AARP members.

Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and Carnival cruise lines offer discounted rates to cruisers 55 and over. And most hotels offer these discounts, usually ranging from 10 to 30 percent.

Entertainment: Most movie theaters, museums, golf courses, ski slopes and other public entertainment venues provide reduced admission to people over 60 or 65. And the National Park Service offers a Senior Lifetime Pass for those 62 and older for $80.

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

Use a decoy email address with strangers

By Kelvin Chan

So much of the internet now requires that you hand over your email address before you’re able to use any services — from an app you’ve downloaded to signing up for a newsletter or redeeming a special offer online.

But who says you have to give your real email address? Next time you’re asked, consider using an email mask.

There are a growing number of services that give out disguised email addresses and relay messages to your actual address. Experts say this can be a powerful tool to safeguard privacy and security.

Here are some pointers on the whys and hows of email masking.

Mask on

The idea behind email masking is simple. The masking service gives you a randomized address you can use as a decoy instead of your actual email. It can be a se-

ries of unrelated words or a string of letters and numbers.

When someone sends a message to the burner email, it will be automatically routed to your address without anyone knowing.

Providers include DuckDuckGo’s Email Protection service, Firefox Relay from browser maker Mozilla, email service FastMail and independent services like Addy.io. The encrypted service Proton Mail offers email masking with its password manager and standalone SimpleLogin service. There are many others.

It’s also one of the features Apple offers subscribers of its iCloud+ or Apple One services. When you’re using the Safari browser app on your iPhone and need to input your email, you can tap the field above the onscreen keyboard to “Hide My Email,” which then creates a random address as a substitute.

It’s also available on Mac computers with the desktop Safari browser or Mail

app. If you’re using a different browser or app, you can still manually create a random email address by going into your iCloud settings.

Most masking services have a dashboard control panel where you can view the various alias addresses you’ve activated. If you notice one starting to get a lot of spam, just turn it off.

When should I use it?

Mask your email when you want to add an extra layer of privacy or protect yourself from data leaks or unauthorized information sharing.

An email mask is a “general-purpose tool that can be used in any context,” said Santiago Andrigo, principal product manager at Mozilla.

He recommends using it in two key situations. The first is when you’re unsure what a website will do with your email address.

“Masking your email gives you control

— if you start receiving unwanted messages, you can easily block any emails coming to that email mask,” Andrigo said.

The second scenario is “when your association with a service could reveal sensitive personal information,” he said. For example, if you join an online community for a specific medical condition or a minority group, a data breach could expose your participation.

Why withhold your email address? There are myriad reasons not to give out your email address to anyone who wants it.

It could be sold to marketers or shady data brokers, eroding your privacy by helping them build a profile of you for legitimate or nefarious purposes.

If your address ends up on the wrong

PHOTO BY JAN

Does a prior employer owe you benefits?

For many years, the Pension Retirement Center (PRC), a nonprofit organization, has provided services at no cost related to individual retirement plans.

The center has encouraged the development of a database of information about benefits that employees are entitled to from previous retirement plans. As a result of the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022, the Department of Labor created such a database.

The information filed should identify the separated, vested participants who are age 65 or older and may be owed benefits. It can also contain information regarding survivor benefits.

THE SAVINGS GAME

If you believe you are entitled to assets in a retirement plan from prior employment, it is to your advantage to access this “lost and found” database at lostandfound.dol.gov.

By Elliot Raphaelson

Currently, the database, known as Retirement Savings Lost and Found, includes information provided by retirement plan administrators and authorized third parties, such as plan record keepers.

Decoy email

From page 16

To access the database, you’ll be required to provide your legal first and last name, your date of birth, your Social Security number, a copy of the front and back of your driver’s license, and have the use of a mobile device. If you don’t have access to a mobile device, there are alternative methods (see Login.gov).

After providing that information, you will be able to access information from the database, after specifying an email address and a language preference, assenting to a “rule of use” agreement, and following authentication procedures.

You would enter your employer’s name

mailing list, it could result in more junk or phishing emails. And if an online service is hacked, attackers could make off with logins, passwords and other personal information.

BEACON BITS

Sept. 27

Using unique passwords for all your online accounts — typically with the help of a password manager — is a good cybersecurity practice.

“But the real pain point for any user is actually not the password getting leaked,

VETERAN BUSINESS EXPO & FESTIVAL

Shop veteran- and military spouse-owned small businesses at this free expo and fall festival featuring live entertainment, food trucks, games, resources, giveaways and service dogs. Vendor applications open. Come Sat., Sept. 27 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Maryland Innovation Center, 6751 Columbia Gateway Dr., Columbia. For more information, visit bit.ly/VetBusinessExpo or call (410) 313-0821.

into what is known as a WOW application, and do a search to see if information from your former employer is in the database.

Ed Note: According to the Department of Labor, the website can’t help you find individual retirement accounts (IRAs) or plans sponsored by government entities or certain religious organizations. It only allows you to search for reported retirement benefits provided by private-sector employers or unions. Additionally, the website does not include information about Social Security benefits.

Where to ask for help

It is possible that some information in the database is obsolete, and you have already received all the compensation you were entitled to.

If you believe you were entitled to compensation from a prior retirement account, and that information is not contained in the database, you still can use the services of PRC to assist you.

but actually the email getting leaked,” said Proton CEO Andy Yen.

Changing your password after a data breach is standard practice, but it’s a lot harder to change another piece of sensi-

Ongoing

You should ask a PRC representative if there is an ongoing pension counseling project available in which you could receive free legal assistance.

If you are not located within a pension counseling project service area, you may be able to obtain free legal assistance from the Pension Help America website (pensionhelp.org or 1-888-420-6550).

If none of those options are available, you can fill out a form available at PRC (pensionrights.org), specifying a statement of your problem and actions you have already taken.

Bottom line: Even if the Department of Labor database does not contain information regarding assets you believe you are entitled to from prior retirement accounts, you can receive support from PRC with other alternatives.

tive information, your email address — unless you’re using a mask.

Associated Press Technology Writer Barbara Ortutay contributed to this report.

PLEIN AIR SKETCHES OF MARYLAND

The Artists Gallery’s featured show for September is “Plein Air Sketches of Maryland” by Rana Geralis. The free exhibit features her oil paintings of historic homes, the Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River. An opening reception will be held Sun., Sept. 7 from 2 to 5 p.m. at 8197 Main St., Ellicott City, and the exhibit runs until Sunday, Sept. 28. Gallery hours are Wednesdays from 11 to 3 p.m. and Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit artistsgalleryec.com or call (443) 325-5936.

BEACON BITS

Arts & Style

Anthology showcases voices of women

By Audrey Partington

Joy, sorrow and hope are among the many emotions expressed by local women in a new compilation of their writing, Grit & Gravity.

Published in May by American University, the literary journal is the 11th volume in the series devoted to women writers in the D.C. area. Since the anthology’s founding in 2004 by American University professor and publisher Richard Peabody, the project has included the works of more than 500 women.

“I started the anthology because there didn’t seem to be many published works by Washington-area women,” Peabody told the Beacon

“At the time, I had a group of aspiring women writers attending my classes at American University, which provided a pool of material for a compilation. But over the years, I felt the anthology should be edited by a woman.”

So in 2018, Melissa Scholes Young, a literature professor at American University, took over. She’s still the editor of the anthology but noted that “Richard had the vision.” Young, Peabody and many of the 38 contributors to the new volume attended the

book launch at D.C.’s Politics & Prose bookstore on May 7. A dozen authors read excerpts from their work.

First-timers, seasoned writers

For some, like 50-something Shani Hinton-Miller, this is the first time their work has been published. Although HintonMiller has been writing since she was a humanities major in college, illness periodically interrupted her efforts. First there was a stroke in her 20s, followed by a diagnosis of bipolar disorder as a young mother. It was during her recovery that Hinton-Miller realized that writing could help her heal.

“I felt my head stabilize, and I could feel the fresh breezes I had been missing,” she writes in her first published essay, “The Smell of Ink.”

“I could smell life again, and it smelled like the ink inside a pen. I knew what I had to do. I picked up a pen and paper and, with my kids in mind, I started to write.”

Another writer returned to her first love, creative writing, in retirement. After decades of sharing her love of language and literature in the classroom, teacher

Carol Westreich Solomon of Clarksburg, Maryland, published a young adult novel, a collection of short stories, magazine articles and an essay in the new anthology.

In her essay “Beauty,” Solomon describes taking skincare advice from her preteen granddaughter. At 75, she writes, “there aren’t too many minutes left, but this I can’t say to her because it seems dreadfully morbid. Instead I say, ‘I try to save my minutes for my grandchildren.’”

Clarksburg writer Carol Solomon read her essay at Politics & Prose in May, along with several others whose work was published in Grit & Gravity. Launched in 2004, the annual anthology series publishes a new collection of essays and stories by local women.

Peace of Mind is Priceless

PHOTO BY AUDREY

Lynne Johnson teaches a free Shakespeare class at the new East Columbia 50+ Center. Our cover story continues on page 20.

PHOTO BY EDWARD WARNER

Shakespeare

From page 1

senior center in Georgia in 1999.

“The minute I started, they’d have to drag me away,” she recalled.

Johnson does what she loves for the joy of it. She’s one of several volunteers who teach classes at the East Columbia 50+ Center, which in March celebrated the one-year anniversary of the opening of its new building, increasing the center’s space tenfold, to 29,000 square feet.

Volunteer teacher for 26 years

During her 17-year stint living in the Atlanta area, Johnson taught a weekly Shakespeare class and belonged to two Shakespeare reading groups, where attendees read plays aloud.

Now, having relocated to Maryland with

her husband after his retirement, Johnson conducts a Shakespeare reading group that has the scholarly richness of a collegelevel class.

As the group of a dozen or more students begins a new play, Johnson provides copies of the extensive notes she wrote about the play while teaching it in Georgia.

Then, as the class reads each new act in the play, she sets the stage by describing what’s to come, clarifying the plot so readers know the context of their lines.

Recently, she ended a class with a video of some of her favorite Shakespearean actors doing famous soliloquies.

Free classes at 50+ centers

Johnson’s class is free because, as in Georgia, she works as a volunteer.

Volunteers are especially important to the East Columbia center because when it

reopened just over a year ago, it had a huge new space to fill. So, the center issued a call for volunteers to lead activities and services.

As many as 60 people stepped up, according to the center’s director, Meridy McCague. The volunteers started a book club, chess group, a men’s discussion group and a grief-recovery group, among other offerings.

“The volunteer effort here has been exhilarating,” McCague said. “We’re dazzled by the new things we’d be able to offer” at the center, which gets 3,000 to 4,000 visits per month.

McCague admitted that she was unsure Johnson’s proposed Shakespeare class would succeed, but since its launch, “it has gone to great heights,” she said.

Favorite play and sonnet

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

DEBBY VIVARI

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

MILLIE ROGERS

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

BILL LEWIS

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

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

So how does Johnson get her students engaged? Her recipe for doing so is simple.

First, she suggests, watch a performance or a video of the play you’re planning to read, so you can know in advance what the story is about, given how Elizabethan language can confuse modern ears.

Next, learn about Shakespeare’s poetic techniques, such as alliteration and iambic pentameter, so you’ll “really see the poetry,” she said. Then read the play alone or with classmates.

BEACON BITS

Sep.t 3

Her favorite play, of course, is Shakespeare’s longest and perhaps most meaningful: Hamlet, a work she calls “unique in all literature.” She’s seen Hamlet performed 10 times on stage — and 15 times as a film.

Surprisingly, her favorite Shakespearean performance wasn’t someone in the role of Hamlet, but rather Ian McKellen as lead in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Macbeth. Yet she also admits a fondness for Denzel Washington in his recent turn on Broadway as Othello and Ralph Fiennes as Macbeth in a Shakespeare Theater Company performance in Washington, D.C.

As for Johnson’s favorite sonnet by Shakespeare, hers is number 29.

“For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings/That then I scorn to change my state with kings,” the sonnet reads. In other words, true wealth lies in our friendships.

She says it reminds us that, when others are happy but you’re not, the recollection of deep friendships can take away the sting. As Johnson tells her students, Shakespeare’s words have as much power now as they did 400 years ago.

For a list of classes at 50+ Centers, some of which charge fees, go to howardcountymd.gov/recreation-parks/programs#programs-by-age and click on Active Adult Programs.

HEALTHY AGING HAPPY HOUR

Celebrate wellness and vitality with Howard County Aging and Independence. Watch fitness demonstrations, connect with your community, get inspired to move and discover fun ways to stay active and healthy. Light nonalcoholic refreshments served. The free event takes place Wed., Sept. 3 from 11 a.m. to noon at the Bain 50+ Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia. For more information or to register, visit bit.ly/HealthyAgingHoCo or call (410) 313-7213.

Women writers

From page 19

Essays on marriage, dating

The personal stories in the anthology describe a wide range of female experiences, from motherhood to widowhood.

In one essay, “Circling,” Kara Kinnamon writes about struggling, after a miscarriage, to “prove I am mother material.” In another, Jane Palmer writes about the bureaucracy of life and death in a same-sex marriage.

Losing her mother suddenly gave Archana Pyati “a crash course on what it’s like to live with my 92-year-old father, who we all thought (and secretly hoped) would

BEACON BITS

Sept.

ENCORE UNIVERSITY

Sing with a chorus this fall. Encore Chorale is offering an “Encore University” of five 10-week online music sessions, each one day of the week. The classes are underwritten by AARP, so you can pay whatever you want or even take all five for free. The fall session starts in October, with registration in September. For more information or to register for the classes, visit bit.ly/EncoreFall or call (301) 261-5747.

TOOL LIBRARY

Ongoing

Did you know you can borrow power tools and other handy necessities from the Howard County Library? Check out the DIY collection at the Elkridge Branch, 6540 Washington Blvd., Elkridge. For more information, visit bit.ly/HoCoLibraryTools or call (410) 313-5077.

die first.” In her essay “Crossing Black Water,” Pyati ponders her mother’s married life and that of her maternal ancestors. “As I mourn her, I wonder, did she get anything out of marrying him? What was in it for her? Was marriage something simply to abide?”

Another writer shares what it’s like to date again. According to Adrienne Benson, “The danger of dating other women’s husbands is real when you’re in your 50s, but it’s not what you think.” In her essay “Other Women’s Husbands,” she writes, “The wives of the men I meet on dating apps are gone. They left years ago — in some cases, decades ago. But sometimes, those wives remained curled in the man’s mind, tightly wound as jack-in-the-boxes, ready to spring.”

An ex-wife herself, Benson intends to fall in love again without losing her voice. “I won’t let the silence settle in but reach through it. I’ll be braver this time,” she writes.

Most of the essays in Grit & Gravity

have a thread of hope in them, like one by Tammy Vitale. Though she never uses the word “widow” in her essay “Dream,” Vitale describes how it feels to lose a spouse. “He is in the past, for all my wishing it were otherwise, and I am here and now,

ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

and starting to look forward to making my yard into a total garden.”

Grit & Gravity is available for purchase for $24.99 at Politics & Prose and other local independent bookstores and online at politics-prose.com/books.

MOST COMMUNITIES ARE 62 AND BETTER

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY

The Greens at Hammonds Lane: 410-636-1141

Park View at Furnace Branch: 410-761-4150

Park View at Severna Park: 410-544-3411

BALTIMORE CITY

Ednor Apartments I: 410-243-0180

Ednor Apartments II: 410-243-4301

The Greens at Irvington Mews: 410-644-4487

Park Heights Place: 410-578-3445

Park View at Ashland Terrace: 410-276-6440

Park View at Coldspring: 410-542-4400

BALTIMORE COUNTY

Cove Point Apartments I: 410-288-2344

Cove Point Apartments II: 410-288-1660

Evergreen Senior Apartments: 410-780-4888

The Greens at English Consul: 410-789-3000

The Greens at Liberty Road: 410-655-1100

The Greens at Logan Field: 410-288-2000

The Greens at Rolling Road: 410-744-9988

Park View at Catonsville: 410-719-9464

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

Park View at Fullerton: 410-663-0665

Park View at Miramar Landing: 410-391-8375

Park View at Randallstown: 410-655-5673

BALTIMORE COUNTY (CONT.)

Park View at Rosedale: 410-866-1886

Park View at Taylor: 410-663-0363

Park View at Towson: 410-828-7185

Park View at Woodlawn: 410-281-1120

EASTERN SHORE

Park View at Easton: 410-770-3070

HARFORD COUNTY

Park View at Bel Air: 410-893-0064

Park View at Box Hill: 410-515-6115

HOWARD COUNTY

Park View at Colonial Landing: 410-796-4399

Park View at Columbia: 410-381-1118

Park View at Ellicott City: 410-203-9501

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

Park View at Emerson: 301-483-3322

Park View at Snowden River: 410-290-0384

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

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

Park View at Laurel: 301-490-1526

Park View at Laurel II: 301-490-9730

Crossword Puzzle

Find Four Planets By Stephen Sherr Scrabble answers on p. 21.

Across

1. Piece of graduation regalia

5. A double rainbow has two

9. ___ Breaky Heart

13. Ralph Lauren brand

14. Entices

16. “State your ___: guilty or not guilty”

17. Tylenol and fentanyl

19. Regular at Cheers

5. Native Alaskan

6. Actress/model Rene

7. Apple dessert with a sweet topping

8. Religious offshoot

9. Sleep condition that affects about 25% of adults

10. Prepared for the siege

11. That girl

12. Thanksgiving ingredient

20. AL, AK, AZ, AR, AS, CA, and CO

22. On the summit of

23. Iron-containing compound (and an anagram of AHEM”)

25. Risk game boards

28. Place to board the B&O

30. ___ little dance...

32. Floaters in hot chocolate

37. Doctrines

38. Cool and distant

39. Visiting our solar system’s most volcanic moon

40. “It gave me the ick”

43. Pull a boat into harbor

44. Network-based med. plan

45. The longest periods of geologic time

46. It may help pay an Argentine fine

48. “If the ___ fits, wear it”

51. Poverty

58. Right-hand man

60. Chapter in a literary anthology

61. Some say that omega-3 fatty acids enhance it

62. Brief and to the point

63. First name in M*A*S*H opening credits

64. Undersized

65. No longer obscured

66. Members of a coven

Relaxation destinations 2. First-rate

3. Russian or Pole

4. The lowest-calorie part of a donut

15. They assign you a nbr. just after birth

18. Grind your teeth

21. Leave frozen chicken on the counter

24. Recurring elements in art

25. Combination of elements from different sources in art

26. Final showdown between good and evil

27. “Hey, buddy...”

28. Jukebox orifice

29. Protein on the vegan menu

31. Beginning on

32. Item in a catcher’s travel bag

33. Wham bam thank you ___

34. In addition

35. Hawaii’s Mauna ___ volcano

36. Lead singer for U2

41. “Slow down please, Trigger”

42. Good locations for scuba diving

47. Disreputable

48. Like a sailor on ___ leave

49. Athlete at Pimlico

50. Between “sometimes” and “usually”

52. These three are all up to U

53. First words in titles of most books about hobbits

54. State represented at the Four Corners Monument

55. Easier name for “The Big Easy”

56. RuPaul’s ___ Race

57. Misdeed, violation, and transgression, e.g.

58. Rock (concert) blaster

59. All the vowels in “PIOUS”

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; Legal Services; Miscellaneous; Personals; Personal Services; TV/Cable, Vacation Opportunities; and Wanted. For submission guidelines and deadlines, see the box on the right.

CAVEAT EMPTOR!

The Beacon does not knowingly accept obscene, offensive, harmful, or fraudulent advertising. However, we do not investigate any advertisers or their products and cannot accept responsibility for the integrity of either. Respondents to classified advertising should always use caution and their best judgment.

EMPLOYMENT & REAL ESTATE ADS:

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

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UP TO $15,000.00 OF GUARANTEED LIFE INSURANCE! No medical exam or health questions. Cash to help pay funeral and other final expenses. Call Physicians Life Insurance Company866-212-1092 or visit www.Life55plus.info/beacon WESLEY FINANCIAL GROUP, LLC Timeshare Cancellation Experts. Over $50,000,000 in timeshare debt and fees cancelled in 2019. Get free informational package and learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. Call 855-626-8703.

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PORTABLE OXYGEN CONCENTRATOR

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LIVING WELL SEMINAR:

ni Dav v is at tdav v is@bgf.or l AIN B and ion T HEAL MINAR: R BR LTTH” ovic, OTR/Land A ® Brain Health Coach EMBER 18 • 10:30-11:4 iib rg with questions . 45 A.M. dd

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This seminar will empower participant s to better understand brain health as it relates to aging. Participant s will learn about general principles of brain health and techniques foor improv ing and maintaining brain health with age An emphasis will be placed on what one can do to prevvent cognitive decline and keep memor y as shar p as possible during the aging process At t the conclusion of the seminar, participant s will be equipped with actionable resources to promote improved brain health and cognitiv fuunction.

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AIN HEAL entleY .l

“KEEPING YO UR BR LTTHY”

MONDAYY, , SEPTEMBER 15 • 10:30-11:45 A.M.

Hear from two brain health pr feessionals—Dere Ruussell from the Parkinson’s Foundation and Laura Byer from the Alzheimer’s Association—as they share insights and guidance on maintaining a healthy y brain! Participants will learn about the latest challenges avvailable support, research, programs and communit y groups related to Alzheimer’s, Park inson’s and more.

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LIVING WELL SEMINAR:

WHY IT MA .l

“BLO OD SU GAR CONTR OL, A TOPIC FOR EVERY ATTTERS AND HOW TO ACHIEVE IT.”

TUESDAYY, , O CTOBER 14 • 10:30-11:45 A.M.

a private practice in Bethesda with a special interest in healthy y aging as well as managing metabolic issues such as prediabetes. In this presentation she will explain the importance of managing blood sugar with ev idence-based suggestions t at t include diet feest yle and a brief mention of supplementation. The g foor you t away y with ideas that can be easily implemented t ayy.

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