February 2013 Howard County Beacon Edition

F R E E

VOL.3, NO.2

I N F O C U S F O R P E O P L E O V E R 5 0FEBRUARY 2013More than 30,000 readers throughout Howard County

I N S I D E …

FITNESS & HEALTH 3k Stem cells mend failing heartsk Cooling heartburn

THE SENIOR CONNECTION 14k Howard County Office on Aging Newsletter

LAW & MONEY 18k Many types of investment riskk Good online banking options

PLUS CROSSWORD, BEACONBITS, CLASSIFIEDS & MORE

ARTS & STYLEHandmade works from Dayton’s Greenbridge Potterycan be found around the worldas well as locally

page 26

The Howard County

By Robert Friedman and Carol SorgenIn 1960, Patricia Brown Leak and her

brother Ed Brown, students attending theall-black Southern University in BatonRouge, Louisiana, dared to sit at a lunchcounter at the town’s Greyhound Bus ter-minal, along with other students. That resulted in their immediate expul-

sion, which led to a march by 2,000 of theuniversity’s students to the state capitalbuilding, located in downtown Baton Rouge.“We were met with dogs, batons, fire

hoses,” Leak said. “It showed the worldthe white man’s inhumanity toward us inthe South. It helped make PresidentKennedy aware of the situation. We stu-dents on that day took a small step on theroad to freedom.”Leak, a long-time Columbia resident, re-

counts this and other stories from her pastas part of an oral history presentationcalled “For All the World to Hear: Storiesfrom the Struggle for Civil Rights.” The project, sponsored by University of

Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), in-volves a dozen older adults from Baltimoreand Howard County who tell about theirpersonal civil rights struggles. It includesa staged presentation, as well as publishedstories of the participants’ experiences.Leak said she joined the project because

“I thought my story, and those of mybrothers, needed to be told.”

Remembering two brothersShe begins her stage presentation by

recalling, in poetic form, that in the year1960, “The students from my sleepyLouisiana town caught the spirit of free-dom and wouldn’t be turned around.”She also talks about her brother Ed

Brown, a noted activist who died in 2011.He was a participant in many civil andhuman rights activities, including observ-ing elections in Africa and other locationsfor the Jimmy Carter Center. Their younger brother, Jamil Abdulla Al-

Amin, 69, once known as H. Rap Brown, iscurrently serving a life sentence in federalprison after being found guilty of killing apolice officer during a shootout in 2000.His checkered past has included activitiesthat have helped the poor and downtrod-den as well as embodying the violence of

the Black Power movement. Leak talks about Al-Amin as well in her

oral presentation. She recalls the incidentin 1967 when a sniper’s bullet grazed hisforehead during a rally in Cambridge, Md.At the rally, he had said, “Black folks builtAmerica, and if America don’t comearound, we’re going to burn it down.” Heis also known for his quote that violence is“as American as cherry pie.”She also recounts how, also in the ‘60s,

Leak and another black teacher had beenselected to integrate an elementary schoolin Greenville, Texas. The state of Texaswas not yet ready to bring black and white

students together in the same classroom,but it did decide to integrate teachers.“We had no problems with the [white]

teachers or the principal or the students orparents,” Leak said. “They knew they hadto integrate. Everyone was on their bestbehavior,” she said.She then came to Washington, D.C. and

started working in the public schoolsteaching music. Some of the schools weredesegregated, Leak said, but she taughtmostly at black schools. Although deseg-regation was the law, “it depended on

Patricia Brown Leak and her brother were expelled from college in 1960 for sittingat an all-white lunch counter in Louisiana. Leak and others recount their experiencesin “For All the World to Hear: Stories from the Struggle for Civil Rights,” an oral his-tory and performance project sponsored by UMBC.

See CIVIL RIGHTS, page 27

PH

OTO

BY

ME

IKE

GE

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IS

Civil rights stories finally heard

LEISURE & TRAVELExploring village life andwildlife in the heart of Africa;plus, this year’s top travel destinations

page 23

I’ve been a publisher and editor sincemy wife and I started the Beacon newspa-pers 24 years ago. Still, it’s arare thing these days when Iactually “report” on anythingmyself.

During the quiet days atthe end of 2012, as I was read-ing about the fiscal cliff nego-tiations and Congress wasbeing called back into ses-sion over New Year’s Eveweekend, I had a realization.

The year was ticking downto the dreaded “sequester”that would potentially pushthe country back into reces-sion, and I finally decided I had to see thegoings-on for myself at this presumablyhistoric moment.

So on Sunday, December 30, I called theSenate’s Periodical Press Gallery, whichhandles press credentials for the Capitol,and asked for a press pass.

Not surprisingly, I was told that obtain-ing official press credentials could be amonths-long process. (The bureaucracy-fighting press has its own bureaucracy, notto mention the security issues of the Capi-tol and its inhabitants.)

However, I was invited to come down

the next day, December 31, to hand-delivermy application and to enjoy the privileges

of the Capitol press corps fora day.

Sure, I could have watchedboth the Senate and Houseproceedings at home, live onC-SPAN. But was there anysubstitute for being there at atime like this?

After going through securi-ty and getting oriented, I de-cided to start by observingthe House from the balconyseats reserved for the press.

Across from me, on theother side of the House bal-

cony, groups of tourists marched in andout of the public gallery, taking seats for afew minutes to observe the “action,” suchas it was.

But in the press seats, for the most part,I was sitting alone.

Not that there weren’t plenty of re-porters in the Capitol that day. But most ofthem were back in the press rooms, doingtheir research, noshing, and keeping tabson the House and Senate — by watchingC-SPAN and other news networks on themany flat-screen televisions attached tothe walls!

A few reporters and photographerswere staking out hallways and paths be-tween the House and Senate, hoping tocatch the major players as they entered orexited. (There’s even a screen in the pressroom indicating where “stakeouts” — yes,that’s the word they use — are permittedand when.)

But on the House floor, fewer than ahandful of representatives were present,and they politely took turns reading theirprepared remarks to the C-SPAN cameraand (apparently redundant) court re-porter/stenographer.

Given that these days were meant to bevacation even for congresspersons, I waspleased to hear those present sharing con-cerns on international relations issues(should we reconsider giving our old mili-tary frigates to Turkey when that NATO“ally” has been less than friendly lately?)and addressing difficult constituent prob-lems (what can we do for a man whose ex-wife absconded with their only child toSaudi Arabia when he had been given solecustody?).

And even though the speakers had aminimal audience and left the room assoon as they were done, it was good toknow they took a stand for things they be-lieve in and that their words would beavailable in print and digital video to any-one with an interest.

In the middle of the day, PresidentObama gave a televised speech assessingthe state of the negotiations at that point(and blaming Republicans for the impasse).That attracted lots of attention on the vari-ous screens in the press room (and in thedownstairs cafeteria), and I took that as mysign to visit the Senate chamber next.

Sure enough, a number of Republicansenators took turns expressing their feel-ings about the president’s “confrontation-al” remarks and his “ridiculing of Republi-cans.”

They were interrupted after awhile, how-

ever, when Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)entered, in a blaze of flashing bulbs from thephotographers outside the chamber.

McConnell had come to report on hisnegotiations with Vice President Biden. Ashe started to speak, about two dozen re-porters suddenly joined me in the pressgallery and huddled around the front rowwith their pads. (I guess they also wantedto “be there” for the dramatic moments.)

McConnell said an agreement had beenreached, solely dealing with preservingthe Bush-era tax cuts for most Americans,and that although this was not the deficit-reducing deal Republicans had been fight-ing for, it was a hard fought agreement,and he felt his fellow senators should ap-prove it.

He then turned and left, as did all theother reporters.

As you know, very little ultimately cameof that day’s congressional activity. Therewas a deal, of sorts. A decision not to de-cide. A postponement of any truly difficultaction to trim our deficits.

But I left the Capitol feeling I had expe-rienced something special, even so. It real-ly is quite remarkable how accessible ourgovernment is to the people and to thepress.

Just a few miles from where most of uslive, decisions are made daily that have animpact on our lives and on the lives of fu-ture generations.

I’ve always thought Americans shouldtake more advantage of the opportunity wehave to express our opinions to our repre-sentative and senators.

And now I think those of us who are for-tunate to live a stone’s throw from theCapitol might find it edifying to stop bythat building some day to get a close-uplook and soak it all in.

Reporter for a day

FROM THEPUBLISHERBy Stuart P. Rosenthal

Readers are encouraged to share their opinion on any matteraddressed in the Beacon as well as on political and social issues of the day. Mail your Letter to the Editor to The Beacon,P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915, or e-mail to [email protected]. Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification.

Letters to the editor

2 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com F E B RUA R Y 2 0 1 3 — HOWARD COUNT Y B E A CON

BeaconThe

I N F O C U S F O R P E O P L E O V E R 5 0

• Publisher/Editor ....................Stuart P. Rosenthal

• Associate Publisher..............Judith K. Rosenthal

• Vice President, Operations........Gordon Hasenei

• Director of Sales ................................Alan Spiegel

• Assistant Operations Manager ..........Roger King

• Managing Editor............................Barbara Ruben

• Graphic Designer ..............................Kyle Gregory

• Advertising Representatives ........Doug Hallock,

................................................ Steve Levin, Jill Joseph

The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915(410) 248-9101 • Email: [email protected]: The Beacon welcomes reader contributions. Deadline for editorial and advertising isthe 1st of the month preceding the month of publication. See page 31 for classified advertising details.Please mail or email all submissions.

© Copyright 2013 The Beacon Newspapers, Inc.

The Beacon is a monthly newspaper dedi cated toinform, serve, and en ter tain the citi zens of HowardCounty, Md. and is pri vate ly owned. Other editionsserve Greater Baltimore, Md., Greater WashingtonDC, and Greater Palm Springs, Ca.Subscriptions are available via third-class mail

($12), pre paid with order. Maryland residents add6 percent for sales tax. Send sub scrip tion order tothe office listed below.

Publication of advertising contained hereindoes not necessarily con sti tute en dorse ment.Signed col umns represent the opinions of thewriters, and not necessarily the opinion of thepublisher.

THE SWEET HISTORY OF CHOCOLATE Pat Reber, culinary historian, will speak on “From Cacao to Cocoa

and Chocolate” in a free public lecture on Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 7

p.m. at the Ellicott City Senior Center, 9401 Frederick Rd,, Ellicott City. The talk is

sponsored by the Howard County American Association of University Women. For

addition information, email [email protected] or call the senior center at

(410) 313-1400.

BEACON BITS

Feb. 12

HOWARD COUNT Y B E A CON — F E B RUA R Y 2 0 1 3 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com 3

BAD FISH, GOOD FISHA guide to finding fish that are healthyfor you and the environment

EASIER READING Those with vision loss can read withmore speed on an iPad

STRONGER BONES, WEAKER HEART?Calcium supplements are under attackdue to possible heart attack risk

DRIVING ISSUESHow do you know when it’s time to giveup the car keys?

HealthFitness &

Stem cells from strangers repair heartsBy Marilynn MarchioneResearchers are reporting a key ad-

vance in using stem cells to repair heartsdamaged by heart attacks. In a study, stemcells donated by strangers proved as safeand effective as patients’ own cells forhelping restore heart tissue. The work involved just 30 patients in

Miami and Baltimore, but proves the con-cept that anyone’s cells can be used totreat such cases. Doctors are excited be-cause this suggests that stem cells couldbe banked for off-the-shelf use after heartattacks, just as blood is kept on hand now. Results were announced at a recent

American Heart Association conference inCalifornia and published in the Journal ofthe American Medical Association. The study used a specific type of stem

cells from bone marrow that researchersbelieved would not be rejected by recipi-ents. Unlike other cells, these lack a keyfeature on their surface that would other-wise make the immune system see themas foreign tissue and attack, explained the

study’s leader, Dr. Joshua Hare of the Uni-versity of Miami. The patients in the study had suffered

heart attacks years earlier, some as long as30 years ago. All had developed heart fail-ure because the scar tissue from the heartattack had weakened their hearts so muchthat they grew large and flabby, unable topump blood effectively.

Donated marrow Researchers advertised for people to

supply marrow. The cells were removedfrom the marrow using a needle into thehip and then amplified for about a monthin a lab at Baltimore’s Johns Hopkins Uni-versity, then returned to Miami to be usedfor treatment.The procedure did not involve surgery.

Rather, the cells were delivered through atube pushed through a groin artery intothe heart near the scarred area. Fifteen patients were given cells from

their own marrow and 15 others, cellsfrom strangers. About a year later, scar tis-

sue had been reduced by about one-thirdamong patients in both groups. All had improvements in how far they

could walk and in quality of life. There wasno significant difference in one measure ofhow well their hearts were able to pumpblood, but doctors hope these patients willcontinue to improve over time, or that refine-ments in treatment will lead to better results.

Cells on demand The big attraction is being able to use

cells supplied by others, with no blood ortissue matching needed. “You could have the cells ready to go in

the blood bank so when the patient comes infor a therapy — there’s no delay,” Hare said. “It’s also cheaper to make the donor

cells,” as a single marrow donor can supplyenough cells to treat as many as 10 people. Dr. Elliott Antman of Harvard-affiliated

Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Bostonwho heads the heart conference, praisedthe work. “That opens up an entire new avenue for

stem cell therapy, like a sophisticated ver-sion of a blood bank,” he said. There’s anadvantage in not having to create a celltherapy for each patient, and it could sparethem the pain and wait of having their ownmarrow harvested, he said. The study was sponsored by the Nation-

al Institutes of Health. Hare owns stock ina biotech company working on a treatmentusing a mixture of cells. Juan Lopez received his own cells in the

study, and said it improved his symptomsso much that, at age 70, he was able to re-turn to his job as an engineer and salesmanager for a roofing manufacturer andride an exercise bike. “It has been a life-changing experience,”

said Lopez, who lives in Miami. “I can feelday by day, week by week, month by month,my improvement. I don’t have any short-ness of breath and my energy level is way upthere. I don’t have any fluid in my lungs.” And, he said happily, “my sex drive has

improved!” — AP

Are you bothered by burning behindthe breastbone after eating? You’re notalone. One-third of us suffer from heart-burn, typified by a pain and irritation in theupper gut. The underlying trouble is usual-ly a condition called gastroesophageal re-flux disease (GERD).Heartburn occurs when acidic stomach

contents back up (reflux) through thelower esophageal sphincter (LES) into thelower throat, causing a burning pain.There are many stomach-soothing steps

you can try before going to a doctor. Thesecan help cool your symptoms and preventbigger problems later on.“Heartburn indicates underlying reflux

of stomach contents into the esophagus,”said Dr. William Kormos, editor in chief ofHarvard Men’s Health Watch and a pri-mary care physician at MassachusettsGeneral Hospital. “It can cause damage tothe esophagus and even increase the riskof cancer if ignored and untreated.”

Steps to prevent heartburn1. Eat smaller but more frequent meals:

Stuffing your stomach puts pressure on

the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), avalve-like constriction at the base of thefood pipe that keeps acidic materials frombacking up (refluxing) into the esophagus.Large meals also take longer to leave thestomach, giving acid more opportunity toback up and cause heartburn.2. Eat in a slow, relaxed manner: Wolfing

down your food fills the stomach faster,putting more pressure on the LES.3. Remain upright after meals: Lying

down puts more pressure on the LES,making reflux more likely.4. Avoid late-night eating: Meals or

snacks within three hours of lying down tosleep can worsen the reflux of stomachcontents, causing heartburn. Leaveenough time for the stomach to clear out.5. Don’t exercise immediately after

meals: Give your stomach time to empty;wait a couple of hours.6. Tilt your torso with a bed wedge: Rais-

ing your torso up a bit with a wedge-shaped cushion reduces the pressure onthe LES and may ease nighttime heart-burn. Wedges are available from medicalsupply companies. But don’t just prop your

head and shoulders up with pillows, whichmay increase pressure on the stomach bycurling you up at the waist.7. Don’t drink carbonated beverages:

They can cause belching, which promotesreflux of stomach contents.8. Identify and avoid foods associated

with heartburn: Some foods and drinkscan increase acid secretion, delay stomachemptying, or loosen the LES and triggeryour symptoms. Common offenders in-clude fatty foods, spicy foods, tomatoes,garlic, milk, coffee, tea, cola, peppermintand chocolate.9. Chew sugarless gum after a meal:

Chewing gum promotes salivation, whichhelps neutralize acid, soothe the esopha-gus, and wash acid back down to the stom-ach. Avoid peppermint flavors, which maytrigger heartburn more than other typesof gum.10. Rule out medication effects: Ask

your doctor or pharmacist about drugsthat can cause pain resembling heartburn.Some drugs, for example, can loosen theLES and cause acid reflux. Other drugscan cause inflammation of the esophagus.

11. Lose weight: Being overweight fuelsheartburn because it puts more pressureon the stomach (and the LES). The tight-fitting clothing and belts associated withweight gain may also contribute.

Time for medication?If changing your eating habits and other

preventive steps don’t get heartburn undercontrol, the most effective treatment is aclass of drugs called proton pump in-hibitors (PPIs). They drastically reduceacid secretion by the stomach. PPIs areavailable over the counter as omeprazole(Prilosec) and lansoprazole (Prevacid).PPIs will get heartburn under control,

but people end up taking them indefinitely.This is not necessarily safe, since researchhas linked PPIs to increased susceptibilityto bacterial infection and long-term risk ofhip fracture, among other potential risks.However, you should not suddenly stop

taking a PPI after prolonged use. “Peopleend up getting ‘stuck’ on them becausePPIs cause a rebound in acid production

Some ways to prevent, or treat, heartburn

See HEARTBURN, page 4

By Brierley Wright, R.D You probably already know that you’re

supposed to be eating fish twice a week.Fish are a lean, healthy source of protein.And the oily kinds, such as salmon, tunaand sardines deliver those heart- andbrain-healthy omega-3 fats you’ve alsoheard you should be getting in your diet. But then there are also concerns about

mercury levels and choosing seafoodthat’s sustainable. Knowing what seafoodis best both for your health and for the en-vironment isn’t always easy.Fortunately, Seafood Watch, a program

run by Calif. Monterey Bay Aquarium, hascombined data from leading health organi-zations and environmental groups to comeup with their list of seafood that’s good foryou and the environment. They call the list“Super Green: Best of the Best.” To make the list, fish must: a) have low

levels of contaminants — below 216 partsper billion (ppb) mercury and 11 ppb PCBs;b) be high in health-promoting omega-3fats; and c) come from a sustainable fishery.Many other options are on the pro-

gram’s list of “Best Choices” (seafood-watch.org). The Blue Ocean Institute(blueocean.org) also has sustainability rat-ings and detailed information.Here are six fish that Seafood Watch

said you should be eating:1. Albacore Tuna (troll- or pole-

caught, from the U.S. or British Columbia)Many tuna are high in mercury, but al-

bacore tuna — the kind of white tuna that’scommonly canned — gets a Super Greenrating as long as (and this is the clincher)it’s “troll- or pole-caught” in the U.S. orBritish Columbia. The reason: Smaller(usually less than 20 pounds), younger fishare typically caught this way (as opposed

to the larger fish caught on longlines).These fish have much lower mercury

and contaminant ratings, and those caughtin colder northern waters often have higheromega-3 counts. The challenge: You needto do your homework to know how yourfish was caught, or look for the MarineStewardship Council (MSC) blue eco label.

2. Salmon (wild-caught, Alaska)To give you an idea of how well managed

Alaska’s salmon fishery is, consider this: Bi-ologists are posted at river mouths to counthow many wild fish return to spawn. If thenumbers begin to dwindle, the fishery isclosed before it reaches its limits, as wasdone recently with some Chinook fisheries.This close monitoring, along with strict

quotas and careful management of waterquality, means Alaska’s wild-caught salmonare both healthier (they pack 1,210 mg. ofomega-3s per 3-ounce serving and carry

few contaminants) and more sustainablethan just about any other salmon fishery.

3. Oysters (farmed)Farmed oysters are good for you (a 3-

ounce serving contains over 300 mg. ofomega-3s and about a third of the recom-mended daily values of iron). They’re also good for the environment.

Oysters feed off the natural nutrients andalgae in the water, which improves waterquality. They can also act as natural reefs,attracting and providing food for other fish.One health caveat: Raw shellfish, espe-

cially those from warm waters, may con-tain bacteria that can cause illnesses.

4. Sardines, Pacific (wild-caught)The tiny, inexpensive sardine is making

it onto many lists of superfoods and forgood reason. It packs more omega-3s(1,950 mg.!) per 3-ounce serving thansalmon, tuna or just about any other food.It’s also one of very few foods naturallyhigh in vitamin D. Many fish in the herringfamily are commonly called sardines.Quick to reproduce, Pacific sardines haverebounded from both overfishing and anatural collapse in the 1940s.

5. Rainbow trout (farmed)Though lake trout are high in contami-

nants, nearly all the trout you’ll find in themarket is farmed rainbow trout. In theU.S., rainbow trout are farmed primarily infreshwater ponds and “raceways” wherethey’re more protected from contaminantsand fed a fishmeal diet that’s been fine-tuned to conserve resources.

6. Freshwater Coho Salmon (farmedin tank systems, from the U.S.)Freshwater Coho salmon is the first —

and only — farmed salmon to get a SuperGreen rating. All other farmed salmon stillfalls on Monterey Bay Aquarium’s SeafoodWatch “avoid” list for a few reasons: Manyfarms use crowded pens where salmon are

Eat these fish, but avoid those fish4 Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com F E B RUA R Y 2 0 1 3 — HOWARD COUNT Y B E A CON

when stopped,” Dr. Kormos said.After a PPI cools your heartburn symp-

toms, ask your doctor if you can taper itoff and then combine good preventive be-haviors with targeted use of over-the-counter medicines to keep heartburnfrom returning. H2 blockers are good forthis purpose. They include cimetidine(Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac), famotidine(Pepcid), and nizatidine (Axid).If your symptoms persist, you may need

additional testing such as endoscopy. Menwho have damage to the esophagus(esophagitis) or precancerous changes(Barrett’s esophagus) will probably haveto take a PPI indefinitely.

— Harvard Men’s Health Watch© 2012 President and fellows of Harvard

College. All rights reserved. Distributed byTribune Media Services, Inc.

HeartburnFrom page 3

See BAD FISH, GOOD FISH, page 7

Karen MillerExecutive Director

10 Years of Service

Anne HutchinsonDirector of Employee Relations

14 Years of Service

Alice SpongbergConcierge

14 Years of Service

Jamie LeBlancDirector of Plant Operations

9 Years of Service

Melissa MorrowHousekeeping Supervisor8 Years of Service

Bill SheltonDirector of Food Services5 Years of Service

Brandi SmithDirector of Life Enrichment5 Years of Service

Tammy SammonsDirector of Health & Wellness

4 Years of Service

Morningside House Bragging Rights...

Over the past 20 years, Morningside House Senior Livinghas earned the right to brag about quite a few things:

❖ Women Owned and Operated – We are one of the few women-owned and operated senior living companies in the nation and, as mothers and caregivers ourselves, we’reable to connect with our residents and families on an emotional level, creating a totally uniqueassisted living experience. The moment you walk through our front door, you feel there’s amagical connection between our employees and our residents.

❖ Longevity of Staff – Our loyal, long-term staff is not just impressive, it’s also extremely rare. The healthcare field is infamous for high staff turnover and lack of employeeloyalty, which naturally results in inconsistent care. Our Directors have been with us an average of 8 years and our line staff has been with us an average of 5 years! Our devotedteam is the key to our distinctive ability to provide residents with the highest quality of careand families with peace of mind.

❖ Medical Model of Care – Morningside House of Ellicott City is one of the only assisted living providers in Maryland to have a Board Certified Geriatrician on staff. As ourMedical Director, Dr. Salazar oversees resident care, approves personal care plans, holdsweekly resident review meetings with the wellness team and is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days aweek. Behind our beautiful décor, we have a powerful healthcare team who provides the bestcare and service in the area.

❖ Word of Mouth Referrals – At Morningside House, our number one source ofmove-ins is referrals from our existing residents and families, physicians, hospitals and health-care professionals. We are proud to be the top-referred assisted living and dementia care provider in the area!

❖ High Level of Care – Morningside House of Ellicott City is a licensed Level 3community in the State of Maryland, which means we’re able to allow our residents to age inplace as their care needs increase. We offer on-site physical, occupational and speech therapies 5 days a week, as well as a full restorative therapy program. We also have an expansive list of visiting medical providers who provide on-site services to residents, whichreduces stress for both residents and their families.

❖ Regional Company – Morningside is a private, regional provider, not a publicallytraded national chain. We have the unique ability to provide continuous management oversight to our communities and have personal relationships with our employees, residentsand families. This results in a consistent, high quality product that is not financially driven by investors and equity partners, but instead driven by resident care.

With so many amazing reasons to brag, why wouldn’t you choose Morningside for your loved one?

CALL OR STOP BY TODAY!!

5330 Dorsey Hall Drive • Ellicott City, MD 21042410.715.0930 / www.morningsidehouse.com

AMD or severevision loss? Try an iPad

People who have eye diseases that dam-age their central vision — such as age-re-lated macular degeneration (AMD) — canregain the ability to read quickly and com-fortably by using digital tablets (such asiPads), according to a recent study. The research found that people with

moderate vision loss could increase theirreading speed by 12 to 42 words perminute, depending on the device.Loss of central vision affects millions of

people who have eye diseases such asAMD or diabetic retinopathy, which dam-age the light-sensitive cells of the eye’sretina. The retina relays images to theoptic nerve, which transmits them to thebrain.When treatments such as eyeglasses,

medications or surgery are no longer ef-fective, ophthalmologists help patientsmaximize their remaining sight by usinglow-vision aids. Before digital tablets camealong, reading aids were limited to lightedmagnifiers, which are cumbersome and in-convenient by comparison.

In the study, which was conducted atRobert Wood Johnson Medical School inNew Jersey, researchers found that all ofthe 100 participants gained at least 42words-per-minute (WPM) when using theiPad tablet on the 18-point font setting,compared with reading a print book ornewspaper. A more modest gain of 12WPM, on average, was achieved by all sub-jects when using the Kindle tablet set to18-point font.

Patients with the poorest vision — de-fined as 20/40 or worse in both eyes —showed the most improvement in speedwhen using an iPad or Kindle, comparedwith print.The researchers believe the iPad’s back-

illuminated screen is the key to the signifi-cantly improved reading speed achieved bypatients with moderate vision loss. The vision factor involved is called con-

trast sensitivity, which means being ablesee an object as separate and distinct fromits background and to discern shades ofgray. Loss of contrast sensitivity is com-mon in people with low vision. The high word/background contrast

provided by a back-lit screen is a big plusfor such patients. The original Kindle,which was used in this study, does nothave a back-lit screen.The study also assessed low vision pa-

tients’ comfort while reading and foundthat their preferred mode was linked to

their degree of vision loss. People with the worst vision found the

iPad most comfortable, while those withthe best vision preferred print. This infor-mation will be useful to ophthalmologistsin advising patients with various degreesof vision loss.

— American Academy of Ophthalmology

Your face mayreveal

heart risksWant a clue to your risk of heart dis-

Health Shorts

See HEALTH SHORTS, page 6

HOWARD COUNT Y B E A CON — F E B RUA R Y 2 0 1 3 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com | Fitness & Health 5

8976018

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ease? Look in the mirror. People who look old — with receding

hairlines, bald heads, creases near their

ear lobes, or bumpy deposits on their eye-lids — have a greater chance of developingof heart disease than younger-looking peo-ple the same age do, new research sug-gests. Doctors say the study highlights the dif-

ference between biological and chronologi-cal age. “Looking old for your age markspoor cardiovascular health,” said Dr. AnneTybjaerg-Hansen of the University of Copen-hagen in Denmark, who led the study. A small consolation: Wrinkles else-

where on the face and gray hair seemedjust ordinary consequences of aging anddid not correlate with heart risks. The research involved 11,000 Danish

people and began in 1976. At the start, theparticipants were 40 and older. Re-searchers documented their appearance,tallying crow’s feet, wrinkles and othersigns of age. In the next 35 years, 3,400 participants

developed heart disease (clogged arter-ies) and 1,700 suffered a heart attack. The risk of these problems increased

with each additional sign of aging presentat the start of the study. This was true at allages and among men and women, evenafter taking into account other factors suchas family history of heart disease. Those with three to four of these aging

signs — receding hairline at the temples,baldness at the crown of the head, earlobecreases or yellowish fatty deposits aroundthe eyelids — had a 57 percent greater riskfor heart attack and a 39 percent greaterrisk for heart disease compared to peoplewith none of these signs. Having yellowish eyelid bumps, which

could be signs of cholesterol buildup, con-ferred the most risk, researchers found.Baldness in men has been tied to heartrisk before, possibly related to testos-terone levels. They could only guess whyearlobe creases might raise risk. Dr. Kathy Magliato, a heart surgeon at

St. John’s Health Center in Santa Monica,Calif., said doctors need to pay more atten-tion to signs literally staring them in theface. “We’re so rushed to put on a blood pres-

sure cuff or put a stethoscope on the

chest” that obvious, visible signs of riskare missed, she said.

— AP

Fool your brain,reduce your painThe next time you’re looking for pain re-

lief, try a little distraction.A recent study published in Current Bi-

ology found that mental distractions actual-ly block pain signals from the body beforethey ever reach the brain.“Human brains have a limited capacity

for attention. If you have a demandingenough task, you’ll have less attention togive to your pain,” said Dr. Randy Gollub,associate professor in psychiatry at Har-vard Medical School.Researchers found that challenging par-

ticipants with memory games did morethan just divert conscious attention fromthe body’s pain messages. The distractionsmay have actually released naturalpainkillers that blocked the incoming painsignals as they entered the spinal cord.But you don’t have to play memory

games to get the same effect. Gollub saidyou can use anything that brings you greatpleasure.“Think about experiences when you’ve

done something so pleasurable or mean-ingful that there was a moment where youwere distracted from your pain, and thendo more of that activity. Maybe it’s a visitwith the grandkids or watching a favoriteprogram.”You don’t have to limit your distractions

to just one activity, either. “Using yourbrain to do more things that are rewardingtips the balance away from the negative as-pects. The point is that you don’t want tolive your pain all the time; you want to liveyour life,” said Gollub.

— Harvard Health Letter

6 Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com F E B RUA R Y 2 0 1 3 — HOWARD COUNT Y B E A CON

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Health shortsFrom page 5

HEALTH AND FITNESS DAYLearn hands-only CPR, get health information and screenings, and

explore options for improving your fitness level in a free event in partnership with

Howard County Fire & Rescue, Howard County Applications & Research Lab and

Office on Aging Health & Wellness. The event will be held on Thursday, Feb. 7 at

the North Laurel 50+ Center, 9411 Whiskey Bottom Rd., Laurel. For more infor-

mation, call (410) 313 0380.

MASSAGE FOR HEALTHTreat yourself to a professional table massage during the afternoon

on Tuesday, Feb. 12 between 1 and 5 p.m. at the Elkridge Senior

Center, 6540 Washington Blvd., Elkridge. There is a $45 fee, and an appointment is

necessary. For more information, call the center at (410) 313-5192.

BEACON BITS

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easily infected with parasites, may be treat-ed with antibiotics, and can spread diseaseto wild fish (one reason Alaska has bannedsalmon farms).Also, it can take as much as three pounds

of wild fish to raise one pound of salmon.Coho, however, are raised in closed fresh-water pens and require less feed, so the en-vironmental impacts are reduced. They’realso a healthy source of omega-3s — one 3-ounce serving delivers 1,025 mg.

Fish to avoidA number of environmental organiza-

tions have also advocated taking many fishoff the menu. The large fish listed beloware just a few examples. We are highlighting popular fish that

are both depleted and, in many cases,carry higher levels of mercury and PCBs.The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF)has also posted health advisories on someof these fish at edf.org.

1. Bluefin tunaIn December 2009, the World Wildlife

Fund put the bluefin tuna on its “10 for2010” list of threatened species, alongsidethe giant panda, tigers and leatherback tur-tles. Though environmental groups are ad-vocating for protected status, the bluefincontinues to command as much as $177,000a fish. Bluefin have high levels of mercury,and their PCBs are so high that EDF rec-ommends not eating this fish at all.

2. Chilean sea bass (aka PatagonianToothfish)Slow-growing and prized for its buttery

meat, Chilean sea bass has been fished tonear depletion in its native cold Antarcticwaters. The methods used to catch them —trawlers and longlines — have also dam-aged the ocean floor and hooked albatrossand other seabirds. At present, there is onewell-managed fishery that’s MSC-certified.EDF has issued a consumption advisory

for Chilean sea bass due to high mercurylevels; adults should eat no more than twomeals per month, and children aged 12and younger should eat it no more thanonce a month.

3. GrouperHigh mercury levels in these giant fish

have caused EDF to issue a consumption

advisory. Grouper can live to be 40 but onlyreproduce over a short amount of time,making them vulnerable to overfishing.

4. MonkfishThis strange fish resembles a catfish in

that it has whiskers and is a bottomdweller, but its light, fresh taste made it astaple for gourmets. These fish are recov-ering some after being depleted, but thetrawlers that drag for it also threaten thehabitat where monkfish live.

5. Orange roughyLike grouper, this fish lives a long life but

is slow to reproduce, making it vulnerableto overfishing. As Seafood Watch puts it:“Orange roughy lives 100 years or more —so the fillet in your freezer might be from afish older than your grandmother!” Thisalso means it has high levels of mercury,causing EDF to issue a health advisory.

6. Salmon (farmed)Most farmed salmon (and all salmon la-

beled “Atlantic salmon” is farmed) areraised in tightly packed, open-net pens

often rife with parasites and diseases thatthreaten the wild salmon trying to swim byto their ancestral spawning waters.Farmed salmon are fed fishmeal, given

antibiotics to combat diseases, and havelevels of PCBs high enough to rate a

health advisory from EDF. EatingWell is a magazine and website de-

voted to healthy eating as a way of life. On-line at www.eatingwell.com.

© 2012 EatingWell, Inc. Distributed byTribune Media Services, Inc.


Good fish, bad fishFrom page 4

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP The American Cancer Society is offering its “Man to ManProstate Cancer Support Program” on Thursday, Feb. 21 and the

third Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. in the Howard County General HospitalWellness Center, Medical Pavilion, 10710 Charter Dr., Columbia. The forum formen to learn about treatments, management and side effects of prostate cancerincludes opportunities for peer support and talks from occasional guest speakers.For further information, call 1-800-227-2345.

ROAD TO RECOVERY The American Cancer Society provides free transportation for ambu-latory Howard County cancer patients who need a ride to treatmentfacilities. Rides are provided by volunteer drivers who donate their

time and vehicles. For more information, call the ACS at (800) 227-2345.

BEACON BITS

Feb. 24+

HEAR & SHARE BLACK HISTORY STORIES

Local historians will present informa-tion of interest to black history buffsand invite audience participation inrecalling memories and favorite sto-ries during a program on Wednesday,Feb. 13, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at theElkridge Senior Center, 6540Washington Blvd., Elkridge.Admission is $5. For more informa-tion, call (410) 313-5192 or (410) 313-4930.

BEACON BITS

Feb. 13

Directions: We are located at the corner of Rt. 40 and Rogers Avenue.

3305 Oak West DriveEllicott City, MD 21043855.446.1136

www.RegencySeniorApts.com

• Movie theater• Billiards room• Business center• Incredible courtyard and meditation garden with koi pond and gazebo

COMMUNITY AMENITIES

• Beautiful club room with theaterand demonstration kitchen

• Wellness center• Indoor saltwater pool• Yoga studio and classes• Cooking Classes, and many more planned activities

B R A N D N E W A P A R T M E N T H O M E S F O R A C T I V E A D U L T S 6 2 O R B E T T E R

Regency Crest is an extraordinarily carefree community because of the convenient lifestyle enjoyed by those who live here. We go the extra mile toprovide our residents with distinctive amenities and service that cannot befound in ordinary active adult communities.

PLANNED ACTIVITIES SUCH AS WATER AEROBICS,RESIDENT MIXERS, COOKING CLASSES, ZUMBA,MOVIE NIGHTS, BBQ’S AND MANY MORE!

Ongoing

Calcium is recommended as a way tohelp prevent osteoporosis, but calciumsupplements have come under attack re-cently due to a possible heart attack risk.A study published last summer found a

significantly increased risk of heart attackamong women taking calcium supple-ments. Two other studies, in 2010 and

2011, had similar results. Since so manypeople take the supplements, these studieshave received a lot of attention.But Dr. JoAnn Manson, chief of preven-

tive medicine at Harvard-affiliated Brighamand Women’s Hospital, Boston, Mass.,noted that such risks haven’t been foundwith calcium-rich foods.

“Although I think the jury is still out onthe supplement issue, it would be wise totry to get most of your calcium from foodsources if possible,” she said.Current guidelines for calcium intake

for bone health recommend between 1,000and 1,200 milligrams (mg.) per day, de-pending on your age and gender. “The calcium-rich diet has been linked

to a reduced risk of cardiovascular dis-ease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome andhypertension. Dietary calcium has notbeen linked to any increase in risk of car-diovascular events,” Manson said.

The case against supplementsWhy would calcium from dietary

sources be heart healthy, but not calciumfrom supplements? Researchers have proposed that digest-

ing calcium supplements might cause a

surge in blood calcium levels. The calciumcould accumulate in your arteries makingthem rigid, which contributes to chestpain, high blood pressure and heart at-tacks.Calcium may also build up inside artery

plaques — little pockets of cholesterol thatcan block your blood flow or burst, caus-ing a heart attack or stroke. But again,Manson noted that the evidence isn’t solid.“The evidence that calcium supple-

ments are leading to increased calcifica-tion of plaques is not well established.There’s clear evidence that coronary ar-tery calcium is a marker for increased riskof heart disease, but there’s also evidencethat plaques with calcium may be morestable and less likely to rupture.”

Don’t overdo itManson said the real risk is when peo-

ple exceed the daily recommended intake.“On average in the U.S., women get 700

mg. of calcium from dietary sources, somost women would need 500 mg. or less incalcium supplements. However, manywomen also take supplements of 1,000 mg.or more. This is concerning because highdoses of calcium supplements have beenlinked to kidney stones, as well.”Whether you get your calcium from

food or a supplement, make sure you getadequate vitamin D to help with calciumabsorption: The Institute of Medicine rec-ommends 600 IU per day for all adults 70and younger. Adults older than 70 need800 IU daily. Fortified dairy products arealso a good source of vitamin D.Manson said it’s vital to get your daily rec-

ommended dose of both calcium and vitaminD, even if you already have heart disease.Good sources of calcium include milk,cheese, yogurt, soy products, sardines,canned salmon, fortified cereal and darkleafy greens such as kale and collard greens.“Read food labels and you’ll see that it’s

feasible to reach 1,000 mg. of dietary calci-um a day,” Manson said.

— Harvard Health Letter© 2012 President and fellows of Harvard

College. All rights reserved. Distributed byTribune Media Services, Inc.

Calcium supplements and heart attacks8 Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com F E B RUA R Y 2 0 1 3 — HOWARD COUNT Y B E A CON

Complimentary care and programs available for your loved one during every event.RSVP TO SARAH GOINS AT 410 -313 -9744.

BE OUR GUEST FOR SOMERFORD PLACE’S 2013 EVENTS:

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Dementia Progression and Recognizing Changes in Behavior Speaker Dr. Andy Lazris of Personal Physician Care

Veterans Assistance and Veterans BenefitsSpeaker from Veterans Financial

Home Safety and Preventing Accidents Speaker Kathy Neno, Director of Nursing, BrightStar Care of Howard County

Incorporating Activities and Stimulating the Mind of the Dementia PatientSpeaker Judi Beyer, Programming Director of Somerford Place of Columbia

Caregivers Fair Families will have the opportunity to meet outsideresources that can help with the care of their loved one

8220 Snowden River Parkway | Columbia, MD 21045www.SomerfordPlaceColumbia.com

© 2012 Five Star Quality Care, Inc.

You’re invited to our new series for

family caregivers

When someone you love has Alzheimer’s or dementia, it changesyour world. The more you understand, the more preparedyou’ll be. Join us as we explore memory loss together.

J A N U A RY

317:00pm

F E B R U A RY

287:00pm

M A R C H

287:00pm

A P R I L

257:00pm

M AY

237:00pm

PHILADELPHIA FLOWERS

Join the Department of Recreation & Parks bus tour of the

Philadelphia International Flower show on Monday, March 4, leaving at 8 a.m. and

returning at 7 p.m. The indoor show offers acres of gardens, plant and floral

designs, this year featuring the horticulture of the United Kingdom. Registration

is $83. For more information, call Ginny Russ at (410) 313-7279. To register, call

(410) 313-7275.

BEACON BITS

Mar. 4

TOUR D.C. ON LINCOLN’S BIRTHDAY

Take a bus trip to Washington, D.C.

on Tuesday, Feb. 12 to join in the cel-

ebration of the Bureau of Engraving

and Printing’s 150th year, visit the

National Postal Museum, and have

lunch at Union Station. Sponsored by

the Department of Recreation &

Parks, the bus leaves at 10 a.m. and

returns at 4 p.m. Tickets are $45.

For more information, call (410) 313-

7279 or (410) 313-7275.

BEACON BITS

Feb. 12

By Lauran NeergaardFamilies may have to watch for dings in

the car and plead with an older driver togive up the keys — but there’s new evi-dence that doctors could have more of aninfluence on one of the most wrenching de-cisions facing a rapidly aging population. A large study from Canada found that

when doctors warn patients, and tell drivingauthorities, that the older folks may be med-ically unfit to be on the road, there’s a drop inserious crash injuries among those drivers. The study, published in the New Eng-

land Journal of Medicine last fall, couldn’ttell if the improvement was because thosepatients drove less, or drove more careful-ly once the doctors pointed out the risk. But as the number of older drivers surges,

it raises the question of how families and doc-tors could be working together to determineif and when age-related health problems —from arthritis to frailty to Alzheimer’s disease— are bad enough to impair driving. By one U.S. estimate, about 600,000 older

drivers a year quit because of health condi-tions. The problem: There are no clear-cutguidelines to tell who really needs to — andgiven the lack of transportation options inmuch of the country, quitting too soon canbe detrimental for someone who might havefunctioned well for several more years. It’s never an easy discussion. “It did not go over so well,” Benjamin

Benson recalls of the time when his sonstold the 87-year-old they feared his reflex-es had slowed too much for safe driving. “I’ve never had an accident,” Benson

told them. His family’s response: “Well, doyou want to wait for the first one?” The retired accountant wasn’t ready to

quit then, but he quietly began to analyzewhat would happen to him and his wife,who doesn’t drive, if he did.

His longtime doctor wouldn’t advise oneway or the other. So over a few months, thecouple tried online grocery shopping. Theytook a taxi to the dentist, not cheap at $38round-trip. But Benson calculated that main-taining and insuring the car was expensive,too, when he drove only 3,000 miles a year. A few weeks ago, Benson surprised his

family by giving away the car, and he saidhe’s faring fine so far. “Most people in our age group know

that it’s inevitable and play around with theidea that it’s going to come and the onlyquestion is when,” Benson said. “I didn’twant to be pushed into it.” Research by Dr. Matthew Rizzo of the Uni-

versity of Iowa shows some cognitive testsmight help better identify who’s at risk, suchas by measuring “useful field of view,” essen-tially how much your brain gleans at a glance— important for safety in intersections.

Some tests that might helpToday, the American Medical Associa-

tion recommends that doctors administera few simple tests in advising older drivers:— Walk 10 feet down the hallway, turn

around and come back. Taking longer than9 seconds is linked to driving problems. — On a page with the letters A to L and

the numbers 1 to 13 randomly arranged,see how quickly and accurately you draw aline from 1 to A, then to 2, then to B and soon. This so-called trail-making test meas-ures memory, spatial processing and otherbrain skills, and doing poorly has beenlinked to at-fault crashes. — Check if people can turn their necks

far enough to change lanes, and have thestrength to slam on brakes. Dr. Gary Kennedy, geriatric psychiatry

chief at New York’s Montefiore Medical Cen-ter, often adds another question: Are his pa-

tients allowed to drive their grandchildren? “If the answer to that is no, that’s telling

me the people who know the patient besthave made a decision that they’re not safe,”said Kennedy, who offers “to be the badcop” for families or primary care physicianshaving trouble delivering the news.

Assistance for familiesFor now, advocacy groups like the

Alzheimer’s Association and AARP offer pro-grams to help families spot signs of driving

problems and determine how to talk about it. Others turn to driver rehabilitation spe-

cialists — occupational therapists who canspend up to four hours evaluating an olderdriver’s vision, memory, cognition andother abilities before giving him a behind-the-wheel driving test. Some doctors and state licensing au-

thorities order those evaluations, but pro-grams can be hard to find, often have wait-

How to tell when it’s time to quit drivingHOWARD COUNT Y B E A CON — F E B RUA R Y 2 0 1 3 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com | Fitness & Health 9

See DRIVING, page 10

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When you need assistance with a family member, we are committed to providing compassionate home care through our experienced, trained and screened caregivers. Services include:

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ing lists and cost several hundred dollars. For more information about AARP’s on-

line seminar, “We Need to Talk,” visitwww.aarp.org/home-garden/transporta-

tion/we_need_to_talk/.For the Alzheimer’s Association De-

mentia & Driving Resource Center, visitwww.alz.org/care/alzheimers-dementia-and-driving.asp.To locate a driver rehabilitation specialist

near you, visit www.driver-ed.org. — AP

Dear Solutions: My husband retired recently. He’s

not sure yet what he wants to do. Hesays he wants to play golf, but makesvery little effort to start finding peopleto play with.

If I make a suggestion, he gets angryat me. It’s the same with anything elsehe says he might do. As soon as I sug-gest a way to make it happen, he getsannoyed.

I’ve made a very busy, fulfilling life

for myself, while he was working, andI feel a little guilty, but I wish he wouldget busy. I’m afraid of him just hang-ing around all the time, and I justwant him out of my hair right now.How should I handle this?

— KateDear Kate: The only way you’ll get him out of your

hair right now is to take your hair else-where. When he gets angry at you for mak-ing suggestions, the message is: “Let me

alone — I’ll find my own way.”It may take time and a lot of experiment-

ing with different activities.When you keep suggestingways to make things happen assoon as he mentions them, hefeels your anxiety to get himbusy so he won’t bother you! Go about your business now,

and don’t make suggestions un-less he asks you for them.Dear Solutions:

I don’t know where tobegin with this. My sisterand I are in our 40s. Be-cause of something thathappened, we don’t talk toeach other, and she has said shewouldn’t go anywhere if I’m there, too.

Our mother, who’s divorced, is gettingremarried. Her future husband’s chil-dren are making a dinner for their familyand ours. My mother says she’ll die ofhumiliation if my sister and I don’t come.

I’m willing to go, but my sister toldour mother she won’t come, and she’llbe in touch separately. I tried to reachmy sister about this, but I just can’tsee how to try any more.

— IrmaDear Irma: How to try — put a blindfold on your eye.

You don’t have to see how to try anything. This incident is between your sister and

your mother. Tell your mother you tried.She really has to be honest about her fami-

ly dynamics with her futurehusband, but that’s up to her. The only thing that’s up to

you is to go and enjoy meetingyour mother’s new family.Dear Solutions:

I went to a party recent-ly, and there was one per-son who cornered me forthe whole evening. I want-ed to meet other people,but I didn’t know what todo or say to get away fromthis non-stop talker.

I ended up feelingblocked and meeting no one. How canI handle this next time?

— TerriDear Terri: It’s your circulation that’s blocked. Even

at a party, there are arteries leading toother people. You need to improve your circulation by

just saying, “It’s been nice talking to you,but I’d better start meeting some of theother people here.” Smile and move on.

© Helen Oxenberg, 2012. Questions to beconsidered for this column may be sent to:The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring,MD 20915. You may also email the authorat [email protected]. To inquire aboutreprint rights, call (609) 655-3684.

When ‘being there’ for someone backfires

SOLUTIONSBy Helen Oxenberg,MSW, ACSW

10 Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com F E B RUA R Y 2 0 1 3 — HOWARD COUNT Y B E A CON

DrivingFrom page 9

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By Carol SorgenMyasthenia gravis (which, translated

from its Latin and Greek origins, means“grave muscle weakness”) is a condition thatis often difficult to diagnose. It is a chronicautoimmune neuromuscular disease charac-terized by varying degrees of weakness ofthe skeletal muscles of the body. The onset of the disorder may be sud-

den, and symptoms often are not immedi-ately recognized as myasthenia gravis. The University of Maryland and Balti-

more VA Medical Center are conducting aclinical trial to determine whether individ-uals with chronic, generalized myastheniagravis can benefit from a three-monthhome exercise program with aerobic, re-sistive and pulmonary training. Volunteerswith the condition are now being sought.

Signs of the conditionIn most cases, the first noticeable symp-

tom of myasthenia gravis is weakness ofthe eye muscles, though some people mayfirst experience difficulty in swallowingand slurred speech. The degree of muscle weakness in-

volved in myasthenia gravis varies greatlyamong patients, from involvement of onlythe eye muscles (ocular myasthenia), to asevere or generalized form in which manymuscles, sometimes including those thatcontrol breathing, are affected. Symptoms may include a drooping of

one or both eyelids, blurred or double vi-sion due to weakness of the muscles thatcontrol eye movements, unstable gait,

weakness in arms, hands, fingers, legs andneck, a change in facial expression, diffi-culty in swallowing and shortness ofbreath, and impaired speech.Myasthenia gravis occurs in all ethnic

groups and both genders. It most com-monly affects young adult women (under40) and older men (over 60), but it canoccur at any age.Most cases of myasthenia gravis are not

as “grave” as the name leads one to believe,thanks to advances in current treatment.These include medications to reduce andcontrol muscle weakness, and in somecases, removal of the thymus gland, whichis often abnormal in myasthenia gravis pa-tients. For most individuals with myasthe-nia gravis, life expectancy is not shortened.

Can exercise help? The overall fatigue that usually accom-

panies the disorder, however, can result inphysical deconditioning that can reducefitness and increase the risk of obesity, hy-pertension, elevated cholesterol and type 2diabetes — all of which can result in seri-ous health conditions. The specific aims of the study being

conducted by researchers at the Universi-ty of Maryland and Baltimore VA MedicalCenter are to define the baseline physicalactivity and fitness levels of the study par-ticipants, and determine whether a three-month moderate intensity home exerciseprogram is safe and feasible in sedentary,but medically stable, patients. It will also determine if the exercise can

enhance fitness, strength and lung func-tion in order to improve physical activityand reduce cardiovascular disease risk. Adults between 18 and 70 with stable

myasthenia gravis may be eligible to par-ticipate in this study, which will include ahome exercise program of three days aweek for three months. The program will

be progressive in duration (up to an hourdaily) and intensity (including walking, re-sistance training with exercise bands, andcore and breathing exercises).For more information on this study or to

volunteer, contact Dr. Charlene Hafer-Mackoat (410) 328-3100 or [email protected].

Health Studies PageTHE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Studying patients with myasthenia gravis


EAT SMART FOR LESS

A free presentation on making smart and affordable food choices

will be offered on Thursday, Jan. 24 at 10 a.m. at the Elkridge Senior Center,

6540 Washington Blvd., Elkridge. Nutrition counseling will be available after the

talk. For further information, call (410) 313-5192.

BEACON BITS

Jan. 24

If interested call: 410-605-7179 & Mention code: LIFT atBaltimore VA/University of Maryland Gerontology Recruitment Line

*You must be at least 65 years old and in good health*Participants will be seen at the Baltimore VA Medical Center and

University of Maryland School of Medicine*You will attend approximately 41 visits for 1 to 4 hours each per visit

CALL TODAY!

Want to Prevent Falls in the Elderly?Seeking Men and Women to participate in a research study

at the University of Maryland &Veterans Affairs of Baltimore to better understand balance and the

prevention of falls in aging individuals.You will receive:

• Health evaluation• Balance, step, strength, and/or flexibility exercises

• Compensation for your time

Do You Have Knee Arthritis and Difficulty Sleeping?

Volunteers NEEDED for a Clinical Trial on New Non-drug treatment for problem sleeping

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine arelooking for volunteers to participate in a research study examining new ways of treating insomnia, in people with osteoarthritis in their knee.

To participate in this study, you must be:• At least 50 years of age OR 35 years of age and older with prior diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis• Have frequent knee pain• Interested in sleeping better

This study involves:• Sleep studies conducted in your home• Sensory testing and knee exam at Johns Hopkins• Meeting with sleep specialist to discuss ways to improve sleep• Additional optional medical tests• All examinations, parking, & tests are provided at no cost.

Compensation up to $870.00

Michael T. Smith, Ph.D., Principal InvestigatorProtocol: NA_00011802

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

For information, please call (410) 550-7906

Approved 8/16/10

By Karen Collins, MS, RD, CDMQ: Is steel-cut oatmeal more nutri-

tious than other kinds of oatmeal? A: Despite its super-nutritious image,

steel-cut oats are similar in nutrition toother forms of oatmeal that don’t containadded sugar or sodium. All forms of oatmeal are whole-grain, con-

taining the same vitamins, minerals, phyto-chemicals and fiber (including the solublefiber shown to lower blood cholesterol). Bothsteel-cut and rolled oats are classified as lowin glycemic index (GI) — an estimate of howa carbohydrate food affects blood sugar. Traditional oatmeal is referred to as

rolled oats, because the whole-grain oatsare softened by steam and flattened onrollers to form flakes. Steel-cut oats, alsoknown as Irish or Scotch oatmeal, are oatscut by steel blades into small pieces with-out being flattened. Quick-cooking (one-

minute) and instant oatmeal are steamed,cut and flattened in progressively smallerpieces to cook more quickly. The real differences between these

kinds of oatmeal are their cooking timesand textures. Steel-cut takes longest tocook and has a heartier, chewier texture. Instant oatmeal may seem lower in fiber

than other forms when you check label in-formation, but that’s only because a singlepacket usually makes a smaller serving. The nutritional disadvantage of flavored

instant oatmeal is that in equal size serv-ings, the sugar, sodium and calorie contentis often substantially higher than other oat-meal options.

Q: Would green coffee bean extracthelp me kick-start my new weight losseffort?

A: Green coffee bean extract (GCBE)has gotten a lot of publicity as a weight loss

aid recently, but a 2011 analysis of the re-search on the topic found just a few smallclinical trials that lasted from 4 to 12 weeks. The studies indicate GCBE may promote

weight loss of one-half to one pound perweek, yet we have no data about what wouldhappen to weight if people were to useGCBE beyond 12 weeks, or what happenedto the participants’ weight once they stoppedtaking the supplement. In these studies,even those on placebo lost some weight,which suggests that you can also get a moti-vating start to weight loss by other methods. For example, you could make a substan-

tial cut in your calories from one particularsource (perhaps regular soft drinks,sweetened tea, high-calorie coffee drinksor large amounts of juice). This is not aseasy as popping a supplement. But stepslike this help you lose weight and form thefoundation for new habits you’ll need to

lose weight and maintain the loss.If GCBE works for weight loss, it may

be due to a natural compound calledchlorogenic acid, which is higher in greencoffee beans than roasted beans. However,when ConsumerLab.com tested GCBEproducts, four of the eight samples hadless (none to 80%) chlorogenic acid thanthe extracts used in the studies. So far, it seems to be a relatively safe

product in short-term use, but if you wantto try it, check with your doctor to makesure there are no specific risks for you. Realistically, though, considering how

the cost adds up, you might invest thesame money in a fitness class, some walk-ing shoes, or a session with a RegisteredDietitian for a kick-start with more lastingbenefits.

The American Institute for Cancer Re-search offers a Nutrition Hotline, 1-800-843-8114, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondaythrough Friday. This free service allows youto ask questions about diet, nutrition andcancer. A registered dietitian will returnyour call, usually within three business days.

Courtesy of the American Institute forCancer Research. Questions for this columnmay be sent to “Nutrition Wise,” 1759 R St.,NW, Washington, DC 20009. Collins cannotrespond to questions personally.

Looking for the most nutritious options12 Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com F E B RUA R Y 2 0 1 3 — HOWARD COUNT Y B E A CON

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CELEBRATE VALENTINE’S DAY A Valentine’s Day

party featuring music, hot lunch andfun games will be held on Thursday,Feb. 14 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. atthe Elkridge Senior Center, 6540Washington Blvd., Elkridge.Admission is $5 per person. For moreinformation, call (410) 313-5192 or(410) 313-4930.

ATLANTIC CITY BUS TRIP SCHEDULED

A bus trip to the Resort Casino,boardwalk and shopping is plannedfor Monday, Feb. 11, leaving at 8a.m. and returning at 8 p.m. for a$35 fee. For more information, callthe Elkridge Senior Center at (410)313-5192 or (410) 313-4930.

FREE INSURANCE SEMINAR Representatives from

the Maryland InsuranceAdministration will present a freeprogram on saving money on insur-ance and avoiding questionable com-panies in a free program at 10:30a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 6 at theElkridge Senior Center, 6540Washington Blvd., Elkridge. For moreinformation call (410) 313-5192.

BEACON BITS

Feb. 14

Feb. 11

Feb. 6

Dear Pharmacist:My sister and mother have both had

breast cancer. So far, I’mOK (but obviously worried).What is your number onerecommendation for me,since my genetics are bad?Thanks.

— K.B.Dear K.B.:When it comes to breast

health, your weight mattersthe most in my opinion. Butanother important factor ishormone balance. Let’s start with weight. I do

not know your particular sizeor weight, so I will speak from a generalstandpoint. Flabby abs and thighs can increase pro-

duction of dangerous cancer-causing hor-mones, including estrogen. Clinical trialswill often conclude that “estrogen pro-motes cell proliferation in breast tumors”which could also be stated this way: Fatcauses cancer.Fat cells hold on to estrogen, and estro-

gen drives certain cancers. Losing weighthelps because doing so reduces estrogenload in the body, and this may slow growthof tumors (even before you find out they’rein you). Yes, even before diagnosis.

Why wait for the cancer to be diag-nosed? Remember, tumors don’t grow

overnight. It has been grow-ing for years — sometimes 10to 20 years — before it’spicked up by an imaging scan.Losing weight also works

because this lowers serum in-sulin, and high insulin is a riskfactor in the development ofcancer, as well as in 30 otherdisabling medical conditions. You see, insulin increases

an enzyme in your body calledaromatase. This is the sameenzyme that converts testos-terone and androstenedione

to estrogen within cells. And, as I just told you, excessive estro-

gen fuels cancer growth. I’ve posted an ar-ticle I wrote on this at my website. Just usemy search box to find “Many DiseasesLinked to High Insulin.” The point is, losing weight is critical, and

choosing good foods can help you regainyour figure while slashing your risk of cancer. I think the best breast food you can eat is

broccoli. Broccoli, as well as other crucifers(cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage,turnips), has a positive impact on the wayyou break down your estrogen. They bene-fit breast health by reducing 4 and 16 estro-

gens (considered harmful) while increas-ing a protective, potent anti-cancer form ofestrogen, called 2-methoxyestradiol. Supplements that increase production of

this 2 estrogen are sold nationwide athealth foods stores as “I3C” for indole-3-car-bonol, or a related type which is better forpeople with low stomach acid called “DIM.”Both I3C and DIM are proven to supportbreast and prostate health. Natural iodinesupplements can help this pathway, too. On my no-no list are fried or fast foods,

any boxed, processed or heavily refineddinners, anything artificial, as well as a diethigh in refined sugar.

Coconut, olive, avocado and grape seedoil are all wonderful to include in your diet.Spices such as curcumin and saffron arepowerful herbs you should eat frequently(or supplement with). And, obviously, monitor your hormones

with a urine analysis each year.This information is opinion only. It is not

intended to treat, cure or diagnose your con-dition. Consult with your doctor before usingany new drug or supplement.

Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacistand the author of The 24-Hour Pharmacistand Real Solutions from Head to Toe. Tocontact her, visit www.dearpharmacist.com.

How can I reduce inherited cancer risks?

DEAR PHARMACISTBy Suzy Cohen


Tell them you saw it in the Beacon!


VOLUME 3, NO. 2 • FEBRUARY 2013

By Dayna Brown,Office on Aging Administrator

If you are planningto grow old in yourcurrent home and havebeen contemplatingone or more homeimprovement projectsto make your homemore accessible for thefuture, this may be theperfect time to do so.

Applications are now being accepted for theCounty’s new Livable Homes Tax Credit,which offers a tax credit to Howard Countyhomeowners who install certain types ofaccessibility features in their primaryresidence, like ramps, stair glides orreinforced walls for grab bars.

You may be eligible to receive a creditagainst your county tax bill if you install (orhave already installed, up to one year prior tothe date of your tax credit application) aqualified feature on an existing residence.The amount of the credit is 50% of theeligible cost, up to a maximum of $2,500.

Accessibility features that are eligible forthe tax credit program are defined in thecounty code, Section 20-129C. To apply for atax credit, you must complete an applicationform and return it to the Department ofFinance. Applications will be processed in theorder they are received, until all fundscurrently allocated for the Livable Homes TaxCredit Program have been exhausted. Visitwww.howardcountymd.gov/livablehomes formore information and downloadable forms.

If you have questions about this or othertax credit programs, including the MarylandHomeowner’s or Renter’s Tax Credit, theHoward County Senior Tax Credit, TrashCredit or CA Tax Credit, contact theDepartment of Finance at 410-313-2062.Or, contact Maryland Access Point forassistance, at 410-313-5980. Start planningtoday to make life a little easier in the future!

A Message from the Administrator

Once again this year, AARP and the IRS willoffer free personal income tax preparation forHoward County residents at senior centersthroughout the county. Beginning Feb. 1, TaxAide services, including electronic filing, will beprovided at no charge to middle- and low-income taxpayers, with special emphasis onthose age 60 and older. Now in its 35th year inHoward County, Tax Aide’s volunteer preparersreceive IRS-approved training and certificationin tax preparation; many have years ofexperience.

Appointments must be scheduled inadvance by calling one of the participatingcenters, right. Evening and weekendappointments are available at some sites.

Plan to bring your 2011 Federal andMaryland State tax returns and your 2012tax records with you to your appointment.Self employment returns with more than$5,000 in expenses and very complex returnsare not eligible for this service.

To schedule an appointment, call: The Bain Center: 410-313-7387Ellicott City Senior Center: 410-313-1400Glenwood 50+ Center: 410-313-5440East Columbia 50+ Center: 410-313-7680North Laurel 50+ Center: 410-313-0380Elkridge Senior Center: 410-313-5192

Tax Aide Offers Income Tax Prep Help

Saturday, April 27, 2013

10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Gary J. Arthur Community Center at Glenwood2400 Route 97, Cooksville, MD 21723

For more info: 410.313.5440 • www.howardcountyaging.org/womenfest

WOMENFEST ... a one-stop adventure to discover great new ways to make the most of your busy life! Delicious box lunches available for purchase.

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FEATURING KEYNOTE SPEAKER

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Plus, an expanded offering of...

• Over 90 Vendors & Exhibitors!• Relevant & Engaging Seminars!• Important Health Screenings!

Don’t miss out! There’s something for everyone at WOMENFEST 2013...


The Senior Connection

Coming Events

The Senior Connection is publishedmonthly by the Howard CountyDepartment of Citizen Services’

Office on Aging. We welcome your comments and

suggestions. To contact us, or to join ouremail subscriber list, email

[email protected] ‘subscribe’ in the subject box.

Howard County Office on Aging6751 Columbia Gateway Drive,

Columbia, MD 21046410-313-6410

www.howardcountyaging.orgwww.Facebook.com/HoCoCitizenDayna Brown, Administrator

Advertising contained in the Beacon is notendorsed by the Howard County Office on

Aging or by the publisher.

Wednesday, Feb. 6, 10:30 a.m. to noon –Maryland Insurance AdministrationOutreach, Elkridge Senior CenterRepresentatives from the Maryland InsuranceAdministration will join us to share pointers onchoosing insurance and how to save money. Free;call 410-313-5192 for more info.

Thursday, Feb. 7, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. –Health & Fitness Fair, North Laurel 50+ CenterFebruary is National Heart Month! Stop by tolearn hands-only CPR, get healthinformation/screenings, and explore options forimproving your heart health and fitness level. Call410-313-0380 to register.

Thursday, Feb. 7, 6:30 to 8 p.m. –Recognizing Love: Maintaining HealthyRelationships, The Bain CenterDon’t miss this engaging workshop on healthyrelationships, presented by Vanita Leatherwood fromthe Howard County Domestic Violence Center.Free; call 410-313-7213 to register by Feb. 5.

Monday, Feb. 11, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. –Atlantic City Trip, Elkridge Senior CenterEnjoy a relaxing ride on a coach bus and then tryyour luck at the Resort Casino or walk theboardwalk and go shopping. Plenty of fun foreveryone, but seats are limited, so call 410-313-5192 to register early. Cost: $35/person (includes$25 in slot play.)

Monday, Feb. 11, 9:30 a.m. to noon – Put Your Best Face Forward by HCC,Glenwood 50+CenterLearn the do’s and don’ts of applying makeup, pluswhich colors are best for your skin. Bring themakeup you normally use. Hands-on class; call410-313-5440 to pre-register.

Wednesday, Feb. 13, 11 a.m. – Book Talk:The Village that Shaped Us, Glenwood 50+CenterUsing oral history interviews, the author tells thestory of a Freedman’s Village settled in 1867 on ahill overlooking the Nation’s Capital. Call 410-313-5440 to register.

Wednesday, Feb. 13, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. –Valentine’s Day Concert/Lunch, North Laurel 50+ CenterEnjoy an elegant meal and dance to the music ofSterling Dorn and the Two Smooth Dudes. Cost:$5 plus lunch donation. Call 410-313-7217 inadvance to reserve lunch.

Thursday, Feb. 14, 11 a.m. – Valentine’s Omelet Brunch, Ellicott City Senior CenterCost: Super Special Lunch Donation. Seating islimited; call 410-313-1400 to register.

Thursday, Feb. 14, 11 a.m. – “Not-So”Newlywed Game, The Bain CenterSee how well our contestants know their spouse orpartner after many years together. Prizes will beawarded to the winning couple. Free; register atthe front desk by Feb. 12.

Thursday, Feb. 14, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. –Howard County Senior Idol Auditions,Ellicott City Senior CenterDo you love to sing? Howard County residents age60 and up are invited to audition to represent thecounty in the MD Senior Idol Competition. CallVicki Stahly, 410-313-1421, for more information.

Tuesday, Feb. 19, 10:30 a.m. – Bain Theatre Club: Who Am I?, The Bain CenterEnjoy the Theatre Club’s heart-filled performanceand see if you can guess the mystery personbehind it! Free; call 410-313-7213 to sign up earlyas space is limited.

Tuesdays, Feb. 19, 26 and March 5, 11 a.m. – Create Easter Surprise SugarEggs, East Columbia 50+ CenterRemember the thrill of receiving one of these eggsas a child? Surprise someone special by makingyour own to give. Cost: $33; all supplies included.Call 410-313-7680 to register.

Thursday, Feb. 21, 1 to 2 p.m. – HandsOnly CPR, Ellicott City Senior Center Join Brad Tanner to learn the new “Hands Only”CPR techniques for use in the home or at theoffice.Call 410-313-1400 to reserve your seat today!

Mondays, Feb. 25, March 4 & 11, 1 to 3 p.m. – Pencil Drawing, East Columbia 50+ CenterInstructor Paul Kerris is your guide as you createbeautiful sketches from photographs or favoritepictures. Cost: $33; call 410-313-7680 to register.

Tuesday, Feb. 26, 11 a.m. to noon –Social Security Administration ChoirConcert, The Bain CenterJoin us as we celebrate Black History Month withone of Maryland’s best choirs. Don’t miss it! Free;call 410-313-7213 to register.

Wednesday, Feb. 27, 10 a.m. –Chincoteague: A Visual Journey,Glenwood 50+CenterEnjoy breathtaking photographs and learn thehistory of Chincoteague’s beauty. Call 410-313-5440 to register.

Wednesdays, Feb. 27 - April 3, 1 to 3 p.m. – Living Well with Diabetes,North Laurel 50+ Center Get the support you need to manage yourdiabetes. Discussions include monitoring bloodsugar; healthy eating & nutrition; preventing lowblood sugar; fitness & exercise; stressmanagement; and skin & foot care. Cost: $28; call410-313-5980 to register.

Wednesdays, March 6 - April 10, 1 to 3 p.m. – Living Well, Y of Central MD, 4331Montgomery Rd., Ellicott City, MD 21043Learn to manage your chronic health conditions,how to deal with pain and fatigue, communicatebetter with family and health professionals, anddevelop healthy eating and fitness habits. Cost:$28; call 410-313-5980 to register.

Thursday, March 21, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30p.m. – SPRING Luncheon: Stanford GrillJoin us for beautiful atrium dining, three deliciousmenu selections, and always a fun atmosphere! Cost:$22.50/person; seating is limited. Call ElaineWidom at 410-313-7283 by March 15 to register.

Eat for a Healthy HeartBy Rona Martiyan, MS, RD, LDNHeart disease is the number one killer of older

adults. But by keeping your weight within ahealthy Body Mass Index (BMI) range, you canreduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. To reacha healthy weight, try to:

• Eat smaller portions and fill up on nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables.

• Count calories; use a food diary, and aim for50 to 60 percent carbohydrates, 20 percent protein,and 25 to 30 percent fats (mainly unsaturated).

• Monitor weight regularly; if you gain a fewpounds, cut back for a few days.

• Ask for support from your family, friends and

healthcare provider.• Eat breakfast — you need nourishment to

start the day.• Prepare most of your meals at home; eat out

no more than three times a week.• Buy fewer prepared foods from grocery stores;

these can be just as unhealthy as fast foods.• Move more…find an exercise you like to do!• Reward yourself with something other than

food.Need more information? Call Maryland Access

Point 410-313-5980 or stop by your nearest seniorcenter to schedule a free one-on-one consultation withnutritionist Rona Martiyan.

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 3 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com 1716 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 3 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Call today!

301-260-2320 or 301-924-2811

www.bgf.org

… because what surrounds you really matters.

Montgomery County’s Premier Provider Two Years in a Row

For the second consecutive year, Brooke Grove Rehabilitation and Nursing Center has been named the top facility in Montgomery County under the new pay-for-performance standards. The State Office of Health Care Quality measured our patient outcomes, quality and staffing, interviewed our clients and once again ranked us #1 in the county.

Participants in the Gazette’s Best of Montgomery County (2012) added their stamp of approval by selecting Brooke Grove Retirement Village as one of the area’s top three retirement communities. We’re proud of our rankings and prouder of the independence and quality of life we offer. Because at Brooke Grove, what surrounds you really matters.

Ranked #1 in Montgomery County

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Simply different


MoneyMoneyIRAs FOR HEIRSFill out paperwork properly to pass downyour IRAs to beneficiaries, and note thatrules vary for spouses and others who inherit retirement accounts

FACING MEDICAL DEBTThe healthcare law gives patients protections from collection agencies andrequires notice about available financialassistance

Law &

Very few individual investors do as well asmarket indexes on a long-term basis. Onemajor reason is that they fail todevelop long-range plans, in-stead creating portfolios that re-quire frequent major changes,which incur expenses andtaxes.

If you are making dramaticchanges to your portfolio, andyour returns lag the major in-dexes associated with your in-vestments, then consider chang-ing your approach. You haveprobably not looked closelyenough at the risks that are rele-vant to your investments.

Five types of riskThere are different types of risk — the

major ones are interest rate, credit, infla-tion, currency and market — and any oneof them may affect you differently than itaffects other investors.

Interest rate risk can be understood bythis inverse relationship: When interest rates

increase, bond prices decrease,and vice versa. If you invest inbonds, changes in interest ratescan have a significant impact onthe value of your portfolios.Long-term bonds are muchmore volatile than short-termbonds.

Credit risk refers to the po-tential loss in investment valuewhen a corporation’s or gov-ernment’s credit rating isdowngraded. After a debt rat-ing downgrade, the value of anentity’s outstanding bonds or

preferred stock will immediately drop. Adisadvantage of buying individual corporatebonds with low credit ratings (aka “junk”bonds) is that they are more likely than in-vestment grade bonds to be downgraded.

Inflation risk is an all too familiar con-cept to savers today. Short-term invest-

ments such as Treasury bills and moneymarket instruments currently yield lessthan 1 percent. Even if inflation is 3 percenta year — a historically low rate — a portfo-lio of these “safe” investments will erode invalue by more than 2 percent a year. In-vestors with a significant long-term portfo-lio in these instruments will be losers.

Currency risk refers to the possibilityof loss in your portfolio based on changesin the value of currencies relative to theU.S. dollar.

Market risk refers to the possible in-vestment loss due to fluctuation in securityprices for other reasons. Fluctuations canoccur within an entire asset class or for aspecific security you own. When you in-vest in common stocks, you incur moremarket risk than you would for more con-servative investments.

The value of an individual stock may fallbecause of general market conditions,poor earnings, new tax regulations or unfa-vorable industry projections.

If you invest in commodities such asgold and silver, you are also subject to mar-ket risk because of the price volatility ofthe underlying commodity.

You have to take some market risk toobtain capital growth, but you shouldn’ttake more risk than you can afford. Youshould look at the price stability of anyasset class you are considering investingin to make sure that you can afford short-term fluctuations in value, and thus do nothave to bail out at the wrong time. Diversi-fication is crucial.

Investing for retirementWhen developing a long-term invest-

ment plan, take a hard look at the risks andmake sure you are taking the right onesand avoiding the inappropriate ones.

For example, if you are in the earlystages of your career and need to save forretirement, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to

When you purchase stock (“shares” or“equity”), it represents ownership of a pub-licly traded company. As acommon stockholder, you geta piece of what the companyowns (assets) and what itowes (liabilities).

You are also entitled to votingrights and dividends, which area portion of the company’s prof-its that it distributes to its share-holders. Stock prices movebased on supply and demand: Ifmore people think the companywill deliver future financial re-sults, they will buy it, and the stock will rise.

Bonds work differently than stocks.When you buy a bond, you are actually lend-ing money to an entity — the U.S. govern-ment, a state, a municipality or a company —for a set period of time — from 30 days to 30years — at a fixed rate of interest (the term“fixed income” is often used to describe theasset class of bonds). At the end of the term,the borrower repays the obligation in full.

How bond prices workBond prices fluctuate based on the gener-

al direction of interest rates. Here’s how itworks: If you own a 10-year U.S. govern-

ment bond that is paying 5 per-cent, it will be worth more now,when new bonds issued byUncle Sam are only paying 1.6percent. Conversely, if yourbond is paying 1.6 percent, andyour friend can purchase a newbond paying 5 percent, nobodywill be interested in your bondand the price will fall.

That’s why bond pricesmove in the opposite directionof prevailing interest rates, re-

gardless of the bond type. So, if you hearthat interest rates are on the rise, you cancount on your individual bond or bond mu-tual fund dropping in value.

Although often hailed as “safe,” bond in-vestors face a number of risks, in addition tothe interest rate risk described above. Oneis credit risk, which is the risk of default orthat the entity does not pay you back. That isa pretty low risk if the entity is the U.S. gov-ernment, but it can be a high one if it’s acompany or town that is in trouble.

Another risk is inflation. Even if the

bonds are paid in full, the promised rate ofinterest can turn out to be worth less overtime due to inflation, which eats into thefixed stream of payments.

Should you buy a bond fund?Many investors prefer owning a bond mu-

tual fund versus an individual bond becausefunds offer broad diversification at a low cost,and they offer the convenience of being ableto buy or sell shares at any time and in anyquantity. Additionally, there is no easy way toreinvest interest payments into individualbonds, but you can reinvest easily in a fund.

However, individual bonds offer the cer-tainty of a defined maturity date, which pro-vides an investor with more control overthe investment. If you hold an individualbond until it matures, you will get back itsface value even if interest rates have risen.

But you can lose principal if you sellshares in a fund at the wrong time (just asyou can if you sell an individual bond —whose value has fallen — before it matures).

Because bonds deliver a consistentstream of income, many investors view themas the perfect retirement vehicle. But asmentioned above, bond prices can fluctuate.

The worst calendar year for the broadbond market was 1994, when the broadbond market returned -2.9 percent due toan unexpected upward shift in interest rates(prices dropped more, but the interest frombonds helped defray some of those losses).

Just this past summer, the 10-yearTreasury market saw big price drops. Inthe three weeks from the July 25 peak toAug. 16, prices tumbled about 8.5 percent,and yields went to 1.82 percent from an all-time low of 1.38 percent.

So, yes, you can lose money in the bondmarket, though the magnitude of the fluc-tuations tends to be smaller than those instocks and other riskier asset classes.

Bonds are an important asset class thatcan have a stabilizing effect on a diversi-fied portfolio over time. Understandinghow they work can prepare you for theireventual ups and downs.

Jill Schlesinger, CFP, is the Editor-at-Largefor www.CBSMoneyWatch.com. She coversthe economy, markets and investing on herpodcast and blog, Jill on Money, as well as ontelevision and radio. She welcomes commentsand questions at [email protected].

© 2012 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

How you can lose money in ‘safe’ bonds

Understanding risk is the key to investing

See RISK, page 21

THE SAVINGSGAMEBy Elliot Raphaelson

RETIRE SMARTBy Jill Schlesinger

By Joan GoldwasserOnline banks don’t have the expense of

a multi-branch network, so they can affordto charge fewer fees and pay higher ratesthan traditional banks.

You’ll have to rely on direct deposit toput money in your account, although somebanks allow you to deposit checks via amobile phone.

1. Ally Bank (www.ally.com). Ally letsyou open its Interest Checking accountwith any amount. It has no monthly main-tenance fee, plus it rebates all ATM feesnationwide. The account pays 0.4 percentinterest on balances up to $15,000, and

0.75 percent on balances over that amount. You can also use a mobile phone to de-

posit checks, transfer funds to other banksand pay bills.

2. Bank of Internet USA (www.bofi.com).You need $100 to open a Rewards Checkingaccount, but there is no monthly fee and nominimum balance requirement. ATM reim-bursements within the U.S. are unlimited.

Plus, you can use your mobile phone tomake deposits. You earn up to 1.25 percentinterest on your balance each month if youmeet certain requirements, such as settingup direct deposit, paying bills online, andusing your debit card.

3. INGDirect (https://home.ingdi-rect.com). This online bank was recentlyacquired by Capital One.

Open an Electric Orange Checking ac-count with any amount you choose. It hasno minimum balance requirement and nomonthly fees. You can use your phone tomake deposits and to transfer money.

Use one of the more than 43,000 All-point ATMs worldwide and you pay no fee.The checking account yields 0.2 percenton balances of less than $50,000.

4. Lake Michigan Credit Union(www.lmcu.org). Anyone can join LakeMichigan Credit Union by donating $5 to theWest Michigan chapter of the ALS Associa-tion and opening a $5 savings account.

Its Max Checking account has no mini-

mum balance requirement and no monthlyfees; it refunds up to $15 a month in ATMfees if you don’t use one of the bank’s 92proprietary machines. The account pays 3percent on balances up to $15,000 if,among other requirements, you arrangefor one direct deposit per month.

5. Schwab Bank (www.schwab.com).The Schwab High Yield Investor checkingaccount rebates all ATM fees worldwide.The account has no minimum balance re-quirement and no monthly service fee, andchecks are free. Balances earn 0.15 percent.

You can use your mobile phone to makedeposits and pay bills. You’ll need to opena linked Schwab brokerage account, butno minimum balance is required.

© 2012 Kiplinger’s Personal Finance

Online banks without fees, minimumsHOWARD COUNT Y B E A CON — F E B RUA R Y 2 0 1 3 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com | Law & Money 19

CONSUMER QUESTIONS ANSWEREDThe Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA), a state regulatoryagency, offers a variety of consumer materials on all types of insur-

ance products, including annuities, title insurance, and health, auto and homeown-ers insurance. Trained staff will be available to answer questions at four locationsin February, including the Columbia Workforce Center, 7161 Columbia GatewayDr., Suite D, Columbia, on Feb. 5, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Elkridge Senior Center,6540 Washington Blvd., Elkridge, on Feb. 6, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; NorthLaurel 50+ Center, 9411 Whiskey Bottom Rd., Laurel, on Feb. 7, from 10 a.m. to 2p.m.; and Glenwood 50+ at Gary J. Arthur Community Center, 2400 Route 97,Cooksville, on Feb. 12, from 8:30 to 11 a.m. For more information, see www.mdin-surance.state.md.us.

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9!1&":!($8"9!1&"*%&8"9!1&"#.6$8";1&"31/.'$//8 !"#$%&'()'")#$'*)++,'-!.'*)'"#/)'"0%.#/)%&'123.!$#.)+4,'50-)3.4'6!.!#+'7$%!3#$8)'9#%':;;'4)#3%'2<')=>)30)$8)'<0=0$?'.9)",'2<<)30$?'@!#+0.4'82A)3#?)'#$B')=>)3.'#BA08)'<23'#'*0B)'3#$?)'2<'0$%!3#$8)'>32B!8.%C'#!.2,'92"),'+0<),'82$B2,'3)$.)3%,'!"-3)++#'#$B'#$$!0.4&'

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By Elliot Raphaelson Most individuals who have Individual Re-

tirement Accounts (IRAs) understand theprimary advantages of these accounts — in-come tax deferral and the associated invest-ment growth over long periods of time.

However, owners of these accountsoften fail to consider that these advantagescan also work in the favor of beneficiarieswho inherit the accounts after they die.Even those who appreciate the benefitsoften fail to follow the rules exactly andend up losing out.

IRS regulations on inheriting retirementaccounts can be complex, and it is easy forpeople to make mistakes when they namebeneficiaries. There are pitfalls for benefi-ciaries as well, and mistakes can result inthousands of dollars in unnecessary penal-ties and lost investment opportunity.

Do paperwork properlyRetirement expert Ed Slott argues that

properly filling out your retirement ac-count beneficiary form is the “single mostimportant document in your estate planbecause it guarantees that the person youname as beneficiary ... will indeed get thatasset when you are gone.”

A filled out beneficiary form will takeprecedence over provisions in your will. Ifyour personal situation changes — say, be-cause of divorce or death of a spouse —you must make sure you make the appro-priate changes to the form. It’s key to getthis right, because the retirement accountis the largest asset many individuals own.

Slott’s retirement planning books are anexcellent resource to help you make theright decisions. Your Complete RetirementPlanning Road Map (Ballantine Books,2007) is particularly useful on this subject.

Don’t assume that your attorney and/oryour financial advisor are experts regard-ing retirement accounts, especially when itcomes to inherited accounts. Do your

homework, and get informed professionalassistance if you need it.

Options for a spouseNaming a spouse as a beneficiary is the

most desirable option, as it provides thebest opportunity for growth and longevityof the funds in the account. A spouse bene-ficiary can treat the inherited IRA as his orher own, and have the trustee change thename on the account.

A second option is for the beneficiary toroll the account over to a new IRA in his orher name. Both alternatives are equally ad-vantageous.

A third option is to retitle the account asan “inherited IRA.” If the beneficiary isunder the age of 59 1/2, there is an advan-tage to this option. The beneficiary canwithdraw funds immediately without pay-ing the 10 percent penalty that normally ap-plies to those who take early IRA distribu-tions. The beneficiary will have to pay ordi-nary income taxes on any withdrawals.

If a spouse beneficiary selects the inher-ited IRA option, at age 59 1/2 he or sheshould retitle the IRA in his or her name.The beneficiary will then have the flexibili-ty, between ages 59 1/2 and 70 1/2, towithdraw any amount he or she wishesand retain tax deferral. After age 70 1/2,that person will have to make mandatorywithdrawals based on the IRS’ life ex-pectancy tables.

Preserving benefits for heirsIf you have inherited an IRA, fill out the

retirement account beneficiary form soyour heirs, too, can take advantage of the“stretching” options.

Non-spouse beneficiaries cannot roll overa retirement account into their own names.They can, however — and they should —

retitle the account as an inherited IRA.How you, as a non-spouse beneficiary, are

required to make withdrawals from an inher-ited IRA depends on whether the account’soriginal owner had begun withdrawing.

For example, let’s suppose you inherit-ed an IRA from your mother, who had initi-ated withdrawals based on her life ex-pectancy. If you retitle the account as an in-herited IRA, you can withdraw funds onthe same basis as your mother had, retain-ing the tax deferral. Withdrawals are taxedat ordinary income tax rates.

On the other hand, let’s say that at thepoint of her death, your mother had notinitiated mandatory withdrawals. You willbe required to make minimum with-drawals based on your life expectancy. Youcan always withdraw more than the mini-mum. Again, all withdrawals are taxable.

If you do not retitle the account as an in-herited IRA and cash it out, you will imme-diately owe income taxes on the wholeamount, and you will lose the advantage oftax-deferral.

Make sure the beneficiaries of any re-tirement accounts and the executor ofyour will understand the importance ofretitling the accounts as an inherited IRA.

Fortunately, existing tax laws and regu-lations allow retirement account ownersand beneficiaries many years of potentialgrowth and tax deferral. It is well worththe effort to take advantage of these.

Other excellent sources of informationon this topic are Retire Secure! Pay TaxesLater by James Lange (Wiley, 2nd ed.,2009), and Making the Most of Your MoneyNow by Jane Bryant Quinn (Simon andShuster, revised 2009).

© 2012 Elliot Raphaelson. All rights re-served. Distributed by Tribune Media Serv-ices, Inc.

How to pass IRAs down to beneficiaries20 Law & Money | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com F E B RUA R Y 2 0 1 3 — HOWARD COUNT Y B E A CON

INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE

The Internal Revenue Service and AARP are sponsoring free per-

sonal income tax preparation services to all middle and low income taxpayers at

senior centers in Howard County. The phone numbers to call for appointment

times at participating centers are Bain Center (410) 313-7387; East Columbia

Senior Center (410) 313-7680; Elkridge Senior Center (410) 313-1400; Ellicott

City Senior Center (410) 313-1400; Glenwood Community Center (410) 313-

5440; and North Laurel Community Center (410) 313-0380.

ONLINE DOG AND CAT LICENSING

Howard County residents may now complete their cat and dog li-

cense processing online by logging on to www.myHoward.info. The

process allows users to request a new license, renew an existing one and upload

any supporting documents that may be required. The cost of licensing a dog or

cat is $24, but if the animal has been spayed or neutered, the fee is reduced to

$6. Persons 62 or older pay half of the appropriate fee. For additional information,

call (410) 313-2433.

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have a large portion of your investment inlow-yielding Treasury bills losing morethan 2 percent a year to inflation.

If you are near retirement, with a signif-icant capital base, you should be moremindful of market risk — i.e., having toolarge a percentage in common stocks.

If you are already retired and depend onbonds for recurring income, be wary ofcredit risk and avoid putting a large pro-portion of your bond holdings in individualjunk bonds. Rather, you should considereither investment grade bonds or a conser-vative high-yield fund.

With a good understanding of the risks,you likely will not have to make significantchanges on a year-to-year basis (otherthan rebalancing).

If you would rather leave the portfolio se-lection to professionals, select a no-load mutu-al fund family with a good performance histo-ry and low costs that offers target-date retire-ment funds and/or balanced funds (i.e., fundsthat maintain a predetermined mix of equityand income investments). You are likely tohave more consistent and better results.

Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questionsand comments at [email protected].

© 2012 Elliot Raphaelson. All rights re-served. Distributed by Tribune Media Serv-ices, Inc.

HOWARD COUNT Y B E A CON — F E B RUA R Y 2 0 1 3 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com | Law & Money 21

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RiskFrom page 18

By Elliot Raphaelson Many people are facing large, often in-

surmountable, debt obligations thesedays, and according to some estimates,medical bills account for half of all collec-tions reported to credit agencies.

Even with a sound long-term financialplan, you may be confronted with unex-pected health problems, including an un-planned hospital stay for a member of yourfamily. This can have a significant impacton your financial well-being.

After a hospital stay, many individualsand families without comprehensive hospi-tal insurance face large bills they cannot af-ford to pay. Most people and even somehospitals are not aware that the new Af-fordable Care Act (ACA) has provisionsthat prohibit certain collection techniquesthat hospitals have used on people havingdifficulty paying bills for care.

Hospitals that continue to use these col-lection techniques may lose their federaltax exemption. There has been very littlepublicity regarding the benefits of these

provisions of the ACA to low- and middle-income families.

What the law statesAs Mark Rukavina, a healthcare afford-

ability expert, explained in a blog post atCredit.com (http://s.tt/1b57a), the ACA di-rected the IRS to establish Section 501(r) ofthe IRS code to implement benefit rules forhospitals that are subsidized through feder-al tax exemption. These hospitals must:

• “Establish written financial assis-tance policies describing who is eligiblefor free or reduced cost care and publicizethem to patients and the community.

• “Refrain from extraordinary collec-tions actions against patients beforescreening them to determine whetherthey qualify for financial assistance.

• “Limit fees charged to patients eligi-ble for financial assistance to rates paid byMedicare or the lowest amounts paid byinsured patients.”

Unfortunately, not all hospitals have fol-lowed these mandated requirements. As a re-

sult, some patients who were eligible for freeor reduced-cost care have been contactedand sued by collection agencies, in violationof ACA requirements. The IRS has not yetclearly defined “extraordinary collections.”

However, it is clear that Congress in-tended to protect low- and moderate-in-come earners from large medical bills.(Note that a large, unwarranted hospitalbill will have a significant negative impacton a patient’s credit report.)

Gerri Detweiler, Credit.com’s consumercredit expert, reported that a reader hadher hospital turn her $7,000 bill over to acollection firm before she even received it.

Ask for help at the hospitalIf you are treated by a nonprofit hospi-

tal, take steps to ensure that your rightsare protected. Contact the billing depart-ment and request information regarding fi-nancial assistance. You can also askwhether the hospital has any personnelwith expertise in assisting low-income pa-tients or patients with disabilities.

Ask for the hospital’s written financial as-sistance policy, which is mandated underACA. If the billing department cannot pro-vide you this information, then you shouldmake your request in writing and send it bycertified mail/signature requested to sen-ior management of the hospital.

Unfortunately, there has been an up-surge in allegations of debt collectors has-sling patients. As the Huffington Post re-ported, Health and Human Services Secre-tary Kathleen Sebelius said that her de-partment is looking into allegations that“aggressive contractors were confrontingpatients in the hospital setting, not makingit clear that they were actually bill collec-tors and not part of the hospital system.”

If you are contacted by a collector in thehospital, obtain the person’s relevant infor-mation, such as name, company and ad-dress, and report it to your Congressionalrepresentative, as well as to senior man-agement of the hospital.

© 20212 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributedby Tribune Media Services, Inc.

Hospital collections must follow new law

Please patronize our advertisers.They keep the Beacon free!

22 Law & Money | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com F E B RUA R Y 2 0 1 3 — HOWARD COUNT Y B E A CON

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.

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014331RXX11


TravelLeisure &TravelLeisure &TravelLeisure &

By Victor BlockRelaxing in a hot shower, walking to a

nearby market to buy meat, or strollingthrough a village may seem like common-place occurrences. However, for visitors tothe African country of Uganda, these expe-riences are likely to be unlike life as you’reused to living it.For instance, the shower consists of hot

water poured into a tank on the roof of a tent,which drips throughholes in a bucket ontothe bather below. Themeat is large body partsof animals strung up inan outside marketplace.And villages are group-ings of mud-brick hutswith thatched roofs anddirt floors.Most people travel

to Uganda to observe aNoah’s Ark variety ofanimals in their natu-ral habitat. During myrecent visit, I found lifeof another kind to be equally intriguing. Op-portunities to mix and mingle with the peo-ple soon became a highlight of the trip.

A picturesque country and peopleThis central African country is land-

locked, yet fully a quarter of it is coveredby water. That includes a section throughwhich the Nile River flows, and Lake Victo-ria — the second largest freshwater lake inthe world after Lake Superior.Though it is one of the poorest nations

of the world, its people reflect an easygo-ing, friendly demeanor, especially to visi-tors. As they toil in fields that spill down

steep hillsides, women — some with ababy napping in a sling on their back —-chat with their neighbors working nearby.Many men waiting for passengers to clam-ber aboard their motorcycle taxi also sharelighthearted banter.The biggest smiles adorn the faces of chil-

dren, whether playing in the dirt near theirhouse or waving to passing vehicles carryingvisitors to their country. Their excitement

and broad gr insprompted my wife Fyl-lis and me, and oureight traveling com-panions, to returnevery smile and wavethat came our way. Memories of other

scenes also continueto dance in my head. Istill picture lines ofwomen and childrenwalking alongside pot-holed roads balancinga variety of bundles ontheir head.

The women, many wearing colorful flow-ing dresses, might be carrying a bunch ofbananas, laundry just washed in a stream, afive gallon plastic container of water pumpedfrom the village well, or anything else thatneeds to be moved from here to there. Someschool children tote their books on theirhead, their version of the backpack carriedby many youngsters in the United States.Bicycles and motorbikes are used to

transport larger and heavier items. I spot-ted them laden with cages of live chickens,heavy bags of charcoal used for cooking,and a live goat slung across the lap of aman driving to an outdoor market.

Everywhere I looked was a photographwaiting to be taken. That was equally truewhen the ElderTreks tour group withwhich I was traveling ventured out ongame drives and boat cruises for close-upencounters with the animals that makeUganda their home.

From antelope to zebrasThe checklist of wildlife is long and var-

ied, a literal alphabet, ranging from ante-lope to zebra. Actually, I learned that the word “ante-

lope,” rather than describing a specific ani-mal, is a catch-all name for about 90 speciesof beautiful creatures. We saw many kinds,varying from miniscule, graceful oribi tosturdy waterbuck, each with its own type oflovely and distinctive horns.Each animal encounter seemed to ex-

ceed the wonder and excitement of theprevious sighting. Our itinerary includedvisits to two major gathering places of ele-phants in Uganda, where we were thrilledat the sight of those endearing beasts eat-ing, resting and on the move.Herds of zebras resemble broad tableaus

of black and white stripes with heads. En-dangered Rothschild giraffes, identified bytheir white legs below the knee, stretchtheir long necks to browse on tender leavesat the top of tall trees.Large groups of powerful and feared Cape

buffalo, wallowing in mud or huddled togeth-er on land, peer out from nearsighted eyes. Among our group of travelers, the count-

less hippos we came across in many bodiesof water were a favorite sight. They spendmuch of the day floating just beneath thesurface with only their tiny ears (and some-times eyes) peeking out. When theyemerge to graze on land, you understandwhy those highly aggressive creatures,which can top out at 6,000 pounds, are pret-ty much left alone by most other animals.The checklist of wildlife sightings con-

tinued. Troops of baboons congregatealongside roads searching for tasty plantsand small insects. Wart hogs, with facesonly another wart hog could love, kneel ontheir front knees to munch on grass. Giant crocodiles bask in the sun along

river banks. Droll-looking vervet, black-and-white colobus, and a menagerie of othermonkeys chatter and scold from tree tops. Trees also are home to winged crea-

tures in more than enough variety to makeUganda a birder’s paradise. More than1,000 species of resident and migratorybirds have been sighted there. Sightingeven just a few of them can reveal a breath-takingly beautiful rainbow of colors. A hike in the forest searching for chim-

panzees also had us scanning the treetops.Our first clue that they were nearby was aseries of barks and growls emanating fromhigh branches. Then we picked out four an-imals staring down at us, including a moth-er with a baby clinging tightly to her back.A chimp identified by our guide as an

adolescent climbed down from a tree andlay on the ground about 10 feet from us.Then he took turns taking short naps andoccasionally awakening to scratch himself,ignoring the members of our group as wetook photo after photo.Even after countless sightings of birds

and animals, we continued to long for en-counters with big cats. Understanding howunlikely it is to come across elusive leop-ards, we agreed to settle for lions and even-tually were rewarded for our flexibility. During one game drive, our eagle-eyed

guide saw a family of three lions in the dis-tance that ran into a large cluster of bushes

Ireland is one of the top travel destina-tions for 2013. Find out why on page 24.

Wildlife and village life in heart of Africa

A Ugandan boy is carried by his mother.

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A young child fills water containersat a community well.

Village housing has grass roofs.

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By Beth J. HarpazMyanmar, Marseille, New Zealand and

Gettysburg are all on the travel radar for2013 thanks to new tours, events and an-niversaries. But the best pitch for travel in the new

year might just be coming from Ireland,which is running ads “calling all Flynns,O’Malleys and Schweizenbergs” to theEmerald Isle for a unique grassrootshomecoming called “The Gathering.” Here are details on these and other

places, events and travel trends for 2013. The Gathering “is a citizen-led initiative

to attract people who are Irish-born, Irish-bred or Irish in spirit to join us in 2013,”said Bernard McMullan of Tourism Ire-land. “It’s almost become a competitionwhere one county, town or village tries tohave as quirky a gathering as the next.” More than 2,000 events are already

planned, including events for redheadsand left-handers as well as reunions basedon family names and clans.

The U.S. Census Bureau said 34.7 mil-lion Americans claim Irish ancestry, andArabella Bowen, executive editorial direc-tor of Fodor’s Travel, is one of them. EvenPresident Barack Obama has an Irish an-cestor in the family tree. “There are Irish people all over the

world,” said Bowen. “It will be great funbeing able to connect with others goingback for this event. It’s like an entire yearof St. Patrick’s Day parties.”

Myanmar and New ZealandPresident Obama’s historic recent visit

to Myanmar (formerly known as Burma)— the first ever by a sitting U.S. president— is adding to already heated-up interestin the country, which has only fully openedto tourism in the last few years. Fodor’sBowen said it’s especially attractive to peo-ple who are already well traveled and areseeking that next unknown destination. Many tour companies are adding Myan-

mar trips due to demand, and the U.S.Tour Operators Association’s active mem-bers named Myanmar No. 1 on a list of“off-the-beaten path” countries they fore-see becoming popular in 2013. New Zealand received a huge boost in

tourism from fans of The Lord of the Ringsmovie trilogy, and the release of the newmovie The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journeyis focusing attention on the destinationonce again. All four of the movies werefilmed in New Zealand. The French port city Marseille is one of

two European capitals of culture in 2013,along with the Slovakian city of Kosice.Fodor’s Bowen said Marseille “has beenoverlooked in the past” by a lot of travelersheading to the lavender fields and wineriesof Provence, but she believes it’s ripe for a“renaissance” with new hotels, art gal-leries and culinary hotspots. XL AirwaysFrance is launching direct flights fromNew York in late May.

Big anniversaries in the U.S.Several important anniversaries take

place in 2013, with exhibits and events tomark them. • Gettysburg, Pa., is marking 150 years

since the famous Civil War battle, whichtook place July 1-13, 1863. The town willalso mark the sesquicentennial of Presi-dent Abraham Lincoln’s brief but brilliant272-word speech, the Gettysburg Address,which he delivered Nov. 19, 1863 at thebattlefield cemetery. Marquee events for the battle commem-

oration, including reenactments and tours,will take place June 28 to July 7, but therewill be activities and programs throughoutthe year. On July 1, the new Seminary Ridge Mu-

seum opens in a building that was used as asoldiers’ hospital. Union Gen. John Bufordalso used the structure’s cupola to scoutthe countryside on the battle’s first day. • Dallas plans a ceremony to mark 50

years since the assassination of President

John F. Kennedy, at the exact time and placewhere shots rang out: Dealey Plaza, Nov. 22,12:25 p.m. The ceremony will begin withchurch bells tolling and a moment of silence,followed by a reading of Kennedy’s speech-es, songs, prayers and a military flyover. Special programming for the occasion is

also planned by many other sites, from theNewseum in Washington, D.C., to theSixth Floor Museum in Dallas, located in abuilding where a sniper’s nest and riflewere found following the shooting. • Saratoga, N.Y., is planning a May to

September celebration with festivals andconcerts marking the 150th anniversary ofthe Saratoga Race Course, where watchingthe horses remains a fun and popular pas-time. The town is also known for upscaleeateries and lodging, along with SaratogaSpa State Park, with its beautiful pools andnatural springs. • New York City’s Grand Central Termi-

nal kicks off its centennial Feb. 1 with arededication of the landmarked Beaux Artsstation. Performances, lectures, exhibitsand tours are planned throughout the year. • Florida is marking the state’s 500th

anniversary of European discovery and ex-ploration, with events in all 67 counties.

Theme parks and beachesNext summer will see the popular 3-D

ride based on the “Transformers” moviesopening at Universal’s theme park in Or-lando. “Transformers: The Ride — 3D”previously opened this past May at Univer-sal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles. At Disneyland in California, spring will

see the opening of Fantasy Faire, locatedat Fantasyland and dedicated to Disney he-roes and heroines. At Disney World nearOrlando, Fla., a new attraction calledPrincess Fairytale Hall, where guests canmeet Disney princesses, is also scheduledto open in 2013. Princess Fairytale Hall will be located at

the Magic Kingdom’s New Fantasyland,which opened in early December, dou-bling the size of the original Fantasyland.Both parks are offering weekly surprisesfor guests as part of a yearlong 2013 pro-gram called Limited Time Magic. Superstorm Sandy destroyed beaches,

boardwalks and waterfront attractions allalong the mid-Atlantic coast. Many communi-ties on the Jersey shore, the beloved pier inOcean City, Md., and elsewhere are hopingto have infrastructure rebuilt by summer. On Coney Island, in Brooklyn, N.Y., the

landmark Cyclone and Wonder Wheelrides are in good condition along withother amusement park attractions, and areexpected to reopen in spring as usual,along with the famous hot dog eateryNathan’s and the home stadium for the Cy-clones minor league baseball team. The New York Aquarium at Coney has

been closed due to damage from floodingbut hopes to reopen some if not all exhibitsby summer.

— AP

Top worldwide travel destinations for 201324 Leisure & Travel | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com F E B RUA R Y 2 0 1 3 — HOWARD COUNT Y B E A CON

All Pet Crematory, Inc.(410) 552-0703 or 1(888) 552-0703 (toll free)

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February membership meetingdate: Wednesday, February 27, 8:30 – 10 a.m.

Location & Breakfast Sponsor:Winter Growth Adult Day Care 5460 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia

Speaker: Tom Balles, M.Ac., L. Ac., Tai Sophia Instituteacupuncturist and teacher

topic: Ways to Become a Powerful Healing Presence

PLatinum SPonSorSHoward County General Hospital – Johns Hopkins Medicine •The Beacon

GoLd SPonSorSBeing There Senior Care • Howard County Office on Aging • Visiting Angels

SiLver SPonSorSBayada Home Health Care • Carney, Kelehan, Bresler, Bennett & Scherr LLP

Deborah L. Herman, CPA • Lighthouse Senior Living at Ellicott City Gary L. Kaufman Funeral Home at Meadowridge Memorial Park

Bronze SPonSorSEarl Wilkirmnson, M.D., ENT • EverCare Hospice & Palliative Care • Homewatch Caregivers

Professional Healthcare Resources Inc • Transitions Healthcare

Patron memBerSBrooke Grove Retirement Village • Elizabeth Cooney Care Network •Gentiva Health Services

Home With You, LLC •Ivy Manor Normandy •Morningside House of Ellicott CityPremier Planning Group • Right At Home • Winter Growth • Wood Builders Collaborative

Thank You to Our 2012 Sponsors

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

Learn more by calling (410) 997-0610 or visit us at www.cogsmd.org.

HOWARD COUNT Y B E A CON — F E B RUA R Y 2 0 1 3 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com | Leisure & Travel 25

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as our vehicle approached. After remaininghidden for some time, the male trotted outof the thicket, leaving the mother and infantbehind, took a stance about thirty feet awayand prowled back and forth as if on guardduty. Only when we eventually drove awaydid the king of the beasts saunter back intothe bush, confident that his family was safe.Equally intriguing was our experience

in the Ishasha section of Queen ElizabethNational Park. It is one of only two placesin the world, the other being in Tanzania,where lions climb trees as part of theirregular behavior. It’s not known whether they do so to es-

cape biting flies at ground level or to catcha cooling daytime breeze, descending atdusk to search for their dinner. The reasonmattered little to us as we watched severallions comfortably settled on thick branch-es of fig trees.

Seeking the mountain gorillaTouted as a highlight of the trip was the op-

portunity to see mountain gorillas. Thosemagnificent creatures are mankind’s closestcousins, sharing between 95 and 99 percentof our DNA, depending on how it’s measured. Unfortunately, that kinship makes those

splendid animals susceptible to humandiseases. Before we began our trek, wewere instructed to stay at least seven me-ters (about 22 feet) away and to suppresscoughs and sneezes.Of the estimated 880 mountain gorillas in

the world, about 400 live in Uganda’s aptlynamed Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. As ex-perienced hikers, Fyllis and I almost scoffedwhen told that ElderTreks provides a porterto carry each trekker’s daypack and, if nec-essary, the trekker. However, soon after en-tering the forest we quickly became thankfulfor their presence.The trail disappeared, and the guide used

his machete to cut a shoe-wide path throughthick underbrush. The ground was slippery,and unbreakable vines clutched at our feet.Our porters literally gave us a hand, pulling,pushing and doing whatever was necessary tohelp us up the steepest hills we’ve ever en-countered. I soon understood why the animalswe sought to visit are called mountain gorillas.Our pre-trek briefing indicated that it

could take from two to seven hours to find agroup of gorillas, spend one hour observingthem and return to the starting point. Be-cause the group we were seeking was on theprowl searching for food, it took us overthree hours to find it and the full seven hoursfor the entire experience.

When we caught up with the gorillas,several were on tree branches chompingon leaves while others remained on theground. The real excitement occurredwhen the silverback, the large dominantmale, growled and began to charge us. Our guide quickly stepped in front,

waved his arms and machete and the hulk-ing gorilla turned away. Just in case, guidesalso are armed with an AK-47 which, oursassured us, he never has had to use.As much as gorilla trekking had been

promoted as a — perhaps the — high pointof our trip, it lasted only several hours dur-ing a 16-day adventure. The journey also in-cluded memorable safari game drives onland and cruises on water, each of which re-warded us with sightings of numerous ani-mals. The adrenaline rush of a charging

mountain gorilla and the beauty of lionssprawled over tree branches are but two ofinnumerable animal experiences thatlinger in my memory. Equally fascinating were encounters

with people whose culture and lifestyle arevery different from mine. These areamong reason why several of my travelcompanions described their visit to Ugan-da as the trip of a lifetime.

If you goA safari trip to Africa isn’t best undertak-

en as a do-it-yourself affair. We went therewith ElderTreks, which since 1987 has con-ducted off-the-beaten-path trips for people50 and over to more than 100 countries. Among benefits it offers are small

groups limited to no more than 16 travel-ers, highly efficient trip preparation, out-standing local guides, and inclusion of allmeals, which is not true for some tourcompanies. While a few meals had a setmenu, most were elaborate buffets. Accommodations ranged from a luxury

hotel, to a sophisticated lodge overlookinghillside tea plantations, to luxurious, spa-cious tented wilderness camps with a privatebathroom, including that bucket shower. Monkeys, hippos and wart hogs were

among the animals that hung aroundsome camps and provided yet more oppor-tunities to observe wildlife at close range. ElderTreks will offer its next Uganda trip

in July at a discounted price (through Jan.15) of $6,710 per person. It also will have an18-day trip in September to Uganda andRwanda priced at $7,645. Permits to trek forgorillas and chimpanzees cost extra. For more information about what may

prove to be your trip of a lifetime, call El-derTreks at 1-800-741-7956 or log ontowww.eldertreks.com.

AfricaFrom page 23

TRIP TO TORPEDO FACTORY AND MORE

The Department of Recreation & Parks is sponsoring a trip to

Alexandria, Va. for a tour of the George Washington Masonic Memorial and the

Torpedo Factory Art Center on Saturday, Feb. 9. The bus leaves at 8 a.m. and

returns at 4 p.m. Tickets are $51 per person. To register, call (410) 313-7275.

For further information, call Ginny Ross at (410) 313-7279.

BEACON BITS

Feb. 9

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By Anne Ball“Support Your Local Pottery” urges the

hand-lettered yellow and black sign at theCrossroads Pub at Ten Oaks and GreenBridge roads in Dayton. A bit further downGreen Bridge, there’s another sign withthe same message leaning against a grayclapboard house.

Anyone turning in is immediately im-mersed in a setting offering a funky takeon mid-to-late 20th century Howard Coun-ty: rural segueing into suburban, but notquite there yet.

At the corner of the house there’s onemore Pottery Open sign pointing towardan irregular pathway of chunky cementslabs and gravelly walkways leading to theold red barn behind the house.

Business in a barn This is Greenbridge Pottery — the

dream and lifelong mission of RebeccaMoy Behre. It is a downright cold winterday, and Behre, 57, is in the lower level ofthe three-story barn sitting next to thewoodstove that she stokes occasionallywith heavy kindling cut on the property.Her black cat Lena, the barn’s officialmouser, is purring on her lap.

The remodeled original cattle barn iswhere everything happens. There is a pur-poseful work area below, the display andsales area with neatly arranged shelvesand racks on the main floor, and a secondstory that was once home to cattle andbarnyard companions.

Behre purchased the property in the1980s when the 30-acre farm was dividedinto several sites, including one with theoriginal farmhouse. Behre opted instead forthe six-acre parcel with the original barnand built a modular house for her home.

This afternoon it is unusually quiet;there are no other potters on site rightnow, but works in progress are carefullystacked on shelves awaiting glazing andfiring by Behre or her current associatesSusan Greenleaf, Sabine Dahm, NickCorso, Joe F. Bruiel and Patty Berry.

Behre’s husband Evan, 57, is “the silentpartner” she said with a grin. He has a“real job” as Maryland account managerfor GE Healthcare Life Sciences, sellinghigh-end, state-of-the-art biotechnology in-struments.

But he also works actively with Behreand her associates in marketing their pot-tery around the area. There are Green-bridge Pottery mugs and plates at theCrossroads Pub, Bean Hollow in EllicottCity, and in other Howard County coffeeshops and restaurants, including severalBaltimore eateries as well.

In keeping with their motto “Peace,Love and Pottery,” the Behres also donate10 percent of all sales to an assortment ofcharities as close to home as the HowardCounty Conservancy, Chesapeake BayFoundation and the Baltimore AnimalShelter, and as far away as Haitian Earth-quake Relief and Pakistan andAfghanistan, where they support the

Three Cups of Tea organ-ization that builds schoolsin those countries.

A start in artBehre remembers well

her introduction to pot-tery over 40 years agowhen she was a student atHyattsville Junior HighSchool. One day in artclass there was a movie ofa person throwing a pot.“It just gripped my mind,”she remembers.

A few years later, oneof her high school artteachers with a potterybackground encouragedher to try working withclay and a potter’s wheel.“I fell in love with makingpots with the very firstone, and I continue tolove doing it after 40-plusyears,” Behre said with asoft laugh.

Today Behre’s signa-ture plates, cup saucers,and wall hangings featureelements of nature pressed into the clay:hosta leaves, pine cones, cat paws, evenchicken feet – all found on the Green-bridge property.

She continues to experiment with differ-ent mixes of clay and glazes, an interest

developed during her University of Mary-land days. There, she intended to graduatewith an arts degree, but instead found herscience courses so interesting she ended

A one-of-a-kind creation from Green-bridge Pottery.

Arts & Style26 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com F E B RUA R Y 2 0 1 3 — HOWARD COUNT Y B E A CON

www.columbiaorchestra.org (410) 465-8777

Barber & SibeliusSaturday, February 2, 20137:30 .. • Jim Rouse ! eatre

Madeline AdkinsBSO Concertmaster

Samuel Barber: Violin Concerto with Madeline Adkins

Benjamin Britten: “Four Sea Interludes” from Peter Grimes

Jean Sibelius: Symphony No. 5

Buy early for our popular SYMPHONIC POPS!featuring “A Tribute to Frank Sinatra” with Rob Zappulla

and “A Celtic Celebration” with the Teelin Irish Dance Company

Saturday, March 16, 2013 • Rouse ! eatre • 7:30 ..Sunday, March 17, 2013 • Rouse ! eatre • 3:00 ..

A little pottery business with a big heartP

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Greenbridge Pottery founder Rebecca Moy Behre shapespots in the converted Dayton barn that serves as thebusiness’s studio and showroom.

See POTTERY, page 29

COLUMBIA PRO CANTARE CHORUSCOLUMBIA PRO CANTARE CHORUSFrances Motyca Dawson, Director

Advance: Adults $20, Seniors & Students $18, At the Door: $22 and $20, Group rates for 10 or more

Sunday, March 10, 2013, 3 PMFirst Evangelical Lutheran Church3604 Chatham Road, Ellicott City 21042

For Tickets & Information,call 301-854-0107 or 410-799-9321

Visit our website www.procantare.org

FAURÉ: REQUIEM&

LANG: THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL PASSIONwith the Chamber Singers

Singathon 2013

Sponsored by Wegman’s andThe Wine Bin

An afternoon of great choral music celebrating our

first 36 years!

The Mall in ColumbiaCenter Court, 1 - 3 pm

Saturday, February 9, 2013

where you lived” whether the school wasfully integrated.

Leak moved to Columbia in 1973 aftergetting a job teaching music here. She hasfound “all the difference in the world” be-tween life in Louisiana, where she grewup, and in Columbia. “Jim Rouse did a won-derful thing,” she said, creating the townas a racially, economically and socially in-tegrated society.

Inspired by a visual exhibitTo prepare their stage presentations,

Leak and other participants, many from in-terracial and interfaith backgrounds, werebrought together for a series of oral histo-ry interview meetings.

With guidance from Harriet Lynn, a localoral historian, dramaturge and performancedirector, they forged their written accountsinto a script that they will perform through-out Black History Month for intergenera-tional audiences in the Baltimore area.

In addition, the seniors will be pairedwith UMBC students to produce their sto-ries in digital video format, which will beavailable for viewing at UMBC’s digitalstory site (www.umbc.edu/stories). Thedigital stories will ultimately be distributedvia iTunes U to schools throughout Mary-land and beyond.

“For All the World to Hear” is curated bySandra Abbott, the director of UMBC’sCenter for Art, Design and Visual Culture(CADVC).

Abbott says she was inspired by the trav-eling exhibition and book, For All the Worldto See: Visual Culture and the Struggle forCivil Rights, co-organized by CADVC andthe Smithsonian National Museum ofAfrican American History and Culture.

On view through March 10 at UMBC,the exhibition includes more than 250 ob-

jects — including posters, photographs,graphic art, magazines, newspapers,books, pamphlets, political buttons, comicbooks, toys, postcards, and clips from film,newsreels and television.

The exhibition was inspired by a blackand white photograph taken in September1955. Shortly after Emmett Till was mur-dered by white supremacists in Money,Miss., his grieving mother, Mamie TillBradley, distributed to newspapers andmagazines a gruesome photograph of hismutilated corpse.

Asked why she would do this, Bradleyexplained that by witnessing with theirown eyes the brutality of segregation andracism, Americans would be more likely tosupport the cause of racial justice andequality.

“Let the world see what I’ve seen,” washer reply. The publication of the photo-graph transformed the modern civil rightsmovement, inspiring a new generation ofactivists to join the cause.

Former Freedom Rider speaksOne of those activists was Columbia res-

ident Deryck Charles, who is also a partic-ipant in the oral history project. In hispresentation, Charles relates his experi-ences as a Freedom Rider who took inter-state buses into the segregated South.

He said he became a Freedom Rider be-cause at about the time he immigrated tothe United States from Guyana in the mid-1950s, he saw that picture of the mutilatedEmmett Till in Jet magazine.

“It tore me up, man,” said Charles, whocame to the U.S. to study. “I came to Amer-ica because I loved it. I just couldn’t imag-ine this happening in the land of the freeand the home of the brave. But at that time,I didn’t know anything about the South.

“I always was a go-getter, and knew I hadto do something,” he said. “So I said, ‘Letme do this, ride the buses down South.’”

He remembers arriving in Biloxi, Miss.in 1969 and attempting with the other pas-sengers to integrate a lunch counter in afive-and-dime store there.

“We were arrested, locked in a gym, andtold we could not use the bathroom. ‘Useyour own bathroom in your own home andstay out of here,’ we were told,” saidCharles, now 76, a retired engineer. “I wasso upset, how human beings could be soterrible to other humans.”

And so the stories told by Leak andCharles put flesh on the bones of the trav-eling visual exhibit and give them a uniquehuman dimension.

As Abbott puts it, “I knew there wouldbe plenty in the [visual exhibit] gallery tosee, but I wanted to engage our immediatecommunity — especially seniors — sincethey are all around us and available to passon their first-person accounts directly tothe next generation.

“So often I see seniors marginalizedand their stories taken for granted,” said

Abbott. “This project was a chance to chan-nel a diversity of voices on the struggle forcivil rights to the next generation.”

Getting their sayBaltimore residents John and Shirley

Billy, an interracial couple, are also sharingtheir story through the oral history project.John, 77, is African American. He is a re-tired truck driver and also a lifelong musi-cian who performed with the recordingartists the Honey Boys. Shirley, 76, is re-tired from a career with Bank of America.

In 1958, John and Shirley married inWashington, D.C., where interracialunions were legal. But at the time, the Cityof Baltimore and State of Maryland, wherethey lived, did not recognize their mar-riage. (A law repealing the ban on interra-cial marriages was passed in Maryland in1967.)

Shirley was arrested and imprisoned.

HOWARD COUNT Y B E A CON — F E B RUA R Y 2 0 1 3 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com | Arts & Style 27

See CIVIL RIGHTS, page 29

Civil rightsFrom page 1

JEWISH FILM SERIESJe T’aime: I Love You Terminal, about two people stuck in Pragueafter missing a flight, the second in its Jewish Film Series, will

be presented on Saturday, Feb. 9 at 8 p.m. at the Columbia Jewish Congregation,Room 200, 5885 Robert Oliver Pl., Columbia. Tickets are $9 at the door. Formore information about this and upcoming films in the series, call Tom Laufer at(410) 997-0694 or visit www.columbiajewish.org/film_series.html.

BEACON BITS

Feb. 9

28 Arts & Style | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com F E B RUA R Y 2 0 1 3 — HOWARD COUNT Y B E A CON

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Their first-born child was taken from themand put up for adoption. Fortunately, theBillys were able to find him in South Car-olina and get him back before the adoptionwas finalized.

So intent was the government on up-holding the law banning interracial mar-riages that John was drafted into the Armyin an effort to keep them apart.

“That didn’t work either,” John chuckled.“We survived it all. It’s sort of a miracle.”

John was born in Washington, D.C., andmoved to Baltimore at the age of 6. Shirley,born in Arkansas to an Irish and Englishfather and Irish mother, moved to Balti-more at the age of 4. Though they nevermet as children, they both grew up on theeast side of town where they never en-countered racism.

“We all came up together, played togeth-er, and for my part, I sang in white nightclubs,” said John. “Neither one of us hadever experienced anything like what hap-pened to us after we were married.” Thecouple has written a book about their ex-perience, entitled Flavor: Faith, Love andVictory over Racism.

For John and Shirley Billy, participatingin “For All the World to Hear” is an oppor-

tunity to tell their story and show how theyhave triumphed over adversity.

The Billys say they have enjoyed takingpart in “For All the World to Hear” andmeeting the other participants. In the endthough, they and the other performershave just one goal. “We want to be heard,”said John.

Upcoming presentationsPerformances by the participants in

“For All the World to Hear” will take placein February as follows:

• Friday, Feb. 8 at noon at BaltimoreCity Hall

• Sunday, Feb. 10, at 2 p.m. at the Jew-ish Museum of Maryland

• Tuesday, Feb. 12, at 6 p.m., MarylandHistorical Society

• Friday, Feb. 15, at 10:30 a.m., UMBC,Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building

• Saturday, Feb. 23, at 2 p.m., EnochPratt Free Library, Main Branch.

All performances for “For All the Worldto Hear” are free; however, some of thevenues have their own admission charges.Consult individual venues for admissionpolicies.

For more information, visit www.forallthe-worldtohear.org. For more information onthe exhibition “For All the World to See,”visit www.umbc.edu/cadvc/foralltheworld.

HOWARD COUNT Y B E A CON — F E B RUA R Y 2 0 1 3 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com | Arts & Style 29

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD

From page 30.

ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

Civil rightsFrom page 27

up with a B.S. degree in ornamental horti-culture.

Behre added a Master of Fine Arts de-gree with a concentration in ceramics atAntioch University in Columbia, whereshe also taught for 10 years. Now, continu-ing the tradition, her daughter Rose, 20, isa student at Maryland Institute College ofArt in Baltimore.

Worldwide salesThe business continues to grow and

grow. In the barn’s upstairs sales area aretwo maps: one of the world and another ofthe U.S.

Pins indicating locations of GreenbridgePottery mugs, bowls, cups and platter pur-chases sprout up in all the states and

around the world. “I once put in our newsletter that we

knew of Greenbridge Pottery items on allcontinents except Antarctica,” Behre re-called. “That resulted in a call from a mer-chant seaman who was heading there. Heordered a mug to give to his commandingofficer. And we added a new pin!”

While the Howard County-based compa-ny exemplifies an old-fashioned cottage in-dustry — Behre and crew participate in theannual Sheep and Wool Festival at HowardCounty Fairgrounds, at the Farmers Mar-ket in Olney, and the Strawberry Festival inSandy Spring — Greenbridge Pottery uti-lizes modern marketing media as well.

There’s a Greenbridge Pottery Facebookpage, electronic newsletters, and a full web-site including online shopping, informationon the associates. and listings of seasonalevents at www.greenbridgepottery.com.

PotteryFrom page 26

2OTH CENTURY COMPOSERSThe Columbia Orchestra will present music of Samuel Barber,Benjamin Britten and Jean Sibelius in a performance featuring vio-

linist Madeline Adkinson of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, Feb.2 at 7:30 p.m. in the Jim Rouse Theatre and Wilde Lake High School, 5460Trumpeter Rd., Columbia. Bill Scanlan Murphy of Howard Community College willoffer a free lecture preceding the concert at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for the perform-ance are $25 for adults, $21 for seniors and $12 for students. For more informa-tion, visit www.columbiaorchestra.com or call (410) 465-8777.

DIGITAL PHOTO CLASS Learn how to print, edit and email your own photos in a two-day,hands-on class on Monday, Feb. 25 and Tuesday, Feb. 26 from 10a.m. to noon at the Elkridge Senior Center, 6540 Washington

Blvd., Elkridge. A fee of $40 covers both sessions. For more information, call(410) 313-5192.

BEACON BITS

Feb. 2

MYSTERY BOOK CLUBThe mystery book discussion group at the Savage Branch Library

meets the second Wednesday of each month. February’s book is The House of

Silk by Anthony Horowitz. The discussion takes place on Wednesday, Feb. 13

from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The library is located at 9525 Durness Ln., Laurel. For more

information, call (410) 880-5980

LECTURE SERIES AT BAIN A new program of informative lectures on the arts, history, litera-

ture and other topics begins on Saturday, Feb. 23 at 9:15 a.m. at

the Bain Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia. There is a fee of $18 to par-

ticipate. For a list of lecture topics and registration information, call (410) 313-

7275 or email [email protected].

BEACON BITS

Feb. 13+

Feb. 25+

Feb. 23


Puzzle Page

Scrabble answers on p. 29.

Crossword PuzzleDaily crosswords can be found on our website:

www.TheBeaconNewspapers.comClick on Puzzles Plus

Answers on page 29.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16

17 18 19

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28 29 30

31 32 33 34 35

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66 67 68

69 70 71

Down1. Do ___2. Poultry option3. ___ in the crowd4. Do-over5. Exxon ex-name6. Collect $2007. Bedroom piece8. Extract a coupon from an ad9. High-pressure pitch10. It may contain the dedication11. Have more payments12. Saturn or Mars15. Take the wheel21. Have a heart-to-heart22. Recline on a hammock26. In better health27. Utopias29. US Air’s best guess30. Casual meeting31. Recovers from the freezer32. Four-word introduction33. What squirrely squirrels bury38. “He’s fat, ugly, and mean”39. 70’s-era revolvers41. Director Jean-___ Godard44. Caesar’s surprise46. The pits48. On ice50. Miscalculated51. Those with fewer electoral votes52. Behind the fashion curve56. Wimp57. Determine one’s Putt-Putt score58. Commencement60. ___ pita (try Middle Eastern cuisine)61. Toward the harbor62. All About ___63. Insane

Across1. Without ___ in the world6. A trail of breadcrumbs, perhaps10. Driving hazard13. They may be hidden behind portraits14. Geometry test answers16. ___ Jima17. “No bid”18. Like a Jeopardy! champion19. Even-money roulette bet20. “I’ll have a ham on rye - stat”23. ___ Day (vitamins)24. 1040 fig.25. Boil with anger28. Where the news team crashes for the night31. 43 Across times five34. Snaky fish35. A likely story36. Chortle sound37. “You’ve got mail” co.40. Standard quantity of king’s horses42. Schwarzkopf, e.g.43. Suit to ___45. Transcript fig.47. Addicts49. The area of town where all the novelists live53. Existentialist philosopher54. Word on a Valentine’s card55. Apropos of59. WICU: 98.6 on Your FM Dial62. Ostrich’s cousin64. Remove a wrong answer65. Top tens66. Big container of chemicals67. Dissuade68. Come next69. Typo correctors70. Use the left lane71. Arab Spring hot spot

Profession Possessions by Stephen Sherr

JUMBLE ANSWERS

Jumbles: FAINT YOKEL MIDWAY JUMPER

Answer: When a computer fails, it can be —

"TERMINAL"


FOR SALE CONDO move-in condition. Freshpaint, neutral. 2BR, 2BA, balcony, wooded view,pool, club house privileges. Updates: kitchen,fast flush toilets, crown molding, wood floor, b-room tile. E. Reisterstown – 410-870-6890.

2 SALVADOR DALI woodblock prints fromDante’s Divine Comedy. Signed and framed.Asking $900 for the pair. Can email pictures ifdesired. Call Steve 410-913-1653.

ONE SINGLE FLUSH GREY GRANITEVAULT - with casket. One lot. In Forest Lawnsection 123 at Loudon Park Cemetery, WilkinsAve, Catonsville, MD. Call 410-247-3644 – PMbest.

RICHARD YOUNG PLUMBING * Masterplumber * Over 30 years experience * locallyowned and operated husband and wife team *Contact us about our discounts 301-562-9100,[email protected]#21098.

NEED HELP WITH PAPER MANAGE-MENT or checkbook balancing? Overwhelmedby medical claims/bills? Vision or Health Im-pairment? Call Bonnie Blas – The Organizer(over 20 years) 410-358-9290.

THANK YOU Sacred Heart of Jesus, St. Jude,and Blessed Virgin Mary for prayers answeredand your continued help. –PGA.

VINYL RECORDS WANTED from 1950through 1985. Jazz, Rock-n-Roll, Soul, Rhythm& Blues, Reggae and Disco. 33 1/3 LPs, 45s or78s, Larger collections of at least 100 itemswanted. Please call John, 301-596-6201.

MILITARY ITEMS Collector seeks: helmets,weapons, knives, swords, bayonets, webgear,uniforms, inert ordnance, ETC. From 1875 to1960, US, German, Britain, Japan, France,Russian. Please call Fred 301-910-0783, Thankyou. Also Lionel Trains.

CASH FOR ESTATE BUYOUTS, estateclean-outs, jewelry to furniture, one item orwhole state. Free Estimate, Will Travel. 301-520-0755.

BUYING NUMISMATIC COINS and mostgold or silver items including coins, sterling,jewelry, etc. Will come to you with best cashoffer. Call Paul: 410-756-1906.

FINE ANTIQUES, PAINTINGS AND QUAL-ITY VINTAGE FURNISHINGS wanted by aserious capable buyer. I am very well educated[law degree] knowledgeable [over 40 years inthe antique business] and have the financesand wherewithal to handle virtually any situa-tion. If you have a special item, collection or im-portant estate I would like to hear from you. Ipay great prices for great things in all cate-gories from oriental rugs to Tiffany objects, fromrare clocks to firearms, from silver and gold toclassic cars. If it is wonderful I am interested.No phony promises or messy consignments. Ref-erences gladly furnished. Please call Jake Leni-han 301-279-8834. Thank you.

CASH BUYER for old costume jewelry, pocketand wrist watches (any condition). Also buyingwatch maker tools and parts, train sets and ac-cessories, old toys, old glassware & coins. 410-655-0412.

CLASSIFIEDSThe Beacon prints classified advertising

under the fol low ing headings: Business &Employment Opportunities; Caregivers;Computer Services; Entertainment; ForSale; For Sale/Rent: Real Estate; Free;Health; Home/ Handy man Services; Miscel-laneous; Personals; Per son al Services; Va ca -tion Opportunities; and Want ed. For sub -mis sion guide lines and dead lines, see thebox on the bottom of this page.

CAVEAT EMPTOR!The Beacon does not know ing ly ac cept

ob scene, of fen sive, harmful, or fraudulent ad-vertising. How ev er, we do not in ves ti gate anyad ver tis ers or their prod ucts and can not ac -cept re spon si bil i ty for the in teg ri ty of either.Re spon dents to clas si fied ad ver tis ing shouldal ways use cau tion and their best judg ment.

EMPLOYMENT & REAL ESTATE ADS: We will not knowingly or intentionally accept

ad ver tis ing in violation of federal, state, andlocal laws pro hib it ing dis crim i na tion based onrace, color, national origin, sex, fa mil ial sta tus orhandicap in connection with employment or thesale or rental of real estate.

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TO PLACE A CLASSIFIEDDeadlines and Payments: Ad text and payment is due by the 5th of eachmonth.Note: Only ads received and prepaid by the deadline will be included in thenext month’s issue. Please type or print your ad carefully. Include a numberwhere you can be reached in the event of a question. Payment is due withad. 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 particularitems, or place a personal ad. Each ad is $10 for 25 words, 25 cents foreach 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 theBeacon, to:

The Beacon, Howard County Classified Dept. P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915-2227

FILM EXPLORES YIDDISH THEATERTilson Thomas’s film The Thomashefskys explores the lives of hisgrandparents, founding members of the Yiddish Theater in

America, in a program on Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 10:30 a.m. at the Bain Center,5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia. For more information, call Sophie Novinsky atthe Jewish Federation of Howard County at (410) 730-4976, ext. 103.

KNITTING FOR A CAUSEA community knitting and crocheting group meets the secondand fourth Wednesdays of the month to produce afghans, blan-

kets, baby wear and other needed items for hospitals, charities and senior cen-ters. The group convenes from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Kiwanis-Wallas Hall, 3300Norberts Way, Ellicott City. For more information, call (410) 313-7279.

JOIN THE MLK HOLIDAY COMMISSION The county is seeking persons interested in joining a 13-personcommission to coordinate activities to honor the birthday, ideals

and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Deadline for applicants is Friday, Feb. 1.For more information, visit the website www.howardcountymd.gov/mlkholiday-commission.html or call the Office of Human Rights at (410) 313-6430.

CELEBRATE NEW LIBRARY BRANCHCelebrate the new Miller Branch with music, fine food and asilent auction, with author Mary Doria Russell and Ron Charles,

deputy editor of The Washington Post’s Book World section. An “Evening in theStacks” starts at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23 at the Miller Branch Library, 9421Frederick Rd., Ellicott City. All proceeds benefit the Howard County Library’s edu-cational initiatives. Tickets are $100 per person until Jan. 31. From Feb. 1, andat the door, admission is $125. For more information and tickets, visithclibrary.org/stack or call (410) 313-7750.

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32 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 3 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Brooke Grove RetirementVillage (BGRV) is pleased tolaunch its fifth year of Living WellCommunity Seminars beginning inFebruary. Designed to helpparticipants navigate a variety ofhealthcare and personalchallenges, this year’s series offersan impressive array of expertsready to offer insight on topicsthat range from Alzheimer’sdisease to the rewards of a daily,15-minute workout.

Each free, monthly presentationwill be held from 7 to 8:15 p.m. inthe terrace level conference roomof Brooke Grove Rehabilitationand Nursing Center and will bepreceded by a complimentary lightsupper beginning at 6:30 p.m.They are open to the public as wellas to members of the BGRV family.

The seminar series will kick off onWednesday, February 20, with “TheBasics: Memory Loss, Dementiaand Alzheimer’s Disease.”MikkiFiror, programs and servicesmanager of the Alzheimer’sAssociation, National Capital Area,will share the facts about Alzheimer’sincluding detection, causes, riskfactors, stages of the disease,treatment and much more.

“Recover from PaperOverload” on Wednesday, March20, with professional organizerand productivity consultantMarcie Lovett of Organized byMarcie™. Just in time to help youprepare for your income taxes,you’ll learn what to keep andwhat you can safely discard. Theauthor of “The Clutter Book:When You Can’t Let Go,” Ms.Lovett will also help you reducethe amount of time you spend on

paperwork by keeping itorganized throughout the year.

On Wednesday, April 24, BrianSanderoff will take the podium todiscuss “The Essential 6: TheSupplements Everyone ShouldTake.”As a holistic pharmacist andpopular radio show host, Mr.Sanderoff is often asked “Whatsupplements do you take?” SinceMr. Sanderoff suggests a myriad ofsupplements for a variety ofconditions, the implication is thatthe supplements he personally takesmust be the really important ones!His seminar will provide the answerto that question and more. You willlearn the biochemical and scientificjustification for taking certainsupplements and/or tending tospecific, key functions of the body.You will also discover the hiddensecrets to keeping your body

functioning like it did when youngerand how to avoid the diseases ofaging from which generations inyour family have suffered.

An interactive presentation byfitness expert and motivator RickBradley on Wednesday, May 22,will help you get moving – onesmall step at a time – toward ahealthier life. If you realize thatexercise is good for you, butremain physically inactive formany reasons, this introduction to“Quick Fit: The Complete 15-Minute, No-Sweat Workout” is

for you! The creator of the QuickFit exercise program and theauthor of a book by the samename, Mr. Bradley willdemonstrate how a 15-minutecombination of aerobic activity,strengthening exercises andstretching can be done at home orat work to improve cardiovascularfitness, strength and flexibility.

To attend any of these programs,please RSVP by the Monday priorto each seminar to Director ofMarketing Toni Davis at 301-388-7209 or [email protected].

2013 Community Seminar SeriesOffers Insight on Living Well

For more information aboutBrooke Grove, call

301-260-2320

February 2013 Howard County Beacon Edition

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Transcript of February 2013 Howard County Beacon Edition