January 2015 | Howard County Beacon

I N S I D E …

By Robert FriedmanBy the middle of the month, after paying

her bills, Linda Umstead finds her $1,077Social Security check stretched about asfar as it can go. But she still needs gro-ceries for the rest of month.

The 71-year-old Ellicott City residentsaid she “definitely would have difficul-ties” affording the food she needs withoutthe “Food on the 15th” program — an all-volunteer effort that provides free gro-ceries to older Howard County residentsaround the 15th of each month.

“I have diabetes and high blood pressure,and I can’t work anymore,” said Umstead,who spent 45 years as a bartender beforeshe stopped working in 2004. “I feel blessed”to be a Food on the 15th recipient, she said.

Sharlotte Wilcox, 66, who receives foodstamps (the daily allowance is about $4.50)is also helped by the program. Wilcoxused to interview patients at healthcare fa-cilities, but lost her job two years ago. Alsoliving on her Social Security check, she ishelped by Food on the 15th to fill hermonthly nutrition needs.

“They are outstandingly nice people,”Wilcox said of the volunteers, most ofwhom are local students — from elemen-tary to high school — and their parents.

Umstead and Wilcox each live alone inthe 25-unit Tiber Hudson low-income sen-ior apartments in Ellicott City. Eachmonth, Food on the 15th makes a “gro-cery-store” delivery to Tiber Hudson, set-ting out food by categories on tables in thebuilding’s community room.

Many are canned goods, though some-times fresh fruits and vegetables are avail-able. The residents then do their “shop-ping,” the food is bagged, and the studentsand their parents help carry the packagesto the apartments.

“For those of us who don’t drive andcan’t go grocery shopping, it’s a wonderfulthing,” said Umstead.

A growing problemIn the U.S., 9.3 million people over the

age of 60 — one in six — face the threat ofhunger, according to the National ResourceCenter on Nutrition and Aging, which coor-dinates senior nutrition programs aroundthe country.

The number of “food insecure seniors”

is expected to increase 50 percent by 2025,when the youngest of the baby boom gen-eration reaches age 60.

The latest Census Bureau figures showthat Howard County residents have an aver-age annual household income of $108,000,the second highest in the nation. Neverthe-less, “food insecurity” among seniors in thecounty is a “serious problem,” according toMaryland Hunger Solutions, a Baltimore-based non-profit that fights hunger.

Enter Julie Rosenthal of Clarksville andFood on the 15th. [No relation to the pub-lisher of the Beacon.]

In 2006, working in conjunction with thecounty’s Coalition of Geriatric Services(COGS), Rosenthal founded the award-winning program she still runs on what

she proudly says is a “zero” budget. The food, mostly non-perishables, is do-

nated by students, teachers, parents andstaff of the schools involved in the program,as well as from companies, nonprofits,churches and members of the local commu-nity. Some nonprofits, such as COGS, makeFood on the 15th a prime beneficiary.

For the past eight years, students andtheir parents have been sorting, baggingand delivering food to residents of two low-income senior buildings: Tiber Hudson inEllicott City and Morningside Park Apart-ments in Jessup. During the summer, areachurches have taken up the collections andmade deliveries.

Henry Bouchat, a resident of the Tiber Hudson senior apartment building in EllicottCity, selects groceries provided by Food on the 15th with the help of student GabrielPellerano. With contributions from the community and the help of local students, thenonprofit donates food to older adults in several Howard County apartment communi-ties in the middle of each month, when money can start to get tight.

See FOOD ON THE 15th, page 8

Program takes bite out of hunger

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More than 30,000 readers throughout Howard CountyVOL.5, NO.1

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

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JANUARY 2015

FITNESS & HEALTH 3k How to wean off sleeping pillsk Toxins can speed aging

THE SENIOR CONNECTION 15k Newsletter for Howard County seniors

LAW & MONEY 19k Risky Chinese stocksk Good news on estate taxes

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Perhaps because so many readers haverecently told me how much they’ve enjoyedmy recent columns, I’ve de-cided to risk spending someof that capital this month bysharing a number of statisticsthat I think paint a rather trou-bling picture and lead to somecontroversial conclusions.

Because I can’t possibly layout all the pertinent facts,much less their ramifications,in one column, this will haveto be continued next month.

But let’s start with somegood news, which has beenwell-covered in the Beaconand elsewhere: Americans are living longerand healthier than ever before.

In part due to that — and in part due todemographic effects set in motion by thebaby boomers’ parents decades ago — ourpopulation as a whole is aging rapidly.

According to the Census Bureau, in 1970,9.8 percent of U.S. residents were 65 andover. In 2010, 13 percent were 65+. By 2030,when the remaining boomers will havereached or passed 65, more than 20 percent

of the U.S. population will be 65 or older. Plus, as we continuously drive down

death rates from the mostcommon diseases, such asheart disease and cancer, wemake longevity gains everyyear at every age.

We might not be surprisedwhen the Centers for DiseaseControl tells us that Americans’average life expectancy at birthrose 1.9 years from 2000 to 2010(from 76.8 to 78.7). But did youknow average life expectancy atthe age of 65 rose by 1.5 yearsover the same decade (from82.6 to 84.1), and by 1.1 years

for those who were 75 (from 86 to 87.1)? These generally positive developments

give rise to some serious financial implica-tions.

A 2009 study by the MacArthur Founda-tion estimated that “adding 3.1 to 7.9 yearsto life expectancy by 2050 would add an esti-mated $3.2 trillion to $8.3 trillion to Medicareand Social Security outlays above current ex-pectations,” Businessweek reported.

That could be a real problem, given that

even based on current funding streams,Social Security is anticipated to be able topay only 75 percent of promised benefits in2030 unless significant changes are made,and the Medicare program is in nearly asbad a shape.

This year alone, the two programs arealready costing U.S. taxpayers more than$350 billion out of general revenues, ac-cording to the latest Trustees’ report.

So with the prospect of reduced federalbenefits in the future, are boomers in a po-sition to self-fund their longer, more activeretirements thanks to regular savings andjudicious investments? On the contrary.

But Businessweek reports that, “until 2007,when the oldest boomers were staring downthe barrel of retirement, baby boomers’ aver-age annual saving rate was negative 0.5 per-cent. They weren’t just saving too little, theywere piling on debt in what should have beenprime saving years.”

In contrast, earlier generations raisedduring or shortly after the Great Depres-sion and living through WWII typicallysaved more than 10 percent of their in-come during their middle earning years.

Fortunately, boomers are now savingabout 11.6 percent per year on average,but given the importance of compound in-terest to building up a nest egg, it may betoo little, too late.

And their children, the millennials, aredoing even worse, at least for the moment.Americans under 35 are currently spending1.7 percent more than they are makingeach year.

There is one group, however, that is sit-

ting rather pretty: Americans 75 and over.Despite the fact that over the past decademedian U.S. household net worth has de-clined from $115,000 to $81,200, accordingto the Federal Reserve, among those 75and up, median household net worth in-creased from $131,000 (in 1989) to$195,000 in constant 2013 dollars.

No doubt we should be happy that the 65and over age group — which had the high-est rate of poverty in the country in 1959(35 percent) — today has the lowest pover-ty rate of any age group (9.5 percent).

But we might not be so happy to learnthat the current poverty rate of childrenunder 18 is more than twice as high (19.9percent).

We haven’t even begun to talk aboutMedicaid — the joint federal/state health-care and long-term care program for thepoor and those with disabilities — andhow its fast-rising needs are straining thatprogram in many states as well as on thenational level.

There are facts about that program andmany others I could share, and nextmonth I may do some of that. But I thinkyou see where I am going with this.

Please pick up the Beacon next monthand give me a chance to finish my thoughts,because I feel there is an important discus-sion we need to be having in this country.

It starts with facing certain facts. Whoknows where it will end?

Facing facts

FROM THEPUBLISHERBy Stuart P. Rosenthal

Letters to the editorReaders are encouraged to share their opinion on any matter addressed in

the Beacon as well as on political and social issues of the day. Mail your

Letter to the Editor to The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD

20915, or e-mail to [email protected]. Please include your

name, address and telephone number for verification.

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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.

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Dear Editor:I found your December cover story,

“Being gay and gray in Howard,” very in-teresting and informative.

However, I believe there is another rea-son why LGBT seniors might not feel safecoming out in an assisted living or nursinghome situation. The increasing number ofhealth aides coming from other culturesand/or countries that do not view LGBTpeople favorably could present an uncom-fortable situation for the resident.

For example, one of my former neigh-bors, with whom I was on friendly termsand even socialized with, is from Uganda,a country that mandates life in prison (be-fore international condemnation, it wasthe death penalty) for LGBT people.

Perhaps I did my neighbor a disservice,but I was never out to them because I wasafraid of, at the least, losing their friendshipor, the worst, encountering hostility. And if I

couldn’t come out to my neighbor, there’sno way I would come out to a health aide.

As a woman, I would feel uncomfortablehaving a male aide no matter where hecame from, but I’ve visited friends in thosefacilities and saw that they had no controlover even that. One friend was alwaysbathed by a male aide (despite her repeat-ed objections) who would strip her nakedand shower her down like she was an ani-mal in a zoo.

And I certainly would not come out as alesbian to him. In fact, I would feel verymuch that I was in a hostile situation.Again, perhaps I am doing a disservice tomale health aides everywhere, but that ishow it is for me.

Thank you though for writing and pub-lishing this article. It is good to have thedialogue begin.

Barbara JohnsonBurtonsville, MD

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon 3

SPICE UP YOUR HEALTHCurry, coriander, cardamom and cumin have a variety of health benefits

FEAR OF FLAVORSAre artificial flavors in food a boon fortaste buds or something to fear?

ALZHEIMER’S DEPRESSIONA study seeks Alzheimer’s patients for a drug to alleviate depression

REVERSING VISION LOSSIn experimental use, stem cells helpedthose with macular degeneration

HealthFitness &

Do you take a drug to help you sleepevery night? You’re not alone. Millions ofAmericans rely on prescription sleep med-ications, called sedative hypnotics.

“People believe they can’t sleep withoutthem, and they stay on them for years,”said sleep expert Dr. Lawrence Epstein, aninstructor in medicine at Harvard MedicalSchool. But you can wean yourself off thedrugs using a combination of dose reduc-tion and behavior changes.

Epstein points to two challenges when itcomes to fighting sleep aid dependence.One is that when you stop taking thedrugs, you get a withdrawal response thatkeeps you from sleeping well.

“If you stop too quickly you can get re-bound insomnia, which makes symptomsworse,” said Epstein.

The other challenge is that the reboundinsomnia then convinces users they needthe drugs to sleep. In reality, the medicationis just preventing withdrawal symptoms.

That cycle creates dependence, which isdifferent from an addiction that’s charac-

terized by compulsive use and preoccupa-tion with a drug that interferes with nor-mal life.

A gradual processThe encouraging news is that Epstein

helps people get off sleep medicationsevery day. It starts with a gradual, progres-sive reduction in the amount of sleep med-ication you take.

Make sure this is done under the direc-tion of a physician. Abrupt stopping cantrigger seizures in some people.

Reducing the medication requires plan-ning. “Each time you lower the dose, yoursleep will be disrupted because you’ll havethe withdrawal effect. So be prepared, andknow your sleep won’t be as good for a fewdays,” said Epstein.

The longer you’ve been on the medica-tions, the slower your doctor will make thetaper. It’s a process that can last fromweeks to months.

Reducing medications may not beenough to help you rest each night. So

your doctor will likely pair the processwith tools to counter behaviors that do notpromote sleep. These include:

1. Cognitive behavior therapy, whichhelps you redirect your thoughts to reduceanxiety about sleeping

2. Relaxation techniques, such as guid-ed visualization

3. Recognizing the stimuli that preventsleep, such as television, computer andsmartphone screens

4. Improving sleep hygiene by — usingthe bed for sleep and sex only; blocking asmuch noise and light as possible; going tobed and waking at the same times eachday; and getting out of bed if you haven’tfallen asleep within 20 minutes

5. Dietary changes, such as avoiding al-cohol, caffeine and foods that promoteacid indigestion.

Sleep drugs may help you get a decentnight’s rest, but they come with the risk ofimpairment — even amnesia — the nextmorning.

You’ll know you’re affected if you have a

hard time getting started in the morning,or if you’re groggy when you wake up.That may also put you at risk for impaireddriving.

It’s vital to know how long these drugslast in your body. Some, like zolpidem(Ambien), are short-acting. Others, suchas eszopiclone (Lunesta) and temazepam(Restoril), are medium-acting. Long-actingdrugs include flurazepam (Dalmane) andclonazepam (Klonopin).

“If the problem is falling asleep, pick adrug that doesn’t last long. If the problem isawakening during the night, pick one thatlasts longer, but learn how long it takes youto get rid of the medication, and put asideenough time for sleep to let the drug clearfrom your body,” Epstein advised.

If you’re groggy in the morning, talk toyour doctor about a different medicationor dose, and don’t get behind the wheel ofa car.

— Harvard Health Letter© 2014. All Rights Reserved. Distributed

by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

It’s not easy to discontinue sleep meds

By Brandon BaileyGoogle is working on a cancer-detecting

pill in its latest effort to push the bound-aries of technology.

Still in the experimental stage, the pill ispacked with tiny magnetic particles, whichcan travel through a patient’s bloodstream,search for malignant cells, and report theirfindings to a sensor on a wearable device.

As many as 2,000 of these microscopic“nanoparticles” could fit inside a single redblood cell to provide doctors with better in-sights about what is happening inside theirpatients.

The project is the latest effort to emergefrom Google’s X lab, which has been try-ing to open new technological frontiers tosolve nettlesome problems and improvethe quality of people’s lives.

The same division is also working onseveral other futuristic projects that havelittle to do with Google’s main business ofInternet search and advertising: Self-driv-ing cars, a computer called Glass thatlooks like a pair of eyeglasses, Internet-beam balloons, and contact lenses for dia-

betics that can measure glucose in tears. Some investors frustrated with the costs

of financing X’s projects ridicule them asexpensive flights of fancy, but Google CEOLarry Page likens them to moon shots thatcould unleash future innovation andmoney-making opportunities.

How pill would workAt this point, Google believes the cancer-

detecting nanoparticles can be coated withantibodies that bind with specific proteinsor cells associated with various maladies.

The particles would remain in the bloodand report back continuously on what theyfind over time, said Andrew Conrad, headof life sciences at Google X, while a wear-able sensor could track the particles by fol-lowing their magnetic fields and collectingdata on their movement through the body.

The goal is to get a fuller picture of thepatient’s health than the snapshot that’sobtained when a doctor draws a singlesample of blood for tests that aren’t com-prehensive enough to spot the early stagesof many forms of cancer.

“We want to make it simple and auto-matic and not invasive,” Conrad added.Just as Google is doing in the contact lensproject, the company is here looking forways to proactively monitor health andprevent disease, rather than wait to diag-nose problems, he said.

Data from the sensor could be uploadedor stored on the Internet until it can be in-terpreted by a doctor, he said. That couldraise questions about privacy or the securi-ty of patient data. But when asked ifGoogle could use the information for com-mercial purposes, Conrad said, “We haveno interest in that.”

Aiming for early detectionThe effort to develop a better way to de-

tect cancer was inspired by the experienceof Google engineer Tom Stanis.

After getting hit by a car while bicycling,Stanis wound up in a hospital emergencyroom where a medical scan looking for in-ternal bleeding alerted doctors that therewas a tumor growing in his kidney.

The diagnosis probably wouldn’t have

been made at such an early stage if Stanishadn’t been seriously injured, promptingGoogle’s X lab to explore better ways fordoctors to keep watch for early warningsigns. Stanis, who is now cancer-free, ispart of the team working on X’s nanoparti-cle technology.

Conrad described the project during anappearance at a tech industry conferenceorganized by the Wall Street Journal.

He said the team working on thenanoparticle project includes a cancer spe-cialist and other doctors, as well as electri-cal and mechanical engineers and an astro-physicist who has been advising on how totrack the particles through the body.

Google is looking for partners whowould license the technology and bringproducts to market. “Our partners wouldtake care of all that stuff. We’re the inven-tors and creators of the technology,” Con-rad said.

It could be a decade before Google’snanoparticle research pays off, accordingto the company, based in Mountain View,California. — AP

Google plans pill to search for illnesses

4 Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 5 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Why are some 75-year-olds downrightspry while others can barely get around?Part of the explanation, according to re-search published recently in the Cell Pressjournal Trends in Molecular Medicine, isdifferences from one person to the next inexposure to harmful substances in the en-vironment — chemicals such as benzene,cigarette smoke, even stress.

While the birth date on your driver’s li-cense tells you your chronological age,that might mean little in terms of the bio-

logical age of your body and cells. The researchers, including UNC

Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer CenterDirector Ned Sharpless, M.D., say thatwhat we need now is a better understand-ing of the chemicals involved in aging andbiomarkers to measure their effects.

“The rate of physiologic, or molecular,aging differs between individuals in partbecause of exposure to ‘gerontogens’, i.e.,environmental factors that affect aging,”said Sharpless. “We believe just as an un-

derstanding of carcinogens has informedcancer biology, so will an understanding ofgerontogens benefit the study of aging.

“By identifying and avoiding geronto-gens, we will be able to influence agingand life expectancy at a public healthlevel,” he said.

From a public health perspective, ciga-rette smoke is likely the most importantgerontogen, according to Sharpless. Ciga-rettes are linked with cancers but also withatherosclerosis, pulmonary fibrosis andother diseases associated with age.

UV radiation from the sun makes usolder too. And Sharpless and his col-leagues recently showed that chemothera-py treatment is also a strong gerontogen.

The researchers call for a concerted re-search effort to understand the clinicaluses for molecular tests of aging, as well as

the epidemiology of accelerated aging.“We believe the comparison of molecu-

lar markers of aging to clinical outcomesshould begin in earnest,” Sharpless said.For example, he asked, can biomarkers toaging predict toxicity from surgery orchemotherapy in patients in whom chrono-logical age is already a known risk factor?

Sharpless does caution against makingtests of molecular age available to con-sumers and patients directly. “The poten-tial for miscommunication and other harmseems real,” he said.Source: University of North Carolina at

Chapel Hill; from WhatDoctorsKnow, amagazine devoted to up-to-the minute infor-mation on health issues from physicians,major hospitals and clinics, universities andhealth care agencies across the U.S. Onlineat www.whatdoctorsknow.com.

Environmental toxins make us age faster

KITCHEN WISDOM

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Register online at events.www.hcgh.hopkinsmedicine.org. For more information,

call (410) 740-7601.

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There are memory tests all over the In-ternet, but they’re notoriously poor at eval-uating your memory and mental skills. Ifyou’re genuinely concerned about memo-ry lapses and fear they might point toAlzheimer’s disease, talk to a professional.

“If people are that worried, they reallyshould make an appointment with a doc-tor,” said Dorene Rentz, clinical neuropsy-chologist and co-director of the Center forAlzheimer Research and Treatment atHarvard Medical School.

Tests get an FResearchers based at the National Core

for Neuroethics at the University of BritishColumbia evaluated 16 online tests. Twoindependent panels of experts recruitedfor the study said that the tests they exam-ined fall short in several important ways:

• Most of the sites are “poor” or “very poor”in their ability to diagnose Alzheimer’s diseasebased on current scientific understanding.

• The tests are often unreliable, which

means that taking them on different dayscould lead to different results. This meansthat day-to-day ups and downs in fatigue ornervousness could throw off the test results.

• The sites do not clearly explain theirprivacy policies, including how personalinformation in the test process could beused. Some websites ask for dates of birth,credit card numbers, or other sensitive in-formation. Companies sometimes use thetests to hawk ineffective memory supple-ments and other products.

Many possible harmsThe tests may seem like harmless fun,

but they may not be.“What we saw was definitely very con-

cerning,” said Julie Robillard, the lead re-searcher on the study. “These tests exposea vulnerable population to predatory mar-keting strategies.”

Another potential downside is the anxi-ety a person could suffer after test resultsindicate a memory impairment that may

actually have nothing to do with dementia.“There are many reasons why people

can have memory problems,” Rentz said.“You might just not be sleeping well, orhave something else that’s correctable.”

On the other hand, an “all clear” test re-sult may discourage a person from followingup on signs of a real memory impairment.

“The test could give you a false negative,saying you’re perfectly fine when actuallyyou should worry,” Rentz added. “You’renot truly going to understand what’s goingon just by taking a test like that.”

Robillard and her colleagues are plan-ning additional research to see if takingonline Alzheimer’s tests leads to poorerhealth or other problems.

“It could have potential benefits downthe road, but there are definitely some po-tential harms that need to be evaluated,”Robillard said.

Talk to your doctorIf you have concerns about your memo-

ry, talk to your doctor. Diagnosing demen-tia requires a range of tests and an expert tointerpret and explain the results properly.

If your doctor refers you for comprehen-sive memory testing, be prepared for morethan a simple check-box quiz. The processcan take the better part of a day and may bebroken into two visits. But you will getmore out of it than just peace of mind.

Medicare now covers an Annual Well-ness Visit, at which you and your doctorcan discuss any concerns about yourmemory and mental skills. This provides areference point to understand any futurechanges you may experience. — Harvard Men’s Health Watch© 2014. President and Fellows of Harvard

College. All Rights Reserved Distributed byTribune Content Agency, LLC.

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health 5

If you notice any of the followingwarning signs of dementia, see a doctor.(For more details, go to www.health.harvard.edu/alzsigns):

1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life2. Challenges in planning or solving

problems3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks

at home, at work, or at leisure4. Confusion with time or place5. Trouble understanding visual im-

ages and spatial relationships6. New problems with words in

speaking or writing7. Misplacing things and losing the

ability to retrace steps8. Decreased or poor judgment9. Withdrawal from work or social ac-

tivities10. Changes in mood and personality

—Alzheimer’s Association

Warning signsof Alzheimer’s

Don’t trust those online Alzheimer’s tests

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Dim lighting athome hurts vision

In examinations of older adults, averagescores on vision tests can be better in theclinic than at home. Sometimes patientsare able to read at least two or more linesextra on an eye chart in the clinic com-pared with what they could read at home.

A new study from Washington UniversitySchool of Medicine in St. Louis, Mo., sug-gests dim lighting may be the culprit. “Themajor factor contributing to this differencewas poor lighting in the home,” said Dr. An-jali M. Bhorade, a Washington Universityophthalmologist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital

in St. Louis. The study was published onlinein the journal JAMA Ophthalmology.

The researchers studied 175 patients ages55 to 90, including 126 with glaucoma. All pa-tients had their vision measured at homeand at the Glaucoma and ComprehensiveEye Clinics at the School of Medicine.

The average scores on vision tests werebetter in the clinic than at home, Bhoradesaid. Nearly 30 percent of the patients withglaucoma were able to read at least two ormore lines extra on an eye chart in theclinic than on the same chart at theirhomes, and 39 percent of those with ad-vanced glaucoma read three or more addi-tional lines in the clinic.

The same results were observed withup-close vision. More than 20 percent ofpatients were able to read two or more ad-ditional lines of text at the doctor’s officethan they did at home.

Patients without glaucoma had similardifferences.

“The lighting levels were below the rec-ommended range in more than 85 percentof the homes we visited,” Bhorade said.

“Since most older adults spend the ma-jority of time at home, our study suggeststhat better lighting may increase visionand possibly improve the quality of life fora large number of people. The houses wevisited were almost three to four times lessbright than an average clinic.”

Although the study didn’t look specificallyat potential dangers associated with low light,such as falls, other research has determinedthat a difference of two or more lines on aneye chart is associated with a significant dif-ference in how a person functions in daily life.

“Our study results also suggest that not allolder adults benefit from increased lighting.Clinicians should refer their patients for acustomized in-home evaluation by an occupa-tional therapist or low-vision rehabilitationspecialist who can make suggestions to opti-mize the lighting in people’s homes.”

— What Doctors Know

Medicare maycover end-of-lifecounseling

Medicare will consider paying doctorsto counsel patients about their options forend-of-life care, the same idea that spurredaccusations of “death panels” and fanned apolitical furor around President Barack

Obama’s healthcare law five years ago. The announcement came in a volumi-

nous regulation on physician payment. Itwill “give the public ample opportunity toweigh in on the topic,” said Medicarespokesman Aaron Albright.

Medicare will consider a change for 2016. Such counseling would be voluntary,

aiming to make patients aware of their op-tions so they can determine the type ofcare they want at the end of life.

It’s an idea that has wide support in themedical community, and some private in-surance plans already pay for such coun-seling. Supporters say counseling wouldgive patients more control and free fami-lies from tortuous decisions.

Before former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin ig-nited the “death panel” debate in 2009, therewas longstanding bipartisan consensusaround helping people to better understandtheir end-of-life choices and decisions.

In 2008, a year before debate over theObama’s health overhaul spiraled into teaparty protests, Congress overwhelminglypassed legislation requiring doctors to dis-cuss issues like living wills with newMedicare enrollees.

That effort dissipated almost instantlywhen Palin said the end-of-life counselingprovision in the legislation would result inbureaucrats deciding whether sick peopleget to live. The language, modeled after abill by Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., wasultimately removed.

Now the administration is dipping its toein the water again. — AP

Health Shorts


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

I’m one of those cooks that combineswhatever I find in the fridge or pantry with-out a plan. I’ll throw spices and foods togeth-er like a mad scientist, kind ofhow I did in my 1987 organicchemistry class (hoping Iwouldn’t blow up the lab).

Recently, I went to my firstcooking class, “Secrets of In-dian Cuisine,” at Sur LaTable. Focusing was difficultsince I was distracted by theincredible aroma of the garlic,onion and seasonings whichwere simmering in the pot.

Our chef taught us how tocreate the most amazingChicken Tikka Masala I’veever tasted! In between bites and moans, Iasked why his tasted so much better thanthe restaurant version.

He said, “The secret is the spice youuse.” He did not use the powdered spicesyou get from a regular grocery store. Hiswere fresh, and he turned both the cuminand coriander seeds into powder using alittle electric coffee grinder.

Our eyes widened as he passed aroundhis freshly ground spice and the samespice in a store-bought version. The colorand aroma were completely different. Onewhiff and his point was made!

I decided it’s worth the extra five min-utes to use spices his way. Indian spices aresome of the healthiest on the planet and canact as an aphrodisiac, antibacterial, immunebooster, respiratory aid and digestive tonic.

I recommend these: Garam masala. This is not one spice, it’s

a blend which differs regionally. It usuallycontains cinnamon, nutmeg,cloves, peppercorns, turmericand mace (not the kind of maceyou spray in a mugger’s face,this “mace” is a waxy red coat-ing off a nutmeg seed.) Garammasala can help you with diges-tion and respiratory conditions.

Curry. This is actually ablend of spices, includingturmeric, which is known for itsanti-cancer benefits and abilityto reduce inflammation. Curryblends may cause diarrhea insensitive people. In case you

have ever experienced an Indian food reac-tion, curry is the ‘laxative.’

Coriander. It’s from the seeds of the

cilantro plant, but it tastes nothing likecilantro. Lightly toast them to extract moreflavor. This spice reduces insulin andblood sugar, and one study suggests itbinds heavy metals such as lead.

Green cardamom seed. During cook-ing class, I gently popped open the seedsin a mortar and pestle by tapping them,and then simmered both the seeds andouter shells in oil. What a difference com-pared to the store-bought powdered type!

Cardamom is rich in minerals, especial-ly potassium, so its medicinal action on thebody reduces blood pressure and controlsblood clot formation.

Chewing the seeds helps with badbreath. This spice is also used in chai tea.There’s also a black cardamom seed whichhas more of a smokey flavor.

Cumin seed. This is rich in iron, incase you have anemia. Cumin is the seed

of a small parsley plant. It helps you se-crete bile acids and pancreatic enzymes,and that helps you break down your food.It also has anti-diabetic actions, like thesulfonylurea medicines.

Fenugreek. You can buy the seeds andcrush them. They have estrogenic proper-ties, so some women use them to controlhot flashes. Older folks can also benefitfrom the cholesterol lowering propertiesof fenugreek.

Visit my website for more informationand the recipe for Chicken Tikka Masala.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 pharmacist

and the author of The 24-Hour Pharmacistand Real Solutions from Head to Toe. Tocontact her, visit www.SuzyCohen.com.

Cook with spices that work like medicine

DEAR PHARMACISTBy Suzy Cohen


BLOOD PRESSURE

SCREENING

Blood pressure screenings are avail-

able at the Ellicott City Senior

Center, 9401 Frederick Rd., Ellicott

City on Tuesdays (except Dec. 30)

from 9 a.m. to noon. For more infor-

mation, call (410) 313-1400.

STROKE SUPPORT

GROUP

This stroke support

group meets the fourth Thursday of

the month. The next session will be

on Jan. 22 at the Bolduc Family

Outpatient Center Classroom, 5755

Cedar Ln., Columbia, from 6:30 to 8

p.m. For more information or to regis-

ter, call (410) 740-7601.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

Jan. 22+

County schools involved in the projectinclude Pointers Run Elementary inClarksville, Dayton Oaks Elementary,Clarksville Elementary, Clarksville MiddleSchool and Atholton High School in Co-lumbia.

A new Asian pantryResidents at Longwood Apartments in

Columbia were added to the program in2014 with the help of the University of

Maryland Baltimore Campus (UMBC). Rosenthal, who works in UMBC’s Asian

Studies Program as a program manage-ment specialist (which involves marketingand community outreach, among otherthings), told the program director thatthere were many low-income Asian sen-iors living at Longwood. An internship wascreated for UMBC students to work astranslators and food pantry workers forthe many Chinese and Korean residentsliving there.

The Asian Food Pantry, based on theFood on the 15th model, was started last

year at the five-story building. Now about90 of the 170 residents receive their spe-cial noodles, soy beans, seaweed, fish,canned fruit and Asian condiments with-out charge.

The student interns implemented andmaintain the pantry. Besides translatingfor the residents, many of whom are immi-grants who speak little or no English, theyalso assist with music, English and exer-cise classes at the complex.

Intentionally intergenerationalRosenthal, 56, said in a recent interview

that, so far, Food on the 15th has deliveredmore than 18,000 bags of groceries and toi-letries free to low-income seniors.

The program began, she said, when sherealized that her then 10-year-old daughterthought that food was easily available toeveryone. “She thought that if you didn’thave food, you just went to the ATM and gotout money and bought it,” said Rosenthal.

So she set out to teach her daughter andother youngsters that, even in such an af-fluent community as Howard County, foodcould be in short supply for a significantnumber of older people. Many of them,she noted, even had to choose betweenbuying needed medications and groceriesas their monthly income ran out.

Rosenthal decided to start a communityservice project for children of all ages who

would donate their time and learn the hardfacts of life for many of their elders.

“I wanted them to see the beginning, themiddle and the end of the project, whenthey collected the food, sorted it and deliv-ered it,” Rosenthal said. “The parents alsowere involved.”

How much time does Rosenthal still putinto the project? “I am generally workingon Food on the 15th or the Asian FoodPantry seven days a week,” she said,“since I’m always checking e-mail, textsand Facebook to make sure that I respondto interns and volunteers on a timely basisso that the program moves forward.”

What drives the mother of two, who in2013 won the Association of CommunityServices Volunteer of the Year Award, tocontinue to devote what she figures mustbe “thousands of hours” to the program?

“I get a great pleasure in helping peo-ple,” she said. “It makes me happy.”For more information on the program, or

to make a donation, visit the organization’swebsite at www.foodonthe15th.org or look forits Facebook page. Rosenthal can be emailedat [email protected] deductible donations may also be

made out to the Coalition of Geriatric Serv-ices (COGS) and mailed to The Coalition ofGeriatric Services, P.O. Box 2131, EllicottCity, MD 21041. Please write “Food on the15th” on the memo line.


Food on the 15thFrom page 1

AQUA ZUMBAEnjoy a cardio dance-based workout with the added resistance of

water. Classes are offered for people 55+ for $48. Classes start

Jan. 27 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Cedar Lane School, 11630 Scaggsville Rd.,

Fulton. For more information, call (410) 313-7311 or email cvigus@howardcoun-

tymd.gov.

DIETARY COUNSELINGGet individualized nutritional counseling to discuss your dietary

concerns. Half-hour sessions are available Tuesday, Jan. 13

between 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. for $35. Sessions will be held at Suite G010 of

the Wellness Center Medical Pavilion, 10710 Charter Dr., Columbia. Payment is

due at the time of registration. Register at events.www.hcgh.hopkinsmedicine.org.

For more information, call (410) 740-7601.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

Jan. 13

LIVING WITH DIABETES

Learn how to improve your health whether you have just been

diagnosed with diabetes or having been living with it for a while. The next ses-

sion will be held on Jan. 21 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Wellness Center Medical

Pavilion, Suite 100, 10710 Charter Dr., Columbia. For more information or to reg-

ister, call (443) 718-3000.

BEACON BITS

Jan. 21

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By Candice ChoiThey help give Coke its distinctive bite

and Doritos their cheesy kick. But the arti-ficial and natural flavors used to rev up thetaste of processed foods remain a mysteryto most Americans.

“Artificial and natural flavors” have be-come ubiquitous terms on food labels,helping create vivid tastes that would oth-erwise be lost in mass production. As thescience behind them advances, however,some are calling for greater transparencyabout their safety and ingredients.

Recently, five consumer and environ-mental groups sent a letter to the Food andDrug Administration (FDA) expressingtheir concern about the flavor industry,which determines the safety of its own in-gredients. The letter noted that safety issometimes declared based on scientificdata that isn’t publicly available.

Invisible ingredients“If we’re eating the stuff, it shouldn’t be

such a secret,” said Lisa Lefferts, seniorscientist at Center for Science in the PublicInterest, a nutrition advocacy group thatwas among those who sent the letter.

The call for more transparency comesas Americans pay closer attention to whatthey eat. In some cases, they’re petitioningcompanies to remove chemicals.

Many food scientists say the fears areunfounded because the unfamiliar ingredi-ents often just mimic chemical structuresfound in nature or are used in traceamounts. But complaints have promptedcompanies including PepsiCo and Subwayto reformulate recipes.

As a result of the attention given to chemi-cals and ingredients as a whole, artificial andnatural flavors are starting to get attention aswell. But they can be frustrating becausepeople often have no clue what’s in them.

“Natural flavors can mean whatever,”said Sara Budowsky, a New York City resi-dent who runs a vegan eating website andhas become more aware of added flavors.“I’ve always been curious when I see thatlast part of the ingredient list.”

The FDA says natural flavors have to bederived from ingredients like fruit, meat orspices, and obtained through processeslike distillation or fermentation. Artificialflavors can be made chemically, say, bymixing an alcohol with a fat.

It seems straightforward, but the so-phistication involved in making themvaries broadly. Some may just be a blend ofspices, while others create the illusion thata product contains certain ingredients, likegrapes, when it doesn’t.

Flavors can also conjure cooking styles.With frozen dinners, for instance, “natural

flavors” are often used to give the impres-sion the meat was grilled or roasted.

“A company can’t grill all that meat,”said Terry Miesle, a senior flavorist whospecializes in savory tastes at Innova Fla-vors in the Chicago area. “But flavors canmimic the chemical process of cooking.”

A flavorist might use materials like beefstock, fats and sugar to ignite the reactionsto create the “grilled” taste, he said.

Tracking the size of the flavor industry isdifficult in part because food companies

may have their own flavorists. But consult-ing firm Leffingwell & Associates estimatesthe global industry at about $23.91 billion,up 19 percent from $20 billion in 2000.

About half that was for flavors in foods,while the rest was for fragrances, said JohnLeffingwell, the firm’s founder and a formerflavorist who helped invent Sunkist.

Big flavor makers including Givaudan,Symrise and International Flavors & Fra-

Are flavorings in food something to fear?H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health 9

FIVEEE STAR MEMORY CARE, BBRINNGINNNNGG BBACK THE joy in life

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822020 S Snowdwdwden R Rivi er Parkway • Columbia, MD 21045410-313-9744www.SomerfordPlaceColumbia.com© 2014 Five Star Quality Care, Inc.

SOMERFORD PLACEFrrroomm F ivvvvve StStarra D Dinninnngg,g to o our awwwarra d‐wwiwinnnnininnnng g BrBriddgge t o o o ReeR did scs oovoveery™y™lllifefesstylylylylyle, ourur memem mmmom ryry cacaareee b b riringngn ssbab cck l l l l l life’s sisimpmpmpleleessts joyoyo s.ssHeHeHH rerererere, our rerrer sissidededentntn s s rrreddiiscsscs ovovovererrefafaff vvvvovov riitete disshehehehesss, a andndndnd ; ; ;inininnd d d d suuccccccesesee s s s ataattmmmemm aaltitimme, wiwiiiththttt a a m m menene u u u u u inspspirirrededded b byyycccec leebrrb iti y chhheefe Brarad d MiMMiller, spspeeciaallevenentss, , and d d a a caring t t teaeam of e expxxpertsssby t theeh iir sididi e.e.

See FLAVORINGS, page 10

grances declined to make representativesavailable.

Are safety concerns founded?The safety of flavors is determined by

the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers As-sociation (FEMA), an industry tradegroup. In any given year, FEMA may de-clare as few as 10 or as many as 100 to besafe, said John Hallagan, the association’ssenior adviser and general counsel.

In all, FEMA says it has found around3,000 different flavors to be safe. They’reusually used in minute quantities, typicallyfar less than 1 percent of a product.

Even so, disclosing their ingredientswould likely attract more consumer com-plaints for companies, which are alreadyfacing pressure over ingredients.

Last year, a petition noted an ingredientin Subway’s bread, azodicarbonamide, isalso used in yoga mats. Subway removedthe ingredient, even though it is widelyused in other breads. PepsiCo removed aningredient from Gatorade after a petition

by a teenager linked it to a flame retardant. The groups asking the FDA to look into

the flavor industry don’t necessarily thinkthe ingredients in flavors should be listedon packaging, since the chemical nameswould be meaningless to most. But compa-nies might post information online or else-where, said Erik Olson of the Natural Re-sources Defense Council, one of thegroups that sent the letter to the FDA.

A representative for the FDA said theagency is looking into the concerns raisedby the groups.

In the meantime, flavors are opening up

new possibilities. Senomyx, based in California, makes in-

gredients that interact with taste receptorsto block or amplify attributes like sweet-ness. They have no taste or smell but arelisted as artificial flavors.

Senomyx recently said it expects one ofits ingredients, which allows manufactur-ers to reduce the amount of sugar andhigh fructose corn syrup in products, to beused starting this year. PepsiCo, whichhas exclusive rights to use it in non-alco-holic drinks, declined to comment.

— AP


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FlavoringsFrom page 9

ANNUAL HOLIDAY TRAIN GARDENThe Howard County Department of Fire & Rescue Services willhost its 17th annual holiday train display at the Ellicott City

Volunteer Fire Department, Station #2, 4150 Montgomery Rd., Ellicott City.Admission is free, but donations are accepted. The display will be openWednesday through Friday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Closed Dec. 25. The final day of the display is Sunday, Jan.4. For more information, call (410) 313-2036.

FROM SEEDS TO SEEDLINGSLearn about planting flowers and vegetables indoors to get readyfor the spring. Join Jo Ann Russo, University of Maryland Extension

Howard County Master Gardeners, at the Howard County Glenwood Branch Library,2350 State Rt. 97, Cooksville, on Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 7 p.m. Register online orby calling (410) 313-5577. For more information, visit www.hclibrary.org.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

Jan. 21

• Eye Care for All Ages • Specialists in Cataracts, Glaucoma, DiabeticRetinopathy and Macular Degeneration • Contact Lens Specialists

• LASIK - Laser Vision Correction • Plastic & Reconstructive Eye Surgery

Full In-House Optical DepartmentOutpatient No-Stitch Cataract Surgery • Laser Surgery

MEDICARE ASSIGNMENT ACCEPTEDLENARD H. HAMMER, M.D., F.A.C.S.GORDON LUI, M.D.SCOTT B. BECKER, M.D.MEDICARE EYE EXAMS

BRIAN J. WINTER, M.D.CRISTINA F. ROUILLER, O.D.

VANESSA LIMA, M.D.

410-997-99008860 Columbia 100 Parkway, Suite 101, Columbia, MD


Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the mostcommon cause of dementia and memoryloss in older adults. The Alzheimer’s Asso-ciation estimates that Alzheimer’s currentlyaffects 5.2 million Americans, and that thisnumber will likely triple by the year 2030.

While most people are familiar withAlzheimer’s as a disease that causes memo-

ry loss and functional decline, many pa-tients with AD also have changes in moodthat increase suffering for patients and fam-ilies alike, according to Dr. Paul Rosen-berg, a geriatric psychiatrist at the JohnsHopkins Bayview Medical Center Memoryand Alzheimer’s Treatment Center, whospecializes in improving treatment in

Alzheimer’s-related mood symptoms.One of the most common mood changes

in AD is depression, which affects an esti-mated 40 percent of persons with the diseaseand can seriously decrease quality of life. Inaddition to the usual stresses of life andaging, Rosenberg observed that there areseveral specific causes of depression in AD.

First, those with AD, particularly in theearly stages of the disease, may be keenlyaware of their loss of memory and difficul-ties functioning. Alzheimer’s can cause con-siderable psychic distress because peopleare afraid that they are “losing their minds,”even when the symptoms are very mild.

“Many patients spend inordinate amountsof time and energy trying to fight the dis-ease,” said Rosenberg. “They make lists, usepost-it notes, ask family members to remindthem of appointments, etc. The effort of try-ing to remember and to keep one’s mind or-ganized can be anxiety-provoking and ex-hausting.”

In addition, Rosenberg continued, the bi-ologic effects of Alzheimer’s on the brainlikely make patients vulnerable to depres-sion. “We have evidence that the neuro-de-generation of AD affects important circuitscontrolling mood regulation, includingthose involving the neurotransmitters sero-tonin and norepinephrine,” he explained.

Depression in AD has different symptomsthan depression in young people, accordingto Rosenberg. Alzheimer’s patients are lesslikely to overtly say they’re depressed, tohave sleep/appetite disturbances, or to wishfor death or feel suicidal. But they are morelikely to be nervous, anxious, agitated or ru-minative, with anxious thoughts that are dif-ficult to get out of their head. The commondenominator in depression is loss of enjoy-ment of life, known as anhedonia (Greek for“not taking pleasure in life”).

Medications are widely used to treat AD-related depression, but researchers are stilltrying to determine if they are actually effec-tive. The most commonly used medicationsare in the class of antidepressants called se-

lective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs), which increase the availability ofthe neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain.

Unfortunately, in one study of the SSRIsertraline, Rosenberg and his fellow re-searchers found that the drug was not ef-fective for depression in AD.

Drug study underwaySince SSRIs only affect serotonin, and

other neurotransmitters such as norepi-nephrine are affected in AD and depression,Rosenberg is currently studying a drug thatalso affects norepinephrine. These medica-tions are called selective noradrenergic-serotonergic reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).

Rosenberg’s current study will examinethe effect of a particularly potent SNRI, ven-lafaxine, in depression of AD patients. Whilevenlafaxine has been FDA-approved formajor depression in general, Rosenberg andhis fellow researchers want to find out if it iseffective for patients with depression and AD.

Those selected to participate in thestudy of the drug will visit the Johns Hop-kins Bayview Memory Center five timesover the course of three months. Partici-pants will receive $20 for each visit.

During the study visits, they will under-go neurological and physical examinationsby the study physician, including lab testssuch as blood tests; be given tests of think-ing, memory, mood and activities of dailyliving; and agree to have a study partnerwho will answer questions about the par-ticipant’s thinking, memory, mood and ac-tivities of daily living.

The study will be recruiting for approxi-mately two more years and aims to recruitup to 50 participants.

In addition to medication, one of the pri-mary treatments for depression in AD is be-havioral intervention, noted Rosenberg, re-marking that setting up an appropriate de-gree of supervision as well as a structuredenvironment, including regular times for


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

Hopkins studies Alzheimer’s depression

See DEPRESSION STUDY, page 13

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• Compensation for your time

By Maria Cheng An experimental treatment for blind-

ness that uses embryonic stem cells ap-pears to be safe, and it improved vision inmore than half of the patients who got it,two early studies show.

Researchers followed 18 patients for upto three years after treatment. The studiesare the first to show long-term safety of anembryonic stem cell treatment in humans.

“It’s a wonderful first step, but it doesn’tprove that (stem cells) work,” said ChrisMason, chair of regenerative medicine atUniversity College London, who was notpart of the research. He said it was encour-aging that the studies proved the treat-

ment is safe and dispelled fears that stemcells would promote tumor growth.

Embryonic stem cells, which are recov-ered from embryos, can become any cellin the body. They are considered contro-versial by some because they involve de-stroying an embryo, and some critics sayadult stem cells, which are derived fromtissue samples, should be used instead.

Treated macular degenerationScientists have long thought about

transforming embryonic stem cells intospecific types of cells to help treat variousdiseases. In the new research, scientiststurned stem cells into retinal cells to treat

older adults with macular degenerationand children with Stargardt’s macular dys-trophy, the leading causes of blindness inthose populations.

In each patient, the retinal cells were in-jected into the eye that had the worst vi-sion. Ten of the 18 patients later reportedthey could see better with the treated eyethan the other one. No safety problemswere detected. The studies were paid forby the U.S. company that developed thetreatment, Advanced Cell Technology, andwere published in the journal Lancet.

Dr. Robert Lanza, one of the study au-thors, said it was significant the stem cellssurvived years after the transplant andweren’t wiped out by the patients’ own im-mune systems.

For some of the patients, Lanza noted theirimproved vision changed their lives, refer-ring to a 75-year-old horse rancher who hadbeen blind in one eye before the treatment.

“One month after his treatment, his vi-sion had improved [substantially], and hecan even ride his horses again,” Lanza saidin an email. He said other patients have re-gained their independence with their new-found vision, and said some people arenow able to use their computers again,read their watches or travel on their own.

“The next step will be to prove these (stemcell) treatments actually work,” Mason said.“Unless there is a sham group where you in-ject saline into [patients’] eyes, we can’t knowfor sure that it was the stem cells that wereresponsible.” — AP

bedtime and awakening, can be crucial. “Alzheimer’s patients feel less depressed

when they are well supported and don’tneed to worry as much about keeping trackof day-to-day activities, and this sort of cog-nitive supervision and emotional support isusually supplied by families,” he said.

For this reason, the Memory andAlzheimer’s Treatment Center also offersa Dementia Needs Assessment for bothpatient and caregiver.

“Many patients with Alzheimer’s dis-

ease benefit from increased socializationand activities,” Rosenberg continued.

“Early in the disease they can often uti-lize services of a senior citizens’ communitycenter, while as the disease progressesthey may benefit more from the increasedlevel of services offered in an adult day carecenter. The latter often provides transporta-tion as part of the package which offersextra respite for family members as well.”

To learn more, contact recruitment co-ordinator Wendy Golden at (410) 550-9022or visit www.hopkinsmedicine.org/psychiatry/specialty_areas/memory_center/research.html.

Stem cells safely reverse some vision lossH O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health 13

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Depression studyFrom page 12



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ConnectionSeniorSenior

ConnectionConnectionSeniorSeniorSeniorSeniorSenior

Department of Citizen Services Volume 5, No. 1 • January 2015

During the next 25 years, Howard County’s “65

and over” population will make up 65% of the county’s total population growth. With so many folks in this age bracket choosing to call Howard County home, it’s imperative that we act now to ensure we can successfully accommodate these changing demographics.

One of my initiatives as your new Howard County Executive is to give our aging community the attention it deserves by creating a Department of Aging. I am committed to ensuring Howard County Government is at the forefront of meeting the needs of Maryland’s fastest-growing senior population by making sure we are o!ering the types of services, programs and facilities our aging community needs to continue to call Howard County their home.

As I traveled to all parts of the county during the past year, I heard time and time again your concerns over the lack of a!ordable housing and healthcare. "rough the creation of this new cabinet-level o#ce we will address those concerns. We will examine options for expanding property tax credits for seniors, as well as serve as a catalyst to assure seniors get the health services they need.

"e growing number of seniors in our county, and the desire to provide a welcome and nurturing environment where they can age in our community, will demand new and imaginative strategies. My administration is hard at work developing the roadmap to meet that challenge head on!

Together, we will further Howard County’s promise as being a great place to live, work, play AND retire.

A Message from

County ExecutiveAllan H. Kittleman

Howard County Updates Residents on Master Plan InitiativeFull Plan to be Released in Late January

Over the next two decades, the population of older adults age 65 or older in Howard County is projected to double, from

39,150 in 2015 to 79,640 in 2035. With this in mind, Howard County launched a comprehensive planning process in May 2014, to determine what services, programs and facilities will be needed to address the emerging needs of this increasing demographic. "e project has been coordinated by the Department of Citizen Services and its O#ce on Aging with the support of a consultant team led by KGRW & Associates, an Ellicott City-based archi-tectural (rm. "e initiative has included an online community survey, focus groups, a review of national trends and past studies done locally, and input from a wide array of stakeholders who participated in discussions to de(ne a “preferred future” for the County.

Public meetings were held in December to share what has been learned through the survey and focus groups and the priorities that have emerged for future action. Among the survey (ndings is the fact that while the majority of the 1,200 respondents rated their own quality of life in Howard County to be high, these same respondents rated adults ages 65 and older, as a group, as having the lowest quality of life in the county.

According to Matt "ornhill of the Boomer Project, who worked with KGRW to design the online survey and interpret the (ndings, this is consistent with other studies he’s conducted nationally. “We typically see adults rating the quality of life for older adults at lower levels than their own, even if they are over 65 themselves.” According to "ornhill, this re)ects a common attitude that sees aging as a problem, rather than seeing the promise in increased longevity.

Respondents also had di!ering views on the importance of various services versus how well those services are delivered in the county. "e availability of healthcare services ranked highest in importance to most respondents, and the delivery of these services received favorable marks as well. But gaps between “importance” and “performance” were notable in two areas: the ability to remain in your home as you grow older (to be able to “age in community”) and the availability of transportation options that make it easy to get around.

In a recent interview, Lois Mikkila, Director of the Department of Citizen Services, said these issues became even more pronounced in the focus groups, which were held to reach ethnic and lower- income residents who were underrepresented among survey

continued on page 16

16 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 5 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

15 Ways to Get Fit in ‘15Keep your New Year’s Resolutions with Help from the Office on AgingNo matter what your 2015 resolutions include — a desire to lose weight, eat better,manage chronic conditions or just be more active — the Office on Aging can help. From A to Z, here are 15 ways to help you get you started off on the right foot!

respondents. “Many live in houses, condos and apartments that are not suitable for older adults with reduced mobility,” she said, “But they really didn't see they had any options," Mikkila said.

On a positive note, Mikkila has been encouraged by the level of enthusiasm, interest and support this important planning initiative has engendered among residents and community leaders alike, and is particularly optimistic that the resultant collaborative spirit will help ensure its successful implementation. “We have brought folks together who have never sat at the same table before – all with one objective, to devise a plan that will positively impact the quality of life for older adults in Howard County over the next two decades.” Acknowledging that many strategic plans never make it past the paper they are printed on, she is counting on the community’s continuing engagement, “It will take the involvement of all sectors, not just the O!ce on Aging, or even Howard County Government, to make Howard County a truly wonderful place to age.”

#e results of the online community survey may be viewed online at www.howardcountymd.gov/agingmasterplan, along with the Power Point of the public presentations. #e full planning report will also be posted when it is released, which is expected to be later in January.

Master Plan Updatescontinued from page 15

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TRACK YOUR PROGRESS. Too cold to walk outdoors? Try the cushioned, indoor walking tracks at the Glenwood and North Laurel 50+ Centers (13 laps equals a mile!)

SIT TO GET FIT. Work at your own level in Agewell Sit and Fit classes at the Glenwood 50+Center, co-sponsored by Howard County General Hospital.

TRY GENTLE YOGA. Enjoy all the benefits of yoga in this seated exercise offered at Howard County senior centers.

KEEP YOUR BRAIN FIT. Robin Zahor, R.N., B.S.N. teaches how to keep your mind sharp and improve cognitive performance in brain fitness classes at the Bain Center and the Ellicott City Senior Center.

DANCE YOUR WAY TO FITNESS. Country line dance, jazz, modern, ballroom or tap – it’s your choice!

PRACTICE PILATES. Build flexibility, lean muscle, strength and endurance in the hips, back and abdominal core. Pilates is offered at the Bain Center, East Columbia and Glenwood 50+ Centers.

REDUCE STRESS. Take a cue from ancient China: try Qi Gong, a powerful system of healing and energy medicine from China, or Tai Chi, which focuses on balancing body, mind and spirit.

Z IS FOR ZUMBA. This is a fun, Latin-inspired workout, designed for the active older adult but performed at a lower intensity.

A IS FOR ACUPUNCTURE. Address your stress with a private session of traditional acupuncture or try Relaxupuncture, a one-hour session of relaxation, meditation and auricular acupuncture in a group setting.

MAP IT OUT! Contact Maryland Access Point of Howard County (MAP) at 410-313-5980 to find health and wellness classes, locate a senior center, or identify resources to make a plan you’ll stick to.

GET NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT. Fad diets don’t work. Instead, call MAP or your local senior center to make an appointment with Rona Martiyan, the Office on Aging’s nutritionist, to develop a sensible, healthy eating plan.

FIND AN EXERCISE THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU. Contact Jennifer Lee, the Office on Aging’s exercise specialist, 410-313-5940, to find an activity that meets your needs.

TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR HEALTH. Learn to manage high blood pressure, obesity, arthritis and other chronic conditions with Living Well, a 6-week self-management program. Contact Wendy Farthing, 410-313-3506, to find out more.

DEAL WITH DIABETES. The companion class to Living Well, Living Well with Diabetes is especially helpful to those newly diagnosed with the disease. Call Wendy Farthing, 410-313-3506, for a schedule of upcoming classes.

REDUCE YOUR RISK OF FALLING. Enhance Fitness is a series of exercises designed to improve balance, flexibility, bone density, endurance, and decrease risk of falling.

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The Bain Center 5470 Ruth Keeton Way

Columbia, MD 21044

www.howardcountyaging.org

Howard County Paws4ComfortThis special program fosters special bonds between pets, their owners and the County residents they visit. If you are interested in volunteering, or wish to attend a free evaluation for your pet, contact:

Ingrid Gleysteen410-313-7461

[email protected]

Evaluations are held at the Bain Center 1ST WEDNESDAY of every month

FIRST QUARTER 2015: Wed., 7:00 p.m.January 7 February 4 March 4

The Senior Connection


To request accommodations to attend any of these events,call 410-313-5980 one week in advance.

Mondays, 11 a.m. Cardio Latin Groove • Glenwood 50+CenterHeat up your workout with a high energy Latin dance class. Similar to Zumba, low impact and a great workout! Call 410-313-5440 to register.

Mondays, 11 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.; Tuesdays, 2 p.m.Traditional Yoga • East Columbia 50+ CenterSeated Yoga offers all the benefits of traditional yoga without the floor work. January fee: $24. Call 410-313-7680 to register.

g y g floor work. January fee: $24. Call 410-313-7680 to register.

Tuesdays, 10-10:30 a.m.SeniorsTogether Low Vision Group • Bain CenterA low vision resource facilitator shares information about low vision issues, treatments and outreach. Call 410-313-7466 for details.

Mondays & Wednesdays, 5:30-8 p.m.; Tuesdays 1-3:30 p.m.Acupuncture • Ellicott City Senior Center Schedule an acupuncture treatment with Young Gerstmyer ND, LAC. Initial consultation: $125; each 1 hour visit: $75; credit cards or checks

p g y Initial consultation: $125; each 1 hour visit: $75; credit cards or checks

only. Call 410-313-1400 to schedule.

Fridays, By Appointment OnlyAcupuncture • Glenwood 50+CenterTry this ancient form of healing. Dawn Kulak offers appointments on Fridays; insurance accepted. Call 410-313-5440 to schedule.

Thursdays, beginning January 7, 1 p.m.Authentic Latin Jam Dance • East Columbia 50+ CenterDance your way to fitness with Laurie Anderson, professional dance instructor. $24. Call 410-313-7680 to register.

y y instructor. $24. Call 410-313-7680 to register.

Thursdays, January 8 – March 19, 10 a.m.Qi Gong • Ellicott City Senior Center Experience gentle movements synchronized with breathing to promote positive energy movement through your body. $57 (10 classes)

p g y g p positive energy movement through your body. $57 (10 classes)

(No Class Feb. 5). Call 410-313-1400 to register.

Fridays, January 9 – March 13, 10 a.m. ManPower • Ellicott City Senior Center Join a group strength training class designed for men who want toregain/retain muscle tone. Work on form, body composition and lean muscle mass. $54 (10 classes); call 410-313-1400 to register.

y p $54 (10 classes); call 410-313-1400 to register.

Friday, January 9, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.New Year’s Celebration • Elkridge Senior CenterRing in the New Year with a homemade lunch, entertainment, games and prizes. $5/person. Call 410-313-6192 to register.

g games and prizes. $5/person. Call 410-313-6192 to register.

Fridays, January 11 – March 13, 11 a.m.All in One • Ellicott City Senior Center Combine all the elements of fitness into one class with a cardio work-out, strength training, balance and flexibility. Bring a matfor floor work. $54 (10 classes). Call 410-313-1400 to register.

g g, y$54 (10 classes). Call 410-313-1400 to register.

g g

Tuesday, January 13, NoonTed Talks Panini Lunch • East Columbia 50+ CenterCome for lunch and learn why older people are happier. Donations appreciated. Call 410-313-7680 to register.

Tuesday, January 13, 7 p.m.Finding Your Dream Job In your 40’s, 50’s and Beyond East Columbia 50+ CenterBest-selling Author Kerry Hannon will present her latest book, k, What’s Next. t. t Call 410-313-7680 to register.

January Calendar of EventsDon’t miss these exciting programs and services from the Howard County Office on Aging

Tuesdays, January 13 – February 17, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Intro to Ballroom & Latin Dance North Laurel 50+ CenterStay active and improve physical fitness while learning basic steps to a variety of dance styles. No experience necessary. $52 (6 sessions). Call 410-313-0380 to register.

g p y y No experience necessary. $52 (6 sessions). Call 410-313-0380 to register.

Friday, January 16, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Brunch • North Laurel 50+ CenterCelebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with brunch and story sharing; music and the history of drumming presented by James Gilliam. Donations appreciated. Call 410-313-0380 for reservations by January 7.

Tuesday, January 20, 1 p.m.Clutter Busters Reunited! • East Columbia 50+ CenterFace clutter issues with a sense of humor (and find your keys without a search party). Call 410-313-7680 to register.

Wednesdays, January 21 & 28, 10-11:30 a.m.WisdomWell Series: Living Well with the Season • Glenwood 50+ CenterJoin Acupuncturist and Wellness Educator, Leah Turner, for guided meditation, interactive discussion, seasonal tips, and practical everyday skills for living well. Call 410-313-5440 for details.

Thursday, January 22, 10 a.m.RELAXupuncture • East Columbia 50+ CenterLet your energy flow in a 1-hour group session of relaxation, meditation and auricular acupuncture. $20/person; call 410-313-7680 to register.

y gy g p and auricular acupuncture. $20/person; call 410-313-7680 to register.

Thursday, January 22, 10:30 a.m.-noonAffordable Insurance • Elkridge Senior CenterThe Maryland Insurance Administration will show you how to save hundreds of dollars a year on insurance. Call 410-313-6192 to register.

Wednesday, January 28, 11 a.m.-noonThe Needle Trades • North Laurel 50+ CenterThe Baltimore Museum of Industry presents a special presentation of the history of the garment industry in Baltimore. Call 410-313-0380 to register.

Mondays, January 5 to March 9New Year Yoga Flow: Gentle or Chair • North Laurel 50+ CenterPractice gentle and chair yoga to reduce stress, cultivate strength and build balance. Gentle Yoga: 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m., $56 (8 sessions). Chair Yoga:

g y g , g balance. Gentle Yoga: 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m., $56 (8 sessions). Chair Yoga:

10-10:50 a.m., $52 (8 sessions). Call 410-313-0380 to register. g p ,

10-10:50 a.m., $52 (8 sessions). Call 410-313-0380 to register.

Budget and Credit Counseling WorkshopWednesday, January 21, 1-3 p.m.North Laurel Community Center 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road, Laurel, MD 20723

Aline Humphries, Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Maryland and Delaware, Inc. presents the basics about credit and budgeting.

Geared toward older adults and individuals with disabilities, this free workshop is presented by the Maryland Department of Aging andthe Howard County Office on Aging.

For more information or to register, contact Maryland Access Point of Howard County at 410-313-5980 (VOICE/RELAY) or email [email protected].



Did you know...? Making Your Home More Accessible Today Could Earn You a Tax Credit!

THE HOWARD COUNTY LIVABLE HOMES TAX CREDIT

For more information, contact:HOWARD COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE

410-313-2062or MARYLAND ACCESS POINT at 410-313-5980

FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS AND APPLICATIONS, GO TO

www.howardcountymd.gov/livablehomes

Make improvements now to create a more accessible home for your future and save money!

When you install certain types of accessibility features in your primary County residence (ramps, stair glides, reinforced walls and grab bars) you could be eligible for credit against your county tax bill. Applications are processed through the Howard County Department of Finance in the order received until all all program funds have been exhausted.

The Senior Connection is published monthly by the Howard County Department of Citizen Services and the Office on Aging.

We welcome your comments and suggestions. Contact us, or join our subscriber list at [email protected]

Howard County Office on Aging, 6751 Columbia Gateway Dr., Columbia, MD 21046410-313-6410 • www.howardcountyaging.org

Find us on www.Facebook.com/HoCoCitizen

Kim Higdon Henry, Senior Connection Editor [email protected] • 410-313-6531

Advertising contained in the Beacon is not endorsed by the Howard County Office on Aging or by the publisher.

The Howard County Department of Citizen Services and Office on Aging appreciates the outpouring of generosity by everyone whose thoughtful donations of time, gifts and money made Project Holiday 2014 an overwhelming success.

Almost 300 seniors will have gifts to open and memories to cherish, thanks to your selfless giving in honoring the true message of the season.

Wishing you and your families a very happy and healthy holiday season and many blessings in the new year!

Thank You!

410.313.5980 (VOICE / RELAY)[email protected]

Aging and Disability Resource Center for Howard County Residents

HOWARD COUNTY OFFICE ON AGING

MARYLAND ACCESS POINT

The 2015 Resource Guide is now available!Pick up your FREE COPY of the Guide at the Howard County Office on Aging, seniorcenters and libraries.

5980 (VOICE / RELAY)

Save the Datefor the 7th Annual

www.howardcountyaging.org/womenfest

A signature event designed to inspire women tolive a more balanced, healthier and fulfilled life!

Saturday, April 25, 2015 • 10 am - 3 pmGary J. Arthur Community Center at Glenwood2400 Route 97, Cooksville, MD 21723

ATTENTION BUSINESS OWNERS, VENDORS and EXHIBITORS!Don’t miss this opportunity to promote YOUR business, products and services!

For sponsorship opportunities, contact Courtney Barkley 410-313-5957 or email [email protected].

A one-stop event featuring over 90 EXHIBITORS,engaging SEMINARS,and important free health SCREENINGS!


HOWARD COUNT Y B E A CON — J A NUA R Y 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon 19

FIX RETIREMENT FINANCESPay off your mortgage and credit cards,rebalance your portfolio, and work longerto ensure more retirement assets

INVEST IN HEALTHCAREHealthcare funds have done well in recentyears. Can they stay on top? And shouldyou invest in pharmaceuticals andbiotechnology?MoneyLaw &

By Paul Wiseman and Marcy GordonSomething about the deal smelled fishy. China Marine Food Group Ltd., a Chi-

nese company then on the New York StockExchange, spent $27 million in January2010 to acquire a firm whose main assetwas “algae-based drink know-how.” Theweird thing: Three months earlier, the bev-erage formula had been valued below$8,800. But when the U.S. Securities and Ex-

change Commission tried to review thedeal, it got nowhere. The company’s Chi-nese accounting firm refused to providedocuments. And the SEC has beenstymied since. And China Marine? Its share price

topped $8 in 2010. It’s now around 12cents. The case represents a cautionary tale

for investors eager to invest in Chinesecompanies on American exchanges. Chi-nese companies like Alibaba, whose initialpublic offering this year set a record high,operate under lax standards comparedwith other stocks on U.S. exchanges. Thatmeans higher risks for investors. Worries about the risks of Chinese

stocks also emerged from a recent Associ-ated Press investigation of Tianhe Chemi-cals Group Ltd. When that Chinese compa-ny went public in June, the U.S. investmentbanking powerhouse Morgan Stanley

helped it raise $654 million from foreign in-vestors. But Tianhe’s stock has lost 39 per-cent since allegations emerged that it hadexaggerated the value of its business. “The protections that are often taken for

granted are just not there [with Chinesecompanies],” said Joseph Carcello, an ac-counting professor at the University ofTennessee. More than 100 Chinese companies were

suspended or kicked off U.S. exchanges in2011 and 2012, most of them for failing tofile timely financial reports. These companies, including China Ma-

rine, had exploited a legal loophole so theycould merge with American shell compa-nies. By doing so, they elude much of theSEC oversight that comes from sellingshares on U.S. markets for the first time. About two dozen of these companies

have also been hit with SEC fraud or ac-counting charges. Yet the investigationshave stalled because the companies’ auditpapers are in China — beyond the SEC’sreach.

Trade as holding companiesThere are currently about 100 Chinese

companies trading on the NYSE and theNasdaq Stock Market. China restricts foreign investment in

some businesses. To bypass that hurdle,Alibaba and many other Chinese compa-

nies deploy a structure called a “variableinterest entity” or VIE. It works like this: The company listed

on the U.S. exchange isn’t the actual Chi-nese company. Rather, it’s a holding com-pany, typically based in a tax haven like theCayman Islands. Foreign investors haveno say in the company’s management. As a result, Chinese managers can re-

structure a company in ways that threateninvestors. Alibaba CEO Jack Ma, for in-stance, spun off Alibaba’s payment serviceinto a company he controlled withouttelling Yahoo, a major investor in Alibaba. The VIEs are also legally dubious in

China. In 2011, a Chinese panel rejected acontract between Taiwan-based GigaMe-dia and a Chinese gambling business thatGigaMedia thought it controlled through aVIE. The manager of the gambling busi-ness had seized documents required to op-erate in China. And GigaMedia could donothing. In 2012, China’s Supreme People’s

Court threw out contracts a Hong Kongbusinesswoman had used to dodge Chi-nese rules to invest in a Chinese bank. Itcited agreements that “conceal illegal in-tentions.” Beijing could invoke similar reasoning

to one day ban all VIEs, potentially impos-ing huge losses on American and other for-eign investors, analysts say.

China bars U.S. inspectors from auditsdone by Chinese accounting firms — inorder, it says, to protect its state secrets.This means most Chinese stocks on U.S.exchanges don’t comply with Americanlaw. “It’s a very serious problem,” said James

Doty, chairman of the Public CompanyOversight Accounting Board.

Why China bars auditorsExperts say Beijing likely fears the doc-

uments would confirm suspicions that Chi-nese companies are delinquent on loansfrom state-owned banks or are involved incorruption. Its stance has hobbled U.S. in-vestigations of stock fraud. Consider the China Marine case. Shares

in the snack and beverage firm began trad-ing on U.S. markets in 2007. U.S. investiga-tors grew suspicious over China Marine’s$27 million purchase of most of a companythat was built around a drink formula ithad bought a year earlier for just $8,776. Had China Marine’s accounting firm re-

viewed the deal? If so, had it determinedthe value of the acquisition? Problem was, the accounting firm

wouldn’t turn over the papers. And ChinaMarine’s stock price plunged. Two years ago, the SEC sued the China

Investors face risks with Chinese stocks

See CHINESE STOCKS, page 21

By Sandra BlockIt’s not unusual for states to claim that

they’re terrific places to live. But increas-ingly, states are trying to get out the mes-sage that they’re also great places to die.In 2015, four states will increase the

amount that’s exempt from state estatetaxes, reducing or eliminating the tax thatheirs will have to pay.

Maryland raises exemptionOn Jan. 1, Maryland’s exemption will in-

crease to $1.5 million from $1 million, Ten-nessee’s estate tax exemption will jump to$5 million from $2 million, and Minneso-ta’s exemption will rise to $1.4 million from$1.2 million. On April 1, 2015, New York’sestate tax exemption will increase to

$3.125 million from $2.062 million.More relief is on the way. Maryland and

New York will increase their thresholdsevery year until 2019, when they’ll matchthe federal exemption (currently $5.34 mil-lion). Tennessee’s estate tax will disappearin 2016. Minnesota’s exemption will rise in$200,000 annual increments until it reach-es $2 million in 2018.Lawmakers in states with estate and in-

heritance taxes are concerned that well-offretirees will vote with their feet, deprivingthose states of much-needed income tax rev-enue, said Scott Grenier, a certified financialplanner for Baird’s Private Wealth Manage-ment group, in Milwaukee. Taxes are one ofthe most common reasons retirees relocateto another state, Grenier said.

It’s not hard to understand why. Hawaiiand Delaware have estate tax exemptionsthat match the federal level. But 14 statesand Washington, D.C., have lower thresh-olds, with maximum tax rates ranging from12 percent to 19 percent. New Jersey’s estatetax threshold is just $675,000, which couldaffect heirs of even relatively modest estates.

But beware inheritance taxSeven states have an inheritance tax, with

maximum rates ranging from 9.5 percent to18 percent. Unlike an estate tax, which islevied on an estate before it’s distributed, aninheritance tax is typically paid by the bene-ficiaries. Maryland and New Jersey haveboth estate and inheritance taxes.If you live in a state that still has an es-

tate or inheritance tax and you don’t wantto move, talk to an estate-planning profes-sional about other tax-saving strategies. Connecticut is the only state that impos-

es a gift tax while you’re still alive, but inthe remaining states you can take advan-tage of gifts during your lifetime to reducethe size of your estate.If you already have an estate plan, make

sure it’s regularly updated to reflect revi-sions in your state’s law. More changes arelikely as states try to make their jurisdic-tions more attractive to retiring babyboomers. For example, legislation has beenintroduced in New Jersey to phase out thestate’s estate tax over a five-year period.© 2014 Kiplinger’s Personal Finance; Dis-

tributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Good news for heirs about estate taxes

Recent studies have shown that manyprospective retirees have insufficient as-sets or sources of income for a comfort-able retirement. A lot of factors play intothis problem. I’ll discuss major ones below,and suggest ways to alleviate them.

Mortgage debt. More people than everbefore are entering retirement with a sig-nificant mortgage. If you have a number ofyears left in your working career, youmight benefit from refinancing your mort-gage to a shorter term, say, 15 years ratherthan 30. Or you might make more or larg-er payments toward principal. These steps can help you significantly

reduce or eliminate the outstanding bal-ance by the time you reach retirement. Ifyou’re on the verge of retiring, you might

consider downsizing your home to reduceor eliminate mortgage costs.

Credit card debt. Retirees are also facinghigher credit card debt than ever. I recom-mend taking steps to retire all credit carddebt before you retire. If you are not payingyour bill in full each month, use a differentcredit card for new purchases, and pay it infull monthly. To deal with outstanding balances, initiate

a plan to eliminate all credit card debt beforeyou retire. If you are paying a high annual feeon outstanding balances, consider switchingto accounts with lower annual rates.

Insufficient retirement assets. Makesure that your 401(k) contributions are highenough to ensure maximum employermatching. If you haven’t been making a max-

imum contribution, cut down on unneces-sary expenditures so you can increase yourcontribution. Make additional IRA contribu-tions.

Poor investment returnsand high commissions. Donot keep large investments invehicles with low returns ormanagement fees exceeding 1percent each year. You should not have signifi-

cant investments in money-market instruments, certifi-cates of deposit, or Treasurybills earning less than 1 per-cent. You can’t afford invest-ments with returns lower thanthe rate of inflation.Invest in diversified stock and bond no-

load mutual funds and/or exchange-trad-ed-funds with low expense ratios. ConsiderVanguard, Fidelity, T. Rowe Price and dis-count brokerage firms.

Inappropriate investment mix. Whenyou retire, you will want a portfolio that isconsistent with your retirement objectives.It is likely that you will need some consis-tent income and inflation protection? Determine how much recurring income

you need from your retirement accounts,and you should be in a better position to de-termine what percentage of bonds you need

in your portfolio, as well as the mix of com-mon stocks. If you don’t have expertise your-self, you may initially need the services of a

fee-only financial planner.College expenses. The

cost of colleges has increaseddramatically, and many stu-dents expect significant finan-cial support from parents.Help your children chooseschools they can afford, andencourage them to get schol-arships and other aid.Let them know ahead of

time that, because you areplanning for retirement, theyshould not depend on you topay their college loans.

Premature retirement. If you possiblycan, retire later than you might otherwiseintend. There are several advantages. Youhave more time to accumulate retirementfunds. Your mortgage and credit-card debtwill be smaller. You can postpone taking So-cial Security, which will increase the size ofyour benefit. Conversely, if you retire prior to 65, you

will not yet be eligible for Medicare, andyour healthcare costs will likely be morethan you anticipate.

Preparation can ease retirement finances

THE SAVINGSGAMEBy Elliot Raphaelson

20 Law & Money | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com J A NUA R Y 2 0 1 5 — HOWARD COUNT Y B E A CON

APARTMENT HOMES FOR THOSE 62 AND BETTERNew YOUR LIFESTYLE BEGINS HERE

Professionally managed by The Shelter Group. www.thesheltergroup.com

Call the community nearest you to inquire about eligibility requirements and to arrange a personal tour or email [email protected].

www.ParkViewSeniorLiving.com

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY

Furnace Branch 410-761-4150

Severna Park 410-544-3411

BALTIMORE CITY

Ashland Terrace 410-276-6440

Coldspring 410-542-4400

BALTIMORE COUNTY

Catonsville 410-719-9464

Dundalk 410-288-5483

Fullerton 410-663-0665

Miramar Landing 410-391-8375

Randallstown 410-655-5673

Rosedale 410-866-1886

Taylor 410-663-0363

Towson 410-828-7185

Woodlawn 410-281-1120

EASTERN SHORE

Easton 410-770-3070

HARFORD COUNTY

Bel Air 410-893-0064

Box Hill 410-515-6115

HOWARD COUNTY

Colonial Landing 410-796-4399

Columbia 410-381-1118

Ellicott City 410-203-9501

Ellicott City II 410-203-2096

Emerson 301-483-3322

Snowden River 410-290-0384

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

Bladensburg 301-699-9785

Laurel 301-490-1526

Laurel II 301-490-9730

= NEWLY RENOVATED

55 ANDBETTER!

ALL COMMUNITIES ARE SMOKE FREE

See RETIREMENT, page 22

By Stan ChoeStocks don’t come with guarantees, but

healthcare stocks have held up better thanothers during past downturns. People getsick regardless of the economy’s strength,after all, and an aging population aroundthe world means more demand for pre-scription drugs and hospital care. Healthcare stock funds have returned

an average of 19.1 percent annually overthe last five years, more than any of theother 101 fund categories tracked byMorningstar. The strong returns are luring more dol-

lars: Investors put more into healthcarefunds last month than they pulled out, con-trary to the trend for stock funds in general. But it’s important to keep in mind that

conditions are much different for the sec-tor than they were five years ago. Here’s alook at some questions to consider beforebuying a healthcare fund.

Are healthcare stock funds reallysafer investments? Everything is relative, but they have

been in the past.

“We’re investing in demand for health,and that comes in drugs, devices and hos-pital services,” said Jean Hynes, managerof the Vanguard Healthcare fund(VGHCX), whose $40.9 billion in assetsmakes it the largest fund in the categoryby far. Demand for those tends to be morestable than it is for, say, electronics orother non-essentials. Consider how the financial crisis dragged

the Standard & Poor’s 500 index to a loss of37 percent in 2008, even after factoring individends. That year, healthcare stock fundslost an average of 23.4 percent. Many of the big pharmaceutical compa-

nies and insurers in the sector also pay div-idends, which can help offer a smootherride. Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer andMerck are the three largest healthcarestocks in the S&P 500, and all have a high-er dividend yield than the index.

What should I look for in a health-care stock fund? Even within the healthcare sector, some

types of stocks are safer than others. Onthe more volatile end are biotechnology

stocks, which can be boom-or-bust invest-ments depending on how much excite-ment their drugs under development aregenerating. Puma Biotechnology, for example, has

more than doubled this year, but that in-cludes some extreme swings. This sum-mer, it posted a one-day loss of 25.3 per-cent and a one-day gain of 295.4 percent. Investors hoping for a smoother ride

should look for funds with a smaller per-centage of their assets in biotechnologystocks, said Eddie Yoon. He manages theFidelity Select Healthcare Portfolio fund(FSPHX), which has a four-star ratingfrom Morningstar. Yoon has been paring back on biotech

stocks: They make up 25 percent of hisfund’s assets, down from 28 percent twoyears earlier. That’s even as surging pricesfor biotech stocks have made them a big-ger part of the sector: They make up 22percent of the index that Yoon bench-

marks his fund against, up from 16 percenttwo years earlier.

Why did healthcare stock funds doso well over the last five years? Healthcare funds were available at bar-

gain prices five years ago. That’s whenCongress was debating how to reform thehealthcare system, and some investorsworried that new regulations could hurtprofits. Pharmaceutical stocks were hurt by

worries about a slowdown in governmentapprovals for new drugs. There were alsoconcerns that a raft of patent expirationsfor high-profile drugs would send profitsfor large drugmakers off a cliff. “Fast forward to now, and we have a sys-

tem where we at least understand what thesystem is going to look like,” Hynes said.“Companies have gotten through thepatent cliffs in a way that was very pre-

Can healthcare stock funds stay on top?HOWARD COUNT Y B E A CON — J A NUA R Y 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money 21

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affiliates of the Big Five accounting firms,saying U.S. law required them to providethe documents. In January, an SEC admin-istrative law judge agreed and barred thefirms from auditing U.S.-traded compa-nies. The accounting oversight board is pur-

suing a deal with China to obtain the audits,an effort that Doty has made a high priori-ty. Without a deal, more Chinese compa-nies could be forced off U.S. markets. Andmore investors would be burned.

Many analysts doubt it will come tothat. Chinese companies want access toAmerican capital. And American invest-ment firms and stock exchanges want thefees they earn when Chinese stocks list onU.S. exchanges. In the meantime, the stocks trade on

American markets without offering in-vestors the protections they’re supposedto enjoy. For now, warns Dartmouth University

finance professor Anant Sundaram, Chi-nese stocks aren’t safe: “I would not investin those stocks,” he said.

—AP

Chinese stocksFrom page 19

See HEALTHCARE STOCKS, page 22

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dictable, and we are in a new and excitingproduct cycle.” The Affordable Care Act has meant

more people have health insurance, whichanalysts expect will lead to higher demandfor healthcare. That means investors arewilling to pay higher prices for the sector:Healthcare stocks in the S&P 500 trade at20 times their earnings per share over theprior 12 months. Five years ago, they hada price-earnings ratio of 12.

So the next five years will be just asgood, right? Unlike five years ago, healthcare stocks

are no longer cheap. Many are close totheir average price-earnings ratios overthe last few decades.

Biotechnology stocks in particular canlook expensive, as demand for their strongpotential growth has inflated price-earn-ings ratios. That makes it tougher forhealthcare funds to replicate their returns. But prospects for companies’ earnings

look better today than five years ago,Hynes said. Long-term trends are encour-aging for the sector. Demand for healthcare tends to spike

once a person gets past the age of 70. Asimilar leap occurs when someone entersthe middle class. Both trends are occur-ring around the world, as the Baby Boomgeneration enters retirement and develop-ing economies in China and India vaultmillions of families into the middle class. “That tail wind is there regardless of

whether the economy is expanding or con-tracting,” Fidelity’s Yoon said. — AP

22 Law & Money | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com J A NUA R Y 2 0 1 5 — HOWARD COUNT Y B E A CON

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Healthcare stocksFrom page 21

Poor budgeting and planning. It isimportant for both spouses to agree on re-tirement objectives. For example, how im-portant is travel? How expensive are yourplanned retirement activities? If you plan in advance, you will know

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RetirementFrom page 20

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TravelLeisure &TravelLeisure &TravelLeisure &

Ducks march daily through the lobbyof Memphis’s historic Peabody Hotel.

By Glenda C. BoothSome teenage fantasies never die. For

those who were teenagers in the 1950s and1960s, there was a “Whole Lot of Shakin’Goin’ On” and millions got “All Shook Up”by Elvis Presley’s pioneering gyrationsand velvety vocals. Swoon.

Making the pilgrimage to Elvis Presley’sMemphis environs verges on a religious ritefor many. After all, he was “The King.” Here,you can marinate in all that was Elvis as wellas the broader Memphis musical mystique,the influences on him, and the forces thatspawned other famous musicians.

It’s also a city of contrasts. Memphis of-fers the sweetness of the South — friendly,gentle people, and luscious cuisine likecreamy banana pudding — against thedark backdrop of racism and slavery.

Many black musicians rose to their famein Memphis, but Memphis is also the townwhere Martin Luther King was assassinated.

Memphis offers highs and lows, thestars who made it and stars who didn’t; thethrill of Elvis’s amazing rise to stardomalongside glimpses of his inner turmoiland untimely end.

A city with spiritMemphis is perched on the banks of the

Mississippi, a temperamental river, lan-guid or roiling. And its famous music is in-fused with those elements as well. As blue-grass musician Marty Stuart put it, “Mem-phis is a hard core Mississippi River town.There’s a lot of spirit in that town.”

That spirit seeps out of every crevice.

Music put Memphis on the map — blues,country, rockabilly, rock ‘n’ roll and soul.A mid-city statue honors “Father of theBlues” W.C. Handy, who fused MississippiDelta gospel and cotton-field songs in theearly 20th century with lyrics that lamenteveryday struggles, tempered with hopefor a better tomorrow.

Memphians love to recall the day in1954 when a six-foot, 19-year-old, side-burned, Crown Electric Company truckdriver dropped in at Sun Studio, whereanyone could record anything for $3.95. Inhis soft country accent, he asked to recorda birthday song for his mother.

Sun’s owner, Sam Phillips, was instantlywowed by Presley’s rocking rendition of“That’s Allright Mama,” which mixedcountry and blues, a sound Phillips hadnever before heard.

“It’s not black, it’s not white, it’s not pop,it’s not country,” Sam told his friend, discjockey Dewey Phillips, who played it on hispopular WHBQ radio show, “Red, Hot andBlue.” Call-in requests to replay it floodedin. Elvis Aaron Presley was on his way.

Along famous Beale StreetThe town’s most famous thoroughfare,

Beale Street, has clung to its historic, in-tertwined sacred and profane character.The dreams of many aspiring musiciansbegan there.

When a young man named Riley Kingperformed in Memphis in the 1940s, hebecame known as the “Beale Street BluesBoy,” which was transformed to B.B. King.

B.B. King’s Blues Club is still a popular,live- music nightspot that serves “lip-smackin’ ribs” and “Southern comfortfood.” Blues singers Muddy Waters,Bobby “Blue” Bland, Rufus Thomas, Mem-phis Minnie and many others started onBeale Street. Today it’s a seven-block en-tertainment district and host to an annualblues fest, next to be held May 1 to 3, 2015.

The Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, at 191 BealeSt., traces the region’s musical evolutionfrom southern cotton fields to contempo-rary performers. A 12-minute video reviews60 years of “the Memphis sound.” There’s a1946 Wurlitzer juke box; Ike Turner’s firstpiano, a black upright; Jerry Lee Lewis’sstage attire; Isaac Hayes’s mink coat; aWhitney Houston gown; and Elton John’sheart-shaped, baby blue eyeglasses.

Another video pulls your teenage heart-strings: Elvis’s first performance on “TheEd Sullivan Show” in 1956, which Sullivanpartly censored. Viewers saw Elvis onlyabove the waist, blocked from watchingthose famous, jackhammer gyrations thatunhinged millions of screaming fans.

The STAX Museum of American SoulMusic, which claims to be the only {solely)soul museum in the world, traces the historyof gospel music and the blues. Otis Red-ding’s “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay” and“Try a Little Tenderness” provide a soft,background soundtrack. With racial schoolsegregation the norm, Stax Records

launched 1960s stars both black and white,like Redding, Hayes and Booker T and theMGs.

Sam Phillips’s Sun Studio, which Elvisput on the map as the birthplace of rock ‘n’roll, is a modest three-room building. “Ifmusic were a religion, then Memphiswould be Jerusalem and Sun Studio itsmost sacred shrine,” say promoters.

When Elvis showed up, he said, “I don’tsound like nobody.” Phillips had instantlydiscovered a unique, new talent who couldbelt out uptempo rockabilly with gut-wrenching rhythms, croon sensual come-ons, and mix country, gospel and blues allinto one. His sounds could be raw, emo-tive, wailing, tender or electric, and rangeover two octaves, Phillips recognized.

Phillips also recorded blues singers likeB. B. King, Howlin Wolf and Rufus Thomas.At Sun, Carl Perkins recorded “Blue SuedeShoes”; Johnny Cash, “Folsom PrisonBlues” and “I’ll Walk the Line”; Roy Orbi-son, “Ooby Dooby”; and Jerry Lee Lewis,“Great Balls of Fire.”

Visitors can feel the vibes in the broad-casting booth and by caressing the actualmicrophone that Elvis poured his soul into.

Elvis’s Graceland“Graceland was the perfect expression of

Elvis’s universe because it existed closest tohis roots,” his wife, Priscilla, once explained.

Blues singers — from B.B. King, with his own nightclub, to Muddy Waters to Bobby“Blue” Bland — got their start on Beale Street, Memphis’s most famous thoroughfare.

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Memphis — Elvis’ legacy and much more

The living room of Elvis Pressley’s Graceland features a 15-foot-long sofa and stainedglass peacocks. The white-columned mansion is the second-most visited home inAmerica after the White House.

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The 14-acre estate, bought for $102,500in 1957, symbolizes the instant catapult ofElvis from near poverty to instant fortune.The two-story, white-columned mansion,which hosts 3,000 visitors a day, is the sec-ond most visited home in the U.S. after theWhite House.

Japan’s President Junichiro Koizumi, anElvis fan, had Graceland on his bucket list.When former U.S. President George W.

Bush in 2006 escorted him there, Koizumisang, “Wise men say, only fools rush in.”En route on Air Force One, they dined onElvis’s favorite food — grilled peanut but-ter and banana sandwiches.

Describing Graceland, Priscilla alsosaid, “Elvis never did anything halfway.”Floor-to-ceiling, stained glass peacocksgreet visitors upon entry. The living roomhas a white, 15-foot sofa. The pool room’swalls and ceiling are swathed in 350 yardsof fabric. The Jungle Room, laden withPolynesian décor, has images of monkeys,

tigers and cougars plus furry furniture andgreen shag on the floor and ceiling.

“’Bring it on!’ he wanted his rooms to say,”wrote Pamela Clarke Keogh, a biographer.

The Trophy Room showcases his goldrecords, flamboyant jump suits spangledwith sequins and appliqué, his Army uni-form, a video of his 1967 wedding, wed-ding clothes, the movie script for “Jail-house Rock,” and a tender telegram to hisbeloved mom, Gladys.

A Graceland visit is a journey throughthe twists and turns of the “explosion in

Memphis that changed the world.” Visi-tors’ awe of the material trappings is tem-pered by the fact that Elvis was found herein his bathroom, unconscious. His lifestylecaught up with him, some say.

Behind the mansion, at his grave in theMeditation Garden, an eternal flame burnsnear a quotation in German: “Life is fleet-ing, but you will remain in our hearts.”

Beyond the mansion, Graceland has acrammed, hyper-commercial side, with

24 Leisure & Travel | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com J A NUA R Y 2 0 1 5 — HOWARD COUNT Y B E A CON

Graceland will be festooned inside andout at Christmas with hundreds of bluelights lining the driveway and spotlightingsome original Presley decorations — a life-sized nativity scene, Santa and his sleighand more. Visit www.graceland.com/events/christmas.aspx.

Elvis “turns 80” on Jan. 8 and Gracelandwill throw a celebration from Jan. 7 to 10,2015. Festivities include conversationswith co-stars, musicians and others whoworked with Elvis, and a dance party witha disc jockey spinning Elvis dance tunes.

Fans can attend a birthday cake-cutting

ceremony and top the weekend off with aconcert by the Memphis Symphony Or-chestra performing “chart-topping hitsthat remind you why Elvis is and alwayswill be the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” Visitwww.graceland.com/events/birthday.aspx.

From Jan. 20-24, blues musicians fromaround the world will compete when theBlues Foundation hosts what they tout asthe world’s largest gathering of blues acts.All the gigs are throughout Beale Street.For details, visit www.blues.org/interna-tional-blues-challenge/2015-international-blues-challenge.

Winter events inMemphis

MemphisFrom page 23

See MEMPHIS, page 25

WEDNESDAY IN WASHINGTONExplore the nation’s capital your own way on Wednesday, Jan. 28from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The bus will pick you up at the Bain Center,

5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia, and the Normandy Shopping Center, EllicottCity, and drop you off on 4th St. between the East and West Buildings of theNational Gallery of Art. The cost is $45. For more information, visit www.howard-countymd.gov/rap or call (410) 313-7275.

FLOWER POWERTake a trip to see the blooms at the Philadelphia Flower Show onMonday, March 2. The theme of this year’s flower show is movie-

based, “Lights, Camera, BLOOM!” The bus leaves at 8 a.m. from the Bain Center,5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia, and the Normandy Shopping Center, EllicottCity, and returns at 7 p.m. The cost is $88. Lunch is on your own at the show orthe adjacent Reading Terminal Market. For more information, visit www.howard-countymd.gov/rap or call (410) 313-7275.

BEACON BITS

Jan. 28

Mar. 2

shops hawking every conceivable Elvissouvenir and trinket.

You can also visit an Elvis car museum,which includes a 1960 pink jeep and a 1955pink Fleetwood Cadillac with white side-wall tires, and tour the Lisa Marie — hiscustom-made, Convair 88 jet with suedeand velvet sofas, brass faucets from Spain,and gold-plated seat belts, named for hisdaughter.

Memories of MLKThe Lorraine Motel, now the National

Civil Rights Museum, is a must visit. It’s amostly unchanged 1960s motel withturquoise doors. On its balcony, in 1968,civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther Kingwas gunned down at age 39 when JamesEarl Ray fired a high-powered rifle from arooming house across the street.

Exhibits tell the story of five centuriesof civil rights struggle, from slavery,through the Civil War and Reconstruction,to King’s death.

Videos recount the sanitation workers’strike that brought Dr. King to Memphis,the Freedom Riders, Selma’s Bloody Sun-day, and the 1963 March on Washington.Seeing room 306, where King stayed, iscertain to stir the emotions.

For a picker-upper, try the PeabodyHotel lobby for the famous “Peabodyducks.” With regal pomp and circum-stance, the “Duck Master” introduces thepermanent “residents” and “marches” mal-lard ducks to the lobby’s Romanesquefountain at 11 a.m. daily. At 5 p.m., he “di-rects” them back to their rooftop “room.”Oprah, Larry King and Jordan’s QueenNoor have been honorary duck masters.

“The hardest part is getting them into theelevator,” quipped a recent duck master.

Memphis is music and more. When 19-year-old Elvis exploded with “That’s AlrightMama” in Sun Studio, the legend began.Today, the legend not only lives, it looms.

If you goThe historic Peabody Hotel has hosted

every U.S. president since Harry Truman.The public spaces have marble columns

and burnished woodwork. The hotel isthemed around the Peabody ducks — ducksoap, toilet paper and mints. For January,prices are $230 and up. For details andreservations, call (901) 529-4000 or visitwww.peabodymemphis.com/peabody.

For Elvis nostalgia, try the HeartbreakHotel near Graceland. There are four suitesinspired by The King’s life. On your secondhoneymoon? Try the “Burning Love” suiteand the heart-shaped pool. Room pricesrange from $115 to $650/night. Call (877)777-0606 or visit www.graceland.com/visit/heartbreakhotel.aspx.

Hush puppies seem ubiquitous in Mem-

phis, but the city is truly famous for its bar-beque. Memphians would never “spoil”their BBQ with vinegar, like those rascalNorth Carolinians. Instead, chefs special-ize in a dry rub, tomato-based sauce.

At the One and Only, http://onean-donlybbq.com, (901) 751-3615, try thehickory smoked chicken, ribs or pulledpork, and the twice-baked potato salad.The luscious, light banana pudding withwhipped cream is to die for. Another op-tion is Central BBQ, at (901) 672-7760,http://cbqmemphis.com/.

Round trip flights from BWI to Mem-phis start at $196 on US Airways.

HOWARD COUNT Y B E A CON — J A NUA R Y 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel 25

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MemphisFrom page 24

HAITI SISTER CITY PLANNING COMMITTEE The Columbia Association is seeking volunteers for a planningcommittee to look into the possibility of developing a sister-city

relationship between Columbia and Cap-Haitien in Haiti. Made up of Columbia andHoward County residents, the committee will work on a proposal to be presentedin 2015. Volunteers should have an interest in Haiti and be able to be active par-ticipants in monthly evening meetings. For more information, call (410) 715-3162 or send an email to [email protected].

GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY MEETINGThe Howard County Genealogical Society will meet on Saturday,Jan. 17 at the Miller Library, 9421 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City, from

2 to 3:30 p.m. Dottie Alshire will be speaking on “Creating Your Family HistoryNarrative.” Registration is required but admission is free. To register, call (410)313-1950 or visit www.hclibrary.org. An HCGS meeting will follow the lecture.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

Jan. 17

By Barbara RubenFrom medicine magically transformed

with a spoonful of sugar, to tap dancingchimney sweeps, to the titular nanny float-ing down from the rooftop with the aid of aduck-head umbrella, Toby’s Dinner The-atre’s production of Mary Poppins is — asone of its introductory songs is titled —“Practically Perfect.”The splendid singing, magic tricks sprin-

kled throughout the show, colorful early20th century costumes, and soaring musi-cal score all blend to creative an enchanti-ng evening of entertainment for all ages.Those who have fond memories of Dis-

ney’s 1964 Mary Poppins movie may bescratching their heads. “Practically Per-fect”? Never heard of it. That’s because the production at Toby’s

in Columbia, Md., through Feb. 1 is thestage version that melds the movie and el-ements of author P.L. Travers’ books oneveryone’s favorite nanny with new songsand old favorites.The musical, which had more than 2,600

performances on Broadway between 2006and 2013, was nominated for seven Tonyawards, including Best Musical.

Brothers Richard M. and Robert B.Sherman wrote the original music andlyrics for such classics as “Chim ChimCher-ee,” “Jolly Holiday,” “A Spoonful ofSugar,” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialido-cious.” New songs and additional musicand lyrics are by the team of George Stilesand Anthony Drewe, who also wrotemusic for productions of Peter Pan andother musicals.The book is by Julian Fellowes, who has

since risen to acclaim as the creator of thetelevision series “Downton Abbey.” MaryPoppins, which takes place in 1910 in Lon-don, has some of the same upstairs-down-stairs flavor, but is buoyed by lightheart-edness that at times borders on slapstick.

A familiar tale, to a pointMary Poppins opens as a nanny storms

out of the house, leaving her sometimesill-behaved charges ungoverned. Michael and Jane Banks aren’t really all

that incorrigible; they are primarily beg-ging for the attention of their fatherGeorge, who works long hours at —where else? — a bank. They hide his spec-tacles and put toads in his pockets.

Michael pines for him to take an hour offand just fly a kite with him.Instead, the children terrify a series of

nannies, until Mary Poppins drifts serendipi-tously into their lives. She seems to have allthe requirements the children put on theirwish list of ideal nanny qualities — and thensome. She can pull a five-foot-high floorlamp out of a small carpet bag and imbuethe taste of dreaded castor oil with the fla-

vor of cherry cordials. She is, as the songgoes, practically perfect.But perfection can last only so long.

After making a mistake at the bank, Mr.Banks is suspended from his job withoutpay, and he becomes more annoyed thanever by the kids. Jane flies into a rage atbeing dismissed by Dad and fights with

Mary Poppins works her magic at Toby’s

Bert, played by Jeffrey Shankle, and Mary Poppins, played by Maura Hogan, take aspin on a carousel in a magical park where the statues come to life. Mary Poppinscontinues at Toby’s Dinner Theatre through Feb. 1.

Arts & Style The musical Mary Poppins combines elements of the 1964 film and the books by P.L. Travers.


See MARY POPPINS, page 29

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TOBY’S DINNER THEATRE OF COLUMBIA5900 Symphony Woods Road • CALL 410-730-8311

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Champagne will be POPPIN with MARYon New Year's Eve!

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Celebrate New Year’s Eve at Toby’s!Dinner, show, dancing, a DJ, cabaret,

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2014-2015 Chamber Music SeriesSaturdays 8 pm, Smith Theatre, HCC

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Momenta String QuartetJanuary 10

Curtis on Tour:Aizuri Quartet withPeter Wiley, celloJanuary 24

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“...fire, fantasy, and absolute musical commitment.”

– Sequenza 21

By Kate PetersenPurposely smaller than a symphonic or-

chestra, the Howard Country Concert Or-chestra keeps its numbers to betweeneight and 45 musicians, depending on thepieces it performs. “The music can be heard in greater de-

tail, and you can highlight the different in-strumental colors more easily,” said musicdirector, Ronald Mutchnik, 56. “Some ofour most famous composers originallywrote their famous big symphonic worksfor smaller orchestras.” The Howard County Concert Orchestra

(which goes by the melodious HOCOCOfor short) will perform its next concert, ti-tled “African Heritage,” on Jan. 11.The survey of music includes classical

pieces with African roots, African com-posers in Europe, and music with Latin in-fluence. The concert will feature the worksof George Walker, Fela Sowande, SamuelColeridge-Taylor and William Grant Still. “This will probably be an ear-opening ex-

perience for our audience,” Mutchnik said.

A close-knit ensembleHOCOCO’s paid professional musicians

perform at St. John’s Episcopal Church inEllicott City. (The group recently changedits name from the Orchestra of St. John’sin order to reach a wider audience.)Mutchnik began the orchestra in 2008,

finding “people that I trust who I know arenot only excellent players but are congen-ial and fun to work with.” Most of the musicians began working

with HOCOCO through their own person-al connection with the music director. Collette Wichert, a violinist since ele-

mentary school, said Mutchnik invited herto join. She had worked with him on vari-ous musical endeavors for 20 years. Simi-larly, Joan Bob, who has played violin formore than 35 years, had played withMutchnik for years.“The personal history with Ronald and

so many of the orchestra members madeit particularly worthwhile and welcom-ing,” Wichert said. Thus, there are no auditions. “If you

know somebody, and you know they playwell and you’ve played music with them be-fore, what’s the need to go through a for-mal audition process?” Mutchnik asked.As all the musicians are professionals,

minimal practice time is needed to put to-gether a show. “They’re trained to putthings together very quickly and efficient-ly,” said Mutchnik. “We rehearse the daybefore the concert.”“We enjoy the challenge!” Bob declared. “Music is my life and livelihood,” said

Wichert. “Freelance musicians welcomethe opportunity to perform in many ven-ues, both for the financial benefits and the

joy of using the talents they have workedso long and hard to develop.”It is this passion for music that allows

the orchestra to deliver a show. “It’s justworking with colleagues who care and lovethe music and show that to the audience,”said Mutchnik.

A new look at African musicSo what will the audience get to experi-

ence at HOCOCO’s upcoming concert onJan. 11?Mutchnik “must stay up late nights

dreaming up themes and matchingmusic,” said Wichert. “One never knowswhat to expect.”But Mutchnik says the ideas he comes

up with have been percolating patiently in

HOWARD COUNT Y B E A CON — J A NUA R Y 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style 27

Concert of music with African influences

The newly renamed Howard County Concert Orchestra, composed of professionalmusicians from around the area, will perform a program of music that has Africanroots on Jan. 11.

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OTO

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See CONCERT, page 28

STRING QUARTETThe Momenta Quartet will perform a concert Saturday, Jan. 10 at8 p.m. at the Horowitz Performing Arts Center, Smith Theater,

10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, Md. The program features works byWebern, Janá�ek, Carillo and Brahms. Tickets cost $32 for adults, $30 for seniorsand $12 for students. For more information, visit www.candelightconcerts.org orcall (410) 997-2324.

EXHIBIT YOUR ARTWORKAdults 18 or older can bring one piece of original artwork to beexhibited at the Howard County Center for the Arts, 8510 High

Ridge Rd., Ellicott City. Drop-off will be on Thursday Jan. 8 from 4:30 to 6:30p.m. One-piece per artist will be accepted on a first-come basis. For more infor-mation, call (410) 313-2787 or visit www.hocoarts.org.

BEACON BITS

Jan. 10

Jan. 8

his mind for many years. “I’m finally get-ting to program and play these pieceswhich I’ve known about since I was in highschool,” he said.Mutchnik heard recordings of the

pieces he chose for this “African Heritage”concert a long time ago and filed themaway in the back of his mind.“These were wonderful, tuneful pieces,

rhythmically exciting, well crafted, per-fectly enjoyable music….They just weren’tbeing performed regularly by symphonyorchestras,” he said.“These are all solid pieces of music that

deserve to be heard, and I suppose Ishould say they deserve to be heard re-gardless of whether they were written bycomposers of African heritage or not.”While Mutchnik enjoys performing

music that is new to audiences, he alsoprograms pieces with extensive history.

So for the final concert of the season thisspring, he will be looking to the 17th and18th centuries. “It’s important to always program

Baroque music because it’s where all ofthis came from,” Mutchnik said.The orchestra’s season will conclude on

April 26 and will feature Vivaldi’s wellknown “Four Seasons,” among otherBaroque period works. All performances are held at St. John’s

Episcopal Church, 9120 Frederick Rd., El-licott City. Tickets are $28 for adults, $12for students 18 to 24 years old, and are freefor those 17 and under accompanying aticket holder. Tickets may be purchased online at

www.howardcountyconcertorchestra.comor by calling (410) 461-7793.

28 Arts & Style | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com J A NUA R Y 2 0 1 5 — HOWARD COUNT Y B E A CON

A M I G O B U M A R T SR E V U P E T A T E R PK N E L T L A Y E M A I L

F I F T H O F V O D K AP I S M O R I O Y E T

A R N A R G O S K A TM I D D L E O F T H E R O A DO D O R B O A U R D UB E G I N N I N G O F T I M E

S P E E E C R U D I TS T Y O R B C R U E TT H E E N D O F D A Y SA R A B S O R E O U T D OS E R B Z E E F R I E DH E S S E E R A P P L E

ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORDFROM PAGE 30

ConcertFrom page 27

FREE OPEN REHEARSAL Jason Love and the

Columbia Orchestra are holding an

open rehearsal at the Gathering

Place, 6120 Daylong Ln., Clarksville,

from 7:30 to 10 p.m. The audience

can enjoy wine and cheese and

watch a working rehearsal in action.

For more information, visit

www.columbiaorchestra.org or call

(410) 465-8777.

ARTS COUNCIL EXHIBITThe Howard County

Arts Council presents an art exhibit

from Friday, Jan. 16 to Friday, Feb.

27 at the Howard County Center for

the Arts, 8510 High Ridge Rd.,

Ellicott City. The exhibit will feature

work of Howard County artists in

Gallery I and the works of Stanley

Agbontaen and Marcie Wolf-Hubbard

in Gallery II. Gallery hours are

Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.,

Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday

noon to 4 p.m. For more information,

visit http://hocoarts.org/ or (410)

313-2787.

CINEMATIC INSPIRATIONSEnjoy a performance

of the score commissioned for the

1920 silent film One Week, com-

posed by Andrew Earle Simpson, at

the Jim Rouse Theatre, 5460

Trumpeter Rd., Columbia at 7:30

p.m. Works by Rossini, Mussorgsky

and Grofé will also be featured.

Ticket prices range from $10 to $25.

For more information, visit

www.columbiaorchestra.org or call

(410) 465-8777.

BEACON BITS

Jan. 12

Jan. 16+

Jan. 31

Please patronize our advertisers.They keep

the Beacon free!

Michael. Mary Poppins packs up her car-pet bag and decides to flee.The children’s mother, in a misguided

attempt to appease her husband and find anew nanny, hires Mr. Banks’ dreadful oldgoverness Miss Andrews (an amalgam ofthe Wicked Witch of the West and MissTrunchbull, the horrible headmistressfrom Matilda). But Mary Poppins swoopsin to again save the day, combining magicand common sense to help the familyvalue each other again.

Magical musicMagic is at the heart of Mary Poppins,

and some of the most magical moments inthe show are the tuneful numbers that in-clude much of the cast. In the song that added polysyllabic heft

to the vocabulary of untold millions, “Su-percalifragilisticexpialidocious” (it’s in theOxford dictionary and on Dictionary.com!)pulls together numerous cast members ina giddy linguistic confection. “A Chimney Swept (Chim Chim)/Step

in Time,” gathers more than a dozen chim-ney sweeps, led by Bert, the jack-of-all-trades, on the rooftops of London in a toe-tapping, tap dancing frenzy.In “Playing the Game,” Michael and Jane’s

toys come to life at night, with dolls, balleri-nas and toy soldiers cavorting in the nursery.

Choreographer Mark Minnick keeps itall moving in the small center stage ofToby’s theater-in-the-round.But it is Maura Hogan as Mary Poppins

herself who truly helps the whole show soarwith her sparkling soprano. Hogan inhabitsthe part effortlessly, whether telling the chil-dren to get ready for bed “spit spot,” or put-ting evil nanny Miss Andrew (played a littletoo shrilly by Heather Marie Beck) in herplace with a dose of her own medicine.Hogan harmonizes well with Jeffrey

Shankle, who plays Bert. Shankle chan-nels a shorter Dick Van Dyke, who playedthe part in the movie, right down to theCockney accent and tap dance prowess.David Bosley-Reynolds and Elizabeth

Rayca also shine as Mr. and Mrs. Banks, whoeventually embrace their children as treas-ured members of the family, and not just trou-blemakers pawned off to the nanny du jour.

Poppins’ young starsCaroline Otchet plays Jane, by turns

petulant and precocious, with vocal rangebeyond her years. (Seen in this produc-tion, Otchet alternates the role with anoth-er young actress, Samantha Yakaitis.) Shehas also performed in other Toby’s pro-ductions, including 2013’s Les Miserables.Anderson Franco (alternating with

Gavin Willard) plays little Michael withaplomb. The part requires memorizing nu-merous lines, lyrics and dance steps, andthe second grader doesn’t flag through the

two-hour production.Sets and costumes also play a starring

role. From Mary Poppins’ coat and dressensembles with their poufy mutton chopsleeves to Bert’s straw boater hat, the cos-tumes include lovely period details.Backlit silhouettes of the London skyline

set the scene around the walls of the the-ater. Projected images on screens also helpestablish a varying sense of place, from therooftops, to a verdant park, to birds flittingby in the lovely “Feed the Birds.”Sets change numerous times, with four

poster beds and an enormous dollhousewheeled in to illustrate the nursery, whileMary Poppins magically restores a fallenkitchen table laden with baking supplies anda collapsed cake (it’s unclear exactly how thatbit of sleight of hand was accomplished).Diminutive rooftops on wheels slide intoplace for chimney sweeping scenes.

It takes until the very end of the first actto see Mary Poppins aloft, rising ceiling-ward perched on a swing. Bert somer-saults midair in the second act with thehelp of two wires.But in end, this Mary Poppins doesn’t

need any artificial props to soar.Mary Poppins continues at Toby’s Din-

ner Theatre, 5900 Symphony Woods Dr.,in Columbia, through Feb. 1, seven nightsa week, with matinees on Wednesdays andSundays. Tickets range from $53 to $58 foradults and are $39.50 for children. Ticket prices include a bountiful all-you-

can-eat dinner or (at matinees) brunchbuffet. Alcoholic and specialty drinks, andwaiter tips (all actors also serve as waiters)are extra. For more information or to purchase

tickets, see www.tobysdinnertheatre.comor call (410) 730-8311.

HOWARD COUNT Y B E A CON — J A NUA R Y 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style 29

Mary PoppinsFrom page 26

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

PLaTinuM MeMberHoward County General Hospital – A Member of Johns Hopkins Medicine

The Beacon NewspapersGoLD MeMbers

Being There Senior Care, LLC • Howard County Office on AgingsiLver MeMbers

Brooke Grove Retirement Village • Carney, Kelehan, Bresler, Bennett & Scherr, LLPCopper Ridge – EMA • Deborah L. Herman, CPA • Oasis Senior Advisors

The Bob Lucido Team of Keller Williams Select Realtorsbronze MeMbers

Earl Wilkinson, M.D., ENT • Gentiva Health Services • Home Instead Senior CareHomewatch CareGivers • Lighthouse Senior Living Village at Ellicott City

Paladin Advisor Group • Professional Healthcare Resources, Inc.

PaTron MeMbersAlzheimer’s Association – Greater MD Chapter • Candle Light Funeral Home by Craig Witzke

Home Call of Maryland • Home With You Senior Care • Ivy Manor Normandy, Inc.New Life Assisted Living • Right At Home In Home Care & Assistance • Visiting Angels

Thank you to our 2014 Executive Members

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

Coalition of Geriatric Services

January MeetingDate: Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Time: 8:30 – 10:00 a.m.

Location: Lighthouse Senior Living Village in Ellicott City3100 North Ridge Road, Ellicott City, MD

Topic: Networking Extravaganza – No Speaker


Puzzle Page Crossword PuzzleDaily crosswords can be found on our website:

www.TheBeaconNewspapers.comClick on Puzzles Plus

Answers on page 28.

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

13 14 15

16 17 18

19 20 21

22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30 31

32 33 34 35 36

37 38 39

40 41 42 43 44

45 46 47

48 49 50 51 52 53

54 55 56 57

58 59 60 61 62 63

64 65 66

67 68 69

2. Minority of college students since 1980

3. Impressive ending4. Bodies of water5. Best case6. Part of the Batsuit7. Its mostly made of Mormons8. Local elected official9. Prefix for sphere10. All gassed up11. Tot’s transport12. Kerplam!18. Bring to mind20. Driver’s shout21. Herring and smelt22. Lion’s ladies23. How to calculate Fido’s age26. ___ of kangaroos

(more than one)28. Asian desert29. “Party ___”31. Stuck in ___33. Slow flow34. The third label35. Come out of denial36. Song by Peaches and Herb41. Bright lights42. Gilda Radner’s Lisa Loopner

character, for example43. Killer whale44. “Beware the ___ patient man”

(John Dryden)48. Pile of 20’s49. Blind mice count51. ___ cruise53. Take over illegitimately55. Decreases56. Effective word in advertising57. Like moose, it is its own plural61. 15%, often62. The 1st state63. Poetic tribute

Across1. Ole buddy6. Bottom of England9. Fine ___ (as spelled out by this puzzle’s theme clues)

13. Gun the engines14. LAX conjecture15. Free State athlete16. Prepared to be knighted17. Organize bricks18. Spam distribution tool19. A22. California beach24. Carnival city25. Are we there ___?26. Prince Valiant’s son27. Winner of five 2012 Oscars30. Three-handed card game32. R37. Lysol target38. Item in Mae West’s closet39. Pakistani language40. T45. ___-Dee delivery service46. Color choice at the linen store47. Morse code click48. Swine shrine50. Synonym for sphere52. Where vinegar merged with oil54. S58. Lots of Lebanese59. Valuable rock60. Defeat64. Balkan native65. “The”, spoken with an affected

German accent66. Food submerged in oil67. Company that emerged with oil68. Election conclusion69. Doctor repellent

Down1. Boat measured in cubits

Scrabble answers on p. 28.

So Fine by Stephen Sherr

HB1/15

HOWARD COUNT Y B E A CON — J A NUA R Y 2 0 1 5 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com 31

LICENSED, BONDED & EXPERIENCEDCNA and nursing student seeks full-time overnightposition caring for your loved ones. I come with anextensive resume and stellar references. If interest-ed, please call Jacqueline at 301-787-3555.

KIND, DEPENDABLE, EXPERIENCED care-giver for live-out care or live-in care for a flat rate.Hygiene care, Meal preparation, Housekeeping,Errands, Appointments, Medication reminders.Call 301-490-1146.

PROBLEM WITH YOUR PC/MAC OR NET-WORK? Computer Systems Engineer will cometo you with help. Call: David G at 301-642-4526.

ACCOUNTING, BOOKKEEPING, TAXES –conscientious CPA, 37 years experience, reason-able rates, accepting additional business, per-sonal and eldercare clients and preparation ofbusiness plans. Call 410-653-3363.

CHOLESTEROL SPINACH and other medic-inal plants for diabetes, hypertension, high cho-lesterol and triglycerides, kidney problems, etc.(propagate and grow your own easily). Email:[email protected]. 301-854-9969.

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.

BALTIMORE’S BEST JUNK REMOVAL –CleanOuts: Whole House, Emergency, Attics/Basements.Furniture and Junk Removal, Yard Waste Removal,General Hauling, Construction Debris Removal. Freeestimates. 10% Senior Discount. Licensed, Bondedand Insured. Call Jesse, 443-379-HAUL (4285).

SANFORD & SON HAULING & RECY-CLING. Trash + Junk removal, house & estatecleanouts, garage+ basement cleanouts. Demolition– Shed, deck fence + pool removal. Licensed + in-sured. Free estimates over the phone. Call 7 days aweek, 7 am to 7 pm. 410-746-5090.

LEARN ENGLISH – SPANISH – ITALIAN –FRENCH – PORTUGUESE Conversational.Grammatical. Private lessons. ReasonableRates. Tutoring students. 443-352-8200.

WE BUY OLD AND NEW JEWELRY, Coins,Silver and Gold, Paper Money Too. Watches,Clocks and Parts, Military Badges and PatchesOld and New. Call Greg, 717-658-7954.

OLD AND NEW WE BUY Sterling SilverFlatware, Tea Sets, Single Pieces of Silver,Large pieces of Silver Plates, Fountain Pens,Lighters, Tools, Cameras, Art Work. Toys FromTrains to Hotwheels to Star Wars. Call Greg,717-658-7954.

FINE ANTIQUES, PAINTINGS ANDQUALITY VINTAGE FURNISHINGS want-ed by a serious capable buyer. I am very well ed-ucated [law degree] knowledgeable [over 40years in the antique business] and have the fi-nances and wherewithal to handle virtuallyany situation. If you have a special item, collec-tion or important estate I would like to hearfrom you. I pay great prices for great things inall categories from oriental rugs to Tiffany ob-jects, from rare clocks to firearms, from silverand gold to classic cars. If it is wonderful, I aminterested. No phony promises or messy con-signments. References gladly furnished. Pleasecall Jake Lenihan, 301-279-8834. Thank you.

BUYING JEWELRY, MILITARY – Cashpaid. Gold, silver, pocket watches, wrist watch-es. Old toys, sports, guns, knives, coins, collec-tor’s, etc. Tom, 240-476-3441.

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.

BUYING MILITARY MEMORABILIAWW2,WW1, Civil War uniforms, weapons, photos anditems associated with US, German, Japanese oritems of other Military History. DAVE, 240-464-0958.

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; Mis-cellaneous; Personals; Per son al Services;Va ca tion Opportunities; and Want ed. Forsub mis sion guide lines and dead lines, seethe box on the right.

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

ob scene, of fen sive, harmful, or fraudulentadvertising. How ev er, we do not in ves ti -gate any ad ver tis ers or their prod ucts andcan 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 should al ways use cau tion andtheir best judg ment.

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

accept ad ver tis ing in violation of federal,state, and local laws pro hib it ing dis crim i -na tion based on race, color, national origin,sex, fa mil ial sta tus or handicap in connec-tion with employment or the sale or rentalof real estate.

TO PLACE A CLASSIFIEDDeadlines and Payments: Ad text and payment is due by the 5th of each month.

Note: Only ads received and prepaid by the deadline will be included in the next month’s issue. Pleasetype or print your ad carefully. Include a number where you can be reached in the event of a question.

Payment is due with ad. We do not accept ads by phone or fax, nor do we accept credit cards.

Private Party Text Ads: For individuals seeking to buy or sell particular items, or place a personal

ad. Each ad is $10 for 25 words, 25 cents for each additional word.

Business Text Ads: For parties engaged in an ongoing business enterprise.

Each ad is $25 for 25 words, 50 cents for each additional word.

Note: Each real estate listing counts as one business text ad.

Send your classified ad with check or money order, payable to the Beacon, to:

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

For Sale

Home/Handyman Services

Personal Services

Computer Services

Financial Services

Caregivers

Wanted Wanted

Thanks for reading the

Beacon!

Clinical research studies

UM Elderly Falls Prevention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

eventsCOGS Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Financial services Golden Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Funeral services Harry H. Witzke’s Family Funeral Homes, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . .20Going Home Cremations . . . . . . . .22Sol Levinson & Bros., Inc. . . . . . . .25Witzke Funeral Homes . . . . . . . . . .27

Home Health CareA-1 Action Nursing Care . . . . . . . . .8Homewatch Caregivers . . . . . . . . . . .6Options for Senior America . . . . . . . .12

Housing Brooke Grove . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Charlestown Independent Living/Erickson . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22Heartlands of Ellicott City . . . . . . .12Homecrest House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6Ivy Manor Normandy . . . . . . . . . . . .4Park View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20Shangri-La Assisted Living . . . . . .12Shriner Court/Quantum . . . . . . . . .21Somerford Place/5 Star Senior Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9Vantage House . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 & 11

Legal services Carney Kelehan Attorneys atLaw Firm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21Frank, Frank & Scherr Law Firm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Medical/HealthAA-Eastern Mobility . . . . . . . . . . . .7Audiology First, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . .5Low Vision Specialists of Maryland & Virginia . . . . . . . . . .29Dr. Taylor & AssociatesVision and Learning . . . . . . . . . . .9Maryland Relay Dial 711 . . . . . . . .22Medical Eye Center . . . . . . . . . . . .10NeurExpand Brain Center . . . . . . . .10

PharmaciesCVS Pharmacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12Ellicott City Pharmacy . . . . . . . . . . .8Rite Aid Pharmacy . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

retailColumbia’s Village Centers . . . . . . .24Shelf Genie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

senior services Senior Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

skilled nursing& rehabilitation

CommuniCare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Theatre/entertainment

Candlelight Concert Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26Columbia Orchestra . . . . . . . . . . . .27Toby’s Dinner Theatre . . . . . . . . . . .26

Tour & TravelEyre Tour & Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . .25Side by Side Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

ADVERTISERS IN THIS ISSUE

IInnddeeppeennddeenntt lliivviinngg aassssiisstteedd lliivviinngg rreehhaabbiilliittaattiioonn lloonngg--tteerrmm ccaarree mmeemmoorryy ssuuppppoorrtt

Assisted living - memory support

During the last 64 years, Brooke Grove Retirement Village has built a reputation of excellence in Montgomery County. Partnering with national leaders in the field, we’ve set a new benchmark in memory support. Our staff have specialized training in anxiety-reducing techniques that decrease the need for medication. Creatively

designed programs stimulate memory and build independence and self-esteem.

18100 Slade School Road Sandy Spring, MD 20860

301-260-2320 or 301-924-2811 www.bgf.org


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January 2015 | Howard County Beacon