Couple gives back in a big way
Inventor Thomas Clement and his wife, the artist Wonsook Kim, have reached that stage in life where one thinks about giving back to honor the people and organizations that made their lives so successful. But while others in that stage are writing checks to their alumni associations or maybe underwriting a scholarship at their alma mater, the Clarksville couple is going a bit... READ MORE
How Alexandria preserves Black history
Two hundred years ago, Alexandria, Virginia, was a hotbed for human trafficking. In fact, one of America’s largest slave trading companies operated on Duke Street, seizing and selling people from 1828 until 1861. Now that brick building has been restored as the Freedom House Museum, thanks in part to historian Audrey Davis, who oversees the city’s preservation and interpretation of... READ MORE
Museum president has plans to expand
Some museums whisper. Some lecture. Others expect you to admire quietly and move along. The National Great Blacks in Wax Museum in Baltimore does none of these things. It draws you in, focuses your gaze, and invites you to see history in full. Located in East Baltimore, the museum stands as the first — and still one of the only — institutions in the United States devoted exclusively... READ MORE
Unearthing Howard County’s Black history
When Wayne S. Davis and his son, Nathan S. Davis, wandered down a familiar hiking trail in Guilford, Maryland, a decade ago, they had no idea that a simple walk would spark a years-long journey into some of the county’s overlooked history. The Davis family moved to Howard County in 1992, and Nathan grew up near those paths. As a child, he often climbed across the old Pratt... READ MORE
How older athletes stay active in winter
Judy Aw tried rock climbing 25 years ago on a whim. Her gym had added an indoor climbing wall, and when she reached the top, she was hooked. “It was such a high,” said Aw, now 74. “It’s a full-body experience — It’s not just physical, it’s the mental part of it, too. I’ve been climbing ever since.” Last year Aw formed a group for climbers over age 55. They meet every ... READ MORE
Former actress sees big picture
Baltimore native Leah Kalish has worn many hats during her career — dancer, actor, yoga instructor, preschool teacher, and now a therapy facilitator. Kalish, who was known as Leah Ayres during her acting career, is most famous for her roles in films like martial arts drama Bloodsport (1988) and horror film The Burning (1981). But Kalish, 68, has always had dreams beyond the big... READ MORE
Cook and learn with Chef Alba
When Chef Alba Carbonaro Johnson steps into a kitchen, she’s not just preparing food. She’s inviting her students into a story that stretches from the markets of Tunisia to the kitchens of Howard County. Johnson’s cooking classes awaken the senses: the soft sizzle of butter hitting a warm pan, the bright snap of chopped herbs, and the earthy perfume of cumin rising from a simmering ... READ MORE
The accidental entrepreneurs
As John Lennon once sang, “Life is what happens to you when you’re busy making other plans.” Scientist and college professor Dr. Kan Cao had spent most of her career studying a rare disease, progeria, which causes premature aging in children. Eleven years ago, in her research lab at the University of Maryland, Cao noticed something unusual: Cells with misshapen, diseased nuclei... READ MORE
Park ranger has stories to tell
At Patapsco Valley State Park in Ellicott City, history has a face: that of Edward Johnson, who has volunteered there for nearly 30 years. If you visit the park’s famous Swinging Bridge on a sunny Saturday, you’re likely to meet Johnson, 82, and hear his stories of the park’s history. Before directing you to the popular Cascade Trail nearby, Johnson may tell you that the bridge... READ MORE
Older pets and owners pair up
When a beautiful, fluffy calico cat named Lucy was 12 years old, her family gave her up. Lucy was sick, and they couldn’t afford her medical care, according to Maddie Lederer, an adoption counselor at the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center in Derwood, Maryland. “We looked at her records and saw she had a history of bladder stones,” Lederer said. “We were able... READ MORE
