From standup to news anchor
Some people enjoy a challenge. News anchor Tony Perkins — who started his career in standup comedy — is one of them. The first time he stepped on stage at a comedy club 40 years ago, the crowd erupted in laughter and applause. But the second time was another story. “I went back two weeks later with all new material and bombed,” Perkins, now 64, recalled in an interview with... READ MORE
Retired admiral tells her story
Sandra “Sandy” Stosz, 63, fondly recalls her “tomboy years” in Ellicott City before joining the U.S. Coast Guard, working her way up to commanding vessels and becoming the first woman to be in charge of a U.S. military academy. Newsweek named Stosz one of the 150 Women Who Shake the World in 2012 — six years before she made history by being appointed superintendent of the U.S.... READ MORE
Elevating new writers over 50
Did you know Baltimore is home to the only national literary journal and press dedicated to writers over 50? Launched more than 30 years ago, the journal Passager was the brainchild of Baltimore writing instructor Kendra Kopelke. Then 28 years old, Kopelke was inspired to launch Passager while teaching older writers at the Waxter Center, a senior center in Baltimore City. Their work ... READ MORE
Elders take action on climate
Leslie Wharton is a self-proclaimed introvert, too shy in college to go to Vietnam protests. Although she went on to a long career as a law firm litigator and at the Securities and Exchange Commission, she never pictured herself as an activist. But when Wharton, now 72 and living in Bethesda, Md., took a sabbatical in 2007, she started reading about climate change and began to look... READ MORE
Enjoy being a student again — Howard County Edition
As the kids go back to school this fall, you can almost smell those new pencils and feel the excitement of learning something new. Many older adults in Howard County return to school this time of year, too. Hundreds of classes in our area are affordable or even free for older adults, and they’re available online or in person. Lifelong students say these classes introduce... READ MORE
Enjoy being a student again — Baltimore Edition
As the kids go back to school this fall, you can almost smell those new pencils and feel the excitement of learning something new. Many older adults in Baltimore return to school this time of year, too. Hundreds of classes in our area are affordable or even free for older adults, and they’re available online or in person. Lifelong students say these classes introduce them to new... READ MORE
‘Big Tree Man’ branches out
Do you have a favorite tree? Joe Howard, known as the “Big Tree Man,” does. Howard, 93, leads popular “tree tours” several times a year, giving the public a close-up look at some of the biggest, oldest trees in Montgomery County, Maryland. For example, he gives his groups a peek at the “triple-trunk tulip,” a massive tulip tree with three trunks, located on private... READ MORE
Running a gym is a family affair
The prospect of owning a small business presented a tantalizing world of opportunities for the Zahor family. So, this spring, wielding a plan — eyes wide open — they stepped into the arena and bought an existing Fitness Together franchise not far from their home in Ellicott City. The Denver-based company, which specializes in personal fitness training conducted in private studios,... READ MORE
Put your lips together and blow
Janice Ford, 70, a retired Baltimore and Howard County public school art teacher, spends one or two afternoons each week glassblowing at McFadden Art Glass, located just off I-95 in East Baltimore. “I found out that age does not limit you at all,” she said. “Extraordinary strength is not needed for blowing glass through a metal tube.” All that is needed, Ford said, “is the... READ MORE
Foodies grow and see green
Many of our grandparents made food from scratch — such as jam, biscuits, applesauce, even whiskey. Today, some local entrepreneurs over 50 are confirming that it’s possible to do it and even make a living at it. With a mindset of “If you can’t find it on the grocery shelves, make it yourself,” these enterprising older adults have built robust businesses making and selling... READ MORE
