She’s not one to shy from controversy
Christy Coleman’s office inside one of Richmond’s riverfront Tredegar Iron Works buildings is typical of a chief executive officer. It’s filled with framed photographs of family members, plaques with accolades, newspaper articles and books. Three items on her bookcase stand out, however. One is a small copy of the U.S. Constitution from James Madison’s plantation, Montpelier.... READ MORE
Inspiring youth through his art
When Maryland artist Normon Greene was a child in southwestern Virginia, he watched his mother sketch and vowed to be just like her one day. “I was inspired by her drawings, so I started drawing,” the 69-year-old painter and sculptor said. “Then she gave me clay, and I thought, ‘Wow, I can draw three-dimensionally!’” Now Greene, a retired youth counselor and artist whose... READ MORE
County promoting ‘Koreatown’
Real estate agent Seong Baik, now 72, arrived in Maryland with her husband and two children in 1970 “to find the American Dream — for a better life and a better education,” she said. Baik lived in the Baltimore area for 44 years before becoming a resident of Ellicott City six years ago. Baik is one of about 13,000 Korean-Americans living in Howard County, according to the latest... READ MORE
Revisiting Anne Frank’s life
Born in Germany in 1929, Anne Frank would have celebrated her 90th birthday this June. Instead, she will forever remain 15 years old for those who have read her posthumously published diary, Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, seen its various stage and film adaptations, or visited the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. Anne died in 1945 at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in northern ... READ MORE
Raising voices with joy despite dementia
In a bright, spacious meeting room at Salisbury Presbyterian Church, more than 20 singers gather to rehearse Broadway songs for their spring performance. The Joyful Voices group harmonizes to The Sound of Music, lifting their voices as they sing the opening words: “The hills are alive.” One member of the chorus arrives late, but the moment she walks in the door, her mouth is... READ MORE
She built more than a restaurant
Every day, Virginia Rollins Ali, 85, stops by the landmark restaurant she and her late husband, Ben, opened on D.C.’s U Street in 1958. She walks from table to table, greeting the regulars, tourists, athletes, politicians and movie stars who visit Ben’s Chili Bowl for a half-smoke, chili cheese fries or a milkshake. Most of the time she gives them a hug. “You’d think she’s... READ MORE
Pioneer changed attitudes, lives
Forty years ago, Marge Burba revved up her Cougar station wagon each morning to pick up five older adults and bring them to her two-story home in Olney, where the living room and kitchen were turned over to them as part of a program meant to keep them engaged during the day. At a time when a sociological theory that withdrawing from society was both natural and acceptable late in life... READ MORE
A city icon with an inner secret
Those familiar with downtown Baltimore can’t miss the Bromo-Seltzer Clock Tower, which has overlooked the Charm City skyline since 1911. But in the last decade, changes have been afoot inside the iconic landmark. Now known as the Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower, since 2007 the Tower has provided studio space for artists, as well as a venue for free exhibitions, receptions and live... READ MORE
Celebrating 170 years of caring
Every day, the telephone rings at the home of Richard, a Richmond widower (who asked that his real name not be used). Since his wife’s death several years ago, he’s had trouble coping, he said, and the daily call makes his day. “Every morning I get to talk to people who actually care about how I am doing,” Richard said. “They make me feel like somebody.” Those phone calls... READ MORE
Love music? Time to get jazzed
“You must join a jazz band!” shouted my sight-singing teacher after I played a few bars on the piano. “What? I’m 76 years old. Who would want me?” I replied. Well, the Jazz Workshop did. Paul Pieper, who runs the 18 two-hour classes and jam sessions every week in Tysons Corner, had me sit in on a session so we could size each other up. Since I took jazz piano lessons in... READ MORE
Cover Stories 2024
