With age comes Wizdom, hip-hop
In her early 20s, back in 1977, she took to the basketball court at half-time as part of the first cheerleading-dance team for the Washington Bullets. For the next four years, she was a Bullette, wearing high-cut red hot pants and red wedge shoes to shimmy across the court. Some years later, the Bullets rebranded as the Wizards, and the Bullettes became the Wizard Girls. When that dance... READ MORE
Life’s a dance for ex-Rockette
Howard County resident Anne Berk, who happens to be the world’s oldest Rockette, figuratively kicked up her heels the other day in Columbia while moving and grooving with the help of a walker for a special celebration: her 100th birthday. “Don’t complain, and keep a good sense of humor,” was the advice Berk offered to those in attendance. The party was held at Winter Growth... READ MORE
Transforming steel into art
It has been 12 years since the metal sculptor David Aaron Friedheim returned to Baltimore from San Francisco with his wife, ceramic artist Trisha Kyner, and on this day he is in a reflective mood. “I wake up not knowing whether I’ve been an incredible success or an abject failure,” said the 59-year-old New York native and alumnus of Maryland Institute College of Art. “How could I ... READ MORE
Entertainer says it all started with Santa
Were you in Richmond for Christmas between 1971 and 1991? If so, Donna Strother Deekens is probably part of your holiday memories, whether you know it or not. If you were a child, parent or perhaps very young grandparent who made the trek to see Santa in downtown Richmond, or read about Santaland in the local newspapers, then you probably saw Deekens as the Snow Queen — Santa’s... READ MORE
Reaching out to older Muslims
Nargis Rehman worries about her father, who is ill and lives alone. Over 50 herself, she has limited energy after work to help him, and has had a difficult time finding someone to drive him to the mosque for prayers. “He sits in the house and can’t travel; has no money. He’s very ill. Nobody comes to visit. He’s lonely. I have to work, and when I get home, I’m just... READ MORE
Why save a segregated school?
Jessup native Bessie Bordenave attended the last segregated school in the Howard County Public School System — all the students, teachers and staff were African-American. She graduated in 1962, three years before the school was shut down. Today, the 74-year-old Bordenave still carries “beautiful memories” in her head — and in her heart — of Columbia’s Harriet Tubman High... READ MORE
Is medical cannabis for you?
Baltimore Beacon Two years ago, Scott Deiter ruptured several discs in his neck. Four neck surgeries later, “between the residual pain from the surgeries and daily migraines, I really couldn’t function because of the pain,” he said. He felt opioid pain medication impaired him too much to work, so Deiter turned to medical marijuana “in desperation.” But he found relief... READ MORE
Activist is consummate communicator
In nominating Bonnie Atwood for the 2016 Communicator of Achievement Award given by Virginia Professional Communicators, Gail Kent, a Newport News businesswoman, wrote: “Bonnie Atwood has accomplished so much, you’d swear she had skates strapped to her feet. Oh, wait — she did have skates on her feet!” She was referring to one of Atwood’s early accomplishments, a stint with the ... READ MORE
Is medical marijuana for you?
Washington Beacon Two years ago, Scott Deiter ruptured several discs in his neck. Four neck surgeries later, “between the residual pain from the surgeries and daily migraines, I really couldn’t function because of the pain,” he said. Deiter felt opioid pain medication impaired him too much to work, so he turned to cannabis “in desperation.” “It worked the first time ... READ MORE
Heated book on climate change
“I really believe it is the greatest challenge of this century — that our children and grandchildren will suffer significantly in their lives if we do not act.” That’s the message that geologist, environmental scientist and author Ned Tillman, 68, would like to convey as he writes, speaks and takes whatever steps he can to help slow down what he believes could become a calamitous ... READ MORE
Cover Stories 2024
