The Howard County
I N
F O C U S
VOL.13, NO.7
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P E O P L E
O V E R
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5 0 JULY 2023
More than 30,000 readers throughout Howard County
A great time to explore classes PHOTO BY HOWARD COUNTY RECREATION & PARKS
LEISURE & TRAVEL
Time-travel to Maine to visit quaint drive-ins and candy shops from yesteryear; plus, learn what OTC meds to pack when you travel page 20 PHOTO BY LAURA MARIE DUNCAN
By Margaret Foster Although retiree Janet Ameen-Lee had paddled a canoe as a child, she was anxious about getting in a kayak when visiting Centennial Lake with other members of Howard County’s Encore Adventures Kayaking Club. “I was nervous the first time. I even used my inhaler,” said Ameen-Lee, who lives in Columbia. But with encouragement from an instructor and other club participants, she overcame her fear that day and has since become a competent kayaker. “It’s such a fun experience, chatting with other people in our age group and just learning a new sport.” The kayaking club is just one of many in the Active Aging Program, which the county’s Recreation and Parks Department offers to residents age 55 and older.
Youngsters needn’t apply The program’s stained-glassmaking workshop is so popular, according to its instructor, Maureen Stone, that even young people want to give it a try. “A mother and her son came by, and the son said, ‘Can I take it?’ I said, ‘Well, it’s for people 55 and over,’ and he said, ‘Do I have to wait 36 years?’” (Yes, he does.) “Some people are afraid to try [stainedglassmaking] because they don’t think they’re artistic enough. If you feel you’re not artistic, don’t worry,” Stone said. After all, she’s there to help. One of Stone’s students, Judy Hindenach, found the stained-glass class easy to keep up with. In fact, she has taken it more than once. “It’s challenging, but it’s not that hard — and Maureen is always there to help you. The people who take the class are really
A county-run class on Centennial Lake teaches new kayakers the ropes and the strokes. Howard County offers a wide variety of classes for people over 55, from cooking classes to sports to arts.
fun. Everybody chats; everybody laughs and supports each other.” Now that Hindenach is retired, she said, she has been taking advantage of many of the county’s 55-and-up classes in its Active
Aging Program — from water aerobics to crochet class. “I feel like now is my time to explore
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