June is National Aphasia Awareness Month. The National Aphasia Association announced that the theme and initiative for the 2026 Aphasia Awareness month is “United for Aphasia Awareness.” (https://aphasia.org/aphasia-awareness-month-2026) What is aphasia? “Aphasia is difficulty talking and/or comprehending language secondary to damage to the part of the brain that controls language,” said Benecia Williams, DO. “Depending on the type of aphasia, some can form no words at all. Some mix words up. Some have difficulty finding words. While some can say words, it sound...Read More

TOWSON — The Baltimore County Department of Social Services has achieved reaccreditation by Social Current’s Council on Accreditation (COA), reaffirming the Department’s commitment to meeting nationally recognized standards for service delivery, accountability, and organizational performance. Baltimore County Department of Social Services has maintained continuous COA accreditation since first earning the designation in 1976. The reaccreditation process occurs every four years and includes a comprehensive review of an organization’s administrati...Read More

Hello everyone! Hope everything is going well with you and your family. By the time you read this column, I will be in the hospital having another spinal surgery. I know, but if I don’t, I’ll be wheelchair bound. So here I go again. Keep me in your prayers. I am going to Mercy Hospital for lower spinal surgery on Monday, June 1st, but will be out in a couple of days. With a lot of prayers and being very careful I will also see you at my first concert of the year at the Avenue Bakery, Saturday, June 6th, 4-7 p.m., featuring Big Daddy Stallings Blues Band. Bring your folding chairs a...Read More

In the last article, I identified five steps to reduce your risk with the use of smart technology. Now I will talk about how to accomplish each step, knowing it can be the difference between security and vulnerability.  Step 1: Change default passwords. Since manufacturers often ship every unit of a given model with the same default credentials, hackers don’t need to guess your password. They just need to know the model, then search online for the freely available lists of default credentials. When you change a password, make it strong; at least 12 characters with uppercase and l...Read More

Before May ends, it is an ideal time to acknowledge that business owners cannot do everything alone. When small business owners make time to network, gain marketing strategies, and scale their businesses strategically, greater success can be achievable. Keep these tips in mind while embracing your entrepreneurial journey. Make it easy for customers to find you. Spread the word about your enterprise online and in-person. Create a virtual business card and take advantage of cross-promotion opportunities with fellow business owners by leaving physical business cards in different locations. Conn...Read More

May is Mental Health Awareness Month — a time when the national conversation turns, at least briefly, toward the inner lives we so often neglect. We talk a lot about the five pillars of health — sleep, nutrition, movement, hydration, and mental health. And while each pillar matters, mental health often gets the least attention until something goes wrong. We wait for a crisis. We wait for a diagnosis. We wait until the weight of our inner world becomes too heavy to carry alone. Seeking the support of a licensed mental health professional when mental illness is present is always the...Read More