It’s hard to say something nice about viruses, but Dr. Joaquín Martínez Martínez can. Dr. Martínez Martínez is a new aquatic virus ecologist at Horn Point who studies how viruses interact with acceptable host cells (typically each virus targets only a single host cell type). He studies how those interactions are influenced by environmental conditions and correspondingly, how these interactions impact the environment.

When we think of viruses, we think of COVID 19, HIV, influenza, Herpes, Shingles, Measles and a suite of viruses that cause discomfort and loss of life. But there are more to viruses than human infections. For one, viruses are the most abundant life forms on Earth, able to live in all environments. They have the ability to remain dormant for long periods until they find a host to infect. Viruses are the most abundant biological entities in the oceans, lakes, soil, and shallow sediments, far exceeding the number of bacteria. 

There are so many viruses that the majority of viruses remain unidentified. This is due to their microscopic size and their complexity. However, advancements in omics—techniques that analyze genetic material recovered directly from environmental samples—have revolutionized the field. Omic tools enable scientists to discover new viruses without having to culture them in a lab.

The evolutionary history of viruses is not known, but there are theories. One theory is that viruses, or their precursors, may have evolved before other forms of life. This hypothesis suggests that viruses could have played a crucial role in the development of cellular life. The simplicity of their structure, combined with their ability to transfer genetic material, implies that viruses may have been integral to the evolution of complex organisms.

We know viruses as causes of diseases, but they are also active participants in the evolutionary process of their hosts. Through a mechanism known as horizontal gene transfer, viruses can transfer genes into the host, contributing to genetic diversity and evolution. Some of the genes that viruses have inserted into our DNA millions of years ago are now essential for cellular functions. Other viruses help by maintaining the balance of bad bacteria, even in our gut. Viruses exist in the ecosystem, in plants, animals, humans and because of their specificity they help the organisms that carry them by infecting and killing pathogens.

Gene transfer can also occur when the virus gets DNA from the host cell. Viruses can carry key genes from the host even if the host shuts down the infection, then virus can beat the host cell because it is carrying some host’s DNA.

To understand viruses, it is important to understand that viruses very selectively target host cells; generally speaking, each virus can only infect a single type of host cell (e.g., a certain virus can only attack a certain bacteria). Viruses are not alive until they enter a host cell and hijack the host cell metabolism and nutrients to reproduce. Often, the virus kills the host cell through a process called lysis where the host cell “bursts” spewing out its contents into the system (e.g., aquatic system, our bloodstream).

Other times, viruses can co-exist for extended times with the host without killing it, for example inserting their genetic material into the host cell’s genetic material. When the host cell makes copies, the virus DNA is duplicated. This viral DNA often remains dormant in the cell, until it becomes activated. An example that we are familiar with is the HIV virus, which remains dormant in the cells until it expresses itself as full blown AIDS.

Viruses play a vital role in regulating the ecosystems of our rivers and seas. The largest type of aquatic viruses are bacteriophages, which attack bacteria. Viruses can control bacterial populations and algae blooms. In marine environments, viruses are responsible for the lysis (breaking down) of a significant fraction of the bacterial population each day, releasing nutrients back into the ecosystem and supporting the food web. When a cell breaks down in lysis, the contents of the cell (including nutrients) are injected into the environment. This is called nutrient cycling, and it helps maintain ecological equilibrium.

Dr. Joaquín Martínez Martínez has been studying red tide algae blooms in the Gulf of Mexico, which can have devastating consequences. The algae produce toxins that can kill fish, marine mammals, birds, and other marine life. Red tide algae blooms can lead to massive die-offs and disrupt the ecosystem. 

Dr. Joaquín Martínez Martínez and other scientists are studying the microbes (e.g., viruses, bacteria, algae), nutrients, temperature, currents, tides, and microbial interactions to determine the causes and preconditions for these blooms. Scientists need to determine which viruses and bacteria can be helpful in prevention and control. The current goal is to be able to forecast the conditions when a red tide algae bloom will occur and provide an early warning. Eventually, they hope to be able to use viruses and bacteria in the ecosystem to regulate these devastating red tide algae blooms. In his new position at Horn Point Laboratory, he is hoping to translate what he and his colleagues are learning from this study to harmful blooms around the Chesapeake Bay.

When hosts are virally infected, they become a virtually different organism. For example, due to chemical changes induced by the infection, one phytoplankton species becomes more nutritional when infected with a certain virus. This extra nutrition enables other organisms to grow faster when feeding on this infected phytoplankton. Other phytoplankton species can take more CO2 from the environment when infected with their specific viruses. Scientists are studying such phenomena under natural conditions so that they can assess its impact and determine how to maintain the balance that is currently in nature. Is it scalable? Research is investigating this because it has a potential to remove carbon from the atmosphere or improve feed production for aquaculture.  

Horn Point has recognized the potential of viruses in the ecosystem for its research in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Dr. Joaquín Martínez Martínez’s intends to create partnerships and collaborate with scientist that study aquatic vegetation and oyster populations. He has currently proposed a study of marshes on Poplar Island. Marshes are critical to the shoreline and ecosystem, yet sometimes they die suddenly, and scientists need to know why and what are the roles of microbes in these deaths. 

So, despite our negative perception of viruses, Dr. Joaquín Martínez Martínez wants us to know that viruses are not necessarily the bad guys. Viruses, in fact, create balance, especially against bacteria that are detrimental to us and the environment. Viruses can be helpful in medicine. Since they are mostly specific to a host, they may become an alternative to antibiotics. Additionally, viruses are used as markers in gene therapy to deliver therapeutic genes to target cells. Oncolytic viruses, which selectively infect and kill cancer cells, are offering new hope in cancer treatment. Environmental viruses may serve as innocuous surrogates to safely deliver those treatments to humans.

The viruses that we hate are the tiniest, tiniest fraction of the viruses in the world…maybe it’s time we cast them as players in the environment rather than demons.

Dr. Joaquín Martínez Martínez will be discussing his research on February 27th at 5:30 at the Dorchester Center for the Arts, 321 High Street, Cambridge. Check the Horn Point Laboratory website, www.umces.edu/hpl or their social media for more information about registration.

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Angela Rieck, a Caroline County native, received her PhD in Mathematical Psychology from the University of Maryland and worked as a scientist at Bell Labs, and other high-tech companies in New Jersey before retiring as a corporate executive. Angela and her dogs divide their time between St Michaels and Key West Florida. Her daughter lives and works in New York City.

Meg Daley Olmert makes us think about dogs differently. She published a book, Made for Each Other: The Biology of the Human-Animal Bond. She was recently interviewed by Val Cavalheri in the Talbot Spy (https://talbotspy.org/author-meg-daley-olmert-makes-the-case-that-man-and-dog-is-made-for-each-other/). The Spy article described Olmert’s groundbreaking book about the bond between dogs and humans. After 15 years of research she discovered that the bond between dogs and humans is, in fact, a brain chemistry-based (oxytocin) bond. What has come to be common knowledge, was revolutionary when she published it in 2009.

But Olmert’s book was only scratching the surface of our relationship with dogs. Dogs do more than provide love and comfort. Dogs serve us in many other ways:

Therapy or Facility dogs: A therapy dog provides comfort, emotional support, and affection to people in hospitals, schools, nursing homes, or disaster areas. It has been demonstrated that these visits reduce stress, anxiety, lower blood pressure, improve breathing, and reduce loneliness.

Mobility assistance dogs: These trained dogs assist people with physical disabilities in navigating their environment (e.g., open doors).

Guide dogs: Guide dogs are well known and have been working since 1780 (in Paris) and in the general population since the 1930’s. These dogs assist blind and low vision people navigate their environment.

Wheelchair assistance dogs: These dogs are trained to pull wheelchairs or retrieve items for wheelchair users. 

Psychiatric and mental health support service dogs: Trained dogs provide emotional and physical support for people with mental health challenges such as PTSD, night terrors, flashbacks, love, security, and purpose.

Autism service dogs: Dogs have been trained to help people with autism in social settings. Talking and reading to their dogs enables people on the spectrum to improve their communication skills. 

Emotional support: This has been misused so often that I dislike including this category, but there are many legitimate sufferers of PTSD, anxiety, and other disorders that dogs can remediate.

Hearing dogs: These dogs are trained to alert people who are deaf or hard of hearing. 

Seizure alert dogs: Seizure alert dogs are trained to anticipate seizures and alert their person. 

Diabetic alert dogs: Trained dogs can alert diabetics when their blood sugar levels are dangerously high or low. 

Allergy alert dogs: These dogs are able to alert people to food and environmental allergens. A close friend of mine is highly allergic to bee stings and had her dog trained to alert her to the presence of bees, wasps, or other stinging insects. 

Deep pressure therapy dogs: Trained dogs can provide deep-pressure therapy for people experiencing PTSD flashbacks, overstimulation, or acute anxiety. In this therapy, the dog leans on or lies down on its handler and the dog’s weight provides pressure that calms and soothes. Even chihuahuas have been trained as deep pressure therapy dogs, they have been trained to walk on their sufferer’s back.

Search/Rescue and Cadaver Dogs are bred and trained to provide assistance in finding criminals or victims of natural disasters or crimes.

Illegal substance detection. We frequently see dogs with the police who utilize their sense of smell to detect illegal objects such as drugs, firearms, and explosive devices.

But that’s not all, and when I spoke to Olmert, I was very excited about the work that she has been researching. Working with the Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) in Boyds, Maryland, Olmert has researched and demonstrated that even the act of training a dog to become a service dog can reduce PTSD and other psychiatric symptoms. 

The WCC program enables veterans who are suffering from war trauma such as PTSD, anxiety and other psychological injuries to take part in the training of service dogs. Participating veterans are responsible for teaching the dogs that the world is a safe place. By training these dogs, sufferers must evoke confidence in a situation that they are often fearful of. 

Positive reinforcement techniques are used, veterans are taught to praise and provide treats to their dogs when they experience a startling event, such as hearing a car backfire or a novel place. 

Training service dogs helps veterans move past their own trauma. Many veterans suffering from PTSD are emotionally numb, yet dog training requires them to demonstrate positive emotions to successfully teach their dogs. Veterans feel good that they are helping another veteran receive a trained service dog. 

In the WCC model, a single training of a service dog, which typically takes two years, can assist 60 people who are helping training and socializing the dog. 

But it is important to test if this theory works. In the study that Olmert directed, the veterans were given six 1-hour sessions working with a dog trainer. The researchers found that those who did service dog training had fewer emotional issues than the control group.

In other studies, veterans are allowed more time to train service dogs. Olmert provided me with two case studies of veterans suffering from PTSD and other psychological disorders who participated in a program of training service dogs.

Participant 1 (John) was a man who had been deployed in combat zones 11 times. He was married with five children, but after these deployments he suffered from PTSD. In the beginning, he was skeptical and didn’t see how assisting training a dog would help his condition. But it did. 

John reported. “On the fourth session, it suddenly dawned on me that the dog training demanded the same brain skills as the computer games—except in real life/ time. This training was helping me, I was helping Lundy [the dog he was training] become a service dog, and we were both working toward helping a Veteran in need. That’s when I started to take the program seriously.” 

He found that when exposing the dog to situations that made him anxious, he had to pretend not to be, so that the dog would follow necessary commands. He also learned about positive reinforcement training that is used in training service dogs. It didn’t take long for him to realize that by being calm for the dog, he was learning how to be calm for himself. His stuttering and speech anxiety improved dramatically. 

“…just having [the dog] at my side gave me a sense of confidence and pride. My speech really improved as I worked with Lundy and I found it was getting easier to talk to strangers. That was a real confidence builder for me.”

John reported that his reading and his sleeping improved when the dog stayed over (he was an inpatient) at the facility.

“I was also having a lot of trouble reading… I quickly found that I could read much more smoothly reading to Lundy.”

John experienced a substantial reduction in headaches, dizziness, migraines and depression. He also realized the benefit of positive reinforcement for his own children. 

“…the lessons learned from teaching Lundy translated back to my home and personal life. I am able to talk and laugh. My kids have their Dad back and my wife and I are doing much better. When my teenage daughter challenges me, I am able to think it through more logically and not just lose it. The OT, Speech, and other therapies were also good, but in the end, it was the dog training that helped me.”

The second case study, Bob, had a history of deployment-related PTSD accompanied by depression, risky behavior, suicidal ideation, and alcohol and drug addiction. 

Bob reported. “I have always loved and owned dogs and so was very happy to ‘get a dog fix.’ I like the idea of helping to train dogs for amputees and guys who need them. I felt the benefit of working with the dogs immediately. The positive energy generated during that first hour left me feeling much better.”

Despite challenges in the beginning, the positive reinforcement training given to dogs helped him change behavior.

“[We were taught] how to use positive and nurturing encouragement and praise to teach the dogs. It was not easy for me since I was depressed, but the SDI instructed us to fake the high-pitched, happy voice for the dog’s sake. I had used harsher, heavy-handed training methods on my own dogs. However, seeing how well these young dogs responded to our supportive friendly efforts and enthusiastic praise was very impressive. So, this has been a very refreshing and new way to learn how to train dogs.” 

As time went on, during his training sessions, he noticed that: “I was no longer faking my positive feelings when encouraging the dog’s efforts. I had begun to get through my weeks, just looking forward to these sessions. The ‘dog time’ was carrying me through my weekend too.”

Bob reported that learning positive reinforcement while training his dog: “… has helped me to experience empathy for my wife, my sons, others, and myself. Family members comment on how much more affectionate and present I am now. The way that I used to parent was harsh, focusing on the negative consequences of behavior…Now, I engage my children in conversation and try to identify with their issues; helping them visualize what they can work towards. It’s motivating—just like with the dogs. I am more connected with my family than I’ve ever been. My boys see the change and they are forgiving me for not being there for them in the past.”

“Of the programs offered to me, some were good and others were a waste of time. The service dog training program was the best. Training a service dog for a veteran is a huge service to provide. It gives me a tremendous sense of purpose and accomplishment.”

Training his service dog (who was also Lundy) has helped him with his addictions and his depression.

“I have just completed my first year of sobriety. My depression has lifted, and I feel connected to my family. I still struggle with pain and fatigue, but I feel much more positive. I am able to pace myself better and allow myself to take the time to rest and regain my emotional and physical strength. I am much more aware of what will trigger my arousal response and find that I can cope better when unexpected stressors occur. My frustration tolerance has significantly improved. My empathy and patience levels have also improved. I am better at setting healthy social boundaries and prioritizing time for my family. I’m really enjoying and committed to sharing my story and the healing lessons I’ve learned from the WCC with other wounded warriors. I am looking into pursuing a career as a Service Dog Instructor.”

Thank you, Meg, for giving me these stories. Animals can help us in so many ways, when we take time to listen.

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Angela Rieck, a Caroline County native, received her PhD in Mathematical Psychology from the University of Maryland and worked as a scientist at Bell Labs, and other high-tech companies in New Jersey before retiring as a corporate executive. Angela and her dogs divide their time between St Michaels and Key West Florida. Her daughter lives and works in New York City.

We need oysters in our Bay and rivers. We don’t have enough. But one of the major impediments to restoring oysters is the availability of substrates. Substrates are what oyster larvae latch onto while they are mobile (e.g., other oyster shells, piers).

Oysters begin their lives as free-swimming larvae. Oyster parents release eggs and sperm into the water, and once the eggs are fertilized they become larvae. The larvae are mobile for two to three weeks before they attach onto a substrate (this attachment is called settlement), become immobile, and metamorphose into juvenile oysters which are referred to as spat.

If the larvae are unable to attach to a substrate they will not survive. So, finding the right substrate and enough of it is crucial to the success of oysters in the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers. 

Oysters are essential to the health of the Bay because they can filter up to 50 gallons of water daily, cleaning the water and increasing the oxygen levels. Oysters clean the water by consuming micro algae and suspended particles, and they can also mediate nitrogen and carbon by removing and depositing any excess nutrients. Oyster reefs also serve as homes to fish and other filter feeders like mussels and barnacles. 

Oyster larvae need a hard surface (e.g., shells and stones) to latch onto so that they can grow. In the wild, oyster larvae naturally attach to other oyster shells, which is why oyster shells are a preferred substrate. However, the availability of shells is limited and adding it is expensive due to decades of harvesting without shell replacement. There are attempts to recycle as many shells as possible, for example, the Oyster Recovery Partnership has a collection program for oyster shells. 

Another way to get oyster shells is to dredge old oyster reefs buried in the silt. There are also fossilized shells that are available from the West Coast where there are literally mountains of shells that were discarded by shucking houses. 

The demand for substrates will only increase as fisheries and aquaculture grow. Commercial fishermen, aquaculture lease holders, and oyster restoration partners are also interested in using alternative substrates, both to put out directly on the Bay bottom to catch wild larvae or to use in an oyster hatchery that produce “spat on shell” (which is larvae that are attached to oyster shells.) 

Shells are limited and expensive, so more substrate is needed to expand the oyster industry. So, scientists have been evaluating alternatives to oyster shells for use in Maryland

Scientists must find other substrates that are as effective as shells that don’t leach dangerous chemicals into the water. 

Potential substrates that have been used for oysters in this region and in other states can be grouped into three categories:

• Biogenic: oyster shell (fossilized, fresh, dredged), other species’ shells (whelk, clamshell)
• Geologic: granite, stone (river rock), amphibolite (used for paving or crushed stones), limestone marl
• Anthropogenic (human produced): concrete and recycled concrete.

In Havre de Grace, amphibolite rock is quarried, and restoration efforts have used the rock to build oyster reefs in sanctuaries (e.g., Harris Creek).

Other states also use alternative materials for oyster substrate. In Texas, limestone marl, river rock, and crushed concrete are common. North Carolina uses limestone marl, a state resource. Virginia uses granite chips in addition to fresh and dredged Eastern oyster shell. Often larger stones are used in sanctuaries and restoration sites, but smaller is better for harvest sites.

Engineered reefs are structures formed from molded concrete, such as reef balls, reef castles, or fish havens. These structures can be placed on the bottom of the river or bay to allow spat to settle naturally or can be placed in tanks at hatcheries to be settled with hatchery-reared oyster larvae. The composition of the concrete can be tailored to improve settlement (larvae attaching to the substrate) by adding calcium or pieces of shell to the mix. The majority of engineered reefs placed in our Bay are in oyster sanctuaries or on MARI (Maryland Artificial Reef Initiative) sites. The use of engineered reefs is not effective for harvesting because oysters can only be harvested by divers.  

Large scale construction demolition projects can provide appropriate concrete materials. Crushed, recycled concrete is recovered from demolition sites and its toxic elements (e.g., rebar) removed.

The need for substrates is getting more attention. The DNR (Department of Natural Resources) submitted a permit to USACE (US Army Core of Engineers) and MDE (Maryland Department of the Environment) to plant hatchery reared spat on substrate other than shell. 

Recently, the public fishery has expressed interest in utilizing alternative substrates on its bars. A permit was obtained from MDE and USACE to plant alternative substrates on a public fishery bar in Pocomoke Sound (Somerset County) and another site in Broad Creek (Talbot County). The Broad Creek site was just approved in late 2023 and will soon begin planting crushed, recycled concrete.

In July 2023, Governor Moore created a Shell and Substrate Task Force. The principal functions of the task force were to: 

• Identify strategies and solutions to retain shell, increase its abundance and use more substrate across the Chesapeake Bay.
• Evaluate strategies to meet the demand from public fishery, aquaculture, and restoration.
• Evaluate the economic impacts of substrate and develop recommendations.

But it is important to know which substrates perform most effectively. Drs. Elizabeth North, Matt Gray, and Monica Fabra at University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Horn Point Laboratory (HPL) are evaluating the efficacy of 9 different substrates. They are scientists with expertise in marine biology and experience with research on oysters. 

The HPL team is evaluating the effectiveness of different substrates on (a) settlement (larvae latching onto the substrate and growing), (b) toxic leaching (verifying that there are no toxic chemicals leaching from the substrate), and (c) biofilm formation (determining the microorganisms that grow on the substrate that are important for larval settlement). It is part of a grant from the state of MD and is legislatively mandated by the 2023 senate bill SB830.

The 9 substrates are: (1) dredged Eastern oyster shells, (2) weathered Pacific oyster shells, (3) clam shell pieces, (4) whelk shells,(5) recycled concrete, (6) limestone marl, (7) granite, (8) river rocks, and (9) amphibolite. Fresh Eastern oyster shell (our Maryland oyster) was also used in the study.

To conduct the laboratory study, Dr. Fabra released oyster larvae into beakers and waited six weeks to count the number of spat that had latched onto each substrate. While results are preliminary and are from the laboratory only, the team found that spat successfully settled and grew on all of tested substrates. 

Preliminary results suggest that, overall, shells did better slightly than rocks. By a small margin, the highest spats per beaker were dredged Eastern oyster shell and weathered Pacific oyster shell. Fresh Eastern oyster shell, whelk shell, concrete, and amphibolite also performed well.

She and her team are also evaluating these substrates to verify that they do not leach heavy metals. Another evaluation will be related to the formation of biofilms that are important for larval settlement on substrate. 

In the late spring of 2025, the HPL team will test these substrates in our rivers using cages and trays at wild sites.

In evaluating the overall value of a substrate, it is important to consider the cost, weight, size, transportation costs, ease of handling as well as settlement and toxicity. Fresh oyster shells are expensive and the ability to find substrates that are local and cost-effective can be a leap for commercial fisheries, aquaculture and oyster restoration. 

This is an exciting study, done right in our backyard, with benefits that will last for generations.

Dr. North will be discussing the HPL team’s research on Tuesday, March 4 at 5:30 at the Talbot Community Center. Check the Horn Point Laboratory website, www.umces.edu/hpl or their social media for more information about registration.

 

 

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Angela Rieck, a Caroline County native, received her PhD in Mathematical Psychology from the University of Maryland and worked as a scientist at Bell Labs, and other high-tech companies in New Jersey before retiring as a corporate executive. Angela and her dogs divide their time between St Michaels and Key West Florida. Her daughter lives and works in New York City.

The recent snowstorm on the Eastern Shore is just the beginning of freezing temperatures due to the polar vortex. These temperatures from the Arctic are forecast to hit a large portion of the United States. The Arctic blast is being driven by large-scale pressure changes and an expansion of the polar vortex. 

Temperatures could be 30 degrees Fahrenheit below average temperatures as far south as Florida. In Key West, we need to look out for falling iguanas, not a weather condition that is experienced in most of America. Iguanas go into a temporary state of paralysis when they get cold, and they can’t hold onto tree branches. That thud we hear is another loathsome creature hitting the pavement (but unfortunately surviving).

While it’s too early for precise temperature forecasts, the weather websites warned that this could be the coldest January in more than a decade. The expansion of the polar vortex is expected to last at least until the middle of January and possibly for the entire month.

What is the polar vortex? While it is an ominous sounding phenomenon, in fact it is a large area of low pressure and cold air surrounding both of the North and South poles. The vortex strengthens in winter, which is why we are typically not impacted by it in the summer. The term “vortex” refers to the counterclockwise flow of air at wind speeds of 155 mph that helps keep the colder air near the Poles. It is not uncommon for the polar vortex to expand in winter, sending cold air southward with the jet stream. Major polar vortex disruptions occurred in 2014, 1977, 1982, 1985 and 1989. The most recent polar vortex event in 2019 sent a massive cold front across the Midwest.

Polar vortexes are not new, it is just the term that has been popularized. Weather forecasters study the polar vortex by looking at conditions tens of thousands of feet up in the atmosphere. And cold air due to a polar vortex is not confined to the United States, portions of Europe and Asia experience similar cold surges. 

Polar vortexes occasionally reverse, but not this year. 

So bundle up, this will be with us for a while. Enjoy the snow, while I step over gross, paralyzed iguanas on my deck.

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Angela Rieck, a Caroline County native, received her PhD in Mathematical Psychology from the University of Maryland and worked as a scientist at Bell Labs, and other high-tech companies in New Jersey before retiring as a corporate executive. Angela and her dogs divide their time between St Michaels and Key West Florida. Her daughter lives and works in New York City.

Well, it is time for New Year’s resolutions. While I am not particularly good at keeping them, I am skilled at making them.

I am not alone in my lack of commitment. Eighty to ninety-one percent of New Year’s resolutions don’t last more than six months. Twenty-three percent of those who make New Year’s resolutions quit them by the end of the first week and 43% quit by the end of January.

So, I count myself in the majority.

This year I made my usual resolution to lose weight. I am consistent about making this resolution…and some year I hope to keep it. Twenty percent of New Year’s resolutions are to lose weight. It is no surprise that commercials about weight loss programs are ubiquitous. But this year I notice a change. Most of the commercials are about GLP prescription solutions. Even traditional diet or behavior-based programs are offering this option. Let’s face it, most diets and willpower solutions don’t work.

My second resolution is to become more technologically savvy. My phone is my lifeblood and my nemesis. There is an app for everything, and I am expected to use all of them. My phone contains apps for my bed, my oven, my vacuums, my heating and cooling systems, my Wi-Fi’s, my refrigerator, transit trains, flights, hotels, UBER, LYFT, money, banking, email, calendar, music, calculator, flashlight, credit cards, Starbucks, Walmart, eBay, weight loss, Target, Instacart, grocery stores, messenger services, games, social websites, Internet phone, Internet services, texting, cable, television, streaming services…and more. I cringe every time I hear the phrase, “you need you to download our app.” But this is the world that we live in and ignoring it will not make it go away, no matter how hard I try. So, I am resolved to use my phone instead of my computer and to purchase most tickets on the phone. I suspect that this will be my hardest New Years’ resolution, even harder than my weight loss resolution.

And finally, I am resolving to be more active on social media. I am an intensely private person and have no social Internet presence. But I need to add social media apps so that I can enjoy the postings of others.

I know that I will not be successful unless I develop a plan. I need to set milestones and ways to measure incremental success. Experts say not to rely on will power. But let’s face it, if New Year’s resolutions did not require will power, we wouldn’t need to set them. 

Another way to be successful is to set a routine or schedule. For example, one of my plans is to access social apps for an hour three times a week. 

Another tactic to increase chance of success is to use groups. Classes also offer both expertise and group support. 

Of course, resolutions are a marathon and not a sprint; and because of that, I have to be willing to accept setbacks. I can accept the slip, but not to use it as permission to quit. 

And finally, there is SHAME. 

Which is why I put my resolutions in a column every year to hold myself accountable. Clearly, a desperate attempt.

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Angela Rieck, a Caroline County native, received her PhD in Mathematical Psychology from the University of Maryland and worked as a scientist at Bell Labs, and other high-tech companies in New Jersey before retiring as a corporate executive. Angela and her dogs divide their time between St Michaels and Key West Florida. Her daughter lives and works in New York City.

I have retreated to the warm sunshine of Key West. I know that the weather has been unpleasant at times up North, with cold temperatures and torrential rain. I am fortunate enough to live in Key West, where this time of year chilly days are in the high sixties; and most days are in the 70s. In Key West, the palm trees sway to the tune of the trade winds that gently surround the island. 

To many, Key West is paradise. I found 283 novels that were set in Key West on Amazon, and 516 nonfiction books about it. There are duplicates in this list, but it shows you how intriguing Key West can be. Writers have tried different devices to capture Key West. One used street names, another treated Key West as his companion; still another tried to use a traditional history. Each time they fell short. 

Key West is known for its sunsets. Mallory Square takes on a carnival atmosphere at sunset. But I prefer its sunrises. The contrasting colors of the aqua, turquoise and jadeite ocean against the changing colors in the sky of warm pink, yellow, and pale blue are portraits in pastels. At sunrise, pelicans occupy the piers and sea gulls commence flight. Great blue herons perch motionless on the shoreline and the ibis stalk insects in the grass. On the pier, the observers are silent, appreciating the artistry that nature has created. 

What makes Key West a place that people consider paradise? It can be many things:

• The acceptance and quirkiness. There is no dress code.
• Living outdoors. Eight months out of the year the weather is wonderful; the other four months it is tolerable only to locals (called Conchs).
• Its raw beauty…The colors of the ocean and sky, sunrises, and sunsets have inspired many artists.
• The lifestyle…two wheels (or some similar representation of them) are the best way to get around the island.
• The sounds…the rustling of palm trees, roosters crowing; and at night, the bands and drunk patrons weaving through Duval Street.
• The tastes…thanks to the tourists and guests, its restaurants rival any large city in their diversity and quality.
• The animals…cats and chickens live on the streets in harmony, dogs have their own beach, gawky pelicans glide gracefully over the ocean, the ibis wanders through lawns, the eerie anhingas stretch out their wings to dry. 
• The architecture… There are a few graceful Victorian and Queen Anne homes, but many homes are eyebrow or simple Conch houses, structures that can easily be rebuilt after the hurricane sweeps them away.
• There is always something to do.

Key West has no clock; it recycles and reinvents itself. Boom and bust cycles, hurricanes, winds, fires & floods, full and part-time inhabitants, drugs, fishing. Somehow you get the impression that despite climate change, hurricanes, scoundrels, tourists, and politics, Key West will endure. 

But as magical as Key West can be, it is not paradise. 

The dictionary defines paradise as an ideal or idyllic place or state. To me, paradise is a what not a where. Paradise is a moment when I experience pure joy. 

Paradise is that moment that you snuggle with your child, the time you realize that you have met someone who completely understands you, and the holiday parties where you connect with close friends and family. So, while I am soaking up the warmth in Key West, those in the chilly weather have equal opportunity to experience paradise.

I wish that the holidays bring you paradise in the touch of a loved one, the beautiful holiday displays, the festive shops, and restaurants. And most of all, I hope that you can recognize your paradise when it appears. 

I want to thank all of my readers, knowing that you are reading my columns and getting feedback is my paradise. I wish for paradise-filled holidays to all.

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Angela Rieck, a Caroline County native, received her PhD in Mathematical Psychology from the University of Maryland and worked as a scientist at Bell Labs, and other high-tech companies in New Jersey before retiring as a corporate executive. Angela and her dogs divide their time between St Michaels and Key West Florida. Her daughter lives and works in New York City.

It is hard to be positive about the cold weather that is gripping a large part of the nation. It is unpleasant at best and dangerous at worst. It even affects us in Florida, although there are few sympathizers in the northeast. Key West is not built for cold temperatures. Most of our transportation is on bicycles and some of our homes don’t have heat. Of course, the cold is felt most acutely in the north. 

But I can think of one benefit of this cold weather. Soups and stews become a welcome addition to the home. My mother prepared many soups and stews. I remember the aroma of vegetable, chicken soups, and beef stews wafting through our home. Our home was filled with the scent of these wonderful meals. And since the soups and stews take a while to cook, the whole day promised a warm and comfortable meal.

Like my siblings, I have taken on the tradition of making soups and stews. In many cases following my mother’s recipes, in others adding my own twist.  

Not only do soups and stews evoke fond memories, but they are also very healthy. They contain vitamins and minerals, which are important for fighting diseases and viruses. Soups are an easy way to meet the daily vegetable quota and cooking vegetables in soups, stews, or curries helps them retain many of their vitamins. 

Soups have the advantage of being low in calories and are a healthy option for those of us who are watching our weight. 

Soups are satisfying and good for weight conscious people because they are mostly water, but we perceive them as food. It was found that eating the same number of calories in soup as in pretzels increased weight loss by fifty percent.

Let’s face it, soups and stews are the ultimate comfort food. 

Lentil soup is regarded as the healthiest soup, but all vegetable soups are healthy. The only soups that do not fit in this category are cream based soups, such as New England clam chowder and Vichyssoise (sorry).

Not only western culture prizes these foods. Chinese medicine utilizes soups and cooked vegetables for healing.

So, soups and stews are the silver lining to this miserable weather. A warm memory and savory, healthy food. Time to get out the crock pot.

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Angela Rieck, a Caroline County native, received her PhD in Mathematical Psychology from the University of Maryland and worked as a scientist at Bell Labs, and other high-tech companies in New Jersey before retiring as a corporate executive. Angela and her dogs divide their time between St Michaels and Key West Florida. Her daughter lives and works in New York City.

Years ago, I was congratulating a mother whose youngest child had graduated from high school with honors. She was gracious, and said that she was looking forward to the end of the “tyranny of dinner.” 

I love that phrase.

But we have learned that the tyranny of dinner didn’t necessarily end when the children leave. Many of my friends report that they still feel, the old “what’s for dinner” approaching around 2 p.m. Fortunately, we are blessed with a number of different restaurants and fast-food chains that can satisfy those who do not want to prepare dinner…but it remains the same…what to do about dinner?

One would think that being retired means that it is easier, but unless there is someone in the family that has taken on cooking as their retirement challenge, the “what’s for dinner” challenge still looms. 

One of the few advantages to being single is that I do not have to worry about what is for dinner. I eat when I want to, and I have found that I tend to eat my large meal at lunchtime. 

Research has shown that it is healthier to eat early, especially for those of us who are watching our weight. A 2022 study found that people who ate dinner around 5 PM burned more calories than those who ate later. Eating later also increased the chances of obesity. Among dieters who were taking in the same caloric intake, they found that those who consumed their calories earlier lost 2 ½ times more weight than those who consumed the bulk of their calories after 5 pm. Early eating is associated with less heartburn and better sleeping.

But what you eat is more important than when you eat. And that gets back to the tyranny of dinner. 

I looked up ways to avoid the tyranny of dinner and all recommended planning. One writer planned her meals for a month, now that is a planner! Another suggestion was to make the meals a week in advance, to be consumed later. 

The few times that I planned ahead (such as starting a crock pot), it felt good to go home knowing that I had answered the question “what’s for dinner.” When I started a crockpot in the morning, I would come home to comforting smells of stew waiting to be served. 

Another way of looking at this is that the tyranny of dinner is a reminder of how blessed we are. We have options and do not have to worry about going to bed hungry (unless we choose to).

So, when the annoying “what’s for dinner” arises, maybe we should take a breath and remind ourselves how lucky we are to be able ask that question.

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Angela Rieck, a Caroline County native, received her PhD in Mathematical Psychology from the University of Maryland and worked as a scientist at Bell Labs, and other high-tech companies in New Jersey before retiring as a corporate executive. Angela and her dogs divide their time between St Michaels and Key West Florida. Her daughter lives and works in New York City.

I am blessed with a number of friends and a close family. I enjoy our conversations and gatherings. Over the years, I have relied on them for support and advice. I can’t imagine life without them. I am not alone in my view of the importance of friends and family; healthcare professionals know that friends and family are critical for physical and mental health.

Yet today 1 in 3 people report chronic loneliness. Many people also report feelings of social isolation. Loneliness and social isolation are viewed differently. Social isolation is an objective measure of the number of people someone interacts with on a regular basis, whereas loneliness is a subjective feeling reported by individuals. For example, someone may not be socially isolated, but still report feelings of loneliness. Social isolation depends on the individual. Some can have few friends and not feel socially isolated, while others may need a larger friend group.

In 2023, the US Surgeon General issued an advisory about the national problem of loneliness and isolation, describing it as an epidemic. Loneliness and isolation have been linked to both mental and physical health. There is some evidence to suggest that isolation is more predictive of physical health outcomes, whereas loneliness is more predictive of mental health outcomes. 

Friendships protect us by improving the way we respond to stress. For example, blood pressure reactivity is lowered when talking to a friend.

The consequences of not having a supportive friend group can be serious. The absence of a close network of friends and family has been linked to anxiety and depression, dementia, infectious diseases, blood pressure, addiction, and hospitalization. Loneliness, social isolation, or living alone are risk factors for early mortality. Recently, the American Heart Association reported a direct association between social isolation and coronary heart disease and stroke mortality. Loneliness and isolation have also been linked to the onset of Type 2 diabetes and Parkinsons diseases. 

People with no friends or poor-quality friendships are twice as likely to die prematurely, according to a meta-analysis of more than 308,000 people. The risk factor is greater than the risk of smoking 20 cigarettes per day. 

The need for friends and socializing is so important that some European doctors have introduced “social prescribing.” Social prescribing is when doctors actually prescribe a group activity, regular visits, or regular telephone conversations to improve health.

Why are friends so important? Scientists have found that friends not only prevent loneliness and isolation, but they provide other mental health benefits including:

• Increased sense of belongingness
• Improved happiness and reduced stress
• Increased self-confidence
• Support in coping and putting problems in perspective
• Encouragement for healthy lifestyle habits
• Feelings of security 
• Support for emotional issues

Friends are so important that professionals recommend that we continuously nourish friendships and make new ones. As we age, we may lose friends, and it is important to be open to building new relationships.

Our friends and family offer us joy, support, and better health. But we are important to our friends and family as well. Not only do friends and family improve our health, but we also improve their health. 

In friendships, everybody wins.

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Angela Rieck, a Caroline County native, received her PhD in Mathematical Psychology from the University of Maryland and worked as a scientist at Bell Labs, and other high-tech companies in New Jersey before retiring as a corporate executive. Angela and her dogs divide their time between St Michaels and Key West Florida. Her daughter lives and works in New York City.