[This is a highly edited version of the original post with new information added.  Thank you Mt. Washington Improvement Association members for the information.]

A flyer handed out at a community meeting last night states that there will be water main construction at Falls Road and Northern Parkway from March 11th through March 20th from 7pm to 5am at night.  I’m told that the lane closures may be moving north quickly and already be between Smith Ave and Lake Ave.

I am informed that this project will continue north on Falls Road, eventually ending up at the City-County line sometime during the first few weeks in June.

There may be lane closures during the water main work.  Later, the city will then repave parts of Falls Road causing further disruptions.

BOTTOM LINE:  Avoid Falls Road if at all possible until late summer or early fall.

I posted a few alternative sets of directions and homemade highlighted maps here a few weeks ago:

http://www.hygeiacounseling.com/events/alternative-and-backroutes-to-my-office/

I would recommend the Beltway to Greenspring Avenue to Smith Avenue route.

Thanks,

Michael

FREE ACUPUNCTURE DAY

SUNDAY, MARCH 11 1 – 4 pm

Several independent Community Acupuncture clinics are offering free
treatments to new and existing patients. Call to schedule.

Mt Washington 443-986-0006 www.AcupunctureForAll.com

Towson 443-275-2050 www.CommunityAcupunctureTowson.com

Govans Community Acupuncture 410-905-2566 www.govansca.com

Downtown 443-872-5847 www.BaltimoreCommunityAcupuncture.com

Conditions Treated Include:
Pain, Joints, Back, Neck, Headaches, Arthritis, Stress,
Fatigue, Insomnia, Depression, Anxiety, Addictions, Smoking,
Weight, Allergies and many more health issues.

Community acupuncture clinics are committed to providing effective,
affordable, and safe healthcare on a sliding scale of $20-$40 (no fee
on free days).

I was very surprised to hear an “expert” this evening on WNEW (99.1FM in Baltimore), in the context of discussing energy drinks, claim that B6 and B12 vitamins CAUSE cancer.  HUH?  Not what I had heard.

A quick Google search on “B6 B12 cancer risk” came up with these websites:

Mayo Clinic — An excellent rundown of the evidence (and sometimes lack thereof) concerning B complex vitamin benefits.  No cancer risks mentioned.

American Cancer Society – They certainly are not screaming about cancer risks either.  There are a few cautions listed.

Harvard School of Public Health — No panic here either.

There ARE several discussions — mostly inconclusive — of studies looking to see if these vitamins LOWER cancer risks.

Finally — buried on pages 3 and 4 of my search I came across some articles on more obscure websites discussing studies out of Sweden in 2004 and Norway in 2009 discussing cancer risks.  So there is perhaps some risk.  Maybe.

You may be asking why this topic in on a mental health blog?  ADHD is why.

B6, B12, and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

Increasingly, B complex vitamins (especially B6 and B12) are being touted in alternative circles as useful for ADHD.   Many of my clients provide at least anecdotal evidence of usefulness for energy and focus.  I think they are having an effect.

Here are a few website links to explore this more fully:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/281941-natural-vitamins-that-help-with-adhd/

http://www.unritalinsolution.com/adhd_vitamin

Please note that I AM NOT anti-medication and I don’t endorse everything on these websites — but they seem good sources to start to learn more about B complex vitamins and ADHD.  They are not mainstream, so as always you should talk to your doctor or a talented nutritionist or pharmacist when evaluating medications and suppliments.

Given the benefits of B complex vitamins, I was more than a little irritated to hear them casually maligned with little evidence on the radio.

I found this a facinating article.  Could it be that some of us need to go to bed much earlier, and assume that we will be up for 2 hours in the middle of the night instead of trying to get more done late in the evening before going to bed?

This article points to the 8-hour night’s sleep as a recent creation brought about by electric lights and the need for “efficiency”.  It makes the case for two 4-hour sleep periods per night being the natural human and historical norm.

I can say that sleep is the foundation upon which many of the mental health problems I see rest.  A client with bipolar disorder is often much more stable when he/she can sleep during regular nighttime hours.  A depressed and anxious client who can get some sleep is less depressed and anxious.  And so on.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16964783

Construction on Falls Road near the intersection of Falls and Northern Parkway is causing some clients significant delays in reaching my office.

Depending upon where you are coming from, please consider alternative routes that can save you alot of time:

FROM THE I-695 BELTWAY:

1. Take the Greenspring Avenue exit, EXIT 22.

2. Keep left to take the Greenspring Avenue South ramp.

3. Turn left onto Greenspring Ave. Go 1.4 miles.

4. Turn left onto Smith Ave. Go 1.9 miles

5. Turn right onto Greely Rd.

• Greely Rd is just after  Shrine Sacred Heart Middle School and Catholic Church on the right

6. Turn left onto Sulgrave Ave.

7. Take the 1st left onto Newbury St.

8. 5710 NEWBURY ST is on the left.

Click here to open an Adobe Acrobat .pdf of the route from the beltway.

FROM THE ROLAND PARK & HAMPDEN AREAS:

To get to Kelly Avenue in order to cross I-83 and enter Mt. Washington Village, you want to go south on Falls Road so you can turn RIGHT on Kelly Avenue.

Click here to open an Adobe Acrobat .pdf of the route from the Hampden and Roland Park areas.

ALTERNATIVE ROUTE FROM I-83 SOUTH TO AVOID FALLS ROAD:

1. Exit I-83 South at Exit 10A-B
2. Turn RIGHT on Northern Parkway
3. IMMEDIATELY turn right on W. Rodgers Ave (almost a hairpin turn)
4. Veer right onto Wildwood Lane
5. Turn right onto South Road (be careful — narrow and steep)
6. Turn left on Lochlea Road (watch out for school children)
7. Turn right on Kelly Avenue
8. Go almost straight at light on Sulgrave Avenue down restaurant row.
9. Turn left on Newbury Street
10. 5710 Newbury Street on left at corner of Newbury & Smith

Click here to open an Adobe Acrobat .pdf of the alternative route from I-83 South avoiding Falls Road.

Please see the attached Adobe Acrobat .pdf documents for the route from the beltway and from I-83 South and for the route from Roland Park.