March 2018 - Atlanta Senior Life

Senior Life Atlanta

seven specialty museums page 14

march 2018 • Vol. 3 No. 3 | AtlantaSeniorLIFE.com

facebook.com/AtlantaSeniorLife HOBBIES

Making a Difference

roll with the dunwoody driving club

Backpack Buddies put care in packages

page 7

page 10

on the run Story on page 4

Contents

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March 2018

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THE ARTS: Touring Theater Company for Seniors Eyes Expansion

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COVER STORY: On the Run

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HOBBIES: Ham Radio

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HOBBIES: That Vintage Car Smell

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MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Battling Hunger One Backpack at a Time

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HEALTH: Taking the Helm

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ROAD TRIPS: Seven Museums for Specialized Tastes

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PET PICK: Margo GARDENING: The Eyes Have It!

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PERSONAL FINANCE: Ask Rusty: Estimated vs.

Actual Benefits

Atlanta Senior Life focuses on the interests, accomplishments and lifestyles of the active senior population in metro Atlanta. It aims to inspire readers to embrace a more rewarding life by informing them of opportunities to expand their horizons, express their talents and engage in their community.

CONTACT US

THE ARTS: The Nature of Beauty

Editorial Kathy Dean Contributing Editor kathydean@atlantaseniorlife.com

OUT & ABOUT

Joe Earle Editor-at-Large JoeEarle@reporternewspapers.net

ON THE COVER Rick Berg at the Atlanta Hawks Fast Break race, January 2018; the 65-year-old finished with a time of 34:40.

PHOTO BY PHIL MOSIER

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Š 2018 All rights reserved. Publisher reserves the right to refuse editorial or advertising for any reason. Publisher assumes no responsibility for information contained in advertising. Any opinions expressed in print or online do not necessarily represent the views of Atlanta Senior Life or Springs Publishing, LLC.

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THE ARTS

Touring theater company for seniors eyes expansion

By Jaclyn Turner

“Seeing what they’re doing and bringing this joy to seniors, it’s After a decade of bringing really cool.” theater to seniors, the Atlanta Founded in 2007 in Ilgenfritz’s Theatre-To-Go traveling company Sandy Springs home and is making a big move of its own, regularly rehearsing there, expanding from its base in a Theatre-To-Go’s professional Sandy Springs house and hiring company travels to senior living its first executive director. communities, senior centers, “I’m looking forward to having churches and synagogues, more creative time and to bringing a theatrical seeing my “baby” blossom experience to seniors, into its full potential,” said some of whom may not be founder Sondra Ilgenfritz, able to go to a traditional who has stepped down theater. as president to serve on “We’re ready for our the company’s board next stage of growth,” FILE and devote more time to said Ilgenfritz. “For 10 Lois Keopke playwriting. years, we’ve been a largely Lois Keopke, the new volunteer-driven organization executive director, has a resume fueled by an entrepreneur with that includes forming a troupe a passion and a mission. Thanks of senior dancers to perform at to generous sponsors and donors, the Milwaukee Bucks basketball we’re now able to move into a team’s halftime shows. professional business model with “I’m really jazzed up about the funds to hire expert help.” what I’m doing and joining this Koepke spent 22 years organization,” Keopke said. choreographing and creating

halftime shows for the National Basketball Association’s Milwaukee Bucks.

She formed the SeniorGee! dance team in 2006, a group of dancers ranging in age from 60 to 85 who auditioned and performed during halftime, and calls it a highlight of her career. “They’d start with a classic routine, and then switch into hip hop. They brought the house down,” said Koepke.

Koepke has expansion and upgrades in mind for the theater company, such as bringing more technology to the organization as well as creating a unifying brand. “It’s time to reach a broader audience, and my role is going to be funding. I want to bring more performances to more places,” she said.

Theatre-To-Go rehearses and operates out of Ilgenfritz’s home,

PHOTO BY ISADORA PENNINGTON

something that has worked smoothly for the last 10 years, but Koepke would love to have access to a rehearsal space or office space, perhaps in a community center.

“My goal is to partner with an organization that would like to serve as a home for Atlanta Theatre-To-Go. And I say that very loosely, but it could be a place where we rehearse and partner with them to give their residents free theater,” she said.

Read more about Atlanta Theatre-to-Go in the June 2017 Atlanta Senior Life digital issue at atlantaseniorlife.com.

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COVER STORY

On the Run

Marathons and races provide the challenges some older adults thrive on

COURTESY OF SUE LANDA

Sue Landa started running long distance races about five years ago after she heard about runners dressed as Disney characters for a half-marathon at Disney World. She’s run that race—in costume—every year since. In 2017, she ran as Belle from “Beauty and the Beast,” shown at center above. She also runs three marathons, including the New York City Marathon, shown at left above, and the Marine Corps Marathon, shown at right above.

By Joe Earle Sue Landa’s introduction to running came as a sort of princess moment.

She loves all things Disney and, five years ago, she and some friends she described as “Disney junkies” heard about the Princess Half Marathon, a 13.1-mile run during which many competitors dress as Disney characters. Landa decided she had to take part. She was 63 years old at the time and had never run a race before.

She trained for the run and walked portions of it that first year, but she was able to complete the 13.1-mile trek through Disney World in Florida. And she loved it. “I was so excited about it,” she said. “Because [afterwards] you can’t believe you actually did it.”

The elation stayed with her and she kept on running in longdistance races. Over the past five

4

years, she said, she’s competed in 33 half marathons, which cover 13.1 miles, and three marathons, which extend the distance to 26.2 miles.

So what makes Landa run?

“Are you kidding?” she asked.

“This is fun!”

Plenty of others who are 60-something or older also find fun in pulling on running shoes and pounding out miles on the road or track. The Atlanta Track Club, the huge heart of local competitive running, claims more than 2,900 members who are 60 or older. That’s more than 10 percent of the club’s membership.

“This is just a great track and field town and state,” said Jay Holder, director of marketing for the club.

In fact, metro Atlanta produces some of the country’s top senior runners, including ones who compete in what are called “masters” division races. “Look

MARCH 2018 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

through the results of any masterslevel meet and you’ll find Atlanta Track Club athletes among the top finishers,” Holder said.

Michael Anderson is one of them. The 60-year-old competes in masters-level races and regularly ranks among the top finishers.

Anderson started running

“

competitively in the 1970s, when he was in his 20s. Since then, he’s run 55 marathons, he said.

His count—and he says he keeps meticulous records—shows he’s run the Boston Marathon 18 times, the New York Marathon seven or eight times and the Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta

the thinG about being old is you get all this motivation. i am more motivated now to train and race. but you’ve got to be careful. you can get hurt more easily.

michael anderson

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COURTESY OF MICHAEL ANDERSON

Michael Anderson has logged more than 128,000 miles in his 40-year running career.

more than 20 times.

There were times in his younger days when he routinely ran 100 miles a week, he said. He figures that as of Jan. 1, he’d logged 128,288 miles.

That, of course, calculates to jogging more than five times around the Earth. “Basically, it’s 40 years of running,” he said.

He slowed his competitive running in his 40s, he said, but started running seriously again in his mid-50s through masters’ races.

Anderson says he still runs races because he likes the competition.

“I’m pretty competitive,” he said.

“The thing about being old is you get all this motivation. I am more motivated now to train and race.

But you’ve got to be careful. You can get hurt more easily.”

He’s noticed something about his competitors: Many started running when they got older. He’s the odd one who started young.

“Most of the guys I am competing with now, who are fast, they picked it up late in life,” he said.

He figures others may have gotten injured over the years or trained too hard in their youth.

He jokes that his 40-something training companions now roll their eyes when he starts telling stories about what racing was like back in the good old days of the 1980s.

Even after all those miles,

Anderson still likes the workout running gives him. “It makes me feel good,” he said. “I keep my weight down. I feel healthy. I feel good about myself. … You can’t run 60 miles a week without sleeping and eating well.”

Anderson says he’ll keep running competitively as long as he can. There are some Atlanta Track Club members in their 70s or 80s who still hit the road regularly. “Unless something medically puts me out, I’d be shocked if I’m not running [for many years],” he said. “It’s become such a part of me, right?

I can’t imagine not doing it.”

John Wallace, who’s 74, runs in part for the camaraderie and in part for the challenge.

Although his training can be lonesome as he logs road miles near his home in the northeast corner of Georgia, he enjoys taking part in races because of the crowds they attract. “It doesn’t matter what you do, you’ve got people out there who are supporters,” he said. “It doesn’t matter how fast you are, people support you.”

Wallace, who worked for NASA in Virginia and California, says he played softball for much of his life, but has given that sport up in favor of running. “It’s a world of difference,” he said.

He did a little running now and then when he was younger, but only took up the sport seriously in 2013, after he moved to Georgia and a friend suggested they run together in the Peachtree Road Race, the 10-kilometer race that lures tens of thousands of runners to Buckhead and Midtown every Fourth of July.

He applied for admission to the race and won a chance to compete.

“Two to three months before the Peachtree, I started trying to run again,” he said. “I could only run 100 yards without stopping.”

But he worked on it. He saw running as a continuing

“

challenge. After that first Peachtree, he’s kept at it. He’s expanded his distance and has run a couple of marathons. He volunteers with the Track Club to help set up for races and said he runs as many as 20 Track Club races a year, mostly 5-kilometer or 10-kilometer ones. He’s run the Peachtree every year, he said.

“It’s an achievement,” he said. “It’s the challenge of doing it and then to be able to say you did it. It’s a little bit of bragging rights. At my age, my first one was quite a challenge.”

Ready, Set…Go! Dashes, fun runs, marathons and 5Ks are scheduled throughout the year. Get out and join in, whether it’s as a runner, a volunteer or a cheering member of the crowd.

Publix Georgia Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K Sunday, Mar. 18, 7 a.m. There are also events for kids: One Mile Run for ages 6 to 14, and 50m Dash for ages 6 and under. Pemberton Place, 126 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd., Atlanta 30308.

Water Drop Dash 5K & Kids Fun Run PHOTO BY JOE EARLE

Sue Landa with Karl

In the years since Landa ran her first princess run at Disney World, she’s sampled a variety of other competitions. She’s run in the New York City Marathon and the Marine Corps Marathon, she said.

But she still has a soft spot for running with the Disney princesses. She’s taken part in six Disney princess runs, every time in costume, she said. She’s run dressed as Tinkerbell and Maleficent. She planned to run her seventh princess halfmarathon in February, this time dressed as Rapunzel.

And she figures this year’s race probably won’t be her last.

She still has characters to go.

“Snow White’s to come,” she said. “She might be next year.”

Saturday, Mar. 24, 7-10 a.m.

A post-race Water Festival offers giveaways and activities. Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Rd., Roswell 30075.

5th Annual Chastain Chase 5K Sunday, Apr. 22, 8 a.m. A 1K Walk/Run and Tot Trot are held in addition to the 5K. Chastain Park, 215 W. Wieuca Rd., Atlanta 30342.

Check online at atlantatrackclub.org for details, registration information and more races.

IT’S AN ACHIEVEMENT. IT’S THE CHALLENGE OF DOING IT AND THEN TO BE ABLE TO SAY YOU DID IT. IT’S A LITTLE BIT OF BRAGGING RIGHTS. AT MY AGE, MY FIRST ONE WAS QUITE A CHALLENGE.

JOHN WALLACE

MARCH 2018 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

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MARCH 2018 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

Behind the Scenes at Big Races: Ham Radio Operators

By Judi Kanne Runners may draw the attention during big road races such as the Publix Georgia Marathon and Half-Marathon, but while COURTESY OF JIM PENLAND, DEKALB ARES Hams work behind the scene to keep things safe. they’re racing, dozens of volunteers are working behind the scenes to make sure the event operates smoothly. One important group is the amateur radio operators, known as “hams,” who help race officials communicate.

“Our volunteer ham radio operators relay health and welfare information to the appropriate public safety jurisdictions along the course,” said Michael Gaertner, the Amateur Radio Emergency Services communications crew chief for the marathon scheduled for March 18. “Every year hams play a crucial role in providing a safety net for the entire course.”

Most folks may spot a ham radio operator only now or then at a waterdispensing table or nearby, but the volunteer amateur radio operators are everywhere during a race, Gaertner said.

“Any event like this, which has thousands of participants and spectators passing through multiple counties, cities, universities, police and fire jurisdictions, will break down without efficient communication,” he said. “It’s our volunteer ARES members who bring their skills and equipment to help make the link between the public and emergency services as short as possible during the event.

“We aim to prevent emergencies before they happen by communicating seemingly small things—like a shortage of water cups, or a sudden influx of runners approaching an aid station— before they become multiple dehydration victims.”

On race day, ham radio operators assist race officials by keeping them and representatives of emergency support services up to date on the progress of the runners on the 26.2-mile course. Ham operators, for instance, may relay to race officials the locations of the first and last runners or may call for help for runners who are unable to finish.

“The marathon and other civic events, like the Children’s Healthcare Christmas Parade, allow the hams to take an active role, communicating messages in real time,” said Jim Penland, an Atlanta attorney who heads the ARES group in DeKalb County.

It’s similar to what they might be called on to do in an emergency event such as a tornado or other widespread activity.

During a race, Penland maintains contact with 50 or more ham operators along the course. They start their activity around 6 a.m. on race day and sign off when the last runner has crossed the finish line at about noon.

Along the way, runners will tire and need a ride back to Centennial Olympic Park, the location of the start and finish lines for the races.

A fleet of vans is used for transportation. They’re contacted by ham operators on the course who message fellow hams who ride in the vans.

Generally, a ham radio operator is stationed in each medical tent, as well.

“We have several medical personnel who volunteer as ham radio operators,” said Penland. “We come from all walks of life with the spirit of volunteerism and a strong interest in communications.”

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HOBBIES

That Vintage Car Smell Dunwoody Driving Club brings together auto enthusiasts

by Julie E. Bloemeke When Chuck Wing, 75, founded the Dunwoody Driving Club in 2011, he had one mission in mind: “We are in it for the fun.”

The club got its start in 2011, when Wing and some of his friends in Dunwoody with an interest in sports cars and exotic cars got together to socialize and to talk about things automotive. “We were a bunch of guys sitting around saying, ‘Why don’t we have a car club where we can talk about what cars we had, what cars we wish we still had, what car we’d like to have?’”

The others turned to Wing and said, “Charlie, why don’t you do it?”

COURTESY OF MARTIN BALGA PICTURES AND CHUCK WING

Chuck Wing’s Porsche Turbo 911 in action.

Seven years later, the club boasts more than 75 members and is continually growing. A membership form is available at the Dunwoody Driving Club website; dues are $25 a year. Since the start of the new Continued on page 8

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year, Wing has already received a number of new applications.

While the club does have mostly male members, Wing is quick to note that there’s a growing number of female car enthusiasts as well. Some women have joined solo and others have encouraged their husbands to join, or they’ve joined as a couple.

Wing says the club encourages membership from a range of car enthusiasts and the types of cars owned by members are all over the lot. There’s a 1903 Oldsmobile and a 1935 Auburn Supercharged Boattail Speedster. Newer cars include Lamborghinis, Porsches, Austin-Healeys, Mercedes and even a rare Panoz, a highperformance sports car built in Braselton, Ga. While many members gravitate toward a certain make, model or manufacturer, others are more intrigued by engineering, design or racing capacity. “Some cars are to drive, some are to show, some are an investment, especially older cars,” he said.

The members that have a penchant for engineering—often affectionately called “gearheads”—discuss things like “swapping engines, turbochargers, blowers, ways to increase horsepower.”

Some choose to drive their vehicles at venues such as Motorsport Park in Douglasville, while others are more invested in short track racing and own vehicles, often modified, in the spirit of California street rods. For this contingent, the main area of interest is exploring how much “power and speed you can get in a quarter of a mile.” One member in particular takes great care in modifying and rebuilding Jeeps for specific classes of racing.

Wing has been an admirer of cars since his youth. His first car was a black 1956 Chevy 210. This led to an interest in sports cars, and his first purchase was a 1968 blue Triumph. Living in Germany ignited and further fueled Wing’s interest in Porsches, which eventually led to the purchase of a 1988 Porsche 911.

Wing was particularly drawn to Porsche and Lamborghini because he could “relate to them; they’re cars you often see on the street.”

And when he caught sight of the changes in the 911 design in 2001, he invested in a silver Porsche turbo 911.

Wing also collects model cars, remote-control cars and Daytona International Speedway memorabilia. His interest in automobiles has even cascaded into art appreciation. He owns a number of Glenn Appleman pieces, signed by the artist, including a ceramic taxi sculpture and white Packard convertible cookie jar.

Normally, members find out about the Dunwoody Country Club through the website, word of mouth or by seeing the club exhibit their cars at events, but Wing has been known to do some recruiting, too. After spotting a dark green Austin-Healey at the Dunwoody Country Club a few years back, Wing placed a flyer on the windshield, which led to a new member joining the club.

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COURTESY OF CHUCK WING AND THE DUNWOODY DRIVING CLUB

1935 Auburn Supercharged Boattail Speedster

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The Dunwoody Driving Club usually coordinates about four events a year. Plans are in the works to showcase the club’s cars April 18-22 at Brook Run Park during Lemonade Days, an annual festival hosted by Dunwoody Preservation Trust. Wing is also planning a member trip in the spring to Streetside Classics, a showroom in Lithia Springs where members can take a peek at cars that are sold on consignment.

Previous years have brought great experiences with Cars and Q for the Cause, an event sponsored by Choate Construction and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, scheduled for April 21 this year.

The club has also been to The Cofer Collection in Tucker, located behind the Cofer Brothers Lumberyard. Members were particularly excited to admire the range of classic Cadillacs and Buicks showcased. Another favorite group trip was to the Porsche Experience Center in Atlanta, where members had lunch at the restaurant on site and toured the museum.

“We try to do things with everyone’s agreement and just have a nice day together,” Wing said. He proudly keeps a detailed scrapbook filled with photos of cars, member letters, flyers from past events, stickers and event memorabilia. The scrapbook features members and some of the more notable cars that are or have been a part of the Dunwoody Driving Club.

Some of the unique cars that Wing has seen over the years include a Ford Cobra that was retrofitted for a driver with disabilities, and a Boattail Speedster that can only be shown in certain circumstances. “With no power steering or power brakes, if there’s rain, this is the kind of car you can’t bring out,” Wing said. Many cars also cannot be driven in parades, especially around the Fourth of July, because they tend to overheat so easily.

Which car has gotten the most attention? Wing immediately broke into laughter and said, “I’d like to do a story on all the people who ogled over one of the cars—a restored VW bus.” Though the club member has since sold the vehicle, Wing admits it was a highlight for a lot of Volkswagen fans.

PHOTO BY JULIE E. BLOEMEKE

Chuck Wing holding a poster from his latest trip to Daytona International Speedway, a trek he tries to make each year.

“Women especially gravitated to it,” he said, adding that almost every person who made conversation had a personal VW bus story to share.

Refurbished and festooned with “hippie memorabilia” the two-tone green bus had been overhauled inside to include a refrigerator, carpeting and tapestries from Mexico. “It certainly got a lot of attention,” Wing said.

For more information or to fill out an application to join the Dunwoody Driving Club, please visit dunwoodydrivingclub.com.

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MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Battling hunger one backpack at a time Backpack Buddies provides weekend meals for elementary school students

By Donna Williams Lewis Ice and snow had paralyzed Atlanta for two straight days, but at the first sign of thawing, Ronald and Samra Robbins headed out on their weekly mission.

They were off to a former storage room at Dunwoody’s Congregation Beth Shalom, a room filled with shelves of food and work tables. This space has become operations central for Backpack Buddies, a program launched by Ronald and Samra in November.

Backpack Buddies provides six weekend meals for 50 children at Kingsley Elementary School, where 55 percent of 500 students qualify for free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch. “Twenty percent of all children in America go to sleep hungry at night. That’s an incredible number when you think of all the money sent

overseas,” Ronald said.

Kingsley Principal Melanie Pearch said Backpack Buddies has been “a great example of the community and school working together.”

“Ronald reached out to us, and it’s just been awesome,” Pearch said. She says the program has helped show families that their school is a resource for them. She’s also happy with the way students have responded to the program.

“What’s so cool is there’s like no stigma attached to it at all,” Pearch said. “There’s such a level of respect.”

‘It’s a wonderful feeling’ At 10 a.m. on that frosty Friday, Ronald and Samra were in position at Congregation Beth Shalom, greeting nine volunteers, some familiar, most new. Some

of the program’s volunteers come from the synagogue. Others have come from the community, hearing about the program through neighborhood networks.

The heavy lifting had been done before any of them got there.

At least once a month, Ronald, 70, and Samra, 67, visit the Atlanta Food Bank to pick up 600 to 800 pounds of nonperishable food. They load the food into their SUV, then drive to the synagogue and unload it all.

Today’s weekly task, normally done on Wednesday mornings, was to sort 16 specific foods into each of 50 small bins: four protein products, two vegetable items, two cereals, two fruits, two milks, two juices and two snacks.

Once a month, a jar of peanut butter and crackers is added to the mix. This was the week.

Carla Wertheimer, a self-

PHOTOS BY DONNA WILLIAMS LEWIS

Volunteer Carla Wertheimer loads nutrition bars into bins for the Backpack Buddies program at Dunwoody’s Congregation Beth Shalom, as program co-founder Ronald Robbins looks on.

employed landscape architect, was one of the newbie volunteers that day. “I’m not working so much anymore, and I like to volunteer,” she said. “I grew up volunteering, and that’s what we teach our kids—to give back.”

Lidet Yilma packed food with her sons, Nebiyou, 7, and Henok,

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6, who attend Vanderlyn Ronald and Elementary School. “We Samra also have just wanted to help out in done Backpack the community, and this Buddies since was a perfect opportunity,” 2011, when Ronald Yilma said. initiated a program “It’s cool,” Nebiyou said, at their synagogue Backpack Buddies “packing up food for kids in Savannah, Ga. co-founder Samra who don’t have it.”

More than 25 similar Robbins.

Beth Shalom Rabbi Mark programs are in Zimmerman said people want to operation there, they said. help each other, but they often need Childhood sweethearts at a structure in which to participate Atlanta’s Grady High School who and channel their efforts. married in 1969, Ronald and Backpack Buddies provides Samra moved around the country such a structure, he said. during Ronald’s 32 years with the “It’s an awesome idea, Ford Motor Company, settling in and it affords us a wonderful Savannah after he retired. opportunity to do good works in They moved back to Atlanta the community and help families last April to help one of their out in this way,” Zimmerman said. three daughters with her “It’s a wonderful feeling.” medical needs. They joined By 10:45 a.m., the bins were Beth Shalom in June and right filled and volunteers were bagging away set to work proposing a up their contents for delivery to Backpack Buddies program.

Kingsley, where school personnel Quickly winning approval from would place them in backpacks the synagogue’s board of directors, provided by Backpack Buddies. they got busy raising money, Students are called to pick securing storage space and getting them up from the office on approved by the Atlanta Food Bank, Fridays and they return the which charges a small handling fee backpacks on Mondays, so the per pound of food received. cycle can begin again.

Backpack Buddies also accepts food donations, and Samra usually shops several times a month at grocery and dollar stores for items One in every four children in they need when the Food Bank Georgia struggles with hunger, doesn’t have them. according to Feeding America, a Kingsley Elementary was national hunger-relief network selected for the program of 200 food banks, including the because it was close. Students Atlanta Food Bank. were prioritized, parents signed Backpack Buddies is far releases, and on Nov. 1, Backpack from alone in its efforts to fill Buddies was up and running, the weekend food gap. Through serving 25 children. By January, Feeding America’s “BackPack they were up to 50, and they hope Program,” bags of food are to serve 75 children by April. assembled at more than 160 food “We’ve had to move a lot of banks around the country and boulders along the way,” Robert distributed to more than 450,000 said. “We really don’t take ‘no’ children at the end of the week, for an answer.” according to the program’s website.

Their goals are to serve 100 The Atlanta Food Bank works students at Kingsley next year, to fill kids’ weekend food gap increase volunteer participation by partnering with groups such from their synagogue, and to as the one launched by Ronald encourage others across the metro and Samra and a Coweta County area to start similar programs. nonprofit organization, Backpack “I think people are surprised,” Buddies of Georgia.

Samra said, “at how little time Launched in 2011, that group it takes to do something so currently serves about 550 important for so many children.” children “at risk” for hunger in 23 elementary, middle and high For more information about schools in the Coweta County Backpack Buddies, send an email School System, according to to robbin_r@bellsouth.net or to April Anderson, its founder and samrarobbins@gmail.com. president.

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Nurse navigators lead patients through the maze of healthcare

Getting through the maze of our new healthcare system is daunting, especially for people who have been mostly healthy throughout their lives. It takes a medical dictionary and skilled expertise—or if they’re lucky, a personal nurse navigator.

A patient can face 25 to 40 medical appointments in a matter of 90 days when first diagnosed with cancer or another serious medical problem. In fact, for some cancers, there’s a surgeon, radiologist, social worker and geneticist, Judith L. Kanne, along with a physical therapist.

RN, BSN, BA Nurse navigators work directly with is a registered nurse and patients to guide them through the confusing freelance writer who lives in Atlanta. pathways of health-related networks. These professional registered nurses have the experience, compassion and clinical knowledge needed to offer information and assistance. Their purpose is to help patients and their families understand what’s needed and how to get it.

And everywhere you look, the healthcare industry is supporting this unique role.

“There’s no doubt nurse navigators have maintained a critical role in quality cancer care,” said Katie Beaver, oncology nurse navigator with Emory’s Winship Cancer Institute.

However, ask any nurse, and they’ll say their role has always included navigation, and certainly helping patients understand a new diagnosis.

Some RNs suggest that Medicare’s ups and downs have helped place nurse navigators front and center for patients diagnosed with everything from severe arthritis to melanoma, or even diabetes care.

With more than 70 specialties in the Emory Healthcare Network, it’s no wonder that Winship Cancer Institute’s nurse navigators are “connecting the dots for their patients.” The goal behind their cancer care specialty is to reduce patient anxiety, expedite treatment and improve outcomes, explains Beaver.

“My first introduction to a patient can be anywhere,” Beaver said. “I try to paint a picture of what this means for them and what a typical plan will look like moving forward.”

She says that her first approach may vary. “Some patients are distraught, others are in shock or haven’t fully grasped the diagnosis, and yet some patients are perfectly composed and ready to take action,” Beaver said. “I begin, wherever I see a need.”

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Her rewards come through comforting a patient That’s when they introduced their Navigate4Me who is extremely anxious and offering them some program. The program relies on nurses and “other highly peace of mind, she says. “My colleagues and I help trained customer service advocates.” patients reach a specialist within a specific time frame.

This year, UnitedHealthcare plans to expand We assist them in comprehending their choices when it Navigate4Me to serve their Medicare Advantage plan comes time to make informed decisions.” participants who experience sudden health events, such as An important aspect of what they do is helping patients see serious injuries or a new diagnosis. the big picture. “With a nurse navigator, patients may have a “People receive needed care when they’re at the doctor’s better understanding of their treatment plan,” Beaver said. office or inside a clinic or hospital, but they often lack “It’s the navigation discussions that can lead to peace of the support, coordination and guidance they need in mind for the patient and family,” Beaver said. “It’s when the navigating the system,” said Brian Thompson, CEO of patients begin to understand why they’re doing what they’re UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement. doing.” Then their advocates and nurses can help patients “Navigate4Me is about walking side by side with make educated decisions for their care. the people we serve, and those closest to them, to help COURTESY OF WINSHIP CANCER INSTITUTE According to some medical historians, navigation anticipate, understand and address their healthcare OF EMORY UNIVERSITY seemed to evolve from what was called “utilization needs—one person at a time,” he said.

Oncology Nurse Navigator Katie Beaver review.” Others say it stemmed from cancer care.

Nurse Sandy Finamore-Albably, case manager for Either way, it’s a very good thing.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia, notes that all their Utilization review is the close examination of healthcare case managers are nurses. They, too, follow patients on a personal services a patient is receiving, with an eye toward improving level, helping them navigate the system. quality and eliminating unnecessary procedures and costs. It She recalls one situation where a spouse contacted a case required nurses to check medical records and look at the many manager. The patient had a debilitating diagnosis at the time. The “barriers to treatment or timely discharges,” said Lillie D. Shockney, skilled nursing benefits were exhausted. The husband and wife in an American Society of Clinical Oncology article. didn’t know what to do or where to turn.

Today, navigators have found their way into all areas of “Our case manager was able to help,” said Finamore-Albably. The healthcare, including Medicare Advantage Plans. For example, family viewed her as “a lifeline,” based on her year-long support for people facing some of the “most complex health issues, including the couple. This likely prevented multiple re-hospitalizations, says diabetes, congestive heart failure or multiple chronic conditions Finamore-Albably. might be connected with a single point of contact,” according to Our nurse case managers take a personal interest in every patient’s UnitedHealthcare’s press release last November. well-being, she said. “That’s our job.”

INSPIRED BY A SENSE OF FAMILY

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MARCH 2018 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

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ROAD TRIPS

Seven Museums for Specialized Tastes

By Joe Earle When you think of the word “museum,” does a big, dusty building come to mind? Think it must house endless rooms packed with inscrutable paintings, antique furniture or glass cases filled with exotic animals?

Well, think again. Metro Atlanta has its share of big museums, but there are plenty of smaller, specialized ones filled with surprising collections.

We’ve picked seven. They cover topics as varied as the history of money and the development of aviation. Looking for a change to see something amazing or simply to learn something new? Check out these little museums.

Atlanta Monetary Museum Ever wonder just what a million bucks looks like? Or a bar of gold? You can find out in

Friday at 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Tickets: Free. Guided tours, offered for groups of 10 to 30 people, must be booked in advance.

For more information: frbatlanta.org; click on “About the Fed,” then “Tours,” then “Atlanta Monetary Museum.”

Midtown, where Atlanta’s Federal Reserve Bank houses a museum of everything to do with money.

Museum displays recount the history of money from barter to bills and the history of banking in America. The history also showcases rare coins and currency and provides a look inside the Fed’s cash-processing operations, where millions of dollars are counted, sorted or shredded daily.

Location: 1000 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta 30309 Hours: Monday-Friday: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Group tours are offered by appointment Monday through

Center for Puppetry Arts Puppet Museum Mingle with Muppets and learn about puppets from around the world. The center for Puppetry Art’s museum provides a home to Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and other Jim Henson creations as well as displays highlighting the international history of puppetry. The center also offers regular puppet shows.

Location: 1404 Spring St. NW, Atlanta 30309 Hours: Tuesday-Friday: 9 a.m.-5

p.m.; Saturday: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday: noon-5 p.m. Closed Mondays and major holidays.

Tickets: $12.50 for museum admission. $16.50 for museum admission and guided tours of the World of Puppetry collection.

More information: 404-873-3391, puppet.org

Michael C. Carlos Museum The Carlos Museum, located on Emory University’s campus, turns 100 next year, but its century barely compares to the antiquity of many of the items it houses. This museum provides a place to view

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some really old stuff: Egyptian mummies and coffins, Greek and Roman sculptures, Mayan carvings. The Carlos also hosts traveling shows, including one set to run until November on “divine felines,” cats in ancient Egypt.

Location: 571 South Kilgo Cir., Atlanta 30322 (on the campus of Emory University) Hours: Tuesday-Friday: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday: noon-5 p.m.

Closed Mondays and university holidays. Tours are offered at 2 p.m. on Sundays, excluding major holidays.

Tickets: $6 for seniors, students and visitors aged 6 to 17; $8 for adults; free for children aged 5 and younger, museum members and Emory University students, faculty and staff.

For more information: 404-727-4282, carlos.emory.edu

Delta Flight Museum Up, up and away! The Delta Flight Museum occupies original 1940s-era Delta Air Lines hangars minutes from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The museum, started in 1995, promises a chance to check out historic aircraft dating to the 1920s; to see the only fullmotion flight simulator open to the public in the United States (and to fly in it, if you’re 16 or

older and are willing to pay $420 an hour for four people); and to learn the history of a company that started as a crop-dusting operation and grew into one of the world’s largest airlines.

Location: 1060 Delta Blvd., Bldg. B, Dept. 914, Atlanta 30354 (at Delta Air Lines’ headquarters) Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Wednesday: closed; Sunday: noon-4:30 p.m.

Tickets: $12.50 for seniors; $15 for adults; $10 for ages 5 to 17; free for children aged 4 and younger.

For more information: 404-715-7886, deltamuseum.org

Gone with the Wind Margaret Mitchell’s Civil War novel “Gone with the Wind” and the blockbuster movie it spawned are such a big deal in Atlanta that it has conjured not just one, but three metro museums dedicated to it.

In Marietta, the museum known as Marietta Gone with the Wind Museum: Scarlett

on the Square boasts one of Vivien Leigh’s gowns from the movie, several of Mitchell’s own copies of the novel, promotional material from the movie and one of the movie scripts.

In Jonesboro, the Road To Tara Museum is located in the city’s old train depot and promises displays of items from the movie alongside Civil War artifacts, including a section of rail twisted into a “Sherman’s necktie.”

For more information: 770-478-4800, atlantastruesouth. com; click “Gone with the Wind,” then “Road to Tara Museum.”

Marietta Gone with the Wind Museum: Scarlett on the Square Location: 18 Whitlock Ave., Marietta 30064 Hours: Monday-Saturday: 10 a.m.5 p.m. Closed Sundays and major winter holidays.

Tickets: $6 for seniors and students; $7 for adults; $5 each for groups of 15 or more.

For more information: 770-794-5576, gwtwmarietta.com

In Midtown, the Margaret Mitchell House allows visitors to see the place where “Peggy” Mitchell gave literary life to Scarlett, Rhett and the rest of the Tara crew.

Road to Tara Museum Location: 104 N. Main St., Jonesboro 30236 Hours: Monday-Friday: 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Saturday: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Closed Sundays and Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Tickets: $6 for seniors and children aged 6 to 12; $7 for adults.

Discounts for groups of 12 or more.

Margaret Mitchell House Location: 979 Crescent Ave. NE, Atlanta 30309 Hours: Monday-Saturday: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sunday: noon5:30 p.m. Opens at noon o n July 4 and is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Tickets: $10 for seniors and students; $13 for adults; $5.50 for visitors aged 4 to 12; and free to children 3 and younger.

For more information: 404-249-7015, atlantahistorycenter.com; click on “Explore,” then “Destinations,” then “Margaret Mitchell House.”

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MARCH 2018 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

15

PETS

GARDENING

The Eyes Have It!

Enjoy fresh potatoes this summer by planting them now

Pet Pick Margo is a 2-year-old calico beauty, and she’s on the hunt for her new best friend! She’s quite the affectionate lap cat who loves spending time with her people. She loves to play and pounce and enjoys climbing tall cat trees and watching birds fly by the window.

You’ll be happy to know that Margo is spayed, microchipped and up-to-date on all vaccinations. She’s a wonderful little cat who’s sure to provide a lifetime of smiles!

Margo would love to meet you at the Atlanta Humane Society Howell Mill Campus located at 981 Howell Mill Rd., Atlanta 30318. Call 404-875-5331 or visit atlantahumane.org to find more loveable pets and learn about becoming a volunteer.

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MARCH 2018 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

PHOTO BY R KHALIL FROM PEXELS

When it comes to plant them about four vegetable gardening to five inches down in in Georgia, most the mounded soil with people think they the eyes facing up. Pat need to wait until down the soil so each April. However, piece is in place and there’s a crop you then cover them with can start in March, straw. and it’s a staple in Once the potatoes most households. start producing sprouts, That popular crop is Sarah E. Brodd layer on more soil and potatoes. straw. Potatoes like is an Agriculture and Irish potatoes to grow underground Natural Resource Agent for are harvested in without any sunlight.

UGA Extension in DeKalb the summer but are County. She enjoys educat- Continue to keep them ing the community about started in March. well covered until they horticulture and working They’re fairly start to flower. with her great group of easy to grow and When the potatoes DeKalb Master Gardeners. produce a good begin to flower, amount when you may decide to harvested. dig out some of the small Potatoes grow from “eye “new potatoes” that are just potatoes.” These are not grocery underneath the top of the soil. store potatoes. At any seed and These have tender skins and feed store or garden center, a delicate flavor. If you want you should be able to find eye the big Irish potatoes, however, potatoes. They look like small you’ll have to let them mature. potatoes with eyes on them.

You’ll know it’s time to To grow potatoes, you’ll need harvest your potatoes when all to start with well-draining soil. the sprouts and leaves above Potatoes will not grow in clay. the soil start to turn yellow They need soil that includes and die. Carefully dig up your compost and is nice and loamy. potatoes, taking care not to For your planting bed, add soil puncture them. to make rows that are about Store your fresh potatoes one and a half feet apart and in a cool, dry place, and don’t one foot deep. wash them until you’re ready to Cut the eye potatoes so there cook them. are two eyes on each piece and

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PERSONAL FINANCE

Ask Rusty: Estimated vs. Actual Benefits

by AMAC Certified Social Security Advisor Russell Gloor

Dear Rusty:

I’m going to stop working in October 2018 at age 62. I don’t want to start drawing my Social Security then (at age 62, it would be $1,005/month; normal retirement is 66 years, 4 months, $1,454/month). I don’t plan on taking another job. I plan to start taking my benefits at my normal retirement date.

Will my benefits at normal retirement be reduced for each year I don’t work or will they remain at the current amount? Is there a certain percentage they reduce them or a formula they use?

than the estimate.

There is no simple percentage of reduction used when you have no earnings between age 62 and your full retirement age; rather, the standard 35-year benefit calculation formula is used. That formula takes your highest earning 35 years to arrive at your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings and then computes your benefit amount from that average.

Since most people have their highest earnings in the latter years of their working career, continuing to work up to the point of collecting Social Security is often a good strategy because those higher earning years will be included in the benefit computation. It’s possible, but not usual, to have all of your highest earning 35 years earlier in your career, in which case stopping work at age 62 would not affect your full retirement age benefit.

So, in your specific case, since you wish to stop working at age 62 and delay Social Security

until you have reached your full retirement age of 66 + 4 months, I suggest you WIKIMEDIA COMMONS first get your earnings statement from your Social Security account and review your earnings history; remember that your prior earnings will be adjusted for inflation before computing your benefit.

From your earnings statement, determine if your 35 highest earning years will have already been attained by the time you’re 62. If they have, your benefit when you apply at full retirement age should be close to the estimate; if they’ve not, and you stop working, your benefit will be a little less than the estimate.

Keep in mind that your actual benefit amount will not be final until you actually apply.

Note too that Social Security will start adding a cost of living adjustment to your estimated benefit amount once you reach 62 years of age even though you

are not yet collecting, which means you’ll get those cost of living adjustment increases when you finally apply for benefits at full retirement age.

ABOUT AMAC The information presented in this article is intended for general information purposes only. The opinions and interpretations expressed are the viewpoints of the AMAC Foundation’s Social Security Advisory staff, trained and accredited under the National Social Security Advisors program of the National Social Security Association, LLC (NSSA). NSSA, the AMAC Foundation, and the Foundation’s Social Security Advisors are not affiliated with or endorsed by the United States Government, the Social Security Administration, or any other state government. Furthermore, the AMAC Foundation and its staff do not provide legal or accounting services. The Foundation welcomes questions from readers regarding Social Security issues. To submit a request, contact the Foundation at info@amacfoundation.org.

Signed: Planning for Retirement Dear Planning:

Okay, so let’s first tackle the question of your estimated retirement benefits at age 62 and also at age 66 + 4 months which is your “normal” or full retirement age. These benefit estimates, which you’ve gotten from your My Social Security account at the Social Security website, assume your current earnings level will continue until you reach your full retirement age.

If you instead stop working at age 62, your actual benefit when you finally start collecting could be less than the estimates they gave you. This is because your benefits are based upon the highest earning years in your work history. If some of the years used to compute your estimates are the assumed earnings between now and when you reach full retirement age, and if you instead have no earnings in those years, your actual benefit will be less

MARCH 2018 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

17

THE ARTS

Learn to Needlepoint!

Private help sessions Warm soc environmeial nt

The Nature of Beauty Sally Eppstein brings her artistic touch to Blue Heron Nature Preserve

By Isadora Pennington

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The right care at the right time At Addington Place and Manor on the Square, we make it easy when you need assisted living and memory care Our Oasis Neighborhoods are the ideal solution for seniors who value their independence, yet need some assistance with daily living. You’ll enjoy a greater sense of security and community, while we provide the services you need in a comfortable place to call home.

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The Blue Heron Nature Preserve, located off Roswell Road in Buckhead, offers both natural and artistic beauty to visitors. The preserve’s unassuming driveway leads to 30 acres of meadows, creeks, floodplains and wetlands. Mill Creek and Nancy Creek run through the property, and visitors walk along several trails to wildlife viewing stations.

PHOTO BY GORDON CERTAIN About four or five times a year there’s Sally Eppstein with the artwork on display in the gallery, thanks to Blue Heron totem.

Sally Wansboro Eppstein, the preserve’s art director. Exhibitions she’s pulled together include work by local sculptors and the Georgia Women’s Caucus for Art, and photographs displayed in collaboration with Atlanta Celebrates Photography. An annual six-week outdoor art installation is centered around Earth Day weekend.

“Having art outside, as opposed to having it in a gallery, is freeing, free, fun and challenging,” said Eppstein, who is an artist herself. She came to her role as art director after she installed a totem on the property in 2014 and Nancy Jones, the founder and now retired executive director, asked her to join the team.

Eppstein’s personal work has evolved throughout the years, from an emphasis on jewelry and painting to larger-than-life totems.

After some time, she began to focus mainly on the imagery of feathers and their patterns, colors and shapes.

“I love how each feather has an elegant beauty with its delicate features,” she said.

Nature has long been the source of Eppstein’s creativity, and she credits her childhood spent just down the street from a facility now known as the Hidden Forest Equestrian Center in Augusta.

“The happiest times in my childhood were playing in those woods discovering the wild muscadines, frogs, turtles, the smell of the pines…with my friends or in solitude,” she said.

As Eppstein developed her style and incorporated new techniques and forms of media, she has continually embraced bright, bold, energetic and fun palettes. “I like to describe my art as Pop Art for the natural world,” she said.

Currently, she’s focusing on a new body of large-scale native flowers and wildlife by the name of “Going Native” and recently completed a sculpture of a Brown-eyed Susan flower and butterfly.

It was thanks to an inspirational outdoor art installation class taught by Brian Rust at Augusta State University, and later an artist workshop at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia, that Eppstein was inspired to “go big.” She was encouraged to do more public art when she saw the success of Art on the BeltLine, which exhibits free, temporary art installations that include sculpture, murals and photography along Atlanta’s BeltLine.

Over the years, there have been times that Eppstein’s career as an artist has taken a back seat to work or family obligations. Now that her son is about to leave for college, she’s gearing up to fully devote herself to artwork again.

She said that she has been surrounded by people who support her creativity. Her parents enrolled her in art classes at the local YMCA at an early age. Married to an engineer, she cites his unwavering assistance as being one of the key factors that allows her to work in a large scale and help her with logistics and troubleshooting.

“I believe that if my husband was not so busy he’d love to help me 100 percent of the time,” she said. “I’m so grateful to have such a supportive partner.”

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Blue Heron Nature Preserve Spring Events Twilight Hikes March 31 & April 29, 7:30-8:30 p.m.

Get a different view of the preserve as the shadows lengthen and dusk rolls in.

The hike is held through the Woodland Loop in March, and through Emma Wetlands in April.

Preparing Delicious Nutritious Meals in Your Home So That You Don’t Have To Now Serving the Following Areas

The Art of Nature April 20 through June 1 Local artists exhibit work inspired by nature, in nature.

Walk the trails of the Woodland Loop and experience art in the trees and around every corner.

Earth Day Celebration April 21 Gardeners of every experience level are invited to buy seedlings of native plants and get gardening tips from local garden clubs and gardeners. This event is held annually on the Saturday closest to Earth Day.

Greater Atlanta PHOTO COURTESY OF SALLY EPPSTEIN

Arbor Day April 27 Visit the preserve for a relaxing hike among the trees.

To learn more about artwork and programming at the Blue Heron Nature Preserve, go to bhnp. org/the-arts, call 404-946-6394 or visit the Preserve at 4055 Roswell Rd. NE, Atlanta 30342. It’s free!

Alpharetta Brookhaven Buckhead Chamblee Dunwoody East Cobb

Emory Johns Creek Lindbergh Marietta Midtown North Decatur

North Druid Hills Northside Paces Ferry Peachtree Hills Roswell Sandy Springs

404-914-7252

leslie.chapman@chefsforseniors.com Chefsforseniors.com/atlanta

T H E R E ’ S N OT H I N G R U N - O F -T H E - M I L L A B O U T L I F E A T A R B O R T E R R A C E H A M I LT O N M I L L .

Arbor Terrace offers a beautiful, carefree retirement lifestyle filled with comfortable living spaces, great amenities and plenty of opportunities for golfing, shopping, or visiting with friends, old and new. When you call or stop in, we’ll put you on our Priority List – so you’ll have the opportunity for special savings on select apartments while they last!

Live the life.

CALL (770) 285-5625

TODAY TO LEARN MORE OR ARRANGE A TOUR.

3577 Braselton Highway, Dacula, Georgia 30019 arborhamiltonmill.com

MARCH 2018 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

19

►Out & about The Arts

The 36th Annual Great American Cover-Up Quilt Show Mar. 9-18.

Bulloch Hall Quilt Guild hosts a special exhibit of quilted art which represents the 59 designated National Parks in the U.S. Each National Park is represented by three originally designed quilted illustrations, for a total of 177 quilts. You can learn more about the project at npscentennialquilts.com. Bulloch Hall admission is $7 for seniors; $8 for adults; $6 for children; and free for ages 6 and under. Bulloch Hall, 180 Bulloch Ave., Roswell 30075. For more info, call 770-992-1731, visit bullochhall.org or email BHQGShow@gmail.com.

The Addams Family Runs through Mar. 11, Thursdays & Saturdays, 7:30 p.m.; Sundays, 1 & 5 p.m.

Based on the characters from the original cartoons and ‘60s television series, “The Addams Family” shows how spooky things get when daughter Wednesday falls in love with a respectable man. Ideal for all ages, this is the 25th production of Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta Jerry’s Habima Theatre, Georgia’s only theatrical company directed and produced by professionals and featuring actors with special needs. Member tickets are $25, $10 for ages 12 and under; community tickets are $35, $15 for ages 12 and under. MJCCA’s Morris & Rae Frank Theatre, 5342 Tilly Mill Rd., Dunwoody 30338. For tickets, call 678-812-4002 or go online to atlantajcc.org/habima.

When living alone is no longer an option...

call us to find out how Georgia Medicaid can help you or your loved one find affordable care & housing in a licensed personal care home.

Call (770) 466-7771

GEORGIA HEALTH SERVICES NETWORK Medicaid Provider for Personal Care Homes: SOURCE,CCSP, ICWP

155 Bankers Boulevard, Monroe, GA 30655

*As a licensed Georgia Medicaid Provider GHSN does not charge any fee for assessment and placement

www.georgiahealth.us 20

MARCH 2018 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

Art—the play @ dk Gallery Runs Mar. 16-18, Friday & Saturday, 7:30-9:30 p.m.; Sunday, 3-5 p.m.

Winner of the 1998 Tony Award for Best Play, “Art” raises questions about art and friendship. When an art-lover purchases an expensive, completely white painting, it raises differing opinions on art among friends.

Seating is very limited. Admission is $40 and covers the performance, drinks and delectables served throughout the evening. dk Gallery, 25 Park Sq., Marietta 30060. Purchase tickets through brownpapertickets. com; visit dkgallery.us or call 770-427-5377 for more info.

Book Talk + Signing: Steve Berry, The Bishop’s Pawn Sunday, Mar. 25, 7 p.m.

Part of Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta’s A Page from the Book Festival. New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry, who hails from Marietta, Ga., presents his newest thriller.

“The Bishop’s Pawn” is a riveting tale of adventure that involves recurring hero Cotton Malone, a former Justice Department operative. Cost is $15; $10 for MJCCA members. Morris & Rae Frank Theatre, MJCCA, 5342 Tilly Mill Rd., Dunwoody 30338. For information, call the MJCCA Box Office at 678-812-4002 or visit atlantajcc.org/bookfestival.

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Assisted Living | Memory Care The 3 Redneck Tenors Tuesday, Mar. 27, 7:30 p.m.

Part of The Arts Council Signature Series.

The 3 Redneck Tenors were top 10 finalists on “America’s Got Talent” and have been thrilling audiences since 2006. The show is a musical comedy featuring classically trained veteran artists from Broadway and world opera stages. Individual tickets are $30 for seniors (65+); $32 for adults; and $23 for students. Pearce Auditorium at Brenau University, 202 Boulevard, Gainesville 30501.

Call 770-534-2787 or visit TheArtsCouncil.net for more info and tickets.

Learn Something The History of Norcross & History of Duluth Book Talk & Signing

Offering Resources for Family Caregivers

Sunday, Mar. 11, 3 p.m.

Join authors Edith Holbrook Riehm, Gene Ramsay and Cate Kitchen to hear stories from their book “Images of America: Norcross.” Norcross Cultural Arts & Community Center, 10 College St., Norcross 30071.

Thursday, Mar. 29, 7 p.m.

Spend an evening with S. Lorraine Norwood as she discusses her book “Images of America: Duluth.” Duluth City Hall, 3167 Main St., Duluth 30096. Both events are free and open to the public.

Books will be available for purchase and signing.

Learn more about Gwinnett Public Libraries events at gwinnettpl.org.

As Alzheimer’s disease progresses and the normal forms of communication are lost, families need to learn new ways to connect. Join us to gain insight into how communication takes place when someone you love has Alzheimer’s.

You’ll learn how to decode verbal and nonverbal behaviors and identify strategies to help you connect and communicate through every stage of the disease.

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES Wednesday, March 28 | 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Nutritional Health Fitness for Seniors Friday, Mar. 16, noon-2 p.m.

There are two steps to becoming physically healthy—working out and making healthy eating choices. For some, choosing to eat healthy is the hardest decision to make. Comforting Arms presents information Continued on page 22

Presented by Kayley Fleming, Family and Community Services Manager, – Georgia Chapter Lunch will be served.

We call it home.

Margy Manchester

g3 celebratin 0 years in the heart of Buckhead.

Resident since 2006

“I’ve been involved with the community since 1960 and I was on the very first board here at Saint Anne’s Terrace. It’s a beautiful part of town and the best part about living here is the wonderful family atmosphere in which everyone gets along.”

Please call to RSVP by Monday, March 26 – and bring a friend!

678.752.4016

creekside.providentvillage.com 4838 South Cobb Drive | Smyrna, GA 30080

CALL US TO SCHEDULE YOUR VISIT 3100 Northside Parkway, NW Atlanta 30327 www.saintannesterrace.org • 404-238-9200

MARCH 2018 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

21

THE ZABAN TOWER

Continued from page 21

on nutritional challenges for seniors, proper eating, portion control, food safety and much more. Cost is $5 for Cobb residents; $6 for nonresidents. North Cobb Senior Center, 3900 S. Main St., Acworth 30101.

To register learn more, call 770-975-7740 or visit cobbcounty.org.

You’ve worked hard to build your assets, manage your home and raise your family. So why can’t you afford a quality, active senior community?

You can.

The Zaban Tower’s studio and one bedroom apartments offer the comforts and conveniences you deserve with an affordable monthly rent customized just for you.*

Spring Container Gardens Wednesday, Mar. 28, 1-3 p.m.

Terri Carter with Cobb County/UGA Cooperative Extension Services leads a hands-on class on how easy it is to create your own spring container garden containing lettuce, greens and herbs. Terri will also bring seeds for planting and demonstrate how to make a healthy salad dressing for your container-grown greens. Bring one large garden container and three plants (lettuces and herbs). Free; registration required. Senior Wellness Center, 1150 Powder Springs St., Suite 100, Marietta, 30064. Call 770-5285355 to get details and register, or visit cobbcounty.org.

Elegantly Renovate d Common Areas

Special Events

Independent Living on the beautiful campus of The William Breman Jewish Home

Rescue Dog Olympics

404.751.2255 | zabaninfo@wbjhome.org | www.JewishHomeLife.org 3156 Howell Mill Road, NW Atlanta, GA 30327 *Amount of federal rent assistance varies. Must meet age income qualifications set by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Assets are not considered income, but can be used to pay for supportive services. Call 404.751.2255 for details.

Saturday, Mar. 17, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Here’s a festival to celebrate rescue dogs and their forever families!

It’s a fun-filled day with competitions that include toss and fetch, lure chase and an agility course. There are events like the St. Paw-trick’s Day Dog costume contest and a pet rescue fashion show. Admission is free, and all leashed dogs are welcome. BrookRun Park, 4770 Peachtree Road, Dunwoody 30338. Visit rescuedogolympics.com to get the details.

How do you know your heart’s healthy?

We can Help. The Know Your Heart screening can

determine your risk of heart disease, stroke and other serious conditions — things you may not even be aware of. It’s simple, fast, affordable, and provides insight into your heart’s overall health. Your test results will be reviewed with you by a WellStar Cardiovascular Medicine healthcare professional.

You can’t SEE your HEART.

Packages Available Starting at $49 Call 770-956-STAR (7827) to learn more or schedule an appointment.

All services performed at WellStar North Fulton Hospital 3000 Hospital Blvd, Roswell, GA 30076

wellstar.org

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MARCH 2018 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

18-WNFH-0005 CardiacCampaign -Senior_Life 10x6.185 Senior_Life 10x6.185.indd 1

2/2/18 2:23 PM facebook.com/AtlantaSeniorLife

The Model Train Show Saturday & Sunday, Mar. 17 & 18. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Piedmont Division of the National Model Railroad Association sponsors the show and will raffle off a complete train layout with Digital Command Control. Visitors can view old or new trains and shop from the more than 250 model train dealer tables. The public is invited to bring excess model railroad equipment to sell at the White Elephant tables. Admission for both days is a one-time charge of $10 for adults; ages 12 and under get in free, as do scouts and service members. Cobb Galleria, Exhibition Hall A, 2 Galleria Pkwy., Atlanta 30339. Get details at themodeltrainshow.com.

All-Inclusive Personal Care Home close to Emory, VA Hospitals & CDC Located within Clairmont Place, it’s a non-profit community offering assisted living services at an affordable monthly fee.

16 acres

& 5 acre lake

678-686-6170

2100 Clairmont Lake, Decatur, GA www.assistedlivingatMontclair.com

ShamRockin’ for a Cure Saturday, Mar. 24, 7 p.m.

It’s a party with a purpose. You’ll help support the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation while you enjoy a night filled with music, delicious foods and adult beverages as well as silent and live auctions. Early bird tickets are $105 and increase to $115 as the event gets closer. This event is for people 21 and older only. Verizon Amphitheatre at Encore Park, 2200 Encore Pkwy., Alpharetta 30009. Contact Ginny Conrad at 404-325-6973 or vconrad@cff.org , or visit shamrockinforacure.com to find out more.

SCOTT ANTIQUE MARKETS America’s Favorite Treasure Hunts!

MARCH 8, 9, 10 & 11

2ND WEEKEND H EVERY MONT

WHERE ONLINE SELLERS GO TO BUY! Atlanta Expo Centers - Atlanta, GA Show Hours:

Directions: 3 miles East of Thurs. 10:45am-6pm Atlanta Airport, I-285 at Exit 55 Fri. & Sat. 9am-6pm (3650 & 3850 Jonesboro Rd SE) Sun. 10am-4pm

Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival Saturday & Sunday, Mar. 24 & 25. Saturday, 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Now in its fourth year, Brookhaven celebrates the Cherry Blossom Festival in Blackburn Park with live entertainment, an artist market, a food court, classic car show, 5K race and more. Blackburn Park, 3493 Ashford-Dunwoody Rd., Brookhaven 30319. For more info, go to brook.splashfestivals.com.

ONE coupon per person.

Expires: 3-12-18

www.scottantiquemarkets.com TM

740.569.2800

Celebrate the Plate 2018 Saturday, Apr. 7, The 4th annual Casino Night is presented by the Meals on Wheels Young Professionals Board. Individual tickets are $65. Paris on Ponce, 716 Ponce de Leon Pl., Atlanta 30306.

For details, visit mealsonwheelsatlanta.org or email Lbejarano@ mealsonwheelsatlanta.org.

SUBMIT YOUR EVENT LISTING WITH US AT

editor@AtlantaSeniorLife.com

RESOURCES directory DOMESTIC SERVICES Female Care-giver 18 years’ experience

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• Care-giver • Chauffeur

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Mention Atlanta Senior Life for a $125 discount when pre-planning

Exceptional Value Outstanding Service

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To advertise, call 404-917-2200 ext 110 justTRASHit!

JUNK REMOVAL & RECYCLING

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We Haul Away: We Clean Out:

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*Basements *Garages *Attics *Offices *Storage units *Estate sales

Hearing Aids Decatur Hearing Aid Service Over 40 Years Experience!

404-299-1141

917 N. Indian Creek Drive • Clarkson, GA 30021

www.DecaturHearingAidService.com

MARCH 2018 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

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MARCH 2018 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

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