MAY 2018 - Atlanta Senior LIfe by Atlanta Senior Life from Reporter Newspapers

Senior Life Atlanta

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may 2018 â&#x20AC;¢ Vol. 3 No. 5 | AtlantaSeniorLIFE.com

ENGAGE AT EVERY AGE

A Celebration of Aging page 8

Up and Away!

Story on page 4

Contents May 2018

COMING UP You and Your Pet In June

COVER STORY Up and Away

HISTORY A High-Flying, Living Museum

23 14

ENGAGE AT EVERY AGE

8 14 16

Older Americans Month Celebrates Aging

Beyond the Studio

HEALTH A Triad of Health Conditions to Avoid

TECHNOLOGY Smart Speakers & Home Devices

GARDENING Plan Ahead for Pumpkins

PET PICK Imelda

FOOD Tasty Tacos

MAKING A DIFFERENCE Furry Friends Brighten Patients’ Days

28 29

16 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.

CALENDAR SPOTLIGHT A Legacy of Love

Editorial Kathy Dean Contributing Editor kathydean@atlantaseniorlife.com

OUT & ABOUT

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

ON THE COVER Retired pilot Willard Womack, left, visits the Peachtree City hangar that serves as home to the Dixie Wing of the Commemorative Air Force as mechanic Andy Cash works on one of the group’s planes. PHOTO BY JOE EARLE

The Active(ism) Life of Susan Firestone

Contributors Julie E. Bloemeke, Sarah Brodd, Russell Gloor, Judi Kanne, Donna Williams Lewis, Isadora Pennington, Gene Rubel, Soojin Yang Advertising For information call (404) 917-2200 ext 130. Sales Executives: Melissa Kidd, Jeff Kremer, Janet Porter, Jim Speakman

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Published By Springs Publishing LLC

6065 Roswell Road, Ste 225, Sandy Springs, GA 30328 Phone: (404) 917-2200 Fax: (404) 917-2201 Circulation/ Subscriptions For distribution information, call (404) 917-2200, ext. 110.

© 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.

Steve Levene Founder & Publisher stevelevene@reporternewspapers.net (404) 917-2200, ext. 111 Amy Arno Director of Sales Development amyarno@reporternewspapers.net (404) 917-2200, ext. 112 Rico Figliolini Creative Director rico@reporternewspapers.net (404) 917-2200, ext. 117 Deborah Davis Office Manager deborahdavis@reporternewspapers.net (404) 917-2200, ext. 110

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COMING UP

You and Your Pet Can Be Stars The August issue of Atlanta Senior Life will feature older adults (age 50+) and their pets. Send us a digital photo of you and your pet (or pets) and you may see yourself in this special section. Photos should be high-resolution with all persons and pets identified. Send your images by Friday, June 8 to Kathy Dean at kathydean@ atlantaseniorlife.com.

coming In June Whether it’s pop, rock, country or classical, the music doesn’t stop for musicians as they age. Meet some older adults who are still rockin’ on! June is Men’s Health Month!

Karen Lynn with MiMee and Louey

PIXABAY

Pharan Evans with Golden

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1This initial interest rate is effective for new annuities with a minimum premium deposit of $20,000 issued on or after March 14, 2018 for the first 5 contract years only. Thereafter, the company may declare at its sole discretion a new rate which could be lower. This initial rate is also subject to change for new contracts at our sole discretion at ANY TIME. Surrender charges and market value adjustments apply to withdrawals in excess of the accrued interest during the “guarantee periods” which are 5 years. There is a 30 day window at the end of each 5 year guarantee period where you may withdraw all or part of your annuity value without application of surrender charges or market value adjustment. A new guarantee period and surrender charge period will begin after the end of the previous ones. The surrender charge is 9 percent in the first year and declines by 1 percent each year for the next four years and repeats for each successive period. Annuities are long-term savings vehicles that are subject to limitations and conditions, state availability and certain suitability requirements. Please see the applicable product brochure that is available from your licensed insurance professional for details. Annuity contracts issued by Fidelity & Guaranty Life Insurance Company, Des Moines, IA. www.fglife. com. No bank guarantee. Not FDIC/NCUA/NCUSIF insured. May lose value if surrendered early. Subject to state availability.

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MAY 2018 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

COVER STORY

Up and Away

No age limits for the love of flying Pat Epps with his airplane at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport.

By Joe Earle When Doug Ellis was trying to decide what he would do in retirement, he thought of flying. He enjoyed playing golf and going fishing, but neither seemed to offer enough of a diversion to fill his days after he moved on from his job as a textile company executive. Flying, on the other hand, “was a great fit for my retirement years,” he said. He’d taken lessons on how to pilot a small plane when he was in high school and had flown while in college and in the years that followed, he said, but he’d slowed down as he grew older. In his forties, he stopped flying altogether. “I took a sabbatical for about 20 years,” he said. But he missed it. “I love to fly,” he said. So, at age 63, he bought a small airplane and once again took to the skies. He recently turned 82 and still takes his plane, which

PHOTOS BY JOE EARLE

he’s nicknamed “Cricket,” out and provides transportation Ellis plans to continue flying regularly for short hops and for patients in six southeastern as long as he can. He won’t be for longer excursions. He and states. He says getting involved alone up there. Federal Aviation his wife have crisscrossed the with Angel Flights “gave me Administration reports show country sightseeing from the air. purpose” in retirement. that about 14 percent of the “She’s a wonderful navigator,” he said. “She loves to have a chart in her lap to see where we are.” Ellis also takes Cricket out several times each month for trips organized by Angel Flight Soars, an Atlantabased nonprofit that provides free air transportation for seriously ill patients who must travel to distant cities for treatment. He’s on the board of the organization, which lists more than 900 volunteer pilots Doug Ellis holds a map he marks with red lines to record the places and routes he’s flown.

MAY 2018 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

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609,305 certified pilots in the U.S. are aged 65 or older. Federal regulations say that air carrier pilots must retire at age 65, but there’s no age limit on flying. As long as a general aviation pilot can pass the mandatory physical examination, he or she can stay in the air, the FAA says. Ellis keeps Cricket at Fulton County Airport in northwest Atlanta. Long-time pilot Pat Epps keeps his aerobatic Beech hangered at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport in Chamblee, where he owns Epps Aviation, a fixedbased operator at the field. Epps has been flying since he was in high school. He comes from a flying family; his father, Ben T. Epps, designed and piloted the first airplane to fly in Georgia, only about four years after the Wright Brothers’ initial flight. Pat Epps flew in the U.S. Air Force and is one of five brothers and a sister who earned pilot licenses. Pat Epps, his father, and his oldest brother, Ben T. Epps Jr., all have been inducted into the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame, according to the hall’s website. Pat Epps just flies for pleasure these days. He said he still tackles acrobatic movements, cutting circles in the sky just as he did when he was younger. “It’s just a skill,” he said. He says younger pilots joke that he flies “old-man acrobatics… a ballet as opposed to quick or action-packed acrobatics, nothing daredevil about it.” Flying, he said, provides “some sort of freedom. You feel that you’re not constrained by lanes on the highway. You not constrained by up and down. You see some beautiful sights— moonrise, sunrise, sunsets….” And he enjoys the challenge, the adventure. “Every flight is different. Maybe you’ve seen it 100 times before, but then the wind changes a little bit [creating] another problem you have to solve. Flying has always been expensive and it’s still expensive, but those of us who are fortunate enough to make a business of it are able to enjoy the fruits of our labor. “It’s satisfying. I don’t know that I look at it as ‘fun.’ It’s still

a skill. Every flight is another challenge, another test of your skill, to see if you’re still OK.” George Harrison also sees each flight as offering challenges to overcome. Retired from the U.S. Air Force, where he flew fighters and reached the rank of Major General, he now keeps a small Swift airplane at Falcon Field in Peachtree City, where he lives. At age 77, he flies two or three times a week, he said. “It’s just a nice rewarding thing to do,” he said. “Every day is different.” One recent afternoon, Harrison joined a group of men gathered at the hangar and office building operated by the Commemorative Air Force, which is operated by aviation enthusiasts who want to keep World War II-era airplanes flying. The Dixie Wing, the chapter located at Falcon Field, owns seven planes, included a North American P-51 Mustang. At one point in the afternoon, Harrison drove a golf cart to the edge of the airport taxiway for a chance to see and hear up close the P-51s takeoff on a practice flight. Willard Womack, an 81-yearold retired airline pilot, also was spending that afternoon at the Commemorative Air Force hangar. He has given up flying, he said, but he still enjoys being around airplanes and other men and women who also like being around them. “I just love airplanes,” he said. “When you’re an airplane nut like me, and I have been since I was 7 or 8 years old, that’s all I ever wanted to do was fly,” Womack said. “It’s a love affair between me and the machine.” He especially enjoyed touring the country by air. “Even when I was flying for an airline, I liked looking at geography of the U.S. and [seeing] the history,” he said. “I’ve flown over Fort McHenry [in Maryland]. I flew over Yorktown [in Virginia]. If you study history, you can see it from the air as you move around the U.S.” In his 19th-floor office overlooking Cobb County, Ellis keeps a folding map marked with bright red lines showing flights he’s taken and places he’s been. Penciled lines run

George Harrison visits the shop at the Commemorative Air Force hangar.

from coast to coast and border to border, showing he’s taken jaunts literally all over the map. “I’ve landed in every state in the Lower 48,” he said. He’s flown north to Canada and south to the Florida Keys and the British island Turks and Caicos. He’s covered the west. “I just love to fly the cross-country routes,” he said. “It takes me three days to get from Atlanta to Vancouver. I’ve followed the Oregon Trail, guidebook in hand. I’ve flown the Lewis and Clark trip. “Flying the southwest [U.S.] is just beautiful. My favorite flight of all is leaving San Francisco, going down the Coast Range down to Death Valley and landing in Death Valley and seeing the altimeter go to minus 250 [feet]. That’s a beautiful flight.” He has no intention of keeping to the ground any time soon. “I plan to fly as long

as I’m healthy,” he said. He’s known of a pilot still flying at age 94, he said, so “I’ve got a long way to go.” What keeps him heading back into the clouds? “Just the act of flying,” he said. “The freedom of being in the air in your own plane…. I love it. I just love it.”

Don’t Miss It! DeKalb Peachtree Airport presents its 2018 Good Neighbor Day Open House Airshow on Saturday, May 19, from 12 noon to 5 p.m. There’s no admission fee, and parking is just $10 per vehicle. Check out the performers, attractions and details at pdkairshow.com.

MAY 2018 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

HISTORY

A High-Flying Living Museum

The Commemorative Air Force keeps the past aloft

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MAY 2018 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

CAF’s PO-51 Mustang taking off from Falcon Field.

PHOTO BY JOE EARLE

By Joe Earle In the hangar, Andy Cash slowly and carefully fitted a rebuilt engine to the body of a World War II warplane. In a cluttered workshop nearby, Malcolm Lelliott was restoring a simulator used decades ago for training pilots. Outside, on Falcon Field’s runway, the engine of a 74-year-old P-51 Mustang roared loudly to life. On this quiet late winter afternoon, vintage aircraft enthusiasts had gathered at the Commemorative Air Force’s home building in Peachtree City with things to fix or to fly or to get ready to fly. “We have fun out here,” retired PHOTO BY JOE EARLE airline pilot Willard Womack said. Andy Cash works on an engine. “It gets us out of the house. There’s no doubt it keeps us young. It gives us a purpose.” Their purpose is to keep vintage warplanes flying. Womack, who’s 81, is one of about 300 pilots, mechanics and historic airplane enthusiasts who are members of the Atlanta-based chapter of the Commemorative Air Force. The Atlanta chapter, called the Dixie Wing, operates from a hangar and office building on Falcon Field in Peachtree City. The national organization, dubbed the Confederate Air Force when it was founded in 1957 and then formally PHOTO BY JOE EARLE renamed in 2001, started Malcolm Lelliott works on a flight simulator he is rebuilding for the Commemorative Air Force. in Texas. Its goal is to

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own, restore vintage and preserve in vehicles flying condition and combat aircraft aircraft. flown by the U.S. “This is military and a living selected aircraft museum, from other versus countries. a dead On its museum,” website, the Womack nonprofit CAF claims about 13,000 members said. nationally. Womack said the group owns The Dixie Wing also keeps its own small more than 140 aircraft, and that about 100 of museum of World War II artifacts. The PHOTOS COURTESY OF COMMEMORATIVE AIR FORCE, DIXIE WING Volunteers don period costumes during World War II them still are flying. The CAF claims it ranks museum, set in a corner of the hangar, Heritage Days celebrations hosted by the Dixie Wing as one of the largest air forces in the world. includes uniforms, military and civilian of the Commemorative Air Force at Falcon Field. The Atlanta chapter, among the larger ones, pieces, and hundreds of model airplanes. owns and operates seven airplanes, six of them World War II-vintage The museum includes a group of wooden toys from the 1940s, so guides planes. The seventh dates to the 1950s. The group’s showpiece is its 1945 can show visiting schoolchildren what they would have had to play with North American P-51 Mustang. during a time when metal was reserved for military usage. Dixie Wing pilots fly the plane around the country, offering But the main activity in the Dixie Wing’s building and hangar at 20-minute rides to fans for $1,600. “It’s one of our biggest Falcon Field remains preserving airplanes and their history. And that moneymakers,” said Womack, who has given up flying himself, but means keeping them flying. stays active with the wing. “It surprises people,” Womack said. “They look at the airplane and it Members pay $248 a year for membership. The group’s mechanics looks flyable, but they’re surprised it’s still flying.” tend the planes and the pilots fly them. “These are antiques being worked on by antiques,” joked mechanic Charles Kennedy, who turns 77 this year. For more info, visit: The wing exhibits its planes at air shows around the country. Dixie Wing planes will appear in about 10 air shows this year, Womack said. dixiewing.org Once a year, the group hosts a gathering at Falcon Field called World commemorativeairforce.org War II Heritage Days that brings together re-enactors and displays of

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ENGAGE AT EVERY AGE

Older Americans Month Celebrates Aging By Julie E. Bloemeke, Joe Earle, Judi Kanne and Donna Williams Lewis For the past 55 years, Older Americans Month has been observed in May. This year’s theme, Engage at Every Age, celebrates the many ways that older adults contribute to our communities. It also reminds us of the importance of staying active and involved as we get age. We asked several older Atlantans for their thoughts and insights about aging, and here is what they shared with us.

What do you enjoy about being an older adult? I enjoy the freedom to be myself even more. To not always get dressed up every day. I enjoy “senior discounts.” I enjoy the decades of memories in my beautiful head.

What advice do you have for younger people about aging? Aging is a gradual process. Tick tock. Make every moment count. If you are doing something good and something to help people and the planet your life will always be rich. Also save some money while you are young. Enjoy your money also. Relish all of your experience. The pleasant and not-so-pleasant make up the whole person. But remember that time passes very quickly. You may be in your twenties today, but look out... here come the 30s, 40s and beyond. Trust your gut and your instincts in every situation. If your Grandma or Grandpa give you advice or ask you to do something, take heed.

What is the most positive or surprising experience you’ve had as an older adult?

Pat Beatty Volunteer and board member of the community group We Are Neighbors Helping Neighbors, member of Community Emergency Response Team for Dekalb County

The most surprising and pleasant thing about getting older for me is that my thirst for knowledge and experience has become even more insatiable. I feel like I want to absorb everything. Know everyone. Go everywhere. Yummy!

What are some common misconceptions about aging that you’d like to dispel? There are many misconceptions: a. older folks do not like to have fun; b. we do not still love and enjoy sex and loving intimate relationships; c. we are no longer useful in the workplace; d. that we are not a force to be reckoned with in the political arena.

randa barto

Retired director of the Blonder Family Department for Special Needs at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta.

Avid traveler

What is the most positive or surprising experience you’ve had as an older adult?

mark perloe, m.d. What advice do you have for younger people about aging?

One of my grandsons recently said to me, “Grammy, you can really move your body around well for a woman of 68.” I love him even more because he was off by 10 years—I’m 78!

Give up trying to keep score. Many of us have a mental book where we write down and keep score on who has done us wrong. Forgiveness is a powerful way to find peace and feel connected to others who can enrich your life.

MAY 2018 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

What do you enjoy about being an older adult?

susie davidow

The freedom to do what I want, when I want, without concern for what other people think.

What advice do you have for younger people about aging? I could say eat your vegetables and all that, but I’ll just say enjoy every stage of your life.

What is the most positive or surprising experience you’ve had as an older adult? I’ve been surprised at how courteous people are to me as an older adult. I’m grateful for the courtesy and respect.

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What do you enjoy about being an older adult? Being an older adult and living in a senior residence, we have the pleasure of choosing what we want to do. Things that we have to do (other than doctor appointments) begin to diminish because we don’t have house problems, and children and grandchildren responsibilities are, for the most part, pleasurable ones. It is the best time of our lives.

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What advice do you have for younger people about aging? Don’t pretend that it isn’t going to happen. Exercise and good health are vital ingredients to Retired CEO and volunteer teacher a good life. Start planning when you begin work and be diligent in saving and investing. Having a family mandates action. Proper insurance is a necessity. Any plan is better than no plan.

brandt ross

What is the most positive or surprising experience you’ve had as an older adult? Being lucky to have a wonderful family and having had great life experiences, every day is a blessing. Stay active and engaged and stay away from negative people.

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What do you enjoy about being an older adult? One thing is being retired. That’s top of the list. I don’t have to ask anyone if I can be off to go somewhere. It feels free.

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What advice do you have for younger people about aging?

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Be anxious for nothing, be patient. That’s one of my favorite Bible verses. Be thankful and prayerful and make your requests known to God.

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What is the most positive or surprising experience you’ve had as an older adult?

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The wisdom that I’m now able to show, and having people listen to me and respect me.

What advice do you have for younger people about aging?

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Don’t worry about it. Aging is only the opportunity to gather real data from the experiences of life. Aging is the mechanism to have the time to do the gathering. Today, aging is only a state of mind and if you keep your mind young, then you will maintain the outlook of youth, but from a perspective based on the knowledge you have acquired along the way. It’s fun to have many of the answers to life’s questions from the position of ‘been there and done that.’

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What do you enjoy about being an older adult? The very best part of being an older adult is having grandchildren. Life’s gravy!

What advice do you have for younger people about aging?

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Make sure you save enough money so that you can enjoy yourself.

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MAY 2018 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

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What is the most positive or surprising experience you’ve had as an older adult? I love having a retired husband. Special time together.

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What do you enjoy about being an older adult? I love the freedom I now have to choose my own schedule and activities. I have more energy to try new activities and challenge myself. I am much more outspoken now.

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What advice do you have for younger people about aging?

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Do everything possible to keep yourself healthy. Prepare yourself financially for your ‘golden years.’

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What is the most positive or surprising experience you’ve had as an older adult?

Retired teacher COMING IN APRIL! COMINGIN INAPRIL! MAY! COMING

Many of my most rewarding experiences have come during personto-person exchanges with the Friendship Force of Greater Atlanta [a travel club]. We share our planet with a lot of fascinating people, and I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to meet many of them and to experience their cultures.

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Continued from page 11

What advice do you have for younger people about aging?

greta glenn Actor and board member of Atlanta Theatre-to-Go

My advice to younger people on aging is that you are never too old to have fun!! When I was a child, my siblings, some of the neighborhood kids and I would put on talent shows on our front porch. We had so much fun then! Now, in my golden years, I get to participate in professionally produced stage plays and films that are even more fun!! There is a car commercial on TV that says, “adults are just kids with bigger toys.” Life does not end after retirement! You can still have fun!

What do you enjoy about being an older adult?

Freedom to make each day different, if I want to do so. And have a routine as well. As an older adult, still in very good health and blessed with needed financial resources, I feel free to pursue just about anything I want. I love to exercise my body and my mind, I love to travel, I love to volunteer and advocate, I love to be in touch with friends around the world. Atlanta has so much to offer older adults—a great symphony orchestra, theaters, museums, adult education classes, parks and walking trails, MARTA.

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MAY 2018 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

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What advice do you have for younger people about aging?

lee buechele Actor, director and board member of Atlanta Theatre-To-Go

Beware the Statue of Liberty Fallacy! I’ll explain. I grew up 20 miles from New York City. Folks were always visiting the Statue of Liberty. From some vantage points nearby, I could see it. Every time I had a choice, I decided: ‘Today I’d rather... whatever. I can always visit some other time.’ Fast forward—I’m 69 years old, lived around the U.S., in Europe and Korea, traveled extensively, and never visited Lady Liberty! So the advice is: Take advantage of opportunities when they arise. Don’t assume you’ll get a second or fourteenth chance.

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What do you enjoy about being an older adult?

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I enjoy my freedom. Everything I do now is because I want to. I don’t feel the pressure to please or impress others as much. I launched a career at age 65 that is keeping me busy and fulfilled. I have control over my schedule, so I can also do fun things, but I feel like the discipline of working keeps me young.

What advice do you have for younger people about aging? It will happen. You have a lot of control over how it occurs for you, but you will age. Think about what you want to accomplish and stay focused on meeting your goals. Try not to meet other people’s goals. Even if what you want to do is off-the-wall, you are better off doing it than not. Also, life is a lot longer than you realize. You have plenty of time to enjoy lots of different aspects of it.

susan longley Personal coach, fitness trainer and AEA certified water aerobics instructor

What is the most positive or surprising experience you’ve had as an older adult? I always exercised, but much of it was competitive, such as running marathons. Now I find that I enjoy being active for its own sake. I’m surprised at how easy it has been to maintain my health and fitness. I realize that I do a lot with diet and exercise that many people don’t do, such as following a mostly vegan diet, but for me it is totally worth it not to have any health problems.

What are some common misconceptions about aging that you’d like to dispel? That you have to become mentally and physically unhealthy. There will be some decline in your abilities as you age (there are no Olympians in their 70s), but not enough to make you ill. This is another aspect of staying true to yourself, because what you will find when you get older is that you have maintained the abilities that you have put the most focus on. Olympians do end up winning medals in the Senior Olympics. And accomplished writers still publish books in their 80s and artists still paint and sculpt. One woman I know had her family in her 20s, and enjoyed it so much that she adopted three more kids in her late 40s so she could do it again. So another reason to put that focus on what matters to you!

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MAY 2018 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

ENGAGE AT EVERY AGE

The Active(ism) Life of Susan Firestone By Julie E. Bloemeke Susan Firestone joined in heartily when members of a newer community group struck up an old spiritual as an icebreaker at a recent meeting. “Ain’t going to study war no more,” she and the others sang. She’s a member of the steering committee and the record keeper for the group, called Creating Community 4 Decatur. Recent focuses have included Black Lives Matter, school safety and finding an end to gun violence, issues important to Firestone, who believes it is crucial to “find some way to give back” to the community and who has dedicated her life to helping her neighbors. Through the years, the 68-year-old has found many ways to give back. She served in the Peace Corps in the 1970s, taught English in

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Thailand and at ELS Language Centers in Atlanta, lectured at Georgia State University, and now in retirement works with refugees and other immigrants in metro Atlanta. She recently translated hymns for refugees from the east African nation of Burundi who were struggling with a different style of worship after they were relocated to the United States. And she’s still active in her DeKalb County community through organizations such as Creating Community; Policing Education and Active Civic Engagement (PE+ACE), which seeks to improve communications between the community and local police; and through working with immigrant families. She is the founding Secretary of the organization. “We need to balance energy as we age,” she said. “We all have health issues, but don’t dwell on

MAY 2018 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

that. Think about what you can Karen Morris, a fellow member do versus what you can’t do.” of Quakers for Racial Equality, Recently, she has volunteered to help a family from Burundi navigate disability claims, medical bills and legal documents. Firestone acts as a facilitator during appointments involving legal counsel, Social Security and medical officials and helps to fill out paperwork. For the last three years she has volunteered two days a week to ensure the family also has been able to receive disability and medical services. “I have always loved learning about other cultures and ethnic language groups,” she said. She’s involved in her community in other ways, too. For 35 years, Firestone JULIE E. BLOEMEKE and her friend Susan Firestone has dedicated her life to advocacy and personal accountability.

4/2/18 6:15 PM

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have been participating in weekly phone calls to improve their awareness of themselves. “We share our lives. We are supportive of each other’s work,” Morris said. “I enjoy her friendship.” However, the phone calls have an additional mission. “We were conditioned [by our upbringing] to not to talk about race,” said Morris. “In our work with [the book] “Waking Up White,” we learn that things that seem natural and normal, we have to unlearn.” The phone calls, she said, are a way to “hold ourselves accountable for our own racist thoughts and actions. We talk about how we heard something

and didn’t speak up, or how we can keep going forward in lifting up Black Lives Matter and AfricanAmerican voices,” said Morris. Firestone said the point of the continuing conversation is for participants to improve themselves. “The emphasis is not on guilt, but about on how we move forward,” she said. “[It is] teaching people awareness. [We need to] get out of defensive or the guilt mode and [examine] what is happening in society. How can I look at places I’m involved in and how can I look at what is happening on a systemic level, raise awareness and do more about that?”

So, whom does Firestone herself admire? Without missing a beat, she launches into a joyful description of her African dance instructor, Najiyyah Nashid, who teaches Afridancercise at the Decatur Recreation Center. “Ms. Nashid inspires me,” Firestone said. “She says, ‘You always want to be a student.’” Plus, she said, “she is one of the most generous, giving people

I know. She makes everyone feel welcome in that class.” Firestone also draws inspiration from Frances Pauley, a civil rights activist who, like herself, was born in Ohio and moved to Georgia. Pauley remained active into her 90s, Firestone said, and once gave her a piece of advice she still tries to follow: “Look for someone you can help and focus on them.”

Find out more about the mission of Policing Education and Active Civic Engagement (PE +ACE) at policecommunitysafety.org. Volunteers are encouraged to get involved.

the costume making that happens before performances. The dancers often pick the fabric together, and some members even sew their own costumes. Most of the fabrics either come from or reflect the heritage of West Africa or the Ivory Coast. For more information on Afridancercise, visit decaturga.com, click on City Government and scroll to City Department, then click on Active Living, and finally Active Adults & Seniors. Info is also available by contacting Sara Holmes, Adult Programs Supervisor, at sara. holmes@decaturga.com or 678-553-6559.

Family Fun Day with LIVE BIRDS! COURTESY OF SUSAN FIRESTONE

Left to right, Sharon Hutchinson, Muhjah Hassan and Susan Firestone perform a Kwanza dance in 2016 with Afridancercise.

Afridancercise Is for Everyone

Come meet Wendy, the Barn Owl

By Julie E. Bloemeke Susan Firestone performed contra dancing from 1980 until 2015, and she studied modern dance in college. While she was drawn to trying African Dance, she says she was “a bit too scared” to give it a whirl. After meeting Najiyyah Nashid, her worries vanished. “She was so welcoming, the group was so welcoming, and she adapts to whatever abilities the students have,” Firestone said. There’s a strong sense of community among the dancers, who range in age from 50 to 78. They’re known for helping each other when sick, and for COURTESY OF SUSAN FIRESTONE 2014 Kwanza dance performance, in modifying dance routines to back, left to right, Ginger Jackson, Sharon include people with mobility Hutchinson, Najiyyah Nashid, Susan Fireissues or physical ailments. stone and Muhjah Hasson. Seated, left to Firestone says she also admires right, Sherri Carr and Kody Allen.

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MAY 2018 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

ENGAGE AT EVERY AGE

WHO IS

JenCare? Dr. Latoya Lee is now accepting new patients!

At JenCare Senior Medical Center, we believe that every senior deserves the highest quality healthcare. We listen carefully to your needs and make ourselves available to you 24 hours a day. I am pleased to announce that I am now accepting new patients. And as your doctor, I want to see you every month, whether you need care or feel great. That way we can improve your health and prevent issues from turning into something more serious. You'll also enjoy other JenCare services, such as: Respectful doctors who listen Dedicated specialists Medications provided on-site On-site tests and screenings Door-to-doctor transportation available Call (404) 649-9298 to schedule a tour or make an appointment and learn about all JenCare has to offer.

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MAY 2018 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

PHOTOS BY ISADORA PENNINGTON

At his workshop, Lonnie Holley transforms discarded and found items into works of art.

Beyond the Studio

Legendary artist Lonnie Holley talks art and life By Isadora Pennington

Crow era, he has faced plenty of struggles and strife. His initial Lonnie Holley paced back and foray into art came on the eve of forth in his Atlanta workshop, part one such tragedy. He crafted metal of a one-time metal foundry used castings to produce tombstones for working on trains. “To me, art for his sister’s two children who is an offering,” he said. Something died in a house fire, and he hasn’t caught Holley’s eye—a small scrap stopped creating since. of stained white rope and ripped “Somehow or another we’ve red fabric laying nearby on the got to take the bad things of life, floor. or that which has been thrown Inspired, Holley pointed out that away, and reconsider it and give the colors are patriotic it new value,” Holley and said that with a said. blue straw, he could When he sees turn it into a flag. In something that has his hands, the scrap is been discarded, the transformed. He sees wheels start spinning everything as material and he immediately with potential. sees artistic uses for “Once we have the item. His folk realized what our art sculptures come capabilities are, it’s like together organically, we come to attention with the design within ourselves, and being born of both we realize how great his vision and the PHOTO COURTESY OF THE HIGH our offerings are to MUSEUM OF ART available materials. “Finally Getting Wings the values of brainMany of Holley’s for the Forty-First Floor” smithing,” Holley said. more well-known by Lonnie Holley. “Brain-smithing,” he works feature faces explained, is when one “works the in profile shaped from wire. His brain” at any idea. work can be seen in galleries and Holley is originally from museums from Massachusetts Alabama, one of 27 still-living to New Orleans, with several of siblings. Growing up in a large, his pieces on display as part of impoverished family in the Jim the permanent folk art collection

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of the High Museum of Art in Atlanta. He has also been featured in books, movies and is widely regarded as one of the South’s pre-eminent folk artists still creating work today. Holley explained how working diligently towards one’s purpose, in his case creating sculptural offerings out of found objects, is the utmost goal, and he quoted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s spoken address to high school students in Philadelphia: “Be a bush if you can’t be a tree. If you can’t be a highway, just be a trail. If you can’t be a sun, be a star. For it isn’t by size that you win or fail. Be the best of whatever you are.” His workspace is a massive one, with sculptures hanging from the rafters and protruding from boarded-up windows. In one window frame sits a sculpture made of a tangle of items. Holley outlined the concept behind it. Not a single thing was out of place, each scrap was incorporated with intent and consideration of the piece as a whole. He explained that the tennis shoes, the musical instrument, the wine bottle, barbed wire, mechanical bits and all the wires, cords and string in the window were recovered after a series of storms. The piece—and the slave ship sculpture made of wire, string and a metal fence that sits in front of it—represent both physical and metaphorical storms and how we as humans weather them. An upper level is reachable only by a ladder. A piano, a newspaper box, lawn figures, bowling pin and mannequins flank the open central space. Each item has a significance for Holley—if it hasn’t been used for an art piece yet, it will be. “I find things that other people have thrown away,” he

Holley explains his creative process.

The slave ship, in foreground, and storm remnant sculpture, in window frame, represent physical and metaphorical storms.

said, gesturing at the stacks of antiques and broken or discarded items scattered throughout the room. “But where is ‘away’? We say we ‘throw away’ something, but where is ‘away’?” He laments the way that people deal with refuse, in particular by burying it in landfills and out at sea. Ultimately even our own bodies end up being wasted, in his eyes, through the process of embalming and entombed in a box, a concept which doesn’t sit right with Holley. “What am I afraid of? One day all of this stuff is going to come crashing out,” he said. “We don’t see it because the water washes it away from the shoreline, and we don’t see it anymore. But that island of plastic and trash and materials floating on the ocean’s edge is because of that wash away.” Holley paused, looked around his space and remarked, “Everything in here could be washed away.” At the open-air loading dock outside of his workshop, Holley gathered discarded items from a pile. He lined up the tangle of wire, metal and cement and, describing their merits, he began to build. “It’s all about balance, you see,” Holley said as he bent wire with his calloused hands and assembled the pieces. For this sculpture he needed a strong base, so he found a bit of cement with protruding metal rods. He was only getting started, and it would be another day until the work of art was finished.

Your Life. Your Plan.

Experience the Lenbrook Difference. Everything about this life plan community is designed to offer new experiences and a new perspective on life. Lenbrook is a vibrant and beautiful community with amenities galore. There are so many options every day—exercise classes, excursions, a meal with friends, or just relaxing. Lenbrook also offers a full range of excellent health care, if the need arises. Plus, it is the only not-for-profit senior living community in Atlanta to earn national accreditation. Visit lenbrook-atlanta.org to learn more about the Lenbrook Difference. Or call 404-476-7526.

MAY 2018 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

HEALTH

A Triad of Health Conditions to Avoid Are you at risk for metabolic syndrome?

Check the mirror. Are you displaying a bit too much belly fat? The medical community uses a Do you also have an elevated blood sugar? Or perhaps your doctor long-named survey, the National has recently mentioned your high cholesterol number—or your high Health and Nutrition Examination triglycerides, a type of fat found in your blood. Survey (NHANES), which is PHOTO COURTESY OF TGA COMMUNICATIONS, LLC. That’s bad news for many reasons. designed to assess the Too much weight around the middle When found in combination, these conditions are called health and nutritional is one of the conditions that may metabolic syndrome and signal a good reason to make some status of adults and indicate metabolic syndrome. serious lifestyle changes. That’s because metabolic syndrome children in the United increases your risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke. States. It’s a unique study Dr. Mohammed K. Ali, associate professor of global in that it combines interviews and physical examinations. health at the Emory Rollins School of Public Health, is the According to the third edition of the NHANES, metabolic lead author of a recent paper published in “The Lancet syndrome prevalence actually increases with age. Only 7 Diabetes & Endochrinology,” which discusses metabolic percent of 20- to 29-year-olds need to fret about metabolic syndrome along with a prediabetes diagnosis. syndrome. By age 60, the syndrome’s prevalence is above 40 Judith L. Kanne, “Prediabetes is extremely common and it’s increasing,” percent, as reported by Harvard Health Publishing. RN, BSN, BA say Ali and his fellow researchers in the study. Ali and his fellow researchers analyzed data from 1988 to “What we’ve seen is that having high blood sugar levels is is a registered nurse and 2014 from NHANES and looked for both heart and kidney freelance writer who lives associated with a much higher risk of high blood pressure, issues associated with prediabetes for their study. in Atlanta. high cholesterol and an increased risk of having a heart It’s possible that one in three Georgians aged 60 and over attack in the next 10 years.” may have prediabetes blood sugar levels. That’s a lot of people — the The study found that over 11 percent of people with prediabetes U.S. Census reports about 1.5 million men and women over 60 years have some type of kidney dysfunction, which is an early predictor of age reside in Georgia; one third would mean about 500,000 senior that in the next 10 to 15 years, they may need to go on dialysis or Georgians may be at risk, and could greatly benefit by walking, eating receive a kidney transplant. right and quitting their tobacco use.

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MAY 2018 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

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According to many reputable health sources, including the Mayo Clinic, many people with metabolic syndrome appear as “apple-shaped,” meaning the majority of their weight is around their middles. It turns out that where a person carries his or her weight is an important health factor. There are, however, some positive things that can improve a person’s ability to change his or her current course of health. “Depending on the combination of blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol abnormalities that each patient has, I would advise them on the specific things they need to work on and treat,” Ali said. He adds that almost everyone can benefit from: • 30-minutes of moderate physical activity, such as a brisk walk; • eating four to five servings of raw fruits and raw or cooked vegetables each day; • reducing the processed and sugary foods, such as ice cream and sugar-sweetened beverages; • replacing fried foods with grilled foods; • and avoiding hidden sources of salt and sugar, such as those found in deli-type sandwich meats or flavored yogurts.

Where to Get Fit There are many programs in the area to help you get and stay fit. A popular choice for many older adults is SilverSneakers, a free fitness program for boomers and beyond that includes access to workout equipment at local gyms, as well as fitness classes — such as yoga and dance — at area park and recreation centers. Learn more at silversneakers. com. Click the “Locations” link for a list of gyms, churches and community centers that offer SilverSneakers programs in your neighborhood. Senior centers and YMCAs have a variety of sports and fitness classes and events for all ages. You’ll find group walks, pickleball tournaments, aquatics classes and much more. Visit AtlantaSeniorLife.com and click on Resources for details on senior centers and YMCAs in the north metro Atlanta area.

“Adding olive oils and a handful of raw (unsalted) walnuts or almonds to one’s diet is also helpful for brain and heart health,” Ali said. It’s also important for anyone at risk to work closely with their physician and other healthcare providers to seek regular medical care. A once-a-year checkup may not be enough for someone who has been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, as it’s a lifelong condition, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Ali said that the most important message he could share is: “Eat what’s healthy to help keep your mind and body active for a long and healthy life.”

what to watch For The American Heart Association reports that the criteria to identify or diagnose metabolic syndrome requires the presence of three or more of the following risk factors. ■ Abdominal obesity: waist circumference ► More than 40 inches for men ► More than 35 inches for women ■ Fasting blood triglyceride levels of 150 mg/dL (milligrams/ deciliter) or more, or taking medicine for high triglycerides ■ Low HDL cholesterol levels or taking medicine for low HDL cholesterol ► Less than 40 mg/dL for men ► Less than 50 mg/dL for women ■ Elevated blood pressure of 130/80 mm Hg or higher or taking medicine for high blood pressure ■ Fasting glucose (blood sugar) of 100 mg/dL or more or taking medicine for high blood glucose OCT. 27 - NOV.

FEBRUARY 2 - 15, 2018

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Dunwoody Reporter

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► 35-day zoning, building moratorium issued PAGE 22

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join ► Cities asked to regional affordable housing policy PAGE 4

Ga. 400 ► Chair of park over ed nonprofit announc

in Ashford from enjoying playtime and son Theodore, 2, stop Damon Gabriel in the rain,” said Damon. A Sunday shower didn’t “Theo and I love this park and playingPAGE 15 Park on Jan. 28.

CHARLIE HARPER, OF POLICYBEST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

See COMMENTARY, page

Coping with a Crisis:

ELECTION DETAILS

Page 8

Opioid addiction in the

EDUCATOR

challenge Venues Westminster new city’s counselor wins $100K nationalliquor honor license fees

BY EVELYN ANDREWS s.net evelyn@reporternewspaper

’

OUT & ABOUT Gear up for the I finally figure d out holidays that a very effect ive and craftsat arts way to get back markets Page 18 at the offspring ... is to bombard them with Bitmojis.

holding the In a gigantic room of Atlanta” 359-foot-long “Battle perched along cyclorama, workers painting on lifts the 50-foot-high and iPads. Uswith paintbrushes and state-ofing old photographs are bringthey BAGBY BY DYANA the-art technology, back painting dyanabagby@reporternewspapers.net ing the 130-year-old appealing to life. 23 are local establishments Four See BATTLE on page renewing their althe city’s decision to deny ordinance approved cohol licenses after an license fees from late last year raised liquor to $100,000. approximately $5,000 Restaurant & Rush Lounge, Medusa and Josephine Lounge, XS Ultra Lounge on Buford Highway, Lounge, all located licenses liquor their were told in January Seefor 2018. would not be renewed STORY on page 8 revised alcohol See Robin’s Nest page 11 The reason? Under the See VENUES on page 13

MAX BLAU Larry and Peggy Lord display a childhood photo of their sons Ashby and Hunter. Ashby, at right, died of a heroin overdose last year.

BY MAX BLAU

n a Sunday afternoon last April, the moment PHIL MOSIER Larry Lord had dreaded for roughly two on Jan. 25. The museum decades finally happened. His Atlanta History Center painting. wife, Peggy, found of the painting at Buckhead’s their 35-year-old of Atlanta” cyclorama must first complete a major restoration son Ashby no longer works on the “Battle breathing in the this winter, but A painting conservator cyclorama exhibit basement of their plans to open the ranch home on Sandy Springs’ Mount Paran Road. She tried performing CPR and called 911. But nothing the paramedics did relocations of NCR, could revive Ashby corporate what clear after a heroin overdose. made

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T CHARLIE HARPER, OF POLICYBES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

OUT & ABOUT g’ ‘Dead Man Walkin author to speak at death penalty panel Page 8

Mayor Bottoms pledges to unite Atlanta in Buckhead speech

Larry was devastated. Like many family members after a death, he faced the task of writing an obituary so that newspapers and the funeral home could inform their loved ones. Larry, an architect, considered himself a problem-solv BY EVELYN ANDREWS er. evelyn@reporternewspapers.net

ay to

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Chef-driven restaurants coming to Dunwoody Gree n

EXCLUSIVE SERIES Life after death: Fami lies turn obituaries into protests against the stigma of addiction EXCEPTIONAL

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leaders: Amazon have tipped off to state State Farm and others corporate retention of high wage The recruitment and Those counthe tracks of transit. employers will follow need not apply. ities without transit ties and municipal

NOV. 7

Sandy Springs Reporter

Shooting his way to award-winning heights

See STANDOUT STUDENT

reporternewspa pers.net

VOTE TUESDAY

BY DYANA BAGBY - 15, 2018 • VOL. 12— NO. 5 dyanabagby@reporterne the controversial FACEBOOK.COM wspapers.net The rewrite of /THEREPORTER NEWSPAPERS Overlay District TWITTER.COM/ Brookhaven-Peachtree REPORTER_NEW The city of S reporternDunwoody’s Urban up confusion for dewas intended to clear newal Agency ewspaper s.net Reexpects to finalize for homeowners velopers and calm fears with a developer plans ► Democratic candidate the Brookhaven/ next month for living in the area near sign and constructi the des Station. But the City on of several for governor stake Oglethorpe MARTA rants as part restauout those in the of the long-plann Council member representing ed Dunpositions PAGE 4 woody Green project. new law will allow area is concerned the Economic Developm resremoves and density ent Director for much higher chael Starling Misaid the URA redevelopments. ► City to require is in the fiidents’ power to change nal stages of short-term refirming up a however, say the s.net contract officials, City developer rental with registration, Crim and Associates reporternewspaper issues and, for the to build write clarifies density about five or six restaurant licensing PAGE 2 a way to enforce s on about 2.5 acres in what’s first time, gives them designated as the city’s Project ADVERTISING density restrictions. SPECIAL Renaissance 3-1 at its Jan. 23 SECTION urban| P15-21 redevelopThe City Council voted ment plan. The restaurant the Overlay rewrite, s would be built around meeting to approve a small park in June and includspace. a process that began The acreage, at the intersectio until a few days beNorth ed public meetings up n of Shallowfo was aprd Road and overlay Dale and Dunwoody Michael Yoss Park, is part fore the vote. The original of the BBQ’n Hebrew of the Dunwoody in 2007. to hungry attendees Hillbillies were commercial Green proved by DeKalb County at the Atlanta site within the Kosher BBQ Festivalamong many cooks serving JOHN AWTREY larger ProjPHIL MOSIER ect Renaissan samples on Oct. 22 at Brook ce developme See DENSITY on page 22 Run Park. nt. “This is to be our Canton Street | P16-20 [in RoADVERTISING SECTION

Walking life toMan k es bac‘Dead author to speak at ‘Battle of Atlanta’ com A sneak penalty death at panel peek NCR, corporate relocations of Amazon made clear what leaders: have tipped off to state State Farm and others of high wage corporate The recruitment and retention countracks of transit. Those employers will follow the apply. without transit need not ties and municipalities

_NEWS

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Lining up for kosher barbecue

rternewspapers.net dyanabagby@repo MARCH 2

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12 — NO. 3

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Density questioned in new Overlay District rewrite

Watery fun for a dad and his son 2018 • VOL. FEBRUARY 2 - 15,

reporternewspapers.net

ORTER_NEWS

► Cities asked to join regional affordable housing policy

Keisha Lance BotNew Atlanta Mayor not neunite the city and toms promised to ead Coalition’s

First of a 4-Part Series

The combination of prescription painkillers, heroin and synthetic opioids is killing people around the nation, Reporter Newspapers including within communities. In this exclusive four-part series, we will look at how local prosecutors, recovering families, nurses, addicts and others are responding to a that already kills moregrowing epidemic people than cars, guns or breast cancer each year. To share your thoughts and stories, email editor@reporternewspapers.ne t

A doctor’s overview of the opioid crisis. See Commentary , page 10 ► Usually, he could sketch out new doors or windows to make design problems disappear. He’d written obituaries, too,

most recently for his first by’s mother, Shannon, wife and Ashafter she died from complication s of cancer. But the circumstances of Ashby’s life posed difficult questions in how to talk about his death. Euphemisms are a tradition of sorts for overdose victims. Their obituaries say that they left this world or entered eternal rest while glossing over how it happened. The reasons vary from not speaking ill of the dead to a fear that it might reflect poorly on the living. “For many years, you never saw the word ‘addiction’ in an obit,” says Dr. Frances Levin, a psychiatry professor at Columbia University Medical Center. “That’s because of the stigma related to Continued on page

New highway toll lanes could have major neighborhood impacts Excitement, wariness over Amazon HQ2 possibility See CHEF-DRIVE

N on page 12

BY JOHN RUCH johnruch@reporternewspape rs.net

New toll lanes on I-285 and Ga. 400 could tower 30 feet or higher over neighborhood s on elevated ramps, eat into back yards, and plug major interchanges into such local streets as Mount Vernon Highway and Raider Drive BY in BAGBY a state conceptual DYANA design that could start construction dyanabagby @reporternewspapers.net within five years. The “managed lanes” could have massive impacts With the on High neighborhood Street property character, local on Georgia’s traffic official and mass site list transit for options, its Amazon but the conquarters headcepts remain bid, residents largely unknown and officials to the aregeneral ing voicpublic. bothThe excitement city of Sandy and Springs wariness is protesting over the potential parts of city-sized the concepts complex and suggesting coming tosome town.alMichael but ternatives, andmostly Reneebehind Fraser the scenes. have The inGeorgia lived Dunwoody Department for 22 years. of Transportation They don’t’srefirst member public meetings ever seeing for the Ga. 400 lanes anything are exbut grass onpected the High to beStreet held late property this year inafter the conPerimeter Center ceptual near designs the Sandy are more solid. border. Springs A rare public display of the behind-theSee EXCITEMENT on page 22 See NEW on page 14

Read our other community publications Pick up a copy or read online at ReporterNewspapers.net

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. For families caring for loved ones struggling with memory loss, we offer Moments® Memory Care. Our cozy environment is designed exclusively to accommodate the unique needs of seniors with Alzheimer’s, dementia and other memory impairments.

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City fears new state laws would end local controls

BY JOHN RUCH

johnruch@reporternewspapers.ne t

The city fears that several new state legislative proposals would undo recent local laws, from apartment construction to pet sales. One example is a proposed law that would kill Sandy Springs’ restriction on using wood to build large multifamily housing complexes. The proposal is “disastrous” and would allow “cheap apartments,” Mayor Rusty Paul is complaining. But state Rep. John Corbett (R-Lake Park), the bill’s lead sponsor, says the law would simply allow developers to be free to choose See CITY on page 13

MAY 2018 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

TECHNOLOGY

Smart Speakers & Home Devices

The Smart Speaker & Home Assistant market is changing rapidly with new models being introduced all the time. Here’s a summary, as of April 2018.

Google Home Google Home—the original model, it retails for $129. There’s a base which comes in six colors and must be purchased separately. Google Home Mini—comes in either chocolate or coral and lists for $49.

PHOTO BY FABIAN HURNAUS FROM PEXELS

Amazon Echo smart speaker, with Alexa.

“Alexa, what’s the weather?” “Hey Google, play ‘Hamilton’ all over house.” “Alexa, raise the temperature 2 degrees.” “Hey Google, show ‘The Crown’ on TV.” “Alexa, turn up the lights in the den and unlock the front door.” Who would have thought when Amazon introduced the first Echo in 2014 that 20 percent of all American Wi-Fi equipped homes would have either the Amazon Echo or Google Home devices installed by 2018? These devices are much more than music players, and a new category of devices Gene Rubel has been created with Amazon in the lead, Google created the Digital Device catching up and Apple way in the rear. Doctor to help people naviThe devices are connected to your Wigate the multitude of devices Fi network and are voice activated. While and products by providing easy instruction on usage, several of the new Amazon Echo models device and product recomhave screens, they do not have keyboards. mendations and troubleThey can be managed with Apple IOS and shooting—eliminating the need to ask their children or Android apps. They listen quietly in the background, waiting for you to call out their grandchildren for help! name—”Alexa” in the case of Amazon, and “Hey Google” in the case of Google. There are some privacy concerns with these devices, but that hasn’t stopped millions of consumers buying them. The Amazon and Google devices allow you to play music, make phone calls and connect to other devices. Amazon has integrated its technology into its TV offerings and Google integrates nicely into its Chromecast technology, which gives you access to many streaming services, including Netflix, YouTube and Hulu. The Amazon Echo family has a feature recently implemented which may be of great interest to families with older adults living independently. It’s possible to configure multiple Echo devices as an intercom within a home and, more importantly, to connect other users outside the home who have a compatible Echo device. Once the connection is made, you simply say “Alexa, drop in on Mom.” Mom’s Alexa turns on and you can chat across town or across the world. It works very well. In my home, it has even replaced shouting: “Dinner’s ready!” We have three Echo models in our home and two Google Homes as well. There is no compatibility between the different brands, by the way. Amazon, having just withdrawn its entry of a smartphone due to poor sales, was roundly criticized for introducing a device in 2014 that wasn’t really needed or wanted. The conventional wisdom was that Apple always is the leader with device innovation, starting with the iPod and going on to the iPhone, the iPad and the Apple watch. Not anymore! Amazon has the lead and is hard pressed to meet customer demands with about 32 million units projected for sale in 2018.

MAY 2018 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

Google Home MAX—includes better speaker components, comes in chalk and charcoal and lists for $399. It’s meant to provide similar speaker quality as the Apple HomePod.

Apple Apple HomePod—a powerful speaker system that sounds amazing. It comes in space grey or white and sells for $349, directly from Apple.

Amazon Echo Original Echo—list price of $99 is heavily discounted, currently available at $84.99. It comes in six fabrics and finishes and is available directly from Amazon, as well as retail outlets. Echo Plus—listed at $149.99. It was just introduced and is designed to be the hub for the smart home. Echo Dot—a smaller version of the original Echo with fewer speaker components. It lists for $49.99 but is currently available at $39.99. Echo Show—has a small video screen that can display both text and graphics. It retails for $229.99. Video calls can be made using the screen. Echo Spot—recently introduced, it looks like an alarm clock. It retails for $129.99, and because it has a small display, it can also be used for video calls.

Amazon Echo had the market to itself until the fall of 2017, when Google introduced Google Home. Both companies invested heavily in artificial intelligence technologies and are promoting these devices vigorously. Amazon provides links to dozens of “skills” that enable the user to perform countless tasks. Google has been promoting its ability to connect with any device that uses Chromecast. At this point, Amazon is in the lead with an entire family of models, but Google is coming on strong. Google plans to integrate its Home model with Google mesh Wi-Fi, which will provide seamless coverage throughout the home and may give them a competitive advantage. Apple finally introduced its HomePod competitor in the last few months, and the reviews have been underwhelming. While it includes better speakers, it doesn’t have the support of outside vendors and is much more expensive than the competition.

PHOTO BY BENCE BOROS ON UNSPLASH

Google Home Mini smart speaker.

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GARDENING

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Plan Ahead for Pumpkins I know spring is here and it’s almost time to start thinking about summer. However, for harvesting purposes, you need to start thinking about autumn. Especially if you’d like some pumpkins to make your fall festive. Pumpkins need to be planted in May or June so that they’ll be ready in time for the fall. They grow all summer and are ready to be picked for jack-o’-lanterns and pumpkin pie in late September and October. They’re relatively easy to grow from seed. You Sarah E. Brodd need a large space and good sunshine. There is an Agriculture and are so many pumpkin varieties to grow that the Natural Resource Agent for hardest part is deciding which ones to plant. UGA Extension in DeKalb When you finally decide which pumpkins County. She enjoys educating the community about to grow, sow the seeds directly into the soil. You horticulture and working can plant the seeds in clay soil that has had some with her great group of topsoil or compost added to it, but make sure to DeKalb Master Gardeners. mix the compost or topsoil in well with the clay. Follow the directions on the seed package for the correct spacing and depth when you plant the seeds. Once they start to sprout, be sure to keep the seeds watered; fertilize them with a garden fertilizer every 4 to 6 weeks. You’ll want to get the pumpkins off the ground once they start to appear. Place cardboard or a large rock underneath each. This helps with airflow and keeps insects from boring into them. When the stems turn brown, you can cut them off the vine and enjoy. Growing pumpkins is easy as pie—pumpkin pie, that is.

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

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.

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PETS

Pet Pick Meet Imelda! This gal has it all—beauty and brains. Imelda is still learning how to walk on a leash, but with some guidance and patience she will no doubt be a great walking companion. She loves to show everyone how great she is at sitting for treats, and she enjoys nothing more than rolling over for a good belly rub. This 1-year-old cutie has heartworm disease, but the Atlanta Humane Society will pay for her treatment at no cost to her adopter. Meet this gentle, loving and loyal girl at the Atlanta Humane Society Mansell Campus, located at 1565 Mansell Road, Alpharetta, 30009. Find more loveable, adoptable pets and learn about becoming a volunteer by calling 404-875-5331 or visiting atlantahumane.org.

Ultimately, it’s your experience that matters. To be sure, we’re proud of our 30 years of experience in senior living. But, to us, what really matters is your experience at our communities. We do everything with that idea clearly in mind. So, go ahead, enjoy yourself with great social opportunities and amenities. Savor fine dining every day. And feel assured that assisted living services are always available if needed. We invite you to experience The Piedmont for yourself at a complimentary lunch and tour. Please call 404.369.7523 to schedule.

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MAY 2018 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

FOOD

Tasty Tacos

◄ TAQUERIA DEL SOL

359 Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur 30030, 404-377-7668 5001 Peachtree Blvd., Chamblee 30341, 470-321-3232 taqueriadelsol.com Memphis: chopped smoked pork with a spicy jalapeno cole slaw and tequila BBQ sauce—$2.69 Carnita: twice cooked tender pork with salsa frita, cilantro and onions—$2.99 Brisket: shredded beef brisket with pico de gallo—$2.79

PHOTOS BY ISADORA PENNINGTON

By Isadora Pennington In 2016, Americans ate over 4.5 billion tacos, and those numbers continue to rise. The simplicity, the tastiness and the variety of modifications can please even the pickiest of palates. While native cultures in both North and South America relied upon corn for a number of uses spanning the past millennia, it is commonly accepted that the tacos we know today can be traced most directly to an evolution of Mexican street food. The dish remains a staple of what we consider Mexican cuisine. In the Atlanta metro area, there are plenty of places to get a delicious taco.

LA CARRETA

1252 Roswell Rd., Marietta 30062, 770-579-2963 lacarreta.co Pastor: pork seasoned with adobo sauce and pineapple in a handmade tortilla with cilantro, onions and avocado sauce—$2.25

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◄ THE ORIGINAL EL TACO

1186 North Highland Ave., Atlanta 30306 404-873-4656 eltaco-atlanta.com Fried Chicken: grilled corn, chili mayo, cojita cheese, cilantro—$4 Smoked Chicken: guacamole, crema, fried jalapenos, cilantro—$4 Chorizo: potato, poblanos, arbol sauce—$4

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MAY 2018 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Furry Friends Brighten Patients’ Days By Judi Kanne

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF TGA COMMUNICATIONS, LLC.

Robyn Bernstein and Lylah are regular visitors at Northside Hospital Atlanta.

Happy Tails volunteer Robyn Bernstein is excited by what she’s seen working with the program where pets help people heal. “The patients just light up,” the retired educator said. Through the Happy Tails Pet Therapy program, Bernstein and her pet dog Lylah regularly visit the high-risk pregnancy unit at Northside Hospital Atlanta. Many of the women on this unit have been assigned to complete bed rest and their days can be unusually long. Volunteers like Bernstein share the love of their personal pets with Northside patients. Since 1991, volunteers with the Roswell-based Happy Tails organization have been bringing physical and emotional comfort to people in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, rehabilitation centers and other facilities. While there are similar programs across the U.S., Happy Tails is one of the few that serves the Atlanta area. “Many patients are separated from their pets for extended periods during their hospital stay,” said Lana Robinson, Northside

Hospital’s High Risk Perinatal manager. “They look forward to a little bit of a home-like feeling each week, when the dogs visit.” With wagging tails, the dogs take patients “away from a hospital environment, even if it’s just temporarily,” said Robinson. And the pets make a difference medically, too. Studies going back 35 to 40 years support the health benefits pets provide people, according to Harvard Medical School. Bernstein said Northside nurses have noticed that fetal heart monitors, which measure fetal heart rates, show heart rates slow down when a dog comes to visit. That’s a good thing. It shows the fetus is relaxing. Northside Hospital’s highrisk, perinatal supervisor Gail Janatik, says that the Happy Tails program has been a blessing. “It’s a welcome break in the daily routine for everyone,” she said. Bernstein and Lylah are also regular visitors at Peachford Hospital in Dunwoody, through a similar Happy Tails program. At Peachford, patients often are healing from emotional, psychiatric or addictive diseases. “Our stay at Peachford is centered around a special adolescent unit,” Bernstein said.

“We can walk the hallways with the teens and the dogs.” Here again, Bernstein says that the visit is a distraction from what can be very long days for emotionally distressed or traumatized patients. “At Peachford, the teens run to greet the dogs,” she said. Dave Hobe, 74, is a regular at Northside’s high-risk pregnancy area, too. After retiring four years ago, Hobe brings joy to a special group of patients with the help of his bearded collie, Fergus. “Some of the women on this unit have been on bed rest for weeks,” says Hobe. “They are particularly excited to get a visit from a therapy dog,” he said. “You can just feel the stress leave the room as they rub the dog’s belly or stroke the dog’s head.” It’s a happy moment for Fergus and Hobe, too. “My daughter initially told me about Happy Tails and the great joy therapy dogs can bring,” Hobe said. “I was eager to join once I retired and it’s been one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done.” Hobe says that during the past four years, he’s been fortunate to share two dogs —Colby and Fergus, both bearded collies. Their visits have reached hundreds of hospital patients, nursing home

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MAY 2018 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

We call it home. g3 celebratin 0 years in of Buckhead. t r a the he

Dona and Lew Keller Residents since 2014

“St. Anne’s Terrace is the best place for retirement living. Take a tour and see for yourself. We did!!”

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

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residents and school students. “It’s amazing how intuitively therapy dogs react to individuals,” Hobe added. “Dogs seem to know who needs a friendly lick or a wagging tail.” In 2016, the Spiritual Health & Education Department at Northside Hospital Atlanta welcomed Ranger as a staff member, along with his owner, Dave Frew. Ranger’s background includes being a comfort ‘crisis response’ dog for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), providing relief to people dealing with disasters. The English setter is a regular with the Northside medical personnel. Staff members say that Ranger is willing to sit quietly, and they believe that the dog has a special emotional and spiritual healing capacity. “We know that happiness impacts medical outcomes, so there is an actual physical component to this,” said Rev. Amani Legagneur, manager of spiritual health and education. Healing happens when we interact with sources of love, “and Ranger is a big source of love,” Legagneur said. Happy Tails pets are available for more than just hospital visits. Both Bernstein’s and Hobe’s dogs participate in a reading program that takes place at libraries and schools. Hobe takes Fergus to the East Roswell Library each month, while Bernstein and Lylah head to special needs classes at Sope Creek Elementary in East Cobb.

Is Your Pet Ready to Volunteer? Based on the settings these therapy dogs encounter, there are some requirements that pets must meet before making a hospital, library or school visit.

Learn more at: Happy Tails happytailspets.org FEMA Comfort Dogs fema.gov/blog/201603-22/beginners-guidecomfort-dogs (or Google “FEMA Comfort Dogs”)

PHOTO COURTESY OF TGA COMMUNICATIONS, LLC.

Dave Hobe and Fergus have made many visits to hospitals and other faciliites.

“Fergus—and Lylah—cannot be judgmental,” said Hobe. “Dogs don’t mind if the young

readers make a mistake or mispronounce a word.” Having a friendly dog listen

to them read out loud gives the children confidence with their reading skills, he says.

fr ee book s a jEWISH THEMED BOOK FOR YOUR CHILD EVERY MONTH!

PHOTO COURTESY OF NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL ATLANTA.

Ranger and owner Dave Frew are part of Northside Hospital’s Spiritual Health & Education Department.

jewishatlanta.org/pjlibrary MAY 2018 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

CALENDAR SPOTLIGHT

A Legacy of Love

Kitty Jacobs carries on her late husband’s community spirit By Julie E. Bloemeke In 1991, Kitty Jacobs unexpectedly lost her husband of nearly 40 years. Harris Jacobs had been a lawyer, past president of the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA), and an influential member of the Atlanta Jewish community. Kitty Jacobs immediately knew that she wanted to honor his memory through events that carried on in his name. “He was so beloved,” the 86-year old said of her late husband. “He was a go-getter and he cared about everyone and everything. He was so caring and so giving.” And, with a twinkle in her eye she added, “He was so good looking.” Putting together the Harris Jacobs Dream Run and the Harris Jacobs Softball League, both in their 25th year, were two of the ways that she PHOTOS BY JULIE E. BLOEMEKE coped with her grief. Kitty Jacobs proudly shares the wedding photo of her and Harris, 1952. This year will mark the 25th anniversary of the race, and Jacobs is already wildly enthusiastic about her role. On Sunday, May 6, runners will gather for But the race is not Jacobs’ only focus. After a bout of the 5-kilometer road race and walk that follows breast cancer at 38, and a reoccurrence later in her hip a certified and family-friendly course through socket, Jacobs became a long-time volunteer for Reach to Dunwoody neighborhoods. Recovery for the American Cancer Society. She was known Jacobs will give a short welcome speech, shoot the for lending compassionate support to those who have starting gun, cheer on runners and visit sponsor tables struggled with a cancer diagnosis. to offer her gratitude. She also will make the rounds Jacobs shared the way she got through both illnesses: to thank volunteers, many of whom have served since “You have to have a sense of humor. That’s what’s gotten me the inception of the race, and who have been “just through a lot. Attitude played a big part.” remarkable” in their dedication and service. Though these days her support is more of an As this is the 25th year for the race, Jacobs also has independent mission, she frequently makes phone calls something special in mind. “My daughter wants us all and occasional visits to cancer patients to offer advice. [the whole family] to participate, so they will probably “[People need to know] cancer is not a death sentence,” she A treasured photo of push me in my wheelchair for about a mile,” Jacobs said. said. “You have to fight it.” Harris Jacobs. This year’s proceeds from the race will benefit Even though she currently has shoulder trouble and copes the MJCCA’s Blonder Family Department for Special with a condition that places pressure on the spinal column and Needs, an organization known for specialized programs geared toward surrounding nerves, she believes strongly in continuing to be of service. fostering independence and community for those with disabilities. It I’ve lived through two bouts of cancer, blood clots in both lungs, is an organization Jacobs believes in, and she said, “We are so grateful heart surgery,” Jacobs said. “God spared me so I could help people. to have the opportunity to help in some way.” I’m convinced.”

Harris Jacobs Dream Run • The 5K Road Race and Walk is set for Sunday, May 6, starting at 8 a.m. • The race begins and ends at the Marcus PHOTO COURTESY OF MJCCA Jewish Community Harris Jacobs Dream Run. Center of Atlanta Zaban Park campus, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody, 30338. The course is also a 2019 Peachtree Road Race qualifier. • Cost is $30 for adults, $35 on race day. • For more details, visit atlantajcc.org/HJDR, or contact Pam Morton at 678-812-3981 or pam. morton@atlantajcc.org.

MAY 2018 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

Senior Day at MJCCA Feeds Mind, Body and Soul Older adults aged 60 and up are invited to participate in Senior Day on Monday, May 14, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA). The program is presented by MJCCA in partnership with Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, Jewish Family & Career Services and PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MJCCA Jewish Homelife Communities. MJCCA Seniors participate “We have an exciting day planned with a wide in cooking class at its Kuniansky Family Center. selection of activities so local seniors can spend a meaningful afternoon learning new skills, exercising their minds and bodies and spending time with friends—old and new,” said Earl Finley, Active Mature Adults Coordinator. Participants may choose three activities from a list that includes cooking, art, exercise, Israeli Folk Dancing, a sample Lisa F. Brill Institute for Jewish Learning class and more. The registration fee of $5 includes a kosher meat or vegetarian lunch. For details and to register, call Earl Finley at 678-812-4070 or visit online at atlantajcc.org/seniorday.

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Learn to Needlepoint!

►Out & about

Private help sessions Warm soc environmeial nt

Older Americans Month Spring Fling Celebration Friday, May 18, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Get involved and learn about Wesley Woods by attending the Spring Fling Celebration. There’ll be a bake sale, jewelry sale and popcorn and ice cream sales. Delicious BBQ plates will be available for $15 each. Advance tickets available at the reception desk. Wesley Woods Towers, 1825 Clifton Road, Atlanta 30329. For more information, visit wesleywoods.org or call Jennie Deese at 404-728-6662.

Senior Summit 2018 Thursday, May 31, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. In celebration of Older Americans Month, Fulton County Senior Services and Somerby Sandy Springs are partnering to present Senior Summit 2018. Visit various health and well-being exhibitors and then attend a Panel discussion of senior care professionals, moderated by Special Guest Moderator Bill Liss, Senior Source Editor of 11 Alive. Lunch and refreshments are provided for a charge. Somerby Room, Somerby Senior Living, 25 Glenlake Pkwy., Sandy Springs 30328. For more info, call 770-695-0230 or visit SomerbySpark.com. RSVP by May 24 to Jodi Firestone at jfirestone@somerbyliving.com.

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The Arts

Curious Savage Runs May 11-18. Friday & Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2:30 p.m. Performed by Main Street Theatre. When Ethel P. Savage’s husband dies and leaves her $10 million, she decides to give the entire fortune away. Her stepchildren commit her to a sanitarium and Mrs. Savage finds her true family there among the kind, loyal residents. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors (55+) and students; $10 for ages 12 and under. Tucker Recreation Center, 4898 Lavista Rd., Tucker 30084. For tickets, show times and more info, visit tuckertheatre.com. Continued on page 30

MAY 2018 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

Continued from page 29

Fences

The American Dream

Runs May 17-June 3. Thursday-Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2:30 p.m. Legendary playwright August Wilson’s dramatic work about Troy Maxson, a strong, hard black man who has survived the pressures of life in America. In the new spirit of liberation in the 1960s, however, he finds himself angry and afraid; he’s a stranger to the world and to his wife and son, both of whom he understands less and less. Tickets are $25. Marietta’s New Theatre in the Square, 11 Whitlock Ave., Marietta 30064. Details and tickets are available at theatreinthesquare.net or by calling 770-426-4800.

Saturday, May 12, 7:30 p.m. The Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra’s Season Finale is a musical tour of the U.S., featuring baritone Brent Davis, and Roger Wise as narrator. The concert features Broadway favorites, old American songs and jazz, as well as a salute to the heroes who’ve made the American Dream possible. Tickets are $32 for adults; $27 for seniors 55+; $16 for students and children. JCSO collects donated food items for the North Fulton Community Charities Food Pantry as part of the “Orchestras Feeding America” campaign. Johns Creek United Methodist Church, 11180 Medlock Bridge Rd., Johns Creek 30097. For more info, call 678-748-5802 or visit JohnsCreekSymphony.org.

Wings (1927): A Silent Film Sunday, May 20, 3-5:30 p.m. This 1927 silent American film is set during the First World War about two young men, both fighter pilots, who are in love with the same woman. The film stars Clara Bow, Charles ‘Buddy’ Rogers and Richard Arlen. Gary Cooper appears in a role that helped launch his career. The film will be accompanied live on the Mighty Allen Theatre Organ by Strand organist Ron Carter. Tickets are $10. Earl Smith Strand Theatre, 117 North Park Square, Marietta 30060. Visit earlsmithstrand. org or call the box office at 770-293-0080.

A Page from the Book Festival: How to Grill Everything Thursday, May 17, 7:30 p.m. Bestselling author Mark Bittman returns to the Marcus Jewish Community Center (MJCCA) stage for a book signing and talk about his latest cookbook. The book features more than 1,000 recipes and hundreds of variations, along with practical advice about grilling basics. Tickets are $10-$15. MJCCA, 5342 Tilly Mill Rd., Dunwoody 30338. For more info, visit atlantajcc.org or call 678-812-4002.

Decatur Arts Festival

I am a candidate for an open seat on the Fulton County Superior Court for the May 22, 2018 election. I decided to seek this position because the citizens of Fulton County should have a highly qualified judge to represent their interests. The citizens of Fulton County expect and deserve to be served by a judiciary that is transparent and fair. I will serve the citizens in an expeditious manner that is transparent and fair. My legal career of twenty-two years has afforded me a broad range of experience which includes private practice, Assistant Solicitor for the City of Atlanta, and most recently, supervising the largest division of the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office as a Deputy District Attorney. Each of these positions were in service to Fulton County Citizens, resulting in a wealth of knowledge, understanding and respect for the great people of Fulton County. As Georgia’s laws become more complex, there is a call for judges who demonstrate an understanding of how the law affects all citizens. More importantly, all judges should serve from the moral position that every citizen who stands before the court has both a legal and constitutional right to fair and unbiased proceedings and rulings. Having served as lead counsel on a gamut of case types, I am equipped with the years and variety of legal experience to ensure my ability to serve as your next Fulton County Superior Court Judge with wisdom, fairness and a work ethic that has gone unmatched. I have included a list of professionals from various fields who serve our community and who support my candidacy for this position. I am asking you to join them and vote for me on May 22, 2018. Early voting begins on April 30, 2018.

ENDORSEMENTS

Bensonetta Tipton Lane Former Superior Court Judge

Brenda BJ Bernstein Attorney

William Boddie State Representative

John E. Floyd Dr. Reverend William Partner, Bondurant, Edward Flippin, Jr. Pastor Mixson, and Elmore LLP, Author Rico State Emmanuel Lutheran By State a Guide to Church ECLA Litigation Under the State Racketeering Statutes

Fani Willis

Sherry Boston Dekalb County District Attorney

Page Pate Partner Pate & Johnson, Adjunct Professor University of Georgia School of Law, Legal Analyst for CNN and WABE

Keith Meadows Chief

L. David Wolfe Criminal Defense Attorney

Sam Park State Representative

Rev. Dr. Anton Rowe, Senior Pastor

Greater Solid Rock Baptist Church Attorney

Renee Rockwell Byron Amos Attorney Board Member Atlanta Licensed to practice in Public Schools Georgia, Louisiana and Texas, Legal Analyst for CNN, HLN, MSNBC, FOX

Sara Becker Trial Attorney Arora & LaScala

Marcia Mack Director of Accounting Southeast Region for a Fortune 500 Company

ELECTION: MAY 22, 2018 - EARLY VOTING BEGINS APRIL 30, 2018 Visit us at: www.faniwillis.com Reporter-Intown-FW.indd 1

@electfaniwillisjudge2018

MAY 2018 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

@electfaniwillisjudge2018

Community Claws for a Cause: A Crawfish Boil

Judicial Candidate Fulton County Superior Court EDUCATION, MEMBERSHIPS, & PROFESSIONAL ACCOLADES • Lewis R. Slaton Award, 2005, 2006, and • Howard University, Bachelor of Arts, 2011(only three time winner in history) Cum Laude, December 1992 • Member, Georgia Bar Association • Emory University School of Law, 1996 • Member, Georgia Association of • Law and Justice Award, Woman of The Year, Women Lawyers Georgia's Most Powerful and Influential • Member, We All Value Excellence (WAVE) Attorneys 2017- 2018

Friday, May 25-Sunday, May 27. Artwalk on Friday, 5-10 p.m. Artists Market on Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. & Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. This celebration of the arts includes an Artists Market, ArtWalk, music, performing arts stage, theatre and literary arts, comedy and even a book sale at the Decatur Public Library. General admission is free. Get details on events and locations at decaturartsfestival.com.

@electfaniwillis 3/13/18 4:47 PM

Saturday, May 12, 5-8 p.m. Enjoy an authentic Cajun crawfish boil, complete with cold beer, spicy crawfish, chicken jambalaya and live music by Suburban Angst. The event supports Senior Services North Fulton. Be sure to bring your tailgating chairs. Tickets are limited—$50 in advance, and

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$55 at the door, if available—and include two pounds of crawfish and two Jekyll Brewing drink tickets. Jekyll Brewing, 2855 Marconi Dr., #350, Alpharetta 30005. For tickets and more info, visit ssnorthfulton.org; under “Upcoming Events,” click on “Claws for a Cause.”

BENSON MANOR A Retirement Housing Foundation ® Community

Benson Manor is a 76-unit affordable senior housing community designed with stone and sturdy wood-like siding. Each apartment is approximately 540 square feet. Benson Manor is conveniently located close to shopping, churches, medical facilities, and a major bus route. Residents must be 62 years of age or older. Some units have special features for mobility and sensory impaired persons. Income limitations are determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Residents pay 30 percent of their adjusted income for rent. Gross income must not exceed $24,400.00 for one person and $27,900.00 for two persons.

Gardens for Connoisseurs Tour Saturday & Sunday, May 12 & 13, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Ten spectacular private gardens, ranging from woodland settings to urban spaces, are showcased, featuring the work of talented landscape architects, garden designers and local gardeners. Proceeds benefit the mission of Atlanta Botanical Garden. Tickets for the tour are $28 in advance, $35 on days of the tour, and are valid both days. Free for children under 12. Visit atlantabg.org for tickets and details.

Rockin’ at the River Saturday, May 19, 6:30 p.m. An evening of food, drink and music includes a Patron Party from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Dinner & Auction at Ben Brady Lakeside Pavilion from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., and Dessert & Dancing on Green Roof Discover Center from 9 to 11 p.m. The annual gala benefits the Chattahoochee Nature Center. Tickets are $125, VIP tickets are $250. Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Rd., Roswell 30075. Visit chattnaturecenter.org or call 770-992-2055 for information.

Friends of the Roswell Public Library Book Sale Runs Thursday, May 31-Sunday, June 3. Thursday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2-5:30 p.m. No scanners on Thursday, please. A large quantity of good quality hardcover and paperback fiction and non-fiction books, organized by category, will be offered for sale. There is an excellent selection of art and coffeetable books, and DVDs, CDs and children’s books are also available. Cash or checks are accepted, and all proceeds go directly to the Roswell Library for materials and community programs.

Services directory Spring Clean-up Special

Atlanta’s Premier • Window Cleaning since 1968 • Gutter Cleaning • Pressure Washing • Family Owned • Licensed and Insured • Free Estimates

404.355.1901 www.WindowCleanAtl.com

Hearing Aids Decatur Hearing Aid Service Over 40 Years Experience! 404-299-1141

917 N. Indian Creek Drive • Clarkson, GA 30021

www.DecaturHearingAidService.com

Oriental Rug Shop Antique and Decorative Rugs since 1976 nd

42 Anniversary Clearance Sale

Best Selection & Values

5548 Peachtree Ind. Blvd Chamblee, GA 30341 404-995-8400

1.5 miles inside 285 in Chamblee Plaza

www.PersianRugParadise.net

& % Cleaning Repair of OFF All Rugs With coupon. One per family.

For An Application or More Information

Please Call 770-435-6406

2348 Benson Poole Rd. Smyrna, GA 30082

www.rhf.org

SCOTT ANTIQUE MARKETS America’s Favorite Treasure Hunts!

MAY 10, 11, 12 & 13

D 2ND WEEKEN H EVERY MONT

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

Ladies get in FREE on Mothers Day

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

www.scottantiquemarkets.com

ONE coupon per person. Expires: 5-14-18

740.569.2800

SUBMIT YOUR EVENT LISTING WITH US AT

editor@AtlantaSeniorLife.com

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

JUNK REMOVAL & RECYCLING

We Haul Away: We Clean Out: *Furniture *Appliances *Construction *Pianos *Hot tubs *Paint cans

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

Property Home Tending By Charles “On the Market or Just Away.”

Regular inspections of unoccupied property!

404-229-0490

(770) 314-9867 www.justTRASHit.com

SENIOR APARTMENT FOR LEASE 70 OR OLDER

ONE YEAR LEASE

PRIVATE PAY

PRIVATE APARTMENT STYLE LIVING:

Available July 1, 2018

Large Master Suite with walk-in closet, Large Living room & Dining room. Full Bath, Full Kitchen with breakfast nook, Washer and Dryer. Private entrance and patio.

INCLUDES: Cable, Internet, ALL Utilities, Nurse available one day per week to oversee minor medical needs (Open for Discussion) AREA: Buford, GA 30519 “Better than Assistance Living Prices”

$2000 per month

For assistance call Nurse Wedderburn at 770-814-1147

MAY 2018 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

Mom’s so busy

I ALMOST NEED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO SEE HER.

FORGET WHAT YOU THOUGHT YOU KNEW ABOUT SENIOR COMMUNITIES. For residents of The Solana East Cobb, senior living means living the life! Along with outstanding care, The Solana offers delicious, chef-prepared meals, wonderful amenities, exercise equipment and programs, cleaning and laundry services and never-ending activities—all in a beautiful, inviting and relaxing setting. Be sure to join us at Solana Live: May 18th Red Sky Tapas & Bar, and Saturdays at The Solana: Kitchen Table Talk, May 19th. CALL (770) 742-7902 OR VISIT SOLANAEASTCOBB.COM TO LEARN MORE!

The New Signature of Senior Living

1032 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta, GA 30068 SolanaEastCobb.com

MAY 2018 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

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