Senior Life Atlanta
PERSONAL PLANNING
Will Johnston launches a new column on downsizing page 10
OCTOBER 2021 • Vol. 6 No.10 • AtlantaSeniorLIFE.com
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Apple pickin’ time
Making Music The teacher Frank Hamilton’s career spans decades page 8 the band The 4 Man String Band page 4 keeps on playing
Contents OCTOBER 2021
COVER STORY ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT String Band keeps 4 4theMan show going decades playing 8 After music, Frank Hamilton isn’t done yet
10 RIGHTSIZING We start a new column examining ways seniors can downsize
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ENVIRONMENTAL 12 THE GARDENER Finding fall colors where you may not expect them
TRAVEL WITH CHARLIE 14 TRAVELS It’s apple pickin’ time in Georgia
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to find fall color 16 Where in northern Georgia
THE CRATES 18 FROM When Atlanta radio had its own version of ‘WKRP’
20 BOOKS New mysteries offer a way to tour the world from home
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FINANCE 21 PERSONAL Ask Rusty what age is best to start collecting Social Security
SAFETY 22 PERSONAL Police officers had the right stuff for Career Day
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OUT & ABOUT October events
On the cover Denny and Celia Gordon of Duluth pick apples at B.J. Reece Orchards in Ellijay Photo: Donna P. Williams
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CONTACT US
Keith Pepper Publisher keith@springspublishing.com (404) 917-2200 ext 1001
Editorial Joe Earle Editor-at-Large joe@springspublishing.com Contributors Kathy Dean, Russell Gloor, Collin Kelley, Greg Levine, Kelly McCoy, Will Johnston, Charles Seabrook, Steve Rose, Michele Ross, Donna P. Williams, Mark Woolsey Advertising For information call (404) 917-2200, ext 1002 Sales Executive: Jeff Kremer
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ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
4 Man String Band keeps the show going By Kathy Dean The 4 Man String Band may seem new to Atlanta’s local music scene, but that doesn’t mean it’s a group of rookies. The four members are local boys who are done with their day jobs, and between them, they have over 198 years of musical experience. The first time the four — George Eckard, Clark Brown, John Miller and Charles Absher — got together to practice was in January 2019. Their first live performance followed just a month later at the Intown Coffeehouse. “We really enjoy playing together, and I think our fans can see that in our music,” Brown said. As they keep playing, band members have maintained a sense of humor about the project. “Our fan base is mostly friends and family, plus folks from the Central DeKalb Senior Center, where I think we’re the ‘official’ house band,” Absher said. That may be in part because band members can relate to their audiences at the center. Eckard is 70 years old. Brown, Miller and Absher are 68. “I think it’s important to note that I’m the youngest in the
band,” Absher said. “I’m not sure the other members of the group appreciate me pointing that out.” “We think he’s young, but shows promise,” Eckard said.
George Eckard
Meet the band
Eckard, who lives in Decatur, plays guitar, harmonica, banjo and mandolin. He has been in the Atlanta area since he was
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11, when his parents moved the family from Baltimore in 1962. “I’ve played music all my life, and now that I’m retired, this how I spend my time,” he said. Eckard played guitar in a rock ‘n roll dance band in high school and did some solo singer/songwriter performance in college. After receiving his business degree from UGA, he worked in the information technology (IT) field. “From 1985 until I retired in 2017, I worked for a financial services company, Primerica, doing various IT related activities,” he said. “It was a great career. I went from punch cards to the
internet.” In the late ‘90s, Eckard got together with a group of friends to play music socially; after a while they started performing as The Unusual Suspects. He said that’s when his interest in songwriting was renewed. “I made a little money as a musician over the years,” he said, “but realized early on that the benefits and retirement plan were a little meager. For me, playing music is an excellent and enjoyable retirement activity.” Brown contributes mandolin, guitar and foot tambourine. Until recently, he
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Clark Brown
lived in Brookhaven, but now hails from Adairsville. He was born in Montgomery, Ala., and was brought to the Atlanta area when he was six months old, after “my father got his first real job at Lockheed, where he worked the rest of his life,” Brown said. For most of his own working years, Brown was in the printing business. He
started playing guitar in 1966, he said, and his first gig was a graduation pool party in Decatur in 1968. He picked up the mandolin about 1975. “I have played in groups throughout my life,” Brown said. “I have been playing to somewhat earn a living for the last 10 years or so.” He added that this is the most organized band he’s been in. “We just
PLACES TO PLAY The 4 Man String Band has performed at several coffeeshops in the area, including Wallers, Intown Coffeehouse and Lena’s Place. “We also played at the Decatur Arts Festival, the Decatur Book Festival, Oakhurst Porchfest and the Mountain Moonshine Festival in Dawsonville,” Absher said. The band played live on WRFG Radio and did a Decatur-ish “Twitch” broadcast from Miller’s garage. “We’ve played at farmer’s markets — Peachtree Road, Norcross and Tucker — and at the Oak Grove Festival, the Central Dekalb Senior Center, a number of private parties and some civic and charitable events where one or more of us has a personal connection,” Miller added. Pre-pandemic, the band played at retirement communities, including Wesley Woods and King’sBridge. Eckard said that while COVID-19 did change things, it didn’t slow them down for long. “After the pandemic began, we had some dates cancelled but started playing outdoors at Briarlake Forest Park, Frazier-Rowe Park, Waller’s Outer Space and, again, at various retirement communities outdoors, including King’sBridge and The Holbrook,” he said. The band will perform free on Oct. 29, 6 p.m., on the front porch of a home at 1122 Berkeley Road in Avondale Estates as part of AvonWoodstock. Miller said that the group will also play the next day, Saturday, October 30, from 2-4 p.m., at Frazier-Rowe Park on Lavista Road. The band lists other shows on its Facebook page, facebook. com/4ManStringBand.
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play for fun because we enjoy entertaining people, and in turn, it entertains us.”
ever since. Absher worked as a civil engineer for 30 years. Before that, he worked in construction-related industries.
John Miller
since retirement,” Absher said. “I have also been attending songwriting workshops which I find very enjoyable and fulfilling.” Absher said he feels very fortunate to have found the 4 Man String Band. “I’ve played music all my life (with about a 10-year hiatus when I returned to college), but I’ve never had as much enjoyment and fun playing music until this part of my life. I hope to be able to play and sing well until I take my last breath, whenever that happens,” he said.
How the band got together
Miller and Absher, from Decatur and Avondale Estates respectively, add their guitar skills to round out the band. Miller started playing guitar about age 11 in his hometown of Tallahassee, Florida, “so I’ve been playing for more than 50 years,” he said. But he really got going after he retired in 2010. In 1970, Miller moved to Atlanta to study engineering at Georgia Tech. “Jane and I married in 1973 and we’ve lived here pretty much ever since, except for a dozen years in northern Virginia,” he said. “We returned after retirement because our grandchild is here.” Miller worked as a civil engineer. “My day jobs included 30 years of federal service, which consisted of construction inspections on hydroelectric projects for eight years and 22 years directing various inspection programs for multifamily housing,” he said. He also had 30 years of U.S. Navy service, mostly in the reserve Seabees. “All this tended to impede my musical progress,” Miller said. Absher, born in Fort Belvoir, Va., moved with his family to East Point when he was just three months old. They settled in DeKalb County in 1966, when Absher was a freshman in high school, and he has pretty much lived there
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“Before that I did try music as a living,” he said. “I played in The Bluegrass Band in high school and late teens,” he said. “We were the bluegrass band in Lick Skillet at Six Flags for three years and were in a Crystal Pistol show (Pistol Packers on Parade) for one year. However, we couldn’t keep the group together after high school.” In his early 20s, he said, he played in a several bluegrass, country and folk/rock bands — Corporate Square and the New Deal String Band in Underground Atlanta, and Saturday Session at the Chelsea Pub at Powers Ferry Landing. “I made a feeble attempt to tour but that never worked out,” Absher said. “Once I met my wife and we started having kids, playing music was not a very steady profession, so I hadn’t played professionally in many, many years.” He took a musical hiatus for about 10 years when he went back to school at Georgia Tech to get a degree at the age of 36. “I’ve been playing as a hobby since about 1995,” he said. In the 2000s, he played in two bands — Acousticlectic and HapyDady. Since he retired, music has become his go-to activity. “I derive great enjoyment from music and have been songwriting more frequently
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All four lend their voices to the music which, Brown said, they classify as Americana. The band covers songs by artists they admire, according to Absher, and arranges them for their acoustic instrumentation: guitars, mandolin, banjo and harmonica, plus some light percussion. “We take songs from all
had heard that music was being played at Woodlands Garden [in Decatur], so I emailed the director, who directed me to George and his wife, Phyllis. They were coordinating the music and invited to me to come out and play,” Absher said. He said he remembers Brown was part of one of the song circles that they would do in the Gazebo at the Garden, which is where he believes he first met him. “Subsequently, I was putting together an environmental concert, ‘Voices for the Earth,’ at my Church, Holy Trinity Episcopal, and invited George to come and play in the concert. He in turn, invited his friend John Miller.” The underlying connection has been the Frank Hamilton School of Folk Music in Decatur. “George and Clark teach there, and John and I have taken classes,” Absher said. “About six months to a year after George, John and I played in the ‘Voices for the Charles Absher
genres,” Brown continued, “and we arrange them for guitar, of course, and add mandolin and banjo. We also have a number of songs on our set lists that band members have written.” Their song list includes Chuck Berry’s ‘You Never Can Tell,’ Jefferson Airplane’s ‘White Rabbit,’ Bob Seger’s ‘Turn the Page,’ and a couple of Beatles songs. Absher claimed that Eckard was the catalyst for getting the four of them getting together. “I
Earth’ concert, George called me and asked if I would be interested in joining a band with Clark, John and himself — a band named the 4 Man String Band. I said yes, and the rest is history.” The four band members get together regularly to practice and work up new material. Eckard said, “My wife likes how Clark once described our rehearsals as ‘like a book group, but without books or wine.’”
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After decades playing music, Frank Hamilton isn’t done yet Mark Woolsey In a career that spans more than seven decades, Frank Hamilton has had ample opportunity to burn out on music, especially his passion for folk music. Endless road gigs, session work and clashing egos would seemingly be a recipe for retiring to a front porch. But Hamilton glows with the enthusiasm of a fresh-faced youngster playing his first chords. “I relish learning,” the 87-yearold guitar, banjo and stringedinstrument virtuoso said. “I think is that it’s a choice and that you make the choice. I believe it was Clint Eastwood who said ‘I never let the old man in.’ That’s a great statement.” The Southern California
native who now lives in metro Atlanta and co-founded the Frank Hamilton (music) School in Decatur caught the music bug early, courtesy of a recordcollecting stepdad. He became enamored of folk and blues and applied himself to learning guitar. Although he took classes, the bulk of his learning was off-thecuff, as Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie mentored him at various times. “You don’t study folk music formally,” he said. “You trade licks and ideas and you’re influenced by them.” After he hitchhiked to New York, Hamilton joined musicologist/performer/partner Guy Carawan and folkie Ramblin’ Jack Elliott and embarked on a 1950s-era tour of the South, collecting and learning folk songs
and seeking out performers they’d heard on Library of Congress recordings. They eked out a living busking and performing live on tiny radio stations across the region. Those wanderings strengthened Hamilton’s bond with folk music’s emphasis on hard times and struggle: divorce, failed relationships, being thrown out of work, battling demons. “There are elements of folk in all kinds of music,” he said. “You have Americana, you have jazz and rock, all of those things contain
elements of folk.” Back in New York, he became a regular at Sunday afternoon folk sessions in Washington Square, holding forth with the likes of Mary Travers of Peter Paul and Mary and songwriter/performer Eric Darling. “Joanie” Baez and Bob Dylan would turn up now and then.
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In addition to recording a couple of albums and working as a side man, he did gigs large and small. One of his biggest star turns was his 1962-63 tour with the Weavers, a folk quartet co-founded by Pete Seeger. Some dissonant notes developed. “I wasn’t exactly what they would call a perfect fit. (A cofounder of the group laid that out in a written performance review.) We did some good shows, so it wasn’t all for naught. I would just say that my sojourn with the Weavers was not to their liking much.” Then there were lower-profile and even unusual performances. Stopped by a local law enforcement officer hitchhiking across Kansas, he was threatened with being jailed for vagrancy. The officer looked at Hamilton’s Silvertone guitar case and demanded that the virtuoso prove that he was a musician, not a hobo. “He took me to a little café and I sang some Woody Guthrie
and country songs and it was wellreceived, people applauded. He then put me on a Greyhound bus for the next town,” chuckled the veteran musician. A much more significant stop was in Chicago, where he performed at the first-ever folk nightclub and gave lessons in a friend’s living room. That led him, that friend and another talented local musician to jumpstart the still-thriving Old Town School of Folk Music in 1957. There, Hamilton played a key role in several careers including that of Roger McGuinn of the Byrds, instructing what he called a “very shy” kid in 12-string guitar. John Prine also learned licks there. A 1984 move to Atlanta came as his late wife Mary pursued her career with Delta Air Lines. After her death in 2014, he talked to a friend, singer-songwriter and entrepreneur Bob Bakert. “I said I wanted to do something like we had done in Chicago, but I’d like to do it down here because I think there’s interest in it and it
would serve the community,” said Hamilton. The Frank Hamilton School has stayed right in tune on both fronts. Inclusivity and a push toward diversity has carried them a long way. “We start with the basic premise that music is not an exclusive club. It’s a birthright for anyone who wants to study it,” Hamilton said. As Hamilton sees it, folk music “is not music made for money. It’s not music made for the popular music machine. It’s for people to relax and enjoy,” Hamilton said. He thinks his influence stems from the personal connections he’s formed over decades and his commitment to teaching. His school offers classes mainly in playing stringed instruments, but also teaches songwriting, playing in a group, melody and improvisation and music theory. An expansion is in the works. Hamilton believes teachers are students and that students can be teachers. “We all learn from each
other” by picking and socializing instead of laboring solo in practice rooms, the veteran teacher said. Not only is Hamilton genial, positive and sunny with a ready laugh, he’s a humble guy, as well, for someone once described as as playing “a seminal role” in the evolution of American folk music. These days, in addition to teaching and recording, he’s working to beef up his knowledge of jazz guitar and pursing bebop. He’s also working on his memoirs. Even a recent bout with melanoma failed to slow him for long, although he laments that his radiation treatments did cause some vocal damage. Still, the veteran picker has no plan to stop instructing students, quite a few of them seniors. “Never,” he said firmly when asked if he’s ever contemplated retiring. “I am on a journey continually,” he said, “and the journey isn’t over until life is over.”
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The Atlanta-Journal Constitution is committed to facilitating conversations on the topics important to aging well in Atlanta and providing you resources to live your best senior life — especially in today’s challenging environment. Aging in Atlanta has returned with monthly print sections featuring more local content than ever. Our fall virtual panel event moderated by Kevin Riley; Editor of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution will feature local experts speaking on topics that matter most to you.
TOPICS TO INCLUDE: √ Kaiser Permanente physicians will discuss mental and physical health - Dr. Paula Bloom, Area Chief of Behavioral Health will be featured on the panel √ Estate planning and asset protection
√ Upcoming flu season and immunization
√ Managing prescription medications
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WHEN/WHERE:
Wednesday, October 6 | Virtual | Event will broadcast from 4 to 5 p.m. on AJC Facebook and AJC YouTube
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Visit ajc.com/agingevents By registering for the event, you will have a chance to win a $50 Kroger gift card We encourage you to submit questions on the topics above for our speakers when you register.
We launched a monthly Aging in Atlanta newsletter this spring. Visit us at ajc.com/aging to sign up and to learn more about our special print sections and our upcoming virtual event.
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PERSONAL PLANNING
Downsizing to smaller homes could allow more seniors to age in place RIGHTSIZING Will Johnston, executive director of the MicroLife Institute in Atlanta, writes about downsizing as you age. His new column, Rightsizing, will appear every other month in Atlanta Senior Life. A “pocket neighborhood” of eight houses, each smaller than 500 square feet, has just been completed in Clarkston. You read that right –– 500 square feet. That is the total living space of seven of the eight homes, with the last home sitting at only 250 square feet, a truly tiny home.
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All eight of these “micro-cottage” homes are clustered around a common area on just .57 acres. They are the MicroLife Institute’s first-of-its-kind pilot project, which we call “The Cottages on Vaughan.” My grandparents lived in their house for 55 years. When they were ready to downsize to a smaller home, there were no options in their established neighborhood or community. Their choices were high-rise assisted living or neighborhoods that they didn’t want to live in. They ended up moving an hourand-a-half away. I tell that story a lot because it was very hard to watch my grandparents move from everything they knew to a place that “helped them age.” My
OCTOBER 2021 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com
grandparents and their experience are part of what seeded the idea that led eventually to our Cottages on Vaughan. MicroLife believes that if there were a better housing policy in place, residents would have more choices in their neighborhoods and be able to downsize and remain in their communities. Why did the Microlife Institute build this community? To show that not only is this project financially feasible to build, but there’s also a demand for it.
There’s no doubt that one of the major drivers of current housing crisis is scarcity: there is a lack of diverse housing in every major market across the country. The dream of homeownership is slipping away for many millennials and young people, and at the same time it’s becoming harder and harder for long-time residents to image a future where they remain in their community. The good news is this is a solvable challenge. We can allow seniors to downsize and age in place with dignity. We can create abundant, accessible housing options, and MicroLife built the Cottages on Vaughan to prove it. Years were spent conducting research, passing policies to allow for projects like this, and then actually building. By the time the plans were announced to build the first pocket-neighborhood in Georgia, the interest list had ballooned to more than 1,500 people. The Cottages on Vaughan proved it’s not about the size of the home but the nature of the design. Pocket neighborhoods, or cottage courts, are built to allow a community to thrive. That was the attraction for all eight homeowners. They wanted a community. It also laid the groundwork of research and housing policy necessary to create community — driven policies — something MicroLife believes is critical to allow intentionally designed homes
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that use space efficiently. MicroLife has been around for a while, but following the launch of our Cottages on Vaughan, more people than ever are talking about its work and asking us for help to create more right-sized housing in their neighborhood. The first step to creating more projects like Cottages on Vaughan is to get more people across the country to talk about housing and embrace the MicroLife Institute philosophy of “less space, more life.” Our family size and household sizes have changed dramatically since the nuclear-family era,
and it’s time for our zoning and land-use rules to change too. At the end of the day that’s what the MicroLife Institute is working towards –– creating abundant, accessible housing options. Whether that means cottage courts, accessory dwelling units, duplexes or triplexes, everybody should have access to rightsized homes that work for their incomes and lifestyles. So how do we do help communities learn about adding housing variety? First, we get more people to talk about the idea, and better yet, to actually come and experience it for themselves. That’s why after the
launch of Cottages on Vaughan, MicroLife began hosting monthly tours to allow people to see what’s possible with policies that allow community-driven developments. Another way we can help cities embrace new housing ideas is through festivals like MicroLife Institute’s. Tiny House Festival coming this Oct. 16 and 17 in Avondale Estates. People can see firsthand how life can look living in a smaller footprint. We’re not saying that everyone needs to live in a tiny house, but we are saying it is fun and interesting to see how others can and do live this lifestyle. You might even
come away with some ideas on space utilization and the ability to be a little bit more flexible in your home. The MicroLife Institute is thrilled to be able to show off its pilot project. Stay tuned as in future columns we discuss minimalism, downsizing and utilization of space in housing in upcoming issues of Atlanta Senior Life. We look forward to your thoughts and ideas about these different topics. If you have any suggested topics that you’d like us to speak to please write to us at thoughts@microlifeinstitute.org.
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GARDENING
Finding fall colors where you may not expect them poor, sandy soils gardens as they with the native provide habitat plant community for beneficial best suited for insects and those conditions: larval food for a meadow along butterflies, as Greg Levine, co-exa Georgia granite well as seeds and ecutive director rock outcropping. shelter for many of Trees Atlanta, The fall colors bird species. describes himself of a meadow are Our plant as happiest when subtle, elegant, communities his hands are in and long-lasting, are very diverse, the dirt. and the morning from full forests light and dew with an open accentuate the canopy and little Recently I was able to spend beauty even else but a carpet Little bluestem a day with Darrel Morrison, more. of moss, to a a highly regarded landscape My longmeadow with architect known for designs that winded point is to emphasize over a hundred native perennials though, they retain warm colors mimic native plant communities. the importance of learning and grasses. Fall can bring out a throughout the winter. Darrel was the dean of The about your patch of dirt to be unique splendor in each of these Our native grasses should be School of Environmental Design landscaped – soil type, drainage, communities. an important component in our at UGA way back when I was in and sun exposure. Then, identify school. He explained (or, rather, the plant community found in re-explained, as I am only a fair places similar to your existing student) that we can do better site, and focus on the plants than using native plants simply Plants to grow for extra fall color that thrive in that particular as chess pieces in a landscape. environment. Your plants will Instead, gardeners can create Consider these grasses and perennials if you have room for a be more likely to flourish and more successful and interesting small meadow or perennial border and want some fantastic fall you will recreate a beautiful designs by noticing which plants color. landscape found in the mostgrow together in nature, then Broomsedge – Andropogon virginicus – This early successional loved wild places of Georgia. matching those communities grass lives for just a few years but reseeds nicely. It has a longAs our day together ended, with the corresponding lasting bronze fall color. The height ranges from three to five feet. Darrel and I headed down U.S. manmade conditions. Like many grasses, it grows taller with more moisture and most of 78 towards Athens. When we Most everyone who sees a the height is in the seed head. hit the outskirts of Loganville, healthy forest, rock outcrop, Little bluestem – Schizachyrium scoparium – ‘Standing Ovation’ we saw a sea of dark purple. It or meadow appreciates their is a cultivar that stays upright. You need a bit more patience for was in fact Purpletop (Tridens natural beauty. Many would like this longer-lived grass as it is a bit slower than broomsedge to flavus), a native grass common to capture it and bring it home. establish but makes for a good companion plant. It can handle dry in the Piedmont. It went on for Darrel insists that it can be to slightly wet-to-dry soils. It has reddish purple to silver fall color. miles – just one plant in the right done. By successfully duplicating The grass gets 2 to 4 feet tall. There are a number of cultivars place, a member of a southern these plant communities at available in the market that vary in leaf and fall color. meadow plant community. We people’s homes, offices and Blue mist flower – Conoclinium coelestinum –This is the both agreed we had never seen schools, we can celebrate Georgia foolproof flower. It has reliable purple smoke-like flowers in the the highway look that good, and landscapes while creating better fall and the pollinators are all over it. When it’s really happy, mist all the D.O.T. had to do was let it wildlife habitat with numerous flower will hold its ground with the competitive river oats. I pull a grow. other benefits. lot of this plant up and still have a purple party for several weeks This grass gets to be around Darrel worked with our when it blooms in September and October. It likes average soil three feet tall and is one of many landscape architect to select moisture and can take full sun to part shade. It can reach almost 3 meadow grasses that really show plants for a meadow at Trees feet tall. off in the fall just before the Atlanta’s future home. He I must include a tree for your fall planting. Pawpaw (Asminia leaves change. Unlike the trees, matched the existing nutrienttriloba) is a four-season tree, and if your garden has average soil and partial sun to almost full shade it will thrive. This native tree grows to about 30 feet tall and looks pretty tropical with its slightly drooping leaves that turn a nice yellow Grow a moss garden in the fall. Its maroon flowers give way to the largest edible fruit Learn to grow your own moss garden. On Oct. 22, Annie native to North America. The fruit resembles a small pale green “Mossin’ Annie” Martin, a nationally recognized expert on moss mango and taste like very sweet banana. You have to get them fast gardening, will present “The Magical World of Moss Gardening” at or the raccoons and possums will beat you to it. The tree can work Trees Atlanta, 225 Chester Ave., Atlanta. This program is free and as a lovely specimen, but it helps to have two trees for the best fruit open to the public, but you should register to reserve your spot at production. www.treesatlanta.org.
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TRAVEL
APPLE PICKIN’ TIME IN GEORGIA Travels with Charlie Veteran Georgia journalist Charles Seabrook has covered native wildlife and environmental issues for decades. For “Travels with Charlie,” he visits and photographs communities throughout the state.
They go by names like Winesap, Pinata, Mutsu Crispin and Gala. They’re apples — some of the more than 20 varieties of the crisp, juicy fruit produced in the prized orchards of North Georgia’s apple-growing region, located mostly in Gilmer and Fannin counties. The region’s apple-picking season usually starts around late August. But it is in October when folks seem to be hit hardest by a hankering for a half-bushel or so of the freshly picked fruit. It draws thousands of folks, often with families in tow, to the several apple houses and orchards nestled in North Georgia’s picturesque mountains. Many folks come to pick their own fruit right off the trees. To accommodate them, growers often set aside parts of their orchards each season for “U-picking.” This season, though, U-pick apples may be limited because of a late frost in April that killed blooms on scores of trees — a devastating blow for several North Georgia orchards. Nevertheless, North Georgia’s growers report that they have “bushels and bushels” of treeripened apples — including several varieties — for sale in their apple houses. Many customers probably are like my wife, Laura, and me, who every October take an apple-buying day trip to several of the apple barns and orchards,
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Fausett Farms Sunflowers, Dawsonville
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B.J. Reece Orchards, Ellijay
3 Old apple barn, Ellijay 4-5 Hillcrest Orchards, Ellijay 6
Hillcrest Orchards, Ellijay
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Apple blossoms in April at B.J. Reece Orchards, Ellijay
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R&A Orchards, Ellijay
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Hillcrest Orchards, Ellijay
10 Old apple barn, Ellijay 11 Laura Seabrook of Decatur picks out some apples at Hillcrest Orchards, Ellijay 12 Pumpkins, B.J. Reece Orchards, Ellijay Story and photos by Charles Seabrook
most of which are scattered around Ellijay in Gilmer County. (Outside Gilmer are Mercier Orchards in Blue Ridge (Fannin County) and Jaemor Farms in Alto (Banks County.) Laura likes to patiently inspect and pick out individual apples from among the thousands piled high in bins at the apple houses, and bag them herself. I’m less choosey: I prefer buying already-filled bags containing several apple varieties. The result is that when we return home in Decatur, we’re often lugging a bushel or more of apples, which we happily share with friends and neighbors. That’s not all. Most apple houses also offer a slew of related mouth-watering goodies -- fried pies, apple butter, jugs of cider, donuts, syrups, jellies, jams and on and on. And what would October be without pumpkins? That’s
why visitors also are likely to find rows of bright orange pumpkins for sale at nearly all apple houses -- just in time for Halloween. For my wife and I, there’s one other must-see attraction to visit during our apple forays -- the Fausett Farms Sunflowers near Dawsonville on the outskirts of apple country. It features some 30 acres of tall, neon-bright sunflowers whose beauty is breathtaking. October is significant in North Georgia for another reason -- the annual Georgia Apple Festival in Ellijay, which celebrates the harvest of the beloved fruit. The event was canceled last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic but is scheduled this year for the weekends of Oct. 9-10 and Oct. 16-17. More information: georgiaapplefestival.org.
PLACES FOR PICKING Here’s a list of several of North Georgia‘s apple houses and orchards. For latest updates, call them or visit their websites. ■ B.J. Reece Orchards, Ellijay, reeceorchards.com ■ Hillcrest Orchards, Ellijay, hillcrestorchards.net ■ R&A Orchards, Ellijay, randaorchards.com ■ Hiillside Orchard Farms, Lakemont, hillsideorchard. com ■ Mercier Orchards, Blue Ridge, mercier-orchards.com ■ Red Apple Barn, Ellijay, https://www.redapplebarn. com/ ■ Jaemor Farms, Alto, jaemorfarms.com
OCTOBER 2021 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com
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TRAVEL
October means leaves will blaze with fall color in Georgia, North Carolina moutains By Collin Kelley October is prime time to see fall foliage at its peak color, so set aside a weekend for a drive to North Georgia or northern Carolina. According to the Fall Foliage Prediction Map at smokymountains.com, the leaves will peak a little earlier than usual in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina this year — between Oct. 4-11. Oct. 18-25 will bring the brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows in North Georgia. At this writing, Georgia State Parks were still limiting access if parks become too overcrowded to maintain social distancing, so be sure to check gastateparks. org for updates. The same goes for the Smoky Mountains, where the National Park Service is
requiring masks in all buildings and in crowded outdoor spaces According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, these are the parks to check out the best foliage color along with some recommended hikes and activities. Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge An hour north of Atlanta in Dawsonville, you’ll find the Southeast’s tallest cascading waterfall. A short, flat path leads to a boardwalk offering the most spectacular views. There’s also an easy-to-reach overlook at the top. For a tougher challenge, start from the bottom of the falls and hike up the steep staircase. Black Rock Mountain State Park At an altitude of 3,640 feet,
Black Rock Mountain in Clayton is Georgia’s highest state park (Brasstown Bald is the state’s highest peak). Roadside overlooks and the summit visitor center offer sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The 2.2-mile Tennessee Rock Trail is a good choice for a short, moderate hike. For an all-day challenge, take the 7.2-mile James E. Edmonds Backcountry Trail. Cloudland Canyon State Park Located in Rising Fawn, one of Georgia’s most beautiful parks offers easy-to-reach rim overlooks and challenging trails. A favorite hike takes you down a staircase to the bottom of the canyon, where you’ll find two waterfalls. The 5-mile West Rim Loop is moderately difficult and offers great views of the canyon.
F.D. Roosevelt State Park Many people are surprised to find hardwood forests and rolling mountains south of Atlanta. The 6.7-mile Wolf Den Loop is a favorite section of the longer Pine Mountain Trail. For a touch of history, drive to Dowdell’s Knob to see a life-size bronze sculpture of President F.D. Roosevelt and views of the forested valley. Ga. 190 is a pretty driving route.
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Fort Mountain State Park This park in Chatsworth is best known for a mysterious rock wall along the mountain top, plus a variety of trails. For the easiest walk, take the 1.2-mile loop around the park’s green lake. For a challenging, all-day hike, choose the 8-mile Gahuti Trail. Mountain bikers have more than 14 miles to explore. Ga. 52 has beautiful mountain scenery and overlooks worth stopping to see. Moccasin Creek State Park Georgia’s smallest state park sits on the shore of a gorgeous Lake Burton. Guests can choose from the 2-mile Hemlock Falls Trail or 1-mile Non-Game Trail with a wildlife observation tower. Ga. 197 is a particularly pretty road, passing Mark of the Potter and other popular attractions. Smithgall Woods State Park Protecting more than 6,000 acres around Dukes Creek, this is the perfect spot for fly fishing while enjoying fall color. Day visitors can picnic near the creek,
and overnight guests can hike a private trail to Dukes Creek Falls. A 1.6-mile loop climbs to Laurel Ridge and provides a view of Mt. Yonah once most leaves are off the trees. Smithgall Woods has some of the park system’s most sought-after cabins and is near wineries and Helen’s Oktoberfest. Tallulah Gorge State Park Tallulah Gorge near Clayton is one of the most spectacular canyons in the Southeast, and you can choose from easy or difficult trails. Hike along the rim to several overlooks with waterfall views, or hike to the bottom of the gorge for a bigger challenge. Unicoi State Park & Lodge Ziplines take you high above the forest canopy for a unique view of leaves near Helen. If you’re up for a steep hike, take the 4.8-mile Smith Creek Trail up to Anna Ruby Falls. Unicoi offers a lodge and restaurant.
Vogel State Park Near Blairsville, the 4-mile Bear Hair Gap Trail makes a nice day trip for experienced hikers, offering a birds-eye view of the park’s lake. For an easier walk, follow the Lake Loop to a small waterfall below the dam. The twisting roads around Vogel, particularly Wolf Pen Gap Road, offer some of north Georgia’s prettiest fall scenery. NORTH CAROLINA Cashiers Valley Leaf Festival At press time, the annual Cashiers Valley Leaf Festival at Village Green in downtown Cashiers was still set for Oct. 8-10. More than 100 artisans, food vendors, entertainers were scheduled to participate. Visit villagegreencashiersnc.com for more information. Highlands While the leaves will be past their peak, the annual Highlands Food & Wine Festival (highlandsfoodandwine.
com) returns Nov. 11-14 with music, tastings, dinners and more. Highlands also offers great shopping, dining, and the chance to explore the scenic surroundings. Visit highlandschamber.org for more information. Asheville Enjoy dining, shops, visit the Biltmore Estate, take a ride on the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad, or have a drink at one of the breweries or distilleries. The Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands is set for Oct. 14 and Oct. 17 in downtown. Visit romanticasheville.com for more information. LEAF Festival A short drive from Asheville, just below Mount Mitchell and near Black Mountain, the festival, set Oct. 14-17, features a wide variety of types of music. Visit theleaf.org/the-festival for tickets and information. See more photos at AtlantaSeniorlife.com
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FROM THE CRATES
Remembering a day on the town for the staff of Atlanta’s own version of ‘WKRP’ from the crates Kelly McCoy is a veteran Atlanta broadcaster who writes about the days popular music only came on vinyl records, which often were stored in crates. The best pair in Atlanta. I’m talking about two of Atlanta’s best radio stations ever, WQXI AM 790 and WQXI FM 94.1. The two — known as “Quixie” and “94Q” — broke the molds, wrote the playbooks … add your favorite cliché here. If you ever watched the TV show “WKRP in Cincinnati,” that fictional radio station was patterned after WQXI. I could write five columns on Quixie and 94Q, but for this piece I’ll share an adventure that wasn’t typical of radio stations then, and completely out of the universe in today’s world of radio.
In those days, to motivate us for big ratings periods, The Big Guy, Gerald S. Blum, known as Jerry, always did something to motivate the staff to do their absolute best on the air, and any time we represented the stations. Quite often, this would entail having a prominent speaker join us at a fancy restaurant. For example, we once were wined and dined at The Coach and Six restaurant, with U.S. Sen. Max Cleland as our “guest motivator” for the evening. In September 1983, the onair staff for both stations got a memo to mark our calendars for a special day when Blum would gather a group of motivational speakers at hotel in the airport area. Jerry would provide transportation. This meant limousines of course. Radio was show business in those days and limos were a treat, but not uncommon. On “motivation day” three limos carried us south. As we got closer to the airport, we noticed we’d passed the last hotel of any size with a conference room. Is Jerry
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flying us somewhere? The “new” airport had plenty of room for three fine rides to pull up and unload. Jerry hustled us inside like a school busload of excided students and shouts, “Let’s go…follow me!” In a few moments we’re in the Delta Crown Room giddy for this unknown adventure. After he calmed us down and we were seated, Jerry handed each of us an envelope with our name handwritten on the outside. Once he told us to open them, we were in complete shock and over the top excited about what
we were about to do. There was a photocopy of a personal note, handwritten by Jerry. “I just wanted to say thank you for busting your butts
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to make these the best radio stations in the country,” the note said. “To show my appreciation, we’re spending the day in New York!” Attached to the note were airline tickets and three $100 bills. Three hundred bucks!! After quieting us down again, he said we’d end our day with dinner at Peter Luger Steak House, his favorite steak house, before returning home. Who in their right mind would take two airstaffs to New York, give them cash, and “turn them loose?” I recently spoke with J.J. Jackson, Jim Morrison, Fleetwood Gruver, Neil Williamson and Craig Ashwood to compare memories of our wild day. There were maybe 15 of us there that day. Of course, we had limos in New York. We hadn’t been riding long when we saw the actor Jack Klugman dressed in camo pants. Someone shouted, “we love you!” He smiled and waved.
We all as a group went to the top of the Empire State Building. Once we arrived, Neil “Hondo” Williamson yelled, “Go Dawgs” for all New York to hear. We’d tried to go to lunch at the famed restaurant the Windows of the World, but someone was wearing jeans… back then, a no-no. We split into groups, determined a designated location and time to meet later that day, and took off to
play in the city. In those days, shopping at Bloomingdale’s was a big thing to do. Most of us got goodies for our significant others, then off to Central Park, more funky shopping, and as much NYC as we could squeeze into three hours. No one got arrested, but Russ Davis did get lost amongst the many for a few moments. He was the tallest on the staff, and from Alabama. Once again Hondo to the rescue by finding
a perch and yelling, “Roll Tide!” Magically from all those bodies a long arm was waiving. Russ was safe. Time to eat. Peter Luger Steak House was legendary, and we were all stuffed and spoiled. There may have been champagne. We had a very happy limo ride to LaGuardia, and a party flight home to our smaller town, Atlanta. Our day was magical, special, and we were motivated for sure. We continued the “Best Pair in Atlanta” status for long time. Of course, every other station in town hated us with envy. Most people in radio never have experiences like this group did. Not only the people on the air, but throughout the building. The Big Guy was our team leader. Jerry also made us feel like family. Those of us still alive are so thankful for our time there. We’ll always be the Quixie/94Q family.
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BOOKS
These mysteries offer the chance to see the world from your armchair By Michele Ross New fall books are out. These intriguing titles allow mystery fans to visit various countries across the globe. We Know You Remember Tove Alsterdal Winner of the Best Swedish Crime Novel of the Year, this American debut will win new readers. Accused of a heinous crime when he was just fourteen, Olaf Hagstrom was sent away, exiled from home and family. Now, after more than 20 years, when he returns to his Swedish home, something is very wrong, and police detective Eira Sjodin will have to sort out past and present, innocence and guilt, and the reliability of memories, all wrapped in vivid Swedish locations. (HarperCollins, $28.99). The Heron’s Cry Anne Cleeves From the best-selling author of two popular mystery series (and also TV series), “Shetland” and “Vera”, comes a second installment of
a new series. “The Long Call” (2019) introduced North Devon Inspector Matthew Dunn, and he’s back in “The Heron’s Cry.” Dunn is called to the scene of a murder at a rural artists’ retreat. Things get complicated when Dunn realizes the victim’s daughter is a friend of Dunn’s husband. Cleeve’s trademark strong characters, shrewd insights and vivid sense of place will have fans eager to follow this coastal crowd. (Minotaur Books, $27.99)
The Dark Hours Michael Connelly Connelly’s iconic detective Harry Bosch is back, and again teams up with Renee Ballard. Ballard, a Los Angeles Police Detective, is working the graveyard shift on New Year’s, when a local auto shop worker is killed by a bullet that wasn’t from a reveler’s wild, celebratory shots. Her investigation leads to one of Bosch’s old unsolved cases, and they work to solve both cases before a killer can find them. (Little, Brown, $29, November.) Rock Paper Scissors Alice Feeney Even if you think you’re weary of the “unreliable narrator” trend in mysteries, this one will surprise you. Adam and Amelia Wright’s marriage has been in trouble for some time, but they’re hoping that maybe a weekend at a remote Scottish house might help. Strange events ensue, and complicating everything is Adam’s prosopagnosia, an inability to recognize faces, including his own or his wife’s. It’s a measure of Feeney’s skill that otherwise tired tropes work so well here. (Flatiron Books, $27.99).
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The Madness of Crowds Louise Penny In this 17th installment of her much-loved and much-awarded series featuring Canadian Inspector Gamache, Penny again keeps readers enthralled with intriguing plot twists and moral dilemmas. Gamache is asked to provide security at a lecture given by a visiting professor of statistics, but this supposedly boring event will become something quite else when the professor’s agenda is revealed. Gamache’s colleagues, family and Three Pines villagers will all become involved in this layered, thought-provoking novel. (Minotaur Books, $28.99).
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PERSONAL FINANCE
Should I claim Social Security at age 62, or wait? ask rusty Russell Gloor is a certified Social Security advisor with the Association of Mature American Citizens.
Dear Rusty: I turn 62 next
year and I am getting different answers to my questions so I hope you can help me. The amount I would collect from Social Security is different at 67 and 72. If I start to collect at 62, when I turn 67 will it go up to that amount? And go up again when I turn 72? One person I spoke to said yes it does. The next person I spoke to said no - you get the amount for the age that you start to collect and that’s all you get for the rest of your life. Please help me to understand if I should start to collect at 62 or should I wait?
Signed: Confused About When to Claim Dear Confused: First of all, your Social Security benefit stops growing when you turn 70, so waiting beyond that to claim will only cause you to lose benefits you are entitled to. Essentially you have an 8-year window to claim your Social Security benefits, and the amount you get will be based on the age you claim, relative to your full retirement age. Your personal full retirement age is 67, and if you claim at age 62, you’ll get 70% of what you would get at 67. That reduction is permanent except for Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) which may occur annually. Whenever you claim, that is the amount you’ll get for the rest of your life — it doesn’t go up at
age 67, or any other later age. But the question of whether you should claim at age 62 or wait longer is more complicated. If you are still working, you should be aware that claiming at any time before age 67 will mean Social Security’s “earning test” will apply. The earnings test sets a limit for how much you can earn from working before Social Security takes away some of your benefits. For 2021, the earnings limit is $18,960 (it changes annually) and if that is exceeded Social Security will take away benefits equal to $1 for every $2 you are over the limit (we don’t yet know what the 2022 limit will be, but it will be slightly more than the 2021 limit). The earnings limit applies until you reach your full retirement age, after which there is no longer a limit to how much you can earn. If you exceed the earnings limit by a substantial amount, you could even be disqualified from receiving any benefits. Other factors to consider when deciding when to claim are your health and your life expectancy, the urgency of your need for the money, and your marital status. The longer you wait to claim, up to age 70, the more your benefit will be. In fact, if you wait until age 70 to claim, your benefit will be 24% more than it would be at your full retirement age. But when deciding whether to wait beyond your full retirement age to claim, you should consider your life expectancy. If, for example, you wait until age 70 to maximize your benefit, you will need to live until at least age 83 to break even (average longevity for someone your current age is about 84). If you are married and have higher lifetime earnings than your spouse, you should be aware that your spouse’s benefit as your survivor, should you die first, will be affected by your age when you claim. If you wait and claim at a later age, your spouse’s survivor
benefit will be more (assuming your spouse’s own benefit is smaller). If you claim at an earlier age, your spouse’s survivor benefit will be less. So, as you can see, there’s no one simple answer for when you should claim your Social Security
benefits. Everyone’s personal circumstances are different and when deciding when to claim benefits, you should consider your entire situation, as described above.
This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC Foundation’s staff, trained and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA). NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity. To submit a question, visit (amacfoundation.org/programs/ social-security-advisory) or email ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org. About AMAC The 2.3 million member Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC] www.amac.us is a conservative advocacy organization founded in 2007 that represents its membership in the nation’s capital and in local Congressional Districts throughout the country. The AMAC Foundation (www. AmacFoundation.org) is the Association’s non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and educating America’s Seniors.
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PERSONAL SAFETY
Yes, Jessica, a police officer can bring the right stuff to rule ‘show and tell’ STAY SAFE Steve Rose is a retired Sandy Springs Police Captain, veteran Fulton County police officer and freelance writer. He is the author the book “Why Do My Mystic Journeys Always Lead to the Waffle House?” and the column “View from a Cop.”
When I was in the first years of my career, my children’s classes had annual Career Days. This meant moms and dads would come to the class and talk about what they did. In all fairness, police and firefighters had an unfair advantage because, well, how
many adrenaline-filled insurance stories can one muster? We not only had the stories, but we had props too. For us, “show and tell” was held outside because you couldn’t land a helicopter in the classroom. Things I brought to class included riot bunkers, helmets, Kevlar vests to show how heavy they were, and general equipment an officer wore, barring the pistol, which was, of course, disappointing to the boys. We usually requested to go on last because the cops didn’t get upstaged unless mom or dad was an astronaut. Later, when I transferred to the community unit, class presentations were part of the job and scheduled more frequently. Generally, the script remined the
same: give the talk and tell kids three important points 1. If something happens to scare you, call 9-1-1. 2. Police are your friends, and you will recognize us by
our uniforms. 3. Firefighters sit around and watch cable TV all day. Then you just take questions and tour the police car. Boom! In
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OUT AND ABOUT and out in a half hour. On one occasion, I went to an elementary school to speak to the class, Miss Hester’s class. She said the kids were very excited and had a lot of questions for me. I soon learned that “questions” to a second grader were relative and included making profound statements. Here are some of the questions and profound observations from the class: “How many people have you shot?” (Always the first question, as if we were in the Wild West.) “My mom got a ticket the other day and she said the cop had his head up a glass—or something like that.” “Have you been on COPS? My dad has. He was running down the street and it was funny when they caught him. I think he’s a movie star now.” “Can you take my sister to jail if she annoys me? Her name is Jessica.” “Can I see your gun?” “Can I see your handcuffs?” “I heard my uncle say the cops got his stash. I don’t know what stash is, but I think it’s something he likes.” “My sister takes up too much space in our house. Can you take her and find a new home for her? Her name is Jessica.”
“Can you come to my house? I have monsters.” “Can I see your bullets?” “Mom said if I don’t eat my vegetables, you guys will come over and arrest me. Have you tasted them?” “Where is the K-9 dog?” “Do you have kids? If not, you can have my sister. Her name is Jessica.” “Do you eat anything besides doughnuts?” “I think my mom is a police officer. I found handcuffs in her bedroom dresser drawer.” “I was told there would be a K-9.” “If I don’t like my sister, you have to take her to jail. I think that’s the law.” After a few more profound statements and questions, I gave the kids a tour of the police cruiser, back seat, in one side and out the other. The teacher took a picture of the kids, apologized to me, and counted off to make sure all the children were accounted for. At the same time, I adjusted my rearview mirror and noticed a tiny head still in the back seat. When I turned around, she sat there, content and smiling. “I’m guessing your name is Jessica.”
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October events Here are some in-person events scheduled for October. Check the sponsors’ websites for cancellations, ticket prices and any COVID-19 restrictions or protocols. Oct. 2, 7 p.m. Mary Kay Andrews appears at the Gwinnett Public Library’s branch in Duluth to discuss and sign copies of her new holiday novella, The Santa Suit. For more: www.gwinnettpl.org. Oct. 8, 8 p.m. The Monkees’ Farewell Tour with original members Michael Nesmith and Mickey Dolenz comes to Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. NW. For more: www.aso.org. Oct. 9, 7:30 p.m. Comedian and former U.S. Senator Al Franken appears at Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. NW. For more: www.aso.org. Oct. 13-14, 8 p.m. Nathalie Stutzmann, principal guest conductor of the
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Oct. 16, 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Comedian Jeff Foxwothy performs at the Fox Theatre. For more: www.foxtheatre.org. Oct. 21 and 23 at 8 p.m., Oct. 24 at 3 p.m. Violinist Midori performs Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concert with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. At Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. NW. For more: www.aso.org. Oct. 22, 8 p.m. Country star Clint Black performs at Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. NW. For more: www.aso.org. Oct. 24, 8 p.m. Singer Boz Scaggs performs at the Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. NE. For more: www.foxtheatre.org. Oct. 26, 7 p.m. Writer Patti Callahan appears at the Atlanta History Center to discuss her new book, “Once Upon a Wardrobe.” For more: www.atlantahistorycenter.com.
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Philadelphia Orchestra, conducts the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 and Verdi’s Overture to his opera La forza del destino. At Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. NW. For more: www.aso.org.
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COMPASSIONATE CARE RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER Northside Medical Midtown brings Georgia’s most compassionate and dedicated experts to the heart of Atlanta. With over 20 practices, our physicians and staff are ready to care for you and your family.
Clinical Specialties include: NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL CARDIOVASCULAR INSTITUTE 404-962-6000 • northsidecvi.com
Georgia Colon & Rectal Surgical Associates 770-277-4277 • gcrsa.com
Northside Hospital Center for Perinatal Medicine 404-898-2550 • northside.com/cpm
NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL CANCER INSTITUTE Radiation Oncology 404-575-2050 northside.com/radiation-oncology-midtown
Georgia Urology 404-222-0292 • gaurology.com
Peachtree Women’s Clinic 470-875-1050 • peachtreewomensclinic.com
GYN Surgical Specialists 404-303-3157 • gynsurgicalspecialists.com
Randy Rudderman, MD Plastic Surgery & Medical Spa 678-566-7200 • drrudderman.com
Laureate Medical Group 404-892-2131 • laureatemed.com
Sovereign Rehabilitation 404-205-5567 • sovereignrehab.com
Arthritis & Total Joint Specialists 770-292-6500 • arthritisandtotaljoint.com
Midtown Medical Associates 404-215-6525 • midtownmed.com
Surgical Specialists of Atlanta 404-847-0664 • surgicalspecialistsofatlanta.com
Atlanta Cardiac & Thoracic Surgical Associates 404-252-9063 • atlantathoracicsurgery.com
North Atlanta Primary Care 770-442-1911 • napc.md
The Hand & Upper Extremity Center of Georgia 404-255-0226 • handcenterga.com
Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates 404-888-7601 • atlantagastro.com
Northside/Midtown Imaging 404-875-2640 • northside.com/midtown-imaging
Thomas Eye Group 678-538-1968 • thomaseye.com
Bariatric Innovations of Atlanta & General Surgery 404-250-6691 • bariatricinnovationsatl.com
Northside Family Medicine & Urgent Care 404-575-2000 • northsideurgentcare.com/atlanta
University Gynecologic Oncology 404-300-2990 • ugynonc.com
NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL ORTHOPEDIC INSTITUTE Sports Medicine 1-855-647-7678 • sportsmedicine.northside.com
NORTHSIDE MEDICAL MIDTOWN • 1110 West Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309 (On-site parking available)
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