Seniors/Baby Boomer Expo Oct. 15, 2016 • The Mall at Stonecrest
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October 8, 2016
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Active life, happy seniors
The 50-plus crowd will be dancing, performing and having a good time at the annual CrossRoadsNews expo at the Mall at Stonecrest that celebrates their style, wit, activity and creativity.
A daylong celebration of the 50-plus crowd
Thousands of seniors and baby boomers are expected to descend on the Mall at Stonecrest on Oct. 15 for a day of activities portraying them at their best. They will dance, sing, perform and sashay down the runway at CrossRoadsNews’ fourth annual Seniors/ Baby Boomer Expo. The popular expo, which is pre-
sented in partnership with Kaiser Permanente of North Georgia, takes place noon to 5 p.m. on the mall’s lower level. More than 15 exhibitors will offer information on everything from Medicare enrollment to health care, pre-need and family reunion planning, and continuing education. There also will be information on
volunteering, fire safety and avoiding scams. Expo-goers will get free health screenings and the chance to talk to a lawyer about estate planning and wills. And there will prizes and surprises, and one lucky expo-goer will win a Fabulous Fall Harvest Basket compliments of the Mall at Stonecrest.
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“Men just don’t go to the doctor. Prostate cancer is something men don’t talk about.” The Beulah Boys, perennial favorites who will perform on Oct. 15 at the expo, are encouraging men to get screened for prostate cancer after three members battled the disease.
2346 Candler Road Decatur, GA 30032 404-284-1888 Fax: 404-284-5007
www.CrossRoadsNews.com editor@CrossRoadsNews.com The Seniors/Baby Boomer Expo Special Section is a publication of CrossRoadsNews, Atlanta’s award-winning weekly newspaper.
Editor / Publisher Jennifer Parker Graphics Editor Curtis Parker Reporters Jennifer Ffrench Parker Donna Williams Lewis Copy Editor Brenda Yarbrough Multimedia Editor Sharif Williams
Curtis Parker / CrossRoadsNews
The Beulah Boys now dancing with a purpose By Jennifer Ffrench Parker
Since their inception in 2009, the Beulah Boys have been line dancing just to entertain. This year, not anymore. After three of the group’s eight members – Herbert Jackson, 77, and Chico Hill and Jerry Heard, both 65 – have battled prostate cancer, Nick Bowers, the group’s leader, said the group is now dancing to encourage men to get screened for the disease. Prostate cancer disproportionately kills African American men because it is often discovered in its late stages when it is difficult to treat. That is the message the group will be delivering when it performs at the Oct. 15 CrossRoadsNews Seniors/Baby Boomer Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest. The popular line-dancing group from Decatur will be on the Main Stage, near Sears
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on the mall’s lower level, at 4:15 p.m. Bowers said the group began pushing prostate screenings after Hill had major surgery last year and had to take time off from the group. “Men just don’t go to the doctor,” he said. “Prostate cancer is something men don’t talk about. Women will talk about breast cancer all the time, but we don’t talk about prostate cancer.” Prostate cancer grows in the prostate gland, located under a man’s bladder. It is detected with a prostate-specific antigen blood test that detects elevated protein levels made by prostate cancer cells. The annual PSA test is recommended for African American men at age 40. For other men, screening should begin at age 50. Hill said his wife encouraged him to go to the doctor when he began going to the
bathroom a lot. “I was a little nervous about going because I didn’t want to hear bad news,” he said. “But what I did know was that I wanted to live.” Year-round, the Beulah Boys perform to large audiences at a lot of parties and events across DeKalb County and metro Atlanta. “We dance a lot,” Bowers said. “Why not dance for a purpose. We just want to say to men, ‘Go get a screening.’ You never know.” Even though women dominate their audiences, Bowers said it doesn’t hamper their message. “We just ask the women to get their men to go to the doctor,” he said. The group’s prostate awareness message is coming directly from its members. “We are not working with anybody or any group,” Bowers said. “We wear a prostate cancer pin and we just talk to our audience.
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2016 Seniors/Baby Boomer Expo Exhibitors & Grand Prize Entry Form Visit at least 12 of these exhibitors* at the 2016 Seniors/Baby Boomer Expo and enter to win a Fabulous Fall Harvest Basket from the Mall at Stonecrest. The drawing takes place on October 15, 2016, at 4:40 p.m. at the Main Stage in front of Sears on the lower level of the Mall at Stonecrest. _____ CrossRoadsNews
_____ DeKalb Medical
_____ Lincoln Family Group
_____ DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court – Debra DeBerry
_____ Georgia Piedmont Technical College
_____ Lou Walker Senior Center
_____ DeKalb Convention & Visitors Bureau
_____ JenCare
_____ Oakhurst Medical
_____ DeKalb County Fire Rescue
_____ Kaiser Permanente of Georgia
_____ T.M. Johnson Law Firm LLC
_____ DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office – Jeffrey Mann
_____ Kennedy Memorial Gardens
_____ WellCare Health Plan
Name _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ City ________________________________________________________________________________________ State __________ ZIP ___________-__________ Email________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Home phone _____________________________________________________________ Cell ______________________________________________________
* Eligible entries must be validated by at least 12 exhibitors and must include your complete name, address, email address and telephone number. Employees and immediate family members of CrossRoadsNews, Kaiser Permanente and the Mall at Stonecrest are not eligible to win. You must be at least 18 years old to enter. You MUST be present to win.
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2016 Seniors/Baby Boomer Expo Program Highlights October 15, 2016 • Noon - 5 p.m. • The Main Stage in Front of Sears Lower Level, The Mall at Stonecrest 12:30 p.m.
Warm-up With Exercise Motivator Rae Rae
12:45 p.m.
Lou Walker Senior Center Tai Chi & Martial Arts Demo
1 p.m.
Joyful Highlighters
1:15 p.m.
Antonio “The Chozen 1” Hinton
1:30 p.m.
Ballroom dancers Johnny Kimbrough & Angela Sanford
2 p.m.
Fashion Show featuring styles from Macy’s, Sears and Zoom de Italy
2:20 p.m.
Hip Hop NaNas
2:30 p.m.
Queen Ora
3 p.m.
Lou Walker Dance Troupe
3:15 p.m.
E. Walter Smith, Vocalist
3:30 p.m.
Ballroom dancers Ken Wilson & Diane Gilliard
3:45 p.m.
A Different Flava Dance Group
4 p.m.
Antonio “The Chozen 1” Hinton
4:15 p.m.
Beulah Boys
4:30 p.m.
Line Dance-off
4:40 p.m.
Grand Prize Drawing
5 p.m.
Expo Ends
Emcee Jan Martin
Joyful Highlighters
Rae Rae
Lou Walker Dance Troupe Fashion Show
Tai Chi Demo
Johnny Kimbrough Ken Wilson & Angela Sanford & Diane Gilliard
Queen Ora
A Different Flava
Hip Hop NaNas
The Beulah Boys
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“This tremendous shift will transform the region and challenge every aspect of community life.”
Embrace regular physical activity for a better quality of life Americans are living longer than ever before, and many are discovering that they don’t have to live it out in a rocking chair. Nationwide, more than 46 million Americans are 60 years old, and by choosing healthy lifestyles they are improving their physical and emotional well-being and helping to prevent and delay many diseases and disabilities long thought synonymous with longevity. Those who embrace physical activity, eat right, quit smoking, and get annual health screenings and flu and pneumonia shots are vastly improving their quality of life. And resources abound locally and on the internet to help them do it. Adults can find lots of resources from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Aging (and from local programs and services like the DeKalb Office of Senior Affairs, Senior Connections, the Lou Walker Senior Center and Kaiser Foundation’s http://everybodywalk.org. Metro Atlanta and DeKalb County have long been a favorite for residents aging in place and for retirees relocating here from other states and cities. The Atlanta Regional Commission’s 2007 survey “Older Adults in the Atlanta Region: Preferences, Practices and Potential of the 55-plus Population” projected that by 2030, one in five of the region’s residents will be over the age of 60. The study, which surveyed the 55-plus population in DeKalb, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale counties, projected that between 2000 and 2015, the region’s population of older adults would increase by 30.6 percent, a rate of growth that is more than double the region’s population for the same period. “This tremendous shift will transform
minutes or more of moderate daily physical activity is recommended. Swimming, dancing, gardening and biking work, too. Good nutrition also can impact many of the chronic conditions that ail people as they age. Studies show that 40 percent of Americans who are 65 and older eat poorly and that a healthy diet that includes a wide variety of foods – fruits, vegetables, high-fiber gains, beans and nuts – and is rich in calcium and low in saturated fat, sodium and cholesterol can help protect against diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis, heart disease, high blood pressure and cancer.
Curtis Parker / CrossRoadsNews
Regular physical activity like dancing, walking and gardening can help maintain healthy bones, muscles and joints and reduce the risk of falling and fracturing bones.
the region and challenge every aspect of community life: health care, transportation, employment, housing, recreation and leisure, economic development, infrastructure expansion and education,” the study said. “It will force local leaders to question the way billions of dollars are spent. It will affect the way public and private services are delivered, homes are built, even the way streets are crossed.” The 2010 U.S. Census shows that adults 50 years and older accounted for 178,247 or 26.3 percent of DeKalb County’s population of 678,844. For many of these aging adults, inactivity usually increases with age. Studies show that
by age 75, about one in three men and one in two women are not physically active, but they don’t have to be inactive. Regular physical activity can help maintain healthy bones, muscles and joints and reduce the risk of falling and fracturing bones. It also can help reduce the risk of high blood pressure, colon cancer and diabetes. Some people also report feeling more energetic. Adults also are discovering that regular physical activity relieves stress and improves mood, which in turn helps eliminate anxiety and depression. For some, it also improves their ability to think. Exercise doesn’t have to be strenuous to be effective. Walking works for most and 30
Health screenings Each winter, millions of Americans suffer from the flu, a highly contagious infection that can be quite debilitating. It spreads very easily from person to person and can be life-threatening to aging adults and those who have chronic illnesses such as diabetes or heart, lung or kidney disease. Studies show that a flu shot reduces hospitalization by about 70 percent and death by about 85 percent among aging adults who do not live in nursing homes. Among those living in nursing homes, a flu shot reduces the risk of hospitalization by about 50 percent and death by about 80 percent. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends flu shots for people 50 years and older and others who are at high risk for the flu. It recommends a vaccine to protect against pneumococcal pneumonia for adults 65 and older. For more information and to locate resources, visit the Eldercare Locator at www. eldercare.gov or call 1-800-677-1116.
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Seventy percent of older adults living in DeKalb and Fulton counties rate the region a good or excellent place to live.
Georgia State Parks offer discounts for seniors 62 and older, including Annual ParkPass discounts of 50 percent with valid driver’s license, as well as 20 percent off cottage rentals, camping fees and more.
Seniors tap into Foun
Savvy seniors can save with discounts Aging comes with a lot of perks – discounts on meals at restaurants, clothes, and admission to attractions and venues, but alas, lots of merchants who offer these special deals for seniors are not always big on promoting them. So, if you want to save money on everything from groceries to cellphones and cruises, you have to ask if they offer senior discounts. “Senior” can mean anything from 50-plus to 65-plus, depending on the merchant and retailer, and the discounts can vary widely among businesses in the same chain. They also vary depending on the day of the week and the hour of the day. To access senior discounts, it doesn’t hurt to ask the stores and restaurants you frequent if they offer discounts. To help you stretch your fixed retirement income and your Social Security benefits, here’s a sampling of some current local senior discounts: n Denny’s 15 percent off the tab for AARP members all day, every day, at the new Lithonia location, 2657 Panola Road. n Georgia Power Discounts for 65-plus Up to $18 off monthly metered service and fuel credit of up to $6 for seniors with combined income less than $23,760. To apply, visit www.georgiapower.com/residential/ billing-options/senior-citizen-discount.cshtml. n Golden Corral Discounts for 60-plus $7.99 Early Bird Special of buffet and drink from 10:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. All metro Atlanta locations. n Georgia State Parks Discounts for seniors 62-plus Annual ParkPass discounts of 50 percent for senior citizens who present their drivers license. Seniors get $20 off individual or family membership in Friends of Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites, plus 20 percent off: n Cottage rental rates (Sunday–Thursday, Dec. 1–March 31). Not valid with any other promotions or discounts. Limited to one cottage per stay. n Campsite rates (year-round). Not valid for group camping. Discount applies only when vehicle is registered to a senior. Limited to one campsite per senior. n Golf green fees.
n Individual lodge room rates (year-round). Limited to one room per stay. For more information, visit http://gastateparks.org/ ThingsToKnow. Buy a park pass at https://gastateparks.org/ signin?gologon=%2fnet%2fcommerce%2fAddToCart.aspx %3fs%3d0.0.0.5%26priceid%3d66%26itemid%3d147919 ands=0.0.0.5 n Goodwill Discounts for 55-plus 25 percent off every item every Tuesday at the 4822 Flat Shoals Parkway location. n Kroger Discount for 60-plus 5 percent discount on Wednesdays. n Publix Discounts for 60-plus 5 percent discount on Wednesdays. n Rite Aid Pharmacy Discounts for 65-plus 20 percent discount for Wellness 65+ members first Wednesday of every month. Prescriptions excluded. n Ross Dress for Less Discounts for 55-plus 10 percent discount on Tuesdays. n Stone Mountain Park Discounts for 62-plus $3 off Adventure Pass, which is valid on select dates in March through December. n University System of Georgia Discounts for 62-plus Free tuition at any of the system’s colleges and universities, space permitting. Contact college for information. n Walgreens Discounts for 55-plus and all AARP members starting at age 50 Subscribe to email updates from the store’s Balance Rewards program to get alerts about Senior Discount Days. Previous discount days have usually occurred on the first Tuesday of the month, offering 20 percent discounts on regularly priced in-store items and some online items.
By Donna Williams Lewis
When he encourages seniors to move, Tyrone Bailey, Lou Walker Senior Center’s fitness director, can be tough. Bailey tells them they’re in the fourth quarter of the game, with no timeouts left. “So what are we going to do with that last quarter?” he asks. “What about taking a class that will help you live a little longer?” In addition to aquatics classes in a heated pool, the center on Panola Road in Lithonia offers 53 weekly fitness classes in every-
Who we are – key demog Older adults in DeKalb and the Atlanta region love living here and are embracing fitness, keeping on top of their blood pressure, volunteering and embracing life. Here is some key information about them from the Atlanta Regional Commission’s survey “Older Adults in the Atlanta Region: Preferences, Practices and Potential of the 55-plus Population.” n 67 percent of older adults think the Atlanta region is a good place to retire. n Most older adults have lived in the region an average of 37 years. n 64 percent say they will remain in their current home as long as they can. n If they move, 52 percent plan to move to another home in the Atlanta region. n 67 percent of people 55 years and older plan to continue
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“So what are we going to do with that last quarter? What about taking a class that will help you live a little longer?”
ntain of Youth with programs delivering fitness, focus and fun Adults 55 and older have their pick of classes like yoga, Zumba, martial arts, tai chi, chair aerobics, line dancing, ballroom dancing and tennis as members of the Lou Walker Senior Center in Lithonia. The center offers 53 weekly fitness classes.
thing from tai chi to ballroom dancing. Adults 55 years and older have their pick of classes like yoga, Zumba, martial arts, chair aerobics, line dancing, tennis and much more. Bailey says that members with limited mobility can take chair aerobics, and there is even a class for people with arthritis. When members said they needed help with short-term memory, Bailey created a “Brains, Balance and Flexibility” class. “Some of the seniors are like children, bouncing back
and forth between classes,” Bailey said, laughing. “They go out to lunch with their friends and come back and they stay until we’re pleading with them to go home so we can go home.” The seniors are having fun, but by staying active and embracing exercise, they also could be accomplishing what Bailey hopes will happen – extending their lives. Experts estimate that with regular activity, more than 50 percent of the diseases and conditions that lead to premature death can be eliminated. Many illnesses that plague older DeKalb residents are rooted in inactivity, according to the DeKalb Board of Health’s 2011
Programs for older adults Here are some programs that are helping local seniors keep their brains and bodies sharp: n DeKalb County Public Library Book discussions, movies, bingo, information sessions and classes for the 55-plus set. dekalblibrary.org/events. n DeKalb Medical’s Senior Spectrum Program Complimentary breakfast and monthly health talks led by DeKalb Medical physicians and clinicians. Social outings to local attractions and performances at group rates. Discounted parking on the hospital campus. For all seniors over the age of 60. One-time membership fee of $15. www.dekalbmedical.org/our-services/senior or call 404-501-7732. n Healthways SilverSneakers Fitness program Fitness benefit included in more than 65 Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Supplement carriers as well as group retiree plans. Provides access to more than 13,000 fitness and wellness centers across the nation, usually at no additional cost. www.silversneakers.com. n Lou Walker Senior Center 53 weekly fitness classes including aquatics in a heated pool, yoga, Zumba, martial arts, tai chi, chair aerobics, fitness with arthritis, line dancing, ballroom dancing, tennis and “Brains, Balance and Flexibility.” Annual membership is $120. For more information, visit www.louwalkercenter.com. n Senior Connections Nonprofit that manages four DeKalb County-funded senior centers that offer activities and serve 500 meals a day. Serves another 300 DeKalb seniors six days a week through home-delivered meals. Provides light housework, personal care and respite care. Volunteers always needed to help deliver meals and work in the group’s Chamblee kitchen. www.seniorconnectionsatl. org.
Senior Health in DeKalb Report. Among adults 50 years and older, 61 percent are overweight or obese, 12 percent smoke daily, and 14 percent have been told by a health professional that they have diabetes, the report said. It also cites cancers and cardiovascular diseases as the leading causes of early death among DeKalb residents ages 50 to 74. Prevention tips offered in the report for a variety of diseases are almost the same across the board: Maintain a healthy diet and healthy weight, don’t smoke, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, limit alcohol and avoid toxins.
graphics of the 55-plus crowd in DeKalb and metro Atlanta region working after they retire. n A third of older adults volunteer on a regular basis. n Less than half of older adults say they are in good or excellent health. n 85 percent of older adults say their mental health is good or excellent. n 11 percent of older adults do not exercise at all. n 89 percent say they exercise at least 1-2 times a week. n Almost all are checking their blood pressure and cholesterol regularly. n Less than half are getting flu shots or pneumonia vaccines. n Only 21 percent own long-term care insurance policies. n 45 percent are very or somewhat concerned that they will not be able to pay for long-term care.
n 88 percent use their own vehicle as their primary mode of transportation. n 15 percent have trouble getting where they need to go. n 70 percent of older adults living in DeKalb and Fulton counties rate the region a good or excellent place to live. n 84 percent of older adults own the home they live in. n 29 percent of older adults live with family. n 85 percent of older adults have family in the region. n 43 percent of older adults would move to be closer to family. n 13 percent of older adults would move to be around “people my own age.” n 38 percent of adults 55 to 59 are not working full time. n 72 percent of unemployed older adults retired from a full-time job. n 35 percent of older adults actively volunteer.
n 51 percent of adults 65-69 report excellent or very good health. n 52.8 percent of older adults in DeKalb report excellent or very good health. n 11 percent or 44,000 older adults need some assistance with preparing their own meals. n 67 percent of older adults older than 65 need to improve their diet. n 14 percent of older adults had poor diets. n 51 percent of older adults believe Medicare will pay for long-term care or don’t know. n 52 percent of adults 55 to 59 and 58 percent of those who are nonwhite are concerned that they will not be able to pay for long-term care. n 21 percent of older adults own long-term care insurance policies.
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“I will take you on a musical journey of old school dance and ballads and do something new that’s really special.”
Deep-voiced vocalist to bring old school music to expo By Donna Williams Lewis
Professional balladeer E. Walter Smith was banned from singing in every choir he belonged to when his voice changed at the age of 10. He compensated by learning to lip sync and focused on his band, playing bass guitar and singing background vocals in his new bass baritone. It wasn’t until Larry Graham’s 1980 hit “One in a Million You” in a voice as deep as his that his youthful dreams of a singing career seemed possible. “I said, ‘That’s me,’” said Smith, who hails from Shaker Heights, Ohio. “That started my interest in doing lead vocals.” From there he also learned about the Barry Whites and Lou Rawls and Billy Eckstines of the world. These days, Smith, 53, is a popular wedding singer and recording artist whose father-daughter dance song, “Little Girl,” is included in About.com’s list of Best Wedding Songs by R&B Artists. On Oct. 15 at the CrossRoadsNews Seniors/Baby Boomer Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest, Smith plans to go old school when he takes the Main Stage near Sears at 3:15 p.m. “I will take you on a musical journey of old school dance and ballads and do something new that’s really special if you were 18 in the ’60s, ’70s or ’80s,” Smith said. That something new will be his song “MMM, MMM Baby.” During his own musical journey, the Decatur resident figures he has sung at some 75 weddings. One of his singles, co-written with high-profile music director Reginald “Wizard” Jones, introduces a new line dance, “We Married – The Bride Slide.” An insurance and finance specialist, Smith knows business and how to diversify. He can do small – he’s been hired to sing at marriage proposals and on nightclub date nights – and he can do huge, performing at bridal shows like the Mrs. Georgia pageant and at the “For Sisters Only” expo in Charlotte, N.C. Smith is now promoting his “keynote concerts,” which kick off meetings and events with a mix of motivational messages and songs. Smith is big on message. His song “I’m Catholic Cool” encourages Catholics to return to their faith. “Tenderness” raises awareness of domestic violence. But his main theme is romantic love, which he defines this way: “Creating an atmosphere where two people can share the best and worst of themselves, where they can be completely transparent and can feel comfortable in the place they call their soft space.”
Popular wedding singer and recording artist E. Walter Smith of Decatur will perform at 3:15 p.m. on Oct. 15 on the Main Stage near Sears at the CrossRoadsNews expo.
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“You should always follow your dreams and always be around positive individuals and positive environments.”
Model students will show off ageless style, grace on runway By Donna Williams Lewis
When Icon Models owner Jan Reynolds was asked to teach modeling to seniors, she accepted the surprising offer but only on a trial basis. She wondered how many Lou Walker Senior Center members might actually sign up. All doubt vanished on the first day of class last November. “There were 23 women sitting there waiting for me,” said Reynolds, who now teaches both beginning and advanced modeling classes at the center. Model training can help people in all sorts of ways, Reynolds said, from developing eye contact, poise and self-confidence to learning about etiquette, hair care and skin care. “Some women said they actually never wore makeup,” Reynolds said. “They don’t have to wear it every day, but when they want to wear it, they should know how to apply it.” Outfitted with church hats and tambourines, some of her Lou Walker students will appear in her fashion show at the CrossRoadsNews Seniors/Baby Boomer Expo on Oct. Jan Reynolds is a former Miss 15 at the Mall at Stonecrest. Black Missouri beauty queen who The popular fashion show featuring fashruns pageants for women ages Photos by Curtis Parker / CrossRoadsNews ions from Macy’s, Sears and Zoom de Italy 50 and up and for plus-size girls, men’s store will be on the Main Stage near Fashions hitting the runway will include outfits from Zoom de Italy men’s store at the Mall at Stonecrest. teens and women. Sears at 2 p.m. Other senior models in the show will She’s a member of the ATL Silver Classix After four years of competing in the Miss don Afro wigs for a “Soul Train” scene and Black Missouri of America pageant, she won Crew, a dance troupe that performs at Atcarry umbrellas for a segment featuring allthe title in 1976 and was a finalist the same lanta Hawks basketball games. weather coats. “It’s never too late to love yourself,” she year in the Miss Missouri USA pageant. Reynolds, 64, said her models will be Reynolds has worked for AT&T for 46 said. strutting their stuff. For more information about Reynolds’ years, currently as a communications techni“I don’t believe in old age,” said Reynolds, cian, and recently completed coursework for upcoming pageants, email her at moviestara former Miss Black Missouri beauty queen jan@yahoo.com. a master cosmetology degree. who runs pageants for women ages 50 and up and for plus-size girls, teens and women. “You should always follow your dreams and always be around positive individuals and positive environments.” The Kansas City native has represented and taught models for more than 40 years and has directed, judged and competed in numerous fashion shows and pageants. Her models participated in the Closing Ceremony of the 2016 DeKalb County Senior Olympics. Reynolds first took to the catwalk in 1973 at the age of 17. Growing up, she was teased a lot because of her 98-pound, 5-foot-7-inch frame. She entered the Miss Missouri Teen USA The popular fashion show also will feature clothing from Macy’s and Sears along with a pageant “to prove that I was somebody.” “Soul Train” scene and an outerwear segment.
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“They’re being taken aback with what they’re hearing in the news about gun violence. They want to know how to fight off attackers.”
Seniors smashing more than stereotypes at Lou Walker Center By Donna Williams Lewis
Mildred Pope knew she hadn’t found her tai chi class when she walked into a room full of people kicking and punching at Lou Walker Senior Center. Wondering what the heck was going on, Pope was about to leave when the teacher, extolling the virtues of martial arts, talked her into staying. Five years later, she is still taking martial arts and the self-defense class that followed it. Today, Pope, a 67-year-old grandmother of seven, is a fierce martial practitioner. She holds a brown belt in karate and plans to earn her black belt. “I love fighting and staying in shape,” she said last week. “I know how to properly defend myself, and I’m in the best shape of my life at this age.” Pope and other seniors from Lou Walker, including a 90-year-old tai chi teacher, will demonstrate their martial arts and tai chi skills on Oct. 15 at the CrossRoadsNews Seniors/Baby Boomer Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest. They will be on the Main Stage near Sears at 12:45 p.m. Seventy-one-year-old Sam Washington, who attends the same class, said martial arts have improved his balance and enhanced his self-discipline. “You have to perform the skills in the right way,” said Washington, who also holds a brown belt. “For example, when I’m breaking a board, if I don’t do it properly I can hurt my hand.” Lou Walker Fitness Director Tyrone Bailey said seniors want to learn to protect themselves. “They’re being taken aback with what they’re hearing in the news about gun violence,” he said. “They want to know how to fight off attackers.” Bailey’s self-defense classes for seniors emphasize pressure points and using common objects such as glasses and books as weapons. Washington said he’s thankful he’s never had to use the skills he’s acquiring. But they actually did come in handy about a year ago. He was entering the Walmart on Fairington Road when a man who was being chased by store security raced directly toward him. “He had a mean look on his face,” Washington said, sensing that the man figured he was a pushover and would knock him down if he didn’t get out of his way. “I instinctively went into fighting stance,” Washington said. “He made Members of Lou Walker Senior Center will demonstrate their martial arts and tai chi skills on Oct. 15 at the expo. a beeline around me.”
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“It’s the gift that God gave me and I am not going to stop until he stops me.”
Emcee Jan Martin has never seen a microphone she didn’t love By Jennifer Ffrench Parker
Jan Martin
Jan Martin grew up an only child in a family of adoring adults. When she was a ham for the spotlight, the adults around her nurtured her confidence with applause and encouragement. “Everything I did and said, they thought it was wonderful,” she said with a laugh. “I was like a puppy.”
No wonder she grew up at ease with audiences and a microphone. Since 2009, she has been teacher, choreographer and MC of the Beulah Boys, the Decatur-based line-dancing group that has been wowing audiences locally and nationally. On Oct. 15, she will be at the mic as MC for the 2016 CrossRoadsNews Seniors/Baby Boomers Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest. Martin, a regular
them and I pepper it in as I go along,” she said. What’s even more special is that the Seniors/Baby Boomers crowd is one she knows well. “I know them from Lou Walker Senior Center and from Senior Connections. These are my people.” The expo takes place noon to 5 p.m. on the mall’s lower level. The Main Stage is near Sears.
at CrossRoadsNews expos where the Beulah Boys are a crowd favorite, says she can hardly wait. “I love working the mic,” she says. “I love an audience. Give me a microphone and I am comfortable.” Martin says she excels as MC because she learns about her audiences and engages them. “I like to know who I am talking to and I get as much information about
Mime transports crowd with expressive face, fluid movement By Jennifer Ffrench Parker
When your moniker is “the Chozen 1,” you have to bring it every time, and that is exactly what mime Antonio Hinton does in his performances. Hinton, who has been miming to songs like “When Sunday Comes,” “Make Me Over,” “More of Thee” and “The Best in Me” for 11 years, believes he was chosen by God to interpret music and be a blessing to those viewing his performances. He calls his performances “an out-ofbody experience.” For those in the audience, his expressive face and fluid movements leave them just simply mesmerized. People often tell him that his performances touch them, and Hinton doesn’t take that lightly. “I see the joy that people get when I minister to them,” he said. At the CrossRoadsNews Oct. 15 Seniors/ Baby Boomers Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest, he will transport his audience with his performances to Jessica Reedy’s “Better” and Marvin Winans’ “More of Thee.” He will be on the Main Stage near Sears
on the lower level at 1:15 p.m. and at 4 p.m. Though he only has been miming since 2005, Hinton has been singing, rapping, dancing and writing songs since he was 11. He became a mime quite by accident when his then pastor while at High Power of God Ministry in Jersey City, N.J., asked him to dance in a drama ministry performance. His dramatization to Smokie Norful’s “I Need You Now” was a big hit and he has never looked back. Hinton, who now lives in Lithonia, performs across metro Atlanta at anniversary, birthday, retirement and other parties and at wedding receptions, gospel galas and churches. He says he will continue to perform for as long as he is able. “It’s the gift that God gave me and I am not going to stop until he stops me,” he said. For more information, visit Antonio “the Chozen 1” Hinton on Facebook or call 201-284-1042. The mall is at I-20 and Turner Hill Road. Curtis Parker / CrossRoadsNews For more information about the expo, call Antonio “The Chozen 1” Hinton will perform to Jessica Reedy’s “Better” and Marvin Winans’ 404-284-1888. “More of Thee” on Oct. 15 at the expo at the Mall at Stonecrest in Lithonia.
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CrossRoadsNews
October 8, 2016