The renowned folk artist Grandma Moses began painting seriously at 78 years of age. She became more than a successful artist, she was an inspiration; if anyone said they were too old to start something new, the knee jerk response was “Grandma Moses.”
I don’t consider hers to be an unusual case. Her achievement of fame was, perhaps, but not the fact that she excelled creatively in her later years. Many artists start their creative pursuits after retiring from full-time careers.
In “One Man’s Meat,” writer E.B. White mused: “…I think a literary artist has a better chance of producing something great if he spends the first forty years of his life doing something else— grinding a lens or surveying a wilderness…”
The logic behind it is simple. All artists, literary and visual included, use their personal experiences to inform their work. It’s much easier to fill a canvas, or the pages of a novel, when there’s a lifetime of inspirations to draw from.
Contact Kathy with story ideas: kathydean@atlantaseniorlife.com
The internet has reshaped the way people communicate; it has also reshaped the way people find love. Courting no longer exists solely within the boundaries of blind dates and chance meetings. For seniors with a large community of family and social connections, it can be easy to meet potential companions in traditional settings. However, single or widowed seniors may find their circle of social companions much smaller.
Whether you’re seeking friendship, casual dating or a serious relationship, online dating can be a fun and effective way to meet new people. As with any internet activity, safety is a major concern for seniors when dating online. Here are a few simple rules and tips to remember when embarking on the journey of online dating.
Atlanta Senior Life focuses on the interests, accomplishments and lifestyles of the active senior population in metro Atlanta. It aims to inspire readers to embrace a more rewarding life by informing them of opportunities to expand their horizons, express their talents and engage in their community.
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Ask friends and family about any experiences they’ve heard about or had themselves while dating online. Use the internet to search for site reviews instead of testimonials from others who have used those sites.
There are so many sites to choose from, it may take some time to find the right one for you. Many sites cater specifically to seniors, but popular sites like Match.com and eharmony.com also have significant user bases of “over 50.” Some sites focus more on serious relationships while others lean toward more casual situations. If you’re looking for a serious companion, you don’t want to be on a flirty, “hook up” site.
Never share personal details (address, phone number, banking info) with anyone you chat with online. Also, be careful sharing family information, names of close relatives and photos of your home. The occasional individual with malicious intent could seek out this type of information for nefarious means. If anyone asks you questions you’re not comfortable answering, end contact with them immediately.
So, you’re ready to meet your online friend in person. Here are some safety tips:
→ Speak on the phone a few times before you meet. Make sure you feel comfortable with the person on the phone before meeting in person.
→ Make sure a family member or friend knows where you’ll be meeting and has the contact information and profile name of your online friend.
→ Make sure you select a well-lit public place where you feel safe, but that you don’t visit often.
Each month, 20,000 copies of Atlanta Senior Life are distributed to selected locations where active seniors live, work, volunteer and play in the north metro areas of Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties.
Online dating can be your doorway to finding a new circle of friends and, maybe, that special someone. Please remember to protect yourself by opening it cautiously.
Artistic expression is an incredibly powerful tool for self-discovery and growth. Whether you’ve been making art since your earliest memories, or discovered a love for it later in life, it’s never too late to embrace your inherent artistic abilities. Research supports the connection between artistic expression and extended cognitive function and increased quality of life for seniors. By continuing to learn technique and practice making art, many creative people find great fulfillment in making art during the later years of life, when the distractions of dayto- day life fall away and spare time becomes more plentiful.
It’s not only the act of making art that inspires and enlivens these seniors, however. Making art also serves as a testament to those parts of life which each artist values the most. When there are no limitations and no rules pertaining to what you create, many artists pull from their own personal experiences for their creations.
In some cases, as with the artists we interviewed, landscapes and natural scenes increase in popularity after retirement. The tranquility and beauty of those scenes that are found during walks and hikes in nature tend to stick around in the subconscious, begging for expression and realization. Light, movement, depth, color and shading combine to create complex and nuanced works that bring the viewer into the scene.
One such artist is Gary Baughman, whose pastel landscapes have won numerous awards throughout the southeast. Art has been a priority in Baughman’s life since his youth. “My playmate was a sheet of paper and a pencil,” he said with a laugh. As an only child growing up in the country, it was landscapes and farm animals that first piqued his interest as an artist.
Later, during his time at the Air Force
Academy, Baughman revisited his love for art by taking classes. Inspiration sprang from landscapes he saw while living in Colorado, and throughout his post-military career, when he was working in real estate. “My goal was always to make enough money to take art classes,” he explained.
Despite the fact that Baughman’s parents were never able to afford private lessons, he developed as a self-taught artist as a young man and then refined his skills with classes later in life. “I couldn’t figure out what a medium was,” he said, explaining that it was the discovery of pastels, due to their brilliance, which eventually caught his eye. Pastel is a medium that comes in fine powdery pigments of vibrant colors in the form of sticks or pencils.
Baughman first entered a piece into a show in 1993, and since then he has progressed to the point where he teaches others how to use watercolors, oils and pastels, mostly in Dallas, Ga. Most of his work is inspired by things he has seen and experienced during excursions in nature, often at the Kennesaw National Battlefield Park near his home. As he explains it, he takes pictures of things he sees with his mind and then recalls them later for paintings.
While on a walk, he might come across a scene or location that speaks to him, and then “a month later that will show up in a painting.” Although most of what Baughman creates is intentional and pulled from his personal experiences, he also likes to step outside of the box to create pieces by throwing paint at canvases and then creating something from the forms that appear.
For Baughman, art has been a consistent part of his life since he can remember, and continues to be important to him as time passes. It’s when he’s at work with his paint and tools that he feels most at home. “They’re kind of like old friends,” he explained.
Smyrna artist and Georgia native
My playmate was a sheet of paper and a pencil.
Gary Baughman
“Marsha Savage Arthur Jones Gary Baughman
Marsha Savage said she is a student at heart who approaches her craft with the goal of embracing the process rather than necessarily finishing a particular piece. It “is about the journey, not the destination,” she said.
Savage said she started painting at the encouragement of her best friend when she was staying at home as a young mother. Although she has attended some seminars in recent years, she refers to herself mostly as a self-taught artist.
For more than 40 years, Savage’s lush landscapes have been bringing the viewer to the scene. She has painted in several mediums such as oil and acrylic, but it is
pastel painting that has captured her heart.
“I like pastel because it captures the nuances of color and it’s immediate,” Savage said. “I have the ability to layer it; there is no mixing involved and dries a little faster than other mediums.”
She added that when she is painting, she gets into a zone. “I let the painting tell me which direction to go,” she said. “It’s about loving what I do and being open to the experience.”
Consistent with her love of nature, in “Protecting the Crop,” Savage captures the scenery of a farm in Cumming. The piece depicts four scarecrows standing in attention overlooking the countryside.
Cover: Gary Baughman adds colors to a work in progress at his studio.
Opposite page: Top: Marsha Savage and her “Protecting the Crop”
Middle: Arthur Jones and his “Assisi Renaissance Celebration”
Bottom: Gary Baughman and his “Memories of Mother”
Below: Marsha Savage puts finishing touches on one of her works of art.
Always glad to share her technical skills, Savage is a mentor to many students. She admits that she learns something new every time she teaches.
She facilitates workshops in Georgia and sometimes out of state. One of her former students is Karen Margulis of Marietta, who, like Savage, is a member of the Southeastern Pastel Society, and who teams up with her to conduct workshops.
“Marsha has a sensitive eye for the beauty around her,” Margulis said. “Her love of the environment comes through in her paintings.”
Arthur Jones says he simply loves “to
Continued on page 6
•
paint, and draw, and to make artwork. He has a strong affinity for natural scenes, though he also enjoys inserting people into his landscapes. “I love people, and they are part of our lives,” he went on. Having characters in the works adds an element of relatability to the art and “I think it puts things into perspective, too.”
As a young man of just eight years old, Jones first discovered a love for art when he started drawing cartoon characters and airplanes. “It was the one thing I could do probably better than anybody else in my grammar school class,” he said, noting that this artistic trend continued throughout his high school experience. Ultimately, he wanted to be an illustrator and artist, and had his hopes set high when he started school at the Atlanta Art Institute.
Upon graduation, however, Jones discovered that the shift to photography in advertising had a significant impact on his career prospects as an illustrator. “Times were hard,” he recalls, and therefore he made the choice to switch gears and went on to start and run two companies within the dental industry.
As an adult and with a family to consider, it was necessary to for a time to turn his emphasis to practical matters and business. He never let those real-world circumstances deter him from making art, however,
Learn a new art technique, share your talents or get inspired. Like minded artists have several places they gather in the metro Atlanta area.
and continued to study under experienced and notable artists locally. After his daughter left for college and Jones retired, he was able to focus more exclusively on his craft.
“I am really happy when I’m sitting down in front of an easel with a brush in my hand,” Jones explained. “It’s a challenge, and it gets your mind off everything else. You lose track of time and your problems just sort of disappear.” The focus of making art is important and healthy for Jones, who has also benefited from joining groups of like-
minded artists nearby. Beyond the benefits of entering his artwork in themed or juried shows through art organizations, he also notes the added benefit of inspiration, support and education. “As an artist, it helps to get involved with these organizations because it’s good to be around people with the same interests you have,” he said. “It keeps you going.”
Cherokee County
The Cherokee Arts Center 94 North St., Canton, 30114 770-704-6244, cherokeearts.org
Cobb County
The Arts Place & MVAA Mountain View Arts Alliance 3330 Sandy Plains Rd., Marietta, 30066 770-509-2700, tapmarietta.com
Mable House Arts Center
5239 Floyd Rd., Mableton, 30126 Art Center: 770-819-3285
Amphitheatre phone: 770-819-2943 Box office: 770-819-7765 mablehouse.org
Marietta Cobb Museum of Art 30 Atlanta St. SE, Marietta, 30060 770-528-1444 mariettacobbartmuseum.org
South Cobb Arts Alliance (SCAA) SCAA: 770-819-3285 southcobbarts.org
DeKalb County
Dunwoody Fine Art Association dunwoodyfineart.org
Oglethorpe University Museum of Art (OUMA)
4484 Peachtree Rd., Atlanta, 30319 404-364-8555 oglethorpe.edu/museum
Spruill Gallery
4681 Ashford Dunwoody Rd., Atlanta, 30338 770-394-4019, spruillarts.org
Spruill Center for the Arts Education Center
5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd., Atlanta, 30338 770-394-3447, spruillarts.org
Southeastern Pastel Society Meets at North DeKalb Cultural Arts Center in Dunwoody southeasternpastel.org
Fulton County
Abernathy Arts Center
254 Johnson Ferry Rd., NW, Sandy Springs, 30328 404-613-6172, fultonarts.org/index. php/art-centers/abernathy-artscenter
Atlanta Artists Center 2979 Grandview Ave. NE, Atlanta, 30305 404-237-2324 atlantaartistscenter.org
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center 980 Briarcliff Rd. NE, Atlanta, 30306 404-872-5338, callanwolde.org
Chastain Arts Center
135 W Wieuca Rd. NW, Atlanta, 30342 404-252-2927 ocaatlanta.com/chastain/
Hammond House Museum
503 Peeples St. SW, Atlanta, 30310 404-612-0500
hammondshouse.org
Johns Creek Arts Center
6290 Abbotts Bridge Rd., Bldg. 700, Johns Creek, 30097 770-623-8448, johnscreekarts.org
MOCA GA (Museum of Contemporary Art)
75 Bennett St., NW, Atlanta, 30309 404-367-8700, mocaga.org
Rialto Center for the Arts
(in GA State U) 80 Forsyth St NW, Atlanta, 30303 404-413-9849, rialto.gsu.edu
Roswell Fine Arts Alliance
9100 Fouts Rd., Roswell, 30076 770-641-3705, rfaa.org/index.html
West End Arts Center
945 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd., Atlanta, 30310
404-613-6465
fultonarts.org/index.php/artcenters/west-end-arts-center
Woodruff Arts Center/High Museum of Art
1280 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, 30309
404-733-4200
woodruffcenter.org or high.org
Gwinnett County
Hudgens Center for the Arts
6400 Sugarloaf Pkwy., Bldg. 300, Duluth, 30097
770-623-6002
thehudgens.org
By Joe Earle
A little over three decades ago, as Dorothy Benson recalls it, there just weren’t that many activities for seniors in Fulton County.
So Benson and other advocates banded together and set to work. They lobbied Fulton officials and found support among the commissioners. They organized surveys of other communities to see what sorts of services they provided. Finally, a group of about 40 of them, including Benson, paid their own way for a three-day bus trip Baltimore to examine and experience that community’s senior centers.
Their work eventually led to the creation of Fulton County’s senior centers, including the one in Sandy Springs that bears Benson’ name, the Dorothy C. Benson Mulitpurpose Center at 6500 Vernon Woods Drive.
It’s a building where Benson
herself, now 95 years old, regularly appears. She takes part in programs, dines in the cafeteria with other seniors (She’s particularly fond of “fish day” for the fried fish.), joins in the center bocce games and generally keeps an eye on things around the place. “She’s
center one recent afternoon.
She’s around so much, she said, that some other senior center regulars say she should have her own parking place, but she doesn’t think that would be right. Besides, the walk to her car gives her exercise, she said. “She’s an everyday person,” Shoup said. “When she goes in [the center], she’ll wait in line like everybody else.”
The center showcases only part of Benson’s commitment to Fulton County seniors. She chairs the Fulton County Council on Aging, was the first chairman of Senior Services North Fulton, is a member of
the Fulton County Commission on Elderly Affairs, has advised Grady Hospital and regularly speaks out on senior issues. Her calendar remains filled with meetings related to seniors’ issues.
“I’ve worked harder since I retired than I ever did before I retired,” Benson said.
Local officials take note. Last year, the Georgia Senate named Benson a “Distinguished Older Georgian,” saying she is “omnipresent, advocating for seniors at the Capitol or at municipality, county, or
Continued on page 26
Q: Who are your heroes?
A: John Glenn, the late astronaut and U.S. senator. I admire what he did and how he carried into his old age. And I have a local one: Diane Williamson, executive director of The Council on Aging. She is one who pushed to get senior services in Fulton County. And she’s still in it. She’s the one who pushes it. She’s my hero.
Q: What’s your favorite recreational activity?
A: At the [Benson Multipurpose] Center, we have bocce courts.
Q: What’s your favorite book or movie, and why?
A: I don’t have any one book that’s a favorite. I like the ones Danielle Steel writes. The movie? That’s hard. I like the old movies. I like the Andy Griffith Show.
family
Of course, we can help you with your daily needs. But did you know you will also have options for fitness, socializing, healthy fine dining, and more? And services are tailored to you, so you’ll get just the right amount of help you need, when you request it. But the best part? No matter if you need a little help or a lot, the difference you’ll feel will be amazing. Please call The Piedmont at Buckhead to schedule your complimentary lunch and tour.
Being heart-healthy generally requires a lifetime of prevention. But for some seniors, there’s an entirely new focus—how to live and enjoy a full life following a heart attack. Cardiac rehabilitation (or rehab) is an innovative journey for older adults. And it pays off.
Patients say that rehab seems to lift their spirits and cardiologists say it improves heart function. Dr. Marcus Brown, medical director of Cardiac Rehab at Atlanta’s Northside Hospital, would like to see the public’s awareness raised when it comes to this treatment option.
“We know that cardiac rehab can reduce a patient’s chance of overall death by 20 to 40 percent, reduce the chance of getting readmitted to the hospital by 20 to 30 percent, and help patients return to work and activities of daily living sooner,” explained Brown.
“[But] despite the wealth of evidence supporting the proven benefits of cardiac rehabilitation, the services are greatly underutilized,” Brown said in an online interview with Atlanta Senior Life.
Getting help and treatment quickly can often limit damage to your heart muscles, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. The problem with many heart attacks, however, is they can happen when least expected.
“A heart attack can definitely slow you down,” said Atlanta senior Art Schultz, 79. Schultz
speaks from his personal experience and immediate treatment. “The first one set me back for about a month or so while I was trying to figure out how and if my life would change.” It happened in 2004 while visiting in New York and celebrating a wedding anniversary. The heart attack was unexpected and a shock for both Schultz and his wife.
“The second attack (2005) also slowed me down,” he admitted, but within a week he resumed his normal activity with his doctor’s approval. Schultz maintains his key to recovery was eating right, keeping his weight in line with suggestions from doctors, exercising, getting plenty of rest and [most importantly] remaining active. Schultz encourages his friends to stay as active as possible. “Don’t think about the heart attack,” he said. “Definitely don’t dwell on it. Always look forward, and never look back because there’s nothing you can do about the past.”
Actually, it was hard to catch up with Schultz for an interview—he was off on a longawaited cruise to South America and expects to enjoy life to its fullest.
Although a lot of people can begin a walking regimen right away, it’s critical to discuss all physical activities with your healthcare provider before starting any exercise program. In many cases, cardiac rehabilitation is the first significant step for recovering patients.
After a heart attack, most
people who don’t have chest pain or discomfort or other problems can safely return to the majority of their normal activities within a few weeks, according to medical experts.
An important question is: are we under-using cardiac rehabilitation? The American Heart Association fact sheet states the underuse is often “among women and minorities.” Medicare beneficiaries also underuse rehab—but those who take advantage of it appear to have better outcomes.
Brown said he has “countless examples of lives that have been improved with cardiac rehab.” One case Brown remembered concerns a 75-year-old woman who was diagnosed with multiple blockages and underwent open-heart surgery.
“Prior to the surgery, she admitted to being inactive,” continued Brown. “She was not watching her diet and occasionally smoking. Now she exercises regularly, watches her diet carefully, no longer smokes and she actually hiked up Stone Mountain!”
One more note: the British Cardiovascular Society suggests that marital status may have an important impact on the length of a patient’s
hospital stay. Think about marriage (or companionship) as good for the heart. However, the same study also indicates, “It is reasonable to suggest that these results can be attributed to better social support at home.”
This February, in those busy weeks before the Valentine’s Day, focus first on your preventive health. Plan longer walks, eat the right stuff (maybe just one piece of chocolate) and have your blood pressure checked on a routine basis.
Take the time to give your spouse, significant other or close family friend that extra hug. Apparently, hugs are good for you, too!
By Isadora Pennington
“Art is a great medium of connection – when people create together, they connect with one another,” explains Meagan Jain, the artist behind
Ageless interAction. The 501-(c) (3) nonprofit program seeks to connect seniors with local youth through the conduit of making art together.
Jain’s work with elders began when she volunteered
at a hospice during her freshman year of college. Aside from her experiences with her own grandparents, Jain had little understanding about what life was like as a senior. “Before that time, I had never heard of hospice and I certainly was not aware people died alone,” she said. “I had never been into assisted living homes or senior communities before, either. As it turns out, I came to thoroughly enjoy the time I spent with the elder adults receiving hospice care.” It quickly became apparent that many of the seniors in these facilities rarely had young visitors, so Jain created the AdoptA-Grandparent Program (AGP) while still in the undergraduate Gerontology program at Georgia State University. “The AGP was my first venture into connecting college students and elders. From there, I feel as though most of this work has been
divinely created for me. All the pieces of the puzzle came together seemingly on their own.”
From that initial spark of inspiration, Jain’s initiatives to connect the youth with elders has grown and changed to become what it is today. Ageless interAction came about as an idea in 2012, and became an official non-profit in 2014. Though Jain does all of the nitty-gritty work of running the company behind the scenes, she’s not entirely comfortable with the term “executive director,” and instead prefers, simply, “innovator.”
“That’s what Ageless interAction is all about, innovation. Innovation in terms of how we are taking concepts of connection, friendship, aging and the arts and rewiring them to fit new models of creating opportunities for generations to connect, create, break down age stereotypes, and inspiring positive thoughts on aging.”
Last December, Jain hosted an art event at Adult Day of Dunwoody. Around a large communal table sat approximately a dozen seniors, each painting an outdoor scene with the help of a volunteer and visual aids provided by Jain. One of the volunteers, Meg Mitchell, spoke of the experience in glowing terms.
“It’s really awesome to be able to connect with the older
generation and to do something creative,” said Mitchell. The December event was Mitchell’s third time volunteering with Ageless interAction, and she recounts the experience with fondness. The work is at once inspirational and sometimes a bit heartbreaking.
“Seeing in their eyes that there is more there trying to get out, even if they can’t speak” really moved Mitchell, and reminded her of her own grandfather-in-law. An artist herself, passionate volunteers such as Mitchell help to bridge the gap to those seniors who may otherwise have difficulty expressing themselves.
Throughout the years, Ageless interAction has provided an outlet for creative expression to a variety of seniors. Oftentimes, participants might begin the workshop with apprehension or self doubt. Phrases like “I can’t paint,” or “I have no artistic ability” are sometimes uttered, but are quickly rebuked by Jain and her crew.
“Everything we do is about authentic creative expression— it’s about the process of getting to know yourself through what and how you create,” Jain elaborated. “When you create, truly create from a place of unencumbered expression with no judgment, art shows you yourself. Art provides us the ability to dive deep into ourselves and bring out what is inside to show the world, visually, what we are trying to express. Humans need to speak and be heard and art provides us this opportunity.”
“Sometimes people find art intimidating because they feel they won’t do it “right.” I hope to
Continued on page 27
To stay up to date with Ageless interAction visit the website at agelessinteraction.org and follow their facebook page facebook.com/ agelessinteraction and instagram account @agelessinteraction. Jain can be reached by emailing agelessinteraction@gmail.com.
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Date: 10/04/16
Project Name: 60525210-A-JG_KPSASalesRepPacket_GA-MMC_GA_2017_PrtAdv
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Have questions about Medicare or a Kaiser Permanente Medicare health plan? Just give me a call for more information.
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kp.org/medicare
Kaiser Permanente is an HMO plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Kaiser Permanente depends on contract renewal. You must reside in the Kaiser Permanente Medicare health plan service area in which you enroll. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia, Inc., Nine Piedmont Center, 3495 Piedmont Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30305.
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Luke is looking for a special someone to love during this month of romance! This feline is an 8-yearold domestic shorthair and is incredibly clever. He has the goofiest facial expressions and is sure to provide you with a lifetime of laughter. Luke can be stubborn at times, but he doesn’t let that get in the way of his playtime.
He’s a silly kitty who has been in our care for more than a year, so his adoption fee has been waived. You can meet the adorable Luke at our Mansell Campus in Alpharetta.
The Atlanta Humane Society has two locations: 1565 Mansell Road, Alpharetta, 30009 and 981 Howell Mill Road NW, Atlanta, 30318. For hours and more information, call 404-875-5331 or visit atlantahumane. org.
The former Sears, Roebuck and Co. building, now Ponce City Market, on Ponce de Leon Avenue has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The building was listed for its significance in architecture and commerce. Used as a distribution and retail center by Sears, the building and shipping room were completed in 1926. Additions to the building were completed in 1932, 1948, and 1971. The building retains its multi-light metal windows, concrete columns, concrete floors, wood floors, stairs, and elevators.
Gardening in Georgia can be both rewarding and frustrating. The long growing season affords many opportunities to have flowers, foliage and fruits throughout the year, but extended periods of drought and extreme heat present challenges for both plants and gardeners alike.
Hiring a professional garden designer to help you develop a plan is a great start, but educate yourself, too. Do a little research. Look around your community and take note of plants that thrive in situations that are similar to your own.
No matter what size garden you have, success begins with selecting the right plants for the right place. Start by grouping plants with similar needs in the same area and remember that sometimes the simplest solution for a problem is to work with existing conditions rather than trying to change the environment. This is especially true if you have soils that are saturated, periodically flooded or very dry.
When choosing plants for your garden, think about what individual plants offer, both aesthetically and practically. Combine trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants and bulbs for the best effect.
Avoid or remove invasive exotic plants, including English ivy, kudzu and Autumn olive, Eleagnus umbellata. All of these are rampant growers that crowd out other species that need light to grow.
As you replace plants in your landscape, consider choosing native selections suited to tolerate particular conditions in your garden. Your landscape will be not only beautiful, but sustainable. By using native plants, your garden will provide critical food and habitats for birds, bees and other critters.
There are plenty of native plants that do well in sun and shade. By incorporating some of these plants into your landscape, you’ll be well on your way to creating an oasis for people, plants and animals that will reward you throughout the year.
Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum) is a large deciduous conifer that thrives in wet or dry soils. The fern-like foliage turns from green to russet in the autumn. Once it sheds its leaves, the orange-red bark stands out, especially in the winter landscape.
Henry’s Garnet’ Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica) grows in sun or part shade. The green leaves turn garnet in autumn.
Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) is a large shrub or small tree with lemon scented flowers. Mostly evergreen, the silver undersides of the leaves shimmer in the breeze.
Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) is a deciduous shrub that produces masses of red or orange fruits in winter.
Arkansas Bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii)
Beautyberry (Callicarpa Americana)
Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia)
Fringe Tree (Chioanthus virginicus)
Georgia Aster
(Symphyotrichum georgianum)
Native oaks (Quercus species)
New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)
Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum)
Plants for shady areas
Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
Florida Leucothoe (Agarista populifolia)
Foam flower (Tiarella cordifolia)
Maple Leaf Viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium)
Phlox (Phlox divaricata)
Royal fern (Osmunda regalis)
Small Anise tree (Illicium parviflorum)
Sweet Shrub (Calycanthus floridus)
Yellowroot (Xanthorhiza simplicissima)
Valentine’s Day Meet & Eat
Tuesday, Feb. 14, 12 p.m.-2 p.m. Enjoy a delicious catered meal and celebrate as the Reminiscents perform live. Wear your red, pink or purple outfit and have some fun at this fundraising event that benefits the C. Freeman Poole Senior Center. $12 for Cobb residents; $14 for non-residents. Freeman Poole Senior Center, 4025 South Hurt Rd., Smyrna, 30082. Call 770-8013400 or go to www.cobbcounty. org for details.
Opening Reception: Mario Petrirena
Friday, Feb. 24, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Artist Mario Petrirena was born in Cuba and raised during the political upheaval of the 1960s. He was one of 14,000 children evacuated to America during Operation Pedro Pan. Petrirena’s work, a combination of ceramics, installation pieces and collage, reflects both the struggles and the value of his dual identities. Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and children ages 6-18. MOCA GA (Museum of Contemporary Art), 75 Bennett St., NW, Atlanta, 30309. For tickets and more info, call 404367-8700 or go to mocaga.org.
Thursday, March 9, 7:30 p.m. Ruthie Ellenson (author of the New York Times bestseller “The Modern Jewish Girl’s Guide to Guilt”) and Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta’s (JFGA) CEO Eric Robbins invite the community to be part of a compelling conversation about philanthropist Edgar M. Bronfman’s “Why Be Jewish? A Testament,” published just weeks before Bronfman’s death in December 2013. Part of the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta Book Festival series, this event is presented in partnership with the JFGA. Free and open to the community with RSVP. Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, 1440 Spring St., Atlanta 30309. Call the MJCCA box office at 678-812-4005 or visit www.atlantajcc.org/bookfestival.
And Then There Were None Feb. 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24 & 25, 8 p.m.; Feb. 12 & 19, 3 p.m. A classic Agatha Christie murder mystery comes to the stage in Sandy Springs. Ten guilty strangers, trapped in a house on an island, are accused of murder and one by one they start to die. Tickets are $23 for adults, $20
Heritage Winter Classics: SympVibes & Nothin’ But Treble
Sunday, Feb. 12, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Enjoy an evening of superb a cappella music. SympVibes (Sympathetic Vibrations), an allmale a cappella group founded at Georgia Tech, arranges all their own music, mostly pop and classic rock. At the other end of the musical scale, Nothin’ But Treble is Georgia Tech’s all-female, award-winning a cappella group. Tickets are $5 for members, $10 for nonmembers. Heritage Hall, 6110 Bluestone Rd., Sandy Springs, 30328. Call 404-851-9111 or visit heritagesandysprings.org.
for students and seniors 65+. Act 3 Productions, 6285-R Roswell Rd., Sandy Springs, 30328. Order tickets online at act3productions. org, or call 770-241-1905.
Thursday, March 9, 7:30 p.m. Bill Cherry, Dean Z and Jay Dupuis, winners and finalists of several Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contests, are featured in the ELVIS LIVES 2017 tour. They’ll be joined by a live band, back-up singers and dancers, and an AnnMargret tribute artist. Graceland is providing rarely seen restored video and photo assets from its archives. The Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, 30308. Buy tickets at the Fox Theatre
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ticket office, online at FoxTheatre.
org or by calling 855-285-8499.
Simply Simone, The Music of Nina Simone
Areas
Thursday, Apr. 13; ticket sales begin Wednesday, Feb. 1. Depart 11 a.m. and return 6 p.m.; show at 2:30 p.m. A true diva, vocal powerhouse Nina Simone was an American icon whose work spans throughout the jazz, gospel, blues, Broadway and rock genres. Simone’s voice comes alive through four actresses. $35
injuries, this seminar will teach you how to stay safe in your home. Learn about home modifications, kitchen and bathroom safety and most important fire safety. Bonita Prigmore from Comforting Arms will lead the discussion. Free; registration required. West Cobb Senior Center, 4915 Dallas Hwy., Powder Springs, 30127. To find out more, call 770-528-8200 or visit cobbcounty.org.
Nature Club
Dine & Discover: National Parks
Thursday, Feb. 23, 7-9 p.m.;
*Amount of federal rent assistance varies. Must meet age income qualifications set by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Assets are not considered income, but can be used to pay for supportive services. Call 404.751.2255 for details.
These accessories connect to your landline phone and your TV- you never have to struggle to participate again!
per person, cash only, includes admission and transportation. Lunch at your own expense at Landmark Diner. The show will be presented at Balzer Theatre at Herren’s in downtown Atlanta. This travel event is planned through the Dorothy C. Benson Senior Center. Dorothy C. Benson Senior Multipurpose Complex, 6500 Vernon Woods Dr., Sandy Springs, 30328. Go to www. bensoncenter.org or call 404-6134900 for more info.
Safety First: Bringing it Home Wednesday, Feb. 22, 10 a.m.–11:30 a.m. From your home security and medical alert system to preventing falls and other
presentation begins at 7:30 p.m. Join the Nature Club for its monthly potluck, then spend an educational evening with Jim Taylor as he shares photos and stories from his travels to all the U.S. National Parks. Tickets are $10 for the general public (ages 16+), and $5 for CNC members. Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Rd., Roswell 30075. More info available at www. chattnaturecenter.org or by calling 770-992-2055 x237.
In the Teaching Kitchen: Satisfying Soup
Thursday, Feb. 23, 10-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-2 p.m. Nothing satisfies in cold weather like a nice, warm bowl of soup. Smita Daya, of Olea Oliva, will demonstrate how to make healthful and tasty minestrone using a variety of fresh ingredients, and will include an avocado, lentil and garbanzo salad. $8 for Cobb residents; $10 for non-residents. Senior Wellness Center, 1150 Powder Springs St., Ste. 100, Marietta, 30064. Register or learn more by calling 770-528-5355 or visiting www.cobbcounty.org.
a new year –stay connected to your family & friends!
About 20 years ago, Doug McKendrick noticed the basketball hoops at Allen Park in Sandy Springs had no nets.
“You can’t play basketball without a net,” he said matter-offactly. “Have you ever seen a high school game, a college game or a NBA game without a net?”
So the businessman, owner of the renowned McKendrick’s Steak House in Dunwoody, purchased some nets and installed them at the local park for the kids who enjoy playing there.
And he hasn’t stopped. At 73, he no longer installs the nets. “That takes three people and a ladder,” he said.
But he does like to buy up all the basketball nets at the Target on Roswell Road, keep them in the trunk of his car and drop a couple off at the park for the young people playing there to install themselves every few months when they become torn, ragged and fall off.
“This is just something I want to do. I want the kids to have a net,” he said.
McKendrick doesn’t limit his
net giving to Allen Park. If he is driving around town and notices a basketball goal in a resident’s driveway without a net, he’ll cautiously approach the home owner or a neighbor and give them a net. If no one is around, he’ll just lay the net on the goal and be on his way.
He’s done this throughout metro Atlanta and recently took his campaign to another state after visiting his son who lives in Charlotte, N.C. He saw several kids playing basketball without nets at parks in the area and stopped to give them new nets straight from his stash in his trunk.
At 6-feet, 6-inches, McKendrick is often asked if he plays, or played, basketball. The answer is yes. But it’s the people who taught him the fundamentals and love of the game he credits for inspiring him to give back in a small but meaningful way to others who share a love of hoops. When he was in the
seventh grade, his family moved from Delaware to the small, farm town of Ottawa in Illinois.
“The people there made me who I am,” he said. “I learned so much there.”
It was in this small town, about 84 miles east of Chicago, where he was first recruited to play basketball due to his stature.
“I didn’t know anything about basketball or how to dribble, but the coach saw something in me,” he said.
He played center and went on to play basketball at Ottawa Township High School, a school with a rich basketball history, where he was on his way to becoming an All-State player before he broke his hand his senior year.
His prowess on the court earned him a scholarship to Rice University in Houston, Texas, where he lettered in men’s basketball in 1965 and 1966. He still holds Rice’s single game scoring record. He tallied 47 points in a 1965 game against Georgia Tech.
McKendrick eventually joined the Navy and served on the U.S.S. Dixie from 1969 to 1972. On his first day in the military,
an admiral, noticing his height, ordered him to his office and asked if he played basketball. Yes, McKendrick answered. And that began his foray into playing in basketball tournaments around the world when he wasn’t on duty.
In 2011, McKendrick was inducted into the Ottawa Township High School Hall of Fame. He was recognized for helping his team to a 19-0 record his sophomore year and to a sectional title in 1961.
For McKendrick, the time he spent in Ottawa and the people he came to know and love are the reason he wants to help other kids who love to shoot hoops and ensure they have a basketball net on their goals.
“We were never without nets in Ottawa and all I learned there just comes back to helping people,” he said. “It’s something I want to do.
“I had a wonderful life in Ottawa and always go back to visit. The people there inspire me to give back,” he said. “It’s just like I’m contributing to something like it was given to me.”
A Retirement Housing Foundation ® Community
Benson Manor is a 76-unit affordable senior housing community designed with stone and sturdy wood-like siding. Each apartment is approximately 540 square feet. Benson Manor is conveniently located close to shopping, churches, medical facilities, and a major bus route.
Residents must be 62 years of age or older. Some units have special features for mobility and sensory impaired persons. Income limitations are determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Residents pay 30 percent of their adjusted income for rent. Gross income must not exceed $23,650.00 for one person and $27,000.00 for two persons.
Looking good at any age is what my favorite FrenchAmerican author Mireille Guiliano refers to as “aging in style.” She suggests that the goal for mature-age women should not be to try to look young, but rather, to embrace their age and take care of themselves. She cites Catherine Deneuve, still gorgeous in her 70s, as a good example. Leave it to Coco Chanel, a connoisseur of chic, to put it best: “No one is young after 40, but one can be irresistible at any age.”
There’s no question that things can get tricky when it comes to clothing trends, which are often geared toward the younger set. Now, I like fashion. With most items of clothing, I stick to the classics, but, I confess that in my quest for looking chic, I’ve succumbed to the allure of the scarf. Few other accessories compare with the power of an elegant scarf. Ask any French woman and she’d say: naturellement!
French women have a natural knack for chic. This is a fact. Guaranteed to be found in every French woman’s closet, the scarf is a staple accessory—and so much more. The écharpe is the French woman’s trademark used as a stylish garment to highlight her individual identity. It’s generally worn to flatter the face, camouflage the neckline, divert or attract attention, spruce-up an outfit or to appear coquette at any age.
I can see myself sitting at a Parisian café. My guess is that my interest in this powerful garment may have something to do with my DNA; I carry oneeighth of French heritage in my genes. Despite that connection, I’m not an expert on how to wear scarves, which is why I recently went to the library and picked up a fabulous book by former model Pia Tryde Sandeman, “The Five-Minute Scarf Arranger.”
Sandeman recommends choosing scarves that “flatter your skin and eye color.”
She believes that the idea is not to fuss too much with the scarf because the garment calls for you to be bold, adventurous and go for the gusto! Furthermore, she advises not to give a scarf as a gift, since this accessory is a personal item designed to highlight one’s own style statement.
The statement scarf is a
For An Application or More Information Please Call 770-435-6406 www.rhf.org
2348 Benson Poole Rd. Smyrna, GA 30082
Fashion expert extraordinaire Nina Garcia said: “The only way to really understand the value of a scarf is to spend an afternoon at a Parisian café and just watch the women walk by.”
Kim Novaktrick that glamorous stars of the 1950s and 1960s used to bring their unique je ne sais quoi to the screen. Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn made the small rolled scarf, tied snugly to one side of the neck, an icon
of the era. Kim Novak was the ultimate scarf diva with her flowing black chiffon version in the 1958 classic film “Vertigo.”
Lana Turner also made her own contribution to the era with the classic wrap: a long silk scarf folded into a triangle to cover the head with the ends
crossing in the front while framing the face. The ends are tied together in the back of the neck and tucked under a top. If you want to complete her look, throw on a pair of vintage sunglasses—and you’re on fire!
Classic chic like that never goes out of style. What looked good yesterday still looks good today. Take, for instance, the scarf loop, or infinity scarf, style. It’s been around for a while, but over the past several years, it’s been gaining in popularity here in the States. The easy, practical look works well with silk or wool scarves and flatters women of any age. It’s another example of the enduring versatility of the scarf, and its contribution to timeless beauty.
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HYPERTENSION AND AGING RESEARCH
BRAIN, STRESS, HYPERTENSION AND AGING RESEARCH PROGRAM
WE ARE EXPLORING WAYS TO PREVENT MEMORY LOSS AND ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
WE ARE EXPLORING WAYS TO PREVENT MEMORY LOSS AND ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
WE ARE EXPLORING WAYS TO PREVENT MEMORY LOSS AND ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
CALIBREX: CEDAR:
CALIBREX:
CEDAR:
VASCULAR:
• 55 years or older?
• 55 years or older?
• 55
• Have high blood pressure?
• Have high blood pressure?
• Have high blood pressure?
• Worried about your memory or cognitive abilities?
• Worried about your memory or cognitive abilities?
• Worried about your memory or cognitive abilities?
• Receive your blood pressure meds at no cost
• Receive your blood pressure meds at no cost
• Receive your blood pressure meds at no cost
• Complete 5 8 visits over a
• Complete 5-8 visits over a one year period
• Complete 5 8 visits over a one year period
• 50 years or older?
• 50 years or older?
Do not have high blood pressure?
Do not have high blood pressure?
• Worried about Alzheimer’s Disease?
• Worried about Alzheimer’s Disease?
• Willing to take medications for your memory?
• Complete 8-12 visits over a one year period
• Willing to take medications for your memory?
• Complete 8-12 visits over a one year period
• Interested in evaluations including memory testing, brain scan, lumbar puncture?
• Interested in helping prevent Alzheimer’s disease through research?
• Interested in evaluations including memory testing, brain scan, lumbar puncture?
• Interested in helping prevent Alzheimer’s disease through research?
• Complete 4 visits at the study location over 2 years
• Complete 4 visits at the study location over 2 years
It’s true—it’s cold outside. It’s tempting this time of year to sit inside on a frigid, blustery day and read a book under a blanket while sipping a mug of tea. This can make it difficult for us to find that motivation we had at the beginning of the year to exercise and get fit. But when we really think about it, we know that physical activity is a necessary part of our daily routine. So how we can get in our 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week of physical activity without being in fear of freezing our feet off?
Mall walking! While this isn’t a new idea, or even a very creative one, the mall is extremely underutilized for those who wish to exercise. The many malls across Metro Atlanta can offer some of the best perks. (See chart at right.) While you should walk at a pace that is challenging yet comfortable for you, a good rule of thumb is to use the talk test. The talk test will determine if you are exercising at a moderate or vigorous level of activity. If you’re walking at a moderate pace, you should be able to talk, but not sing. Vigorous activity occurs when you are not able to say more than a few words without having to stop. If you walk into the vigorous zone, slow down or take a quick break to lower your heart rate back to a moderate level.
Most malls in our area open their front doors at least an hour early for mall walkers to have free reign. So step into the land of department stores with a nice pair of walking shoes and have fun this winter.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
A temperature-controlled building
Easy to access bathrooms
Free water fountains
Flat and level walking routes
A well-lit and safe environment with a security presence
Benches to rest
No membership required, so family and friends can walk with you
Enclosed malls normally open a half-hour before the stores inside them begin their hours— usually 9:30 a.m. on weekdays and Saturday, and 11:30 a.m. on Sundays. However, that’s just a rule of thumb. Before you head over to a mall to begin your walking workout, do a bit of research and make sure you’re not stuck out in the cold.
Cobb County
Cumberland Mall
1000 Cumberland Mall Dr., Atlanta 30339
770-435-2206, www. cumberlandmall.com
Galleria Specialty Mall
1 Galleria Pkwy., Atlanta 30339
770-955-8000, www. galleriaspecialtyshops.com
Town Center at Cobb
400 Ernest W. Barrett Pkwy., Kennesaw 30144
770-424-0742, www.simon.com/ mall/town-center-at-cobb
DeKalb County
Gallery at South DeKalb 2801 Candler Rd., Decatur 30034 404-241-2431, xt. 3022, www. galleryatsouthdekalb.com
North DeKalb Mall
2050 Lawrenceville Hwy., Decatur 30033
404-320-7960, www. northdekalbmall.com
Northlake Mall
4800 Briarcliff Rd. NE, Atlanta 30345
770-938-3565, www. northlakemall.com
Perimeter Mall
4400 Ashford Dunwoody Rd. NE, Atlanta 30346
770-394-4270, www. perimetermall.com
Fulton County
North Point Mall
1000 North Point Circle, Alpharetta 30022
770-740-9273, www. northpointmall.com
Lenox Square
3393 Peachtree Rd. NE, Atlanta 30326 404-233-7575, www.simon.com/ mall/lenox-square
Phipps Plaza
3500 Peachtree Rd. NE, Atlanta 30326 404-261-7910, www.simon.com/ mall/phipps-plaza
Gwinnett County
Gwinnett Place Mall
2100 Pleasant Hill Rd., Duluth 30096 770-813-6840, www. shopgwinnettmall.com
Mall of Georgia
1825 Mall of Georgia Blvd St. D, Buford 30519 770-271-9458, www.simon.com/ mall/mall-of-georgia
To schedule your complimentary chef-prepared meal and personal tour, please call
Continued from page 8
regional commission meetings.”
Fulton County Commissioner Bob Ellis calls her “consistently tenacious and persistent in her work and advocacy.”
“She is passionate about ‘affordable housing’ within north Fulton,” Ellis said in an email. “She is a true advocate for seniors being able to remain in the community that they love. She is just tireless in getting it done!”
She’s also a fixture around north Fulton County, where she’s lived for about 60 years. She was born in Pennsylvania, she said, but grew up in Miami. “My father retired when I was very young,” she said.
Her husband’s job brought them to Atlanta and they settled in Sandy Springs, then
just a country crossroads. The business district offered little more than a gas station and grocery store on Roswell Road, Benson recalled. “It was before any of this development happened,” she said.
The Benson family lived on a farm, where Dorothy taught horseback riding. “I built the barn—literally,” she said. “I sawed the wood and hammered the boards.”
She taught riding for 50 years, she said. She worked with the U.S. Pony Club, would take the family’s horses for a swim in lakes on the Glenn estate, she said, “and we always rode horses in parades” in the area. “When they started building Ga. 400,” she said, “we could take our horses over there. It was like a race track.”
For the past 40 years or
so, she’s lived in Alpharetta. About 30 years ago, she took up working with stained glass. She’d studied art in college and painted with oils and pastels and other media, but found a new interest in working with the colored glass. “I wanted to learn, so I went out and took lessons,” she said. “I just liked stained glass.”
Now she teaches classes twice a week to teach others how to work with stained glass. And pieces of her own work are permanently on display at the senior center that bears her name. She made six stainedglass panels for the center. Each
panel shows images of native Georgia flowers.
At the Benson Center, it sometimes seems Dorothy Benson’s work is never quite done. One recent afternoon, after showing a visitor around, she headed off for a quick conference with staff members.
She wanted to find a place somewhere in the busy senior center to set up a Wii computer gaming system for interactive bowling, she said. That way, she said, the bocce players could continue their twice weekly games through the cold days of winter.
Continued from page 13
help as many people as possible reevaluate that expectation from art that is “right” or “good” to art that is—to art that is organic, authentic and expressive.”
Indeed, the experience is not only transformative for the seniors, but also for those who volunteer. The monthly events take place in senior care facilities throughout the metro Atlanta area, and draw volunteers that range from high schoolers to middle aged adults. “For the younger people who participate, they say their perceptions of aging totally change from being negative to positive and that’s exciting because that’s part of the idea,”
said Jain.
Another volunteer present at the December event was Brandon Garrett, who, like Mitchell, had been to several Ageless interAction events. “I love the energy,” said Garrett, whose own background in art gives him an added enthusiasm for working with the program. “There’s so much of a disconnect between youth and senior adults. It’s fun to be part of the connection.”
The future of Ageless interAction looks bright, with plenty of room for expansion. While no events are yet on the books for 2017 Jain anticipates that she will resume monthly events in the new year. With
sights set high, Jain hopes to not only find a space to house her operations, but also to scale her
concept into something that can be replicated in other cities across the US and beyond.
