Atlanta Senior Life - March 2018

on the run

THE ARTS: Touring Theater Company for Seniors Eyes Expansion

COVER STORY: On the Run

HOBBIES: Ham Radio

HOBBIES: That Vintage Car Smell

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Battling Hunger One Backpack at a Time

HEALTH: Taking the Helm

ROAD TRIPS: Seven Museums for Specialized Tastes

PET PICK: Margo

the 65-year-old

with a

CONTACT US Editorial

Kathy Dean Contributing Editor kathydean@atlantaseniorlife.com

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

Contributors

Julie E. Bloemeke, Russell Gloor, Judi Kanne, Phil Mosier, Isadora Pennington, Jaclyn Turner, Donna Lewis Williams, Soojin Yang

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Touring theater company for seniors eyes expansion

By Jaclyn Turner

After a decade of bringing theater to seniors, the Atlanta Theatre-To-Go traveling company is making a big move of its own, expanding from its base in a Sandy Springs house and hiring its first executive director.

“I’m looking forward to having more creative time and to seeing my “baby” blossom into its full potential,” said founder Sondra Ilgenfritz, who has stepped down as president to serve on the company’s board and devote more time to playwriting.

Lois Keopke, the new executive director, has a resume that includes forming a troupe of senior dancers to perform at the Milwaukee Bucks basketball team’s halftime shows.

“I’m really jazzed up about what I’m doing and joining this organization,” Keopke said.

“Seeing what they’re doing and bringing this joy to seniors, it’s really cool.”

Founded in 2007 in Ilgenfritz’s Sandy Springs home and regularly rehearsing there, Theatre-To-Go’s professional company travels to senior living communities, senior centers, churches and synagogues, bringing a theatrical experience to seniors, some of whom may not be able to go to a traditional theater.

“We’re ready for our next stage of growth,” said Ilgenfritz. “For 10 years, we’ve been a largely volunteer-driven organization fueled by an entrepreneur with a passion and a mission. Thanks to generous sponsors and donors, we’re now able to move into a professional business model with the funds to hire expert help.”

Koepke spent 22 years choreographing and creating

halftime shows for the National Basketball Association’s Milwaukee Bucks. She formed the SeniorGee! dance team in 2006, a group of dancers ranging in age from 60 to 85 who auditioned and performed during halftime, and calls it a highlight of her career. “They’d start with a classic routine, and then switch into hip hop. They brought the house down,” said Koepke. Koepke has expansion and upgrades in mind for the theater company, such as bringing more technology to the organization as well as creating a unifying brand. “It’s time to reach a broader audience, and my role is going to be funding. I want to bring more performances to more places,” she said.

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

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

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

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



FILE Lois Keopke

PHOTO BY ISADORA PENNINGTON

On the Run

Marathons and races provide the challenges some older adults thrive on

By Joe Earle

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

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

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

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

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

So what makes Landa run?

“Are you kidding?” she asked.

“This is fun!”

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

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

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

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

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

Anderson started running

competitively in the 1970s, when he was in his 20s. Since then, he’s run 55 marathons, he said. His count—and he says he keeps meticulous records—shows he’s run the Boston Marathon 18 times, the New York Marathon seven or eight times and the Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta

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

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

“

michael anderson

more than 20 times.

There were times in his younger days when he routinely ran 100 miles a week, he said. He figures that as of Jan. 1, he’d logged 128,288 miles. That, of course, calculates to jogging more than five times around the Earth. “Basically, it’s 40 years of running,” he said.

He slowed his competitive running in his 40s, he said, but started running seriously again in his mid-50s through masters’ races. Anderson says he still runs races because he likes the competition. “I’m pretty competitive,” he said. “The thing about being old is you get all this motivation. I am more motivated now to train and race. But you’ve got to be careful. You can get hurt more easily.”

He’s noticed something about his competitors: Many started running when they got older. He’s the odd one who started young. “Most of the guys I am competing with now, who are fast, they picked it up late in life,” he said.

He figures others may have gotten injured over the years or trained too hard in their youth. He jokes that his 40-something training companions now roll their eyes when he starts telling stories about what racing was like back in the good old days of the 1980s.

Even after all those miles,

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

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

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

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

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

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

He applied for admission to the race and won a chance to compete. “Two to three months before the Peachtree, I started trying to run again,” he said. “I could only run 100 yards without stopping.”

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

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

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

Ready, Set…Go!

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

Publix Georgia Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K

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

Water Drop Dash 5K & Kids Fun Run

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

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

And she figures this year’s race probably won’t be her last. She still has characters to go.

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

Saturday, Mar. 24, 7-10 a.m. A post-race Water Festival offers giveaways and activities. Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Rd., Roswell 30075.

5th Annual Chastain Chase 5K

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

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

COURTESY OF MICHAEL ANDERSON

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

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

“

PHOTO BY JOE EARLE Sue Landa with Karl

March 17 and 18, 2018

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Behind the Scenes at Big Races: Ham Radio Operators

By Judi Kanne

Runners

volunteers are working behind the scenes to make sure the event operates smoothly. One important group is the amateur radio operators, known as “hams,” who help race officials communicate.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Along the way, runners will tire and need a ride back to Centennial Olympic Park, the location of the start and finish lines for the races. A fleet of vans is used for transportation. They’re contacted by ham operators on the course who message fellow hams who ride in the vans. Generally, a ham radio operator is stationed in each medical tent, as well.

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

may draw the attention during big road races such as the Publix Georgia Marathon and Half-Marathon, but while they’re racing, dozens of

COURTESY OF JIM PENLAND, DEKALB ARES

Hams work behind the scene to keep things safe.

That Vintage Car Smell

Dunwoody Driving Club brings together auto enthusiasts

by Julie E. Bloemeke

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

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

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

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

Chuck Wing’s Porsche Turbo 911 in action.

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

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

Wing says the club encourages membership from a range of car enthusiasts and the types of cars owned by members are all over the lot. There’s a 1903 Oldsmobile and a 1935 Auburn Supercharged Boattail Speedster. Newer cars include Lamborghinis, Porsches, Austin-Healeys, Mercedes and even a rare Panoz, a highperformance sports car built in Braselton, Ga.

While many members gravitate toward a certain make, model or manufacturer, others are more intrigued by engineering, design or racing capacity. “Some cars are to drive, some are to show, some are an investment, especially older cars,” he said.

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

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

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

Wing was particularly drawn to Porsche and Lamborghini because he could “relate to them; they’re cars you often see on the street.” And when he caught sight of the changes in the 911 design in 2001, he invested in a silver Porsche turbo 911.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Family time WITHOUT PAIN.

“Women especially gravitated to it,” he said, adding that almost every person who made conversation had a personal VW bus story to share. Refurbished and festooned with “hippie memorabilia” the two-tone green bus had been overhauled inside to include a refrigerator, carpeting and tapestries from Mexico. “It certainly got a lot of attention,” Wing said. For more information or to fill out an application to join the Dunwoody Driving Club, please visit dunwoodydrivingclub.com.

PHOTO BY JULIE E. BLOEMEKE

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

Battling hunger one backpack at a time

Backpack Buddies provides weekend meals for elementary school students

By Donna Williams Lewis

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

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

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

overseas,” Ronald said.

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

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

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

‘It’s a wonderful feeling’

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

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

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

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

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

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

Carla Wertheimer, a self-

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

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

PHOTOS BY DONNA WILLIAMS LEWIS

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

6, who attend Vanderlyn Elementary School. “We just wanted to help out in the community, and this was a perfect opportunity,” Yilma said.

“It’s cool,” Nebiyou said, “packing up food for kids who don’t have it.”

Beth Shalom Rabbi Mark Zimmerman said people want to help each other, but they often need a structure in which to participate and channel their efforts.

Backpack Buddies provides such a structure, he said.

“It’s an awesome idea, and it affords us a wonderful opportunity to do good works in the community and help families out in this way,” Zimmerman said. “It’s a wonderful feeling.”

By 10:45 a.m., the bins were filled and volunteers were bagging up their contents for delivery to Kingsley, where school personnel would place them in backpacks provided by Backpack Buddies.

Students are called to pick them up from the office on Fridays and they return the backpacks on Mondays, so the cycle can begin again.

Filling the food gap

One in every four children in Georgia struggles with hunger, according to Feeding America, a national hunger-relief network of 200 food banks, including the Atlanta Food Bank.

Backpack Buddies is far from alone in its efforts to fill the weekend food gap. Through Feeding America’s “BackPack Program,” bags of food are assembled at more than 160 food banks around the country and distributed to more than 450,000 children at the end of the week, according to the program’s website.

The Atlanta Food Bank works to fill kids’ weekend food gap by partnering with groups such as the one launched by Ronald and Samra and a Coweta County nonprofit organization, Backpack Buddies of Georgia.

Launched in 2011, that group currently serves about 550 children “at risk” for hunger in 23 elementary, middle and high schools in the Coweta County School System, according to April Anderson, its founder and president.

Ronald and Samra also have done Backpack Buddies since 2011, when Ronald initiated a program at their synagogue in Savannah, Ga. More than 25 similar programs are in operation there, they said.

Childhood sweethearts at Atlanta’s Grady High School who married in 1969, Ronald and Samra moved around the country during Ronald’s 32 years with the Ford Motor Company, settling in Savannah after he retired.

They moved back to Atlanta last April to help one of their three daughters with her medical needs. They joined Beth Shalom in June and right away set to work proposing a Backpack Buddies program.

Quickly winning approval from the synagogue’s board of directors, they got busy raising money, securing storage space and getting approved by the Atlanta Food Bank, which charges a small handling fee per pound of food received.

Backpack Buddies also accepts food donations, and Samra usually shops several times a month at grocery and dollar stores for items they need when the Food Bank doesn’t have them.

Kingsley Elementary was selected for the program because it was close. Students were prioritized, parents signed releases, and on Nov. 1, Backpack Buddies was up and running, serving 25 children. By January, they were up to 50, and they hope to serve 75 children by April.

“We’ve had to move a lot of boulders along the way,” Robert said. “We really don’t take ‘no’ for an answer.”

Their goals are to serve 100 students at Kingsley next year, increase volunteer participation from their synagogue, and to encourage others across the metro area to start similar programs.

“I think people are surprised,” Samra said, “at how little time it takes to do something so important for so many children.”

For more information about Backpack Buddies, send an email to robbin_r@bellsouth.net or to samrarobbins@gmail.com.

Backpack Buddies co-founder Samra Robbins.

Taking the Helm

Nurse navigators lead patients through the maze of healthcare

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Judith L. Kanne, RN, BSN, BA is a registered nurse and freelance writer who lives in Atlanta.

Babcock,

Her rewards come through comforting a patient who is extremely anxious and offering them some peace of mind, she says. “My colleagues and I help patients reach a specialist within a specific time frame. We assist them in comprehending their choices when it comes time to make informed decisions.”

An important aspect of what they do is helping patients see the big picture. “With a nurse navigator, patients may have a better understanding of their treatment plan,” Beaver said.

“It’s the navigation discussions that can lead to peace of mind for the patient and family,” Beaver said. “It’s when the patients begin to understand why they’re doing what they’re doing.” Then their advocates and nurses can help patients make educated decisions for their care.

According to some medical historians, navigation seemed to evolve from what was called “utilization review.” Others say it stemmed from cancer care. Either way, it’s a very good thing.

Utilization review is the close examination of healthcare services a patient is receiving, with an eye toward improving quality and eliminating unnecessary procedures and costs. It required nurses to check medical records and look at the many “barriers to treatment or timely discharges,” said Lillie D. Shockney, in an American Society of Clinical Oncology article.

Today, navigators have found their way into all areas of healthcare, including Medicare Advantage Plans. For example, people facing some of the “most complex health issues, including diabetes, congestive heart failure or multiple chronic conditions might be connected with a single point of contact,” according to UnitedHealthcare’s press release last November.

That’s when they introduced their Navigate4Me program. The program relies on nurses and “other highly trained customer service advocates.”

This year, UnitedHealthcare plans to expand Navigate4Me to serve their Medicare Advantage plan participants who experience sudden health events, such as serious injuries or a new diagnosis.

“People receive needed care when they’re at the doctor’s office or inside a clinic or hospital, but they often lack the support, coordination and guidance they need in navigating the system,” said Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement.

“Navigate4Me is about walking side by side with the people we serve, and those closest to them, to help anticipate, understand and address their healthcare needs—one person at a time,” he said.

Nurse Sandy Finamore-Albably, case manager for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia, notes that all their case managers are nurses. They, too, follow patients on a personal level, helping them navigate the system.

She recalls one situation where a spouse contacted a case manager. The patient had a debilitating diagnosis at the time. The skilled nursing benefits were exhausted. The husband and wife didn’t know what to do or where to turn.

“Our case manager was able to help,” said Finamore-Albably. The family viewed her as “a lifeline,” based on her year-long support for the couple. This likely prevented multiple re-hospitalizations, says Finamore-Albably.

Our nurse case managers take a personal interest in every patient’s well-being, she said. “That’s our job.”

COURTESY OF WINSHIP CANCER INSTITUTE OF EMORY UNIVERSITY

Oncology Nurse Navigator Katie Beaver

Seven Museums for Specialized Tastes

By Joe Earle

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

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

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

Atlanta Monetary Museum

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

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

Location: 1000 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta 30309

Hours: Monday-Friday: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Group tours are offered by appointment Monday through

Friday at 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tickets: Free. Guided tours, offered for groups of 10 to 30 people, must be booked in advance.

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

Center for Puppetry Arts Puppet Museum

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

Location: 1404 Spring St. NW, Atlanta 30309

Hours: Tuesday-Friday: 9 a.m.-5

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

Tickets: $12.50 for museum admission. $16.50 for museum admission and guided tours of the World of Puppetry collection. More information: 404-873-3391, puppet.org

Michael C. Carlos Museum

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

Why you should make visiting The Solana

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

Location: 571 South Kilgo Cir., Atlanta 30322 (on the campus of Emory University)

Hours: Tuesday-Friday: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday: noon-5 p.m. Closed Mondays and university holidays. Tours are offered at 2 p.m. on Sundays, excluding major holidays.

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

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

Delta Flight Museum

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

older and are willing to pay $420 an hour for four people); and to learn the history of a company that

started as a crop-dusting operation and grew into one of the world’s largest airlines.

Location: 1060 Delta Blvd., Bldg. B, Dept. 914, Atlanta 30354 (at Delta Air Lines’ headquarters)

Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Wednesday: closed; Sunday: noon-4:30 p.m.

Tickets: $12.50 for seniors; $15 for adults; $10 for ages 5 to 17; free for children aged 4 and younger. For more information: 404-715-7886, deltamuseum.org

Gone with the Wind

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

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

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

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

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

Marietta Gone with the Wind Museum: Scarlett on the Square

Location: 18 Whitlock Ave., Marietta 30064

Hours: Monday-Saturday: 10 a.m.5 p.m. Closed Sundays and major winter holidays.

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

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

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

Road to Tara Museum

Location: 104 N. Main St., Jonesboro 30236

Hours: Monday-Friday: 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Saturday: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Closed Sundays and Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Tickets: $6 for seniors and children aged 6 to 12; $7 for adults. Discounts for groups of 12 or more.

Margaret Mitchell House Location: 979 Crescent Ave. NE, Atlanta 30309

Hours: Monday-Saturday: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sunday: noon5:30 p.m. Opens at noon o n July 4 and is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Tickets: $10 for seniors and students; $13 for adults; $5.50 for visitors aged 4 to 12; and free to children 3 and younger. For more information: 404-249-7015, atlantahistorycenter.com; click on “Explore,” then “Destinations,” then “Margaret Mitchell House.”

BENSON MANOR

A Retirement Housing Foundation ® Community

Benson Manor is a 76-unit affordable senior housing community designed with stone and sturdy wood-like siding. Each apartment is approximately 540 square feet. Benson Manor is conveniently located close to shopping, churches, medical facilities, and a major bus route.

Residents must be 62 years of age or older. Some units have special features for mobility and sensory impaired persons. Income limitations are determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Residents pay 30 percent of their adjusted income for rent. Gross income must not exceed $24,400.00 for one person and $27,900.00 for two persons.

The Eyes Have It!

Enjoy fresh potatoes this summer by planting them now

Pet Pick

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

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

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

When it comes to vegetable gardening in Georgia, most people think they need to wait until April. However, there’s a crop you can start in March, and it’s a staple in most households. That popular crop is potatoes.

Irish potatoes are harvested in the summer but are started in March. They’re fairly easy to grow and produce a good amount when harvested.

Potatoes grow from “eye potatoes.” These are not grocery store potatoes. At any seed and feed store or garden center, you should be able to find eye potatoes. They look like small potatoes with eyes on them.

To grow potatoes, you’ll need to start with well-draining soil. Potatoes will not grow in clay. They need soil that includes compost and is nice and loamy. For your planting bed, add soil to make rows that are about one and a half feet apart and one foot deep.

Cut the eye potatoes so there are two eyes on each piece and

plant them about four to five inches down in the mounded soil with the eyes facing up. Pat down the soil so each piece is in place and then cover them with straw.

Once the potatoes start producing sprouts, layer on more soil and straw. Potatoes like to grow underground without any sunlight. Continue to keep them well covered until they start to flower.

When the potatoes begin to flower, you may decide to dig out some of the small “new potatoes” that are just underneath the top of the soil. These have tender skins and a delicate flavor. If you want the big Irish potatoes, however, you’ll have to let them mature.

You’ll know it’s time to harvest your potatoes when all the sprouts and leaves above the soil start to turn yellow and die. Carefully dig up your potatoes, taking care not to puncture them.

Store your fresh potatoes in a cool, dry place, and don’t wash them until you’re ready to cook them.

Sarah E. Brodd is an Agriculture and Natural Resource Agent for UGA Extension in DeKalb County. She enjoys educating the community about horticulture and working with her great group of DeKalb Master Gardeners.

PHOTO BY R KHALIL FROM PEXELS

Ask Rusty: Estimated vs. Actual Benefits

by AMAC Certified Social Security Advisor Russell Gloor

Dear Rusty:

I’m going to stop working in October 2018 at age 62. I don’t want to start drawing my Social Security then (at age 62, it would be $1,005/month; normal retirement is 66 years, 4 months, $1,454/month). I don’t plan on taking another job. I plan to start taking my benefits at my normal retirement date. Will my benefits at normal retirement be reduced for each year I don’t work or will they remain at the current amount? Is there a certain percentage they reduce them or a formula they use?

Signed: Planning for Retirement Dear Planning:

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

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

than the estimate. There is no simple percentage of reduction used when you have no earnings between age 62 and your full retirement age; rather, the standard 35-year benefit calculation formula is used. That formula takes your highest earning 35 years to arrive at your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings and then computes your benefit amount from that average. Since most people have their highest earnings in the latter years of their working career, continuing to work up to the point of collecting Social Security is often a good strategy because those higher earning years will be included in the benefit computation. It’s possible, but not usual, to have all of your highest earning 35 years earlier in your career, in which case stopping work at age 62 would not affect your full retirement age benefit. So, in your specific case, since you wish to stop working at age 62 and delay Social Security

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

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

Keep in mind that your actual benefit amount will not be final until you actually apply. Note too that Social Security will start adding a cost of living adjustment to your estimated benefit amount once you reach 62 years of age even though you

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

ABOUT AMAC

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

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

The right care at the right time

The Nature of Beauty

Sally Eppstein brings her artistic touch to Blue Heron Nature Preserve

By Isadora Pennington

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

About four or five times a year there’s artwork on display in the gallery, thanks to Sally Wansboro Eppstein, the preserve’s art director. Exhibitions she’s pulled together include work by local sculptors and the Georgia Women’s Caucus for Art, and photographs displayed in collaboration with Atlanta Celebrates Photography. An annual six-week outdoor art installation is centered around Earth Day weekend.

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

Eppstein’s personal work has evolved throughout the years, from an emphasis on jewelry and painting to larger-than-life totems. After some time, she began to focus mainly on the imagery of feathers and their patterns, colors and shapes.

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

Nature has long been the source of Eppstein’s creativity, and she credits her childhood spent just down the street from a facility now known as the Hidden Forest Equestrian Center in Augusta. “The happiest times in my childhood were playing in those woods discovering the wild muscadines, frogs, turtles, the smell of the pines…with my friends or in solitude,” she said.

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

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

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

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

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

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

PHOTO BY GORDON CERTAIN Sally Eppstein with the Blue Heron totem.

Blue Heron Nature Preserve Spring Events

Twilight Hikes

March 31 & April 29, 7:30-8:30 p.m.

Get a different view of the preserve as the shadows lengthen and dusk rolls in. The hike is held through the Woodland Loop in March, and through Emma Wetlands in April.

The Art of Nature

April 20 through June 1

Local artists exhibit work inspired by nature, in nature. Walk the trails of the Woodland Loop and experience art in the trees and around every corner.

Earth Day Celebration

April 21

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

Arbor Day

April 27

Visit the preserve for a relaxing hike among the trees.

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

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

PHOTO COURTESY OF SALLY EPPSTEIN

►Out & about The Arts

The 36th Annual Great American Cover-Up Quilt Show

Mar. 9-18.

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

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

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

Art—the play @ dk Gallery

Runs Mar. 16-18, Friday & Saturday, 7:30-9:30 p.m.; Sunday, 3-5 p.m.

Winner of the 1998 Tony Award for Best Play, “Art” raises questions about art and friendship. When an art-lover purchases an expensive, completely white painting, it raises differing opinions on art among friends. Seating is very limited. Admission is $40 and covers the performance, drinks and delectables served throughout the evening. dk Gallery, 25 Park Sq., Marietta 30060. Purchase tickets through brownpapertickets. com; visit dkgallery.us or call 770-427-5377 for more info.

Book Talk + Signing: Steve Berry, The Bishop’s Pawn

Sunday, Mar. 25, 7 p.m.

Part of Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta’s A Page from the Book Festival. New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry, who hails from Marietta, Ga., presents his newest thriller. “The Bishop’s Pawn” is a riveting tale of adventure that involves recurring hero Cotton Malone, a former Justice Department operative. Cost is $15; $10 for MJCCA members. Morris & Rae Frank Theatre, MJCCA, 5342 Tilly Mill Rd., Dunwoody 30338. For information, call the MJCCA Box Office at 678-812-4002 or visit atlantajcc.org/bookfestival.

The 3 Redneck Tenors

Tuesday, Mar. 27, 7:30 p.m.

Part of The Arts Council Signature Series. The 3 Redneck Tenors were top 10 finalists on “America’s Got Talent” and have been thrilling audiences since 2006. The show is a musical comedy featuring classically trained veteran artists from Broadway and world opera stages. Individual tickets are $30 for seniors (65+); $32 for adults; and $23 for students. Pearce Auditorium at Brenau University, 202 Boulevard, Gainesville 30501. Call 770-534-2787 or visit TheArtsCouncil.net for more info and tickets.

Learn Something

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

Sunday, Mar. 11, 3 p.m.

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

Thursday, Mar. 29, 7 p.m.

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

Books will be available for purchase and signing. Learn more about Gwinnett Public Libraries events at gwinnettpl.org.

Nutritional Health Fitness for Seniors

Friday, Mar. 16, noon-2 p.m.

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

Continued on page 22

Offering Resources for Family Caregivers

As Alzheimer’s disease progresses and the normal forms of communication are lost, families need to learn new ways to connect. Join us to gain insight into how communication takes place when someone you love has Alzheimer’s. You’ll learn how to decode verbal and nonverbal behaviors and identify strategies to help you connect and communicate through every stage of the disease.

Wednesday, March 28 | 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Presented by Kayley Fleming, Family

THE ZABAN TOWER

Continued from page 21

on nutritional challenges for seniors, proper eating, portion control, food safety and much more. Cost is $5 for Cobb residents; $6 for nonresidents. North Cobb Senior Center, 3900 S. Main St., Acworth 30101. To register learn more, call 770-975-7740 or visit cobbcounty.org.

Spring Container Gardens

Wednesday, Mar. 28, 1-3 p.m.

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

Elegantly Renovated Common Areas

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

Special Events

Rescue Dog Olympics

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

considered income, but can be used to pay for supportive services. Call 404.751.2255 for details.

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

The Model Train Show

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

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

ShamRockin’ for a Cure

Saturday, Mar. 24, 7 p.m.

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

Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival

Saturday & Sunday, Mar. 24 & 25. Saturday, 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Now in its fourth year, Brookhaven celebrates the Cherry Blossom Festival in Blackburn Park with live entertainment, an artist market, a food court, classic car show, 5K race and more. Blackburn Park, 3493 Ashford-Dunwoody Rd., Brookhaven 30319. For more info, go to brook.splashfestivals.com.

Celebrate the Plate 2018

Saturday, Apr. 7, The 4th annual Casino Night is presented by the Meals on Wheels Young Professionals Board. Individual tickets are $65. Paris on Ponce, 716 Ponce de Leon Pl., Atlanta 30306. For details, visit mealsonwheelsatlanta.org or email Lbejarano@ mealsonwheelsatlanta.org.