Atlanta Senior Life - April 2019

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By Donna Williams Lewis

At least twice a week, weather permitting, Ann Rhea leaves her condo in downtown Decatur for a quick walk to her nirvana. That would be the Scott Park Garden, where she tends one of 32 plots that can be had for $25 a year through the city of Decatur’s Active Living Division.

“I go there a lot,” she said, “because I can check off exercise by gardening and I enjoy seeing what’s coming up.”

Rhea, 88, said working in the organic community garden makes her happy and she feels “more like my old self.”

She plans to grow her usual spring flowers, but this time, in one of the six new raised plots,

Growing

she will also plant arugula, mustard greens, lemongrass and lamb’s quarters — a wild plant that she said has the vitamins and taste of spinach.

Her garden neighbors have planted tomatoes, asparagus, sweet potatoes, a fig tree, cotton and sunflowers that grew to seven feet, among many other things, Rhea said.

“You see the butterflies and the bunny rabbits and you get to know the people who have a plot near you if you didn’t already know them,” Rhea said. “People swap produce and seeds. … It’s a joy.”

Plots for pantries

Community gardens provide a way for gardeners with no yards

or whose yards have little sun to cultivate flowers and vegetables. These gardens typically include charity, or “pantry” rows where volunteers grow produce for donation to nearby charities or to the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

The food bank offers everything from expertise to tools to volunteer support to about 150 community gardens across metro Atlanta in the course of a year, said Fred Conrad, community

Continued on page 6

Community gardens provide an abundance to gardeners and those in need

Ann Rhea

Ann Rhea enjoys visiting the Scott Park Garden in downtown Decatur where she plans to grow arugula, mustard greens and other vegetables in her own raised plot this spring. (SPECIAL)

Goodness

From

More info at

Dunwoody Community Garden & Orchard at Brook Run, 4770 Georgia Way South, Dunwoody 30338. Info: dcgo.org. Scott Park Garden, 231 Sycamore St., Decatur 30030. Info: facebook.com/pg/ScottGardenClub. Phone: 678-553-6559.

Gardening guidance

Free monthly education sessions are held on second Saturdays at Dunwoody Community Garden & Orchard’s greenhouse complex from 11 a.m. to noon. On April 13, Master Gardener Tielke Baker, the vice chairman of DCGO, will speak on principles of gardening. Info: dcgo.org.

Find a community garden

Websites for the following organizations can help you find your garden home away from home.

American Community Garden Association — The national nonprofit, whose national headquarters office is located in College Park, works to increase and enhance gardening and “greening” across the U.S. and Canada. Charlie Monroe, natural resource manager for Cobb County, is president of the association. Info: communitygarden.org/find-a-garden

Park Pride — The Atlanta-based nonprofit supports more than 20 gardens in its community garden program. Info: parkpride.org/ we-can-help/community-gardens.

PHOTOS BY PHIL MOSIER

Opposite page, from left, Sheila Wilder, longtime member of Dunwoody Community Garden & Orchard, works in a flower bed with DCGO Garden Chairperson Ann Bone.

left, DCGO Greenhouse Manager Art Simon turns over some soil in the greenhouse with Sheila Wilder.

Above, volunteer Bud Henderson gives plants a good soaking in the DCGO greenhouse.

(PHOTO DONNA WILLIAMS LEWIS)

We call it home.

Continued

garden manager of the Food Well Alliance, a network of organizations founded and managed by the food bank.

“We do some of the heavy lifting at community gardens,” Conrad said, referring in particular to gardens at senior centers and residences. Gardening is a great activity for older adults because there’s exposure to sunlight, lots of bending and stretching, and because it promotes a healthy diet, he said.

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“Community gardens offer that manageablesized sunny plot to grow some veggies,” Conrad said. “And then there’s the whole social aspect. There’s a garden club you belong to.”

‘The time and the patience’ Atlanta Community Food Bank volunteers were set to help out at Dunwoody Community Garden & Orchard (DCGO) at Brook Run last month, by helping fill some of the garden’s 12 charity plots with a delivery of compost from DeKalb County. DCGO volunteers produce more than 3,000 pounds of food annually for donation to area food pantries.

The organization’s chairperson, Ann Bone, said most of DCGO’s members and its best volunteers are older adults. “They have the time and the patience,” said Bone, 66. “Gardening is only for the patient optimist.”

for their plots and donate 12 hours a year on garden projects.

Bone, a retired real estate broker, bought her plot in 2014 after spotting DCGO during a walk at Brook Run Park.

“The first year, I planted radishes and carrots and they were beautiful … and I thought, ‘This was easy,’” Bone said. “The second year I expected the same results, and that didn’t happen.”

She didn’t fertilize, didn’t fluff the soil and “got a little lazy,” Bone said. “It was humbling.”

These days, she’s flexing a powerful green thumb with

not issued by our bank. “Monthly Qualification Cycle” means a period beginning one (1) business day prior to the first day of the current statement cycle through one (1) business day prior to the close of the current statement cycle. Reward Information: When your Kasasa Cash account qualifications are met during a Monthly Qualification Cycle, the following rewards will be distributed to your account(s): (1) Balances up to $25,000 receive an APY of 2.95%; and balances over $25,000 earn 1.00% interest rate on the portion of balance over $25,000, resulting in a range from 2.95% to 1.39% APY depending on the account’s balance and (2) ATM Fee Reimbursements: You will receive reimbursements for nationwide ATM fees incurred during the Monthly Qualification Cycle in which you met your Kasasa Cash qualifications. An ATM receipt must be presented within sixty (60) calendar days of transaction for reimbursements of individual ATM fees of $5.00 or higher.

When Kasasa Cash qualifications are not met ATM fees are not refunded, all balances in your Kasasa Cash account earns an APY of 0.02%. Rewards are credited on the last day of the current statement cycle. APY = Annual Percentage Yield. APYs are accurate as of 2/19/19. Rates and rewards are variable and may change after account is opened. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional Information: Account approval, conditions, qualifications, limits, timeframes, enrollments, and other requirements apply. $100 minimum deposit is required to open this account. Receipt of electronic statements is a condition of this account. Enrollment in online banking is required to view your electronic statement. Limit 1 account per social security number. There are no service charges or fees to open or close this account. Contact one of our Georgia Banking Company customer service representatives for additional information, details, restrictions, processing limitations and enrollment instructions. Kasasa, Kasasa Cash and Kasasa Saver are trademarks of Kasasa, Ltd., registered in the U.S.A.

The DCGO garden includes 92 member plots, a fruit orchard, a bee colony and a pollinator garden on two acres of city park land. The garden provides compost, mulch and tools for members and offers gardening education for everyone.

All of this is accomplished with no paid staff, except for two boys paid to mow in the orchard once a month. Members pay $60 a year

mustard greens, garlic, arugula and Tokyo bekana, a leafy Asian green.

Other DCGO gardeners are growing tomatoes, cabbages, radishes, arugula, herbs and much more — “anything that’s legal,” Bone said. Blueberries, plums, pears, figs and other fruits are produced in the orchard.

The garden is a short walk from DCGO’s greenhouse, the last structure standing of Brook Run Park’s past, when it was the sprawling campus of the Georgia Retardation Center. Bone said the greenhouse was used

PHIL MOSIER

From left, Jeff Leech, the board member in charge of the garden at Dunwoody Garden & Orchard at Brook Run, checks out one of the garden’s 92 member plots along with DCGO Chairman Ann Bone and garden member Sheila Wilder.

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for vocational training and to produce food for the institution, which closed in 1997 and was later demolished. DCGO has used the greenhouse since 2009.

Art Simon, 80, serves DCGO as the greenhouse manager. He’s a five-day-a-week fixture in the facility where flowers and a smorgasbord of vegetables flourish under his watchful eye.

A DCGO member since 2011, Simon buys the seeds and cultivates most everything grown in the greenhouse, selling the plants to garden members and

Ready, set, plant!

Here are some more of the hundreds of community gardens in the metro area.

Blue Heron Nature Preserve — More than 30 plots are managed by groups, individuals and Blue Heron. The largest plot grows vegetables for St. Luke’s Crossroads Kitchen, which feeds the homeless. Located in Buckhead at 4055 Roswell Road, Atlanta 30342. Info: bhnp.org/community-garden. Phone: 404-946-6394.

Grove Park Community Garden — The northwest Atlanta garden has 11 member plots, several common area garden beds and a public garden. Located across from 730 Hortense Place N.W., Atlanta 30318. Info: groveparkgardens.club.

Little Nancy Creek Park Community Garden — Features 20 garden plots with a 21st plot dedicated to charities such as Buckhead Christian Ministries’ food pantry or the Atlanta Food Bank. Located in north Buckhead at 4012 Peachtree-Dunwoody Road, Atlanta 30342. Info: littlenancycreekpark.org.

Stone Mountain Community Garden — Operated in partnership with the city of Stone Mountain, this garden has 50 individual garden plots, a composting site, herb garden and a food pantry garden. Located in VFW Park, 888 Gordon St., Stone Mountain 30083. Info: stonemountaincity.org/ residents/community_garden. php.

sale. About 4,000 to 5,000 plants are sold each year at that sale, which is scheduled for April 5-7 this year.

Plucking a piece of wild arugula to munch one day last month, Simon made a quick pitch for more volunteers to “come out and play in the garden” and help with some of the heavy lifting.

“You don’t have to be real knowledgeable,” he said. “We’ll train you on everything.”

Faithful volunteer Bud Henderson, 88, sat nearby in his own little oasis of peace, quietly potting tomatoes. He works in the greenhouse about once a week, Simon said.

Henderson’s explanation for his dedication was short and sweet. “I like to work in the dirt,” he said, his whole face a smile.

Done for the day, Henderson put up a hose and waved goodbye to Simon. Then he turned and walked out of the greenhouse and back into the world.

Maybe you don’t want a community garden plot of your own, but you do enjoy gardening and helping others. Community gardens love volunteers, and sites like the Unity Garden at the Chattahoochee Nature Center depend heavily on them.

Most of the produce grown at the nature center is donated weekly to the food pantry at North Fulton Community Charities. To date, more than 27,000 pounds of fresh produce have been delivered. The nature center is located at 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell 30075. Info: chattnaturecenter.org. Phone: 770-992-2055.

The Scott Park Garden of downtown Decatur, pictured in former seasonal bloom. features 32 community garden member plots, including six new raised plots.

Still on the Air

Harlon Joye has been speaking his mind and playing music for over 45 years

By Mark Woolsey

Who’s the longest-running radio broadcaster in Atlanta?

Is it that morning gentlemen on WSB who weaves together news, weather traffic reports and commentary? Nope, it’s not Scott Slade. Perhaps the affable fellow named after a car who spins tunes on country WKHS? No, not Cadillac Jack. Guess again.

The Award for LongestStanding Radio Host in a Turbulent Media Market apparently goes to — envelope please — 85-year-old Harlon Joye. He’s one of the co-founders of WRFG radio (89.3 FM) the scrappy, nonprofit source of a wide variety of music and progressive (yes, liberal) information since 1973.

Holding forth on his “Fox’s Minstrel Show” — a fixture since

the station’s inception — Joye plays a wide a variety of folk, rock, blues and Americana tunes from his collection of thousands of albums and CDs, combining them into sets with political and societal themes and interspersing the music with sometimes pungent commentary.

What’s it like to be the dean of Atlanta radio types?

“Tiring,” he chuckled. “Seriously though, it’s not that big a deal.” But it IS a big deal to his audience of progressives. They may not show up with huge ratings numbers, but they ARE passionate.

A recent Sunday night following the end of the partial government shutdown found him commenting on President Trump’s remarks on the month-long wrangle, interspersing them with such musical offerings as “Sure

dug myself in a hole, and I gotta get out.”

Joye is unapologetic about his socialist perch on Atlanta airwaves.

“The real thing is to look how important Fox News has become, on politics and people’s way of thinking. There’s nothing on the left like that. People had no voice and no way to get a voice.”

Joye is a true son of the South, minus the Stars and Bars and acceptance of the region’s historical status quo. His life story could be summed up as “keep learning and question everything.”

Raised in Orangeburg, S. C., Joye absorbed powerful lessons about racial and economic injustice and began wondering how the script could be rewritten. A stint at then-all-male and all-military Clemson University followed.

“I read Thomas Paine’s ‘Age of Reason’ and started questioning religion — and that didn’t go over well,” he recalled, particularly with upperclassmen who meted out discipline.

He next headed north to the University of Michigan to study forestry, landing in student co-op housing.

“They were unlike anything else on campus. They were independent and not fraternities and sororities,” he said. “They got all the people who were weird — and political. And remember, this was during the McCarthy era.”

Reading, debating and rubbing shoulders with young Communists, socialists and other social justice rabble-rousers, he emerged as a full-fledged ‘lefty.’ Over time, he said, that put him on the radar of everybody from

prominent black civil rights activists to the FBI and the Atlanta Police Department.

In addition to politics, music was a fixation. “Every time my wife and I would travel somewhere,” he said, “we would hit used record shops.” Those predilections stood him in good stead after he relocated from New York to Atlanta in 1966.

“There was no worthwhile radio station in Atlanta at the time,” he said flatly. Joye helped pull together WRFG’s founders, served as the first station manager, and set the tone for the frequency’s progressive news and eclectic music mix. Not content to merely spin tunes, he took the lead in such projects as producing “Living Atlanta,” an award-winning series of documentaries on life

Continued on page 10

PHOTOS BY MARK WOOLSEY

Harlon Joye with some of the posterboards that he uses in lieu of scrapbooks

in Atlanta between the two world wars.

It was perhaps foreordained: WRFG soon came under the microscope of the Subversive Control Unit of the Atlanta Police Department, which was convinced that the Little Five Points-based operation was full of “Communists, dope smokers, homosexuals, Weatherman and Black Panthers” in the words of a 1993 station-produced lookback.

Joye said the cops convinced a local TV station to scrub a partnership with WRFG that would have allowed a power increase and he claims his home was ransacked at about the same time. WRFG persevered, he added, and won in the courts against the TV station.

The veteran activist contends he landed on federal Communist and socialist watch lists for throwing in with two youth civil rights marches on Washington in the late 1950s, as well as the

1963 March for Jobs and Freedom. That era found Joye working alongside a veritable Who’s Who of civil rights and labor crusaders: Bayard Rustin, A. Philip Randolph, Harry Belafonte, Jackie Robinson.

Hailing from New York at the time of the 1963 Washington gathering, Joye was tasked with

marshaling attendance from the Lower East Side.

“We had 20 busloads of people lined up, when we were red-baited in a speech by [U.S. Sen. Kenneth] Keating and the bus service canceled on us. So we rented a train,” he recalled, chuckling. He says it’s not true that he was in charge of the porta-potties, as his granddaughter jokingly claims.

Joye was on the National Mall for everything from Bob Dylan and Joan Baez’s pre-rally soundchecks to Dr. Martin Luther King Junior’s “I Have a Dream” call to action.

Interestingly, said Joye, “The speech didn’t impress us that much at the time.”

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Jobs such as a stint with the radical Students for a Democratic Society DID make a substantial impression across his native Dixie. Joye found his name appearing frequently in the papers — including the hometown journal he’d thrown onto front porches as a kid.

As a result, he said, “I had a sister who didn’t speak to me for several years.”

Labor organizing took center stage in later years; the civil rights veteran worked for more than 30 years with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the Atlanta Labor Council, going to bat for such groups as workers constructing the 1996 Olympics venues.

Retired the last couple of years, Joye continues to hold forth on the Sunday night airwaves and waxes hopeful about what he thinks is a resurgence of progressivism. Joye thinks such trends as increasing income inequality and the nearmonopolization of some business sectors are forcing action, as is the growing realization of climate change. He hopes millennials will hoist the banner and carry it forward, much as he’s done for decades.

“There’s more acceptance of the concept of socialism than there’s been in the last 50 years,” he said.

PHOTOS BY MARK WOOLSEY

A sampling of Joye’s record collection.

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A Focus on Eyes

Can digital devices affect our sight?

Blue light — a major part of the spectrum of light coming from video screen — is a hot topic these days among ophthalmologists and optometrists.

Adults are spending more time on computers and digital devices. It’s important to consider whether that’s causing damage to our eyes.

“I tell my patients to think about how a dermatologist might tell his or her patients to use sunscreen before going outside,” said Dr. Jeffrey Stovall, Jr., optometrist with Focus Eye Care. Stovall recommends blue light protection for his patients who spend more than three or four hours a day on the computer or other devices.

What and where is the blue light?

Scientists tell us that what we perceive as white light actually has a large blue component. That can expose eyes to higher amounts of energy from the shorter wavelengths — at the spectrum’s blue end, as opposed to the longer wavelengths at the red end.

Judith L. Kanne, RN, BSN, BA

is a registered nurse and freelance writer who lives in Atlanta.

The largest source of blue light is sunlight, and the sun’s ultra violet rays can, and will, cause eye damage with overexposure. But recent warnings seem to focus on the long-term effects of video screen exposure because of the close proximity of the bright

screens and the length of time people spend looking at them.

In today’s high-tech world, blue light comes from a variety of sources, such as:

■ Fluorescent light, as well as compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs,

■ LED light and flat-screen LED televisions, and

■ Computer monitors, smart phones and tablet screens.

What’s damaging and what’s not?

“Over the course of decades, we’re still not sure how much damage can be done by constant blue light exposure,” said Stovall. Some scary headlines, which made the public worry, followed a Scientific Reports’ study and related news articles about blue light research in 2018.

“Blue light from electronic screens,” however, “is not making you blind,” the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) said in a 2018 online post.

“Not so fast,” said another report, seeing that the published research and Scientific Reports’

study took place in a laboratory. In fact, the study’s lead author Ajith Karunarathne, PhD, said “Absolutely not,” when asked “if electronic screens” cause blindness, according to one reporter.

The American Optometric Association (AOA) said the study “lends support for the importance of wearing UV-A and UV-B sunglasses when outside in sunshine.” And the AAO continues to remind us: “Long-term overexposure to UV radiation over the course of one’s life can cause more serious problems.”

For some, the verdict is still out on blue light emitted from digital screens, although the AOA and AAO both recommend avoiding bright screens up to 2 to 3 hours before bedtime. And suggest dim or reddish (warmer) lighting at night.

Lighting is more about affecting our circadian rhythm [our sleep/ wake cycle], says the AOA.

Don’t strain yourself

Blue light isn’t the only threat to vision linked to more screen time. Computer monitors, smartphones and tablet screens also may cause eyestrain, which is a different problem than too much blue light. Eyestrain is when “eyes get tired from intense use, such as while driving long distances or staring at computer screens and other digital devices,” states Mayo Clinic’s website.

“Try using the 20-20-20 rule,” said President and CEO of Prevent Blindness Georgia, Jill Shapiro Thornton. “Every 20 minutes take a 20-second break and look at something 20 feet away.”

Thornton also encourages speaking with your eye doctor to find other ways to prevent digital eyestrain. The good news is eyestrain is not serious — although it can be annoying — and generally goes away once you rest your eyes, say Mayo Clinic’s eye experts.

Comprehensive eye exams

One thing that health experts can agree on is the importance of eye exams for everyone, especially seniors. Neglecting eye appointments can lead to reduced eyesight or blindness.

A recent University of Michigan survey found that 18 percent of older people haven’t seen an optometrist or ophthalmologist in three years or more, according

to AARP. And some who were surveyed “were not sure” when they had their last eye exam. According to the National Eye Institute (NEI), which is part of the National Institutes of Health, “vision loss is not an inevitable part of aging.”

Ophthalmologists and optometrists agree that when eye diseases are detected and treated early, vision loss can often be prevented. Eye

problems can sneak up on older adults who are not receiving regular checkups.

Seniors may not realize:

■ Eye diseases often have no early symptoms.

■ Everyone aged 50 and older should have a regular comprehensive dilated eye examination.

■ Early detection, treatment and follow-up care are important to preventing vision loss and blindness.

The leading causes of blindness and low vision in the United States are primarily age-related eye diseases such as macular degeneration, cataract, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.

Check your calendar and note the date of your last eye exam. Take time to discuss blue light with your optometrist or ophthalmologist.

Prevent Blindness Georgia recommendations for scheduled eye exams include:

■ Ages 20 to 39 years (African Americans) — every 2 to 4 years

■ Ages 20 to 39 years (Caucasian) — every 3 to 5 years

■ Ages 40 to 64 years — every 2 to 4 years

■ Ages 65 years or older — every 1 to 2 years

People with special risks — diabetes, a previous eye trauma, surgery or a family history of glaucoma — may need more frequent eye exams.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people with diabetes have a comprehensive eye exam every year and those with a high risk of glaucoma, every two years. Of course, people with symptoms of eye trouble should see an eye doctor right away!

The American Academy of Ophthalmology suggests the following tips for people who work with computers all day

■ Sit about 25 inches (arm’s length) from the computer screen. Position the screen so you are gazing slightly downward.

■ Reduce screen glare by using a matte screen filter if needed.

■ Take regular breaks using the “20-20-20” rule: every 20 minutes, shift your eyes to look at an object at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.

■ When your eyes feel dry, use artificial tears to refresh them.

■ Adjust your room lighting and try increasing the contrast on your screen to reduce eyestrain.

■ If you wear contact lenses, give your eyes a break by wearing your glasses.

Gladys Got It Right

My mom is 88 years old and very active. She lives in a single-family home within a neighborhood of mostly seniors. The community is not gated, meaning anyone can drive through without attracting much — if any — attention.

The community is active, with many activities at the clubhouse, including bunko, bingo and Texas Hold ‘Em Poker, which accounts for most of the arguments and good gossip.

STAY SAFE

The residents frequently walk their small dogs along the sidewalk during the day and

evening. It’s a very social and interactive process. They walk the dog, stop, speak with others walking their dogs, go to the next house and repeat the process, and at times, the story. Sometimes it feels like it takes two weeks to make it around the block. It may not seem obvious, but this dynamic activity level is significant for a community composed mostly of residents aged 55-plus.

An experienced burglar will take note of residents walking along the sidewalk, with or without their pooches, because he knows they

are eyes and ears for the community.

The biggest deterrent to neighborhood burglary is what I call the “Gladys Kravitz” factor. Gladys Kravitz was the nosy neighbor on the television show “Bewitched.” She was always in everyone’s business, snooping around the neighborhood looking for gossip and, of course, conspiracies.

To cops, however, Gladys was a valuable resource because she noticed everything around her. And residents, especially those who frequently walk the neighborhood, are extremely effective in deterring a crime such as theft or burglary.

To be effective, two things

need to happen. You need to:

1, know what to look for, what habits burglars fall into when casing a neighborhood; and 2, be assertive enough that when you see something that looks suspicious, you call 911.

Steve Rose is a retired Fulton County and Sandy Springs Police captain and freelance writer. He is the author the book “Why Do My Mystic Journeys Always Lead to the Waffle House” and column “View from a Cop.”

PHOTO BY ANDREA SOM FROM PIXABAY.

What to look for includes:

slow-moving cars cruising the neighborhood with occupants looking around; strange cars riding through an area more than once; cars pulled alongside the curb for a while with occupants sitting inside. Maybe they’re sitting in front of a home whose residents are on vacation or otherwise gone.

What about someone walking between houses, or someone you don’t recognize, walking from house to house, maybe wearing a backpack? All these examples can be legitimate, but they can also signal that something is suspicious. If you walk the neighborhood, carry a pen and paper, or log a tag number into your phone.

When cars pass, look at the drivers, smile and wave. An experienced burglar will recognize when he’s noticed while casing a community. Even though you’re smiling and

waving, he knows you took note of him. That can be a powerful deterrent.

Even if a suspicious situation turns out to be nothing, it’s okay. Most suspiciousactivity police calls are unfounded, but the one that pays off is worth it. Never second-guess your first intuition.

Every 55-plus community should have a good working relationship with the police department’s community crime prevention officer. Invite them to your social events and learn the little things that make a big difference in deterring a crime.

Start a Neighborhood Watch and learn about communityoriented policing. Most of all, be a “Gladys Kravitz”.

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The Ring of Doom

I hate answering my phone.

When it rings, I cuss. If I manage to get to it in time to answer it, I usually cuss some more. It doesn’t matter. The callers don’t care. They’re either robots or ghosts. That’s why I hate answering.

these days

Joe Earle is editor-at-large and has lived in metro Atlanta for over 30 years. He can be reached at joeearle@ reporternewspapers.net

I know I’m not alone in this. The subject of annoying phone calls regularly comes up in discussions whenever several of us of a certain age get together. And the Federal Communications Commission says 60 percent of all the complaints it receives are about unwanted calls. We are haunted by our phones. We are under attack.

It wasn’t always like this. Learning to hate answering my phone was a big deal for me. I’ve been a newspaperman my whole life. My phone played a big part on my job. It was a lifeline, a link to the outside world.

Any time it rang, I jumped to answer it. It could be a new lead on an article I was pursuing or a news tip I needed or just someone wanting to chat about some important issue. My callers were friends or sources or people needing my help or at least my attention.

Every ring could bring something exciting. No more. Now, when the phone rings, it’s a salesperson, if it’s a person at all. Mostly, it’s just the steady beep-beep-beep of a disengaged line. The caller has rung off because some robo-dialer placing three or 300 calls at once has managed to reach someone else first and hung up on me. Nobody’s there but a ghost.

If, by some miracle, I do connect with a caller, it usually turns out to be not another human, but a robot. The bright voice of some perky young womanbot introduces herself as Amanda or Sara or Claire and without taking a breath launches a spiel about vacation condos or Caribbean cruises. Or it’s a dude who asks if someone named Randy or some such is there, then says if not, I’ll do, and then asks for money.

But the worst calls started flooding in when I turned 65. That’s when the Medicare supplement sales calls started. There were four, five, six a day. Even more on some days. When I answered, people with strange accents wanted to sell me insurance to supplement or replace or somehow magically fix my Medicare insurance. Then my wife turned 65, and the number of annoying calls doubled.

I didn’t handle it well. I admit that now. I took to screaming into the phone whenever I answered and heard the telltale pause that indicated it was a robo-dialer on the other end of the line.

“Are you a robot?” I’d scream. “Well, I hope you burn in Robot Hell!”

I realized that accomplished little but make me feel better for a moment. The calls kept coming.

What to do? I thought of dumping my landline and switching all calls to my cellphone. But we’ve had our house number for decades. It’s the only number some distant relatives even know. I’d hate to lose touch with some second cousin or distant in-law just because I couldn’t handle a few annoying phone calls.

Next, I checked out the “no-call list offered by the government. The Federal Communication Commission’s web page says you sign up and about a month later, legitimate telemarketers will stop calling. That sounded good, until I read the next few paragraphs. The list does nothing to stop most annoying callers. Maybe the good guys won’t call, but the bad guys still will. What good is that? I want to stop the bad guys most of all.

I’ve been reduced to fantasy. I want revenge. I want someone to invent a little device you can attach to your phone that will recognize robocallers, and, when they call, respond by sending a high-frequency sound back to them that will cause their telephones to suddenly burst into flames.

It would serve them right and cut down on annoying calls at the same time.

I realize that isn’t likely to happen, if only because if it really were possible, someone would have come up with such a device already, and everybody would have one.

Still, I hope some tech geniuses out there are working on a way to get rid of unwanted phone calls and that somebody comes up with something soon. The robots have discovered my cellphone number. The ghosts can’t be far behind.

Pet Pick

Meet Beauty!

This 4-year-old Rottweiler is looking for a couch to call her own. Although she’s a large girl, she is laid back, gentle and friendly to everyone she meets — although she can be a little bit shy at first.

She came to the Atlanta Humane Society from an overcrowded rural shelter, and she’s excited to meet her forever family here in Atlanta. Beauty loves to be petted, and she gets along with most other dogs, so if you have a dog in your home, please consider bringing them in to meet her.

Beauty is spayed, microchipped, up-to-date on vaccinations and ready to meet you at the Atlanta Humane Society’s Howell Mill location, 981 Howell Mill Road, Atlanta 30318. For more information about Beauty or other adoptable pets, please visit atlantahumane.org/ dogs or email adoptions@atlantahumane.org.

How to Pick and Plant Perennials

Spring has sprung and the garden centers are bursting at the seams with new plants to add to your garden and landscape. Why not get the most bang for your buck by adding perennials to your garden?

Perennials come back every year, so once they’re established, they’ll make a permanent home in your garden. Annuals are great for instant color, but they only last one growing season. Plant perennials and you’ll be able to enjoy them for years to come.

Prepare for the plants

When planting perennials, you want to choose a suitable site. Many require full sun, but others prefer the shady spots in your garden.

Before you choose a well-suited perennial, you’ll need to get the soil in shape. Most plants prefer well-drained soils full of organic matter. Planting perennials into untreated Georgia clay most likely will result in poorly grown and unhealthy plants.

To get started, you need to break up the soil, add some good compost or topsoil and combine them together. You also can add some slowrelease fertilizer to start.

Pick your plants

When selecting perennials, be sure to check the tag to make sure

they’re suited for the spot you’ve chosen and prepared. If you have a sunny spot, make sure to select a plant that can take full sun. The same goes for shade or part-shade.

Some popular perennials for Georgia are:

■ Heuchera: Valued for its very colorful foliage, it does well in shade to partial shade.

■ Purple Coneflower, Rudbeckia, Shasta Daisy: These make great cut flowers with purple, yellow and white blooms, and they prefer full sun.

■ Salvia: With blooms that last summer through fall, the tall flower spikes can tolerate partial shade to sun.

■ Astilbe: These have feathery flower spikes that can tolerate shade to partial shade.

■ Ajuga: A low growing ground cover with green to bronze foliage, it’s good for shade to partial shade.

These are just a few of the many perennials recommended for Georgia. You can plant perennials in masses, along borders or to add some pops of color here and there in your landscape. Water them well when they’re first planted to help get them established and add fertilizer every 6 to 8 weeks.

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.

Astilbe PHOTO BY BLUEBUDGIE ON PIXABAY

Shasta Daisy

PHOTO BY BUNTYSMUM ON PIXABAY

Passwords: The Bane of Our Online Existence

Passwords. Can’t live with them, can’t live without them. Well…in the not-to-distant future, you may be able to live without them, but in the meantime, we can offer some advice on how to live with them.

Password problems

Gene Rubel

the Digital Device Doctor, cures digital anxiety for seniors and home/home-office users. A graduate of Harvard Business School, “Doctor Gene” spent more than 30 years in international business. He can be reached at generubel@gmail.com.

Almost every computer-based account you have requires a password. Some of us have 100 or more accounts and remembering unique, complex, hard-to-hack passwords is virtually impossible. In addition, some computers have passwords and secure Wi-Fi networks always have passwords. So what happens?

■ The same password is used on multiple accounts.

■ Simple generic passwords are used.

■ Passwords are never changed.

■ Passwords are forgotten, so it’s hard to get into your account.

■ As passwords are case sensitive, you forget whether it’s a capital “A” or a small “a.”

■ Connecting a printer to a secure Wi-fi network is almost impossible as the printer doesn’t have a keyboard and it’s quite a feat to figure out how to enter the “@” character.

■ You have passwords recorded on small scraps of paper taped to the computer or scattered all over your desk.

■ In the event you’re not available, your representative can’t access your accounts because you haven’t left a record of your passwords.

In addition, hackers are getting better at cracking your password, and suddenly your account has been infiltrated. Data has been stolen not just from the hacked account, but from others, as you used the same account name and password on multiple accounts.

Even if you have sophisticated passwords, many accounts — including Social Security, Medicare and most financial institutions — require you to change your password periodically. It’s almost as though you need a private secretary to keep track of it all.

Most of the time, all is not lost if you forget a password because there are usually methods to reclaim or change a lost password. In many cases, these methods include providing responses to “security questions” like the name of your first pet or your high school mascot. Of course, if it’s hard enough to remember the password, how are you supposed to remember the responses you gave months or years ago to these idiotic questions?

Solutions — some good, some not so good

The most important thing you can do is create unique, strong passwords for each account. Your passwords should:

■ Be unique, that is, not used on any other account.

■ Have anywhere from 8 to 16 characters – or longer if it’s allowed.

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Continued from page 19

■ Use a combination of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers and special characters, such as #, $, %, etc.

■ Not be one of the passwords on the list of the worst passwords of 2018.

Two-factor authentication, or 2FA

2FA is an extra layer of security used to make sure that people trying to gain access to an online account are who they say they are. First, a user will enter their username and a password. Then, instead of immediately gaining access, they’ll be required to provide another piece of information. This second factor could come from one of the following categories:

Something you know: This could be a personal identification number (PIN), a password, answers to “secret questions” or a specific keystroke pattern.

Something you have: Typically, a user would have something in their possession, like a credit card, a smartphone or a small hardware token.

Something you are: This category is a little more advanced and might include the biometric pattern of a fingerprint, an iris scan or a voice print.

With 2FA, a potential compromise of just one of these factors won’t unlock the account. So, even if your password is stolen or your phone is lost, the chances of a someone else having your second-factor information is highly unlikely. Looking at it from another angle, if a consumer uses 2FA correctly, websites and apps can be more confident of the user’s identity and unlock the account. (For more information on 2FA, see authy.com/what-is-2fa/.)

This approach is pretty good, if somewhat cumbersome, as you need to have access to your smartphone to get a one-time code. In some cases, particularly if you are using a new computer or a new location or if you’re trying to recover a lost password, you have no choice but to use 2FA to proceed.

Keep a written record or use a Password Manager

A written record of your passwords is essential! The worst place to store this list is on your computer; hackers always look there for such a list. Store the list in a safe place that you can easily access when the time comes to remember a password. Make a copy for your significant other or key contact if you are not available when access to your accounts is necessary.

The best way to keep a record of your passwords is to use a password manager. I recommend Dashlane (dashlane.com.) Dashlane will store your account names, website information and your passwords.

Dashlane is free when used on one device (typically a computer). The paid version will be available on all of your devices and is constantly synchronized so that one a password is used it’s available on all of your devices. Some features of password managers:

You only need to remember one very strong password, which you should write down.

You can use randomly generated passwords for each website, reducing the likelihood of them being cracked.

They can work across multiple platforms: computer, phone, tablet.

You can change a password at any time.

It can automatically change a password when required by the website. You can print a copy of your passwords to put them in a secure location.

There is one cautionary downside. If you change password managers or stop using them all together, you’ll need to download all your passwords and re-enter them manually. Also, it’s not impossible for someone to crack the password manager’s system, but the system has a lot more security resources than you do.

Contextual security policies that rely more on trusted devices and connections, with the ability to add layers of complexity as risks rise. New security can be based on the value of the content and factors such as user behavior, device location and connection, or the state of the device.

Key-based authentication to create a user credential that’s tied to a device and uses a PIN or biometric. Instead of using a password to sign in, you’ll see a number code to enter into an app, where you’ll have to enter a PIN or provide a biometric.

At some point, passwords will have to go away, and we’ll all be better for it.

The worst passwords of 2018

1.

Living without passwords

The day is coming when passwords may become obsolete. I recently returned from an international trip and the Immigration and Customs folks used retina scans to identify me. I didn’t even have to present my passport!

Most computers are equipped with cameras and some even have fingerprint readers installed. Most smartphones have these features as well. It should be possible for websites to automatically identify you through retinal scans or fingerprints.

Other possibilities are:

2.

15. abc123

16. football

17. 123123

18. monkey

19. 654321

7. 1234567

8. sunshine

9. qwerty

10. iloveyou

11. princess

12. admin

13. welcome

14. 666666

20. !@#$%^&*

21. charlie

22. aa123456

23. donald

24. password1

25. qwerty123

Source: SplashData

►Out & about The Arts

Sacred Cantatas by J.S. Bach Sunday, April 28, 4 p.m. Choral Guild of Atlanta performs two complete Sacred Cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach — “A Mighty Fortress” and “Now Thank We All Our God.” Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and students, and are available online and at the door. Northside Drive Baptist Church, 3100 Northside Dr., Atlanta 30305. Details and tickets at cgatl.org.

Billy Elliot the Musical May 3-12. The City Springs Theatre Company present Billy Elliot the Musical, winner of 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The musical is based on the international hit film and features a score by music legend Elton John. Tickets are $30 to $62. Byers Theatre at Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs 30328. Call the box office at 770206-2022 or visit citysprings.com for info on this and other shows.

Fairs & Festivals

Roswell Azalea Festival

Runs April 1-30. This is the 5th Roswell Azalea Festival — a full month of events that pay tribute to the beauty of Roswell during the springtime. There’s a farmers’ and artisans’ market, tours, art shows, live music, theatre events, food trucks, classes, lectures and so much more. Events will take place throughout Roswell. Azalea Festival booklets are available at the Roswell Visitors Center, 617 Atlanta Street, Roswell 30075. For a complete list of festivities, go to roswellazaleafestival.com.

83rd Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival ►

Friday-Sunday, April 12-14. Friday, 12-11 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. The city’s longest-running festival, the Atlanta Dogwood Festival, is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to providing the annual

springtime celebration of arts and entertainment. Attractions include an artists’ market, international village with cultural exchange pavilions, midway rides and a kids’ village. Admission is free. Piedmont Park, 400 Park Drive, Atlanta 30306. Go to dogwood.org for details.

Georgia Renaissance Festival

Saturdays, Sundays and Memorial Day, April 13 to June 2, 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Visit 16th century England and enjoy non-stop entertainment, music, rides, demonstrations, food and shops. Tickets are $23.95 at the gate and $19.95 online for adults, $11.95 at the gate and $9.95 online for kids 6-12 years old. Georgia Renaissance Festival, 905 Virlyn B. Smith Rd., Fairburn 30213. Go to garenfest. com for tickets as well as info on special offers, group discounts and themed weekends.

The Garden Faire

Saturday, April 19, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. The North Fulton Master Gardeners, in partnership with Historic Bulloch Hall and Roswell Azalea Festival, present the 20th annual Garden Faire. The fair features a Pass-A-Long plant sale, more shopping, food vendors and a bake sale. New this year are a children’s corner, with event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and an eco-corner. Proceeds support North Fulton Master Gardener programs in Alpharetta, Roswell,

Sandy Springs and Farm Chastain. Historic Bulloch Hall, 180 Bulloch Avenue, Roswell 30075. Visit nfmg.net/gardenfaire.html for details.

Community

Swan House Ball

Saturday, April 27. The Swan House Ball brings together Atlanta’s business, community and social leaders for an evening of elegance and fun at the Atlanta History Center’s newly renovated museum. This year’s ball honors the Rollins family and is chaired by Jenny Pruitt. The Swan House Ball raises benefits the Atlanta History Center and its student education programs. The 2019 Swan House Ball begins with cocktails at the Swan House followed by dinner and dancing in the museum. Atlanta History Center, 130 West Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta 30305. For more information or tickets, call 404-814-4102 or visit AtlantaHistoryCenter.com.

Black and White Ball

Saturday, April 27, 6:30 p.m. The fourth annual Black and White Ball offers an enjoyable evening of dining and dancing that benefits The Arts Council, Inc. The formal, blacktie event will be catered by Affairs to Remember, and music is supplied by The American Flyers. Smithgall Arts Center, 331 Spring Street, Gainesville 30501. For more information, call 770-534-2787.

CAF’s WWII Heritage Days

Saturday and Sunday, April 27 and 28, 9 a.m.-4

p.m. Experience the sights and sounds of World War II when the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Dixie Wing hosts the 16th Annual WWII Heritage Days. There will be re-enactors, WWII vehicles, vintage aircraft, authors, WWII Veterans and exhibits. It’s a community celebration and living history experience for the entire family. CAF Dixie Wing, 1200 Echo Court, Peachtree City 30269. Visit wwiidays.org to find out more.

Cars and ‘Q for the Cause

Saturday, May 4, 4-7 p.m. Delight in tasty BBQ from Jim & Nicks, your favorite craft brews and live music while checking out 120+ stellar cars. The annual Cars and ‘Q event raises money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Advance tickets range $20 for event entry and dinner; $40 for entry, dinner and drinks (legal age permitting). Ticket prices rise to $30 and $50 on April 26. Choate Construction, 8200 Roberts Dr., Atlanta 30350. Info and tickets at carsnq.com.

Dancing Stars of Atlanta ▼ Saturday, May 4, 5:30-11 p.m. Mirroring the popular TV show, this event pairs local Atlanta residents (the “stars”) with professional dancers to raise money by gaining votes in a

one-night dance competition. Area residents can vote online for $1 per vote prior to the event. Dancing Stars of Atlanta raises funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research on behalf of the Alzheimer’s Association, Georgia Chapter. Cobb Galleria Centre, 2 Galleria Parkway, Atlanta 30339. For more info, contact Dan Britt at 404-728-6057 or dgbritt@alz.org.

Learn Something

Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini April 14-August 11. An original exhibition about the world’s most famous magician includes artifacts, photos and archival records, many on loan from private and public collections. Supplementary programming includes speakers and family events. The William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum, 1440 Spring Street, Atlanta 30309. For more information, call 678-2223700 or visit TheBreman.org.

The Loving Approach Family Education Series on Dementia Wednesdays, April 17 and May 15, 7-8:30 p.m. This dementia skills education series, begun in December, is still open to family members and caregivers of people with brain change. It offers invaluable knowledge while providing guidance and a forum for questions and discussion. Free; registration is required. Oak Grove United Methodist Church, 1722 Oak Grove Road, Decatur 30033. Register by emailing wecare@ orchardseniorliving or calling 404-775-0488. Find out more at orchardseniorliving.com/ brookhaven.

The Spring Ecology of Sandy Springs

Thursday, April 18, 7-8:30 p.m. Alan Toney, Master Naturalist, shares an exciting glimpse of what’s happening in our parks and backyards each spring. Learn to identify owls, baby box turtles, emerging insects and fawns as they cross our gardens and streets. There’s even a crash course on identifying area snakes. Suggested $5 donation to the Friends of the Lost Corner. Lost Corner Preserve Cottage, 7300 Brandon Mill Road, Sandy Springs 30328. To register, visit friendsoflostcorner.org.

Bird Walk

Saturday, April 20, 8-10:30 a.m. Join the Atlanta Audubon Society for a family friendly guided bird walk from Overlook Park to historic Morgan Falls Dam. Binoculars will be available to borrow. Free; pre-registration requested. Morgan Falls Overlook Park, 200 Morgan Falls Rd, Sandy Springs 30350. To pre-register, go to registration. sandyspringsga.gov.

American Hydrangea Society Speaker Series

Monday, April 22, 7-9 p.m. Michael A. Dirr presents “Evaluating the Newest

Services directory

Hydrangea Cultivars and Reconnecting to Heirlooms.”

Dirr is Professor Emeritus at The University of Georgia, where he also served as Director of the University’s Botanical Garden. The lecture is free, and reservations are not required. Sign in, mingling,

light refreshments and plant raffle available before lecture, which begins at 7:30 p.m. Atlanta History Center, 130 West Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta 30305. For more information, please call 770-956-7734.