Atlanta Senior Life - May 2017

Senior Life

A Lifetime of Learning

By Donna Williams Lewis

A class on Pacific Coast Indians was about to begin at Dunwoody United Methodist Church when a man strode into the room, making a beeline for his classmate Gil Yates, front row, center.

“No running!” Yates said, as the man approached. “Shuffling’s OK.”

The teasing was all in good fun. Yates is a year older than his buddy, who would not reveal his name, but did share his age: 91.

The men are among 175 students taking classes this spring with Perimeter Adults Learning & Services (PALS).

PALS is in its 25th year of providing continuing education for senior adults, most of whom are 60-plus. Yates and his wife, Dot, of Dunwoody, have been members from the start.

“People our age want to help other people, and this kind of takes care of the need for fellowship,” Dot Yates said. “We have made lifelong friends.”

Continued on page 4

Atlanta Senior Life focuses on the interests, accomplishments and lifestyles of the active senior population in metro Atlanta. It aims to inspire readers to embrace a more rewarding life by informing them of opportunities to expand their horizons, express their talents and engage in their community.

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Sarah Brodd, Judi Kanne, Collin Kelley, Donna Williams Lewis, Phil Mosier, Isadora Pennington, Gene Rubel

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RE:LOOM EMPOWERS THE HOMELESS THROUGH CRAFT

by Isadora Pennington

The odds are stacked against you when you’re homeless. Without a home address, it’s difficult to get a driver’s license or land a job.

re:loom Weavehouse, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit in Decatur, is trying to help. The organization seeks to employ homeless and low-income people through weaving rugs and other cloth-based products. re:loom’s employees learn the skill of weaving, get a stable salary, health coverage and leadership training.

The organization functions as a sort of factory for repurposing cloth items. They take donations and cut them up, then weave them together into things like rugs, bags and wallets. The space is stacked with reams of fabric and bundles of cloth strips. One bright, sunny room is lined with looms, a peaceful and rhythmic hum emanating from the work of several weavers.

and have heard about us, visited and decided to help us.”

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FREE CIRCULATION

Each month, 20,000 copies of Atlanta Senior Life are distributed to selected locations where active seniors live, work, volunteer and play in the north metro areas of Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties.

re:loom started as a project of the nonprofit Initiative for Affordable Housing. “The idea of re:loom came about because, as an agency working with homeless women for over 25 years, we worried about the women in our homeless program getting jobs and taking care of their children as we could see that the economy was faltering in 2008,” said Lisa Wise, executive director of the Initiative for Affordable Housing Executive Director of the parent nonprofit Initiative for Affordable Housing, who has been a DeKalb county resident for more than 30 years.

“As a nonprofit, Initiative always had a lot of donated clothes around, and we combined what we hoped would be a green movement and cultural shift of sustainability with the ancient craft of weaving, which is complex and very orderly and linear,” Wise said.

Since its inception, re:loom has helped 28 participants in the job training program, and all but a few have moved on to other employment, according to Wise. Those who’ve remained have continued to develop their skills and craftsmanship, producing hundreds of handmade products a year.

re:loom is not only beneficial for those homeless individuals who work there, but it also provides an opportunity for volunteers from all walks to give back to the community.

“Our volunteers help prepare the donated clothing and fabric and get it ready for the weavers as they weave beautiful pieces for sale; some volunteers help us spread the word and some love to work with us at the festivals,” said Wise. As someone who qualifies for the senior discount herself, she can attest that it’s a great experience for seniors who like to volunteer their time and effort. “Many seniors belong to sewing, quilting groups, church or other kinds of groups

In addition to selling their pieces through their website and in the store at the Decatur warehouse, re:loom sets up at a variety of festivals throughout the year to sell handcrafted and oneof-a-kind items. Partnerships with corporations also have proved successful for the organization, with companies like Delta Air Lines, Orkin, Emory University and U.S. Bank placing large orders.

“They provide us work that helps our homeless women have jobs, and we help them by taking uniforms or shirts that their companies can’t use because they’re branded in a way that they can’t be given away to a thrift store. We cut up their pieces, make things for them that they can give away to employees, plus it keeps things from the landfill. It’s a win-win for everybody,” said re:loom operations manager Tammy Carden.

The team is currently working on repurposing Delta uniforms into a large batch of keychains.

At the Weavehouse shop, open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., visitors can see the items in person and even catch a glimpse of the artisans hard at work at the looms. The Weavehouse is located at 3032 North Decatur Rd., Scottdale 30079 and can be reached by calling 404-247-4134. For more information, go to reloom.org.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CATMAX PHOTOGRAPHY Lisa Wise at the Weavehouse

PHOTOS BY ISADORA PENNINGTON

Left, Robin Upshur (front) and Lakh Khanal (back) set up for a day’s work at the Weavehouse looms. Above, re:loom operations manager Tammy Carden in the Weavehouse workroom

A Lifetime of Learning

Continued from page 1

Classes are presented by unpaid volunteers, who tend to be retired professionals from the academic and corporate worlds and others “who have an abiding interest in a particular area that they like to share,” said PALS President Bill Berger, a

retired U.S. Department of Labor attorney who subsequently practiced immigration law.

For example, instead of focusing on battlefields, one of PALS’ Civil War instructors centered his discussions on how Southern state governments operated and handled money during the war.

Other continuing education programs for seniors are operating around metro Atlanta, and, seniors say, giving them valuable mental, social and physical stimulation.

The new manager of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Emory University, Jeffery Alejandro, says adult education has evolved since he started in the field.

“Twenty years ago, a lot of programs for seniors were geared more toward arts and crafts, literacy and basic skills,” Alejandro said. “As more of the baby boomers started reaching retirement age,

they started demanding more intellectually challenging courses.”

PALS’ offers eight classes on Mondays in three time slots. The quarterly sessions alternate between Dunwoody Baptist Church and Dunwoody United Methodist Church, the site of PALS’ office and the current session of classes.

In addition to Pacific Coast Indians, PALS students are learning about the 2017 real estate market, travel, Shakespeare, state and local politics, President Harry S. Truman, ‘“The Black Experience 1800-1900,” bridge, Mah Jongg and “Examining Your Funny Bone I.”

Emory’s OLLI program started in 1979 with a few classes held at churches. It’s now a bustling branch of Emory Continuing Education, with an annual membership of nearly 1,300 students ages 50-plus and more than 150 course offerings a year taught by volunteers.

The growth is the result of a collaborative effort between Emory staff members and dedicated OLLI students, including Advisory Committee Chair Pat Miller, Alejandro said. The retired businesswoman recruited volunteers and helped lead a critical member fundraising drive in order to attract an additional endowment from the program’s benefactor, the Osher Foundation, he said.

OLLI’s spring session offers classes on Tuesdays through Thursdays, beginning April 3.

The spring catalog features course titles such as The Composer’s Universe: Mozart, Asian Brush Drawing, Fun With Algebra, ABCs of Law - Part 2, Learn Farsi, Introduction to Biotechnology, and “Where Do You Want To Be At 103?”

Improv classes taught by professional actors led to the birth of a performing OLLI troupe, “The Improvables,” which has been featured on the Dr. Oz website as an example of improving health through laughter.

Many members take three or four classes, while one of them is taking nine, said Jessica Wilson, the program’s senior outreach program coordinator.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF OLLI AT EMORY

Above, OLLI members take a tour of the Michael C. Carlos Museum at Emory University in February 2016. At front center, wearing red and black, is Judy Sutter, chair of OLLI's Events/Enrichment Day Trips Committee. Below, Dorothy Marrinson, 96, won OLLI's 2015 Halloween costume competition with her Lady Gaga costume. She has signed up for four OLLI classes this spring.

it keeps me feeling alive... it's intellectually stimulating.

dorothy marrinson

OLLI’s classes fill up so quickly that 96-year-old Dorothy Marrinson finally agreed to be taught how to register for them online, Wilson said.

“It keeps me feeling alive,” Marrinson said of her long years with OLLI, where she ends morning classes by hanging out with her lunch bunch. “I like being with people. I like the courses. It’s intellectually stimulating.”

Marrinson’s driver’s license was just renewed and she’s raring to go to the four classes she’ll take on Tuesdays and Thursdays: The Shock of the New

American Modernism 1900-1960; The History of Russia; The 2016 Presidential Election Examined — The Good, The Bad and The Ugly; and Presidential Power Under the Constitution.

“I’m really looking forward to that one,” said Marrinson, of Presidential Power.

She attended OLLI’s 2016 Halloween party dressed as a “Trump Sandwich” that featured Russian dressing, among other politically incorrect ingredients.

The year before, the Morningside/Lenox Park resident who loves “junk stores” and “can’t

live without the New York Times” won the OLLI Halloween contest for her Lady Gaga costume, which included gold high heels.

Judy Sutter, 78, of Buckhead, chairs a committee that plans these types of activities and day trips for members.

Makes sense. The retired advertising manager is an extremely active person herself.

She’s a docent at the High Museum, takes four classes weekly at OLLI, goes to the gym twice a week and recently has been catching up with friends by holding dinner parties for eight every two weeks.

A woman who enjoys diversity, she likes the fact that OLLI is coed.

“You really get a different perspective on life when you have men and women together,” Sutter said. “It’s like being in college, only we don’t sleep in the same dorm.”

Spring classes at PALS began March 27. About 75 people showed up, along with the Yates, for the latest in Tom McElhinny’s series of classes on American Indians.

The Yates, who are retired from real estate careers and will have been married 70 years in October,

Get schooled

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI)

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Emory offers spring, summer, fall and winter classes held on Tuesdays through Thursdays. $49 for one class; discounts for additional classes. Emory Continuing Education, 6 Executive Park Dr., Atlanta 30329. For more info, visit olli. emory.edu or call 404-727-6000.

OLLI classes are also available through Kennesaw State University's College of Continuing and Professional Education. Get details at ccpe. kennesaw.edu/olli/.

Perimeter Adults

Learning & Services (PALS)

Spring classes are underway through May 15 at Dunwoody

United Methodist Church, 1548 Mount Vernon Rd., Dunwoody 30338. Eight classes are held on Mondays in three time slots, with a lunch break in between. $45 for the entire spring session, or visit for $8 per day. Info at palsonline. org or by calling 770-698-0801.

Here are some other area education programs designed for seniors:

Georgia State University

Georgia residents aged 62 or over are welcome to resume, continue or begin a college education as

a GSU-62 student. The program allows eligible applicants to register for college-level courses for credit or audit on a spaceavailable basis. Information is available at admissions.gsu.edu/ how-do-i-apply/other-enrollmenttypes/gsu-62-students/. For Perimeter College GSU-62 info, visit perimeter.gsu.edu/ admissions/apply/senior/.

Seniors Enriched Living (SEL)

A nonprofit, interfaith organization, SEL provides senior adult continuing education classes at Roswell United Methodist Church, 814 Mimosa Blvd. Roswell 30075. More info at facebook.com/ SeniorsEnrichedLiving/.

said they always look forward to classes taught by the retired historian, who’s a docent at the Funk Heritage Center at Reinhardt University in Waleska, Ga.

PALS has also had great classes in the arts and history, Dot Yates said. “Gil likes humor, and anything to do with politics goes over very well [with people],” she said.

Dr. Mark Levine, who infused humor into organizational training during his career, is back at PALS this semester with his “Funny Bone” class.

The class examines the positive effects of humor and laughter and is a perfect fit for Annis Dinnerman, 86, a retiree who worked in sales at the Omni Hotel.

“My friends think I’m Joan Rivers,” she said. Turning to Levine, she added, “I expect you to get me a gig as soon as this is over.”

Dinnerman is new to PALS since her recent move from Buckhead to the Dunwoody area, and has taken OLLI classes for 12 years.

Meanwhile, IBM retiree Jim Davis, 84, of Brookhaven, is enjoying his third quarter of PALS classes.

“They make you think,” he said. “The older you get, the more you realize you need to stimulate your mind to have a healthy body. “In my thinking, if you stop learning, you start dying. And I want to be around as long as I can.”

Enrichment of Life Movement (ELM)

ELM is a nonprofit, nondenominational organization for individuals 50 and up. More than 60 classes are offered during the year. Classes are held at First United Methodist Church, 56 Whitlock Ave., Marietta 30064. Visit elmcobb.org for details.

Senior University of Greater Atlanta (SUGA)

SUGA classes include history, literature and science. and are offered in Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer sessions. The educational organization is based at Rehoboth Baptist Church, 2997 Lawrenceville Hwy., Tucker 30084. Go to su-ga.org for more info.

PHOTOS BY ISADORA PENNINGTON

Above, Dr. Mark Levine teaches seniors about the positive effects humor and laughter in his "Examining Your Funny Bone" classes. Here, he hands student Annis Dinnerman a copy of the course outline. Dinnerman says she's funny in small group settings.

Cover photo: From right, Dot and Gil Yates and their friend, Jim Davis, hear historian Thomas J. McElhinny talk about the Pacific Coast Indians at PALS, Perimeter Adult Learning & Services, at Dunwoody United Methodist Church.

A MAN OF METAL

by Joe Earle

Here’s how Ed Garcia describes how he became a sculptor: He started by doodling in 3-D. He worked as a therapist

back then and while he chatted with his clients, he’d take paper clips and twist them into interesting little shapes.

“I used to doodle, but not with

a pencil,” he said one recent morning. “I used to doodle by bending paper clips. As a joke, one of my clients sent me a truck with 20-foot bars of rebar for me to bend.”

Garcia took the challenge. He learned to weld and bend big bars of metal. Then, once he retired, he wanted something creative to do, so he turned his attention to sculpture. In a studio at his home in the Pine Hills neighborhood in Atlanta, he’d transform metal into abstract designs fit for a tabletop or a garden.

Before that, he’d made little art. “I’m not into challenges to see if I can be successful in achieving something, but rather to experience the pleasure of trying something different,” he said.

Examples of his work now decorate the spacious 14th-floor Buckhead condo he and his wife and their two cats share. Because of that move last year, the 87-yearold Garcia said he’s no longer making sculptures. He had to give up his studio and also said he can no longer manhandle the metal he once did. “It was time to do something else,” he said.

Now he’s covering the walls of his condo with photographs he’s taken during travels to places such as Vietnam, China, South Africa and other far-parts of the world.

It’s just another change for a man who must be used to them. He said he grew up in the New York neighborhood known as Spanish Harlem, a first-generation American. His parents both were immigrants— his father from Mexico, his mother from Venezuela.

Garcia dropped out of high school and ended up in the U.S. Army, where he trained as a mechanic and earned his highschool-equivalency diploma. After the Army, he attended New York University. In 1968, he started studying to be a therapist. By 1977, he’d tired of New York—“It was time to do something else,” he said.—and decided to move to Atlanta to practice. He retired, he said, “sometime around 1989.”

In retirement, he helms discussion groups for seniors who want to face big questions about their lives. They talk of ethics and morality, the pursuit of happiness, love, faith, the lessons one learns as one grows older, even gossip. His workshops gather a couple of times a month with groups at various assisted living centers, he said.

“When I first start teaching at a different place, my first question is, ‘Would you choose to remember all your past experiences and not have new ones, or would you choose to have new experiences and not remember the old ones?’” he said.

David Brooks, director of resident services at St. Anne’s Terrace, a not-for-profit senior living center in Buckhead affiliated with St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, said Garcia has been leading a discussion group there since last October.

It has proved popular, Brooks

said. It started with about 10 participants and has grown to 25 or 30 from the center’s 100 residents. They discuss a wide variety of topics. “He asks a lot of questions,” Brooks said.

Participants tell Brooks they enjoy taking part. “Being together, there’s a closeness,” Brooks said. “Sometimes people in our community can get withdrawn. But they get more engaged. He gets the ball rolling.”

Garcia says he’s led menonly discussion groups that discuss intimacy. This spring, he and Dr. Irma Starr planned to jointly teach a coed class on the topic as part of Emory University’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

The class, titled “Challenges as we age: intimacy, sensuality and sex,” promised to “explore the generational and gender attitudes learned during our adolescent years and how these learned attitudes and values influence our needs and desires toward intimacy as we age,” according to the course catalog.

“This is not a howto class,” he said, smiling at the notion. “It is a class to

understand the myths we face as we age—like, ‘You’re too old to do this.’ [But] we feel the desire to touch and be touched. We want the intimacy.”

Garcia thinks having both men and women in the class will allow each to better understand the other. “It’s going to be a very interesting challenge,” he said. And he likes challenges.

Three questions for Ed Garcia

Who are your heroes?

I think all of us have a hero within us. It lies dormant until a set of circumstances allows our heroism to emerge. I also believe that all of us have been heroes at one time or another, not by what we have done, but rather by what we have not done.

How can seniors maintain their creativity as they age?

SEE, don’t just look. Use all of your senses to explore. A spoon is used for you to slurp your soup. What’s it made of? How did it first come to be used? In what different ways can or is it being used? Is it called by different names?

Break established patterns. Don’t keep mourning about what you cannot any longer do, but rather focus on what you can do. To hell with success, now is the time for fulfillment. If your limited in what you can do, enjoy the pleasure of your imagination. EXPLORE, EXPLORE, EXPLORE!

What can seniors learn from discussions about intimacy?

They can learn that it is a universal human need from the day we are born to the day we die. It signals that we are not alone, but that we belong, and are wanted. It makes us part of the human race.

The only thing that prevents us from allowing ourselves to be intimate is fear. With some, it is the fear of the pain they might experience if they were not to receive it, so it is better not to allow themselves to experience it… how ironic.

PHOTOS BY JOE EARLE

Opposite page and above: Ed Garcia at home with some of his metal sculptures

NEXT-LEVEL SENIOR LIVING

FARMERS MARKETS IN AND AROUND TOWN

By Collin Kelley and Kathy Dean

Farmers markets bring green into the metro area, inviting residents can fill their kitchens with locally-grown, organic fruits and vegetables, pasture-raised meats, whole-grain breads and pastries, organic honey and handmade jams and jellies. Flowers, herbs, coffees, teas and juices can be found at more than a few.

Some also feature area artisans and musicians, as well as renowned chefs who offer demonstrations. Many of the markets have evolved into regular social events for local folks.

Cherokee County

Canton Farmers Market

Cannon Park

130 East Main St., Canton 30114

Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., early May to October facebook.com/pages/ Canton-FarmersMarket/167712443290710

Woodstock Farm Fresh Market

Downtown Market St. at Fowler St., Woodstock 30188

Saturdays, 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m., early May to late October facebook.com/ ourwoodstockfarmmarket/

Cobb County

Acworth Farmers Market

First Baptist Church of Acworth, 4583 Church St., Acworth 30101

Fridays, 8 a.m.-12 p.m., early April to late October facebook.com/Acworth-FarmersMarket-237641463109406/

Farmers Atlanta Road Market

St. Benedict’s Episcopal Church, 2160 Cooper Lake Rd., Smyrna 30080

Tuesdays, 4:30-7 p.m., April to September farmsmyrna.com

Kennesaw Farmers Market

Depot Park, 2820 Cherokee St., Kennesaw 30144

Mondays, 3:30-7:30 p.m., early May to late October facebook.com/

KennesawFarmersMarket/

Marietta Square Farmers Market Marietta Square, 65 Church St., Marietta 30060

Saturdays, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., year-round

Sundays, 12noon-3 p.m., May to October

mariettasquarefarmersmarket.com

Smyrna Fresh Produce Market Smyrna Market Village parking lot, 1275 Church St., Smyrna 30080

Saturdays, 8 a.m.-12 p.m., May to September

smyrnacity.com/i-want-to/ volunteer-get-involved-donate/ fresh-produce-market

DeKalb County

Brookhaven Farmers Market Brookhaven Baptist Church, 1294 N. Druid Hills Rd., Brookhaven 30319

Saturdays, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., late April to mid-November brookhavenfarmersmarket.com

EAST ATLANTA VILLAGE FARMERS MARKET

Decatur Farmers Market

First Baptist Church of Decatur, 308 Clairemont Ave., Decatur 30030

Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., mid-April through season cfmatl.org/Decatur

East Atlanta Village

Farmers Market

561 Flat Shoals Ave., Atlanta 30316

Thursdays, 4-8 p.m., mid-April to mid-December cfmatl.org/eav

Emory Farmers Market Cox Hall Bridge, 569 Asbury Circle, Atlanta 30322

Tuesdays, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., year-round (except summer & school breaks) facebook.com/ EmoryFarmersMarket/?fref=ts

Stone Mountain Farmers Market

Municipal parking lot, 922 Main St., Stone Mountain 30083

Tuesdays, 4-7 p.m., mid-April to late November facebook.com/ stonemountainfarmersmarket/

Tucker Farmers Market

2333 Main St., Tucker 30084

Thursdays, 4-8 p.m., early April to mid-December tuckerfarmersmarket.com

Fulton County

Downtown Alpharetta

Farmers Market

Milton Ave. at Old Canton St., Alpharetta 30009

Saturdays, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m., mid-April to late October facebook.com/Downtown AlpharettaFarmersMarket/

Freedom Farmers Market

Carter Center Library, 453 Freedom Pkwy., Atlanta 30306

Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., year-round freedomfarmersmkt.org

Grant Park Farmers Market 600 Cherokee Ave., Atlanta 30312

Sundays, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., early April to mid-December grantparkmarket.org

Green Market at Piedmont Park 12th Street gate, 1071 Piedmont Ave., Atlanta 30309

Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., early March to mid-December piedmontpark.org

Heritage Sandy Springs

Farmers Market

6100 Lake Forrest Dr., Sandy Springs 30328

Saturdays, 8:30-12 p.m., mid-April to December heritagesandysprings.org/3485-2/ events/hss-farmers-market/

Johns Creek Farmers Market Mark Burkhalter Amphitheater, Newton Park, 3150 Old Alabama Rd., Johns Creek 30022

Saturdays, 8 a.m.-12 p.m., early May to late August johnscreekga.gov/ RecreationandParks/ Special-Events/Farmers-Market

Morningside Farmers Market 1393 N. Highland Ave., Atlanta 30306

Saturdays, 8-11:30 a.m., year-round morningsidemarket.com

Peachtree Center Green Market Peachtree Center Courtyard, 225 Peachtree St., Atlanta 30303

Thursdays, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., early April to October facebook.com/peachtreecenter

Peachtree Road Farmers Market

Cathedral of St. Phillip parking lot, 2744 Peachtree Rd., Atlanta 30305

Saturdays, 8:30 a.m.-12p.m., early April to mid-December

Wednesdays, 4:30-8 p.m., mid-April to late October peachtreeroadfarmersmarket.com

Ponce City Farmers Market

The Shed at Ponce City Market, 675 Ponce de Leon Ave., Atlanta 30308

Tuesdays, 4-8 p.m., mid-April through season cfmatl.org/poncecity

Roswell Farmers & Artisans Market City Hall, 38 Hill St., Roswell 30075

Saturdays, 8 a.m.-12p.m., mid-April to late October roswellfam.com

Gwinnett County

Lilburn Farmers Market Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, 1400 Killian Hill Rd., Lilburn 30047

Fridays, 4-8 p.m., early June to late August lilburnfarmersmarket.org

Norcross Community Market Webb Park, 5 College St., Norcross 30071

Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., early June to late August norcrosscommunitymarket.com

Snellville Farmers Market

Snellville City Hall Town Green, 2342 Oak Rd., Snellville 30078

Saturdays, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., early June to September snellvillefarmersmarket.com

Suwanee Farmers Market Town Center Park, 330 Town Center Ave., Suwanee 30024

Saturdays, 8 a.m.-12 p.m., early May to early October Second Saturdays of the month, 9-11 a.m., November to April suwanee.com/whatsnew. farmersmarket.php

GREEN MARKET AT PIEDMONT PARK FREEDOM FARMERS MARKET

Instant Color with Annuals

Liven up your landscape this spring and summer with annual blooms. Add a bit of contrast to your green lawn, trees and shrubs. Annuals are an easy way to brighten any space. Here are some tips when choosing which annuals to plant.

• Examine your area and determine how much sun or shade you have. If you have a landscape that’s mostly sunny all day, you’ll need to choose annuals that will take the sun. The same concept goes for landscapes that are mostly shady; look for annuals that tolerate shade well. Many people make the mistake of choosing what looks great at the nursery. You need to pick the right plants based on their sun and shade requirements.

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.

• Consider the correct shape and size. The space available for planting your annuals will help determine the correct shape and size of the plants for that area. If you’d like them in a container, you might choose something that will take less ground space, but will grow tall. If you want them to provide coverage for a landscape or flower bed, you might want to pick something that spreads.

• Look for strong color combinations. Choose colors that compliment your landscape. For example, if you have a dark brick wall, choose colors like lime green or yellow that will pop when seen against it.

Once you’ve made your decisions and chosen annuals for your landscape, it’s time to plant. Whether in a container or a bed, make sure you have nice soil that drains well.

When taking your plants out of their plastic containers, loosen up the roots so they’ll spread out. This is important since the roots tend to grow around each other in the container. Plant them so the base of the plant is even with the soil.

Water them well. For the first few weeks, you’ll need to water them often to make sure they don’t dry out too much. Once your plants become established, water as needed when the soil feels dry. Fertilize every four to six weeks. A water-soluble fertilizer works best.

For more information on the best annuals for Georgia landscapes, contact your local extension office for a publication, or check online at ugaextension.org/dekalb.

The Handspinner’s Tale

By Kathy Dean

Mistress Threadbare, Master Spinner of the Spinners of Newcastle has an alter ego— Paula Vester. The 66-year-old Stone Mountain resident has been demonstrating handspinning at the Georgia Renaissance Faire since 1987, one year after it began.

The year it opened, Vester and her family attended the fair. “I noticed that there were no spinners,” she said. “When I saw the auditions notice the next year, I called the director and arranged for our guild to demonstrate. The Peachtree Handspinners Guild has been there ever since, and so have I.”

Vester said the Renaissance Faire has been a wonderful outreach for the guild; at one time a third of the group’s membership were introduced to them there. Peachtree Handspinners Guild, a non-profit

organization that meets monthly in Decatur, is dedicated to the preservation and perpetuation of the art of handspinning.

“We’re able to talk to the public about our guild and hand out information on our activities, as well as the other textile groups in the metro area,” she explained. “The handspinners are purely educational. We don’t sell anything. The profit from our pay from the fair goes to the guild’s scholarship fund.”

According to Vester, there are a lot of good things about demonstrating at the Renaissance Faire. She gets to educate the public and talk with people all day about something she’s passionate about.

“I love watching the world walk by our booth and interacting with the Village cast, who are all wonderful. My favorites are Barely Balanced Acrobatic Daredevils and the musicians in the pubs and on the grounds,”

she said. “I also love watching the yarn grow on my wheel as I spin, and seeing the colors that come out of the dye pots each weekend, turning our basket of wool into a rainbow burst of color.”

The hard part is the heat, and Vester admitted that she’s often exhausted by the end of the weekend. But she perks up once she thinks of meeting more people the next weekend, and of all the exciting things she can do with her newly spun and dyed yarn.

Vester invited everyone to visit her and the other spinners at the fair. “Stop by the Peachtree Handspinners Guild booth. It’s to the left as you walk in the front gate. We’re there all day, spinning, dyeing and talking with people.”

Find out more about the Peachtree Handspinners at peachtreehandspinnersguild.org.

PHOTO BY DIANDRA DELLUCCI Mistress Threadbare welcomes visitors to learn about handspinning at the Georgia Renaissance Festival.

An Adult’s Guide to the Renaissance Faire

By Kathy Dean

The Middle Ages come alive every spring at the Georgia Renaissance Faire in Fairburn, Ga., less than a half hour drive from downtown Atlanta. The fair is a great place to take kids to watch jousters and jugglers, wipe their chins while they tackle a turkey leg, and cheer them as they try archery and carnival games.

There’s a more relaxed way to enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of the 32-acre mock 16th century English village. Leave the little ones at home and take a day to stroll and take a grownups-only tour of the Renaissance Faire.

A few of the shows appeal to an adult sense of humor, like the dark puppetry of the Ded Bob Sho and the musical-comedy team Hey Nunnie, Nunnie. Animal lovers shouldn’t miss the antics of the Dynamo Dogs or the Birds of Prey Show, which features hawks, owls and vultures. Drop in at the Parrots of the Caribbean, a free-flight aviary filled with exotic birds.

Take time and listen as the sounds of drums and harps drift past. A lot of the best music is played in pubs from groups such as The Harper & the Minstrel, Armoured Bards and Landloch’d.

Browse the shops for unusual and unique clothing, home décor and gift items. You’ll find everything from essential oils and herbs to custom-made leather boots and family crests.

Many artisans invite visitors to watch as they craft their wares. Some have demonstrations that continue all day long, such as the weavers, potters and handspinners. Others, like the glassblower, jeweler and herbalist, display their talents at scheduled times.

The Renaissance Faire is scattered with plenty concessions, but there are places to sit and enjoy food and drink. The Drunk Monk Pub offers a variety of adult beverages and live music.

The most civilized way to enjoy lunch is at the Peacock Tea Room. The tearoom has a variety of light meals on the menu, including sandwiches, fruit and cheese plates and pots of tea. Members of the royal court, including the king and queen, have been spotted sipping tea and enjoying the shaded seating.

The fair is open on Saturdays, Sundays and Memorial Day. This year, it runs through June 4; hours are 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The adult ticket price is $22 at the gate or $19 online, and discounts are available for groups of 15 or more.

To get to the Georgia Renaissance Faire, take I-85 south to Exit 61. Turn right onto GA Hwy. 74, and follow the signs. In less than 2 miles, you’ll be at the entrance, where there’s plenty of free parking.

Get more information and purchase tickets at garenfest.com.

COURTESY OF THE GEORGIA RENAISSANCE FAIRE

Steve Hoddy hosts the Birds of Prey Show, presented by EarthQuest, at the Georgia Renaissance Faire.

How to Enjoy the Renaissance Faire: tips from mistress threadbare

Plan ahead

• Visit the website, garenfest.com, and check out the map and shows. Look for themed weekends like Maytoberfest, May 6-7, and Highland Fling weekend, May 13-14.

• Try to get to the gate at opening time, if possible, so you can enjoy the fair before the day heats up.

Dress for success

• If you want to dress for the day, costume rental is available.

• Wear sensible shoes, even if you’re in costume.

• Wear a hat and apply sunscreen throughout the day.

• Carry a light bag that can function as a purse and hold a bottle of water.

• Bring an umbrella; they provide shade as well as protection from rain.

Once you’re here

• Pick up a program; it has a map and schedule. Make sure you know where things are, like restroom facilities, seating areas and first aid, as well as show stages. You can get a shop listing at the information booth by the front gate.

• Pace yourself. When you need to rest, find some shade and enjoy people watching.

• Stay fed and hydrated. Make sure you have some protein. (I eat a lot of fruit, cheese and crackers, and I drink lots of water.)

• If cast members try to pull you into a conversation, stop and interact with them; they can be very entertaining.

play ball!

By Joe Earle

One chilly mid-week morning in March, eight men gathered at a ballfield in a Cobb County park. They drove from towns scattered across north Georgia, from as far afield as Blue Ridge and Dallas and Sugar Hill. Most were in their mid-60s to mid-70s.

They met at Clarkdale Park to toss around baseballs, shag a few flies, get in a little batting practice and generally loosen up their bodies after the inactivity of winter. To these men, March meant Spring Training. It was time for the Midweek Men’s Senior Baseball League to open a new season.

“This day has such meaning,” said Frank Jones, the 87-year-old vice-president of the league who jokingly calls himself its resident “zookeeper” who organizes practices and communicates with the about 60 players on the league mailing list. “If you’re here, it means you’ve lived through the winter.”

And the mid-week players aren’t the only seniors returning to ballfields around metro Atlanta this spring. The 65-plus league is one of several leagues organized by age that are part of the Atlanta Area Men’s Senior Baseball League. There also are organized softball leagues for players in their 50s or 65 or older.

Think of these players not so much the Boys of Summer as the Men and Women Who Still Can Play. These ballplayers may be years removed from Little League, traveling teams or high school ball, but they have what it takes to keep on playing decades after most players yield.

“They say when you’re thinking of things to do, think of things you did when you were a kid,” said Tom Bailey, who’s 67 and said he’s played baseball with one senior baseball team or another for 15 years. “I was about 50 or 51 and I got bored and thought, ‘What did I do when I was a kid?’ I played a lot of ball. I loved it.”

He still does. He enjoys the game and the camaraderie he finds with the other players. They mostly know one another from years of playing baseball together. “It’s like a brotherhood,” he said. “It is a brotherhood.”

Second baseman Billy Viger grew up playing baseball in Long Island, N.Y. His father introduced him to the game and to his favorite team, the New York Yankees. Viger still recalls his first Yankees game, at age 6, with wide-eyed wonder. He’s such a fan that he has the

PHOTOS BY PHIL MOSIER

Above, Baseball practice at Clarkdale Park in Austell

Next page, (left to right standing) Joe Maiden, Karl Paul, Frank Jones, Mason Medley, David Levin, Chuck Freedman; (left to right kneeling) Billy Viger, Shanon Kenelley, Bob Burns and Jimmy Dollen

PHOTOS BY JOE EARLE

Yankees’ logo tattooed on his arm.

Viger said he switched to soccer in college, played soccer for years and now helps coach the soccer team at Cartersville High School. At age 67, he’s back playing baseball. “I love this game,” he said. “It was the first sport I was introduced to.”

Dewey Hom, commissioner of the Cherokee Senior Softball Association and who turns 58 this year, said the 23-year-old league, comprised of players older than 50, groups players into teams based on skill level. About 350 players compete on 30 teams, he said.

“Some of these guys, that’s all they live for,” Hom said. “It keeps you going. It keeps you young.”

Doris Warpole started playing softball in high school. Her family moved around and she played all over, in Ohio, Florida and elsewhere. She started playing softball again with the Gwinnett Senior Softball league about two decades ago. She’s been the league’s secretary “going on 17 years,” she said.

She’s 73 now, but hasn’t slowed down. The Gwinnett league schedules games twice a week during a 12-week season and she plays on a women’s tournament team, too. “I just like it,” she said. “I’ve always been competitive in sports, even through high school. You name the sport, I’d try it.”

Warpole, who counts herself one of a handful of women among the 80-or-so players in the league, is far from the oldest on the softball field. Emmett Vollenweider, for instance, is 84. He’s a member of the Senior Softball Hall of Fame. He was at Best Friend Park near Norcross one recent rainy evening to take his place on the field once again. “It’s fun,” he said.

Bob Burns played softball much of his life. He switched to baseball about two decades ago, after Jones, his friend and fellow electrician, convinced him he ought to try playing hardball. “I was 48 before I was officially on a baseball team,” he said.

He has no plans to slow down. “I’m 68 and I can still run and throw and hit,” Burns said during a break from batting practice at Clarkdale Park. “I keep saying every year I’m going to quit, but I figure it’s kept me in pretty good health.”

Jones plans to keep at it, too. Every spring brings back baseball, after all, and ballplayers, even ones who have been playing for decades, hear the call to return to the field. “It’s a wonderful thing,” Jones said that cool March morning. “[People with] different ages and backgrounds out here just for the love of the game.”

If you’d like to take part in baseball or softball for senior players, here are some ways to get in touch with local leagues.

• Atlanta Area Men’s Senior Baseball League: aamsbl.pointstreaksites.com/view/aamsbl

• Gwinnett Senior Softball: atlantaseniorsoftball.com

• Cherokee Senior Softball Association: cssa.teampages.com

Finding a New Joint

WHEN THE HIP HURTS

If you’re over 65 years of age, you’re among the 14 percent of the country’s population who probably did not grow up attending an aerobics class or taking part in routine gym workouts, according to the American College of Sports Medicine.

Hip and knee implants account for more than 85 percent of the joint reconstruction and replacement market, says the American Joint Replacement Registry (AJRR). In fact, more than 7 million Americans have had a knee or hip replacement surgery, states the AJRR website.

About 2.5 million have replaced a hip (or two), notes the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). Long-time Decatur resident Kathy Parker is among them.

“I took a fall on my right hip about 15 years ago,” said Parker. She noticed a lot of pain, but thought everything would heal as it always had. It didn’t.

Parker said the pain continued for years. Finally, there was increased stiffness after lengthy sitting. Her first x-ray after going on Medicare showed the right hip was almost bone-on-bone. She shopped for a surgeon and finally scheduled hip replacement surgery in 2013, about 10 years following that painful fall.

“It’s the best thing I ever did,” remarked Parker.

The only downside is the airport, she added. Parker must remember to report her new hip to TSA agents at airport screenings and submit to a full body scanner. Otherwise, she’s likely set off an alarm!

The most common joint disease, according to Harvard Medical School’s publication is osteoarthritis. It develops as cartilage deteriorates. Cartilage is that soft cushion that keeps joint bones from painfully rubbing against each other.

Before age 70, (between 40 and 70) osteoarthritis is more common in women. According to the experts, both genders struggle equally after age 70. While the hip is a common site for osteoarthritis, the knee can also produce pain, swelling and unwanted tenderness.

PHOTO BY ISADORA PENNINGTON

Mark Duffield, D.O., OrthoAtlanta, specializes in hip, knee and shoulder arthroscopy and sports medicine.

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

as he was one of the first orthopedic surgeons in the U.S. to use 3-D printing for knee replacements.

Levengood said he’s recreating the patient’s normal anatomy with a specialized 3-D procedure.

The implants Levengood uses are actually developed by using a 3-D image of the patient’s knee. The 3-D printers (located in the Boston area) can use a CT-scan to recreate the patient’s own anatomy, which becomes the exact size and shape of the natural knee.

He said that it feels more like a normal knee from day one. Patients are able to get up and start moving faster. With seniors, Levengood worries about their loss of enjoyable activities if they don’t have the corrective surgery.

There are about 4.5 million people who have already replaced at least one knee in the U.S., says the AAOS website. The reasons can vary from early sports injuries to general wear and tear on the joint.

FIXED SHOULDERS

What most people call the shoulder is actually several joints combined with tendons and muscles to allow a wide range of arm motion, according to the AAOS. This includes circular motion, which other joints can’t do.

Shoulder joint pain or discomfort is often noticeable when you reach over your shoulder to scratch your back or throw a baseball. Patients say it can be an elusive kind of pain, such as when you move a certain way, or pain that can interrupt a friendly game of table tennis.

Many rotator cuff (type) symptoms can be treated non-surgically, according to the experts. Dr. Mark Duffield, OrthoAtlanta, agrees.

He has provided orthopedic care to patients in Cobb, Douglas and Paulding counties since 1995, as a doctor of orthopedic medicine.

In addition to his practice, Duffield makes the time to serve as a team physician to area high schools. And somehow finds even more hours to educate seniors on the importance of good bone health.

Duffield said, “Up to 80 percent of patients with rotator cuff injury can be treated with a conservative treatment plan.”

The AAOS suggests rotator cuff surgery can involve the minimally-invasive procedure known as arthroscopy or traditional “open” procedures.

“For involved reconstructive surgery or replacement, an open procedure is required,” said Duffield. For those who don’t respond well in 4 to 6 weeks, Duffield said, “We will often suggest an MRI scan to evaluate the problem.”

While speaking to a group of Cobb County seniors earlier this year, Duffield said, “For shoulders, think about auto alignment. If your car is out of alignment, it’s unstable. The same can be said of shoulders.”

“There’s a need for soft tissue balancing in the shoulder,” said Duffield. “When there isn’t balance, that’s when we start to see the beginning of rotator cuff symptoms.”

Injuries and falls are a common cause of shoulder problems. Duffield discussed the importance of preventive care with his audience.

“Keep joints healthy, so you don’t need surgery,” said Duffield. “Your cartilage is about 90 percent water… and drinking water is important.”

After 12 years of providing superior healthcare to Members of our residential community, Park Springs Health Services opens to the general public this Summer. Our state-of-the-art health center features the HOUSEHOLD MODEL, a new family-inspired approach to senior health.

The Household Model looks like home and feels like family with compassionate caregivers and personalized attention that reflects Member’s interests and preferences while fostering engagement and independence.

The New Health Center Opens Summer 2017

COURTESY OF TGA COMMUNICATIONS, LLC

Dr. Gary Levengood, Sports Medicine South

Grey Baby came to the Atlanta Humane Society in early December 2016. She’s a very sweet girl who just wants to be loved. Her beautiful blue and cream coloring and large green eyes make her just as beautiful on the outside as she is on the inside. Grey Baby is an extremely playful girl who gives soft love bites. She’d benefit from having an owner who can keep her active with kitty toys.

If you think she’d be a good fit for your family, you can visit her at our Howell Mill Cat Room located at 981 Howell Mill Road in Atlanta. You can also see the hundreds of other adorable pets up for adoption at the Atlanta Humane Society at atlantahumane.org/adopt.

are about the whole family and the whole

Of course, we can help you with your daily needs. But did you know you will also have options for fitness, socializing, healthy fine dining, and more? And services are tailored to you, so you’ll get just the right amount of help you need, when you request it. But the best part? No matter if you need a little help or a lot, the difference you’ll feel will be amazing. Please call The Piedmont at Buckhead to schedule your complimentary lunch and tour.

Places to Go to Stay Connected

Gene Rubel created the Digital Device Doctor to help people navigate the multitude of devices and products by providing easy instruction on usage, device and product recommendations and troubleshooting—eliminating the need to ask their children or grandchildren for help!

This is a quote from the Dr. Seuss book “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!”, which has been gifted to children and recent graduates alike to communicate the message that lifelong learning is the key to unlocking endless possibilities. The same also applies to older adults and keeping current with technology.

Many of today’s textbooks are now obsolete even before they’re published. The world is constantly changing, but technology allows us access to the most up-to-date information. Other benefits to learning how to use technology include:

► automating important reminders for appointments and medications through apps,

► facilitating access to information such as news, driving directions and store hours,

► increasing enjoyment through audio books, games and other apps, and

► decreasing isolation by contacting loved ones via facetime or skype.

Younger, tech savvy generations have a shorter learning curve afforded to them by virtue of being raised in a digital environment. However, many resources are available that are tailored to help older adults enter the realm of technology easily and at their own pace.

BlueHair Technology Group, bluehairtech.org, offers a full range of courses dealing with computers and smart devices. Many universities and colleges have adult education programs that include technology classes, and retail stores, like BestBuy and Apple, may offer training on devices purchased from them.

Once you’ve mastered the basics, keep current with industry trends.

► All technology companies have websites where you can sign up for newsletters.

► 9to5google.com offers breaking news on all things Google and Android.

► The New York Times runs a good column on new technology developments on Thursdays, as well as one on Saturdays called “Bits: Farhad’s and Mike’s Week in Tech”.

You can also subscribe to specialty newsletters with email updates through websites.

► Androidcentral.com provides developments relating to Android phones.

► Cnet.com has product reviews and advice.

► Groovypost.com offers daily updates only on Windows 10.

► Guidingtech.com offers a wide range of information.

► Iphonelife.com is the place to keep up with Apple technology.

► Makeuseof.com offers an array of advice on all aspects of technology.

► Techlicious.com is mostly focused on smart devices.

You’re always welcome to like and follow the Digital Device Doctor’s facebook page, facebook.com/digitaldevicedoctor, or website, digitaldevicedr.com, for frequent postings of new developments compiled from many sources.

The more that you read, the more things you will know.

The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.

Dr. Seuss

►Out & about

Music & Performing Arts

With a Song in My Heart

Friday, May 12, 8 p.m. Presented by Michael O’Neal chorus with the Tyrone Jackson Jazz Trio Music from the golden age of popular American song. The Golden Age included composers like Irving Berlin, George Gershwin and Cole Porter, and performers like Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland. The Tyrone Jackson Jazz Trio adds its unique and supportive artistry to the evening’s program. Tickets are $22, adults; $17, seniors & students. Roswell United Methodist Church, 814 Mimosa Blvd., Roswell 30075. Info and tickets at www.mosingers.com

Sounds of the Big Bands

Saturday, May 13, 8 p.m. The Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra’s Season Ten finale. Two big bands will perform: Joe Gransden’s Big Band, featuring special guest vocalist Carmen Bradford, and the Georgia State University Jazz Ensemble conducted by Dr. Gordon Vernick. Tickets are $32, adults; $27, seniors 55+; $16. students/children. Johns Creek United Methodist Church, 11180 Medlock Bridge Rd., Johns Creek 30097. For more info, call 678-748-5802 or visit johnscreeksymphony.org.

La Gringa

Runs May 18-June 4. Actors of Georgia and Marietta’s New Theatre in the Square present “La Gringa,” a play by Carmen Rivera about a young woman’s search for her identity. Mari¬a Elena Garcia goes to visit her family in Puerto Rico during the Christmas holidays and plans to connect with her homeland. Tickets range $10-$30. Marietta’s New Theatre in the Square, 11 Whitlock Ave., Marietta 30064. Details and tickets at theatreinthesquare.net.

Jim Brickman Pure Piano The Greatest Hits

Friday, May 19, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Award-winning pianist and recording artist Jim Brickman will wow audience members with his hits, including “Valentine,” “If You Believe,” and “Love of My Life”. Tickets are $35.00 and up. Rialto Center for the Arts, 80 Forsyth St., Atlanta 30303. For tickets, call the Rialto Center Box Office, 404-413-9849, or go to rialto.gsu.edu.

A Tribute to Janis Joplin and Sly & the Family Stone: Soul Revolution

Saturday, May 20, 8-10 p.m. This live music event will bring the 1960s back to life. Tickets are $20-$25; $2 of every ticket supports The Strand’s renovation and operation. Earl Smith Strand Theatre, 117 North Park Square, Marietta 30060. Visit earlsmithstrand.org or call the box office at 770-293-0080.

Health

Hearing ScreeninG

Friday, May 12, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Have your hearing checked out and get a free screening from Dr. Bret Greenblatt. First come, first served. Free, no registration required. East Cobb Senior Center, 3332 Sandy Plains Rd., Marietta 30066 Call 770-509-4900 or visit cobbcounty.org for details.

STEP ON IT!

Ongoing through Tuesday, June 13. Senior Services North Fulton hosts Step On It!, an eight-week wellness program to help keep older adults active and independent. Any North Fulton resident age 60+ can participate. Free; each participant gets a pedometer while supplies last. Sandy Springs Senior Center at the Dorothy Benson Multipurpose Complex, 6500 Vernon Woods Dr., Sandy Springs 30328. Get more info at ssnorthfulton.org or call 770-993-1906, ext. 227.

Special Events

Mother’s Day Tea

Thursday, May 11, 12:30- 1:30 p.m. Bring your mother or daughter to elebrate with a spot of tea, a delightful lunch and a bit of sweet indulgence during a spring accessorizing demonstration. Aloha to Aging, 4608 Lower Roswell Rd., Marietta 30068. More at alohatoaging.org.

A Spring Garden of Violets

May 13, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Presented by the African Violet Club of Greater Atlanta. African Violets will be displayed and available for sale, and three basics seminars are scheduled. North Decatur United Methodist Church, 1523 Church St., Decatur 30030. Contact Kathy Spissman, mrsstrepstreps@comcast.net, 770-939-5289.

LIFE CARE CENTER OF AMERICA

Our patient residents enjoy a friendly environment, dedicated staff, comfortable surroundings and individualized care that promotes maximum independence. Our skilled nursing facilities also provide residents with inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation in all three therapy disciplinesoccupational therapy, physical therapy and speech therapy.

Rockin’ at the RiveR

Saturday, May 13, 6:30 p.m. Enjoy an evening of food, music and cocktails.

Honorary Chair

Walter Reeves brings a green theme to this annual gala and celebration. Tickets are $125, VIP tickets are $250. Ben Brady Lakeside Pavilion at the Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Rd., Roswell 30075. Visit chattnaturecenter.org/ratr/ or call 770-992-2055, extensions 226 or 225, for information.

Memorial Day Ceremony

Monday, May 29, 9 a.m. The Memorial Day ceremony honors those who have sacrificed in defense of our nation. Seating starts at 8:30 a.m. Twentieth Century Veterans Memorial, 2800 King St., Smyrna 30080; in the event of rain, the ceremony will be held in the Smyrna Community Center, 200 Village Green Circle, Smyrna 30080. For info and updates, visit facebook.com/SmyrnaVets?fref=ts.

Tours

Into the Wylde: A Tour of Gardens

Saturday, May 6, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. & Sunday, May 7, 12-5 p.m. An exhilarating tour of some of the most beautiful public and private gardens in the greater Decatur and Atlanta areas. Tickets are $20 in advance; $25 on the day of the tour. Oakhurst Garden, 435 Oakview Road, Decatur 30030. Tickets and details at wyldecenter.org/into-the-wylde-atour-of-gardens/.

Gardens for Connoisseurs Tour

Saturday & Sunday, May 13 & 14, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Benefitting the Atlanta Botanical Garden, 10 lush gardens at private homes in Buckhead, Midtown, Brookhaven and Sandy Springs will be on view. Tickets for the self-guided tour are $28 in advance, $35 on days of the tour, and are valid both days. For tickets and details, visit atlantabg.org.

Continued on page 22

Out & about

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 $23,650.00 for one person and $27,000.00 for two persons.

Continued

Marietta Square Supper Tour

Wednesday, May 17, 6:30-9 p.m. Savor 12 appetizing food tastings and 5 flavorful beverages during a guided evening culinary adventure of 5 locally-owned restaurants. Tickets are $75 per person and include food and beverages offered at the tasting. For more info and to purchase tickets, visit mariettafoodtours.com

Festivals

May-retta Daze

Saturday, May 6, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. & Sunday, May 7, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. An annual, two-day arts and crafts festival, May-retta Daze draws artists and craftspeople from across the Southern states. The festival also offers free music and entertainment. Glover Park, 50 N. Park Square, Marietta 30060. For more info, go to mariettacalendar.com.

Brookhaven Community Day

Saturday, May 6, 12-5 p.m. A parade starts at noon from the Lynwood United Church of God in Christ to the Lynwood Community Center. The event is free and includes a cookout, music, games and activities. Lynwood Park Recreation Center, 3360 Osborne Rd., Brookhaven 30319. More at brookhavenga.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/ Event/2162/19?curm=5&cury=2017

Sweet Auburn Springfest

Saturday, May 13, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. & Sunday May 14, 1-8 p.m. The largest free outdoor festival in the Southeast offers a great mix of live music, food and fun for all. The mile-and-a-half avenue is lined with 10 stages and dozens of vendors with art, jewelry and fashion. The neighborhood includes the famed Ebenezer Baptist Church the Auburn Avenue Research Library. Free and open to the public. Sweet Auburn Historical District, 230 John Wesley Dobbs Ave., Atlanta 30303. Find out more at sweetauburn.com.

Dunwoody Art Festival

Saturday, May 13, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. & Sunday, May 14, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The largest art festival in Dunwoody brings more than 60,000 people each year to check out the amazing array of arts and crafts. There’ll also be a food court with food trucks from throughout the area. Onsite parking is free. Dunwoody Village Parkway, Dunwoody 30338. More info at dunwoody.splashfestivals.com.

Atlanta Jazz Festival

Friday, May 26, 6-11 p.m., Saturday & Sunday, May 27 & 28, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. This is one of the country's largest free jazz festivals. Hundreds of acts take the stage each year during a month long celebration of Atlanta jazz before coming to a close on Memorial Day weekend at Piedmont Park. Arts and crafts, as well as food and drinks, are also available. Free and open to the public. Piedmont Park, 400 Park Dr., Atlanta 30309. Go to facebook.com/atlantajazzfestival to learn more.

Decatur Arts Festival

Saturday, May 27, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. & Sunday, May 28, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. The annual Artists Market is known for its high quality of artists from all over the Southeast. Don’t miss the collections from Georgia Goldsmith’s Guild, Callanwolde Fine Arts Center and Atlanta Glass Guild. General

2348 Benson Poole Rd. Smyrna, GA 30082

admission is free. Decatur Square, 125 W. Trinity Pl., Decatur 30030. More at decaturartsfestival.com/festival-events/artists-market-2/.

Alpharetta Arts Street Fest

Saturday-Monday, May 27-29, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Festival goers can stroll through the outdoor gallery featuring more than 95 artists from across the U.S. Downtown Alpharetta, Milton Ave. between Main St. and Roswell-Canton St., Alpharetta 30009. Visit alpha. splashfestivals.com for more info.

Atlanta Food & Wine Festival

Thursday-Sunday, June 1-4. An entire weekend dedicated to Southern cuisine. Exclusive wine and food tastings feature more than 250 restaurants, artisans, chefs and producers. More than 90 classes are offered, including cooking classes at the Loews Atlanta Hotel. Tickets range from $85 to $1,800. Check out the schedule and purchase tickets at atlfoodandwinefestival.com.

Virginia-Highland Summerfest

Saturday, June 3, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. (Artist Market closes 6:30 p.m.) & Sunday, June 4, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Summerfest 5K Road Race starts 8 a.m. on Saturday. Presented by the Virginia-Highland Civic Association, Summerfest celebrates with an Artist Market and a Local Market. There’ll be also be live music and delicious food and drink. Free. Virginia Ave. between North Highland Ave. and Park Dr., Atlanta 30306. Find out more at vahisummerfest.com and facebook.com/vahisummerfest.

Flying Colors Butterfly Festival

Saturday, June 3, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. & Sunday, June 4, 12 p.m.-5 p.m. The air fills with the beating wings of hundreds of butterflies at the Chattahoochee Nature Center (CNC) at this fundraising event. It includes live butterfly releases, crafts, sidewalk art, food trucks and entertainment. Tickets are $12. Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Rd., Roswell 30075. For more info, visit chattnaturecenter.org.

RESOURCES directory

We know that your nest egg is important to you, that’s why you won’t find any hidden costs at Sanford Estates. All utilities except telephone are included in one reasonable monthly rent, and we also take care of the cooking, weekly housekeeping, and local transportation. Please join us for a guided tour of our community and enjoy a delicious complimentary meal.