Atlanta Senior Life - May 2018

Contributors Julie E. Bloemeke, Sarah Brodd, Russell Gloor, Judi Kanne, Donna Williams Lewis, Isadora Pennington, Gene Rubel, Soojin Yang

: Melissa Kidd, Jeff Kremer, Janet Porter, Jim Speakman

You and Your Pet Can Be Stars

The August issue of Atlanta Senior Life will feature older adults (age 50+) and their pets. Send us a digital photo of you and your pet (or pets) and you may see yourself in this special section. Photos should be high-resolution with all persons and pets identified. Send your images by Friday, June 8 to Kathy Dean at kathydean@ atlantaseniorlife.com.

coming In June

For a limited time, Fidelity & Guaranty Life is increasing the initial interest rate for the FG Guarantee-Platinum® 5, a single premium fixed deferred annuity for new contracts issued on or after March 14, 2018 This rate is subject to change at our sole discretion at any time. This initial rate is guaranteed for the first 5 contract years only and is thereafter subject to change. Minimum premium of $20,000 required.

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Karen Lynn with MiMee and Louey

Pharan Evans with Golden

By Joe Earle

When Doug Ellis was trying to decide what he would do in retirement, he thought of flying. He enjoyed playing golf and going fishing, but neither seemed to offer enough of a diversion to fill his days after he moved on from his job as a textile company executive. Flying, on the other hand, “was a great fit for my retirement years,” he said.

He’d taken lessons on how to pilot a small plane when he was in high school and had flown while in college and in the years that followed, he said, but he’d slowed down as he grew older. In his forties, he stopped flying altogether. “I took a sabbatical for about 20 years,” he said.

But he missed it. “I love to fly,” he said.

So, at age 63, he bought a small airplane and once again took to the skies. He recently turned 82 and still takes his plane, which

he’s nicknamed “Cricket,” out regularly for short hops and for longer excursions. He and his wife have crisscrossed the country sightseeing from the air.

“She’s a wonderful navigator,” he said.

“She loves to have a chart in her lap to see where we are.”

Ellis also takes Cricket out several times each month for trips organized by Angel Flight Soars, an Atlantabased nonprofit that provides free air transportation for seriously ill patients who must travel to distant cities for treatment. He’s on the board of the organization, which lists more than 900 volunteer pilots

Up and Away

No age limits for the love of flying

and provides transportation for patients in six southeastern states. He says getting involved with Angel Flights “gave me purpose” in retirement.

Ellis plans to continue flying as long as he can. He won’t be alone up there. Federal Aviation Administration reports show that about 14 percent of the

Doug Ellis holds a map he marks with red lines to record the places and routes he’s flown.

PHOTOS BY JOE EARLE

Pat Epps with his airplane at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport.

609,305 certified pilots in the U.S. are aged 65 or older.

Federal regulations say that air carrier pilots must retire at age 65, but there’s no age limit on flying. As long as a general aviation pilot can pass the mandatory physical examination, he or she can stay in the air, the FAA says.

Ellis keeps Cricket at Fulton County Airport in northwest Atlanta. Long-time pilot Pat Epps keeps his aerobatic Beech hangered at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport in Chamblee, where he owns Epps Aviation, a fixedbased operator at the field.

Epps has been flying since he was in high school. He comes from a flying family; his father, Ben T. Epps, designed and piloted the first airplane to fly in Georgia, only about four years after the Wright Brothers’ initial flight. Pat Epps flew in the U.S. Air Force and is one of five brothers and a sister who earned pilot licenses. Pat Epps, his father, and his oldest brother, Ben T. Epps Jr., all have been inducted into the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame, according to the hall’s website.

Pat Epps just flies for pleasure these days. He said he still tackles acrobatic movements, cutting circles in the sky just as he did when he was younger. “It’s just a skill,” he said.

He says younger pilots joke that he flies “old-man acrobatics… a ballet as opposed to quick or action-packed acrobatics, nothing daredevil about it.”

Flying, he said, provides “some sort of freedom. You feel that you’re not constrained by lanes on the highway. You not constrained by up and down. You see some beautiful sights— moonrise, sunrise, sunsets….”

And he enjoys the challenge, the adventure. “Every flight is different. Maybe you’ve seen it 100 times before, but then the wind changes a little bit [creating] another problem you have to solve. Flying has always been expensive and it’s still expensive, but those of us who are fortunate enough to make a business of it are able to enjoy the fruits of our labor.

“It’s satisfying. I don’t know that I look at it as ‘fun.’ It’s still

a skill. Every flight is another challenge, another test of your skill, to see if you’re still OK.”

George Harrison also sees each flight as offering challenges to overcome. Retired from the U.S. Air Force, where he flew fighters and reached the rank of Major General, he now keeps a small Swift airplane at Falcon Field in Peachtree City, where he lives.

At age 77, he flies two or three times a week, he said. “It’s just a nice rewarding thing to do,” he said. “Every day is different.”

One recent afternoon, Harrison joined a group of men gathered at the hangar and office building operated by the Commemorative Air Force, which is operated by aviation enthusiasts who want to keep World War II-era airplanes flying. The Dixie Wing, the chapter located at Falcon Field, owns seven planes, included a North American P-51 Mustang. At one point in the afternoon, Harrison drove a golf cart to the edge of the airport taxiway for a chance to see and hear up close the P-51s takeoff on a practice flight.

Willard Womack, an 81-yearold retired airline pilot, also was spending that afternoon at the Commemorative Air Force hangar. He has given up flying, he said, but he still enjoys being around airplanes and other men and women who also like being around them. “I just love airplanes,” he said.

“When you’re an airplane nut like me, and I have been since I was 7 or 8 years old, that’s all I ever wanted to do was fly,” Womack said. “It’s a love affair between me and the machine.”

He especially enjoyed touring the country by air. “Even when I was flying for an airline, I liked looking at geography of the U.S. and [seeing] the history,” he said. “I’ve flown over Fort McHenry [in Maryland]. I flew over Yorktown [in Virginia]. If you study history, you can see it from the air as you move around the U.S.”

In his 19th-floor office overlooking Cobb County, Ellis keeps a folding map marked with bright red lines showing flights he’s taken and places he’s been. Penciled lines run

from coast to coast and border to border, showing he’s taken jaunts literally all over the map. “I’ve landed in every state in the Lower 48,” he said.

He’s flown north to Canada and south to the Florida Keys and the British island Turks and Caicos. He’s covered the west. “I just love to fly the cross-country routes,” he said. “It takes me three days to get from Atlanta to Vancouver. I’ve followed the Oregon Trail, guidebook in hand. I’ve flown the Lewis and Clark trip.

“Flying the southwest [U.S.] is just beautiful. My favorite flight of all is leaving San Francisco, going down the Coast Range down to Death Valley and landing in Death Valley and seeing the altimeter go to minus 250 [feet]. That’s a beautiful flight.”

He has no intention of keeping to the ground any time soon. “I plan to fly as long

as I’m healthy,” he said. He’s known of a pilot still flying at age 94, he said, so “I’ve got a long way to go.”

What keeps him heading back into the clouds? “Just the act of flying,” he said. “The freedom of being in the air in your own plane…. I love it. I just love it.”

Don’t Miss It!

DeKalb Peachtree Airport presents its 2018 Good Neighbor Day Open House Airshow on Saturday, May 19, from 12 noon to 5 p.m. There’s no admission fee, and parking is just $10 per vehicle. Check out the performers, attractions and details at pdkairshow.com.

George Harrison visits the shop at the Commemorative Air Force hangar.

Join Us for Food, Friendship

We find joy in delighting everyone who lives under our roof, walks through our doors and sits at our table. The warmth of a smile keeps hearts happy, so we smile a lot! The energy of a shared laugh catches on fast, so we laugh every chance we get. A good meal together brings loved ones closer, so we host frequent dining events.

Please join us for our Jazz Brunch Saturdays. Introduce yourself. Tell us your story. We are listening.

Each event will feature live music and delicious brunch favorites prepared by our chef.

Saturday, April 28 | 12 – 2 p.m.

Saturday, May 19 | 12 – 2 p.m.

Saturday, June 23 | 12 – 2 p.m.

RSVP by calling 678.541.8936 the Thursday before each brunch.

A High-Flying Living Museum

The Commemorative Air Force keeps the past aloft

creekside.providentvillage.com

4838 South Cobb Drive | Smyrna, GA 30080

Assisted Living | Memory Care

By Joe Earle

In the hangar, Andy Cash slowly and carefully fitted a rebuilt engine to the body of a World War II warplane. In a cluttered workshop nearby, Malcolm Lelliott was restoring a simulator used decades ago for training pilots. Outside, on Falcon Field’s runway, the engine of a 74-year-old P-51 Mustang roared loudly to life.

On this quiet late winter afternoon, vintage aircraft enthusiasts had gathered at the Commemorative Air Force’s home building in Peachtree City with things to fix or to fly or to get ready to fly.

“We have fun out here,” retired airline pilot Willard Womack said. “It gets us out of the house. There’s no doubt it keeps us young. It gives us a purpose.”

Their purpose is to keep vintage warplanes flying. Womack, who’s 81, is one of about 300 pilots, mechanics and historic airplane enthusiasts who are members of the Atlanta-based chapter of the Commemorative Air Force. The Atlanta chapter, called the Dixie Wing, operates from a hangar and office building on Falcon Field in Peachtree City.

The national organization, dubbed the Confederate Air Force when it was founded in 1957 and then formally renamed in 2001, started in Texas. Its goal is to

PHOTO BY JOE EARLE CAF’s PO-51 Mustang taking off from Falcon Field.

PHOTO BY JOE EARLE Andy Cash works on an engine.

PHOTO BY JOE EARLE

Malcolm Lelliott works on a flight simulator he is rebuilding for the Commemorative Air Force.

own, restore and preserve in flying condition combat aircraft flown by the U.S. military and selected aircraft from other countries.

On its website, the nonprofit CAF claims about 13,000 members nationally. Womack said the group owns more than 140 aircraft, and that about 100 of them still are flying. The CAF claims it ranks as one of the largest air forces in the world.

The Atlanta chapter, among the larger ones, owns and operates seven airplanes, six of them World War II-vintage planes. The seventh dates to the 1950s. The group’s showpiece is its 1945 North American P-51 Mustang.

Dixie Wing pilots fly the plane around the country, offering 20-minute rides to fans for $1,600. “It’s one of our biggest moneymakers,” said Womack, who has given up flying himself, but stays active with the wing.

Members pay $248 a year for membership. The group’s mechanics tend the planes and the pilots fly them. “These are antiques being worked on by antiques,” joked mechanic Charles Kennedy, who turns 77 this year.

The wing exhibits its planes at air shows around the country. Dixie Wing planes will appear in about 10 air shows this year, Womack said.

Once a year, the group hosts a gathering at Falcon Field called World War II Heritage Days that brings together re-enactors and displays of

Family time WITHOUT PAIN.

vintage vehicles and aircraft.

“This is a living museum, versus a dead museum,” Womack said.

The Dixie Wing also keeps its own small museum of World War II artifacts. The museum, set in a corner of the hangar, includes uniforms, military and civilian pieces, and hundreds of model airplanes. The museum includes a group of wooden toys from the 1940s, so guides can show visiting schoolchildren what they would have had to play with during a time when metal was reserved for military usage.

But the main activity in the Dixie Wing’s building and hangar at Falcon Field remains preserving airplanes and their history. And that means keeping them flying.

“It surprises people,” Womack said. “They look at the airplane and it looks flyable, but they’re surprised it’s still flying.”

For more info, visit: dixiewing.org

commemorativeairforce.org

PHOTOS COURTESY OF COMMEMORATIVE AIR FORCE, DIXIE WING Volunteers don period costumes during World War II Heritage Days celebrations hosted by the Dixie Wing of the Commemorative Air Force at Falcon Field.

Older Americans Month Celebrates Aging

By Julie E. Bloemeke, Joe Earle, Judi Kanne and Donna Williams Lewis

For the past 55 years, Older Americans Month has been observed in May. This year’s theme, Engage at Every Age, celebrates the many ways that older adults contribute to our communities. It also reminds us of the importance of staying active and involved as we get age. We asked several older Atlantans for their thoughts and insights about aging, and here is what they shared with us.

What do you enjoy about being an older adult?

I enjoy the freedom to be myself even more. To not always get dressed up every day. I enjoy “senior discounts.” I enjoy the decades of memories in my beautiful head.

What advice do you have for younger people about aging?

Aging is a gradual process. Tick tock. Make every moment count. If you are doing something good and something to help people and the planet your life will always be rich. Also save some money while you are young. Enjoy your money also. Relish all of your experience. The pleasant and not-so-pleasant make up the whole person. But remember that time passes very quickly. You may be in your twenties today, but look out... here come the 30s, 40s and beyond. Trust your gut and your instincts in every situation. If your Grandma or Grandpa give you advice or ask you to do something, take heed.

What is the most positive or surprising experience you’ve had as an older adult?

The most surprising and pleasant thing about getting older for me is that my thirst for knowledge and experience has become even more insatiable. I feel like I want to absorb everything. Know everyone. Go everywhere. Yummy!

Volunteer and board member of the community group We Are Neighbors Helping Neighbors, member of Community Emergency Response Team for Dekalb County

What are some common misconceptions about aging that you’d like to dispel?

There are many misconceptions: a. older folks do not like to have fun; b. we do not still love and enjoy sex and loving intimate relationships; c. we are no longer useful in the workplace; d. that we are not a force to be reckoned with in the political arena.

Avid traveler

What is the most positive or surprising experience you’ve had as an older adult?

What advice do you have for younger people about aging?

Give up trying to keep score. Many of us have a mental book where we write down and keep score on who has done us wrong. Forgiveness is a powerful way to find peace and feel connected to others who can enrich your life.

One of my grandsons recently said to me, “Grammy, you can really move your body around well for a woman of 68.” I love him even more because he was off by 10 years—I’m 78!

Retired director of the Blonder Family Department for Special Needs at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta.

What do you enjoy about being an older adult?

The freedom to do what I want, when I want, without concern for what other people think.

What advice do you have for younger people about aging?

I could say eat your vegetables and all that, but I’ll just say enjoy every stage of your life.

What is the most positive or surprising experience you’ve had as an older adult?

I’ve been surprised at how courteous people are to me as an older adult. I’m grateful for the courtesy and respect.

Pat Beatty

randa barto

susie davidow

What do you enjoy about being an older adult?

Being an older adult and living in a senior residence, we have the pleasure of choosing what we want to do. Things that we have to do (other than doctor appointments) begin to diminish because we don’t have house problems, and children and grandchildren responsibilities are, for the most part, pleasurable ones. It is the best time of our lives.

What advice do you have for younger people about aging?

Don’t pretend that it isn’t going to happen. Exercise and good health are vital ingredients to a good life. Start planning when you begin work and be diligent in saving and investing. Having a family mandates action. Proper insurance is a necessity. Any plan is better than no plan.

What is the most positive or surprising experience you’ve had as an older adult?

Being lucky to have a wonderful family and having had great life experiences, every day is a blessing. Stay active and engaged and stay away from negative people.

brandt ross

Retired CEO and volunteer teacher

What do you enjoy about being an older adult?

One thing is being retired. That’s top of the list. I don’t have to ask anyone if I can be off to go somewhere. It feels free.

What advice do you have for younger people about aging?

Be anxious for nothing, be patient. That’s one of my favorite Bible verses. Be thankful and prayerful and make your requests known to God.

What is the most positive or surprising experience you’ve had as an older adult?

The wisdom that I’m now able to show, and having people listen to me and respect me.

What advice do you have for younger people about aging? Don’t worry about it. Aging is only the opportunity to gather real data from the experiences of life. Aging is the mechanism to have the time to do the gathering. Today, aging is only a state of mind and if you keep your mind young, then you will maintain the outlook of youth, but from a perspective based on the knowledge you have acquired along the way. It’s fun to have many of the answers to life’s questions from the position of ‘been there and done that.’

What do you enjoy about being an older adult?

The very best part of being an older adult is having grandchildren. Life’s gravy!

What advice do you have for younger people about aging? Make sure you save enough money so that you can enjoy yourself.

What is the most positive or surprising experience you’ve had as an older adult?

I love having a retired husband. Special time together.

barry kanne

President of TGA Communications LLC

Co-founder of Backpack Buddies

samra robbins

Retired retail professional

linda kobrin

stores with on-trend and in-demand fashions and

What do you enjoy about being an older adult?

I love the freedom I now have to choose my own schedule and activities. I have more energy to try new activities and challenge myself. I am much more outspoken now.

What advice do you have for younger people about aging?

Do everything possible to keep yourself healthy. Prepare yourself financially for your ‘golden years.’

What is the most positive or surprising experience you’ve had as an older adult?

Many of my most rewarding experiences have come during personto-person exchanges with the Friendship Force of Greater Atlanta [a travel club]. We share our planet with a lot of fascinating people, and I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to meet many of them and to experience their cultures.

cynthia williams

Retired teacher

What advice do you have for younger people about aging?

My advice to younger people on aging is that you are never too old to have fun!! When I was a child, my siblings, some of the neighborhood kids and I would put on talent shows on our front porch. We had so much fun then! Now, in my golden years, I get to participate in professionally produced stage plays and films that are even more fun!! There is a car commercial on TV that says, “adults are just kids with bigger toys.” Life does not end after retirement! You can still have fun!

What do you enjoy about being an older adult?

Freedom to make each day different, if I want to do so. And have a routine as well. As an older adult, still in very good health and blessed with needed financial resources, I feel free to pursue just about anything I want. I love to exercise my body and my mind, I love to travel, I love to volunteer and advocate, I love to be in touch with friends around the world. Atlanta has so much to offer older adults—a great symphony orchestra, theaters, museums, adult education classes, parks and walking trails, MARTA.

Retired CDC health education specialist and community volunteer

kathy parker

greta glenn

Actor and board member of Atlanta Theatre-to-Go

lee buechele

What advice do you have for younger people about aging?

Beware the Statue of Liberty Fallacy! I’ll explain. I grew up 20 miles from New York City. Folks were always visiting the Statue of Liberty. From some vantage points nearby, I could see it. Every time I had a choice, I decided: ‘Today I’d rather... whatever. I can always visit some other time.’ Fast forward—I’m 69 years old, lived around the U.S., in Europe and Korea, traveled extensively, and never visited Lady Liberty! So the advice is: Take advantage of opportunities when they arise. Don’t assume you’ll get a second or fourteenth chance.

What do you enjoy about being an older adult?

I enjoy my freedom. Everything I do now is because I want to. I don’t feel the pressure to please or impress others as much. I launched a career at age 65 that is keeping me busy and fulfilled. I have control over my schedule, so I can also do fun things, but I feel like the discipline of working keeps me young.

What advice do you have for younger people about aging?

It will happen. You have a lot of control over how it occurs for you, but you will age. Think about what you want to accomplish and stay focused on meeting your goals. Try not to meet other people’s goals. Even if what you want to do is off-the-wall, you are better off doing it than not. Also, life is a lot longer than you realize. You have plenty of time to enjoy lots of different aspects of it.

What is the most positive or surprising experience you’ve had as an older adult?

I always exercised, but much of it was competitive, such as running marathons. Now I find that I enjoy being active for its own sake. I’m surprised at how easy it has been to maintain my health and fitness. I realize that I do a lot with diet and exercise that many people don’t do, such as following a mostly vegan diet, but for me it is totally worth it not to have any health problems.

What are some common misconceptions about aging that you’d like to dispel? That you have to become mentally and physically unhealthy. There will be some decline in your abilities as you age (there are no Olympians in their 70s), but not enough to make you ill. This is another aspect of staying true to yourself, because what you will find when you get older is that you have maintained the abilities that you have put the most focus on. Olympians do end up winning medals in the Senior Olympics. And accomplished writers still publish books in their 80s and artists still paint and sculpt. One woman I know had her family in her 20s, and enjoyed it so much that she adopted three more kids in her late 40s so she could do it again. So another reason to put that focus on what matters to you!

Personal coach, fitness trainer and AEA certified water aerobics instructor

susan longley

Actor, director and board member of Atlanta Theatre-To-Go

The Active(ism) Life of Susan Firestone

By Julie E. Bloemeke

Susan Firestone joined in heartily when members of a newer community group struck up an old spiritual as an icebreaker at a recent meeting. “Ain’t going to study war no more,” she and the others sang.

She’s a member of the steering committee and the record keeper for the group, called Creating Community 4 Decatur. Recent focuses have included Black Lives Matter, school safety and finding an end to gun violence, issues important to Firestone, who believes it is crucial to “find some way to give back” to the community and who has dedicated her life to helping her neighbors.

Through the years, the 68-year-old has found many ways to give back.

She served in the Peace Corps in the 1970s, taught English in

Thailand and at ELS Language Centers in Atlanta, lectured at Georgia State University, and now in retirement works with refugees and other immigrants in metro Atlanta. She recently translated hymns for refugees from the east African nation of Burundi who were struggling with a different style of worship after they were relocated to the United States.

And she’s still active in her DeKalb County community through organizations such as Creating Community; Policing Education and Active Civic Engagement (PE+ACE), which seeks to improve communications between the community and local police; and through working with immigrant families. She is the founding Secretary of the organization.

“We need to balance energy as we age,” she said. “We all have health issues, but don’t dwell on

that. Think about what you can do versus what you can’t do.”

Recently, she has volunteered to help a family from Burundi navigate disability claims, medical bills and legal documents.

Firestone acts as a facilitator during appointments involving legal counsel, Social Security and medical officials and helps to fill out paperwork. For the last three years she has volunteered two days a week to ensure the family also has been able to receive disability and medical services. “I have always loved learning about other cultures and ethnic language groups,” she said.

She’s involved in her community in other ways, too. For 35 years, Firestone and her friend

Karen Morris, a fellow member of Quakers for Racial Equality,

JULIE E. BLOEMEKE

Susan Firestone has dedicated her life to advocacy and personal accountability.

have been participating in weekly phone calls to improve their awareness of themselves. “We share our lives. We are supportive of each other’s work,” Morris said. “I enjoy her friendship.”

However, the phone calls have an additional mission. “We were conditioned [by our upbringing] to not to talk about race,” said Morris. “In our work with [the book] “Waking Up White,” we learn that things that seem natural and normal, we have to unlearn.”

The phone calls, she said, are a way to “hold ourselves accountable for our own racist thoughts and actions. We talk about how we heard something

and didn’t speak up, or how we can keep going forward in lifting up Black Lives Matter and AfricanAmerican voices,” said Morris.

Firestone said the point of the continuing conversation is for participants to improve themselves.

“The emphasis is not on guilt, but about on how we move forward,” she said. “[It is] teaching people awareness. [We need to] get out of defensive or the guilt mode and [examine] what is happening in society. How can I look at places I’m involved in and how can I look at what is happening on a systemic level, raise awareness and do more about that?”

So, whom does Firestone herself admire? Without missing a beat, she launches into a joyful description of her African dance instructor, Najiyyah Nashid, who teaches Afridancercise at the Decatur Recreation Center. “Ms. Nashid inspires me,” Firestone said. “She says, ‘You always want to be a student.’”

Plus, she said, “she is one of the most generous, giving people

I know. She makes everyone feel welcome in that class.”

Firestone also draws inspiration from Frances Pauley, a civil rights activist who, like herself, was born in Ohio and moved to Georgia. Pauley remained active into her 90s, Firestone said, and once gave her a piece of advice she still tries to follow: “Look for someone you can help and focus on them.”

Find out more about the mission of Policing Education and Active Civic Engagement (PE +ACE) at policecommunitysafety.org. Volunteers are encouraged to get involved.

Afridancercise Is for Everyone

By Julie E. Bloemeke

Susan Firestone performed contra dancing from 1980 until 2015, and she studied modern dance in college. While she was drawn to trying African Dance, she says she was “a bit too scared” to give it a whirl.

After meeting Najiyyah Nashid, her worries vanished. “She was so welcoming, the group was so welcoming, and she adapts to whatever abilities the students have,” Firestone said.

There’s a strong sense of community among the dancers, who range in age from 50 to 78. They’re known for helping each other when sick, and for modifying dance routines to include people with mobility issues or physical ailments.

Firestone says she also admires

the costume making that happens before performances. The dancers often pick the fabric together, and some members even sew their own costumes. Most of the fabrics either come from or reflect the heritage of West Africa or the Ivory Coast.

For more information on Afridancercise, visit decaturga.com, click on City Government and scroll to City Department, then click on Active Living, and finally Active Adults & Seniors. Info is also available by contacting Sara Holmes, Adult Programs Supervisor, at sara. holmes@decaturga.com or 678-553-6559.

COURTESY OF SUSAN FIRESTONE

2014 Kwanza dance performance, in back, left to right, Ginger Jackson, Sharon Hutchinson, Najiyyah Nashid, Susan Firestone and Muhjah Hasson. Seated, left to right, Sherri Carr and Kody Allen.

COURTESY OF SUSAN FIRESTONE

Left to right, Sharon Hutchinson, Muhjah Hassan and Susan Firestone perform a Kwanza dance in 2016 with Afridancercise.

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WHO IS JenCare?

At JenCare Senior Medical Center, we believe that every senior deserves the highest quality healthcare. We listen carefully to your needs and make ourselves available to you 24 hours a day.

I am pleased to announce that I am now accepting new patients. And as your doctor, I want to see you every month, whether you need care or feel great. That way we can improve your health and prevent issues from turning into something more serious.

You'll also enjoy other JenCare services, such as:

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Beyond the Studio

Legendary artist Lonnie Holley talks art and life

By Isadora Pennington

Lonnie Holley paced back and forth in his Atlanta workshop, part of a one-time metal foundry used for working on trains. “To me, art is an offering,” he said. Something caught Holley’s eye—a small scrap of stained white rope and ripped red fabric laying nearby on the floor.

Crow era, he has faced plenty of struggles and strife. His initial foray into art came on the eve of one such tragedy. He crafted metal castings to produce tombstones for his sister’s two children who died in a house fire, and he hasn’t stopped creating since.

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Inspired, Holley pointed out that the colors are patriotic and said that with a blue straw, he could turn it into a flag. In his hands, the scrap is transformed. He sees everything as material with potential.

“Once we have realized what our capabilities are, it’s like we come to attention within ourselves, and we realize how great our offerings are to the values of brainsmithing,” Holley said. “Brain-smithing,” he explained, is when one “works the brain” at any idea.

Holley is originally from Alabama, one of 27 still-living siblings. Growing up in a large, impoverished family in the Jim

“Somehow or another we’ve got to take the bad things of life, or that which has been thrown away, and reconsider it and give it new value,” Holley said.

When he sees something that has been discarded, the wheels start spinning and he immediately sees artistic uses for the item. His folk art sculptures come together organically, with the design being born of both his vision and the available materials.

Many of Holley’s more well-known works feature faces in profile shaped from wire. His work can be seen in galleries and museums from Massachusetts to New Orleans, with several of his pieces on display as part of the permanent folk art collection

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE HIGH MUSEUM OF ART “Finally Getting Wings for the Forty-First Floor” by Lonnie Holley.

PHOTOS BY ISADORA PENNINGTON

At his workshop, Lonnie Holley transforms discarded and found items into works of art.

of the High Museum of Art in Atlanta. He has also been featured in books, movies and is widely regarded as one of the South’s pre-eminent folk artists still creating work today.

Holley explained how working diligently towards one’s purpose, in his case creating sculptural offerings out of found objects, is the utmost goal, and he quoted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s spoken address to high school students in Philadelphia: “Be a bush if you can’t be a tree. If you can’t be a highway, just be a trail. If you can’t be a sun, be a star. For it isn’t by size that you win or fail. Be the best of whatever you are.”

His workspace is a massive one, with sculptures hanging from the rafters and protruding from boarded-up windows. In one window frame sits a sculpture made of a tangle of items. Holley outlined the concept behind it. Not a single thing was out of place, each scrap was incorporated with intent and consideration of the piece as a whole.

He explained that the tennis shoes, the musical instrument, the wine bottle, barbed wire, mechanical bits and all the wires, cords and string in the window were recovered after a series of storms. The piece—and the slave ship sculpture made of wire, string and a metal fence that sits in front of it—represent both physical and metaphorical storms and how we as humans weather them.

An upper level is reachable only by a ladder. A piano, a newspaper box, lawn figures, bowling pin and mannequins flank the open central space. Each item has a significance for Holley—if it hasn’t been used for an art piece yet, it will be.

“I find things that other people have thrown away,” he

said, gesturing at the stacks of antiques and broken or discarded items scattered throughout the room. “But where is ‘away’? We say we ‘throw away’ something, but where is ‘away’?”

He laments the way that people deal with refuse, in particular by burying it in landfills and out at sea. Ultimately even our own bodies end up being wasted, in his eyes, through the process of embalming and entombed in a box, a concept which doesn’t sit right with Holley.

“What am I afraid of? One day all of this stuff is going to come crashing out,” he said. “We don’t see it because the water washes it away from the shoreline, and we don’t see it anymore. But that island of plastic and trash and materials floating on the ocean’s edge is because of that wash away.” Holley paused, looked around his space and remarked, “Everything in here could be washed away.”

At the open-air loading dock outside of his workshop, Holley gathered discarded items from a pile. He lined up the tangle of wire, metal and cement and, describing their merits, he began to build.

“It’s all about balance, you see,” Holley said as he bent wire with his calloused hands and assembled the pieces. For this sculpture he needed a strong base, so he found a bit of cement with protruding metal rods. He was only getting started, and it would be another day until the work of art was finished.

Your Life. Your Plan.

Experience the Lenbrook Difference.

Everything about this life plan community is designed to offer new experiences and a new perspective on life. Lenbrook is a vibrant and beautiful community with amenities galore. There are so many options every day—exercise classes, excursions, a meal with friends, or just relaxing.

Lenbrook also offers a full range of excellent health care, if the need arises. Plus, it is the only not-for-profit senior living community in Atlanta to earn national accreditation.

The slave ship, in foreground, and storm remnant sculpture, in window frame, represent physical and metaphorical storms.

Holley explains his creative process.

A Triad of Health Conditions to Avoid

Are you at risk for metabolic syndrome?

Check the mirror. Are you displaying a bit too much belly fat?

Do you also have an elevated blood sugar? Or perhaps your doctor has recently mentioned your high cholesterol number—or your high triglycerides, a type of fat found in your blood.

That’s bad news for many reasons.

When found in combination, these conditions are called metabolic syndrome and signal a good reason to make some serious lifestyle changes. That’s because metabolic syndrome increases your risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke.

Dr. Mohammed K. Ali, associate professor of global health at the Emory Rollins School of Public Health, is the lead author of a recent paper published in “The Lancet Diabetes & Endochrinology,” which discusses metabolic syndrome along with a prediabetes diagnosis.

“Prediabetes is extremely common and it’s increasing,” say Ali and his fellow researchers in the study.

“What we’ve seen is that having high blood sugar levels is associated with a much higher risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and an increased risk of having a heart attack in the next 10 years.”

The study found that over 11 percent of people with prediabetes have some type of kidney dysfunction, which is an early predictor that in the next 10 to 15 years, they may need to go on dialysis or receive a kidney transplant.

The medical community uses a long-named survey, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which is designed to assess the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States. It’s a unique study in that it combines interviews and physical examinations.

According to the third edition of the NHANES, metabolic syndrome prevalence actually increases with age. Only 7 percent of 20- to 29-year-olds need to fret about metabolic syndrome. By age 60, the syndrome’s prevalence is above 40 percent, as reported by Harvard Health Publishing.

Ali and his fellow researchers analyzed data from 1988 to 2014 from NHANES and looked for both heart and kidney issues associated with prediabetes for their study. It’s possible that one in three Georgians aged 60 and over may have prediabetes blood sugar levels. That’s a lot of people — the U.S. Census reports about 1.5 million men and women over 60 years of age reside in Georgia; one third would mean about 500,000 senior Georgians may be at risk, and could greatly benefit by walking, eating right and quitting their tobacco use.

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

PHOTO COURTESY OF TGA COMMUNICATIONS, LLC.

Too much weight around the middle is one of the conditions that may indicate metabolic syndrome.

According to many reputable health sources, including the Mayo Clinic, many people with metabolic syndrome appear as “apple-shaped,” meaning the majority of their weight is around their middles. It turns out that where a person carries his or her weight is an important health factor.

There are, however, some positive things that can improve a person’s ability to change his or her current course of health.

“Depending on the combination of blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol abnormalities that each patient has, I would advise them on the specific things they need to work on and treat,” Ali said.

He adds that almost everyone can benefit from:

• 30-minutes of moderate physical activity, such as a brisk walk;

• eating four to five servings of raw fruits and raw or cooked vegetables each day;

• reducing the processed and sugary foods, such as ice cream and sugar-sweetened beverages;

• replacing fried foods with grilled foods;

• and avoiding hidden sources of salt and sugar, such as those found in deli-type sandwich meats or flavored yogurts.

“Adding olive oils and a handful of raw (unsalted) walnuts or almonds to one’s diet is also helpful for brain and heart health,” Ali said. It’s also important for anyone at risk to work closely with their physician and other healthcare providers to seek regular medical care. A once-a-year checkup may not be enough for someone who has been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, as it’s a lifelong condition, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

Ali said that the most important message he could share is: “Eat what’s healthy to help keep your mind and body active for a long and healthy life.”

what to watch For

The American Heart Association reports that the criteria to identify or diagnose metabolic syndrome requires the presence of three or more of the following risk factors.

■ Abdominal obesity: waist circumference

► More than 40 inches for men

► More than 35 inches for women

■ Fasting blood triglyceride levels of 150 mg/dL (milligrams/ deciliter) or more, or taking medicine for high triglycerides

■ Low HDL cholesterol levels or taking medicine for low HDL cholesterol

► Less than 40 mg/dL for men

► Less than 50 mg/dL for women

■ Elevated blood pressure of 130/80 mm Hg or higher or taking medicine for high blood pressure

■ Fasting glucose (blood sugar) of 100 mg/dL or more or taking medicine for high blood glucose

Where to Get Fit

There are many programs in the area to help you get and stay fit. A popular choice for many older adults is SilverSneakers, a free fitness program for boomers and beyond that includes access to workout equipment at local gyms, as well as fitness classes — such as yoga and dance — at area park and recreation centers. Learn more at silversneakers. com. Click the “Locations” link for a list of gyms, churches and community centers that offer SilverSneakers programs in your neighborhood.

Senior centers and YMCAs have a variety of sports and fitness classes and events for all ages. You’ll find group walks, pickleball tournaments, aquatics classes and much more. Visit AtlantaSeniorLife.com and click on Resources for details on senior centers and YMCAs in the north metro Atlanta area.

Our Oasis Neighborhoods are the ideal solution for seniors who value their independence, yet need some assistance with daily living. You’ll enjoy a greater sense of security and community, while we provide the services you need in a comfortable place to call home.

For families caring for loved ones struggling with memory loss, we offer Moments® Memory Care. Our cozy environment is designed exclusively to accommodate the unique needs of seniors with Alzheimer’s, dementia and other memory impairments. Call

Smart Speakers & Home Devices

The Smart Speaker & Home Assistant market is changing rapidly with new models being introduced all the time. Here’s a summary, as of April 2018.

Google Home

Google Home—the original model, it retails for $129. There’s a base which comes in six colors and must be purchased separately.

Google Home Mini—comes in either chocolate or coral and lists for $49.

Amazon Echo

Original Echo—list price of $99 is heavily discounted, currently available at $84.99. It comes in six fabrics and finishes and is available directly from Amazon, as well as retail outlets.

Echo Plus—listed at $149.99. It was just introduced and is designed to be the hub for the smart home.

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!

“Alexa, what’s the weather?” “Hey Google, play ‘Hamilton’ all over house.” “Alexa, raise the temperature 2 degrees.” “Hey Google, show ‘The Crown’ on TV.” “Alexa, turn up the lights in the den and unlock the front door.”

Who would have thought when Amazon introduced the first Echo in 2014 that 20 percent of all American Wi-Fi equipped homes would have either the Amazon Echo or Google Home devices installed by 2018? These devices are much more than music players, and a new category of devices has been created with Amazon in the lead, Google catching up and Apple way in the rear.

The devices are connected to your WiFi network and are voice activated. While several of the new Amazon Echo models have screens, they do not have keyboards. They can be managed with Apple IOS and Android apps. They listen quietly in the background, waiting for you to call out their name—”Alexa” in the case of Amazon, and “Hey Google” in the case of Google. There are some privacy concerns with these devices, but that hasn’t stopped millions of consumers buying them.

The Amazon and Google devices allow you to play music, make phone calls and connect to other devices. Amazon has integrated its technology into its TV offerings and Google integrates nicely into its Chromecast technology, which gives you access to many streaming services, including Netflix, YouTube and Hulu.

The Amazon Echo family has a feature recently implemented which may be of great interest to families with older adults living independently. It’s possible to configure multiple Echo devices as an intercom within a home and, more importantly, to connect other users outside the home who have a compatible Echo device. Once the connection is made, you simply say “Alexa, drop in on Mom.” Mom’s Alexa turns on and you can chat across town or across the world. It works very well. In my home, it has even replaced shouting: “Dinner’s ready!” We have three Echo models in our home and two Google Homes as well. There is no compatibility between the different brands, by the way. Amazon, having just withdrawn its entry of a smartphone due to poor sales, was roundly criticized for introducing a device in 2014 that wasn’t really needed or wanted. The conventional wisdom was that Apple always is the leader with device innovation, starting with the iPod and going on to the iPhone, the iPad and the Apple watch. Not anymore! Amazon has the lead and is hard pressed to meet customer demands with about 32 million units projected for sale in 2018.

Google Home MAX—includes better speaker components, comes in chalk and charcoal and lists for $399. It’s meant to provide similar speaker quality as the Apple HomePod.

Apple

Apple HomePod—a powerful speaker system that sounds amazing. It comes in space grey or white and sells for $349, directly from Apple.

Echo Dot—a smaller version of the original Echo with fewer speaker components. It lists for $49.99 but is currently available at $39.99.

Echo Show—has a small video screen that can display both text and graphics. It retails for $229.99. Video calls can be made using the screen.

Echo Spot—recently introduced, it looks like an alarm clock. It retails for $129.99, and because it has a small display, it can also be used for video calls.

Amazon Echo had the market to itself until the fall of 2017, when Google introduced Google Home. Both companies invested heavily in artificial intelligence technologies and are promoting these devices vigorously.

Amazon provides links to dozens of “skills” that enable the user to perform countless tasks. Google has been promoting its ability to connect with any device that uses Chromecast.

At this point, Amazon is in the lead with an entire family of models, but Google is coming on strong. Google plans to integrate its Home model with Google mesh Wi-Fi, which will provide seamless coverage throughout the home and may give them a competitive advantage.

Apple finally introduced its HomePod competitor in the last few months, and the reviews have been underwhelming. While it includes better speakers, it doesn’t have the support of outside vendors and is much more expensive than the competition.

PHOTO BY FABIAN HURNAUS FROM PEXELS

Amazon Echo smart speaker, with Alexa.

PHOTO BY BENCE BOROS ON UNSPLASH Google Home Mini smart speaker.

Atlanta Hearing Associates

Plan Ahead for Pumpkins

I know spring is here and it’s almost time to start thinking about summer. However, for harvesting purposes, you need to start thinking about autumn. Especially if you’d like some pumpkins to make your fall festive.

Pumpkins need to be planted in May or June so that they’ll be ready in time for the fall. They grow all summer and are ready to be picked for jack-o’-lanterns and pumpkin pie in late September and October.

They’re relatively easy to grow from seed. You need a large space and good sunshine. There are so many pumpkin varieties to grow that the hardest part is deciding which ones to plant.

When you finally decide which pumpkins to grow, sow the seeds directly into the soil. You can plant the seeds in clay soil that has had some topsoil or compost added to it, but make sure to mix the compost or topsoil in well with the clay.

Follow the directions on the seed package for the correct spacing and depth when you plant the seeds. Once they start to sprout, be sure to keep the seeds watered; fertilize them with a garden fertilizer every 4 to 6 weeks.

You’ll want to get the pumpkins off the ground once they start to appear. Place cardboard or a large rock underneath each. This helps with airflow and keeps insects from boring into them.

When the stems turn brown, you can cut them off the vine and enjoy. Growing pumpkins is easy as pie—pumpkin pie, that is.

PHOTO BY MARIUS CIOCIRLAN ON UNSPLASH

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.

Pet Pick

Meet Imelda! This gal has it all—beauty and brains. Imelda is still learning how to walk on a leash, but with some guidance and patience she will no doubt be a great walking companion.

She loves to show everyone how great she is at sitting for treats, and she enjoys nothing more than rolling over for a good belly rub. This 1-year-old cutie has heartworm disease, but the Atlanta Humane Society will pay for her treatment at no cost to her adopter.

Meet this gentle, loving and loyal girl at the Atlanta Humane Society Mansell Campus, located at 1565 Mansell Road, Alpharetta, 30009. Find more loveable, adoptable pets and learn about becoming a volunteer by calling 404-875-5331 or visiting atlantahumane.org.

To be sure, we’re proud of our 30 years of experience in senior living. But, to us, what really matters is your experience at our communities. We do everything with that idea clearly in mind.

So, go ahead, enjoy yourself with great social opportunities and amenities. Savor fine dining every day. And feel assured that assisted living services are always available if needed. We invite you to experience The Piedmont for yourself at a complimentary lunch and tour. Please call 404.369.7523 to schedule.

Tasty Tacos

◄ TAQUERIA DEL SOL

359 Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur 30030, 404-377-7668 5001 Peachtree Blvd., Chamblee 30341, 470-321-3232 taqueriadelsol.com

Memphis: chopped smoked pork with a spicy jalapeno cole slaw and tequila BBQ sauce—$2.69

Carnita: twice cooked tender pork with salsa frita, cilantro and onions—$2.99

Brisket: shredded beef brisket with pico de gallo—$2.79

By Isadora Pennington

In 2016, Americans ate over 4.5 billion tacos, and those numbers continue to rise. The simplicity, the tastiness and the variety of modifications can please even the pickiest of palates. While native cultures in both North and South America relied upon corn for a number of uses spanning the past millennia, it is commonly accepted that the tacos we know today can be traced most directly to an evolution of Mexican street food. The dish remains a staple of what we consider Mexican cuisine. In the Atlanta metro area, there are plenty of places to get a delicious taco.

LA CARRETA

1252 Roswell Rd., Marietta 30062, 770-579-2963

lacarreta.co

Pastor: pork seasoned with adobo sauce and pineapple in a handmade tortilla with cilantro, onions and avocado sauce—$2.25

PHOTOS BY ISADORA PENNINGTON

◄ THE ORIGINAL EL TACO

1186 North Highland Ave., Atlanta 30306 404-873-4656 eltaco-atlanta.com

Fried Chicken: grilled corn, chili mayo, cojita cheese, cilantro—$4

Smoked Chicken: guacamole, crema, fried jalapenos, cilantro—$4 Chorizo: potato, poblanos, arbol sauce—$4

FUZZY’S TACO SHOP

5325 Windward Pkwy., Alpharetta 30004, 678-916-7674 fuzzystacoshop.com

Grilled Veggie: shredded zucchini, carrots, squash and black beans on a soft corn tortilla, topped with lettuce, tomatoes, cilantro, shredded cheese, feta and garlic sauce—$2.49

California Heat (Tempura): tempura shrimp, bacon, avocado, shredded cheese, feta, pico de gallo and sriracha-lime sauce on a soft corn tortilla—$2.99

MUCHACHO ▲

904 Memorial Dr., Atlanta 30316, 404-748-9254, muchachoatl.com

Rajas vegetarian—$3.50, Al Pastor—$4, Breakfast—$2.50

SUPERICA ►

99 Krog St., Atlanta 30307, 678-791-1310 superica.com/ krog-street

Chicken Tinga: shredded lettuce, tomato, and cheese, morita chili braised chicken—$14

Picadillo: shredded lettuce, tomato, and cheese, spiced ground beef—$14

MAKING

By Judi Kanne

Robyn Bernstein is excited by what she’s seen working with the program where pets help people heal.

“The patients just light up,” the retired educator said.

Through the Happy Tails Pet Therapy program, Bernstein and her pet dog Lylah regularly visit the high-risk pregnancy unit at Northside Hospital Atlanta. Many of the women on this unit have been assigned to complete bed rest and their days can be unusually long. Volunteers like Bernstein share the love of their personal pets with Northside patients.

Since 1991, volunteers with the Roswell-based Happy Tails organization have been bringing physical and emotional comfort to people in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, rehabilitation centers and other facilities. While there are similar programs across the U.S., Happy Tails is one of the few that serves the Atlanta area.

Hospital’s High Risk Perinatal manager. “They look forward to a little bit of a home-like feeling each week, when the dogs visit.”

With wagging tails, the dogs take patients “away from a hospital environment, even if it’s just temporarily,” said Robinson.

And the pets make a difference medically, too. Studies going back 35 to 40 years support the health benefits pets provide people, according to Harvard Medical School.

Bernstein said Northside nurses have noticed that fetal heart monitors, which measure fetal heart rates, show heart rates slow down when a dog comes to visit. That’s a good thing. It shows the fetus is relaxing.

Northside Hospital’s highrisk, perinatal supervisor Gail Janatik, says that the Happy Tails program has been a blessing. “It’s a welcome break in the daily routine for everyone,” she said.

“We can walk the hallways with the teens and the dogs.”

Here again, Bernstein says that the visit is a distraction from what can be very long days for emotionally distressed or traumatized patients.

“At Peachford, the teens run to greet the dogs,” she said.

Dave Hobe, 74, is a regular at Northside’s high-risk pregnancy area, too. After retiring four years ago, Hobe brings joy to a special group of patients with the help of his bearded collie, Fergus.

“Some of the women on this unit have been on bed rest for weeks,” says Hobe. “They are particularly excited to get a visit from a therapy dog,” he said. “You can just feel the stress leave the room as they rub the dog’s belly or stroke the dog’s head.” It’s a happy moment for Fergus and Hobe, too.

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF TGA COMMUNICATIONS, LLC. Robyn Bernstein and Lylah are regular visitors at Northside Hospital Atlanta.

“Many patients are separated from their pets for extended periods during their hospital stay,” said Lana Robinson, Northside

Are You Experiencing Memory Issues?

African Americans have TWICE the risk of developing Dementia compared to other population subgroups. Investigators at Emory University are inviting individuals to participate in a six month lifestyle program to help with memory issues.

You may be eligible if you are African American, over 50 years old, and having memory complaints.

If you qualify after additional testing:

• You will be offered a FREE six month program (avg. 1 hr/wk) • Potentially improve lifestyle and other chronic conditions • Study involves NO drugs or devices • Compensation for time and travel will be provided

Bernstein and Lylah are also regular visitors at Peachford Hospital in Dunwoody, through a similar Happy Tails program. At Peachford, patients often are healing from emotional, psychiatric or addictive diseases.

“Our stay at Peachford is centered around a special adolescent unit,” Bernstein said.

“My daughter initially told me about Happy Tails and the great joy therapy dogs can bring,” Hobe said. “I was eager to join once I retired and it’s been one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done.”

Hobe says that during the past four years, he’s been fortunate to share two dogs —Colby and Fergus, both bearded collies. Their visits have reached hundreds of hospital patients, nursing home

celebrating 30 years in We call it home.

heart of Buckhead.

residents and school students.

“It’s amazing how intuitively therapy dogs react to individuals,” Hobe added. “Dogs seem to know who needs a friendly lick or a wagging tail.”

In 2016, the Spiritual Health & Education Department at Northside Hospital Atlanta welcomed Ranger as a staff member, along with his owner, Dave Frew. Ranger’s background includes being a comfort ‘crisis response’ dog for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), providing relief to people dealing with disasters.

The English setter is a regular with the Northside medical personnel. Staff members say that Ranger is willing to sit quietly, and they believe that the dog has a special emotional and spiritual healing capacity.

“We know that happiness impacts medical outcomes, so there is an actual physical component to this,” said Rev. Amani Legagneur, manager of spiritual health and education.

Healing happens when we interact with sources of love, “and Ranger is a big source of love,” Legagneur said.

Happy Tails pets are available for more than just hospital visits. Both Bernstein’s and Hobe’s dogs participate in a reading program that takes place at libraries and schools.

Hobe takes Fergus to the East Roswell Library each month, while Bernstein and Lylah head to special needs classes at Sope Creek Elementary in East Cobb.

Is Your Pet Ready to Volunteer?

Based on the settings these therapy dogs encounter, there are some requirements that pets must meet before making a hospital, library or school visit.

Learn more at:

Happy Tails happytailspets.org

FEMA Comfort Dogs

fema.gov/blog/201603-22/beginners-guidecomfort-dogs (or Google “FEMA Comfort Dogs”)

“Fergus—and Lylah—cannot be judgmental,” said Hobe.

“Dogs don’t mind if the young

readers make a mistake or mispronounce a word.”

Having a friendly dog listen

to them read out loud gives the children confidence with their reading skills, he says.

f r e e b o o k s

PHOTO COURTESY OF TGA COMMUNICATIONS, LLC.

Dave Hobe and Fergus have made many visits to hospitals and other faciliites.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL ATLANTA. Ranger and owner Dave Frew are part of Northside Hospital’s Spiritual Health & Education Department.

A Legacy of Love

Kitty Jacobs carries on her late husband’s community spirit

By Julie E. Bloemeke

In 1991, Kitty Jacobs unexpectedly lost her husband of nearly 40 years. Harris Jacobs had been a lawyer, past president of the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA), and an influential member of the Atlanta Jewish community. Kitty Jacobs immediately knew that she wanted to honor his memory through events that carried on in his name.

“He was so beloved,” the 86-year old said of her late husband. “He was a go-getter and he cared about everyone and everything. He was so caring and so giving.” And, with a twinkle in her eye she added, “He was so good looking.”

Putting together the Harris Jacobs Dream Run and the Harris Jacobs Softball League, both in their 25th year, were two of the ways that she coped with her grief.

This year will mark the 25th anniversary of the race, and Jacobs is already wildly enthusiastic about her role.

On Sunday, May 6, runners will gather for the 5-kilometer road race and walk that follows a certified and family-friendly course through Dunwoody neighborhoods.

Jacobs will give a short welcome speech, shoot the starting gun, cheer on runners and visit sponsor tables to offer her gratitude. She also will make the rounds to thank volunteers, many of whom have served since the inception of the race, and who have been “just remarkable” in their dedication and service.

As this is the 25th year for the race, Jacobs also has something special in mind. “My daughter wants us all [the whole family] to participate, so they will probably push me in my wheelchair for about a mile,” Jacobs said.

This year’s proceeds from the race will benefit the MJCCA’s Blonder Family Department for Special Needs, an organization known for specialized programs geared toward fostering independence and community for those with disabilities. It is an organization Jacobs believes in, and she said, “We are so grateful to have the opportunity to help in some way.”

Harris Jacobs Dream Run

• The 5K Road Race and Walk is set for Sunday, May 6, starting at 8 a.m.

• The race begins and ends at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta Zaban Park campus, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody, 30338. The course is also a 2019 Peachtree Road Race qualifier.

• Cost is $30 for adults, $35 on race day.

• For more details, visit atlantajcc.org/HJDR, or contact Pam Morton at 678-812-3981 or pam. morton@atlantajcc.org.

But the race is not Jacobs’ only focus. After a bout of breast cancer at 38, and a reoccurrence later in her hip socket, Jacobs became a long-time volunteer for Reach to Recovery for the American Cancer Society. She was known for lending compassionate support to those who have struggled with a cancer diagnosis.

Jacobs shared the way she got through both illnesses: “You have to have a sense of humor. That’s what’s gotten me through a lot. Attitude played a big part.”

Though these days her support is more of an independent mission, she frequently makes phone calls and occasional visits to cancer patients to offer advice. “[People need to know] cancer is not a death sentence,” she said. “You have to fight it.”

Even though she currently has shoulder trouble and copes with a condition that places pressure on the spinal column and surrounding nerves, she believes strongly in continuing to be of service. I’ve lived through two bouts of cancer, blood clots in both lungs, heart surgery,” Jacobs said. “God spared me so I could help people. I’m convinced.”

Senior Day at MJCCA Feeds Mind, Body and Soul

Older adults aged 60 and up are invited to participate in Senior Day on Monday, May 14, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA). The program is presented by MJCCA in partnership with Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, Jewish Family & Career Services and Jewish Homelife Communities.

“We have an exciting day planned with a wide selection of activities so local seniors can spend a meaningful afternoon learning new skills, exercising their minds and bodies and spending time with friends—old and new,” said Earl Finley, Active Mature Adults Coordinator.

Participants may choose three activities from a list that includes cooking, art, exercise, Israeli Folk Dancing, a sample Lisa F. Brill Institute for Jewish Learning class and more. The registration fee of $5 includes a kosher meat or vegetarian lunch. For details and to register, call Earl Finley at 678-812-4070 or visit online at atlantajcc.org/seniorday.

PHOTOS BY JULIE E. BLOEMEKE

Kitty Jacobs proudly shares the wedding photo of her and Harris, 1952.

A treasured photo of Harris Jacobs.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MJCCA MJCCA Seniors participate in cooking class at its Kuniansky Family Center.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MJCCA Harris Jacobs Dream Run.

►Out & about

Older Americans Month

Spring Fling Celebration

Friday, May 18, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Get involved and learn about Wesley Woods by attending the Spring Fling Celebration. There’ll be a bake sale, jewelry sale and popcorn and ice cream sales. Delicious BBQ plates will be available for $15 each. Advance tickets available at the reception desk. Wesley Woods Towers, 1825 Clifton Road, Atlanta 30329. For more information, visit wesleywoods.org or call Jennie Deese at 404-728-6662.

Senior Summit 2018

Thursday, May 31, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

In celebration of Older Americans Month, Fulton County Senior Services and Somerby Sandy Springs are partnering to present Senior Summit 2018. Visit various health and well-being exhibitors and then attend a Panel discussion of senior care professionals, moderated by Special Guest Moderator Bill Liss, Senior Source Editor of 11 Alive. Lunch and refreshments are provided for a charge. Somerby Room, Somerby Senior Living, 25 Glenlake Pkwy., Sandy Springs 30328. For more info, call 770-695-0230 or visit SomerbySpark.com. RSVP by May 24 to Jodi Firestone at jfirestone@somerbyliving.com.

The Arts

Curious Savage

Runs May 11-18. Friday & Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2:30 p.m. Performed by Main Street Theatre. When Ethel P. Savage’s husband dies and leaves her $10 million, she decides to give the entire fortune away. Her stepchildren commit her to a sanitarium and Mrs. Savage finds her true family there among the kind, loyal residents. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors (55+) and students; $10 for ages 12 and under. Tucker Recreation Center, 4898 Lavista Rd., Tucker 30084. For tickets, show times and more info, visit tuckertheatre.com.

Continued on page 30

The American Dream

Saturday, May 12, 7:30 p.m.

The Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra’s Season Finale is a musical tour of the U.S., featuring baritone Brent Davis, and Roger Wise as narrator. The concert features Broadway favorites, old American songs and jazz, as well as a salute to the heroes who’ve made the American Dream possible. Tickets are $32 for adults; $27 for seniors 55+; $16 for students and children. JCSO collects donated food items for the North Fulton Community Charities Food Pantry as part of the “Orchestras Feeding America” campaign. Johns Creek United Methodist Church, 11180 Medlock Bridge Rd., Johns Creek 30097. For more info, call 678-748-5802 or visit JohnsCreekSymphony.org.

A Page from the Book Festival: How to Grill Everything

Thursday, May 17, 7:30 p.m.

Bestselling author Mark Bittman returns to the Marcus Jewish Community Center (MJCCA) stage for a book signing and talk about his latest cookbook. The book features more than 1,000 recipes and hundreds of variations, along with practical advice about grilling basics. Tickets are $10-$15. MJCCA, 5342 Tilly Mill Rd., Dunwoody 30338. For more info, visit atlantajcc.org or call 678-812-4002.

Fences

Runs May 17-June 3. Thursday-Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2:30 p.m. Legendary playwright August Wilson’s dramatic work about Troy Maxson, a strong, hard black man who has survived the pressures of life in America. In the new spirit of liberation in the 1960s, however, he finds himself angry and afraid; he’s a stranger to the world and to his wife and son, both of whom he understands less and less. Tickets are $25. Marietta’s New Theatre in the Square, 11 Whitlock Ave., Marietta 30064. Details and tickets are available at theatreinthesquare.net or by calling 770-426-4800.

Wings (1927): A Silent Film

Sunday, May 20, 3-5:30 p.m. This 1927 silent American film is set during the First World War about two young men, both fighter pilots, who are in love with the same woman. The film stars Clara Bow, Charles ‘Buddy’ Rogers and Richard Arlen. Gary Cooper appears in a role that helped launch his career. The film will be accompanied live on the Mighty Allen Theatre Organ by Strand organist Ron Carter. Tickets are $10. Earl Smith Strand Theatre, 117 North Park Square, Marietta 30060. Visit earlsmithstrand. org or call the box office at 770-293-0080.

Decatur Arts Festival

I am a candidate for an open seat on the Fulton County Superior Court for the May 22, 2018 election. I decided to seek this position because the citizens of Fulton County should have a highly qualified judge to represent their interests. The citizens of Fulton County expect and deserve to be served by a judiciary that is transparent and fair. I will serve the citizens in an expeditious manner that is transparent and fair.

My legal career of twenty-two years has afforded me a broad range of experience which includes private practice, Assistant Solicitor for the City of Atlanta, and most recently, supervising the largest division of the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office as a Deputy District Attorney. Each of these positions were in service to Fulton County Citizens, resulting in a wealth of knowledge, understanding and respect for the great people of Fulton County. As Georgia’s laws become more complex, there is a call for judges who demonstrate an understanding of how the law affects all citizens. More importantly, all judges should serve from the moral position that every citizen who stands before the court has both a legal and constitutional right to fair and unbiased proceedings and rulings. Having served as lead counsel on a gamut of case types, I am equipped with the years and variety of legal experience to ensure my ability to serve as your next Fulton County Superior Court Judge with wisdom, fairness and a work ethic that has gone unmatched.

I have included a list of professionals from various fields who serve our community and who support my candidacy for this position. I am asking you to join them and vote for me on May 22, 2018. Early voting begins on April 30, 2018.

Fani Willis Judicial Candidate Fulton County

Superior Court

• Howard University, Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude, December 1992

• Emory University School of Law, 1996

Brenda BJ Bernstein Attorney Sherry Boston Dekalb County District Attorney

Page Pate Partner Pate & Johnson, Adjunct Professor University of Georgia School of Law, Legal Analyst for CNN and WABE

Friday, May 25-Sunday, May 27. Artwalk on Friday, 5-10 p.m. Artists Market on Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. & Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. This celebration of the arts includes an Artists Market, ArtWalk, music, performing arts stage, theatre and literary arts, comedy and even a book sale at the Decatur Public Library. General admission is free. Get details on events and locations at decaturartsfestival.com.

• Lewis R. Slaton Award, 2005, 2006, and 2011(only three time winner in history) • Member, Georgia Bar Association • Member, Georgia Association of Women Lawyers • Member, We All Value Excellence (WAVE) ENDORSEMENTS Bensonetta Tipton Lane Former Superior Court Judge

Keith Meadows Chief William Boddie State Representative John E. Floyd Partner, Bondurant, Mixson, and Elmore LLP, Author Rico State By State a Guide to Litigation Under the State Racketeering Statutes

Dr. Reverend William Edward Flippin, Jr. Pastor Emmanuel Lutheran Church ECLA

L. David Wolfe Criminal Defense Attorney

Community

Claws for a Cause: A Crawfish Boil

Renee Rockwell Attorney Licensed to practice in Georgia, Louisiana and Texas, Legal Analyst for CNN, HLN, MSNBC, FOX

Byron Amos Board Member Atlanta Public Schools

Sam Park State Representative Rev. Dr. Anton Rowe, Senior Pastor Greater Solid Rock Baptist Church Attorney

Marcia Mack Director of Accounting Southeast Region for a Fortune 500 Company ELECTION: MAY 22, 2018 - EARLY VOTING BEGINS APRIL 30, 2018 @electfaniwillisjudge2018 @electfaniwillis @electfaniwillisjudge2018 Visit us at: www.faniwillis.com Reporter-Intown-FW.indd 1 3/13/18 4:47 PM

Sara Becker Trial Attorney Arora & LaScala

Saturday, May 12, 5-8 p.m. Enjoy an authentic Cajun crawfish boil, complete with cold beer, spicy crawfish, chicken jambalaya and live music by Suburban Angst. The event supports Senior Services North Fulton. Be sure to bring your tailgating chairs. Tickets are limited—$50 in advance, and

$55 at the door, if available—and include two pounds of crawfish and two Jekyll Brewing drink tickets. Jekyll Brewing, 2855 Marconi Dr., #350, Alpharetta 30005. For tickets and more info, visit ssnorthfulton.org; under “Upcoming Events,” click on “Claws for a Cause.”

Gardens for Connoisseurs Tour

Saturday & Sunday, May 12 & 13, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Ten spectacular private gardens, ranging from woodland settings to urban spaces, are showcased, featuring the work of talented landscape architects, garden designers and local gardeners. Proceeds benefit the mission of Atlanta Botanical Garden. Tickets for the tour are $28 in advance, $35 on days of the tour, and are valid both days. Free for children under 12. Visit atlantabg.org for tickets and details.

Rockin’ at the River

Saturday, May 19, 6:30 p.m. An evening of food, drink and music includes a Patron Party from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Dinner & Auction at Ben Brady Lakeside Pavilion from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., and Dessert & Dancing on Green Roof Discover Center from 9 to 11 p.m. The annual gala benefits the Chattahoochee Nature Center. Tickets are $125, VIP tickets are $250. Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Rd., Roswell 30075. Visit chattnaturecenter.org or call 770-992-2055 for information.

Friends of the Roswell Public Library Book Sale

Runs Thursday, May 31-Sunday, June 3. Thursday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2-5:30 p.m. No scanners on Thursday, please. A large quantity of good quality hardcover and paperback fiction and non-fiction books, organized by category, will be offered for sale. There is an excellent selection of art and coffeetable books, and DVDs, CDs and children’s books are also available. Cash or checks are accepted, and all proceeds go directly to the Roswell Library for materials and community programs.

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

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