Silver Streak - May 2023

Festival season brings art, music & parades

(“Sleeping Beauty,” ‘Pete’s Dragon,” “Robin Hood” and “The Rescuers”). Get all the details at momocon.com.

Chastain Park Arts Festival

The 13th annual festival will feature 175 artists and artisans, a children’s area, food, and acoustic music. Find out more at chastainparkartsfestival.com.

Decatur Arts Festival

Downtown Decatur will be buzzing with artists, music, food and more on May 5-8, for the annual arts festival. The weekend kicks off with the Art Walk on Friday, May 5 with music on the square and local galleries and businesses showcasing work by local artists. The weekend artist market will feature more than 120 artists exhibiting and selling their creations. A kid’s area and full slate of music is also on the menu. Visit decaturartsfestival.com for the full schedule.

By Collin Kelley

Festival season is in full swing around metro Atlanta, offering everything from arts & crafts and music to home tours and lantern parades. We’ve rounded up a guide of some must-see events in May, plus we have many more at the How Do You Atlanta? event calendar (howdoyouatlanta.com).

Atlanta BeltLine Lantern Parade

Thousands are expected to flock to the Westside Trail on Saturday, May 20, starting at 8:45 p.m. Line-up will begin at 7:45 p.m. at Adair Park for those who want to build a lantern and take part in the parade. A number of lantern-making workshops are planned leading up to the parade. Get more details at art.beltline. org or weirdgonepro.com.

Shaky Knees Festival

For those who still need a little rock ‘n roll in their lives, the Shaky Knees Fest returns to Atlanta’s Central Park on May 5-7 with headliners The Killers, Muse, and The Lumineers along with Great Van Fleet, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Tenacious D, The Mars Volta, Hozier, The Flaming Lips and many more. Tickets are sold out, but there’s a wait list at shakykneesfestival. com.

Momocon

The “all-ages geek culture convention” is back May 25-28 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Downtown. There will be plenty of cosplay, vendors, panels, and special guests including legendary Disney director/animator Don Bluth

Kirkwood

Spring Fling & Tour of Homes

The 20th annual festival will feature an

artist market, a kids’ area, 5K race, and a tour of homes. The Wing Fling invites challengers to compete for the title of best chicken wings. The event is one-day only, May 13, at Bessie Branham Park. Find out more at historickirkwood.org.

Sweet Auburn Spring Fest

Jazz, food, vendors and more will be on hand for the 37th annual festival taking place May 13-14 in Downtown Atlanta’s Sweet Auburn District. See the lineup at sweetauburn.com.

Dunwoody Arts Festival

The festival returns May 13-14 with artisans, vendors, a kid’s zone, food, and more at the Dunwoody Village Shopping Center. See more details at splashfestivals. com.

Atlanta BeltLine Lantern Parade (Photo by Steve Eberhardt)

Decatur Arts Festival

Dunwoody Arts Festival

Virginia Highland Porchfest

The third-annual Virginia Highland Porchfest is drumming up to present a record-breaking lineup of 85 bands on 55 porches across the neighborhood on Saturday, May 20.

With the influx of bands comes a few enhancements to the event. Virginia Highland District Association (VHDA), which plans and operates the festival, has decided to centralize the last hour of the event by having a headliner, We The Party Band, perform at John Howell Park. They have also expanded the vendor market to include 40 local vendors along Adair Avenue, which will intersect with 30 food trucks placed along Barnett Street.

Virginia Highland Porchfest will get a running start at 11 am with the Rock n Run, a 1-mile fun-run, in which neighbors and visitors put on their favorite rock n roll garb or dress up as their favorite musicians. Music will follow the run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on porches across the neighborhood, and the

headlining show will be from 6 to 7 p.m. Kids can bounce around at Kids Corner, a fun zone for the youngest Porchfest attendees to play games, jump in the bounce house, stop for a balloon animal or one of three magic shows.

Porchfest is presented by 14 Hands Wine, Jack Daniels and Coca-Cola Can, Sweetwater, Tanteo Tequila, and Fever Tree, along with White Claw Vodka and Hard Seltzer. Festival goers can enjoy these beverages at six drink tents within the event perimeter. The event is co-sponsored by Audi Atlanta. It is also supported by small businesses and resident sponsors throughout the neighborhood.

Proceeds from the event go towards public realm investments in the neighborhood such as plantings, clean-ups, and urban planning. Get more details and the full line-up at virginiahighlanddistrict.com/porchfest.

Atlanta Jazz Festival to heat up Piedmont Park

The Atlanta Jazz Festival returns to Piedmont Park May 27-29 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day featuring headliners Wynton Marsalis with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Stanley Clarke, and Ledisi.

“We have an incredible roster of musicians performing at the 46th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival this Memorial Day Weekend,” says Camille Russell Love, Executive Director of the City of AtlantaMayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. “Whether you like sultry vocalists, contemporary, traditional, swing, fusion, or Latin Jazz, we have something for every jazz lover.”

Also on the bill are Tony Hightower, David Sanchez, Samara Joy, Brandee Younger, Brenda Nicole Moorer and many more. The weekend performances in the park are free to attend.

A Late-Night Jazz Concert featuring singer/songwriter Cecily will take place at Park Tavern at 10 p.m. on Saturday.

The festival will kick off May 25 at Symphony Hall with “The Blues and Its People” performed by Russell Gunn with special guests.

Tickets for the Late-Night event and “The Blues and Its People” are available along with the full festival schedule at atljazzfest. com.

Courtesy Virginia Highland District

Stanley Clarke

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Fox’s ‘Revival’ concert to benefit other historic theatres

By Collin Kelley

The Fox Theatre is set to host a historic night on Saturday, May 13, as the theatre celebrates 15 years of preservation efforts through its outreach program the Fox Theatre Institute (FTI). Hosted again by Atlanta native and famed musician Kevn Kinney, the

organization’s “Revival” benefit concert will raise money to preserve and restore Georgia’s historic theaters and expand its education arm through an auction. With performances by Collective Soul, Mother’s Finest, Drivin N Cryin, Jet Black Roses and other special guests, this unique musical event is inspired by the power of storytelling and the role theaters play in bringing communities together. Tickets for “Revival” are on sale now at foxtheatre.org.

FTI director Leigh Burns said marking 15 years is significant for the organization. “For us, it’s a time to reflect on the impact we’ve made across Georgia

and the southeast.”

Burns noted that the last “Revival” –held pre-pandemic in 2019 – raised more than $120,000. She said FTI’s mission to help save their historic theatres has its origins in the “Save the Fox” campaign from the 1970s that saved the venue from demolition.

“We've assisted more than 70 theatres and provided $2.7 million in funding,” Burns noted, including helping the City of Eatonton purchase the historic Pex Theatre.

From the smell of the popcorn to sitting in the same seat his grandparents once did, Kinney recollects how strong the memories created in a theater can be. “There is no substitute for a theater full of people from every walk of life laughing, thinking and crying together,” he said.

“Art is the backbone of our society”, said Collective Soul’s Ed Roland. “From the beginning, historic theatres allowed those arts to be portrayed through plays, movies and music. It is so important that we do everything we can to preserve these meaningful buildings, so we can continue to spread joy and creativity that we will

never forget.”

All concert attendees will be invited to participate in a live “Fund-A-Mission” auction driven by Atlanta’s Your Rocktioneer from the Fox’s stage. This live component will help raise money for FTI’s educational arm, “Fox in a Box,” a program that directly benefits students throughout Georgia.

The auction includes notable items and experiences such as a private behindthe-scenes tour and dining experience at the Fox Theatre’s famed Marquee Club presented by Lexus, signed artist memorabilia like Joe Bonamassa’s guitar, and more.

“Revival’s” Fund-A-Mission sponsor and Official Bank of the Fox Theatre, Regions Bank, will generously match what the audience is able to raise in this interactive five-minute fundraiser. More details on how to participate in each of the auction activities are coming soon and fans are encouraged to check the event’s web page at foxtheatre.org for more information.

Don’t forget to support live musicians and venues

FROM THE CRATES

Since we’re officially postpandemic and Spring is springing, it’s time to enjoy the great things our city and state offer – especially live outdoor music. There are ample places to listen no matter where you live with local, national, and international artists performing at venues big and small.

You can see and hear real musicians singing with their real voices while playing real instruments instead of digitally concocted tunes arranged in someone’s playroom. Yes, it takes talent to create digital tunes, but the thrill and feel of watching a new or veteran artist play live without the bells and whistles can’t be beat. I saw a meme that said when it comes to vocals on digitally generated songs, autotune is Photoshop for singers. Pretty clever.

Playing music and making music –there’s a difference.

I started playing piano by ear at age 4. I had a few years of real lessons,

but a young boy isn’t as interested in learning Tchaikovsky while his friends are doing boy things. I could have been a better student, and I’m not blaming the teacher, but she wasn’t good, or at least good enough to make me want to keep learning piano.

In the 5th grade, I took trombone lessons, and I was decent enough to join the band. But there was too much spit and different positions for the same note, which was confusing. For giggles, I tried the tuba for a minute, but I wasn’t big or strong enough to carry it. I was fine sitting down.

My favorite brass instrument was the trumpet, but my bottom lip was too thick. None of the reed instruments appealed to me either, but please understand I love every single instrument made.

In the 6th grade, I discovered my main “instrument love.” That would be anything percussion. I humbly say this, I was pretty darn good, and I played all the way through high school. The first time I played the drum kit out front with the band behind me, I was immediately hooked and addicted to that feeling.

As far as stringed instruments, the bass guitar worked best for me because of only four strings. Six strings required

too much finger talent on both hands, and the chords completely overwhelmed me. I played bass in a cover band, and keyboard in another.

I inherited my love of listening and playing instruments from my mother. She spent the last 10 years of her life in a very nice retirement center where she played guitar and made announcements into her early 90s. She stopped because she didn’t want anyone to think she was “showing off.” My grandfather played the fiddle. Word is he played in some pretty rough juke joints but wasn’t allowed to tell us too much.

After I played in a few joints, I realized I was better suited to play original music by original artists using my own instrument – my voice. Thank you, Lord, for a wonderful career with the correct instrument. During those years I met and enjoyed many world-class musicians and vocalists. The real deals.

Actor Jamie Lee Curtis has an amazing idea for us senior citizens. All

major artists should do matinees! Start the concerts at noon or 1 p.m. in the afternoon so we can get our older selves home and in bed at a decent hour. You’re already set up for the evening, why not? Fabulous idea! Follow her on social media @jamieleecurtis.

Here’s the thing: Get your behinds out and spend a little money to support local musicians and venues. Even if you think it’s pricey, spend the extra coin for their tickets and merchandise. That’s the only way they make a living.

An evening out with music under the stars can be a perfect Atlanta night.

KELLY MCCOY

Pex Theatre in Eatonton, GA.

Chastain Park Amphitheatre

After fundraising success, Tara Theatre set to reopen soon

By Collin Kelley Cinephiles

and preservationists

ponied up $50,637.25 as part of an initial fundraising goal to reopen the historic Tara Theatre this spring.

In just seven weeks after Plaza Theatre operator Christopher Escobar announced the reopening of the Tara, movie fans have purchased $29,972.25 in advance gift cards and tickets, plus donations of $20,665.

“We are overwhelmed by, and greatly appreciative of, the enthusiastic response to the Tara Theatre’s return,” said Escobar, who also founded the nonprofit Friends of Tara.

“We can hardly wait to open the doors and welcome moviegoers later this spring.”

The initial funds will enable the cinema, located at 2345 Cheshire Bridge Road, to install new equipment, fixtures and furnishings and make other improvements.

The grand reopening date remains to be announced pending the resolution of operating permits, Escobar said, but the cinema could reopen as early as May.

“Energized by Atlanta’s generosity, and to further enable the re-opening, with this initial goal of $50,000 achieved, we established a stretch goal of $75,000 to make additional specific improvements to

our historic marquee sign,” said Escobar. “The changes we envision will restore or celebrate the original Mid-Century look for the ‘now playing’ and ‘coming attractions’ sign facing the intersection of LaVista Road at Cheshire Bridge.”

Escobar said the revitalized Tara will screen classic films, art house releases, and independent films. This format brings back some of the traditions established during the first few decades of operation after Loews opened Tara Theatre in 1968 or “the Lefont years” starting in 1980 when George Lefont owned the cinema.

The Tara’s previous owner, Regal

Vıew

Cinemas, shocked moviegoers when it shuttered the venue last November with only a few days’ notice.

For more information or to buy tickets, visit TheTaraAtlanta.com.

Aging in place options are scarce in Atlanta

By Cathy Cobbs

The concept of aging in place is a hotbutton topic, however, the path to finding viable options for healthy and active Atlantans who are over 55 is elusive.

According to a report by the Office of Policy Development and Research entitled “Aging in Place: Facilitating Choice and Independence,” a combination of demographics and economic shifts is “creating a large and growing need for affordable and age-appropriate housing opportunities.”

citizens, while Fulton County’s older population is around 12 percent. Most of those statistics reflect three-to-four percent increases over 2010 figures, according to the bureau.

The Aging in Place report also discussed the concept of “compression of morbidity,” meaning that people are increasingly able to live actively and largely free of disease until shortly before death.

The report said that most older adults prefer to age in place, either in their own homes or in nearby housing that can be adapted to their changing needs. The report discussed “lifelong neighborhoods that can accommodate residents of all ages by incorporating connectivity, pedestrian access, and transit, neighborhood retail and services, and public spaces for social interaction.”

Options like the report discussed for healthy older citizens in the Atlanta area, however, appear to be few and far between. While it seems that senior living facilities for those with medical needs are on every corner in Atlanta and its outlying suburbs, few communities tout themselves as viable for having “aging-in-place” amenities for adults with no immediate medical needs.

Building community

of them seriously interested in the community. The pandemic, however, and the resultant economic uncertainties, like supply chain issues and labor shortages, have put a serious wrench in the process.

“I’ve been doing this for 32 years, and the last two or three years are the most complicated I’ve ever experienced,” he said. “COVID has caused a lot of stress and uncertainty.”

One development that appears to be successfully serving the demand for over55 active lifestyle clients is Signal House near Ponce City Market in downtown Atlanta, a 21-story, 162-unit multifamily apartment community that is currently under construction.

According to a press release from developer Jamestown, Signal House is “designed for active adults and the 55+ community with a focus on health and wellness.”

“Signal House will provide a digitally integrated and socially supporting living experience for a non-digitally native demographic,” the release said. “Signal House will cater to a 55+ community that wants the convenience of technologyenabled living without the friction points.”

According to Jamestown officials, pre-leasing has begun with one, two and three-bedroom apartments expected to be available for tenants by late this year. Amenities will include access to a property app that will allow residents to book a suite of services, including housekeeping, plant watering, dry cleaning, food delivery and dining reservations and massage and personal trainer appointments,

the new units include studios, onebedroom, 831-square feet options starting at $312,000, as well as other floor plans, most under 1,000 square feet.

While Signal House and Canterbury Court appear to be headed for successful conclusions, a similar concept in Dunwoody seems to be unable to get off the ground.

Dunwoody dilemma

In March 2021, the Dunwoody City Council, in a split vote, approved a zoning change at 84 Perimeter Center East from C-1 Conditional (Commercial) to PC-2 (Perimeter Center District) that would allow for the construction of a mixed-use development that would contain 40,000 square feet of retail and 225 over-55 apartments on the 2.9 acre-site.

The property was formerly slated for a 13,746-square-foot, 160-room hotel, but those plans were scrapped in 2019, when developer JSJ Perimeter LLC ditched the idea, citing the pandemic’s effect on the hospitality industry.

At the March 2021 meeting, the council spent a considerable amount of time passing amendments and special conditions that would ensure that over-55 age restrictions could not be circumvented, including possibly rescinding a $7 million “inducement resolution” passed by the Dunwoody Development Authority earlier that year.

The council also put into place a condition that JSJ Perimeter LLC had to apply for a land disturbance permit within two years of the change in zoning or the land would revert to its original use.

“The coming decades, increasing life expectancy, a declining birth rate, and the aging of the baby boom generation will dramatically increase the number and proportion of the U.S. population over the age of 65,” the report said. “This aging of the population presents a number of challenges and unanswered questions, including where people will live and how they will obtain the support and care they will need as they age while retaining as much independence as possible.”

Demographers, according to the report, estimate that by 2040, the U.S. population of those age 65 and older will double to 80 million, and their share of the total population will rise from 13 to 20%, partly because of greater life expectancy along with the trend in reduced birth rates across the nation.

The change is reflected in census numbers is Atlanta and its outlying communities. The 2022 U.S. Census figures show that 17.7% of all Georgians are over the age of 65, while in Atlanta, that figure hovers around 12 percent.

DeKalb County's over-65 residents comprise almost 14 percent of its 762,000

Many communities, like Belmont Buckhead Village, Mount Vernon Towers in Sandy Springs, and Hammond Glen Retirement Community focus on options and amenities for seniors who need assistance with activities of daily living, including those suffering from dementia or memory loss, as well as seniors needing an escalating level of care.

Ty White of Peachland Homes said the demand for what he terms “lifestyletargeted” communities for active, older buyers is “tremendous,” but the supply is extremely limited.

White is building a 13-home community in Dunwoody on Roberts Drive called Swancy that is targeted for empty nesters “looking for as much living space on the main floor as possible in the same geographic area where they have been living.”

“Our buyers want open concept, sophisticated but casual, and as little outside maintenance as possible because they travel and have other interests,” White said. “The outside living space is as important as a great kitchen and the master on the main.”

White said his company has received more than 100 inquiries about Swancy, with about 50 percent

The high-rise community will include a pool terrace with a shaded grotto lounge and outdoor shower, a multipurpose fitness room with connected outdoor fitness areas, co-working space, wellness rooms for personal treatments, a clubhouse lounge, an onsite lifestyle director and a dining room with a full commercial chef’s kitchen and connected outdoor seating.

Jamestown representatives did not return calls regarding rental rates for the units, referring all inquiries to the company’s press release regarding the development, which does not list any financial information.

Canterbury Court is also nearing completion on a 105-unit independent living expansion at its Peachtree Road location, with a projected opening date this fall.

Touted as a “Life Plan Community,”

As that deadline approaches, there is no sign that the project is moving forward. On the property, the site of a former bank, a sign says, “Coming soon – 84 Perimeter,” but there is no clear indication that construction is imminent. The bank building, while empty, is still standing.

The website listed on the sign contains information about the now-abandoned hotel project, and nothing about the over55 housing community.

City of Dunwoody officials said there has been no movement in the project since the rezoning approval, but that JSJ has not withdrawn its application either. A call from Silver Streak to John DiGiovanni with JSJ was not returned.

Signal House (photo by Cathy Cobbs)

A rendering of the 84 Perimeter development.

Senior Living: What’s best for mom and dad as they age?

By Cindy Richards and Rob Stearns

As we enter our golden years, an unfortunate consequence of becoming grandparents is that our parents (if still alive) continue to age. Whether it’s physical or cognitive, we often start to notice some decline in their everyday behavior. Very few of us are equipped to handle this when it arises.

One of the more common occurrences in elderly people is a basic loss of balance, which can be extremely dangerous as it often leads to bad falls, often with serious injuries.

When a parent starts to experience cognitive decline, they can struggle with hygiene and many of the daily activities we take for granted – getting dressed, going to the bathroom, or even eating.

It’s important to recognize these changes and be as pro-active as possible regarding the next steps. There are many viable options available as our parents age; as much homework as you can do in

advance will benefit the decisions need to be made.

Most elderly people prefer to stay home; it’s comfortable and familiar. As their abilities begin to decline, it’s advisable to get some in home care to assist, particularly with med management or assisting with light chores and their personal hygiene.

There are many reputable companies that provide these services; the average cost being $25-$28/hr. With the recent labor shortages and higher gas prices, be prepared to commit to at least 4 hours a day and 3-5 days per week.

The upkeep of a large home is a daunting task. This may lead a parent to consider a Senior Living community with Independent Living being the logical first stop. Most provide an array of amenities and social programs specifically tailored for seniors.

community as to quality of ownership, average age, level of staff turnover, quality of care, food and even ease of parking. Finding the right fit where your parent can thrive is the ultimate objective.

Should a parent’s health start to decline, it may be necessary to move them into assisted living. This will involve a care level with a staff that will look after your parent around the clock.

If they experience a stroke or suffer from dementia or Parkinson’s, you may then have to consider Memory Care, which is a higher level of care with more staff and also involves a secured environment so they do not wander.

There are other options should

their condition further decline, such as personal care homes or skilled nursing. Consult a family advisor for the best advice.

Cindy Richards is the founder and Rob Stearns is a family advisor for Best Nest Senior Advisors. Find out more at bestnestsenioradvisors.com.

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New era for Oakland’s historic bell tower

PERSPECTIVES IN ARCHITECTURE

The Oakland Bell Tower is ringing in new energy at historic Oakland Cemetery in Southeast Atlanta. The 48acre cemetery on the National Register of Historic Places was established in 1850 and designated as a City of Atlanta Park in 1932. Built at the site of the demolished Death House in 1899, the Bell Tower held space for the cemetery sexton to manage burials and conduct record-keeping at one of the largest cemetery greenspaces in Atlanta.

Over 70,000 Georgians rest eternally at Oakland Cemetery, including Mayor Maynard Jackson, legendary golfer Bobby Jones, 25 Atlanta mayors, and country singer Kenny Rogers. With more than 100,000 annual visitors at the Victorian garden-style cemetery, Historic Oakland Foundation, the nonprofit organization in charge of managing the property since 1976, had expanded uses for the two-story, Romanesque Revival building to serve as a visitor center, Foundation offices, and meeting space for corporate, civic, and educational groups.

Cramped and drab interior spaces, lack of accessibility, and overuse of the Bell Tower led Historic Oakland Foundation to hire Atlanta-based Smith Dalia Architects for the rehabilitation of the 2,800-square-foot building. A longtime visitor to the cemetery, Smith Dalia Architects Principal Greg Cross has centered the project on preserving, refreshing, and modernizing the Bell Tower; adding more accessibility; and creating revenue-generating opportunities

for the Foundation.

Historical building elements, such as exterior windows and the belfry structure housing the bell, have been restored. The renovated vault in the basement, once used to store deceased bodies, now functions as the sexton’s office. Removal of walls constructed during ad hoc renovations has resulted in a new lobby that doubles as event space for private, public, and school groups. Cross notes, “We had to remove non-sympathetic components to demonstrate the greatest standard of care for the building and visitors.”

New building elements are distinguished from existing ones through the use of contrasting materials to express the design evolution of the building. In the lobby, metal finishes on a new stairway and elevator stand in contrast to the gypsum wall finish and original wood floors and trim. The addition of a stairway and elevator adds accessibility to the second floor featuring a meeting room and two newly restored porches. Enclosed in the 1970s as offices for the Foundation, restoration of the second-story porches for outdoor use allows visitors to see the cemetery’s gardens and ornamental memorials, new developments nearby, and the Atlanta skyline. As a site for funerals, public programs organized by the Foundation, and public relaxation, panoramic views from the Bell Tower help guests to see how the city’s oldest and first public greenspace serves a myriad of needs for Atlanta.

For more information about the Bell Tower, tune into the Uplifting Places podcast on Spotify hosted by Melody Harclerode with guest Smith Dalia Architects Principal Greg Cross and Historic Oakland Foundation Executive Director Richard Harker.

Melody Harclerode

Augustus Koch’s bird’s eye view of Oakland Cemetery, 1892.

An aerial view of the refurbished Bell Tower (Courtesy Historic Oakland)

The view of Cabbagetown from Oakland Cemetery in the 1930s. (Courtesy U.S. Library of Congress)

The renovated interior of the historic Bell Tower. (Courtesy Historic Oakland)

Electric vehicles are in my future – and yours

director of Environment Georgia (environmentamerica.org/georgia), “but not leading in policies to encourage people to drive EVs made in Georgia.” Recent legislation at the State Capitol proves her point, even while also revealing the increasing interest of elected officials in electric transportation.

Motorists in gasoline-powered cars and trucks pay a gas excise tax that funds the construction and maintenance of state roads and bridges. Since EVs do not use gas, they pay no taxes. Their owners do pay a high annual registration fee of over $200, the second highest in the country. During Georgia’s recent legislative session, a bill to overhaul the way payments are made at EV charging stations was debated, amended, and then passed. Similar to the tax levied on gasoline, the EV charging tax will be calculated based on electricity used: a kilowatt-hour fee.

ABOVE THE WATER LINE

Sally Bethea

Two years ago, I bought my third hybrid car in the past 16 years, all Toyotas. I have loved every one of the gas and electric batterypowered vehicles: a Highlander, then a Prius, and now a RAV-4, which is my favorite.

Considered a compact SUV, my RAV-4 is currently getting an impressive 42.5 miles per gallon, thanks to its electric battery and what I call my “soft” driving techniques. I’ve learned how to maximize the car’s fuel efficiency with a steady speed, minimal sudden braking or acceleration, and coasting to red lights and traffic slowdowns. Other motorists don’t seem to be as thrilled with my driving as I am—given their noisy (and gas-guzzling) acceleration when they pass me.

Once a speedy driver myself, a slower life in retirement and a desire to reduce my fossil fuel (carbon) footprint have led to new driving habits. When I bought my RAV-4 in 2021, I knew it would be my last hybrid. An all-electric vehicle (EV) will be my next purchase.

Cars and Carbon

The transportation sector is Georgia’s

largest source of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions causing global heating and extreme weather events. According to the nonprofit Drawdown Georgia (drawdownga.org), a whopping 41% of the state’s emissions are released from cars, trucks, ships, trains, and planes every year. Nationwide, the percentage is lower, but transportation remains the number one producer of the carbon pollution fueling the planet’s climate crisis.

Human activities are responsible for almost all the increase in GHG in the atmosphere over the past 150 years. Human actions can also slow (and possibly reverse) the catastrophic trend if we move quickly with new policies and major investments in the most effective solutions, one of which is a rapid transition to zeroemission electric vehicles.

EVs are more efficient than internal combustion engines – and easier and less expensive to maintain. The average fuel efficiency in the U.S. today for gaspowered cars is 25.7 miles per gallon; however, the efficiency for most electricpowered is at least 100 miles per gallon of gas-equivalent. In other words, you can drive four times as far using electric power instead of gas and at lower fuel costs. Drawdown Georgia calculates it will cost just $31 to drive 1,000 miles on electric power versus $165 on gasoline.

Electric cars can be charged overnight

at home using a traditional 110V outlet and a cord plugged into the vehicle, or more quickly at fast-charging public stations. In Georgia, there are already more than 30,000 EVs and 1,600 public recharging stations, primarily in metro areas, with thousands more on the way.

Thanks to new federal funding, Georgia will receive $135 million in grants to significantly expand its charging infrastructure. The focus will be on key road corridors in rural and underserved communities with the goal of creating a network of recharging stations every fifty miles. The Inflation Reduction Act passed last year offers another incentive with tax credits: $7,500 for new EVs and $4,000 for used EVs assembled in North America.

Leading the Deep South battery belt

Georgia is positioned to become “the electric mobility capital of America,” according to Gov. Brian Kemp. Since 2018, dozens of EV-related projects have contributed more than $20 billion in investments. While the state’s focus has been on successfully attracting new facilities and jobs, less effort has been made to provide consumer incentives. The generous tax credit once offered to EV purchasers in Georgia ended in 2015.

“Our state is leading in manufacturing,” says Jennette Gayer,

Because Georgia already imposes a high annual fee on EVs to help replace lost gas tax revenue, electric transportation advocates view the additional charging tax as punitive. As originally written, the tax would have been the highest in the country, a fact that Gov. Kemp and other EV boosters rejected. The tax was lowered closer to the middle of the current national range in the final version of the bill. A pilot study will evaluate whether or not the flat tax rate should be replaced with a system based on all vehicle EV miles driven.

New tailpipe emission limits

In mid-April, the Biden administration announced proposals for stringent new tailpipe pollution limits intended to ensure that EVs make up two-thirds of new cars sold in the U.S. by 2032. Described as a “quantum leap,” this action – undoubtedly to be heavily debated, challenged, and amended – would be the most aggressive climate regulation enacted in the U.S.

To meet federal goals, automakers may have to cut emissions for 2032 vehicles by more than half. Hurdles to the success of this initiative are many, but not impossible to overcome: supply chain issues, adding new recharging stations, vehicle price, and, of course, the usual politics, meaning opposition from climate deniers, fossil fuel producers, and those who simply hate change.

Fossil fuels face a diminishing future in transportation. Electric vehicles are one of many solutions that will help us contend with climate change. Time is of the essence – as we make this transition easy, fair, and fast.

Quick Bites

▲Historic Hotel Row in the South Downtown redevelopment has its first tenant: TydeTate Kitchen, a Thai restaurant from brother and sister Sai Untachantr and Bank Bhamaraniyama. The eatery is at 229 Mitchell Street with a menu that includes sweet chili crispy tofu, Kee Mao, basil chicken, chicken curry puffs, Panang curry beef, and more. Find out more at tydetatekitchen.com.

The co-owner and executive chef at Atlanta’s Miller Union has released a second cookbook. Steven Satterfield, along with co-author Andrea Slonecker, has published “Vegetable Revelations: Inspiration for Produce-Forward Cooking.” Follow him on Instagram @millerunionchef for more information.

Halidom Eatery, a full-service food hall, is slated to open at 1341 Moreland Ave. in East Atlanta in early 2024. The food hall will be located in a 13,000-squarefoot space and is expected to have 11 stalls featuring cuisine from local chefs. Those attending the Ormewood Park Makers Festival on May 20 can get a sneak preview of some of the food that will be on offer.

“The Menu” – a satirical, Black horror/ comedy about the restaurant industry and the artifice of the foodie – might not seem like a great source of inspiration for a good cause. But NFA Burger’s Billy Kramer was inspired to create The Burger Benefit which will be held on May 7 at NFA Burger in Dunwoody. The event will feature a multitude of chefs and burger experts offering their own takes on a classic burger, with all proceeds going to nonprofit The Giving Kitchen. Get details at burgerbenefit.com.

AlcoHall, a hall that will offer patrons a slew of different beverages to try, plans to open at Pullman Yards in Kirkwood this spring. The stalls will offer everything from tequila tastings to tap rooms, along with places for live music, billiards, and even mechanical bulls. The first round of

beverage stalls has been announced, including Wicked Weed, an Asheville brewery known for Freak of Nature; Shortbarrel Bourbon, an Atlanta-based liquor company; Three Chord Bourbon, a company founded by guitarist Neil Giraldo, husband of musician Pat Benatar; House of Suntory, a Japanese spirits outfit; Desert Door, a Texas distillery that specializes in a spirit called sotol; and Babylonstoren, a South African winery. Check pullmanyards.com for updates.

Nowak’s has opened a second restaurant in Sandy Springs. The steakhouse, located at 6690 Roswell Road, is open for dinner Monday through Saturday. Nowak’s currently has a location in the Morningside neighborhood of Atlanta. Get more information and make reservations at nowaksrestaurant.com.

Dave Green, the owner of The Select in Sandy Springs, is bringing a new restaurant to The Works on the Upper Westside. Damsel, a new 10,000-squarefoot restaurant, will offer a collection of globally inspired small plates and entrees when it opens this fall.

Chef Hugh Acheson confirmed on social media in April that he has permanently closed Empire State South in Midtown. Acheson said on Instagram that the acclaimed Southern restaurant shuttered in February due to ongoing financial issues post-pandemic and inflation. He continues to operate Five and Ten in Athens.

▲Boxcar Betty’s is now open at Westside Paper at 950 West Marietta Street serving up gourmet chicken sandwiches. The Atlanta location will be the first in the area, but the fifth location overall. Get more details at boxcarbettys.com.

D’Juan’s New Orleans Bistro has opened in Vinings at 3300 Cobb Parkway. The restaurant offers up typical New Orleans fare such as gumbo, crawfish mac and cheese, bread pudding, and more.

Seniors being treated for mental and emotional post-COVID problems

headaches to difficulty doing household chores. She says that’s as opposed to younger patients much more likely to speak the language of depression.

Other challenges include doctors who are dismissive of long COVID’s mental health consequences on older adults and a stigma surrounding medication and various treatment options among some elderly.

Dawn Potter, a psychologist with the Cleveland Clinic puts it this way, “I think it’s hard to measure (the success rate of such treatment) and research on therapy for long COVID is still in its infancy.”

The many physical (weakness, fatigue, fever, heart, and lung problems) and mental/emotional symptoms (depression, PTSD, anxiety, confusion, insomnia) seem closely intertwined.

“The reality is that our brains don’t exist in a bubble,” said Dr. Heather Murray of the Mayo Clinic on the clinic’s website. “So, if you have systemic inflammation problems or viral syndromes affecting other organs, it makes sense that they would also affect the brain and cause other psychological symptoms.”

Atlanta infectious disease specialist Dr. Joel Rosenstock established a long COVID clinic about two years ago and says dealing with all aspects of the syndrome is daunting.

By Mark Woolsey

A 70-year-old woman who played pickleball four times a week and is now too weak to pick up a racket. A 65-yearold man suffering anxiety attacks over recurring long-haul COVID problems. A 72-year-old with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as the result of a near-death hospital episode.

Counseling and treating seniors with mental and emotional post-COVID problems is an evolving challenge, say mental health professionals. Call it a new frontier.

The Mayo Clinic says research shows

among those 65-plus, one in four has at least one medical condition that might be due to COVID-19 in the month to one year following the initial infection. Another study reported that older adults with pre-existing psychological challenges were more likely to suffer from post-COVID syndrome’s mental health Impacts.

“Older adults are more likely to focus on their changing functional state,” says Abigail Hardin, Ph.D., Rehabilitation Psychology Postdoctoral Training Director in the psychiatry department at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago. Think about anything from debilitating

“In the long COVID world the saying is, ‘if you’ve seen one long COVID patient, you’ve seen one long COVID patient, ‘“he adds.

Mental health professionals are trying a variety of techniques as they seek improvement for their postCOVID patients.

One of them is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, used to treat a wide

variety of disorders by analyzing thought distortions and refuting them to produce changes in thinking and mood.

Potter says that long haulers can readily fall into such thinking as “I can’t go on vacation anymore, I used to be able to go to the beach. I don’t think I can do those things anymore. So, what’s the point?”

Therapists challenge such all-ornothing thinking by getting patients to perceive that while their lives are difficult at the moment, that they should continue working to do the things they enjoy and are capable of.

Hardin says challenging distorted thoughts like “I’ll never feel better again” means working with a patient to identify evidence for or against the accuracy of thought. She’s also done experiments where evidence from both sides is presented as if a patient is in a court of law.

Engaging with people, exercising, and taking up a familiar or fresh activity are all important, says Nadine Kaslow, professor of psychology at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, as well

Emory psychology professor Nadine Kaslow

as the chief psychologist for the Grady Health System.

“If you don’t get out to do these things, if you’re not being with people, if you’re not in nature, whatever, your symptoms are just going to get worse,” she says.

Hardin also has utilized Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. She asks patients to identify their five core values, anything from faith and family to beauty.

“Then we work together to identify how they are or aren’t acting in alignment with those values on a certain day,” she says.

Rosenstock says Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) has helped long haulers with PTSD. Patients move their eyes a specific way while processing traumatic memories in hopes of changing up the emotions and behaviors that arose from the trauma.

Mental health professionals also cite occupational therapy, which is said to target fatigue and brain fog while improving mood and perspective. A study at St. James Hospital in Dublin, Ireland involved two groups of patients in techniques ranging from exercise to stress reduction and sleep hygiene. Their fatigue improved along with concerns about their well-being, says the study’s author.

Mindfulness and meditation practices can also confer benefits Mark Dannenfelser of the Mindfulness Center of Atlanta says a practice fostering being fully present can help cut through socalled “brain fog” and cut stress levels.

On a countervailing note, some studies have shown older adults have greater resilience in dealing with such challenges.

An August 2020 survey of more than five thousand adults by the CDC revealed that older adults showed a more than six percent lower incidence of anxiety disorder, nearly six percent less depressive disorder, and more than nine percent less trauma and stress.

Will therapy for older long COVID sufferers become a permanent fixture? That’s unclear.

“That typically depends on the severity of the symptoms,” says Corinne JonesWilliams, a clinical social worker and therapist with Rosenstock’s clinic, as well as the level of support that exists around them.

Hardin says staying physically active, connecting socially and learning are the three most important practices in warding off cognitive change.

“And the same is true of rehabilitating from long COVID,” she says.

your kids by knowing what’s happening around town.

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