Atlanta Senior Life - July 2020

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Having big fun with little trains

By Joe Earle

At first, Sally Bando wasn’t really all that excited by model trains. That was her husband’s hobby. She liked sewing and craftwork. She started making some train-based memorabilia – T-shirts or tote bags or baby bibs stitched with sayings like “Grandpa loves trains and me” – to sell so she could stay busy when she accompanied her husband James to model train shows.

Then, during a show at Dalton

a dozen years ago, everything changed. That’s when Sally saw her first “Garden scale” steam trains. They didn’t look like the models in her basement. These were bigger and built so they could be used outside. Engines puffed clouds of steam. “When I saw it, it was like, ‘Oh my god, we’ve got to have it,” she said. What got her attention? “The noise – chugga, chugga, chugga! I looked at it and said, ‘That’s a train you can play with.’”

Now the Bandos keep two

G Gauge trains, complete with working steam engines, regularly chugging inside their home or along 350 feet of track built into a 45-by-25-foot deck that once surrounded an above-ground swimming pool in their yard in Woodstock. These days, James tends the trains and Sally builds the buildings that surround the tracks in their layout, which they call the Grand Western Mining Company.

Sally Bando also serves as director of operations for the Piedmont Division of the National

Model Railroad Association. The club includes more than 400 model railroaders who live from Dalton to Clayton County, its Superintendent Walt Liles said, and the national organization claims 18,000 members.

To hear model railroaders talk, theirs is a hobby centered on old men. Many members of the Piedmont Division are aged 60 or older, Liles said, and Sally Bando joked that she’s one of perhaps three women in the club. Different collectors build different types and sizes of model railroads. Some layouts present historically accurate images of specific trains or times while others mix a grab-

Brian Glock

dedicated to their trains. Many spend several hours every day or week tending their layouts and some admit they spend thousands or tens of thousands of dollars on the hobby.

In past years, the Piedmont Division club has offered tours of the trains in members’ homes. This year’s tour has been cancelled because of concerns about social distancing in the face of COVID-19, so the club is planning an online tour in October and November. For more information, go to piedmontpilgrimage.com.

Sally and James Bando’s layout has been on past tours and they expect to be on the virtual tour this year. Unlike his wife, James, a 66-year-old retired software engineer, is no newcomer to model trains. “Ever since I was 6 years old, I’ve always had one,” he said. In addition to the couple’s outdoor G gauge train, he has a smaller-scale train in his basement. “It’s just exciting to me,” he said. “It’s exciting to run.”

He likes putting the trains together, too. “It’s fun working on them after you build them, but the most fun is building them and seeing something you built with your own hands … We’re always building over here.”

Brian Glock of Roswell also keeps building onto his model railroad. The 79-year-old retired

Russell and Leslie Ann Bundy

with it, and these days, he said, his model train set fills a room in his home and features something like 1,500 cars. He calls his imaginary line, based on the Southern Railway, the Saluda Central Railroad.

Charlie Crawford of eastern Cobb County bases his HO layout on the New York Central Railroad as it would have appeared in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York in either 1927 or 1952. He switches them out, based on which period he wants to replicate. The main difference between the two, he said, is the introduction of diesel locomotives.

born in Brooklyn and lived in New Jersey for 23 years until his job brought him to Atlanta, wants his trains to be accurate historically.

“I’ve always enjoyed history and it’s a good way to make history come alive,” he said. “The railroads were certainly a big part of what built this country.”

He has another interest in model railroading: playing with others. He’s part of a group of modelers called Atlanta Interlocking Model Railroaders who build modular HO layouts that connect with layouts made by other club members. “I like to build things,” he said. “I’ve always been a model-maker, even when I Continued

New York policeman, a master model railroader, said he’s owned train layouts since he was a kid. He works with HO models, which are the most popular size model trains and use cars much smaller than the garden-scale ones.

“I’ve been interested in it all my life,” Glock said one recent morning as he worked on a new building that could end up on the 15-foot-by-27-foot train layout he estimates takes up about a third of his basement. He says he has 80 locomotives and a couple of hundred freight cars in his collection.

“It keeps you sharp. There’s carpentry [required], there’s electrical, there’s mechanical.” And newer parts are all digital, he said, so he must keep up with the times. But the strongest attraction of the hobby now, he said, is social. “I’ve made a lot of friends,” he said. “We’ve become fast friends for almost 20 years.”

Like many other HO model train fans, Glock has built his layout to recreate a specific time and place. In his case, his trains come from 1950 to 1955 and represent the fictional L&N and Southern Railroad in western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee. “I needed an imaginary place to set my railroad,” he said. “It makes it plausible.”

Liles, the Piedmont Division’s 55-year-old superintendent (the club takes its titles from the ways

real ones, when he was a boy. “I was fascinated by trains,” he said. “When I felt that power, I was hooked. … It was something about the horsepower, the strength of the locomotive, the skill, the weight.”

He got a taste of that power in the 1970s, when his dad worked for a south Georgia company that made vegetable oil. He accompanied his father to work and watched the trains load the oil and move cars of it around. Sometimes, he could catch a ride.

“I’d bring my lunch with me and ride with the train crew,” he said.

Liles got his first model train set at age 6 and got his first HO set when he was about 8. He stayed

Charlie Crawford

His layout now can handle up to 125 locomotives at once. With the interlocking railroaders, he said, he and his fellow modelers can build layouts that can handle 425 engines. Often, they fill a church gym with a single layout. “Walking with your train around the layout took a 45-minute walk,” he said.

The 44-foot-by-22-foot “garden scale” model train layout Russell and Leslie Ann Bundy display at their Marietta home doesn’t leave their yard.

They installed the layout iwhen they had to replant after a tornado blew through a few years ago. Now they have can run model trains on tracks laid among the hundreds of azaleas, hostas and other plants in their garden.

Their model trains depict ones designed to carry people, for the most part, Russell said. “I do have a freight train,” he said, “but we don’t like freight trains that much. We do mostly passenger trains.”

What keeps them tending model trains day after day? It means they stay busy doing something they enjoy, Russell said, and “in case something like the coronavirus happens to hit, you don’t have to go anywhere.”

“It’s a retirement hobby,” said the 68-year-old who worked for 37 years at Lockheed Martin in Marietta. “You can work on it, but you don’t have to work on it.

“We’re out there a little bit every day. … It gets us out of the house.”

James Bando walks alongside one of the engines on his outdoor model railroad.

Taking it to the screens: Library programs go online

By Donna Williams Lewis

You might never need to know how to tie a bow tie, but there’s something soothing during a global pandemic about watching a little Facebook video of Decatur librarian David Russell teaching the technique. Posted a few weeks before COVID-19 shut libraries down, it was Russell’s first foray into producing video for the masses. What the reference librarian didn’t know then was that video production was about to become a big part of his life.

For years, library systems have been offering their members digital products such as ebooks, audiobooks, movies and music on services such as

Libby and Hoopla.

But as the coronavirus quarantine took hold this year, metro area librarians immersed themselves in new ways to connect with their communities through homegrown, online programming.

Zooming through technical learning curves, librarians have become video producers. They’re doing everything from live-streaming book club meetings and mindfulness meditation sessions to posting story times for kids and adults. They offer virtual gardening, cooking and yoga classes and hosting online game and trivia nights.

And it’s all free. No library card required.

‘We’re on their feed’

Until quarantine, social media was primarily used by DeKalb County libraries to inform people about programs they could attend at library branches, said Myguail Chappel, manager of DeKalb County Public Library’s Take-Out Services.

“We were using it as a way

to get people into our doors,” Chappel said.

Now, the library is using social media to reach online audiences of unlimited proportions. Meanwhile, social media is helping the library raise its profile as people add library sites to the mix of Facebook, YouTube and Instagram pages they follow, Chappel said.

“Where before the library may have been an afterthought … now, I think everyday that they use their social media we’re on

offer them something that will help them in their life some type of way or give them some type of respite from their current worries.”

Libraries typically offer instruction on navigating the digital resources they employ. That’s a good thing in a time when people of all ages have been forced into the virtual life. Story times that routinely drew 30 to 40 people to the Decatur Library are drawing hundreds of views online.

their feed. So they’re always thinking about us as a resource,” said Chappel, who produced a video on allergy relief for the library. “Hopefully, through following us, we will

Elisabeth Harris, youth services librarian at the Tucker Library, has enjoyed the challenge of learning how to upload, download and edit her videos into “something publishable.”

A speaker of four languages, she performs the song “Bingo” in

david russell

French, and with the help of her dog, Cooper, in a Facebook video shot at her home.

She was thrilled when a parent sent her a video of their daughter singing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” in Italian — something she’d learned from watching Harris.

“I’m getting emotional,” Harris said, recalling her story time regulars. “I really miss them an awful lot.”

‘Calm in a time of chaos’

In addition to staff-produced content, the DeKalb library system offers programming by contract performers such as Atlanta harpist Angelica Hairston, whose Facebook video concert has drawn more than 5,000 views.

The highly lauded artistic director of the nonprofit Urban Youth Harp Ensemble performed the live, hour-long program on May 18.

“For me, it was a time for thinking, ‘What are the songs

that make me feel calm in a time of chaos?’” Hairston said, referring to the coronavirus pandemic.

The first song she performed was “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”

Russell’s tie video was an offshoot of the “tiebrary” he started at the Decatur Library. Known for the bow ties he wears to work, Russell lends ties from his large personal collection to library patrons who need ties for job interviews, court dates at the county courthouse a block away or for other important events.

“So many people don’t know how to tie a bow tie and they think it’s a super hard process,” he said. By the end of May, his video had snagged 871 views.

“I think the thing about librarians is we find ways to help on a shoestring budget … in quiet ways, where people can still have their dignity,” Russell said. “That’s what we do, day in and

Continued on page 10

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day out.”

He sees no end to virtual programming for libraries, even as some metro systems begin to resume various levels of reopening to the public.

The Decatur facility is fortunate to have a 200-seat auditorium where he has personally hosted events such as a music recital for children on the autism spectrum and improv for teens with learning disabilities, Russell said. Those programs can now be done virtually so that many more can attend programs that can be archived and watched at any time, he said.

Ready to serve

But he and other librarians acknowledge downsides to the shift to virtual programming. Beyond not being able to interact in person with patrons, they’re

concerned about people who can’t connect with the library virtually because they have no access to Wi-Fi or computers.

Chappel said people can access free Wi-Fi in DeKalb library parking lots and said some people are using call-in

numbers for online programs. The library’s Senior Advisory Board, which he works with, continues to meet on Zoom to help the library plan programs for seniors. The next meeting is July 22 at 1 p.m. and is open to any senior.

“When it’s safe [to open], we are eager to offer DeKalb residents services that they’re in dire need of, whether it be access to a computer or resources on how to write a resume or having outside social organizations

come in and talk about housing,” Chappel said. “We’re ready to make that happen.”

Other library systems around the metro area also offer online programs. Here are some offerings:

Clayton County Library System — In addition to story times and craft programs such as “Slow Cooker Play Dough,” the library system offers live “Friday ‘Fun-day’ Trivia Nights” on YouTube hosted by its assistant

Here are links to the websites and Facebook pages for five metro Atlanta library systems. Find links to their other social media sites on these pages.

Clayton County Library System claytonpl.org, facebook.com/claytongalib.

Cobb County Public Library cobbcat.org, facebook.com/cobbcountylibrary.

DeKalb County Public Library dekalblibrary.org, facebook.com/dekalblibrary.

Fulton County Library System fulcolibrary.org, facebook.com/fulcolibrary.

Gwinnett County Public Library gwinnettpl.org, facebook.com/GwinnettLibrary/videos.

director of Technology and Training, Marquita Gooch-Voyd.

“We are also going to implement 60-second book reviews during the Summer Reading months and host a series called ‘From Book to Big Screen’ via Netflix Party where viewers can watch the movie and chat about it all from the comfort of their homes,” Gooch-Voyd said.

Cobb County Public Library — See the library’s website for links to book club meetings, summer writing camps and other events such as Kemp Memorial Library’s Homeless Pet Club.

Fulton County Library System — “Everybody just stepped up to the plate and found

their own niche,” said Teryn Gilliam, a branch group administrator, about Fulton’s librarians’ foray into virtual programming. “We’re all excited.”

Fulton’s offerings include book clubs, a cooking segment called “Adult Eats and Treats,” Fitness Tuesdays, and a story time for adults called “Book Break.”

The library also provides access to the WordPlay Shakespeare eBook series, which offers filmed performances of Shakespeare’s plays placed next to the original text of the plays.

Gwinnett County Public Library — “Most of our programming is happening on

Facebook and Instagram right now and we’ve used pre-recorded programs/content as a foundation as we’re figuring out how to create more of a sense of community in digital spaces,” said Don Giacomini, a Youth Services specialist.

Youth Services has produced more than 100 programs on Facebook and Instagram from story times to “Backyard Biology.” There’s a virtual Sewing Club for teens, and adults are meeting with book clubs on Google Hangouts, taking classes such as “Baking with Becca,” and participating in the library’s

virtual Author & Speaker Series. Find the series at gwinnettpl. org/adults/gcplvirtual-authorspeaker-series. Video production has become a 40-hour-a-week job for librarians such as himself and once libraries return to full service, fewer virtual programs may be able to be offered, Giacomini said. But community response has been good, he said, adding, “I think because of that we’re going to almost certainly continue what we’re doing now indefinitely.”

Teryn gilliam

Summer’s here, so enjoy the sun, but wear sunscreen

If you are alive at 65, you have a lot to be grateful for, and probably a lot more living to do.

Most people who reach that age can expect to live, on average, two more decades, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But remember, we want to remain in good health and continue to take care of ourselves during those 20 years.

July is UV Safety Month, so let’s take a look at one common problem facing us as we age: skin cancer. Most skin cancers are found in people older than 65 and UV, or ultraviolet, light from the sun is the most common

cause of skin cancer. About 5 million people in the United States will be treated for skin cancer this year, at a cost of $8.1 billion.

There are good reasons why older adults are at higher risk of developing skin cancer. For one thing, UV damage builds up over time. The longer you live, the more exposure you will accumulate.

Second, our generation didn’t grow up with “sunscreen” warnings. During our teen years, we likely applied baby oil before sunbathing — it was fashionable at that time. In fact, when I was growing up on the West Coast, it became popular to add iodine to the oil to “boost” the tanning effect. Since moving to Georgia, I’ve learned my Floridian counterparts did much the same thing.

We can’t correct all the damage we did during our teens, but we can benefit by taking care

of what we have.

The good news is there are simple ways to protect your skin and reduce your risk of damage from UV light. Although we are talking about seniors, the guidelines fit almost every generation.

You can protect your skin by:

■ Avoiding periods of direct sunlight between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when possible

■ Using sunscreen with the SPF minimum of 15 or more when you are in direct sunlight

■ Wearing a hat and lightweight shirt with long sleeves to protect your arms from exposure

■ Checking your skin, at least once a month, for any changes

Dr. Nokuthula Msimanga is a board-certified physician in family medicine, geriatrics and palliative medicine with Northside Hospital in Cherokee.

Atlanta Senior Life asked her

Judith L. Kanne, RN, BSN, BA

Nokuthula Msimanga (Courtesy of Northside Hospital)

a few questions on how best to protect aging skin.

Q: How often should seniors see a dermatologist?

A: The American Cancer Society recommends monthly self-examinations and annual doctor visits to screen for potential skin cancer. For patients that are higher risk, more frequent dermatology visits are recommended.

Q : Is there a difference among different skin tones (e.g., will darker skin offer more protection and less skin cancer?)

A: There is a myth that people with darker skin tones are immune to skin cancer. This is not true. People with darker skin tones and African Americans do get skin cancer. According to the American College of Dermatology, people with darker skin tones often do not receive a diagnosis until the cancer is can be harder to recognize with darker skin tones. This is why it is important to check your skin on a regular basis to assess abnormal growths or changes.

Q: What should we look for?

A: Diagnosing skin cancer or changes in your skin begins with a visual examination. When doing monthly exams, it is important to check each spot for any unusual growths and changes in their size, shape, or color. It is important to report any changes to your primary care provider or to your dermatologist for further evaluation or testing.

Eye Protection

UV rays can also cause eye problems. According to the American Cancer Society, “They can cause the cornea (on the front of the eye) to become inflamed or burned.” They also can also lead to the formation of cataracts, which cloud the lens, or tissue growth on the surface of the eye. Both conditions can impair vision.

The CDC reminds us that sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays offer the best eye protection. Most sunglasses sold in the U.S., regardless of cost, will meet this standard. The “wrapsound” style work nicely because they block the side entrance of UV sun rays.

“Diseases like cataracts and eye cancers can take many years to develop, but each time we’re out in the sun without protection, we could be adding damage and increasing our risk for these serious disorders,” the American Academy of Ophthalmology says on its website.

The UV “take-away” message from Johns Hopkins Medicine is a good reminder in that: “Everybody needs some sun exposure to produce vitamin D (which helps with calcium absorption for stronger, healthier bones).” But unprotected exposure to UV rays can cause damage to the skin, eyes and body, and this damage can lead to skin cancer or premature skin aging.

So, as you head outside this summer, enjoy the sun, but be careful. Slather on the sunscreen and wear a hat.

Medicare does not cover screening for skin cancer in asymptomatic people. It does, however, cover a physician visit initiated by a concerned patient who has noticed, for example, a change in the color of a mole (clinically described as a pigmented nevus or, more generally, skin lesion), or a new skin growth.

Similarly, if a physician notices such a suspicious sign during a visit for another purpose and extends the visit to investigate further, Medicare may pay more for the visit if it meets certain criteria for a higher level “evaluation and management service” (which is Medicare payment terminology for a physician visit). In either situation, if the patient is referred to a dermatologist for further assessment, that referral visit is also covered.

Wear (designer) masks, watch for viral fraud

Do we need more drama in 2020?

Nope, I’m good, thank you.

At the onset of COVID-19, formerly known as the coronavirus, formerly known as “That Flu Thing,” we said, “Boy, those Chinese have a real problem over there.” Pretty soon it was, “Uh, oh, my trip to Italy doesn’t look so good,” and then, “No baseball? What the &#%$* is going on here??!!”

STAY SAFE

I have a great admiration for those nerds in school that wore the plaid shirts, pocket protectors, and geeky glasses,

who went on to become scientists, chemists, and doctors, who will save our fannies on this COVID-19 mess. The pandemic also brought to light the fantastic job nurses, techs, and other hospital staff do each day. They are truly deserving of our admiration and respect. Instead of going into what you already know, courtesy of the nightly media broadcasts of doom and gloom, let’s switch gears and look at … the upside?

First, masks. Who knew masks would be a thing?

Designer masks? Of course. I can’t wait for the Oscars when Giuliana Rancic, covering the Red Carpet, asks, “Who did your mask?”

I hope they suggest that we all don lab coats so we can wear the mask, gloves, and coats. We’ll all look like Doctor Kildare. (If you don’t know who that is, stop reading.)

Mask envy. Those looks you get at the grocery store when you strap on your disposable mask and have to stand six feet from the lady with the multicolored, multidesigned custom mask she got online a week ago. Don’t think I didn’t notice the snobby look.

I have to be honest about the six-foot-distance thing. I like it. It eliminates the personalspace problem some people have. Some still do have it— the guy in your face, talking about whatever non-interesting topic he’s going off on. Now, instead of stretching your spine backwards to avoid it, you simply say “Six feet pal.”

Elbow greeting? Jury is still out on that.

I will say that food delivery has picked it up a notch. Even those restaurants who once shunned delivery now embrace it and, happily, improved it. Thanks to food-delivery services, you now have access to a $20 meal that now costs

$45, but they bring it to you. Win, win. No need to change out of your sweats.

We need to prepare for the future. Depending on who you ask, in nine months I’m predicting an increase in babies, rehab, and divorce. I’ve done numbers one and three, so…

What did we learn? I think we’ll all take hygiene and caution more seriously even after we overcome COVID-19. You cannot help but see how this could have severe, as in world-ending, effects if we don’t continue the work to prevent it, or the next one.

Growing up in the 1960’s, we were taught the end of the world would be by nuclear devastation, but soon realized we’d survive it if we could just get under our school desks. Realistically, a pandemic a hundred times worse than COVID-19 is scary stuff and conceivably have the ability to wipe us out, desk or no desk, if we don’t do those little things each day.

That said, we need to

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

remember that there are those who are using the pandemic for personal and illegal gain so let’s not let our guard down.

According to a USA Today article, the FTC reported that so far in 2020, COVID-19-related fraud has reached the $13 million mark.

Here are some of the scams that have surfaced during the COVID-19 pandemic:

1. The sale of blood and (gross) saliva from survivors to bolster your body against COVID-19. It’s a hoax. Don’t fall for it.

2. Promising expedited stimulus checks. Don’t fall for the claim and don’t respond to unsolicited emails or calls from the IRS regarding the checks and tax. The IRS won’t call you or email you out of the blue to request your Social-Security number or other personal info.

Don’t open these emails and don’t click on links associated with them.

3. Fake checks. The tipoff is the requirement that you pay a small fee in order to cash the check, or that the sender will purposefully send a check for more than the intended amount, with instructions to deposit the check and then send the additional balance to a separate account.

Remember that being politely skeptical is a good quality, so scrutinize those emails. Also remember that we will get past this mess, so wash your hands, clean your personal areas, and, when you’re not feeling well, wear your Gucci mask.

And, for all you nerds out there, keep nerding. We need you.

By Gianna Smith Bedford and Collin Kelley

If you’re hankering to get out of town, but also mindful of the COVID-19 outbreak, these scenic drives through North Georgia, Pine Mountain, and North Carolina make for the perfect social distancing daytrip.

North Georgia

Traveling through White, Towns and Union counties, the nearly 41-mile RussellBrasstown Scenic Byway looks onto gorgeous vistas surrounded by the Chattahoochee National Forest.

Wind through the mountain gaps and valleys of the Southern Appalachians, stopping for Instagram moments along the

Scenic Drives

way. One of the best is atop Brasstown Bald, the highest natural point in the state and an ideal spot to watch the leaves turn brilliant colors in the fall. On a clear day, you can see Atlanta from the peak of Brasstown Bald, even though it’s more than 100 miles away.

If you feel like some exercise, tackle the nearly two-mile round-trip hike to Dukes Creek Falls or a portion of the famed Appalachian Trail at the Hogpen Gap trailhead before hopping back in the car to continue your scenic drive.

Spanning from Cohutta to Ellijay, the 56-mile CohuttaChattahoochee Scenic Byway travels through the Chattahoochee National Forest, plus a number of charming towns.

At Prater’s Mill in Dalton, observe a working 19th-century gristmill and cotton gin and pick

up goodies at the general store. Don’t miss the many Civil War sites in and around town.

After leaving Dalton, drive east to Chatsworth, where you can break for lunch and see the Chief Vann House Historic Site, a restored mansion built in 1804. This town is also home to Fort Mountain State Park, a great place to stretch your legs on a trail.

North Carolina

If you want to go a little further, head into North Carolina for to see the Cullasaja River Gorge, which offers a spectacular scenic drive along the Waterfall Byway between the towns of Franklin and Highlands.

The fast-moving Cullasaja River tumbles down three major waterfalls alongside the 61mile road that winds through the Nantahala National Forest. Visitors can drive their vehicles beneath the 120-foot Bridal Veil Falls and walk behind the roaring water at Dry Falls. The tallest falls are the Cullasaja Falls, which drop 250 feet.

Cullasaja means “honey locust place” in the Cherokee language. The gorge is part of the trail followed by Spanish explorer

Hernando DeSoto in 1540.

The gorge and its waterfalls can be accessed along U.S. Highway 64/State Road 28 between Highlands and Franklin, which is part of the Waterfall Byway. The road is winding and narrow.

Pine Mountain Scenic mountain views aren’t limited to North Georgia or North Carolina.

A couple of hours south of Atlanta, the Pine Mountain Highway-Scenic Heights Road ( State Route 190) runs from Manchester to Callaway Gardens through F.D. Roosevelt State Park. There are numerous parking overlooks with gorgeous views overlooking the valley below and hiking trails.

Stop at Dowdell’s Knob to see the view that President Franklin D. Roosevelt loved so much that he had a brick oven and picnic area installed so he could dine there when he was at the nearby Little White House in Warm Springs.

For more information on these scenic drives, visit ExploreGeorgia.org, blueridgeheritage.com, or gastateparks.org/FDRoosevelt.

Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway

Cullasaja Falls

Mountain Activities

The Nantahala and ► Pisgah National Forests in North Carolina are open, but at press time, most campgrounds remained closed. The forests are open for hiking, mountain biking, fishing and for scenic drives. Visit fs.usda.gov/nfsnc for updates.

If you want to go glamping (that’s a mashup of glamourous and camping), then you’re in luck because Under Canvas is welcoming guests who want to add a touch of luxury to their outdoor getaway in the Great Smoky Mountains . Located near Gatlinburg, this ecofriendly site offers luxury canvas tents, daily housekeeping, on-site dining and more. Visit undercanvas.com for details.

Coral Hospitality, which operates lodges for Georgia’s State Parks , has reopened Brasstown Valley Resort and Lodge in Young Harris, Unicoi State Park Lodge and Amicalola Falls Lodge, along with the restaurants. Social distancing will be in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Visit coralhospitality.com for details and reservations.

The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC has reopened its park spaces, including the gardens and grounds with more than 20 miles of walking, hiking, and biking trails. Be sure to visit biltmore.com for details and admission information.

How Do I Apply with Social Security Offices Closed?

Dear Rusty:

I am 64 years old and would like advice on how to move forward to apply for Social Security now instead of waiting until I am the “magic” age of 66.5 years.

Ready for Retirement

Dear Ready for Retirement:

All Social Security offices are currently closed (when this issue went to press) to public visits, but they are still providing telephone services although telephone wait times are usually longer these days. You can apply over the phone if you wish. However, the most efficient way to apply for your Social

Russell Gloor is a certified Social Security advisor with the Association of Mature American Citizens

Security benefit, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, is to apply online. You will need to create your personal “My Social Security” account prior to applying online, but that is easy to do at www.ssa.gov/ myaccount.

For information, Social Security uses a “two-factor” identification process for security purposes, usually by asking you to enter, in addition to your password, a special ID code sent to your cellphone (or email). Once you have set up your personal account, you can use the online application process at www. ssa.gov/retire. Here is a link to a short video from Social

Security which explains the online application process: www.ssa.gov/hlp/video/iclaim_ r01.htm.

When you start the online process, be sure to write down the reentry code, which will allow you to save and re-enter your online application as many times as needed before you finally submit it. Once it is submitted, Social Security will

call you or write you to get any additional information they need.

Here are a couple of things you should be aware of:

■ By claiming before your full retirement age (FRA) your benefit amount will be permanently reduced. The reduction is about 0.556% per month prior to your FRA that you claim (at 64, a reduction of

This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC Foundation’s staff, trained and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA). NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity. To submit a question, visit our website (amacfoundation.org/programs/socialsecurity-advisory) or email us at ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org.

The 2 million member Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC] [https://www. amac.us] is a senior advocacy organization that takes its marching orders from its members. We act and speak on their behalf, protecting their interests and offering a practical insight on how to best solve the problems they face today.

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about 15%).

■ If you are still working, you’ll be subject to Social Security’s earnings test until you reach your full retirement age. If you start benefits midyear 2020, you’ll be subject to a monthly earnings limit of

Pet Picks

Meet Georgia! This beautiful, affectionate 6.5-year-old boxer mix has been living in a foster home and is hoping her perfect match is out there somewhere.

$1,520, and if you exceed that limit you won’t be eligible for benefits for that month. The following years you’ll be subject to an annual limit, until you reach your FRA, when there is no longer a limit to how much you can earn.

Once she settles in, she’s an easy-going girl with exceptional leash manners. Her foster family reports that she’s potty-trained, crate-trained, knows basic manners, and loves her two canine foster brothers. She loves going on long walks and doesn’t pull much on the leash, and she’s looking for a low-key home where she can relax, get as many cuddles as hear heart desires, and go on a nice long walk every day.

Since she has done so well with her foster brothers, the Atlanta Humane Society staff believes Georgia would likely be successful with another dog in her future home, and a society staff member can help conduct a meet-and-greet to ensure everyone gets along.

Georgia is spayed, microchipped and current on vaccinations. While the AHS offices are closed to the public, you can still apply to adopt this boxer mix by visiting atlantahumane.org/adoptionapplication or learn more at atlantahumane.org/dogs.

Missy came all the way to Atlanta from south Georgia looking for the perfect forever home. The 6-year-old has a beautiful shiny coat, striking yellow eyes, and an adorable bobtail to boot!

Because she came to the Atlanta Humane Society from another shelter, Atlanta shelter workers don’t know much about her history with other cats, dogs, or kids, but an Adoption Counselor can help introduce Missy to your whole family. Missy is spayed, microchipped and current on vaccinations. To learn more about Missy, visit atlantahumane.org/cats or apply to adopt her at atlantahumane.org/adoption-application.

LANDER Resident since

2017

“Besides making new friends, I love the library, exercise classes and someone to change my linens on my big bed!!”

During this difficult time, we have maintained the CDC guidelines to keep our residents safe and functioning. We are in a “soft” re-opening phase for family members and look forward to re-engage with outside visitors in late July. Please call for details. We hope to see you then!

A summer picnic offers a chance for more than just takeout

By Mark Woolsey

Something about a picnic can seem quintessentially American, especially this time of the year.

A charcuterie tray, a fresh-made sandwich, chilled fruit, cold side salads, side munchies and a bottle of wine--all those seem a perfect accompaniment to spreading a blanket out on the lawn and dining in the open air while listening to patriotic music and speeches and oohing and ahhing over fireworks.

But if you’re not up for a crowd (and many seniors are not this year as they try to protect themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic) metro Atlanta offers a wide variety of take-out fare to take to more socially distanced spots.

If you want to load up a hamper and hanker for something more adventurous than the standard boxed lunch, here are some places to check out that offer picnic-friendly foods.

Alon’s Bakery

With outposts in Virginia-Highland/ Morningside and Dunwoody, Alon’s sets the standard for takeaway and picnic fair. The Dunwoody location is a bright, cheerful and

bustling spot that has a dizzying array of cold prepared foods that are ready on the spot.

How about a meat and cheese tray? Prepared sandwiches are also in the mix. And there are crab cakes, Moroccan chicken skewers with hints of garlic, dill and other spices artfully crafted together, sides such as pasta salads and green beans. For dessert, there was fudge or chocolate chip cookies that tasted like they’d just rolled out of the oven. (They make their own).

Manager Maegan Bufffington says they’ll gladly help you assemble a package for your excursion. Beautiful picnic spots are just minutes away at the Dunwoody Nature Center.

The Fickle Pickle

Ensconced in a converted house on a leafy street near downtown Roswell, the Pickle provides a prime spot for grabbing gourmet sandwiches for an excursion, or you can picnic right there. Their outdoor dining area includes picnic tables shaded by a giant sugar hackberry tree.

The restaurant offers more than a dozen artfully crafted sandwiches. Owner Andy Badgett says their biggest sellers are the Chicken Avocado (chicken marinated in garlic and cilantro piled onto multigrain bread and served with avocado, lettuce, onion and pickle) and the Brie BLT (with arugula lettuce that gives an old standard additional character) that is made panini-style on a sourdough bun. The Creole Cuban teams up smoked turkey and ham with Cajun pickles and a remoulade sauce.

True to its name, the restaurant offers four varieties of homemade pickles: Cajun, dill, bread-and-butter and “sweet little devils.” Appetizers include -- yes, indeed -- fried pickles.

Star Provisions

A longtime Atlanta favorite, Star Provisions offers one of the top cheese shops in the South, says manager Robby Cunningham. If your preferred picnic fare includes a favorite or hard-to-find cheese (and

what better basket filler can you find?), they probably can accommodate you. They also cure meat in house.

Cunningham touts a wide variety of prepared sandwiches. Most of them travel quite well, Cunningham said, so you should have no worries if you’re trying to picnic at a treasured shady spot by a mountain waterfall Their best-seller is a prosciutto baguette, made with fresh, house-baked bread and topped with grass-fed butter and parmesan.

Cunningham said that, if you want, Star Provisions can create and plate a selection of goodies just for you. Drop off your platter the day before. They’ll ask you about budget, diet requirements, etc. and they’ll put together a selection. He says several of those boards leave the premises weekly. Piedmont Park is not far away.

Your DeKalb Farmers Market

You can certainly find robust outdoor fare at big food chains and specialty grocers such as Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods, but if you want to choose from among a world-spanning selection of flavorful items, there’s nothing like this iconic Decatur spot.

Fresh-baked bread s (from bagels to baguettes), an array of tasty seasonal fruits and vegetables ranging from collards to kohlrabi. Although their cafeteria was closed at press time, YDFM offers deli sandwiches, a wide variety of cheeses and picnicready meat selections.

Some of their imports make for unusual side items, such as imported Candied Thai Ginger. Picnic around the planet! Glenlake Park is just a hop, skip and a jump away.

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