Atlanta Senior Life - November 2017

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

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Editorial

Kathy Dean

Contributing Editor kathydean@atlantaseniorlife.com

Joe Earle Editor-at-Large JoeEarle@reporternewspapers.net

Contributors

Sarah E. Brodd, Robin Conte, Gary Goettling, Judi Kanne, Isadora Pennington, Clare S. Richie

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By Clare S. Richie

Grady High School Celebrates 70th Anniversary

In 1947, two years after World War II ended, Henry W. Grady High School opened its doors in Midtown to welcome students from its precursor schools, Boys High and Tech High, and became co-ed.

“This 70th anniversary is a chance for Grady to celebrate itself and its deep legacy of achievement and service to its graduates and the city of Atlanta,” said John Brandhorst, vice chair of the Grady High School Foundation. “This is a fresh opportunity to develop an active network among all constituents to better recognize our history and to support and celebrate our future.”

Steve

Elliott Levitas (Class of ’48) still remembers his transition from Boy’s High to attending Grady. Levitas, the first editor the school’s newspaper, The Southerner, and a Rhodes Scholar, went on to represent Georgia’s 4th District in U.S. House of Representatives, where he helped create the Chattahoochee River National Park after serving 10 years in the Georgia House of Representatives. He continues practicing law today.

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“In many of the activities, we created co-positions boy/girl. We felt like the founding parents of a new country, because everything was being done for the first time and decisions were being made about school colors, mascot and nicknames. All of these decisions were group decisions,” Levitas said.

“I remember one very moving moment was when we were at the printers and the first edition of The Southerner newspaper came off the presses. After all those days and weeks of working on it with new people and the new idea for a school newspaper—there it was. We held it in our hands and looked at it. It was a very important event,” Levitas remembered.

His senior year taught him that “change is not a threat it can be an opportunity.”

That spirit of opportunity and achievement continued in the decades that followed. In 1961, Grady was the first high school in Georgia to racially integrate its student body and made national headlines for a peaceful transition.

Current students may discover they have more in common with past alumni than they thought. For instance, many generations attended classes in portables.

“For several years after Grady opened, a lot of the classes were held in wooden buildings called portables adjacent to structure that’s there now, which had no central heating,” Levitas recalled. “The only heat was supplied by a potbelly stove in one corner of the room that was burning coal.”

Perhaps other alumni met their future spouse or partner through Grady, as Levitas did. His wife Barbara was a senior class officer several years after Levitas graduated.

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

Left, Wilson "Bill" Dreger III,

photo by Isadora Pennington

Right, Dreger during his military career, photos courtesy of Bill Dreger

Grady High School graduate Elliott Levitas in his Class of 1948 yearbook photo, top, and today.

Local Vets Reflect on their Military Service

By Gary Goettling

When Jeffrey Burnett signed up for a hitch in the U.S. Army, he was following a family tradition of military service. Hs grandfather and an uncle were Army veterans and his father served in the U.S. Navy. Burnett enlisted in 1997, when he was 18. He started as an infantryman, but took a job

as a military policeman as part of his plan to pursue a career in law enforcement. He spent seven years in the Army, including stints in Afghanistan and Iraq, where his group provided perimeter security at the time of the capture of Saddam Hussain.

This month, as Veterans Day returns, we celebrate the thousands of men and women who dedicated portions of their lives and careers to military service to their—and our—country.

“I don't think about me or my service,” said Burnett, who now lives in Tucker. “I think about the other guys—the World War II and Korea veterans who endured so much and accomplished so much and the Vietnam vets who came home to an awful situation.

“When you think about them and what they went through, and you gain a lot of respect for these other veterans. That's what Veterans Day means to me."

Veterans of the major conflicts of the 20th Century—World War II, the Korean War and the War in Vietnam—are aging and disappearing. But they and their service are not being forgotten.

For Veterans Day, here are snapshots of three who served.

Georgia Tech student Jim Tucker was spending the early Sunday afternoon of Dec. 7, 1941 at the Techwood theater on the edge of campus. Abruptly, the film was interrupted by the announcement that Pearl Harbor had been attacked by Japanese aircraft.

"We knew we were going to get called up at some point, remembers the 94-year-old Stone Mountain resident, "but we didn't know when."

At the time, every Tech student at the then all-male school was required to participate in ROTC in their freshman and sophomore years.

"We could then sign up for advanced ROTC, which would require us to attend Officer Candidate School and serve in the U.S. Army for four years after graduation," Tucker said. "However, although we expected to complete our studies first, we were called to active duty on April 6, 1943, at Fort McPherson, and after induction sent to Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., for basic and cadre training. We were then sent back to Georgia Tech to complete another quarter of college because

of a backlog at the Ordnance Officer Candidate School."

Tucker graduated from Ordnance Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as a second lieutenant on May 27, 1944. He then decided to work in bomb disposal and signed up for the rigorous training course in deactivating fuses on bombs and other explosive devices

"I like to hunt, but I don't like to hunt humans," he said of his decision. "I didn't want to be involved in killing anybody, so this seemed like a great thing. I could be a part of the war effort and help, but in a way that was more productive to me."

In 1944 he was sent to the Philippines, where he was assigned to the American Division during their retaking of Cebu in the Visayan Central Islands. The majority of the munitions that needed deactivating were U.S.-dropped parafrag bombs, anti-personnel fragmentation bombs with small parachutes attached that were designed to explode on contact with the ground and spread shrapnel in all directions. The problem was that the parachutes would get snagged

James M. Tucker Jr.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JEFFREY BURNETT Jeffrey Burnett

PHOTOS BY ISADORA PENNINGTON

Jim Tucker holds a painting of himself when he was in service.

up in the bamboo and the field artillery couldn't advance or fire heavy weapons with these live explosives hanging everywhere.

"During the first 30 days after we landed, I had to remove the fuses from over 100 parafrags a day," he said. "I had so many fuses to dispose of, I found a bombedout concrete building in Cebu City where I could toss the fuses over a wall and they'd blow up on the other side. Unfortunately, I became tired or careless, and the last one I tossed one day dropped on my side and took off part of my cheek. I came close occasionally, but that was the only major harm that I suffered."

Tucker also disarmed booby traps and bombs the Japanese had re-purposed as land mines, and "anything else that the commanding general wanted us to take care of."

When the war ended in August 1945, Tucker was sent to occupied Japan to clear out munitions on the peninsula across the bay from Tokyo.

"Big, heavy shells were loaded onto ships and dumped at sea," he said. "For loose munitions— powder and so forth—we'd locate some field or airport nearby and burn them. We burned tons and tons and tons of the stuff."

Tucker was discharged from active duty with the rank of captain on September 10, 1946, in time to go back to Tech for the fall quarter and resume his studies for a chemical engineering degree.

The student body included a large number of returning veterans.

"We didn't particularly care to worry or talk about or reminisce about what we'd just gone through," Tucker recalled. "We wanted to get through our studies and get on with life."

He graduated from Tech in December 1947 and embarked on a long and productive career in pulp and paper processing before retiring in 1991.

While proud of his military service, Tucker didn't often think about it until 1996, when a few classmates proposed that Tech coop alumni who entered Georgia Tech during 1939-1940, but had never had a class reunion because they graduated in different years,

have a special muster. Following the muster, several alumni living in or near Atlanta decided to meet for lunch every other month. More than two dozen veterans attended the first musters, but the number has slowly decreased over time. Today there is only Tucker and one other, Jim Ivey.

"Fortunately, Marilyn Somers, director of Tech’s Living History, supports and joins us for lunch," he said.

Wilson "Bill" Dreger III

Bill Dreger had wanted to join the U.S. Army ever since he was a little boy growing up in Buckhead, where he'd watch long convoys of troop trucks moving down Peachtree Road during the Second World War.

"It was quite a sight," recalled Dreger, 86, who makes his home in Alpharetta.

He got his wish in July 1950 when he enlisted in the Army Reserve as a private while still a student and ROTC member at Georgia Tech.

"I enlisted in a unit that had been activated for the Korean War, but right after I joined they took it off the activation list," he said.

After 4 ½ years of Reserve service, and by now a distinguished military graduate of Georgia Tech and an alumnus of the Infantry School at Fort Benning, he was commissioned a lieutenant in the regular army. Next stop: Korea, for a 16-month stint as a member in the 21st infantry, 24th division.

He served as a platoon leader at a main battle position on the Imjin River, a major waterway near the boundary between the two Koreas. He later served as a company executive officer and a company commander.

"The war had just ended when I got there—the shooting had stopped," he said, adding that

technically, "we're still in a state of war over there. They signed an agreement to stop shooting at each other, but that's as far as it went."

Upon returning to the U.S., he was detailed to Army Intelligence at Third Army headquarters at Fort McPherson. With the move back to the Atlanta area, he spent more time with his father's apartment development and management company. In 1960 he decided to re-join the Army Reserve and pursue real estate full time, eventually taking ownership of his dad's company. Dreger's notable achievements include construction of the first apartments on Buford Highway.

He continued his education by studying mission-oriented training for soldiers at the Command and General Staff College in Leavenworth, Kan., and the Army War College in Carlisle, Pa.

Dreger's steady rise through the ranks culminated with assignments as a staff officer, chief of staff and brigade commander, and in 1983, a promotion to brigadier general as deputy commanding general of the 81st Army Reserve Command.

He retired six years later, closing a 39-year military career, about a third of which was spent on active duty. In the reserve, "I commanded all size units from a battalion to a brigade," Dreger reflected, including "a battalion in Macon that had reserve units all over Georgia." He also noted that, "Every one of the units I commanded served in Desert Storm," the early 1991 military action to force Iraqi invaders from Kuwait.

Earlier in his retirement when Dreger lived in Cumming, he gave talks at the War Memorial there on Veterans Day and on other occasions, "but I've got to an age now where I don't do much of that anymore."

His topics centered on current

events related to the military. If he were to deliver such a talk this year, he might speak about medical care provided by the Veterans Administration, which has "gotten totally out of control," according to Dreger.

But for the most part, "I think Americans by and large take care of their veterans very well," he said. "If a need exists and it's identified, they step in and do something about it.

"I am very proud to be a soldier."

Conrad Boterweg

Conrad Boterweg's assignments in Vietnam included a popular and essential service for U.S. troops— he brought the mail.

A native of Perry, Ga., Boterweg, 77, joined the Army in 1962 after graduating from North Georgia College's ROTC program and receiving his commission as a second lieutenant. Thirty years later the Alpharetta resident retired as a colonel.

In between he served a pair of year-long stints in Vietnam, the first beginning in 1966.

"When I first got there, I was stationed in Di An—not so much a town as a little hovel," he said with a chuckle, referring to the American base camp located about 25 miles northeast of Saigon. Boterweg was the personnel officer "in charge of the Army assignments and records that had to do with officers assigned to the 1st Infantry Division"—popularly known as the Big Red One.

During his second tour, which lasted from 1972 to 1973, he worked in Saigon as a postal officer.

"I was in charge of getting mail to soldiers in my division

I think americans by and large take care of their veterans very well. if a need exists and it's identified, they step in and do something about it. i am very proud to be a soldier.

“

wilson "bill" dreger III

Continued from page 5

at least once a day," he said. "Everybody liked to see me."

The mail came in on one of the commercial aircraft delivering replacement soldiers. "Occasionally we would receive a package with a cellophane window cut into the top to reveal a homemade cake," he said. "The postal clerks personally hand-carried these special deliveries to each soldier rather than tossing them in the large, locked mail bags."

The assignment had him flying to U.S. outposts all over the 3d Corps region to deliver letters and packages to approximately 25,000 men.

Also moving through the air was a defoliant called Agent Orange.

Due to the thick tree canopy, American forces "couldn't see the Ho Chi Minh Trail," a logistical network thousands of miles long that brought supplies to Viet Cong and North Vietnamese soldiers via bicycle, Boterweg explained. "So

Check out veterans day celebrations on pg. 20

the Army and Air Force sprayed this agent all over toward the trail to cut down the tree cover."

The dioxin-bearing chemical agent was dropped extensively over farms and jungles in Vietnam from 1961 until 1972.

His last military assignment was to Fort McPherson, where he served as the Forces Command adjutant general.

After retiring in 1992, he and his wife, Pat, opened a picture-framing franchise, The Great Frame Up, on the south side of Peachtree City that proved successful enough that they opened a second location on the north side.

Toward the end of the decade, Boterweg began having seemingly unrelated neuro-muscular physical symptoms. A diagnosis eluded doctors for several years until 2001, when it was determined he was in the early stages of Parkinson's Disease, brought about by his repeated

exposure to Agent Orange.

"It was pretty much all through the air, and those of us who were susceptible—which was quite a few of us—got Parkinson's disease in addition to other life-threatening diseases related to exposure to Agent Orange," he said.

As the symptoms increasingly limited his ability to work, he was forced to sell both of his framing stores.

These days, he gets around in a wheelchair. The Parkinson’s continues to worsen his ability

to eat, swallow, speak and write, and he has frequent falls because of poor gait and balance.

On the occasion of Veterans Day, Boterweg said that he especially remembers "the soldiers who worked for me in Vietnam who gave their lives for their country."

"I'm very proud of my service, too," he added. "Under the circumstances of the time, the use of Agent Orange was the necessary thing to do. It was effective. I don't blame anybody for using it."

Col Conrad Boterweg

Veterans Organizations

John Paulson remembers what it was like back then. When he returned from Vietnam in the late 1960s after his time as a rifleman with the U.S. Marines, he just didn’t seem to fit in with the old-timers at his local Veterans of Foreign Wars post back in Chicago.

“It was filled with World War II vets,” Paulson said. “I was 22 years old. I didn’t relate to them at all.”

Paulson didn’t go back. In fact, he stayed away for decades. Then, a few years ago, he started attending gatherings of the American Legion Post 140, which is based in Buckhead. “This was my peer group,” he said. “I feel more comfortable and more engaged with the guys that are there.”

Now Paulson, who’s also a city councilmember in Sandy Springs, is service officer with the post and works to help other vets. He also is working with a new VFW chapter that’s organizing in Buckhead. Other Vietnam vets say they faced similar situations when they returned from their war. Feeling they didn’t fit in with existing groups, some started their own organizations to pull fellow Vietnam vets together to talk about their experiences and to try to help others.

Decades later, groups of Vietnam vets still meet to give their members places to come together. The American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars are certainly the largest veterans’ organizations, but here are a few local groups organized or supported by Vietnam veterans that remain active.

Army Aviation Heritage Foundation

The Hampton-based organization maintains and flies vintage military helicopters. Members fly foundation helicopters to schools, air shows and veterans meetings to display the machines and give rides. Its fleet includes four flyable Vietnam-era “Hueys,” said president and CEO Fred Edwards, and many of the people who fly and maintain them are Vietnam veterans.

The organization, which has chapters scattered across the country, claims about 800 active members and Edwards estimates that half or more are Vietnam vets.

Vietnam Veterans Alliance gvva.org

The alliance traces its roots to a group of Vietnam vets who regularly got together in the 1980s for coffee at a VFW post in Marietta, founder Marvin Myers said. It has grown to a service organization that offers help to vets in need.

Formally organized in the 1990s and now headquartered in Doraville, the group claims about 300 members and has chapters in several Georgia communities, he said. It raises money and provides financial support for any vets who need help with rent, utilities, food, transportation, counseling, alcohol or drug abuse. At one point, it operated its own shelter, Myers said. The group also offers scholarships. “The main purpose is to assist veterans with their problems,” he said, “and to pull Vietnam vets together.”

Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association avvba.org and Facebook page

This association started in 1985 whe n five Atlanta area businessmen gathered on Veterans Day. “Their focus was to promote a positive image of Vietnam veterans. We all thought Vietnam veterans got a bad shake coming out of Vietnam,” association board member and former president Max Torrence said.

The group now claims more than 300 members and meets the first Tuesday of each month to socialize and hear speakers. The nonprofit group also puts up memorials to metro Atlantans who died during the Vietnam War, works with other local groups such as the USO and has deployed volunteers to help during disasters, Torrence said.

“We’re all in our late 60s or early 70s,” Torrence said. “But we still have something on the ball and can help.”

armyav.org

Georgia

JOE EARLE

Marvin Myers heads an alliance of Vietnam veterans that provides help to veterans in need.

COURTESY OF JOHN PAULSON

Above right, John Paulson today.

Above left, Paulson takes a break while serving in Vietnam in 1969.

JOE EARLE

Office of Georgia Vietnam Veterans Alliance

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MAX TORRENCE

Max Torrence poses with a helicopter during his stint in Vietnam from May 1970 to May 1971.

Come Meet Our Physicians

A lifetime of music

Frank Boggs shares how music shaped his life

By Joe Earle

Frank Boggs has been around church music all his life.

He remembers tagging along to choir practice with his mother and father at the First Baptist Church in Dallas, Tex., back when he was too little to be left at home. “I’d go with them and I’d listen to them sing and then I’d curl up in the pew and go to sleep,” he recalled. “Music was just kind of there my whole life.”

And Boggs has lived quite a lifetime in music.

He’s organized and built choirs, taught music and recorded two dozen albums. He’s appeared on radio and TV, performed around the U.S. and abroad, and sung in concerts, at religious revival meetings and during church services.

He even co-wrote the fight song played to cheer the Baylor University Bears, the football team at his alma mater. The song he and his roommate wrote while they were students at Baylor back in the 1940s replaced an earlier fight song written by Fred and Tom Waring of big band fame. Boggs thought that song was too hard to sing. Now, “every time they score a touchdown, they play our song,” he said with a smile.

“Music is my life,” he said during a recent chat in his 21st-story apartment in Lenbrook, a Buckhead high rise. “I love to make beautiful music, and teaching people to love beautiful music.”

At age 90, he’s still at it.

He leads the Georgia Festival Chorus, a singing group he has directed since its founding more than three decades ago. The chorus performs concerts in the spring and fall and is scheduled to perform Nov. 19, Nov. 30 and Dec. 12. “Through the years—this is our 31st year—we have built a very loyal audience,” Bogg said. “They turn out to hear us.”

David Scott, associate director of the chorus, said Boggs has been “tremendously important” to the group’s success. “He’s been a great advocate for the music,” Scott said. “He knows what he wants. …His choice of material is very good. He’s fun to work with. …He’s a nice guy to get to know.”

That matters. “These things are very personality driven,” Scott said. “People vote with their feet. If you don’t have integrity, if you don’t have a pleasant personality, people don’t come back. …Personality is the most important aspect of it.”

At the same time, Boggs is a natural showman, Scott said. “In performance, a natural showman will be at ease,” Scott said. “Frank has a way—in a performance he speaks to the crowd naturally. Most folks, if you start putting them in front of a crowd of 100 or 1,000 or

JOE EARLE

Chorus founder and director Frank Boggs talks about music in the living room of his Buckhead apartment.

2,000 people, they get stressed. But Frank is very comfortable.”

Boggs took over the festival chorus about the time he retired from teaching music at The Westminster Schools. He taught there for 23 years. A friend, a minster at a Cobb County church, told Boggs that he’d be miserable without a choir to direct. Boggs thought there might be something to that, so he put an ad in a Marietta newspaper soliciting singers. The Cobb Festival Chorus started with 18 members.

Their first performance, Boggs said, was of Handel’s “Messiah,” a piece usually associated with much larger groups. “When people heard what we did that first year, I started auditioning more singers.” Now, there are 111 singers with the festival chorus, he said. “Over the years, we’ve built a wonderful choir,” he said.

He’s used to building choirs. When he started teaching at Westminster, he said, the choir was composed of just 18 girls and three boys. “It was the most pitiful thing I’d ever heard,” he recalled. “I came home and told [my wife] I may have made the biggest mistake of my life.”

Instead of giving up, he set to work. He started going to football practices to recruit singers. He told the boys they could meet girls by singing. “I said, ‘I guarantee you, if you join choir, I’m going to get every good-looking girl at Westminster to join the choir.’” Once the football players signed up, he said, girl singers followed and the choir grew.

Boggs comfortably recalls other successful ventures he’s played a part in. When he was a student at Baylor, he organized the music for a series of student-led tent revivals. They started out small, but eventually attracted hundreds of people from surrounding communities. “This thing just took off,” he said. “The Holy Spirit just blessed us. A thousand people would be spread out on the grass. …Instead of going for one week like we planned, it went for three weeks.”

These days, Boggs is sorting through his old recordings to make CDs of his music to give to his grandchildren. He’s pulled songs from albums with titles such as “In God We Trust” and “Yes, God Is Real.” One recent

IT’S TIME FOR ANOTHER DANCE

morning, he put a CD into a boombox and listened to his younger self singing. He leaned his head back and gazed into the distance. What’s his favorite song? That changes, he said. He thought a moment and then said a song called “The Majesty and Glory of His Name” was one of his favorites for the choir. “Every time we sing it,” he said, “something magical happens.”

Georgia Festival Chorus performances

2017 Fall Concerts

■ Sunday, Nov. 19, 7 p.m.—“Carols by Candlelight Concert,” McEachern Methodist Church, 4075 Macland Rd., Powder Springs 30127

■ Thursday, Nov. 30, 7:30 p.m.—Christmas Concert at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, 955 Johnson Ferry Rd., Marietta 30068

■ Tuesday Dec. 12, 7:30 p.m.—Lenbrook, 3747 Peachtree Rd., Atlanta 30319

2018 Spring Concerts

■ Sunday, Mar. 11, 6 p.m.—Grace Life Church, 1083 Allgood Rd., Marietta 30062

■ Sunday, Mar. 18, 6 p.m.—Holy Cross Anglican Church, 3836 Oak Grove Rd., Loganville 30052

■ Sunday, Apr. 8, 6 p.m.—Smyrna First Baptist Church, 1275 Church St., Smyrna 30080

■ Sunday, Apr. 15, 4 p.m.—Hillside United Methodist Church, 4474 Towne Lake Pkwy., Woodstock 30189

■ Sunday, Apr. 22, 6 p.m.—Kennesaw United Methodist Church, 1801 Ben King Rd., Kennesaw 30144

■ Sunday Apr. 29, 6 p.m.—Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, 995 Johnson Ferry Rd., Marietta 30068

Source: Georgia Festival Chorus

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ANTIQUES & GIFT MARKET

Navigating the ATL

Travel easily through Atlanta's busy airport

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Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is large and busy, a hub for travelers who are going across the country or around the world. For some older adults, it can be intimidating to navigate the bustling terminals, especially during the holiday season.

After all, any airport that serves an average of 285,000 passengers a day can be much like a small city. And in many ways, it is.

“I know the airport can be scary and imposing because of the sheer size of it,” said Director of Guest Relations Steve Mayers.

But, Mayers says, it can also be cozy, because of its multiple smaller concourses and many areas that include works of art and museumlike exhibits. At every juncture, there are plenty of restaurants and shops with friendly staff eager to serve patrons.

It turns out that thinking about seniors and their ability to maneuver the busiest airport in the world is far from a new concept. For Mayers, it’s his job.

Three years ago, the Transport Research Board released a study on the Impacts of Aging Travelers on Airports. A main reason for the study was the increase in the number of travelers over age 65. The post WWII ‘baby boomer’ generation had started to retire, and they definitely like to travel.

What’s more, boomers are not your typical seniors.

According to the report, “It is

also expected that the proportion of older travelers choosing to fly will increase as a result of increased affluence and education levels.” These retirees are a far cry from the outdated image of old folks sitting on the front porch.

The report also states: “Many younger seniors are more capable of dealing with the new technology than their older counterparts.”

Travelers who are familiar with technology find it easier to navigate transportation hubs. Maps, flight updates and more info can be found on HartsfieldJackson’s website, atl.com. The Atlanta airport also has an easyto-use app, iFlyATL, available for Android and iPhone.

Mayers offers several suggestions for HartsfieldJackson planning, based on any traveler’s general health and wellness. For example, “Don’t wait until you arrive at the busiest airport in the world to ask for a wheelchair,” he said.

“For wheelchairs or other help, we ask that you plan ahead, contact the airline and let them know you’ll need a wheelchair or some type of assistance to get from point A to point B,” said Mayers.

“Please do that when purchasing your ticket,” he added. “Showing up at the airport and then requesting help may be challenging.” There’ll always be a wheelchair, but it might arrive too late to catch the intended flight.

Like so many things

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

COURTESY OF HARTSFIELD-JACKSON ATLANTA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

the 3rd.

in life, planning ahead will help alleviate most miscommunication glitches.

“Also, if there are seniors with opinions, we’re interested in knowing how we can improve travel plans,” said Mayers. “Anyone

Matters of Security

can call me and ask if we’ve considered researching such and such. If we can help, we will.”

In fact, he says it was Atlanta community input that helped arrange for an adult changing station at Concourse

F. Mayers said they had the room to implement such a plan and knew it would help those getting ready for an extended international flight. The facility is also applicable for adults and children with disabilities.

Mayers says that at HartsfieldJackson, he and his team look forward to community input from everyone, and especially from senior travelers. To reach Mayers directly, email GuestRelations@ ATL.com or call 404-383-2280.

Travelers are expected to provide TSA (Transportation Security Administration) with medical documentation to describe specific conditions, such as an implanted metal device. Questions or concerns about traveling with an implant or certain disabilities may be handled by contacting TSA Cares: 855-787-2227.

Many seniors may not realize the TSA Cares helpline is there to provide guidance to travelers with disabilities, medical conditions and other special circumstances. They can help with additional assistance during security screenings.

Remember to call 72 hours prior to traveling with questions about screening policies, procedures and what to expect at the security checkpoint. If not, a TSA officer or supervisor can offer on-the-spot assistance, but remember—it’s likely to take extra time.

This is especially important if traveling with oxygen or certain prescription medications. All fliers must undergo screening at the checkpoint either by technology or what is referred to as a “pat down.” An exception includes those with “pre-check” status. In addition, TSA officers may swab hands, mobility aids, equipment and other external medical devices.

Passengers 75 and older can leave on their shoes and light jackets when going through security. However, TSA also has the right to ask any flier to undergo additional screening including visual or physical footwear inspection, including a trace detection testing of explosives concealed in footwear.

In the case of grown children attempting to help an elderly or frail parent to the gate, passes may be available, says Steve Mayers, Director of Guest Relations. Passes are issued at the discretion of the airlines.

Airline agents have full responsibility as to who can (or cannot) be escorted. Decisions are based on risk and passes can be denied,” explained Mayers. “There are no guarantees.”

Traveling with Pets

While every airline has different specific regulations, generally speaking, pets weighing less than 20 pounds—carrier included—and whose carrier fits securely under the seat can often fly as a carry-on, according to tripswithpets.com. Service animals fall under a different set of rules and regulations.

However, it’s a good idea to check with your airline prior to arriving at Hartsfield-Jackson, as rules can (and have) changed periodically.

In August of this year, Atlanta’s airport announced the completion of their seventh Service Animal Relief Area. According to Hartsfield-Jackson’s public relations office, Atlanta has the most animal relief areas of any airport in the U.S.—one in every terminal.

Each spacious Service Animal Relief Area is equipped with pet supplies and concrete and grassy turf areas as well as a groundlevel drinking fountain. In some cases, there’s even an artificial fire hydrant. All equipment is ADA accessible, including an automated entry door.

In addition, two outdoor dog parks at Hartsfield-Jackson offer relief and relaxation. In fact, Poochie Park is a 1,000-square-foot dog park at Domestic Terminal South. Headed overseas? An additional pet relief area is located on the arrivals level of the International Terminal, right outside door A1.

Service dog on the “plane train” at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport.

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MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Volunteer at the Airport

By Judi Kanne

One of the most important things DeAllous Smith, Public Relations Manager at HartsfieldJackson Atlanta International Airport, wants Atlanta area seniors to know about is the airport’s volunteer program.

“Once a year, we have quite a celebration to thank all those who help us welcome our many travelers,” added Director of Guest Relations Steve Mayers.

Retirees and older adults often help at information desks and other important areas. Volunteers receive perks such as a MARTA pass or paid parking fees, along with a food coupon that’s appropriate for their required four-hour volunteer shift.

One such volunteer is Brian Keiser, 54, from Atlanta’s Buckhead area.

Keiser says he found the airport a good match with his past personal travel experiences and his ability to speak German along with his understanding of some Spanish.

“I also still work part time,” he said. Keiser retired from his fulltime work about two and a half years ago.

The people he meets from all over the world makes his volunteer work worthwhile, says Keiser. “I’ve met people from Australia, South Africa, China, Russia, Ukraine and all over the U.S. and Europe.”

His volunteer location is often at the top of the escalators in the arrival area. “We’re the first real contact a lot of people have with Atlanta residents,” Keiser said. “I’ve lived in Atlanta most of my life and I enjoy sharing what I know and love about this city,” he explained with a fair amount of enthusiasm.

Hartsfield-Jackson volunteers are easy to spot in their bright red vests, and can be found at information desks; in the mall area, where they direct passengers to their gates; or around baggage claim areas, where they provide information about ground transportation at both domestic and international terminals.

“Anybody can volunteer,” said Keiser. “But there are some skills that I think are especially important to have. The most important one is the ability to interact with an incredibly diverse group of people.”

It’s also helpful to understand the challenges and stress that many people experience when traveling, he says.

“That’s especially important when dealing with infrequent flyers,” Keiser said.

He explained that for some, it might be their first trip on a plane, and their needs vary dramatically from business travelers who are on the road 200 days a year.

“Every day is a different experience,” said Keiser.

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30+ dealers who shop regionally to provide our clients the best merchandise including mid-century modern, cultural pieces, rugs, antiques & funky vintage items. decaturestateantiques.com

Open 7 days a week Mon - Sat 10 to 6 Sun Noon to 6

If you’re interested in becoming a Hartsfield-Jackson Volunteer, email volunteer@atl.com, call the Volunteer Office at 404-382-2189 or visit atl.com, click on 'volunteers' at the bottom of the page and complete an online application form.

COURTESY OF HARTSFIELD-JACKSON ATLANTA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

A Hartsfield-Jackson volunteer assists a fellow passenger.

THE ZABAN TOWER

You’ve worked hard to build your assets, manage your home and raise your family. So why can’t you afford a quality, active senior community?

A Day of Purée

Someone, in fact, did say it would be easy. Blogs, books and food network throw-downs abound regarding the mindless simplicity of making your own pumpkin purée. Why, a Boy Scout with a pocket knife and old set of bicycle gears could do it.

Robin’s Nest

Robin Conte is a writer and mother of four. Her Robin’s Nest is a multiple award-winning column. She can be contacted at robinjm@earthlink.net.

I saw photos of the process—step by step instructions where: 1. docile pumpkins lay in wait, 2. are cooked, 3. their cooked skin practically rolls itself off its own pulp, and 4. the pulp blends beautifully. In the time it takes to file your nails, you could produce a batch of smooth and vibrantly colored purée that would be fresh with flavor and bursting with vitamin A. It would be so much tastier than that brownish orange glop that comes out of a can. Yes, according to the blogs, the nutrition-to-ease ratio is roughly five-to-one in favor of going for it.

I should have known better because the truth is, I’m not that great in the kitchen. I’m famous in my house for burning water.

But I’m a farm-to-table kind of gal, so go for it, I did.

I bought two pie pumpkins, one of which happened to be organic. I did a quick calculation of the cost and estimated that for the same amount of money, I could have purchased a case of Libby’s canned pumpkin—or a completely baked pie.

Home I went. After only about an hour, the pumpkins were sliced and gutted, their slimy, stringy seeds in a large bowl of water, awaiting the next farm-totable treatment. I decided that roasting the pumpkins would be the simplest cooking method, so I lined up slices on a cookie sheet and shoved it in the oven.

Soon, my house was filled with the healthy smell of squash.

The slices were supposed to roast for forty-five minutes, but my oven was not cooperating. It has digital controls, of course, and extremely sensitive ones, which means that if I so much as stand next to it and sneeze, it turns off. The pumpkin had been in the oven for thirty minutes when I realized that the oven had—at some point—stopped heating. I was beginning to get impatient, and steaming was supposed to be faster, so I crawled under my kitchen cabinet, pulled out my stock pot and dumped the entire batch of pumpkin pieces into the steamer basket.

I was clocking into my third hour of partying with the pumpkins, and they still weren’t done. I didn’t care—I was ready to get this over with and go shoe shopping.

The skins that had peeled off so effortlessly in the photos were clinging to the pulp the way a woman clings to her purse on a New York subway, and I whittled them off, inch by inch, and threw yellowish chunks of pumpkin into the food processor. My processer wasn’t machine enough for the job, though, and large masses of squash refused to be pulverized. So I pulled out my blender. I was puréeing my third batch of the stuff around the time my kids started asking what was for dinner.

Finally, during hour four, I puréed my last batch, wondering all the while what my neighbors were doing on this beautiful afternoon, three days before Thanksgiving. I surveyed my kitchen: there was a dirty food processer, an orange goocoated blender, a cookie sheet covered with sticky pumpkin seeds, a stock pot on the stove and a counter filled with pumpkin parts. I had produced four cups of bright orange…glop. It was filled with pumpkin strings, bits of rind and chunks of unpuréed pumpkin. Well. You don’t find THAT in a can!

It was of questionable consistency. The batch of it wouldn’t matter if it were on its way to becoming risotto, but as the featured ingredient of a pumpkin shaped muffin, it mattered.

The muffins came out cute and properly formed, but were missing a certain something, a key element…that robust flavor of pumpkin that comes conveniently out of a can. I called them “spice cakes” and roasted the seeds.

And the seeds were good.

Oodles of Noodles

Some top ramen restaurants around town

by Isadora Pennington

Ramen, a wheat-based noodle soup, has a rich history of adaptation and inspiration. Originally developed as a result of the influx of wheat into Asia after World War II, the dish has filled every role from cheap eat to astronaut food to elevated cuisine. The possibilities for variations of this classic dish are endless with base options including pork, bone, chicken, vegetarian and seafood, among others. The noodles can be thin or thick, and the toppings often include seaweed, eggs, scallions and sprouts.

Atlanta has a huge array of restaurants that sell this delectable dish. While many include ramen as one option on their menu, there are other restaurants that have dedicated their entire concept to this tasty noodle soup. Listed below are several favorite restaurants where you can try this dish for yourself.

BENSON MANOR

A Retirement Housing Foundation ® Community

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

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

For An Application or More Information

Taiyo Ramen

130 Clairemont Ave., Ste. 100, Decatur 30030 404-996-6504, taiyoramen.com

▲ Pork Shio: beautiful briny sea salt, chicken broth, rolled sliced pork belly, vegetable, soft-boiled seasoned egg, scallions, garlic soy reduction — $12

2348 Benson Poole Rd. Smyrna, GA 30082

Please Call 770-435-6406 www.rhf.org

▲ Chicken Paitan: creamy chicken bone broth, pulled chicken, garlic chili oil, soft-boiled seasoned egg, ginger, scallions — $13

PHOTOS BY ISADORA PENNINGTON

JINYA Ramen Bar

5975 Roswell Rd., B217

Sandy Springs 30328

404-600-6974

3714 Roswell Rd., #35

Atlanta 30342

404-254-4770

jinya-ramenbar.com

Wagaya Japanese Restaurant

1579 N. Decatur Rd. Atlanta 30307

678-949-9278

339 14th St. Atlanta 30318

404-390-3798

wagaya.us

◄ Red Spicy Tonkotsu: noodles, soft-boiled egg, scallion, seaweed, chashu (braised pork belly) — $10.95

▲ Karaage Chicken Ramen: chicken broth, crispy chicken, chili sauce, green onion, bamboo shoots, seasoned egg, non-dried seaweed, served with thin noodles — $12.95 (November Chef’s Special)

Ton Ton Ponce City Market

675 Ponce de Leon Ave. Atlanta 30308

404-883-3507

tontonramen.com

◄ Hakata Tonkotsu Classic: pork belly, soft boiled egg, menma (bamboo shoot condiment), woodear mushrooms, butter garlic corn, scallions, sesame seeds — $13 (Add a chili bomb for 95 cents)

▲ Spicy Creamy Vegan Ramen: vegetable broth, tofu, onion, green onion, spinach, crispy onion, garlic chips, garlic oil, chili oil, sesame seeds, thick noodles — $12.95

The Bowl

369 Cobb Pkwy., Marietta 30060 770-702-1126, thebowlatl.com

Stir Fry Ramen: noodles stirfried with vegetables — $10.95

Ramen Bar by Hajime

4180 Old Milton Pkwy.

Alpharetta 30005

678-622-1718

2345 Cheshire Bridge Rd., Ste. 1 Atlanta 30324

470-428-2388

hajime.us

Cabbage Ramen: powerful bonitoflavored tonkotsu shoyu ramen, cabbage, roasted pork slices, garlic-mayonnaise, gyofun (fish flavoring), green onion — $13 ($10 to add spinach, $2 for an egg)

Dental Implant $1155*

Plan Ahead for a Lush Spring Garden

It’s never too early to start thinking about your upcoming spring garden. In fact, November is the best month to plant your bulbs for next spring.

Flowering bulbs are usually the first sign that spring is around the corner. So, get out that spade and start planning where you’d like to have the first pops of spring color in your landscape.

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.

There are many different flowering bulbs to choose from. The most popular garden bulb in Georgia is the daffodil (also referred to as narcissus), but maybe this year you’d like to branch beyond the most common choice and add some other bulbs, either instead of or alongside your daffodils.

Other attractive bulb varieties include crocus, muscari and hyacinth. A nice thing about all of these flowering bulbs is that they’ll come back every year after just one planting.

A long-time favorite for many people is the tulip. While tulips put on quite a show, they’re more of an annual here in Georgia. As long as you don’t mind planting them every year, tulips will brighten your garden. But be aware that the bulbs you plant this fall will only bloom one spring season.

There are many different companies you can order bulbs from online. Just Google “flower bulbs” and see how many options pop up!

Or you can visit your local garden center this fall when they start stocking them in the stores. Be sure to look for pre-chilled bulbs. This means they’ve already had a period of cooling and are ready to be planted.

If they’re not pre-chilled, you might need to put them in a refrigerator crisper for a month or so before they’re ready to plant.

Once it’s time to plant the bulbs, follow the package directions to find out how deep and how far apart to space them. It’s a good idea to mix bulbs that bloom at different time periods of the season so you’ll have a continuous show throughout spring.

As you’re toiling away on your garden this autumn, remember that all your careful planning, digging and planting will be worth it when colorful flowers pop up next year to signal that spring is around the corner!

Pet Pick

Cotton is a strong, bouncy, all-American dog looking for human and even canine playmates! He’s a high-energy guy who’ll motivate you to stay active and would make an excellent running buddy or hiking partner. A two-year-old Border Collie mix, Cotton is neutered and up to date on vaccinations.

Looking for a fellow explorer and adventurer to share your experiences? Come meet Cotton at the Atlanta Humane Society Mansell Campus, 1565 Mansell Rd., Alpharetta 30009. To learn more about pet adoptions, as well as becoming a volunteer, call 404-875-5331 or visit atlantahumane.org.

►Out & about

Veterans Day

MJCCA Veterans Day Ceremony

Friday, Nov. 10, 10-10:30 a.m. The Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta and The Weinstein School honor the veterans who’ve served in U.S. Armed Forces with a morning filled with songs and prayers. Veterans from all faiths and backgrounds and their families are invited. MJCCA Zaban Park campus, 5342 Tilly Mill Rd., Dunwoody 30338. Contact Rabbi Brian Glusman, 678-812-4161 or brian.glusman@ atlantajcc.org, for further info.

Sandy Springs Veterans Day Celebration

Friday, Nov. 10, 11:30 a.m.- 1 p.m. The event celebrates past and current members of the military who have served our country. Concourse

Corporate Center, The Queen Building, 5 Concourse Pkwy., Sandy Springs 30328. Go to sandyspringsga.gov, Annual City Events, for more.

East Cobb Veteran’s Day Dinner

Friday, Nov. 10, 5 p.m. East Cobb Senior Center and East Cobb YMCA invite you to join us for a celebration of veterans. Along with the solemn ceremonies of a Color Guard and a Missing Man Table, you’ll will be entertained by the Big Chicken Chorus and Adam Komesar singing “The American Songbook”. Sponsored by Coca Cola, 101 Mobility, Arbor Terrace of East Cobb, Arbor Terrace of Burnt Hickory, Solana East Cobb, Lockheed Retirees and Kaiser Permanente. Free. East Cobb Senior Center, 3332 Sandy Plains Rd., Marietta 30066. Visit cobbcounty.org or call 770-509-4900 for more.

Dunwoody Veterans Day Tribute

Saturday, Nov. 11, 10-11 a.m. The tribute honors all those who have served and currently serve in the U.S. armed forces.

The assisted living services at The Piedmont at Buckhead Senior Living Community are about the whole family and the whole YOU. Of course, we can help you with your daily needs. But did you know you will also have options for fitness, socializing, healthy fine dining, and more? And services are tailored to you, so you’ll get just the right amount of help you need, when you request it.

But the best part? No matter if you need a little help or a lot, the difference you’ll feel will be amazing. Please call The Piedmont at Buckhead to schedule your complimentary lunch and tour.

Brook Run Park, 4770 N. Peachtree Rd., Dunwoody 30338. For more info, visit dunwoodyga.gov and check out Upcoming Events.

Atlanta Veterans Day Parade

Saturday, Nov. 11, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Free and open to the public, the downtown parade starts at SunTrust Plaza, 241 Peachtree St., Atlanta 30303. The reviewing stand is on Baker St., between the World of Coca Cola and the Georgia Aquarium. Route and more info at georgiaveteransday.org, click on Parade Info.

13th Annual Marietta Veterans Day Parade

Saturday, Nov. 11, 11 a.m. Marching bands, floats, drill teams, military vehicles and veterans’ organizations will be included. The parade starts at Roswell St. Baptist Church, 774 Roswell St., Marietta 30060 and loops through Marietta Square. After the parade, everyone is invited to a ceremony on the Square at 12 noon to pay tribute to the men and women of the military. More at marietta.com, Upcoming Events.

Kennesaw Veterans Day Luncheon

Saturday, Nov. 11, 12-2 p.m. North Cobb American Legion Post 304, along with Kennesaw city officials and staff, honor America’s service men and women with a complimentary lunch. All veterans and active military service members are invited to attend. No identification is required. Ben Robertson Community Center, 2753 Watts Dr., Kennesaw 30144. Contact Laurel Fleming, 770-422-9714, for more info.

Woodstock Candlelight Veterans Day Ceremony

Saturday, Nov. 11, 7-8 p.m. A celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, willingness to serve and sacrifice. The Park at City Center, 101 Arnold Mill Rd., Woodstock 30188. Go to visitwoodstockga.gov, Visit Woodstock, Upcoming Events.

The Arts

Rick Allen: Drums for Peace

Saturday, Nov. 11. Perimeter Mall, 1-3 p.m.; Phipps Plaza, 5-8 p.m. The famed artist and drummer of rock band Def Leppard will be making two special Veterans Day appearances at Wentworth Galleries in two Atlanta area malls to present his collection, “Rick Allen: Drums for Peace,” including originals, limited editions and wearable art. All art is available for acquisition. RSVPs are strongly suggested. RSVP’s are strongly suggested. RSVP for Wentworth Gallery, Perimeter Mall at 770-913-0641 or perimeter@wentworthgallery. com; for Wentworth Gallery, Phipps Plaza at 404-233-0903 or phipps@ wentworthgallery.com. Visit wentworth-art.com to learn more.

Senior Day at the MJCCA Book Festival

Monday, Nov. 13, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Active seniors are invited to take part in three activities, ranging from cooking to candle-making. The keynote program is the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta Book Festival presentation featuring Pamela and Henry Gallant. Lunch is provided. Transportation is available upon request. Open to Continued

irected by Glenda Gray nd & Lighting by Deryl Cape

Costumes by Larsen Kennedy

►Out & about

the community and MJCCA members. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 on the day of the event. MJCCA Zaban Park campus, 5342 Tilly Mill Rd., Dunwoody 30338. Go to atlantajcc.org for more info, or contact Earl Finley at 678-812-4070, earl.finley@atlantajcc.org.

The Gift of the Magi

Runs Nov. 16 to Dec. 3. Set in 1950s Atlanta, the play is based on O. Henry’s short story. Adapted and directed by Emil Thomas. Tickets are $10 to $30. Theatre on the Square, 11 Whitlock Ave., Marietta 30064. Visit theatreinthesquare.net for tickets and details.

John Prine

Friday, Nov. 17, 8 p.m. John Prine, Grammy-award winning singer-songwriter, appears with special guest Kacey Musgraves, winner of "New Artist of the Year" at the 2013 CMA Awards. Tickets run $63 to $103. Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St., Atlanta 30308. Get tickets and more info at FoxTheatre.org or by calling 855-285-8499.

Radney Foster Acoustic CD & Book Release Party

Saturday, Nov. 18, 8 p.m. Songwriter Radney Foster has written for some of the biggest names in Nashville and Texas. He’s releasing a CD and book, both titled “For You to See the Stars.” Tickets range $20-25. Red Clay Music Foundry, 3116 Main

St., Duluth 30096. Visit eddieowenpresents.com for tickets; use promo code ‘GwinnettLibrary’ to receive a $5 discount.

A Christmas Story

Runs Nov. 24 to Dec. 17. A holiday classic, based on the Jean Shepherd film, about a boy and his desire for the ultimate Christmas gift—a genuine Red Ryder rifle. Tickets run $10 to $23. OnStage Atlanta, Company, 2969 E. Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur 30030. For show times, info and tickets, click on onstageatlanta.com.

Sanders Family Christmas

Runs Nov. 30 to Dec. 10. Thursday-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday, 3 p.m. The Cumming Playhouse presents this sequel to the successful bluegrass gospel musical “Smoke on the Mountain.” On Christmas Eve, 1941, the Sanders Family Singers are preparing to send one of their own off to war. The show is filled with hilarious and touching stories, as well as 25 favorite Southern Gospel Christmas songs. The Cumming Playhouse, 101 School St., Cumming 30040. Call 770-781-9178 or visit playhousecumming.com for details and tickets.

Community

Thanksgiving Meet and Eat

Tuesday, Nov. 14, 12-2 p.m. Start your holiday season with a festive and fun-filled afternoon with live music from About Time 4Jazz. You’ll also enjoy a delicious meal of turkey, dressing and all the trimmings from Ambrose Culinary Caterers. This is a fundraiser with all proceeds benefitting the C. Freeman Poole Senior Center.

AMERICA

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

$12 for Cobb County residents; $14 for non-residents. Freeman Poole Senior Center, 4025 S. Hurt Rd., Smyrna 30082. Details available at cobbcounty.org or by calling 770-801-3400.

Friends of the Roswell Library Book Sale

Thursday-Sunday, Nov. 16-19. 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 hard cover and paperback fiction and non-fiction books are offered, organized by category. DVDs, CDs and children's books also available, as well as an excellent selection of art and coffee table books. Cash or checks accepted. All proceeds go directly to the Roswell Library for materials and community programs. Roswell Public Library, 115 Norcross St., Roswell 30075. To find out more, call 770-640-3075 or email roswellgafriends@gmail.com.

15th Annual Gobble Jog

Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, Nov. 23, races start as early as 7:30 a.m. MUST Ministries’ largest fundraiser includes timed and untimed 5Ks and 10Ks, as well as a Tot Trot. Marietta Square, 39-75 E. Park Sq., Marietta 30060. See a map and get sign-up info at gobblejog.org.

Learn Something

Veterans Round Table

Wednesday, Nov. 8, 1 p.m., and the second Wednesday of every month. Meet with experts on veterans’ resources. Get help filing VA claims as well as information on medical care, housing and job resources. Gwinnett County Public Library, Buford Branch, 2100 Buford Hwy., Buford 30518. For more information, email cwalker@ging.org.

Veterans’ Hidden Benefits

Thursday, Nov. 16, 1-2 p.m. Do you know what veterans' benefits you may be eligible for? During this informative session, you’ll be educated on the hidden secrets of veteran benefits by Anissa Pellhum with Nelson Elder

Home Tours

23rd Annual Virginia-Highland Tour of Homes

Saturday, Dec. 2, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. & Sunday, Dec. 3, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Eight beautiful properties will be featured in this annual walking tour of one of Atlanta’s most charming neighborhoods. Favorite local restaurants will provide tastings in John Howell Park and at each of the tour homes. Tickets can be purchased online for $25 until the weekend of the tour, when they bump up to $30. Get tickets and details at vahitourofhomes.org.

The Marietta Pilgrimage Christmas Home Tour

Saturday, Dec. 2, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. & Sunday, Dec. 3, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Several types of tours are available. The Day Tour features six homes and a number of historic public buildings; tickets are $25 in advance, $30 on the day of the tour. The Candlelight Tour, 7-9:30 p.m. on Saturday, showcases three of the six homes, with tickets at $20 in advance, $20 on tour day. A combination ticket is also available for $30 in advance and $35 on the day of the tour. Find out more at mariettapilgrimage.com.

37th Annual Grant Park Candlelight Tour of Homes

Saturday, Dec. 9 & Sunday, Dec. 10, 6-10 p.m. Grant Park is home to one of Atlanta’s best and most eclectic holiday home tours. In addition to the tour, there’s also an Artists’ Market, 4-9 p.m. on Saturday and 6-8 p.m. on Sunday, at St. Paul United Methodist Church, 501 Grant Street, Atlanta 30312. Tour tickets are $20 in advance and $25 on tour weekend. Click on CandelightTourofHomes.com for tickets and more information.

Care. Free. Registration required. North Cobb Senior Center, 3900 S. Main St., Acworth 30101. For details, call 770-975-7740 or visit cobbcounty.org.

Ironically, some apnea sufferers find that using a CPAP machine disturbs their sleep just as much as their Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)!

OSA sufferers have historically had few choices for treatment that dealt with the actual cause of their condition. Treatment options often only focus on relieving the symptoms.

The newly patented VOAT™ (Ventral Only Ablation of the Tongue) procedure is a new approach to RFA (Radio Frequency Ablation of the tongue).

The VOAT™ surgery was developed by the staff of Sleep and Sinus Centers of Georgia to correct the initial cause of the problem, not just symptoms.