We’ve Got This
What we need to heal and balance our country today is wisdom. And that’s exactly where seniors have the edge.
Having lived through the 1960s, we’ve experienced the tremendous progress that’s possible when upheaval seems to be the order of the day. Now we have the opportunity to meet the challenge head on once more.
This time, we have energy and talents honed by years of service, and we’ve developed the patience
and insight to apply them more judiciously. We know how to put our differences aside and work together. We have a clear vision of what’s right and we know how to get it done.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENTEDITOR’S NOTE
This is the season for connecting in family and community circles, sharing food and joy. Let’s also use this holiday to heal any rifts left over from the previous months of division.
We wish you Peace on Earth and the wisdom to achieve it.
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.
Editorial Kathy Dean
Contributing Editor kathydean@atlantaseniorlife.com
Contributors
Mary Bondurant, Julie Herron Carson, Robin Conte, Sheldon J. Donner, Joe Earle, Steve Eberhardt, Collin Kelley, Kristen Sumpter
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DALE PATTERSON
Christmas Music from the Choral Guild of Atlanta
By Joe Earle
Dale Patterson was recruited for Choral Guild of Atlanta while shopping. She was browsing in a Buckhead silver shop about five years ago when she heard a tune she liked in the store’s background music and she started to sing along.Sheila Pater, a member of the guild, worked in the shop. She heard Patterson singing to herself and took notice.
“I said, “You have such a beautiful voice. You should come sing with the Choral Guild,’” Pater remembered.
It worked. Soon Patterson joined fellow soprano Pater as a singer with the guild, an amateur ensemble that performs classical and contemporary choral works, and is now in its 77th season.
Patterson said the guild was started in 1939 by the Atlanta Music Club as the Music Club Chorus, and is one of the oldest metro Atlanta groups still performing. “It started, I believe, as
a community singing group,” she said.
The group was renamed the Choral Guild of Atlanta in 1947, according to the guild’s webpage. In the 1960s, the group sang with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and the chorus has traveled to Australia and Europe to perform. In 1980, the guild played Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Current guild members come “from every walk of life,” Pater explained, and from across metro Atlanta. Pater lives in Sandy Springs. Patterson lives in Buckhead. “There are really no professional musicians per se,” Pater said, “just people who love to sing. There’s lots of what I would call ‘church-choir-type singers’ who enjoy singing.”
Patterson says she’s been singing throughout her life. “I think there’s an inexplicable, unattainable thing that kind of speaks to your soul,” she said. “There’s something about music, and singing in particular, that connects to my soul.”
Concerts and carolers add to the seasonal celebration. Here are a few of the musical treats to enjoy this holiday.
Anchor for FOX 5 Atlanta, all under the baton of Maestro J. Wayne Baughman. There will also be a very special performance with the restored Trinity Wall Street Church Pipe Organ. Tickets are $32 for adults, $27 for seniors
55 and up, and $16 for students and children.
Christmas Gala Holiday Pops Concert
Join the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra (JCSO) for festive music on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 8 p.m. The performance includes the entire JCSO and features the Christmas Gala Chorus, Johns Creek Chorale, Jeremy Rush, Organist, and Guest Host Russ Spencer, TV News
The concert is presented in the sanctuary of Johns Creek United Methodist Church, 11180 Medlock Bridge Rd., Johns Creek, 30097. 678-748-5802; johnscreeksymphony.org
Christmas with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
A tradition for Atlanta families,
the concert includes favorite Christmas carols and hymns sung by the Chorus and special guests, the Gwinnett Young Singers. The Morehouse College Glee Club perform their holiday signature piece, “Betelehemu”. Concerts scheduled on Friday, Dec. 9 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 10 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Ticket prices start at $20. The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, 1280 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, 30309. 404-733-4900; atlantasymphony.org
Christmas Festival Concerts
& Messiah Sing-Along
The spirit of the Christmas season comes to life on Friday, Dec. 9, 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 11, 3 p.m. at Roswell United Methodist Church (RUMC). The 100-voice RUMC Sanctuary Choir under the direction of Dr. Michael O’Neal, Celebration Ringers under the direction of Lisa Stover,
Organist Tom Alderman, and the Georgia Philharmonic Orchestra perform your favorite holiday music. Tickets are complimentary, but necessary to reserve seats.
On Sunday, Dec. 18 at 3 p.m., you have a unique opportunity to join hundreds of singers and perform the Christmas portion of Handel’s Messiah. Bring your own score or buy one at the event. General admission is $10; mosingers.com. Roswell United Methodist Church, 814 Mimosa Blvd., Roswell, 30075. 770-594-0512; rumc.com/worshiparts
Atlanta Boy Choir
Holiday Spectacular
Sounds of the season fill the air on Friday, Dec. 16, starting at 7:30 p.m. General admission tickets are $25. St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 435 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, 30308. 404-378-0064; atlantaboychoir.org.
The Atlanta Botanical Garden in Midtown transforms into a glowing wonderland every night with millions of lights now through Jan. 7, from 5 to 10 p.m. Explore the new Walk of Flames and an expanded Tunnel of Light along with favorites such as the Orchestral Orbs, Glittering Galaxy, Radiant Rainforest and Model Trains that continue to make the exhibition a must-see holiday tradition.
Ticket prices vary; discounts available for Botanical Garden Members. Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1345 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta, 30309. 404-876-5859; atlantabg.org
the decorated gardens and grounds on during Candlelight Nights, held on two successive Fridays, Dec. 9 & 16, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Guests enjoy a lively Christmas Market, then visit historic homes where they can experience how Southerners celebrated Christmas in three eras—pioneer days at the Wood Family Cabin, the Civil War era at Smith Family Farm, and the Jazz Age at Swan House. Tickets are $10 for members, $15 for non-members and $8 for children. Atlanta History Center, 130 West Paces Ferry Rd. NW, Atlanta, 30305. 404-814-4000; atlantahistorycenter.com, click on Programs
Holiday in Lights at Centennial Olympic Park
265 Park Ave. NW, Atlanta, 30313. 404-223-4412; gwcca.org/park.
Now until Dec. 29, the grounds and gardens of the historic Candler Estate are a spectacular festival of lights from 6 to 10 p.m., thanks to Callanwolde Center’s partnering with Illuminating Design Inc. Marvel at the 23-foot tall LED tree with 37 billion color combinations choreographed to holiday music. This year’s Christmas at Callanwolde tour’s final day is Dec. 13, so hurry. The 27,000-square-foot, Candler Mansion is professionally decorated by interior and floral designers.
Light show and tour tickets are $20, adults and children, for each event. Combination Tour Tickets of $35 are available for both events. Callanwolde Fine Art Center, 980 Briarcliff Rd., NE, Atlanta, 30306. 404-872-5338; callanwolde.org.
decorate the plantations 10 rooms and outside areas for the holiday, now through Jan. 2. The downstairs evokes memories of the mid-1800s to 1940s, and upstairs represents the 1950s to current times. Smith Plantation is open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and Sunday, 1-3 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and $6 for children (6-18). Smith Plantation, 935 Alpharetta St., Roswell, 30075. 770-641-3978; roswellgov.com/ smithplantation.
Winter Wonderland, Ice Skating & New Year’s Eve Celebration
Marietta Square presents a Winter Wonderland, featuring a huge Christmas tree, Santa’s Workshop and an open-air ice skating rink, now until Mar. 5. New Year’s Eve festivities include live music on the bandstand in Glover Park, ice sculpting and a one-of-a-kind Surprise Midnite Drop.
Skating rink admission and skate rental is $12. Marietta Square, 50 N Park Square, Marietta, 30060. winterwonderlandmarietta.com
The Atlanta History Center invites visitors to stroll through
Throughout December, the Downtown Park is lit with thousands of lights. Bring your skates and take a whirl on the 115-by-64foot ice rink. Along with carnival foods like funnel cakes, hot chocolate and apple cider will be available for purchase. The rink is open afternoon to evening Monday-Thursday and all day Saturday and Sunday. Check the website for specific hours. Tickets are $12 per person and group rates are available.
The new Chinese Lantern Festival features colorful lanterns, a three-story pagoda and a 200-foot-long Chinese dragon.
It’s ongoing from Dec. 9 to Jan. 15, with evening hours through the week. Centennial Olympic Park,
More than 30 twinkling, decorated Christmas trees create a Winter Wonderland at Fernbank Museum of Natural History until Jan. 8. The trees each display the diversity of celebrations, holidays, traditions and events from around the world.
Museum admission is $18 for adults, $17 for seniors 65 and up, $16 for children 3-12, and free for Fernbank members. There are additional costs for IMAX theater shows and special exhibits. Fernbank Museum of Natural History, 767 Clifton Rd. NE, Atlanta, 30307. 404-929-6300; fernbankmuseum.org
Images of Christmas at Smith Plantation
Exquisite floral displays by the Roswell Garden Club
Through December to Jan. 22, Alpharetta’s ice-skating rink reappears with holiday lights, thanks to Northside Hospital. Hours are Monday through Friday, 3-10 p.m., Saturday & holidays, 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday 12-7 p.m. The cost is $18 for adults, $14 for children, and that includes skate rental. There is a seasonal pass for $175 and lessons are available. The rink is at 2200 Avalon Blvd., Alpharetta, 30009. 770-765-2000; experienceavalon.com.
Callaway Gardens’ magical holiday light-and-sound show, open now through Jan. 7, has been named one of the world’s “Top 10 Places to See Holiday Lights” by National Geographic Traveler. Eight million lights and 15 dazzling scenes make it unforgettable. It’s a drive, 80 miles down I-85 from Atlanta, but well worth it.
Tickets range from $21-$28 for adults and $10.50-$14 for children 6-12. No ticket is required to visit the Christmas Village, featuring shops and boutiques dedicated to the holiday. Various overnight stay packages are available, which include Fantasy in Lights tickets. Callaway Gardens, 17800 US Hwy. 27, Pine Mountain, 31822. 1-800852-3810; callawaygardens.com .
MENORAH LIGHTINGS
Celebrate Hanukkah at several locations in Atlanta. There’ll be music, doughnut decorating, raffles, games and prizes, as well as hot drinks, sufganiyot (deep-fried jelly doughnuts) and latkes (potato pancakes). Sunday, Dec. 25, 3:30 p.m. in Virginia Highlands, 1017 N. Highland Ave., Atlanta, 30306, at the corner of Virginia and Highland Avenues. There will also be celebrations and menorah lightings Monday, Dec. 26, 6 p.m. on the square in Decatur and Tuesday, Dec. 27, time to be determined (TBD) on the Green at Atlantic Station. On Wednesday, Dec. 28, 6 p.m. the celebration continues
More than two million lights light up Stone Mountain Park on select dates in December to Jan. 4. Live performances, holiday characters and music add to the magical experience. Don’t miss the Skylights Spectacular or Wonderland Walkway, a light-filled tunnel that leads to the Snow Angel® Palace. The evening wraps up with a snowfall and fireworks display. Tickets vary in price, package deals are available and advance reservations are required. Stone Mountain Park, 1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd., Stone Mountain, 30083. 1-800-4012407; stonemountainpark.com .
at Dewey Brown Plaza, 21 S. Avondale Plaza Avondale Estates, 30002, across from Avondale Estates City Hall; details at avondaleestates.org. For more information about Hanukkah and the specific events, visit chabadintown.org
Every evening from Sunday, Dec. 25 through to Sunday, Jan. 1, from 7-7:15 p.m., Hanukkah candles will be lit in the parking lot of Temple Kol Emeth, 1415 Old Canton Rd., Marietta, 30062. Get additional info at kolemeth.net
In the middle of December, The Question is on everyone’s lips: Are you done yet?
As if Christmas is a chore.
Are you done yet?
How should a person respond to that? “Yes, I’m done! I’ve washed two loads of clothes, cleaned the bathroom, made dinner and besides all that, I’m done with Christmas!”
Is that any way to treat the most wonderful time of the year?
The thing is, the question is gender specific—it’s the question that we women are asking each other. When we’re chatting at the class party, when we pass each other in the aisles of Publix, sleep-deprived and overwhelmed, we give each other a knowing look and then ask…are you done, yet?
After all, we are the purveyors of Christmas Magic.
The veritable winter wonderland that springs up each December—of decorations, gifts, parties, treats and greeting cards— is the product of wild-eyed women running ragged. It’s as if we are all swabbies on the U.S.S. Make It Happen and Captain Christmas is in charge, barking orders and sending us to the poop deck.
Somewhere along the line, Christmas Cheer got replaced with Christmas Chore, and that’s a rotten, Grinchly thing. I looked for the root of the fa-la-la-frenzy, and I discovered that it really isn’t growing in my home. Rather, it’s out there with all the dashing through the malls and showing our love to all of our friends, relatives and service providers. The Christmas spirit has become a goblin that chases us around department stores and bakeries, haunting us with guilt if we don’t spread a little joy to everyone we know, in the form of a loaf of homemade banana bread.
December has become the designated “show your
appreciation month.” It’s also become national “bake your best cookie month,” “light up your yard month,” “spruce up your house month,” “send cards to your friends month” and “visit your relatives month.” It makes for a daunting list of tasks.
But I decided that it was time to take the reindeer by the antlers and do something about it. It occurred to me that if I was going to take the chore out of Christmas, I needed to extend the deadline.
I got permission for the extension from a song. You know it, too—it’s the annoyingly redundant “The Twelve Days of Christmas”— the one that starts with a partridge in a pear tree and ends up sounding like “100 of Beer on the Wall.”
They’re not singing about a race through the malls from December 14 to Christmas Day. The Twelve Days of Christmas start with Christmas and keep on going past the New Year and clear into January. They’re bonus days. These are the actual days of the Christmas season, and so I use these days to give gifts to the neighbors and the mailman.
I entertain after Christmas Day, when the house is still decorated and the holiday food is half-price. I give New Year’s Day gifts. I figure that friends can get our greeting cards around the time that the Wise Men made it to the manger.
Why not?
It’s not a perfect solution, but it does help. It allows me a grace period, if you will—time to take a breath, tone down the trappings and do a bit of spiritual preparation for this holy season. It’s not only a traditional thing to do, it’s a sane thing to do.
So put down that mop, you scurvy swabs, and take a load off. Stop with the chore and have a cup of cheer.
And make mine a double.
Handsome Max is a sweet pup who’s looking for a cozy home to lay his head. Max is a 9-yearold Cocker Spaniel and an absolute love bug. He delights in being around people and has never met a person he didn’t adore straight away. Max does have some breedrelated health issues, like ear infections and dry eyes, but they’re easily manageable
You
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The Cathedral of St. Philip Thrift House, which began in 1947 in a church basement, has grown into a 6,600-squarefoot warehouse, but its mission to serve the community by selling quality goods at affordable prices remains the same. So does giving 100 percent of the profits back to local charities. Most of the donations to the Cathedral Thrift House come from parishioners of the church on Peachtree Road in Buckhead. As a result, the Thrift House and its customers see a wide range of high-quality inventory, from Baccarat crystal and collectible tea sets to Brooks Brothers suits, Cole Hahn shoes and the occasional Prada handbag, as well as more standard thrift store items. All of the items are sold well below retail price. Their larger quarters on Piedmont Road now allow them to offer more furniture, rugs and artwork.
“We are fortunate to have so many wonderful customers from Morningside, Midtown and Buckhead,” says Thrift House manager Nellie Holleman. “Not only do they buy from us, but their generous donations support us. We take great pride in having an extremely talented group of antique dealers who work in the area and visit us daily. Yes, they also buy from us, but always take the time to give advice on pricing, history and wonderful little tidbits which help to enhance our merchandise.”
The Cathedral Thrift House
also serves the community by welcoming its homeless neighbors with a kind word, a warm jacket or a set of clean clothes. Since 2000, the Thrift House has donated over $1.1 million to the community and church. Recent recipients include the Emmaus House, which serves the residents of the Peoplestown neighborhood near Turner Field, The Church of the Common Ground, Open Door Community, The Road and the Beacon of Hope Learning Center.
“Our eclectic customers and merchandise truly set us apart,” Holleman says. “We have something for everyone, from an unbelievable selection of books, music, art and jewelry to an equally great offering of children’s clothing and toys. A beautiful selection of furniture, rugs, porcelains, linens, unique kitchenware, fabulous men’s and women’s clothing and shoes. All in one beautiful spot.”
And, as Alice Remigailo, one of the many Thrift House volunteers, says of the Cathedral Thrift House mission, “I am amazed by what we accomplish, not by loving to recycle goods, but by recycling to love people.”
The Cathedral Thrift House, located at 1893 Piedmont
Road, is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 404-876-5440 for more information.
Growing up, I remember our family preparing for the holidays. I forgot the heart warming sounds of laughter and music in the kitchen. Every time I hear them now, I think of those joyous occasions. If you have hearing loss, you’re missing more than just sounds, you’re missing memories
Capture every moment this holiday season. Schedule an appointment today!
Let us demonstrate our hearing systems including TV and telephone assistance.
CLAIRMONT/N. DRUID HILLS | (404) 665-3354
1991 N. Williamsburg Dr., Suite A100, Decature, GA 30033
DUNWOODY/SANDY SPRINGS | (770) 450-6676
1713 Mt. Vernon Road, Suite 4, Atlanta, GA 30338
LAKE OCONEE | (706) 454-0578 LAKE SINCLAIR | (478) 452-0578
● Saturday hours by appointment
● We accept insurance
HearAtlanta.com
Dec 15th: Lawrenceville (Lawrenceville Pres. Church)
Dec 17th: Decatur (First Christian Church)
This is the time of year that food turns personal. Many families have favorite recipes they prepare each year that define the holidays by tying us to our pasts, reminding us of our youths and linking us to family members who came before. Without them, the season just wouldn’t be the same. We asked a few local cooks to share their special holiday treats.
Amy and Beth Arogeti
Sisters-in-law Beth and Amy Arogeti associate fried treats known as burmuelos with Hanukkah. “We never had them any other time,” Beth said. Now they share the honey-dipped goodies with their families and at Congregation Or VeShalom’s Hanukkah Bazaar. “We remember our grandmothers making them and want to pass the recipe on,” Amy said.
Hanukkah Burmuelos (Fritters)
1 tsp. yeast
1 tsp. sugar
pinch salt
2 c. warm water
3 c. plain White Lily flour
1 egg, beaten
Syrup:
1/2 c. honey
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. water
Soften yeast in 1/2 cup warm water. Place dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. Add yeast mixture, egg and the rest of the warm water; mix well. Allow to rise in covered bowl in warm place for 2 hours. Fill a 2-quart pot with 3 inches of cooking oil. Allow to get very hot.
Take a teaspoonful of soft dough and drop into hot oil. Remove with slotted spoon when golden brown.
For syrup: mix all ingredients together in pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until slightly sticky. Pour over Burmuelos while hot.
From “The Sephardic Cooks Comé Con Gana,” compiled and published by Congregation Or VeShalom.
Donna Lorenz
“When my parents married, my mother couldn’t cook. Dad loved to tell a story from early in their marriage that involved dinner guests and stuffed peppers and ended with dinner in a restaurant. But Mom practiced and was good enough by her 50s that she was teaching cooking classes in her kitchen.
“Christmas cookies were a specialty. She would bake large quantities, in a dozen or more varieties, and give them to friends and neighbors. These very pretty shortbread cookies were a favorite with her family and everyone lucky enough to get one of her trays of cookies. My copy of the recipe has this note on it: Aristocrats (without which it isn’t Christmas.)”
Aristocrats
1-3/4 sticks butter (14 tablespoons) at room temperature
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
1/3 cup walnuts, finely chopped coarse or pearl sugar (sometimes sold as “parl socker”)
In a mixer, cream the butter and sugar, add one egg and beat. Add flour and mix just until well combined. Divide the dough in half. Wrap one half in waxed paper and refrigerate it. Divide remaining dough in half again. Knead the chopped chocolate into one half and nuts into the other half. Roll each half into a 10-inch cylinder, wrap in waxed paper and chill. Remove the reserved, chilled dough from the refrigerator and roll into a 9 x 11 inch rectangle. Cut in half lengthwise, to make two 11 inch by 4-1/2 inch rectangles. In a small bowl, beat the other egg lightly and brush one half of rectangle with the beaten egg.
Place the chilled chocolate dough cylinder along the long edge of the rectangle and roll the dough tightly around the cylinder, so that it’s totally encased. Smooth the seam and press the dough firmly around the cylinder. Trim the ends.
Repeat with the walnut cylinder and the other half rectangle of dough. Brush each roll with egg and roll in coarse sugar crystals. Rewrap the cylinders and chill 4 hours or more.
When ready to bake, heat oven to 400 degrees. Remove one chilled cylinder from refrigerator and slice it into 1/3 inch disks. Repeat with the other cylinder. Bake about 10 minutes, until cookies just begin to brown around the edges. Remove to a rack to cool.
Note: If coarse sugar crystals aren’t available, the cookies will be very good without them, just not as pretty.
Seniors choose JenCare because we take the time to treat patients like family. Through monthly visits with caring physicians, our patients develop a quality one-on-one relationship with their doctor. During the Annual Enrollment Period, stop by one of the five convenient centers and we’ll be glad to show you around. You might even meet your next doctor!
A Druid Hills 3371 Buford Hwy. N.E. Atlanta, GA 30329 (404) 836-0230
A West End 1325 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd. S.W. Atlanta, GA 30310 (404) 836-0136
A South DeKalb 2124 Candler Rd. Decatur, GA 30032 (404) 836-0272
A East Point 2084 Headland Dr. East Point, GA 30344 (404) 965-5691
A Morrow 1331 Mount Zion Rd. Morrow, GA 30260 (770) 629-3217
Some services are not covered under all plans. Check your plan documents for details and service availability at each individual center. Due to space and time limitations, some services are not available at all centers. Limitations, copayments and restrictions may apply. You may attend with no further obligation.
The holiday season is already in full swing and that calls for preparing delicious homecooked meals to be shared with loved ones. UGA Extension provides four steps to help you prepare a safe and delicious holiday dinner.
Clean kitchen surfaces and wash your hands. Also, be sure to rinse fruits and vegetables under running water and dry with a clean paper towel. For those firm-skinned produce items such as sweet potatoes or apples that go in your famous pies, scrub with a clean produce brush to get even more bacteria off the surface.
By Kristen Sumpter
Separate raw meat, poultry, seafood and eggs from produce and ready-to eat foods. To prevent crosscontamination, store raw meat, poultry and seafood on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator so juices don’t drip onto other foods. When it’s time to start making the recipes, use one cutting board for fresh produce and a separate cutting board to cut the raw meats.
Chill foods no more than 2 hours after dinner is served in a refrigerator that is consistently 40⁰F or below. Divide those tasty leftovers into small containers for quicker cooling in the fridge.
Cook foods to a high enough internal temperature to kill bacteria that could make you sick. Poking with a fork or looking at the color isn’t good enough; always use a food thermometer! Beef, pork, veal and lamb should be cooked to 145⁰F while poultry must be cooked to 165⁰F. For the day after meal, leftovers should also reach an internal temperature of 165⁰F.
It’s safe to say no one wants to be the source of an upset stomach during the holiday season, so use these easy tips to safely enjoy a delicious meal!
This side dish is healthier than most mashed potato recipes because all heavy cream, whole milk and sour cream ingredients are omitted, reducing the total amount of saturated fat in your meal. This is also a great chance to use local sweet potatoes and turnips.
•1 pound sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
•8 ounces turnips (about 2 medium), peeled and diced
•3 large cloves garlic
•15 fresh sage leaves, divided (6 left whole, the rest cut into strips)
•2 tablespoons butter
•1 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
•1/2 teaspoon coarsely cracked pepper
1. Place potatoes, turnips, garlic and 6 sage leaves in a medium saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the vegetables are fork-tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Drain. Return the vegetables to the pan and keep covered.
2. Heat butter in a small skillet over medium-high heat. As it melts and turns lightly brown, add the strips of sage and allow them to crackle and flavor the butter, about 1 minute.
3. Pour the sage and butter over the vegetables and smash with a potato masher. Stir in salt and pepper and serve.
Recipe from Eating Well Magazine and adapted by Kristen Sumpter, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent, UGA Extension Fulton County
The Philadelphia Winn Chapter (PW) of the Daughters of the American Republic (DAR) planted a Legacy Sugar Maple at the Elisha Winn Plantation in Dacula, Georgia. They dedicated it to the Gwinnett Historical Society (GHS) in honor of their chapter’s namesake, Mrs. Philadelphia Winn Maltbie, daughter of Elisha Winn and Judith Cochran. When full grown, the tree is estimated to achieve a height of 40-60 feet—not in our lifetime, but as a ‘Legacy’ for our children and grandchildren.
MJCCA
The Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA) honored veterans on the morning of November 11, paying tribute to their service and the sacrifices each of them has made to ensure our freedom here in the United States. In a touching ceremony, the MJCCA’s Weinstein School preschoolers presented each veteran with an American flag and sang songs to commemorate Veterans’ Day.
To be sure, we’re proud of our 28 years of experience in senior living. But, to us, what really matters is your experience at our communities. We do everything with that idea clearly in mind.
So, go ahead, enjoy yourself with great social opportunities and amenities. Savor fine dining every day. And feel assured that assisted living services are always available if needed. We invite you to experience The Piedmont for yourself at a complimentary lunch and tour. Please call 404.369.7523 to schedule.
Magic Show
Thursday, Dec. 22, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Howie Marmer, aka Howie the Great, has performed his magic at comedy clubs, NBA halftime shows, major illusion shows, and has appeared on “America’s Funniest People” and the Nashville network. Howie will mesmerize you with his magical illusions, and make you laugh! Coffee and treats provided by Huntcliff Summit. Sponsors include Peachtree Hearing, Sunrise Senior Living, and JFGA. Cost is $5 for Community and SilverSneakers, $5, free for MJCCA members. Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, Zaban Park, 5342 Tilly Mill Rd., Dunwoody, 30338. More info at 678-312-3861 or email matureadults@atlantajcc.org
The 1940’s Radio Hour Show
Dec. 15-29. Relive the drama of a live broadcast of The Mutual Manhattan Variety Cavalcade from the Hotel Astor’s Algonquin Room on December 21, 1942. Songs include “Strike Up the Band” and “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.” Tickets from $30. Theatre on the Square, 11 Whitlock Ave. NW, Marietta, 30064. Check www.theatreinthesquare. net for show times and tickets.
Larry Conley, Famed Sportscaster
Thursday, Dec. 15, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. In his exciting 42-year career as a renowned sports broadcaster, Larry Conley has covered roughly 1800 basketball games and 400 baseball games for networks such as CBS, NBC, ABC ESPN, FOX SPORTS and served as radio basketball analyst for two Olympics. He has a terrific story to share re: “Collegiate Sports and the Future.” Coffee and treats provided by Huntcliff Summit. Sponsors include Peachtree Hearing, Sunrise Senior Living, and JFGA.
Cost is $5 for Community and SilverSneakers, $5, free for MJCCA members. Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, Zaban Park, 5342 Tilly Mill Rd., Dunwoody, 30338. More info at 678-3123861 or email matureadults@atlantajcc.org .
A Retirement Housing Foundation ® Community
Benson Manor is a 76-unit affordable senior housing community designed with stone and sturdy wood-like siding. Each apartment is approximately 540 square feet. Benson Manor is conveniently located close to shopping, churches, medical facilities, and a major bus route.
Residents must be 62 years of age or older. Some units have special features for mobility and sensory impaired persons. Income limitations are determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Residents pay 30 percent of their adjusted income for rent. Gross income must not exceed $23,650.00 for one person and $27,000.00 for two persons.
Project Name: 60525210-A-CF_KPSASalesRepPacket_GA-MMC_GA_2017_PrtAdv
The community gathers in Decatur on Thursday, Dec. 15, 7-8 p.m., to roast marshmallows around a 10-foot by 20-foot bonfire that blazes on the square. Holiday music and choral groups add to the festivities. The event is free, but reservations are recommended to be sure there are enough marshmallows and roasting sticks. Go to visitdecaturgeorgia.com .
Thursday, Dec. 8, 6-8 p.m. Brookhaven celebrates the holiday with a Christmas tree lighting, Hanukkah display, musical performances and refreshments. Blackburn Park, 3493 Ashford Dunwoody Rd., Atlanta, 30319. Call 404-6370508 or visit brookhavenga.gov to get more information.
Thursday, Dec. 22, 12-9 p.m. Take a break from the holiday frenzy to remember the importance of family and friends with the classic Jimmy Stewart film “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Shows start at 12 p.m., 3 p.m., 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. Get there a half hour early for a holiday preshow and Christmas carol singalong. Cost is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, students and military. Earl Smith Strand Theatre, 117 North Park Square, Marietta, 30060. For details and tickets, call 770-293-0080 or go to earlsmithstrand.org .
Get more out of a MEDICARE HEALTH PLAN than you ever thought possible.
Get great care and great value with Kaiser Permanente Senior Advantage (HMO). Find out how our distinctive services work together to give you more control and convenience—so it’s easy for you to live well and thrive.
Have questions about Medicare or a Kaiser Permanente Medicare health plan? Just give me a call for more information.
Christel Finley
Kaiser Permanente Medicare Health Plan Licensed Sales Specialist 1-877-425-9210 (TTY 711)
kp.org/medicare
Kaiser Permanente is an HMO plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Kaiser Permanente depends on contract renewal. You must reside in the Kaiser Permanente Medicare health plan service area in which you enroll. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia, Inc., Nine Piedmont Center, 3495 Piedmont Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30305.
H1170_015_15 accepted
60525210-A-CF 10/16
By Julie Herron Carson
The year was 1926. Calvin Coolidge was president of the United States. Harriet High donated her home and the surrounding land to be used as an art museum in Atlanta. A.A. Milne published his beloved children’s classic “Winnie-the-Pooh.” And a Presbyterian congregation left its original home in downtown Atlanta and moved to a new facility “just north of Peachtree Creek” in what would later become Buckhead.
That was the beginning of Covenant Presbyterian Church, this year celebrating 90 years of service from its sanctuary at 2461 Peachtree Road.
“In our 90 years on Peachtree Road, we’ve weathered a lot of changes, especially in geography, demographics, culture and politics,” said interim pastor Rev. Dr. Richard Hill. “Throughout it all, we have sought out opportunities to do God’s work, and I am confident we will continue to do so for the next 90 years and beyond.”
Covenant Presbyterian had its early beginnings in 1874
as an outreach church of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Tennessee. Over the next 30 years, the new congregation met in borrowed space, disbanded and re-formed, and built a church at the corner of Harris and Spring streets in 1904. Harris Street Presbyterian Church was known for its open door policy, and strengthened that reputation during World War I by inviting soldiers of all faiths to the church for services and social events.
In 1924, the decision was made to move the church’s location to a “quieter area,” and Harris Street Presbyterian became one of the first of the downtown churches to move north.
“Our church started a trend of downtown congregations moving north,” says Charlotte Cook, who has been a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church since 1939.
“Everybody thought we were crazy to relocate outside the city limits, beyond Peachtree Creek, but our congregation has never failed to step out in faith and do what we believe is right.”
Choosing a location at the corner of Peachtree Road and
Are you a Senior, Veteran or Disabled Person Living on Social Security, Disability, Pensions or Veteran’s Benefits?
Federal law protects your income from creditor garnishment. Debt Counsel for Seniors, Veterans and the Disabled (DCSD) can protect you from creditor harassment. If you can’t pay your credit card or medical bills or your student loans or payday loans, you can stop paying them without filing for bankruptcy.
We are celebrating 15 years of helping seniors with their debt without filing for bankruptcy and protecting them from letters and calls from collection agents. You too can live worry-free as thousands of our clients do.
Law enforcement officials are spreading the word to help keep shoppers safe this holiday, offering several tips to keep the season bright. Sandy Springs Officer Forrest Bohannon reminded everyone to “stay alert and be aware of everybody around you.”
Dunwoody Traffic Enforcement Officer Christopher Irwin said people should think ahead and place valuables in their car trunk before getting to the mall or even throughout the year when heading to the gym.
“People go shopping and they’ll come out and put stuff in their trunk, but what people don’t realize is that the criminals are actually out in the parking lots watching,” Irwin said.
Brookhaven’s Officer Carlos Nino said remembering to lock up valuables is one part of staying safe. Remembering to alert police and “say something” is paramount, he said.
To stay safe during the holidays, local police departments recommend that you:
• Put all shopping bags in the trunk of your vehicle.
• Park in a well-lit area.
• Be alert and pay attention. Thieves will always target the people who look distracted.
• Check around your car and look in the backseat before getting behind the wheel.
• Lock your doors and windows at home, even if you step out for a few minutes.
• Leave a light or a TV on so potential burglars will think you are home.
• Never hesitate to call 911 if you think something doesn’t look right.
• Shop in groups of two or more people.
• Don’t put your purse in your shopping cart. Thieves will try to distract you so they can lift your wallet or your purse when you’re not looking.
• Don’t hang your purse on the back of your chair at restaurants. The best place to keep your purse is your lap, police say.
• Place purchases beneath the table, near your feet.
Now is the time, before the year end, to look over your big financial picture. For some, part of that picture is estate tax planning, which involves a review of your assets and to whom they will transferred at death so that estate tax is limited.
For wealthy taxpayers, taking advantage of unusually generous estate tax exclusions tops the agenda. For 2016, the first $5,450,000 of a taxable estate—including all taxable gifts made while alive—is exempt from estate taxes. This total effectively doubles to nearly $11 million for a married couple.
tax-deferred investments would be taxed as ordinary income before they could be donated to a charity during the life of the donor.
The money given to the charity counts toward the donor’s required minimum distribution, but doesn’t increase the donor’s adjusted gross income or generate a tax bill.
By Sheldon J. Donner
Sheldon J. Donner is a CPA and Principal of Taxation at AGH Business Advisors & Certified Public Accountants. He can be reached at shel.donner@ aghllc.com or 404.835.1878.
This information is very general in nature and should not be considered to be tax advice. The reader should discuss any and all matters contained herein with a tax professional for advice which fits his or her situation.
The annual exclusion for gifts is $14,000 per beneficiary, generally. In circumstances where the estate may be subject to the estate tax, gifts in excess of the annual exclusion may make for good estate tax planning. Gifting to children and grandchildren before year end should be considered. Assets with a high tax basis should be considered first, along with assets more likely to appreciate in value. Low tax basis assets should be left in the estate—all other matters being equal—so that they receive a tax basis “step-up” for income tax purposes.
Other than gifting, there are other estate tax planning ideas to be considered, including Qualified Personal Residence Trusts, a sale of assets to a “Defective Grantor Trust” (income tax neutral), making a charity an IRA beneficiary, making discounted gifts, charitable remainder trust gifting and others.
Another special tax benefit permits owners of retirement accounts who are over age 70½ years to donate up to $100,000 from these accounts to charities and escape taxation. Normally, the proceeds from the sale of such
Everyone’s favorite holiday stories are being told all around the Atlanta area this season.
Village Auditorium, 8534 Main St. Woodstock, 30188. 678-494-4251; elmstreetarts.org
From Dec. 9 to Dec. 18, Marietta’s Earl Smith Strand presents “A Christmas Tradition,” a song and dance review that spotlights Christmas and holiday classics. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for seniors, students and military. Earl Smith Strand Theatre, 117 North Park Square, Marietta, 30060. 770-293-0080; earlsmithstrand.org.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
The faithful recreation of the classic animated TV special returns to the Center for Puppetry Arts through the month of December, excluding holidays.
Ticket prices vary according to the date, but are generally $20 to $25. The Center for Puppetry Arts, 1404 Spring St. NW, Atlanta, 30309. 404-873-3391; visit puppet.org.
A Christmas Carol
Several area theaters are staging the classic tale by Charles Dickens. The Alliance Theatre stages it through Dec. 24. Tickets start at $20 for adults and $14 for children. Alliance Theatre, 1280 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, 30309. 404-733-5000; alliancetheatre.org
Elm Street Arts’ production of A Christmas Carol runs from Dec. 9 to Dec. 24. Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door. Elm Street Cultural Arts
Miracle on 34th Street, the Musical
A Christmas classic, this time with music, is offered by Act 1 Theater on weekends through Dec. 18. Friday and Saturday shows at 8 p.m.; Sunday shows at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, $17 for seniors and children. Special “Dinner & a Show” and “Lunch & a Show” tickets are available. Act 1 Theatre’s stage is at Alpharetta Presbyterian Church, 180 Academy Street, Alpharetta, 30004. 770-6638989; Act1theater.com.
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Lionheart Theatre’s “Live on Stage” version of the beloved Christmas special includes cookies and punch with the cast. The show runs Dec. 8 to Dec. 18, Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. All seats are $10. Lionheart Theatre, 10 College St. NW, Norcross, 30071. Go to lionhearttheatre.org.
