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8 Age Friendly Tucker: Super Agers Defy Physical and Mental Decline 10 Food for Thought: Stocking Your Pantry through Dehydration 14 Georgia Kroger Pharmacies Now Offering COVID-19 Vaccine
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OurTown NE DeKalb Community and Family Magazine A Shiny Inc Publication Editor Lizbeth A. Dison Shinycomm.com
ldison@shinycomm.com Our Town DeKalb is published and direct mailed to Creative Director Jay Adcock jaywadcock@gmail.com Writers Josh Batchelder Cindy E. Farrar Doug Reynics Lois Ricci Sanah Sayani Karl Schwartz Stacy Slocum Art Wood
select homes in the Tucker / Northeast DeKalb area. Opinions expressed by the writers and staff are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Our Town DeKalb reserves the right to edit or reject any editorial or advertising content. Our Town DeKalb is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the cost of the space or for the validity of claims made by advertisers.
Entire contents copyright 2021 by Our Town DeKalb and Shiny Inc LLC. Reproduction in whole or part is forbidden in any media without written permission from the publisher.
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IN THIS ISSUE 4 FODAC: Pivoting in the Pandemic 6 The Bits in Between: Separate but Together in Love 7 Wellness In-Sight: 2021 Road Trip Part 2 - February, Who Knew? 8 Age Friendly Tucker: Super Agers Defy Physical and Mental Decline 9 Common Sen$e: What to Consider about Cash Out Refinance (Part 2) 10 Food for Thought: Stocking Your Pantry through Dehydration 11 Back Talk: Taking Care of Loved Ones Starts with Taking Care of Yourself 12 Beauty Byline with Sanah: The Hot Topic of V-Steaming 14 Georgia Kroger Pharmacies Now Offering COVID-19 Vaccine 14 Smoke Rise Holiday Lights Brighten the Lives of Critically-Ill Children 16 Uncle Charlie’s Eight Habits to Living Long and Living Well 17 MLK Day Service Project at Henderson Park Native Plant and Wildlife Walk ON THE COVER: (Left to right) FODAC’s Chris Brand and Rotary Club of Tucker President Johnathan Clark deliver a shipment of masks to City of Tucker Mayor Frank Auman.
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On The Cover:
FODAC: Pivoting in the Pandemic L.A. Dison Non-profit organization Friends of Disabled Adults and Children, located in Tucker, has been supporting those with disabilities for over thirty-five years, providing durable medical equipment (DME) at little or no charge to clients and caregivers. Since its founding in a home garage in 1986, FODAC, as it is most commonly referred, has distributed over 50,000 wheelchairs, along with thousands of crutches, walkers, hospital beds, patient lifts and other vital mobility equipment. But the 2020 outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic called into play FODAC’s expertise in disaster relief, and as the pandemic rages on, the organization has successfully pivoted in order to help a broader population in need. Starting with Hurricane Katrina in 2005, FODAC expanded into the collection and distribution of DME and other medical supplies for disaster relief. Through its continuing efforts in natural disasters, FODAC continued to build its reputation as an expert in this area with work in the 2015 earthquake in Tibet; 2017’s deadly trifecta of hurricanes Irma, Harvey and Maria; and the 2019 South Georgia floods. In some cases, FODAC provided not just the actual equipment and supplies but also the manpower for “boots on the ground” assistance, either through its own staff traveling to work onsite or organizing volunteers. FODAC has forged working partnerships with Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA), American Red Cross, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (National VOAD). “FODAC has a long history of quick response to large disaster situations, and COVID-19 is certainly a national disaster,” said Chris Brand, president and CEO of FODAC. Brand thought FODAC was perfect to step into a leadership role to help with the pandemic relief. With critical personal protection equipment (PPE) and medical supplies in short supply from the start, FODAC searched through its vast inventory to identify those items which were most needed, and then reached out to other suppliers to gather additional donations for distribution. FODAC offered to serve as a warehouse distribution site for partners, companies and organizations that were donating critical supplies, and to manage distribution to healthcare facilities with severe shortages. Early beneficiaries of FODAC’s work included Grady Memorial Hospital, Southern Regional Medical Center, Emory Healthcare, and Piedmont Healthcare, each of which received N95 masks along with thousands of other supplies, including isolation gowns, fluid shield masks, vinyl exam gloves, isolation gowns, and yellow converter gowns. Recently, FODAC loaded a 53foot trailer for GEMA for distribution to various hospitals throughout the state of Georgia. The shipment included $1 million worth of PPE, hospital beds and respiratory equipment, including ventilators, CPAPs, nebulizers, oxygen concentrators, oxygen cylinders, and tracheotomy supplies. FODAC’s COVID work has extended out nationally, recently shipping supplies to FEMA to assist healthcare workers in the United States Virgin Islands.
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Much of FODAC DME inventory comes from collection drives like this one held by the Rotary Club of Henry County.
FODAC worked with local Rotary clubs to distribute food boxes to DeKalb residents in need. FODAC has also stepped in to help with patient overload in hospitals. Patients are generally not discharged unless they have the proper rehabilitative environment at home, which includes having equipment like walkers, crutches or wheelchairs to help them function safely. FODAC has increased efforts to keep sufficient inventory of mobility equipment at hospitals for discharge, so patients recovering from COVID are not delayed in their release due to lack of equipment, and beds are quickly freed for incoming patients. FODAC has helped address food insecurity during the pandemic. Many people are dealing with unemployment or reduced income, and children forced to stay home from school may miss important school meal programs. The pressure on local food banks has increased demand beyond supply. Funded by a grant from Rotary District 6900 in Georgia, 1,152 meal boxes CONTINUED on page 17
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FODAC President and CEO Chris Brand delivering masks to Laura Hochwalt, executive director of emergency services at Grady Memorial Hospital. Volunteer coordinator David Carroll works FODAC’s drive-through mask distribution day.
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The Bits in Between: Separate but Together in Love L.A. Dison Tom Edmondson
OurTown NE DeKalb Community and Family Magazine
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February 14 is a day set aside for celebrating love. Valentine’s Day is going to look a lot different this year. Our options will be masked, socially distant or virtual. Most of us won’t be going out for a romantic dinner in a restaurant – either the restaurants are closed or we won’t feel comfortable in a group environment. Children are schooling remotely, so they won’t be exchanging Valentine cards, or if they attending in-person classes, there won’t be Valentine’s parties. Even flower and candy delivery has had to take COVID safety into consideration – florists are no longer delivering person-to-person but leaving orders on doorsteps, ringing the doorbell and leaving. The pandemic Valentine doesn’t have to be one filled with heartache. We may be missing the physical connection but after a year filled with uncertainty, stress and isolation, we all need to be reminded we are loved. Zoom is for more than just business meetings; organize a group for a virtual Valentine’s celebration. You can’t go to a restaurant but you can order in; you can enjoy a cozy intimate dinner at home and help out a struggling local business. Can’t do a Galentine’s Day celebration at the spa or salon? Get your gal pals together on Teleparty, and remotely watch together some romantic flicks on Netflix, Hulu, or Disney Plus. Even something as simple as mailing a card will brighten someone’s day. My cat Lucy C. Brantley (whom readers know as OTD’s Official Spokeskittee) has a boyfriend (appropriately named Romeo) who lives next door. Romeo is an outdoor cat and regularly comes over to visit Lucy, who is an indoor cat. Since Lucy does not go outside, Romeo shows his affection by courting her through the window. Sometimes, when weather permits, I crack the window enough to allow them to touch noses or swat paws. Not too long ago, I took a photo of the two of them at the window, separate but together. And that’s how many of us will have to celebrate with those we love this Valentine’s Day, waiting for the day in the not-too-distant future when we can crack the window and touch.
Lizbeth A. Dison Publisher and Editor
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Wellness In-Sight: 2021 Road Trip Part 2 - February, Who Knew? Cindy E. Farrar Last month, we prepared for our road trip, the next leg of our journey into the land of 2021. With great anticipation we were leaving 2020, getting on the road with our heart full of hope for smoother travels. However, we barely had an opportunity to get going when leftover tumult caused us to start under the caution flag. None the less, we are on our way. Having passed through the January terrain, we have arrived at trip marker #2. Road trip preparation advises, “Become familiar with the upcoming route.” It turns out February is quite interesting. First thing to note is its name. The word itself comes from the Latin februa, meaning “to cleanse.” It is named for a month-long Roman purification and atonement festival. After 2020 and the onset of 2021, a little cleansing, purification, and atonement couldn’t hurt. In addition, despite having the fewest number of days of all the months, February has many that have the potential to serve as powerful guideposts on our journey. Almost immediately, we come upon Groundhog Day. The seriousness and accuracy of Punxsutawney Phil and General Lee may be debatable; however, we can utilize their example each day as we start our journey. It is prudent to pause and check for the presence of our “shadows” before choosing whether or not to proceed. The theme of Groundhog Day has also been used for movie plots, and even has become a cliché. The movie twist is that if we move forward without making appropriate choices, we will have to repeat that day until we do get it right. It brings to mind the Sir Winston Churchill quote, “Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” This applies to personal history as well as world history. Consideration of this perspective can have significant impact on our journey. As we move down the road a little way, we arrive at a trio of landmarks: Valentine’s Day, Presidents’ Day, and Mardi Gras. This year they happen to be on consecutive days, which I find extremely serendipitous. First stop is Valentine’s Day, an opportunity to express our affection, love, or intentions for that special someone. Remember, this includes yourself, especially if you are in the position of waiting for Cupid’s arrow to find you. Following the time spent contemplating our shadows and choices during our Groundhog Day, we deserve some love. Next we come to Presidents’ Day, originally two separate days observing the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln (February 12) and George Washington (February 22). Combined primarily for ease of having one federal holiday acknowledging all Presidents, we can add significant meaning to our journeys by setting a defined time of gratitude to reflect upon those who have been
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impactful in our lives as well as their specific character traits that we may wish to emulate. After our day of acknowledgement, we go right into Mardi Gras. Traditionally a pre-Lenten celebration, here in the United States we know it as a week-long festival in New Orleans. It is also celebrated around the world at different times, with differing emphasis depending upon the country. What is common to all is a festival season often marked with carnival and parades. All include some form of food rituals. What better way to wrap up our triptych “tour” than in vibrant celebration and feasting? When you think about it, it is pretty amazing that the calendar creators gave us the opportunity to establish our year in purification, love, and celebration. Now it’s time to put it in cruise control and enjoy the rest of the journey toward March. Cindy E. Farrar, LMT, BCTMB, CLC is a licensed massage therapist, certified life coach and the owner of Massage Associates of Atlanta, LLC (Lavista Road in Tucker). In addition, she is a certified Qi Gong instructor and a nationally approved continuing education provider for massage therapy and bodywork. Cindy enjoys sharing insights on wellness and personal and community development as a speaker and writer.
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Age Friendly Tucker: Super Agers Defy Physical and Mental Decline Dr. Lois Ricci Life expectancy is on the rise. The 85-plus population in the U.S. is expected to triple to 14.6 million by 2040. The number of people living well past 90 is going to be huge! Researchers want to figure out how we can increase the amount of time we’ll live in good health. Tucker is an Age Friendly City, and more and more residents are staying and growing old here. Will Tucker be ready for “Super Agers?” Over ten years ago, Harvard neurologist Dr. Bradford Dickerson conducted a study of Super Agers, patients who were over 80 and exhibiting physical and mental functioning of patients in their 50s and 60s. Studies on the brains of now deceased participants revealed minimal changes in size when compared to younger subjects. When comparing the neural networks that connect parts of the brain important to memory function, the thickness is nearly the same in older adults as in the brains of younger adults. The researchers also found that when studying the brains of adults 80 and over, Super Agers have a bigger hippocampus, that part of the brain involved in the formation of new memories as well as learning and emotions. Genes only account for about twenty to thirty percent of our longevity. At Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, researchers are now studying younger Super Agers, people between 60 and 80 years of age who have memory recall abilities similar to those of 18- to 32-year-olds. Similar studies are being conducted in many universities across the country. Dr. Emily Rogalski at Northwestern University is lead on the National Institutes of Health study on Super Agers, and is interested about some of them living right here in Tucker. I talked to two Tucker residents, one male and one female, both over 80, about what made them Super Agers. Although there were no quantitative test results (radiology or laboratory), each was asked the qualitative questions replicating Dr. Rogalski’s interviews. We found a lot of similarities between these two Tucker residents and others in the national study. Matt R, 81, was born and educated in the northeast; he is an only child whose father died in an accident at 30 but his mother lived to 77. He holds advanced degrees in public policy, economics and environmental studies, and retired after forty-three years with the Environmental Protection Agency. Fifty years married, he has three children. He accesses medical and dental services when needed, and takes no medications. He eats a healthy but not restrictive diet – he enjoys his food “whatever, whenever!” Matt walks regularly for exercise, plays softball, and meditates for relaxation. He enjoys social interaction, and participates in local organization and service meetings as well as local government. He is a spiritual Catholic who believes that God is important in his life. He enjoys talking but considers himself a good listener. He has good recall and has a good memory for dates, numbers, and events. Matt feels good about his aging and enjoys finding humor in it. Lorraine K, 83, was born and educated in New York City, raised in a close Italian Catholic family. Both parents died in their 70s, and one brother died young. She married young, raised four children, then was divorced after 19 years in an abusive marriage. After the divorce, she was employed for many years in sales and marketing. Lorraine sees doctors and dentists as needed. She admits to not being a joiner in clubs or organizations, but has a wide circle of friends and close family ties with her children and grandchildren. Lorraine exercises regularly and is a tournament pickle ball player with
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several wins. She deals often with her children’s problems, including the loss of an adult son to addiction, but works hard to keep their problems in perspective. Her memory for events and people in her life is evident in her conversation. Lorraine is employed part-time as a caregiver to two adult men with developmental disabilities. She is outgoing and social and enjoys impromptu get-togethers. Super Agers come from many different backgrounds and education levels and have encountered a variety of ups and downs throughout their lives. Some have experienced trauma, such as the death of a child, regrettable relationships, and other personal disappointments, but have great resilience in the face of stress. What is poorly understood is whether age-related decline is inevitable beyond age 80 or whether there is an alternative course that resists the cognitive and anatomical changes characteristic of normal aging. Super Agers keep moving out of their comfort zones to gain new areas of expertise. They are more likely to approach these tasks as a challenge at which they can succeed, in contrast to typical older adults who may give up. There are still many questions to be answered as the aging population continues to increase. What is known is that although any regular physical and mental activity reduces health risks, intense physical activity increases aerobic capacity, and intense mental activity preserves areas of the brain involved in memory and reasoning. There is no guarantee that you will become a Super Ager, but these habits will put you on the road to better health. Will you become a Tucker Super Ager? Dr. Lois Ricci is a longtime resident of Tucker, where she chairs the Tucker Civic Association Lifelong Community Committee. She serves as an adjunct faculty member at both Kennesaw State University and Clayton State University, where she teaches gerontology courses and the Professional Development in Gerontology Certificate Class. Ricci also serves as an official representative for American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).
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Common Sen$e: What to Consider about Cash Out Refinance (Part 2) Art Wood As COVID rages on, so do low mortgage rates, and with low rates comes opportunities to better your financial position. As with last month, we are going to talk about the opportunities that you can take advantage of when doing a refinance to pull cash out of your home. There are three main reasons to take cash out. We talked about pulling cash out for home improvements last month (strategy 1). In this article, we will be focusing on the other two, which is pulling cash out to pay off debt (strategy 2), or taking cash out to invest (strategy 3). Strategy 2: Pull cash out to pay off debt. This is probably the #1 reason people pull cash out of their homes. When we look at their financial picture, we realize that they have a lot of equity, but they are struggling to meet the demands of credit card bills, student loans, car payment, etc. Accessing the equity in your home can be an instant pressure relief valve. In a lot of occasions, we can pull out money and pay off 100% of the client’s debt, and their mortgage payment does not go up at all. You are also pulling money out at a very low interest rate and paying off debt with a much higher interest rate, which is always a good thing. You need to be aware that, per the new tax laws, interest is no longer tax deductible unless it is used to improve your home. Also, you are taking shorter term debt (for instance, a four-year car loan), and spreading it out over a much longer term. To take it a step further, I also recommend cutting up those cards after you have paid them off to avoid getting into that situation again. Strategy 3: Pull out cash to invest. Since rates dropped this low, I have seen more clients take advantage of this option, especially financial savvy investors. The goal here is to pull out money at a super low rate (let’s just say 3%), and invest the money and make more than 3%. Most financial
advisors will tell you that over time, you would expect 6%-8% return over the life of your portfolio, so if you are pulling it out at 3%, then you are doubling your money. I don’t think I need to say this, but I am not a financial planner and cannot offer advice on this, but if you think that this option sounds appealing, then definitely talk to your financial planner first. Even in the most conservative investments, there is always risk, and you are putting your house on the line. I will conclude in saying what I ALWAYS say to all my clients. There is not a “one size fits all” strategy when it comes to refinancing. Everyone’s situation is different. Pulling cash out may be an awesome idea for you, but it could also be a terrible idea. My advice is to always seek the assistance of a LOCAL mortgage professional to help you make the right decision for you and your family.
Art Wood (NMLS #118234) is the branch manager of Legacy Mortgage Team of Goldwater Bank, located at 2341 Main Street in downtown Tucker. “Tucker’s Mortgage Guy” for fifteen years, he is a former Tucker Tiger (Class of ’92), and co-founder and organizer of Taste of Tucker. Family guy, community guy, and definitely not your typical mortgage guy - it’s all that he does that makes Art Wood who he is. Contact him at 678.534.5834 or art.wood@goldwaterbank.com.
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Food for Thought: Stocking Your Pantry through Dehydration Doug Reynics Happy February! We inch closer to spring with the hope of warmer days. This month I am writing about an important aspect of food preservation popular during the cold winter months: dehydrating. I am an avid food preserver. I can, I dehydrate, and freeze my food surplus. I often run low on space in the freezer and have almost no room left for my canning jars. In ancient times, the sun and wind would have naturally dried foods. Evidence shows that Middle East and Asian cultures actively dried foods in the hot sun as early as 12,000 B.C. Later cultures left more evidence, and each had methods and materials specific to their food supplies, whether fish, wild game, domestic animals, or fruit or vegetables. Vegetables and fruits were dried from the earliest times. The Romans were particularly fond of any dried fruit they could make. In the Middle Ages, “still houses” were created to dry fruits, vegetables and herbs in areas that did not have enough strong sunlight for drying. A fire was used to create the heat needed to dry foods and, in some cases, smoking them as well. Fast forward to 2021. You can easily dehydrate many foods, using most ovens or a food dehydrator, or even air drying some items. I own three dehydrators. There are many popular brand names including Excalibur, considered to be the king of machines, Cosori, and Cabela’s. I bought two Cosori machines and, as my passion grew, an off-brand twelve-rack machine made by Vvinrc. One thing that makes an effective machine is the ability to control time and temperature. Some machines are just plug-in with no controls. I prefer the ability to set my own time and temperature. When dehydrating, a common question is often “how long do I dry the food?” You’ll quickly learn the answer is “until it’s done.” Some machines can take five to seven hours to dry spinach while some can take twelve hours or more. To determine the dryness of bagged frozen veggies, you let the item cool to make sure they snap or crack. If the item is still hot from dehydrating, it won’t do that, and you’ll think it’s still not finished. Lastly, once finished, I store in canning jars with an added food desiccant packet on the bottom. While it’s not necessary I like the added level of protection. One additional item I like to use are silicone/non-stick mats. Things like corn or peas can often slip through the trays, but using a mat prevents that. If you don’t have the mats, you can cut pieces of parchment paper to fit your trays. The easiest thing I’ve ever dried, and one recipe I’ll use for illustration purposes, are bags of frozen vegetables that I had unused in the freezer. They do not need to be blanched, and dry easily. Just be sure they don’t have freezer burn, as that flavor often transfers to your finished product. Place the frozen bags of veggies onto the trays on silicone mats and set the temperature to 135°. I usually set the time to eight hours then cool and check
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for doneness. You may need to go several more hours. As a beginning dehydrator, one of the best sites I’ve found is from The Purposeful Pantry (thepurposefulpantry.com/best-dehydrating-recipes). They have very clear directions on how to do many items. There is also a Facebook Group devoted to Dehydrating Tips & Tricks. I’m happy to answer any dehydrating questions you may have. Feel free to email me!
Doug Reynics is a longtime Tucker resident and self-described “foodie.” Many know him as “Doug the Driver,” who provides rides to and from both the domestic and international airport terminals. (To date, his service has provided 1,450 airport rides!) If you have a food story or question you would like to see him write about, email him at dougthedriver1@gmail.com.
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Back Talk: Taking Care of Loved Ones Starts with Taking Care of Yourself Dr. Karl Schwartz When I think of February, I think of happy times, love and friendships, and honoring the legacy of St. Valentine with chocolate, romance and jewelry! How does all this this tie into being and staying healthy, taking care of our spines, and living a happier, healthier life? The direct connection is in two ways. First is the obvious physical connection. The spine houses and protects our nervous system (spinal cord and spinal nerves) and connects our brain to our bodies, the most important connection being to our muscular system and our spinal system. In order for to us to be healthy, we must have proper functioning of all our body systems. The healthier the spine and nervous system, the better we feel, and thus are able to do what we need to do in life, starting with the basic ability to ambulate and move without pain. If we can move and do what we want to do, then our quality of life is improved. Around this time of year, if we feel good then we are able to do important tasks like driving to Walgreen’s to pick up some chocolates or heading to Rosenfeld Jewelry to pick up a token of love for our significant other. The second connection is just as important (if not more) - the emotional connection. There is a medical term called psychoneuroimmunology. We can break this tongue-twisting word down into three roots: • Psycho, meaning related to the psyche or the mind • Neuro, meaning nerve • Immunology, meaning the study of the immune system function So, the whole word, which is now a profession, means the study of the connection between the mind, the body, and the immune system. The connection to Valentine’s Day is how we feel and ultimately how we relate to our partners, romantically and sexually. It’s all tied together. The better we feel, the happier we are, and the happier we are, the more likely that we will relate to our partners in a loving manner. If you don’t feel good, everyday tasks are more difficult. You aren’t capable of living a life of ease and this negatively affects all areas of your life – especially with romance and intimacy. What’s the simple take-away? Take care of yourself so you can take care of your loved ones. especially your “better half,” who should be honored and revered, just like our friend, St. Valentine!
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Dr. Karl Schwartz is a graduate of Life University in Marietta, Georgia; he has been practicing chiropractic in Tucker for twenty-one years and a resident here for fifteen years. His office specializes in preventing sports injuries and maximizing performance by analyzing posture, weight bearing, and gait. If you have a question you would like addressed in a future column, please email karlschwartzdc@gmail. com. Note “Back Talk” in the subject line.
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Beauty Byline with Sanah: The Hot Topic of V-Steaming Sanah Sayani It’s not easy being a woman. Our bodies go through a lot throughout our lives and sometimes we feel the need to try out things that can help calm the storm. Women around the world have tried herbal remedies to help ease menstrual cramps or increase fertility. But there’s one age-old remedy that has experts raising a red flag: vaginal steaming. Also known as yoni steam or V-steam, vaginal steaming claims to be beneficial to overall vaginal health. The woman squats or sits over a pot of hot water which is filled with herbs for about twenty to thirty minutes. The herbal steam, made from mugwort, rosemary, wormwood and basil, is meant to cleanse the vagina, cervix and the uterus. Promoters of this remedy claim the steam softens vaginal and vulvar skin which allows the herbs to be better absorbed into the uterus. Some of the reported benefits include reducing menstrual symptoms, increasing fertility, healing after childbirth, reducing stress, treating hemorrhoids, increasing energy, and treating headaches. Sounds too good to be true, right? Most gynecologists say the vagina doesn’t need help in regulating itself. It’s perfectly able to do what it needs to do to stay healthy. In fact, vaginal
steaming may actually be harmful and cause unnecessary problems. Remember when douching was a big thing and gynecologists came out and said it’s not good for you? They are saying the same thing about this too because it can burn you and mess with the good bacteria in your vagina, which can lead to an array of other issues. The steam from the water could be too strong and actually harm the delicate tissue around your hoo-ha. If there are any cuts or open wounds, the steam could cause irritation which could lead to an infection. The moisture, the herbs, the heat - there’s a lot trying to happen in a tiny, very sensitive place. The gynecologists also will say don’t do it because there’s not enough research on it and more studies are needed before they can endorse vaginal steaming. But many women who have done this treatment will swear by its effectiveness and many spas around the nation are adding it to their menu. The bottom line is you will have to decide if this is something you want to try or not. You won’t catch me sitting on a pot of hot water any time soon. I’m not ready yet. I need to do more research before I’m convinced it’s worth the risks. There is just something about heat, water, herbs and the vagina that doesn’t sit well with me (no pun intended). I’m also someone who reads a lot and thinks a lot before doing things and probably misses out on a lot because I spend too much time mulling over it. But in this case, I’m not satisfied with the answers I’ve found and my recommendation is to skip this treatment, for now.
Sanah Sayani is a master cosmetologist and owner of Thread Beauty Spa (4426 Hugh Howell Road in the Tucker Publix shopping center). Her monthly column seeks to answer readers’ beauty concerns; write to her at threadbeautyspa@gmail.com o r drop by the shop to ask her in person!
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Georgia Kroger Pharmacies Now Offering COVID-19 Vaccine Our Town DeKalb Staff Kroger is now offering the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in store pharmacies throughout Georgia. The vaccine is in limited supply and currently offered to healthcare workers, first responders, individuals ages 65 and older and their caregivers, and residents and staff of long-term care facilities. “Kroger is pleased to be a part of the team ensuring our most vulnerable residents have more ways to access the vaccine,” said Felix Turner, manager of corporate affairs for Kroger’s Atlanta Division. “We are strongly encouraging all customers and associates to receive the vaccine to curb the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.” Kroger’s Atlanta Division includes the Tucker stores in Embry Village (3559 Chamblee Tucker Road) and Cofer Crossing (4357 Lawrenceville Highway). Vaccinations are by appointment only; those interested can schedule appointments online at Kroger.com/COVIDVaccine. Vaccines are available to eligible customers at no cost, based upon availability. Customers with health insurance should bring their insurance card to their scheduled appointment.
Medicare members will need to bring their red, white and blue Medicare Part B card. Customers without health insurance will need to provide their driver’s license or Social Security number.
Smoke Rise Holiday Lights Brighten the Lives of Critically-Ill Children Our Town DeKalb Staff For the past 27 years, a Smoke Rise home has wowed holiday revelers with one of the most dazzling light displays in the Atlanta area. In addition to raising spirits, the annual event also raises funds for a local charity. Victor Economy has always loved Christmas lights; even as a youngster, he would string lights across his bedroom for the holidays. He started decorating the outside of his Clarkston home for Christmas when he got married in 1983, gradually expanding the display each year. When he moved in 1993 to a larger house on Smokerise Summit, he decided to make his home a seasonal landmark. He and his wife Theodora, with some help from neighbors, begin work on the display the last weekend of September, and flip the switch around mid-November. The holiday display now completely covers his house and yard, with literally thousands of lights and dozens of plastic blow mold figures. Just how many lights were up this year? “I really don’t know,” said Economy. “I just know we add stuff each year. My next door neighbors started letting me use their front yard since I am running out of room.” Visitors began offering donations to cover the electric bill for the display, which Economy at first refused. “This was my gift to the community,” he would say. His father-in-law suggested that he start accepting the donations to benefit charity, and Economy and his wife decided in 2012 to begin collecting for Make-a-Wish. To date, they have collected almost $50,000 for the charity. Despite COVID (or perhaps because of it), the drive-by traffic in 2020 was steady throughout the holidays as thousands of people came out nightly to marvel at the light show. Many people come by several times during the season to see the display, often bringing friends and family along with them.
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Theodora and Victor Economy present this year’s donation to Make A Wish Events Manager Jaylie Stratton.
Economy personally greets many of the visitors. “I love meeting the people who come by and hearing them say how coming by our home has become part of their Christmas tradition.” How long will Economy keep putting up his annual display? “I hope to be decorating until I die and hopefully one year after that.”
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Uncle Charlie’s Eight Habits to Living Long and Living Well Josh Batchelder Who and what prepared me to reach ninety as an active Super Ager and Renaissance Man? At sixteen, I lost my father. Before he died, when I was eight, he took me to see my Great Uncle Charlie, then 89 years old and a Super Ager before we knew what that was. Uncle Charlie’s enthusiasm, ideas, and stories captivated me. I wanted to grow old like him. I heard about Uncle Charlie’s eight healthy habits. “I walk a mile or two every day, unless it’s raining.” Growing up in the city of Cambridge, he walked everywhere or traveled by the trolley about his city and Boston. I learned that exercise is the first important habit for young or old; it helps to control weight, maintain circulation, and is a stress reducer. I was raised in a small town west of Boston. I walked or rode a bike throughout my neighborhood, unlike my mother and father, who were both overweight. As a lawyer, my father had lots of chair time. Uncle Charlie’s second healthy habit was about what we ingest. “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and supper like a pauper,” he advised. “Before going to bed, I usually have milk and crackers.” He had stomach trouble all of his life so he selected food his stomach could tolerate. My mother, a nurse, served healthy foods, no fried chicken or fish. We ate pumpernickel or rye bread, not white. I enjoy soup and salad but not milk and crackers. Uncle Charlie also told reporters, who often interviewed him about his secrets of healthy Uncle Charlie celebrating his 100th birthday. longevity, his third healthy habit. “I never use tobacco or drink alcohol.” My father smoked a pipe or cigar. He told me that seventh habit. For three decades he led a boys’ Bible class. his heavy use of cigarettes in college made him sick, so he quit. Returning Uncle Charlie usually got nine hours of sleep. Sleep is the time when the from my first term of Air Force duty in the late 1950s, I attended Harvard body heals itself, and it’s the important eighth habit. University to complete my degree. My wife bought me a pipe to endure When writing my book, The 100 Plus Club, I used Uncle Charlie’s eight long hours sitting in class or the library. I quit that habit because of all the habits as the foundation for living long and living well, the big three sneezing and dropping of ashes on my clothes. I also felt silly about all the summarized as, “Walk more, eat less, and sleep more.” When Charlie was ado: cleaning a pipe, repacking it, then lighting it. Puffing on it and cupping born in 1850, the average man was dead by 38. He achieved over 107 years. My it in my hand seemed ostentatious. goal is 105. With modern medicine, I’m considering an upward adjustment. Following Uncle Charlie’s fourth healthy habit, and like my father, I did and still do a lot of reading. This is a good habit to alleviate stress. In a quiet At 90, Josh Batchelder epitomizes “Super Ager” as he continues setting, it’s great for escaping the cares of the day, relieving boredom, or just to magnify the value of his life experiences by writing and providing plain entertainment. speaking about his life-long pursuits. He is a HarvardWhen he was 100, reporters asked him why he never married. “Marriage is educated author, advisor, speaker and entertainer, and is also okay,” he would say about his fifth habit, “but how would you know she’s the a professional handwriting analyst with over forty years of right woman until after the wedding?” Uncle Charlie never had any children experience. He is certified by the International Graphoanalysis of his own. “I’ve no children to worry me and no wife to scold me.” While he Association and the American Association of Handwriting was a bachelor and I have a family, he’s still my model for healthy habits. Analysts. His latest book, Around the World In 90 Years: A With his physical presence and financial assistance, he supported family, Renaissance Man, is scheduled for release this spring. Contact friends and community needs. This connection to those around him was an Josh at 770.621.9000 or joshadvisor@bellsouth.net. Visit joshbatchelder.com to learn important part of his sixth habit. more about him and to order his books. Spiritual guidance was important to him. “I do what the Bible says” was his
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FODAC CONTINUED From page 5 (each containing five pounds of meat, five pounds of dairy including a gallon of milk, and twelve pounds of produce) were delivered via tractortrailer to the FODAC warehouse on a Saturday afternoon in October 2020. Local Rotarians helped load vehicles from various metro Atlanta food coops (including Tucker’s NETWorks Cooperative Ministry) which delivered the boxes to pop-up distribution events scheduled that day throughout DeKalb County. The event represented over 22,000 individual meals delivered. January marked one year since the announcement of the first U.S. patient with COVID-19, and FODAC’s work fighting the pandemic hasn’t slowed down. In January, the organization was tapped by the Georgia Center for Nonprofits to lead distribution of a million masks and 25,000 bottles of sanitizer under the Million Mask Program, funded through a large grant from Home Depot and UPS. Working through DeKalb County Rotary Clubs (including the Rotary Club of Tucker) and other non-profit organizations, FODAC is helping to distribute PPE to first responders, healthcare workers,
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frontline workers, senior living communities, schools, healthcare centers – any place or any person in need of PPE. FODAC has delivered 10,000 masks to the City of Tucker, which will also work on making sure every resident and every business in the city has access to the masks to help fight the spread of the virus. The roll-out of the vaccination program which began in December offers hope but doses of the vaccine are limited, and it may take considerable time for everyone to have an opportunity to be vaccinated. Until that time, FODAC continues its work to keep everyone safe and well in the midst of a pandemic. Those wishing to make financial donations to FODAC in support of its COVID-19 work can do so at fodac.org. 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations can contact peggyolson@fodac.org at FODAC for free masks and sanitizer. You can order free masks at tuckerga.gov/masks. (Masks and sanitizer are available while supplies last; requests are filled on a first come/first serve basis.)
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MLK Day Service Project at Henderson Park Native Plant and Wildlife Walk Our Town DeKalb Staff Thirty-five Tucker volunteers gathered together on Martin Luther King Day for a community service project at Henderson Park. Wearing masks and maintaining social distancing, some of the volunteers worked on clearing out invasive plants from the park’s Native Plant and Wildlife Walk, particularly the English ivy and bush honeysuckle; other groups pulled magnolia branches from wooded areas, spread mulch around the lower lot picnic shelter, planted native red oak trees, and piled cleared brush into bird-friendly shelters. Walter Bland of Rock Spring Restorations guided the group in clearing out non-native plants, and Joe Lavallee and a crew from Falling Leaves Landscapes helped gather and haul off the debris. Park Pride and Atlanta Audubon provided generous grants that helped fund the professional crews. If you are interested in being a volunteer for future service projects at Henderson Park’s Native Plant and Wildlife Walk, contact kimbra.wiseman@yahoo.com.
Photos Andrew White/Park Pride
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