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CrossRoadsNews
Scene
April 3, 2010
“This is an opportunity ... to perform a glorious work in a glorious setting and get to know people from all around the nation.”
Seniors pot plants for fund-raiser to help build therapeutic garden By Jennifer Ffrench Parker
While the ground slept all winter, the elderly clients at AiJalon Adult Day Care in Stone Mountain have been busy. Every weekday during activity hour, they potted seedlings, created bottle gardens, and made cloth wreaths and nature crafts. On April 10, they will offer the fruits of their labors to homeowners and hobby gardeners to help raise funds for a therapeutic garden they long to wander through. Pamela Williams, AiJalon’s owner, said the “Therapeutic Garden Project Fundraiser” is in its third year. So far, they have raised $800 of the $50,000 needed to complete the garden behind the center. “It’s not a lot, but we are hopeful,” said Williams, who opened the private-pay adult day care in 2003 for patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia, those recovering from stroke, and those who are just lonely sitting at home by themselves. Clients get to socialize and receive mental stimulation in therapeutic group sessions that include music, arts and crafts, and other intergenerational activities. On Monday, some of the group – 14 women ages 63 to 89 and a 70-year-old man – planted herbs and obedience, a perennial that loves partial sun, to add to dozens of plants they have been potting for months. During the April 10 fundraiser, Williams said the annuals, perennials and house
AiJalon Adult Day Care owner Pamela Williams says clients need a therapeutic garden with a secure fence and walking trails as a safe, quiet place to wander.
plants, including Christmas cacti, jade and aloe, will sell for 75 cents to $10 each. The festivities will take place 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Music and a fish fry start at 11:30 a.m., and gospel jazz artist Antonio Allen and the child singing group Amayz will perform. Winnifred Wells, 76, who has been coming to AiJalon for five years, says she enjoys playing in the dirt. “I just love it,” she said while covering
the roots of a seedling in a plastic foam cup with deft hands. Joining her at the table covered in old newspapers were Mae Simms, 63; Oga Mae Williams, 74; Alma Tuck, 76; Charlotte Barrett, 89; and Geneva Cooper, 75. The women sang old hymns as they worked and laughed easily with each other. With their memories drifting, some need help remembering their birthdays, but all
remember how to plant things. Williams said she launched the nonprofit center in her home first, and when they outgrew the space, she and her husband, Richard, built the center two years ago next door to their house on the two-acre property. Now she yearns for the terrace garden with walking trails, beautiful plants, cozy sitting areas, a pavilion and a secure fence for the clients. The garden already has been designed, and Williams said most of the trees have been cleared from the 1/8-acre plot of land where it will be built. The garden will offer clients a quiet place to wander. Williams said walking is very important for seniors. “It’s great exercise and it keeps blood pressure down and the stresses of life,” she said. “It will be somewhere they can go and be quiet. They have people telling them when to come and go, people going with them to the bathroom. They really need the freedom but it has to be safe.” Williams said she specializes in Alzheimer’s care because it is a neglected field. The center is open weekdays and clients come for one to five days. “I love the seniors,” said Williams, a certified dementia care and therapeutic specialist. “It’s my calling. God is my first passion and my seniors are my second.” AiJalon is at 424 Hairston Way in Stone Mountain. For more information, visit aijaloninc.com or call Pamela Williams at 404-499-2755.
Makeup pro to be at Macy’s stores
GPC Chorale raising money for trip
always knew he would pursue a Vincent Lee, a top Dior makeup career in the makeup industry. expert, will be hosting one-on-one He has done makeup for nubeauty consultations at a number of merous fashion shows, televised Macy’s locations in metro Atlanta events, editorial work, and music this week. videos on an international scale Lee and a team of in-store makeas well as participated in countup pros will offer clients a complete less events and experimented makeover using the season’s newest with different cosmetic lines. colors. In DeKalb County, he will be Vincent Lee He joined Dior in 2007 as at Macy’s at Perimeter Mall on April 8 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. He will be at Gwin- the company’s national makeup artist in nett Place on April 6 and at Town Center in Canada. Macy’s at Perimeter Mall is at 4300 Kennesaw on April 7. Hong Kong-born Lee moved to Canada Ashford-Dunwoody Road. To R.S.V.P., call at a very young age. During his schooling, he 770-396-2666.
Members of the Georgia Perimeter College Chorale won’t be singing for their supper on April 11, but they will come pretty close. The group of 14 will perform at a 3 p.m. concert at Smoke Rise Baptist Church in Stone Mountain for a chance to appear at New York’s famed Carnegie Hall. There are no tickets for the “Ticket to Sing at Carnegie Hall” fund-raising concert, but donations are The chorale will perform April 11 at Smoke Rise Baptist Church appreciated. to raise funds for an appearance at Carnegie Hall. The chorale has been invited to the four-day Masterworks Festi- music and languages that she would not have val Series with the New York City Chamber otherwise experienced. Orchestra starting on April 19 but must raise “We’ve sung in different languages – Italthe funds for the trip. ian, Spanish and German,” she said. “German Chorale director Susan McEwen said it was the hardest, but it has been a real learning will cost each student $1,424 to cover hotel, experience.” round-trip flight, transportation, profesMcEwen said performing at Carnegie sional orchestra soloists and the conductor. Hall will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity Meals are not included in that cost. for most of the students. So far, the students have raised $400 “This is an opportunity for the group to apiece, and McEwen said they soon risk perform a glorious work in a glorious setting losing their deposit if they do not raise the and get to know people from all around the additional funds. nation,” she said. Fatimah Mustafaa, a student and presiThe concert is open to the public and the dent of the chorale, said that many of the group is hoping the community will hear choir students are low-income or depen- why they were invited to Carnegie Hall and dents. be willing to help them get there with their “Finances have been made worse due to donations. the economy,” she said. Smoke Rise Baptist Church is at 5901 Rashanda Barber, who sings soprano Hugh Howell Road. in the group, said that participating in the For information, contact McEwen at chorale has opened up her eyes and ears to Susan.Sigmon@gpc.edu or 678-891-3556.
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