Atlanta Senior Life - July 2018

Contributors

Julie E. Bloemeke, Sarah Brodd, Robin Conte, Wes Duvall, Grace Huseth, Judi Kanne, Collin Kelley, Isadora Pennington, Gene Rubel

: Melissa Kidd, Jeff Kremer, Janet Porter, Jim Speakman

Whether you prefer dogs or cats…or fish…it’s likely that there’s some fuzzy or scaly creatures who add sparkle to your life. Our August issue will focus on the pets in our lives and the important bonds we have with them.

EXPERIENCE LIFE AT THE SOLANA! Join us for our July event s.

MUSIC AND MOVEMENT

Monday, July 9, 10 a.m., at the Solana Information Center.

Have fun dancing in an upbeat, chair exercise class set to sing-along songs.

WINE AND WISDOM SPOUSAL SUPPORT

Monday, July 16, 5 p.m., The Donnellan Room  St. Ann’s Catholic Church, 4905 Roswell Road, Marietta. Spousal support event.

SOLANA LIVE @ RED SKY TAPAS & BAR

Friday, July 20, 5-6:30, 1255 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta. Celebrate the music of the 60s.

SATURDAY AT THE SOLANA:  A KITCHEN TABLE CHAT

Saturday, July 21, 10-11 a.m., at the Solana Information Center. Join us for a cup of coffee and a friendly chat about living options and more. Speak with the downsizing resource experts from Lifetime Transitions, Craig and Anita Reisinger, and the Solana team.

STRESS YOGA

Monday, July 23, 10 a.m., at the Solana Information Center. Come breathe, stretch and relax in a feel-good class that focuses on stress relief and self-care.

PLEASE CALL (770) 691-0676 TO RSVP FOR THESE EVENTS AND TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LIFE AT THE SOLANA! CALL TODAY!

1032 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta, GA 30068 | SolanaEastCobb.com

All Aboard!

Southeastern Railway Museum honors vintage trains from Atlanta’s past

By Joe Earle

Randy Pirkle came across the Southeastern Railway Museum when he was looking for a place to do some volunteer work that would incorporate his love of history. “History and old iron go together for me,” he said.

Seventeen years later, Pirkle runs the museum as its administrator, and there’s plenty of old iron for him to visit in the displays at the 48-year-old museum of trains and transportation. It’s everywhere: vintage Pullman sleepers and steam engines tower near metal-wheeled tractors, historic yellow taxis, fire trucks and MARTA buses at the museum, which is located on 35 acres in Duluth.

The museum, designated the state’s official transportation museum, is operated by a nonprofit owned by the Atlanta Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. Its collection of railroad items alone features 90 pieces of rolling stock, including passenger cars, locomotives, box cars, cabooses, a mail car, a tank car and other railroad equipment, Pirkle said. It’s even home to a private passenger car called the “Superb” that was used by President Warren Harding and that served as his funeral train, carrying his body across the country after his death.

Why keep all this stuff?

“Educating the community about history ensures that history is not forgotten,” Pirkle said, “and [the museum] gives people a different perspective on transportation than just their time on interstate [highways]. It’s fun to see kids today, who see kids in the sense of ‘Thomas [the Tank Engine],’

as a cartoon entity. So many of their grandparents experienced trains as transportation — and you can still do that.”

The museum sprawls across four buildings, including a display building that once housed a factory where train cars were made and repaired. At its entrance, the museum

displays the former Duluth passenger depot, which dates to 1871 and was moved to the site a few years ago. The facility even offers visitors the chance to take a short ride in a train caboose or in a miniature train that once operated at a zoo.

The museum also hosts special events, ranging from

summer camps for kids to showings of the movie “Polar Express” around Christmas.

It hosts antique tractors and trucks for a day and has even hosted antique typewriter shows, Pirkle said, because typewriters were important to running the railroads.

The roots of the museum go

PHOTOS BY JOE EARLE

Southeastern Railway Museum administrator Randy Pirkle with one of the large tractors on display at the museum.

“

History and old iron go together for me. — Randy Pirkle

back to the late 1950s and early 1960s, Pirkle said, when train metro area train buffs joined together to save an Atlantic and West Point Railway locomotive known as 290. “It was a great big steam engine used to pull the Southern Crescent from Atlanta to Montgomery,” Pirkle said. The engine, saved from the scrap heap, remains part of the museum’s collection. It even appeared in the movie “Fried Green Tomatoes.”

The museum operates primarily through efforts of volunteers, many of them retirees. They come from all sorts of backgrounds, Pirkle said. There are about 145 regular volunteers and, on any given weekend, there could be as many as 45 or so at work spread across the museum’s campus.

One recent Friday, volunteers Ken Birmingham and Cliff Smith were decked out in trainmen’s work clothes for their stints as volunteer conductors on the museum’s train ride. Smith, who’s 69 and said he’d liked trains “since I was a little kid,” wore jeans, a work shirt and a striped hat. Birmingham, who’s 75 and said he grew up across from the Long Island Railroad’s main line, wore a stiff-sided conductor’s hat.

What convinced them to spend their time at the museum on a hot June afternoon? “It’s just fun,” Birmingham said. “It’s just fun working with the kids,” Smith added.

Leo Schiltgen, who’s 70, volunteers as a conductor, too, and said he helps train other volunteers to do the job. But he also spends time restoring old train cars for the museum. He’s working now to replace wooden and tile flooring on a vintage Southern Railway dining car. He learned how to fix

metal machines while he was working, Schiltgen said, and he likes working on train cars. “It’s just something I’m interested in,” he said. “I’ve learned the skills. I might as well use them for somebody’s benefit.”

As the museum and its volunteers keep the big stock rolling, they also help preserve important links to Atlanta’s past as a train town. The museum helped put together a photo history book, called “When Atlanta Took The Train,” that shows how the city grew up around railroads.

“Atlanta is a child of the railroads,” Pirkle said. “It’s important to get people to see that. It’s very difficult to do that because Atlanta has been very successful in wiping out its own past. There’re virtually no downtown railway stations left because progress got in the way.”

Southeastern Railway Museum

3595 Buford Hwy., Duluth 30096

Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Open Tuesdays through Saturdays in June and July; Wednesdays through Saturdays, March through May and August through December; and Thursdays through Saturdays, January and February.

Tickets: $8 for seniors (65+), $10 for adults, $7 for children aged 2-12. Train rides: $3 for big train, $3 for miniature train, $5 for both.

Info: 770-476-2013, train-museum.org

Rick Muszynski sells tickets at the Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth.

Volunteer Leo Schiltgen takes a break in the gazebo.

The Great Locomotive Chase

By Joe Earle

The Civil War spy story and military raid that came to be known as “The Great Locomotive Chase” lasted less than a day and covered only about 87 miles, but it inspired books and popular movies and led to hangings by one side and the award of some of the first Congressional Medals of Honor by the other. Now the two steam engines involved in the chase are on display at separate metro Atlanta museums.

In 1862, as Union forces prepared to move on Chattanooga, Tenn., a group of volunteers led by James J. Andrews took off on a daring mission behind enemy lines to try to separate Confederate forces in Tennessee from support from Atlanta.

On April 12, two dozen raiders stole a train pulled by the locomotive “The General” from a railway station in Big Shanty, a community now known as Kennesaw. They planned to damage or destroy telegraph wires and Western & Atlantic Railroad tracks connecting Atlanta and Chattanooga. They chose Big Shanty for the theft because the station had no telegraph office.

As Andrews and his men raced north, Confederate forces took off in hot pursuit. They gave chase by foot, by hand car and eventually

using a steam engine called “The Texas.” Andrews’ Raiders finally abandoned “The General” about 18 miles south of Chattanooga.

Most of the two dozen Union soldiers and civilians involved in the raid and chase eventually were caught by the Confederates. Andrews, a civilian, and several others were hanged as spies. Other raiders escaped or were exchanged in prisoner swaps. Nineteen soldiers who took part in the raid were awarded Congressional Medals of Honor. Andrews and other civilians involved in the raid did not qualify for the award.

The story of the locomotive chase inspired two movies. The first, made in 1926, was a silent film comedy by Buster Keaton called “The General.” The second, a 1956 adventure film starring Fess Parker and called “The Great Locomotive Chase,” was made by Walt Disney Pictures.

Both engines now are on display in museums in metro Atlanta. “The General” is the centerpiece of the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History in downtown Kennesaw. The museum also offers exhibits on railroads during the Civil War and on the Glover Machine Works, which built steam engines in Marietta.

“The Texas,” now fully restored, is on display at the Atlanta History

PHOTO COURTESY OF SOUTHERN MUSEUM OF CIVIL WAR AND LOCOMOTIVE HISTORY

The General is on display in Kennesaw at the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History.

Center, where it sits in a glasswalled walkway leading to a new exhibit that houses the Cyclorama, a 360-degree painting of the Civil War Battle of Atlanta. The painting now is being restored and is scheduled to open to the public in February. The center also features exhibits showcasing various parts of Atlanta’s history, from the Civil War to golfing legend Bobby Jones. Dena Bush, director of operations at the Kennesaw museum, said about 40,000 people come to see “The General” each year. Most are Civil War or train buffs. Some remember the trains because of the movies. “It’s an interesting story from that time period that’s not that well known,” she said.

Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History

2829 Cherokee St., Kennesaw 30144

Hours: 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays; 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Sundays

Tickets: $6.50 seniors (aged 60+); $7.50 adults; $5.50 children aged 4 to 12; free to children 3 and younger. $1 off for AAA members, active military service members and military veterans.

Info: 770-427-2117, southernmuseum.org

Atlanta History Center

130 West Paces Ferry Rd., Atlanta 30305

Hours: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays; 12noon-5:30 p.m. Sundays

Tickets: $18 seniors; $21.50 adults; $18 students aged 13 and up; $9 youth aged 4 to 12; free for children aged 3 and younger. The Texas may be viewed from the history center gift shop or through the windows on the new addition to the center. It is set to open to the public fully on Nov. 17. A special behind-the-scenes tour of the Cyclorama painting, now being restored in its new home, and The Texas is offered for $75. Info: 404-814-4000, atlantahistorycenter.com

Atlanta’s Zero Mile Post

By Joe Earle

The Zero Mile Post marks Atlanta’s beginnings. It originally stood at the place where the Western & Atlantic Railroad’s terminus became Terminus, a settlement that eventually grew into the city we know as Atlanta. For decades, the Zero Mile Post was literally the center of town, as Atlanta’s city limits were measured at a fixed distance from the post.

“It’s a really important part of our history,” said Jeff Morrison, an architect who occasionally leads tours of the places where Atlanta began as a railroad town. His tours used to include the post.

But Atlanta being Atlanta, the Zero Mile Post has now all but disappeared from public view. The 42-inch-tall granite post is locked away inside a building that is owned by the state of Georgia and no longer in use.

Now the mile post faces a new threat: reconstruction work on the Central Avenue Bridge is scheduled to begin soon and may mean the post must be moved.

The Georgia Building Authority, which maintains the property that houses the mile post, says it will announce in August whether the post can stay where it is or must be relocated to another site. “We haven’t made a decision yet,” GBA communications director Morgan Smith-Williams said in early June.

“There are arguments on both sides,” Smith-Williams said.

“There are arguments that the significance of the post is where it is, because of what it marks and not the post itself. But on the other side, it’s not where people can visit it, so there’s an argument to move it to a place where it would be more visible.”

The Atlanta History Center offered to include the granite marker in the center’s collection of Atlanta’s historic artifacts, which now includes a replica of the post. But others with an interest in Atlanta history argue the post should stay where it is, near Underground Atlanta and close to the site it originally was erected.

“What we need to do is leave it where it is, but make it more accessible,” Morrison said. “It really hasn’t moved much at all since the 1850s. I think it would be a shame for us to move it now.”

The dispute over whether to move the marker caught some officials by surprise. But they’ve found a bright side to the debate, too. “We realized how many people are passionate about Atlanta’s history,” Smith-Morgan said. “It’s refreshing.”

Ride the Rails

The Historic SAM Shortline Railroad offers a unique view of Georgia life planned a no-meal option to allow for extra riders.

By Judi Kanne

This year, the Historic SAM Shortline Railroad season started with a visit from Cupid. It seems there’s a lot of love going around on the old-fashioned train ride. It was January when the annual Valentine’s dinner trip was announced — and reservations came rushing in from all around the Southeast.

The SAM Shortline is the successor to the Savannah, Americus and Montgomery railway — hence the name SAM — which was chartered in 1888. The current route runs from Cordele, Ga., west to Archery, Ga., and serves several picturesque towns along the way, including Plains, Ga.

The diesel-electric locomotive pulls several climate-controlled, 1949 vintage rail cars, allowing passengers to enjoy a mix of yesteryear with the excitement of today’s South, according to Terry Miller, Site Manager for the Historic SAM Shortline Railroad.

“The Valentine’s dinner event is such a favorite with couples from outside the local area that it sells out almost immediately,” Miller said. To resolve the overflow of this year’s Valentine’s Day crowd, Miller said that they immediately

“Our late-ticketed passengers still enjoyed popcorn and holiday treats while taking in the fun of riding on one of Georgia’s historic trains,” he said. And no one seemed disappointed.

Yet this and other SAM Shortline rail excursions may fall into the category of one of Georgia’s best-kept secrets — at least for metro Atlanta residents.

The train is currently in full swing for the summer. Excursions operate most Fridays and Saturdays. It leaves from either the Cordele station or nearby at Georgia’s Veterans State Park during the summer months, with a few extra special event days.

Depending on which day you travel, the train stops long enough for passengers to get on and off the cars, usually about five minutes, although a few itineraries offer a longer stopover with time to walk and shop.

In fact, Miller says that full-day excursions have at least one such stop. “This provides leisure time for passengers to explore one of the towns along the route, such as Leslie, Americus or possibly Plains,” he said.

Chamblee resident Wayne Mahfuz says that he has special

memories of taking the SAM Shortline with his late wife Wanda. “We rode it on three different occasions,” Mahfuz recalled.

A retired teacher in his late 60s, Mahfuz still does substitute teaching, and he has been a volunteer guide on Amtrak’s Southern Crescent train that runs between Atlanta and New Orleans. He became interested in trains by volunteering with the Trails & Rails program, a unique partnership between Amtrak and the National Park Service that educates travelers about trains and natural resources while traveling by rail.

On one SAM Shortline trip, Mahfuz remembers staying in Cordelle overnight to be ready for their early morning departure with a stopover in Plains. After returning Saturday afternoon, Mahfuz says they drove to Plains on Sunday — about 42 miles from Cordelle.

That particular day, Mahfuz and his wife watched former President Jimmy Carter teach the Sunday school lesson at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, a high point for them.

(These days, however, the President’s teaching schedule is much less frequent.)

“We had extra time on that ride to look around town,” he said, adding that all three trips created fond memories for him. “The Christmas train is a lot of fun, too,” Mahfuz said.

The SAM Shortline Railroad is operated by Georgia’s State Parks and Historic Sites. For info, special event details and to buy tickets, check the website at samshortline. com, or call toll-free 1-877-4272457, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are nonrefundable, but you can transfer your ticket to another trip if space is available. Schedules are subject to change.

COURTESY OF TERRY MILLER, MANAGER OF THE HISTORIC SAM SHORTLINE RAILROAD, GEORGIA STATE PARKS & HISTORIC SITES

Cool Treats

Summer is the perfect time for ice cream

By Isadora Pennington

One of my absolute favorite sweet treats to beat the summer heat is ice cream. My love affair with this creamy dessert goes all the way back to my childhood. I can still remember that feeling of being on the swings at the playground and hearing a distant jingle. In an instant, I’d be running as fast as my spindly little legs could carry me towards the ice cream truck that came rumbling up the street.

In the years since I’d like to say that my palette has matured and that I’m some sort of ice cream aficionado who likes fancy flavors such as pistachio or lavender, but that would be a lie. I’m still devoted to the traditional flavors like chocolate and vanilla, but I do try to occasionally break out of my comfort zone for some new variations.

Here in Atlanta we have a few really great ice cream shops, and whether you’re into soft serve, gelato, sorbet, sprinkles, hot fudge, cones, cups or sundaes, there are delectable treats that are sure to please.

There are, of course, more than just the ice cream shops featured here, but these are some personal favorites.

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams

Westside Provisions District, 1198 Howell Mill Rd., Atlanta 30318, 404-355-6050

Krog Street Market, 99 Krog St., Atlanta 30307, 470-891-8105

Decatur Square, 545 N. McDonough St., Decatur 30030, 470-891-8095

Queen of Cream

701 Highland Ave. #1, Atlanta 30312 404-331-0807, queenofcream.com

Tahitian Vanilla Bean Sundae with sprinkles, hot fudge and whipped cream — $7.62

Avalon, 800 Avalon Blvd., Alpharetta 30009, 678-894-1483 jenis.com

Mini Flight with Nectar Honeycomb, Cream Puff and Vanilla Honey — $6

My favorite gift my children have given to me?

I’ve been at e Mansions at Sandy Springs only a few weeks, but I’m already convinced it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. My granddaughter comes over and we read books together. My son took me to breakfast Saturday morning and my daughter-in-law is helping me decorate my spacious, new apartment.

Moving to e Mansions has given me the greatest gi of all – time with my family. You can do the same this week - grab the kids and come tour e Mansions at Sandy Springs – there are only a few apartments le - see for yourself what real, worry-free senior independent living is all about. I can’t wait to see you here!

Photos by Isadora Pennington

Zesto’s Drive-In

2469 Piedmont Rd., Atlanta 30324, 404-237-8689

377 Moreland Ave., Atlanta 30307, 404-523-1973

1181 E. Confederate Ave., Atlanta 30316, 404-622-4254 zestoatlanta.com

Single Twist Cone — $2.59

Honeysuckle Gelato

Ponce City Market, 675 Ponce De Leon Ave., Atlanta 30308 404-228-7825, honeysucklegelato.com

Brown Butter Scoop on a cone — $3.75

Four Fat Cows

64 N. Main St., Alpharetta 30009 470-268-5268, fourfatcows.com

Floats: choices include Chocolate Cherry, Root Beer, Ginger Ale (with mango sorbet) and Affogato (espresso with vanilla ice cream) — $5.25

PHOTO COURTESY OF FOUR FAT COWS

Days of Wine and Roses

Tiger Mountain Vineyards produces award-winning grapes

By Julie E. Bloemeke

When three Tiger Mountain wines won silver medals last year at an international wine competition in California, vineyard co-found Martha Ezzard knew Georgia wines had come up in the world.

The 2017 Los Angeles International Wine Competition received over 3,000 wines from 999 wineries located from France to Portugal to South Africa to Italy to California’s esteemed wine country. Tiger Mountain’s 2015 Sweet Petit (late harvest Petit Manseng), 2014 Tannat and the 2016 Rosé each medaled, thrilling Ezzard because “Tiger Mountain was competing alongside wines from Napa and Sonoma wineries [in California].”

The Tiger Mountain winery, located on about 90 acres between Rabun Gap and Tallulah Falls in northeast Georgia, began as a dream for Martha Ezzard and her husband, John, both professionals who traded city careers for a return to the rural land of Rabun County.

John, a physician, and Martha, a lawyer, award-winning Atlanta Journal-Constitution writer and author of a memoir about relinquishing city life called “The Second Bud,” believed a winery would provide a way to save the Ezzard family’s farm, land that had been in his family since the 1930s.

“Our chief aim,” she said, “was to save the family farm. It was part of John’s soul; he’s a farmer at heart.”

The property had most recently been used as a dairy farm. The Ezzards wanted to grow something, but they weren’t sure what. There was talk of apples, but after extensive research, and considering the land, soil and elevation, he landed on wine.

It was not necessarily a popular decision with folks that had lived in the area for generations. Martha laughs when she recalls the reaction. “[Many people said,] ‘John, how come you are growing these

highfalutin grapes?’ Then she confesses, “I thought it was a crazy idea too, but the secret was finding a mentor in Virginia.”

Another Georgia vintner — David Harris, previous owner of a small winery in Habersham County — recommended that John seek advice from Dennis and Sharon Horton, owners of Horton Vineyards in Charlottesville, Va.

Martha and John began by working the first five acres on their own, and in 1994-1995 they planted five red European grape varieties — Cabernet Franc, Tannat, Malbec, Touriga Nacional and Mourvedre. The varieties were selected by John, following Horton’s advice to cultivate grapes for fine dry wines. It turned out that the French grapes and the Portuguese Touriga grew comfortably in southeastern climate and soils. Tiger Mountain Vineyards was the first vineyard in Georgia to make this move, concentrating on the fine dry wines over the sweeter varieties such as muscadine.

In 1998, when the first grapes were ready to harvest after about three years of maturing, the Ezzards shared the fruit with a local

PHOTOS BY JULIE E. BLOEMEKE

Tiger Mountain Vineyards, co-owned by Martha Ezzard (pictured below), sits on 90 rolling acres between Rabun Gap and Tallulah Falls in North Georgia.

HEAD FOR THE HILLS

Continued from page 12

vintner who was “very excited about the quality,” Martha said. They sold the first harvest to the Hortons.

That same year, the Ezzards produced their first batch of wine — on the back porch of the farmhouse in a large bucket purchased from Walmart. A photo of this event hangs in the old barn, now lovingly restored and converted to a shady nookfilled respite for visitors to enjoy a glass of wine while overlooking Tiger Mountain.

In 1999, Tiger Mountain winery officially opened for sales.

These days Tiger Mountain Vineyards produces 10 wines, but grows seven varieties of grape — five French, one Portuguese (the Touriga) and the native American Norton. They also produce three blends blended wines: the fivegrape Rabun Red, (the most popular Tiger Mountain Wine), Mountain Cyn (a blend of Cab Franc and Norton, also known as Cynthiana) and TNT (a blend of

Touriga Nacional and Tannat).

The Norton, a grape native to Virginia, thrives on the Blue Ridge. It’s known, Ezzard says, for “being hardly and reliable.” Martha has taken on her own experiments with the variety.

She is growing two rows of Norton grapes that are chemical free. They cannot be organically certified because of the proximity of other grapes that are being grown traditionally. And the wine the Norton produces is not only known for being full-bodied with qualities of plums and cherries, it is also one of the essential wines that comprise the popular Rabun Red.

The winery now offers visitors more than just a place to see and talk about grapes. There’s a tasting room that hosts individual and reservationbased group tastings; individual and group winery tours; a wine

and gift shop; an on-site facility where grapes are crushed, fermented and bottled; the Red Barn Café which offers lunch, brunch, and Saturday dinner; a Tigerwine Tasters Wine Club; a pond and numerous picnic areas; and spots for do-yourown blueberry picking. Weddings, live music weekends, business meetings, parties and an Awakening the Vines celebration in the spring also are held on the property.

Martha says a lot of folks see running a vineyard as “romantic.” But she is quick to note the intense labor involved, a topic she addresses in detail in her memoir: “[Running a vineyard] is so much work. We are just farmers.”

Still, when touring Tiger Mountain Vineyards, one can’t help but note the rosebushes planted at the end of almost every row of vines. Pops of

red, orange and yellow dot the landscape amidst the green of the grape leaves. This practice originated in France as the flowers are early indicators of disease. Harbingers, they serve as way to ensure vines will stay healthy.

As it happens, Martha says, she and John have been “gifting each other rosebushes for years.” It is a tradition they picked up on and continued, in honor of the vineyard’s legacy, and of one another.

For more information, visit tigerwine.com.

A Golf Experience Like No Other

A ver y natural, links-look golf course of fering manicured zoysia fair ways & tees, and undulating bentgrass greens.

9-holes currently open for play

18-holes are scheduled for play in spring 2019

Over 200 members and growing.

Private Residences & Cottages Under Constr uction

Canadian Log Home for sale at $649,900 Cottage/lot package from the high $300’s Private Residences from the mid $400’s Cottage & Home Sites star ting at $80,000

4,000+ Feet

native brown & rainbow trout.

paddle and more! Easy -to-walk trails and several

Planned amenities: River Pavilion, Event Barn, Pool, Tennis, Fitness and more.

Photo by SquareFrame Media

Wine Country

More mountain vineyards to sip and savor

Boutier Winery

4506 Hudson River Church Rd., Danielsville, GA 30633

boutierwinery.com

Hosts weekend wine tastings with a sampling of six wines; no appointment needed. Weekday wine tastings are reservation only.

Cavender Creek

Vineyards & Winery

3610 Cavender Creek Rd., Dahlonega, GA 30533

cavendercreekvineyards.com

Wine tastings allow visitors to sample any four wines from the menu; souvenir glasses are available. Groups of six or more require a reservation.

The Cottage Vineyard and Winery

5050 U.S. 129 N., Cleveland, GA 30528

cottagevineyardwinery.com

Open since 2012, the vineyard

hosts tastings seven days a week and also offers live music on Saturdays. Choose from a flight of five or eight wines.

Frogtown Winery

700 Ridge Point Dr., Dahlonega, GA 30533

frogtown.us

Offers wine tastings at various tasting rooms including locations in Hahira, Valdosta and Helen, Ga. The Dahlonega

Habersham

Vineyards & Winery

7025 S. Main St., Helen, GA 30545

habershamwinery.com

Located in the Nacoochee Village just outside of Helen, it has wine tastings that include five wines and a souvenir

Tasting Room, located on the main estate, features a weekend Panini Bar.

wine glass. Reservations not required for individuals but recommended for parties of 10 or more.

Montaluce Winery and Estates

501 Hightower Church Rd., Dahlonega, GA 30533 montaluce.com

Offers winery tours weekdays at 2 p.m., weekends at 12noon. Wine hikes and general tastings do not require a reservation; private tastings with a sommelier must be booked 48 hours in advance.

Three Sisters Vineyards

439 Vineyard Way, Dahlonega, GA 30533 threesistersvineyards.com

Hosts walk-in tastings

Thursday through Sunday; large groups require a reservation. Features “Chicks and Chocolate” tasting which pairs six wines with various artisan chocolates.

The Vineyard at 37 High Holly 37 High Holly Rd., Scaly Mountain, NC 28755 thevineyardat37highholly.com

Nestled on 20 acres of land in the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains, it’s an ideal space for weddings, rehearsal dinners, bridal and baby showers, family reunions and company retreats.

Wolf Mountain Winery

180 Wolf Mountain Trail, Dahlonega, GA 30533

wolfmountainvineyards.com

Wine tastings and tours include an estate tasting flight or a group tasting flight. Reservations are required; spring and summer hours are from Thursday to Sunday weekly.

Yonah Mountain Vineyards

1717 Ga. 255 S., Cleveland, GA 30528 yonahmountainvineyards.com

Individual wine tastings are available seven days a week; no reservations are required. For weekend tastings, cave tours, group tastings or a reserve wine tasting, call 706-878-5522 or email info@ yonahmountainvineyards.com.

Mountain Fun

Wine, music, Cabbage Patch Kids and more on tap

If you’re headed to the mountains of North Georgia or North Carolina this summer and fall and wondering what there is to do besides admire the view, check out this list of festivals, fairs and other events.

Rabun County Music Festival

The annual music extravaganza returns to the Rearden Theatre on the campus of the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School in Rabun County. The lineup includes: Evening in the Round with Linda Davis, Lang Scott and Bill Whyte (July 7); Emile Pandolfi (July 21); 7 Bridges (Aug. 4); and The Drifters (Aug. 18). Tickets and details at rabunmusicfestival.com.

An Appalachian Summer Festival

A diverse mix of arts — including music, dance, theatre, dance and film — will be presented by Appalachian State University on July 1 through Aug. 4 for this year’s Appalachian Summer Festival. Events will take place at venues on the university campus in Boone, NC. Info: appsummer.org.

Babyland General Hospital

The Cabbage Patch Kids were created by Xavier Roberts in Cleveland, Ga., which is home to Babyland General Hospital where the tykes are born. The Cabbage Patch Kids are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year and there will be events all summer long (including regular weekend tea parties) culminating with an anniversary celebration on Sept. 8. Info: babylandgeneral.com.

Rome Beer Fest

Head to Rome for the annual unique craft beer, art and music experience on Sept. 22 at Heritage Park. All proceeds benefit the Rome Area Council for the Arts, providing community arts programming,

education and outreach. Info: romebeerfest.com.

Georgia Mountain Fair

This year’s fair is July 2028 at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds in Hiawassee. Rides, live music, food and much more draw thousands of visitors each year. Event list and info: georgiamountainfairgrounds. com.

Georgia Apple Festival

The annual event is held over two weekends — Oct. 13-14 and Oct. 20-21 — in Ellijay. There’ll be more than 300 vendors, an antique car show, a parade and plenty of apples. Info: georgiaapplefestival.org.

Blue Ridge Blues and BBQ Music Festival

The annual festival will be held in the downtown Blue Ridge City Park on Sept. 15 from noon to 9 p.m. There will be barbeque, live music, craft beer, fun stuff for the kids and more. Info: stayinblueridge.com.

Georgia Marble Festival

Pickens County, Ga., is home to high-quality marble that’s been used around the country, including in Washington D.C.’s Lincoln Memorial. The marble festival in Jasper, Ga., celebrates with a parade, 5K run/walk and quarry tours on the weekend of Oct. 6 and 7. There’ll also be music, food and arts and crafts. Info: georgiamarblefestival.com.

Better Hearing, Better Brain

Research is investigating how hearing loss is tied to dementia

Age-related hearing loss should be taken seriously, according to Dr. Rita R. Chaiken, audiologist and past president of the Academy of Doctors of Audiology.

“Ongoing studies of patients with even mild age-related hearing loss suggests shrinkage and other re-organization changes in the cortical brain areas,” said Chaiken, who consults and lives in Atlanta. “In addition to hearing sounds, these areas may also be used for higher- level decision-making — underscoring the importance of early hearing screening for people over the age of 60.”

Aging and hearing loss can lead to a change in attitude. The more often people around us seem to “mumble,” the less we care about what we hear (or how we hear). This can lead to quality of life concerns. One premise is if the brain is struggling to cope with degraded sounds, then there is a decrease in overall cognitive function, according to a 2017 article from the Hearing Health Foundation.

In general terms, it’s suggested that the brain’s processing power is bogged down from struggling to hear, which can ultimately create an overload — one “gives way” to the other. In short, “the cerebrum, which is not exclusive to processing sound, plays a role in memory,” states a Hearing Health Foundation article.

And hearing problems are commonplace among older adults. Dr. Frank R. Lin, director of the Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, estimates that nearly two-thirds of all adults 70 years and older have a clinically significant hearing loss.

According to the World Health Organization, “Unaddressed hearing loss poses an annual global cost of US$ 750 billion, [while] interventions to prevent, identify and address hearing loss are cost-effective and can bring great benefit to individuals.”

When further studies continue to show that hearing loss slows down mental processes — and that improving hearing eases or helps reverse this decline — the gains could be profound for aging adults, claim the experts.

“Our goal as audiologists is to provide a means to get people to engage in communication,” said Dr. Helena Solodar, audiologist and co-founder of Audiological Consultants of Atlanta. “Sometimes as clinicians, we’re aware of something before it hits the research scene,” she said. “For years and years, we’ve known that our auditory system has played an extremely important role in cognition.”

Like many clinicians, Solodar and Chaiken say they see a tremendous improvement in patients with hearing aids and other hearing-assistive devices. The ability to be more engaged with friends and family, feelings of less isolation and even wanting to go out and return to their former life are benefits described by many of her patients, Solodar says, and adds that hearing loss and its connection to signs of dementia is a hot topic.

The benefit-cost ratio is obvious. Dementia is already a huge U.S. financial burden, which ranges from $159 billion to $215 billion annually. It’s costlier to the nation than either heart disease or cancer, according to a 2013 RAND Corporation study.

Dr. Lin’s work is known worldwide. His research is focused on studying the interface between hearing loss and its consequences, and aging.

“Over the next forty years, prevalence rates of dementia are projected to double every twenty years because of the aging of the world population,” states Lin as lead author in a 2014 paper, “Hearing Loss and Dementia — Who’s Listening.”

The potential public health impact of hearing loss in the context of dementia is substantial, especially given the high worldwide prevalence of hearing loss in older adults — and the ready availability of existing hearing rehabilitative interventions, said Lin, who co-authored the paper with Marilyn Albert, Director of Cognitive Neuroscience and Johns

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

Dr. Frank R. Lin

PHOTOS BY TGA COMMUNICATIONS, LLC.

Hearing aids come in a variety of sizes and styles. Some are small and discreet.

Hopkins Department of Neurology professor.

Lin is currently working with conducting the Aging Cognition and Health Evaluation (ACHIEVE) study. This research will help determine if existing hearing rehabilitative interventions can reduce the rate of cognitive decline (memory and thinking skills) in older adults. The work is of substantial public health importance.

While links between compromised hearing and cognitive decline seem compelling, this research is still relatively new. Many questions remain, but there are theories about how hearing loss may affect the brain and its cognitive abilities.

Lin explained that hearing has two very basic properties. “The cochlea [the main organ for hearing and resides in our ear] takes in a very complex sound and converts it into a signal with accurate fidelity. That signal goes to the brain, and the brain decodes the signal.”

He said that it’s a very fundamental process. [It requires] “encoding in the cochlear and decoding in the brain.”

In a published 2014 study, Lin and his colleagues show the brain becomes smaller with age, and the shrinkage seems to be fast-tracked in older adults with hearing loss. The researchers were from Johns Hopkins and the National Institute of Aging.

Such findings add to a growing list of health consequences associated with hearing loss, including falls and hospitalizations — leading to diminished physical and mental health. And even though correlation doesn’t imply causation, the dementia and hearing research is worth looking at. But until further work in the area of hearing loss (as well as its effect on cognitive abilities), nothing is for sure.

Audiologists, nurses and medical doctors remind us that getting our hearing checked is a critical part of healthy aging.

You Have the Power

‘Seniorized’

Devices such as cellphones, tablets and smart speakers are all the rage, but sometimes seniors are baffled by the things they purchase or that their families give them to make their lives better. In truth, the market is full of devices that do work for seniors, and this column will review the ones I like and give you insights in how to make them work for you.

The discussion has to start with a device I recently reviewed, the Echo Dot from Amazon. It’s called a smart speaker, but it’s really a twoway communications device. It’s also known as “Alexa” because that’s the name that activates it. You can ask Alexa to tell you the weather, news headlines or even a joke, and with voice commands, you can have it play music from an array of sources.

You can also sync your device to your cellphone contacts, and that can enable you to call people. You don’t have to press any buttons; you can start it up from anyplace within the range of your voice.

The two-way communication comes through Echo’s Drop In feature. It requires a special set-up, but it enables designated people to call you on your Echo device. Again, as long as you’re in range, it’s all voice activated and hands-free. You can also set it up as an intercom. Drop In can be a huge benefit, especially for seniors who live alone. You can go to Amazon’s website and search internally for Echo Drop In support.

For a large phone with tracking capabilities, Jitterbug Great Call (greatcall.com) offers a large, Android-based smartphone that’s connected to a dedicated network. The company also offers medicalalert devices. They’ve been in business for a long time, and you can buy their products directly or through Amazon and Best Buy.

There are a number of devices on the market to provide reminders to seniors who need to take medications at prescribed times.

I like Reminder Rosie (reminder-rosie.com), which is designed to solve the very real daily challenges of memory loss. Inspired by the creator’s father who suffered from dementia, Rosie is a personalized, voice-controlled reminder system that older adults love! With its senior-friendly clock interface, it provides a simple, hands-free, inexpensive solution to remember medication, appointments and everyday tasks.

Another option is Tricella Smart Pillbox (tricella.com), which has sensors to detect if you or a loved one hasn’t taken their pills. It connects to smartphones through Bluetooth and can alert family members before a dose is missed.

For transportation, Lyft (lyft.com) has done a spectacular job of providing services for seniors, including access to rides without the need for a smartphone. For a review, see the blog post at: https://blog. lyft.com/posts/new-solutions-to-keep-seniors-moving.

Finally, I want to recommend places, both in person and online, where seniors can find classes, videos and websites to help them learn how to use or better understand the technology built into smart devices.

Nearly all senior centers and libraries in the Atlanta area provide training programs. BHTechnologies (bhtechgroup.org) is an Atlanta organization that offers group classes as well as individual lessons. For those interested in tutorials and videos, I recommend Techboomers

Gene Rubel

COURTESY OF AMAZONAMAZON Echo Spot

Tricella Smart Pillbox

(techboomers.com), which has myriad of tutorials and YouTube videos covering the gamut of devices and applications. Technology has put a great deal of power in the hands of seniors and their caregivers. I hope this helps you harness some of that power and direct you to where it can help you or your loved ones the most.

Gene Rubel, the Digital Device Doctor, cures digital anxiety for seniors and home/home-office users. “Doctor Gene” has worked with computers and technology in business and personally for 50 years and enjoys delving into the details and explaining them in plain English to peers who feel frustrated and uncomfortable. He can be reached at generubel@gmail.com.

He brings a calm and patient demeanor to helping his “patients” enjoy the benefits of rapidly advancing technology. Those benefits can include staying in close touch with distant family and friends, finding useful information or entertainment on the internet or using technology to conduct business more effectively from a home office. A graduate of Harvard Business School, “Doctor Gene” spent more than 30 years in international business.

When more help is needed

Most computers and other smart devices have features that make them accessible to users with special needs or disabilities. For example, you can enlarge pages for easier reading or use voice commands. For some examples of disability features for Windows 10 and iPhones, go to the Microsoft (Microsoft.com) or Apple (apple.com) websites.

There are also a number of devices designed for people with memory-loss issues:

► iTraq is a great alternative for anyone unable to use a smart device. It uses wifi triangulation indoors and GPS and cellular triangulation outdoors to locate one of its devices wherever internet and cellular service is available. It even has fall-detection,

Luxury Living Taking Shape

scheduled-reporting and geo-fencing capabilities and configurations to allow up to four months of battery life. Info: itraq.com.

► NixPlay offers an automated picture frame for videos and photos. You can program it remotely to show a changing set of videos or photos. Info: nixplay.com.

► The One Button Radio from Alzstore is a great alternative to a smartphone or other device for playing music. Playing familiar music has many benefits for people with dementia issues, and this device simplifies their access to their “golden oldies” by eliminating the frustration associated with trying to learn how use modern devices. Info: alzstore.com.

Vickery Rose

COURTESY OF TRICELLA

Totally Tomatoes!

Tomato problems are some of the most common gardening questions I get in the summer. Many people want to know how to grow the juiciest, reddest tomatoes possible from their garden. However, getting them isn’t always the easiest thing.

Gardeners always are battling with squirrels, insects or some type of disease. Here are three of the most common problems and how to fix them so you can harvest those ripe, juicy tomatoes for yourself.

Problem #1: The tops of the tomatoes have brown split marks.

This is common with a lot of wet weather. The split marks are completely harmless and are caused by uneven watering. This is hard to control when there has been a lot of rainfall. You can still eat these tomatoes; just cut off the tops with the brown splits.

Problem #2: The bottom of my tomato turned black.

This is not a disease like many people think, but a lack of calcium. This can also be caused by too much or too little water. My recommendation is to add a small amount of lime to the soil and water it in. The

Doctors Dedicated to Serving Seniors

tomato can take up the calcium from the lime and the new tomatoes should be healthy. Also, try to keep the tomato evenly watered so there are no periods of extreme wetness and dryness.

Problem #3: I have a big white patch on my tomato. This is usually caused by sunscald, which, just like

it sounds, happens when a section of a fruit or vegetable gets scalded by the sun. If your tomatoes are getting burned in the afternoon sun, try to give them shade in the late sun and don’t trim off any more leaves that don’t have flowers.

Some other tips to help you get the tastiest tomatoes:

Sarah E. Brodd is an Agriculture and Natural Resource Agent for UGA Extension in DeKalb County. She enjoys educating the community about horticulture and working with her great group of DeKalb Master Gardeners.

PHOTO BY PIXABAY

● Rotate your crops every two years. Planting tomatoes in the same spot every year increases their chance of developing disease. Plant them in a different part of the garden every other year.

● To keep the squirrels at bay, bring your tomatoes inside once they get a tinge of

orange. Keep them in a sunny window and the tomatoes will ripen up inside the house where the squirrels can’t get their paws on them.

● Keep your plants watered and mulched. Inspect them for any insect damage and fertilize every 4 to 6 weeks.

PHOTO BY ROYCHAN KRUAWAN ON UNSPLASH

“Saint Anne’s Terrace has a beautiful setting with waterfalls, a fish pond and flower gardens. The staff is professional, friendly, courteous, which creates a family atmosphere. I’m very happy to be a part of this community.”

Georgia Golden Olympics

Georgia’s annual senior Olympics encourage a competitive spirit in a variety of games

By Grace Huseth

Senior sports are often seen as a way to maintain wellbeing and a healthy lifestyle. The Georgia Golden Olympics, however, sees sports for older adults as a competitive arena, where participants must come with their game faces on.

The annual senior games hosted in Warner Robins invites all adults 50 and over to compete in a variety of sports competitions this Sept. 26-29. The Georgia Golden Olympics hosts events for a spectrum of abilities, but whether it’s softball or shuffleboard, all games have a competitive edge.

Georgia Golden Olympics coordinator Vicki Pilgrim has organized the games since their inception in 1983. She’s seen the senior Olympics expand from just six events to 60 — and grow in popularity, starting with 70 participants to breaking attendance at over 700. There are 20 sports played — from badminton and basketball to race walk and racquetball — and each sport is offered to men’s and women’s categories, broken into groups for ages 50-54, 55-59, etc. Every event awards first, second and third places in each age group.

The games started with more recreational games such as horseshoe toss, a half-mile walk, football and Frisbee and has progressed to a 5K run, swimming and track and field events. “One of the things I’m very proud of is that we offer something for everybody,” Pilgrim said. “If you’re in a wheelchair, you can compete; if you’re a high jumper, you can also compete.”

Pilgrim doesn’t compete in any events during the games, yet she performs the longest

endurance race of the games. Over the course of four days, she organizes two dozen staff and 200 volunteers and executes 60 events for the 20 sports, all while enjoying fellowship with the athletes.

Some of the most popular games are powered by strong legs, where age simply means the athletes have had longer to train. For years, couple Ryan Beighley, 92, and Marty BarlowBeighley, 74, have dominated the track and field events, competing in many events, jumping both long and triple jumps and throwing discus and shot put.

Five-kilometer runner Andrea Harrison, an 84-year-old from Newnan. Each year, she’s fueled by her grandchildren who wear “Grammy’s Groupies” T-shirts and cheer along the 5K route.

The Georgia Golden Olympics is hosted by the City of Warner Robins and the Warner Robins Recreation Department, whose facilities host the majority of events. Golf is held at Southern Landings Golf Course. The cycling event is held just south of Warner Robins in rural Grovania’s straightaways and surprising hills.

Ryan Beighley received gold in the men’s 90-94 age group discus throw.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GEORGIA GOLDEN OLYMPICS

Dr. John Taylor is hoping to take on Grovania’s hills soon. At 97, the lifelong triathlete speeds around on his bike, not his power wheelchair. While he took a break last year, Pilgrim expects him to get back to pedaling soon.

“Part of our reason for hosting the Olympics is to maintain health and improve health and wellbeing, but many list fun and competition as their top reasons for participating,” Pilgrim said. “A lot of them have been athletes all their lives, so they want to continue to be competitive…People see that and become aware that older people really are out being active and

doing things, more so than a lot of younger people.”

Athletes travel to the Georgia Golden Olympics from throughout the southeast to compete, especially as Georgia’s games are held as an open event so athletes from all over the country can keep their competitive edge. Pilgrim said one participant has been to 34 state games over the years and listed Georgia Golden Olympics as the best offering of events and competition.

Success at the state level is rewarded with a chance to attend the National Senior Games held during odd

years, returning June 2019 in Albuquerque, N.M. Six hundred athletes from Georgia qualified for the games in 2017 and sent 300 to the competition held in Birmingham, Al. Georgia was 12th overall, with a total of 157 medals, at the 2017 National Games.

The victors will thump their chests at the Awards Dinner and Dance on Friday night at the Wellston recreation center in Warner Robins. The “USO Stars and Stripes Celebration” will highlight medalists as well as those who will move on to the 2019 National Games.

Georgia Golden Olympics Wednesday, Sept. 26 through Saturday, Sept. 29 Games held in locations throughout the City of Warner Robins area Register by Aug. 1.

Golden Olympics office at 770-867-3603 or visit georgiagoldenolympics.org.

John Taylor from Atlanta was the oldest person to compete in the National Senior Games triathlon.

Aging Politely

We all know that we should age gracefully. But here in the South, we age politely. Sometime between graduation and grandmother, a Southern woman becomes a “ma’am.” That’s when we know that we have become a “woman of a certain age.”

Robin’s Nest

I don’t remember what age I was when I morphed from “girl” to “ma’am,” but somewhere in the thick of ma’amhood, I became a “young lady” again. And I must say that being referred to as a “young lady” when you’re in your fifties is about as jarring as being called “ma’am” when you’re in your twenties.

bit patronizing.

I pondered this a while longer, as I loaded and unloaded my groceries, and wondered, when a middle-aged gentleman steps up to the register, does that employee call him a “young man”? I think not. What about “young laddie”? No, that would not fly, not even in Scotland.

Maybe men don’t get as bristled at “sir,” anyway. “Sir” has a certain grandeur, a royal connotation that carries it beyond the scope of ageinference. Maybe “ma’am” is a problem because it’s an abbreviation; maybe if people went around using the full-throttled “madam,” the term would connote something loftier than mere middle age.

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

I was in a grocery store when I became a “young lady” once more; I was stocking-up for my household full of kids, and I’m sure that the employee who used the term was trying extra-hard to be un-offensive, but I didn’t like the term at all. Really, that’s not a term anybody likes. Young ladies don’t even like to be called young ladies. Maybe three-year-olds do, but I think the address loses its appeal once they pass the age of five.

What really bothered me about the term is that it felt like the fellow who used it was going a bit too far in the opposite direction. Because the thing is, I know I’m not a young lady. I know I’m not tripping through the streets of Paris with Gigi and Madeline. I find it just a wee

Even though “ma’am,” according to Sir Mister Webster, is “Used to speak to the queen or woman of high rank,” in this country, at least, it is not a term that evokes refined appreciation; rather, it generates a huffy “How do you know I’m a ma’am?” type of response.

It’s kind of a shame, and that brings me round to my topic, in that aging politely is becoming harder to do. Somewhere, somehow, good manners have become distasteful. People shy away from being respectful because they’re afraid of being offensive. We teach our kids manners, but they end up insulting. And the root of the problem is that none of us wants to be perceived as “old,” so we pretend like we’ve discovered the fountain of youth by tossing out a moniker.

The fact is, we don’t know how to address each other anymore.

What do you call your parents’ friends, once you’ve grown up and moved out of the house and have children of your own? How do you address the couple you used to babysit for, once you’re employing a babysitter yourself?

There are some monikers that will never change. My former Girl Scout leader, for instance, will always and forever be “Mrs. C” to all of us fully grown Girl Scouts. My parents’ friends will remain “Mr.” or “Mrs.” unless and until they implore me to address them otherwise. Teachers, no matter what their ages, will be addressed using their surnames, by moi.

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

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

And when someone, especially a young lady or a young man, addresses me as “ma’am,” I will need to smile graciously and give thanks to the vigilant parents who raised their children with good manners—manners enough to help me age politely.

Introducing Robin Conte’s debut book

‘The Best of the Nest’

“The Best of the Nest” offers 49 of Reporter Newpapers columnist Robin Conte’s witty essays on suburban family life, organized by seasons. They include some of the pieces that won Robin the first-place Lifestyle/Features Column award in the 2017 Georgia Press Association contest.

To follow updates on Robin’s book-related appearances, visit robinconte.com

To order the book, visit bestofthenest.net

2348 Benson Poole Rd. Smyrna, GA 30082

Pet Pick

This is Abbie! This 5-year-old brindle beauty is sure to steal your heart with her stunning looks, her big heart and gentle demeanor. She’s always down to snuggle, will absolutely keep your spot on the couch warm and will unfailingly roll over for a belly rub day or night.

This cutie had a litter of puppies who have all been adopted, but Abbie is still here searching for her forever home. She’s spayed, microchipped and up-to-date on vaccinations. All she needs now is you!

Come meet this gorgeous couch potato at the Atlanta Humane Society’s Mansell Campus, 1565 Mansell Rd., Alpharetta 30009. For more loving, adoptable pets or to learn about becoming a volunteer, visit atlantahumane.org.

Because having the confidence and peace of mind of accreditation is important. So, let’s talk.

The Piedmont at Buckhead is accredited by CARF International. It’s an independent organization that sets exceedingly high standards for care and service. It’s a lot like an accreditation for a hospital or college. Or a five-star rating for a hotel.

But like most things in life, you have to see it to believe it. So, let’s talk some more at a complimentary lunch and tour. Please call 404.496.5492 to schedule.

►Out & about

The Arts

Book Talks & Signings at Atlanta History Center

Tuesdays, July 10, 8 p.m. & July 17, 7 p.m

On July 10, Kelly Corrigan, New York Times best-selling author of “The Middle Place,” will talk about her collection of essays on the 12 powerful phrases we use to sustain our relationships, “Tell Me More: Stories About the 12 Hardest Things

I’m Learning to Say.” Latin cuisine expert Sandra Gutierrez will discuss her book “The New Southern-Latino Table: Recipes that Bring Together the Bold and Beloved Flavors of Latin America and the American South” on July 17. Tickets are $10. Atlanta History Center, 130 West Paces Ferry Rd., Atlanta 30305. Go to atlantahistorycenter.com (click on Programs, then Author Programs) for tickets and additional info.

The Bikinis:

A New Musical Beach Party

Runs July 12 through 29, Thurs.Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m.; and Weds., July 25, 10:30 a.m. The girl group is back, with fun, sun and great songs they sang on the Jersey Boardwalk in 1964, when they won the Belmar Beach Talent Contest in their bikinis. You’ll be transported back to a simpler time with favorites like “Yellow Polka Dot Bikini,” “Under the Boardwalk,” and “It’s Raining Men.” Tickets prices are $28, adults; $24, seniors. On July 25, all tickets are $15. ArtStation, 5384 Manor Dr., Stone Mountain 30083. Tickets and info at ArtStation. org, or the box office, 770-469-1105.

Jazz on the Lawn

Friday, July 13: Joe Gransden; Friday, July 27: Bradford Rogers; and Friday, Aug. 10: Bob Baldwin. Concerts run 7:30-9:30 p.m.; doors open 6:30 p.m. Callanwolde’s Jazz on the Lawn features a mix of classic and contemporary jazz in a perfect setting for summer concerts. General admission is $25 online, $30 at the door. Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, 980 Briarcliff Rd., Atlanta 30306. Season tickets and more info at callanwolde.com.

Bestselling Author Brad Thor

Saturday, July 14, 7 p.m. Brad Thor is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of 19 novels. His latest thriller, “Spymaster,” stars Scot Harvath who intends to rewrite the rules and is more cunning, more dangerous and deadlier than ever before. Free and open to the public. Books will be available for purchase and signing. Christ the King Lutheran Church, 5575 Peachtree Pkwy., Peachtree Corners 30092. Call 770-978-5154 or visit gwinnettpl.org for details and more events.

Concert in the Courtyard Summer Series: Kurt & Kernum

Thursday, July 20, 6-8 p.m. Enjoy live entertainment from local artists with complimentary adult beverages and appetizers. It’s all happening in the beautiful courtyard at Somerby Sandy Springs, 25 Glenlake Pkwy., Sandy Springs 30328. To RSVP (by July 17, please!) or learn more, email Jennifer Franks at jfranks@somerbyliving.com. More at SomerbySpark.com.

Coca-Cola Summer Film Festival at the Fox Theatre

Friday, July 27, 10 p.m. “Night of the Living Dead” kicks off the film festival, in celebration of the classic horror film’s 50th anniversary. Other events include: “Saturday Morning Cartoons” (10 a.m.) and “Iron

Man” (7 p.m.) on Saturday, July 28; “Funny Girl,” also celebrating a 50-year anniversary, on Thursday, Aug. 2, 7:30 p.m.; and “Grease Singa-long” on Thursday, Aug. 23, 7:30 p.m. Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St., Atlanta 30308. Ticket and reservation info at FoxTheatre.org or 855285-8499.

Neil Diamond Tribute Show

Saturday, Aug. 4, 5-7 p.m. If you love the legendary voice of Neil Diamond, you’ll enjoy Connor Lorre’s tribute performance. The show features stunningly accurate recreations of Neil’s greatest hits from “America” to “Sweet Caroline,” and includes an appearance by the West Cobb Players. A BBQ dinner will be catered by Williamson Bros. before the show. This is a fundraiser for West Cobb Senior Center. $25 for members, $30 for non-members. Tickets go on sale July 31. West Cobb Senior Center, 4915 Dallas Hwy., Powder Springs, 30127. Find out more and purchase tickets at cobbcounty.org or by calling 770-5288200.

Learn Something

Writers’ Workshop:

Decoding the Query Process

Saturday, July 21, 1 p.m. Emily Murdock Baker, editor and founder of EMB Editorial, will decode the querying process and provide special focus on

Continued on page 30

At Arbor Terrace, you can enjoy an active, carefree lifestyle filled with comfortable living spaces, great amenities – and exactly the support and care you need. Our range of living options provides peace of mind for the future, however your needs may change.

FOR DETAILS OR TO ARRANGE YOUR TOUR, CALL (770) 415-8128

choosing the correct comp (comparative/competitive titles) for your manuscript. Also learn best practices for querying, which agencies to query, guidelines and more. Free and open to the public. Gwinnett County Public Library, Lilburn Branch, 4817 Church St., Lilburn 30047. Go to gwinnettpl.org or call 770-978-5154 for more info.

Georgia Historic Newspapers

Monday, July 23, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. For people interested in local and state history, there’s no better source than ‘old news.’ Vintage ads, dispatches from military campaigns and editorial views on thencurrent controversies make fascinating and insightful reading, and it can all be read on the screen of your computer or device. Sewell Mill Library branch manager Bruce Thompson will guide you into the historic newspapers. Free, registration required. Senior Wellness Center, 1150 Powder Springs St., Ste. 100, Marietta 30064. Visit cobbcounty.org or call 770-528-5355 to register and get details.

Wellness for Women Seminar

Tuesday, July 24, 6:30 p.m., doors open at 5:45 p.m. WellStar Health System offers programming that will help you to live a life well-lived. The topic for July 24 is Your Sexual Health. In addition to a keynote speaker, educational materials and giveaway items, participants will also enjoy a healthy dinner, dessert and complimentary valet parking. Registration fee is $10; registration is required. WellStar Atlanta Medical Center, Letton Auditorium, located in the Health Pavilion, 3320 Parkway Dr., Atlanta 30312. Call 770-956-STAR (7827) to register.

SCOTT ANTIQUE MARKETS

Summer MusicFest 2018

Saturdays, Aug. 4 & 18, 8 p.m.; gates open at 6 p.m. The Arts Council’s 2018 Summer MusicFest lineup continues with Back In Time on Aug. 4 and the Swingin’ Medallions on Aug. 18. Tickets for the 9-piece rock-n-roll band Back In Time are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and students. Tickets for Swingin’ Medallions, known as the ‘Party Band of the South,’ are $28 general admission. The Arts Council Smithgall Arts Center, 331 Spring St., Gainesville, 30501. Call 770-534-2787 or visit TheArtsCouncil.net for tickets and more info.

Community

National Hot Dog Month Celebration

Wednesday, July 11, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. July is National Hot Dog Month, so celebrate with one of America’s favorite foods. Learn the history of the hot dog from Andy Katelik and enjoy a delicious beef hot dog with toppings and sides, catered by Skips Chicago Dogs. Music provided by DJ Greg Picciano. $12 for Cobb residents, $15 for non-residents. East Cobb Senior Center, 3332 Sandy Plains Rd., Marietta 30066. Call 770-509-4900 or visit cobbcounty.org for more info.

KnowlEdgewise Speaker Series

Thursdays, July 12 & 26, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA) invites everyone to listen to expert speakers as they give fascinating presentations on a variety of topics ranging from history and international affairs, to wellness and current events. Free and open to the community. Berman Commons, 2026 Womack Rd., Dunwoody 30338. Find out more by visiting atlantajcc.org/knowledgewise or contacting Earl Finley at 678-8124070 or earl.finley@atlantajcc.org.

Splash into Shabbat Ice Cream Social

Friday, July 13, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Join Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA) at the Old Fourth Ward Splash Pad to celebrate the summer. Bring your own picnic lunch and join other families for an afternoon of splashing. Challah, grape juice and ice cream pops are provided. Open and free to the public, must register. Old Fourth Ward Splash Pad, 800 Dallas St., Atlanta 30308. Get additional info and register at atlantajcc.org.

Aloha to Aging Inaugural Gala

Saturday, Aug. 18, 5 p.m. Aloha to Aging is a 501c3 organization that empowers aging family members, their caregivers and the community with quality, targeted programming. The group’s gala will honor Dr. Betty Siegel, President Emeritus of Kennesaw State University. The reception and silent auction begin at 5 p.m.; the dinner and program start at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $75 per person. Proceeds will fund programs and services for enhanced quality of life for seniors, their care partners and the community. KSU Center, 3333 Busbee Dr., Kennesaw 30144. For tickets and more information, visit alohatoaging.org and click on the Inaugural Gala link, or email info@alohatoaging.org.