Atlanta Senior Life - September 2022

“We’re honored that both Sterling Estates Communities have been recognized as ‘Best of Cobb’ for Retirement Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care again in 2022. I’m proud to say that it’s the 4th year in a row we’ve won these awards and an awesome tribute to our staff members. We’ve been serving seniors in greater Atlanta for over 25+ years now...we invite you to come and experience what sets us apart.” Marshall Gill, COO & Partner, Sterling Estates Senior Living Communities

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“What

~ Susan S.

too."

2022–2023 SCHWARTZ CENTER 20TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON

Presenting violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, big band jazz with the Maria Schneider Orchestra, pianist Hélène Grimaud, and more!

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Senior Discounts Available Box Office: 404.727.5050

Monday–Friday, noon–6 p.m.

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COVER STORY

6 Finding new joy in old books.

8 BOOKS

A roundup of new mysteries for autumn.

10 EDUCATION

Fall means back to school for seniors, too.

12 STAY SAFE The truth about TV cop shows.

13 THINKING HEALTHY Losing weight is never easy.

14 PEOPLE

Outgoing artistic director Susan V. Booth reflects on her time at the Alliance Theatre.

16 TRAVEL

Georgia military museums honor those who served.

18 GARDENING Gardens and trees make a difference.

20 DIGITAL DEVICE DOCTOR

A travel technology checklist.

22 FROM THE CRATES

Dining out in Buckhead back in the day.

Atlanta Vintage Books owners Jan Bolgla, left, and Bob Roarty, with their companion Big Boo, one of three cats in residence at the store.

Photo by Donna P. Williams

Finding new joy in old books

A quick tour of some of Atlanta’s used, vintage and rare bookshops

extensive selection of books in all genres and subjects. It offers everything from everyday reading material to collectible first editions and signed copies.

“Our huge History Room is very popular,” Bolgla pointed out. “Our Radical Literature section is unique, and our Ephemera section is filled with vintage magazines, newspapers, photographs and other rare pieces of history.”

She added that Atlanta Vintage Books is proud to be a community center for knowledge. “It’s simply stated in our motto,” she said. “Exercise Your Mind… Read!”

By Kathy Dean

Metro Atlanta is a city full of readers and booklovers. Many of us have special memories tied to stores that once served our communities, like Oxford Books, Borders and Outwrite Bookstore. While we still miss them, there are plenty of places to find that perfect read, and sometimes, that perfect memory in print. Here’s a sampling.

Atlanta Vintage Books

3660 Clairmont Road, Atlanta 30341 770-457-2919

atlantavintagebooks.com

Atlanta Vintage Books has been open for more than 30 years, and it’s a prime example of an independent, neighborhood bookstore. Located in the Brookhaven/Chamblee community, it houses a collection

of 75,000 vintage, collectible and used books within its 5,000 square feet.

Owners Jan Bolgla and Bob Roarty carefully curate each section, enticing customers to return again and again to find the latest additions. What’s most important, according to Bolgla, is that the shop is “a welcoming environment with helpful, knowledgeable employees,” and cats. “Our cats — Big Boo, Little Boo and Mickey — are part of our bookstore family.”

The couple has owned Atlanta Vintage Books for the last 15 years. “Bob had been working in the printing business for 30 years and I owned a graphic design company. We were both

experiencing a bit of burnout,” Bolgla explained.

In 2007, they saw an ad for a vintage bookstore that was for sale. “Bob and I have always loved books,” she said. “We knew we would regret it if we didn’t go for it. Who wouldn’t want to own a bookstore?”

The shop is known for its

Eagle Eye Book Shop

2076 Decatur Road, Decatur 30033

404-486-0307

eagleeyebooks.com

Eagle Eye Book Shop’s motto is “A Great Eye for Good Books,” but it’s also known in the community

Charles Robinson, co-owner, Eagle Eye Books

Photos by Donna P. Williams

Atlanta Vintage Books owner Bob Roarty with Big Boo

as a store that welcomes readers and their families with books, games and toys. Customers are encouraged to explore the aisles of bookshelves and then settle into a cozy spot to read.

Located within a mile of Emory University, the store covers about 5,000 square feet stocked with new, used, signed and collectible books. The selection is strong in general fiction, sci-fi and Southern fiction and history.

Eagle Eye was founded by Doug and Diane Robinson in 2003; they were later joined by co-owner Charles Robinson. Their website states that their mission includes, “Helping every customer find just the right book for enriching the personal, educational and professional experience of our customers.”

Book Nook

3073 Druid Hills Road, Decatur 30033

404-448-2166

booknookbookstoredecaturga. com facebook.com/ thebooknookdecatur/

While Book Nook is a chain of used bookshops, individual stores are managed locally by their staff members, so they tend to better reflect and connect with their communities. There are two other Book Nook locations in the Atlanta area — Lilburn and Marietta.

The Decatur store carries “…a little bit of everything. If you can think of it, we probably have it, including a small selection of foreign language books,” said Book Nook’s Marc Mills.

He added that they’re known to special order new book titles for customers. “Generally, we get those in within five to seven days, except for pre-releases, of course,” Mills noted.

Book Nook offers a wide variety of other used media, too — DVDs, Blu-ray discs, CDs and some vinyl. Visitors can also find used audiobooks, comic books, video games and even secondhand jigsaw puzzles and board games.

BiblioTech

1390 McLendon Avenue, Atlanta 30307 404-458-3192

BiblioTech is known as a little shop with a big selection and a surprising range of interesting and rare books. The selection spans classics and popular titles to more obscure works and includes works in philosophy, religion, music and poetry. The shop is a perfect fit in an academic part of town that’s filled with little free libraries.

A Capella Books

208 Haralson Avenue, Atlanta 30307 404-681-5128

acappellabooks.com

The Inman Park shop stocks new and used books, common and uncommon. A Capella also has hard-to-find, collectible and antiquarian books, as well as a good selection of signed first editions.

Bookish

1188 Glenwood Avenue, Atlanta 30316

404-496-8722

bookishatl.com

The East Atlanta Village bookstore’s slogan is “Every Story Matters,” and it has shelves filled with new and used books. The staff is happy to let readers browse, make suggestions, or take special orders.

For Keeps Books

171 Auburn Avenue, Atlanta 30303 forkeepsbooks.com

For Keeps specializes in Black rare and classic books. Shop hours are limited, but readers can check out the website for an impressive list of publications.

Half Price Books

2615 Decatur Road, Decatur 30033 404-377-4593

1205 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta 30068

770-565-3337 halfpricebooks. com

Half Price

Books has used, collectible and signed books, as well as other used media including music, puzzles, movies and TV shows.

Sonny Ideker, Rare and Antiquarian Bookseller

700 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell 30076

770-853-3311

sonnyideker.weebly.com

This bookseller, located in City Antiques and Interiors, features an eclectic mix of decorative and general antiquarian books in various languages — 1,500 in English — that range in date from 1502 to 1987.

Here are a few more used bookstores that are well worth the visit.

BiblioTech

Photos by Logan C. Ritchie

Fall Mystery Roundup

By Michele Ross

There’s never a bad time for a mystery, but the approach of fall, along with a hint — hope? — of cool weather, makes for ideal reading. Here are several titles to watch for this fall.

The Bullet That Missed

Richard Osman

Pamela Dorman Books, $27

Those of us who have adored Miss Jane Marple for decades are a little amused at readers who praise the current literary trend featuring strong, older women as a new thing. Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple, who first appeared in print in 1927, surprised both cops and criminals with her steely will and keen insights. Here, 12 new authors, including Lucy Foley, Val McDermid and Ruth Ware, contribute stories featuring the quiet lady from a small village as she tackles new crimes.

The Marsh Queen Virginia Hartman Gallery Books / Simon & Schuster, $27.99

hanged, Vera must unravel years of lies and secrets. It might be hard to work for Vera, but it’s always a pleasure to tag along at a readerly distance.

Next in Line

Jeffrey Archer

HarperCollins, $28.99

money scarce, too many patients are dying. Are they being helped to death? The author uses his experience as a physician to add believable, scary details to the well-paced plot.

Traitor’s Dance

Jeff Abbott Grand Central, $28

In this third snappy, sharp and suspenseful adventure of the Thursday Murder Club, an investigation into the death of a TV presenter leads to intrigue involving an ex-KGB operative, strangers with code names and more crime. The Coopers Chase Retirement Village foursome — Elizabeth, Ron, Joyce and Ibrahim — may now be nestled in a lovely British setting, but once again must call on their talents from previous occupations to set things right.

Loni Murrow is a bird artist for the Smithsonian, and if her life is quiet, she’s OK with that. But a call to help family in Florida sends her on a search that will bring all sorts of questions and challenges. Filled with rich details about nature, quick dialogue and a fresh plot, this is a satisfying, immersive read.

The Rising Tide

Ann Cleeves

Minotaur, $27.99

Marple: Twelve New Mysteries

Variety of authors

William Morrow / HarperCollins, $28.99

Grouchy, impatient, and smart, smart, smart British Inspector Vera Stanhope is called to investigate an unusual murder. For 50 years, a group of friends have met on Holy Island to reminisce and to mourn one friend who died years ago in rising tidal waters. But this time, when one friend is found

Detective Chief Inspector William Warwick and his elite Scotland Yard squad must monitor the Royalty Protection Command, whose job it is to protect the Royal Family. The job is especially stressful now that the Family includes its most beloved “People’s Princess” Diana. Archer, once a member of Parliament, knew Princess Diana, and he provides rich insights and details as well as a riveting plot.

Sometimes People Die

Simon Stephenson

Hanover Square, $27.99

After he’s caught stealing drugs, a young doctor takes the only job offered — at a struggling London hospital. Even though the staff is exhausted and the

Sam Capra might seem like a good suburban dad; he and his 13-year-old son Daniel live in Austin, Texas, where Sam stays busy running his bars and nightclubs.

But Sam is also an elite spy, and he’s given the news that Markus Bolt is missing. An American traitor, Bolt fled to Russia, but now he’s missing, and the Americans want him even more than the Russians. Capra is asked to find Bolt’s American daughter and see if she can help — or if she’ll hurt — the cause. Abbott brings his usual skill to plot, dialogue and the creation of believable characters.

Back to school for seniors

By Logan C. Ritchie

Atlanta has its own way of bringing in the fall season, even when the weather feels just about the same. Popular annual festivals, such as the Decatur Book Festival and the Atlanta Greek Festival, return to cue the coming of autumn. Gradually, the whole city goes back to school; new backpacks fly off the shelves, yellow buses clog neighborhood streets and college students roll back onto campus.

But the younger set doesn’t have a monopoly on education. In the state of Georgia, residents aged 62 and up are entitled to free tuition with some exclusions.

With nearly 60 higher education institutions in the greater metro, opportunities for learning abound. If you’ve been thinking of rolling back onto campus, too, here’s a list of programs to spark your interest.

Clayton State University

2000 Clayton State Boulevard, Morrow 30260 clayton.edu/admissions/ undergraduate/62-and-older Contact: 678-466-4115, admissions@clayton.edu

Clayton State University opened in 1969 as a junior college, using $5 million in bonds to build a campus. It became a fouryear university, offering both associate’s and bachelor’s degrees, in 1986. Clayton State has grown since its early days, expanding from its main campus in Morrow to satellite campuses in Locust Grove, Fayetteville and Peachtree City.

Eighty-seven seniors are currently pursuing degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels at Clayton State University.

“The programs afford seniors the opportunity to engage with a curriculum that meets their interests due to the variety of elective courses that can be taken. Students can design their own program,” said Dr. Jill L. Lane, Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs.

“Clayton State University is a good fit for seniors returning to school or pursuing their dreams of a college degree because we are dedicated to providing students with support services to help them navigate through the

curriculum and our faculty are dedicated to going the extra mile to help their students succeed,” Lane said.

Lane is a professor of Instructional Design and Technology and liaison to The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, which accredits higher learning institutions around the world.

Clayton State provides many points of entry for non-traditional students.

“The best advice I can give a senior who is thinking about coming back to college is to visit campus and schedule an appointment with the department chair or advisor in their desired major,” said Lane.

Clayton’s CaPE

Clayton State University’s Center for Continuing and Professional Education (CaPE) offers classes that do not count toward degree programs. CaPE is an excellent option for nontraditional students looking to refresh professional skills or explore a new path.

CaPE offers cost-effective, relevant coursework for professional certificates and courses in paralegal studies, nursing, education, computer science, leadership and management, dental hygiene and more.

For those focused on personal enrichment, Clayton State University has a wide variety of classes. Basic crochet, Understanding Medicare, American Sign Language, digital photography, improv, public speaking, Microsoft Excel, sewing and voiceover are just a sampling of classes beginning this semester.

Veterans Affairs benefits will cover professional development courses in professional investigating, project management, SHRM learning system, Six Sigma, Black Belt I and II, HVAC and healthcare.

Lane suggested students “ask questions about course offerings, flexibility in scheduling and support services that can ease the transition.”

OLLI at Kennesaw State University

3333 Bushbee Drive, Kennesaw 30144 cpe.kennesaw.edu/olli/ Contact: 470-578-6755, pwalke43@ kennesaw.edu

OLLI at Kennesaw State University’s College of Continuing and Professional Education has classes in art, music, finance, history, languages and technology. The school runs on a quarter, not semester system.

OLLI at Kennesaw is more than academia. It arranges small-group travel — Greece, Italy, Alaska, Israel and New Zealand and Australia top the list — as well as day trips. Community events like Donuts and Notes bring together seniors and local school groups who come to perform choral and musical concerts.

“We are a pretty active group,” said Melissa Conners, manager of community programs that includes OLLI. “We have a special club with access to a community room for just $5 per month. There members can go to book club or play bridge or play other games.”

OLLI at Emory University

6 Executive Park Drive, Atlanta 30329 olli.emory.edu or ccpe.kennesaw. edu/olli/ Contact: 404-727-5489, OLLI@Emory.edu

Emory University began catering to older students in the late 1970s, holding classes in public meeting spaces like church basements. Thanks to an endowment, Emory now boasts spring, summer, fall and winter classes through Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI).

Arts, finance, languages, yoga and history are just a few subjects offered.

A sampling of OLLI classes at Emory University includes:

■ What it Was: Growing Up When the Music Mattered, a backstage pass to the time of classic rock and roll, the Civil Rights movement and the Vietnam War.

■ Auteurs 1: Explore the Filmmakers and Filmmaking brings attention to little known but well deserving filmmakers like Sarah Polley, Jane Campion and Julian Schnabel.

Fees at OLLI are $49 for one class. For each additional class, there’s a discount.

Georgia State University

3 Gilmer Street SE, Atlanta 30303 perimeter.gsu.edu/admissions/ apply/senior

Contact: 404-413-2500, admissions@gsu.edu

Georgia State University boasts five campuses across the metro area: Downtown Atlanta, Alpharetta. Clarkston, Decatur, Dunwoody and Newton.

At Georgia State University, older students are welcome to resume, continue or begin a college education as a GSU-62 student. The program allows eligible applicants to register for college-level courses for credit or audit on a space-available basis. Students must first apply online as a freshman, bachelor, graduate or post-baccalaureate.

Perimeter Adults Learning and Services

Dunwoody Baptist Church, 4045 Mount Vernon Road, Dunwoody 30338 palsonline.info

Contact: 770-698-0801, DunwoodyPALS@gmail.com

Perimeter Adults Learning and Services (PALS) is a nonprofit, volunteer-led organization led by senior adults for senior adults offering enrichment in Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, Norcross and surrounding communities. PALS began in 1991 with support from local religious institutions and civic groups.

Registration for fall classes is underway, running Sept. 12 to Nov. 7. The cost for an eight-week class is $45 for the session or $8 to drop in. Note that there are no classes the week of Sept. 26.

PALS students can choose from Sociology of Religion, Love to Travel, Mah Jongg, Bridge, Election 2022 and Shakespeare’s A

Midsummer Night’s Dream. PALS’ quarterly enrichment features Monday Lunch ‘N Learn, an all-day event.

Seniors Enriched Living Roswell United Methodist Church, 814 Mimosa Boulevard, Roswell, 30075 facebook.com/ SeniorsEnrichedLiving

Contact: 770-587-3750, info@ selroswellga.org

Seniors Enriched Living (SEL) is a non-profit, interfaith organization in Roswell Square. More than 300 participants take senior adult continuing education classes during the spring, summer and fall. Class registration is online, and classes are offered online starting Sept. 19 and in person starting Sept. 20.

Interested in art museum collections in Fort Worth, Texas or the U.S. Constitution? Subjects range from Notable Homes and Gardens to Estate Planning, and many more topics in between. The cost is $70 for up to five classes. Each additional class is $10.

Senior University of Greater Atlanta

Rehoboth Baptist Church, 2997 Lawrenceville Highway, Tucker 30084 suga.org

Contact: SugaAtlanta@gmail.com

Senior University of Greater Atlanta (SUGA) is located in Tucker. Classes range from history, literature and science to mythology, opera and law. Membership, not tuition, is charged per quarter.

A book club meets monthly to hear a presentation and discuss the month’s book selection. Coming up in September: “While Justice Sleeps” by Stacey Abrams, candidate for Georgia governor, and “The Sum of Us” by Heather McGee, economy expert.

Lifespan Academy

3003 Howell Mill Road NW Atlanta, GA 30327

Contact: 470-757-6693 peggy@lifespanatlanta.com or lol@lifespanatlanta.com

Fall classes start Sept. 8, according to the organization’s webpage.

The state of Georgia allows students aged 62 and older to take college classes without paying tuition. Some lesser costs may be incurred, like an application fee or parking fees, but tuition is free. Each college or university has slightly different fees, so read the fine print.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Georgia Constitution, eligibility for enrollment under this provision requires such persons:

1. Must be residents of Georgia, 62 years of age or older at the time of registration and shall present a birth certificate or other comparable written documentation of age to enable the institution to determine eligibility.

2. May enroll as a regular or auditing student in courses offered for resident credit on a space available basis without payment of fees, except for supplies, laboratory or shop fees.

3. Shall meet all institution undergraduate or graduate admission requirements. Reasonable prerequisites may be required in certain courses.

4. Shall have all usual student and institutional records maintained. However, institutions will not report such students for budgetary purposes.

5. Must meet all institution and legislated degree requirements if they are degree-seeking students.

6. May not enroll in dental, medical, veterinary or law schools under the provisions of this policy.

YOU’RE INVITED TO JOIN US IN PERSON!

PRESENTED BY:

The Atlanta-Journal Constitution is committed to facilitating conversations on the topics important to aging well in Atlanta and providing you resources to live your best senior life — especially in today’s challenging environment.

Our fall event features local experts speaking on topics that matter most to you: √ Things to get out and do this winter √ Protecting your assets and estate planning √ Aging well in place √ Managing prescriptions √ Immunizations

WHEN/WHERE:

Wednesday, October 5 | 1:30 - 3PM City Springs | Terrace Room

1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs

RSVP:

Visit ajc.com/agingevents

We encourage you to submit questions on the topics above for our speakers when you register.

SPONSORED BY:

Visit us at ajc.com/aging to sign up for our Aging in Atlanta newsletter and learn more about our upcoming special sections. You will also find plenty of 55+ focused content there.

The Truth About TV Cop Shows

STAY SAFE

Steve Rose is a retired Sandy Springs Police Captain, veteran Fulton County police officer and freelance writer. He is the author the book “Why Do My Mystic Journeys Always Lead to the Waffle House?” and the column “View from a Cop.”

I don’t watch police-drama shows on television. Most cops don’t. My wife, who spent her career as a detective and who specialized in crimes against women and children, will watch shows about actual crimes.

Actually, one or two of her cases have been picked up by production companies who came in, interviewed her, gave her the date it would air, and… well, nothing. That’s show business.

As for me, cop shows are on

the bottom of the “to watch list,” mostly because they stray so far from reality. (The only exception is Reno 911, which I love. Although intended for mindless entertainment, some of the antics remind me of distant situations equaling that level of absurdity. More on that after the statute of limitations.)

Let me get into the heart of the matter. Most TV shows are well off the mark. If not, they would be boring. Who wants to see the prime-time detective cut the shift short to go work his or her offduty traffic job?

Internet television allows me to watch a wide range of shows going as far back as the 1950s.

Columbo, a favorite of mine, was a master of deception. With his bumbling nature and the wrinkled trench coat that he wore in Los Angeles in the summer, he made suspects overconfident. Yet, once Columbo walked away, then stopped, scratched his head and

turned to ask one more question, you knew a suspect was toast.

I don’t know why he had to drive that old car, though. LAPD detectives were, and are, issued cars — nice ones too.

I recently pulled up an episode of Nash Bridges. First, where is that police station? It looks like some fancy architectural building with an art deco motif. Also, who is doing the paperwork on those cases?

Nash and Cheech just drive off in that 1971 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda convertible after a 10-minute shootout, put the top down and cruise. Nice ride for sure — but even if it was confiscated from an evil drug dealer or worse, an Instagram Influencer, in reality, the district attorney who did the asset forfeiture or a high-ranking police commander would be tooling around town instead of a couple of detectives.

Now if you want the absolute Holy Grail of cheesy cop shows,

look no further than T.J. Hooker, a police sergeant who hangs around the LCPD — wherever that is — police academy barracks, teaching all the beautiful and handsome police recruits with their 1980s hair. In fact, everyone’s hair is perfect.

I policed in the 1970s and 1980s and never reached that level of hair because my hair had other plans. If the wind blew my hair up, instead of it gently floating down, perfectly, in slow motion, it just stayed up there looking like a rooster.

In one episode of T.J. Hooker, the perpetrator, having committed a crime, is actively absconding with Hooker in foot pursuit. Hooker, realizing he cannot catch the much-younger thief, pulls his P-24 baton and throws it. The baton skips along the road until it tangles the perpetrator’s feet and down he goes! Hooker hooks him and books him and not one hair is out of place.

Prior to the 1980s, there was one popular police show that was the very definition of cool cops. Starsky and Hutch, which should have been titled Starsky, Hutch and the 1975 Ford Gran Torino, introduced the “hood slide.”

The hood slide was a way to exit the Gran Torino quickly; you’d slide across the freshly waxed red paint, land on your feet, then pull out the cuffs and gun before dragging the bad guy from the car you chased all over Hollywood.

I thought I could use the hood-slide in my toolbox, so I practiced it one afternoon. I came to a full stop in my Ford Fairmont, leaped from the car — or rather, tried to, but found that I had not unbuckled my seat belt. I unbuckled the belt and leaped across the hood, but I’d not developed enough speed to make it across, so I came to a stop about mid-hood — which was hot, so I rolled off and landed on my face.

Apparently, Hollywood embellishes hood slides.

So, next time you find yourself in conversation with a police officer, instead of asking if television police dramas are accurate, just cut to the chase and ask, “Can you do a hood slide?”

Losing Weight Is Never Easy

thinking healthy

be programs that will fit well with your life.

Proven published programs

By Shelly Howell

In most areas of my life, I’m an adult. I think like an adult and behave like an adult. But when it comes to food and dieting, I’m a bratty 14-year-old girl.

I don’t want portion control. I don’t want to eat just one slice of pizza. And when I walk into the theater and smell the popcorn, I want some. Unfortunately, I’m part of the 73.6% of American adults who are either overweight or obese as defined by the CDC. There are a lot of us.

As we age, our nutritional needs don’t vary greatly from when we’re younger. The National Institute of Aging recommends a diet that consists of a wide variety of foods with significant sources of protein to maintain muscle. Fruits and vegetables are vital for vitamins and minerals, and we should avoid added sugars, saturated fats and sodium.

I think most of us know what we should be doing, but many of us have overindulged too many times and need to take off pounds. And being overweight puts us at higher risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and even cancer.

There are as many kinds of diets as there are dieters. Finding a perfect fit is not easy. But I want to highlight some programs and strategies that are particularly helpful for older Americans.

Diets created for apps

There are popular diets that are impossible without a smartphone, but are affordable and lend structure to weightloss programs. You put in your statistics, establish goals and track your food plan throughout the day on your phone. If you like flexibility and are comfortable with a smartphone, these might

There are many trendy programs which drastically restrict carbohydrates, proteins or fats. But most come with side effects and limitations that make them questionable. The most popular programs, with safety records, consistently appear on the top of studies for long-term effectiveness and help seniors who are working to control diabetes and high blood pressure.

Diets with prepared meals

If cooking is not part of your skill set, there are programs that require you to purchase prepackaged meals. While these tend to offer less flexibility, they can be convenient and effective programs for many people. They can be much more expensive than some of the other options, so look closely at the total cost.

Weight Watchers

Weight Watchers has been around for over 60 years. While you can manage a WW program using the app, it has always included a weekly meeting where members get the support of a community.

Whichever plan makes the most sense for you, look at what is offered in terms of maintenance after you’ve shed unwanted pounds. It’s difficult to lose weight — and frequently harder to keep it off.

Like many of you, I’ve tried many of the programs listed here. It is not easy. I may have to stop acting like a brat.

Photo of Karen Troutman leading a meeting at the Weight Watchers location in Tucker, GA. (Photo by Shelly Howell)

Shelly Howell is the author of “Don’t be a Wuss: Inspiration for a great life after 60.”

Susan Booth Reflects on Her Years with the Alliance Theatre

After 21 years, Susan Booth is leaving her position as Jennings Hertz Artistic Director at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre, heading to the Goodman Theatre in Chicago in a similar role. It’s somewhat of a homecoming, as she served as director of new play development there from 1993 to 2001.

But she’s not quietly slipping out a side stage door.

In addition to all the facets

of an artist director’s role — curating a theater season, casting, representing the theater in the community, fundraising, interacting with a board of directors, casting — she usually directs a couple of productions a year.

In August, she was in the thick of co-directing Everybody, a thoughtful play about the meaning of life in the face of death. Her last day was set to be

Sept. 16, smack in the middle of its run.

Booth’s accomplishments are broad and deep: more than 80 world premieres with a halfdozen of those transferring to Broadway (including The Color Purple), more than 40 shows that she has personally directed, a Regional Theatre Tony Award, a $22 million renovation of the Alliance’s performing space and the establishment of programs to benefit emerging playwrights and actors. She’s quick to share credit with others, be they Alliance staffers or community members the Alliance has forged partnerships with.

Booth took time out from rehearsals for Everybody to talk with Mark Woolsey.

Q. What prompted the move to the Goodman?

A. There aren’t many theaters; there’s only one that would have been interesting to leave the Alliance for. I have loved my time at the Alliance a lot, but the Goodman was where I came up as a director. For me as a young theater artist, it was the absolute pinnacle of muscular, important theater. And the timing of this moment lined up with my daughter heading off to college this fall, which meant we wouldn’t be uprooting her. Honestly, I love challenges. I love finding myself in positions where I have to learn new skills.

Q. What, if anything, will Goodman allow you to do that you’ve not done here?

A. There’s not a simple answer of “now I can do wildly experimental work in Chicago that I can’t in Atlanta” because Atlanta has been very embracing of a wide collection of work. What I look forward to is being in a theater community that, at any given time, has about 100 theaters. Because what that demands is that you find what you particularly can do that nobody else in town is doing as well. That’s a niche you have to fight hard for in Chicago, and I’m looking forward to that fight.

Q. Which of the many world premieres at the Alliance spoke to you the most or broke new ground?

A. I studiously avoided having favorites. I think every piece you do should be your favorite for the period you’re working on it. There was an adaptation I worked on of the [former U.S. Poet Laureate] Natasha Threthewey’s poetry. She was generous to allow me to create… and direct a stage setting of that poetry.

[Also,] a bunch of years ago, Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice were interested in seeing what would happen if Jesus Christ Superstar was set in a gospel idiom. They were interested in having its first experiment in Atlanta. I got to direct [and] we had a 60-voice gospel choir on stage. It was an extraordinary community event.

Q. Any thoughts on a favorite actor?

A. I will not call any single actor a favorite because that would leave so many people out of the conversation.

Q. How did the Alliance cope with COVID?

A. The Alliance made a decision, that our board thankfully completely endorsed, that we were not going to lay people off…that we were going to stay present and useful. So our costume shop started making personal protection equipment. They made masks and gowns. Our education staff actually reached more people than we normally would by going virtual. Parents and teachers were so hungry for virtual digital content that we had more demand than we would have had in a live situation. It ended up being incredibly culturally healthy for this theater…and it ended up being financially the right decision for the theater, so we came out of the pandemic in remarkably good shape.

and playwriting competition come to mind.

A. For the most part, they were responses to situations where we wanted to be a solution. You

mentioned Spelman. The lack of leaders of color and female leaders in our field is something that I wrestle with. So here was an opportunity where we could create a multi-year fellowship program where young women of color would be able learn the ropes of working in a large institution and be given the opportunity to build leadership skills in our field.

Young writers come out of graduate school often with a lot of debt and it can take years before they’ve cracked their first premiere at a professional theater. Our feeling was maybe we can expedite that and have

final-year students submit their work, and the winning play every year would get a world premiere with the same resources we would give to a well-known play.

Q. What changed in the Atlanta theater scene during your time at the Alliance?

A. The creation of the Georgia film tax credit. It means that more film and television production has come to the state, and specifically Atlanta, and what that means particularly for actors is that you don’t need to leave town to make a living.

We do everything with that idea clearly in mind. So, go ahead, enjoy yourself with great social opportunities and amenities. Savor fine dining every day. And feel assured that assisted living services are always available if needed. We invite you to experience The Piedmont at our upcoming event.

Fall Festival

Thursday, September 29th • 4:00pm

Q. Can you talk about a couple of the programming and partnerships you developed? The Spelman College program

Susan Booth

Photo by Joe Mazza

GEORGIA’S MILITARY MUSEUMS HONOR THOSE WHO SERVE

Travels with Charlie

Veteran Georgia journalist Charles Seabrook has covered native wildlife and environmental issues for decades.

For “Travels with Charlie,” he visits and photographs communities and places throughout the state.

Georgia is home to some 20 large and small museums dedicated to military history and to the honor of men and women who serve. No matter their size, all of the museums are important — sobering and powerful reminders of the perils of war and its toll in human lives and suffering, from the American Revolution to the global war on terrorism.

The larger museums are replete with weapon displays; old tanks, fighter jets and other war machines; scores of historic artifacts from U.S. wars; and life-size dioramas of soldiers and airmen in combat. Sculptures and other art also help pay tribute to America’s military men and women.

Here’s a brief look at four top military museums in Georgia — and some of the best in the country. If you go, allow at least a half day to see all that each has to offer.

National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center at Fort Benning

1775 Legacy Way, Columbus, Ga. 31903 nationalinfantrymuseum.org Free admission; $5 suggested donation.

Opened in 2009, it’s now one of the nation’s top-rated military museums. Its 190,000 square feet of space has thousands of artifacts, monuments, interactive exhibits and video presentations on display — collectively one of the world’s greatest military collections.

On the museum’s spacious grounds is the World War II Company Street, a group of seven

original 1940s-era buildings used on Fort Benning to train soldiers for the war. Also on the museum grounds is a stark reminder of the human cost of war, a 3/4 scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington that bears 58,318 names of U.S. military personnel killed in the conflict.

Museum of Aviation at Warner Robins Air Force Base

1942 Heritage Blvd., Robins AFB, Ga. 31098 museumofaviation.org

Free admission / free parking.

Founded in 1980, it’s now the second largest aerospace museum of the U.S. Air Force. Housed in its four huge exhibit buildings

1 National Infantry Museum, Fort Benning, Ga.

2 World War II Company Street, National Infantry Museum, Fort Benning, Ga.

3 National Infantry Museum, Fort Benning, Ga.

4 3/4 scale replica of Vietnam Veterans Memorial, National Infantry Museum, Fort Benning, Ga.

5 P-51 Mustang, Museum of Aviation, Warner Robins AFB, Ga.

6 Boeing-Stearman PT-17 Kaydet, Museum of Aviation, Warner Robins AFB, Ga.

7 B-52 bomber, Museum of Aviation, Warner Robins AFB, Ga.

and on its grounds is an amazing collection of more than 85 historic bombers, cargo planes, fighter jets, helicopters, missiles, drones and special aircraft.

One of the planes is a massive B-1 bomber, which was designed to replace the aging B-52 bomber — one of which also sits on the museum’s grounds. Numerous other exhibits display historic Air Force artifacts. Dioramas also portray airmen, pilots and other personnel performing various tasks on aircraft, such as loading missiles.

National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force 175 Bourne Ave., Pooler, Ga. 31322 mightyeighth.org

Tickets range $7-$12 each. Tours start at $10 for adults, $5 for children.

Much of the museum is dedicated to the history of the Eighth Air Force of the U.S. Army Air Corps, which carried out key bombing missions in the European Theater during World War II. Among its many World War II exhibits is a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber.

Andersonville National Historic Site (NHS) 496 Cemetery Rd., Andersonville, Ga. 31711 nps.gov/ande/planyourvisit/natl_

National Prisoner of War Museum

8 B-17 Flying Fortress, National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Pooler, Ga.

9 “Hanoi Hilton,” in which American prisoners of war in Vietnam were caged by North Vietnamese forces, National Prisoner of War Museum, Andersonville, Ga. Text and photos by Charles Seabrook

tour of the Andersonville NHS, the site of the infamous Confederate Army’s Camp Sumter that imprisoned thousands of captured Union soldiers. Nearly 13,000 men died here as prisoners of war because of the horrible conditions.

place

a

Gardens and Trees Make a Difference

THE ENVIRONMENTAL GARDENER

Greg Levine, co-executive director of Trees Atlanta, describes himself as happiest when his hands are in the dirt.

The sadness can be allconsuming when I pick up a World Wildlife Fund magazine or turn the radio to NPR. We are deluged with bad news: super storms, extreme climate events and threatened species. Even in the face of such doom and gloom, we all have some power to make an impact in our home gardens, school yards and corporate landscapes.

Trees Atlanta is introducing a new City Forest Certification Program that we have been working on for several years. This program is designed to certify properties or residences that demonstrate exceptional tree stewardship through social and environmental practices and behavior. The program’s purpose is to reach beyond the trees to grow community connections to the forest, and to increase the ecological value of urban landscapes.

A wide variety of property types and sizes are eligible for certification, both residential and commercial. One piece of this certification involves evaluating your tree coverage, then planting to reach a canopy goal. We can all help create a better future by making improvements to the land that we care for.

This fall, find some places in your garden or community, plant as many trees as you can and look into becoming City Forest Certified.

Listed below are 10 trees I plant in my garden (and neighbors’ gardens, when they let me). The list includes the trees I can’t live without, and they are all available this fall at plant sales, like Trees Atlanta’s Annual Tree Sale at The Carter Center on October 8.

This first group includes some

upland drought resistant trees.

With 33 native species to choose from, there is an oak for every situation. Scarlet oak

slower grower than many other shade trees but can reach 100 feet in height. It is worth the wait, so plant this tree.

If your yard is moist or wet, consider these water-loving trees:

■ Sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) has sweet, two-inch white flowers with the scent of a lemon. Its semievergreen leaves are often silver backed, giving it a bit of sparkle in the evening light or under a breeze. There are many cultivars that are selected for height, evergreen quality, cold hardiness and form. ‘Moonglow’ is a tight compact form that reaches 35 feet in height, while ‘Green Shadow’ maxes at 30 feet and is a very evergreen selection.

(Quercus coccinea) is a great tree for full sun and drought tolerance. It will grow to 70 feet over time, but don’t let the slower growth rate deter you. When it comes to fall color, the name says it all: the deep, scarlet red out rivals the other oak species.

Oaks are the most important tree for butterflies and moths, as their leaves are food for over 500 species of caterpillars. Catch a real beauty on the Eastside BeltLine at the famous Three Tree Hill north of Ralph McGill Boulevard.

You say you have no room for an oak? I say differently! Running oak (Quercus pumila) gets just six feet tall and there are several other medium-sized oaks and shade tolerant species to consider.

The slow-growing Eastern hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) is hard to find in nature and in the nursery trade. It grows to about 35 feet in sun or shade and has a consistent yellow fall color. It has a slightly shaggy bark with age, and unique ornamental catkins and fruit that look like hops, hence its name.

Shagbark hickory (Carya ovata) is my favorite hickory. Endangered Indiana bats make their home in the super shaggy bark. It has a great yellow fall color and an edible nut, if you can get through the shell. Like most drought tolerant species, it is a

▲Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) is a four-season tree reaching just 30 feet tall. I planted these in the 3-foot-wide strip between the neighbors’ and our driveway, with well-drained soil and in full sun. There is so much to love about this tree. It has a beautiful winter form with twisting, billowy branches. The tree suckers lightly to create a grove of beauty.

The spring brings on Gatorade colored flowers that look like they could glow in the dark, followed by eye-catching leaves and a purple fruit with a red stem. I watch birds fight for the treats from my couch. Fall brings in every color imaginable, but in soft pastel tones. Sassafras leaves are used by many to season soups and beans, and its roots were used for teas and root beer long ago. This tree is a must-have for any garden — unless you have no sun and only wet soil.

Red buckeye (Aesculus pavia) has an upright panicle of tubular red flowers that hummingbirds love in early spring. It only grows to 25 feet tall and wide, and a thick tap root helps with drought tolerance in its first year or two. It can drop its leaves early when stressed, but the selection ‘Splendens’ was chosen for a cleaner yellow fall color that holds on until the true fall.

▲ Cherrybark oak (Quercus pagoda) is very tolerant of wet soils and grows pretty fast for an oak. The leaf’s shape is reminiscent of a pagoda and has a dark green color, turning to yellow and maroon in the fall. You can see a beautiful allé at Tech Parkway, but this tree also makes a beautiful single specimen.

■ Pondcypress (Taxodium ascendens) can reach 100 feet tall. It has a softer look than its nearest relative, the bald cypress (T. distichum). I prefer it. Its leaves are more whorled, giving it a light and dainty appearance. It is a deciduous conifer and may concern a visiting northerner when its leaves turn orange and drop. It can sit in water or grow in average soils. Like most wetland trees, it can be surprisingly drought tolerant. See another allé of this beauty on the west side of the Plaza Shopping Center on Ponce De Leon. Make sure to make time to catch a movie, then grab dinner at the Righteous Room.

she was right on time — the first few just dropped!

With so many interesting species to choose from, there’s a tree suited for every yard, and you can help save the world by planting one — but why stop there?

Trees Atlanta Annual Tree Sale

▲ Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) has a tropical look with its large droopy leaves. I have seen this tree reach 35 feet at its happiest, in moist soils. Its unusual maroon, lantern-shaped flowers are pollinated by flies and followed by a large oddly shaped fruit that tastes like a sweet banana: the largest native

fruit in North America! The fruit doesn’t last long because possums and raccoons eat them the first night that they hit the ground, but it’s quite the treat when you get to eat one. My neighbor Shawn has been waiting to get into my backyard for a taste as she has never had one. I saw her first attempt just yesterday and

Saturday, October 8, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. The Carter Center Next to Freedom Farmers Market 453 John Lewis Freedom Parkway, Atlanta 30307 Visit treesatlanta.org for details and updated info.

At Georgia Dermatology Partners, during an evaluation, the doctor may find an area of concern on the skin that may be indicative of skin cancer. At this point, a small portion of the skin is removed to be evaluated by a pathologist to look for cancerous cells.

The pathologist understands how to evaluate tissue samples and determine if skin cancer is present. If a biopsy is removed from a patient and tests positive for skin cancer, the doctor will then work with you to discuss treatment options.

Concerned about skin cancer?

Schedule your skin cancer screening with the team of professionals at Georgia Dermatology Partners. Our practice has four convenient locations throughout the area and can assist with a wide range of general and cosmetic solutions for the skin and body.

Medical

Surgical

Cosmetic

Skin Cancer Surgery

Georgia Dermatology Partners

3929 Peachtree Rd Suite 300

Brookhaven, GA 30319

Call to schedule your appointment

(770) 972-4845

have

Travel Technology Checklist

Digital Device Doc

of the Atlanta Senior Life

Seniors have the delightful advantage of being able to travel in the fall, winter and spring when kids are in school. That opens a lot of possibilities for enjoyable trips.

you’ll need cellular service. Check with your carrier before you hit the road and find out whether you’ll have coverage where you’re going. Be prepared to deal with not having cellular service or Wi-Fi capability — or neither.

2. Some carriers’ technology seamlessly switches a phone call between cellular and Wi-Fi, if a Wi-Fi network is available. That lets you use lower-cost technology when possible. You should check with your carrier to understand how your service works and how you can use your phone’s or tablet’s settings to control whether you use cellular or Wi-Fi on calls and when checking email or using a web browser.

3. If you’re worried about security, you can use a virtual private network (VPN).

A VPN creates a secure connection between you and the internet. When you connect to the internet through a VPN, all your data traffic is sent through an encrypted virtual tunnel. This has multiple advantages:

When you use a cellular network to browse the internet and access websites that require passwords, you’re secure — for the most part. Nobody guarantees absolute security. When you use a public Wi-Fi network, even one that requires a password, it’s still public and not as secure as your home network.

Western Europe is light years ahead of the U.S. in terms of WiFi security. But to be as safe as possible, you must have strong passwords and multi-factor authentication.

Here’s a brief checklist of steps to take before your travel.

1. Know what local cellular and Wi-Fi conditions and limitations are like where you’re going before you go.

If you’re planning to drive through remote areas and use a navigation app, such as Google Maps, Apple Maps or Waze,

■ You’ll be more anonymous on the internet because your real IP address and location will be hidden.

■ You’ll be safer on the internet because encryption will keep away hackers and cybercriminals.

■ By using different IP addresses, you’ll be able to access websites and online services that would otherwise be blocked.

4. Know how your phone stores and backs up photos and videos. Your device has limited physical storage space and cloud storage for additional items, but you can buy more cloud storage.

If you have an iPhone and use the iCloud, we suggest you buy 50 GB of iCloud storage for 99 cents per month before you go. Google has similarly priced options, and there are services, including Dropbox, that give you storage capability no matter what device you use.

Just remember that if you delete a photo or video from your phone or tablet, you’ll delete it from iCloud, too. There are ways to get those deleted items back within 30 days, but you can avoid problems by being careful about what you delete. Avoid problems by buying sufficient storage space before your trip.

5. When traveling in the U.S., you can keep all the electronic comforts of home, including streaming services such as Netflix, if your lodging has TVs with the capability to allow you access. In all likelihood, all you’ll probably need to do is enter your username and password, then

system. That has a lot of advantages, including providing driving directions by voice while displaying the map on the car’s display, which is usually much larger than your phone’s. That’s helpful as you navigate places you’ve never been before.

It also lets you access your phone’s contacts for handsfree calling, as well as your music playlists. Just make sure you wipe the car’s infotainment system of your data before you turn in the car at the end of your trip.

8. If you’re visiting an unfamiliar city, Google Maps and Apple Maps can supply you with walking directions or public transportation directions.

start watching.

The critical thing is to remember to log off each service from every TV you use. Otherwise, you’ll stay logged in on that device and the next occupant will be able to watch movies and shows on your dime.

6. For cellular service abroad, you can get a SIM card for the country in which you’ll be traveling. It can be useful, especially if you’re renting a car. That will give you access to GPS systems and enable you to make phone calls in case of an emergency or if you need directions.

7. If you’re renting a car, it may have the technology to connect your iPhone or Android phone to its infotainment

9. If you’re traveling internationally and NOT driving, you most likely can get by with Wi-Fi to check email, look up information on sites to visit and make restaurant reservations. You can even use an app to download a map of a walking tour and refer to your phone as you follow the route.

10. Consider an app like WhatsApp — the popular service from Meta, the people who brought you Facebook — to use a Wi-Fi internet connection for voice and texting capabilities. WhatsApp lets you make voice or video calls or send chat messages (just like text messages) over the internet to anyone in your contacts list.

WHAT? A study to find out if assessment and treatment procedures for spatial function can be adapted for people with left brain stroke, aphasia, and memory impairment

WHERE? Atlanta VA Medical Center

Participants are needed! WHO?

- Veterans and non-veterans who have aphasia and memory impairment caused by stroke

- Age ����� years old

- Meet other eligibility criteria for the study Participants will be compensated for their time!

For more information, please contact: Anna Ree ���-���-����

Breaking Bread in Buckhead from the crates

Kelly McCoy is a veteran Atlanta broadcaster who writes about the days popular music only came on vinyl records, which often were stored in crates.

Remembering and reflecting on the entertainment, dining out and restaurant scene from a few decades ago — my musings of another part of Atlanta in another time — there were mighty fine places to break bread. Of course, the entertainment folks demanded

location and when the blue building, The Polaris, was the tallest thing downtown.

Speaking of tall, Tower Place, home to our WQXI studios, was pretty much the tallest building in Buckhead. Houlihan’s at Lenox Square was a nice place, too. The Peasant Uptown at Phipps Plaza was a little more than an average regular “go-to” we frequented. Bones Steakhouse was a new establishment in town, and we learned how top-notch beef was meant to be served.

We didn’t have phones and cameras in our pockets, so a lot of priceless pics can’t be shown. I would have felt a little goofy pulling out a Kodak Instamatic with a cube flash or a Polaroid and asking someone for a picture.

Then, of course, a Fotomat was always nearby for quick

the best on occasion, especially with big stars and deluxe expense accounts.

We weren’t the international city that Atlanta is today. And I’m fairly certain the term “foodie” wasn’t a part of our conversations.

If you really wanted opulent splendor, Nikolai’s Roof at the Atlanta Hilton could fill the bill. Just like the other finer places, there was an amazing wine list, and the supreme dishes they prepared were world class. Some of us remember their

processing. Now, you can get digital processing online from a pharmacy chain for mere pennies. The smartphone did to the photo business the same thing it did to radio and records — a couple of features that make

Photo from the Vintage Atlanta Facebook page

Matchbook covers.

Photo by Kelly McCoy

us “…all just prisoners…of our own device.” Those words are part of the lyrics from an Eagles hit of the same era. Were they prophetic, or just lucky?

While preparing this column, Olivia Newton John passed away…73. She was 32 when we met, a sweet lady we got to know up close and personal for a few hours in a very intimate setting with less than 10 people in the room.

Also, Whitney would have been 59 this month. My very first column has a picture of us at her 21st birthday celebration at Chastain Park Amphitheater… before the corporate prefix.

The Red Barn was within walking distance of Chastain. One of old Buckhead’s premier and finer places, they’d even bring the phone to your table, and plug it in!

Hedgerose Heights Inn on East Paces Ferry in Buckhead was my favorite. It was a small building with elegant interiors and served the finest of anything you ate or drank, with at least four people servicing our table. I swear, if a crumb came from a piece of bread, it was scooped or swept up immediately. This was the kind of place you’d have Burt Bacharach to dinner.

It’s hard to imagine that people smoked cigarettes in all restaurants in those days. While having a smoke, if an ash perhaps made its way to the tablecloth, it was gone in less than 60 seconds and a clean ashtray would appear! Combine this attention with delectable food with divine, gourmet flavors for a meal experience like no other. Only the finest in adult spirits was served.

103 West was another great, with always a pleasant vibe. It had amazing food and service from top to bottom, and an area you could reserve for groups, family or anything special. One evening, a record rep sent a taxi for a specific bottle of cognac after the table consumed the only one they’d happened to have.

E.J.’s on E Andrews was another of Buckhead’s finest hangouts, and always had a cool vibe. One of the most unlikely things happened to me and a few other buds there. We’d seen Martin Mull at the Great Southeast Music Hall. After the gig, we were invited to join Mr. Mull and others for a cool, laid-back way to wrap up an evening at E.J.’s, a hip place to go in “serious paper country” — another way to say, ‘rich neighborhood’.

I honestly don’t remember the entertainer of the evening, but when our entourage arrived, it was suggested that Mr. Mull should perform “a number or two.” Imagine walking in and seeing Martin Mull on a stage playing an acoustic guitar and having an impromptu fun evening with some nice Atlanta folks. Of course, there’s no picture.

I’ve only written a tiny tapas for the amount of really good places to eat in the ‘70s and ‘80s. The Coach and Six, Pano’s & Paul’s and more come to mind. Fast forward to current day, and a full array of anything you want to put in your mouth is available in the metro area.

Happy dining! Thanks for reading.

Kelly McCoy and wife Cary with Olivia Newton John, left, at a party

Community of Care on a Mission to Heal