Several hundred participants and friends in the Quality Living Services (QLS) community attended Friday's opening of the movie "Red Tails" together. QLS participants were asked to purchase movie tickets and show support in of the late Tuskegee Airman Charles "Chuck" Dryden. Until his death, Ret. Col. Dryden was a frequent participant and supporter of  activities at QLS. Several busloads of movie goers were transported from QLS to the film shown at Movies ATL in the Camp Creek Marketplace district.  The 12:15 p.m. showing was filled to capacity with seniors, many of whom knew Dryden …

At this time of the year many senior citizens are often focused on giving to family, friends, and others. Members of Atlanta's bridge community are also focused on giving to the less fortunate among us.  The historic University Bridge Club (UBC), the oldest duplicate bridge organization in Atlanta, held its annual Christmas party at the Adamsville Recreation Center on Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. on Dec. 14. The party and game were given to benefit Hosea Feed the Hungry and the Atlanta Day Shelter for Women and Children. More than 75 bridge players attended the event. Attendees brought non-…

Senior citizens in southwest Atlanta have been traveling and touring all year. So have I!  From time to time I have ventured to New York and to Los Angeles to see TV shows and theatrical productions. This week I traveled to New York  to see the ABC talk show, "The View."  I have been an avid fan of the show since it started and decided to request tickets. It took 8 or 9 months before they arrived. I received tickets for the Dec. 7th show with former President Bill Clinton as the primary guest. After convincing a long time friend and Spelman classmate, Mary Ann Morris, to travel to New York …

Several  members of  QLS ( Quality Living Services) recently returned from a cruise to the southern Caribbean. Thirty-four QLS seniors flew from Atlanta to San Juan, Puerto Rico on November 12th  for a 7 night, 8 day Caribbean cruise. The travelers sampled the Caribbean islands of Babados, Antigua, St. Thomas, St. Maarten and St. Lucia. Most participated in various activities onboard the ship, and also took individual and group excursions off ship to experience the Caribbean culture, its people and their colorful history. Mrs. Catherine Garlington and  Mrs. Gennelle Wilson were the  QLS group…

The executive committee of the Atlanta Retired Educators Association met at the end of October at the Southwest Branch Library on Cascade Road to plan for its November meeting. In celebration of the upcoming holiday season, members plan to make  a meaningful contribution to the community. The group will meet this Friday and members have been asked to bring canned goods for the Atlanta Community Food Bank. The organization also will assemble and prepare snacks for the Children's Healthcare Project. Children's Healthcare offers pediatric care for children and provides activities and support for…

Senior citizens in southwest Atlanta may join other Fulton County residents in qualifying for a financial assistance program designed to help pay their energy bills.  According to a news release from the county, early enrollment is now available in the county's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP fo seniors on fixed incomes who need help paying energy bills. Seniors who apply must meet state income guidelines that include having an income at or below 150% of Georgia's poverty level. They also must be responsible for paying the cost of their home's primary heating source. Fulton …

The University Bridge Club will hold its UNCF benefit game today at Quality Living Services (QLS) on Danforth Road. Participants are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes. The game will begin at 1:00 p.m. and the participation fee is $5.00. Emma Fountain is the president of the MABU. In an effort to continue to contribute to the local and national community, members of the Metropolitan Atlanta Bridge Unit (MABU) hosts special games to benefit  the colleges belonging to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). Each of the seven clubs in the MABU contributes to this effort. According to its …

They danced "The Wobble," "The Electric  Slide" and, even, the "Cupid Shuffle." They may be a bit sore later on in the week, but the night was "Forever Young" for the several hundred Atlanta senior citizens who attended Mayor Kasim Reed's 2nd Annual Mayor's Seniors' Ball. The crowd included many of the regulars at the Darnell Senior Center and Quality Living Services. Popular radio personality Frank Ski and comedian/disc jockey Ryan Cameron were the evening's emcees. The mayor's mother, Sylvia Reed served as hostess. She thanked all who attended and also thanked her other sons for being …

The members of Delta Sigma Theta Atlanta Alumnae Chapter are taking the lead in the  fight against Alztheimer's. On Saturday, Southwest Atlantans who are members the Delta Sigma Theta Inc., Atlanta Alumnae chapter were among the crowd of more than 1,000 walkers in the 19th Annual Walk to End Alzheimer's at Atlantic Station. According to member Diane Larche', the organization raised $12,000 to help find a cure for the dementia disease that affects nearly 5.4 million Americans. Last month, the Deltas held a community forum on Alzheimer's at the former location of Zion Hill Baptist Church, 815 …

At its Monday morning "Empowerment of the Elderly" assembly,  members of Quality Living Services (QLS) were given pertinent  information about Alzheimer's disease. Leslie Spears, Executive Director of the Arbor Terrace at Cascade Assisted Living Residence, was the guest presenter. Arbor Terrace is an assisted living community that also accommodates patients with memory loss. Spears shared the 10 signs of the onset of Alzheimer's with attendees. Alzheimer's is a progressive brain disease that slowly destroys a person's memory skills and ability to think. It is the most commonly occurring cause…

The residents of the Arbor Terrace Assisted Living community in southwest Atlanta received a special treat Tuesday. They were entertained with a performance by the "Darnell Dancing Divas and Dudes." The dance troupe is composed of a team of senior citizens from the Harriett G. Darnell Senior MultiPurpose Facility, 677 Fairburn Rd. The group include 32 active Darnell members who range in age from 55 to 80-plus years. The troupe began as a part of the center's health and fitness program. The Divas (female members) and the Dudes (males) perform various types of dances to gospel, jazz, pop and …

The Quality Living Services Center (QLS) will reopen today with an official celebration of fall events at 10 a.m. today. The senior facility, 4001 Danforth Rd., has been closed two weeks for cleaning and refurbishing. The new calendar year of activities will commence with the 10 a.m. Monday Empowerment Meeting which will include information and entertainment for senior citizens age 55 and older. That will be followed with lunch for all attendees. In the coming months, in addition to the variety of classes and recreational  activities at the center, QLS will focus on travel club trips to …

President Barack Obama is scheduled to address a joint session of Congress Thursday on jobs and the sluggish economy. Voters across the country will be listening to hear what Obama has to say. So will Atlanta's senior citizens who are also anxious to know how the president's proposed jobs initiatives will affect them. Rising costs of goods and services has forced some seniors back into the job market. Others have delayed their retirement plans and have continued to work past retirement. At southwest Atlanta's Capitol City Bank on Lee Street, customers may have observed a new employee. Latise …

The Quality Living Services Center (QLS) closed Mon, Aug. 29, and will remain closed through Friday Sept. 9. The facility is closed for cleaning and repairs in preparation for a new calendar year of activities. The center will re-open on Monday, Sept. 12. Activities will resume with its popular Monday morning "Empowerment Meeting." At"Empowerment Meetings" seniors are often treated to reports and useful information from local and national officials. Quality Living Services, 4001 Danforth Rd., offers a variety of activities for senior citizens with the aim of helping them to remain mentally …

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and the City of Atlanta will host the 2011 Senior Citizens Ball to honor Atlanta seniors for being "shining examples of integrity, leadership and enduring love." This year's event is 6 to 9 p.m. Mon., Oct. 17, at the Marriott Marquis, 265 Peachtree Center Ave. It's an event that's highly anticipated among the city's senior citizens, ages 60 and older. That's because this Ball is held especially to honor them. This year's theme is "Forever Young." Continuing in the tradition of former mayors Bill Campbell and Shirley Franklin, Reed has revived the city's annual gala …

Members of the Metropolitan Atlanta Duplicate Bridge Unit (MABU) have had quite a busy summer. The southwest Atlanta bridge clubs, as well as other metro bridge clubs, also continue to serve as an asset to the community.   "The University Bridge Club" (UBC) held a successful benefit for Morris Brown College, raising over $2000.00 dollars for that institution. Former W.E.B. DuBois secretary Omie Lee Dixon, a member of the "Anne Wood Bridge Club," celebrated her 91st birthday in July and a few weeks later received an award from the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses. Dixon was …

The University Bridge Club raised more than $2,000 at a Wednesday fundraiser to help Morris Brown College pay off a $500,000 debt to the U.S. Department of Education by Aug. 24. The festive event was held at the Quality Living Services Center (QLS), 4001 Danforth Rd. It was well attended with more than 64 players competing at 16 bridge tables. Many of the participants were Morris Brown graduates including Elie Jones, Corene Scott, Janet Waymer, Edith Knowlton, Bettie Harden, Connie Darden, Jeannette Williams and Eloise Burwell. The financially-strapped school has entered into a deal with the …

Omie Lee Dixon, a secretary to historian W.E.B.Dubois is being honored this month by members of the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses. The national musical organization is  convening in Atlanta Sat., Aug. 6, through Tues., Aug. 12. The convention takes place at the Sheraton Hotel on Courtland Street. Dixon, who celebrated her 91st birthday in July, is being honored on Tues, Aug. 9, as a pioneer gospel singer. Dixon began her singing career with a local gospel group, the Atlanta Aires. She later sang with gospel great Sallie Martin. Dixon met Martin when the Sallie Martin …

A  group of senior men who frequent the Quality Living Services Center (QLS) have designed a distinct program for themselves. The  male-only program focuses on living healthy, fulfilled lives once participants  have passed the age of fifty. The group known as the “Men’s Healthy Living Group” meets each Wednesday between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. The men meet to discuss and participate in activities which provides an impetus to live healthier, invigorating, and happier lives. The group's facilitator, South Fulton Running Partner co-founder Jim Lemon, drives from his home in Fayetteville each …

Just as the nation is struggling with deadlines to manage its debt,one of Atlanta’s historically black colleges is also facing a pivotal deadline of its own. Morris Brown College has until August 24, to pay the agreed upon amount of $500,000 to the U.S. Department of Education. The financially-strapped school entered into a deal with the federal education department to forgive $10 million dollars. If the college is successful, it will erase the huge multi-million dollar debt, help the school regain its accreditation, and provide the school the opportunity to begin with a clean slate. While …