Tucker’s Green Space
Keeping Residents Healthy and Happy
5 DeKalb Principal Makes School a Place Where Both Teachers and Students Want to Be 8 Age Friendly Tucker: Affordable Housing for Everyone 11 Local Drama Students Win Awards
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OurTown NE DeKalb Community and Family Magazine
On The Cover:
Tucker’s Green Space: Keeping Residents Healthy and Happy
A Shiny Inc Publication Editor Lizbeth A. Dison Shinycomm.com ldison@shinycomm.com Our Town DeKalb is published and direct mailed to Creative Director Jay Adcock jaywadcock@gmail.com Writers Lizbeth A. Dison Cindy E. Farrar Lois Ricci Sanah Sayani Karl Schwartz Art Wood Distribution Coordinator Emma Dison Brantley
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4426 Hugh Howell Road, Suite 307B Tucker, Georgia 30084 770.621.9041 info@ourtowndekalb.com
select homes in the Tucker / Northeast DeKalb area. Opinions expressed by the writers and staff are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Our Town DeKalb reserves the right to edit or reject any editorial or advertising content. Our Town DeKalb is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the cost of the space or for the validity of claims made by advertisers. Entire contents copyright 2020 by Our Town DeKalb and Shiny Inc LLC. Reproduction in whole or part is forbidden in any media without written permission from the publisher.
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IN THIS ISSUE 3 Tucker’s Green Space: Keeping Residents Healthy and Happy 5 DeKalb Principal Makes School a Place Where Both Teachers and Students Want to Be 6 Wellness In-Sight: Time for Your Spring Tune Up 7 Back Talk: Springing Back into Spring 8 Age Friendly Tucker: Affordable Housing for Everyone 9 Common Sen$e with Art Wood Tax Tips! 10 Smoke Rise Academy of the Arts Stages Fiddler on the Roof in March 11 Local Drama Students Win Awards, Recognition at International Theatre Festival 12 FODAC Schedules 20th Annual Run Walk ‘n’ Roll for May 9 13 First Tucker Family Game Night Scheduled for March 14 Beauty Byline with Sanah: Brushing Winter from Your Hair 14 Chili Cook-off to Benefit Tucker Parks ON THE COVER: Tucker resident Olivia Ludwig-Kempf walks one of the many paved trails in Henderson Park. Photo taken by Olivia’s mother Susan Ludwig
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L.A. Dison Green space, like parks, sports fields, woods and wetlands, is important for a healthy society. These spaces support a healthy environment by producing oxygen, filtering out harmful air pollution, and moderating temperatures. Some studies even suggest that physical activity in a natural environment can help remedy mild depression and reduce physiological stress indicators. Tucker residents have plenty of options when it comes to green space close to home, with ten main parks within the city limits. Tucker’s Parks and Recreation Department, led by Director Rip Robertson, manages and maintains the hundreds of acres of parkland with amenities ranging from miles of hiking trails to newly refurbished tennis courts and soccer fields. Friends of Tucker Parks (FOTP) is a network of volunteer groups that work closely with Tucker Parks and Rec, and donate their time, energy and talents to help keep the parks great. With warmer weather, spring is a good time to check out some (or all) of the green space in Tucker. Henderson Park (4000 Henderson Park Road) Henderson is the largest of the Tucker parks, with 123 acres offering both hiking and walking trails, a lake, a waterfall, soccer fields, tennis courts, a pavilion with picnic tables, and a community garden. Kelley Cofer Park (4259 North Park Drive) This 23-acre space includes a pool with restrooms and changing rooms, a pond with a walking trail, and two baseball/softball fields with a restroom/ concession building. There is also a pollinator garden, a “little free library,” and an outdoor performance stage called The Peach Pit. Montreal Park (Montreal Way in Montreal Woods subdivision) Montreal Park is a nine-acre neighborhood park that is partially developed, with a large grassy area, a playground, and a small open-air pavilion with picnic tables. Much of the park is heavily wooded and undeveloped, with several trails meandering through the woods. Peters Park (1832 Clark Drive) William McKinley Peters Park (Peters Park) is a 3.6-acre neighborhood park with a large grassy field surrounded by a concrete walking trail, with benches
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and bench swings spaced periodically around the trail and throughout the park. The park also offers a large pavilion with picnic tables, designated grilling areas, swings, and a basketball court. Tucker Nature Preserve (4440 Lawrenceville Highway) Tucker Nature Preserve is a 12-acre passive park with space for picnicking and nature walks. The park features a grassy knoll with shade trees, a raised concrete deck with picnic tables and a “little free library,” benches, and a series of walking and hiking trails through the woods. Johns Homestead Park (3071 Lawrenceville Highway) Former Tucker farm Johns Homestead dates back to 1829. While the park is primarily undeveloped, it is officially open, and the City encourages passive use of the park, such as hiking and bird-watching. The main house, dairy house, well house, potting shed, and equipment shed are still standing but dilapidated, and surrounded by a chain link and barbed wire fence for protection. Wooded Marsh Trail runs to the south of the homestead site, and a stream cuts through the park from north to south, which terminates in Twin Brothers Lake. Smoke Rise Park (Smoke Rise I) (5623 Hugh Howell Road) Smoke Rise Park is a mostly undeveloped 10.5acre park in the Smoke Rise area of Tucker. It is heavily wooded and features a nature trail with steep topography. There are benches and picnic tables along the trail, and several wooden bridges that cross streams along the trails. Smoke Rise Crossing (Smoke Rise II) (1590 Lilburn-Stone Mountain Road) Smoke Rise Crossing is a mostly undeveloped 5.6-acre park in the Smoke Rise area of Tucker. A concrete path with a wooden bollard leads into the park from the sidewalk but ends after a short distance. A cleared path winds throughout the park, with picnic tables and benches located throughout, and a wooden bridge that crosses a stream. Lord Park (Smoke Rise III) (Smoke Rise Drive) Lord Park is an undeveloped park in the Smoke Rise area of Tucker. Situated in the middle of a single-family residential development, the 27.72-acre park is accessed via a dead-end road (Smoke Rise Drive) and there is no signage denoting its entry. The park is heavily wooded and there is an old road bed throughout the park. The parks managed by Tucker’s Parks and Rec also include Tucker Rec Center (4898 Lavista Road). A former school, the rec center’s classrooms now offer various programs like pottery, dance, yoga, food bank, and art. The old
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Green Space From page 3 Browning Courthouse is housed on the site; in front of the courthouse is the Tucker Butterfly Garden, and behind the rec center is a playground and a multi-use field. More information and a calendar of events for Tucker Parks can be found at tuckerga.gov/ departments/parks_and_recreation and tuckerparks.org. You can also find more information on the park events at their individual Facebook pages.
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Tucker Parks Upcoming Events Check tuckerparks.org for a full 2020 event schedule but here are some highlights you won’t want to miss in the next few months. PI DAY PIE-K
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March 14 | 10:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. | Tucker Recreation Center Celebrate one of the most mathematical days in the calendar with a 3.14K run and then enjoy some pie as your reward.
TRAIL BLAZING TRAINING
Saturday, March 29 | 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. | Tucker Rec Center/Tucker Nature Preserve Training will start at Tucker Rec Center, then participants will move to Tucker Nature Preserve to mark and create a trail to the bee hives.
SPRING BREAK STAYCATION
April 6 – 10 | various times | various Tucker Parks Tucker Park staff and friends will help keep the kids busy during spring break. Check the website and Facebook for event details.
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EGG HUNT
April 11 | 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. | Kelley Cofer Park Participants are split into different age groups; first, second, and third place prizes are awarded in each age group. The Easter Bunny himself may make an appearance!
11th ANNUAL TUCKER GREAT AMERICAN CLEAN-UP
April 11, 9:00 a.m. to NOON | Tucker Nature Reserve Volunteers will be cleaning up the trails, mulching, and removing invasive plants. The event will also be collecting books (all ages) for the Preserve’s Little Free Library. Breakfast will be provided by Tucker Station Chick-fil-A. Please wear closed-toe shoes and long sleeves.
ADULT FIELD DAY
May 2 | 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. | Tucker Rec Center Relive your glory days by playing yard games, jumping on some bouncy stuff, eating grilled goodies, and winning some ribbons. Tickets go on sale April 6; check tuckerga.gov/departments/parks_and_recreation for details.
The Bits in Between: Springing Forward
Sunday, March 8 marks the beginning of Daylight Savings Time, when we move the clocks forward an hour and thus create the illusion of a longer day. Changing the clock does not create extra daylight, but we do add one hour of natural daylight to our afternoon schedule. These longer evenings do motivate people to get out of the house, and counteract the sedentary lifestyle of modern living. This month’s issue explores Tucker’s many green spaces, which offer Tucker residents a place to improve body and mind. Hiking wooded trails, walking green paths, or kicking a soccer goal – no matter how you want to “spring into Spring,” Tucker parks will help you shake off the winter doldrums. In addition to listing all the park locations and amenities, there is also a schedule of Spring events that may motivate you to get off the couch and into some green space. Lizbeth A. Dison, Publisher and Editor
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DeKalb Principal Makes School a Place Where Both Teachers and Students Want to Be Jodi Wheeler-Toppen Lisa Limoncelli, principal of Hawthorne Elementary School in Northlake, was recently named DeKalb’s Principal of the Year. As the parent of a Hawthorne student, I have grown to know Limoncelli very well over the years, and can personally attest to the qualifications that helped her gain this well-deserved recognition. One of the first times I met Limoncelli, she had a small boy tagging alongside “helping” her carry papers. He was a child with autism who had gotten overwhelmed in his classroom, and she had personally calmed him down and invited him to work with her for a few minutes until she could ease him back into learning. I knew immediately that this was a principal who cared deeply about each child. Limoncelli makes Hawthorne a warm and welcoming place to be. She knows every child by name, and most of the parents as well. She has an open-door policy for parents to come in and speak with her, and makes herself available as much as possible. Since her “people work” takes up so much of the school day, she stays late almost every night to finish other tasks. She often comes in on Saturdays as well—sometimes to catch up on work, sometimes to work with kids who need an extra boost at “Saturday Scholars.” The kids at Hawthorne are a truly diverse student body, and Limoncelli cares for them all. Many of the students live in Spanish-speaking homes, and Lisa has worked hard to provide opportunities for those parents to participate at school. She partnered Hawthorne with La Amistad, an organization that provides tutoring for these students after school, and even joined the foundation’s board of directors. She ensures as many classrooms as possible have both a regular education and a special education teacher. She created a sensory room for students who need it to retreat when they are overwhelmed. She has also asked all the teachers at the school to become certified in teaching gifted students to ensure that every child has access to that level of instruction. Her interest in her students doesn’t stop at the school door. Over the summer, Limoncelli is often seen at Briarmoor Manor swim meets, cheering on her students. Hawthorne parents are particularly grateful for Limoncelli’s leadership in taking the school through the difficult process of gaining STEM certification, installing the aquaponics system, creating beautiful garden beds, and adopting two happy chickens. She’s a serious city girl, and gaining credibility in these processes hasn’t been easy for her. (She did put her foot down when some of the teachers wanted a pig.) But she has embraced the field and even spent a weekend camping in the rain in order to get the certification she needed to run the aquaponics system. And that’s hardly the extent of her bravery: to help raise money for the STEM program, playground, and other needs, she hosts an annual all-night lock-in at the school. The entire Hawthorne community – staff, faculty, students and parents – are grateful for Limoncelli’s leadership over these last seven years, and are delighted that her hard work is being recognized at the county level. Limoncelli stepped into the principal role after a period of unstable school organization, but her inspirational leadership has made Hawthorne a place where teachers want to work, and children want to come to school. Jodi Wheeler-Toppen is a parent and president of the Hawthorne Elementary School Foundation. She is also the author of Dog Science Unleashed and Cat Science Unleashed, both from National Geographic Kids.
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Back Talk: Springing Back into Spring
Wellness In-Sight: Time for Your Spring Tune Up Are you ready for spring? More precisely, is your body ready? Before you embark on a road trip, you take your car in for a tune up. What do you do for your body prior to launching into your spring activities? The tendency to jump into rigorous activity without appropriate preparation or training is called “Weekend Warrior Syndrome.” While it may not be an actual medical diagnosis, the symptoms and effects on the body are real and can have significant negative impact. The ways in which we use our bodies, or not, determine how our body responds to the demands we place upon it. Specifically, there are four uses that produce stressors requiring the body to work harder to maintain balance. 1. Misuse - Have you ever noticed your cat or dog when standing up after sitting or lying for a while, before taking its first steps, it stretches? We humans can learn a lot from this instinctive behavior. Taking off running without an adequate warm-up can yield harmful results. 2. Overuse - Performing the same actions over and over for extended periods of time without breaks, time for recovery, and necessary intervention such as massage and stretching, can be detrimental. Repetitive Strain Injuries such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Tendinitis, and Bursitis are far too common yet preventable. 3. Abuse - “If you listen to your body when it whispers, you won’t have to listen to it scream.” Our body is wonderfully designed to provide us with warnings in the form of signs and symptoms that it is in need. When we ignore them and continue to push through, it can do long lasting irreparable damage. 4. Disuse – Just as doing the same movements repetitively can be injurious, not utilizing your body, its muscles, tendons, and so on, can create imbalance and be harmful. In the words of Isaac Newton, “A body at rest tends to stay at rest, a body in motion tends to stay in motion.”
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As you come out of the winter malaise, before you spring into action, stretch, warm up, and pay attention to the cues your body gives you. It may be cheesy, but it is true: “Take care of your body and it will take care of you.” Cindy E. Farrar is a licensed massage therapist, certified life coach, and the owner of Massage Associates of Atlanta, LLC (5165 Lavista Road in Tucker). In addition, she is a certified Qi Gong instructor and a nationally approved continuing education provider for massage therapy and bodywork. Cindy enjoys sharing insights on wellness and personal and community development as a speaker and writer.
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Ahhh, spring at last. A new sense of life abounds. Our kids are well situated in school as their athletic programs begin, and we as parents want to support our kids in their endeavors. Enter the weekend warrior. While our kids are flexible and supple, we as parents like to imagine that we are what we used to be. However, without any training or exercise, or after a long, stagnant winter, injuries are right around the corner. I would like to give you a few tips to ensure that your return to sports occurs without a hitch. My mother used to always say, “An ouch of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” which couldn’t be truer in this case. Employ the following three recommendations for an injury-free return for your body. Stretching Understand that your kids have been playing their sports continuously, or at least routinely, and therefore their bodies are ready to exercise without a formal re-entry program. I like to say that “youth hides our sins.” For us parents, we need to prepare our bodies to perform. Flexibility allows our muscles to move our bones. It is the quick motions required in sports that can cause muscle strains. For trained athletes, stretching is best performed after a workout in order to prepare the muscles for the next training session. For the untrained weekend warrior, stretching can avoid injury. Prepare by beginning a stretch program a week or two before that sport begins. Trust me - your body will thank you by preventing injury and minimizing post muscle soreness. Cardiovascular training If you as a parent are planning on being involved in a more active sport, like baseball, softball, tennis, or soccer, you need to prepare your heart and lungs. Try interval training, which you can do walking or jogging, or on a treadmill, arc trainer, or with a jump rope. Warm up for two to three minutes at a very mild rate. Then, on each successive minute, increase your rate for thirty seconds, and slow back down to the mild baseline rate for the next thirty seconds. Increase the intensity each minute until you get to the point where your breathing is slightly labored, you feel your heart beating, and you feel a mild sweat starting. That is the target zone of cardio. Start at a slower pace and increase both time and intensity as your body allows. A very good cardiovascular program should only take a maximum of fifteen to twenty minutes to be effective. You will be shocked at how quickly you will improve! Good spine alignment The spine protects the nervous system, which is connected to all the bones, joints, and muscles in your body. If your spine is aligned, there will less pressure on the nerves that control your muscles, joints, and body movements. This also helps to prevent injury, which is of utmost importance for ourselves as parents and for our kids who are participating in sports. Remember, a little preparation goes a long way in preventing injury and keeping you in the game! Dr Karl Schwartz is a graduate of Life University in Marietta, Georgia; he has been practicing chiropractic in Tucker for twenty-one years and a resident here for fifteen years. His office specializes in preventing sports injuries and maximizing performance by analyzing posture, weight bearing, and gait. If you have a question you would like addressed in a future column, please email karlschwartzdc@ gmail.com. Note “Back Talk” in the subject line.
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Age Friendly Tucker: Affordable Housing for Everyone
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Affordable housing is defined as housing that is affordable to those with a median household income or below rated by a recognized housing affordability index. Most of the information on affordable housing refers to a number of forms that exist along a continuum, from transitional housing, to social or subsidized housing, and ending with affordable home ownership. A factor in this equation for seniors is the average Social Security payment in the U.S., which is $1,404 a month or $16,848 a year. There have been a number of comments made to the Tucker Civic Association’s Lifelong Community Committee about the lack of affordable housing in the city. Tucker has a variety of housing options to attract households of diverse sizes and income levels. They also support an individual’s choice to age in their home, in the community, or in assisted living. One of the eight domains of livability, identified by the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Network of Age Friendly Cities is housing. The Lifelong Community Committee, with the help of realtors on the committee and our city council, is becoming more aware of housing availability and lack of housing that will meet the needs of anyone wanting to move to or stay in Tucker. AARP surveys find that most people want to stay in their homes and communities as long as possible. The National Aging in Place Council says it is possible if a house is designed or modified for all of life’s needs, disability, comfort, and aging, or if a community includes housing options for varying life stages and varying bank accounts. When the National Association of Realtors evaluates affordability, it focuses on home sales and comparing home prices to income at the time of purchase of a home. What researchers want to know is whether people can afford to stay in their homes on an ongoing basis, and if residents are dealing with stagnant incomes, increasing taxes and fees, higher utility bills and other costs of housing, can they keep their homes? That is the key affordability question. Affordability is not only about being able to buy or rent a home; it is a monthly concern for many. If there is a health emergency or another unexpected cost, will they be able to pay next month’s mortgage or rent? Since becoming a city in 2016, Tucker has seen tremendous growth in industry, business, and an increasing real estate market. How can a growing community accommodate the needs and wants of its residents? Younger families look for homes near good schools and easy access to the many activities in which their children are involved. Empty nesters and older adults want to move to smaller homes, or to be able to modify and retrofit their homes to accommodate changing lifestyles and any issues that could require accessibility. The challenge for Lifelong communities is to be able to provide all residents with homes that meet their needs and that are affordable. Dr. Lois Ricci is a longtime resident of Tucker, where she chairs the Tucker Civic Association’s Lifelong Community Committee. She serves as an adjunct faculty member at both Kennesaw State University and Clayton State University, where she teaches gerontology courses and the Professional Development in Gerontology Certificate Class. She also consults for and serves on the Executive Council of AARP Georgia.
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Common Sen$e with Art Wood
Tax Tips!
Yes, it’s that time again! Time to start digging into all of your W-2s, 1099s, W-9s, receipts, etc., hand them all over to whoever does your taxes, and PRAY for a refund. Obviously, as a mortgage guy, tax season is as prominent in my world as it is with my clients. There are two main topics I would like to address in this article as it pertains to taxes. Mortgage interest and how it is treated on a tax return. Because I am not a licensed CPA, I reached out to my good friend, Harry Strack, of Tiger Tax in Stone Mountain, for his input. He was able to break the rules down to a very simple set of instructions. “Prior to 2018, a lot of folks ‘itemized’ their mortgage interest, property taxes, charitable donations, unreimbursed business expenses, etc. With the changes made to the tax code in 2018, you now add together all of those write-offs, and in the case of ‘married filing jointly,’ if they total $24,400 or less, then you just take the standard deduction of $24,400. If your deductions are more than $24,400, then you ‘itemize.’ The magic number for folks over 65 is $26,000, ‘married filing single’ is $12,200, and ‘head of household’ is $18,350. The change was made to make things simpler, but as with anything new, it takes getting used to.” Self-employment and mortgage approval. Self-employed and not sure what you need to apply for a mortgage? In short, with few exceptions, most lenders require the two most recent years of complete business and personal tax returns. As a mortgage guy, I also get this next question: “Do I need to file my 2019 returns before I can be approved?” The answer to that is, “It depends.” If you just started your business in 2018, then yes, you will most likely need to file your 2019 tax returns before being approved for a loan. We will typically use the average of 2018 and 2019 to determine your income. If you started your business prior to 2018, then you have the choice of just using your 2017 and 2018 income and a 2019 extension to qualify. If you made more money in 2019, and need it to qualify, then you would want to file the current year’s tax returns. These are rough guidelines to help you determine eligibility, but each person’s situation is different, and it’s always best to consult licensed professionals for advice in all financial matters. I have always said that in order to succeed financially, you need a good team around you, and that includes a good CPA and a mortgage professional - they are licensed for a reason and can point you in the right direction. Good luck! Art Wood (NMLS #118234) is the branch manager of Legacy Mortgage Team of Goldwater Bank, located at 2341 Main Street in downtown Tucker. “Tucker’s Mortgage Guy” for fifteen years, he is a former Tucker Tiger (Class of ’92), and co-founder and organizer of Taste of Tucker. Family guy, community guy, and definitely not your typical mortgage guy - it’s all that he does that makes Art Wood who he is. Contact him at 678.534.5834 or art.wood@goldwaterbank.com.
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OurTown NE DeKalb Community and Family Magazine
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Smoke Rise Academy of the Arts Stages Fiddler on the Roof in March
Local Drama Students Win Awards, Recognition at International Theatre Festival
Our Town DeKalb staff
Our Town DeKalb staff
The teen class of Smoke Rise Academy of the Arts (SRAA) drama department brings to the stage the classic musical Fiddler on the Roof, Friday, March 20 through Sunday, March 22. All performances will be in the Fellowship Hall of Smoke Rise Baptist Church, 5901 Hugh Howell Road in Tucker. Attendance is free with no tickets required. Set in the little village of Anatevka, the story centers on Tevye, a poor milkman, and his five daughters. With the help of a colorful and tight-knit Jewish community, Tevye tries to protect his daughters and instill them with the traditional values in the face of changing social mores and the growing antiSemitism of Czarist Russia. Rich in historical and ethnic detail, Fiddler on the Roof’s universal theme of tradition cuts across barriers of race, class, nationality and religion, leaving audiences crying tears of laughter, joy and sadness. Fiddler on the Roof premiered on Broadway in 1964, and went on to win nine Tony Awards, including best musical, score, book, direction and choreography. It has enjoyed enduring international popularity, and is a fun family show suitable for all ages. Show times are 7:00 p.m. on Friday, March 20; 2:00 and 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 21; and 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 22. Each show will have concessions available for purchase during intermission.
In January, drama students from Smoke Rise Academy of Arts (SRAA) earned praise and international recognition at the 2020 Junior Theater Festival Atlanta. The festival, held at Cobb Galleria Centre January 17-19, united 7,000 students and educators from 128 educational musical theater groups representing 31 states, as well as Australia, New Zealand, and the U.K. SRAA drama students presented selections from Disney’s and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins. Adjudicators were Deborah Wicks La Puma, composer, music director and orchestrator (Elephant and Piggie’s We Are In A Play, Frida Libre); and Michael J. Bobbitt, artistic director of the Adventure Theatre MTC. “This group had amazing character work,” commented La Puma. “I fell in love with everyone in the Banks household. They transported me to London with their bodies and voices!” SRAA Drama with their Outstanding Production trophy. SRAA student Jeremiah Bailey, Lilburn, made it to the call-back for future Broadway Junior shoots for “how-to” choreography videos for soon-to-be released Broadway Junior musicals. The shoots will be taped in New York City this summer. The Broadway Junior scouts were on the lookout for outstanding students, 150 of whom made it to the final call back for iTheatrics resident choreographer Steven G. Kennedy. The final cast will be determined later this year. These videos will be used in tens of thousands of schools across the country and internationally. SRAA’s Anna Kirk, Clarkston, and William Madafarri, Stone Mountain, were named to the Junior Theater Festival All-Stars, made up of outstanding performers attending the festival. The All-Stars performed a song during the closing ceremony for all 7,000 festival attendees. Smoke Rise Academy of Arts Drama won a Freddie G Outstanding Production award and performed for all 7,000 festival attendees during the closing ceremony. Produced by the Junior Theater Group in partnership with iTheatrics, a leading educational theater company that creates innovative experiences and products for the public and private sector, the Junior Theater Festival Atlanta is the world’s largest festival celebrating young people and the transformative power of musical theater. Founded in 2003, in 2010 the festival became an annual event.
Smoke Rise Academy of Arts provides group arts instruction for children and adults, and individual music lessons for all ages on piano, violin, flute, guitar, drums and voice. Visit smokerisebaptist.org\arts or call 678-533-0562 for details on performance, program and classes.
Smoke Rise Academy of Arts is housed in Smoke Rise Baptist Church at 5901 Hugh Howell Road in Stone Mountain. Classes are offered all year for adults and children in music, dance, drama and art; visit smokerisebaptist.org/arts for class information and registrations.
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Photo by James Barker Photography
SRAA Drama performing at Junior Theatre Festival Atlanta.
Photo by Marcus Woollen
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FODAC Schedules 20th Annual Run Walk ‘n’ Roll for May 9
First Tucker Family Game Night Scheduled for March
Friends of Disabled Adults and Children (FODAC) will hold its 20th Annual Run Walk ‘n’ Roll (RWnR) at Stone Mountain Park on Saturday, May 9, 2020. The family-friendly event is one of FODAC’s main fundraisers. Participants can run the 5K route, a USA Track and Field (USATF) sanctioned event and qualifying race for the AJC Peachtree Road Race, or walk or roll through the one-mile course. Wheelchairs, strollers and walkers are all welcome. The RWnR begins with registration and light refreshments at Stone Mountain’s Event Meadow at 7.30 a.m.; the 5K race starts from there at 8.30 a.m. and the walk and roll starts at 9:00 a.m. There will be door prizes, facepainting and music during the event, with a hot-dog cookout after. Medals and prizes will be awarded to the top three male and top three female finishers in the 5K run. There are also prizes for the top individual fundraisers and the top fundraising teams. Team leaders with four or more team members get a free Stone Mountain Adventure Pass; $50 in fundraising gets a free Stone Mountain Adventure Pass; and $100 gets 2 free Stone Mountain Adventure Passes. Immediately following the one-mile walk/roll is the annual raffle; tickets are 3 for $10 and can be purchased onsite (cash only). Registration costs are $25 for participants 6 and up (children 5 and under are free but must be combined with adult registration). Paid registration includes t-shirt; registrations before Sunday, April 28 are also eligible for free Stone Mountain Park entry. A Stone Mountain Adventure Pass is available for an additional $25.00 ($29.95 regular price). Confirmed sponsors for RWnR include Stone Mountain Park, Combined Services, Kids ‘r’ Kids, DeKalb County GA, and Fulton County GA. Sponsorships
Looking for some fun for the family? Or just want to get out and meet new and old friends? Meet in The Middle is a free family friendly night out where once a month game-minded friends gather together to play a variety of board and card games. In addition to the regular selection of games like Dominos, Spades, Checkers, Chess, and Uno, attendees are also encouraged to bring a game to play with others. The first Meet in The Middle Family Game Night is Saturday, March 21, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Bambinelli's Family Italian Restaurant, 3202 Northlake Parkway NE in Atlanta (across from Northlake Mall). Registration is available at familygamenight.eventzilla.net. The event is free but registration is required due to space limitations; once space has been filled, registration will be closed. This is the first game night in the series; more events are being planned. Each month’s game night will feature a different local restaurant to support or an event space with a catered meal by a local restaurant. Stay tuned for more information as the schedule is finalized.
Our Town DeKalb staff
are still available; please contact Stephen Barwick at 770-491-9014 or stephenbarwick@fodac.org. Registration and other details for Run Walk ‘n’ Roll can be found at fodac.org/walk. FODAC is a nonprofit organization located in Tucker that fills a unique role: it provides HME such as wheelchairs, power chairs, walkers, patient lifts and hospital beds at little or no cost to people with disabilities and their families, seeking to enhance the quality of life for people of all ages who have any type of mobility impairment, either temporary or permanent.
Our Town DeKalb staff
...at it’s finest! Local and farm fresh, Sherry’s produce is our exclusive source for fresh vege�a�les and frui�s. �ome �as�e �he di�erence��
SHOPS OF HERITAGE PLACE 4450 Hugh Howell Road, Tucker, GA 30084
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www.MagnoliaRoomTucker.com
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(770) 864-1845
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Stacy Slocum
REALTOR®
What's your real estate plan? Let's talk! Est. 2004
Market Expertise - I am a Tucker/Atlanta native. Experience & Knowledge - You can count on my skills. Buying or Selling - I negotiate the best deals for my clients. Trusted List of Vendors - Lenders, Attorneys, Inspectors, etc.
From contract to close, I've got you covered! www.StacySlocum.com M-(404) 402-5998 O-(770) 783-5237
Beauty Byline with Sanah: Brushing Winter from Your Hair As the weather changes, you will most likely step out into the sun and let your hair down. Spring weather is actually good for your hair which makes it the perfect time to repair it. I recently learned about a miracle hair repair treatment that rebuilds damaged and broken hair - Olaplex. Olaplex works on all hair types. My hair is damaged because I color it a lot and I have to straighten or curl it if I want to look presentable in public. I did my research and decided to try Olaplex. Olaplex can be used as a stand-alone treatment or be added to any chemical service to help prevent damage. It’s not time to color my hair yet so I decided to try it as a stand-alone treatment. After only one treatment, my hair felt stronger, looked smoother, and was shedding so much less. Needless to say, I’m sold! This miracle hair reviver is done in two parts in the salon and then a third treatment at home. As a stand-alone treatment, the first part is applied for five minutes and then the second part for twenty-five minutes, followed by a regular shampoo and conditioner. I was advised to use the third part at home at least once a week to continue to repair my hair. Over the past four weeks, I’ve done two salon treatments and one home treatment. This product is amazing! I can’t remember the last time my hair felt this strong and smooth. I’ve noticed I’m not leaving behind a trail of hair everywhere I go and my color also looks much more vibrant. I’ve decided to continue this treatment and maybe even use some of the other products like shampoo and conditioner. The Olaplex website reads, “All hair can become compromised over time from environmental, lifestyle, or age. Olaplex works to rebuild broken bonds from within, repairing, protecting, and strengthening hair.” These treatments can be done as often as needed based on how damaged the hair is. Ask your stylist about Olaplex! Sanah Sayani is a master cosmetologist and owner of Threads Beauty Spa (4426 Hugh Howell Road in the Tucker Publix shopping center). Her monthly column seeks to answer readers’ beauty concerns; write to her at threadbeautyspa@gmail.com, or drop by the shop to ask her in person!
Tucker Resident Graduates with Top Honors from U.S. Coast Guard Bootcamp
Chili Cook-off to Benefit Tucker Parks Our Town DeKalb staff The Old Town Tucker Merchants Association (OTTMA) and restaurant The Local No. 7 will host the ninth annual Tucker Chili Cook-Off on Saturday, March 14, 2020. The event runs from 12:30 - 5:00 p.m., with all of the festivities taking place on Tucker’s Main Street. A portion of the event proceeds will benefit Friends of Tucker Parks, whose mission is to preserve, protect and improve all of the parks located within the city of Tucker. The event will include live music as well as the chance to taste all the chili prepared by event contestants. Each attendee will get one vote to help award the coveted People’s Choice prize. Soft drinks and water will be available for purchase from OTTMA, while adult beverages will be on offer for sale, courtesy of Local 7. Tickets are $5.00 per person and are available for purchase onsite. Event and entry details can be found at tuckerchilicookoff.com, or by contacting Jamey Wilson at jameywilson@gmail.com or 404.556.7666.
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