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7 Wellness In-Sight: Road Trip! 9 Common Sen$e: What to Consider about Cash Out Refinance (Part 1) 16 Magnolia Room Cafeteria Meals Comfort Those in Need
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OurTown NE DeKalb Community and Family Magazine A Shiny Inc Publication Editor Lizbeth A. Dison Shinycomm.com
ldison@shinycomm.com Our Town DeKalb is published and direct mailed to Creative Director Jay Adcock jaywadcock@gmail.com Writers Cindy E. Farrar Doug Reynics Lois Ricci Sanah Sayani Karl Schwartz Stacy Slocum Art Wood
select homes in the Tucker / Northeast DeKalb area. Opinions expressed by the writers and staff are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Our Town DeKalb reserves the right to edit or reject any editorial or advertising content. Our Town DeKalb is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the cost of the space or for the validity of claims made by advertisers.
Entire contents copyright 2021 by Our Town DeKalb and Shiny Inc LLC. Reproduction in whole or part is forbidden in any media without written permission from the publisher.
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IN THIS ISSUE 4 Smoke Rise: Peace and Tranquility, Surrounded by Nature 6 The Bits in Between: New Year’s Resolutions - The Pandemic Edition 7 Wellness In-Sight: Road Trip! 8 Age Friendly Tucker: Hope is the Thing with Feathers 9 Common Sen$e: What to Consider about Cash Out Refinance (Part 1) 10 Food for Thought: Hot Betty’s Breakfast Bar Reimagines Comfort Food 11 Back Talk: Welcome to 2021 – It Can Only Get Better (We Hope!) 12 Beauty Byline with Sanah: Using Acids to Dissolve Your Problem Skin 14 Tucker Meat Market Thanks Local Firefighters with Holiday Feast 14 Tucker Kroger Stores Surprise First Responders with Special Holiday Gift Boxes 16 Magnolia Room Cafeteria Meals Comfort Those in Need 17 Local Girl Scout Installs Bee House at Tucker Nature Preserve ON THE COVER: The entrance to Smoke Rise Country Club is marked by one of the community’s many smokestacks.
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On The Cover:
Smokestacks greet visitors at many neighborhood entrances.
Stacy Slocum As a Realtor, I have the pleasure of showing off our sweet little town to new residents every day. I have the key to all the beautiful homes and neighborhoods but one of my favorite communities is also one of Tucker’s oldest – Smoke Rise. Smoke Rise is located on the east side of Tucker and includes many different styles of architecture, from contemporary to classic colonial, on large lots surrounded by nature. Smoke Rise is also very convenient to shopping, golfing, entertainment, restaurants and local landmarks such as Stone Mountain Park. The home values vary from the mid-$200,000s for a small fixer-upper to over $1 million for a beautiful, spacious estate. Development of the area began in the 1960s by Bill Probst who built many of the first homes in the area. Probst, who passed away in October of last year, was also involved in the creation of awardCONTINUED on page 18
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The Bits in Between: New Year’s Resolutions The Pandemic Edition Tom Edmondson
OurTown NE DeKalb Community and Family Magazine
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“Happy New Year!” announce holiday cards and advertisements. “Good riddance 2020,” mutter most of us at the same time. While we are all anxious to bid adieu to what will be undoubtedly the worst year ever, are we sure the New Year is going to be any better? Two new COVID vaccinations and a new administration may signal hope for many, but we are far from celebrating the end of troubles. Instead, we are in what some have termed “the messy middle,” struggling to get through that dark tunnel and reach the bright light we see at the end of it. The pandemic turned our lives sideways but like most abrupt changes, at first it energized us. Businesses quickly embraced WFH (the acronym for “work from home” which gained prominence during the pandemic), proving that employees would be just as productive (if not more) working outside the office. Zoom’s video-conference service experienced explosive growth in 2020 (its stock surged a whopping 425%) and it moved from just a way to connect staff remotely for meetings to connecting friends and family to everything from funerals to birthday parties. We found out you could buy anything online and have it delivered to your home; Amazon reported record profits during the pandemic. But by the tenth month of the pandemic, “COVID Fatigue” had set in, and we could see clearly just how little support our society offered to working parents, the unemployed, and many others who were struggling. Restaurants in the U.S. reeled from city- and statewide coronavirus initiatives that shut down many essentially overnight; by the end of 2020, three million restaurant industry employees had lost their jobs, and restaurants nationwide will take a $225 billion sales loss. Food insecurity increased exponentially within the first few months of the pandemic, with some areas reporting five-hour waits for food distribution events. Parents reveled in the ability finally to be able to work from home – until they realized they now had “homeschool teacher” added to their list of work duties, a result of the pandemic which exasperated and frustrated kids forced home as well. And the shelter-at-home mandates were disrupting for many but devastating for the elderly and those living with mental health issues. The messy middle is hard, and while we look to the new year with great hope, getting back to “normal” (whatever that will be) is not going to happen magically as the clock strikes midnight on December 31. It will be months, a year, or (gasp) more before life settles down from the chaos of the past ten months. But instead of fretting over the slow crawl towards normalcy, think about the things that worked and the things that didn’t as you formulate your resolutions for the New Year – and know that things will get better. Lizbeth A. Dison Publisher and Editor
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Wellness In-Sight: Road Trip! Cindy E. Farrar Woohoo! Yippee! Huzzah! We made it! 2020 is behind us! Now what? Welcome to 2021! The vision I am holding for 2021 and that which I am celebrating is the ability to look through my proverbial rearview mirror as I move further away from the difficult and uncertain times of 2020, seeing them getting smaller and smaller until they are no longer visible. In addition, I rejoice in the potential to look ahead seeing nothing but open road and beautiful landscapes. Since 2021 has just gotten underway, the realities of 2020 are still very much present, and many continue to loom largely. However, for the vast majority of the last year, I (as most of us) have been eagerly awaiting moving out of 2020 and embarking on this next leg of the journey that is 2021. Just like going on an actual road trip, there are things that can be done and, dare I say, should be done, to maximum the potential for a positive experience. There are also ways to minimize the negative impact of forces beyond our control. The same can be applied to our personal journey. I thought it might be helpful to have a guide list to help navigate our way through 2021. Pre-journey Preparations The pre-journey preparations are essential. In light of the magnitude of the blow delivered by 2020, many of these preparations may have long been underway. It starts with setting the intention, making the decision to actively move forward. It is followed by establishing the commitment that will be brought to making it happen. Both are supported by the vision of what or how it will specifically look and feel during the travels through 2021. In addition, it is important to make sure the “vehicle” is tuned and fueled up in order to be in the best condition to handle the demands of the ride. Next, check the “road” conditions. Where might there be major construction, traffic jams and potholes? Where might there be the need for detours? The last of the preparations is having the anticipated resources, supplies and equipment acquired, packed, and loaded. In order to travel light, it is also beneficial to determine and offload anything not needed or is weighty and may impede forward movement. Now we are ready to put it in drive and head off in the desired direction. Journey Starting out It is advisable to start off at a moderate speed; there is no need to rush. Reserve energy; it may be needed later on. Settle in. Get comfortable but not complacent. Maintaining awareness and staying alert to any changing conditions or potential hazards is going to be crucial. On the way Remember, the journey is not a race. Once you are on the way,
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allow time to explore. There may be wonderful discoveries waiting to be uncovered. Make note of that which delights and inspires. It may be worth lingering there or making a plan to revisit. Keep a regimen of additional self-care such as movement exercises (yoga or tai chi qi gong), meditation and massage. Take rest breaks as often as needed. Regular replenishment and overall renewal are vital. Periodically, evaluate your current trajectory and pace. Make any adjustments that feel appropriate. It is also one hundred percent permissible to ask for assistance and or directions whenever necessary. While the journey is personal. It is not meant to be traveled alone. Arrival For our purpose here, we have a clear linear destination point. Our journey through 2021 naturally terminates when we cross into 2022, as 2020 ended with the ushering in of 2021. However, in truth, each year is just a fraction of our total journey. Despite the great impressions left upon our lives, we are more than each of the years through which we journey. As the saying goes, “it’s about the journey not the destination.” May your journey through 2021 be filled with peace and love.
Cindy E. Farrar, LMT, BCTMB, CLC is a licensed massage therapist, certified life coach and the owner of Massage Associates of Atlanta, LLC (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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Age Friendly Tucker: Hope is the Thing with Feathers Dr. Lois Ricci How do we measure a year? The Broadway musical “Rent” devoted a song to it, concluding in the chorus that the most effective way to quantify the value of a year in human life is to “measure in love.” When a year is stripped of tradition, milestones, rituals and events, people who feel lost may find the most effective means to measure that year is in the quantity of hope for a better year to follow. That hope might have to be refocused and recalibrated. Poet Emily Dickinson wrote, “hope is the thing with feathers,” likening hope to a bird that lives in the human soul, singing come rain or shine, gale or storm, good times or bad. When Tucker was designated an Age Friendly City by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2018, the Tucker Civic Association Lifelong Community Committee began to formulate an action plan, with two years to determine what the city had and what the city would need to do to retain the designation it was awarded. 2020 and the global COVID pandemic made that task difficult. Members, along with the rest of the population, were forced to stay indoors, working from home, and limiting physical contact with others. But the committee knew there was a deadline for the designation renewal looming at the end of the year, and the presentation had to be completed and submitted to retain the WHO designation. Working diligently in the confines of their homes and meeting regularly via Zoom in place of in-person, the members kept to the timeline and met milestones. Like Dickinson’s “thing with feathers,” they kept singing through the difficult times, seeing hope for the future in meeting their goals. Now, two years later, the plan has been completed and is being submitted to the WHO for their review and approval. Tucker’s Age Friendly City Action Plan illustrates the city’s progress and projects being undertaken, and the projects to be worked on in the next five years. The rapid increase of Age Friendly Communities globally reflects a recognition that people want to live in a lifelong community that will provide a healthy and safe environment, good schools, adequate services and social participation that will benefit all ages. The plan emphasizes the eight domains that have been listed as necessary priorities of an age-friendly community: 1. Outdoor spaces and buildings 2. Transportation 3. Housing 4. Opportunities for social participation 5. Respect and social inclusion 6. Civic participation and employment 7. Communication and information 8. Community support and health services
designation, meaning it is accommodating for all ages, from infant to senior. In the five years ahead, the Lifelong Community Committee will be tasked developing a strategic plan to begin the work outlined in the action plan. Already, we are building sidewalks and trails, and improving Tucker’s wonderful parks. We will work on transportation, maybe a trolley to facilitate local transportation within the city of Tucker. We will strive for housing options that anyone can afford. We will work with the schools to get student’s input and support. Social participation is strong in Tucker, but is there civic participation and social inclusion? The committee will work to improve awareness through communication and information outlets. And through those outlets, we make all residents of Tucker aware of the community support and health services available in the city and close by. Tucker has had a successful first five years. No one knows what 2021 will bring and no one knows what “new normal” awaits us. There are no clear answers but there is “the thing with feathers” that will sustain and inspire us as we move forward to a better community for all.
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 serves as a representative for AARP.
If the action plan is approved, Tucker will retain its Age Friendly City
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Common Sen$e: What to Consider about Cash Out Refinance (Part 1) IArt justWood read a recent article about the surge in home equity this year. Apparently, homeowners have gained an incredible $1 trillion (with a T) in equity this year alone, or an average of $17,000 per home! Now, that is a big picture number, and may or may not be reflective of your situation, but since this magazine is a Tucker magazine, if you are a homeowner here, I would suspect that you are seeing this appreciation. So, what do you do with this new found “wealth?” There are a few things you may want to consider: You can sit on it and let it be your nest egg into retirement (after you have refinanced to these incredibly low rates, of course); or you can pull cash out to improve your home, pay off debt, or invest it. For this month’s article, I am going to focus on the intricacies of the Cash Out options, since the tax rules have changed in the last couple of years. Let’s look at these strategies. Strategy 1: Pull cash out to improve your home During COVID, we have seen a lot of people improving their homes since they are spending so much time there. Clients are renovating kitchens and bathrooms, finishing basements, or even adding square footage. The cool thing about doing all of these things is that once all of this is done, you have even MORE equity in your home. It feels less like spending money, and more like moving money around. You take out equity to gain equity, so to speak, plus you create what I call “lifestyle equity,” which is the joy of enjoying the new improvements. My family has jumped into the home improvements as well, but one thing I always do before starting is call an appraiser and ask what the proposed renovation will do to my equity. Things like kitchens and basements are close to dollar for dollar, but if you do stuff like landscaping and new windows, you rarely get it back. The nice thing about pulling cash out for home improvements is that the mortgage interest continues to be tax deductible. As I will mention in the next strategy, that is not always the case. If you pull out equity in your home to do anything other than home improvements, then you are supposed to break out the interest used to buy your house versus the interest used for other things other than home improvement. I don’t pretend to be a tax expert, so I would suggest you consult a tax professional and not take my word for it. Just a quick side note, these rules apply whether you take out a new first mortgage or a Home Equity Line of Credit. As with my last article series (“Six Ways to Fix Your Credit” in the December
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and November 2020 issues), I got long-winded as I am passionate about the subject matter. It is something I deal with daily for my clients. In February’s article, I will address the other two strategies (pay off debt and investing) as they can both be very beneficial to your financial plan. Stay tuned in February for Part 2!
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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Food for Thought: Hot Betty’s Breakfast Bar Reimagines Comfort Food Doug Reynics
January, 2021. If you are reading this, you somehow navigated life to see a new year! Restaurants that have struggled their way through 2020 can now see hope in the new year. The subject of this month’s review is a restaurant that was handed the keys to their new place literally on the day COVID restrictions were announced but managed to survive and thrive through the global pandemic . Hot Betty’s Breakfast Bar, located at 2316 Main Street in Tucker, is a successful combination of determination, fate and kindred spirits. I had a lovely sit-down with owner Shea Powell (aka Betty Shea) and executive chef/ managing partner Wes McNeil. What becomes apparent upon entering the restaurant is that feeling of home. The space is bright, fresh and fun; Powell and McNeil designed the space to feel inclusive to all, and the diversity of the staff only enhances that warm and welcoming space. Powell’s grandmother Betty Jane served as a major influence for Hot Betty’s, and helped ignite her passion for creating a memorable menu with an emphasis on “real food for real people.” Signature items include its incredible, one-of-a-kind biscuits (McNeil’s tweaking of Grandma’s original recipe); the waffles and fried chicken; and Cajun boiled peanut hummus. (Try and share the hummus - it’s incredible.) Powell took a cue from her Grandfather in the interior design of the restaurant. Take a moment to notice the logo on the front door and on the walls; Powell’s Grandfather bore the bird logo on his arm. For those who imbibe, an important feature of Hot Betty’s is its full bar. On
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Friday and Saturday evenings, the restaurant offers a full dinner menu, which always includes a vegetarian option. The menu offers no pretense, rather offering many comfort foods with an attention to detail. My recommendations from the dinner menu include clam chowder; caramelized onion tart; apple-fennel-stuffed pork loin with cornbread dressing and roasted Brussels sprouts; broiled swordfish with lemon caper butter sauce served with wilted arugula and fingerling potatoes; and vegetarian eggplant Parmesan with angel hair pasta. Coming soon to Hot Betty’s - online ordering, which will enable that segment of the population who isn’t yet comfortable with in-store dining, and the first Tucker rooftop patio with full menu, overlooking Main Street. A meal at Hot Betty’s Breakfast Bar is worth spending some hard-earned dollars. You might just see me at a table enjoying some unique takes on comfort food. Doug Reynics is a longtime Tucker resident and self-described “foodie.” Many know him as “Doug the Driver,” who provides rides to and from both the domestic and international airport terminals. (To date, his service has provided 1,450 airport rides!) If you have a food story or question you would like to see him write about, email him at dougthedriver1@gmail.com.
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Back Talk: Welcome to 2021 – It Can Only Get Better (We Hope!) Dr. Karl Schwartz This year has been stressful for most, if not all, families here in Georgia. School closings, work location changes, adapting to new home offices, financial pressures, all amidst political unrest – stress everywhere. What happens when your body is stressed? Hormones flood your blood stream causing “dys-ease,” or simply being not at ease in the body. Add that to decreased activity and exercise and it is no wonder we have coined the phrase, “I’ve got the COVID-19,” meaning an increased weight gain of nineteen pounds or more. Carrying extra weight especially in the midsection of the abdomen is dangerous. The fat surrounds the organs and causes their function to be altered, stressed, and diminished. Adding a constantly increased weight-bearing load on all your joints (feet, knees, hips and lower back) can lead to DJD (Degenerative Joint Disease aka osteoarthritis) or DDD (degenerative disk disease). Both these disease conditions can lead to increased pain and a decreased quality of life. In my opinion, weight is one stress factor that we all have some control over, so it is vital to strive to maintain your weight in your appropriate BMI (body mass index) which is normal for your age group. January is always a great month to set goals. I like to set personal and professional goals. Write them down and review them each day, and you will find that your subliminal actions will be towards the achievement of that goal. But if you find yourself with the extra COVID-19 pounds (or worse), make your first goal to lose the weight and get back to your normal BMI. We have a six-week weight loss program in our office that is doctorsupervised, natural and very effective. You can lose twenty to thirty-five pounds in just six weeks! It also teaches you how to eat correctly. More importantly, it resets your brain’s control over your weight to a new setpoint, which negates the yo-yo effect seen with most other diets. Our program does not utilize working-out to lose weight, but that will be recommended during maintenance phase (five weeks following your weight loss program). I love to get outside and move. If you have a dog, take him to the park. My dog, Pete, is a huge motivator for me. If I am feeling lethargic and not wanting to exercise, I feel guilty for not getting him the appropriate exercise he needs to stay healthy, so I will normally get moving for his sake. In summary, use January to regain control over your weight. Utilize a proven program to lose weight. Then begin to add activity back into your daily lifestyle. Second, continue to work towards accomplishing your subsequent monthly and yearly goals. Write them all down, read them daily, and stay the course. Come next Thanksgiving and Christmas, you will be glad you did and you won’t be victim of the COVID-19 in 2021!
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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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Beauty Byline with Sanah: Using Acids to Dissolve Your Problem Skin Sanah Sayani You hear the word “acid” and start getting flashbacks of high school chemistry class. I remember thinking, “Why do I need to learn about acids? I’ll never need this information in real life.” I was wrong. Acids are actually some of the best ingredients in skin care. They can be the preferred tools to fight acne, wrinkles, age spots, scarring and hyperpigmentation because they induce cell turnover. Older cells are forced to shed faster and new cells grow quickly to improve skin texture. There are two main group of acids: alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs). AHAs are water-soluble and work on the surface of the skin. According to experts, AHAs exfoliate the outer layer of the skin which can brighten, even out skin tone and texture and even stimulate a little collagen production. BHAs, oil-soluble, penetrate deeply into clogged pores and are helpful in treating and preventing acne. Experts say BHAs actually bind to sebum (oil) so when dead skin cells are swept away by a BHA, the pore-clogging oil goes with them. AHA: Hyaluronic Acid + Hydration ≠ Fine Lines and Wrinkles Your cells naturally produce hyaluronic acid to retain moisture but as age and the environment take a toll on the skin, the levels drop. This can cause fine lines and wrinkles to set in. Applying hyaluronic acid topically can help hydrate the skin and maintain the hydration which will smooth out your skin. One gram of the acid has the ability to hold more than a gallon and a half of water. This ingredient is good for every skin type and should be used daily, especially if you have dry skin. AHA: Glycolic Acid + Exfoliation = Cell turnover Glycolic acid, derived from sugar cane, is the most common acid found in skin care. It is the smallest molecule of all the acids so it penetrates deeper into the skin making it the most effective. Its power lies in exfoliation. As we get older, cell turnover slows down. This acid helps remove the very top layer of the skin. It specifically treats wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and acne prone skin. All skin types can use this but be aware that it is a strong acid and overuse may cause irritation. You shouldn’t use anything higher than 10% at home. The higher the percentage, the deeper the penetration. I know that sounds good, but you could do real damage to your skin. Anything higher than 10% should be administered by a dermatologist. BHA: Salicylic Acid + Exfoliate and Clean Pores ≠ Acne Salicylic acid, derived from willow bark, is oil-soluble and penetrates deep into the pores of the skin. This makes it ideal for removing dead skin and ex-
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cess oil, preventing blackheads and whiteheads, and reducing inflammation. Experts say the acid increases moisture in the skin and dissolves the substances that cause the skin cells to stick together. This makes it easier to shed the cells. Overusing this product can cause dry skin and irritation. Make sure to consult with your dermatologist before using salicylic acid. There are plenty of other acids out there that do different things to help your skin but these are my top three. Also, if you’re trying to address a specific skin concern, make sure to check the labels before purchasing products. Professional products will have a higher concentration of acid than commercial ones. The next time you get a facial, ask your esthetician about the best combination of acids for your skin. Sanah Sayani is a master cosmetologist and owner of Thread 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!
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Tucker Meat Market Thanks Local Firefighters with Holiday Feast Our Town DeKalb Staff Thanks to the generosity of a Tucker business owner, local firefighters didn’t have to miss their holiday dinner even though they were on duty over Thanksgiving. All three shifts of DeKalb County Fire Station 5 (Lawrenceville Highway) and DeKalb County Fire Station 23 (Montreal Road) were treated to a full Thanksgiving dinner, including a smoked turkey, side dishes, bread, desserts and drinks, courtesy of Tucker Meat Market and owner Andrea Woolf. Woolf personally delivered the hot feasts to each shift of the two firehouses over a three-day period – the Wednesday before the holiday, Thanksgiving Day, and the Friday after the holiday – to ensure the firefighters could enjoy the meals hot and fresh. “It is with a glad heart and full belly that I send this email to you to brag about the Tucker Meat Market and Ms. Andrea Woolf,” wrote Captain Matthew C. Robison with Station 5. “It was a very pleasant surprise to come into work on Thanksgiving morning, and see our fridge and countertop full of food. During this time of social distancing and strange events all over the country, it’s really great to know that people like Andrea and her crew at TMM are willing to give so much of their time to prep meals like they do. The people of Tucker have always made me and my crew feel welcome when we have had to enter their homes, and we all agree that we feel like part of the community and livelihood of the city of Tucker.”
Tucker Kroger Stores Surprise First Responders with Special Holiday Gift Boxes Our Town DeKalb Staff In December, Tucker’s three Kroger stores delivered specially packed gift boxes to local fire stations and police precincts. Associates in each store packed and decorated the gift boxes which each contained $100 worth of food supplies. The gift boxes were designed to meet the specific needs of fire stations and police precincts. Fire stations received staples for meals, such as spaghetti and spaghetti sauce as well as potatoes, green beans soups and even cake mix. Police precincts received “on-the-go” snack items such as granola bars, breakfast bars, coffee and water. Store 212 (3959 Lavista Road in Northlake) delivered to DeKalb County Fire Station 23 (Montreal Road) and the DeKalb North Central Precinct (Lawrenceville Highway). Store 482 (Cofer Crossing) delivered to DeKalb County Fire Station 5 (Lawrenceville Highway) and the DeKalb County Police Department (West Exchange Place). Store 685 (Embry Village) delivered to DeKalb Fire Station 19 (Mercer University Drive) and the Chamblee Police Department. The project was part of Kroger’s “Standing with Our First Responders”
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Associates from Kroger store 685 deliver their baskets to Fire Station 19. program under the company’s African American Resource Group, whose purpose and promise is to “Feed the Human Spirit” by creating opportunities for the professional and personal growth of associates, giving back to the community and sharing ideas to enrich the lives of the people it serves.
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HOME IMPROVEMENTS | DEBT CONSOLIDATION | COLLEGE | VACATION | MAJOR PURCHASES *Total closing costs generally range from $0 - $7500. Examples of closing costs paid by the bank are fees for a credit report, flood determination, title insurance and other costs. Bank paid closing costs will include up to $200.00 toward appraisal fees. Customer is responsible for paying any additional appraisal fees over that amount. Line must be funded by 50% or $10,000 at closing, whichever is greater. CenterState Bank will waive reimbursement of closing costs as long as your account is open for at least 2 years. Offer is available for primary residences only. Manufactured Homes/Mobile Homes are not eligible for a home equity line of credit. **Rate based on minimum beacon score of 721, ***Rate based on minimum beacon score of 700, ****Rate based on minimum beacon score of 640. Annual Percentage Rate (APR) may increase after consummation. Maximum APR is 18%. Property insurance is required, and if applicable, flood insurance will be required. All loans subject to credit approval. Rates and terms may change at any time. Other restrictions may apply. CenterState Bank N.A. NMLS #403455
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Magnolia Room Cafeteria Meals Comfort Those in Need Our Town DeKalb Staff
Our Town DeKalb Staff
Magnolia Room staff Emma Brantley (center) and Daphne Boursiquot (right) help load Christmas Eve dinners for shelter volunteer Donna Davis.
Magnolia Room Cafeteria has partnered with Tucker First United Methodist Church to provide warm meals to guests of the church’s Cold Weather Shelter. The church provides overnight shelter in its Activity Center Building on Church Street, on any night during which the temperature drops to thirty degrees or below (or thirty-two degrees with precipitation). Volunteers from the community and church members staff the shelter overnight, with a DeKalb County Police officer on duty there for part of the evening as well. Prior to the COVID pandemic, the church would serve the residents dinner and breakfast in a family-style setting, with groups seated around tables sharing dinner and fellowship. With the onset of COVID, the church implemented CDC safety recommendations, including mandatory mask-
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wearing for everyone, limiting the number of people allowed inside, and social distancing throughout the shelter, even in the sleeping areas. Meals were changed to sandwiches, fruit and granola bars served in individual bags for dinner, and breakfast bags containing crackers, fruit and water which they could take with them upon exiting in the morning. Now with Magnolia’s support, hot dinners with an entrée, sides and bread are served in take-out boxes to each individual, including volunteers and the police officer. “Getting a hot meal on a cold night offers physical and mental comfort to those in need of both,” said Donna Davis, a regular volunteer at the Cold Weather Shelter. “We are so grateful to Magnolia Room Cafeteria for their support of this local mission as well as all their efforts in the community.”
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Local Girl Scout Installs Bee House at Tucker Nature Preserve Our Town DeKalb Staff Junior Girl Scout Chloe Anderson, of Girl Scout Troop 15523 in Briarlake/ Oak Grove, has built and installed a new bee house for native bees at the Tucker Nature Preserve (TNP). The troop’s bee house project is part of Tucker Parks’ “Bee Educated Initiative,” the goal of which is to develop and maintain a thriving bee ecosystem in Tucker’s park land while providing educational programs focused on the important role of pollinators. Plans for the initiative also include building and maintaining bee hives and pollinator gardens in several of the Tucker parks and eventually the construction of an education center. An informational plaque will be placed next to Anderson’s bee house to share information about native bees and promote the Bee Educated Initiative. Scout Leader Lisette George explained that Anderson’s bee house is the first of three bee houses planned by the troop for the area. “Chloe Anderson is the only Girl Scout that chose this site. She was the one that contacted everyone here to get permission. She did all the back work and the research to build her house, over twenty hours to earn her Bronze Award.” Bronze is the highest award that a girl can earn as a Junior Girl Scout. Tucker resident and bee enthusiast Valarie Nichols explained the choice of location for Anderson’s bee house, which was placed near the lower trailhead parking lot area. “Bees need the most beneficial light during the day so we have to stay to the north. And as the sun is coming up in the east and sets in the west, even though there are lots of trees around, the bees are going to get plenty of sunlight to warm them up so they can come and go as they please. This is the best location for any bee.” Anderson couldn’t be happier with the outcome. “I just really, really, really like this place because it’s more of a natural kind of place than the other places around town. This place felt more like a forest for the bees.” Anderson is the daughter of Rob and Renita Anderson, and is a sixth grade student at Henderson Middle School. Tucker Nature Preserve is located at 4440 Lawrenceville Highway (across from Cofer Crossing), and is open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
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Smoke Rise features some unique architecture...
Smoke Rise Park includes a developed walking trail. winning Chateau Élan Winery and Resort. It was Probst who christened the then sparsely populated neighborhood as “Smoke Rise,” inspired by a local legend. The area supposedly was once a Native American hunting ground, and the inhabiting tribe gave it the name “The Land Where the Smoke Rises” from watching how the moisture steaming from the lake created the illusion of smoke. The many stone smokestacks marking neighborhood entrances throughout the neighborhood are an homage to the legend. When the land was incorporated into DeKalb County in 1822, it was divided into 200-acre lots which were distributed in a lottery to war veterans and settlers moving inland from coastal settlements. Smoke Rise then became primarily family farms growing corn and other food crops. Many of these family names are preserved on street names such as Rosser and McCurdy, both of whom were early settlers in this area. After the Civil War, farmers turned to cotton, but the hilly terrain and rocky soil were ill-suited for the crop, and with the onset of the boll weevil and the Great Depression, many farmers gave up the struggle and abandoned their farms for better opportunities elsewhere. In the 1930s, Atlanta attorney Hugh Howell purchased several of the large farms in the Smoke Rise area which he used mostly for hunting and entertainment. When Howell decided to sell his property for development in the 1950s, he insisted that a parcel be set aside on Silver Hill Road for a school. Smoke Rise Elementary was constructed on one of the oldest streets in Smoke
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Rise, first shown on a Dekalb County map in 1915. Silver Hill Road stayed a dirt road until the late 1960s when development started. Local history also claims that in the late 1800s the community’s first school, comprised of only one room, and the local
...as well as small comfortable homes.
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rich wooded areas, and residents enjoy the peace and tranquility of being surrounded by nature. If you find yourself with a few free hours one day, take a ride or walk along winding, wooded Silver Hill Road, which is now one of the main routes through the community. Some of the larger estates can be viewed from Silver Hill – and sharp-eyed fans of the television series “Stranger Things” might recognize some of the streets! Visit one of the three public parks, some of which include walking trails through the serene wooded spaces. (Details on Smoke Rise Park, Smoke Rise Crossing and Lord Park can all be found on tuckerparks.org.) Be sure to watch for deer and other wildlife plentiful throughout the community. With COVID still restricting a lot of activities (and continuing to bring stress into our lives), a relaxing drive or walk through one of Tucker’s historic neighborhoods may be just the activity to brighten up a bleary winter day.
blacksmith’s shop were located on Silver Hill. Today, Smoke Rise Elementary is being rebuilt as a bigger and better facility - fittingly on Hugh Howell Road. The Smoke Rise community includes about 2,000 homes spread amongst ten major neighborhoods. The large lots with spacious homes are nestled in
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Stacy Slocum is a licensed realtor with Georgian Home Realty and has been helping clients achieve their homeownership goals since 2004. Stacy focuses her real estate experience on her hometown Tucker and the Atlanta metro area. With a love of travel, she moved from coast to coast over the years until she decided to plant roots back home in the South. Stacy shares her Tucker home with her husband Dave, her teenage son Owen and their two Jack Russell rescue pups. When you are ready for a move, reach out to Stacy at www.stacyslocum.com or sslocum@georgianhomerealty.com.
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