4 Tucker Day 2022: Still Tuckerin’ On 10 Common Sen$e: Rocky Times Ahead. Call in the Experts! 16 FODAC Helps Keep Veterans with Disabilities Moving OUR TOWN DEKALB | April 2022 1
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IN THIS ISSUE
4 Tucker Day 2022: Still Tuckerin’ On 6 Smoke Rise Gardens on Tour in April 7 Wellness In-Sight: Define Who You Are 8 Age Friendly Tucker: Tucker Welcomes You Home! 9 Common Sen$e: Rocky Times Ahead. Call in the Experts! 10 Food for Thought: Homemade Bagels? Yes, You Can! 11 Back Talk: Spring-Cleaning Your Workout Routine 13 Tucker High Teacher Named Rotary Teacher of the Year 13 The Easter Bunny is Coming to Fitzgerald Field on April 16! 14 Tucker Arts Alliance Holds First Public Meeting 16 Rotary Club of Tucker Annual Golf Classic: FOREducation 20 FODAC Keeps Veterans with Disabilities Moving 21 Main Street Theatre Brings Moray’s ‘Laughing Stock’ to Spring Stage 21 Tucker Rec Center to Partner with Local Non-Profits on Actively Inclusive Theatre Classes ON THE COVER: Tucker High School Marching Band returns to lead the opening day parade for Tucker Day 2022.
OurTownDeKalb.com OUR TOWN DEKALB | April 2022 3
COVER STORY
Tucker Day 2022:
Still Tuckerin’ On LA DISON
L.A. DISON
L
ike many cities around the world, Tucker is moving past the COVID-19 pandemic and getting back to public celebrations, including its signature celebration, Tucker Day. COVID cancelled the event in 2020, and fear of the virus still lingered in September 2021 as organizers held a delayed event over Labor Day weekend. On May 7, 2022, Tucker Day returns to its regular Saturday before Mother’s Day and a new normalcy, with less attention on masking and social distancing and a renewed emphasis on reconnecting with community and your neighbor. “Last year, Tucker Day was moved to September due to Covid, but we had a great crowd and much enthusiasm for neighbors being able to gather without fear,” said Honey van de Kreke, co-manager of Main Street Tucker Alliance and one of the event organizers. “With it back to Mother’s Day weekend this year, Tucker Day will be a great place to purchase gifts, as well as enjoy some family time and see local artists and hear performers with a variety of music and talent. There will also be a Kids Zone that should excite youngsters with games and a scavenger hunt.” Van de Kreke estimates that this year’s crowds will be back to pre-COVID levels, which at the 2019 Tucker Day topped 4,000. She also expects booth rentals to sell out well before the May date. “Many of our vendors last year were new, and are returning this year, due to excellent sales.”
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Local arts and crafts will offer plenty of opportunities for shopping.
For details, including a list of vendors and a schedule for stage performances, visit tuckerday.com. Check online for booth availability and to reserve space.
Come on down to downtown Tucker on Saturday, May 7 for Tucker Day 2022 and a day filled with fun! And don’t forget the parade!
9:00 a.m. Opening ceremony, including the Pledge of Allegiance, Presentation of Colors, and National Anthem. 10:00 a.m. Main Street Parade moves between Railroad Street and the Main Stage on Main Street. Parade Commentary at First & Main Reviewing Area. 11:00 a.m. Live entertainment begins on THREE stages, including music and dance. • Main Stage (north end of Main Street) • Food Tent Stage (First Avenue near Main) • Community Stage (First Avenue near Bank of America) 5:00 p.m. Tucker Day 2022 ends.
Thanks to these sponsors for their support of
Andrea Wolf with Tucker Meat Market will be one of the many local restaurants cooking onsite in the Food Vendor aisle.
Tucker Day 2022! SILVER
• Emory Healthcare • Epie’s Electrical Services • DeKalb Tool & Die • Wall Control BRONZE
• Ameris • The Bash Party Rentals and Sales • Chick-fil-A (Northlake Festival and Tucker Station) • DeKalb County Republican Party • First Christian Church of Atlanta • Georgia Gifts & More • Keller Knapp Realty • L.H. King Enterprises, Inc. • Manry Heston • Our Town DeKalb • Patricia’s Spiritwear, LLC • Relief Dental • Quinn Windows • Smoke Rise Country Club • Tandem Bank • Tucker Brewing Company • Tucker Business Association FRIENDS OF MAIN
• BOBCARES • Esteem Boutique • Georgia Eye Associates • High Card Brewing, Inc. Downtown streets will be lined with booths representing local businesses and organizations.
OUR TOWN DEKALB | April 2022 5
Smoke Rise Gardens on Tour in April OUR TOWN DEKALB STAFF
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ix Smoke Rise gardens rarely open to the public will be featured in the 2022 Art of Nature Garden Tour, scheduled for Saturday, May 21, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Hosted by GFWC Stone Mountain Woman’s Club, the tour will treat garden enthusiasts to unique designs where water features and natural elements abound. Tickets are $25, and can be ordered online at stonemountainwomansclub.org. All proceeds from the tours will benefit directly the local community through charitable organizations including Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse, local schools, domestic violence shelters, Ronald McDonald House, the arts community, veterans, disaster relief and many more.
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Wellness In-Sight: Define Who You Are CINDY E. FARRAR
I
t is fascinating to me that there are specific moments in our lives so significant that they are considered to be able to define us. These “defining moments,” according to dictionary.com, are “a point at which the essential nature or character of a person, group, etc., is revealed or identified.” I also find it curious that when speaking of these moments, often they are considered absolute in their definitiveness. The aspect of choice is rarely mentioned. Yet what potentiates these moments is our decision as to how we will allow ourselves to be defined, our essential nature revealed. These occasions are frequently referenced as rare and isolated. Yet, how is it, in a natural lifespan of several decades, there is only one or perhaps a few of these definitive moments? When in the course of our daily activities, there are many incidences that are revelatory of our character. For instance, the manner in which we choose to engage with our family, friends, colleagues, and community can be a clear manifestation of who we are at our core. There are also particular times that are truly momentous. They are so significant, they evoke decisions that are transformative and require meaningful change. The past two years, no doubt, have presented each of us with many such instances. How we choose to respond (or not) to these potentially life-altering moments is evidentiary of our true nature. In my practice and teaching of Tai Chi Qi Gong, I have appreciated learning about Taoist philosophy. The word “Tao” means “way.” Loosely, it implies a way of living in harmony. One aspect of this relevant to our discussion is that there are eight virtues that we are to live according to and acquire on our way. I heard it shared that there was a time when the eight specific virtues were not shared. Meaning, we did not know what they were. The reasoning was if we knew which virtues they were, our human nature would have us focusing on living with the purpose solely to check them off the list, with the possibly of excluding other positive character traits. And once the eight were acquired, we would no longer or would be less likely to pursue them. Therefore, not knowing the specific virtues, we are more likely to strive to live a fully virtuous life. The benefit being yielding a high probability of acquiring the eight virtues along our way. While the eight virtues are now readily known, the intention of living virtuously remains. The intention put into practice becomes habit. The habit becomes our
way of being. When realized, every moment then axiomatically becomes a defining moment. And each moment we manifest and become who we really are.
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.
OUR TOWN DEKALB | April 2022 7
Age Friendly Tucker: Tucker Welcomes You Home! LOIS RICCI
C
reating a welcoming community is something each of us can play a role in. The day of neighborly visits are a thing of the past, but when communities recognize the value of being truly welcoming and inclusive, they can create an environment where residents work together to strengthen the social, civic, and economic fabric of the community. In a diverse environment, developing trust and making people feel at home is more important that ever before. Tucker Civic Association’s Lifelong Community Committee wants to see that all residents, old and new, feel included and welcome. Guy Van Ort, a member of the Lifelong Community Committee, introduced the idea of a welcome program for Tucker. He reminded us of the old Welcome Wagon Program, founded in 1928 in Memphis, Tennessee, by Thomas W. Briggs, whose idea was taken from frontier days, when people in Conestoga wagons passing through towns were greeted with gifts and supplies in the hope of convincing them to stay. (Briggs recruited mostly women for his Welcome Wagon work, creating what became the country’s largest female sales force.) After Brigg’s death in 1964, Welcome Wagon continued and in 1998, it merged with Getting to Know You, keeping the better-known Welcome Wagon name. The company began mailing local address books and directories with coupons, community information and resources. Now most of the contacts are made through the internet. Guy contacted the city of Tucker to share the idea and get their input. Sonja Szubski, Tucker’s city-community coordinator, and Guy, with the help of fellow Tucker Civic Association members, including Donna Davis and Kathy Forster, began work to create a Welcome Project for Tucker. Soon, the “Tucker Welcomes You Home” project was begun. Project members are now working on getting the
program certified by welcomingamerica.org, meeting the requirements of the U.S. Welcoming Standard. Some of the questions that are asked include: • What are the common values shared across new and old residents of the community? • What are the opportunities for real listening, sharing, and understanding across differences in perspective and background? • As we make programs and services more accessible to those who have traditionally been underserved, can we make them more accessible to a greater number of communities and demonstrate the benefits for all? • How do we not only provide excellent services, but also foster belonging and participation? • What bridge building efforts already exist in this community that can be leveraged? • What are the existing assets and who are the trusted leaders? • How can we best nurture existing networks and especially those with diverse, cross-sector partners that address inclusion? The project officially has been designated “Tucker Welcomes You Home.” Volunteers will bring gift bags to new residents containing letters of welcome, information about the city, its services and organizations, coupons to local businesses, and small gifts. Creating a welcoming community is something each of us can take part in. Volunteers are needed to assemble and distribute bags, and organizations and businesses are welcome to donate brochures, coupons, samples or other items for the bags. If you are interested in participating in “Tucker Welcomes You Home,” contact Guy Van Ort at guyvanort@gmail.com. DR. LOIS RICCI is a longtime resident of Tucker, where she chairs the Tucker Civic Association Lifelong Community Committee. She serves as an adjunct faculty member at Kennesaw State University, where she teaches gerontology courses and the Professional Development in Gerontology Certificate Class. Ricci also serves as an official representative for American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), co-facilitator for the Rosalyn Carter CareNet, and on the board of the Atlanta Regional Commission Advisory Committee on Aging. Contact Dr. Ricci at loisricci@ bellsouth.net.
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Common Sen$e: Rocky Times Ahead. Call in the Experts! ART WOOD
S
o much has happened since my article last month. The stock market has been on a wild ride, gas is up over $4, Russia has invaded Ukraine, inflation is spiking, and the Fed is raising interest rates. WOW!! While all of this is going on, we must still manage our day job and home life. That feels like at least three full time jobs! I am not going to lie to you, the world is riddled with uncertainty right now, and I am not sure what things are going to look like next year, next week, or even tomorrow. In times like these, you need to turn to the experts, like financial planners. Providing value during uncertainty is where a good financial planner earns their paycheck. Anybody can be a financial planner when everything going up and to the right, but what about when the economy hits uncertain waters? There is so much noise out there right now and it is hard to decipher what’s fact or what’s fiction. I was sitting with a financial planner friend of mine the other day, and he mentioned sitting “like a fly on the wall” while some acquaintances gave their financial advice about the market, NFTs, Bitcoin, etc. They were not financial advisors, and their advice was collected from the internet and social media. My buddy didn’t make a scene but told me that ALL of their ideas were horrible and unfounded. He explained that the general public wants to change everything when the market moves one way or the other, or when there is a bright new shiny thing to invest in. He continued to explain that just like sport, business, or life, you should have a plan, or a strategy, and just because there is a bump in the road, you don’t throw that plan or strategy out the window. You make some revisions to your plan, but still stick with the course. For some reason, a lot of us think that we can do it ourselves. We think that all of the training and licensing that financial planners go through is not relevant. We trust doctors as professionals that will take care of our bodies, but don’t trust financial planners to take care of our money. I feel this way about a lot of professionals, like real estate agents, CPAs, lawyers, and mortgage lenders. Now is the time to consult the professionals. Let them advise you on the proper course of action that is going to line up with your plans. If you need a good referral to any of these professionals, please reach out to me and I will help connect you with the right one! ART WOOD (NMLS #118234) is the branch manager of The Art Wood Mortgage Team of Goldwater Bank, located at 2341 Main Street in downtown Tucker. “Tucker’s Mortgage Guy” for sixteen 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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TAI CHI QI GONG For Life Balance Tuesday 1:00pm
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OUR TOWN DEKALB | April 2022 9
Food for Thought: Homemade Bagels? Yes, You Can! DOUG REYNICS
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e had a thing in our family for bagels. I grew up in New Jersey, and we frequented a bagel kitchen in the basement of a threestory home in Clifton. You’d park, then go down to the basement entry, where your eyeglasses would fog from the kitchen steam and the smells of so many fresh bagels would fill your nostrils. I was a poppy seed guy. Each Saturday, my dad would drive us to the bagel kitchen for us to pick our favorite bagels, then we would drive by the front of the theatre for the early Sunday edition of the New York Daily News. Of course, we would have to eat at least one bagel on the way home while they were still warm. My dad passed away a few weeks ago, and family and friends actually talked about the bagel kitchen at my Dad’s funeral. During the recent pandemic, when many of my friends were finding comfort in baking bread, I decided to plunge headfirst into trying different recipes for New York-style boil and bake bagels. Each Sunday, I would freely share my results, but I quickly figured out my favorite recipe, as close to that Clifton bagel kitchen as I could get – based on the New York Style Bagel Recipe from sophisticatedgourmet. com. Making these bagels in my own kitchen brought me comfort during a difficult time, and always bring warm memories of Dad and Clifton. Ingredients 2 teaspoons active dry yeast 4 ½ teaspoons granulated sugar 1 ¼ cups warm water (you may need ± 1/4 cup more) 3 ½ cups bread flour or high gluten flour (you may need up to 1/2 cup for kneading) ½ teaspoons salt Toppings While I’m partial to poppy seed, there are endless options to top your batch: Everything Bagel seasoning, minced fresh garlic, minced fresh onion or shallot, sesame seeds, caraway seeds, coarse salt, and cinnamon sugar are just a few additional options. 1. In ½ cup of warm water, pour in sugar and yeast. Don’t stir. Let sit for 5 minutes, then stir the yeast and sugar mixture until it dissolves in water. 2. Mix flour and salt in large bowl. Make a well in middle and pour in the yeast and sugar mixture. 3. Pour 1/3 cup of warm water in the well. Mix and stir in the rest of the water (the scant 1/2 cup that is remaining), as needed. You may need to add an additional couple tablespoons to about ¼ cup of water. You want a moist firm dough after you have mixed it. 4. On a floured countertop, knead the dough for 10 minutes until it is smooth and elastic. Try working in as much flour as possible to form a firm and stiff dough. 5. Lightly brush a large bowl with oil and turn the dough to coat. Cover the bowl with a damp dish towel. Let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, until the dough has doubled in size. Punch the dough down, and let rest for another 10 minutes. 6. Carefully divide the dough into 8 pieces. Shape each piece into a round. Take a
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dough ball, press it gently against the countertop, moving your hand and the ball in a circular motion pulling the dough into itself while reducing the pressure on top of the dough slightly until a perfect dough ball forms. Repeat with 7 other dough rounds. 7. Coat finger in flour, and press your finger into the center of each dough ball to form a ring. Stretch the ring to about the diameter of the bagel and place on a lightly oiled cookie sheet. Repeat the same step with the remaining dough. 8. After shaping the bagels and placing them on the cookie sheet, cover with a damp kitchen towel and allow to rest for 10 minutes. Preheat your oven to 425ºF. 9. Bring large pot of water to boil. Reduce heat. Use slotted spoon to lower the bagels into water. Boil 2-3 at a time. Once the bagels are in, it shouldn’t take too long for them to float to the top (a couple seconds). Let them sit 1 minute, then flip over to boil another minute. Extend boiling times to 2 minutes each, if you’d prefer a chewier bagel. 10. If you want to add toppings to your bagels, do so as you take them out of the water. 11. Once the bagels have boiled and topped with your choice of toppings, transfer to oiled or parchment-lined baking sheet. 12. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes, or until golden brown. 13. Cool on wire rack. If you do make a batch, please share with me your process and a picture or two. Let me know how you enjoyed this recipe.
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 almost 2,300 airport rides!) If you have a food story or question you would like to see him write about (or if you need a ride!), email him at dougthedriver1@gmail.com or call him at 770.842.4261.
Back Talk: Spring-Cleaning Your Workout Routine KARL SCHWARTZ, D.C.
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ow that spring is officially here, I want to address a subject that may not seem very timely: New Year’s Resolutions. Did you know that research shows that 95% of New Year’s Resolutions are fitness related, but after just three months, only 10% of people think their resolution will last? In this, the fourth month of the year, here’s some tips to keep you motivated – or jumpstart a fitness plan you may have given up on. First and foremost, don’t give up! The most important action you can take is to do something - anything - to move towards your goal. You are only a failure if you give up! Given that we are only four months into the year, our annual goals are all still certainly attainable. The first step is simply to take one small action towards your goal. One of my major goals this year is muscle building (resistance training). For me, my first step was simply walking into the gym and taking my first class. I started with very low weights. I expected to be very sore the next day but to my surprise I was not! Completing one class was the fire that ignited my motivation to continue to look forward to my next workout. Second, progress at small, steady increments. I started with a guided weight-sculpting class and I used extremely light weights. I felt so good after the workout, my self-motivation was improved. This inspired me to continue, be consistent and continue to progress. I have been back to the gym for one week and already I feel an improvement in my muscle tone. Know that you are never too old to improve your muscle building and strength. Remember Jack Lalanne? An early pioneer in fitness, he exercised daily and was able to achieve feats of strength that men half his age could not. Improved muscular tone improves balance and gait, which is pertinent especially with seniors. Third, start slowly with less frequency. Don’t go all-in training seven days a week; that’s a set up for failure. I started with three routines per week; two were classes led by an instructor and the last one was using individual weights in a circuit. Diversify class type so you don’t get bored. As you complete each week, you can always add more varied classes. In summary, before you give up on your annual fitness goals, remember, it is definitely not too late to restart and attain your annual health goals. Begin with mild difficulty and frequency and ramp up slowly, vary your workouts every quarter, and before you know it, you will be moving quickly and seriously towards attaining your yearly health goals! 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.
OUR TOWN DEKALB | April 2022 11
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GOT A STORY IDEA?
Our Town DeKalb is always looking for talented writers! Send story suggestions to info@ourtowndekalb.com. Submissions become the property of Our Town DeKalb; all submitted material is subject to review and editing. Acceptance of submitted material does not guarantee publication.
(left to right) Kellianne King, president, Rotary Club of Tucker; Genevieve Johnson, Tucker High School; Louise Joyner, Johnson’s mother; Cynthia Edwards, past president, Rotary Club of Stone Mountain.
Tucker High Teacher Named Rotary Teacher of the Year OUR TOWN DEKALB STAFF
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he Rotary Club of Tucker (RCT) has named Tucker High School teacher Genevieve Johnson as its 2022 Teacher of the Year. Johnson graduated from Spelman College in Atlanta before earning a master’s degree of education from Harvard University. She spent ten years teaching in south central Los Angeles and in a small detention center on the San Diego-Mexican border. In 2006, she moved to Tucker and a faculty position at Tucker High School, where she teaches AP and Gifted English as well as serving as the school’s English Language Arts department chair.
The Easter Bunny is Coming to Fitzgerald Field on April 16! OUR TOWN DEKALB STAFF
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ucker Parks and Rec is hosting the city’s Annual Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 16 at Fitzgerald Field, 4877 Lawrenceville Highway in Tucker (across from Home Depot). There will be just one hunt, for all ages, so plan to be there to start promptly at 9:00 a.m. Collect eggs, get a photo with the Easter Bunny, and play some games!
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Tucker Arts Alliance Holds First Public Meeting OUR TOWN DEKALB STAFF
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bout two dozen Tucker residents attended the first public meeting of the fledgling Tucker Arts Alliance on Monday night, March 21. Attendees explored ways to communicate with each other, promote current arts programming, and secure support for local arts programs from city government and civic organizations. The variety of performing and visual arts pleased all the participants, who planned to spread the word to their contacts. “I was thrilled about the city’s enthusiasm [for] an arts alliance,” said fiber artist Roxanne Brown. Claire Hayes, one of the meeting organizers, called the meeting “astounding and energizing – so much creativity, experience and commitment in one room.” The next public meeting of the Tucker Arts Alliance is Monday, April 11, at 7 p.m., at First Christian Church of Atlanta, 4532 Lavista Road. The agenda will include plans to staff the organization’s tent at Tucker Day, as well as a first attempt to define the mission of the organization. The Tucker Arts Alliance Tucker Day tent will be located at the end of First Avenue on Saturday, May 7. There will be opportunities to meet members, network with many working artists, and offer opinions on what the alliance can bring to Tucker. Fiber artist Roxanne Brown at the 2021 ARTucker Holiday Show. (Photo ©Roxanne Brown/Fiberworks)
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April 2022
Tucker 4280 Lavista Rd, Suite C-115, Tucker, GA 30084 (770) 270-5695 NothingBundtCakes.com 04/30/22
April 2022
Tucker 4280 Lavista Rd, Suite C-115, Tucker, GA 30084 (770) 270-5695 NothingBundtCakes.com 04/30/22
OUR TOWN DEKALB | April 2022 15
Rotary Club of Tucker Annual Golf Classic: FOREducation Monday, April 25, 2022 Smoke Rise Country Club, Tucker, Georgia
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The Rotary Club of Tucker will hold its 2022 Golf Classic: FOREducation on Monday, April 25 at Smoke Rise Country Club. The annual event will benefit the club’s education initiatives both in Tucker, including REACH Georgia Scholarships for Tucker Middle School and Tucker High School and the DeKalb Rotary Council Teacher of the Year, and globally, including the Tutu Desk Campaign and the Senegal Teacher Project. The event begins at 8:00 a.m. with breakfast, followed by a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m. Lunch is served on the course during the game, with award ceremony and presentations after in the clubhouse. Details, including sponsorship and registration information, are available online at rotarycluboftucker.org/golf.
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OUR TOWN DEKALB | April 2022 17
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GOT A STORY IDEA?
Our Town DeKalb is always looking for talented writers! Send story suggestions to info@ourtowndekalb.com. Submissions become the property of Our Town DeKalb; all submitted material is subject to review and editing. Acceptance of submitted material does not guarantee publication.
U.S. veteran Deontae had his wheelchair repaired at the FODAC March clinic. (Photo ©FODAC)
FODAC Helps Keep Veterans with Disabilities Moving OUR TOWN DEKALB STAFF
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ucker non-profit Friends of Disabled Adults and Children (FODAC) has launched Veterans HME Repair Clinics, a repair program specifically aimed at U.S. veterans with disabilities. All registration and repair fees for manual wheelchairs, power wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, rollators and other home medical equipment (HME) are waived for veterans. Repairs include tires, wheels, footrests, upholstery, armrests, seating, joysticks, chargers and other electrical parts. Batteries are provided as available. FODAC also provides support for veterans who are in need of equipment, helping them obtain the equipment at little or no cost. Georgia Tech’s Rehabilitation Engineering and Applied Research Lab has partnered with FODAC on the program. The first of the quarterly clinics was held on Friday, March 4, with remaining ones in 2022 scheduled for Friday, June 10; Friday, September 9; and Friday, December 9; walk-ins are welcomed but appointments are encouraged. Clinics are held at FODAC, 4900 Lewis Road in Tucker. Call 770.491.9014 x115 to schedule an appointment. Go to fodac.org for more details, or to support the program.
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Main Street Theatre Brings Moray’s ‘Laughing Stock’ to Spring Stage OUR TOWN DEKALB STAFF
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ain Street Theatre brings the light-hearted comedy, “Laughing Stock,” to the Tucker Recreation Center stage this spring, with performances April 22-24, April 29-May 1, and May 6-7. A play within a play, the story takes place at a rural New Hampshire summer stock theatre that has scheduled a repertory season of “Dracula,” “Hamlet” and “Charley’s Aunt.” But as the season progresses, it becomes obvious that the well-intentioned company is clearly — and comically — over-matched. Everything that can go wrong does go wrong, from outrageous auditions to disastrous opening nights. “’Laughing Stock’ is a very funny play and a heartwarming homage to the theatrical arts,” said director Bob Winstead. “Audiences will get a sneak peek into the challenges of putting on a play - and also what happens when things don’t go quite as planned.” A community theatre veteran, Winstead performed in Main Street Theatre’s first production, “Harvey,” and again in the company’s presentation of “You Can’t Take it with You.” The large ensemble cast of “Laughing Stock” includes Rick Adams, Tijuana Agnew, Charles Bohanan, Sabrina Chambers, Drew Crecente, Ross DeMocko, Tanya Gilmer, Evan Greene, Katie Green, JR Langwell, Jonn McDaniel, Sharyn McHenry, Perry McWilliams and Kenya Andrew. All performances will be at Tucker Recreation Center, 4898 Lavista Road. Showtimes for the Friday and Saturday performances are 7:30 p.m., and on Sundays, 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and students, and $10 for children. Masks are optional, subject to CDC guidelines. Seating capacity has been reduced to 100 audience members per show to facilitate social distancing. Concessions that can be consumed outside the theatre will be available. For tickets and more information, visit mainstreettheatre.org.
Tucker Rec Center to Partner with Local Non-Profits on Actively Inclusive Theatre Classes OUR TOWN DEKALB STAFF
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tarting in April, two local non-profit organizations will offer special introductory performing arts classes at Tucker Recreation Center. Classes will be taught by Theatre Platform Project and sponsored by Peter and Paul’s Place. All classes will take place at Tucker Recreation Center, 4898 Lavista Road in Tucker. These introductory classes, at a special reduced price of $5.00 per class, will gauge interest in ongoing classes to begin later this year. In Broadway Bound, a musical theatre class tailored for adults with special needs, participants will learn songs and dances from favorite Broadway shows like “Aladdin,” “Hairspray,” “Wicked,” and many more. The first class is scheduled on Saturday, April 9, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Leyendo y Actuando is a literacy and theatre program for Latinx kids ages 6 to 12. Participants will read a children’s book and develop it into a short play. Actors will let their imaginations and literacy flow in the one-of-a-kind bilingual class. The first class is scheduled for Saturday, April 9, from noon to 1:00 p.m. In addition to the two theatre classes, Movin’ & Groovin’, tailored for adults 55+, will have participants dancing to Elvis, Frank Sinatra, Motown artists and many more. The first one-hour class is scheduled for April 13, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Theatre Platform Project is an educational arts non-profit, committed to providing diverse and inclusive programs. Its primary focus is to ensure that people from all walks of life have a platform to discover and develop the artist within. Peter and Paul’s Place provides opportunities for adults with different abilities to live, socialize and learn in a supportive and inclusive community. It helps provide a place for everyone to be themselves. Details and registration are at theatreplatformproject.org/tucker. For more information, contact Ricardo Aponte at 404.590.2350 or ricardo@ theatreplatformproject.org, or Charlotte McKinnon or Lois Shingler at charlotteandlois@peterandpaulsplace.org.
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