Our Town DeKalb (November/December 2019)

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7 Tucker Community Singers Schedule Free Recital 9 Art Wood – Making Your Holidays Merry and Debt-Free 11 Shopping Small is a Big Deal in Tucker 13 Wellness In-Sight: A Calmer Holiday

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OurTown

On The Cover:

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 Lizbeth A. Dison Art Wood Lois Ricci Cindy E. Farrar Oliver C. Brantley

Entire contents copyright 2019 by Our Town DeKalb and Shiny Inc LLC. Reproduction in whole or part is forbidden in any media without written permission from the publisher.

Distribution Coordinator Emma Dison Brantley

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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.

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IN THIS ISSUE 3 Rosenfeld Jewelry: 21st Century Technology and an Ancient Art Form 6 STEM for Every Child Joins GIVE Atlanta Challenge to Fund School Programs 6 Main Street Theatre Dishes Up Family Life in “The Dining Room” 7 Tucker Community Singers Schedule Free Recital in November 9 Common Sen$e with Art Wood: Making Your Holidays Merry and Debt-Free 10 A Plan for an Age-Friendly Tucker 11 Shopping Small is a Big Deal in Tucker 12 Wellness In-Sight: A Calmer Holiday 12 Local Rotarians Schedule Electronics, Medical Equipment Recycling in November 12 Book now for FODAC’s Breakfast with Santa at Stone Mountain 13 A Plan for an Age-Friendly Tucker 11 NETWorks Good Neighbor Christmas Shop Provides Hope and Dignity for the Holidays ON THE COVER: Rosenfeld Jewelry staff ready for the holidays (left to right): Owner and master jeweler Bill Rosenfeld, his wife and designer Carmen Rosenfeld, marketing coordinator Tania Vasquez, accounting manager Zaritma Roman, and master jeweler Kamal Elmoukha.

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Executive Director Denise Burcham with her spring violin students performed at the May recital.

Kamal Elmoukha, in-house jewelry designer with Rosenfeld Jewelry, uses ArtCam software to create a custom piece.

Rosenfeld Jewelry: 21st Century Technology and an Ancient Art Form L.A. Dison Man’s fascination with gold began almost with the birth of civilization; the oldest manmade gold artifact dates back to about 4500 BCE. Our obsession with gold continues to this day, as shown by the long lines of visitors worldwide who marvel at the golden treasures of King Tut every time the display goes on tour. They look in fascination at these marvelously intricate pieces and wonder about the artisans who could craft them in an age without modern technology and with the most rudimentary of tools.

Jeweler William Rosenfeld, owner of Rosenfeld Jewelry in Tucker, is a modern-day goldsmith. Rosenfeld and in-house jewelry designer Kamal Elmoukha hand-craft exquisite custom pieces using 21st century technology, such as design software and 3D printers. Their use of advanced technology allows them to put more effort into the actual creative process, and less energy into the production process. Ancient goldsmiths would have to do all their work by hand, in a labor-intensive process that could take months to create just one piece of jewelry. Jewelry and other precious decorations crafted in this manner were available only to society’s elite because of the high cost in production. This newer technology allows Rosenfeld Jewelry to produce more intricate designs in less time, making their work more accessible to everyone.

From ancient times until the end of the 20th century, the skills used by jewelers were pretty much the same. Lost-wax casting was a technique that remained unchanged for at least 5,000 years. It required the artist to make a wax model that was then covered in plaster to create a mold. The wax was then burned off and the plaster mold was filled with gold or another precious metal to create the piece, which the goldsmith then detailed by hand for the finished piece.

Then about 2000, software company Delcam launched a version of its popular advanced CAD/CAM software ArtCam, adapted specifically for

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Rosenfeld From page 3

From the Publisher: The Bits in Between Lizbeth A. Dison, Publisher and Editor Welcome to the Holiday issue of Our Town DeKalb! We had a lot of fun putting this issue together – who knew there were so many holiday festivities going on in Tucker and the surrounding communities? We hope this issue will inspire you, your family, and your friends to fully embrace the seasonal spirit throughout November and December.

The hustle and bustle of the holidays is fun but it can also be stressful. Several of our regular columnists offer advice on how to keep “merry and bright,” from avoiding the post-holiday financial blues to discovering the calmness of the season. We also hope you will make note of the many opportunities to remember those less fortunate, and help lift the spirits of those who might otherwise find this time of year difficult for their family or themselves.

Thank you to all the readers who submitted holiday or seasonal events for inclusion in the November/December issue, and we are sorry that we were unable to cover them all. Remember to check out the event calendar on our website (ourtowndekalb.com), and we will try to promote all the holiday happenings on our social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram).

There is so much to be grateful for this holiday season. The love of family and friends, the opportunity to wake each morning and see the world, whatever activity brings joy to your life – this is what you should celebrate this season. In addition to these things, I am grateful that I am able to work each day doing something that I love – and thankful for all those who have helped make that dream come true.

Blessings and happiness to you all this holiday season!

Cheers, Lizbeth A. Dison Publisher/Editor

OurTown NE DeKalb Community and Family Magazine

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.

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artistic endeavors such as jewelry design and manufacturing. Rosenfeld Jewelry was one of the first Atlanta area jewelry designers to adopt this technology.

With this program, they could now design a custom piece on a computer screen more quickly and more precisely than with traditional pen and paper, but they were still tied to the traditional ways of carving models and casting molds. In 2015, ArtCAM was updated to integrate with 3D printers, which presented an alternative to lost-wax casting for making complex models.

Rosenfeld added the Invisiontech DCLM High Resolution 3D Printer to their system of jewelry design and production. Now the jewelers could transfer their creative vision to a design onscreen, which would in turn print a finely detailed 3D model in wax. From there, they could then produce the mold into which they would pour the melted metal for the final masterpiece.

The entire system with the software and hardware represents a considerable investment; because of the cost, only a handful of jewelers in the Atlanta area have this equipment, choosing instead to contract their design work out of state or even out of the country. Rosenfeld Jewelry opted to invest in this technology, enabling them to keep their design work in-house, maintaining the highest standard of quality and keeping costs down for their customers. The upgrade has also greatly expanded the shop’s capacity for custom design while shortening production time.

Both Rosenfeld and Elmoukha have extensive experience in jewelry design and creation. The two men combined have over forty years of jewelry experience, and each has traveled nationally and internationally for training on the design software. Elmoukha was born in Morocco, where he trained as a master jeweler, and he has won seven awards in jewelry design with the Georgia Jewelers Association. Rosenfeld has over thirty-five years in the business, and in addition to his design work, travels to Antwerp, Belgium annually to personally handpick diamonds for his customers. He is also an ambassador of the World Diamond Council, an organization which oversees the development, implementation and oversight of a tracking system for the export and import of rough diamonds to prevent the exploitation of diamonds for illicit purposes such as war and inhumane acts.

Rosenfeld and Elmoukha create a lot of the store’s custom pieces from their own imagination, but they also create pieces based on customer designs, interpreting their verbal descriptions or referencing hand-drawn sketches of their ideas. “Some of our customer-created designs have ended up being reproduced for our inventory,” said Rosenfeld. “Because we only have to make the model and mold once, if the customer is okay with it, we can then easily reproduce the piece multiple times.”

What does Rosenfeld see in the future of custom jewelry design? “Machines will probably run faster, and printers will be updated to print directly in metal rather than the resin or plastic we use now to make a mold. More production will move overseas, possibly China, where labor is less expensive.

The advancements in the manufacturing process combined with cheaper labor means mass-produced pieces that cost less to the consumer.”

Is Rosenfeld worried about his prediction of the future. “Not at all,” he said.

“Producing pieces like this might be cheaper but you will lose the artistic soul of our hand-created pieces. Our technology only enables our creative process – it doesn’t replace it.”

Rosenfeld Jewelry is located in Tucker at 4957 Lavista Road, and offers full-service custom design as well as a full line of silver, platinum and gold jewelry, precious and semi-precious stones, and an exclusive line of fine watches. Premium jewelry lines include Pandora, Allison-Kaufman, Kiddie Kraft and Ostbye. Learn more about the business at rosenfeldsjewelryltd.com.

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STEM for Every Child Joins GIVE Atlanta Challenge to Fund School Programs L.A. Dison Tucker non-profit STEM for Every Child has joined Atlanta Magazine’s 2019 GIVE Atlanta Challenge, a friendly online fundraising competition giving local charities the opportunity to raise funds and compete for cash grants and other prizes from the $40,000 challenge fund. If the organization places first in the competition, it could win $17,000, with the opportunity for an additional $13,000 through weekly bonus challenges.

STEM for Every Child will use the award to support its mission of providing science, technology, engineering, and math resources to children across Atlanta. Unlike the traditional method of teaching these subjects separate from each other, STEM for Every Child focuses on integrating them together into hands-on real world projects called PBL (Project Based Learning). STEM is introduced in a student’s early years, when they first enter elementary school.

It helps students develop problem-solving skills by encouraging them to think about the world around them in a different way. In addition to providing support to teachers, STEM for Every Child also provides free STEM materials to schools including robotics, coding lessons, and mentoring opportunities.

While STEM for Every Child’s goal is to impact every Title 1 school across metro Atlanta, it currently serves schools in Tucker and Decatur, with a few in Atlanta, including: • Livsey Elementary, where it is planning a STEM night in November with staff and has donated robotics; • Smoke Rise Elementary, where it has supplied 3-D Pen and Ozobit robots with training; • Henderson Mill Elementary, where it has funded STEM art materials for Gyotaku paintings; and • Jolly Avenue Community Garden/Friends of Refugees, where it has developed an afterschool club to put robotics, circuits, and learning opportunities into the hands of middle and elementary school students.

For more information on STEM for Every Child, including volunteer and partner opportunities, visit STEMforEveryChild.com or call Executive Director Laura Bolsen at 404.593.9201.

Main Street Theatre Dishes Up Family Life in “The Dining Room”

Tucker Community Singers Schedule Free Recital in November

Our Town DeKalb Staff Tucker’s Main Street Theatre will present playwright A.R. Gurney’s comedy of manners, “The Dining Room,” during the weekends of November 8-10 and 15-17 at the Tucker Recreation Center, 4898 Lavista Road, Tucker.

The play, a finalist for the 1985 Pulitzer Prize in Drama, is set in a well-to-do household’s dining room where the family assembles for daily meals and special occasions, and is composed of a series of interrelated scenes - some funny, some touching, some rueful.

The actors change roles, personalities and ages as they portray a variety of characters, from little boys to stern grandfathers, and from giggling teenage girls to Irish housemaids. Each vignette introduces a new set of characters and events. Dovetailing swiftly and smoothly, the varied scenes ultimately coalesce into a theatrical experience of exceptional range, compassionate humor and abundant humanity.

Under the direction of Carrie Harris, the fifty-seven characters in “The Dining Room” will be portrayed by a cast of just seven actors: Drew Crecente, Jonn McDaniel, Scott Starkweather, Sharyn McHenry, Alissa Symons, Tracey Egan and Veronica Burman.

Friday and Saturday performances begin at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday shows start at 2:30 p.m.

For tickets and more information, please visit www.mainstreettheatre.org.

Our Town DeKalb Staff The Tucker Community Singers will present a free Holiday Concert on Sunday, November 17, at 4:00 p.m. at First Christian Church of Atlanta, 4532 Lavista Road in Tucker. The program will consist of both secular and sacred holiday songs celebrating the sounds of the season.

All are welcome to attend.

The thirty-six members of the Tucker Community Singers are a diverse mix of experienced and neophyte choral singers, with many different backgrounds and vocations. The singers are not just from the Tucker area but from other communities farther away, including Clarkston, Lawrenceville, and Buford. The Choir presents two annual recitals, one for the holidays and one in spring. The common factor for all the members is a love of group singing and a dedication to weekly rehearsals. Choir Director Ann Edmondson says her personal motto has inspired her to lead this group: "To heal, to inspire, and to lead others through music.”

The non-profit group is always open to new members. Those interested in joining need only to have a commitment to weekly rehearsals and performances; rehearsals are every Tuesday from 7:00 to 8:15 p.m. at First Christian Church in Tucker. There is no audition required, neither is the ability to read music. To learn more about the Tucker Community Singers, visit tuckercommunitychoir.com, or contact Ann Edmondson at ann.edmondson@woodward.edu.

The GIVE Atlanta Challenge runs for one month, from October 15 to November 15.

The organizations that raise the most during the challenge period will win prize money totaling $40,000: $17,000 to first place, $6,000 to second place, and $4,000 to third place. Weekly bonus challenges enable charities to win up to another $13,000. To help STEM For Every Child win the GIVE Atlanta Challenge, visit www.crowdrise.com/stemfor-every-child-inc and donate by November 15.

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Common Sen$e with Art Wood: Making Your Holidays Merry and Debt-Free Can you believe that we are already in the holiday season?

Wasn’t it just yesterday that we were ringing in 2019? Well, like it or not, here we are Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner, followed closely by 2020!

All of this was top of mind as I was pondering what to share in this issue’s column. With all the joy that the holiday season brings, I also know that it brings an outrageous amount of stress, mostly involving MONEY. What if we could remove THAT stress from your life around the holidays?

Hopefully these three steps will help de-stress your holidays, making them merry and bright.

BUDGET! BUDGET! BUDGET! Yeah, I know, everyone’s favorite word.

Budgets are not just for business, organizations, and overall household expenses; they can be used to govern holiday spending as well. My father always told me to make up your mind about a tough decision before you have to face one. He was primarily talking about evil peer pressure on a teenager, but the saying can apply to holiday spending as well. Set your holiday spending budget now before you purchase your first gift. Whatever your budget is - $100, $500, $1,000 - make sure it is a number that won’t put you in debt, and then stick to it.

CASH IS KING. This may not be the most popular suggestion, but it will help you stick to your budget and keep you in the holiday spirit. What if you took your budget, withdrew your designated amount in cash, and went to an actual brick and mortar store or mall (remember those?) to purchase your gifts? I used to do this as a teenager. I dreaded it every time but when I was finished, I was thrilled with my purchases, more engaged in the holiday season, and did not spend more than I brought with me. I know how easy it is to sit at home and log into your Amazon account, but it is too easy to overspend that way. Online shopping often does not feel like you are spending real money but when you get the bill - OUCH! BE CREATIVE. Realize that there are more valuable items in life than just “things.” A co-worker mentioned the other day how her family liked to gift non-material items like “babysitting time” with their brand-new grandchild.

One of the greatest Christmas gifts in my own family was from my father-in-law to his daughter (my wife) - a cookbook containing recipes from her mother who had passed away when she was a young adult. Neither of these gifts cost money but the sentimental value was priceless, and will long be remembered and appreciated more than the latest computer game or a new golf club. Take the time to create unique gifts for your family and friends that come from the heart – not from the store.

These suggestions aren’t new, difficult, or complicated, and I would be lying if I said that I always practiced what I preached. Writing this article has made me think about how our family spends money during the holidays, and I would challenge you to give these suggestions a try. What do you have to lose? Maybe just some stress, and your gain might be a happier holiday filled with even

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warmer memories.

I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season and we will see you in 2020!

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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A Plan for an Age-Friendly Tucker

Shopping Small is a Big Deal in Tucker

Lois Ricci Developing an Age Friendly Community is not all about catering just to the senior population, but creating basic needs that everyone has access to, no matter their age; housing, transportation, parks and playgrounds, access to social activities and inclusion, and health and safety. Each of these is what the World Health Organization asked Tucker to comply with when it was designated an “Age Friendly City.” The Tucker Civic Association is developing an action plan to be submitted to the WHO by December 2020, outlining the steps that have been taken or are in progress. This action plan is required to retain the city’s designation.

The AARP is the U.S. affiliate of the WHO Age-Friendly Cities and Communities Program, an international effort launched in 2006. AARP Georgia has guided Tucker through the network’s implementation process. Making Tucker an AgeFriendly City benefits all its residents, no matter the age. Improving air and water quality protects growing children and older persons with environmental sensitivities. Secure neighborhoods are safe for children, youth, and older adults and have the services and supports they all need. Barrier-free buildings and streets enhance the mobility and independence of both younger and older persons with disabilities. The whole community benefits from the participation of older persons in volunteer or paid work and civic activities, especially the seniors who maintain their sense of value and purpose. A diverse local economy benefits from the patronage of consumers of all ages.

The Lifelong Community Committee, a sub-committee of the Tucker Civic Association, will consult and work with residents, leaders, and experts in the community to identify existing physical and social barriers. This information will then be used to develop, implement and evaluate local plans that will make the Tucker environment more age-friendly. Tucker residents will be regularly updated of the activities as the group continues to develop and maintain Tucker as an Age Friendly City.

L.A. Dison Small Business Saturday is an annual event that encourages people to discover the small businesses in their community.

This year, the event is on November 30, scheduled on the Saturday between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and part of the shopping trifecta that The Garden Enthusiast on Tucker’s Main Street is just one traditionally kicks off of the hundreds of local shops waiting to be explored on the holiday shopping Small Business Saturday. season. This year’s theme is “Shop Small,” emphasizing the advantages of shopping smaller local businesses versus big-box or online options.

Of the 3,000 licensed businesses in Tucker, over 75 percent are classified as small businesses, with less than ten employees. “The city works hard to promote the benefits we offer for large business to relocate here,” stated Tucker Community and Economic Development Director John McHenry.

“But we aren’t just about bringing in new business – we’re also fostering the entrepreneurial spirit in our own community.”

Residents can easily fulfill all their commerce needs in Tucker through local businesses – the community boasts independently-owned coffee shops, hair and nail salons, corner stores, spas, boutique clothing stores, consignment shops, restaurants, craft stores, bars, fruit markets, gift shops, pet stores – and many, many others. “These small businesses bring diversity to the mix of larger retail centers, office complexes and industrial parks,” said McHenry. “They are the foundation for our business community.”

So why shop small? When a shopper supports a Tucker small business, they’re supporting not just the local economy but the entire Tucker community.

According to private research firm Civic Economics, 48% of each purchase at local independent businesses is recirculated locally, compared to less than 14% of purchases at chain stores (or locally owned franchises). The tax money collected from small business is used to support public schools, parks, roads, and sidewalks, as well as fund public service workers, like firefighters.

While a larger part of a locally owned franchise’s revenues may go outside the community, these small business owners contribute to building the community in other ways. Their franchise stores and restaurants provide employment, and as a community member, they often sponsor school programs, community events, student internships and scholarships, and school and rec sports teams.

Because a customer may know a small business owner in their neighborhood, they often feel more personally connected to the products and services. Embry Hills resident John Gillette often visits Tucker’s The Garden Enthusiast with his family to get advice on attracting more birds to his backyard. “I like that I can talk to (owners) Vicki and Scott about my neighborhood, and I like that I am helping the community by shopping local.”

“Small business is a key engine of Tucker’s success,” concluded McHenry.

“Take the time to discover some of our city’s great local businesses on Small Business Saturday, then continue to support them and your community through the rest of the year.”

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.

Holiday on Main Street Lights Up the Season

The Old Town Tucker Merchants Association (OTTMA) will kick off the winter holidays with its annual Holiday on Main Street celebration on Saturday, December 14. The event promises fun for the entire family, with a bounce house, craft vendors, live performances by local bands and choirs as well as by the Main Street Theatre, an Ugly Sweater contest, and hot cocoa and s’mores for all. The celebration will culminate with Santa lighting the Main Street Christmas Tree at 6:00 p.m., followed by the Menorah lighting at 7:00 p.m. The event is free for all attendees.

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Wellness In-Sight: A Calmer Holiday Cindy E. Farrar, LMT, BCTMB, CLC Just when we thought Fall wasn’t going to arrive, here it is. The cooler temperatures, lawns scattered with leaves and the fresh scent in the air are signs that we are moving closer to what has been referred to as “the most wonderful time of the year.”

However, if we aren’t careful, we can get caught up in the bustle of season, the urgency to complete projects prior to the year’s end, and finish last minute shopping. Before we know it, what is meant to be a joyous time can become quite burdensome. This demand can overload our system’s ability to maintain balance, which is the definition of stress. If we are to enjoy this special time, actively managing our stress and alleviating its negative impact is necessary, even vital, for our overall health and wellness in general.

The following are a few ways to take care of ourselves during the upcoming holiday season: Breathing. In traditional Chinese medicine, Autumn is associated with the lungs. While breathing is a process that the body does automatically, we often don’t breathe fully. As a result, we don’t get enough oxygen vital for all the body’s processes, including brain function, memory, energy, and our immune system. In addition, when not breathing fully we don’t expel the carbon dioxide from our lungs. This can lead to toxic buildup in our bloodstream, in addition to establishing a pattern of holding on to that which no longer is serving us - both producing more stress. Throughout the day, especially when feeling stressed, low energy, or overwhelmed, practice this simple exercise.

Pause, inhale gradually through your nose for a count of four seconds. Then gradually exhale through your mouth for a count of eight seconds. Repeat three times and as often as necessary.

Presence. It is easy to lose sight of the present moment as we anticipate the upcoming events and obligations. Besides missing out on what is happening right now, this can produce stress as well as anxiety. When the mind jumps forward, acknowledge the thought, jot it down on a note if it is task related, and send the thought on its way. Then return to the moment you are currently in. It’s really the only one you have - once it’s gone you can’t get it back.

Nature. Allow yourself the time to go for a walk, soak up some vitamin D, sit under a tree, and take in the beautiful scenery. Little else relieves stress like connecting with nature.

Lastly, perhaps it’s not an accident that Thanksgiving occurs before the December holidays. Starting off with and maintaining a heart of gratitude is key to keeping a healthy perspective and to having a holly jolly season.

Cindy E. Farrar 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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Local Rotarians Schedule Electronics, Medical Equipment Recycling in November O.C. Brantley The Rotary Clubs of Tucker and Stone Mountain will host an Electronics and Home Medical Equipment (HME) Recycling Day on Saturday, November 9 to benefit Friends of Disabled Adults and Children (FODAC). The event will be from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Ace Hardware Tucker (Handy Hardware) at 3969 Lawrenceville Highway (Town Square Center) in Tucker.

Working and non-working electronics (with the exception of CRT monitors and televisions) and HME will be accepted for recycling at no charge, but participants are encouraged to make a donation to FODAC. Event will be held rain or shine.

Funds raised from the event help support FODAC’s main program supplying HME to the mobility impaired and their caregivers, at little or no cost to the recipients. Working electronics are cleaned and offered for sale in FODAC’s Thrift Store; non-working electronics are recycled with the proceeds going to fund FODAC’s equipment program. Collected HME is refurbished and re-issued to those with disabilities.

For over thirty years, FODAC has helped people with injuries and disabilities of all ages regain their mobility, independence and quality of life. A pioneer in re-use, FODAC keeps 400 tons of materials out of landfills each year by recycling over 700 HME items every month, and is recognized nationally for best practices.

For questions on the event please contact FODAC at 770.491.9014.

Book now for FODAC’s Breakfast with Santa at Stone Mountain Our Town DeKalb Staff Friends of Disabled Adults and Children (FODAC), a Tucker-based non-profit providing mobility equipment for those with disabilities, will hold its annual Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, December 14 at the Evergreen Marriott Resort and Conference Center at Stone Mountain Park. WSB Chief Meteorologist Glenn Burns will serve as host for the event, with special guest host WSB political commentator Bill Crane.

The event will allow each child a chance to chat with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Event registration fee will include a gourmet breakfast buffet; free park admission with an all-attractions pass for each person ($34.95 value); a carol sing-along; a toy for each child; and an opportunity for photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, their friends Frosty and Rudolph, and of course the elves.

Professional photographer on site at the event will take photos, which will be available via free online download.

Tickets are $30 for adults and $20 for children ages 6 -11; children 5 and under are free when accompanied by an adult. For registration and info, visit fodac.org/breakfast.

Funds raised from the event will support FODAC’s mission to supply home medical equipment (HME), like wheelchairs, walkers, rollators, shower benches and patient lifts, to people with disabilities and their caregivers

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NETWorks Good Neighbor Christmas Shop Provides Hope and Dignity for the Holidays L.A. Dison NETWorks Cooperative Ministry Good Neighbor Christmas Shop is an opportunity for parents in the Northlake-Embry Hills-Tucker areas to provide Christmas gifts for their families while preserving their pride and dignity. The Christmas Shop sells new, donated toys at affordable prices, instead of giving them away, believing families would prefer to provide for themselves if given the opportunity to do so.

Supporters are encouraged to donate new items to the Christmas Shop, which are then sold for 50-80% less than they would cost in a retail store.

The Christmas Shop also gladly accepts gift cards to use to buy toys.

Donations can be dropped off at NETWorks or the following locations in Tucker: • Chick-fil-A (Tucker Station), 4340 Hugh Howell Road • Chick-fil-A (Northlake), 3967 Lavista Road • Tucker City Hall, 4119 Adrian Street • Tucker City Annex, 4228 First Avenue • Tucker Recreation Center, 4898 Lavista Road The NETWorks Christmas Shop is open December 13-15 at Gym on Main Street, 2367 Main Street in Tucker. Hours are 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, and 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. Details, including sign-up for volunteers, can be found at networkscoop.org/Christmas.

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