OUR TOWN DEKALB (June 2022)

4 To Bee or not to Bee: Tucker Nature Preserve Chooses to Bee in a Big Way 9 Common Sen$e: What’s This Talk of Recession?

18 Juneteenth OUR TOWN DEKALB | June 2022 1

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IN THIS ISSUE

4 To Bee or not to Bee: Tucker Nature Preserve Chooses to Bee in a Big Way 7 Wellness In-Sight: Sing Above the Cold 8 Age Friendly Tucker: Yellow Dot Program Helps When You Need It 9 Common Sen$e: What’s This Talk of Recession?

10 Food for Thought: Eat the Leaves!

11 Back Talk: Wellness Care is the Ounce of Prevention We All Need 13 Radio Tucker to Host Second Anniversary Music Party in July 14 Rotary Club of Tucker to Host Dementia Workshop 16 Main Street Independence Day Celebration Scheduled for July 3 17 It Was at That Point, the Wheels Came Off… 18 Juneteenthn ON THE COVER: A Tucker bee enjoying a spring dandelion at the Nature Preserve. (Cover photo by Suzanne Borchert)

Latawsha Little-Hill Steven R Ashby 4500 Hugh Howell Road Suite 600 Heritage Place Tucker, GA 30084 770.493.4924 www.gwaplaw.com

Call for free consultation OUR TOWN DEKALB | June 2022 3

COVER STORY

Tucker Nature Preserve Chooses to Bee in a Big Way L. A. DISON

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he Friends of Tucker Parks (FOTP) has completed the first step in a long-term plan to establish the city as a haven for pollinators. With the recent installation of bee hives at the Tucker Nature Preserve, the group has partnered with Tucker Parks and Recreation to build a bee habitat that serves both humans and our apian allies.

"The parks are such an asset to the City of Tucker, and the Parks and Rec department has done a great job since taking over the parks in 2017,” said Suzanne Borchert, FOTP board member and Bee Habitat program manager.

“They have improved our existing parks, added additional park space and added many sports-based recreational opportunities. But there was a need to have more eco-educational elements in our parks. We have the Native Plant and Wildlife Walk at Henderson Park and the Pollinator Garden and Peach Pit at Kelley Cofer Park, so the FOTP thought adding an active apiary, or honey bee colony, and wild flower meadow would be a great addition to our local ecosystem.”

FOTP began discussing the idea of a bee habitat in 2018, where visitors could observe and learn about bees and pollinators while enjoying the parks. Honey bee populations in the United States have been in decline over the past few decades, with over fifty percent of honey bee populations dying off in just the last ten years. While some of the decline is due to the rise of colony-destroying mites, the vast majority is because of habitat loss due to climate change

The beehives in place with the bees at the habitat.

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The Friends of Tucker Parks Acknowledges the Contributions of these Individuals and Groups to the Establishment of The Bee Habitat at Tucker Nature Preserve

Girl Scouts from Troop 15239 painted the beehives based on a Valarie Nichols design.

and manmade destruction.

The Friends of Tucker Parks “Bee Educated Initiative” would leverage Tucker’s park lands while providing educational elements and programs to cultivate a healthy population of pollinators in the community.

After a year of community discussions and surveys about a bee habitat, the group kicked off a fundraising drive in 2019, with a silent auction that raised $7,000. Later that same year, DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson committed $50,000 to the The Bee Board scope out a proposed site for the Bee Habitat. program.

But just as the “Tucker Bee Initiative,” as it was then called, began to generate some real buzz in the community, COVID hit in spring 2020, shutting down most public events and threatening to stall the program’s momentum. The volunteer-driven “Bee Board” nonetheless forged ahead with its efforts, using the open spaces of the Nature Preserve to hold a masked and socially distanced meeting in September 2020 to push the program forward. A mission statement was crafted and adopted, and the Tucker Nature Preserve and Bee Habitat Master Plan was commissioned by the Tucker Parks and Recreation Department.

Landscape architecture firm Root Designs was selected to develop the Master Plan, with input from the Bee Board, FOTP and Tucker Parks and Rec. The plan was completed by the end of 2021, with Phase 1 to include a meadow and apiary areas. With the scope of Phase 1 now defined, the mission firmly stated, and the funds in hand, FOTP was ready to move forward with development.

Now officially named “The Bee Habitat@Tucker Nature Preserve,” the project began in earnest in January 2022. The site was cleared, a trail was established, and seventy-nine native buffer and pollinator supportive trees were planted. The Nature

Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson Dekalb County District 7 City of Tucker Department of Parks and Recreation City of Tucker Friends of Tucker Nature Preserve FoTP Bee Board members: Pam McNall, Beth Ganga, Ray Ganga, Leonard Howell, Melissa Smith, Shawn Stone, Valarie Nichols, and Suzanne Borchert Bee Keepers Andrew and Ellen Ausley, and Steve Cook and Matty Garrett Michael Kidd and Roots Design Studio Girl Scout Troup 15239

Volunteers stomp the seeds in place as they plant the pollinator meadow.

Preserve celebrated the Great American Clean-Up Day there on April 2 by prepping the pollinator meadow for planting. While the meadow was seeded later that month, it takes three years and three seedings for a wild flower meadow to mature. This year’s planting will bloom in the late spring and summer. The meadow will be seeded again in spring 2023, and a third time in spring 2024. After that, the meadow will be self-sufficient, providing sufficient food for the local bees and other pollinators.

The beehives were installed this spring, and the bees were introduced to their new home. Over the next few weeks, final touches will be made to the site, including installation of the educational signs. The Bee Habitat will soon be ready for its open house, with a date planned sometime in late June. Watch the Tucker Nature Preserve Facebook page for the announcement of the ribbon-cutting – it will “bee” quite a celebration!

OUR TOWN DEKALB | June 2022 5

OurTownDeKalb.com 6 OUR TOWN DEKALB | June 2022

Wellness In-Sight: Sing Above the Cold CINDY E. FARRAR

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ome memories reverberate throughout our lives allowing us to recall them as if they are occurring in the present moment. They are even so seminal that they take on additional meaning. One such memory for me is as a first grader having a cold, my nose all stuffy and sounding quite nasally when trying to talk. In music class, trying to sing (and breathe) was nearly impossible. The remedy to my dilemma (and what makes this memorable for me) is Mrs. Town, our music teacher, melodically saying, “Sing above the cold, sing above the cold.”

What she was instructing me to do was, at first, incomprehensible for my six-year-old mind. From a technique perspective and my adult understanding, I believe what Mrs. Town was teaching me, and my classmates as the cold made its rounds, was to sing with our “head voice.” (My voice teacher and singer friends, please excuse my limited singing knowledge.) As I understand it, “head voice” refers to singing with the voice vibration coming from the upper part of the head, as opposed to coming from the more typical chest or a mix of chest and head, which is what I was apparently trying to unsuccessfully do through my stuffy nose. With Mrs. Town effectively modelling what she was sing-saying, eventually I was able to join my classmates and successfully sing (and breathe) “above the cold.” (By the way, the technique is effective when speaking as well.) Once I figured it out, overcoming the nasally effects of cold made my six-year-old self feel like she had a superpower.

It has been said, “Children should be seen and not heard.” However, our becoming who we really are is inextricably linked to our self-expression. When our expression is suppressed, it can manifest in many ways detrimental to our health and wellbeing on all levels: physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. After all, one of the reasons the Dead Sea is considered dead is because it’s all inlet and no outlet.

The Bible verse, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34), is applicable here. While the context is referring to what fills our heart will be that which comes out, it is also reasonable to think if the heart has an abundance that is not allowed internally or externally, by ourselves or others, to be brought forth, it can lead to the “good things” within our heart going to waste and the “bad things” festering.

Over the years (actually decades, many decades), I have continued to find empowerment in “singing above the cold.” In many situations, it has become a

mantra reminding me that it is possible to find my voice in difficult situations - that I can rise above an obstacle trying to prevent me from “speaking my truth by telling all of my heart,” a reference to the original meaning of “courage” as noted in last month’s column.

Give voice to your younger self, your current self, and inner kid. Embrace the courage to become who you really are. When in doubt, “sing above the cold.”

Thank you, Mrs. Town.

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 | June 2022 7

Age Friendly Tucker: Yellow Dot Program is There When You Need It LOIS RICCI

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he Yellow Dot Program, developed in Connecticut in 2002, was introduced in Georgia in 2017 by the Georgia Department of Public Health in partnership with the Georgia Medical Care Foundation. The free program is designed to provide first responders with important medical information for people involved in motor vehicle crashes, home medical emergencies and other medical emergency situations.

Providing information on medical conditions, medications, or medical allergies helps medical professionals make the best decision about your emergency medical treatment.

A one-page medical information form, once completed by the participant, is stored inside a yellow folder and secured with a binder clip.

A picture of the participant accompanies the information for easy identification. This package is placed in the vehicle glove compartment or on the refrigerator in the home. In addition, a sticker is placed on the back of the vehicle and on a home entry window or door; the displayed Yellow Dot lets first responders know that you have completed a personal information form and where they can find it.

Since the initiation of the program, Yellow Dot has been implemented in at least nine other states. Tucker Civic Association Lifelong Community Committee (TCALCC) was invited in May 2018 to pilot the Yellow Dot Program in Tucker, and the program was introduced at Tucker Day that year. Packets are available at Cofer

Library, the Rec Center, and the Tucker Precinct office of the DeKalb County Police Department.

Guy Van Ort, a realtor with Keller Williams Realty and a longtime member of TCA, volunteers as the Yellow Dot lead contact, and endlessly promotes the program at every opportunity. Contact Guy at guyvanort@ kw.com or 404.626.6580; he will be happy to speak to a group or help get Yellow Dot packets to all Tucker residents. We want the Yellow Dot program to be like your insurance policy something you hope you will never use, but there when you need it!

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.

8 OUR TOWN DEKALB | June 2022

Common Sen$e: What’s This Talk of Recession?

ART WOOD

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ou can’t open your computer without hearing the “r-word” right now. Some say we can expect to see a recession in 2023 and 2024. Some say we are in a recession now, and some say that they don’t expect a recession anytime soon. A lot of people see the drop in the stock market and say that is indicative of a recession. My focus in this article is really just to help explain what a recession is and give you some things to think about.

Let’s look at the definition of what a recession is. A recession is a period of temporary economic decline during which trade and industrial activity are reduced, generally identified by a fall in gross domestic product (GDP) in two successive quarters. After the crushing blow of COVID, everyone was trying to predict the recovery, and no one expected the “v-shaped” recovery we have had. Economic conditions improved at a historic, and unsustainable, level which has led to historically low employment and record-breaking inflation. That being said, we had our first reduction in GDP in the first quarter of 2022; GDP slowed by 1.4% versus the fourth quarter of 2021.

By definition, if the second quarter of 2022 has another GDP reduction of, then we will officially be in a recession.

A lot of people look at the volatility and 20% decline of the stock market as further signs of a recession, but that isn’t necessarily true. We can certainly call it a bear market (loss of 20% or more), but you can have a bear market and not be in a recession. A bear market is more like a symptom of recession.

The Feds point to the strong labor market and insist that we are not in a recession. There is some truth in that. As long as there are more jobs than there are workers, then typically the threat of a recession is minimal. There may never have been a better time to be looking for a job than now, as we are seeing record low unemployment and rising wages. That being said, we are seeing unemployment claims start to tick back up.

So, what do I think? I would say we are NOT in a recession yet, but I DO think we will see one in the next six to eighteen months. The big question is more about what it will look like. As I have written before, most people default to the most recent Great Recession, and assume property values will tank. I certainly don’t think we will see that. My prediction is that it will be more similar to the dot.com bubble, when so many tech companies were so over-leveraged and worth billions, yet had never made a profit.

I guess time will tell how this will all turn out, when we can look in the rearview mirror to see where we have come. My advice is to be educated. Keep your finger on the pulse of the market. Read those articles that pop up in your news feed. Lastly, as I have always said, surround yourself with a good team that can help you weather any economic storm, no matter how big or how small. One thing is for sure...this too will pass!

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.

OUR TOWN DEKALB | June 2022 9

Food for Thought: Eat the Leaves!

DOUG REYNICS

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’m an avid gardener, and love to grow my own produce. I sometimes grow things not for the expected harvest, but for the leaves! I’d like to share a list of items you probably didn’t think you could eat.

Leek tops When you use leeks, the recipe always calls for you to discard the white and light green parts of leeks.

I used to discard and compost the tops - but you can use the leaves!

Wash as thoroughly as you do the main part of the leeks, chop and use as you would the leeks part.

(You might not for a leek soup as the green coloring might be a bit off-putting). But anywhere you see a recipe for onions, try the leek tops.

Carrot tops No, they are not toxic as many people think. That said, they are a stronger particular flavor not everyone will enjoy. They are good as a cilantro-like topping or condiment. They can also be substituted for parsley when you want to enhance a savory or umami flavor.

Broccoli leaves When we see broccoli in the store, we usually see a head wrapped in a few wilted leaves, which we immediately remove before cooking. But broccoli leaves are a vegetable in their own right.

Cook them as you would a sturdy green like kale or collards. Their mild flavor makes them ideal for sautés, stir fry, braises, and soups where they won’t overwhelm the rest of the dish.

Sweet potato leaves Not to be confused with potatoes (the two plants are not related and you never eat regular potato leaves), sweet potatoes are in the same family as morning glories, which is most apparent when you see both plants flowering. They are my favorite leafy vegetable top to consume. I do a stir fry with garlic, coconut milk, lemongrass, and lime leaves (when I have them) for flavor. They don’t wilt like spinach so it can be a substantial side. You can grow sweet potatoes for the potato, or if you’re like me, for the leaves!

Cucumber leaves Cucumbers share a lot of the same characteristics as their squash cousins. This includes being a true top to bottom consumable produce - the sprouts, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruit are all edible. Fresh, crisp cucumber sprouts make an especially good salad green, but tender young cucumber leaves can be eaten as well. They’re so light and subtle that they’ll take on the flavor of whatever they’re cooked with, so I prefer them raw.

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Pepper leaves Bet I’m surprising you with this one! The leaves from sweet pepper and hot pepper plants are edible and they are delicious. They have a milder pepper flavor than the peppers themselves, and taste a little like white pepper—delicate and fragrant. It doesn’t matter if you use the leaves from a sweet bell or a fiery habanero, as the chemical compound that gives peppers their heat (capsaicin) is concentrated in the inner membranes of the fruit. A popular use for pepper leaves is in the Filipino soup called Tinola, though certain Chinese dishes also use pepper leaves in braises and stir fry.

Now that you know that you can eat these greens, try some. Let me know what you tried and how you used them, and include some photos. I’d love to hear from you!

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: Wellness Care is the Ounce of Prevention We All Need KARL SCHWARTZ, D.C.

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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.

e r u pro t u f ture re o e a f b fu

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s we move past spring and into summer, I am beginning to see some common and familiar problems with my patients. Patients are starting back to yard work, beginning a new outdoor exercise routine, or simply getting back to neighborhood walks. Problems may arise if your spinal and muscular systems have not been properly maintained over the winter. Several patients have already come into my office with a spinal crisis caused by a restart of simple outdoor activities. So how do you keep from becoming a victim of this same crisis?

First and most importantly, remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. We have a program in our office called “wellness care.”

Once patients have received treatment for whatever acute issue has caused them to initially come in, we offer the choice to move to wellness care. Wellness care is simply getting your spine checked and adjusted when you are feeling well. Does this mean that because you feel good, you do not have any spinal issues? Of course not; this is what prevention is all about. We can find the spinal issue and fix it so that you don’t have to experience pain and symptoms. Why wait for problems to occur when you can simply correct them before they develop into a problem that limits your ability to enjoy life?

Let’s expand that idea out further. Imagine every person at a small business would take advantage of wellness care. We would have employees that were happier and healthier and out of work less due to spinal issues. Apply the idea of wellness care to a larger business, and imagine how health care costs would be reduced and controlled. What about applying the idea to a small city, and think how a program like this could cultivate more productive workers, or healthier and happier residents, and become more productive overall. Imagine the cumulative effect if wellness care was offered to all residents in a state, or a country. Imagine the broad effect in increased productivity and decreased overall costs. Unfortunately, this idea is not promoted in this country, but imagine the benefits if we had a different paradigm about heath that is common in other countries.

Since we cannot control the government, the city, the insurance company, or even our company’s HR department, we can as individuals institute this paradigm of health in our own families. We do it in my family. Choose wellness care. Be all you can be by being proactive with your health as a family, and your family will be happier, healthier, and more productive. Isn't that what we are all striving for?

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Lynx Deluxe is one of the local bands scheduled for the Radio Tucker Music Festival.

(Photo Kelly Thompson Photography)

Radio Tucker to Host Second Anniversary Music Party in July OUR TOWN DEKALB STAFF

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adio Tucker is celebrating two years on the air in July, with a live music event at High Card Brewing on Saturday, July 16, from 4:00 to 11:00 p.m. Attendance is free, thanks to support from local sponsors, including High Card Brewing, Rockin’ Road Trip, Hot Betty's Breakfast Bar, Doug the Driver and Wax N Facts Record Store. Several local bands are scheduled to Bill Linton Experience perform, including Lynx Deluxe, Art Linton Experience, Das Kaiser and Current Rage. Radio Tucker's Friday Night Fever host, DJ Fernando F, will also spin live sets between the bands to keep the party hopping. In addition to an afternoon of live music, guests of the Radio Tucker Music Festival can win free prizes from Radio Tucker, enjoy locally brewed beer from High Card Brewing, and grab a bite to eat from Hot Betty's or other nearby restaurants.

Radio Tucker launched in July 2020, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic when local bands weren’t able to play bars, clubs and festivals. Jason Becknell founded Radio Tucker so local bands could continue to share their music with the

world.

“From the start, we were looking forward to the day when we could get back out to live concerts, and it looks like we're getting there,” said Becknell. “With the twoyear anniversary of our launch coming up this July, we wanted to do something to thank all of our listeners.”

“We love Radio Tucker, and what they do for local bands,” said Lynx Deluxe front man Andy Browne. “What Radio Tucker is doing for local bands is wonderful. and they play lots of great music that you don't hear on other radio stations."

Radio Tucker is a 24/7 online radio station serving Tucker and surrounding areas.

The station programs classic rock to today's indie, alternative rock, alt-country and Americana plus local weather every hour, guest DJs, Georgia music, local bands, and much more. Listen online at radiotucker.com on the TuneIn app, Apple Music Radio, Ask Alexa to "Play Radio Tucker" or download the free Radio Tucker app for iPhone and Android devices. Visit radiotucker.com for more information.

OUR TOWN DEKALB | June 2022 13

Rotary Club of Tucker to Host Dementia Workshop OUR TOWN DEKALB STAFF

Since 1998

MASSAGE ASSOCIATES OF A TLANTA , LLC GA License #MT000505

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he Rotary Club of Tucker is hosting “Dealing with Dementia” on Thursday, June 16, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The four-hour workshop, paired with a detailed workbook, will increase knowledge of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, while building confidence and alleviating stress for the caregiver. Dr. Lois Ricci is the facilitator for the workshop; 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.

The workshop will be held at First Christian Church of Atlanta, 4532 Lavista Road in Tucker, and will include lunch. The event is free, but spaces are limited and registration is required; call 770.979.4358 for registration.

14 OUR TOWN DEKALB | June 2022

Therapeutic Massage with limited appointment availability

Thank you for your patience and support!

WEEKLY WELLNESS CLASSES (Currently virtual only)

YOGA for Every Body Monday & Thursday 11:00am

Happy Father's Day!

TAI CHI QI GONG For Life Balance Tuesday 1:00pm

5165 Lavista Rd., Tucker, GA 30084 ~ 770.493.8181 ~ massageassociates.net “Be at Home in Your Body.”

OUR TOWN DEKALB | June 2022 15

Main Street Independence Day Celebration Scheduled for July 3 OUR TOWN DEKALB STAFF

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he City of Tucker will host an Independence Day Celebration on Sunday, July 3, beginning at 6:00 p.m. The free event will feature live music and food trucks, plus Main Street restaurants will be open during the event. The Fireworks Spectacular will launch from downtown at dusk. © Dean Hesse, all rights reserved.

16 OUR TOWN DEKALB | June 2022

It Was at That Point, the Wheels Came Off… STEVE ASHBY

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he words “Last Will and Testament” sound ominous to most folks. Usually, the only time one comes into contact with such a document is when a family member dies (or, as we say in the trade, “takes the big vacation”) and everyone searches the decedent’s desk and file cabinet until it is found. At that point, the Will is searched for references to friends and family members who will ultimately receive the bounty amassed over the lifetime of the dearly departed.

For those kind-hearted people who are forward thinking enough to make their ultimate passing easier on those left behind, a proper Last Will and Testament is in order. To accomplish that task, they consult with their friendly neighborhood attorney, who will draft a Will that is tailored to their specific desires. It is that process to which I have devoted a large portion of my professional life and from which I have received untold blessings of human interaction. By my calculations, I have drafted over a thousand Wills in my career. Although clients discussing their last wishes are usually thoughtful and reflective, they are rarely somber. Most seem to take comfort in making the ultimate gift to their heirs and beneficiaries. It is a pleasant discussion.

However, there are some tortured souls who make an extensive enterprise out of arranging the deck chairs on their personal Titanic. They carefully engineer their Wills to reward the attentive and punish the offensive. Their favorite game is to make a vast list of those who will be anointed with bequests while pointedly leaving out the more annoying family members. On occasion, often years after the Will was signed and sealed, the Testator (the fancy legal name of the person who makes a will) becomes annoyed with someone who was formerly anointed in their Will.

Said Testator then makes another appointment with our friendly neighborhood attorney to change their will and punish the designated miscreant.

I had one particular client (we will call her “Agnes” for the purposes of this parable) who was particularly interested in using her Last Will and Testament as a weapon. Bless her heart, she was not always mean and disagreeable, but had only evolved into such after the death of her beloved husband years earlier. Childless, and having outlived all of her siblings, Agnes brought me a hand-written list of those whom she wanted written into her Will, mostly nieces, nephews and members of her church. Over the years, Agnes became a frequent flyer in our office, wanting us to rewrite her will to exclude one of those beneficiaries who had annoyed her.

On numerous other occasions, she would contact me to demand that I sue either her bank, her cable TV company or a clerk at Kroger for being rude to her. The sign in front of my business states, “Counsellor and Attorney at Law.” In dealing with Agnes, the counsellor role was predominant. I spent countless hours trying to talk her off the ledge of pursuing pointless and frivolous claims, and disinheriting someone who did not return her phone calls fast enough. We tried to keep her Will revisions to a minimum, for her own peace of mind.

Every time Agnes signed a new Last Will and Testament, I reminded her to keep the original document safe, because probate courts require a clean and undamaged original Will for probate. We would seal her original will in an envelope with the date and my initials on the seal.

After many years, I received a phone call from Agnes’s pastor, who informed me that she had passed away. Named as her executor, the pastor brought her Will to me so that we could submit it for probate. We were well acquainted with each other because we had collaborated over the years to keep her out of trouble. We swapped amusing stories about Agnes’s battles, concluding that Agnes’s soul would be commended to the Lord, but that he should really try not to hack her off.

The Pastor slid Agnes’s original will across my desk. It was at that point the wheels came off.

I could immediately see that the seal on the Will had been broken. Taking it out

of the envelope, I could determine that two things had happened. One, a certain niece had somehow angered her, and two, Agnes did not bother to have me change the Will one more time. Rather, Agnes took pen in hand and crossed off the name of offending niece. Sheesh.

Under Georgia law, if an original will is defaced in any way, a presumption arises that the Testator intended to revoke the Will. This can come about if a Will is written on, a corner is torn off or even if coffee is spilled on it. Although Agnes was admonished on several occasions to refrain from writing on her original will, she just could not help herself when that certain niece did not measure up.

It took an act of Congress to shove Agnes’s will through Probate. She had somehow managed to make life difficult for others, even after her earthly departure. I cannot help but wonder if she got a good laugh out of that.

STEVE ASHBY is celebrating forty years of practicing law, often with a sense of humor. He and law partner Latawsha Little-Hill founded Georgia Will & Probate Lawyers, which focuses exclusively on wills, probate, estate planning, advanced medical directives, and other related areas that help their clients obtain peace of mind for themselves and their loved ones. Learn more about Steve and Latawsha and their practice at gwaplaw.com OUR TOWN DEKALB | June 2022 17

Juneteenth On September 22, 1862, Abraham Lincoln signed the declaration freeing all slaves with emancipation.

At that time many slaves couldn’t read or write, and to learn was a crime masters would punish with beatings of great might, or even death could be their fate, so it was a bit late when slaves finally got the news that they were free, and could embrace liberty.

The proclamation read that on January 1st 1863 all slaves of the confederacy shall be “thenceforward and forever free.”

It was June 19th1865 when the news broke through that all slaves were free to do whatever they wanted to.

The news had spread slowly from plantations in the south to the other states by word of mouth.

It took over two years to reach the Lone Star State.

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So now all Black people celebrate Juneteenth as the day when they could say Free at last.

Yet in all these years that have passed there are too many things that haven’t changed at all, and everybody must heed the call, for no people can be truly free while others are denied their liberty. © Copyright 2020 Victoria R. Crosby All Rights Reserved

British-born poet and writer Victoria Crosby has been Poet Laureate of the City of Glen Cove in New York for more than twenty-five years; her work has been published in magazines and newspapers as well as featured on radio shows. Now residing in Smoke Rise, Victoria will create a unique gift with a custom poem for an anniversary, engagement, wedding, birthday, retirement or any other special occasion. You can contact Victoria at poeticvic@aol.com.

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