InTucker Magazine

From the Mayor -September 2021

Each month, this column gives me the opportunity to talk directly to Tucker about what’s on my mind and what I think you need to know about the projects, plans and initiatives happening in the City. It’s a chance to call your attention to things that are important to our progress, that you need to be involved in, or at least aware of. This month, it’s all about events and activities as we continue heading back to a more normal community life. With that said, COVID has not disappeared. We must remain vigilant as we expand our activities after a long time away.

I’ve written before about how important our city events are. They are a much-needed social outlet. They build community and they highlight various aspects of Tucker for our own folks, as well as the world beyond our city limits. Now as we enter fall, those events are really ramping up. As I write this, we are days away from Tucker Day, being held this year on September 4. This truly is the king of all Tucker events and has been for more than a half-century. It’s always been run by volunteers, and the team from Main Street Tucker Alliance has been working diligently for the past two years to try and find the best opportunity to restart this great event. It was cancelled last year, and then postponed this year from its normal time in May to the Saturday of Labor Day weekend.

Speaking of great events, Taste of Tucker is coming up on October 2. This is another volunteer-led effort that draws people from all over metro Atlanta to sample the best that our Tucker restaurants have to offer. Of course, Trunk or Treat is a Halloween staple on Main. Run by our August 2021 Citizen of the Month Nancy Qarmout in conjunction with the DeKalb Fraternal Order of Police, Trunk or Treat is a safe trick-or-treating option that brings thousands of children to downtown Tucker each October 31.

Not to be outdone, our Parks and Recreation staff is putting on a trio of events this fall. Their annual Sip & Stroll is happening September 18 at Tucker Nature Preserve. They are organizing a Haunted Trail event in Henderson Park on October 29. And, in November, you’re invited to join us for a night of Campfire & Cocktails at Kelley Cofer Park. As always, these Parks and Recreation events are free and open to the public, whether you live here in Tucker or you’re just coming for a visit.

Of course, as I write this, we are dealing with significantly increased COVID cases relative to the low levels we had reached back in the spring and early summer. As we are forced to consider these trends and respond accordingly, I will continue to urge our city and our citizens to keep finding ways to Live, Work, Play, and Pray with careful attention to safety for ourselves, each other, and our community. We will do our best to balance the needs for public health against the very human, very real needs to socialize, earn a living, pursue education and so many other things that are essential to our quality of life. As conditions change, we will adjust as well.

As you consider whether, or under what circumstances, to participate in all these events, I urge you to take care in your decisions. Many of us have been vaccinated and have felt a little “bulletproof”, except that now we are hearing of breakthrough cases where vaccinated people have become infected, sometimes with serious results. Many others have chosen or are not able to be vaccinated, and we now know that the Delta variant is especially hard on them. I don’t pretend to have the answer for every person in every circumstance, but I do offer one piece of advice to everyone: Don’t take this lightly. Don’t trust internet groups and social media with this decision. Seek advice from a medical professional you know and trust. And if you are at increased risk of becoming infected, take care of yourself and them by staying out of circulation.

Thanks for reading, thanks for what each of you does to make Tucker a great hometown. I hope to see you on Main Street (or in our parks) real soon.