👩🏼‍🍳 Holland takes the cake

Waseem Abbas

3 months ago

Don’t bet on it

Aug. 29 — It’s Cathy from Rough Draft with my weekly newsletter on Tucker. Well, it’s the Friday before Labor Day, so work has probably ground to a halt by the time you get this email. Hope you can find time to read it before you slide off your dinosaur on the way to the drive-in movie with Wilma, the neighbors, and the kids.

This week’s newsletter talks about the shortest city council meeting I’ve ever attended, a scholarship that’s a sweet as pie, a farewell to a community treasure, and some events for your paper calendar.

Have a great weekend,
Cathy

Enjoy your very own city soundtrack this fall at Midtown Alliance’s “Live After 5” free outdoor music series. Hear up-and-coming talent on Wednesdays in Sept. and Oct. from 5-7 p.m. at Peachtree and 10th Street. Featuring funk, blues, singer/songwriter + more. Details here! SPONSOR MESSAGE

Sit down, wait… get up

In stark contrast to the Tucker City Council meeting on Aug. 11, which ran more than four hours, its Aug. 25 meeting, at only 18 minutes, dealt with one ordinance, an extension on the distance between establishments housing coin-operated amusement machines (COAM) and schools and churches.

With little discussion, the council voted to increase the distance between the entities from 100 to 200 feet.

The existence of these machines has caused concerns in many areas around the state because of reported illegal cash payments, the contributions it can make to gaming addiction and exploitation of vulnerable and lower income participants, and regulatory challenges in tracking the machines.

The panel was missing two members, but got a lot done in quick fashion. Here’s the story.

Where story, science, and soul meet

SPONSORED BY ART FARM AT SERENBE

Join us at Art Farm at Serenbe for our first-ever Film Showcase Weekend, featuring a special screening of Parrot Kindergarten — a moving documentary about healing, connection, and the surprising intelligence of animals.

After the film, stay for an intimate Reel Conversation with award-winning director Amy Herdy and researcher Jen Taylor-O’Connor, moderated by Sheri Salata, former executive producer of The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Don’t miss this unforgettable evening where story, science, and soul meet. Sat., Sept. 13. Get tickets here and use code ROUGHDRAFT10 for 10% off.

A culinary achievement for Tucker grad

US Foods Holding Corp. has introduced its 2025 class of food scholars, and one of the honorees hails from Tucker.

This year’s class, according to a release from the company, includes 18 students from 14 schools nationwide who are pursuing two- or four-year post-secondary degrees in culinary arts, hospitality, baking and pastry, or business management.

Each US Foods Scholar will receive a $20,000 scholarship to support his or her continued education, as well as professional development opportunities with US Foods, the release said.

In June, Zoe Holland, a 2025 graduate of Tucker High School, was also chosen to receive one of the American Legion Post #207’s first-ever School Medal Award and Scholarship. She joined other award winners Javier Jacon and Taja Pope, which, according to American Legion #207, “recognizes students who exhibit six core qualities of citizenship: Honor, Courage, Leadership, Patriotism, Scholarship, and Service.”

David Fisher from NETWorks says farewell

At the conclusion of Monday’s city council meeting, Alexis Weaver took a minute to recognize David Fisher of Tucker-based NETWorks Ministry, who is retiring after more than 10 years at the helm.

“He is retiring much much too soon, in my opinion,” Weaver said. “He has taken NETWorks from a small great organization to something that is one of our community’s institutions.”

For those who aren’t familiar, NETWorks is a cooperative of 21 churches in the Northlake, Embry Hills, and Tucker area that serve food-insecure individuals with a two-pronged approach with temporary emergency food and support for people in need, including unhoused individuals, and ongoing help for those needing long-term solutions.

The organization has set up an alliance wherein qualified individuals can “shop” in a grocery store-like setting on a regular basis. Each person is allowed about 75 pounds of food and staples per month, which includes a variety of available groceries.

The organization had a farewell lunch for him today, but promised a formal send-off for Fisher in 2026.

Here is a story I wrote about him when newly Nicky’s Undefeated had a lunch fundraiser for the organization, and another one about a new NETWorks growing initiative.

Tickets are on sale now for Oakland Cemetery’s iconic Sunday in the Parkfestival! Enjoy live music, artist markets, historic costume contests, free tours, kids’ activities, and MORE in support of Historic Oakland Foundation’s mission to preserve the Cemetery! SPONSOR MESSAGE

Tracking Tucker

Keep an eye out for these upcoming events in the city:

Tucker’sFirst Friday Concert features Heart Breaker (pictured above) at Church Street Greenspace on Sept. 5, 7-9 p.m. According to its website, it’s the “ultimate Heart tribute band,” but you probably could have guessed that. Remember to leave your tables, glass, and pets at home.

Another transportation meeting is set for Sept. 11, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at city hall, this time for a general update on transportation projects, along with information about the GDOT Top End Express project, which we might need, but nobody wants. Tucker Cruise-In: The popular classic car show takes place on Main Street, Sept.13, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Every time I promote this, it gets rained out. Gardeners, you’re welcome.