Some 450 children and adults converged on a stream bed in Tucker on Saturday, October 3, to participate in Tucker Civic Association’s second "Rivers Alive" project to clean up the south fork of Old Peachtree Creek.
"Rivers Alive" is sponsored by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources each October as a statewide effort to clean up rivers, creeks and streams, using volunteers from the local communities.
Last year, TCA’s initial effort to clean up a portion of Old Peachtree Creek drew about 180 volunteers. This year the event drew more than twice as many volunteers from 25 community organizations, including five Girl Scout troops. Working from 9 a.m. to noon, volunteers pulled from the stream bed a mountain of trash including scores of old tires, a gaggle of grocery carts, remains of a washing machine and a complete motorcycle.
Volunteers enjoyed an early morning breakfast and, following the cleanup, received lunch provided from local restaurants.  They also participated in a raffle of gifts from area businesses.

Just over 100 Tucker residents attended a town hall meeting on public safety issues on Thursday, Sept. 24, to meet new DeKalb Public Safety Director Wiz Miller and hear advice from DeKalb Police Department officials.

Hosted by State Representative Kevin Levitas and co-sponsored by Tucker Civic Association and Northlake Community Alliance, the meeting focused on crime statistics and actions citizens could take to reduce their vulnerability to crimes against person and property.

After an overview of crime statistics and police efforts across DeKalb County, Public Safety Director Miller called upon his officers to address specific issues.

Sgt. Lyda, leader of the gang unit, encouraged citizens to report any appearance of graffiti or other evidence of gang activity. He also explained how the gang unit tracks and arrests gang members.

Major Jim Conroy, commander of the 911 center, explained how 911 operators and street officers prioritize emergency calls.

Sgt. Beumi explained that half of reported auto thefts are fraudulent reports or related to domestic arguments, and that two-thirds of auto thefts are committed by teenagers, not professional thieves. He also reported that during the holiday season from Thanksgiving to Easter, half of cars stolen are taken when the owner leaves the keys in the car.

Other officers discussed code enforcement problems, gun safety, and ways to make a home less attractive to burglars.

At the end of the meeting, Public Safety Director Miller echoed a conclusion declared at previous public safety meetings in Tucker. "This is one of the largest crowds we’ve addressed," he said. "I was told that if we hold a meeting in Tucker, a lot of people will come out."

(Tucker, GA) - The Tucker Civic Association (TCA) chose Livsey Elementary School for its September "Give An Hour" project. On Sunday, September 20, TCA members and parents associated with Livsey, with about a dozen of their children, volunteered time to help build an educational butterfly garden, prepare beds for vegetable gardens that help teach science lessons, and clean out other areas of the school campus.
TCA began its "Give An Hour" program this year of monthly projects to encourage volunteer contributions of time in the community. TCA sponsors one event a month at which Tucker residents can give an hour of community service.
The first "Give An Hour" program provided tangible items for the DeKalb Fire Station in Tucker, with volunteers delivering their goodies on March 29. In following months, the TCA "Give An Hour" effort has had volunteers cleaning up litter and debris at Henderson Park, cleaning out weeds and trash at Fitzgerald Field youth athletic center, and preserving timbers at the historic Johns’ Homestead property on Lawrenceville Highway.
Despite an occasional drizzle, volunteers at the "Give An Hour" at Livsey Elementary weeded garden beds and in the butterfly garden planted milkweed, butterfly bush, lantana and Mexican sage.
"The volunteers did a wonderful job," said Michelle Penkava, the representative of Livsey PTA who coordinated the work. "I’m thrilled TCA named us as their ‘Give An Hour’ project for this month. This really helped jump-start our butterfly garden and campus beautification, which had been on the back burner for some months.  And the plants we put in today, they should be attracting butterflies in the next few weeks."

(Tucker, GA) - The Tucker Civic Association (TCA) helped residents prepare for the worst case scenario by hosting a meeting with the leader of DeKalb County disaster preparedness. TCA’s fall membership meeting featured a presentation by Capt. Beth Burgess, operations chief of DeKalb County’s Emergency Management Agency. Capt. Burgess gave a thorough discussion of how to prepare for a flood, a tornado, a chemical release or a house fire. She advised having a disaster kit containing enough food, water and first aid materials to last at least 72 hours.
At the meeting, TCA President Joe Scarpaci announced this year’s recipient of the Tucker Citizen of the Year. Becky Burns was hailed for her work St. Andrews Presbyterian Day Care, 1st United Methodist Staff-Parish Relations, and her leadership as director of TIME, Tucker Interfaith Mission Experience, which organizes volunteer teams to replace the roof on the house of someone who cannot otherwise afford the repair. Since 2007, high schoolers working with TIME each June have replaced the roofs for 12 homeowners, some living in the neediest parts of Tucker. This benefits the homeowners as well as the youths who learn the value of helping others and contributing to a spirit of community. And all who have participated this past year have praised the work of the program director.

Tucker Civic Association (TCA) sponsored a food drive on Sunday, August 23, to benefit the Tucker NET Food Pantry. Sponsored by a dozen churches in the Tucker area, the NET Food Pantry provides dry goods on an emergency basis to needy families and individuals. The pantry is located in the Tucker Recreation Center on Lavista Road.

The event on August 23 asked church members and community residents to drop by donations at the TCA booth, located that Sunday in the parking lot of Sheridan’s Frozen Custard in the Cofer Crossing shopping mall on Lawrenceville Highway. About a dozen members of TCA and 10 representatives from the Food Pantry were on site to accept donations.

This was the latest in TCA’s events called "Give An Hour," a monthly series of opportunities for Tucker residents to contribute time and effort on behalf of the community. Previous "Give An Hour" projects included clean-ups of parks and athletic fields.

The "Give An Hour" for the Food Pantry drew a stready stream of people contributing soup, canned vegetables, cereal boxes and diapers. In the end, volunteers packed a large stationwagon full of contributed dry goods.