Thumbs Up! Feb. 19, 2018

The first thoughts that come to mind when the Albany Recreation and Parks Department is mentioned are those of team sports, swimming and playgrounds. The ARPD, however, has a very strong program for the senior citizens of this community. On Valentine’s Day the Civic Center was the site of the 16th annual Breakfast and Bingo affair. Approximately 200 seniors were decked out in mostly red, many with hats and ready for a three-hour program with music, card crafts, a breakfast, speakers and bingo. Each attendee received a live long-stemmed rose from J.L. Litman. Representatives from the Albany Fire Department handed out individual bags of candy. Dougherty County Coroner Michael Fowler presented a large gift basket to the winner of a mini-talent show. Prizes for bingo came from a host of donors. Still to come is an Easter egg hunt with breakfast and bingo on March 28. Following in April is a fashion show. On June 15, at the Civic Center, will be the Senior (Citizens) Prom. If you can and want to support a worthy local program, look no further than the ARPD.

Sylvester’s Best Friends Humane Society has friends at Worth County Elementary School working to keep the animals at the shelter healthy as they await adoption. February has seen the “Puppy Love Food Drive” take off as students are collecting dog food, cat food, Dawn dish detergent, paper towels, blankets and toys. The drive will continue throughout the rest of the month and the love shown by the children will be passed on to the shelter. What a great way to teach children about caring and sharing.

Hello Gorgeous! is a nonprofit organization offering complimentary professional makeovers and cosmetic education to women battling cancer. Posh Salon of Tifton has become an affiliate of the organization and will be providing monthly makeovers. The first surprise makeover is set for March 12. The woman chosen will be surprised by friends and family at a reveal party at a Tifton restaurant. If a woman deserving of this special pampering comes to mind, nominate her by going to www.hellogorgeous.org.

The 1,033 holes that dotted the landscape of Tift Park for several days are now filled with new trees and shrubs. A call for volunteers to do the planting netted a quick list of 500 with that many or more showing up on Saturday. Teams of 10 people, with one person per team giving instruction on just how to do the proper planting, spread out through the historic park to restore its beauty so rudely ripped away by the January 2017 storms. Using old photographs, trees were laid out along the carriage trail that once encircled the area. Just as it took years for the majestic trees that are gone to grow, so it will for the new ones. As Judy Bowles, executive director of Keep Albany-Dougherty Beautiful, said, “We’re doing this for future generations.” The four major sponsors that made this massive re-planting possible are Phoebe Putney Health System, Mission: Change, the Darsey Foundation and Synovus-SB&T.

Just two days before the 35th anniversary of the first show held at the Albany James H. Gray Civic Center, the Albany City Commission finally made a move that may well restore life to the facility. The building, while far from new, is still a great venue for shows, parties, conferences, sports and other events. Management services are being turned over to a private company, Spectra by Comcast Spectacor. The details of the agreement with Spectra will hopefully be ready for a final vote by the commission on Feb.27. There’s no reason not to have a unanimous vote by the commissioners for the transition.