Unity in the community fostered with skate night

ALBANY — Under the starry-night ceiling of the Stardust Skate Center, law enforcement officials and community members recently got together to continue fostering dialogue and relationships.

Julianna Matthews, of event sponsor Miracle Kia of Albany, said the event was a way for the company to help the community.

“As a dealership, we wanted to do something that was different from any other dealership in Albany and basically in support of our community,” she said. “We don’t want to be a business that’s just looking to always solicit customers.

“We wanted to show that we support our community and support the edification and building up of our city.”

Matthews added that when the dealership moved from East Oglethorpe Boulevard to Ledo Road, the skating rink being right next door seemed to be the perfect set-up to help carry out that goal.

“The skating rink is a staple in our community,” she said. “It’s been here since 1981; most of the community grew up coming to the skating rink. If they didn’t come to the skating rink, then they have kids that come to the skating rink.”

Matthews said with the amount of crime in the city, she thought a special skate night would be a great way to show her company’s and the community’s appreciation for what law enforcement does on a day-to-day basis.

Representatives from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the Lee County Police Department, the Albany Police Department and the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office took part in the event, as door prizes were given out and “Peace in our community” shirts were sold. Maj. Keith Houston of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said the officers certainly felt appreciated.

“Everybody was proud to see us. They’d come up and talk to us, thanking us for what we do and supporting us, and that was a great thing,” he said.

Houston said efforts such as the one that took place at Stardust are a great way to get the two communities together.

“It was real nice to be able to bring the community together,” he said. “It was very nice for people to come out and talk and just get familiar with everybody.”

Matthews said she believes the event was successful.

“Everyone that came left smiling; they had a great time with their families,” she said. “It was just a great way for the community to come together. Law enforcement was here, our kids were able to put a face with a name so they can feel comfortable coming to our law enforcement. It was just a small token to say we thank you, we appreciate you and, as a community, we stand behind you.”