Thumbs Up! April 6, 2015

In 2007, Lee Don and her husband, Dale, moved to Albany from Atlanta to be closer to family. She, a former high school teacher, soon learned of the low reading scores of Dougherty County’s first and second grade students. Previously involved with the Whiz Kids program back in the big city, the Dons approached their church about providing space (and volunteers) for such a program at Covenant Presbyterian here in Albany. At an April celebration in 2009, it was announced that 11 of the 33 children in Covenant’s Whiz Kids program had made the honor roll for the first time all year. One-on-0ne mentoring is the key to success as the same volunteers commit to once a week tutoring and/or mentoring to struggling elementary school students. Of her work with the students, Don once said, “I’ve never worked so hard, been paid so little and been blessed so much.” Local civic groups have jumped aboard with donations for supplies as well as providing volunteers. No longer a one church program, Whiz Kids has expanded to include nine congregations and there’s always room for more.

Kaley Hart first made local news by spearheading a selfie photo challenge last summer to raise funds for local charities and nonprofits. Next, she is hosting a Make a Bag Party on April 18 at 4 p.m. at Christ United Methodist Church, 505 Byron Plantation Road. Just what this involves is packing pre-ordered items in duffle bags for foster children. Many times children are removed from their homes with little to no time to pack. Just as often, given time, there is in fact little for them to pack. The bags will give the children something new, something that belongs solely to them and, hopefully, make the transition to a new home a bit easier. Sponsors for bags and volunteers to assemble them are needed. The cost is $30, which includes the bag and items such as a blanket, stuffed animal, hygiene items and coloring books with crayons. Hart has a heart for helping others, but she can only do so much by herself. Drop her an email at kaley.hart@bushanimal. com and let her tell you more about this project.

Interim City Manager Tom Berry has a plan to fix a very big problem in Albany. Utility bills for renters are, in too many cases, outrageous. The bills are based on usage and the condition of many rental properties is simply not good. Insulation, duct work, windows, doors, and umpteen other routes of air escape make heaters and air conditioners run way longer than a person can afford to pay for and still the homes are not all that comfortable. Landlords, many who would never wish to live in their own rental homes, are not required to meet any sort of energy efficiency standards and have no plans to improve the property. This is where Berry hopes to become a burr in some backsides. He believes there should be at least a minimum energy code ion place and is moving as rapidly as possible to make that a reality. The Albany Utility Board offers free energy audits and offers suggestions for energy efficiency. The property belongs to the landlord, not the tenant, and so should be maintained by the landlord. When the renter moves out, the improved property stays put. Thumbs up, Berry, for meeting this challenge head-on.

One hundred marching band applications for the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif., on New Year’s Day 2016 were submitted. Thirteen were chosen. Among the baker’s dozen is the Albany State Marching Band. The Ram Band is the only one from Georgia that you will see at the parade. How big is this for the student musicians? It’s big, really big — but not only for the band members. This appearance will give Albany State — and Albany — national exposure in front of millions of national TV viewers. The band performed last week for Mike Matthiessens and his wife, and this time in person. Matthiessens, president of next year’s Tournament of Roses Parade, spent time in Atlanta and then Albany checking out the band in person. An opportunity for band director Michael Decuir and about 115 students to have a once-in-a -lifetime experience is so close. It costs money to make that dream come true, to the tune of about $450,000. Be a part of this gigantic fund-raising effort and sit back and watch those Rams march across the screen next January and know you had a part in getting them there.