Thumbs Up! June 26, 2017

Albany Recreation and Parks Department has an employee that, while admired by many, deserves recognition from the entire community. Tee Taylor has a love for senior citizens and limitless energy for having fun. Taylor’s enthusiasm is highly contagious and spills over to all who have the pleasure of working with her. Traditionally, February brings the Valentines Breakfast and Bingo event for senior citizens, which is always a grand success. When the January storms nixed this year’s Valentines Day party, Taylor got busy replacing it with a Senior Citizen Easter Egg Hunt. Earlier this month, the annual Senior Prom, also organized by Taylor, was sold out in advance. While these events have several regular sponsors, including J.L. Litman and Coroner Michael Fowler, the responsibility for success belongs to Taylor, and a better person for the job is not to be found.

The United Way of Southwest Georgia, under the leadership of LaKisha Bryant Bruce, has been the conduit for more than $200,000 in storm relief donations. Funds have come in small amounts, large amounts, from individuals, from corporations and even from other countries. Every dollar earmarked for recovery will be used for no other purpose. Most recently, a $10,000 donation was presented to Tom Gieryic’s Albany “Chain Gang.” Gieryic and his “gang” are concentrating on the Radium Springs/Holly Drive area, where much work is still to be done. Equipment needed has surpassed the chainsaw and moved to much more expensive front-end loaders and skid steers. If you haven’t been in the area mentioned, take a ride and it just might loosen your grip on the checkbook. Donors to United Way can rest easy knowing where and for what purpose their gifts are being used.

Much has been accomplished and many improvements and expansions to programs have taken place at Liberty House since 2003. It was that year that Silke Deeley took the executive director’s position at the agency. Armed with the belief that, given the chance, domestic violence victims are capable of feeling and functioning as valuable parts of society, with that premise at the forefront, Deeley has been instrumental in expanding staff, shelters, programming and services. It is time, however, for Deeley to move into retirement and join her husband, already retired, in Nevada. Here’s wishing much happiness in your retirement years.

“Bainbridge Rocks” is a new trend in that South Georgia city. The fad came from Tallahassee and has won great popularity in Decatur County. Fun, simple, inexpensive and appropriate for all ages, the fun requires acrylic paint, brush(es) and, of, course, small rocks. Groups from neighborhoods, kids’ camps, assisted living facilities, church groups and any other possible combination of people get together and paint a rock or two or three. The rocks are then hidden around the community. There is no cash/prize or possibility of a reality show involved. The joy comes in the simplest form … painting, hiding and finding. Some keep the rocks they find, others re-hide them. Among the rocks found in Bainbridge are ones with inspirational messages, funny sayings, simple drawings and those that are quite artistic. It is good news indeed to know that people of all ages can participate in a project together, no technology required.