Thumbs Up! Nov. 27, 2017

Tomorrow evening, the first of two active-shooter training classes, organized by Albany-Dougherty Drug Unit Commander Maj. Prurince Dice, will be held. Knowing what to do, as well as what not to do, in a crisis situation saves lives. When a deranged firearms-carrying person, bent on killing people, shows up at a mall, a church, a school, a sporting event or wherever, that is not the time to try and figure the best thing to do. Simply put, active-shooter training helps prepare professionals and lay people for action. New Birth Fellowship Church at 2106 Radium Springs Road will host the first training tomorrow starting at 6 p.m. A second training will be held Wednesday evening at Union Holiness Church, located at 901 Aaron Snipes Sr. Drive in Americus. The time of saying it can’t happen at my school or church is in the past. Call (229) 430-5150 for more information.

Institutionalization of people with mental disabilities and behavioral health issues remains a part of treatment for many patients. While the practice of locking up those with treatable health issues and any variety of peculiar behaviors has long since ceased, state hospitals do still exist. Unfortunately, whatever the cause for admission often keeps the patient away from his or her family. As time passes, visits often become less frequent and sometimes stop altogether. It is for that population that the Mayors’ Christmas Motorcade was started 58 years ago. The tradition lives on, bringing what is for many patients their only Christmas gifts. Collection boxes are at the Utility Administration Complex at 401 Pine Ave., the mayor’s office at 222 Pine Ave. and at the Recreation and Parks Department office at Tift Park. Some suggested gifts are personal hygiene items, puzzles, cards, clothing, drawing pads or composition books, snack food and movies on DVD, rated G or PG. The deadline to drop off gifts is Dec. 6.

Turkey is the long-time traditional meat served at Thanksgiving. For families struggling from day to day for the next meal, that particular food item was not going to be on the day’s menu. However, there are more people willing to help than one might imagine. Southeastern Grocers, the parent company of Harveys, volunteers from Girls Inc., Albany City Commissioner B.J. Fletcher and businessman Tom Gieryic helped distribute 200 turkeys in Albany prior to the Thanksgiving holiday. Harvey’s partnered with Girls Inc., Strive2Thrive, the Salvation Army, Open Arms, Liberty House, Albany ARC and the Albany Storm Recovery group to find families and deliver the Thanksgiving birds. Add to that 200 another 2,200 turkeys and the sum is the total number of donations made by Southeastern Grocers for Thanksgiving.

Today is the day that Mayor Dorothy Hubbard will make the proclamation recognizing the city’s official 2017 Easter Seals Christmas ornament. The ornaments, the first of which was issued in 1992, are very popular. Each features a design that is unique to the Albany area. This year’s ornament features the Albany High School Indian mascot. AHS alumni expressed hurt and anger when the closure of their school was announced. While this Christmas tree ornament will not bring back the Indians, it is a way to recognize the importance of the school and those who attended classes through the years. Thank you, Easter Seals Southern Georgia.