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Gather your recyclables and join in
Keep Liberty Beautiful
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Next Saturday, Feb, 20, is the big day — it’s KLCB’s quarterly Recycle It! Fair. We will accept electronics and other household items that can wreak havoc on the environment when they reach landfills.
Each quarter, we try to offer area residents an opportunity to turn these items in for reuse or recycling to conserve natural resources. The fair is from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the old hospital site on Highway 84 in Hinesville. Locally, we have 12 recycling drop-off centers that accept items such as newspapers, magazines, PET plastics, tin cans, aluminum cans, cardboard and glass bottles.
However, there are other items in our households that should be recycled, many of which can be problematic for the environment if they are thrown away or dumped in the garbage.
Here is what we will collect Saturday:
• E-waste, which is a fancy, technological name for all things electronic, including computers, printers, monitors, computer accessories, stereo equipment, televisions, cell phones and accessories. Because technology changes rapidly, these items become obsolete quickly. Take the time to round these up and bring them in. All hard drives will be wiped clean for your security by our local Goodwill Industries.
• Household paint in cans that are sealed and are not rusted. If your cans are not in good condition, add cat litter or sand to the paint, let it completely dry up and dispose of it in your garbage.
• CFLs and fluorescent light bulbs and fixtures. Are you concerned about the mercury levels in the new and popular compact fluorescent lights? Then check out the Energy Star Web site, www.energystar.gov.
• Used motor oil, antifreeze and car batteries. Coastal Auto and Recycling will help us properly dispose of these items. When it comes to motor oil and antifreeze, always turn them in for recycling. Never pour these liquids down regular or storm drains or just dump them. Oil and antifreeze cause severe water pollution. When storing auto fluids you  plan to turn in for recycling, it is essential to put them in clean, dry containers so the fluid is not contaminated.
• Household batteries
• Printer ink and toner cartridges
• Telephone books and large sale catalogs
• Hardback books, paperbacks and textbooks
• Household goods and clothes
In honor of Georgia Arbor Day on Feb. 19, we will give out young trees — while supplies last — to anyone who is interested in planting them. Call now if you would like us to reserve a tree for you to pick up. We’re encouraging everyone to plant trees in Liberty County.
We also have some Keep Liberty County Beautiful reusable shopping bags, which also can be used as recycle bags. When space is tight in your kitchen or when you have a small house, try using these sturdy canvas bags to hold recyclables instead of bulky recycling bins. Bags can be stored on hooks on the wall or kept out of the way in cabinets.
Flat Tommy, a cardboard “celebrity” who is part of a statewide recycling awareness campaign, will join us at the Recycle It! Fair. He will be available for photo opportunities and the pictures will be added to our program’s Facebook page. They may even end up on the statewide campaign site www.yougottabekidding.org. If you have not checked out this site, you really need to. It is fun and informative
Recycling is one of the easiest ways to help eliminate some of the environmental problems that plague the world. There are too many of us living on Earth and we generate a lot of trash — especially in the United States. By recycling, we can reduce the amount of waste in landfills and conserve our natural resources.

More upcoming KLCB events that need your help or participation:
• Through Feb. 19: Community tree plantings in partnership with the Georgia Forestry Commission. We are offering a limited number of trees for planting around our community. Schools, churches, businesses and civic and youth groups interested in planting trees to celebrate Arbor Day can call 880-4888 to reserve trees.
• Feb. 19: Annual Arbor Day ceremony at 11 a.m., sponsored by the Morning Glory Garden Club at Main Street Park in Hinesville.
• Through Feb. 20: Phonebook and catalog recycling. Turn in out-of-date phonebooks and business catalogs for recycling at area drop-off sites throughout the county:
• Liberty County courthouse annex lobby, Hinesville
• City hall lobby, Hinesville
• City hall lobby, Midway
• City hall lobby, Riceboro
• City hall porch, Walthourville
• City hall lobby, Flemington
• YMCA
• Feb. 20: Live oaking demonstration at Melon Bluff Nature Preserve.

For more information on Keep Liberty County Beautiful programs, contact Swida at 880-4888 or klcb@coastalnow.net.
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Visit with children a real eye-opener
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One of my favorite activities as a state senator is when I get to speak to students at our local schools. This year, I spoke to third-grade students at May Howard Elementary and Marshpoint Elementary in Chatham County and Button Gwinnett Elementary in Liberty County.
The students from each of the schools had been studying civics and were familiar with the three branches of government — executive, judicial and legislative. I explained my role as a senator in the legislative process and told the children how the citizen legislature in the state of Georgia works.
Presenting each of the schools with a Georgia state flag, I explained the three principles for which the state flag stands — wisdom, justice and moderation — and had them recite the pledge to the flag with me. 
The students at all three schools were bright, respectful and well-disciplined — a tribute to their families and especially to their teachers, who had prepared the students for my visit with ideas for great questions.
The students in Ms. Hutchinson’s class at Marshpoint Elementary were impressive in singing the preamble to the Constitution during my visit. What a great way to learn such an important part of our nation’s history — another wonderful example of the great job our teachers are doing.
I was delighted last week to receive thank-you letters from some of the students. Here are excerpts from a few of their letters:
 
Dear Mr. Carter,
Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to come speak to us. I learned so much! I learned that there are two kinds of Pledge of Allegiances. That is pretty cool.
Do you travel all over the world do you? I really like that you taught me more about the three branches of government.
— Megan
 
Dear Sen. Carter,
Thank you for telling us about your job and your favorite thing about your job. I liked the Georgia state flag. I still have more questions. Do you have to work on Saturday and Sunday? Are you the only one who makes the laws?
Yours truly,
Ryleigh 


Dear Sen. Buddy Carter,
Thank you for coming and letting us have a little bit of your time. I want you to know that I learned something new. The Georgia pledge! Justice, wisdom and modesty! Thanks again!
— Liam
 
Dear Sen. Buddy Carter,
Thank you for coming and helping us learn more about the government and some of your job. Thank you for giving us a Georgia flag. It was fun when you came. Thank you for giving us some questions so we could answer them.
P.S. Did you ride in a limousine? I was going to ask you a question but then I forgot. But now I remember. How many rooms are there where you work? You can send me a note if you can.
Your friend,
Erin
 
I’m uncertain whether the students learned as much from me during my visit as I learned from them. One thing that I was reminded of was the honesty that comes from the innocence of childhood. I wasn’t quite sure how to interpret some of the questions, such as the one asked in this letter:
 
Dear Sen. Carter,
I loved your speech. Thanks for coming to our school. I think my favorite part was when we held the flag. It was so fun! I have a question: How many people voted for you?
Sincerely,
Shelly
 
I also was more than a little concerned about a recurring question in the thank-you notes that was posed to me during one of my visits by a beautiful, brown-eyed girl who, with a very serious look on her face, asked “Did you ever get re-elected be-fore?”


What a great group of young people! My faith and hope in our future has been reassured. What an amazing job our families and teachers are doing on a daily basis to support and encourage our next generation. Thank you for your dedication to teaching our leaders of tomor-row.

Sen. Buddy Carter can be reached at Coverdell Legislative Office Building (C.L.O.B.) Room 301-A, Atlanta, GA, 30334. His Capitol office number is 404-656-5109

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