Recently, I went to get my car serviced in Savannah at the Saturn dealership on Abercorn. While I was waiting, I decided to walk across Highway 204 to the mall to do some shopping. That fits into my general philosophy to never let a store or mall go un-noticed. As I waited on the side of the road and at the median for cars to pass, I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of cigarette butts that had accumulated in the curb of the highway. Now, it has to be a lot of butts to overwhelm someone as jaded by litter as me. By the nature of my job, I have seen a tremendous amount of litter, but this was pretty spectacular. It’s always easier to tsk, tsk a dirty spot when it’s in someone else’s community, but the sad fact is, there are plenty of similar spots marred by litter that was either blown out or thrown out of vehicles right here in Liberty County.
So, if you have ever wondered whether there was actually a need for volunteer cleanups around our community, don’t worry. There is plenty of litter here waiting for some goodhearted souls to pick it up. Thankfully, we have a number of good souls like that here in Liberty County.
On communities and neighborhoods day, Saturday, March 28, we have several cleanups scheduled in neighborhoods such as Arlington Park, Garden Heights and Isle of Wight. For information on possible cleanups where you live, call your neighborhood watch coordinator or my office at 368-4888. If there is not a cleanup scheduled yet for your area, there is still time.
Keep Liberty Beautiful can provide cleanup supplies and loan out litter reachers, safety vests, and work gloves. We’ll also provide Great American Cleanup T-shirts for volunteers. This a great time of the year to get your community entryway spruced up for spring. Have a conflict with that date? That’s OK. We can schedule your cleanup for an alternate day. Pine Ridge neighborhood has scheduled theirs for April 4 at 10 am.
In two weeks, we have a cleanup day scheduled for many of the municipalities in our county, so mark your calendar for Saturday, April 4, at 8:30 a.m. if you live in Walthourville, Midway, Flemington, Gum Branch or and Riceboro. All of these communities are still recruiting individual volunteers as well as local businesses, churches and organizations to help make their cities shine. Please give us a call and join this effort. Most of the municipalties are using city hall as their meeting point to hand out supplies and delegate cleanup assignments, but call or e-mail my office if you would like specific information on the town where you live.
We are also kicking off a local recycling contest in many of our schools this week: Recycle 4 Liberty. This contest will take the place of the national competition, Return the Warmth, that our schools took part in the last three years. Unfortunately, Keep America Beautiful was unable to offer the national project this year, but that is OK, because we are going to keep the competition going locally.
Schools will be collecting PET 1 plastic bottles, bottle tops and aluminum cans this year. Start saving them to support your favorite schools. So far, these schools have joined the competition: Lewis Frasier Middle School, Midway Middle School, Liberty County High School, First Presbyterian Christian Academy, First Methodist Pre-K and Kindergarten. We are expecting a lot of friendly, competitive fun this year, but we also know that these kids do a world of good by recycling. Last year, they collected 6.4 tons of plastics in a couple of months. I know they will beat that goal this year — with your help!
More upcoming KLCB events that need your help or participation:
• Win-dex Awards nominations will be accepted through March 31 for this quarter’s most attractive businesses. Nominate your favorite attractive business today. Call KLCB at 368-4888 or the Chamber of Commerce at 876-4445 for a nomination form.
• Live Oak Photo Exhibit on display at Melon Bluff for spring hours through April 19: Noon-4 p.m. on Fridays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturdays and noon-4 p.m. on Sundays.
• March 15-May 15: Recycle 4 Liberty Contest in schools.
• March 30- April 10: School campus cleanup conference period.
• March 28, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Neighborhoods and communities day.
• April 4, 8:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.: Small towns, big cleanups day.
• April 9: Read Across Liberty Day.
• April 25, 8:30 a.m.-
12:30 p.m.: Hinesville, Highway 84 and more day.
• April 22, 3-5:30 p.m.: Earth Day in the park.
Swida is the executive director of Keep Liberty County Beautiful. For more information, contact her at 368-4888 or klcb@libertycountyga.com.
So, if you have ever wondered whether there was actually a need for volunteer cleanups around our community, don’t worry. There is plenty of litter here waiting for some goodhearted souls to pick it up. Thankfully, we have a number of good souls like that here in Liberty County.
On communities and neighborhoods day, Saturday, March 28, we have several cleanups scheduled in neighborhoods such as Arlington Park, Garden Heights and Isle of Wight. For information on possible cleanups where you live, call your neighborhood watch coordinator or my office at 368-4888. If there is not a cleanup scheduled yet for your area, there is still time.
Keep Liberty Beautiful can provide cleanup supplies and loan out litter reachers, safety vests, and work gloves. We’ll also provide Great American Cleanup T-shirts for volunteers. This a great time of the year to get your community entryway spruced up for spring. Have a conflict with that date? That’s OK. We can schedule your cleanup for an alternate day. Pine Ridge neighborhood has scheduled theirs for April 4 at 10 am.
In two weeks, we have a cleanup day scheduled for many of the municipalities in our county, so mark your calendar for Saturday, April 4, at 8:30 a.m. if you live in Walthourville, Midway, Flemington, Gum Branch or and Riceboro. All of these communities are still recruiting individual volunteers as well as local businesses, churches and organizations to help make their cities shine. Please give us a call and join this effort. Most of the municipalties are using city hall as their meeting point to hand out supplies and delegate cleanup assignments, but call or e-mail my office if you would like specific information on the town where you live.
We are also kicking off a local recycling contest in many of our schools this week: Recycle 4 Liberty. This contest will take the place of the national competition, Return the Warmth, that our schools took part in the last three years. Unfortunately, Keep America Beautiful was unable to offer the national project this year, but that is OK, because we are going to keep the competition going locally.
Schools will be collecting PET 1 plastic bottles, bottle tops and aluminum cans this year. Start saving them to support your favorite schools. So far, these schools have joined the competition: Lewis Frasier Middle School, Midway Middle School, Liberty County High School, First Presbyterian Christian Academy, First Methodist Pre-K and Kindergarten. We are expecting a lot of friendly, competitive fun this year, but we also know that these kids do a world of good by recycling. Last year, they collected 6.4 tons of plastics in a couple of months. I know they will beat that goal this year — with your help!
More upcoming KLCB events that need your help or participation:
• Win-dex Awards nominations will be accepted through March 31 for this quarter’s most attractive businesses. Nominate your favorite attractive business today. Call KLCB at 368-4888 or the Chamber of Commerce at 876-4445 for a nomination form.
• Live Oak Photo Exhibit on display at Melon Bluff for spring hours through April 19: Noon-4 p.m. on Fridays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturdays and noon-4 p.m. on Sundays.
• March 15-May 15: Recycle 4 Liberty Contest in schools.
• March 30- April 10: School campus cleanup conference period.
• March 28, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Neighborhoods and communities day.
• April 4, 8:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.: Small towns, big cleanups day.
• April 9: Read Across Liberty Day.
• April 25, 8:30 a.m.-
12:30 p.m.: Hinesville, Highway 84 and more day.
• April 22, 3-5:30 p.m.: Earth Day in the park.
Swida is the executive director of Keep Liberty County Beautiful. For more information, contact her at 368-4888 or klcb@libertycountyga.com.