By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
It's time for Win-dex nominations
Keep Liberty Beautiful
Placeholder Image
It is time again for nominations for the quarterly Win-dex Business Recognition Awards. The third quarter nominations will be accepted through Sept. 30. This quarterly awards program is our way of recognizing those attractive businesses in our community.
These businesses are run by people who have figured out that looking good makes a statement about the kind of business that they are. It is good business to be an attractive property. It brings in more customers. It also helps to create a positive work environment for those who are employed there. And attractive — and successful —  businesses attract more new businesses to our community because they make our whole community look good.
More businesses and more successful businesses mean more good jobs and a healthier economy for our community. So we finally know that ‘looking good’ is not just a fluff issue — at least for the business community.
The Liberty County Chamber of Commerce sponsors the Win-dex Awards recognition program with Keep Liberty Beautiful to recognize businesses in our county who make that extra effort to keep their businesses attractive and inviting. We need your help in giving these local businesses the recognition each quarter that they deserve. Each quarter we select two winners — a large business and a small business. So do not think that a small ‘mom and pop’ operation won’t have a chance. Every business can keep their exterior or storefront neat and their landscape attractive--no matter what the size or budget of the company.
Our first quarter winners were Harbor Bay Car Wash in Midway and the Liberty County Board of Education Central Office in Hinesville. For the second quarter, there was a tie,  resulting in three winners: Coastal Electric Cooperative, Stacy’s Florist in Flemington and the Kentucky Fried Chicken on Hwy 84.
All of these properties are really attractive and well-maintained. These were excellent choices for these awards. The 20 other nominees were fantastic as well, so if you have nominated a business that has not won yet, don’t give up. Nominate them again.
We call these awards the Win-dex Awards because we thought that we should recognize those businesses that are so clean, so attractive, so litter-free that they would have a ‘streak-free shine.’ There are plenty of them out there. Just take a look around you. Also, don’t hesitate if you want to nominate your own business or the business that employs you.
Nomination forms are available at my office at Environmental Health or at the local Liberty County Chamber of Commerce office (368-4445) on Oglethorpe Hwy. You can also email me at klcb@libertycountyga.com for a form as well.
The completed form can be mailed to P.O. Box 829, Hinesville, GA 31310 or faxed to 368-4777. And if you wish, you can e-mail your information directly by just including all of the information requested on the form. Remember that your reason for nominating a business is a crucial part of the judging of the awards, so make sure that you fully explain why this business is deserving of this recognition. Your vote counts. Send in your nomination by Sept. 30.
There are several exciting opportunities coming up this fall. Liberty County is home to this year’s Coastal Living/Cottage Living Holiday Idea House.  My husband would tell you that I am — I mean was — a holiday freak. I love — I mean loved — decorating for holidays. When our kids were growing up, we had Easter egg trees, the freakiest house on the block for Halloween and an elegant Christmas tree in a lighted lattice gazebo at Christmas. I have been in holiday decorating addiction  rehab since the kids grew up, but I still love to go to these idea houses … for ideas.
This house in Yellow Bluff is particularly exciting because it is full of environmentally-friendly ideas as well. Tours will begin in October and the proceeds will benefit our local United Way. That is another great reason to watch for details soon.
Two other fun events will happen on the same day, Oct. 25. That morning, we will clean up a number of waterways around the county as part of the Third Annual Rivers Alive. We need volunteers to help clean up around waterways, including rivers, creeks, and streams. Let’s do our part to keep our most precious resource — water — clean.
We will also host a Munchkin Scarecrow contest again at the annual Community Fall Festival on Oct. 25. Last year was lots of fun and lots of interesting ‘crow’ personalities came to life. This year, we are collecting kids’ clothes for pint-sized scarecrows.  If you have some clothes to donate for this fun fall recycling event, please contact my office at 368-4888 or klcb@libertycountyga.com.
And I cannot forget — we are still collecting crayons for the Guinness Book of World Records project: creating the world’s largest crayon out of recycled crayons.
Although we already have hundreds of pounds more than we need to beat the official record, we want a really, really big crayon! So search around your toy boxes and supply drawers and dig those used crayons out. Let’s make history. Let’s make Liberty County Home of the world’s largest crayon.

For more information on Keep Liberty County Beautiful programs, contact Swida at 368-4888 or klcb@libertycountyga.com.
Sign up for our e-newsletters