Art festival: This is a little far in advance, but vendors need to apply now for an art festival at the Midway Gallery on Martin Road in Midway on April 26, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Vendor spots are $50 and lunch and drinks will be provided to vendors. So if you are a "beader," an artist, a craftsman, sign up now at the gallery. Call 884-3726.
New pavilion: I read in a recent Courier that the city of Hinesville is seeking bids to construct a pavilion at the Irene B. Thomas Park. I rode out there to see where this park is. Why would the city want to build a pavilion on a manmade pond that has "no fishing" signs posted?
Rescuing wild plants: All of you who read my column regularly know I have talked about this subject before and will continue to do so. I couldn't help but notice in a recent Janisse Ray story, that she advised people not to dig up wild plants. If I had not gotten permission to rescue plants from the new development off Limerick Road, all the mound lily yuccas, spring lilies and the two amorpha fruticosas that I rescued would be in a landfill right now. All the native plants that grow under utility lines should be rescued. I found native butterfly bushes on Belfast Siding Road last year and took a friend with me so she could rescue some. I also rescued a buttonbush off Highway 17, as well as a Culver's root.
Tax rebate: AARP representatives were present when my mom and I arrived on Tuesday at 5 till 9 a.m. The advertised times were 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. I was shocked to find 29 people ahead of us when we arrived. I asked the lady at the door, taking names on a clipboard, why so many people were ahead of us and she explained that some were "leftovers" from last Tuesday. But 13 people were on a sign up list today. Three volunteers were already seeing people at 8:55 a.m. Upon talking to people waiting, I found that some arrived at 7:30 a.m. and some at 8 a.m. and were allowed to sign a "waiting" list that far in advance. This was supposed to be solely for seniors signing up for the tax rebate from President Bush, but I watched as others got their entire tax forms done for free as we waited and ultimately were told to "come back next Tuesday, as there would not be enough time to help us." One woman with a young girl, perhaps her daughter, took up almost two hours with one of the volunteers. The woman was not a senior. The rest of us now will have to make another trip to Hinesville to hopefully apply for a mere $300. My mom and I returned this past Tuesday and surprisingly we were the first there at 8 a.m. We waited for the building to be opened and then were told we'd have to wait until 9 a.m. to be allowed into the tax room. Believe it or not, my mom and I were the first to be called. So I guess the squeaky wheel does get the grease.
Recalls: If you have a computer, you need to go to U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, then click on "recalls." In January 2008, there were 38 products recalled. In February, there were 27 more. In March, there were 38 more. Ones that stood out were 5,400 John Deere compact utility tractors recalled because the forward drive pedal can get stuck, posing a risk of loss of control. There were 40,000 Model 2007 model Honda TRX 500 ATVs recalled because of the throttle; 1,350 2006-2008 MXU 500 ATVs recalled because of faulty pivot bolts in the rear suspension; 30,000 remote-controlled helicopter toys recalled because the rechargeable battery can catch fire during charging; 2,100 GE gas clothes dryers recalled because of a short circuit in the dryer's wiring poses a shock hazard; 482,000 Hamilton Beach and Proctor-Silex toasters are being recalled; 200 Kawasaki KLX 140 off-road motorcycles being recalled because of missing frame welds; 11,300 select Outlaw IRS ATVs 2006-2008 are being recalled because of faulty retention bolts. It would seem to me, that all of you people riding these ATVs need to check the safety of them before you get out on the road (illegally) and put the pedal to the metal.
Is it a done deal? No one listened to the public when there was an outcry about the old hospital site being used for the new courthouse. No one's listening now to the outcry about purchasing a piece of property at Cattle Hammock, over 200 feet from water, to build a boat hoist or marina. Our commissioners met behind closed doors on Tuesday to decide "our fate." None of us had a voice in this, but man oh man how they spend our tax monies. Ask your commissioner if he or she voted for this waste of taxpayer's money. Do our commissioners realize how many people in Liberty County do not have boats? I wonder how Half Moon is going to feel about being in competition with the county?
St. Catherines beach sweep: My friends, Wally and Kimberly Rouse of Twin Rivers picked me up just before 8 a.m. last Saturday and we headed to Sunbury dock. As we unloaded our gear the gnats were gnawing. We jumped back in the truck and waited for our boat captain, Danny Atkins. He arrived soon and we put our gear in his Sea Cat. We had two more volunteers on the list and they arrived right at 8:30 a.m. Margit Velasco from Germany and Kristien Doom from Belgium loaded their gear onto the boat and at 8:41 a.m. we launched. We arrived at the island at 9:02 a.m. The rest of the boats launched from Half Moon and arrived an hour later. Everyone pitched in to unload food and gear. The five of us had already been picking up litter for an hour. The morning started off chilly, but gradually warmed up. The gnats never left and were joined later by biting flies. Thanks to our boat captain for volunteering his boat, gas and time and for the tour of his wonderful home, with all his nautical things, seashells, etc. a typical river rat's abode. And a big thank you to Sara Swida for her great leadership in making the day a success. It took two boats to carry all the trash, tires, metal, and glass back to the mainland.
New pavilion: I read in a recent Courier that the city of Hinesville is seeking bids to construct a pavilion at the Irene B. Thomas Park. I rode out there to see where this park is. Why would the city want to build a pavilion on a manmade pond that has "no fishing" signs posted?
Rescuing wild plants: All of you who read my column regularly know I have talked about this subject before and will continue to do so. I couldn't help but notice in a recent Janisse Ray story, that she advised people not to dig up wild plants. If I had not gotten permission to rescue plants from the new development off Limerick Road, all the mound lily yuccas, spring lilies and the two amorpha fruticosas that I rescued would be in a landfill right now. All the native plants that grow under utility lines should be rescued. I found native butterfly bushes on Belfast Siding Road last year and took a friend with me so she could rescue some. I also rescued a buttonbush off Highway 17, as well as a Culver's root.
Tax rebate: AARP representatives were present when my mom and I arrived on Tuesday at 5 till 9 a.m. The advertised times were 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. I was shocked to find 29 people ahead of us when we arrived. I asked the lady at the door, taking names on a clipboard, why so many people were ahead of us and she explained that some were "leftovers" from last Tuesday. But 13 people were on a sign up list today. Three volunteers were already seeing people at 8:55 a.m. Upon talking to people waiting, I found that some arrived at 7:30 a.m. and some at 8 a.m. and were allowed to sign a "waiting" list that far in advance. This was supposed to be solely for seniors signing up for the tax rebate from President Bush, but I watched as others got their entire tax forms done for free as we waited and ultimately were told to "come back next Tuesday, as there would not be enough time to help us." One woman with a young girl, perhaps her daughter, took up almost two hours with one of the volunteers. The woman was not a senior. The rest of us now will have to make another trip to Hinesville to hopefully apply for a mere $300. My mom and I returned this past Tuesday and surprisingly we were the first there at 8 a.m. We waited for the building to be opened and then were told we'd have to wait until 9 a.m. to be allowed into the tax room. Believe it or not, my mom and I were the first to be called. So I guess the squeaky wheel does get the grease.
Recalls: If you have a computer, you need to go to U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, then click on "recalls." In January 2008, there were 38 products recalled. In February, there were 27 more. In March, there were 38 more. Ones that stood out were 5,400 John Deere compact utility tractors recalled because the forward drive pedal can get stuck, posing a risk of loss of control. There were 40,000 Model 2007 model Honda TRX 500 ATVs recalled because of the throttle; 1,350 2006-2008 MXU 500 ATVs recalled because of faulty pivot bolts in the rear suspension; 30,000 remote-controlled helicopter toys recalled because the rechargeable battery can catch fire during charging; 2,100 GE gas clothes dryers recalled because of a short circuit in the dryer's wiring poses a shock hazard; 482,000 Hamilton Beach and Proctor-Silex toasters are being recalled; 200 Kawasaki KLX 140 off-road motorcycles being recalled because of missing frame welds; 11,300 select Outlaw IRS ATVs 2006-2008 are being recalled because of faulty retention bolts. It would seem to me, that all of you people riding these ATVs need to check the safety of them before you get out on the road (illegally) and put the pedal to the metal.
Is it a done deal? No one listened to the public when there was an outcry about the old hospital site being used for the new courthouse. No one's listening now to the outcry about purchasing a piece of property at Cattle Hammock, over 200 feet from water, to build a boat hoist or marina. Our commissioners met behind closed doors on Tuesday to decide "our fate." None of us had a voice in this, but man oh man how they spend our tax monies. Ask your commissioner if he or she voted for this waste of taxpayer's money. Do our commissioners realize how many people in Liberty County do not have boats? I wonder how Half Moon is going to feel about being in competition with the county?
St. Catherines beach sweep: My friends, Wally and Kimberly Rouse of Twin Rivers picked me up just before 8 a.m. last Saturday and we headed to Sunbury dock. As we unloaded our gear the gnats were gnawing. We jumped back in the truck and waited for our boat captain, Danny Atkins. He arrived soon and we put our gear in his Sea Cat. We had two more volunteers on the list and they arrived right at 8:30 a.m. Margit Velasco from Germany and Kristien Doom from Belgium loaded their gear onto the boat and at 8:41 a.m. we launched. We arrived at the island at 9:02 a.m. The rest of the boats launched from Half Moon and arrived an hour later. Everyone pitched in to unload food and gear. The five of us had already been picking up litter for an hour. The morning started off chilly, but gradually warmed up. The gnats never left and were joined later by biting flies. Thanks to our boat captain for volunteering his boat, gas and time and for the tour of his wonderful home, with all his nautical things, seashells, etc. a typical river rat's abode. And a big thank you to Sara Swida for her great leadership in making the day a success. It took two boats to carry all the trash, tires, metal, and glass back to the mainland.