I wish when daylight-savings time started each year, we also would get three or four extra hours in each day, giving us 28-hour days instead of 24-hour days. I always feel like there aren't enough hours in the day to get all the things done that I need to do. I know many of you feel that way. Particularly at this time of the year, I really wish for those extra hours. It begins to get very, very busy.
The Great American Cleanup, the national cleanup program sponsored by Keep America Beautiful, runs from March 1-May 31. Locally, we have already hosted several Arbor Day events in conjunction with Georgia's State Arbor Day as well as our recent Recycle It! Fair, which collected approximately two tons of household hazardous waste items. We also have collected half a ton of telephone books for recycling. But there is much more to come.
Here is a brief overview of some of the main upcoming events for Keep Liberty Beautiful. These events can only be successful with your support and participation.
• The Great American Cleanup. Our local theme for cleanup events this year is a sports theme. A number of local "teams" are seeking teammates for cleanup "game" days. Last year, we had fun at cleanups and we think this year's teams will too. We have a number of "coaches" scouting players - such as businesses, agencies, organizations and civic groups - right now. So, if you get a recruitment call from Kris "The Cleaner" Samuel, Brandi "The Barbarian" Helton, Toby "The Terror" Mayhan, "Kickin Kim" Sachau, "Wild Will" Carter, or "Rabid Robert" Stokes - just to name a few - say yes to joining a team. These coaches really mean business. They aim to beat litter to a pulp in our community. If you haven't gotten a call yet, call my office and we'll get you assigned to the team of your choice.
Here is the cleanup game schedule:
• March 28, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Neighborhoods and communities day.
Now is the time to get your neighborhood or rural community planning a cleanup or beautification project for this day. Local communities that are registered will receive cleanup supplies and on-loan litter reachers, work gloves and safety vests as well as GAC T-shirts.
• April 4, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Small towns, big cleanups day.
Our local towns, like Riceboro, Midway, Flemington, Gum Branch and Walthourville, already know that they have a lot going on. Many of these municipalities had their largest cleanups ever last year, so they really need their local citizens, businesses and churches to come out this year and make these cleanups even better.
• March 30-April 10: Campus cleanup conference.
All local schools and colleges are encouraged to hold a campus cleanup or roadside cleanup project during this period.
• April 25, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Hinesville Highway 84 and more day.
Last year, we had more than 200 volunteers clean up Highway 84 and downtown Hinesville on this day. We hope for an even larger crowd this year - with your help, it'll happen.
We also have a number of awareness activities coming up, including:
• March 12-13: Water, water everywhere programs, presented by Jack Golden, a national environmental educator. He will have programs in four of our local elementary schools.
• March 15-May15: Recycle 4 Liberty recycling competition in our schools. Help our participating schools collect plastic bottles, bottle tops and aluminum cans during a fun competition this year.
• April 9: Read Across Liberty Day is "going green" this spring. The community reading program that provides readers and books for school children in a number of schools twice a year will use environmental message books for classroom reading. Local sponsors for this program - Prevent Child Abuse Liberty, Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club and Target - will also distribute more than 3,500 books with ecologically positive themes to children.
• April 1-20: The River of Words display will make its way around our community. River of Words is a traveling display of artwork, poetry and essays crafted by children around Georgia. The display's components focus on conserving and protecting our waters. It is provided by the Department of Natural Resources.
• April 22, 3-5:30 p.m.: Earth Day in the Park is our annual celebration of the earth and all things "green." Join us for a free family event with more than 60 exhibits, crafts and games, including a sidewalk chalk art contest that highlights ecologically important issues. Food, fun and prizes make this a day you won't want to miss.
These are all events that can make a difference in our community. Join us for some good, old-fashioned work and fun to make our county the best it can be. For more information or to volunteer, call 368 4888 or e-mail klcb@libertycountyga.com.
The Great American Cleanup, the national cleanup program sponsored by Keep America Beautiful, runs from March 1-May 31. Locally, we have already hosted several Arbor Day events in conjunction with Georgia's State Arbor Day as well as our recent Recycle It! Fair, which collected approximately two tons of household hazardous waste items. We also have collected half a ton of telephone books for recycling. But there is much more to come.
Here is a brief overview of some of the main upcoming events for Keep Liberty Beautiful. These events can only be successful with your support and participation.
• The Great American Cleanup. Our local theme for cleanup events this year is a sports theme. A number of local "teams" are seeking teammates for cleanup "game" days. Last year, we had fun at cleanups and we think this year's teams will too. We have a number of "coaches" scouting players - such as businesses, agencies, organizations and civic groups - right now. So, if you get a recruitment call from Kris "The Cleaner" Samuel, Brandi "The Barbarian" Helton, Toby "The Terror" Mayhan, "Kickin Kim" Sachau, "Wild Will" Carter, or "Rabid Robert" Stokes - just to name a few - say yes to joining a team. These coaches really mean business. They aim to beat litter to a pulp in our community. If you haven't gotten a call yet, call my office and we'll get you assigned to the team of your choice.
Here is the cleanup game schedule:
• March 28, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Neighborhoods and communities day.
Now is the time to get your neighborhood or rural community planning a cleanup or beautification project for this day. Local communities that are registered will receive cleanup supplies and on-loan litter reachers, work gloves and safety vests as well as GAC T-shirts.
• April 4, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Small towns, big cleanups day.
Our local towns, like Riceboro, Midway, Flemington, Gum Branch and Walthourville, already know that they have a lot going on. Many of these municipalities had their largest cleanups ever last year, so they really need their local citizens, businesses and churches to come out this year and make these cleanups even better.
• March 30-April 10: Campus cleanup conference.
All local schools and colleges are encouraged to hold a campus cleanup or roadside cleanup project during this period.
• April 25, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Hinesville Highway 84 and more day.
Last year, we had more than 200 volunteers clean up Highway 84 and downtown Hinesville on this day. We hope for an even larger crowd this year - with your help, it'll happen.
We also have a number of awareness activities coming up, including:
• March 12-13: Water, water everywhere programs, presented by Jack Golden, a national environmental educator. He will have programs in four of our local elementary schools.
• March 15-May15: Recycle 4 Liberty recycling competition in our schools. Help our participating schools collect plastic bottles, bottle tops and aluminum cans during a fun competition this year.
• April 9: Read Across Liberty Day is "going green" this spring. The community reading program that provides readers and books for school children in a number of schools twice a year will use environmental message books for classroom reading. Local sponsors for this program - Prevent Child Abuse Liberty, Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club and Target - will also distribute more than 3,500 books with ecologically positive themes to children.
• April 1-20: The River of Words display will make its way around our community. River of Words is a traveling display of artwork, poetry and essays crafted by children around Georgia. The display's components focus on conserving and protecting our waters. It is provided by the Department of Natural Resources.
• April 22, 3-5:30 p.m.: Earth Day in the Park is our annual celebration of the earth and all things "green." Join us for a free family event with more than 60 exhibits, crafts and games, including a sidewalk chalk art contest that highlights ecologically important issues. Food, fun and prizes make this a day you won't want to miss.
These are all events that can make a difference in our community. Join us for some good, old-fashioned work and fun to make our county the best it can be. For more information or to volunteer, call 368 4888 or e-mail klcb@libertycountyga.com.
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.
Swida is the executive director of Keep Liberty County Beautiful. For more information, contact her at 368-4888 or klcb@libertycountyga.com.