a mitzvah for the oceans

No, I am not Jewish, but I am human and I believe in giving back to the sea.

That's why I participated in the Reverse Tashlich event sponsored by the Savannah Jewish Federation last Sunday.

Today, it occurred to me that I should commemorate that here, in my blog of good deeds, as well as on my beach.

The mitzvah we all performed that day was this: the removal of human trash from the dunes, the shore, and the water's edge.

Amazingly, there were over 120 of us that came and gathered more than 65 pounds of non-biodegradable bits of plastic, confetti, and other trash.

What an excellent way for entire families, including so many children, to show their appreciation of the life-giving force of our oceans! 

Good for us... even better for the Atlantic Ocean and all the other waters that it touches.

I am so glad I was there.

(smile!) 

food for all, please

Again, I am standing with the AARP Foundation to help end senior hunger.

 

All people, regardless of age, should have access to food.

 

In this first-world nation, it is appalling how many must still choose between sustenance for their bodies or medicines for their health.

 

I will continue to donate 4000 Reward Points toward this program every time I see this icon on the AARP website.

 

I am so blessed to qualify for Senior SNAP so I at least don't have to worry about my next meal, or the one after that.

 

i thank You, God.

i'm wishing...

That line is from a song in some Disney movie...

"I'm wishing

for the one I love

to find me

tonight"

Such sweet song!

Perfect as I have made another 4000-point donation toward the AARP Wish Of A Lifetime Foundation for someone to have their dream come to life.

Here's hoping the best for them!

c'mon congress, get the message!

Subject: Send a letter.

Tell Congress: Funding our national marine sanctuaries is essential!

Friend,

I wrote a letter for the Action Network letter campaign to tell Congress: Funding our national marine sanctuaries is essential!

Can you join me and write a letter? Click here.

 

Thank you!!!

help for the 4th grade!

I've received three emails from my great-nephew and one from his teacher.

White Bluff Elementary School needs help with classroom supplies.

Would I please help out?

Of course!

I decided to be extra generous, as Bert recently had his 9th birthday... which I missed.

My initial pledge to this charitable request was for two $30 gift cards for his class.

That's partly because they gave me a discount, charging just $50 for the two.

That gained him 2 points toward a gift that required 4 points.

That's fine, someone else could help out, right?

But, during the checkout process, the company offered another deal: one $20 gift card for the teacher, 2 points for Bert...

Sold!!!

Now his birthday gift is done, with no shopping required of me.

What a win, all the way around!!!

children + star castle = yes, please!

Ever since the unusual snowfall in January, the troupe has been homeless.

The weight of all that frozen water was the last straw for the aged roof.

Fortunately, they've been blessed with the use of many acting spaces to tide them through for the events already in the works... but they needed their own place.

Now, the Savannah Children's Theatre hopes to begin its 21st year in a midtown location that's right in keeping with them being all local.

Their sights are set for the Star Castle building on Mall Boulevard.

They have some patrons with deep pockets that are putting up a lot of the millions of bucks that will be needed for that title transfer, but there's a catch.

There's still half a million which must be crowdsourced by October 1st.

Given the thousands of children who have grown up in their plays, that's doable.

Given the thousands of parents who still have children to act on stage, that's doable.

Given the thousands of people who have delighted in watching, that's doable.

I'm one of those from the audience, coming forth to give what I can.

Twenty-five dollars is the gift I have given as a Nerdfighter to many Kiva strangers.

Twenty-five dollars is the gift I have given to SavChTh.

As of their update on fb, they've raised more than $136,000 toward their goal.

I do hope they are successful in their bid for the 'Castle!

How awesome would that be for the kids???

a horse of a different color!

Naturally, when someone starts talking of equine animals, my mind goes to "The Wizard Of Oz".

I can't help it - that movie has been part of my life for as long as I can remember.

 

That's partly what drew me to Nariman's loan at Kiva.

Horses.

Everyone else in Kazakhstan who had animals were interested in getting more cattle or more sheep.

Not him.

In his bio, he states that he "owns 174 registered horses — all documented with veterinary records and official tags".

Impressive!

This loan will help him improve his livestock facilities and develop milk processing.

Yes, that's right: this horse ranch is a dairy farm...

with products derived from mare's milk...

wow!

That's amazing!!!

I made sure to post on his loan page, to encourage others to become part of this change.

"I am fascinated by the originality of this dairy farmer! Not cows, not goats, not sheep - horses are the source! He even has an established clientele for his mare's milk products! That's why I chose this loan: to support innovation!" 

I then sent the above message to all the other Nerdfighters of Kiva to make sure they knew about this one. 

Why was I wanting to make sure others knew of Nariman?

Because of this: I was the very first person to lend to him.

That's never happened to me before.

I felt that I was meant to find this one loan amidst all of those clamoring from my attention from that country not yet in my portfolio.

Enough repayments from others I'd lent to had finally amassed to enough for a new loan, so I stipulated "countries I've not yet lent to" in the search.

Pages and pages of people with loans sprang forth!

I whittled down the list to three, including Nariman.

All had established farms, all ran them with their entire family.

But, this was the only one with horses...

this was the only one using mare's milk...

and that innovation struck a chord with me.

I do hope his loan is a success over the next 13 days.

I like the thought of, maybe, someday, trying mare's milk cheese.

still wishing with others

Yes, that's right, I used 4000 of my AARP Reward Points again to help others' dreams come true!

That was earlier today, before my volunteer shift at the 13th Savannah VOICE Festival.

It was right in keeping with the concert theme, too, come to think of it!

"Once Upon A Time"... yes, wishes and dreams and fairy tales can come true!

Just ask anyone at the Wish Of A Lifetime Foundation!

helping aarp with ending senior poverty

Yep, I did it again...

I took 4,000 points that I earned on aarp.org and I donated it back to the AARP Foundation.

No one should have to choose between food and medicine.

I choose to believe a made a difference for at least one person.

fish for all!

 

Kiva sent me an email this morning: I had money to lend again!

Best of all, there was enough in that account to even cover the lending fee, so Kiva wouldn't have to do so.

Perfect!

That meant I had a question to answer: who would I choose?

Well, as it turned out, that wasn't such a hard choice after all.

I knew I would be dining on seafood tonight, thanks to Smitty, my brother.

 

When I read that Marie of Sierra Leone was requesting a loan to purchase more fish to sell, I knew that was the right one for me!

Right place, right time.

That makes the twelfth open loan that I have on Kiva right now.

All of the other 145 loans I've made over the years have been repaid, so those are all regarded as closed.

The mother of four is still needed a few more backers to fund her loan.

I made sure to post a few words of support on her wall.

Hope that encourages others to help her.

(smile!) 

again... no drilling off Georgia coast!!!

How many times do we have to tell our elected officials in Washington, DC, and in Atlanta, GA, that drilling off this southern coast is a terrible idea?

If nothing else, the increased number of hurricanes that speed up that Atlantic Ocean side should give them pause about the horrific man-made disaster that would occur to complicate the natural disaster of ultra-high winds and storms... right?

So when One Hundred Miles asked me to respond, I did.

 

"Please spare Georgia's coast!!!
This is where right whales come to raise their young...
this is where loggerhead sea turtles come to lay their eggs...
this is where Americans from the Southeast 

come to have fun with their children.
Please... allow this coast to be free from oil and gas companies.
Thank you!" 

 

That should soon be posted at Regulations.gov, for all the world to see.

I'll be looking for it.

for my bday67 loan, i choose...

... this one!

The funds will go to support Nilcer Danelia, a mother of three, in Honduras.

Why her, out of the many with loans to be funded on Kiva?

That's the comment I left on her page.

A stationery shop - oh, the hours and hours I have spent in such places over my life, carefully selecting the perfect paper for missives to family and friends!

That is the message I sent out for my fellow Nerdfighters.

I do hope some of them will join me in this birthday quest! 

As I told them, I know of no other loans that have her mission.

Let's help make that dream a reality!!!

another wish on its way to being granted...

 

... and I helped.

Yes, I've again donated 4000 points to the AARP Foundation to help someone's "Wish Of A Lifetime" become a reality.

Last month, I gave those points to the AARP Foundation to help make all seniors computer-literate.

I'm so happy I've found this fun way to help others!

Now, I'll keep my eye out for more of these opportunities!

marine life needs people, too

 

The current President is slashing the budget, in the name of decreasing the debt the USA is carrying.

However, the haphazard cuts are going to have a harmful effect, not only in the immediate future, but far down the road.

That's why I took action and wrote to my elected officials in Congress - Ossoff, Warnock, and Carter - when the National Marine Sanctuaries asked.

Here's my message, in my own words, to those three men.

 

"Please help to protect our national ocean treasures!
Without a sufficient operating budget, these places may be lost.
Future generations of Americans may not get to enjoy all that our forefathers fought to save to us.
Please help!" 

 

I urge anyone reading this to please contact their elected officials, too.

Feel free to copy my message.

(smile!)

may the 4th be with ...community service

This was definitely something different for me.

I'd grabbed a few of the flyers about "Congregations In Service" after the SING concert, intending to read them and possibly attend.

I realized quickly, though, that the activity to be held at Asbury Memorial Church would not be the one for me.

I'm retired and don't do early mornings!

However, the one at Baha'i Unity Center wasn't to start until noon30 - I could most def be there for that!

So, there is where I was today, for the 33rd community service event they have held since the project first began in 2004.

I know, the math sounds wonky, but it isn't.

Baha'i usually holds two per year, in spring and fall, but not for the first few years and not during the pandemic.

I'm glad I was there as part of my bday67 celebration.

Betty taught me how to make no-sew blankets, and I did so in the company of several folks older than myself: Betty; Ray, the Vietman veteran; Connie, the 81-yo lover of butterfly pins; Dee, of India; and two others across the table from me.

That was actually very nice to be with older people.

I also loved that the blankets were were making would be given to children.

These were smaller blankets that usual, and they were brightly colored or had fun designs on the soft fabric, like these hedgehogs that I thought were opossums.

I only got two blankets completed, but that's two more than there would have been.

Right place, right time.

i thank You, God.

red ribbon for a winner

 

Just as I do for Habitat For Humanity, I also give to Special Olympics Georgia.

There will be a competition for those special athletes next month, and I'm actually cutting it pretty close to get this ribbon and card back in time.

I'd placed them on the living room table... 

then placed other mail there...

So I'm fortunate to have found them at all!

Best of luck to the athlete who receives this ribbon!

They are a winner in the game of life!

(smile!)

why i give to habitat for humanity, still

Dear Faustina,

 

Your support as a HopeBuilder helps empower families to build stability in decent, affordable Habitat Homes!

 

It's a life that Cynthia, a part-time recreation aide, and Valdemar, who works in the information technology field, always dreamed of: having a home in a tight-knit community where their children can play and grow.

 

Faustina, you help make the dream of home ownership a reality for families and individuals as a generous Habitat HopeBuilder. When you make your regular gift, you'll help create the opportunity for people in Georgia, across the U.S., and around the world to achieve safety and security.

 

Before purchasing an affordable, stable home with Habitat, Cynthia and Valdemar - and their two growing boys - were running out of space. Every year, their apartment's rent increased, despite mold issues and items that needed repair. The couple searched for a home of their own but struggled to find anything in their budget.

 

The course of their home ownership jourey changed when Valdemar spotted an ad for a Habitat home ownership information session. The couple attended, and they left the meeting hopeful. That hope turned into joy after their Habitat application was approved.

 

While working on the build site of their townhome community, Cynthia and Valdemar met other aspiring Habitat homeowners who share their passion for service. The couple even co-founded a neighborhood association with two other Habitat homeowners, who are now their good friends - and pickleball opponents.

 

Cynthia and Valdemar say that having a safe, affordable home in a loving community has led to an abundance of blessings. The best part has been watching their children, Val and Logan, thrive.

 

"They have their own space, and I think their self-esteem has gone up tremendously," Cynthia says,. "Their grades have gone up. Tey have been practicing more of their sports: they both like baseball and basketball. And they both love the violin, and I love hearing them play."

 

From dedicated HopeBuilders like you who consistently make generous contributions to the volunteers who hammer nails and boards, to aspiring homeowners who work side-by-side building Habitat homes, it takes a community to make home ownership possible for people like Cynthia and Valdemar.

 

You are an essential member of that community. Your loyal support helps make a difference with families like Cynthia and Valdemar's. I deeply appreciate the way you step up to help provide home ownership opportunities to people in urgent need of safe, affordable housing. Thank you for your compassion.

 

In partnership, 

Jonathan T.M. Rockford

Chief Executive Officer

Habitat For Humanity

_*__*_

i thank You, God, that I know that joy of having a home.

a gift for computer literacy

No, it's more than that.

It's a gift of access to all the knowledge a computer on the internet can bring.

Far too many seniors do not have that access.

With our current POTUS busy slashing support budgets, that leads to hours-long hold times for seniors trying to access their Social Security and Medicare benefits by phone.

Since my donation of 4000 AARP Reward Points to Senior Planet can help alleviate that problem for other seniors and can lead to their training to handle that business themselves online, then that is a superb use of those points.

Happy to be of service, y'all!

flowers for two brothers, at the church

When I looked at the flower calendar at the start of the year, a date leapt out.

Ronnie's birthday was open for someone to pledge sanctuary flowers. 

I immediately placed my name on that line!

Today, I wrote the check to Asbury Memorial Church to pay for those flowers.

I know the fee won't come due for a couple of months, but I wanted to go ahead and pay off that pledge now, while I had money available.

Seventy dollars - that's a fine gift to honor one brother as he turns 65... and to honor the memory of another who would have been 63.

i thank You, God.

helping out a kindergarten teacher

Chloe sent me an email the other day.

Let me amend that: the fundraising group sent me an email on her behalf.

Her kindergarten teacher is in need of classroom supplies and wondered if I would help?

Trust me, there's something in it for Chloe, too!

Well, besides a better-prepared class, she'll get a Reading Buddy.

That's a furry critter that sits on her arm as she enjoys a book.

Her older sister already has one, and it's giving her fits to not have one.

Well, I am her G'Aunt T... and I saw Miyah's Reading Buddy last month.

Very cute little thing!

Long story short, Chloe's teacher will get a $30 gift card for supplies, Chloe will receive a credit of $30 to use for her to buy books, and... Chloe will have the required 4 points for her choice of Reading Buddy.

Ah, such a good Aunt T she has!

(smile!)

protection for Glynn County, Georgia

Dear Mayor Johnson, City of Brunswick Commissioners, and Glynn County Commissioners,

We the undersigned support the City of Brunswick Commissioners and the Glynn County Board of Commissioners adopting a resolution that acknowledges the legacy pollution left behind by former industrial operations and the impact it continues to have on our community. We further support that this resolution should URGE:

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to facilitate and finalize effective remediation plans of the two active Superfund sites in Glynn County;
    The Georgia Department of Natural Resources to complete the corrective action plans designed to remediate contaminated soils and groundwater on the former Hercules/Pinova plant, so the site can be reused as a beneficial brownfield;

Private and public investors to donate funds to enable Emory University School of Public Health to expand the pilot research project and further investigate the health of residents of coastal Georgia exposed to the contaminants from Superfund sites in Glynn County;

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the trustees representing the public resources and citizens of Georgia, to assess the natural resource damages and file a claim to help Glynn County residents effectively address the challenges caused by legacy contamination.

* * * * *

Here's hoping the addressees will listen to those who petitioned them.

My thanks to One Hundred Miles for bringing this to my attention.

Let's try to keep the land where my Aunt Barbara lives free from pillaging by industry.

give them back their jobs, congress!

Can you believe that our current POTUS and Congress are eliminating jobs?

In particular, can you believe they are canceling jobs that our oceans depend upon?

So, when the email came out to save those jobs at the National Marine Sanctuaries, I made sure to sign the petitions!

Now, it's time for more action to preserve those vital jobs.

That's why I responded to the email alert by writing to my elected officials!

Their terms are coming up for a vote and if they want to be re-elected, they need to listen!

Here are my words to  U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff, U.S. Senator Raphael G. Warnock, and U.S. Representative Earl L. "Buddy" Carter.

"These marine sanctuaries don't have theme park glitz and rides, but they have something far better for our families: life! Nowhere else can we and our children swim among other creatures and observe life forms that have been on this planet for longer than people have a history. These underwater parks also nuture our planet, providing oxygen for our lungs as well as healthy food for our bodies. Please help save these underwater treasures!"

Here's the link for those who wish to join me in this effort!

in memory of mother pat's bday84

Dear Faustina,
 

I’m so grateful for your generous contribution of 4,000 points. 

It’s friends like you who make it possible for AARP Foundation to create and advance effective solutions that aim to help older adults secure the essentials they need to thrive.
Thank you for choosing to use your AARP Rewards points to help those in need. 

 

We truly value your support.
 

Warm Regards,
Lisa Marsh Ryerson
President, AARP Foundation

 

---------------

This is in memory of Mother Pat, who would have been 84 today.

This is also in honor of her best friend, Chris Adams, who turned 84 today.

That makes both of them contemporaries of Ringo Starr, who is also that age.

Very nice.

for a single mom in brazil

Happy International Women's Day to Maria of the Gratidão Iii Group!

She is the woman on the left, the one in the teal tropical print.

I chose her Kiva loan because she reminds me of my first niece.

Like Christina, Maria has a child with special needs.

I wrote on her page:

"A single mom with a special needs child? Yes! I'll help her make a better life, just as I do my niece who has two special needs children. Keep up the good work!"

Maria has worked as a hair stylist since 2010, mostly in her home.

In 2018, she was able to rent a space to do business, but that was lost due to the pandemic.

Now, she is trying toward that goal again.

Kiva will be giving me a $25 credit for helping her, and, when they do, I'm intending to turn right around and loan that to her, too.

If anyone would like to help her make her goal, just click here.

Meanwhile, Maria, keep up the good work and keep the faith.

You've succeeded before, you can do so again.

when you wish upon a star...

"Dear Faustina,

I’m so grateful for your generous contribution of 4,000 points. 

It’s friends like you who make it possible for Wish of a Lifetime from AARP to grant wishes to so many deserving older adults. 

As a part of this community, you are helping thousands of older adults to age with hope and joy.

Thank you for choosing to use your AARP Rewards points to help those in need. 

We truly value your support.
 

Warm Regards,
 

Tom Wagenlander
VP & Executive Director" 

Playing games and watching videos to better the world...

yes, that's me!

(smile!)

future of public art in savannah... and i helped

The City of Savannah is asking its citizens, and visitors, to chime in on how the dollars collected in property taxes and tourist fees should be spent.

Happy to oblige!

I declined to use the QR code, but I did respond to the 20-question survey which I received via email, taking time with each response.

That meant I spent almost 40 minutes on the survey.

Here are my suggestions for public art in this town I have loved all my life.

 

Q1: What characteristics, places, and/or values are unique to Savannah?

 

Item 1: plethora of downtown parks

Item 2: more than 200 years of history

Item 3: welcoming nature as a port city to diverse people

 

Q2: Public art in Savannah should feel like (put in order of importance).:

 

1. Representative of Savannah's people, history, and natural surroundings

2. Historical

3. Local

4. Attractive

5. Educational

6. Inclusive

7. Entertaining

8. Worldly

Q5: Where would you like to encounter public art in Savannah? Rank the following in order of priority.

 

1. As part of any new building projects in the area

2. Neighborhood gateways and gathering spaces

3. City parks and spaces

4. Major intersections and/or roundabouts

5. Government buildings or community-owned facilities

6. Unused or vacant parcels

7. Roads, sidewalks, and other pedestrian areas

8. Commercial or retail areas

Q6: Name three places in Savannah where you want to see public art.

 

Place 1: south of Victory Drive

Place 2: north of Largo Drive

Place 3: in medians on Abercorn Street

Q8: If you had a space to create a large symbol of your culture and identity, what would you put there?

 

Answer: A directional sign with arrows pointing to various countries in the United Kingdom and in Africa, where original immigrants (by free will or forced) came to the 13 colonies.

Q9: What is the role of monuments in our public spaces?

 

Answer: To educate the public about important moments in history, about important inventions, and about important artists in this area.

Q10: What is the role of public art in our public spaces?

 

Answer: To generate conversations about past history, about diversity, and about the world around us.

Q11: Identify a place in Savannah that makes you feel a sense of belonging. What were its characteristics?

 

Answer: Forrest Hills Park. An abundance of trees, a playground for neighborhood children, sports activities for adults of all ages.

Q19:  General comments.

 

Answer: Thank you for this survey. The questions gave me an opportunity to reflect upon what "art" means to me.

 

(Note: Not all questions were conducive to taking screen shots, as they contained images of types of art which might be preferred, types of settings for art, and other things of that nature. Thus, I have only included those questions on the survey for which a screen shot resulted in a capture of the question and my answers in their entirety.)

fundraiser down at tybee!

What a wonderful evening I've had at Tybee Post Theater!

I'm so glad I finally decided to go there.

Tonight, the Coastal Cohorts held a 40th anniversary reprisal of their classic storytelling concert, "King Mackerel & The Blues Are Running", and every dollar went to the theatre.

It was a sold-out show, too!

That means the $26 ticket fee I paid, and that the majority of the patrons paid, went to help this venue bring more such shows here.

I'm all in favor of that!

This is quickly becoming one of my favorite places for films, concerts, musicals, and plays.

Keep up the good work!

farewell to thee, red dye 3

Consumer Reports sent me an email: the October campaign had been successful!

No longer would that carcinogen be used for foodstuffs... including straws.

I met someone at the cinema who could not use red straws in her drinks, as she was deathly allergic and had ended up in the hospital the last time she did.

Scary stuff!

Now it was time to go after other artificial dyes the food of ourselves and our children.

 

"Much like Red Dye 3, this group of six synthetic food dyes are used in a wide range of food and drinks, but haven’t been reviewed for safety by the FDA in decades, despite recent studies that link the chemicals to serious health problems.

California passed a landmark bill that would ban these dyes – Red 40, Yellow 5 & 6, Blue 1 & 2, and Green 3 – from foods served to school kids in the state. Recent studies found these dyes put some children at higher risk of hyperactivity and other neurobehavioral issues that interfere with learning. And one, Red Dye 40, has been linked to cancer. Despite these risks, the safety of many of these dyes haven’t been reevaluated by the FDA since the 1970s and 80s.

It’s time for the FDA to catch up with the latest science and get these harmful chemicals out of everyone’s food. Sign our petition, and let’s get another big win when it comes to toxin-free food!
 
Sign the Petition »

 

Please share our petition with friends and family, and post it on your social channels to help amp up the pressure. We want the FDA to hear loud and clear that consumers expect safer food now.

Thank you,

Meg Bohne
Consumer Reports"

 

Done, Meg!

Dear Reader, won't you join in this campaign?

Many thanks!