Gleaning Facebook: Our City Commission Race

 We get to choose six of our nine city commissioners this week. I voted yesterday. You can vote M-F, 8-5, at the 4th Avenue Courthouse (across First Street from First Baptist) OR at the Health Department (easy parking) on 14th Street.

There are no bad guys in this race. But I carefully chose my votes based on how the entire commission will look for the next two years. We already have Wendy Davis, Jamie Doss and Randy Quick who have two more years to serve before they have an opportunity at re-election. I think the six I chose will, with those three, make a very effective commission for the next two years.

This commission would include:

• six incumbents who know the ropes and care deeply for the economic, environmental, and historic interests that must be balanced to make Rome the best possible city for us AND our posterity.

• three fresh faces with the skills, experiences, vision, and drive to do the same.

• nine folks from a wide variety of neighborhoods and backgrounds and interests and skill sets.

• the expertise of professionals -- lawyer, architect, financial planner, small business owners

• the practicality of folks who have worked for hourly wages

• the tenacity of a two-time cancer survivor

• the heart of parents of young kids still in school

• strong representation for Rome's minority population

• the essential know-how of a political science expert

• the long-range view of several grandparents determined to keep Rome attractive for the next generation

I believe each of these folks will do their very best to be open to ALL Romans and to make decisions with, of course, today's citizens in mind, but also with "One Hundred Year Eyes", as well, as they leave their positive mark on our city for the Romans of the future.

These are my personal choices. The other three folks are fine folks, I just personally prefer this combination.

Gleaning Facebook: The Kinds of Leaders I Want

 When the leaders in Rome set about building that beautiful water tower on the hill overlooking our downtown they were thinking of better water supply and pressure for the downtown for the 1870s, of course. I think, though, they were also thinking of us, their posterity. That''s why they added the beautiful clock faces to the top of it, establishing, just like that, an unmistakable and lovely symbol for our city that has adorned it for nearly a century and a half. Those are the kinds of leaders I'm looking for in this off-year city election.

My criteria?

I want diversity of age, background, race, etc.

I want folks who will be vigilent to protect the natural beauty of our unique city by promoting greenspace; clean water; healthy wetlands rivers and creeks; clean streets, parks, and trails.

I want folks who will work to preserve our historic buildings and neighborhoods.

I want folks who will think of ALL the citizens as they deliberate.

I want folks who will encourage businesses and organizations that will not only provide employment but also enrich the city -- not just financially but in every way -- for Romans in 2020 and for our children and grandchildren during the century to come.

Please go vote. All nine candidates are good guys. Read about them and pick six and GO VOTE. Be a good citizen. Republics only work if citizens take their civic duties seriously.

Each voter can choose six candidates. I plan to vote for three incumbents and three challengers this time around. So far I have publicly supported one incumbent and three challengers: Sundai Stevenson for a second term and Bonny Askew, Mark Cochran, and JJ Walker Seifert for their first terms. These four were pretty easy decisions for me. I know them all pretty well and usually but not always agree with them on commission issues. Choosing the final two is a little harder for me, because that means I must eliminate at least one candidate I have previously supported. I think I'll go with two very dedicated incumbents with long experience: Milton Slack and Mayor Bill Collins. Our Second Ward commissioners (Wendy Davis, Jamie Doss, and Randy Quick) are half way through their current terms. A commission of these nine fine folks would include:

- three women and six men

- four folks in their first terms and five with at least one full term under their belts.

- four people of color and five white folks

- folks with a big range of ages

- progressives, conservatives, moderates, and hard-to-classify

Now, this is just me. The three candidates I left off the list also love Rome. I just happen to more often agree with the six I've chosen.

Regardless of the candidates you plan to vote for, please VOTE!

Comments:

JJ Walker Seifert: Thanks for your support, Terrell!

Mark Cochran: I appreciate your support and vision for Rome. Thank you!

Will Seifert: I wish I could hit Like on this post six times. Very good post Terrell!

Bonny Askew: Thanks, I appreciate your support.

Chad Watson: Very insightful. I like the way you put together your list... the things you're looking for in candidates, and the reasons. I don't know them all... ...but leaning left / progressive, i can't see myself voting for conservatives, otherwise... i like the ideas of diversity you lay out.

Anita Stewart: Wow, I have never seen this photograph.....amazing

Gleaning Facebook: Elect Bonny!

I hope you will join me in helping to elect a great new Rome City Commissioner— Bonny Askew! My yard boasts one of these nicely designed signs. Can we bring one for your yard?

 

Gleaning Facebook: At Long Last, Sirs, Have You No Honor?

This is a terrible day in our nation's history -- our White House has admitted the key crime behind the coming impeachment of our Mob-Boss-In-Chief: there was a direct quid pro quo to Ukraine that they become involved in our 2020 election or lose aid from the US -- and claims it's no problem!

Thank God for patriots among our career civil servants who have been willing to risk their careers to reveal the truth.

Americans should take to the streets in mass protests against this criminal enterprise that is headquartered in our White House.

Impeachment is too good for Putin's Puppet but that is the only option open to us, it seems, while he is in office.

#JohnnyIsakson you have a month left in office; will you stand up for our republic as you leave?

#TomGraves Is it OK with you for other future presidents to coerce other nations to investigate their political opponents?

#DavidPurdue have you at long last any semblance of honor?

Gleaning Facebook: Making Fun With Whacha Got

 I learned long ago that the greatest toys for little kids are not the slick expensive gizmos at Playthings-R-Us. Often it is the box the gift came in, or the little dollar store parasol, ... or the concrete block with convenient leg-holes and built-in desktop. What fun can be had on Gamma's patio.

Gleaning Facebook: Dancing With the Angels

As Elijah Cummings dances today with angels, everyone knows he did his part. What about me? What about you? Do we mean what we say when we pledge allegiance to "the Republic for which it stands"? Will we stand for our Republic against all enemies, foreign and domestic? Will we do our part to be sure our democracy is intact for our children and grandchildren?

Speak out today. Demand Senator Isakson, Senator Perdue, and Rep. Graves (or whoever are your servants in Congress) know we want our alliances honored, our president held to account, God's creation protected, our rights ensured, our standards of ethics in government restored.

Don't just watch. Don't just complain. Be a citizen. Be a patriot. Let We, the People, do our part. We will have a Republic only if we will keep it intact.

Gleaning Facebook: Striders

Some of my Facebook friends might be interested to see this clipping. Richard T. Ware has been my friend since 1966 when both of us were involved with Michael J. Burton and others in Rome Art League’s youth coffee house. We have sung together in hootenannies for decades. Later, in our twenties and thirties Richard and I ran together in the “Roman “Run” and in the Peachtree Road Race. In recent years Richard has become one of the premier amateur botanists in the country and Sheila and I have enjoyed tagging along on a few field trips with Richard and his wife, Teresa A Ware, photographing some of the rarest and most beautiful wildflowers in the state.

Send some extra good wishes and prayers out for Richard today as he readies for heart bypass surgery tomorrow.

Our neighbor Joan Ledbetter and her brother George Anderson and sister Hazel Anderson will recognize another runner in this picture! The Rome News-Tribune clipping has no date, but I imagine it was the very early eighties.

Gleaning Facebook: Rome Striders

 Some of my Facebook friends might be interested to see this clipping. Richard T. Warehas been my friend since 1966 when both of us were involved with Michael J. Burton and others in Rome Art League’s youth coffee house. We have sung together in hootenannies for decades. Later, in our twenties and thirties Richard and I ran together in the “Roman “Run” and in the Peachtree Road Race. In recent years Richard has become one of the premier amateur botanists in the country and Sheila and I have enjoyed tagging along on a few field trips with Richard and his wife, Teresa A Ware, photographing some of the rarest and most beautiful wildflowers in the state.

Send some extra good wishes and prayers out for Richard today as he readies for heart bypass surgery tomorrow.

Our neighbor Joan Ledbetter and her brother George Anderson and sister Hazel Andersonwill recognize another runner in this picture! The Rome News-Tribune clipping has no date, but I imagine it was the very early eighties.

Facebook comments:

Joan Ledbetter
Thank you so much for this!!!
David Matheny
Mr. Booker was one of my 7th Grade Teachers...
George Anderson
A wonderful great pic of Jean Valentine Anderson!
Thank you!
Michael J. Burton
Wow. A lot of history. Text me about hospital when you find out.
Terrell Shaw
Michael J. Burton the bypass will be done at Redmond.
Michael J. Burton
Thanks
Hazel Anderson
Thank you! It is good seeing this!
Edith Valentine
Jean loved to run!

NSF: Tingle & McBride-Smith

 First up Chictaw teller Tim Tingle... then Barbara McBride Smith... a favorite.

Tim told a great story about the Choctaw girl who led slaves to freedom... he has a book out of that story—- Crossong Boc Chitto.

BMS was hilarious as always with her story of seeing Disney’s Cinderella as a five tear old with her ‘evil’ older sisters. BMS would be a great choice for Big Fibbers! BTWthey are live streaming the Libray tent if y’all cant be here you can see it online!

Gleaning Facebook: Laurel Falls

It tallied 18,000 steps on the Fitbit and left these two septuagenarians ready for an early evening. But the cool breezes, sourwood leaves making stained glass displays above our heads, the peaceful rushing of the falling water, made the effort more than worth it. What a lovely spot to share with my favorite companion.

Starting our Thursday NSF prep hike to Laurel Falls on the AT near Hampton TN.

At one point the trail is just a narrow ledge against a rock wall above a pool in Laurel Fork.

 

There was not a lot in bloom. The colorful bloom-like fruit of "Hearts-a-busting-with-love" here and there, and clumps of purple asters.

From Howard Smith: I have visited those falls so many times through the years...mostly when I was much younger. Thanks so much for posting this picture of the falls with your bride.

Bill Cox: Nice little hike, Mary and I have done it several times. Enjoy.

Jaki Day: 

you are just around the corner from us.

 If you get to the peaceful side of the Smokies (Townsend) let me know .Would love to see you both.

    Terrell Shaw:

    you are just around the corner from us.

 If you get to the peaceful side of the Smokies (Townsend) let me know .Would love to see you both.

    Jaki Day:

well, maybe another time . Bruce A. Dayis working and we have company coming this weekend.  

LizabethJolly:

Soooo jealous!!!! Enjoy it all my fearless mentor!!!!!!!

Howard Smith:

It's so nice of you to take your daughter hiking...wait, that's your wife...my bad.

Mike Bock: Wonderful!

Michael Burton:

Idyllic in all ways.