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Sep 20 - OCT 3 VOLUME 2
Sep 20 - OCT 3 VOLUME 2
Thomasville’s Only
Issue No.
Recycling in Thomasville
16
Thomasville’s Only
Whispers.
CHUMS
Ahh recycle. That’s a feel good word.
With all the environmental concerns today, who doesn’t want to do their part to help, right? So we recycle. But what happens to all that stuff anyway? Where does it go? Here is the reality: Not everything we “recycle” makes it to an end user. You see, some of what is put in those recycle bins is contaminated and has to be handled as waste, some items are too few in volume, or there is not a vendor in our area to use the materials to make new products. Let’s deal with contamination first: You know that half empty jar of condiments you put in the recycle bin? Well, someone has to handle that. A real, live person, not a machine. Even in large automated Materials Recovery Facilities (aka MRF’s), people are used to help sort materials. Vendors expect single stream items, not a conglomeration of all types of recycled materials. This means there is a lot of sorting that has to happen before the materials can be sold. This step can be labor intensive and costly. If materials are covered in food waste, the items is considered municipal solid waste (MSW- aka household waste) because it could harbor disease. These contaminated materials are landfilled. I recently noticed the recycling
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bins were gone from the post office downtown. When I asked the post master why, I was told it was due to food contamination. Can you believe someone would stuff food into the narrow slit intended for unwanted mail?!?!? It happens. On to volume: Can you imagine how much film plastic it would take to make up a ton? Vendors want the film plastic baled (compressed) and prefer truckloads, as in semi-truck load. Film plastic, the wrapping around paper towels and other bulk materials, is very thin and light weight. It would take a tremendous volume to reach the minimum for an end use vendor. It would require not only sorting, but also storage of the materials until such time there is enough volume to sell. Both sorting and storage cost money. Then there is the vendor issue. Sure polystyrene (trade name Styrofoam) can be recycled, but there are no vendors in our region to take the materials. Cups, takeout boxes, meat trays, etc. must be clean and free from food, then shipped to the nearest vendor. While this would save space in our landfill, the
cost of shipping these materials is prohibitive. Right now China is the biggest vendor for polystyrene. Can you imagine how many foam cups it would take to make a shipment to China economical? The nearest location from Thomasville that takes polystyrene is in Lithonia, GA, over 200 miles away. Some plastics are harder to recycle than others. The recycle symbol on the item can help untangle the confusion: #7 plastics, considered “other” are more difficult to recycle. Bottle caps, toys, and other more rigid plastics are often in this group. Each vendor has their own set of standards as to what they will take. It those standards are not met, the vendor may charge for the shipment, rather than paying for the items collected. In a column by Matt Agorist, the writer comments, “Humanity has become a society based on the repetitive consumption of falsely cheap goods; environmental costs, monetary costs (without government subsidization), and future costs of resource depletion, are not... CONTINUED PAGE 2
Bras on Broad is Back In the 1960s, women burned their bras as a show of feminist power overcoming the restraints they felt society had placed on them. In 2013, women in Thomasville are taking a different route- bedazzling.
That’s right, women in Thomasville are adorning their brassieres with gemstones, flowers, and puff paint in order to celebrate those in their life who have battled breast cancer. During September and October, the Wiregrass Gallery downtown will again host Bras on Broad in support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A small donation of $5.00 will give you access to all the paints and glitter you desire to decorate a bra from your own collection or one provided by the Gallery. The finished products will be displayed in participating shops in October as part of an art exhibit for the Wiregrass Gallery. Just imagine- your glammed up undergarments hanging up as art! The donations given will help Kickin’ Cancer of Thomasville, a volunteer group helping to raise awareness of all types of cancer. The money will be
used locally to help with needs within the community. If you are interested in decorating your own piece for the intimates installment stop by the Wiregrass Gallery on Broad during their regular hours: Tuesday – Friday 11am-5pm; Saturday 10am-6pm; and by special request 5pm-8:30pm. If you aren’t able to make any of these times, give the Gallery a call to set up a special time for your group. The Gallery wants to make sure that no one misses out on the fun! For more information, you can contact Lindajo Haythorn at 229-221-2100 or hlindajo@hotmail.com. Also check out their Facebook page- The Wiregrass Gallery: An Artist Co-op- for updates on events and photos from the Bras on Broad decorating sessions. - Rebekah G.
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Haley Shank New downtown apartments…on Remington behind Relics… Bestselling author Mitch Albom will be in town…. see Dance Card for details…
Where is the first place you take someone who is visiting Thomasville? Wiregrass Gallery. I like to show people that such a small town, in southwest Georgia no less, can be filled with culture, diversity, and art.
The bike trail + amphitheater project is buzzing again…
What do you think makes someone a Townie? When they recognize and share how privileged we are to live in and around such a vibrant, colorful and artistic community.
Local writer Marianne Horchler won 2nd prize in the Penumbra Haiku Contest…
What are things about Thomasville you could never live without?
Is there an Art Walk brewing in the Ville?
The love and openness of our community, the nonprofits working hard, and the kindness and humbling generosity between neighbors and strangers.
Psst...do you have a whisper? We’re all ears! yourtownie@gmail.com
TEF Swings into 76th Season It’s hard to believe that Thomasville Entertainment Foundation is just about to launch its 76th concert season! This volunteer-run non-profit has brought some big name entertainers to T’ville over the years: Branford and Wynton Marsalis, Chris Botti, the Manhattan Transfer, Yo-Yo Ma, Marvin Hamlisch, Bobby Short, Hilary Hahn, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Van Cliburn--- way too many to list!
snagging the prestigious award. Check out his inspiring and funny “Loser’s Club” speech at jonnakamatsu.com/news. This sought-after musician brings his “winning” qualities to Thomasville on Thursday, January 30, in a program that will include music by Schubert, Chopin and Schumann. If you’re passionate about guitar, come hear three master guitarists: Sharon Isbin, Stanley Jordan and Romero Lubambo as they present “Guitar Passions” on Saturday, February 15. (Attention, Gentlemen: Valentine’s Day gifts!) Grammy-winner Isbin is a former student of Andrés Segovia and creator of The Juilliard School’s guitar program. Jordan is famous for his unique two-hand, touch technique that allows him to play melody and chords at the same time. Native Brazilian Lubambo combines the rhythms of his homeland with the sounds of American jazz. Together they’ll take us on a world tour!
This season’s lineup swings from big-band jazz to classical to pop. All concerts will be staged at TEF’s home venue, the Thomasville Center for the Arts auditorium, at 8 p.m. To open the series, renowned clarinet soloist Ken Peplowski and the Capitol Center Jazz Orchestra present “A Tribute to Benny Goodman and the 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert.” Directed by Clayton “Skip” Poole, with vocals by Patty Barkas, the ensemble will recreate an event that’s been called the world’s most famous jazz concert. It brought jazz out of the shadows and into the mainstream. Coming Tuesday, October 1, the concert will include Goodman’s classic hits such as “Sing, Sing, Sing.”
Just like springtime, the New York Chamber Soloists arrive on Thursday, March 20, breathing fresh air into the world of classical music. This unconventional 12-member ensemble of strings, winds, harpsichord and piano will interpret selections by Bach, Saint-Saëns and Beethoven.
For the total Beethoven experience, check out David Finckel and Wu Han on Tuesday, October 22. This husband-andwife dynamic duo presents Beethoven’s five sonatas for piano and cello, works that span the prolific career of the great composer. Finckel and Han were named 2012 Musicians of the Year by Musical America magazine and dubbed “America’s power couple of chamber music.”
On Thursday, April 3, “Deedles” comes to town. That’s vocalist-pianist Diane Schuur bringing her unforgettable style to all of our favorite jazz and pop tunes. Her distinguished career includes two Grammy Awards and performances at the White House, Carnegie Hall, and stages all around the world.
TEF’s third artist of the season is a real loser. (or was a loser!) Jon Nakamatsu, acclaimed pianist and winner of the 1997 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, was a parttime piano player who didn’t even major in music before
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Tickets for all concerts are on sale now: adults $35 and students $15. Purchase tickets online at TEFconcerts.com or phone the box office at 226-7404. - Joan S.
t h e s e : Just steps from Downtown, with homes from $100,000. Townies Welcome.
2018 E. Pinetree Blvd. Thomasville, Georgia 229-228-6702 Mon-Fri 10am-7pm l Sat 10am-7pm l Sun 1pm-5pm
www.AshleyFurnitureHomeStore.com
A true daughter of Thomasville, Haley was born and raised in a 110-year old Victorian on East Clay Street. She has three jobs, and is involved with no less than half a dozen local cultural and political organizations. Spend a few hours downtown, and there’s a solid chance you’ll run into her.
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to advertise, contact yourtownie@gmail.com.