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Thumbs up as Santa look-alike loses his locks

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2:55 PM Friday, June 24, 2011

This week’s “thumbs up” and “thumbs down” selections:

A thumbs up to the Middletown district employees who accepted a salary reduction of 1 percent in each of the next two years. According to interim treasurer Robin Long, the resolution would provide a total savings of $5.5 million over three years. School board members also agreed to give back 10 percent of their pay, $12.50 per meeting. We understand these concessions will be difficult on the employees — and their families — but we believe they will be the best for the district.

Once again, Berachah Baptist Church in Middletown deserves a thumbs up for improving the lives of our residents. The church that continues to show compassion once again hosted its Party in the Park on Father’s Day at Sunset Park. While the weather didn’t cooperate, from all accounts, hundreds of people enjoyed the event that featured free food, entertainment and activities. We applaud the major sponsors — John Morrell meats, of Cincinnati, Kohl’s and the Middletown Community Foundation — and all of the the area businesses that donated door prizes for the event.

A pink thumbs up to Garden Manor Retirement Village resident Hobert Jones who agreed to cut off his beard and mustache, and cut his long locks into a pink mohawk, if the residents there raised money for the tornado victims in Joplin, Mo. On Tuesday, before a stunned crowd at the retirement village, Jones, 53, backed up his promise. In less than an hour, the Santa Claus look-alike was transformed into what he called “a grape head.” The residents there raised $320, and Garden Manor donated $200, pushing the total to $520. The money will be donated to the American Red Cross and earmarked for recovery efforts in Joplin.

A thumbs up to Dr. William Andrew and his wife, Marcia, who agreed to serve as co-chairs of the United Way of Greater Cincinnati–Middletown Area 2011 annual campaign. The Middletown couple have a long association with the Middletown Area United Way, and Dr. Andrew said serving as co-chairs was the natural next step. Dr. Andrew and his wife, a partner with Taft, Stettinius and Hollister LLP, will focus on several strategic areas, he said. We wish the Andrews, and everyone on the fundraising cabinet, the best of luck.

A baby thumbs up to the Knights of Columbus Middletown and Franklin council who generously raised $20,000 — then received a matching grant from the Columbus council — that purchased a 4D ultrasound machine for the Community Pregnancy Center. Executive Director Candice Keller said the machine has a retail value of $78,000, but the price was reduced by General Electric. Keller said it’s the largest donation in the 26-year history of the program. Over the past three years, the Knights of Columbus have managed to donate 92 ultrasound machines. We’re thankful one of them landed in our community.

Phil Salm, a school resource officer at Middletown High School, deserves a thumbs up for taking over Safety Town, an annual summer program that stresses the importance of pedestrian and transportation safety to children preparing to enter kindergarten. Salm, 36, is only the third overseer of the program in its 34 years of existence, following Harvey Poff, a former juvenile officer with the Middletown police, and Mike Davis, a fellow school resource officer who held the post for 26 years. Salm told staff writer Andy Sedlak that he “never wanted to fill (Davis’) shoes — that’s impossible. I just wanted to continue making the footprints he started.”

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