Thumbs column
Ah, April has arrived, bringing showers and flowers and a spate of fun things to see and do in and around the Spa City.
And when the fourth month of the year is gone, we will be ever so wistful for the wonderful woody wisteria vines and their purple blossoms that have enhanced the local landscape.
Meanwhile, here are some more digit doings for our readers’ consideration, beginning with a “Thumbs-up” to Garland County Sheriff Department employee Christi Lane.
Lane, costumed as the Easter bunny, last Thursday visited children at the Little Bitty City Daycare and also dropped in to see children at National Park Medical Center and St. Vincent Hot Springs.
Lane says she has been making these visits for 10 years and we thank her for volunteering in such a thoughtful way.
By the same token, here is a “Thumbs-up” to Lakeside Extension Homemakers Club members who recently held a workshop to make 24 lined drawstring backpacks and three tote bags.
Members delivered the backpacks, tote bags and five suitcases to the Ouachita Children’s Center and we appreciate their generosity and hard work.
A “Thumbs-up” goes out to the area high school seniors who have been recognized as DAR Good Citizens by the Hot Springs of Arkansas Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution.
Included in the criteria for the award are dependability, loyalty, truthfulness, punctuality and consideration of others. Each candidate for the award was elected by his or her student body as consistently exhibiting such qualities.
Award recipients are Courtney Hill, Hot Springs World Class High School; Hannah Whorton, Lakeside High School; Khalil Brownlee, Malvern High School; and Lauren Davis, Magnet Cove High School.
Congratulations to them all.
And even though much of the sporting world has been engaged in high school and college hoops happenings of late, here is a “Thumbs-up” to the YMCA Seals swim team that last month made quite a showing in the short course state meet at Little Rock.
Emma Crowe won the 50-meter, 100-meter and 200-meter breast stroke in the 11-12 girls category and placed second in the 50-meter freestyle, 50-meter, 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke. Luke Vondenstein, competing in the 10 and under boys category, finished fourth in the 100-meter backstroke, the
100-meter breast stroke and the 200-meter individual medley. In the 10 and under girls division, Audrey Simons took seventh place in the 50- and 100-meter butterfly.
Aidan Qualls, was sixth in the 200-meter backstroke in the 11-12 boys category and Hao Jiang placed seventh in the
200-meter individual medley. Ethan Smith placed eighth in the
400-meter individual medley for 13-14 boys. Amanda Navarro and Kaylea Summers also took part in the meet.
Congratulations to the Seals and their coaches, Jim Norman, aquatic director for the YMCA, and Payten Frunzi, former member of the Henderson State Reddies’ swim team.
And here is a “Thumbs-up” to guest columnist Deborah Carroll for her March 31 tribute (The Sentinel-Record) to retired Hot Springs National Park Superintendent Josie Fernandez.
Carroll, author of “Bathhouse Row: We Bathe The World” — a closer look at the historic downtown area and some of the mystery that surrounds the thermal waters — relates Fernandez’s personal story, including her service with the U.S. Air Force and her leadership during 14 years as HSNP superintendent.
It’s a good read and reminds us of the importance and impact of the park and its many resources.