Thumbs column
On Thursday, Hot Springs residents will celebrate the first official day of summer.
But, truth be told, local denizens have for weeks now been in a summertime frame of mind — abiding the sweltering temperatures by visits to the pool, boating on area lakes, taking in the newest summer releases at the cinema and getting away to their favorite vacation destinations.
So, here’s a “Thumbs-ups” to our readers who might also want to relax at home with a good summer book and we recommend the following: “The High Tide Club” by Mary Kay Andrews; “The Perfect Couple” by Elin Hilderbrand; “By Invitation Only” by Dorothea Benton Frank; and any offering by Nancy Thayer, who makes everyone want to pack up and head for Nantucket Island.
Speaking of summer, here is a big “Thumbs-up” to the Innovative Technologies Center at National Park College for a series of camps that are giving young people hands-on experience in the basics of 3D modeling and design, the basics of robotics, and opportunities to hone their skills.
NPC will also offer camps focused on basketball, board game making and crime scene investigation.
Many thanks to NPC and its ITC for a successful way to combine learning and fun.
We send out a “Thumbs-up” to the Hot Springs Board of Realtors and its affiliates for recently helping to install insulation in a Habitat for Humanity home. The HSBOR is a staunch supporter of the Habitat for Humanity program and annually contributes to its home construction projects.
By the same token, here is a definite “Thumbs-up” to the Hot Springs Women’s Welcome Club, Altrusa International of Hot Springs Village, Ark., Inc., and the
A.P. Chapter of the Sisterhood of the Philanthropic Educational Organization — three community-minded organizations that continue to support scholarships for nursing students at National Park College.
Altogether, the groups recently awarded nine scholarships to assist nursing students with their studies. Scientific and medical advances are key to our health care system, but well-educated and committed nurses are vital as well.
Meanwhile, Christi Nation, formerly of Levi Hospital, Henderson State University Hot Springs, and now LSU Alexandria, has a “Thumbs-up” award and some words of thanks to convey.
As she noted, “I had my auto’s oil changed just the other day and the attendant accidentally set my speedometer to kilometers per hour. I had to drive back to Alexandria and did not have the mathematical mind to do constant calculations to miles per hour. A very nice gentleman named Paul at Advance Auto Parts reset the indicator for me and without any charge.
“Thanks so much, Paul.”
And finally, here’s a personal “Thumbs-up” that this writer acknowledges may seem petty, but perhaps hits home with others who often eat out around town.
This “upturned digit” goes to the servers who, when asked to provide extra lemon for their water or tea, place the slices in a small dish or bowl and not on the rim of the glass, as many are prone to do.
It just seems that presenting the lemon pieces in the aforementioned manner is more sanitary and apropos. But, don’t worry, failure to do isn’t a “meal-breaker.”