I think we have some public service announcements for our newspaper readers this week. Actually, I get to pretty much decide what goes into this space (unless Susan One-up in Marion exercises her veto power) and I think it is time for some public service! So here we go:

The umpteenth annual community-wide garage sale is this coming weekend. Thanks to all of you who help us sponsor this event by actually signing up to be on the map and for kicking in your $10 registration fee so that we can pay for the ads in area newspapers (including Wichita and Newton). For several years, a number of the official participants have indicated that they think that interest in community-wide garage sales is on the decline. They have wondered if we might be better off to host them every other year. What do you think? Are you satisfied with an annual event or would you rather have us host them every other year?

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We will be getting back on track with our quarterly Peabody Main Street alumni edition of the newspaper May 18. If you have a reunion coming up this year or if your business would like to run an advertisement aimed at returning PHS and PBHS alumni, let me know. If you are looking for long-absent classmates, perhaps we can figure out a way to help you find them. E-mail me at susan@peabodykansas.com or snail-mail me at PGB, PO Box 129, Peabody KS 66866, or fax me at (620) 983-2700.

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I have touched on this before, but I want to remind you that I will be working on the display of photos of our service veterans in a couple of weeks. It would be great to have pictures of you and/or your family members who served this great country during any war or conflict, during peace times, or even rumbling troubled times. Bring me (or, again, e-mail, postal service mail, hand-deliver, or fax) photos of you or your ancestors. Include name, rank, war or conflict served, and theater of operation. We call this display the Veteran’s Roll Call and it is one of our most popular displays during Operation Celebration, the Memorial Day weekend celebration that honors our veterans.

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I love the parks in Peabody and the landscaping around our public areas. I wish I had a better attitude about gardening and digging in the dirt, but I am not a green thumb person. There is a local group that is always looking for volunteers to help spiff up the community’s green spaces. This group may be the one that you have a hankering to join. Partners of Peabody Parks (also known as POPs) needs people to donate a little time during the growing season to water plants and trees; trim areas in Peabody’s many parks; pick up limbs, trash, and debris; write a check to assist with plantings, signage, or utilities; and a dozen other things. If you enjoy the parks of Peabody, contact Tom or Susie Schmidt, (620) 983-2264 or call the Peabody City Office, (620) 983-2174 to put your name on the list of volunteers. They could use your help.

And one last thing … Sunday is Mother’s Day. Do something nice for your mom. You know the drill. She deserves it.

— Susan Marshall