City of Unadilla gives back to the community

The City of Unadilla once again threw a great party Saturday night. Assistant to the Mayor Sabrina Sinyard spoke about how the entire Dooly County community had a hand in making the event a success.

“We wanted to do something different with our movie night and we incorporated the back to school theme,” she said. “The City of Unadilla is giving out bags filled with school supplies. So, we set up a kid zone with a couple of inflatables, a gaming truck (visit gamezonwheelzga.com or call 478-575-2439). We have the Dooly County STEM bus here for activities for the kids. We tried to give them something to do before the movie starts and maybe settle down a little bit. The movie that was featured was Elemental. Thanks to the Mayor (Myron Mixon) who personally purchased 175 cups of ICEES for the children and free popcorn as well.

“Mayor Mixon does get involved when it’s the kids and we’re super grateful for the Dooly County School System for providing the STEM bus. Smokin Pete’s BBQ is here and they also cooked the hotdogs and free chips for the kids as well. We had KONA Ice as well. Everything for the kids is free movies, free entry, free hotdogs and popcorn and free ICEE.” 

Among the community partners in attendance and volunteering their time were Elizabeth Harris, Library Manager Rhonda Woodward Bartlett and her daughter Julianne Woodward Bartlett. School Superintendent Dr. Sherrod Willaford, Chief Academic Officer Holly Black and newly appointed Family and Communications Engagement Specialist Kylie Garrard were instructing children on the DCSS STEM Bus.

Garrard explained what the kids were participating in: “We had several activities including the earthquake kits where they have to build a structure and then they crank up the impact kits for the building so they’ll survive. They’re building balloon cars, we had puppets from the Three Little Pigs where they have to design a house that will support the Three Little Pigs and keep them safe.” 

Also at the school system STEM bus, books were being given out at all grade levels. Dr. Willaford also commented about the educational opportunities that are afforded by having the STEM bus to share, “We’re glad to have it and to bring into the community to events like this and give students a chance to discover science and give them a chance to play. We have kids that want to explore science. The bus makes our work a little easier without them having to structure the classroom and give them a chance to play and practice.” 

Councilwoman Meredith Lester and Earl Clark with Communities in Schools were also in attendance.

“This is all the City of Unadilla and this is something that we try to do every year to give back to the community,” Lester said. “I thank the school system for bringing the STEM bus, so the kids have been enjoying that, going back and forth between the bouncy house, the game truck and the STEM bus that are very well air-conditioned.  The movie, bouncy houses, the food, it’s all free.

“Maybe it can expand every year, so next year we’ll do something different and add on to it, so that’s the plan.”

Councilman Chester Thomas was responsible for monitoring the safety of the children on the inflatables and his son Pete Thomas, owner and operator of Smokin’ Pete’s BBQ, served free hotdogs and chips. He  also sold rib sandwiches, pork chop sandwiches, chicken sandwiches and sausage dogs and a drink to wash it down with with a bag of chips.

Tiffany Sinyard and her daughter Heidi were busy as City of  Unadilla volunteers passing out bags of school supplies including pencils, highlighters, folders, glue sticks and pencil erasers. Also in attendance was Councilman Lurry Brown along with citizens Thomas Ervin and Tammie Brown.