Calaveras Declared “Kindness Zone”
Calaveras County is covered in blue ribbons.
Seeds of Kindness Coordinator, Jim Bergantz, was Thursday’s KVML "Newsmaker of the Day".
"Seeds of Kindness" was initiated in 1994 by Jim & Judy Bergantz, then owners of Bergantz Nursery. It started with the premise that people could find great joy in being kind, in giving without expecting something in return. The Bergantz Family, distributed thousands of long-stemmed roses, free of charge to the citizens of Calaveras County. There was a string attached, though. For each dozen roses a person received, one bloom could be kept but the other eleven were to be given away in the spirit of goodwill & friendship.
On Feb. 7, 1995 the City of Angels City Council passed a resolution that National Random Acts of Kindness Day would be observed on Feb. 17 of each year, that all who live and/or work in the city of Angels were encouraged to practice Random Acts of Kindness whenever possible, and declared the City of Angels as a Kindness Zone.
"Kindness Day" turned into "Kindness Week" in 1996. Roses were replaced with light blue kindness ribbons that were worn by students and individuals, signed, and then passed on to anyone who practiced a random act of kindness. Bolts of light blue ribbon were supplied to area schools to tie around campus and community areas to celebrate Kindness Week.
On Jan. 12, 2010 the Calaveras County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution to designate Feb. 15-21, 2010 as "Kindness Week" and proclaim Calaveras County as a "Kindness Zone".
So far, the county wide "Kindness Week" is considered an overwhelming success, even to the most casual observer. Thousands upon thousands of light blue ribbons are displayed throughout Calaveras County. They are attached to street poles, trees, signs, benches, windows and lamp posts from Arnold to Valley Springs.
A total of twenty-three schools are participating. More information can be found at www.theseedsofkindness.com
The KVML "Newsmaker of the Day" is heard each weekday morning on AM 1450 KVML at 6:47, 7:47 and 8:47am.
Written by mark@mlode.com
