Thumbs up to those giving up smoking

Thumbs up to all the smokers who participated in Thursday’s Great American Smokeout. Last year, McLeod Health and Carolinas Hospital System joined forces to create the Breathe Free campaign, which helped many smokers at both facilities break the habit. This year, they continued with the educational classes and employee support to encourage the few remaining hold outs to give up their tobacco addiction. Toni McGiboney, lung program coordinator for Carolinas, said lung cancer is the leading cause of death in the United States for men and women — as well as the most preventable form of cancer in society. “November is also Lung Cancer Awareness month, so it’s a great time to tie those in together,” she said. “Tobacco use accounts for at least 30 percent of all cancer deaths and 87 percent of lung cancer deaths.” McGiboney said she hopes if smokers can make it through the day of the Great American Smokeout without a cigarette, they can use that start to continue on a healthy pathway. We hope so, too.

Thumbs up to candidates and their supporters for cleaning up their political signs in a timely manner. While the signs have an unlimited display period before the election, the city of Florence and Florence County have ordinances where the signs have to be removed within seven days after the election. And in the past, it’s been unsightly seeing political signs around town several weeks after the election. But this time around, it seems that just like voter turnout improved, so did the effort to be law-abiding citizens with respect to the keeping the Pee Dee clean.

Thumbs up to the Coker men’s basketball team for defeating Division I Coastal Carolina 80-59 on Saturday at Kimbel Arena in Conway. Coker, a Division II team led by coach Dan Schmotzer since 1987, had five players score in double figures. Mason Ambler had a double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Coker shot 53.8 percent (28-for-52) from the floor while holding Coastal to 38 percent (19-for-50). Coker outhustled Coastal, scoring 23 points off turnovers, and outmuscled Coastal, scoring 36 points in the paint. The win is just Coker’s second in 15 games against Coastal.

Thumbs up to every person, family, business and organization that made it possible for the needy to have a meal for the Thanksgiving holiday. Whether you donated food or money to an agency, asked a lonely friend to dinner or set a table for a dozen or more, your gestures of kindness make
the world a better place.

Thumbs up to the Florence Museum for providing a venue for artists, musicians and writers to showcase their works. From art exhibits and competitions to musical programs to poetry readings, the folks at the Florence Museum are always ready to spotlight local artistry and, in doing so, our community is enriched.

Thumbs down to the rash of incidents involving children and guns, here and across the nation. Though the reasons for these tragedies — in which children have either harmed themselves or others — are varied and not fully understood in some cases. But the issue needs to be discussed and solutions explored to prevent the young from having access to firearms.

Thumbs up to “Real Estate Roy” Peavey, 77, of Darlington for earning the state’s most prestigious award for volunteer and community service, the Order of the Silver Crescent. State Rep. Denny Neilson nominated Peavey for the Silver Crescent with the support of the Darlington County Legislative Delegation. Along with an award certificate and a state flag that flew outside the Statehouse, Neilson presented Peavey last week with a letter from Gov. Mark Sanford, who chose Peavey for the award after Neilson’s nomination. Peavey said his biggest contribution as a volunteer to the community was when he taught real estate students at Florence-Darlington Technical College from 1972 to 1991 and guesses he’s taught 5,000 students during the years. Peavey ran his real estate business, Roy Peavey & Co., for more than five decades before selling it to Pam Sherrill in January 2007. He remains with the company as a consultant.