In today’s column:
- Recap: City Council Meeting *
- Public Service Announcement: Flood Warning*
- Toledo Schools: Flood Routes This Morning *
- Tech Tuesday: How I Got Rid Of 4 Filing Cabinets (And All My Bookcases) *
- Not Strictly Toledo: Health & Hope Medical Outreach *
- Today: Community Action Council Lewis Mason Thurston Energy Assistance *
- Future-Tripping: Feeds, Fundraisers, Forms, Fun & More *
Flood Warning for minor flooding for the Newaukum River near Chehalis in Lewis County. The river is forecast to rise above flood stage around 10 PM this evening. Do not drive thru flooded roadways! Turn around, don't drown!
Latest river forecasts available at water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=sew
***
Toledo School District: Flood routes for Ray, Frost, Maier, Hart, Hanson,Park, Oyler roads Tuesday a.m.
***
Recap: Toledo City Council Meeting 01.06.2020
Public Works Superintendent Mike Fisher reported a bid on a wastewater treatment plant screw press to more efficiently separate liquid from other matter to be exported. An older but still new unit will be updated & installed by a contractor, saving 40 hours labor monthly. New units typically cost $10-12,000. Installation could be accomplished by mid-January.
More in agenda report.
Water meter updates will begin shortly, report expected by next meeting.
Police Chief John Brockmeuller reported city operations within normal range.
One person was arrested, believed to be connected to recent spate of car prowls, booked on other charges.
City Clerk Michelle Whitten stated a joint meeting Park Board & Lions Club, plus Lewis County is being scheduled to consider options for South Lewis County Park (Wallace Pond), more information to come on January 15, 2020 tentative meeting at Middle School.
(2020 Appointments)
Adjourned 6:21 PM
***
National Weather Service Seattle: Weather Outlook
Latest river forecasts available at water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=sew
***
Toledo School District: Flood routes for Ray, Frost, Maier, Hart, Hanson,Park, Oyler roads Tuesday a.m.
***
Recap: Toledo City Council Meeting 01.06.2020
Public Works Superintendent Mike Fisher reported a bid on a wastewater treatment plant screw press to more efficiently separate liquid from other matter to be exported. An older but still new unit will be updated & installed by a contractor, saving 40 hours labor monthly. New units typically cost $10-12,000. Installation could be accomplished by mid-January.
More in agenda report.
Water meter updates will begin shortly, report expected by next meeting.
Police Chief John Brockmeuller reported city operations within normal range.
One person was arrested, believed to be connected to recent spate of car prowls, booked on other charges.
City Clerk Michelle Whitten stated a joint meeting Park Board & Lions Club, plus Lewis County is being scheduled to consider options for South Lewis County Park (Wallace Pond), more information to come on January 15, 2020 tentative meeting at Middle School.
- Mayor Pro tem - Ron Neumann
- Mayoral appointments - 1 change: Ron Neumann accepted Utility appointment.
- Planning Commission appts - Passed.
- WWP Screw Press - $9,700.00 installed - Passed.
(2020 Appointments)
Adjourned 6:21 PM
***
National Weather Service Seattle: Weather Outlook
***
Aquatic Species Restoration Plan (ASRP) Symposium
January 7, 2020 - Hosted by Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
The Aquatic Species Restoration Plan (ASRP) Steering Committee will host a two-day symposium to share scientific research from the Chehalis Basin.
The first day of the symposium (Jan. 7) is geared toward the restoration and conservation community, as well as those who are interested in the technical and scientific aspects of the Aquatic Species Restoration Plan Phase 1 development.
The second day (Jan. 8) will inform audiences how the Aquatic Species Restoration Plan would interact with communities in the Chehalis Basin. There will be several interactive activities throughout the day, including two panel discussions.
For more information, or to sign up for email updates, visit: http://chehalisbasinstrategy.com/asrp/asrp-symposium-events/
***
Tech Tuesday: How I Got Rid Of 4 Filing Cabinets (& All My Bookcases)
02.06.2015
*Updated 01.07.2019
January seems to trigger New Years resolutions to organize, minimize, clear out the old and start with a fresh slate. In that spirit I share with you the resources I employed to reduce Paper, a source of much consternation in my own world. If you perceive such a task to be daunting, skip to the *PS at the end.
A lifetime ago, a contract I had was winding to a close and the business quit paying. Their tactic was to see how hungry I got, and find out how little I might settle for. They demanded all 3.5 years worth of multi-page pay applications be re-submitted for auditing.
I had moved, and everything was in sagging file boxes in storage. It seemed insurmountable.
Until the faint voice of The Office Ladies (Love those Office Ladies!) reminded me that emailing those forms to them would be fastest. My bulging Sent Mail file, which I never remembered to purge, had every single document required.
I can still recall the look on their attorney's face when Misty, my own Office Lady from an incubator office, came sailing into the meeting with 2 reams of printed copies, "taken from Sent Mail" (insert infuriated glare from their attorney to his client) AND dropped a CD with all the data on top of the stack. You could have heard a pin drop. Just like that, the meeting was over.
The next morning an email went out to all the subcontractors (like me) that “All pay applications will be submitted via electronic media, effective immediately.” I changed the way a large Texas land developer did business. And my check arrived via overnight mail shortly.
Today I have a better system than 3 years worth of Sent Mail.
And I have since conducted all my personal and business transactions paperless-ly.
(Is that a word? It ought to be.)
First: You DO have paperless billing, yes?
For virtually (sic) everything paper: Scan. Then Print to PDF. Or Save As document or photo. Or Send to cloud storage or thumb drive. Or both. Tag it/label it/title it.
Resources:
www.PaperKarma.com for unsolicited mail (Now $1.99/mo with no long-term commitments but huge results in 6-12 months - nothing else comes close!)
Gmail/Hotmail/any email with generous storage – plus one backup account
Google Drive or MS OneDrive (previously SkyDrive)
www.Evernote.com
https://getpocket.com/
https://www.myfax.com/ (One of few paid apps I endorse, $10/month, & I have everything I have ever sent on file)
https://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf-reader/ (FoxitReader PDF editor) I like this one better than Adobe (and free), especially the Typewriter function that makes any PDF a fillable form. Works anywhere Adobe Reader is “required.”
Ereader apps – Nook, Kindle, Kobo, Overdrive, etc.
Special mention:
Pulse SMS, productivity, lets me respond to texts in a separate tab or window without touching the phone. Sorry, iPeople, iOS doesn't do this yet.
*Updated 09.03.2019 - https://pulsesms.app/
*PS You don't have to Scan your entire world. Start by scanning/storing this week, and address older paperwork only as needed. In time, most of that old paper will become moot. The exceptions will stand out - mortgage, insurance, etc.
*Updated 01.07.2020
***
Not Strictly Toledo: Health and Hope Medical Outreach
FREE MEDICAL CLINIC TONIGHT from 5:30 - 8:00pm
Located at 1911 Cooks Hill Rd. Centralia. (NW Pediatrics - West Building)
Health & Hope Medical Outreach provides FREE walk-in medical care and Mental Healthcare to the uninsured and under-insured of Lewis County and South Thurston County.
***
Today: Ukulele Lessons
Aquatic Species Restoration Plan (ASRP) Symposium
January 7, 2020 - Hosted by Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
The Aquatic Species Restoration Plan (ASRP) Steering Committee will host a two-day symposium to share scientific research from the Chehalis Basin.
The first day of the symposium (Jan. 7) is geared toward the restoration and conservation community, as well as those who are interested in the technical and scientific aspects of the Aquatic Species Restoration Plan Phase 1 development.
The second day (Jan. 8) will inform audiences how the Aquatic Species Restoration Plan would interact with communities in the Chehalis Basin. There will be several interactive activities throughout the day, including two panel discussions.
For more information, or to sign up for email updates, visit: http://chehalisbasinstrategy.com/asrp/asrp-symposium-events/
***
Tech Tuesday: How I Got Rid Of 4 Filing Cabinets (& All My Bookcases)
02.06.2015
*Updated 01.07.2019
January seems to trigger New Years resolutions to organize, minimize, clear out the old and start with a fresh slate. In that spirit I share with you the resources I employed to reduce Paper, a source of much consternation in my own world. If you perceive such a task to be daunting, skip to the *PS at the end.
A lifetime ago, a contract I had was winding to a close and the business quit paying. Their tactic was to see how hungry I got, and find out how little I might settle for. They demanded all 3.5 years worth of multi-page pay applications be re-submitted for auditing.
I had moved, and everything was in sagging file boxes in storage. It seemed insurmountable.
Until the faint voice of The Office Ladies (Love those Office Ladies!) reminded me that emailing those forms to them would be fastest. My bulging Sent Mail file, which I never remembered to purge, had every single document required.
I can still recall the look on their attorney's face when Misty, my own Office Lady from an incubator office, came sailing into the meeting with 2 reams of printed copies, "taken from Sent Mail" (insert infuriated glare from their attorney to his client) AND dropped a CD with all the data on top of the stack. You could have heard a pin drop. Just like that, the meeting was over.
The next morning an email went out to all the subcontractors (like me) that “All pay applications will be submitted via electronic media, effective immediately.” I changed the way a large Texas land developer did business. And my check arrived via overnight mail shortly.
Today I have a better system than 3 years worth of Sent Mail.
And I have since conducted all my personal and business transactions paperless-ly.
(Is that a word? It ought to be.)
First: You DO have paperless billing, yes?
For virtually (sic) everything paper: Scan. Then Print to PDF. Or Save As document or photo. Or Send to cloud storage or thumb drive. Or both. Tag it/label it/title it.
Resources:
www.PaperKarma.com for unsolicited mail (Now $1.99/mo with no long-term commitments but huge results in 6-12 months - nothing else comes close!)
Gmail/Hotmail/any email with generous storage – plus one backup account
Google Drive or MS OneDrive (previously SkyDrive)
www.Evernote.com
https://getpocket.com/
https://www.myfax.com/ (One of few paid apps I endorse, $10/month, & I have everything I have ever sent on file)
https://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf-reader/ (FoxitReader PDF editor) I like this one better than Adobe (and free), especially the Typewriter function that makes any PDF a fillable form. Works anywhere Adobe Reader is “required.”
Ereader apps – Nook, Kindle, Kobo, Overdrive, etc.
Special mention:
Pulse SMS, productivity, lets me respond to texts in a separate tab or window without touching the phone. Sorry, iPeople, iOS doesn't do this yet.
*Updated 09.03.2019 - https://pulsesms.app/
*PS You don't have to Scan your entire world. Start by scanning/storing this week, and address older paperwork only as needed. In time, most of that old paper will become moot. The exceptions will stand out - mortgage, insurance, etc.
*Updated 01.07.2020
***
Not Strictly Toledo: Health and Hope Medical Outreach
FREE MEDICAL CLINIC TONIGHT from 5:30 - 8:00pm
Located at 1911 Cooks Hill Rd. Centralia. (NW Pediatrics - West Building)
Health & Hope Medical Outreach provides FREE walk-in medical care and Mental Healthcare to the uninsured and under-insured of Lewis County and South Thurston County.
***
Today: Ukulele Lessons
***
Today: Community Action Council Lewis Mason Thurston Energy Assistance
January 7, 2020
Lewis and Thurston County are no longer scheduling normal Energy Assistance appointments. Emergency appointments may be available for those without heat of any kind but certain restrictions do apply. Please dial (360) 438-1100 and speak with an Energy Assistance staff member if that is the case.
Phone lines will open at 7:00am and our online scheduler will open at 9:00am on each county’s respective scheduling-day.
To schedule an appointment by phone in Thurston County, please call (360) 438-1100.
To schedule an appointment by phone in Lewis County, please call (360) 736-1800.
To schedule an appointment in Mason County, please call (360) 426-9726.
To schedule an appointment online after 9:00am, please follow this link: http://web2.caclmt.org/cac_liheap/
For further information, click here and select Program Updates.
Note: If you are without heat of any kind, please call our agency to see if there are available emergency appointments.
***
Toledo High School Sports:
Boys Basketball
Jan 8th vs. Wahkiakum 5:45/7:00
Jan 10th @ Onalaska 5:45/7:00 bus @ 4:00
Girls Basketball
Jan 7th vs. Winlock 5:45/7:00
Jan 8th vs. Wahkiakum 5:45/7:00
Jan 9th @ Toutle Lake 5:45/7:00 bus @ 4:30
***
Future-Tripping: Feeds, Fundraisers, Fun & More
***
Lewis County Water Alliance - We are a citizens group in Randle, WA fighting to keep Crystal Geyser from bottling and exporting our water. Our goal is to protect our water and environment for our families, our farms, our fish, and our future.
Update: Lewis County Water Alliance has received so much support from other towns & regions seeking to halt commercial water interests that Washington Water Alliance has been created.
*Special thanks to Deanna Busdieker, who condensed posts & threads into a shared folder: Link here.
Updated several times daily. The Other Toledo is committed to supporting our upriver neighbors in their challenge to preserve this precious natural resource. After all, we all live downstream.
***
Wendy Carolan: Lewis County Kinship Support Group
There are many of us out here raising grandkids or other family members.
Join us as we share support and resources.
***
TES PTO invited: ISO Girl Scout Leaders
Toledo is looking for Girl Scout leaders. One person doesn’t need to be in charge, multiple people can lead a troop and split responsibilities. Let myself (Tina Lyon) or Kelly Schey know if you are interested or have questions.
***
The Cat's Meow Spay, Neuter & Adoption Project: Drive For New Clinic
We want to do more for the community!
Fixing 120 cats a month is not enough...we want to do 120 a week!
We NEED a spay/neuter facility in Lewis County.
If every person whose life we've touched would donate just $5 a month...or sign up with smile.Amazon and igive.com, we could have one up and running by this time next year!
Here's how: www.catsmeowsnap.org/join-us
Thank you for helping us help kittens & cats of SW Washington and the people who care for and love them!
Q: Is the Cat's Meow a 501(c)(3)?
A: yes, since 2011!
***
Visiting Hooves Miniature Therapy Horses & Bunnies:
*GoFundMe: Therapy animal Nonprofit devastated by hardships
***
Toledo Builds a High School
Information regarding the building of a new high school in Toledo, WA beginning in November, 2018. Regular updates.
https://chris-rust.blogspot.com/
***
Check out Latest Earthquakes at USGS.
Pacific Northwest Seismic Network has a new Tremor Map: https://tinyurl.com/y2pcbust
Check out US Tsunami Warnings at NOAA/Weather.
Air Quality Forecast at https://airquality.weather.gov
Cliff Mass Weather & Climate Blog: https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/
Visualize wildfire smoke with NASAWorldview - https://go.nasa.gov/2T7olog
Emergency Alerts: https://www.ready.gov/alerts (concise list with links)
Keep abreast of burn bans statewide: WA Burn Bans
WDFW: Dangerous wildlife
To report poaching in progress and emergency dangerous wildlife complaints, dial 911.
For non-emergency poaching or violation reporting, or non-emergency dangerous wildlife complaints, call 877-933-9847, or submit an online report. You can also text your poaching/violation tip to 847411 (TIP411).
Dangerous wildlife incident reports
Review wolf, cougar, and grizzly bear incidents in Washington state.
Response to dangerous wildlife complaints
WDFW policy directs agency employees to respond appropriately to dangerous wildlife incidents.
Cougar Management Removal Permit Program
Cougar removals may be conducted if warranted by a human-cougar interactions or a livestock or pet depredation.
The Other Toledo is delivered to your email inbox via MailerLite. If you're having trouble getting your Daily Column, your security settings might not recognize MailerLite as (your email)via mlsend.
Photos from TOT archives unless otherwise noted.
Send news and events to: toledo.columnist@gmail.com
The Other Toledo is on Twitter.
Today: Community Action Council Lewis Mason Thurston Energy Assistance
January 7, 2020
Lewis and Thurston County are no longer scheduling normal Energy Assistance appointments. Emergency appointments may be available for those without heat of any kind but certain restrictions do apply. Please dial (360) 438-1100 and speak with an Energy Assistance staff member if that is the case.
Phone lines will open at 7:00am and our online scheduler will open at 9:00am on each county’s respective scheduling-day.
To schedule an appointment by phone in Thurston County, please call (360) 438-1100.
To schedule an appointment by phone in Lewis County, please call (360) 736-1800.
To schedule an appointment in Mason County, please call (360) 426-9726.
To schedule an appointment online after 9:00am, please follow this link: http://web2.caclmt.org/cac_liheap/
For further information, click here and select Program Updates.
Note: If you are without heat of any kind, please call our agency to see if there are available emergency appointments.
***
Toledo High School Sports:
Boys Basketball
Jan 8th vs. Wahkiakum 5:45/7:00
Jan 10th @ Onalaska 5:45/7:00 bus @ 4:00
Girls Basketball
Jan 7th vs. Winlock 5:45/7:00
Jan 8th vs. Wahkiakum 5:45/7:00
Jan 9th @ Toutle Lake 5:45/7:00 bus @ 4:30
***
Future-Tripping: Feeds, Fundraisers, Fun & More
***
Lewis County Water Alliance - We are a citizens group in Randle, WA fighting to keep Crystal Geyser from bottling and exporting our water. Our goal is to protect our water and environment for our families, our farms, our fish, and our future.
Update: Lewis County Water Alliance has received so much support from other towns & regions seeking to halt commercial water interests that Washington Water Alliance has been created.
*Special thanks to Deanna Busdieker, who condensed posts & threads into a shared folder: Link here.
Updated several times daily. The Other Toledo is committed to supporting our upriver neighbors in their challenge to preserve this precious natural resource. After all, we all live downstream.
***
Wendy Carolan: Lewis County Kinship Support Group
There are many of us out here raising grandkids or other family members.
Join us as we share support and resources.
***
TES PTO invited: ISO Girl Scout Leaders
Toledo is looking for Girl Scout leaders. One person doesn’t need to be in charge, multiple people can lead a troop and split responsibilities. Let myself (Tina Lyon) or Kelly Schey know if you are interested or have questions.
***
The Cat's Meow Spay, Neuter & Adoption Project: Drive For New Clinic
We want to do more for the community!
Fixing 120 cats a month is not enough...we want to do 120 a week!
We NEED a spay/neuter facility in Lewis County.
If every person whose life we've touched would donate just $5 a month...or sign up with smile.Amazon and igive.com, we could have one up and running by this time next year!
Here's how: www.catsmeowsnap.org/join-us
Thank you for helping us help kittens & cats of SW Washington and the people who care for and love them!
Q: Is the Cat's Meow a 501(c)(3)?
A: yes, since 2011!
***
Visiting Hooves Miniature Therapy Horses & Bunnies:
*GoFundMe: Therapy animal Nonprofit devastated by hardships
***
Toledo Builds a High School
Information regarding the building of a new high school in Toledo, WA beginning in November, 2018. Regular updates.
https://chris-rust.blogspot.com/
***
Check out Latest Earthquakes at USGS.
Pacific Northwest Seismic Network has a new Tremor Map: https://tinyurl.com/y2pcbust
Check out US Tsunami Warnings at NOAA/Weather.
Air Quality Forecast at https://airquality.weather.gov
Cliff Mass Weather & Climate Blog: https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/
Visualize wildfire smoke with NASAWorldview - https://go.nasa.gov/2T7olog
Emergency Alerts: https://www.ready.gov/alerts (concise list with links)
Keep abreast of burn bans statewide: WA Burn Bans
WDFW: Dangerous wildlife
To report poaching in progress and emergency dangerous wildlife complaints, dial 911.
For non-emergency poaching or violation reporting, or non-emergency dangerous wildlife complaints, call 877-933-9847, or submit an online report. You can also text your poaching/violation tip to 847411 (TIP411).
Dangerous wildlife incident reports
Review wolf, cougar, and grizzly bear incidents in Washington state.
Response to dangerous wildlife complaints
WDFW policy directs agency employees to respond appropriately to dangerous wildlife incidents.
Cougar Management Removal Permit Program
Cougar removals may be conducted if warranted by a human-cougar interactions or a livestock or pet depredation.
The Other Toledo is delivered to your email inbox via MailerLite. If you're having trouble getting your Daily Column, your security settings might not recognize MailerLite as (your email)via mlsend.
Photos from TOT archives unless otherwise noted.
Send news and events to: toledo.columnist@gmail.com
The Other Toledo is on Twitter.
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