- National Weather Service: Wednesday is #SafePlaceSelfie Day
- National Farmers Union: 140 Groups Unite To Protect 2020 Conservation Funding
- CDC: More Salmonella Infections Linked To Hedgehogs - IA, VA, WA States
- USDA: ARS Discontinues Toxoplasmosis Research with Cats
- USDA-FSIS: AdvancePierre Foods, Inc. Recalls Frozen Beef Patties -
- FDA: Warning Letters Issued To 3 Companies On Broad Cannabis Health Claims
- WATG: First Animal Trafficking Act Charges Filed, High Court Declines Appeal
- WA RCO: ISO* Input - Recreational Assets of Statewide Significance Study
- WA Parks & Rec: ISO Summer Intern @ Mt St Helens
- Toledo Senior Center: Thanks To Supporters
- Not Strictly Toledo: Hazo Hut & Swap Shack at Centralia Recycle
- Today: Toledo Community Library Open Until 6 PM, No Yoga Class This Week
- Thursday: Gallery 505 Opening Night
- Toledo High School Sports - April 2019
- Future-Tripping: Feeds, Fundraisers, Forms, Fun & More

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If there was one extreme weather preparedness action you want your loved ones to take, what would it be? For many, that one action is to know ahead of time where their safe place is located. On April 3rd, 2019, at 11:11am local time, please join the National Weather Service and its Weather-Ready Nation Ambassadors to take a “selfie” and post with the hashtag #SafePlaceSelfie.
Join us and others from all across the country sharing their weather and natural disaster safe places!
Snap a selfie at your "tsunami safe place."
Tag it. #SafePlaceSelfie
Share it.
More info on #SafePlaceSelfie: https://www.weather.gov/wrn/safeplaceselfie
CDC: A CDC investigation update: Salmonella Infections Linked To Hedgehogs
Media Statement
For Immediate Release: Friday, March 29, 2019
Contact: Media Relations
(404) 639-3286
A CDC investigation update of a multistate outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to contact with pet hedgehogs has been posted: https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/typhimurium-01-19/index.html .
Updates:
- Since the last update on January 25, 2019, six more people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella have been reported, bringing the total to 17 cases.
- Three states have been added to this investigation (Iowa, Virginia, and Washington).
- Two people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
- Six out of 14 ill people with available information (43%) are children 12 years of age or younger.
- A common supplier of hedgehogs in this outbreak has not been identified. Ill people reported buying hedgehogs from various sources, including pet stores, breeders, or online.
- Illnesses started from October 22, 2018 to March 1, 2019.
- CDC continues to monitor PulseNet to identify illnesses that may be part of this outbreak.
- This investigation is ongoing, and CDC will provide updates when more information becomes available.
General advice on pet hedgehogs:
- Hedgehogs can carry Salmonella germs in their droppings while appearing healthy and clean. Germs can easily spread to their bodies and anything in the area where they live.
- Pick the right pet for your family. Children younger than 5 years old, adults over 65, and people with weakened immune systems are at a greater risk for serious illness. Households with these people might consider a different pet.
- Always wash hands thoroughly with soap and water right after touching, feeding, or caring for a hedgehog or cleaning its habitat. Adults should supervise handwashing for young children.
- Don’t kiss or snuggle hedgehogs, because this can spread Salmonella germs to your face and mouth and make you sick.
- Don’t let hedgehogs roam freely in areas where food is prepared or stored, such as kitchens.
- Clean hedgehog habitats, toys, and supplies outside the house when possible.
- Most people infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps 12-72 hours after being exposed to the bacteria. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most people recover without treatment.
If you have questions about cases in a particular state, please call that state’s health department.
USDA: ARS Announces Toxoplasmosis Research Review, Discontinues Research with Cats
(WASHINGTON, D.C., April 2, 2019) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) today announced its toxoplasmosis research has been redirected and the use of cats as part of any research protocol in any ARS laboratory has been discontinued and will not be reinstated.
More...
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USDA-FSIS: AdvancePierre Foods, Inc. Recalls Frozen Beef Patties due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination
Class II Recall 040-2019
Health Risk: Low
WASHINGTON, April 2, 2019– AdvancePierre Foods, Inc., an Enid, Okla. establishment, is recalling approximately 20,373 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) beef patties that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically soft purple plastic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.
…
There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.
FSIS is concerned that some product may be frozen and in food service freezers. Food service locations who have purchased these products are urged not to serve or consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.
Complete News Release link here.
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FDA: Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., on new steps to advance agency’s continued evaluation of potential regulatory pathways for cannabis-containing and cannabis-derived products
Excerpt: Interest in these products increased last December when Congress passed the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (the 2018 Farm Bill). Among other things, this law established a new category of cannabis classified as “hemp” – defined as cannabis and cannabis derivatives with extremely low (no more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis) concentrations of the psychoactive compound delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp from the Controlled Substances Act, which means that it is no longer a controlled substance under federal law.
At the same time, Congress explicitly preserved the FDA’s current authority to regulate products containing cannabis or cannabis-derived compounds under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) and section 351 of the Public Health Service Act.
...
Today, the FDA is announcing that it has issued warning letters, in collaboration with the Federal Trade Commission, to three companies – Advanced Spine and Pain LLC (d/b/a Relievus), Nutra Pure LLC and PotNetwork Holdings Inc. – in response to their making unsubstantiated claims related to more than a dozen different products and spanning multiple product webpages, online stores and social media websites. The companies used these online platforms to make unfounded, egregious claims about their products' ability to limit, treat or cure cancer, neurodegenerative conditions, autoimmune diseases, opioid use disorder, and other serious diseases, without sufficient evidence and the legally required FDA approval.
More...
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Office of the Federal Register - FDA: Youth Tobacco Cessation: Science and Treatment Strategies; Public Scientific Workshop; Request for Comments
SUMMARY:
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA, the Agency, or we) is announcing the following public scientific workshop entitled “Youth Tobacco Cessation: Science and Treatment Strategies.” The purpose of the workshop is to discuss the unique challenges associated with youth tobacco addiction and cessation, and the current science regarding youth tobacco use and addiction as well as treatment strategies to support youth tobacco cessation.
Excerpt:
Nearly all tobacco product use begins during youth and young adulthood (Ref. 1). In 2017-2018, there was an alarming increase in tobacco product use among adolescents, primarily driven by e-cigarette use (Refs. 2 and 3).
…
According to data from the FDA/CDC 2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey, more than 3.6 million middle and high school students were current e-cigarettes users in 2018, representing a substantial increase of more than 1.5 million students in one year (Ref. 3). Furthermore, data recently published in JAMA Network Open showed that youth e-cigarette users are more likely to transition to conventional cigarettes, as compared to non-users (Ref. 6).
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The Female Farmer Project reminder: Beginning Farmer Institute!!
Deadline to apply for this free year-long institute is April 15!
National Farmers Union's Beginning Farmer Institute (BFI) is a free training programs for new producers of all ages and operation type/size. Participants attend three in-person learning sessions over the course of the year, one each in Washington, D.C., Northern California, and Savannah, Georgia. The sessions include farm tours as well as seminars on a variety of beginning farmers issues, such as business planning, USDA programs, and acquiring land.
Applications for the 2019-2020 BFI cohort will be open February 1 through April 15.
https://nfu.org/education/beginning-farmer-institute/
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National Farmers Union Press Release: Leading Farm, Conservation, and Wildlife Groups Unite in Support of Protecting Conservation Funding
April 2, 2019
Washington, DC, April 2, 2019 – Having succeeded in protecting funding for the Conservation Title in the 2018 Farm Bill, more than 140 leading farm, conservation, and wildlife groups are once again joining together to protect those hard-fought conservation funds and programs in the fiscal year (FY) 2020 appropriations process.
In a letter delivered today, the groups, which include the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), National Farmers Union (NFU), National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), National Wildlife Federation (NWF), and American Farmland Trust (AFT), called upon appropriators to respect the funding decisions made in the 2018 Farm Bill and reject any cuts to farm bill conservation funding through the appropriations process.
More...
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Washington State Office of The Attorney General: Press Releases
Apr 2 2019
Attorney General Ferguson files first-ever charges under Washington Animal Trafficking Act
Initiative 1401 criminalized trafficking in products made from certain endangered species
Attorney General Bob Ferguson today filed the state’s first-ever criminal charges under a voter-approved initiative banning the sale or transfer of products made from certain endangered species.
Click here to read the full news release...
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Apr 2 2019
Joint statement from AG Ferguson and L&I Director Sacks on Alaska Airlines US Supreme Court decision
High court declines case, leaves ruling that protects state workers in place
OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson and Department of Labor & Industries Director Joel Sacks offer the following statement on the United States Supreme Court decision to decline to hear Alaska Airlines v. L&I:
Click here to read the full news release...
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Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office posted:
WE NEED YOUR INPUT! We’re working on a study to identify recreational assets, where gaps may exist, and recommendations and investment strategies to fill those gaps.
The ensuing Recreational Assets of Statewide Significance Study will help decision-makers determine how to invest in local and destination facilities that ensure everyone has access to high-quality experiences outdoors. Help us understand how you get outdoors in Washington state by taking our survey: https://bit.ly/2HRGrIw.
Learn more about the study at https://bit.ly/2UrWD9k
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Morgan Arts Centre updated:
Enrollment forms went into the mail and are available at Gallery 505 for our 3 weeks of Kids Summer Camps. Just saying, they are out there and the spaces fill pretty fast. First come - first served. Thank you for sharing your kids with us!
~Di & Mike and the staff at Camp Picasso & Children's Theater Workshop.
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Friday sign-up deadline: Basket Weaving class with Tom Todd
Join us!
Basket weaving class with Tom Todd
$12 per person (includes materials!)
Tuesday evening at 6:30 (4/23, 4/30 & 5/7 if needed)
Camp Singing Wind community center (lodge)
** 20 spots available - sign up before April 5th so Tom has time to order materials!
Event link here.
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Lewis County Seniors have been able to keep the doors open in all 5 locations, thanks in large part to the Second Time Around Thrift Store with your generous donations and patronage. (BTW, they’re seeking a washer - your donation is tax-deductible!)
Here I pay tribute in particular to Toledo Senior Center, who says “Thanks for all your support!”March’s Meatloaf Dinner & Evening of Magic was a winner, as was the Silent Auction, and April’s Prime Rib Dinner is likely to sell out quickly. ($17 advance tix available now)
As the Lewis County Senior Centers transition away from local oversight toward their non-profit 501(c)3 corporation status, Toledo’s community support is evident in so many ways - student help with serving monthly pancake breakfasts, cookies for I-5 rest stop coffee stops, annual Cheese Days 2nd Time Around Sale & Christmas Bazaar, and much more.
Toledo Senior Center provided a hasty venue for a Town Hall meeting 3 years back, responded to dangerously high summer temps 2 years ago by sharing their air-conditioned facilities as a cooling center, and continue to play a vital part in the local scene.
Give yourselves a hand for supporting the folks who supported you.
See you at dinner April 27!
*ISO Better Bones & Balance low-impact exercise instructor Tuesday & Thursday afternoons. Contact (360)864-2112.
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Not Strictly Toledo: Hazo Hut and the Swap Shack at the Central Transfer Station in Centralia are open today until 4 p.m. to accept your leftover or unwanted household hazardous waste and burned out fluorescent lights. The Swap Shack is the place you can pick up good re-usable paint or cleaning products. Both facilities are open every Wednesday and the first and third Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
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Today: Toledo Community Library open til 6 PM Wednesday, 5 PM Thursday & Saturday.
Page Turners Book Group meets 1:30 PM fourth Wednesday monthly.
April selection: “THE GREAT ALONE” - KRISTIN HANNAH
Toledo Community Library is also on Facebook.
*Ordering through Timberland Library kiosk helps assure this convenient library exchange system will remain in Toledo’s Community Library.
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Tonight - Dancing Moon Yoga says:
Hello friends! We're taking spring break off, so there will be no Wednesday evening yoga this week. We will be back on Wednesday, April 10. I hope you all have a lovely week and look forward to seeing you on the 10th!
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Thursday: Gallery 505 First Look - Opening Night for April Exhibit: Inside Out
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From City of Toledo: ISO Two Visionaries To Fill Posts
We are looking to fill a couple of spots on the Vision:Toledo Mayor's Task Force.
The first is a position at large currently held by Norm Baird.
The second is the Treasurer position currently held by Joh Jones.
We generally meet once a month on the 4th Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. at the Morgan Art Centre. Each Coordinator discusses what is going on in their group, where they may need additional help, new projects, etc. Bills are presented to be paid and an annual budget is discussed.
For details, contact City of Toledo, (360)864-4564
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Toledo High School Sports - April 2019
*** SPRING BREAK APRIL 1 - 5, 2019 ***
Soccer:
April 9th @ Castle Rock 6:00
April 11th @ La Center 6:00
April 16th @ Stevenson 6:00
April 18th vs White Salmon 6:00
April 23rd vs Kings Way 7:00
April 25th @ Seton Catholic 6:00
April 30th vs. Castle Rock 7:00
Baseball:
April 6th vs. Elma 4:00
April 10th vs. Onalaska 4:00
April 12th JV @ Onalaska (DH) 3:00 bus @1:30
April 13th vs. Toutle Lake (DH) 12:00
April 15th JV @ Castle Rock 4:00 bus @ 2:30
April 16th JV vs Onalaska 4:00
April 17th @ Mossyrock(DH) 4:00 bus 2:30
April 22nd vs. Kalama (DH) 4:00 bus ** Senior Night
April 24th vs Castle Rock 4:00
April 27th @ Wahkiakum 12:00 bus @ 9:45
Fastpitch:
April 9th vs Winlock (DH) 3:00
April 12th JV @ Onalaska 3:00
April 13th vs Toutle Lake (DH) 12:00
April 15th @ Castle Rock 4:00 bus @ 2:30
April 16th JV vs Onalaska 3:00
April 17th @ Mossyrock (DH) 4:00 bus @ 2:30
April 18th JV vs. WF West 4:00
April 27th @ Wahkiakum 12:00 bus 9:45
April 29th JV vs. Castle Rock 4:00
Track:
April 11th @ Mossyrock 3:30 bus @ 1:55
April 15th @ Pirate Invite Adna 10:00 bus @ 7:30 am
April 19th Kalama Twilight 3:30 bus @ 3:15
April 25th @ Wahkiakum 3:30 bus @ 1:00
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Future-Tripping: Feeds, Fundraisers, Fun & More
April 12: Coffee House @ Toledo High School
April 20: 3rd Annual Cheesecake Competition @ Morgan Arts Centre
April 26: FCCLA Bingo Night @ Toledo High School
April 27: Fundraiser - Silent Auction & Music for Gayle Homes @ Donna’s Place
April 27: PRIME RIB DINNER @ Toledo Senior Center
May 4: Katie’s Kids Breakfast @ Toledo High School
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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/
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Toledo Thursday Market 2019 TTM Vendor Application PDF link here.
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Check out Latest Earthquakes at USGS.
Check out US Tsunami Warnings at NOAA/Weather.
Air Quality Forecast at https://airquality.weather.gov
Visualize wildfire smoke with NASAWorldview - https://go.nasa.gov/2T7olog
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