Yesterday: Caught in the act!
Photos courtesy of Linda Bird-Sonne, Brian Dennis, Gary Whiteside and Joh Jones (L-R)
In the first incident of spontaneous civil beautification captured on film in broad daylight* four rogues identifying themselves as Common Grounds uprooted weeds, overturned soil, and left telltale compost ready for hardy perennials and low-profile greenery in front of the Post Office. (* Gallery 505’s proprietress has been seen frequently around the downtown core weeding, watering and planting fresh annuals but never photographed. She may be partly responsible for Common Ground’s actions today.)
In the first incident of spontaneous civil beautification captured on film in broad daylight* four rogues identifying themselves as Common Grounds uprooted weeds, overturned soil, and left telltale compost ready for hardy perennials and low-profile greenery in front of the Post Office. (* Gallery 505’s proprietress has been seen frequently around the downtown core weeding, watering and planting fresh annuals but never photographed. She may be partly responsible for Common Ground’s actions today.)
Members issued a public statement today:
It is the beginning work of Toledo View's new committee called 'Common Ground' whose objective is to make seasonal 'eye candy' out of Toledo's public garden space for all to enjoy and be proud of.
Today, during our 'flash weeding mob', we weeded, inspected the soil, and installed a light layer of organic mulch to hold the garden's appearance until the installation of specially-chosen varieties of low-growing evergreen, perennial, and annual plants.
Other public garden areas include planter boxes, the fish sculpture, the Food Bank garden, the Grade School gardens, the Gospodor Eagle, and the Old Jail House, all of which are green space diamonds-in-the-rough. Volunteers are always welcome to share their love for gardening and for our town.
It is the beginning work of Toledo View's new committee called 'Common Ground' whose objective is to make seasonal 'eye candy' out of Toledo's public garden space for all to enjoy and be proud of.
Today, during our 'flash weeding mob', we weeded, inspected the soil, and installed a light layer of organic mulch to hold the garden's appearance until the installation of specially-chosen varieties of low-growing evergreen, perennial, and annual plants.
Other public garden areas include planter boxes, the fish sculpture, the Food Bank garden, the Grade School gardens, the Gospodor Eagle, and the Old Jail House, all of which are green space diamonds-in-the-rough. Volunteers are always welcome to share their love for gardening and for our town.
v:T Common Ground -- beautifying the green spaces in Toledo.
These vision:Toledo related projects are underway. If you have the time and interest, please join us.
WHEN -- 10 am, Wednesday, May 18
WHERE -- POST OFFICE FLAG POLE
WHAT -- pull weeds and augment the soil
Contact -- Linda Bird-Sonne greenbirdy@frontier.com
WHEN -- afternoon of Wednesday, May 18
WHERE -- CITY PARK ENTRANCE
WHAT -- delivery of new topsoil
Contact -- Brian Dennis brianscottdennis15@gmail.com
WHEN -- 10 am, Sunday, May 22
WHERE -- STEAMBOAT ALLEY
WHAT -- clean up the alley next to Hair It Is
Contact -- Jamie Cummings jamie.cummings.toledo@gmail.com
WHEN -- 5 pm, Monday, May 23
WHERE -- CITY PARK ENTRANCE
WHAT -- begin planting new plants
Contact -- Katie Pomeroy kfjpomeroy@yahoo.com
WHEN -- 6:30 pm, Tuesday, May 24
WHERE -- MORGAN ARTS CENTRE
WHAT -- monthly vision:Toledo meeting
Contact -- Di Morgan di@morganartscentre.com
WHEN -- 9 am, Saturday, June 4
WHERE -- CITY BOAT LAUNCH
WHAT -- annual Community Clean Up day
Contact -- Steve Dobosh dobiedogg@yahoo.com
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Correction: Vicky Quackenbush was at the Toledo Library yesterday 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. to help with genealogy. The Other Toledo erroneously listed knitting, crocheting and needlework tips and techniques with Cindy Quick and Kathy Tyner 3-5 p.m. which will take place next Wednesday. TOT apologizes for any inconvenience caused by this misprint.
These vision:Toledo related projects are underway. If you have the time and interest, please join us.
WHEN -- 10 am, Wednesday, May 18
WHERE -- POST OFFICE FLAG POLE
WHAT -- pull weeds and augment the soil
Contact -- Linda Bird-Sonne greenbirdy@frontier.com
WHEN -- afternoon of Wednesday, May 18
WHERE -- CITY PARK ENTRANCE
WHAT -- delivery of new topsoil
Contact -- Brian Dennis brianscottdennis15@gmail.com
WHEN -- 10 am, Sunday, May 22
WHERE -- STEAMBOAT ALLEY
WHAT -- clean up the alley next to Hair It Is
Contact -- Jamie Cummings jamie.cummings.toledo@gmail.com
WHEN -- 5 pm, Monday, May 23
WHERE -- CITY PARK ENTRANCE
WHAT -- begin planting new plants
Contact -- Katie Pomeroy kfjpomeroy@yahoo.com
WHEN -- 6:30 pm, Tuesday, May 24
WHERE -- MORGAN ARTS CENTRE
WHAT -- monthly vision:Toledo meeting
Contact -- Di Morgan di@morganartscentre.com
WHEN -- 9 am, Saturday, June 4
WHERE -- CITY BOAT LAUNCH
WHAT -- annual Community Clean Up day
Contact -- Steve Dobosh dobiedogg@yahoo.com
***
Correction: Vicky Quackenbush was at the Toledo Library yesterday 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. to help with genealogy. The Other Toledo erroneously listed knitting, crocheting and needlework tips and techniques with Cindy Quick and Kathy Tyner 3-5 p.m. which will take place next Wednesday. TOT apologizes for any inconvenience caused by this misprint.
Check out the book sale while you’re there, pick up a mystery for this month's Adult Page Turners May 26, and consider training to volunteer this summer as a fill-in. On Facebook here or call (360)864-4247.
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Last night’s Toledo School District’s Facilities Advisory Committee met with Kelley Wilson of Construction Services Group to delve into details around the proposed renovations and upgrades under consideration at the high school, along with certain measures at the middle and elementary schools.
Superintendent Chris Rust reviewed the process to date, and the process heading to a bond measure.
CSG’s Wilson defined terms of the cost estimates broken down into specific items, such as upgrading to LED lighting and ADA-compliant improvements, explaining that identified line-item estimates do not equal actual budgets, but provide useful projections of costs based on current prices and trends. Wilson addressed also matching funds available for projects in excess of $213/sf with allowances for rising costs. Toledo’s current projected needs come in around $200/sf. Considering upgraded options - higher quality materials, more expensive but energy efficient equipment, etc. - could up the current overall project estimate total but in fact save taxpayers 65% by eligibility for matching state funding.
Those assembled broke into small groups of 2-5 to recommend priority projects on a scale, discuss merits of each, and compare notes aloud to the room. This brought on animated debate, into which Superintendent Rust dropped a pertinent question. “”At last month’s meeting, there were (more than double the number) of people present today. Where are they? Where are the students, the parents, faculty?” He acknowledged those who did attend, indicated that community support was crucial in getting a bond onto the ballot in February 2017 and passing.
The question of the real cost to taxpayers of the soon-to-be expiring bond versus a new bond was not definitively answered at this meeting, as estimates cannot readily be compared to hard data. Those estimates will solidify later in the process, and more realistic comparisons can be made.
Before dismissing the group, Rust summarized the priorities put forward, promised to bring the ThoughtExchange online data to the June 15 monthly FAC meeting, examine the combined priorities, and review millage rates and bond implications of the priorities. Finalizing the Study, survey and Master Plan will wrap up this phase of the project with the June meeting. Each phase is noted in 3-month increments through each year reaching to 2019.
Details and documents from each month’s FAC meeting online via the District’s website. Click on the Facilities Advisory Committee, Links page of the District’s website at http://toledoschools.us. Direct FAC page link here.
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Thursday May 19 Toledo School District Board Of Directors meet 7 p.m. at the Middle School library. Visit website or call (360)864-6325. Toledo School District FB link here. Beginning with the May 19, 2016 meeting, Toledo School District will be transitioning to an online board meeting solution. After May 19th, agendas and minutes can be accessed at http://www.boarddocs.com/wa/toledo/Board.nsf/Public.
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Thursday Toledo Planning Commission meets third Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm. The meetings are conducted at the Toledo City Council chambers.
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Pat says: Mrs Shipp's and Mrs Subject's third grade classes will be taking a walking field trip to the Toledo Library on Friday May 20. Roxie Phillips will read a story to them, they will tour the History Room and learn about the summer reading program. This will be a first time visit to the library for many and a trip that will hopefully lead to many more visits this summer.
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Also Friday: Toledo’s celebrated Astrophysicist Ethan Siegel says: Head on over to Centralia College, Walton Science Center, Room 121 on May 20th at noon where I’ll be speaking on Fate of the Universe (and autographing books, too!). Free. Centralia College blog link on Siegel’s talk here.
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From Native Soil Farm’s Facebook page: “Farmers don’t need to feed the world…” Check out the rest of this quote here and pick up Native Soil Farm’s goods at Winlock’s Saturday Market.
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