- Lewis County Joins DNR, Statewide Emergency Declaration
- Lewis County GAL: ISO* Volunteers
- LC Master Gardeners: Wasps, Hornets, And Yellowjackets
- Ethan Siegel: 2018’s Perseids Meteor Showers
- Annie Jones: Testimonial To A Lived-In Home
- Today: Children’s Theatre Performance At Morgan Arts Centre
- Saturday: Youth Football Car Wash, Mt St Helens Star Party
- Monday: Toledo City Council Meeting
- Future-Tripping: Feeds, Fundraisers, Forms, Fun & More
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Lewis County Total Burn Ban effective 12:01AM Friday, August 3, 2018
This declaration followed closely on the State Commissioner of Public Lands’ burn ban:
Shad Hail shared a link: ISO* Volunteers
Good Evening Lewis County! Amidst the hundreds of posts that cross your feed every day, I hope that for just 30 seconds you can stop and consider this one. The need is dire and the timing is critical. There is a program right here in our area in significant need of people wanting to make a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable people around us. Right now, in the communities we all live in, there are literally over 200 children who have been or are possibly about to be removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. These young boys and girls have often undergone substantial trauma, and are frequently upset, confused and unsure about what will happen to them or where they will go.
In these often tragic situations there are social workers for the state, attorneys for the parents, attorneys for the state, etc... and all of them have a duty to represent and advocate for their agency or client. BUT, there is also another type of person in these cases with an entirely different role. These are the professional volunteers known as Guardian ad Litems who have the privilege of going in and being a voice to the court and advocating for the child. They are the ones making sure that the child’s voice is heard and providing the judge with the information and a recommendation that is critical in helping them make a decision about what to do next.
It is incredibly unfortunate, but we’ve continued to see a huge increase locally in the number of these types of cases, and the number of kids has surpassed the number of available GALs to advocate for them.
I want to be very clear - this is not a problem from another continent, country, or even state. This is a problem right here in Chehalis, Centralia, Adna, Pe Ell, Napavine, Packwood, Winlock, Toledo, Morton, Mossyrock and everywhere in between. It is right here, and it is in your community.
As the Juvenile Court Administrator, I can guarantee you that our staff will train you, we will provide resources to you, and we will be there to support you, but we need people like you to take this imperative role on. We need people from throughout this community to stand up and say, “I will advocate for those boys and those girls, I will not let their voices go unheard.”
If this is something you want to be a part of or are interested in learning more about, please contact GAL Coordinators Janeal Woodruff (360-740-2683) or Angela Cothern (360-740-2688). We truly are in desperate need of more volunteers and we have one of our core trainings coming up very soon so please contact us with any questions or interest you may have as soon as possible. You can also visit http://lewiscountygal.org/ for more information.
Even if you can’t volunteer at this time, YOU CAN HELP by sharing this and by helping us get this message to everyone in our community. It may not be you, but it may be someone you know so please help spread the word.
ISO* = In Search Of
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WSU Lewis County Master Gardeners shared a post: Wasps, Hornets and Yellowjackets
It is that time of year when the wasps, hornets and yellowjackets are becoming painful pests in Spokane County. Here are a couple of helpful tips:
• Lure traps can be placed around the periphery of the area you are trying to protect from yellowjackets and hornets.
• Adding a protein source such as meat to the traps acts as an attractant and may increase the trap’s success. Be sure to replace the meat frequently and remove dead yellowjackets from the trap.
These insects are not all bad. Paper wasps and yellowjacket wasps are primarily predators that prey on other insects. They may be considered beneficial in the home landscape because they prey on insects that are pests of landscape plants. Unfortunately, yellowjacket wasps can be aggressive scavengers, unwelcome visitors at picnics, and will defend their nest by attacking and stinging anything that appears to pose a threat. These behaviors make yellowjacket wasps a danger to homeowner safety and may necessitate control.
Paper wasps, however, are much less aggressive in scavenging and stinging so that they should be discouraged from nesting in areas frequented by people and pets, and they can be managed in a way that allows homeowners to benefit from the pest management services they provide.
For more management information about paper wasps go to WSU: http://pestsense.cahnrs.wsu.edu/Search/MainMenuWithFactSheet.aspx?CategoryId=3&ProblemId=773
For more information about Yellowjackets go to WSU:
http://pestsense.cahnrs.wsu.edu/Search/MainMenuWithFactSheet.aspx?CategoryId=3&ProblemId=788
Fascinated and want to learn more?
https://www.cals.uidaho.edu/edcomm/pdf/BUL/BUL0852.pdf
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Ethan Siegel on: Your Viewing Guide To The Best Meteor Shower In Years: 2018’s Perseids
“The Perseids originate from Comet Swift-Tuttle, which itself is the single most dangerous object known to humanity. The nucleus of the comet is 26 kilometers across, and it takes 133 years to make a complete ellipse in its orbit. It contains nearly 30 times the kinetic energy of the asteroid strike that wiped out the dinosaurs, and based on an upcoming interaction with Jupiter, has about a 1-in-a-million chance of colliding with Earth in the year 4479.
But this comet has been…
See More
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Victoria L. Smith of Visiting Hooves posted this video of Topaz spending quality time with one of her biggest fans. If this one doesn’t tug at your heartstrings, time to get ‘em re-strung.
Victoria wrote: This was at Heritage House, Morton, WA., on Wednesday(July 25, 2018). This sweet 93 year old lady absolutely loves my therapy bunny, Topaz. She crochets little blankets for her. This clearly shows how residents in assisted living or memory care are stimulated by therapy animals.
Visit https://visitinghooves.com to see how you can support this operation.
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Annie Jones posted this testimonial to a lived-in home:
At some point it became apparent that we are the family with a perpetual pile of laundry to fold, an endless stack of papers to sort through (on a cluttered desk), a sink constantly full of dishes to wash and a dining table stacked with projects and general “stuff” shoved to one end so we can attempt to maintain family dinners seated here together.
Together. In some ways I guess we’ve always been that family - In the past I just prioritized keeping the messes to a minimum. But these days I’m keeping my stress to a minimum and it is enough that half of the family daily chore routines have been carried out - I see that the animals are fed, dog hair is swept off the floor, garbage and compost are taken out, clean dishes are put away, bathroom is clean, car is washed, deck is swept and laundry has been and is being cycled through.
Embracing the lovely mess that is Living Life with the people I love... it is enough. (But man, someday I’m gonna have a clean and tidy orderly home again and it’s gonna feel so good!!)
*Reprinted here with permission
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Today: Morgan Arts Centre announced the premiere August Event Calendar Kickoff:
Children’s Theater Workshop will present the Big Show Friday 8/3 @ 7pm....come for a great time...bring a chair.
Also Today: Courage To Change Al-Anon AFG meets 7 PM Fridays at Toledo Presbyterian Church, 312 Augustus.
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Saturday: Toledo Youth Football Car Wash Fundraiser @ Toledo High School
Also: Mount St Helens Institute posted:
Mount St. Helens Sky and Star Party presented by Guild Mortgage August 4 - 5, 2018
Join the Mount St. Helens Institute, Guild Mortgage, Rose City Astronomers, and Friends of Galileo Astronomy Club for dinner, guest speakers, hands-on activities, camping, and sky and star viewing (weather permitting). At night go on a laser guided constellation walk, use telescopes, and learn more about space (weather dependent). Camping options include tent camping in the primitive camping area and dry RV camping in the parking lot.
Ticket sales for this year's Sky and Star Party will go live online Monday, July 9th at 9am! In order to facilitate parking and protect everyone's night vision, advanced registration will be required for both day and overnight attendees. The event is rain or shine and admission is transferable but is not refundable. Weapons, pets, and drugs and alcohol are not allowed.
Information and tickets will be posted here and on http://www.mshslc.org/events/#SkyStar before Monday. Thank you for your patience!
More information: http://www.mshslc.org/events/#SkyStar
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Monday: Toledo City Council meetings 6 PM first and third Mondays monthly. Dates may change if scheduled on or near a federal holiday. Visit www.toledowa.us or call (360)864-4564.
Workshops & Special Meetings: Occasionally the council will hold a workshop or special meeting. Dates and times will be announced prior to meetings.
Generally they are held the same night of council meetings.
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Future-Tripping: Feeds, Fundraisers, Fun & More
NEW! Dakota Robins plays Riverside* Golf Course August 9th
*Wednesday’s TOT incorrectly identified the location as Three Rivers Golf Course.
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August 10-12: Mt St Helens Bluegrass Festival 34th Annual @ Toledo High School
August 25-26: Cowlitz Prairie Grange 54th Annual Gas Show & Threshing Bee
September 1-3: Toledo Food Bank Labor Day Garage Sale. (360)269-7001 or (360)269-2443
September 22: Esther Borte’s 3rd Annual Walk in the Park
September 28-30: Camp Singing Wind Hosts 11th Permaculture Convergence
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Citizens for Great Toledo Schools ISO* campaign contributions for this school bond
Toledo Thursday Market PDF vendor forms. $10/week, handmade & homegrown.
ISO* = In Search Of
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Photos from TOT archives unless otherwise noted.
Email your news, reviews and events to: toledo.columnist@gmail.com Photos .jpeg or .png format please.
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