Last night’s vision:Toledo Arts, Rec and Events gathering was cancelled due to family health issues, so I’m sharing the agenda with readers as a snapshot of the many, many volunteer efforts that go into making Toledo great:
vision:TOLEDO ARTS, RECREATION, & EVENTS
AGENDA for Tuesday, August 23, 2016
1. Old Business
a. Library -- Pat Caldwell
b. Common Ground -- Ronda Sandoval
c. Steamboat Alley -- Jamie Cummings
d.
2. New Business
a. Walk in the Park (Sept. 24) -- Jill Davis
b. ARTrails (Sept. 17-25) -- Mike Morgan
c. Cowlitz Tribal Pow Wow (Sept. 17) --
d. Veterans Parade (Nov. 12) -- Jim Fluckinger
e.
3. Other Business
a. Threshing Bee (Aug. 27 & 28) -- Lew Rohrig
b. Camp Singing Wind -- Brian Dennis
c. Christmas Time in Toledo -- Steve Dobosh
d. (Everyday Heroes - September 11)
As Everyday Heroes was too late to be included in print, this repeat of last week’s invitation for nominees sets September 5 for your submissions, nominees posted September 6 & 7, September 9 (Friday) or September 12 (Monday) posting Peoples Choice as September 11 falls on Sunday this year.
Declaring September 11 Everyday Heroes Day evoked responses outlining noteworthy volunteers in our village, certainly commendable. However I would like to distinguish between people of all ages who respond to a published need, or fulfill the role demanded by their uniform or position, and those who step up spontaneously, without a second thought, when circumstances call for quick thinking or things go horribly wrong. I’m not discounting in any way those immortalized on Toledo’s Wall of Honor, or awarded plaques for serving their community, or cleaning up the ‘hood before Cheese Days multiplies the population. Rather, I’m talking about the 9-year-old who set out to install a swing for her disabled brother, or the young man who jumped into Wallace Pond to rescue a toddler a mere 6 months before he awoke suddenly with a premonition that his teenage sister, lying unconscious in the next room, was in need of aid.
While I haven’t formulated criteria or recognition for selfless acts, the working title “Everyday Heroes” would acknowledge folks without a current holiday. Not a retail or Hallmark holiday, not a decorating season, but a recognition of the spirit of those non-uniformed heroes whose stories from that terrible day shone through the shocking events - like the passengers on the doomed White House-bound jet who stepped up despite the odds. People who stopped to help others fleeing the Twin Towers, putting their own fears second. That sort of thing.
As I haven’t set the criteria yet, I’m collecting ideas - nominations, ballots, whether age categories matter (everyone knows that America’s Funniest Videos is always won by babies and cute pets), whether death-defying heroics should be rewarded or chastised as reckless, etc. Anyway, the idea is open to all and not trademarked or copyrighted in any manner. Toledo just seemed to me, a relative newcomer, to be a great incubator for such a special day. Eleven months remain* before next year’s September 11 anniversary, the 15th such.
What do you say?
(*from October 2015)
C’mon, Toledo, let’s start something...small.
Email toledo.columnist@gmail.com.
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*Correction* New Life hosts their monthly Food Bank next week. The Other Toledo regrets any inconvenience this error may have occasioned.
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Today: Hi gals (and guys), Ronda, myself and Brian are meeting this Wednesday 9:30 a.m. at the Oregon Trail Marker to come up with a (garden) design and plan, and we would love to have your input. Ronda has offered to do the design, but extra help in figuring out things is always needed. Joh Jones, Common Ground Garden Community.
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Also today: Toledo Schools Superintendent Chris Rust holds another offline meeting 6 p.m. at the Library. September’s offline meeting will be at the Lioness Club meeting (third Wednesday/monthly/Library), October a presentation to the Lions Club. November, December and January dates/times to be determined (TBD).
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And: Cowlitz Prairie Grange’s Tom Boone, via v:T Facebook - Just a short note, Cowlitz Prairie Grange will be meeting @ the Threshing Bee Field, 155 Buckley Road, next to Toledo Airport Wed Aug. 24th...more here. Last meeting before this weekend’s event.
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Thursday: Meet the Teachers
- TES 5:30-6:30
- TMS- 6:00-7:00
- THS- 6:30-7:30
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From the Cowlitz Indian Tribe Facebook page, a progress report: ilani welcomes the first two Cowlitz Tribal Employees! Link here. Congrats to our historic neighbors and High School Mascot sponsors. See you at the 17th Annual Pow Wow September 17th.
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Yesterday around 3:30 p.m. the tabulator cleared $20K with an anonymous $500 donation. So far over 200 have stepped up to help - that’s a mean average of $100 per donor! Check out frequent updates and progress reports on the young Morgan/Owen family following Jake and Helen’s accident last Friday, share your prayers and wishes on their GoFundMe campaign page here.
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Photos from TOT archives unless otherwise noted.
Email your news, reviews and events to: toledo.columnist@gmail.com