Toledo Food Share was back in front of the historic old Jail House again Sunday…
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Ronda Sandoval of Common Ground Garden Community writes of her work on the planned landscape surrounding the Oregon Trail marker: I worked at the site today (Sunday) for about 3 hours. Did some shaping, picking out rocks, and dug out the dry river bed. We are meeting to work on the (Oregon Trail) marker Wednesday, depending on weather, probably 9-10ish. The area is so small so we don't need any more help. I have buckets, but if you want to come by for pictures, go ahead and bring the buckets with you just in case.
I don't know what the John Deere Plott Walker is. Tried to look it up online but couldn't find it.


We dubbed it the John Deere Plott-Walker.
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Monday’s Potluck at Camp Singing Wind drew an all-ages crowd with rustic picnic tables and those giant partitioned plastic trays. Watched boxes and boxes of apples put through a press to make sweet sticky cider.
Photo courtesy Camp Singing Winds
*Check out their next event September 16, Full Moon Women Circle 7 p.m. Link here.
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Tuesday’s City Council meeting held a Public Hearing including a presentation by John Hinton of Gray and Osbourne on the Shoreline Master Plan (SMP) comment results.
Missing were comments from local Indian leaders or members. Most other comments addressed minor language revisions with one seeking to define 500’ buffer zones for places deemed historically significant. Pro: Enacting such a decree would assure recognition of these sites, such as the Oregon Trail marker, as protected from encroachment by future development. Con: More difficult process and more paperwork for the small City staff. Developing a list of local sites, already accomplished by the Trails projects, would be forwarded to the State permitting departments as well as county agencies.
Officer Scrivner reporting for Brockmeuller: 22 calls of service since last City Council meeting, including 6 calls from one citizen known to local police (down from recent months). Scrivner introduced new Reserve Officer Nathan Summers, ready to be sworn in. Summers has longtime ties to the community already including 5 years as a firefighter with Toledo Fire Department.
City Clerk Michelle Whitten reported 2 grants covering much of the upcoming Kemp Olson City Park improvements such as paving driveways and installing an RV dump station. September’s Walk in the Park fundraising event raises matching funds required for the larger grant. Details and applications are available at City Hall and area merchants. A second grant targets economically distressed communities.
Item #1 - Accept Comments/Recommendations to the Toledo Shoreline Master Plan (SMP) - passed.
Item #2 - Resolution 239A - Alley Vacation Hearing - passed.
Item #3 - Park Signs - failed.
Other business: the unsuitable base-layer material for the new water reservoir has been removed and replaced. A progress payment for work and materials to date by the contractor needs to be reviewed by the council for approval by next meeting, about $150,000.
New motion made to install motion sensor light(s) at strategic locations in the park, and close the gate to vehicular traffic at night, reopen in the morning - passed.
Joh Jones: Update on Oregon Trail marker landscape progress included notice of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) setting 1 p.m. September 27 as the re-dedication date. “This (ceremony) has become bigger than first imagined,” grown to include visiting dignitaries from the area and state level, the list still growing. Thus a request to close off one block of Fifth Street to through traffic at that time to accommodate visitors and participants will need to be put before City Council September 19.
Ms Jones also reported progress on the water tower mural, design process including an outline of the proposed work. Questions from council members revealed 3 years of background on this project, covered by 2 separate grants. One experienced niche artist team was recommended to carry out the labor.
Meeting adjourned 7:18 p.m.
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Emily Owen writes: We have arrived home! A huge thank you to everyone… Check out frequent updates and progress reports on the young Morgan/Owen family following Jake and Helen’s accident August 19, share your prayers and wishes on their GoFundMe campaign page here.
September 30 Benefit Spaghetti Dinner and Auction will be held 4-10 p.m. at Toledo High School for the Morgan/Owen family.
Contact Catrina Mathis, buttonsems@yahoo.com about dinner.
Contact Coordinator Brandi Devine, bdevine@toledotel.com to get involved with the auction.
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Photos from TOT archives unless otherwise noted.
Email your news, reviews and events to: toledo.columnist@gmail.com