Toledo School District reports via Facebook: The district is sponsoring a tour of Toledo High School Thursday at 6 p.m. Tours take approximately 20-30 minutes. If you can't attend, call the district office to arrange for a personal tour at your convenience.
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Recap: Last night’s Vision:Toledo Arts, Rec and Events committee heard reports from around town.
Pam McEachern and Charlie Pruett reported on Toledo Community Library’s upcoming Soup Night, their next Humanities Washington grant-sponsored presentation November 3.
Via email, Don Brenner covered Toledo Historical Society’s activities: Lewis County Museum invited us to be included in a booklet of museums and historical societies in Lewis County.
Gee Cee’s Truck Stop owner Jim Wallace purchased 50 framed historic pictures for $1,000, adding another $500 for research on distant relatives.
Joh Jones passed along an email last week offering a restored farm wagon to a museum; Montesano and Nisqually expressed interest, and one will likely acquire it, putting Toledo out of the running. However, Marie Oberg, long-time Historical Society member, knows someone with such a wagon who may donate it to the Society. Marie agreed to work on this project.
Jamie Cummings, Steamboat Alley promoter, pointed to recent downturns in clear weather that halted progress installing pavers and planters. Muralist Paolo de la Concha still wants to add finishing touches to the wall, but work will likely resume early 2017.
Mayor Steve Dobosh provided updates on replacing Toledo’s “Gateway to Puget Sound” sign at SR 505 near the Cowlitz River bridge. Materials were collected last week, sign expected to be back in place by next week.
November 12 Lewis County Veterans Parade in Toledo - no report available from organizer April Pennington-Ferrier. Di Morgan reports the Facebook page promises “bigger and better” than last year. Di displayed 144 hand-held flags purchased by Vision:Toledo to hand out to parade watchers in support of service members past and current.
Q: Were the American flags made in the USA?
A: Yes.
Under New Business: Cool & Connected - Mike Morgan reported the third conference call with designers last Friday; a tour of the area, day-long workshop and evening community meeting will take place November 9-10. While Toledo is the smallest (population) to receive one of 5 broadband-based development grants, none of the others provides hi-speed service beyond their city limits.
Other Business: 2 new benches have been installed, one at Toledo’s boat launch overlooking the Cowlitz River, the other facing the large boulder and garden near Kemp Olson Park entrance, adjacent to the Veterans Wall of Honor.
Camp Singing Wind - no report available.
Christmas in Toledo: Mayor Steve Dobosh is working with several people on designing a drive-through decorated display in Kemp Olson Park. Ideas include involving student groups, collecting canned goods for Toledo Food Bank, Opening Night with Santa* and more. Bill Nelson volunteered to bring Santa* to Toledo for this event, saying he’s been to many Christmas events over 30 years.
Proposed date December 3 coincides with several seasonal events such as Toledo Food Bank Walk & Knock, Library Book and Bake Sale, Gallery 505 Opening Night, and Senior Center Bazaar.
Next meeting: 6:30 p.m. November 22, 2016 at the MAC.
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Today: Last Tuesday and Wednesday monthly Toledo New Life Church opens their Community Food Bank 10 a.m. - noon, nourishing body and soul. Serving our community area of Toledo by sharing the love of Christ thru the essential needs we all have. Online here.
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Also: Toledo Senior Center hosts Medicare Enrollment help 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
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Tonight: Cowlitz Prairie Grange #737 Booster Night includes family-size fun and food. Find out about Junior Grange and Subordinate Grange. Burgers, hotdogs and chili 6:30 p.m., pumpkin decorating for the kids, costume contests for all ages.
Cowlitz Prairie Grange is at 5184 Jackson Highway. Contact Lecturer Tom Boone, (360)266-7055.
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Gallery 505 Artist Co Op will wrap up Fantasy and Science Fiction this week. Open Tuesday - Saturday 1 - 5 p.m.
*Heads up: November Theme: Honor and Thanks. Opening Night gala 4 - 8 p.m. November 3 including music, libations and snacks.
On Facebook.
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Mark your calendars: November 8 Toledo High School hosts Coffee House 7 - 9 p.m. featuring familiar and emerging talent at their open mic event. $3 dinner and school tours available.
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Photos from TOT archives unless otherwise noted.
Everyday Heroes: Envisioned as a local September 11 observation recognizing lesser-known acts of kindness and heroism. Send your nominations to toledo.columnist@gmail.com.
Email your news, reviews and events to: toledo.columnist@gmail.com