New 08-06-10  ROOF - School Supplies Needed for low-income students  ROOF is collecting school supplies from now until August 20th to help low-income students.  These will be handed out on August 25th & 26th.  Click here to view the flyer describing the need and dates.

New 08-03-10  Online registration for South Sound Baseball (PONY) 2010 Fall Baseball Season is now open    The season will begin in mid to late August and run to mid October.  South Sound Baseball will operate leagues at the Mustang (10U), Bronco (12U), Pony (14U), and Colt/Palomino (18U) levels.  Registration locations for players and caches and division and fee information available www.southsoundbaseball.com. Players from all area leagues are welcome to register!  For specific questions please contact the District Director located on the website assigned to the district where player resides.  Rachel Turner-Bensen, South County "SoCo" Area District Director--South Sound PONY Baseball.  360/561-3816 RainierDodgers@comcast.net http://yelmpony.blogspot.com/   www.southsoundbaseball.com

New 07-26-10  Americorps Thurston County 4-H Youth Development and Rochester Boys & Girls Club   My name is Hilary Westgate, and I've been working as an AmeriCorps member this year for Thurston County 4-H and Boys & Girls Clubs.  We bring 4-H Youth Development staff and programming to middle school students at the Rochester Boys & Girls Club throughout the school year and summer, winter, and spring break camps.  We're funded through a 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant, and we are entering Year 4 of our grant.  We also have worked on establishing a 4-H Community Club in Rochester for families, and we have had several successful Family Night events at the club and at Rochester Middle School. 

New 07-24-10  Important Election for Rochester Residents    Rochester residents have two issues coming up for our vote in the August 17, 2010 primary election.  Your copy of the Thurston county Local Voter's Pamphlet should have already arrived in your mail box.  While that pamphlet contains a lot of good information for all of the issues pertaining to Thurston County there are two issues of extreme importance to the residents of Rochester.  These two issues are the election of the Thurston County Commissioner for our district (listed on page 13) and the election of Thurston County Sheriff (listed on page 14).  The purpose of this notice is not to promote a candidate for either office but to urge each of you to become an informed voter.  Please study not only the statements in the pamphlet but also the education, backgrounds, promises and the groups these individuals have been associated with.  The groups these individual candidates have been associated with will often reveal where their interests are and perhaps how they will be influenced as they perform in the office after being elected. 

 New 07-12-10  WSDOT Paving US 12 Through Rochester    The WSDOT will be paving US 12 from the Black River Bridge to Old Highway 9. Crews will also be installing centerline rumble strips and adding striping to the roadway from Elma to Old Highway 9.  Drivers can expect pilot-car controlled, one-way alternating traffic from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. weeknights for paving operations.  Drivers can also expect one-way alternating traffic for centerline and striping work on weekdays. Work begins July 12, and ends Sept. 15.  For more information, visit the project Web site at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/regions/olympic/construction  or call 360-357-2789.

 New 07-09-10  Thurston County Food Bank Gleaning    This summer, help harvest fresh, local produce to hungry people in your community.  Join the Thurston County Food Bank Gleaners!  Every year, farmers over-plant their fields in order to make sure they'll have enough vegetables to sell. Often times, this means there's a surplus left over.  That's where gleaners come in!

New 07-07-10  TOGETHER is Hiring  TOGETHER! is hiring a Program Manager in our Community Mobilization department. Please see the position description by clicking here for a PDF.  If you have any questions, call Meghan, Community Mobilization director, at 360-493-2230 x19. To apply, please follow the procedure as outlined in the position description.

New 07-01-10  Gate City Garden Swap  Summer Gate City Garden Swap Choose one vegetable/fruit to grow and bring it to the Gate Schoolhouse to share with your neighbors. Bring your produce every Saturday, and swap for others. What a great way to get a variety of fresh, healthy food. Sign up by calling Donna, 273-0707.

New 04-20-10  Gate City Globe - Issue 9  Issue 9 of the Gate City Globe can be viewed and/or printed by clicking here.  The Gate City Globe is a publication about the Historic Gate area of Rochester.  This is a PDF file and you will need the Adobe Reader on your computer to open this document.  If you don't have Adobe Reader you can download a free copy from the Adobe.com website at:  http://get.adobe.com/reader/?promoid=BUIGO

New 03-31-10  Rochester Boys & Girls Club Camps  The Rochester Boys & Girls Club is providing two camps this year.  The first is  the Spring Break Camp, April 5th thru the 9th from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM daily.  Cost is $50.00 per child.  The second is their Summer Day Camp, June 21st thru August 20th from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM daily. There will be one field trip and one swimming trip per week.  Cost is $95.00 per child going into K-6th grade and $60.00 per child going into 7th - 12th grade.  For more information For more information, please contact Christine @ choffmann@Bgctc.org or 360-273-9397 visit our website at: www.bgctc.org

New 03-22-10  Rochester/Grand Mound Farmers Market  The Rochester/Grand Mound Farmers Market offers a bounty of top quality fresh produce harvested daily. You will also find traditional breads, locally-made foods, and crafts from local artisans. Come visit with us and enjoy the outdoors in historic downtown Rochester (in the parking lot at the Rochester Middle School).  Join us on Saturday, June 19th, our opening day during the annual Swede Day event.  The Farmers Market will be open each Saturday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM each Saturday between June 19th and October 16th of this year. Fun for the whole family.

We're now accepting vendor applications. Please call Sandra 273-5900 or Gala 273-5245 for more information. This application, and other relevant documents can be viewed and printed by clicking the following links (NOTE: these are PDF files and you will need Adobe Reader to view them. You may downloaad a free copy of Adobe Reader from this website http://get.adobe.com/reader/?promoid=BUIGO) Vendors Application, Canopy Safety, Farmers Market Regulations, and Federal, State, County info

New 03-11-10  "Swede Hall" Calendar  The Grand Mound Rochester Citizens Group's facility known as "Swede Hall" can be rented for special occasions such as meetings, wedding receptions, memorial services, etc. A calendar of the events happening at Swede Hall can be viewed by going to: http://calender.yahoo.com/swedehall to see if the building is available for the date you might wish to rent it.  For more information phone 360-273-7974 and leave a message or e-mail SwedeHall@yahoo.com

New 02-02-10  Home Buyers Class  The Washington State Housing Finance Commission (WSHFC) has made loan funds available of $10,999 and more for a down payment on a home purchase.  To qualify, (1) buyer must not have owned a home in the last three years, (2) household income must be under the maximum allowed, and (3) buyer must take the wshfc home buyer class.  Click here to view the poster.

Updated 02-02-10  PowerPoint Slides Shown at the Rochester School District Community Levy Meeting  The PowerPoint slides shown at the Rochester School District Community meeting on the Levy are available to be viewed.  There are two different slide shows that will open in a new window - please be patient as they are fairly large files and may take some time to load.  The two PowerPoint presentations are: "Community Meeting", (slides describing the reason for the levy) and "Reasons to Be Proud" which points out the many achievements made by the students, teachers and School District.  You may need the Microsoft PowerPoint viewer to see these slides.  The PowerPoint viewer can be downloaded free from the Microsoft website by clicking here

New 05-28-09  Rochester United Methodist Church Closet   The Rochester United Methodist Church has just started a "Clothing Bank" they are calling the Rochester Community Closet where they are receiving clothing donations to be given to those who are in need.  The Closet is located just north of the church on Corvallis Street.  They are open Wednesday's between 3:00 and 5:00 PM and on Friday's between 10:00 AM and 12:00 Noon.  They can available at others times by calling 273-500 for an appointment.  They are still in need of good used clothing donations, especially children's sizes.

New 03-29-09  Library Volunteers Needed   The Rochester Library needs volunteers!!!  Currently the library is open only two days a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays) because so few Rochester residents have volunteered to keep it open.  During the month of April there is a 2 1/2 hour period during the middle of each Tuesday when it must close because no one has volunteered to to be there during that time.  Volunteer shifts are only for 2 1/2 hours with eight to ten shifts per month.  That means there is a need for a minimum of ten people to volunteer 2 1/2 hours of their time each month for the library to remain open.  The Library is a valuable resource for Rochester and it would be a tragedy if you residents of Rochester failed to make such a small sacrifice of volunteering 2 1/2 hours of your time once each month.  The work is not difficult and training is available.  Come on Rochester residents - step up to the plate and make a commitment to your community to keep this valuable resource open.  For more information about volunteering at the library please call Gabrielle at 273-6375 or e-mail gdavis@roofcommunityservices.org

New 03-04-09  http://grandmound-rochester.blogspot.com/  This website is a "blog" about the Rochester Horizons Project which is designed to address poverty and other community issues.  It is a program of local Rochester residents coming together to improve our community.  Click here for more information about the Rochester Horizons Project.

New 12-23-08  Thurston County Solid Waste Recycling Program    Thurston County Solid Waste has additional information on the new, free, statewide electronics recycling program.  Please note that the new E-cycle recycling locations listed will not accept items until after Jan 1, 2009. The materials exchange websites we regularly promote, as well as our new and improved "Where should I take my" database on our Thurston County Solid Waste website, are also listed in the brochure.  Please click here to view the brochure.  t is in PDF  format so you will need the "Adobe Reader" to open the file.  If you do not have "Adobe Reader" on your computer you can download a free copy from this website:  http://www.adobe.com/  Reuse is always better than recycling and there are many local opportunities to donate or sell working electronics.  Many of our residents, especially now, cannot afford a computer or a TV for their family.  While Santa may be bringing a super new model to many of our residents....there are others in our community that would gladly welcome an older working item.  Data removal from computers and the new digital TV conversion are also mentioned in the brochure.

The main website for the statewide program  is http://www.ecyclewashington.org  Please contact me if you have any questions (email is best as I am out of the office until  Dec 29).  Thank You and Happy Holidays  Terri Thomas, Education and Outreach Specialist, Thurston County Solid Waste, mailto:www.co.thurston.wa.us/wwm/
Visit our FREE materials exchange at www.2good2toss.com

New 10-13-08  Electronics Recycling in Thurston County  This year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, consumers will retire 2 million tons in e-waste, or “tech trash” – old or obsolete cellular phones, rechargeable batteries, ink jet cartridges, televisions, computer components, monitors, appliances, etc. The good news is that working items can be reused and that many of the materials in e-waste can be recycled or refurbished.  Please click here to view the poster.  It is in PDF  format so you will need the "Adobe Reader" to open the file.  If you do not have "Adobe Reader" on your computer you can download a free copy from this website:  http://www.adobe.com/

New 10-03-08  Compact fluorescent light disposal in Thurston County  As you know, compact flourescent lights (CFL) contain mercury.  There has been a lot of press lately about proper disposal.  Home Depot is now taking them for free.  http://www6.homedepot.com/ecooptions/stage/pdf/cfl_recycle.pdf

Please see our website for more local locations that accept the bulbs and info on what to do if a bulb breaks in your home.
http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/wwm/Recycling_and_Disposal/Recycle/Hazardous/Fluorescents.htm

New 10-03-08  Free battery recycling at Batteries Plus in Olympia  Many locations accept rechargeable batteries and cellphones through RBRC. Go to http://www.rbrc.org/consumer/index.php to find locations.  Batteries Plus is the only store we are currently aware of in Thurston County that accepts and recycles alkalines as well. They utilize a program called Big Green Box.
http://www.biggreenbox.com The Big Green Box is a program that offers to companies, consumers, municipalities and other generators a low cost and easy way to provide electronics and battery recycling for themselves as well as their customers. Once The Big Green Box is purchased all shipping, handling and disposal fees are included. The Big Green Box includes a United Nations approved transportation container, pre-paid shipping to our recycling facility and all battery recycling fees. With The Big Green Box it is no longer necessary to pay large fees to waste management companies, nor fill out complicated paperwork, just to manage your hazardous materials.

Updated 09-11-08  Rochester Community Library Has New Hours  The Rochester Community Library’s new summer hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 am-6:00 pm.  The Rochester Community Library has a Timberland Regional Library Kiosk where patrons can place holds and pick up materials from any TRL branch; a collection of materials for check out; and a computer lab.

“The Library is really a unique partnership between the community and TRL,” explains Gabrielle Davis, Volunteer Coordinator.  “The Library is completely staffed by volunteers.  It is really up to the residents of Rochester how many hours we are open and what activities we can offer.  The Library has a great group of dedicated volunteers, but we need the community’s help in order to keep the Library open and growing.”

The Rochester Community Library is located in the Rochester Community Center at 10140 Highway 12 SW.  For more information, please contact the Library at (360) 858-7086 or rochestertrl@hotmail.com.  You can also find more information on the website rochester-wa.com.

New 09-11-08  New MOMS Club in Rochester/Chehalis  There is a new Rochester/Chehalis MOMS Club. The MOMS Club is an international support group for mothers. We have everything from play dates to Moms night out. Some of you may not need a mommy support group but you may know someone who does. Please pass this information to anybody you may know who may have an interest.   Click here to view the poster.   It is in PDF format so you will need the "Adobe Reader" to open the file.  If you do not have "Adobe Reader" on your computer you can download a free copy from this website:  http://www.adobe.com/