Optimist Club hears from the Mayor of Middleton

We had another great turnout for our regular meeting of the Middleton Area Optimist Club on Monday, October 18.  Mayor Vicki Thurber was our guest speaker and she gave us an update on a number of issues and activities impacting our area. She was excited to share how the city was utilizing rural economic development grants from the State of Idaho Department of Commerce and the US Department of Agriculture to make improvements to our infrastructure.  The new street and sidewalks will be joined soon by a new sewer plant and an Idaho Transportation Department project that will connect Middleton Lakes subdivision to with another new subdivision and allow better pedestrian access to the school.

In more economic development news, a tire and lube shop is coming to town and the community may get a community health clinic from an undisclosed charitable organization that is third in line for a grant to help get it started.

Of course of huge concern is the safety of pedestrian children and volunteers have been stepping up to address the traffic issue. Mayor Thurber said that she thought a sign that displayed motorists' speed might be a way to slow drivers down until a more permanent solution could be found.  Such a sign costs approximately $5,100.

Mayor Thurber agreed to draw the winning ticket on or before December 15 as needed for the TV raffle.  President Patrick thanked her for her presentation and Linda Jackson explained that a Friend of Optimist plaque was on its way from Optimist International and that we would honor her with that title when received.

In other business:
The TV Raffle is going well.  Over 200 tickets have been sold. Kim Boguslawski will be at the High School football game this Friday and would love some help to get more tickets sold.  On Saturday, Bob and Sybil Arnett and Peter and Estela Cabrera will take shifts at the Fall Craft Fair to sell tickets. Stop by and give them a hand!  We are also looking for members to help sell tickets at Ridley's on Saturdays.  Please send  Patrick or Estela an email if you can help out.

The club has agreed to adopt a platoon from our area and will be filling boxes with items that soldiers deployed to the Middle East might like to receive such as books, beef jerky, letters and magazines to keep up with current activities, movies, socks, and personal hygiene supplies.

A tentative date for the Middleton Area Optimist Club Charter Party was announced.  However, since it conflicts with another event, we are researching a new date in November.  The party will be fun, with a Wii Tournament for both kids and adults. Christy's Tacos has offered us a terrific deal for catering this event (adults $10 and children $5) You won't want to miss this party.  We'll keep you posted!

We also welcomed new member Don Bertelson this week. Nice to meet you Don!

Many thanks to our excellent secretary/treasurer Estela Cabrera for helping with this post. In fact, you can read the complete minutes from the meeting here.