Polk County News
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • May 17, 2017 3A
Cleanup, beautify
MI Town Saturday
Itemizer-Observer staff report
Itemizer-Observer file
Discover MI Town gives people a chance to check out local businesses, including Costume Kreations.
Discover MI Town on Saturday
By Emily Mentzer
The Itemizer-Observer
MONMOUTH/INDE-
PENDENCE — A few
changes are in store for the
third annual Discover MI
Town Saturday from 3 to 7
p.m., sponsored by the
Monmouth-Independence
Chamber of Commerce.
“Discover MI Town is an
opportunity to stop in and
check out many local busi-
nesses,” said Ryan Kingsel-
la, chamber executive direc-
tor. “Each location will be
giving away something in
their shop. There are a lot of
great prizes, and many will
have select wineries and
brewers giving samples of
their product.”
A shuttle will transport
ticket holders from one
downtown to the other. Two
spots will be open for initial
check-in: The Monmouth
Independence YMCA in In-
dependence, and Volunteer
Hall near the senior center
in Monmouth.
“A few big exciting differ-
ences,” Kingsella said.
“Western Oregon University
will be participating this
year. They’ll have three sep-
arate locations.”
Stops on campus will be
at the Werner University
Center WOU bookstore, the
Dan Cannon Gallery of Art,
and at the Smith Fine Arts
Center at Rice Auditorium.
“We’re very excited to
have the CSC Maker Trailer
at the event,” Kingsella said.
“We’ve had a bigger push
this year to make it family
friendly. The Maker Trailer
is from Oregon State Uni-
versity, and
has a host of
new and ex-
citing tech-
nology to get
kids in-
volved.”
Technolo-
gy includes
die cut ma-
c h i n e s ,
screen print-
ing and a 3-D
printer. This
will be the
last chance for the commu-
nity at large to access the
trailer, Kingsella said.
Another really big change
is the afterparty at Inde-
pendence Grill, he said.
“That is where we’ll do all
our giveaways and draw-
ings,” Kingsella said. “They
will have live music and
food and specials.”
All who purchase tickets
to Discover MI Town will be
entered to win prizes. Those
who complete their Discov-
er MI Town passports — by
visiting each of the 24 loca-
tions and 32 businesses
participating — will get ad-
ditional entries to win. Par-
ticipants must be present at
Independence Grill to win.
Tickets may be pur-
chased online, at participat-
ing locations, or at the door.
Tickets cost $10 if pur-
chased by Friday; $15 on
Saturday.
However, people may
earn a $5 off credit by either
volunteering in the Inde-
pendence-Monmouth
Community Cleanup and
Beautification Day, or by
purchasing a make-your-
own flower basket from In-
dependence Downtown As-
sociation — a fundraiser
from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the
Riverview Farmers Market
and supporting IDA activi-
ties.
A Wolf Pass will be avail-
able for WOU students who
wish to participate and ex-
plore their downtown areas.
For more information:
micc-or.org.
INDEPENDENCE — Saturday is the annual Independ-
ence-Monmouth Cleanup and Beautification Day.
From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Riverview Park in Independ-
ence, residents may drop of debris for $10. The cost is $12
for those living in the surrounding county areas.
The cleanup will be held in conjunction with SOLV
project Oregon. Independence and Monmouth residents
may volunteer for the greater communitywide cleanup
and beautify their own properties. Volunteers will receive
$5 off tickets for the Discover MI Town, held from 3 to 7
p.m. on Saturday.
Volunteers are needed to help in projects such as park
restoration, riverbank cleanup, and downtown and road
cleanups. Lunch will be provided for volunteers.
Residents dropping off debris may bring nonkitchen
trash, wood (not painted or pressure treated), metals, yard
debris, appliances, car batteries, empty propane tanks,
and unmounted tires. No hazardous materials, paint,
chemicals, fuel, computers, televisions, kitchen or house-
hold garbage, concrete, dirt, soil, or commercial business
wastes will be accepted.
Umpqua Bank will be on site to provide confidential
shred service for personal documents.
Johnny’s Auto Wreckers and Myers Towing will pick up
abandoned and junk vehicles from private properties.
Elderly or disabled citizens needing help may contact
the Independence Police Department, 503-838-1214 by
Friday to schedule a pickup, or Monmouth Public Works,
503-838-2173, ask for Shannon.
For more information: Sue Albee, 503-838-1127. To
arrange pickup of a vehicle: 503-838-0060 or 503-838-
0306.
Ted L. Johnson
July 1, 1968 - April 28, 2017
Thank you for all your support and prayers!
Star Johnson, L&L Equipment