1/25/2013 It's a Time of Growth for Big and Small

Brian Mittge Commentary: It’s a Time of Growth for Big and Small

Friday, January 25, 2013
Brian Mittge, The Chronicle

My mind this week is on growth, gatherings and getting things done.

On Thursday, I had the chance to join a crowded ballroom of folks at the annual Lewis Economic Development Council banquet. It was a room of people who are elected, appointed, self-directed and otherwise connected to the ongoing enterprise of creating and enhancing the business and jobs market. In short, I was among hundreds of people who love this place and want to see it thrive.

We heard brief reports about new jobs and hopes for improvement to a job market that is not as strong as we need it to be. We heard about successes on the local economic development front last year — businesses bringing in 20 jobs here, 35 jobs there, and 75 jobs to come.

We heard from WorkSource Lewis County, the proactive job center that replaced the old-fashioned unemployment office.

As I saw this group of people enjoying an important ongoing shared task, I thought of another cooperative project taking place a mile or so away.

A group of parents, along with the Chehalis Renaissance program, have been working for more than a year to bring a children’s museum to Lewis County. After much work, we are within weeks of the Discover! Children’s Museum opening on a trial basis. The scaled-down pilot museum will open Feb. 9.

With that deadline looming, volunteers have been meeting every weekend to help renovate a space in the Twin City Town Center and prepare exhibits for this place of childhood exploration and delight.

So far, plans in Chehalis call for a main exhibit called “Power of Air” with pneumatics blowing through a maze of winding tubes. The museum will also have a paleontology fossil dig, a Lego building exhibit, a train table, a toddler area with building blocks and more.

The people putting together the children’s museum are asking for donations, including musical instruments. I’m thinking of ways I can contribute, but at this point I’m unwilling to donate my beloved accordion given to me by Gram Dorothy Hendricks. I would happily volunteer my time to come give demonstrations of how a novice accordion player messes around with the instrument, but I doubt that, even though they are eager for donations of time and energy, the children’s museum folks would accept that offer.

If you’d like to take part in these ongoing efforts to improve our community, contact the Economic Development Council at 748-0114 or connect with the children’s museum at www.discovermuseum.org or via the Chehalis Renaissance at 345-1042 ext. 4.

We can all take part in the never-ending project of making this a better place to live.