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Legislators approved 303 bills during the 60-day session that ended March 10. The action then turns to the governor's office where he has 20 days to sign or veto legislation. This week he wrapped up signing several dozen bills, including several at signing events with communities and legislators.

Some bills from the Legislature are intended for fun. On Monday, Inslee signed a bill sponsored by Rep. John Lovick establishing pickleball as the state's official sport. Inslee and Lovick were joined by dozens of pickleball enthusiasts on Bainbridge Island where the sport was invented in 1965.

Most bills, however, bills tackle serious and urgent issues, such as the bipartisan bill to deter theft of catalytic converters. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Cindy Ryu. Inslee also signed legislation requested by Attorney General Bob Ferguson and sponsored by Rep. Debra Lekanoff to create the nation's first alert system to help locate missing Indigenous people.

Among the dozens of other bills the governor signed last week:

• A bill sponsored by Rep. Liz Berry and promoted by firefighters that makes Washington the first state to phase out toxic PFAS "forever chemicals" in many common products by 2025.
• An anti-hazing bill known as the "Sam's Law" sponsored by Rep. Mari Leavitt that would require colleges and universities to do more to prevent and report incidents of hazing.

With changes at Toledo City Hall, they have hired a new person who will handle their water and sewer billing. Shelly Allen is the new clerk but she is certainly not new to Toledo. Shelly is part of the Davidson family in Toledo, which is a large family. Being part of a city is not new to the Davidson family, Anne Randt is a Davidson and she was a wonderful member of the Winlock City Council, which runs in the family.

Shelly was asked why she decided on working for the City of Toledo, she stated, "I was looking for a job that I could be happy in and feel part of a team. It is also closer to home and when I was told about this opening, I knew it would be the right choice. I also knew that working in Toledo would be a way to give back to the community that I grew up in." Shelly is definitely a girl from Toledo.

Many remember back in the 1960s and 1970s there was a huge push to clean up our roads. You would see several signs that said littering will get you a fine. Unfortunately, we are now seeing more trash on the roads and ditches, but Robin Pedrazzetti is a member of the community who is trying to fix that, picking up trash. It's not a glamorous job, but it keeps our area looking fabulous.

The local successor of Habitat for Humanity, Willapa Harbor H.O.M.E donated $100,000 to PAC The House Homeschool Resource Center. These funds go directly to acquiring a permanent location in the Raymond - South Bend area. They are seeking a large building with room to grow and so far no such location has been acquired.

H.O.M.E. is dissolving as an organization, whose purpose was to build affordable homes, expand, and perform repairs for families in need which make it possible for people to remain in their homes. Unfortunately, only a couple of projects were possible before the pandemic when the organization went inactive. The H.O.M.E. board has found it in their best interest and that of the community to place the funds in various 501c3 organizations that share their passion for the community.

The Teen Advocacy Coalition, which offers help to the local teens, has a new coordinator, Paul Karnatz.

Karnatz has a decade of experience as an educator and is familiar to many as the founder of the Willapa Valley Lavender Farm. All of his life's experience has geared him up to succeed at this new position helping the area's youth.