Welcome, Bill Buri, to the 2019-2020 Board of Directors!  We are happy to have you as part of the Partners for Clean Streams team. Bill Buri is the founder and President of Pexco Packaging in Toledo.  He has been involved in Clean Your Streams Day for many years, assisting with the Olander Park and Side Cut kickoffs.  Bill has been a champion of our local waterways and is dedicated to improving water quality in Northwest Ohio.  We are excited for his new role with our organization and look forward to his guidance and direction for Partners for Clean Streams.

We have an exciting fundraiser and volunteer opportunity that supports our streams without volunteers having to get cold or wet!  PCS has partnered with the Huntington Center to be their concessions crew during selected events.  We need your help to meet our minimum volunteer needs.  Please share with your family, friends, and co-workers, as this is an excellent way to get service hours and also support our mission of clean, clear, and safe water.  Volunteers must be 16 years or older.  Sign up online and review our Volunteer Guidelines and download the Liability Form.

Walleye Game
- Sunday, Feb. 10th from 3:00-9:00pm

Walleye Game
- Sunday, March 24th from 3:00-9:00pm

Look for more volunteer opportunities to come!

We constantly hear about the problems affecting our rivers, streams, and Lake Erie, but what about the solutions to these issues?  More importantly, what can we as individuals do to improve local water quality?  There are clear choices we can make each and every day that support clean water.  The Toledo Lake Erie Clear Choices Clean Water campaign is user-friendly way for anybody to make a pledge to promote and protect their water resources.  Currently, there are 5 pledges available – Volunteer Service, Native Plants & Pollinators, Lawn Fertilizer, Super Kids, and Pet & Other Poo.  Check out the website for interactive information about changing your behavior through individual pledges and discover what impact your pledge will have on local water quality!  There is a calendar of events from all participating partners for ways to get involved with water quality events, including volunteering with PCS. This is a great resource for parents, educators, and younger kids looking to get involved in conservation on a local level.  PCS is proud to be a co-partner in bringing this acclaimed campaign to the greater Toledo area.

PCS is very lucky to have a wonderful partner just down the road here in Perrysburg.  Lauren Rush is the City of Perrysburg’s Stormwater Program Technician.  She has partnered with us for many of our annual programs including: Youth Patch Day, Storm Drain Marking, and Clean Your Streams Day.  She has grown the Perrysburg CYS kick-off site in her two years as the Kickoff Coordinator.  This year, her volunteers removed over 3,600 pounds of debris from 12 different Perrysburg kick-off cleanup sites.  Lauren, along with Co-Coordinator Kevin Laughlin, have been very diligent in assessing which sites would benefit most from a cleanup group.  Even the Mayor of Perrysburg, Tom Mackin, and Councilman Haraz Ghanbari showed up to volunteer at the Perrysburg kickoff with her this year!

Lauren is responsible for storm water permitting and regulating.  Throughout the year, she educates the public about the importance and function of storm drains.  Many people are surprised to learn that they are directly connected to our river and our drinking water source.  Her work in the community reaches people of all ages and connects them to the symbiotic relationship with have with our water resources. Lauren is an asset not only to PCS but also to the City of Perrysburg.  Thank you for helping us to encourage active stewardship of our waterways through education and hands-on activities!