Volume One 08/11/2022

Recipe for Success

The Last Ferry Driver On the Money

Nick Meyer nick@volumeone.org ext: 214

Editorial + Content

MANAGING EDITOR Tom Giffey tom@volumeone.org ext: 221

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Sawyer Hoff sawyer.hoff@volumeone.org ext: 216

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

McKenna Scherer mckenna.scherer@volumeone.org ext: 218

LISTINGS EDITOR

James Johonnott james@volumeone.org ext: 215

Advertising + Digital Marketing

MEDIA STRATEGY DIRECTOR

Brian Maki brian@volumeone.org ext: 211

MEDIA STRATEGIST Jake Smith jake.smith@volumeone.org ext: 212

MEDIA STRATEGIST Blake Klapmeier blake.klapmeier@volumeone.org ext: 213

MEDIA & CLIENT SUPPORT

John Lyberg john.lyberg@volumeone.org ext: 259

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR

Joann Martin joann.martin@volumeone.org ext: 212

Video + Photo + Design

VIDEO & PHOTO DIRECTOR Ma Vue ma.vue@volumeone.org ext: 260

WEB DEVELOPMENT & DESIGN Don Ross don@volumeone.org ext: 219

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Taylor McCumber taylor@volumeone.org ext: 222

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Allison Buchli allison.buchli@volumeone.org ext: 220

PHOTOGRAPHER Andrea Paulseth andrea@volumeone.org

Retail + Gallery

LOCAL STORE DIRECTOR Lindsey Quinnies lindsey@volumeone.org ext: 217

LOCAL STORE STAFF

Matt Novacek + Maggie Israel + Lydia Park + Tatiana Broses + Sydney Kwallek + Alexis Linder + Emily Kaszubowski

Office + Distribution

OFFICE MANAGER / BOOKKEEPER Angela LaVoy angela.lavoy@volumeone.org ext: 224

DISTRIBUTION DRIVERS

Tom Jannusch + Matt Novacek + Daniel Wewusson

THE CHIPPEWA VALLEY’S LEADING INDEPENDENTLY OWNED COMMUNITY VOICE

Staff Notes

Observing & Enjoying Eau Claire’s Downtown Tipping Point

FROM VOLUME ONE PUBLISHER NICK MEYER

ACCUSTOMED to cranes dotting the downtown horizon and lanes of traffic blocked as new structures rise around us in Eau Claire. Well it now appears this wave of downtown construction won’t stop anytime soon.

While the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library and Andante wrap up construc tion this month along nearly opposing banks of the Eau Claire River – the Children’s Museum of Eau Claire, Transit Center and other proj ects are close behind. But even as these conclude, three more large projects will soon start on North Barstow Street (including the Menomonie Market Food Co-op and more mixed-use housing), along with several in the new Cannery District on downtown’s morthwest side, and a huge new park there. So expect to see similar sights for at least the next couple of years.

All this makes for an interesting time for those of us who’ve encouraged downtown’s revival over the last many years. While there’s always still plenty of work to be done in many regards culturally and economically, the tipping point has most certainly been reached as long open parcels of redevelopment land get built on once and for all, and

thousands of people regularly turn out for events and happenings throughout downtown. But clearly, just constructing the buildings isn’t enough. While apartments fill quickly, many of these recent structures still need first floor commercial tenants to fully animate the streetscapes and bring the level of vitality we’ve all worked toward. So in my mind it’s still a bit too early to fully celebrate the success of such developments.

But regardless, we’re on the right path. And there’s something to that sensation of momentum in a community. It may have been there for years in the hearts and minds of artists, entrepreneurs, and community optimists, but with this most recent wave of construction, it’s now been clearly laid out and plain to see for even the most skeptical among us. The investment is there, people and businesses are buying in, and the only direction to go is up.

Now what’s needed is community support for these projects and so many others, and that’s where you come in. Bring them your business, your attendence, your encouragement, and spread the word to everyone you know with suggestion of doing the same. If we all do that, this tipping point will mean something, and we’ll all do just fine.

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About Us

Volume One is the leading locally owned, locally operated, and locally focused media organization in our market. We’re a collection of print and online publications; a video, design, and digital marketing company; an event production and ticketing company; and a mission-driven retail operation. In print we typically distribute 13,000 copies to 500+ locations in Eau Claire, Menomonie, Chippewa Falls, and other communities 26 times/year. Online at VolumeOne.org we garner nearly 5 million annual pageviews, have a weekly email network of more than 30,000 people, and we connect daily with another 30,000 on social media. The magazine was co-founded in 2002 by Dale Karls & Nick Meyer.

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Volume One occasionally partners with local organizations to create content in print and online that may be of interest to thousands of readers throughout the Chippewa Valley and beyond. Articles or videos created “in partnership” are sponsored by the partnering organization and may be created with their assistance or expertise, for informational and/or promotional purposes. Any content created in this way – which comprises less than 2% of the pages Volume One publishes each year – will always include “Partner Content” indication.

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If you’d like to become an occasional or regular contributor, please email tom@ volumeone.org. There are opportunities for paid writing, photography, and cover art, though most contributions are unpaid. We also welcome the submission of ideas or completed works from the community for publication consideration.

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Contributed writing, artwork, and photography in Volume One remains the property of the authors, artists, & photographers. The opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of the publication or its advertisers.

Contributors

MCKENNA SCHERER dreams about Silly Serrano’s Nacho Burrito (chorizo, black beans, and medium salsa on the side pls).

BRYAN KOSCIOLEK is an artist living in Chicago. In 2017, he received his BFA in Illustration from Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

THOMAS DELAPP finds the space between meals to be nearly unbearable, and full of grief.

* NATALIE DERKS knows everything about everyone. That’s why her hair is so big; it’s full of secrets.

TOM GIFFEY has decided that he wants to be Gru, but now he needs Minions.

SARAH JAYNE JOHNSON has always wanted to eat the leaves off a tall tree like a Brontosaurus.

BARBARA ARNOLD is surfing and riding the waves … up and down ... up and down ... Hang 10! WRITER

KELLY CARLSON believes that every inan imate object has a soul. Seriously, where’s the evidence against it?

JACOB HUFFCUTT is drawing pictures despite wanting a little snack.

SAM JOHNSON loves sunrises, but there’s no way he’s staying up that late.

MIKE

SAWYER HOFF needs to know how people can finish a book without starting a new one. EDITOR

SPECIAL

EVA PAULUS iSn’t being held hOstage; why would you Say that? ILLUSTRATOR

B.J. HOLLARS wishes V1 a happy 20th birthday! Next year we’ll buy you a round. WRITER

Rachel Worthing

On the Cover

“Internet Friends” (2021) 15”x15” digital by Bryan Kosciolek • February 2021. Kosciolek spent 2021 living and working in Eau Claire. This was a very difficult time for the artist. Seeking a new beginning, Kosciolek moved to Wisconsin for a new job and to start a new chapter in his life. The pandemic made it damn near impossible to connect with anyone within the local community. Luckily, we live in a digital era! This composition illustrates Kosciolek connecting to his friends and family across state lines via the Internet. The silly mess that is group calls between friends and family is illustrated through this chaotic composition. In summary, compassion for others through the means of the Internet.

Voice

20 YEARS OF DOING THINGS

Volume One celebrated our 20th Anniversary at the Brewing Projekt on July 30 with a sold out crowd of about 1,000 people. We had great live music, food trucks, free pinball and arcade games, a kids room, our own special beer, and a whole lot of community camaraderie.

Thoughts

FIGHTING AGAINST CREATIVE BURNOUT

People

QUESTIONING THE LOCALS: LARRY MBOGA

Thoughts

RECLAIMING THE ART INSIDE YOU

FOR

TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS,

I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE of spending one week of my summer working with artistic teens looking for a creative experience unlike any

They come to be taught writing, dance, music, art, and theater through immersive lessons, collaborative pieces, and performances they create entirely on their own. They come to the Midwest Artist Academy at UW-Eau Claire to have a better understanding of art, and I leave having a better understanding of myself.

It is no secret that the hardest part of life is growing up. We watch the summers of melting ice cream cones and sleepaway camp fade into slow-moving shifts at first-time jobs and cling to the moments we have with our childhood friends before we throw our caps in the air one last time. The older we get, the faster time seems to move and before we know it, we have doubled in age. Our minds and hearts become relics of what were once oracles of optimism. Store-bought dreams of

fame and fortune guided us seamlessly through what would someday feel like momentary milestones. And somewhere, along the way, the notion of failure and all that comes with it grows heavy on our shoulders. We watch the whimsy of our youth get smaller in the rearview mirror just as we once watched camp comrades wave us goodbye after a week well spent.

As I sat on the hot concrete slab watching the academy-goers work through their creative differences, I caught myself (as I sometimes do) counting down the minutes. Waiting for the relief that comes with returning to a sense of stasis, and solace in the daily routine I have become accustomed to. Just as my prayer for auto-pilot began to overcome me, I was taken aback by the performance in front of me. Kids half my age worked through their performance

with uninhibited ingenuity that made me feel overwhelmed with envy. They laughed at small mishaps and cared more about the integrity of their piece as a whole than they did about their individual contributions to it. They were present in the opportunity to be who they were in that moment, while I subconsciously drifted in and out of self-consciousness. As one camper belted along with the piano, I thought about how hard it has become to even sing in the shower. As another artist read her profound words, I thought how hard readings have become because I can barely stand the thought of others looking at me.

I wished so badly to shake all of them (in a comforting way) and tell them to not let the bricks of getting older build a wall around them. I wanted them to know that the path they’ll walk is riddled with disap-

pointment and tragedy, but they should bring this version of themselves along for the ride to hold their hand. I wanted to tell them to know what matters and what never will. To know that their minds, hearts, words, and art matter. And I wanted the 15-year-old version of me to be there to hear it, too.

As the week came to a close, I watched as newfound friends embraced and thanked each other for all that came out of their time at camp. I wondered what some were returning to, if they would tell their friends back home about all they had experienced, or if they would revert back into a version of themselves they left at the door when they started the week. As I willed them all to keep creating, I knew their future, just like all futures, was fleeting. All I could do was hope their ice cream did not melt too quickly.

Now, as I stand in the comfort of the mundanity I so desperately wanted last week, I hear the teenage version of me in my head asking, “What should we do now? Let’s do something fun!”

I think for the first time in a long time, I’ll listen.

Haiku News

local goings-on as poetry

election time again yard signs bloom like summer weeds

“Vote for What’s-His-Name”

Country Jam’s moving finds new home by Highway T farm fields to music

Hey, remember me?

I’m the coronavirus let’s hang out again

speaking of COVID Health Department says we should wear face masks again

finishing touches on library underway almost in the books

Menomonie kid makes cut in mullet tourney magnificent ’do

E.C. once again makes Livability list seems we’re pretty nice

Eau Claire’s Sesquicentennial FIRE IN THE SKY

A meteor lit up Eau Claire in 1908. But where did it go?

A brilliant ball of fire fell from the sky and landed in Eau Claire near the Omaha yards –between Madison and Wisconsin streets – on Saturday, April 18, 1908. The dazzling spectacle was witnessed by several people including Dr. Chase about 11 o’clock at night.

“Its flight through space somewhat resembled that of a big ball of fire which was as brilliant as an arc lamp,” the LeaderTelegram reported a few days later.

When it hit the ground, it appeared to spread out in all directions. The spot where the meteor impacted the earth was quite obvious but the meteor was buried so deeply it was not found afterward.

“Though science explains the meteor,” the newspaper opined, “there is something awesome in a visitation by one of these strange bodies, coming from nowhere and carrying — so far as humani-

ty is concerned — no message.”

Both La Crosse and Madison residents reported seeing it travel across the sky. The LeaderTelegram quoted Professor Merrill who said he had received a letter about the meteor from Washington, D.C. Merrill reported that small meteors are not rare,

but this one was unusual became most small meteors are not as brilliant as this particular meteor was.

“Anyone finding it in this section of the state will please bring it to the Lost and Found department of the Leader,” the newspaper wrote.

Amount by which property taxes would be increased in the City of Chippewa Falls if a referendum passes in November. The funds will go toward additional public safety jobs and pay raises.

QUESTIONING THE LOCALS

FREE-WHEELIN’ DISCUSSION WITH LOCAL FOLKS

FROM FC TO CC, Larry

Mboga is leaving a mark on Eau Claire. Moving here from Kenya 27 years ago, he attended Augsburg College in the Twin Cities, where he played soccer and ran cross country and track. Last April, Larry was elected to the Eau Claire City Council. He is also a high school coach and playes on the Union FC soccer team. When he’s not rockin’ it in City Hall, you can find him on the soccer fields.

Larry’s Shoutouts

Name: Larry Mboga

What’s your involvement with the local sports scene? I coach high school cross country and track, I play on the Union FC soccer team, and I organize pickup soccer and basketball.

What place in town considers you a “regular”? The soccer park.

Do you feel there is a connection between sports and politics/city council? Yes. Politics do impact sports both directly and indirectly.

What frustrates you about the Chippewa Valley? We don’t have a dome where people can play indoor soccer, football, baseball, track and field, etc., in the winter months.

What is one of the best cultural experiences you’ve ever had in the Chippewa Valley? Playing soccer with people of other backgrounds, especially Hmong, Mexican, and people from all parts of the world.

What’s your favorite local festival? International Fall Festival.

What book, TV show, or movie would you recommend to the other members of the City Council? Mindset by Carol Dweck.

If you were on your death bed and you had to choose one meal from a local restaurant, what would it be? A chicken burrito (no cheese) from Burrito Xpress.

What sort of economic development would you like to see in our area? More affordable houses.

If you could rename Eau Claire with a different French name, what would it be? “Bateau,” which means “Ship.”

I’M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF EAU CLAIRE, SPORT, AND CIVIL RIGHTS.

PHOENIX PARK FARMERS MARKET . “I go there to buy fresh food that I can’t necessarily get in the stores.”

YMCA INDOOR SPORTS CENTER .

“It offers a lot of activities for both youth and adults, especially in winter.”

CHIPPEWA RIVER TRAIL . “It’s really nice for running and biking.”

Notable + Quotable

HEARD AROUND THE CHIPPEWA VALLEY

REBOOT SOCIAL, THE NAME, WE WERE ALL JUST SITTING THERE TOGETHER TALKING ABOUT HOW WE REALLY WANT TO CREATE A SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT WHERE PEOPLE CAN BE SOCIAL AGAIN.

IAN PROCK. Co-owner of Reboot Social explaining how it was named. Reboot Social is the arcade and bar that will be opening in downtown Eau Claire on Sept. 2. (via WQOW)

We serve a little over 30,000 meals a year and we have seen an increase this last summer.

JOAN LAWCEWICZ. Chippewa Falls police officer on National Night Out, which was held on Aug. 2. (via WQOW)

Thoughts

THE COMMENT SECTION

COMMENTS FROM OUR WEBSITE AND SOCIAL FEEDS TAKEN COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTEXT

“I can’t for the next issue to come out!! Mike, you’re either making me LOL or tearing up.”

KATHY JORGENSEN. Under the Aug. 2 REAR END post about writer Mike Paulus’s experience with readers. (via Facebook)

“Green is merely a government plot to extract money from everyone except those in power. It should be obvious to all but the most zealous of the population. Prove me wrong!”

DON ZANK. Commented on our Go Green special section guide on Aug. 2. (via Facebook)

“But seriously, though. Who doesn’t like a, fried from frozen, hate sandwich anyway?”

KATY MANKAMYER PHILLIPS. Commented under the July 28 post about a Chick-Fil-A coming to Eau Claire in the future. (via Facebook)

I think anybody in law enforcement, first responders, fire department, EMS, probably one of the most fun parts of our jobs are events like this.

FROM .ORG

E.C. Voters May Face Two Tax Votes This Fall

words by v1 staff

CITY OF EAU CLAIRE VOTERS WILL FACE A REFERENDUM ON THE NOV. 8 BALLOT THAT, if approved, would increase the amount of property taxes the city collects annually by $1.45 million. The tax increase would pay for 15 new city positions: six police officers, six firefighter/paramedics, two civilian community service officers, and a 911 dispatcher.

According to city figures, the referendum would increase property taxes by about $44 annually for the owner of a $194,000 home (that’s the current median price for a home in Eau Claire).

The City Council approved the referendum unanimously at a July 26 meeting.

“I know finances are tight, and I’m not trying to get our community to pay any more money then they would like to whatsoever, but I think it’s important that when we talk about police and fire, that we do all that we can,” City Councilman Roderick Jones said, according to WEAU 13 News.

State law limits how much municipalities can collect in property taxes. If they wish to exceed that level, they must ask voters for permission via a referendum.

Meanwhile, the Eau Claire school board is also considering going to voters to request a tax hike this fall. According to the Leader-Telegram, a school board committee has considered referendum amounts of $71 million and $92 million to pay for school building upgrades. The school board could vote on final details later in August.

On Campus

ONE HECK OF A BUZZ

CVTC INSTRUCTOR 3D PRINTS HONEYCOMB TO HELP BEES

words by alyssa van duyse / chippewa valley technical college

TED SIMPSON PULLED THE BEEKEEPER SUIT FROM THE TRUNK OF HIS CAR, pulled on the all-white jacket, pulled the netted hood over his head, and fastened several zippers.

He walked to the 4-foot-tall picket fence protecting two square, wooden hives. The fence is adorned with barbed wire to keep the bears out. Like Pooh, they are lured by the bees’ honey. But Simpson said the lack of cover also deters the black lumbering mammals.

Simpson has been a beekeeper for two years – by his account, a beginner to the hobby. But by nature, the Eau Claire man is passionate about saving the bees and has come up with a way to make their lives a little easier.

Simpson, 57, wasn’t simply checking on the bees for fun at the plot of land in rural Brackett the first week in August. He was taking note of the bee experiment that he dreamed up, which was brought into reality by Joe Vydrzal, a Chippewa Valley Technical College mechanical design instructor.

“The No. 1 commodity that beekeepers want more than anything else is clean honeycomb,” Simpson said. “Bees take forever to create it. You give up about eight pounds of honey per one pound of comb because it takes that much work for the bees to make the wax. Once the comb is built, they fill it with honey.

“If you could give the bees more honeycomb, they can do a lot more pollination.”

Simpson, also a school bus driver, was taking students to tour CVTC’s Manufacturing Education Center. As a man who loves to learn, he took the tour with the students, and that’s where his idea was born.

To give the bees a wing up, Simpson wondered if a honeycomb structure could be designed and 3D printed, dipped in a light coating of beeswax then attached to frames in the hive. The only place he knew to take his self-described “wacky idea” was CVTC.

“I just happened to be at work one day in the prototyping lab and Ted (Simpson) walked in and started talking,” Vydrzal said. “I’m a mechanical designer by trade. I’m an instructor, so designing excites me. When (Simpson) said, ‘Let’s try to create a way for bees to be more productive,’ I was all in.”

Vydrzal picked Simpsons brain on the size of the individual combs and the thickness of the comb walls, then Vydrzal went to work designing and printing.

The 3D prototyping lab at CVTC is a way to educate students and business professionals who need courses on this type of equipment. But it’s also perfect for community collaborations like a plan to save the bees.

An approximate 4-inch by 5-inch 3D comb took the machine about five hours to print. But Simpson said it would take the bees so much longer.

So as Simpson entered the beehive area in the open field, he was

cautiously optimistic. He had placed two prototypes of combs in the beehive for one week. He questioned if the bees would be inquisitive or ignore it.

But lo and behold, when he pulled the frame out of the box, nearly 500 bees were working to build additional comb onto the 3D printed structures. Simpson was excited to see the progress.

“This is very promising,” Simpson said. “I wish I would have started the process sooner, but this is very promising.”

Although no honey was present, that doesn’t mean the bees won’t eventually produce. Simpson is going to place the frame in one of the bottom boxes where bees have already made honey in the combs to see if they will adapt to the faux combs and start producing honey there, too.

Simpson said without CVTC, this project would never have had a chance. “The college has certainly given me an opportunity to do this in which I could have never done it any other way,” he said. “Something this small and this experimental doesn’t warrant a tremendous amount of expense.”

Vydrzal said he feels like he was in the right place at the right time. The project is perfect for CVTC.

“This is the testing, right? It’s prototyping,” Vydrzal said. “It’s what we’re here for. That’s what CVTC is in my mind – helping the community.”

E.C. Named One of Nation’s Best Places to Live

EAU CLAIRE IS NO STRANGER TO “BEST PLACES TO LIVE” LISTS, AND ONCE AGAIN HAS LANDED ON ONE OF THESE rankings thanks to Livability.com.

Ranked #78 on the website’s just-published “Best Places to Live in the US in 2022” list – right between Framingham, Massachusetts, and Portsmouth, New Hampshire – Eau Claire was described as a “thriving city with a dynamic arts and culture scene that gets top billing.”

The listing noted the city’s low unemployment rate, growing economy, and unique events (such as the U.S. Open Chainsaw Sculpture Championship), while also giving a nod to UWEau Claire, the Chippewa River State Trail, the Pablo Center at

the Confluence, and The Brewing Projekt.

Livability.com has been creating its “Best Places to Live” list for nine years, each year reevaluating through a plethora of collected data to make its selections. For this year’s list, more than 2,300 mid-sized cities were examined across eight categories to measure their economic stability, housing, amenities, transportation and infrastructure, demographics, social and civic capital, and healthcare.

Through all this data, each city is assigned a LivScore. The site noted each of the 100 cities on the list were found to be welcoming, relatively affordable, and offered space and opportu-

nity to grow professionally and personally. Considering Eau Claire didn’t make Livability’s 2021 list (boo!), it’s satisfying to be included once again (E.C. was part of the website’s 2014 and 2020 lists).

The Midwest held its own in the rankings, which featured six Wisconsin cities as well as communities from Minnesota, Michigan, and Illinois.

Madison was crowned the No. 1 Best Place to Live, with Appleton, Green Bay, Waukesha, and La Crosse spread out over the list, too. Check out the Livability.com article to read the full write-up about Eau Claire and the rest of the 100 cities, and learn more about their data collection.

It’s Back(Pack): ‘WECARE Eau Claire’ School Supply Event Returns

FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW, WECARE EAU CLAIRE, A COLLABORATION OF 21 EAU CLAIRE CHURCHES, IS HOSTING ITS BACK TO SCHOOL EVENT on Monday, Aug. 22, from 4:30-7:30pm at Phoenix Park. Eau Claire Area School District families in need can pick up backpacks filled with the required grade-level specific school supplies, all for free. Families are asked to come to the Phoenix Park farmers market pavilion and wait in line for a backpack for each child in their family. Feed My People Food Bank reps will be there to supply families with groceries, and the Goodwill retail store will be providing a $10 coupon for clothing and supplies from its local store, too. The L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library in Eau Claire is also offering books for each child, open to any ECASD family. WECARE is taking a new approach to stocking for the event this year. In its initial years, it has struggled to fill backpacks with donated supplies, so new backpacks are sought out through donation, and WECARE will fill them with new school supplies bought with monetary donations received. Brand new backpacks are still needed, and anyone interested in volunteering should reach out, as help is needed to pack them prior to the event. COVID-19 protocols will be in place. If you are vaccinated, masks aren’t required, though six-foot distancing will be in effect and hand sanitizer available. If you aren’t vaccinated, please follow the guidelines of the Eau Claire County Health Department and CDC. More details can be found on the WECARE Eau Claire website at www. wecareeauclaire.com.

Teen Hits It Big on Football Card Opening Livestream

EVER WONDER WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO HIT THE JACKPOT? A local teen experienced it firsthand as Jordan Hagedorn – owner of Eau Claire sports card shop For the Hobby – revealed an autographed Mac Jones football card during a livestream of a weekly “break” of unopened collectors cards. Since this is a one-of-a-kind find, it is estimated to be worth at least $20,000. In these weekly breaks, collectors buy into a large box of sports cards, which Hagedorn opens on Facebook Live every Sunday. Each collector is assigned a random team and receives every card from that team. Thirty-two people had purchased a spot within this specific box, and a 16-year-old from Eau Claire was randomly given the Patriots. That’s when Jordan came across a card autographed by Patriots quarterback Mac Jones, shocking the whole livestream. In a clip from For The Hobby’s Facebook page, you can see and hear a stunned Hagedorn whoop “No way!” as he discovers the card. “As I was opening it, it took me completely by surprise,” Jordan said. “It’s the biggest card we’ve ever hit.” Jordan estimates that the card could be worth anywhere from $20,000 to $100,000. For The Hobby (1721 Birch St.) has only been open eight months, but Jordan is adamant that he could live five more lifetimes and never again hit a card this good again. While Jordan knows that making money can attract collectors to sports cards, to him the real treasure is the people and friends he’s made along the way. “Cards are a vessel for us,” Jordan said. “They’re something that brings people to the shop and they bring people joy.” See the clip on For The Hobby’s Facebook (facebook.com/forthehobby).

Business

Expansion

‘Ope It’s Soap’ Is Sliding Into Its First Storefront

by

THESE BRICKS OF SOAP ARE SOON TO FIND A NEW BRICK-AND-MORTAR HOME.

Following a recent collaboration with a Wisconsin favorite soda, Jolly Good, and a shoutout from comedian Charlie Berens at the Northern Wisconsin State Fair, Ope It’s Soap owner and soap crafter Tony Liedl will move his soap business into a storefront in downtown Chippewa Falls. The storefront, which will be in the current location of Josef’s Cheesecakes (29 W Spring St.), will be open Saturdays, and other days by appointment. Liedl says he will be keeping his full-time graphic design position at Royal Credit Union, but adds that “the biggest change is that I can make soap in a storefront instead of my basement. Plus, I can add in-person [sales] and meet new people.” Though Liedl has no official opening date yet, you can keep up with Ope It’s Soap online to hear the news when it’s announced. Visit the soapmaker’s website at www.opesoap.com or find them on Facebook (@OpeHandmadeSoap).

Open Now

DEAR PRUDENCE

NEW EAU CLAIRE THRIFT BOUTIQUE IS DREAMIN’ BIG – AND LOCAL

GET FLY ON A DIME WITH DOWNTOWN EAU CLAIRE’S NEWEST THRIFT SHOP, DEAR PRUDENCE. Samara Snapp, owner of Dear Prudence Thrift Boutique (515 Wisconsin St.), dreamt up the idea of her business back in 2020. However, she decided to shelf those plans due to the COVID19 pandemic – until now.

Dear Prudence offers everything from clothing to home decor to fur-

niture. Because of the ever-changing stock, the shop might not always look the same, as Snapp plans to roll out new products on a regular basis.

“Dear Prudence is the true meaning of shopping local,” Snapp said. “We buy all of our product from local people, rummage sales, estate sales, and thrift stores.”

You don’t need to worry about

Expansion

Ferguson’s Orchard Growing Into Minn.

SAVOR THE HAPPY, BEAUTIFUL HUES OF ORANGE AND YELLOW AT FERGUSON’S APPLE ORCHARD IN EAU CLAIRE – OR BEYOND THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. Ferguson’s Orchard, a family-owned farm built on fall fun and delectable delicacies, eagerly awaits a grand opening of their new acreage, Minnesota Harvest in Jordan, Minnesota, on Aug. 13. “Minnesota Harvest (is) a good opportunity to save another orchard from possible development in the future, and offer what we do to even more people,” emphasized Andy Ferguson, one of the owners of Ferguson’s Orchard (6470 Balsam Road). With E.C. at the heart of their business, this new expansion emphasizes connections to the larger Midwest while bringing more apple and autumn goodies to all this fall. When Ferguson’s opens in Eau Claire on Aug. 20, expect to see more baked goods (including their famous apple cider donuts), specialty drinks, activities out in the orchard, a new, giant hay pyramid for photos and elaborate joy, and even Christmas cheer, with the location staying open until the holidays arrive. Support Ferguson’s Orchard this fall in Wisconsin or Minnesota and have a blast while doing it, too. Don’t forget to bring the whole family! Check out Ferguson’s website fergusonsorchard.com for more information – Kelly Carlson

breaking the bank at Dear Prudence, either. Snapp said that she loves finding a good deal, and she buys low so her customers can buy low. In fact, this is the meaning behind the shop’s name, which is – you guessed it – a nod to a Beatles song.

“I started to look up synonyms for the word ‘thrift,’ and I saw the word ‘Prudence,’ ” Snapp said. “I know The Beatles were singing about a lady and not saving money, but I thought it fit perfectly for the shop.”

While Dear Prudence doesn’t offer consignment right now, Snapp hopes to do so in the future. In addition, she wants to add flea markets and rummage sales to their services.

As for now, though, Snapp is just excited to see customers come in, peruse the shop, and find items that make them feel amazing.

Dear Prudence is open Wednesday through Friday from 11am-6pm and Saturdays from 9am-5pm.

Find more information by searching for Dear Prudence on Facebook.

Milestone

ROOTED IN LOVE: Down To Earth To Celebrate 25th Year

WHAT BEGAN AS A HOBBY BETWEEN A LOCAL FAMILY HAS TURNED INTO SO MUCH MORE over the past two and a half decades. Take it from the Down To Earth family: Planting a dream can turn into a beautiful reality.

John and Sandi Polzin, their son Benjamin (Ben), and nephew Dominic Paull, spent years working in lawn care – Does anyone recall Monkey Business Services? – and gardening together in the 1990s. They began at what is still their growing farm (off County Highway O in Cadott, near John’s grandfather’s original farmland). Since then, the business has flourished.

“Just in general, being able to say it’s been 25 years doesn’t seem real. I mean, I started at (age) 12, now I’m 37,” Ben said. “It’s like, dang, I’ve really been doing this long. It’s crazy to look back at where we started. You’d never have thought it could be what it is now. It’s just humbling.”

Locals know Down To Earth as perhaps the most unique and all-inone garden center in the area with several greenhouses, landscaping materials and installation services, an expansive selection of pottery and outdoor decor and art, herbs and veggie plants, perennials and tropical plants, plus a café and boutique. Yeah, Down To Earth’s just about got it all, but it certainly took time and support to get this far.

“Growing on our farm back in the ’90s to what it is today, is drastically different,” Ben recalled. “We moved to Eau Claire in 2010, so from that

point going to now, there’s been multiple additions. It was just one little greenhouse to start with. Now we have eight.”

Of those eight greenhouses, two were built just this year, expanding the options that Down To Earth can bring to plant and garden lovers. The greenery haven is already well known for its longer-than-most offerings, including its year-round greenhouses where tropical plants can thrive even in Wisconsin weather.

“We pride ourselves on having the best plants available whenever somebody wants it. We’re planting all year,” Ben said. “I’ve always said from day one: We’re going to be fun and different. We don’t want to just be a normal garden center, we want to make it a whole experience – that’s where the

café and boutique come into play too, and how we lay things out.”

Ben continued to emphasize how much community support has propelled not just the business, but also the family’s motivation and love for what they do. Down To Earth’s 25th year in business means a lot more than just a number.

“As we grow, I think our presence in the community has grown and being able to see that is the driving part of what we do,” Ben said. “We have people that drive from hours away to visit our shop, which is awesome. I think that says a lot about what we’ve been able to accomplish here. But, it’s cool to be able to see those repeat customers continuing to grow and come back.”

Though the Down To Earth staff

will have a celebration of their own for the milestone, they wanted to hold something specifically for the community to show their appreciation and celebrate the space that has truly become a beloved community facet. Starting Friday, Aug. 12, at 4pm, the 25th Anniversary Customer Appreciation Celebration will kick off at the center.

From 4-7pm the Down To Earth family will treat folks to grilled brats and hot dogs alongside Olson’s Ice Creamery treats, and a visit from Bailey’s Nursery to chat and answer questions. Plus, all of the Down To Earth shops will stay open through 7 o’clock, including the Five and Two Café and Mustard Seed Boutique. The garden center will also be offering a special anniversary sale throughout the whole weekend.

Visit Down To Earth’s Facebook (@ downtoearthec) for more details.

FILM IN THE VALLEY.

The annual Red Cedar Film Festival, based in Menomonie, held its fourth fest July 28-31. Seven winners were crowned across several categories, including Eau Claire filmmaker Tim Schwagel for his film Chopping Block in the ‘Midwest Roots’ category.

HI-FI ALUMNUS Music

BLUGOLD GRAD, AN AUDIO EXPERT, BACK IN

EAU

CLAIRE AFTER 35 YEARS

UW-EAU CLAIRE PROUDLY CELEBRATES

THE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL MUSIC CAREERS OF MANY RENOWNED ALUMNI, from indie artists Sean Carey and Justin Vernon to jazz greats like John Raymond and Aaron Hedenstrom.

Another Blugold leader in the music industry recently left Berkeley, California, his home of 35 years, to return to Eau Claire. Allen Perkins, a 1985 graduate, spent many of those California years as a prolific jazz drum performer, a passion he honed as a Blugold studying jazz music with the late Ron Keezer, associate professor emeritus of music at UW-Eau Claire.

It was not for his drumming, however, that Perkins has earned global acclaim in the music industry.

Perkins has built a career and award-winning international business designing, manufacturing and distributing high-end, stateof-the-art turntables through two California-based companies he founded and co-founded, Spiral Groove turntables and Immedia Distribution.

Perkins does not create the turntables for the average vinyl enthusiast. His designs are aimed at a niche market of “audiophiles” who have the means to spend $15,000 to $35,000 on these premium products.

“I’ve worked with people like Carl Bernstein of Woodward and Bernstein, jazz artist Keith Jarrett, members of the bands Black Keys and the Jackson 5. A wonderful upside of this work has been meeting so many really interesting people,” Perkins says.

“In general, the bulk of my customers have been people who dream of being musicians but often made a whole lot of money doing something else, or they inherited wealth. They have a hobby, and I’m an expert in their hobby – they appreciate my expertise.”

While Perkins is familiar with life in the Chippewa Valley, moving was no small decision for a family with their entire family history spent in California.

“We are blessed to have a person of Allen Perkins’ magnitude choose

to live in Eau Claire once again,” says Robert Baca, professor and director of jazz studies.

“Allen is an industry leader whose passion for playing jazz drum set led him to discover new ways listeners can have a deeper musical experience through his technology. Many of the most well-known performers and music makers in the world rely on Allen’s technology to listen and create music on the highest levels. His relocating here is a reminder of all our town has to offer to attract luminaries like Allen.”

Perkins was originally a music major, but eventually earned a psychology degree from UWEC. During his college career, to took part in an exchange program in Japan, where he became intrigued by the world of high-end audio equipment.

After graduating in 1985, he took a job working for a company in Oakland, California. After four and a half years with that business, Perkins left and formed a distribution company to sell phono cartridges manufactured in Japan. The

E.C. NATIVE RETURNS TO JAZZ IT UP Music

A MUSICAL SETTING CAN BE BOTH INTIMATE AND INSPIRING: FOR THE LISTENERS, AN ENJOYABLE, SOOTHING FEELING ACROSS STRANGERS; FOR THE MUSICIANS, an electrifying chord of connectivity, no matter how old or young. For Tyler Lustek, an Eau Claire native, that chord struck particularly strong 10 years ago as a freshman at Eau Claire Memorial High School. While watching Jazz I players excel with talent and laughter, Lustek decided to join the jazz community with open arms and fell in love, playing magical tunes on the piano and trumpet. Now, because of those influential times and teachers, he’s back with an MFA in Music and eager ambition to swing into action out on the late-night scene. “Coming back to Eau Claire is a means for me to pay back what I owe in terms of giving back to the people who helped me develop as a musician,” Lustek said. Ranging from ambitious original compositions to improvisational jams with old and new friends, Lustek brings with him to E.C. a unique, jazz experience on the piano. Combining old classics from Herbie Hancock and Rachmaninoff to modern retellings of Stevie Wonder and Earth, Wind, and Fire, Lustek celebrates music authentic to himself. “I try to keep one foot in tradition and one foot in progression,” he said. “The fact that I’m an Eau Claire native, I think really resonates with people,” he said. “I have a place in the scene here. I feel very fortunate.” Catch all of Lustek’s latenight jams (featuring The Tyler Lustek Quartet, the Groove Merchants, and more) at 200 Main Art & Wine, The Lakely, Artisan Forge, The Stone’s Throw, and the Clear Water Jazz Fest (August 27) at the Brewing Projekt. –Kelly Carlson

distribution company was named Immedia Distribution.

Soon after launching Immedia, Perkins also started manufacturing turntables under the brand name RPM. In 2005, Perkins co-founded Spiral Groove with a partner, and roughly 10 years later began working as a consultant for Mobile Fidelity, “MoFi” Electronics, a subsidiary of Music Direct.

“This role allowed me to apply my expertise to a line of consumer-level products, and I found that work rewarding — my designs were landing in many more people’s homes,” he says.

UWEC connections have remained strong for Perkins, whose two sons Cole and Austin joined the family of Blugold alumni in 2019 and 2021, respectively, and his wife, Julia, is currently employed on campus.

“Eau Claire is a great place for music, and I look forward to making more connections and playing much more often,” he says.

Shakespeare in the Valley

TRAVELING TROUPE TO PERFORM AT LAKE WISSOTA STATE PARK

SUMMIT PLAYERS THEATRE, A WISCONSINBASED TRAVELING THEATRE TROUPE, IS BRINGING LIVE, OUTDOOR PERFORMANCES to more than 20 state parks this summer, including Lake Wissota State Park outside Chippewa Falls. Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing will be performed at Lake Wissota State Park at 7pm on Friday, Aug. 12, preceded by a workshop at 5:30pm.

The show will be just over an hour long and will be free to attend, as part of the theater’s mission is to ensure accessibility to all. In collaboration with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources,

the state’s gorgeous parks are the locale for each performance.

“We’re thrilled to be entering our seventh year of performing in the parks,” Executive Director A.J. Magoon said. “There’s a reason Much Ado About Nothing is one of Shakespeare’s most popular comedies. It’s hilarious and heartfelt, and this version is perfect for audiences of all kinds.”

The workshops that occur before each performance are educational and this year’s workshop, “Inside Shakespeare’s Story: Much Ado About Nothing,” is being offered for the first time. The workshop

is meant to make following the play easier to understand for kids and accompanying adults, such as explaining the Shakespearian language and the flow of the play. Plus, games and exercises are woven in, and culminate to a fun short scene performance.

Summit Players Theatre is the only company in the nation focusing its touring production on state parks. Summit’s content and program changes each year, keeping their tour fresh and fun for all.

Follow the Summit Players Theatre at summitplayerstheater.com and on Facebook (@SummitPlayersTheatre).

Stage

To Tree or Not to Tree?

WE ALL LOVE TREES, DO YOU LOVE TREES?

Arborophilia, the upcoming play performed by Speck of Dust Theatre Company (Aug. 11-13, 19-20 at the Grand Theatre), is about a young woman in love with a poplar tree, and the poplar tree is not at all into it. Directed by Logan Toftness and written by Jacob M. Appel, this award-winning, small, quirky comedy centers on a the two daughters of a middle-aged divorced mother who each love in ways that rebel against their mother. One with a Republican (annoying her deeply Democratic mother) and the other with the wispy, thin poplar tree in their vacant lot.

The Detroit Pride Source called an “insightful poke at many of our cherished beliefs and institutions.”

Tickets can be purchased at the door at the Grand Theatre (102 W. Grand Ave.) for $20 or online at www.brownpapertickets.com/ event/5515812.

Keep up with the Chippea Valley Theatre Guild online on Facebook (@cvtgact) and their website, www.cvtg.org.

Visual

Visual Art Events

NOW HANGING

BEST OF DESIGN JURIED EXHIBITION + STUDENT ARTIST-INRESIDENCE

SHOW

UW-STOUT | uwstout.edu

UNTIL SEPT. 10

Best of Design Juried Exhibition features student work from all programs in the department of design. In the south space, find student artists in-residence Ezra Brey and Kayla Haugen.

METAL ARTS

LEARNING TO JOURNAL

FREE CLASSES AT HEYDE CENTER WILL TEACH ‘ART JOURNALING’ TO COMMUNITY

CHIPPEWA FALLS HIGH SCHOOL AND THE HEYDE CENTER FOR THE ARTS are partnering with local artist Lindamerry Udell to bring free art classes to those who are interested in learning how to paint and draw, but can’t afford art materials or class fees.

The classes will focus on art journaling, which is very similar to a traditional written journal, but utilizes colors, images, patterns, and more to fill its pages. The classes will be open to a maximum of 30 people, beginning in mid September and continuing once a month until April 2023.

“We are never too old to learn something new – Monet didn’t start seriously painting until his wife died in his 40s. Folk artist Grandma Moses didn’t start painting until she was in her 70s. Georgia O’Keeffe painted throughout the later years of her life,” pointed out Deb Johnson, Executive Director of the Heyde Center.

Lindamerry Udell graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Northern Illinois University

and teaches jewelry making in the evenings. “This is right up my alley,” Udell said. “Teaching art classes is something I really enjoy, and I’m so happy to be able to give back to our community.”

Chi-Hi Academic Chairperson and Art Club Advisor Jennifer Handrick and some high school art students will be providing individualized support during the classes, an opportunity for both the students and class attendees learning and bonding opportunities.

Handrick came up with the idea for the collaboration, the courses covering drawing basics, color pencil, color markers and patterns, and watercolor painting.

Initial art material costs are covered by a grant from the Community Foundation of Chippewa County, with registration for the classes opening Friday, Aug. 12, at 10am.

Visit the Heyde Center’s website (cvca.net) to register starting Aug. 12. You can also reach out to Debra Johnson (djohnson@cvca.net) if you have further questions.

HEYDE CENTER FOR THE ARTS | CVCA.NET

AUG. 24 - OCT. 5

Led by Michele Paquette, One L Metals specializes in seasonal, small batch whimsical art. Metal with Moxie started as a retirement hobby and has resulted in a creatively satisfying business. Lancelot Metal Creations uses welding and paint to design and produce artwork that is fun and colorful.

BOLD & BEAUTIFUL – PATRICIA

MAYHEW HAMM

HEYDE CENTER FOR THE ARTS

CVCA.NET

UNTIL AUG. 17

Patricia Hamm is an award-winning experimental artist who has developed her own style through more than 50 years of study with the use of dramatic color, strong contrasts, and sound composition.

IN BY 10 ART BY 5 – LARRY STARK

PABLO CENTER AT THE CONFLUENCE • PABLOCENTER.ORG

UNTIL AUG. 28

The conceptual work of Larry Stark observes both the beauty and homogenization of the American landscape. Highways, bridges, barges, landscapes, maps, people, fish, and even spam emails have been the center of his work.

LOIS PETERSON

PABLO CENTER •PABLO CENTER.ORG

AUG. 12 - OCT. 9

Prairie landscapes, Arctic expanses, African savannahs, flowing rivers and night skies all articulate for Lois Peterson spaces of quiet mystery. Lois Peterson attempts to bring into one’s vision what can only be sensed

THE VALLEY’S LGBTQ+ LIBRARY

SINCE 2020, THE CHIPPEWA VALLEY LGBTQ+ CENTER HAS GARNERED MORE THAN 200 BOOKS

THE CHIPPEWA VALLEY LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY CENTER HAS MOVED AROUND QUITE A BIT OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, and with the pandemic, it has frequently shifted its hours, too. Now settling into August, the Center, 505 S. Dewey St., is open most days of the week and also by appointment for whatever needs folks reaching out may have – including access to the Center’s library.

The library is dedicated to connecting Valley residents to diverse works by LGBTQ+ writers in order to recognize, celebrate, and share their voices from throughout history and all over the world, as is explained in its mission statement. Matt Klein, vice president and head of the library and resources at the Center, launched the library in 2020.

However, due to several relocations and the COVID-19 pandemic, the library was operating mostly remotely throughout 2020 and 2021, even arranging times to drop books off at people’s doorsteps. Now, people of all ages can stop by the Center to check out anything from the library, which has more than 200 publications.

The library has graphic novels, cookbooks, poetry, nonfiction, children’s books, and more, most of them available thanks to donations from

various places, like its local authors’ section, whose authors donated many of their own books themselves.

“We’ve been very conscious of trying to build up a wide variety,” said Charles Payseur, vice president and head of operations. “I think it’s important to show people all the different stories that queer creatives tell. It’s cookbooks, poetry; It’s everything.”

Klein also pointed out not all of the library’s books are about LGBTQ-specific topics either, though all of its publications come from LGBTQ+ authors. “(The books) don’t always have to be about queer-specific stuff,” Klein said. “Like, there’s one about fermenting food, and the author just happens to be queer and an AIDS advocate.”

Anyone can borrow from the library, and the snug area near the bookshelves offers seating for folks who want to browse for a while and even read there. Items can be checked out electronically or through library slips available at the Center.

The Center has an Amazon wishlist of books for its library and a donation link for anyone who may be interested in supporting.

Follow the C.V. LGBTQ+ Center on Facebook (@lgbtcommunitycenter).

Writing

TWO LOCAL WRITERS ARE FINALISTS IN STATEWIDE LITERARY COMPETITION

TWO CHIPPEWA VALLEY WRITERS ARE AMONG THE FINALISTS in the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letter’s annual Fiction & Poetry Contest. Each year the contest draws submissions from writers across the state. Winners will be announced Aug. 15, and the winning entries (as well as those of many of the finalists) will be published in the coming year in Wisconsin People & Ideas, the academy’s magazine. Among the 10 Fiction Contest finalists is Tom Pamperin, for his story “In Rock Springs When the Angel Trumpets Sound.” Pamperin, of Chippewa Falls, is a freelance writer and author of the book Jagular Goes Everywhere. Among the 15 Poetry Contest finalists is Bruce Taylor, also of Chippewa Falls, for his poem “Full Disclosure.” Taylor is a professor emeritus of English at UW-Eau Claire and curator of Volume One’s Local Lit feature. Contest winners will receive cash prizes, a reading at the Wisconsin Book Festival in Madison, and a oneweek residency at Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts in Mineral Point. –Volume One staff

I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT TO SHOW PEOPLE ALL THE DIFFERENT STORIES THAT QUEER CREATIVES TELL. IT’S COOKBOOKS, POETRY; IT’S EVERYTHING.

– CHARLES PAYSEUR, CHIPPEWA VALLEY LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY CENTER, ON THE GROUP’S GROWING LIBRARY

Food+Drink

RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

YEARS OF HARD WORK CULMINATE IN RESTAURATEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD FOR DRAGANETTI’S JOANNE PALZKILL

JOANNE PALZKILL, CO-OWNER OF TWO POPULAR CHIPPEWA VALLEY EATERIES, Draganetti’s and Za 51, has spent her whole life in the hospitality business.

Before her birth, her parents and older siblings had relocated from Chicago to Wisconsin’s northwoods in 1951, buying a home near Gordon and turning it into a resort and restaurant. The family still operates that business, now called the Enchanted Inn, which is about two hours north of Eau Claire. In 1961, the family opened a second business, Drag’s Restaurant and Roman Lounge, in Rice Lake.

“We all pretty much started working in the restaurant business as soon as we could see over the counter,” she said.

Now there’s something else peering over that counter – or at least over the back bar at Draganetti’s: the 2022 Restaurateur of the Year Award from the Wisconsin Restaurant Association. Palzkill received the honor at a surprise ceremony last month in Eau Claire.

“I’m still sort of in shock,” she acknowledged during a recent interview. Palzkill was honored by her fellow restaurateurs for her success in the industry, her involvement in the community, and her service to the Wisconsin Restaurant Association: She’s been on the board for more than a decade and was chairwoman during the tumultuous pandemic year of 2020, when many

restaurants struggled to survive. Before the pandemic, the WRA would hold an annual conference in March where the Restaurateur of the Year would be announced at an awards dinner. No such big event was held this year, so Palzkill was lured to what she was told was a celebration in honor of Kathy Colon, Draganetti’s kitchen manager, who was receiving a regional Back of House award from the restaurant group. It turns out the July 18 gathering at Florian Gardens was also being held to honor Palzkill herself.

Palzkill is gratified to receive the award, whose recipient is chosen annually by past Restaurateur of the Year honorees. (Sadly, the only other recent recipient from the Chippewa Valley, former Connell’s owner Lynn McDonough, died earlier this summer.)

Palzkill and two of her siblings – John and Claudia — opened Draganetti’s, one of the Valley’s most-beloved Italian restaurants, in Altoona in 1981. Earlier that year, she had graduated from UW-Eau Claire with a degree in accounting but soon found herself drawn back to the restaurant world.

“I missed the interaction with people and customers and just the roller coaster ride the restaurant business brings,” she said. “Every day you don’t really know what’s going to happen. You plan the best

you can – you have to plan – but there are always unanticipated things that come at you.”

In the early 1980s, Palzkill and her siblings saw a niche for an Italian restaurant in the area, and they brought their family recipes – including pizza – to life in the former Ristorante Buono’s on East Clairemont Avenue in Altoona. They first called their restaurant Drag’s, but eventually it became Draganetti’s – a combination of their father’s last name, Draganowski, with their mother’s maiden name, Micaletti. In those days, Claudia handled the kitchen (with help from their mother, Clara), John oversaw the bar, and Joanne managed the front of the house.

While their mother passed away in 1999, the siblings have largely

continued in those roles for more than 40 years. And since 2018, they’ve also owned and operated Za 51, a less formal pizzeria in Altoona’s River Prairie development.

Joanne attributes her success in part to hard work (“We’re still grinding away,” she said, “We love it”) and to having a great staff. While she acknowledges that, as she gets older, she intends to begin to step back from the restaurants, Joanne doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to do so.

The same goes for her connection to the Wisconsin Restaurant Association, which she considers a second family. “I want to stay involved because what I love is there are so many young operators coming in, and that is such wonderful energy,” she said.

WE ALL PRETTY MUCH STARTED WORKING IN THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS AS SOON AS WE COULD SEE OVER THE COUNTER.

–JOANNE

New Stuff

E.C. FAST FUEL: The New Fast Food

SOMETIMES, IF YOU WANT SOMETHING DONE, YOU HAVE TO DO IT YOURSELF – JUST ASK DAKOTA YARRINGTON, the brains behind Fast Fuel. Located inside Eau Claire’s Banbury Place, Fast Fuel is a whole food grab-andgo stop, or as its punchline says, “the new fast food.”

Fast Fuel has established itself purely off word-of-mouth in the area, which speaks volumes about its products and atmosphere. Known for its fresh-pressed juices – the pressing kitchen is right across the hall from the retail space in Banbury – Fast Fuel also sells energy bites, salads, and popular buildyour-own avocado toast.

The small business’s first year has been wildly successful, so much so that Fast Fuel has yet to have an official grand opening or one-year anniversary celebration, although they turned one this June. To some, this may come as a surprise, as Yarrington’s idea for Fast Fuel was shot down several times before he decided to run with it.

“In Eau Claire, I was told ‘no’ about four years ago. (I was told), ‘Eau Claire is for burgers and beer, you can’t open a juice bar around here.’ So, a lot of naysayers,” Yarrington said. “Then once I opened up, everybody was like, ‘Oh, this is awesome, it’s different.’ So, it may be a different clientele and totally different vibe, but people wanted it.”

A NEW DAWN FOR LEINENKUGEL’S ‘SUNSET WHEAT’

ORIGINALLY LAUNCHED IN 2006 TO INSTANT SUCCESS, LEINENKUGEL’S SUNSET WHEAT BEER WAS DISCONTINUED IN 2020, a choice met with immediate outcry from fans. Well, all you Sunset Wheat die-hards can soon rejoice –Leinie’s is bringin’ it back. Dick Leinenkugel, president of the Valley’s beloved Leinenkugel’s, is set to pass the Leinie’s baton to his nephew Tony Bugher after his retirement, slated for the end of this year. Before then, though, he’s got plenty left to do – like relaunching Sunset Wheat. Thursday, Aug.

farmers and the Fast Fuel farm that one of its partners runs.

E.C. FAST FUEL

(715) 514-0305

930 Galloway St., Suite 14 www.fastfuel.co/ facebook.com/fastfuelec

With a couple of business partners interested in Fast Fuel, once the pandemic hit, Yarrington took the leap alongside two partners. “It was like, OK, now’s the time. More than ever, people need quick, healthy food.”

Though the Valley is definitely known for its mouthwatering burger and brew joints, an appreciation for homegrown and organic food is also a facet of the community. Fast Fuel aims to cater to that crowd and share its on-the-go whole food options with all, locally sourcing its produce from

Yarrington, a Mondovi native, is no newbie to the small biz world, and alongside his business partners has been able to grow Fast Fuel quickly, even catering events such as Yarrington’s favorite, the “Yin and Juice” event in collaboration with newly-opened yoga studio Habitual Yoga Space. With a nutrition and coaching background too, Yarrington’s passion for healthy living began long before Fast Fuel came to fruition.

Open Monday-Friday each week from 8am-3pm, everything featured in Fast Fuel’s cooler is fresh, and is made so there is next to no product waste. The products’ packaging is recyclable, including glass juice bottles and containers made from plant-made plastic.

Read the full article on Fast Fuel at volumeone.org.

Pizza

11, will be the official Sunset Wheat Release Party at the Leinie Lodge from 5-8pm. It’ll be a whole shindig with live music from Eau Clairebased country band Another Road, food trucks Bubbles BBQ and Batters Box, and giveaways, plus Sunset Wheat served ice cold. Tickets to the party are $15 and can be bought at www. leinie.com/tours. Thanks to poking and prodding by Sunset Wheat fans, Leinenkugel called its relaunch a “no brainer.” Not only were its fans calling, sending emails, and posting online about their love of the brew, but there was also a Change.org petition created to bring it back.“Leinenkugel’s Sunset Wheat will be available for a limited time,” Leinenkugel said. “It is not a seasonal brew, however, we think our drinkers are going to love its return and we’ll look to make it a more permanent part of our portfolio, even if it is for a limited time, in the future.” –McKenna

Wedges Creek Hideaway’s Summer Trinity: Music, Drinks, and Pizza

ARMED WITH A PLOT OF LAND AND A PASSION FOR PIZZA, THE VOLOVSEK FAMILY HAS TOSSED TOGETHER

A SLICE OF HEAVEN. They’re cooking up a summer of fun – and plenty of pizza – at Wedges Creek Hideaway. Jeff Volovsek, the owner, built a brick oven for his family to enjoy. Four years later, they opened it up to the public with fresh dough and locally sourced toppings, now growing into so much more. Located in Greenwood, Wedges Creek Hideaway is an hour from Eau Claire and will be open to the public on Fridays at 5pm and Saturdays at 4pm through Sept. 24 this year. This summer, every Saturday the pizza is paired with live music. If guests don’t want the fun to stop, cabins, RVs and campsites, and a shower house are available for nightly rates. Topping off the summer is the Nxrth’s first-ever Gravel Pizza Overnighter, a two-day event during which riders hop on their bikes for a 45-mile trek to Wedges Creek, where they can stay the night and then bike home the next day after an evening full of of pizza, drinks, and music. For those who want Wedges Creek all to themselves, the business offers options for weddings, retreats, and other events. Visit Wedges Creek Hideaway’s website (wedgescreek.com) and Facebook (@wedgescreekhideaway) for more information. The triple-threat spot is at W7355 Mann Road, Greenwood. –Sam Johnson

Leisure

Stumped for Summer Plans? Check Out This Chainsaw Art

LONG AGO, BEFORE THE CHIPPEWA VALLEY WAS A HIPSTER’S PARADISE FULL OF BREWERIES AND A THRIVING ARTS COMMUNITY, it was shaped by logging. Art and wood are ingrained in the Valley’s culture, and the Wisconsin Logging Museum is branching out with an event that links past and present.

The ninth annual U.S. Open Chainsaw Sculpture Championship is being held at Carson Park from Aug. 11-14. A number of carvers from all over the world are coming to Eau Claire to transform 8-foot logs into one-ofa-kind works of art.

While the artists work, the whole family will have activities to take part in. Food, drinks, and entertainment are also scheduled during the event, with kid-friendly events going on throughout. Tickets are available in the form of single-day or full event passes.

The event may only last four days, but the art created is permanent, and guests will have three chances to bid on art pieces.

At the end of the weekend, the final works will be judged, given awards, then sold to the highest bidder.

For those seeking to axe the ticket costs or help out, the Wisconsin Logging Museum is looking for volunteers, with incentives like free tickets and $40 per shift.

Head over to wisconsinlogging.org or the event’s Facebook page for more details.

Gaming

GET ON BOARD

E.C. MAN LAUNCHES KICKSTARTER FOR BOARD GAME INSPIRED

EAU CLAIRE’S ELI BREMER IS A LOVER OF ALL THINGS MUSICAL AND ARTISTIC and has combined the two in a vibrant, playful way with Meet Me At The Creek, a family-friendly board game that will be easy to pick up if you’ve played similar ones like Parcheesi, but with a completely unique vibe.

Described as “an exciting game of chase, race, and capture,” the game is fit for those ages 8+, requires two-four players, and takes anywhere from about 25-45 minutes to finish. Though playtime might feel like other classic board games, MMATC has an incredibly unique backstory linked to Grammy Awardwinning musician, Billy Strings.

“I am always thinking about music and art, so why not find one of the best artists and team up with him on this special project involving a fusion of music, art, and good old-fashioned fun,” Bremer wrote on the game’s Kickstarter page.

Billy “MF” Strings, whose fanbase calls themselves Billy Goats, is a guitarist and bluegrass artist from Michigan who‘s hit quite a stride over the past few years. Strings’ fourth studio album, Home, was

released in 2019 and peaked at number one on the Billboard Bluegrass Albums chart – his first album to do so – earning him his first Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album in 2021 and his first performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live Rolling Stone called him the “Bluegrass Star You Can’t Miss” in 2019, and he’s garnered nearly a million monthly Spotify listeners.

His Billy Goats are dearly devoted – evident by MMATC’s references back to Strings, including the company that is creating it, Goatful Games, and the game’s board pieces, called “Goaties.” Bremer said Goatful Games has received the OK for its usage of Strings references and has even gotten a prototype of the game signed by one of the band members. The artwork for the board and box were created by Nashvillebased artist Brandon Trammel. To win the game, players must get their Goaties to the end of the board’s pathways by rolling either a 3 or 33 (33 earning a “BILLY BONUS”), and along the way, can create blockades while winding around Red Daisy Way, Hide & Seek Rd., Ice Bridge

Ave., and Hellbender Dr., to end up Meeting At The Creek. (As you may have guessed, these game elements are named after Billy Strings songs.)

To get Meet Me At The Creek up and running, a Kickstarter was launched with a goal of raising $25,000 by Sept. 10. Kickstarter is an “all or nothing” fundraising website, so if the game does not hit its goal, none of the pledges will be collected. As of Aug. 5, $10,931 had been pledged by 98 backers.

MMATC is also offering incentives in 12 levels of support.

Spanning between $5-$5,000, incentive prizes include free game stickers, T-shirts, posters, Kickstarteronly items, limited edition Goatie pieces, a meet-and-greet with Strings, tickets to a Strings show, and more.

Bremer said the team is on track for its Kickstarter deadline, especially after a July 27 Strings concert that Bremer and a group of buddies went to where Strings himself gave them a shoutout.

Read the full article at volumeone. org, and visit @GoatfulGames on Facebook to keep up with them.

Photographer Shoots for Success with Sports Magazine

CHIPPEWA VALLEY SPORTS FANS, UNITE! A new sports publication focused solely on Chippewa Valley teams and players is becoming a reality. Branden Nall, a local photographer and sports enthusiast, decided to start Chippewa Valley Sports when he saw an uptick in interest and passion for local sports over the past year.

“Everything is sort of coming back into the sports that I grew up with,” Nall said. “Everything is just prospering.”

Unlike other sports publications, Nall wants to focus mostly on the players behind these teams and showcase some sports that don’t receive as much time in the spotlight, such as disc golf, weightlifting, and many more.

“It’s like one of those sports movies that aren’t really about sports,” Nall said. “That’s what I want Chippewa Valley Sports to be. It’s not about the sports, I want it to be about the people who are participating because, without them, the sport doesn’t exist.”

Articles and photographs on Nall’s website currently feature state champion Chi-Hi runner Brooklyn Sandvig, disc golfer Sami Osterberg, coverage of the Eau Claire Express, and photo sets of Eau Claire Cavaliers baseball and the Fire Freedom Justice Run. As of right now, Chippewa Valley Sports is online only, but Nall is working his way toward a printed publica-

tion that would be free to the public. Issues will likely be published monthly, but Nall would love to do more if the interest is there.

“I had multiple conversations with people and it boiled down to

Recreation

wanting to create something that was sports specific for the area and really drive that and really showcase what is all possible,” Nall said.

Check out Chippewa Valley Sports at chippewavalleysports.com.

UP FOR A BIKE RIDE? HOW ABOUT ACROSS THE STATE?

IT’S TIME TO HIT THE TRAILS AND TUNNELS ON THE SEVENTH ANNUAL RIDE ACROSS WISCONSIN (RAW) BIKE RIDE. This year the full 235-mile ride, sponsored by the Wisconsin Bike Fed, starts in La Crosse and ends in Milwaukee. There are also shorter routes if the full ride is a little too intimidating, ranging from 100 miles to 165 miles over one or two days.

This ride will follow the Elroy Sparta Trail, pass through Wisconsin Dells and cross the Wisconsin River on a ferry. For all the one-day riders headed for Milwaukee, their ride will end at the Twisted Fisherman for a tropical-themed celebration. The two-day cross-state riders will end their journey at the Harley Davidson Museum.

There are stops along the route to eat, sleep, and even charge your e-bike. There are luggage shuttling services so you don’t have to ride with lots of gear and supplies. This year, there is an Amtrak ride and a Motorcoach ride to take you from the Dells back to La Crosse.

To learn more about this event, you can check out the RAW 2022 Rider Guide at rideacrosswisconsin.com. –Sawyer Hoff

Recreation

Clued Upp Is Back With a Maddening Theme

words by sawyer hoff

WE’RE ALL MAD HERE IN EAU CLAIRE. THIS YEAR’S CLUED UPP INTERACTIVE OUTDOOR GAME HAS AN ALICE IN WONDERLAND THEME, and it falls down the rabbit hole Oct. 1.

Just like last year, round up a team of your friends and some killer costumes to solve clues and compete versus other teams against a clock. All you need is a smartphone to access the Clued Upp app and walk through downtown Eau Claire between 9am-2pm the day of to complete the challenges.

You can pause the game to get something to eat and get right back into it, too. Prizes will be given out for several categories such as fastest team, best fancy dress (Alice in Wonderland-themed), best team photo, best team name, best mini player (under 16 years old), and pawesome pooch (best dog photo).

To learn more about the event and to purchase a team ticket, you can go to cluedupp.com.

I WANT [C.V. SPORTS] TO BE ABOUT THE PEOPLE BECAUSE, WITHOUT THEM, THE SPORT DOESN’T EXIST.

–BRANDEN NALL, CHIPPEWA VALLEY SPORTS CREATOR

Discovery

Activities

PICKING PROMISES

NEW EFFORT CONNECTS KIDS, FRESH FOOD, AND FEEDING THE LESS FORTUNATE

HOW CAN YOU COMBAT INFLATION, FOOD INSECURITY, AND THE DECLINE IN WISCONSIN FAMILY FARMS ALL AT ONCE? Make it family friendly, and you land yourself at Picking Promises: the one-stopshop for doing good.

Currently, there is a very deep disconnect between people and the food they eat. Asking questions like, “Where does this come from?” and “How does this grow?” bring us to a better recognition of the agricultural scene. Too often, we forget the people behind the growing of our favorite foods, and that disconnect is hurting everyone.

Enter Norm Joseph, a local man with a huge dream and an idea to connect it all. Getting his kids (Amy, Brian, and Jennifer) and grandkids involved, Norm went to work creating a program that encouraged individuals and families to go to farms nearby, pick and purchase the freshest, juiciest seasonal produce, and then donate it to charities that need more fresh food to give to those who don’t have enough to eat. Soon, Picking Promises was born.

“I’ve always wanted to help the less fortunate, it’s been kind of a family mark,” Norm emphasized. Norm grew up with generosity to everyone as a cornerstone value, often providing meals for strangers who couldn’t

afford to eat anywhere else. “We like to give back to the community and feel grateful for what we have, too,” he said.

Picking Promises debuted in connection with 4H through his family’s involvement. A group set out to explore Little Berry Farm to pick berries with kids as young as 6. There, the group met with the owner of the farm, got a tour of the land, learned a little history and a few agricultural practices, and got

to work picking berries – sometimes helping the farmers weed as well. After picking, they set up a time to donate the food to Feed My People Food Bank, the Community Table, or other local charities.

And the best part about it: it’s just so simple. “It was so easy, and it was so fun, and it was five minutes away,” Jennifer said. “We had plenty to donate with stomachs full of blueberries.”

After their second trip – this one to Connell’s Family Orchard – the

group noted the challenges each farmer faces every growing season: varying from weather to pests and water to labor shortages, it’s harder and harder to produce great food, get it out to the public, and profit.

Picking Promises calls for the community to go to local farms; ask about their sustainability practices and their struggles; pick and buy their own produce; communicate with charities to get the best, freshest food to the less fortunate; and reconnect with the earth and the community. Just make sure to call ahead and confirm the farm and the charity’s hours for easy picking and donations.

“The more people involved in this process the better… the more we can help people,” Norm emphasized.

Picking Promises will have excursions out to different farms throughout each growing season, so get ready for fall squash, apples, corn, and more. Their next trip is this upcoming Wednesday, Aug. 10, at Foster Blueberry Farms from 5:30-7:30pm, picking up the rest and the best of the blueberry season. And on Saturday, Aug. 13, they’ll be at Blueberry Ridge Orchard in Eleva at 10am.

Visit pickingpromises.com for more information on the cause and current events.

HERE COME THE SUNFLOWERS

JAQUISH FARMS’ SUNFLOWER MAZE OPENS IN LATE AUGUST

TALK ABOUT A SPOT THAT’S PICTURE-PERFECT. JAQUISH FARMS, OWNED BY DON AND JASON JAQUISH, IS KNOWN FOR THEIR VAST SUNFLOWER fields and its mazes. This year, the maze will open on Aug. 27-28 and Sept. 3-4 with all profits going to Joshua’s Camp, a local nonprofit.

They chose to donate to Joshua’s Camp because they offer a camp for families who have children impacted by cancer. This is important to them because Don Jaquish’s late wife, Babbette, died of multiple myeloma in 2014. Jaquish had planted the field of sunflowers annually to honor Babbette because they were her favorite flowers.

Along with the maze, there will be wagon rides, a picking patch, a gold mine for kids, barrel train rides, wood-fired pizza, and other snacks to purchase. There will also be antique tractors within the maze that people can explore.

Admission is $5 per person or $20 per carload. Don and Jason have enjoyed watching just how happy their sunflowers make the children that come to visit.

“About three years ago I had some heart issues and I didn’t think I could do this anymore,” Don said. “On the last Sunday night of the year, this little girl came up to me and she was just adorable and she said, ‘Mister, I just want you to know, this is the best day of my life,’ which was adorable, but definitely didn’t help my decision to quit.”

Jaquish Farms is about six miles south of Eau Claire at W5725 Highway 85. Find out more by searching for Jaquish Farms on Facebook.

Play

I WANTED COOL HOCKEY HAIR.

HAIR POWER

MENOMONIE EIGHT YEAR OLD HITS TOP 25 IN MULLET CONTEST

words by tom

THE MULLET – THE BUSINESS-IN-THEFRONT, PARTY-IN-THE-BACK HAIRCUT ROCKED BY THE LIKES OF PATRICK SWAYZE AND BILLY RAY CYRUS IN THE LATE 1980S AND EARLY ’90S – isn’t just confined to the pages of old high school yearbooks. It endures proudly on the heads of men and boys nationwide, and one of the best examples is

right here in the Chippewa Valley.

Eight-year-old Emmitt Bailey of Menomonie – who rocks curly golden locks accented by mirrored Pit Viper shades – has made to the cut to reach the top 25 of the Kids Division in the USA Mullet Championship. His proud dad, Eric Bailey, said the contest began with

about 1,600 kids nationwide, and was narrowed to 25 through successive rounds of selection and voting. Final votes will be cast online from approximately Aug. 15 to 19.

So what inspired Emmitt to get such a hairdo? “I wanted cool hockey hair,” said Emmitt, who plays goalie on his hockey team. (Indeed,

some of history’s best mullets were worn by NHL players, while an All Hockey Hair Team is selected following the Minnesota State Hockey Tournament each year.) Mullets are also popular in the auto racing scene, and Emmitt and his dad are frequent visitors to the Red Cedar Speedway and other tracks in the area. In fact, Emmitt’s goal is to take the contest’s $2,500 first prize and buy a go-kart so he can chase his own racing dreams.

“I want to be out on the track, not in the stands,” he says.

Win or lose, Emmitt – an incoming third-grader at River Heights Elementary in Menomonie – is enjoying the attention. In addition to being featured in local TV news reports and earning the nickname “Mufasa” from wrestling teammates for his lion’s mane, he’s gotten freebies from race car drivers from as far away as North Carolina and and Alaska who dig his mullet.

And Emmitt isn’t the only guy from Menomonie with a head-turning mullet. Last year, Menomonie’s Josh Boyette placed third in the teen division, while Menomonie native Cale Bauer was a top 25 finisher in the men’s competition.

“We were all joking about the hair power in the little town of Menomonie,” Eric Bailey said.

Find out how you can cast your vote in this year’s USA Mullet Championship at mulletchamp.com.

A GLIMPSE INTO THE PAST: PIONEER DAYS IS BACK

words by sawyer hoff

EVER WANTED TO EXPERIENCE PIONEER LIFE? THE CHIPPEWA VALLEY ANTIQUE ENGINE & MODEL CLUB INC. is hosting Pioneer Days on Aug. 12-14 in Pioneer Park, just south of Eau Claire on Highway 37. This year, the weekend event is showcasing the Phoenix Log Hauler – an amazing steam-powered log hauling machine built in Eau Claire in 1909, which still works! Enjoy activities like wood sawing and blacksmithing, as well as flea markets on Friday. Saturday is a full day of log sawing demonstrations, a silent auction, more flea markets, pioneer activities, live accordion music, and antique and kiddie tractor pulls. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be served. There will also be antique cars, trucks, and fire trucks on display. Sunday will wrap the whole event up with all the same fun, but with an exciting Parade of Power at noon. Sunday is also “Sunday Fun Day” where kids can bring their power wheels or other pedal toys for races and obstacle courses. Catch a glimpse of the Valley’s long history by seeing what life was like back in the pioneer days! To learn more, you can go to pioneer-days.org.

PURE WATER DAYS & RIVERFEST

DOWNTOWN CHIPPEWA FALLS

1PM PARADE, 2PM RIVERFEST • CHIPPEWAFALLSMAINST.ORG

Kid List

CHIPPEWA VALLEY EVENTS AUG. 11-28, 2022

All events are subject to change; call ahead for details. For full event descriptions and details, visit our online calendar at www. volumeone.org/events. Listings in the calendar are free. If you have an event that you would like included in an upcoming issue, go to our website at www.volumeone.org or call (715) 552-0457 . For any event related questions, contact Listings Editor James Johonnott at james@volumeone.org.

Daisy and Brownie Day at Girl Scout Camp Aug. 11, noon-5pm • Camp Nawakwa, 25336 Cty Hwy E, Cornell • $25/child • Girls entering K-3rd grade as of fall 2022 • rerickson@gsnwgl. org Join GS Cadette Troop 3055 for a taste of Girl Scout Camp at Camp Nawakwa, Cornell. Take a tour, learn camp songs and games, make crafts, experience nature, swim in Picnic Lake and more. Adults are welcome to stay and play for free with their registered daughter. Bring own swimsuit, water bottle, sunscreen. Pre-register and prepay is required.

Teen Night at Evolving Wellness Every Thursday until Dec. 29, 3-7pm • Evolving Wellness, 2711 Pleasant Street, Eau Claire • FREE • Ages 12-17 • (715) 514-4233 • evolvingwellness.org/ teen-center A place of compassion, understanding, and kindness for teens. Taco bar at 4:30pm, and wellness activities at 5:30pm

Teen Anxiety Group Every Thursday until Aug. 25, 6-7pm • 1813 Brackett Ave, Eau Claire • $30/meeting or $115 if paid in full by 7/15 • Ages 12-17 • (715) 737-9222 • genuinewayfamilytherapy.com/events This group is for tweens/ teens ages 12-17 who may be struggling with the various changes that life may be presenting.

The Mom Walk Every Friday from Aug. 5 to Sep. 30, 10-11am • Menomonie Health & Fitness, 3019 Schneider Ave SE, Menomonie • FREE • All Ages • mfaithlangford@gmail.com A group walk to build camaraderie for moms of all walks of life.

Shakespeare in the State Park - Much Ado

About Nothing Aug. 12, 5:30-8:30pm • Lake Wissota State Park, 18127 County Highway O , Chippewa Falls • FREE • All Ages • (414) 2163702 • summitplayerstheatre.com/shows Free workshop and Shakespeare performance at Lake Wissota State Park, great for kids, families and audiences of all ages.

Disney’s Beauty & The Beast JR. Aug. 12, 7pm; Aug. 13, 2pm, 7pm; Aug. 14, 7pm •

Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts, 205 Main St. E, Menomonie • $12, $8 Students • (715) 231-7529 • menomonietheaterguild.org The classic story tells of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed to his former self. There will be fun Beauty and the Beast themed activities downstairs at the Mabel prior to show St. James Summer Fest Aug. 14, 8am • St.

James the Greater, 2502 11th Street, Eau Claire • FREE • (715) 835-5887 • tjameseauclaire.org

Car show (8am), live music (12-4pm), grilled chicken dinner (11am-1pm), kids games, raffles, silent auction, cornhole, concessions, and more.

Backpack Bash Aug. 14, 1-4pm • Fish House (at Altoona City Park), 10th Street Park, Altoona Students in need can acquire backpacks and common school supplies.

Cornell Play & Learn Aug. 15, 9:30-10:30am

• Cornell Playground, Main St. (between North 5th & 6th St.), Cornell • FREE • Ages 0-5 • (715) 720-1841 • RiverSourceFamilyCenter. com Interactive outdoor playgroup. Meet new friends, make parent connections, story time, crafts & snacks.

Movin’ & Groovin’ at Riverfront Park Aug. 15, 9:30-10:30am • Riverfront Park, 12 S Bridge Street, Chippewa Falls • FREE • 0-5 years • (715) 720-1841 • RiverSourceFamilyCenter.com

Meet River Source Family Center in the park for singing and dancing. No registration required.

Mommy & Me Mondays at Eau So Fun Parties

Every Monday until Aug. 29, 1-4pm; Every Monday until Aug. 2, 6-8pm; Every Monday from Aug. 15 to Aug. 30, 6-8pm • Eau So Fun Parties, 2230 EastRidge Center, Eau Claire • $10 per person • Children Ages 2+ • eausofunparties.com/book-your-service-2/ Party activities are opened up for parents and kids to enjoy together while building a stronger connection. A fun, indoor space and activities for parents and children to play together. Reservations required. Reserve at www.eausofunparties.com at least 1 hour prior to event.

Kids Kraft Tuesdays Every Tuesday until Aug. 23, 10-11:30am • Valley Art Gallery & Gifts, 304 N. Bridge St, Chippewa Falls • $2 • Ages 4+ • (715) 271-0607 • kriscrowe@aol.com • facebook.com Create fun kids kraft summer projects with instruction. Young children must be accompanied by an adult.

Summer Park Tours: Riverfront Park Aug. 17, 9:30-10:30am • Riverfront Park, 12 S Bridge St, Chippewa Falls • FREE • Ages 0-5 years • (715) 720-1841 • rsfcparenteducator@fsccf.org • RiverSourceFamilyCenter.com

River Prairie Movie Nights Aug. 19, 9-11pm • River Prairie Park, 1419 Front Porch Place, Altoona • FREE admission • facebook.com Movies begin at sunset (aprox 9pm) Clifford The Big

Red Dog/Jungle Cruise.

Monumental VBS Aug. 21, 6-8pm; Aug. 22, 6-8pm; Aug. 23, 6-8pm; Aug. 24, 6-8pm; Aug. 25, 6-8pm • Cornerstone Christian Church, 310 W. Polk Ave., Eau Claire • FREE • Ages 3-11

• (715) 832-4624 • cornerstonechristian-ec. org Filled with Bible-learning experiences kids see, hear, and touch. Fun crafts, team-building games, bible songs, treats, and more.

Bloomer Play & Learn Aug. 22, 9:30-10:30am

• North City Park, 2701 9th Avenue, Bloomer • FREE • 0-5 years • (715) 720-1841 • RiverSourceFamilyCenter.com

Baby & Me Walk & Talk Aug. 10, 10-11am; Aug. 24, 10-11am • Irvine Park (by the duck pond), Chippewa Falls • FREE • 0-11 months • (715) 720-1841 • RiverSourceFamilyCenter.com This group is for parents and their babies (0-11 months of age), older siblings are welcome. Meet at Irvine Park (by the Duck Pond picnic tables) and take a walk in the park. Stroll along, connecting with other parents/caregivers and their babies.

UWEC Summer Cinema Aug. 10, 8pm; Aug. 24, 8pm • Haas Fine Arts Center, West Lawn, 121 Water Street, Eau Claire • FREE • uwec. edu Movies screened outdoors in the Haas Fine Arts Lawn.

Stepping Into Local History Aug. 4, 6-7:30pm; Aug. 11, 6-7:30pm • Forest Hill Cemetery, 822 Emery St • $10 adults, $5 student • a.allred@ cvmuseum.com • ymca-cv.org/aoa Explore noteworthy families and individuals who lived in the Chippewa Valley.

ECCT Presents “The Music Man in Concert” Aug. 10, 7:30-9:30pm; Aug. 11, 7:30-9:30pm; Aug. 12, 7:30-9:30pm • Northern WI State Fairgrounds, 225 Edwards St., Chippewa Falls • $24/Adults; $20/Seniors; $14/Students; $10/ Youth • All Ages • (715) 839-8877 • info@ecct. org • ecct.org/tickets Meredith WIllson’s smash Broadway hit musical comes to the Leinenkugel’s stage in Chippewa Falls in a unique outdoor concert setting.

Summer Picnic at West Ridge Aug. 28, noon2pm • West Ridge Church, 3906 Kane Rd, Eau Claire • FREE • All Ages • (715) 834-1930 westridgechurch.us A free picnic meal, inflatables, and lawn games.

58th Annual Pioneer Days Aug. 12, 10am-

10pm; Aug. 13, 7am-10pm; Aug. 14, 7am-5pm • Pioneer Park, Hwy 37 & 85 Porterville Rd., Eau Claire • $10 admission, FREE for 12 and under • facebook.com/events/1633356073715908 Historical craftsmen demonstrations, tractor pull, showcase of a rare Phoenix Log Hauler, antique & classic car show, pancake breakfast (Sat & Sun), and more.

Races at Red Cedar Speedway Aug. 12, 5pm; Aug. 19, 5pm • Red Cedar Speedway, 1700 block of Stout Rd., Dunn County Recreation Park, Menomonie • $15 GA, $10 student/senior/ military, FREE for kids • All Ages • (715) 2356318 • redcedarspeedway.com The Red Cedar Speedway is a WISSOTA sanctioned track with weekly stock car races. Buy tickets online or in person.

Pure Water Days Parade Aug. 13, 1-2pm • Downtown Chippewa Falls, N Bridge Street, Chippewa Falls • FREE • All Ages • chippewafallsmainst.org Enjoy over 50 floats, vehicles, and walking units in this annual parade.

Kickin’ it Country Summer Concert Series

Every Monday until Aug. 29, 6:30pm • Prevea Amphitheater at River Prairie Park, Front Porch Place, Altoona • FREE • facebook.com/ kickinitcountrysummerconcertseries Country music, food trucks, art vendors, and more. Grab your lawn chairs and get ready to kick it.

Tuesday Night Bues Every Tuesday until Aug. 30, 6:30-8:30pm • Owen Park Bandshell, 1st Avenue, Eau Claire • FREE • All Ages • chippewavalleyblues.com/tnb Every Tuesday night in summer your favorite local and regional blues singers play at the Owen Park Bandshell. Free admission, family friendly.

Sounds Like Summer Concert Series Thursdays through Summer, 6:30-8:30pm • Phoenix Park, Eau Claire • volumeone.org Volume One presents live music outdoor music from local and regional acts in scenic, riverside Phoenix Park. Food trucks on site.

Bridging Memories Aug. 25, 10am-1:30pm • Kamp Kenwood, 19161 79th Avenue, Chippewa Falls • FREE, registration required • All Ages • (715) 726-7777 • ADRC@co.chippewa.wi.us

This event is for people living with dementia and their caregivers/family to come out and enjoy activities and make fun family memories. Enjoy food, nature walks, music and pontoon rides. Registration is required

On the Money

the last ferry driver

Until 1964, rural Dunn County drivers depended on a ferry, not a bridge, to cross the Chippewa River. Jim Alf reflects on a boyhood spent at the Caryville Ferry. words by: B.J. Hollars photos courtesy of: Jim Alf

On a cool summer morning in 1950, 12-year-old Jim Alf woke upstairs in the ferry house beside the Chippewa River. He stirred in his bed, then tiptoed past his snoring brothers and slipped out the back door, his fishing pole in hand.

The walk from the Caryville ferry house to the ferry landing wasn’t more than a few hundred feet – far enough to keep the Chippewa River from flooding their home, but not so far that Jim, his parents, and his brothers were inconvenienced by their dozens of daily walks to the landing.

In later years, Jim would refer to such early morning moments as his “golden hour” – a photography term for when the light touches softly

first vehicle of the day puttered to the ferry landing on the south side of the river. He’d clean the fish, then hand them to his mother who’d fry them on the wood stove and send their

scent wafting up the stairs.

The Alf family would then gather in the ferry house’s modest kitchen, squeezing around the table alongside the stove, the cupboard, and the pitcher pump – the latter being the most technologically advanced feature in their semi-primitive home. Though electricity now buzzed through out much of Dunn County, the Alfs’ home wouldn’t be wired until later that year.

Yet as a boy, Jim was rarely bothered by the lack of mod ern conveniences.

“Though it would have been nice to have indoor plumbing,” he concedes.

As for the ferry, which crossed the river about 10 miles west of Eau Claire, it ran by the most advanced technol ogy of the time. A repurposed Model-A Ford engine powered a winch-and-cable system. A cable anchored on both sides of the river wrapped around the winch drum, providing traction. Before engines, the ferry was powered by current alone, though the addition of the engine ensured

“

”

Running the Caryville Ferry was stable work, with Dunn County paying Bill’s annual salary of $3,120 (approximately $38,000 in today’s money). That was for working 18 hours a day, seven days a week.

a two-minute trip regardless of the speed of the current.

Which was good news for the Alfs, who in 1950 were still new to ferry life. Jim’s father, Bill, had previously worked as an ice delivery man and a farmer before receiving the ferry contract in 1949. The contract came just in time: costly technological advancements to refrigeration and farming had priced Bill Alf out of both industries. Running the Caryville ferry was stable work, with Dunn Coun ty paying Bill’s annual salary of $3,120 (approx imately $38,000 in today’s money). That was for working 18 hours a day, seven days a week.

It was hardly a king’s ransom, though the job came with perks, including the ferry house and a river’s worth of good fishing. But Jim enjoyed another benefit, too: the chance to interact with dozens of passersby each day. The ferry landing near Caryville was the one place in the township where most everyone traveled.

Rather than go out in search of the world, most days, the world came to Jim.

•••

Seated in his recliner in his assisted living facility, 84-year-old Jim reflects fondly on his many golden hour mornings alongside the river.

“They’re some of my best memories,” he tells me.

In the decade I’ve known Jim, he’s often allowed me to accompany him on his nostalgia-infused time travels. He tells me about his early years on the family’s farmhouse porch; how he and his brothers spent their August nights listening to the corn growing in the near by field. And how their father could cradle even the most raucous chicken in the crook of his arm and rock that bird to sleep.

Life at the ferry landing was different. No longer were they dependent on their crops; now, they were dependent on the river.

Jim spent his formative years helping his family run the ferry. While most transports occurred without incident, a few stories remain vivid in Jim’s memory.

Like his assisting Rev. John Ritland on his week ly Sunday morning crossings.

Given the shortage of ministers at the time, Rev. Ritland, whose parsonage was in Caryville,

CarryvilleFerrypassenger

think we should stick our necks out.”

Long after midnight in June 1954, the Alfs were awakened by a far different sort of traveler. Paying little attention to the “This Ferry Operates From 6 am to 12 Midnight” sign, a California man and his passenger laid on their horn and demanded to be taken across the river at around 2am. As Jim tells it, the driver reeked of alcohol. Bill Alf was so incensed by the early morning wakeup that he said, “Mister, this is going to cost you a buck!”

“You can take your buck and you know what you can do with it!” the man hollered back.

Unaware that the ferry had left the shore, the man put his car in reverse and squealed off – directly into the river. Soaking wet, the men waded from the car and sobered up by way of a nap in a nearby haystack.

As Jim recounts in When The Ferries Still Ran – his comprehensive account of ferry life in the Chippewa Valley – the men were approached by Menomonie Sheriff Clarence Walters the following morning.

Since the men were no longer drunk, no charges could be filed.

“But there is one thing I can do,” Sheriff Walters told Bill Alf, “I know the most expensive towing service in Menomonie and that’s the one I’m sending down.”

These days, Jim no longer spends his golden hour fishing off the ferry. Instead, he enjoys breakfast at the assisted living facility with a friend who himself rode the ferry as a boy.

Plenty of others recall their own trips on the Caryville ferry. While the weekday clientele mostly

soda fountain.

On Saturday nights, it was not uncommon for young men to ride the ferry to court their love interests on the other side of the river. The young men usually returned home on the midnight ferry – he last crossing of the night.

Mindful of the young suitors’ occasional inability to keep track of time, Bill Alf and his sons would try to keep tabs on who would require a return ferry.

“Sometimes we’d stay up a few minutes late,” Jim says, “to make sure we got the boy home.”

•••

Mornings on the river, Jim was often joined by a great blue heron whose fishing prowess put Jim and his lures to shame. The heron nabbed frogs and fish all summer long, returning to the landing year after year. Jim also received regular visits from rabbits, squirrels, and the occasional beaver – though all these visits paled compared to his human guests. Occasionally, reporters from Minneapolis, Milwaukee, and Madison dropped by for a lift and left with a story. The accumulation of stories attracted more riders and provided Jim even more opportunities to strike up conversations with

One day Jim ferried a championship fisherman across the river. (“If you toss a matchstick on the river, I’ll cast a bait and land right on it,” the fisherman boasted.) Another day, he ferried a man who’d caught a northern pike, whose glistening scales stretched the entire length of the backseat of the man’s car. (“He was pretty proud of that.”)

ences were mostly limited to the reach of the river.

the Chippewa River near Caryville. Plans for such a bridge began in 1886, though for 80 years, the project was plagued with an array of bureaucratic stumbling blocks. But at last it was done, and to commemorate the occasion, a band played, dignitaries gave speeches, and a young boy christened the bridge with a bottle of soda pop. Dunn county residents were elated, except for Bill Alf, who knew he was out of a job. It was the third time in his career that a technological advancement had left him looking for work.

L.G. Arnold, the contractor, hailed the bridge as “a turning point in the development of this area.” But he added, too, “I’m sorry to see the old ferry go, God bless her, but we must make way for the new.”

Bill Alf’s last passenger was Marv Huseby and his horse and wagon team. They floated beneath the bridge just as the ribbon-cutting ceremony got underway. After the final words were spoken, the residents retreated to a complimentary luncheon courtesy of Spring Brook and Rock Creek Lutheran churches. But not everyone attended. As the Leader-Telegram reported, “Bill Alf left his ferry on the north side of the river and walked across the new bridge to his home on the south side of the river, ready to adjust to another kind of life.”

They are a promise of continuity. And a reminder, too, that while everything has its beginning and end, we’d be foolhardy to overlook the meandering middle.

Between the ages of 12 and 18, Jim Alf – one of Caryville’s last ferry drivers – transported an estimated 100,000 passengers from one side of the river to the other. It is a stunning accomplishment, particularly given that the total population of Dunn County in 1950 was just over 27,000.

When I ask Jim what makes rivers so special, he pauses before settling on an answer.

“I think rivers excite all five of our senses,” he says.

I run through his theory aloud. “You see it, hear it, taste it, feel it …”

“And smell it,” Jim says. “And rivers have a unique odor. An essence,” he continues. “It’s kind of a sagey, nutty smell. It smells a little of water, but mostly it’s the smell of the plant life around it. The rotting weeds.”

It’s a smell that – even in his memory – transports him back to those golden hour mornings from long ago. Back to a time and place all-but-forgotten today.

But thanks to Jim, not quite.

B.J. Hollars is the author of several books, most recently Go West Young Man: A Father and Son Rediscover America on the Oregon Trail. He is an associate professor of English at UWEau Claire. His website is bjhollars.com.

After graduating from high school in 1955, Jim joined the Air Force, attending basic training in Oakland, California. For a young man who’d never ventured past Duluth, the West Coast opened his eyes to a host of new experiences, and new people.

”

“ Rivers, like time, stop for no one. They are a promise of continuity. And a reminder, too, that while everything has its beginning and end, we’ d be foolhardy to overlook the meandering middle.

Are you doing all you can to assure that your finances are in order? Do you need some help learning tips on safe money-handling to rest assured, knowing you’re financially in the right spot? Well, most of us need a little help in that area, so we talked to local finance experts and they’ve agreed to share some knowledge. Use their smarts and a little bit of your own to get your money lined up so you can breathe easy and spend wisely. presented by

on the money

ENVELOPE BUDGETING 101

Simple money management technique can help you track every dollar WORDS: SAWYER

HOFF

Through TikTok and YouTube, the Cash Envelope Money system created by radio host and financial guru Dave Ramsey has become increasingly popular over the last year or so. After discovering it on YouTube, I decided to give it a try, and it helped me save $300 in three months.

Credit and debit cards make spending money very easy. The envelope method involves using a limited amount of cash, so you have to be more restrained in your spending. The method works by assigning every dollar in your paycheck to a certain category.

BEGIN WITH THE BILLS.

The first thing to do is list all of your monthly bills and how much they cost (if you get paid biweekly you’d split the bill in half since you get roughly two paychecks a month). Once you’ve made the list and added up the total, you subtract it from your whole paycheck. Since it’s

likely that most (if not all) of these bills are paid online, you don’t need to take out any cash for them.

CREATE CATEGORIES.

Next, you’ll want to decide on what your budget categories are for and how much you’ll need in each. This is stuff you’ll need to pay for every pay period such as groceries, gas, etc. Each of these categories will get an envelope, and you’ll put your chosen amount of cash in each envelope. You then can carry these envelopes with you! These cash totals should last you until your next payday and should stay relatively consistent each time you budget. Once those cash totals are added up, subtract that amount from what was left of your paycheck after you’ve paid your bills.

THAT SINKING FEELING.

Lastly, the rest of your paycheck will go into your sinking funds.

These are things that are savings goals or stuff you pay for occasionally, whether that’s saving for vacation, buying beauty products, setting aside fun money, or saving for medical expenses or an emergency. Based on what you’re doing between paychecks, the amount each envelope can vary and can change from paycheck to paycheck. Take out that amount in cash and divvy it up in envelopes. This way you know what each dollar is for and you prevent yourself from using it for other things.

BUILDING A BUFFER.

Sometimes we’re in a bind and have to pay for things with our credit or debit card, even if there is a corresponding cash envelope for it. For this, I like to have a $100 to $200 buffer in my bank account. If I don’t end up using all of the cash from each envelope, I’ll just take that cash out and either save it for the next budgeting period or put it back into the bank.

Sticking with this method over time can be super helpful in saving for future expenses and managing your budget. It is also really nice to see your savings grow physically and know that every single dollar in your paycheck has its own purpose.

THE ENVELOPE METHOD INVOLVES USING A LIMITED AMOUNT OF CASH, SO YOU HAVE TO BE MORE RESTRAINED IN YOUR SPENDING.

WELLNESS FOR YOUR WALLET

ROYAL CREDIT UNION

Fitness doesn’t just mean hitting the gym. Here are five ways to improve your financial fitness and create a healthier outlook for your financial goals

ROYAL CREDIT

(800) 341-9911

4. CREATE AND STICK TO YOUR GOALS.

Staying financially fit is just as important as eating right and exercising! Being aware of your finances and planning for what happens next is an important step in creating a future for yourself that is fun, fit, and fabulous! From building your savings to creating goals for the future, here are some easy ways to set yourself up for financial success.

1. ALWAYS PAY YOURSELF FIRST.

When your paycheck is deposited into your checking account, it’s easy to focus on the immediate future: paying bills, buying groceries, or going to the movies on Friday night. But before any of that happens, it’s important to pay your future self first by setting money aside in savings.

By paying yourself and your savings first, you are planning for the future and building a safety net. Savings are important for making future goals possible, like buying a car or a house, or taking a vacation. You can even create multiple savings accounts for different goals, and track your saving progress using tools like online banking or a mobile app. Having money set aside in savings can also make it easier to deal with unexpected expenses, like an urgent car repair or a surprise medical bill. You can even have part of your paycheck automatically deposited into your different savings accounts, making it easy to pay yourself first.

2. SHOP FOR THE BEST RATES.

If you’re thinking about opening a new credit card, buying a house, purchasing a vehicle, or opening a personal or business checking or sav-

ings account, it’s important to look for the best interest rate. Finding a lower rate on a loan can save you from paying unnecessary interest and lower your monthly payments. A higher interest rate on savings and checking accounts also means your money earns more in interest. Watching the interest rate is especially important when opening a new credit card. Store charge cards and even mainstream rewards credit cards can come with a high interest rate, and some have costly annual fees. A local financial institution like a credit union may offer a credit card with a lower interest rates and few or no fees that can help save you money over time. Be sure to read the fine print whenever opening a new account or taking on a new loan so you understand if the rate could change over time.

3. CHECK YOUR CREDIT SCORE.

Credit scores help lenders determine your interest rate when purchasing a home or vehicle. Your credit score may also be reviewed when you apply for rental housing or certain job positions. Knowing your credit score can help you make accurate loan payment estimates. You’ll also be able to take measures to keep your score healthy. Many financial institutions, including credit unions, banks, and credit card companies, share your credit score with you for free as part of their online banking service. You’re also able to request a copy of your credit score from each of the three credit reporting agencies (Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax) up to once a week for free through the end of 2022 without it impacting your credit.

When you imagine yourself in the future, do you know how your financials will factor in? Creating focused and achievable goals can help make your ambitions a reality. Taking a look at your different expenses for the month is a great place to start identifying goals. Determine what you’re spending your money on, decide whether it contributes to your future goals, and adjust your spending from there.

When setting goals, making them realistic is the key to success. If you know that you spend $200 on restaurants and fast food each month, setting a goal of spending only $50 may make it difficult to stick to your budget. Start small and be sure to celebrate even the little wins!

5. LOOK OVER YOUR MONTHLY STATEMENTS.

A key part of staying financially fit is simply being aware of your transactions and balances. By looking over your monthly statements, you’ll be able to see your spending for the month, verify charges, and watch any loan balances go down as payments are made. Staying on top of your monthly charges also reminds you of recurring costs, such as streaming services or subscriptions, that you may no longer need. By cancelling unnecessary subscriptions, you can save money and work toward reaching your goals even faster.

Try picking a couple of the suggestions above to start next month and work your way up to incorporating all five into your life. Before you know it, you’ll be feeling financially fit and ready for success!

Looking for more tips and tricks to help you along the way? Visit rcu.org/FinEd.

3 APPS TO HELP YOU SAVE FOR RETIREMENT

Proving that there really is an app for everything

WORDS: JEN EKBLAD

It’s no secret that Social Security benefits are drying up. Experts project that the fund’s reserves will run out by 2034. It’s looking grim for those of us born after 1980.

But there’s good news! We can play an active role in saving for our retirement—and a comfortable retirement at that. However, we must start now. One of the simplest ways to do this is to set aside whatever we can when we can. For $5 and just 5 minutes of your time, you can start saving for retirement from the comfort of your phone with one or all of these apps.

Disclaimer: I use an iPhone. I am not a licensed financial planner. I am not affiliated with any of the companies that develop these apps. Yes, I actually use all three. And, these opinions are my own and based on personal experience.

#1 ACORNS

At the very top of my list is Acorns. Its retirement account has most of the bells and whistles that Digit and Stash have, but it feels easier (and more pleasant) to use. Maybe it’s the bright green theme. Or perhaps it’s the Milestones section that celebrates even the smallest achievement on your financial journey. Either way, you can begin investing through Acorns Later with just $5 and a monthly fee of $3.

#2 STASH

I think Stash is better than Digit because it allows you to choose the

companies and ETFs you want to invest in. You can invest in fractional shares of stocks and funds with as little as one penny! Some of my go-to stocks and ETFs include Starbucks, Amazon, and Up & Coming. But if doing this doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, Stash will invest for you with a Smart Portfolio.

While it is free to download and only $5 to open a retirement portfolio, you will pay a monthly fee of $3 or $9 depending on your financial goals. But there’s a bonus! Stash helps you grow your knowledge quickly right in the app with market news and educational articles.

#3 DIGIT

Of these three apps, Digit feels the most official and the least fun. But it’s quite smart! Digit learns your spending habits, bills, and goals to calculate how much you should invest and creates a balanced portfolio of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) based on your risk level. Then, it does the investing for you each month. Your first investment happens 30 days after you set up your account and then on the same date every month after that. Make sure to plan ahead, though! After the end of your 30-day free trial, a Digit membership is $5 a month.

on the money AVOIDING CAR SCAMS

Beware of too-good-to-be-true prices on used cars

WORDS: BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU

Used cars are in high demand, and scammers know it. Con artists are taking advantage of shoppers who turn to online platforms in search of a reasonably priced used vehicle. Be wary of this latest twist and too-good-to-be-true prices.

HOW THE SCAM WORKS.

You are shopping for a used vehicle on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, eBay, or another online platform. You find the make and model you want at an excellent price. Amazing!

However, when you contact the seller, you find out that the vehicle is in another city. Fortunately, the seller knows a transport company that can deliver it to you. All you need to do is pay the transport company, which will hold the funds in escrow until the vehicle is delivered. Many scammers will add a sad story meant to tug on your heartstrings. For example, they may claim the car belonged to a relative who has passed away.

In one example recent report, the scammer claimed to be selling a car on behalf of their aunt, who inherited it from her recently deceased father. “The ‘Auntie’ claimed she was a nurse and worked shifts, and that my daughter’s original email had fallen into her junk folder. The ‘Auntie’ had moved to another province thousands of miles from us. But if my daughter wanted to purchase the car for the stated price (which was well under the going price for a vehicle of this type, year and mileage), the Auntie had a contract with an automotive

transport company.”

Once you’ve paid the third-party company, usually by a wire transfer or prepaid debit card, your vehicle won’t be delivered. The sale was a scam, and the con artist was in cahoots with the third-party transport company. Unfortunately, your money is gone for good.

HOW TO AVOID CAR SALES SCAMS.

• Watch out for prices that are too good to be true. It’s probably a scam. Scammers know that used cars are in high demand, and they will tempt shoppers with great deals.

• Contact the seller by phone. As early as possible, speak to the seller on the phone and ask plenty of questions. If you get very vague answers, if the seller gets defensive or aggressive, or if they can’t confirm their location or the location of the vehicle, you’re probably dealing with a scammer.

• See the car before you buy it. Always make an in-person inspection and take a test drive before you purchase a vehicle.

Don’t give in to threats or pressure. Resist the urge to act immediately. Always take time to consider a purchase, especially if it’s a vehicle that costs thousands of dollars.

• Don’t wire funds for a car. Scammers often ask for wired funds because they are hard to track, and there’s no way to get your money back. It’s best to make large purchases by check or credit card.

For more consumer tips, visit the Better Business Bureau at bbb.org.

FINANCIAL PROFILES

FINDING THE RIGHT BANK FOR YOUR BUSINESS

NORTHWESTERN BANK

We asked Jerry Kuehl, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing of Northwestern Bank, what to look for when choosing a bank for your business, Here’s what he said

(715) 723-4461 (CHIPPEWA FALLS)

(715) 839-8642 (RIVER PRAIRIE)

WWW.NORTHWESTERNBANK.COM

So you’re starting your own business –congrats! – but where do you start? Most importantly, what place are you going to choose to keep your hard-earned money safe? There is a lot to consider when choosing a bank for your business. First are the questions about their standard banking services, like the types of accounts, fees, etc. Then there are the questions about the bank itself that help you decide if this is the right bank for your business long-term. Jerry Kuehl, Senior

of Northwestern Bank, shared insights into questions business owners may have about opening a business account –beyond the standard services.

1. WHEN SHOULD SOMEONE OPEN A BUSINESS BANK ACCOUNT?

It’s best to open a business account before you start accepting or spending money as a business. This will make your tax process easier. Common business accounts include checking and savings with online banking access. Many people wonder if they need accounts for their side hustle. It’s a good idea to open a business banking account for your side hustle as any income over $600 is considered taxable. Good record keeping is key to avoiding penalties and fines and using a business checking account can help you meet that goal.

2. WHERE SHOULD SOMEONE GET STARTED ON THEIR SEARCH FOR A BANK?

There are many places to start and you can Google questions to ask. I’d consider a local community bank since they are small business specialists, know the community well, and can help connect with local resources and expertise.

However, make sure that the bank’s location and hours work for your business needs. Then ask other entrepreneurs you know and trust who they bank with and if they are having a positive experience.

3. WHAT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO LOOK FOR IN A BANK?

This will vary depending on your business needs. However, make sure you ask questions beyond what banking services are available. What sets their bank apart from others? This is a long-term relationship that is important to your business’s success. It is important to know your bank’s customer service process. Ask questions about the bank’s communication style and who on the lending or cash management team you have direct access to when questions arise. Another point to consider is do the bank’s values match your business values. If you focus on community involvement ask what your bank does to enhance your community as well.

4. HOW DOES NORTHWESTERN BANK STAND OUT FROM OTHER BANKS?

NB is a local, community bank that started in the Chippewa Valley. We have over a 100-year history of helping local businesses with their banking needs. We still make all our decisions on

loans, lines of credit, and other banking services right here in the Chippewa Valley. This means that decisions can be made more quickly than at larger banks where financial proposals are sent to regional hubs for approval. Also, your business banker has the opportunity to advocate directly with decision-makers for your banking needs.

5. WHAT GUIDANCE DOES NORTHWESTERN GIVE TO BUSINESS OWNERS STARTING A BUSINESS ACCOUNT?

Our team members are passionate about helping entrepreneurs start on the right foot. We will sit down with each business and learn about their vision, goals, and any challenges they are facing. We are there to answer questions, give banking solution recommendations, and share best cash management practices. Banking is a partnership and we want to see the businesses we work with succeed. It’s not only good for them but for our community to have thriving businesses and job opportunities. If you’re not sure where to start we will meet with you to go over your plan, listen to your questions, and give you feedback on how to make the most of available financial options.

To learn more about Northwestern Bank, go to northwesternbank.com.

FINANCIAL PROFILES

GET TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS

PREVAIL BANK

Described by a customer as ‘not your cookie-cutter bank,’ Prevail goes the extra mile

PREVAIL BANK

NINE OFFICES FROM PHILLIPS

(715) 514-5245 (EAU CLAIRE)

(715) 387-3761 (MARSHFIELD)

WWW.PREVAIL.BANK

TO BARABOO, WI

With nine locations from Phillips to Baraboo, Prevail Bank marks our slice of Wisconsin as its own and does so with genuine pride right here in the Valley. Prevail’s Eau Claire location provides that small-town feel: Knowing the names of those who walk through its doors and its employees being familiar faces in town.

Take it from Ryan Ludy, Assistant Vice President and Mortgage Loan Originator at the Eau Claire Prevail, a member of the Valley’s Big Brother Big Sister organization and the Chippewa Valley Homebuilders Association, who recently earned a spot on the United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley board. For him, Prevail Bank hits all the things a true smalltown bank should, but on a larger scale, better serving our community.

One of Prevail’s customers described the bank as “not your cookie-cutter bank,” and Ludy said that statement hits the nail right on the head.

“We really aren’t your cookie-cutter bank, that holds true,” Ludy said. “We can go that extra mile for first-timers since most of our work is done in-house. We started out as the little guy, and we’re still that smaller bank in a big city, working extra hard.”

Being a true Wisconsin bank, Prevail focuses on building one-on-one, genuine relationships, and it has done them well. “It’s very

roof together at Prevail, that knowledge has been grounded in serving the business owner, your neighbor, the first-time homeowner, and every other financial customer under its financial umbrella.

“I think Prevail Bank stands out in many ways. Our commitment to the community not only through our giving but empowering team

With one-on-one advising and give-back fundraisers in the Valley community, Prevail strives to solidify that personalized experience, especially when tackling financials can seem intimidating to some. “Don’t get me wrong, (Prevail is) that little guy battling to get to the next level, but it’s that type of thing that we do well,” Ludy said. “We’re proud to give back and invest into the Valley as much as we can, as a business and as individuals.”

important to us to hold to our roots,” Ludy said.

Prevail Bank’s 2019 formation came to fruition with the River Cities Bank and Time Federal Savings Bank merger, the two holding more than 100 years of combined commercial loan, business banking, and creative mortgage solutions knowledge. Now sitting under one

members to get involved in organizations they are passionate about,” Commercial Lender Nick White stated. “Prevail Bank is committed to being creative and flexible as well as having local decision making on not only loans and accounts but how we support the organizations in our community.”

Prevail Bank is currently remodeling its Eau Claire branch, which has been in the works since May. The estimated completion is this fall. Remodeling will allow Prevail Bank to better serve its growing clientele, as well as its employees and the community. Swing by Eau Claire’s full-service, community-first Prevail Bank at 2225 Fairfax St. Get to know Prevail: They will help you pursue what’s possible.

Visit Prevail Bank’s website (www.prevail. bank) to get more details about the Eau Claire location and what services they can offer you.

PURSUE WHAT’S POSSIBLE.

FINANCIAL ADVISOR KELSEY NICOLAI IS DEDICATED TO PARTNERING WITH FAMILIES

EDWARD JONES INVESTMENTS

With Edward Jones, your family is most important to them

(715)

KELSEY.NICOLAI@EDWARDJONES.COM

“I enjoy my business. I love my farm and my home. I have a few close friends, and money has never been my God.”

Ted Jones, the son of Edward Jones’ founder, said this when he decided not to bring the firm public, which would have made him the richest man in America. This quote is one of the many reasons financial advisor Kelsey Nicolai is sure she joined the right firm with Edward Jones Investments. Their vision aligns exactly with how Kelsey wants to do business.

“My goal in life isn’t to make the most money, my passion and drive have always been in the business of serving people,” Nicolai said. “Edward Jones gives me an avenue to be able to do that in the most meaningful way. The most important thing to me is to be able to serve my community, and to make sure families have their financial house in order.”

Originally from Fall Creek, Wisconsin, Nicolai watched her mother work in the financial industry for over 25 and never thought she

“When I get to serve people in the most important and vulnerable times in their life it shows me truly how important my career is,” Nicolai said. “The impact that my career has on my clients’ families is something that I really cherish. My job as a financial advisor is so much more than I thought it would be.”

Nicolai enjoys working with people planning for retirement, estate considerations, or any specific goals they may have. She is adamant that it is always a good time to look at your finances, whether you are in college, starting a family, or planning for retirement.

She also recently completed her Accredited Asset Management (AAMS) designation which

provide more education to others I will take the steps to do so because I believe it’s extremely important in my career.”

Edward Jones has 49,000 Financial Advisors, 7 million clients, and manages 1.6 trillion dollars in assets under care. In order to have a complete human-centered wealth management team they have an investment policy committee, equity research analysts, economic and market professionals (with frequent appearances on Fox Business, Bloomberg, and CNBC along with Barron’s and The Wall Street Journal), portfolio managers, and insurance, tax, and legal specialists.

When looking for a Financial Advisor

would end up in the industry until she heard of a potential career opportunity in Chippewa Falls.

Since working as a financial advisor in Chippewa Falls, she has worked with many different families in the area of estate planning, retirement planning, brokerage accounts, solutions for business owners, LTC and life insurance, custodial and 529 plans, cash and credit, donor advised funds, and much more.

is a course that studies investments and insurance, as well as tax, retirement, and estate considerations. Nicolai is committed to continuing her education because the industry is always changing, and clients’ needs are complex.

“I’m always looking for the next way to educate myself and others,” Nicolai said. “Like completing my AAMS, hosting frequent seminars, coffee clubs, and webinars. If there’s anything I can do to further my knowledge and

Nicolai said the number one thing is to make sure to find someone you can trust and someone you know is going to put in the work for you. You are going to be partnering with this person for many years to come and they will likely be working with your children as well. Picking someone to manage your financial affairs is a big and emotional decision, if you need an advisor or possibly looking around for a new advisor Nicolai said she is happy to meet with you to show you how she can set herself apart from the other advisors in the area.

To schedule an introductory meeting with Kelsey Nicolai you can contact her Branch Office Administrator Jolene Fuglsang at (715) 723-8588 or Jolene.Fuglsang@edwardjones.com.

POINTS TAKEN. From hunting blinds to fishing lures, if it’s outdoor-related, you’re likely to find it at the fall edition of the Wisconsin Sports Show, which runs Aug. 26-28 at the Chippewa Valley Expo Center.

Rear End

YOU CAN KEEP AUGUST. JUST BRING ON AUTUMN ALREADY

Events

CHIPPEWA VALLEY EVENTS

AUG.

11-28, 2022

All events are subject to change; call ahead for details. For full event descriptions and details, visit our online calendar at www.volumeone. org/events. Listings in the calendar are free. If you have an event that you would like included in an upcoming issue, go to our website at www. volumeone.org or call (715) 552-0457. For any event related questions, contact Listings Editor James Johonnott at james@volumeone.org.

Thursday, August 11

COMMUNITY

Beer Church 6:45-8:45pm • The Brewing Projekt, Eau Claire • Low-key gatherings for the spiritually thirsty. Good beer, good people, and good news. FREE • 21+ • getjesusfit.com/beerchurch

EDUCATION

Growing Up Transgender 8:30am-4:30pm

• Online through UW-Eau Claire Continuing Education • In this single-day seminar, explore what it means to be transgender. $199 • All Ages • 836-3636 • ce.uwec.edu

FARMERS MARKETS

Chippewa Falls Farmers Market noon-6pm • Allen Park, Chippewa Falls • All Ages • chippewafallsmainst.org

FITNESS

YMCA Fitness at the Riverfront- Strong Mind & Body 4:30-5:15pm • Riverfront Park, Chippewa Falls • Combines martial arts techniques with fast-paced cardio. FREE • 12+, Ages 8-11 w/adult • 723-2201 • ymca-cv.org/groupexercise

Prenatal Yoga 6:30-7:30pm • Lake Wissota

Family Chiropractic Studio, Chippewa Falls • Reduce the discomforts of pregnancy, prepare for labor, and maintain tone. $15 • lakewissotachiropractic.com

FESTIVALS & SPECIAL EVENTS

US Open Chainsaw Sculpture Championship

10am-6pm • Carson Park, Eau Claire • The world’s best chainsaw carvers will compete for prizes creating unique works of art from 8-foot logs at the Wisconsin Logging Museum. $3.50-25 • visiteauclaire.com

FOOD & DRINK

Burger Night on the Farm 4-8pm • Together Farms, Mondovi • A unique, casual night on a small Wisconsin family farm. Fresh, grilled 100% grass-fed beef burgers. All Ages • 210-4740 • togetherfarms.com/calendar

Pizza + Open Mic Nights 5-9pm • Farm to Fork, Mondovi • Pizza and music night hosted by the Rock Creek Song Dogs. Open mic 6-9pm. FREE • All Ages • dancingyarrow.com

KIDS

Vacation Bible School 9-11:30am • Messiah

Lutheran Church, Eau Claire • “Your Will Be Done” will be the week-long theme with activities that include Bible lessons, songs, crafts, and

games. FREE • ages 3 through Grade 8 • 8342865 • eauclairemessiah.com

Daisy and Brownie Day at Girl Scout Camp

noon-5pm • Camp Nawakwa, Cornell • Take a tour, learn camp songs and games, make crafts, experience nature, swim in Picnic Lake and more. $25/child • Girls entering K-3rd grade in fall 2022 • rerickson@gsnwgl.org

MUSEUMS & HISTORY

Stepping Into Local History 6-7:30pm • Forest Hill Cemetery • Explore noteworthy families and individuals who lived in the Chippewa Valley. $10 adults, $5 student • ymca-cv.org/aoa

MUSIC

over scenic Lake Menomin. FREE • tockify.com

The Swampers: Curvin’ Thru Irvine 7:30pm • The Heyde Center for the Arts, Chippewa Falls • A unique blend of swampgrass harmony to lead folks on a winding musical journey through the history of Irvine Park. $25 lunch/show, $13 show only, $6 youth show only • cvca.net

NIGHTLIFE

DJ Trivia at Kat’s Pourhouse 7-9pm • Elk Mound • General knowledge trivia. FREE • 21+ • facebook.com/KatsPourhouse

MORE EVENTS FULL DETAILS

Music on the Patio at Artisan Forge Studios 5-7pm • Sweet Driver Cafe & Chocolates (Inside Artisan Forge Studios), Eau Claire • Outdoor music at Artisan Forge. Dinner, beverages, and sweets available from Sweet Driver Cafe. FREE • All Ages • 514-2883 • sweetdriverchocolates.com

Tim Sullivan & Jeremy Boettcher Jazz Duo 68pm • 200 Main Art & Wine Gallery, Eau Claire • Live jazz in a quaint art gallery in downtown Eau Claire. FREE • All Ages • 895-7114 • 200mainec. com

Sounds Like Summer Concert Series: Orenda Fugue + Motherwind w/ DJ Harm 6pm • Phoenix Park, Eau Claire • Orenda Fugue is an ambient, alternative rock band. Motherwind is a high energy rock band, self-described “Wisco boy band.” 6pm opening act: DJ Harm FREE • All Ages • volumeone.org/sites/concerts

Music Over Menomin 7-8:30pm • Menomonie Public Library, Menomonie • Live music on the lawn of the Menomonie Public Library, played

Dj Trivia at the Chippewa River Distillery 7-9pm • Chippewa Falls • General knowledge trivia. FREE • 21+ • facebook.com

Dj Trivia at the Sandbar & Grill 7:30-9pm • Chippewa Falls • General knowledge trivia. FREE • 21+ • facebook.com/SandBarandGrillLLC

DJ Trivia at the Maple Manor 7:30-9pm • Eau Claire • General knowledge trivia. FREE • 21+ • facebook.com/MapleManorEC

STAGE

Arborophilia 7:30-9:15pm • The Grand Theatre, Eau Claire • A quirky little comedy play about a girl in unrequited love with a tree. Written by Jacob M. Appel and directed by Logan Toftness. $20 • 12+ • fb.me/e/3uEgRQPnv

ECCT Presents “The Music Man in Concert”

7:30-9:30pm • Northern WI State Fairgrounds, Chippewa Falls • Meredith Willson’s smash Broadway hit musical comes to the Leinenkugel’s stage in Chippewa Falls in a unique outdoor concert setting. $24/Adults; $20/Seniors; $14/Students; $10/Youth • All Ages • 839-8877 • ecct.org/tickets

WELLNESS

Strength In Numbers noon-1pm • Family Support Center • A virtual group for survivors of interpersonal violence. Email to learn more. FREE • 18+ • 723-1138 • FamilySupportCenterCF.com

Friday, August 12

CAUSES

Arts & Drafts Fundraiser for Forge Theater

6-9pm • Modicum Brewing Co., Altoona • Enjoy a special release of Brockmann’s Bitter brewed by Modicum and peruse art being sold by local artists. SIlent auction. $5 donation • modicumbrewing.com

FESTIVALS & SPECIAL EVENTS

US Open Chainsaw Sculpture Championship

10am-10pm • Carson Park, Eau Claire • The world’s best chainsaw carvers will compete for prizes creating unique works of art from 8-foot logs at the Wisconsin Logging Museum. $3.50-25 • visiteauclaire.com

FITNESS

YMCA Fitness at the Riverfront - Walk for your Wellbeing 10:45-11:30am • Riverfront Park, Chippewa Falls • A walk to feel energized and excited to start your weekend. FREE • 12+, 8-11 w/adult • 723-2201 • ymca-cv.org/groupexercise

FOOD & DRINK

Pilot Pop Up Sale 10am-8pm • Leinie Lodge, Chippewa Falls • Merch sale located in the new Pilot Brewery. Spend $50 and get a 32oz Crowler of Summer Shandy for $5. Big Pappa BBQ Food

THERE’S SOMETHING IN THE WATER.

The annual Pure Water Days Parade is riding back into town on Saturday, Aug. 13, the parade kicking off at 1pm through downtown Chippewa Falls. The event is free for everyone and family friendly, featuring more than 50 floats and vehicles. The fun continues with RiverFest at 2pm.

BEST BETS

AUGUST 11-27

1. CHAINSAW SCULPTURE CHAMPIONSHIP

Aug. 11-14 • Carson Park, Eau Claire

The world’s best chainsaw carvers will compete for prizes creating unique works of art from 8-foot logs at the Wisconsin Logging Museum. Social night on Friday, sculpture auction Saturday and Sunday, judging on Sunday.

2. GRAND EVENING ON THE BRIDGE

Aug. 17 • Grand Avenue Bridge, Eau Claire • 5-8pm •

A multi-course meal with beverage pairings served on the Grand Avenue bridge. This year features meal selections from some of our downtown favorites: Houligans, The Informalist, 3rd & Vine, and a selection of wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverages.

Truck. 21+ • 720-6350 • facebook.com

Food Truck Fridays at Ken Vance Hyundai and Chippewa Valley Mazda 11am-2pm • Ken Vance Hyundai and Chippewa Valley Mazda • Every Friday is Food Truck Friday at Ken Vance Hyundai and Chippewa Valley Mazda

Leinie Lodge Food Trucks noon-7pm • Leinenkugel’s, Chippewa Falls • Leinie’s Lodge hosts food trucks from May through October, Fri & Sat. facebook.com/Leinenkugelsleinielodge

Burger Night on the Farm 4-8pm • Together Farms, Mondovi • A unique, casual night on a small Wisconsin family farm. Fresh, grilled 100% grass-fed beef burgers. All Ages • 210-4740 • togetherfarms.com/calendar

GAMES & HOBBIES

Friday Night Games 7pm • Clairemont Comics, Eau Claire • Welcomes all board game players of all ages and skill levels. Games available, with people to teach you how to play. FREE • All Ages • (651) 230-0748 • facebook.com/groups/ECBGG

MUSEUMS & HISTORY

58th Annual Pioneer Days 10am-10pm • Pioneer Park, Eau Claire • Historical craftsmen demonstrations, tractor pull, showcase of a rare Phoenix Log Hauler, antique & classic car show, pancake breakfast (Sat & Sun), and more. $10 admission, FREE for 12 and under • facebook. com/events/1633356073715908

MUSIC

Live Music at Vino Cappuccino 5:30-7:30pm • Vino Cappuccino, Elk Mound • Live music on the patio. Enjoy authentic wood-fired pizza, local wines & beers, coffee, unique homemade desserts, and more. FREE • All Ages • 879-4157 • vinocap-

puccinobistro.com

Live Music: Emily Watkins & William DeBlaey

6-8pm • 200 Main Art & Wine Gallery, Eau Claire • Join local guitarist/singer Emily Watkins and bassist William DeBlaey for a night of live music, art, and wine. FREE • All Ages • 895-7114 • 200mainec.com

Jazz at The Stones Throw 6-11pm • Stones Throw, Eau Claire • The Groove Merchants Present Jazz; Every month the second Friday and Saturday. $5 • 21+ • thesoundofeauclaire.com/ groove-merchants

Late Night Jazz at The Lakely: Tim Sullivan

Trio 8:30-11:30pm • The Lakely, Eau Claire • An evening of inventively re-interpreted jazz standards and Americana music. FREE • All Ages • theoxbowhotel.com

SHOPPING

Friends of the Chippewa Falls Public Library

Book Sale 9am-7pm • Chippewa Falls Public Library, Chippewa Falls • Large book sale with fiction and nonfiction books for children to adults, AV materials including books on CD, DVDs. Bag sale on Saturday. Materials from 50 cents to $5, • All Ages • chippewafallslibrary.org

Down to Earth 25th Anniversary Customer

Appreciation 4-7pm • Down To Earth Garden Center, Eau Claire • Celebrate 25 years of Down to Earth. Brats & hot dogs, Olson’s ice cream, and a visit from Bailey’s Nursery. downtoearthgardencenter.com

SPECTATOR SPORTS

Races at Red Cedar Speedway 5pm • Red Cedar Speedway, Menomonie • Weekly stock car races. $15 GA, $10 student/senior/military, FREE for kids • All Ages • 235-6318 • redcedarspeedway.com

3. GEMINI SYNDROME

Aug. 24 • Every Buddy’s Bar, Chippewa Falls • 6pm Gemini Syndrome plays alternative metal. Cultus Black is a dramatic deathcore/Nu-metal crossover. Nocturnal Affair is an alternative/dark rock project.

4. WISCONSIN SPORT SHOW

Aug. 26-28 • Chippewa Valley Expo Center, Eau Claire

Outdoor recreation expo featuring retail booths, demonstrations, trout pond, petting zoo, hunting, fishing, ice houses, beer garden and concessions, indoor and outdoor exhibits, and great door prizes.

5. CLEARWATER JAZZ AND ART FESTIVAL

Aug. 27 • Brewing Projekt, Eau Claire •12-8pm

Ten local jazz bands perform outdoors non-stop all day between two stages. Acts include Sue Orfield and FLOWt, Weapons of Brass Destruction, Cathy Reitz & 7Swing and Sweater People along with individual performers Jeremy Boettcher, Tyler Lustek, and Josh Gallagher, plus 15 art vendors in the event center. Multiple food trucks, gelato and of course great beers by The Brewing Projekt.

GRAND EVENING ON THE BRIDGE.

The biggest fundraiser for downtown E.C. is coming up on Aug. 17

Last year’s event sold out, so get your tickets quickly!

STAGE

Shakespeare in the State Park - Much Ado

About Nothing 5:30-8:30pm • Lake Wissota State Park, Chippewa Falls • Free workshop and Shakespeare performance at Lake Wissota State Park, great for kids, families and audiences of all ages. FREE • All Ages • (414) 216-3702 • summitplayerstheatre.com/shows

Disney’s Beauty & The Beast JR. 7pm

• Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts, Menomonie • The Disney animated classic brought to life on stage. Themed kids activities downstairs in the theatre prior to show. $12, $8 Students • 231-7529 • menomonietheaterguild.org

Events

Sturgeon Supermoon: Slow Flow Yoga & Sound Bath 7-8pm • Latitude 44 Yoga Studio, Eau Claire • A series of gentle yoga poses with an extended savasana to bathe in harmonic vibrations of crystal bowls. included for members, $15 for non-members • 828-3936 • latitude44yoga.com/ schedule

Saturday, August 13

MORE EVENTS FULL DETAILS

Arborophilia 7:30-9:15pm • The Grand Theatre, Eau Claire • A quirky little comedy play about a girl in unrequited love with a tree. Written by Jacob M. Appel and directed by Logan Toftness. $20 • 12+ • fb.me/e/3uEgRQPnv

ECCT Presents “The Music Man in Concert”

7:30-9:30pm • Northern WI State Fairgrounds, Chippewa Falls • Meredith WIllson’s smash Broadway hit musical comes to the Leinenkugel’s stage in Chippewa Falls in a unique outdoor concert setting. $24/Adults; $20/Seniors; $14/ Students; $10/Youth • All Ages • 839-8877 • ecct. org/tickets

WELLNESS

Ecstatic Dance & Botanical Elixirs on the Farm 6:30-8:30pm • Dancing Yarrow Retreat, Mondovi • Make and enjoy a botanical elixir followed by a 60 minute guided Nia dance class, then some open grooving under the sun. $25 • RhythmicRenewal.com

CAR SHOW

Chevytown Corvettes Car

Show & Fundraiser 10am-2pm • Keyes Chevytown, Menomonie • Silent Auction & Raffle to benefit Boys & Girls Club of Menomonie. DJ & Food Trucks, Trophies & Door Prizes, Tech & Car Care Seminars. FREE • facebook.com

Cruise In Car Show Series 2-4pm • Downtown Chippewa Falls, Chippewa Falls • Check out vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles while enjoying music in historic downtown Chippewa Falls. FREE • All Ages • chippewafallsmainst.org

FESTIVALS & SPECIAL EVENTS

US Open Chainsaw Sculpture Championship 10am-7pm • Carson Park, Eau Claire • The world’s best chainsaw carvers will compete for prizes creating unique works of art from 8-foot logs at the Wisconsin Logging Museum. $3.50-25 • visiteauclaire.com

Pure Water Days Parade 1-2pm • Downtown Chippewa Falls, Chippewa Falls • Enjoy over 50 floats, vehicles, and walking units in this annual parade. FREE • All Ages • chippewafallsmainst. org

Pure Water Days Parade & Riverfest 1pm • Downtown Chippewa Falls • The annual downtown Chippewa falls parade at 1pm features 70+ parade entries. At 2pm, Riverfest features food trucks, beer tent, live music, inflatables, crafts vendors, and more. chippewafallsmainst.org

FARMERS MARKETS

Menomonie Farmer’s Market 8am-2pm • Wilson Park • FREE • All Ages • 641-0050 • menomoniefam.org

Cadott Farmer’s Market 9am-noon • Riverview Park located next to the Yellow River on Highway 27 • FREE • All Ages • 703-3779 • facebook.com/ CadottFarmersMarket

FOOD & DRINK

Pilot Pop Up Sale 10am-8pm • Leinie Lodge, Chippewa Falls • Merch sale located in the new Pilot Brewery. Spend $50 and get a 32oz Crowler of Summer Shandy for $5. Big Pappa BBQ Food Truck. 21+ • 720-6350 • facebook.com

Leinie Lodge Food Trucks noon-7pm • Leinenkugel’s, Chippewa Falls • Leinie’s Lodge hosts food trucks from May through October, Fri & Sat. No event on 4/29 and 6/18. facebook.com/Leinenkugelsleinielodge

Burger Night on the Farm noon-8pm • Together Farms, Mondovi • A unique, casual night on a small Wisconsin family farm. Fresh, grilled 100% grass-fed beef burgers. All Ages • 210-4740 • togetherfarms.com/calendar

Belgian Beer and Oysters noon-8pm • K-Point Brewing at The Coffee Grounds, Eau Claire • Enjoy oysters on a half shell and a K-Point pint of Belgian beer (or beer of your choice). Price TBD • 21+ • 834-1733 • thecoffeegrounds.com

Wine and Snowie Snow Cones 1-4pm • Infinity Beverages Winery & Distillery, Eau Claire • Mix your favorite Infinity wine with a complimentary snow cone, provided by Snowie of Altoona. 21+ • 255-0802 • infinitybeverages.com

Farm Tour at Together Farms 2-3:30pm • Together Farms, Mondovi • Explore and learn about Together Farms, a small family operated farm. $5, children 5 and under free • All Ages • 210-4740 • togetherfarms.com/calendar

HOME & GARDEN

Wildflower Sanctuary Tour at Irvine Park 13pm • Irvine Park, Chippewa Falls • A tour of the Native Wildflower Sanctuary hosted by the Lake Wissota Garden Club. facebook.com

MUSEUMS & HISTORY

58th Annual Pioneer Days 7am-10pm • Pioneer Park, Eau Claire • Historical craftsmen demonstrations, tractor pull, showcase of a rare Phoenix Log Hauler, antique & classic car show, pancake breakfast (Sat & Sun), and more. $10 admission, FREE for 12 and under • facebook. com/events/1633356073715908

MUSIC

Live Music: Sean Jordan 11am-8pm • Dixon’s Autumn Harvest Winery, Chippewa Falls • Live music from Sean Jordan, beverages served by the winery, and a local food truck on site FREE • All Ages • 720-1663 • facebook.com/autumnharvestwinery

Music at the Museum noon-2pm • Chippewa Valley Museum, Eau Claire • BYO Chairs and blankets to enjoy live regional music traditions on the museum grounds. FREE • All Ages • 834-7871 • cvmuseum.com

Events

Live Music by Matthew Griswold 5-8pm • Ombibulous Brewing, Altoona • Talented singer-songwriter that plays acoustic covers and originals. FREE

Live Music at Vino Cappuccino 5:30-7:30pm • Vino Cappuccino, Elk Mound • Live music on the patio at Vino Cappuccino. Enjoy authentic woodfired pizza, local wines & beers, coffee, unique homemade desserts, and more. FREE • All Ages • 879-4157 • vinocappuccinobistro.com

Van Isaacson & Allison Mahal Acoustic Duo 6-8pm • 200 Main Art & Wine Gallery, Eau Claire • This duo will play acoustic tunes while en route to perform at Ashley for the Arts. FREE • All Ages • 895-7114 • 200mainec.com

Jazz at The Stones Throw 6-11pm • Stones Throw, Eau Claire • The Groove Merchants Present Jazz; Every month the second Friday and Saturday. $5 • 21+ • thesoundofeauclaire.com/ groove-merchants

ZYMURDERFEST Death Metal Festival 6pm

• Zymurgy Brewing, Menomonie • Zymurgy Brewing’s annual death metal festival. Headliner band is Glutton for Punishment, joined by others. $10 GA, $15 GA + Poster, $25 Bundle • 21+ • volumeonetickets.org

American Hitmen with Motherwind 8pm • Joel’s 4Corners, Chippewa Falls • American Hitmen as seen on America’s Got Talent rocks with regional touring act Motherwind. $5 adv $10 door • 21+ • 861-5766 • facebook. com/4corners4fun

Late Night Jazz at The Lakely: Tim Sullivan Trio

8:30-11:30pm • The Lakely, Eau Claire • An evening of inventively re-interpreted jazz standards and Americana music. FREE • All Ages • theoxbowhotel.com

OPEN HOUSES &

SHOPPING

Friends of the Chippewa Falls Public Library

Book Sale 9am-1pm • Chippewa Falls Public Library, Chippewa Falls • Large book sale with fiction and nonfiction books for children to adults, AV materials including books on CD, DVDs. Bag sale on Saturday. Materials from 50 cents to $5, • All Ages • chippewafallslibrary.org

Eau Claire Makers’ Market noon-7:30pm

• Owen Park Bandshell, Eau Claire • Local vendors selling their wares accompanied by local music. Fien art, ceramics, stickers, home goods, decor, and more. FREE • All Ages • ecmakersmarket.com

SPECTATOR SPORTS

Eau Claire Express 6:35pm • Eau Claire Express Stadium - Carson Park, Eau Claire • An Eau Claire tradition, catch a ballgame in scenic Carson Park stadium. $9-28, season tickets availablre • northwoodsleague.com

STAGE

Disney’s Beauty & The Beast JR. 2pm, 7pm •

Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts, Menomonie • The Disney animated classic brought to life on stage. Themed kids activities downstairs in the theatre prior to show. $12, $8 Students • 231-7529 • menomonietheaterguild.org

Wild West Murder Mystery 5-10pm • The Willow Events & Catering, Chippewa Falls • A night of mystery and murder at the Deadwood Saloon. Ticket price includes dinner, access to a cash bar, and the chance to catch a killer. $50 Per Person • 21+ • 379-1245 • eventbrite.com

Disney’s Beauty & The Beast JR. 2pm, 7pm • Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts, Menomonie • The Disney animated classic brought to life on stage. Themed kids activities downstairs in the theatre prior to show. $12, $8 Students • 231-7529

• menomonietheaterguild.org

Arborophilia 7:30-9:15pm • The Grand Theatre, Eau Claire • A quirky little comedy play about a girl in unrequited love with a tree. Written by Jacob M. Appel and directed by Logan Toftness. $20 • 12+ • fb.me/e/3uEgRQPnv

VISUAL ART

Artist Market of Eau Claire 7:30am-1pm • Phoenix Park, Eau Claire • Stroll the paths of Phoenix Park as local Artists and Makers display their handmade goods. FREE • All Ages • 8550090 • tangledupinhue.com/artist-market/

WELLNESS

2022 Women’s Conference - Confidence and Empowerment 10am-1pm • Witt Park Pavilion, Bloomer • 3 hours of praise, worship, speakers, music, friendship time, and more. Lunch & snacks provided. Pre-register. FREE • 15+ • +7154040636 • bloomerumc.com/pow

Sunday, August 14

CAR SHOW

2nd Annual Car Show 1pm • Dixon’s Autumn Harvest Winery, Chippewa Falls • A day full of great cars, cold drinks, and delicious food. Live music from 1-4pm, food truck until 5pm. Awards at 4pm. Judging 1-3pm. autumnharvestwinery.com

COMMUNITY

Praise in the Park 10-11am

• Phoenix Park • Five ELCA churches in Eau Claire come together =to lead outdoor worship and music. BYO coffee, blankets, and chairs. FREE • All Ages • facebook.com/praiseintheparkec

FESTIVALS & SPECIAL EVENTS

St. James Summer Fest 8am • St. James the Greater, Eau Claire • Car show (8am), live music (12-4pm), grilled chicken dinner (11am-1pm), kids games, raffles, silent auction, cornhole, concessions, and more. FREE • 835-5887 • stjameseauclaire.org

Carson Park Experience noon-5pm • Carson Park, Eau Claire • Summer fun and activities, museums, food trucks, music, beer gardens, Chippewa Valley Railroad, and Eau Claire Express games. 834-7871 • visiteauclaire.com/carsonpark

US Open Chainsaw Sculpture Championship 10am-4pm • Carson Park, Eau Claire • The world’s best chainsaw carvers will compete for prizes creating unique works of art from 8-foot logs at the Wisconsin Logging Museum. $3.50-25 • visiteauclaire.com

FOOD & DRINK

Annual Men’s Charcoal Chicken & Sweet Corn Dinner 11am-2pm • English Lutheran Church of Bateman, Chippewa Falls • Eat in or take out. Playground for the kids. Raffle drawing at 2pm. All proceeds go to the Playground & Pavilion Project. $11 for 1/4 Chicken and $15 for 1/2 chicken • All Ages • 723-4231 • elcbateman.org

GAMES & HOBBIES

Park, Eau Claire • Historical craftsmen demonstrations, tractor pull, showcase of a rare Phoenix Log Hauler, antique & classic car show, pancake breakfast (Sat & Sun), and more. $10 admission, FREE for 12 and under • facebook.com/ events/1633356073715908

MUSIC

Music at the Museum 1-2:30pm • Chippewa Valley Museum, Eau Claire • BYO Chairs and blankets to enjoy live regional music traditions on the museum grounds. FREE • All Ages • cvmuseum.com

Live Music at Wissota High Shores Supper Club 4pm • Wissota High Shores Supper Club, Chippewa Falls • Live music on the outdoor pavilion, at this supper club. FREE • wissotahighshores.com

NIGHTLIFE

Dj Trivia at the Brass Lantern 3-5pm • Chippewa Falls • General knowledge trivia. FREE • 21+ • facebook.com/brasslanternpubandgrill

STAGE

Disney’s Beauty & The Beast JR. 7pm • Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts, Menomonie • The Disney animated classic brought to life on stage. Themed kids activities downstairs in the theatre prior to show. $12, $8 Students • 231-7529 • menomonietheaterguild.org

WELLNESS

Slow Down Sundays 10am-2pm • Farm to Fork, Mondovi • Peaceful yoga, breath or energy work, family friendly fun, and a plant-based food menu. Varies • farmtoforkretreat.com/pizza-nights

Monday, August 15

FITNESS

YMCA Fitness at the Riverfront - Circuits

6-6:45am • Riverfront Park, Chippewa Falls • A fun, challenging and motivating way to start your week off strong. FREE • 12+ or 8-11 with adult • 723-2201 • ymca-cv.org/groupexercise

FOOD & DRINK

Beer Vs. Wine Dinner 6:30-8:30pm • Bye the Willow, Chippewa Falls • Four courses paired with four wines and four beers, you decide which pairs better. $65 • volumeonetickets.org

MUSIC

Kickin’ it Country Summer Concert Series

6:30pm • Prevea Amphitheater at River Prairie Park, Altoona • Country music, food trucks, art vendors, and more. Grab your lawn chairs and get ready to kick it. FREE • facebook.com/kickinitcountrysummerconcertseries

NIGHTLIFE

Dj Trivia at Dean & Sue’s Bar 7-9pm • Menomonie • General knowledge trivia. FREE • 21+ • facebook.com

Dj Trivia at Bowl Winkles 7-9pm • Eau Claire • General knowledge trivia. FREE • 21+ • facebook.com/BowlWinkles

WORDS

Patti See: Happy Hour with the Author 6-7pm • Bloomer Brewing Company, Bloomer • Join Patti

Sunday Pool Tournament 12:45pm

• Zymurgy Brewing, Menomonie • Single 8-ball Valley Rules. Double Elimination. Payouts: Top two or three participants take money home depending on number of platers. $20 • 21+

MUSEUMS & HISTORY

58th Annual Pioneer Days 7am-5pm

• Pioneer

ZYMURDERFEST DEATH METAL FESTIVAL

Aug. 13 • Zymurgy Brewing • 6pm-midnight • $10-25

Zymurgy’s third annual death metal festival. Headlining is Glutton for Punishment. Featuring Pitlord, Ancient Entities, Coffin Rites, Dead Soul Symphony, Brodwar, and Torment.

BEER VS. WINE DINNER

Aug. 15 • Bye the Willow • 6:30-8:30pm • $65

Four courses are paired with four wines and four beers, you get to decide which one pairs better. Glazed smoked salmon appetizer, smoked chicken Waldorf salad, blackened shrimp scampi with garlic bread, and salted caramel bread pudding dessert.

STAND-UP COMEDIAN DINA HASHEM

Aug. 17 at The View & Aug. 18 at The Brickhouse • $10adv

Dina’s style involves a subdued delivery with dark observations about her life and Arab upbringing. She has performed on Comedy Central, CONAN, and a number of comedy festivals.

PICNIC AT THE WINERY

Aug. 27 • Autumn Harvest Winery • 11am-5pm • $10-52

Back40 will offer Charcoal Chicken, Dinner Rolls, and 2 sides to pick from with your order: potato salad, watermelon, or corn on the cob! Purchase your tickets for enjoying your picnic on site, or select our TO GO option for easy pick-up!

SCHUETZY’S MUSIC JUBILEE

Aug. 27 • Schuetzy’s Tavern • 1-11pm • $25 adv

Featuring Adam Pearce (as seen on NBC’s The Voice), Celebrating the Music of *PRINCE!* LIVE! with Chase & Ovation, and The Gators. Beer tent and bar. Event will be held rain or shine. Bring your own chair. Parking across the street. Camping available.

FOUR-COURSE BEER PAIRING DINNER

Sep. 1 • 29 Pines • 6-8pm • $50 adv

Coconut Pineapple Shrimp Kabobs, Buffalo Bacon Ranch Wedge Salad, and the main course is a marinated beef tenderloin with asparagus and forbidden rice.

ROCK THE DOGHOUSE

Sep. 10 • Eau Claire North High School • noon-8pm • $20

A music festival that supports the Northernaires Show Choir. Musical acts, food trucks, vendor area, and kids play area.

CHIPPEWA VALLEY ROLLER DERBY PRESENTS: ANNUAL BRUISE-A-THON TOURNAMENT

Sep. 10 • Hobbs Ice Arena • 2-7pm • $10 adv

The CVRD is back in action with a 4-game tournament. Trackside and bleacher seating is available.

CHECK OUT THESE EVENTS AND MORE AT: VOLUMEONE.ORG/TICKETS

See, author of “Here on Lake Hallie: In Praise of Barflies, Fix-it-Guys and other Folks in Our Hometown.” FREE • bloomerbrewingco.com

Tuesday, August 16

COMEDY

The Lakely Presents: Clear Water Comedy

Events

5-10pm • Together Farms, Mondovi • Together

Farms hosts a family friendly comedy night. $20 in advance, $25 at the door • All Ages • 210-4740 • togetherfarms.com/calendar

Stand-Up Comedian Dina Hashem Live 7pm • The View on Lake Wissota, Chippewa Falls • Dina’s style involves a subdued delivery with dark observations about her life and Arab upbringing. $10 adv, $15 door • volumeonetickets.org

Open Mic Night 8:30-11pm • The Lakely, Eau Claire • Welcoming musicians, comedians, improv, spoken word, and more. Hit the stage or watch. Show is free, but come thirsty. FREE • thelakely.com

FARMERS MARKETS

Eau Claire County Government Center

Farmers’ Market 11:30am-3:30pm • Eau Claire County Government Center Outside Door C12E • FREE • All Ages • 492-4678 • eauclairewi.gov

FITNESS

YMCA Fitness at the Riverfront - Yoga

5:30-6:30pm • Riverfront Park, Chippewa Falls

• Shed distractions and explore the essentials of breathing, posture, and basic yoga poses. FREE • 12+, or 8-11 w/ adult • 723-2201 • ymca-cv.org/ groupexercise

FOOD & DRINK

Cookout in the Country Fundraiser 6pm • The Heyde Center for the Arts, Chippewa Falls • A charcoal chicken dinner from Karl’s BBQ Express, music, and beverages served in the scenic White’s Wildwood Retreat. $45 • cvca.net

MUSIC

Tuesday Night Bues 6:30-8:30pm • Owen Park

Bandshell, Eau Claire • Every Tuesday night in summer your favorite local and regional blues singers play at the Owen Park Bandshell. Free admission, family friendly. FREE • All Ages • chippewavalleyblues.com/tnb

NIGHTLIFE

Dj Trivia at 29 Pines 7-9pm • Eau Claire • General knowledge trivia. FREE • 21+ • facebook. com/29PinesRestaurant

DJ Trivia at the Growler Guys 7:30-9pm • Eau Claire • General knowledge trivia. FREE • 21+ • facebook.com/TheGrowlerGuysEauClaire

Dj Trivia at the Sandbar and Grill 7:30-9pm • Chippewa Falls • General knowledge trivia. FREE • 21+ • facebook.com/SandBarandGrillLLC

Dj Trivia at the Stout Craft Company 7-9pm • Stout Craft Co., Menomonie • General knowledge trivia. FREE • 21+ • facebook.com/StoutCraftCo

RUN/WALK EVENTS

19th Annual Hike for the Homeless 5-8pm • River Prairie Center, Altoona • Benefiting the Beacon House. Hiking, refreshments, music, activities, and more. $30 for 13+, FREE for 12 and under • All Ages • 834-4357 • familypromisecv. org/hike-for-the-homeless

SENIORS

Planning AHEAD for the End of this Life 11amnoon • Chippewa Falls Public Library, Chippewa Falls • Planning AHEAD is a 7-session course (one hour each) that guides participants through topics surrounding the end of life. FREE • 7231146 • chippewafallslibrary.org

Wednesday, August 17

CAUSES

Thrivent Cans Hunger for Altoona Compassion Coalition 4:30-6:30pm • Hobbs Ice Center Parking Lot, Altoona • Collecting toilet paper, canned fruit, mac & cheese, Ramen, and cereal. The first 75 cars will receive a free brat/hot dog dinner for 4 to go. FREE

COMEDY

Together Farms presents Comedy Night

CRAFTING & MAKING

Watercolor Workshop 9am-3pm • Wise Nature Center, Beaver Creek Reserve, Fall Creek • Watercolor Workshop with Tara Sweeney sponsored by the Chippewa Valley Watercolor Artists. $90 total - 2 day workshop • 21+ • (920) 255-8699

DIY Cut Flower Bouquet Workshop 5-7pm • Wisconsin Makers Market, Eau Claire • Learn basic bouquet design techniques. Create your own colorful bouquet from blooms grown locally at Sandhill Echoes Flower Farm. $45 • 514-4040 • wisconsinmakersmarket.com/collections/workshops

FARMERS MARKETS

Menomonie Farmer’s Market 10am-6pm • Wilson Park • Support your local farmers, bakers, makers and artists. Live music, hot lunches and fun. FREE • All Ages • 641-0050 • menomoniefam.org

FITNESS

YMCA Fitness at the Riverfront - Cardio/Kick 9-9:45am • Riverfront Park, Chippewa Falls • Combines martial arts techniques with fast-paced cardio. FREE • 12+, Ages 8-11 w/adult • 7232201 • ymca-cv.org/groupexercise

Free Summer Zumba Series at Riverfront Park 6-6:45pm • Riverfront Park, Chippewa Falls

• Join local YMCA Zumba instructors Cindy Peterson, Tara Lemke, and Lauren Haack for some fitness fun under the sun. FREE • All Ages

FOOD & DRINK

Grand Evening on the Bridge 5-8pm • Grand Avenue Footbridge, Eau Claire • A multi-course meal with beverage pairings served on the Grand Avenue bridge. Food from Houligans, The Informalist, and 3rd & Vine. $100/person, $175/ couple, $80/table of 6 • visiteauclaire.com

MUSIC

Music On The Plaza Concert Series 5:306:30pm • River Prairie Park, Altoona • Before the Rock’n on the River Concert each night, enjoy another hour of music on Front Porch Plaza. FREE • visiteauclaire.com

Rock’n on the River Summer Concert Series 6:30pm • River Prairie Park, Altoona • Rock’n live music, food trucks, and plenty of family fun. FREE • facebook.com/rocknontheriversummerconcertseries

NIGHTLIFE

Dj Trivia at Westside Bar & Grill 7:30-9pm • Eau Claire • General knowledge trivia. FREE • 21+ • facebook.com/westsidebarandgrillec

DJ Trivia at the Market 7:30-9pm • The Market, Menomonie • General knowledge trivia. FREE • 21+ • facebook.com/themarket3

RECREATION

Pure Water Paddlers Wednesday Social Paddle 6:30-8:30pm • Different Locations Weekly

• A social organize of paddling enthusiasts that hosts weekly boating outings for all level. FREE • All Ages • purewaterpaddlers.com

WELLNESS

Safety & Strength 1:30-3pm • Family Support Center • A confidential group that works to

nurture connections between protective parents & youth affected by family violence. Pre-register. FREE • All Ages • 723-1138 • FamilySupportCenterCF.com

Thursday, August 18

COMEDY

Stand-Up Comedian Dina Hashem Live 7:309:30pm • The Brickhouse, Eau Claire • Dina’s style involves a subdued delivery with dark observations about her life and Arab upbringing. $10 adv, $15 door • volumeonetickets.org

COMMUNITY

Max’s BIG BIKER BASH & Memorial Ride

4pm • Bobville Talent Park, Eau Claire • A biker party featuring live music, karaoke, food trucks, door prizes, raffles, petting, zoo, camping, and more. $15-40 • All Ages • 564-9631 • eventbrite.com

CRAFTING & MAKING

Watercolor Workshop 9am3pm • Wise Nature Center, Beaver Creek Reserve, Fall Creek • Watercolor Workshop with Tara Sweeney sponsored by the Chippewa Valley Watercolor Artists. $90 total - 2 day workshop • 21+ • (920) 255-8699 • lindamerryart@gmail.com

FARMERS MARKETS

Chippewa Falls Farmers Market noon-6pm • Allen Park, Chippewa Falls • All Ages • chippewafallsmainst.org/farmers-market.html

FITNESS

YMCA Fitness at the Riverfront- Strong Mind & Body 4:30-5:15pm • Riverfront Park, Chippewa Falls • A group fitness class that combines martial arts techniques with fast-paced cardio. FREE • 12+, Ages 8-11 w/adult • ymca-cv.org/ groupexercise

Prenatal Yoga 6:30-7:30pm • Lake Wissota Family Chiropractic Studio, Chippewa Falls • This class will help you reduce the discomforts of pregnancy, prepare for labor, and maintain tone. $15 • lakewissotachiropractic.com

FOOD & DRINK

Charcoal Chicken N’ Corn Feed Fundraiser

3:30-6pm • Chippewa Falls Senior Center, Chippewa Falls • Menu features 1/4 chicken, 2 cobs of corn, 1 huge baked potato, homemade baked beans, 1 dinner roll, and 1 dessert & beverage.

$10

Burger Night on the Farm 4-8pm • Together Farms, Mondovi • A unique, casual night on a small Wisconsin family farm. Fresh, grilled 100% grass-fed beef burgers. All Ages • 210-4740 • togetherfarms.com/calendar

Pizza + Open Mic Nights 5-9pm • Farm to Fork, Mondovi • Pizza and music night hosted by the Rock Creek Song Dogs. Open mic 6-9pm. FREE • All Ages • dancingyarrow.com

KIDS

Teen Night at Evolving Wellness 3-7pm

• Evolving Wellness, Eau Claire • A place of compassion, understanding, and kindness for teens. Taco bar at 4:30pm, and wellness activities at 5:30pm FREE • Ages 12-17

• evolvingwellness. org/teen-center

MOVIES

Events

Free Community Screening: The Real Faces of Human Trafficking 6-7:15pm • Fierce Freedom, Altoona • Check out Fierce Freedom’s film The Real Faces of Human Trafficking, which tells the story of two individual. Discussion to follow. FREE • 12+ • 514-2890 • fiercefreedom.org

MUSIC

Two Rivers 6-9pm • Foster’s Fireside, Osseo • Sue Orfield, Randy Sinz, Gregg Wheeler & Tommy Wieseler, play old country, swing, bluegrass, and more. FREE • All Ages • 597-6605 • fostersfireside.com

Sounds Like Summer Concert Series: Irie Sol + Dames w/ Vicky Yang 6pm • Phoenix Park, Eau Claire • Irie Sol delivers authentic Jamaican-style rap/chat over blazing bebop horns, soaring soulful melodies and tight drum and bass. Dames is a country-folk trio that takes a collaborative approach to music-making. 6pm opening act: Vicky Yang. FREE • All Ages • volumeone.org/sites/concerts

NIGHTLIFE

DJ Trivia at Kat’s Pourhouse 7-9pm • Elk Mound • General knowledge trivia. FREE • 21+ • facebook.com/ KatsPourhouse

Dj Trivia at the Chippewa River Distillery

7-9pm • Chippewa Falls • General knowledge trivia. FREE • 21+ • facebook.com

Dj Trivia at the Sandbar & Grill 7:30-9pm • Chippewa Falls • General knowledge trivia. FREE • 21+ • facebook.com/SandBarandGrillLLC

DJ Trivia at the Maple Manor 7:30-9pm • Eau Claire • General knowledge trivia. FREE • 21+ • facebook.com/MapleManorEC

WELLNESS

Strength In Numbers noon-1pm • Family Support Center • A virtual group for survivors of interpersonal violence. Email to learn more. FREE • 18+ • 723-1138 • FamilySupportCenterCF.com

Friday, August 19

CAR SHOW

Big Rig Truck Show Rock Falls Raceway, Eau Claire • Semi drag racing, big rig truck displays, light parade, trade show, food vendors, and the new Shockwave Jet Truck. $12/weekend or $70 camping pass • bigrigtruckshows.com

3rd Annual Slingshot Overnighter Meet/Greet Staybridge Suites Eau Claire - Altoona, Altoona • An overnight meet/green with other slingshot owners. More rides, more LEDs, more fun. ihg. com

COMMUNITY

Max’s BIG BIKER BASH & Memorial Ride

10am • Bobville Talent Park, Eau Claire • A biker party featuring live music, karaoke, food trucks, door prizes, raffles, petting, zoo, camping, and more. $15-40 • All Ages • 564-9631 • eventbrite. com

FITNESS

Vance Hyundai and Chippewa Valley Mazda •

Every Friday is Food Truck Friday at Ken Vance Hyundai and Chippewa Valley Mazda

Leinie Lodge Food Trucks noon-7pm • Leinenkugel’s, Chippewa Falls • Leinie’s Lodge hosts food trucks from May through October, Fri & Sat. facebook.com/Leinenkugelsleinielodge

Burger Night on the Farm 4-8pm • Together Farms, Mondovi • A unique, casual night on a small Wisconsin family farm. Fresh, grilled 100% grass-fed beef burgers. All Ages • 210-4740 • togetherfarms.com/calendar

GAMES & HOBBIES

Friday Night Games 7pm • Clairemont Comics, Eau Claire • Welcomes all board game players of all ages and skill levels. Games available, with people to teach you how to play. FREE • All Ages • (651) 230-0748 • facebook.com/groups/ECBGG

MOVIES

River Prairie Movie Nights: Clifford The Big

Red Dog + Jungle Cruise 9-11pm • River Prairie Park, Altoona • Movies begin at sunset (aprox 9pm) FREE admission • facebook.com

MUSIC

2 Nights of Dark Star Orchestra The Pines Music Park • The Dark Star Orchestra celebrates the Grateful Dead Experience. Campsites available, carry in food and drink allowed. Starts at $99/person • 602-4440 • pinesmusicpark.com/ darkstarorchestra

Live Music and Food Night at The Barn at Copper Creek 5-9pm • The Barn at Copper Creek, Menomonie • Live music and food night in a beautifully restored barn from 5-9 pm, featuring rotating food vendors. Please check Facebook page for me Free, food and drink available for purchase • All Ages • 308-4434 • facebook.com/ barnatcoppercreek

Live Music at Vino Cappuccino 5:30-7:30pm • Vino Cappuccino, Elk Mound • Live music on the patio at Vino Cappuccino. Enjoy authentic wood-

Teen Anxiety Group 6-7pm

• Eau Claire • Learn about life-long coping skills, navigating difficult conversations, setting healthy boundaries, selfcare, etc. $30/meeting or $115 if paid in full by 7/15 • Ages 12-17 • 737-9222 • genuinewayfamilytherapy.com/events

YMCA Fitness at the Riverfront - Walk for your Wellbeing 10:45-11:30am • Riverfront Park, Chippewa Falls • A walk that will leave you feeling energized and excited to start your weekend. FREE • 12+, 8-11 w/adult • 723-2201 • ymca-cv.org/groupexercise

FOOD & DRINK

Food Truck Fridays at Ken Vance Hyundai and Chippewa Valley Mazda 11am-2pm • Ken

fired pizza, local wines & beers, coffee, unique homemade desserts, and more. FREE • All Ages • 879-4157 • vinocappuccinobistro.com

Late Night Jazz at The Lakely: Sweater People 8:30-11:30pm • The Lakely, Eau Claire • Sweater People is an improvisatory musical trio and music production team based in Eau Claire FREE • All Ages • theoxbowhotel.com

SPECTATOR SPORTS

Races at Red Cedar Speedway 5pm • Red Cedar Speedway, Menomonie • Weekly stock car races. $15 GA, $10 student/senior/military, FREE for kids • All Ages • redcedarspeedway.com

STAGE

Arborophilia 7:30-9:15pm • The Grand Theatre, Eau Claire • A quirky little comedy play about a girl in unrequited love with a tree. Written by Jacob M. Appel and directed by Logan Toftness. $20 • 12+ • fb.me/e/3uEgRQPnv

Saturday, August 20

ANIMALS & PETS

Indianhead Kennel Club AKC All Breed Dogshow Northern WI State Fairgrounds, Chippewa Falls • AKC All Breed Dogshow. Conformation, Rally, Obedience, Barn Hunt competitions. Admission Fee Unknown • facebook.com/EauClaireIHKC

CAR SHOW

Big Rig Truck Show Rock Falls Raceway, Eau Claire • Semi drag racing, big rig truck displays, light parade, trade show, food vendors, and the new Shockwave Jet Truck. $12/weekend or $70 camping pass • bigrigtruckshows.com

3rd Annual Slingshot Overnighter Meet/Greet

Staybridge Suites Eau Claire - Altoona, Altoona • An overnight meet/green with other slingshot owners. More rides, more LEDs, more fun. ihg.com

COMMUNITY

Max’s BIG BIKER BASH & Memorial Ride

10am • Bobville Talent Park, Eau Claire • A biker party featuring live music, karaoke, food trucks, door prizes, raffles, petting, zoo, camping, and more. $15-40 • All Ages • 564-9631 • eventbrite. com

FAIRS & FESTIVALS

The Brewing Projekt 7.5th Anniversary Party

noon-11pm • The Brewing Projekt, Eau Claire • Special beer releases, food trucks (12-9pm), custom made Van Dough Cookies from 3-8pm, live music (5-9pm), and finish the day with a Drag Show at 9pm. thebrewingprojekt.com

FARMERS MARKETS

Menomonie Farmer’s Market 8am-2pm • Wilson Park • FREE • 641-0050 • menomoniefam.org

Cadott Farmer’s Market 9am-noon • Riverview Park located next to the Yellow River on Highway 27 • FREE • 703-3779 • facebook.com/Cad-

ottFarmersMarket

FITNESS

Stretches & Sunshine Yoga & Mimosa Brunch

10:30am-noon • Princeton Valley Golf Course, Eau Claire • Soak up some rays while enjoying a relaxing, beginner-friendly yoga sequence. Followed by a light brunch and mimosas. $30 • 21+ • badintentionsyoga.com

FOOD & DRINK

Leinie Lodge Food Trucks noon-7pm • Leinenkugel’s, Chippewa Falls • Leinie’s Lodge hosts

food trucks from May through October, Fri & Sat. facebook.com/Leinenkugelsleinielodge

Burger Night on the Farm noon-8pm • Together Farms, Mondovi • A unique, casual night on a small Wisconsin family farm. Fresh, grilled 100% grass-fed beef burgers. All Ages • 210-4740 • togetherfarms.com/calendar

Bloomer Beer & Wine Fest 1-5pm • Bloomer Fairgrounds • Ticket includes food, beer, and wine samples, prize drawings, and live music. $45 • facebook.com

Farm Tour at Together Farms 2-3:30pm • Together Farms, Mondovi • Explore and learn about Together Farms, a small family operated farm. $5, children 5 and under free • All Ages • 210-4740 • togetherfarms. com/calendar

MUSIC

2 Nights of Dark Star Orchestra

The Pines Music Park • The Dark Star Orchestra celebrates the Grateful Dead Experience. Campsites available, carry in food and drink allowed. Starts at $99/person • 602-4440 • pinesmusicpark.com/darkstarorchestra

Live Music at Vino Cappuccino 5:30-7:30pm

• Vino Cappuccino, Elk Mound • Live music on the patio. Enjoy authentic wood-fired pizza, local wines & beers, coffee, unique homemade desserts, and more. FREE • All Ages • 879-4157 • vinocappuccinobistro.com

Tom Petty Tribute 8pm • Heartbreakers Bar & Grill, Chippewa Falls • The music of Tom Petty at Heartbreakers. FREE

Late Night Jazz at The Lakely: Adam Nussbaum and Josh Gallagher Trio 8:30-11:30pm • The Lakely, Eau Claire • Minneapolis drummer Adam Nussbaum returns to Eau Claire for a night of jazz standards with Josh Gallagher on piano and Jeremy Boettcher on bass. FREE • All Ages • theoxbowhotel.com

OUTDOORS

Snapshot Day: Search for Invasive Species 9am • Hosted by Beaver Creek Reserve • WI’s largest community science event. FREE • beavercreekreserve.doubleknot.com

RUN/WALK EVENTS

HDSA Team Hope Run/Walk 9am-noon • Carson Park - Pine Pavilion, Eau Claire • A run/walk with music and food that benefits the Huntington’s Disease Society of America. $20 Child Walkers, $25 Adult Walkers, $35 Runners • All Ages • (608)

BAD TIMES COMING

Minneapolis indie trio

Bad Bad Hats are slated to headline a show on Aug. 26 at the Pablo Center at the Confluence.

698-8171 • hdsa.org/thwfoxvalley STAGE

Arborophilia 7:30-9:15pm • The Grand Theatre, Eau Claire • A quirky little comedy play about a girl in unrequited love with a tree. Written by Jacob M. Appel and directed by Logan Toftness. $20 • 12+ • fb.me/e/3uEgRQPnv

VISUAL ART

Artist Market of Eau Claire 7:30am-1pm • Phoenix Park, Eau Claire • Stroll the paths of Phoenix Park as local Artists and Makers display their handmade goods. FREE • All Ages • 855-0090 • tangledupinhue. com/artist-market/

WORDS

Book Signing with Lynn Dehnke 2-4pm • Vino Cappuccino, Elk Mound • Meet local author Lynn Dehnke. Her newest book, Delayed Healing, brings words of comfort and encouragement for a difficult journey. FREE • All Ages

Sunday, August 21

ANIMALS & PETS

Indianhead Kennel Club AKC All Breed Dogshow • Northern WI State Fairgrounds, Chippewa Falls • AKC All Breed Dogshow. Conformation, Rally, Obedience, Barn Hunt competitions. Admission Fee Unknown • facebook.com/EauClaireIHKC

Eau Claire Exotic Pet Expo 11am-4pm • Eau Claire Expo Center, Eau Claire • The biggest exotic pet expo in the area. Deals on pet supplies, and pets from exotic breeders. $5/adult, $3/child (ages 4-12), kids 3 and under free • All Ages • exoticpetfairs.com

COMMUNITY

Praise in the Park 10-11am • Phoenix Park • Five ELCA churches in Eau Claire come together to lead outdoor worship and music. BYO coffee, blankets, and chairs. FREE • All Ages • facebook. com/praiseintheparkec

GAMES & HOBBIES

KIDS

Monumental VBS 6-8pm • Cornerstone Christian Church, Eau Claire • Filled with Bible-learning experiences kids see, hear, and touch. Fun crafts, team-building games, bible songs, treats, and more. FREE • Ages 3-11 • 832-4624 • cornerstonechristian-ec.org

MUSIC

Music at the Museum 12:30-2:30pm • Chippewa Valley Museum, Eau Claire • BYO Chairs and blankets to enjoy live regional music traditions on the museum grounds. FREE • All Ages • 834-7871 • cvmuseum.com

Man2Man Band 2-6pm • The Chalet on Lake Wissota, Chippewa Falls • Enjoy an afternoon of great live music outdoors at The Chalet on Lake Wissota. FREE • 21+ • 726-1303 • jillbellec@ hotmail.com

Through The Kitchen Hole at Pioneer Grill and Saloon 3-7pm • Pioneer Grill & Saloon, Menomonie • Catch Eau Claire’s own Through The Kitchen Hole live FREE • pioneergrill.com

Live Music at Wissota High Shores Supper Club 4pm • Wissota High Shores Supper Club, Chippewa Falls • Live music on the outdoor pavilion, at this supper club. FREE • wissotahighshores.com

NIGHTLIFE

Dj Trivia at the Brass Lantern 3-5pm • The Brass Lantern Pub and Grill, Chippewa Falls • General knowledge trivia. FREE • 21+ • facebook.com/brasslanternpubandgrill

WELLNESS

Slow Down Sundays 10am-2pm • Farm to Fork, Mondovi • Peaceful yoga, breath or energy work, family friendly fun, and a plant-based food menu. Varies • farmtoforkretreat.com/pizza-nights

Monday, August 22

FITNESS

YMCA Fitness at the Riverfront - Circuits 6-6:45am • Riverfront Park, Chippewa Falls • A fun, challenging and motivating way to start your week off strong. FREE • 12+ or 8-11 with adult • 723-2201 • ymca-cv.org/groupexercise

Sunday Pool Tournament 12:45pm

• Zymurgy Brewing, Menomonie • Single 8-ball Valley Rules. Double Elimination. Payouts: Top two or three participants take money home depending on number of platers. $20 • 21+

MUSEUMS & HISTORY

What Was Uniroyal? 5pm • Chippewa Falls

Public Library, Chippewa Falls • A historical look at the rise and fall of Eau Claire’s titan, the Uniroyal Tire Factory, 30 years after its closure. FREE • 723-1146 • chippewafallslibrary.org

MUSIC

Auditions for The Menomonie Singers 6-8pm • Christ Lutheran Church, Menomonie • The Menomonie Singers will conduct auditions for all four voice parts. FREE • 18 and up

Kickin’ it Country Summer Concert Series

6:30pm • Prevea Amphitheater at River Prairie Park, Altoona • Country music, food trucks, art vendors, and more. Grab your lawn chairs and get ready to kick it. FREE • facebook.com/kickinitcountrysummerconcertseries

NIGHTLIFE

Dj Trivia at Dean & Sue’s Bar 7-9pm • Menomonie • General knowledge trivia. FREE • 21+ • facebook.com

Dj Trivia at Bowl Winkles 7-9pm • Eau Claire • General knowledge trivia. FREE • 21+ • facebook.com/BowlWinkles

SENIORS

Exploring Dementia Caregiving 10:30am-noon • Shirley Doane Senior Center, Menomonie • This is a support group for Caregivers of someone living with dementia. Strategies, resources and support. FREE • 18+ • 944-8091 • cberscheit@ co.chippewa.wi.us

Tuesday, August 23

COMEDY

The Lakely Presents: Clear Water Comedy

Open Mic Night 8:30-11pm • The Lakely, Eau Claire • Welcoming musicians, comedians, improv, spoken word, and more. Hit the stage or watch. Show is free, but come thirsty. FREE • thelakely.com

FARMERS MARKETS

Eau Claire County Government Center

Farmers’ Market 11:30am-3:30pm • Eau Claire County Government Center Outside Door C12E • FREE • All Ages • 492-4678 • eauclairewi.gov

FITNESS

YMCA Fitness at the Riverfront - Yoga

5:30-6:30pm • Riverfront Park, Chippewa Falls

• FREE • 12+, or 8-11 w/ adult • 723-2201 • ymca-cv.org/groupexercise

MUSIC

EllieMays Nashville North comes to Dixons Apple Orchard 4:30-9pm • Dixons Apple Orchard, Cadott • Featuring EllieMay Kay, Brian Bethke Band, Kaiged Acoustic and Bryce Hedtke. $10 adv, $15 door, FREE for kids 12 and under • All Ages • nashvillenorthfallcreek.com

Auditions for The Menomonie Singers 6-8pm • Christ Lutheran Church, Menomonie • The Menomonie Singers will conduct auditions for all four voice parts. FREE • 18 and up • 505-3525 • themenomoniesingers@gmail.com

Tuesday Night Bues 6:30-8:30pm • Owen Park Bandshell, Eau Claire • Every Tuesday night in summer your favorite local and regional blues singers play at the Owen Park Bandshell. Free admission, family friendly. FREE • All Ages • chippewavalleyblues.com/tnb

NIGHTLIFE

Events

DJ Trivia at the Growler Guys 7:30-9pm • Eau Claire • General knowledge trivia. FREE • 21+ • facebook.com/TheGrowlerGuysEauClaire

Dj Trivia at the Sandbar and Grill 7:30-9pm

• Chippewa Falls • General knowledge trivia. FREE • 21+ • facebook.com/SandBarand-

GrillLLC

Dj Trivia at the Stout Craft Company 7-9pm • Stout Craft Co., Menomonie • General knowledge trivia. FREE • 21+ • facebook.com/StoutCraftCo

SENIORS

Planning AHEAD for the End of this Life 11amnoon • Chippewa Falls Public Library, Chippewa Falls • Planning AHEAD is a 7-session course (one hour each) that guides participants through topics surrounding the end of life. FREE • 7231146 • chippewafallslibrary.org

Wednesday, August 24

ANIMALS & PETS

14th Annual Chippewa Falls Dog Swim 4-7pm

• Bernard F Willi Community Pool ,Bridgewater Avenue, Chippewa Falls, WI • Held at Bernard F Willi Community Pool in Chippewa Falls. $5/dog • 577-0070 • happytailsdogpark.org

FARMERS MARKETS

Menomonie Farmer’s Market 10am-6pm • Wilson Park • FREE • All Ages • 641-0050 • menomoniefam.org

FITNESS

YMCA Fitness at the Riverfront - Cardio/Kick

9-9:45am • Riverfront Park, Chippewa Falls • Combines martial arts techniques with fast-paced cardio. FREE • 12+, Ages 8-11 w/adult • 7232201 • ymca-cv.org/groupexercise

YMCA Fitness at the Riverfront- Zumba 67pm • Riverfront Park, Chippewa Falls • Take the “work” out of workout, by mixing low-intensity and high-intensity moves for an interval-style, calorie-burning dance fitness party. FREE • 12+, Ages 8-11 w/adult • 723-2201 • ymca-cv.org/ groupexercise

MOVIES

UWEC Summer Cinema 8pm • Haas Fine Arts Center, West Lawn, Eau Claire • Movies screened outdoors in the Haas Fine Arts Lawn. FREE • uwec.edu

MUSIC

Hans and Jan Duo 5-8pm • 200 Main - Art and Wine, Eau Claire • Hans and Jan Duo is brought to you by The Sessions hosted by Janny Trumpet.

Listen and enjoy conversations while drinking the best wine in town. FREE • 200mainec.com

Music On The Plaza Concert Series 5:306:30pm • River Prairie Park, Altoona • Before the Rock’n on the River Concert each night, enjoy another hour of music on Front Porch Plaza. FREE • visiteauclaire.com

Durand Music in the Park 6-9pm • Memorial Park, Durand • BYO lawn chair, and don’t forget your dancing shoes. FREE • All Ages • durandimprovementgroup.org/Events.html

Gemini Syndrome w/ Cultus Black & The Nocturnal Affair 6pm • Every Buddy’s Bar, Chippewa Falls • Gemini Syndrome plays alternative metal. Cultus Black is a dramatic deathcore/Nu-metal crossover. Nocturnal Affair is an alternative/ dark rock project. $25adv, $30 week of • 21+ • facebook.com

Rock’n on the River Summer Concert Series

6:30pm • River Prairie Park, Altoona • Rock’n live music, food trucks, and plenty of family fun. FREE • facebook.com/rocknontheriversummerconcertseries

NIGHTLIFE

Dj Trivia at Westside Bar & Grill 7:30-9pm • Eau Claire • General knowledge trivia. FREE • 21+ • facebook.com/westsidebarandgrillec

DJ Trivia at the Market 7:30-9pm • Menomonie • General knowledge trivia. FREE • 21+ • facebook.com/themarket3

RECREATION

Pure Water Paddlers Wednesday Social Paddle 6:30-8:30pm • Different Locations Weekly • A social organize of paddling enthusiasts that hosts weekly boating outings for all level. FREE • All Ages • purewaterpaddlers.com

WELLNESS

Safety & Strength 1:30-3pm • Family Support Center • A confidential group that works to nurture connections between protective parents & youth affected by family violence. Pre-register. FREE • All Ages • FamilySupportCenterCF.com

You + Your Chakras 5-7pm • Wisconsin Makers Market, Eau Claire • Find positive, productive ways to deal with your mental health issues while you unblock and align your Chakras. $35 • 5144040 • wisconsinmakersmarket.com

Thursday, August 25

CAUSES

End of Summer Social to Benefit The Free Clinic 5:30-8:30pm • Cottage Winery & Vineyard,

Dj Trivia at 29 Pines 7-9pm

• Eau Claire • General knowledge trivia. FREE • 21+ • facebook. com/29PinesRestaurant

Menomonie • Music, food, live music (Jim Herrick & Friends) and fun to benefit the Free Clinic fundraiser. $50/person or $400 for 8 person table • menomoniefreeclinic.ticketspice.com

FARMERS MARKETS

Chippewa Falls Farmers Market noon-6pm • Allen Park, Chippewa Falls • All Ages • chippewafallsmainst.org/farmers-market.html

FITNESS

YMCA Fitness at the Riverfront- Strong Mind & Body 4:30-5:15pm • Riverfront Park, Chippewa Falls • Group fitness class that combines martial arts techniques with fast-paced cardio. FREE • 12+, Ages 8-11 w/adult • ymca-cv.org

Prenatal Yoga 6:30-7:30pm • Lake Wissota Family Chiropractic Studio, Chippewa Falls • This class will help you reduce the discomforts of pregnancy, prepare for labor, and maintain tone. $15 • lakewissotachiropractic.com

FOOD & DRINK

Burger Night on the Farm 4-8pm • Together Farms, Mondovi • A unique, casual night on a small Wisconsin family farm. Fresh, grilled 100% grass-fed beef burgers. All Ages • 210-4740 • togetherfarms.com/calendar

Pizza + Open Mic Nights 5-9pm • Farm to Fork, Mondovi • Pizza and music night hosted by the Rock Creek Song Dogs. Open mic 6-9pm. FREE • All Ages • dancingyarrow.com

MUSIC

Music on the Patio at Artisan Forge Studios

5-7pm • Sweet Driver Cafe & Chocolates (Inside Artisan Forge Studios), Eau Claire • Outdoor music at Artisan Forge. Dinner, beverages, and sweets available from Sweet Driver Cafe. FREE • All Ages • 514-2883 • sweetdriverchocolates.com

Sounds Like Summer Concert Series: FM Down + The Over Unders w/ Emma West 6pm • Phoenix Park, Eau Claire • FM Down is loud, unabashed rock and roll; pure and simple. The Over Unders are an Eau Claire based rock band. 6pm opening act: Emma West FREE • All Ages • volumeone.org/sites/concerts

NIGHTLIFE

DJ Trivia at Kat’s Pourhouse 7-9pm • Elk Mound • General knowledge trivia. FREE • 21+ •

Events

facebook.com/KatsPourhouse

Dj Trivia at the Chippewa River Distillery

7-9pm • Chippewa Falls • General knowledge trivia. FREE • 21+ • facebook.com

Dj Trivia at the Sandbar & Grill 7:30-9pm • Chippewa Falls • General knowledge trivia. FREE • 21+ • facebook.com/SandBarandGrillLLC

DJ Trivia at the Maple Manor 7:30-9pm • Eau Claire • General knowledge trivia. FREE • 21+ • facebook.com/MapleManorEC

SENIORS

Bridging Memories 10am-1:30pm • Kamp Kenwood, Chippewa Falls • For people living with dementia and their caregiver/family. Enjoy activities and make fun family memories. Food, nature walks, music, pontoon rides. FREE, registration required • co.chippewa.wi.us

Planning AHEAD for the End of this Life 11amnoon • Chippewa Falls Public Library, Chippewa Falls • Planning AHEAD is a 7-session course (one hour each) that guides participants through topics surrounding the end of life. FREE • 7231146 • chippewafallslibrary.org

WELLNESS

Strength In Numbers noon-1pm • Family Support Center • A virtual group for survivors of interpersonal violence. Email to learn more. FREE • 18+ • 723-1138 • FamilySupportCenterCF.com

WORDS

Patti See: Happy Hour with the Author 6-7pm • Chippewa Falls Public Library, Chippewa Falls • Join Patti See, author of “Here on Lake Hallie: In Praise of Barflies, Fix-it-Guys and Other Folks in Our Hometown.” FREE • chippewafallslibrary. org

Friday, August 26

FITNESS

YMCA Fitness at the Riverfront - Walk for your Wellbeing 10:45-11:30am • Riverfront Park, Chippewa Falls • A 45-minute walk through Riverfront Park that will leave you feeling energized and excited to start your weekend. FREE • 12+, 8-11 w/adult • 723-2201 • ymca-cv.

org/groupexercise

FOOD & DRINK

Food Truck Fridays at Ken Vance Hyundai and Chippewa Valley Mazda 11am-2pm • Ken Vance Hyundai and Chippewa Valley Mazda • Every Friday is Food Truck Friday at Ken Vance Hyundai and Chippewa Valley Mazda

Leinie Lodge Food Trucks noon-7pm • Leinenkugel’s, Chippewa Falls • Leinie’s Lodge hosts food trucks from May through October, Fri & Sat. No event on 4/29 and 6/18. facebook.com/Leinenkugelsleinielodge

Burger Night on the Farm 4-8pm • Together Farms, Mondovi • A unique, casual night on a small Wisconsin family farm. Fresh, grilled 100% grass-fed beef burgers. All Ages • 210-4740 • togetherfarms.com/calendar

GAMES & HOBBIES

Friday Night Games 7pm • Clairemont Comics, Eau Claire • Welcomes all board game players of all ages and skill levels. Games available, with people to teach you how to play. FREE • All Ages • (651) 230-0748 • facebook.com/groups/ECBGG

MUSIC

Live Music at Vino Cappuccino 5:30-7:30pm • Vino Cappuccino, Elk Mound • Live music on the patio at Vino Cappuccino. Enjoy authentic woodfired pizza, local wines & beers, coffee, unique homemade desserts, and more. FREE • All Ages • 879-4157 • vinocappuccinobistro.com

Bad Bad Hats 7:30pm • Pablo Center at the Confluence, Eau Claire • Bad Bad Hats are an indie rock trio from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Known for bringing a joyful, exuberant presence to their live shows. $20+ • pablocenter.org

Late Night Jazz at The Lakely: Watkins + Evans + DeBlaey 8:30-11:30pm • The Lakely, Eau Claire • Fresh-faced friends with old souls, featuring your favorite jazz standards and selections from the Great American Songbook. FREE • All Ages • theoxbowhotel.com

OUTDOORS

Northwoods Starfest 2022 Hobbs Observatory, Fall Creek • A regional star party attended by amateur astronomers from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, and Michigan. Registration is required. $95 before 8/12, $105 after ($75 students) FREE for child under 5 • cvastro.org

RECREATION

Events

Wisconsin Sport Show - Fall Edition 3-8pm • Chippewa Valley Expo Center, Eau Claire • Outdoor recreation expo. Retails booths, demos, trout pond, petting zoo, hunting fishing, ice houses, beer garden, concessions, exhibits, and prizes. $7 Advance $10 Door, kids 11 and under FREE • All Ages • 579-7127 • WiSportShow.com

Saturday, August 27

FARMERS MARKETS

Menomonie Farmer’s Market 8am-2pm • Wilson Park • FREE • 641-0050 • menomoniefam.org

Cadott Farmer’s Market 9am-noon • Riverview Park located next to the Yellow River on Highway 27 • FREE • facebook.com/CadottFarmersMarket

FOOD & DRINK

Leinie Lodge Food Trucks noon-7pm • Leinenkugel’s, Chippewa Falls • Leinie’s Lodge hosts food trucks from May through October, Fri & Sat. No event on 4/29 and 6/18. facebook.com/Leinenkugelsleinielodge

Burger Night on the Farm noon-8pm • Together Farms, Mondovi • A unique, casual night on a small Wisconsin family farm. Fresh, grilled 100% grass-fed beef burgers. All Ages • 210-4740 • togetherfarms.com/calendar

Picnic at the Winery - Charcoal Chicken

Dinner 11am-5pm • Autumn Harvest Winery, Chippewa Falls • Back40 will offer Charcoal Chicken, Dinner Rolls, and 2 sides. • autumnharvestwinery.com

Farm Tour at Together Farms 2-3:30pm • Together Farms, Mondovi • Explore and learn about Together Farms, a small family operated farm. $5, children 5 and under free • All Ages • 210-4740 • togetherfarms.com/calendar

MUSIC

Clearwater Jazz and Art Festival noon-8pm •

The Brewing Projekt, Eau Claire • 10 local jazz bands perform outdoors between two stages, all day. Art vendors, food trucks, gelato, beer, and music. FREE • All Ages • 225-8390 • facebook. com/ClearwaterJazzAndArtFestival

Schuetzy’s Music Jubilee 1-11pm • Schuetzy’s Tavern, Chippewa Falls • Celebrating the Music of *PRINCE!* LIVE! with Chase & Ovation, Adam Pearce (as seen on NBC’s “The Voice”), and The Gators. Beer tent & bar, BYO chair. $25 adv, $30 door • schuetzys.com

Live Music at Vino Cappuccino 5:30-7:30pm •

Vino Cappuccino, Elk Mound • Live music on the patio at Vino Cappuccino. Enjoy authentic woodfired pizza, local wines & beers, coffee, unique homemade desserts, and more. FREE • All Ages • 879-4157 • vinocappuccinobistro.com

Late Night Jazz at The Lakely: Paul Hecht

Trio 8:30-11:30pm • The Lakely, Eau Claire • Paul Hecht brings a wide musical curiosity and a commitment to jazz traditions in the piano/keyboard trio format. FREE • All Ages • theoxbowhotel.com

OPEN HOUSES & SHOPPING

Summer Junk Market at Down to Earth 9am3pm • Down To Earth Garden Center, Eau Claire • Wander through a junk market of vendors selling “rusty crusty”, collector pieces, antique jewelry, vintage items, and more. downtoearthgardencenter.com

RECREATION

Northwoods Starfest 2022 Hobbs Observatory, Fall Creek • A regional star party attended by

amateur astronomers from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, and Michigan. Registration is required. $95 before 8/12, $105 after ($75 students) FREE for child under 5 • cvastro.org

Wisconsin Sport Show - Fall Edition 10am6pm • Chippewa Valley Expo Center, Eau Claire

• Outdoor recreation expo. Retails booths, demos, trout pond, petting zoo, hunting fishing, ice houses, beer garden, concessions, exhibits, and prizes. $7 Advance $10 Door, kids 11 and under FREE • All Ages • 579-7127 • WiSportShow.com

VISUAL ART

Artist Market of Eau Claire 7:30am-1pm • Phoenix Park, Eau Claire • Stroll the paths of Phoenix Park as local Artists and Makers display their handmade goods. FREE • All Ages • 8550090 • tangledupinhue.com/artist-market/

Sunday, August 28

Praise in the Park 10-11am • Phoenix Park • Five ELCA churches in Eau Claire come together to lead outdoor worship and music. BYO coffee, blankets, and chairs. FREE • All Ages • facebook.com/praiseintheparkec

FOOD & DRINK

Summer Picnic at West Ridge noon-2pm • West Ridge Church, Eau Claire • A free picnic meal, inflatables, and lawn games. FREE • All Ages • 834-1930 • westridgechurch.us

GAMES & HOBBIES

Sunday Pool Tournament 12:45pm • Zymurgy Brewing, Menomonie • Single 8-ball Valley Rules. Double Elimination. Payouts: Top two or three participants take money home depending on number of platers. $20 • 21+

MUSIC

Through The Kitchen Hole at Pioneer Grill and Saloon 3-7pm • Pioneer Grill & Saloon, Menomonie • Catch Eau Claire’s own Through The Kitchen Hole live FREE • All Ages • pioneergrill.com

Live Music at Wissota High Shores Supper Club 4pm • Wissota High Shores Supper Club, Chippewa Falls • Live music on the outdoor pavilion, at this supper club. FREE • wissotahighshores.com

NIGHTLIFE

Dj Trivia at the Brass Lantern 3-5pm • Chip pewa Falls • General knowledge trivia. FREE • 21+ • facebook.com/brasslanternpubandgrill

OUTDOORS

Northwoods Starfest 2022 Hobbs Observatory, Fall Creek • A regional star party attended by amateur astronomers from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, and Michigan. Registration is required. $95 before 8/12, $105 after ($75 students) FREE for child under 5 • cvastro.org

RECREATION

Wisconsin Sport Show - Fall Edition 10am4pm • Chippewa Valley Expo Center, Eau Claire • Outdoor recreation expo. Retails booths, demos, trout pond, petting zoo, hunting fishing, ice houses, beer garden, concessions, exhibits, and prizes. $7 Advance $10 Door, kids 11 and under FREE • All Ages • 579-7127 • WiSportShow.com

WELLNESS

Slow Down Sundays 10am-2pm • Farm to Fork, Mondovi • Peaceful yoga, breath or energy work, family friendly fun, and a plant-based food menu. Varies • farmtoforkretreat.com/ pizza-nights

positive and upbeat personality, Bethany joins our clinic with over 17 years’ experience caring for all ages in a variety of settings. She has a passion for ser ving her patients and would be honored to care for you and your family!

Local Lit

FROM THE PROLOGUE OF SIT DOWN AND STAY AWHILE: MY AUNT LIL, A SMALL-TOWN BAR, AND A LIFETIME OF POLKAS

Drive down Wisconsin Highway 29. Take the Thorp exit and continue up the main drag. Just before the railroad tracks, look for a bar on your left. If this were anytime from 1948-2000, there would’ve been a sign with the bar’s simple name: Leon & Lil’s. Step inside where, for those 52 years, the good times flowed like beer through the taps. Uncle Leon and Aunt Lil were usually the bartenders. Or maybe Uncle Butch or Aunt Donna. Or maybe my cousins Mike, Paula, or Jerry.

Leon and Lil lived upstairs, along with my grandmother, who went by the Polish name for Grandma: “Busha.” After visiting Busha, a stop at the bar was automatic. All we had to do was walk down the stairs and out the garage door, then take two steps to the right. When we opened the back door to the tavern, a new world awaited: neon lights, jukebox, bowling machine, candy case, coolers, rows of bottles, racks of chips, and frozen Tombstone pizzas stacked two feet high in the freezer. In the 1970s and ’80s, patrons enjoyed a giant, primitive Trapshoot video game on a big screen above the bowling machine. If you asked, the bartender handed you a wireless, brick-sized black box with one button. For a quarter, you could play this game from anywhere in the bar, shooting at virtual clay pigeons on the big screen for virtual medals.

Though I was 15 years too young to enter legally, no one ever asked for my ID. Aunt Lil was as excited to see me as any customer there, quick to hand me a candy bar, a soda, some quarters, or all of the above. Sometimes, I wasn’t even with my parents. When my cousins or broth-

ers and I played football in Uncle Butch’s yard across the alley, we took our halftime breaks in the bar. We climbed up on our stools, sipped our drinks, and admired the signs and knickknacks behind the bar. A small tree branch sat on a shelf, and on it sat assorted peanuts, walnuts, and chestnuts, all with glued-on googly eyes. The caption beneath read: “I Think We’re All Nuts.”

For years, a tightrope string clung near the ceiling above the bar. Perched on that tightrope sat a miniature stuffed chimpanzee on a unicycle, balancing with a cross stick. When a bartender pulled the string down at one end of the bar, the chimp rode the string downhill, pedaling the unicycle like mad past every patron to the opposite side. At the sight of this high-wire comedy act, even the most stoic customer couldn’t help but crack a grin.

The beer signs lit the place with a dim glow: Old Style, Hamm’s, and Schlitz. We pulled the knobs of the cigarette machine and scanned the labels for my dad’s brand, Belair. More importantly, the jukebox in the corner sat filled with possibilities. In my teenage years, that jukebox was the only place I could hear Bruce Springsteen B-sides, though Aunt Lil kept it loaded mostly with polkas. My brothers and I checked the coin slots hoping for forgotten change. We had so much to look at, so much to snack on, so much to drink – much like the adults in the room. As an out-of-towner who lived 45 minutes west in the big city of Eau Claire, I may not have known the customers, but I knew the ringleaders of this circus behind the bar. And because of them, I was always welcome.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ken Szymanski is the 2020-2024 Eau Claire writer-in-residence. He is the author of Home Field Advantage and Sit Down and Stay Awhile: My Aunt Lil, a Small-Town Bar, and a Lifetime of Polkas. For the past 24 years, he’s taught eighth-grade English at South and DeLong middle school. He lives in Eau Claire with his wife, two sons, and perfectly-trained dog. For more on Ken’s writing and literary projects, visit kenszymanski. com.

ABOUT THIS PAGE:

Curated by Bruce Taylor, former Poet Laureate of the City of Eau Claire and Professor Emeritus, UW-Eau Claire, Local Lit features some of the best of the Chippewa Valley’s poetry and prose. It runs once a month, usually in every other issue. Read more local literature at VolumeOne.org/lit.

TO SUBMIT YOUR WORK:

Got some good words? We accept original poetry and short prose from current and former Chippewa Valley residents. Poetry must be 30 lines or less, prose must be under 500 words. Writers may submit up to one poem or prose piece per month. Previously published material is welcome (tell us when/where it first appeared). Email qualified submissions to: lit@volumeone.org (paste text directly into the email, type “Local Lit Submission” into the subject line).

JOHNNY’S ITALIAN STEAKHOUSE

A BROAD

When Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse of Eau Claire opened in August 2013, General Manager Matthew Rashid and his staff had a goal: becoming nationally recognized for their fine wines.

They knew it wouldn’t be easy: Stereotypically, Wisconsinites are known for drinking beer, brandy, and bourbon, not wine. Yet Johnny’s sales trends started to show otherwise.

Johnny’s initial wine list consisted of a single one-sided page. Over the past nine years that has grown to four pages of by-the-bottle options and an additional menu with a by-the-glass list, which rotates weekly.

“Predominantly our wine menu is red wines,” said Zac Zubal, Johnny’s bar manager. “Usually, bigger bolder reds because we’re a steakhouse. Big bold reds with a lot of tannin and backbone to stand up to the steak we offer and the flavors that come out of the dishes we have. If your flavors are elevated to that point your wine needs to be as well, otherwise the flavor can get lost.”

Most of Johnny’s wines are an approachable $8-10 per glass to keep prices affordable (yet reflect their high-end nature) and allow locals the opportunity to try something new and unique. “We don’t want it to be pretentious,” Rashid said. “We want it to be approachable for all guests.”

Included in their wine menu of 160 different bottles

are wines from some of the top producing wine regions that pair best with their menu. Once dominated by California and Washington winemakers, the menu now it includes dozens of varietals, the newest being French and Italian. These options, along with members of their staff receiving sommelier training, have added another layer of respect to Johnny’s already stellar reputation.

“Each type of wine is so different,” Rashid said. “You can have the same grape grown in California, Washington, Europe, South America, and they’re all going to taste differently. We want to represent each and every possible option, and we continue to push toward that goal.”

In addition to its dozen appearances on Volume One’s latest Best of the Chippewa Valley Reader

Poll – including top-tier rankings for Best Restaurant in Eau Claire, Best Restaurant for Italian Food, and Best Wine Selection – Johnny’s has also received four consecutive annual awards and national recognition for its outstanding wine program from Wine Spectator. With hundreds of wines, a uniquely customized state-of-the-art temperature- and humidity-controlled storage unit (dubbed “The Wine Room”), with custom wine racks made to fit the space, it’s no surprise how Johnny’s fit the criteria for the prestigious recognition.

Having an assortment of diverse – and delectable – wines is one thing, but having a trained and knowledgable staff is another, and Johnny’s boasts both.

Zubal, the architect behind the current wine menu, is working towards completing his second stage of sommelier certification through the Court of Master Sommeliers. His training has helped educate staff to build their knowledge base and ultimately to help navigate wine selections for the varying palates of our many guests.

Jared Hughley, who recently took over as Johnny’s executive chef, said the restaurant’s commitment to quality and friendly service have been the keys to its success. “Every day we’re coming up with new features, showcasing a lot of experimental techniques while coming up with new recipes,” Hughley said.

“We want to continue to deliver on the promise of quality food, service, and experience,” Rashid said. “We’ve continued to do that for almost a decade now, and I believe that is why people continue to come back and support us.”

WITH

WINE LIST AND WELL-TRAINED STAFF, JOHNNY’S REPUTATION FOR WINE IS SOMETHING TO SAVOR

We don’t want it to be pretentious. We want it to be approachable for all guests.

The Rear End

WHY ISN’T IT AUTUMN YET?

What is it, August already? That’s horrible. Awful. Heinous. And if Thesaurus.com is to be believed … iniquitous.

August is a summer month. A collection of dog days. These days are lazy, hazy, and crazy. And glazey and ablazey. And mayonnaisey. And I don’t like it.

August is truly the worst. It’s the hottest, the humidest, the substandardest. It’s the crap-crapcrappiest season of all. Let’s have two Septembers instead.

Oh, what’s that you say? You love August? You never want summer to end? You hate the colder months? You worship the sun and wish you could ride a comfy tube down a cool river into oblivion, swanky sunglasses on, fruity drink in hand?

Well, golly. I just don’t remember asking for your opinion.

May is fine. June is fine. July is pushing it. August can jump off a cliff into a plastic wading pool full

of broken mason jars.

August is like when you eat a big juicy apple only to realize on your final bite that it’s chockfull of grubby little worms. And disillusionment.

I just stepped outside and … how can the grass be crispy-nbrown while the air feels like an old blanket soaked in hot swamp water?

How can things simultaneously be overgrown and shriveled and brown? What vile sorcery has impregnated this bedeviled month? Why must good people like me (who tend to sweat a lot) suffer? When will it end?

Autumn.

Autumn is when the world is set right. That’s when the madness of August is finally stuffed back into its cursed puzzle box. Sometime in September, the cool winds of the north slink their way southward, wrapping their sweet tendrils around August’s throat. And they squeeze. Oh, how they squeeze.

And we, the Children of Fall,

wake up. With us we bring sweaters and scarves and light-weight, earth-toned jackets. We bring butternut squash and hay bales and the leaves of yellow and red. We chase the mosquitos from the air. We drive the ants underground. We flip off the air conditioners.

We head down to the beach, and we pop your novelty floatation devices.

We invented Oktoberfest and Halloween. We carved the first pumpkins. We summoned ghosts in the dark, dark forest. We sold that big old house on the corner to a witch. Black cats tiptoeing across the cemetery wall? Yeah, that was our idea.

Slip-n-slides are great and all, but have you ever strolled down an orchard path ’neath a blazing blue sky to buy a bag of warm apple cider donuts? Come on.

You have to agree: bonfires are better in the fall. It’s just science. So are hikes and camping trips.

But, but, but what about

your beloved days down at the ol’ swimming hole? Lakes have leeches, you know that, right? Rent a canoe.

Now, some of you might be wondering why I need to be so adversarial about all this. Why is this an “us against them” kind of thing? Can’t we all have our own favorite seasons, and just leave it at that? Can’t we all just support each other’s wants and needs, and can’t we all just celebrate what makes each other happy?

No.

The Summertime Industrial Complex has grown too powerful. Its influence reaches far too far. Now is the time for all good people to step forward and end Summer’s Tyranny. We can no longer sit here, doing nothing. Sweating. Because it’s hot.

I just checked, and it’s still August outside. But not for long. Enjoy it while you can, Summer Child. Because your days in shorts and flip-flops are numbered.

AUGUST CAN JUMP OFF A CLIFF INTO A PLASTIC WADING POOL FULL OF BROKEN MASON JARS.