News

ASPI Announces 2024 Community Theater Shows

Abrams, WI Nov. 1, 2023: Abrams Spotlight Productions Inc. will present two rollicking musicals and a hilarious comedy in its 2024 season. Season tickets are now on sale for the three shows to be presented at the Nancy Byng Community Theater, 5852 Maple St., Abrams.

First, the road to romance and the road to statehood converge in the spirited musical “Oklahoma!” “Oklahoma!”, directed by Ali Carlson, will be staged March 14-17 and 21-24. This Rodgers and Hammerstein musical tells the love story of Curly, a handsome cowboy, and Laurey, a beautiful farm girl. The show’s opening song, “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’,” and title song “Oklahoma!” are brimming with the optimism and hopefulness.

The summer show is a comedy filled with misadventures and mistaken identities. “Boeing, Boeing,” directed by Wayne Strei, will be staged June 6-9 and June 13-16. This comedy tells the exploits of a bachelor, Bernard, and three flight attendants from three different countries who all believe they’re engaged to him. How will the lying lothario keep up this charade?

The final show of the season is perfect for the whole family.  “Seussical the Musical,” directed by Debra Jolly, will be staged Dec. 5-8 and 12-15. The musical takes the audience into the world of Dr. Seuss to revisit beloved characters, including The Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz, Lazy Mayzie, and JoJo.

Season tickets are now on sale at abramstheater.com or by calling the box office, 920-826-5852. Purchasing season tickets has several advantages. Season ticket-holders are invited to Opening Night Galas to meet the cast, crew, and director and enjoy complimentary food and drinks. Additionally, season ticket-holders can secure seats before the general public for all shows and can buy tickets at a discounted price, compared with purchasing individual tickets. 

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About Us: Abrams Spotlight Productions Inc. is a community theater organization in Abrams, WI. The theater presents 3-4 shows a year at the Nancy Byng Community Theater, 5852 Maple Street, Abrams. Formerly St. Louis Catholic Church, the renovated venue is available for community events, family gatherings, and weddings. For more information, call 920-826-5852, email theater.aspi@gmail.com or visit abramsspotlightproductions.com.

The Abrams Spotlight Productions Inc. painting crew created an ornate and colorful proscenium arch to hang above the stage. The arch matches the whimsical puppet-theater qualities of this musical.

Youth to Present a Whimsical Musical

Limited Tickets Available for ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” 

Abrams, WI Nov. 22, 2023: Abrams Spotlight Productions Inc. invites the community to its performance of the whimsical musical “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Jr.” A limited number of tickets are on sale now for this all-youth show. The musical, directed by Elizabeth Jolly-Haslitt, will be presented Nov. 30, Dec. 1-3 and Dec. 7-10 at the Nancy Byng Community Theater, 5852 Maple St., Abrams. 

“Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Jr.” features a whimsical puppet theater aesthetic. Not only does the design match the imaginative character of the musical, it also creatively accommodates the large case of 40 youth. Another innovative aspect of the production is the car itself. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is played by five actors. Jolly-Haslitt worked with the actors on movement and puppetry.

“The show has a vaudevillian feel, most noticeably in the spies and the fourth-wall-breaking child-catcher, but every character has some level of extra-heightened theatricality or suspension of disbelief,” said Jolly-Haslitt. 

“Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Jr.” tells the story of an eccentric inventor, Caractacus Potts, who restores an old race car with the help of his children, Jeremy and Jemima. They soon discover the car is magic and has the ability to float and take flight. When the evil Baron Bomburst desires the magic car for himself, the family joins forces with Truly Scrumptious and Grandpa Potts to outwit the dastardly Baron and Baroness and their villainous henchman, the Child Catcher. 

To order tickets, visit abramsspotlightproductions.com or call the box office, 920-826-5852. 

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About Us: Abrams Spotlight Productions Inc. is a community theater organization in Abrams, WI. The theater presents 3-4 shows a year at the Nancy Byng Community Theater, 5852 Maple Street, Abrams. Formerly St. Louis Catholic Church, the renovated venue is available for community events, family gatherings, and weddings. For more information, call 920-826-5852, email theater.aspi@gmail.com or visit abramsspotlightproductions.com.

Abrams theater announces 24 Hour Theater Event

Abrams, WI Sept. 6, 2023: Individuals age 14 and older can now register for 24 Hour Theater, an
exciting creative event sponsored by Abrams Spotlight Productions Inc. 24 Hour Theater is a
new venture for ASPI, and the collaborative event will take place Oct. 6-7 at the Nancy Byng
Community Theater, 5852 Maple St., Abrams.
Within 24 hours, participants will write and produce a 60- to 90-minute performance from
scratch. The production will consist of a series of short plays. The length and number of plays
will be determined by how many people participate. There’s no cost to participate, and no
experience is necessary. In fact, 24 Hour Theater offers the perfect opportunity for people to
try something new.
Never acted before? Learn 10 lines in a short play. Never written anything before? Write a short
play in a limited time, surrounded by a group of creative folks to support and inspire you. Never
directed before? Practice with a short, 10-minute play.
24 Hour Theater begins at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6, when all participants gather at the Nancy Byng
Community Theater. The creative process begins with ice-breaking activities before organizers
randomly assign writers to work with two to five actors and a director. The writers draft short
plays until 7 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 7.
From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, participants will memorize lines, find props, choose
costumes, rehearse, and manage technical aspects like lighting and sound cues. At 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 7, participants will present what they’ve created. Admission to the event is $5.
Join ASPI for its inaugural creative event, 24 Hour Theater. Registration is recommended, with
sign-up available at Abramstheater.com.

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About Us: Abrams Spotlight Productions Inc. is a community theater organization in Abrams,
WI. The theater presents 3-4 shows a year at the Nancy Byng Community Theater, 5852 Maple
Street, Abrams. Formerly St. Louis Catholic Church, the renovated venue is available for
community events, family gatherings, and weddings. For more information, call 920-826-5852,
email theater.aspi@gmail.com or visit abramsspotlightproductions.com.

HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital in Oconto Falls nationally recognized for its commitment to quality care for heart attacks

The American Heart Association presents the Mission: Lifeline STEMI Referring Center Silver Plus award for implementation of quality care for heart attack patients

Oconto Falls, Wis. – HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital in Oconto Falls has received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® STEMI Referring Center Silver Plus recognition for its commitment to ensuring science-based treatment for all people experiencing a specific type of heart attack known as an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), known to be more severe and dangerous than other types of heart attacks.

Each year, about 285,000 people in the U.S. experience this type of heart attack,caused by a complete blockage in a coronary artery. Nearly 40% of people who go to the emergency room with acute coronary syndrome are diagnosed with a STEMI. Like all heart attacks, this requires timely treatment to restore blood flow as quickly as possible.

Mission: Lifeline is a national, community-based initiative improving systems of care for patients with STEMI, non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), stroke and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The program focuses on streamlining processes to speed the delivery of proper treatment for time sensitive, neuro-cardiovascular disease states.

Recognition as a Mission: Lifeline Referring Center is designed to showcase hospitals of every size on the front lines of care that do not have 24/7 cardiac catheterization lab availability but work in collaboration with emergency medical services to ensure patients receive guideline-directed STEMI and NSTEMI care.

“Care coordination is particularly important when someone experiences a STEMI heart attack, and American Heart Association guidelines call for specific science-based treatment,” said James G. Jollis, M.D., volunteer for the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® – Coronary Artery Disease Systems of Care Advisory Work Group and cardiologist with The Christ Hospital Physicians – Heart & Vascular in Cincinnati. “Hospitals/Organizations like HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital are recognized for consistently supporting patients to ensure the best opportunity for recovery.”

The Mission: Lifeline Referring Center award is earned by hospitals that demonstrate a commitment to getting patients the most up-to-date research-based care for STEMI as outlined by the American Heart Association.

“HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital is dedicated to improving the quality of heart care, and the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline program helps us achieve that goal,” said Chris Brabant, President and CEO of HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital. “The Mission: Lifeline program puts proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis so patients have the best possible chance of survival.”

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About HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital
HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital serves Oconto Falls and the surrounding communities as a federally designated critical access hospital with a 24-hour emergency department; inpatient and outpatient surgical and diagnostic services; cancer care; therapy and rehabilitation; wound care; the Almost Home Swing Bed program; and more. It was founded as Oconto Falls City Hospital in 1921 and became HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital in 2014 when it joined Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS). As an affiliate of HSHS, HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital draws on the history of St. Francis of Assisi as it serves the health care needs of the region in Christ’s healing ministry, caring for all people. HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital also has five rural health center locations in affiliation with Prevea Health in Gillett, Lena, Mountain, Oconto Falls and Suring; and operates HSHS Pharmacies in Gillett and Oconto Falls, and HSHS Prescription Services (remote dispensing sites) in Lena, Mountain and Pulaski. In 2022, HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital was named a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital in the U.S. by The Chartis Center for Rural Health. For more information about St. Clare, please visit: www.stclarememorial.org.

About Hospital Sisters Health System
Hospital Sisters Health System’s (HSHS) mission is to reveal and embody Christ’s healing love for all people through our high quality, Franciscan health care ministry. HSHS provides state-of-the-art health care to our patients and is dedicated to serving all people, especially the most vulnerable, at each of our 15 Local Systems and physician practices in Illinois (Breese, Decatur, Effingham, Greenville, Highland, Litchfield, O’Fallon, Shelbyville and Springfield) and Wisconsin (Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, Oconto Falls, Sheboygan and two in Green Bay). HSHS is sponsored by Hospital Sisters Ministries and Hospital Sisters of St. Francis is the founding institute. For more information about HSHS, visit www.hshs.org. For more information about Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, visit www.hospitalsisters.org.

Abrams theater to hold auditions for ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’

Performers ages 5-18 needed for junior show at Abrams Spotlight Productions!

Abrams, WI July 28, 2023: Abrams Spotlight Productions Inc. will take audiences on a magic car ride with its production of “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Jr.” Kids ages 5-18 (still in school) are invited to audition for the show anytime from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 22, or Wednesday, Aug. 23, at the Nancy Byng Community Theater, 5852 Maple St., Abrams. Individuals who register at www.abramsspotlightproductions.com/auditions will have priority over those who complete printed forms at the audition.

Those auditioning should prepare about 16 bars of song, preferably from a musical, to sing at the audition. The audition also consists of a script reading and learning and performing a short choreography routine. Youths should wear comfortable clothes and footwear. No previous performance experience is required. In addition to needing youth actors, ASPI has openings for youth and adults to work behind the scenes in various tech and production roles. Email theater.aspi@gmail.com or call 920-826- 5852 for information.

“Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Jr,” directed by Elizabeth Jolly, tells the story of an eccentric inventor, Caractacus Potts, who restores an old race car with the help of his children, Jeremy and Jemima. They soon discover the car is magic and has the ability to float and take flight. Whenthe evil Baron Bomburst desires the magic car for himself, the family joins forces with Truly Scrumptious and Grandpa Potts to outwit the dastardly Baron and Baroness and their villainous henchman, the Child Catcher. Rehearsals are tentatively scheduled on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays starting Aug. 27. Not all cast members will be called for every rehearsal, but everyone must be available Nov. 26-29 and all show dates, Nov. 30, Dec. 1-3 and Dec. 7-10. Visit abramsspotlightproductions.com/auditions for rehearsal and performance details and character descriptions.

Youth who are not able to attend auditions are encouraged to contact theater.aspi@gmail.com for information about submitting a video audition.

“Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Jr” is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre
International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are supplied by MTI.

Lena Dairyfest 5K Run/Walk Stampede

August 8th!

Each year the Lena Wrestling Club supports young athletes, ages 4-18, by promoting participation and fostering skills not
only in wrestling but in teamwork, cooperation, collaboration, and problem-solving. This event is our most successful
fundraiser of the year and we hope to continue to see it grow! Last year corporate donations to our 5K run helped our
club to cover the following:
● registration and hotels for a wrestling camp for our high schoolers
● an in-house camp for our youth wrestlers this summer
● Personalized water bottles for middle school
● headgear
● wrestling singlets for elementary and middle school
● gifts for our two high school state place winners
We are truly grateful for your support of our program. We hope that you will consider supporting us again in any way you
can. Our program has been thriving at all levels: elementary, middle, and high school. Without our amazing community,
our wrestling program wouldn’t be what it is today, and we aspire to keep improving with your ongoing support.
We genuinely hope that your company/organization will consider being a corporate sponsor for our annual event,
scheduled for Saturday, September 9th 2023. Please consider a sponsorship at one of the following levels:
$750
Donation

Includes the largest logo size printed on the event t-shirt along with up to 60
complimentary pre-registered entries

$500
Donation

Includes a grand-size logo printed on the event t-shirt along with up to 33
complimentary pre-registered entries

$250
Donation

Includes a large logo printed on the event t-shirt along with up to 16 complimentary
pre-registered entries

$100
Donation

Includes a medium-size logo printed on the event t-shirt along with up to 6
complimentary pre-registered entries

$50
Donation

Includes name printed on the event t-shirt.

WE ASK THAT ALL CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS AND COMPANY LOGOS BE SUBMITTED BY AUGUST 8, 2023.

Please make checks payable to the LENA WRESTLING CLUB and mail to:

Lena Wrestling Club
c/o Chad Misco
329 W. Maple St.
Lena, WI 54139

For complimentary registrations: WE ONLY ORDER SHIRTS FOR REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS.
Please complete and submit the enclosed registration form for each participant or register online at
https://forms.gle/Sw6aBdkgvxmWkUuP6 by August 20, 2023. If you have any questions, please contact Chad Misco
by phone at (920)373-2319 or email at chadmisco@yahoo.com.

Thank you in advance for your contribution and generous support of the Lena Wrestling Club in this major fundraiser.

Prevea Health offers free, virtual newborn care classes

For immediate release. Green Bay – Prevea Pediatrics is holding free, virtual newborn care classes in August, October and December for Prevea
patients and community members.
Whether you’re a new parent or it has been a few years, the classes will offer an opportunity to ask questions and help you
understand what to expect in the first two months of baby’s life, including:

  • What to expect in the hospital when baby is born
  • Newborn characteristics
  • Skin conditions
  • When to call the doctor
  • Swaddling
  • Skin-to-skin contact
  • Feeding – patterns, how much, burping, etc.
  • Sleeping
  • What your baby’s cries mean
  • Bathing

With more than one opportunity to tune in, you can choose the date that works for you. All classes are held via Zoom from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Tuesday, August 8
Bradly Paus, DO
Pediatrician

Tuesday, October 10
Rebecca Gehrmann, MD
Pediatrician

Tuesday, December 12
Samantha Johnson, MD
Pediatrician; joins Prevea Pediatrics in August
Registration is required at: www.prevea.com/events

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About Prevea Health:
Founded in Green Bay, Wis. in 1996, Prevea Health is a health care organization that provides high-quality, primary and
specialty health care in 80+ locations across Northern, Eastern and Western Wisconsin in clinic and hospital settings. It is
partnered with six Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) hospitals across Wisconsin to provide patients a system of highly
coordinated care, close to home: HSHS St. Vincent Hospital and HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center in Green Bay;
HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital in Sheboygan; HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital in Oconto Falls; HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital in
Eau Claire; and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls. For more information, visit www.prevea.com.

Abrams Theater to Present Comedy

Rehearsing for the Abrams Spotlight Productions Inc. summer comedy, “Lustful Youth,” are, from left, Abby Frank, Sydney Surber, Bobby Buffington, Maggie Monte, Travis Rysewyk, and Will Knaapen. The show will be performed June 8-11 and 15-18 in Abrams.


Abrams, WI May 29, 2023: Abrams Spotlight Productions Inc. invites the community to experience comedy chaos in the performance of “Lustful Youth.” Tickets are on sale now at abramstheater.com or by calling 920-826-5852. The show will be presented June 8-11 and 15-18 at the Nancy Byng Community Theater, 5852 Maple St., Abrams. An Opening Night Gala exclusively for Spotlight Sponsors and 2023 season ticket holders will be held from 5-6:15 p.m. Thursday, June 8, at the theater.

“Lustful Youth” is a fast-paced farce that tells the story of Walt, a television statistician who is contractually obligated to write an evening soap opera. With the help of his muse, Dill, he wanders in and out of realities as he pieces together an out-of-control romp. This clever comedy is written and directed by Mike Eserkaln, the artistic director of Comedy City in De Pere.

“This cast had done a wonderful job bringing their characters to life,” he said. “I know people are going to love this show. It’s a wild ride of comedy.”

Written in 1994, “Lustful Youth” has been performed in Northeast Wisconsin, Canada and Australia. Eserkaln said the audience will enjoy the chaos of the show, as Walt dutifully writes a soap opera that quickly spirals out of control.

“He’s not allowed to do rewrites, so whatever crazy thing that he puts into the show he has to keep. The ideas keep piling up and – chaos,” Eserkaln said.

The cast features six experienced performers, who play various roles.

“Because of the way Walt is writing the show, they keep having to be different and new characters. They each get to play at least three distinct characters,” Eserkaln said. “Lustful Youth” is the second show of the 20th season of Abrams Spotlight Productions Inc., a community theater organization in Abrams. The theater currently is conducting a Raise the Roof campaign to raise over $30,000 for a new roof. Donors can choose from four sponsorship levels: Silver ($100), Gold ($250), Platinum ($500), or Corporate ($950 per show). ASPI is a volunteer-led 501(c)3 organization that relies on donations, ticket sales, and fundraising to operate. To become a Spotlight Sponsor or donate to Raise the Roof, visit Abramstheater.com and click “Support.”

Now accepting applications to paid residency program for new nurse graduates

Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) is now accepting applications for the New Graduate RN Residency Program, to be hosted in winter 2023-2024, at its four hospitals in Eastern Wisconsin: HSHS St. Vincent Hospital and HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center in Green Bay; HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital in Sheboygan and HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital in Oconto Falls.

The New Graduate RN Residency Program is designed to ease the transition of newly graduated nurses from the classroom setting to hospital and clinic environments. It combines classroom lectures, hands-on activities, and simulations of hospital/clinical scenarios with the support of highly skilled nurses, educators and leaders. Participants also receive professional and emotional support to help them be successful in their new careers.

“The New Graduate RN Residency Program truly prepares new graduate nurses for quality practice, as well as gives them the support and tools to compassionately serve our patients through our Franciscan ministry,” said Theresa Horne, MBS, MSN, NEA-BC, senior vice president and chief nursing executive at HSHS. “Our nurses develop excellent clinical skills along with a mission-driven passion to serve with empathy and care.”

The New Graduate RN Residency Program is ideal for nurses with less than one year of hospital experience and graduating from nursing school anytime between October 2023 and February 2024. It is also ideal for nurses returning to the bedside after more than five years in another role. Those accepted into the program are fully paid and can receive a sign-on bonus and comprehensive benefit package including student loan repayment options. To apply:

  1. Visit careers.hshs.org
  2. Search “Residency”
  3. Click “Apply Now” on preferred HSHS hospital location

For those still in nursing school, HSHS also offers a paid, student nurse extern program allowing students the opportunity to gain hands-on working experience. For more information, please visit: careers.hshs.org

Oconto Falls Area Chamber of Commerce Appoints Director

The Oconto Falls Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors is pleased to announce they have appointed Elizabeth Jolly to the newly formed position of Director of the Chamber of Commerce. Jolly hails from Abrams, Wisconsin, and is very excited to advocate for the Chamber and champion local businesses in the growing community of Oconto Falls. Duties of this new position will include marketing/communications, being a contact for members and growing membership, being the liaison and face for the Board of Directors to various community groups, and general administrative duties.

Previously Jolly has worked for Heritage Hill State Historical Park in several positions including the Visitor Services Manager and most recently as the Senior Marketing Specialist. She is the daughter of two retired small business owners and also works part-time for her mother’s company Syncor Ltd, a wholesale medical goods distributor based out of Abrams, WI. Jolly’s educational background is in theatre. She is equally passionate about and involved in her community theater – Abrams Spotlight Productions, Inc. as a director and actor. Her favorite role in the community theater is youth production director.

Jolly says of her new position, “Oconto Falls and the surrounding area has always been my home. A home I am passionate about making the best it can be, and I believe that starts (and ends) with our small businesses. I am excited about getting to know the many businesses in our area, finding out how the chamber can best serve them and our community, and supporting the extremely passionate and talented board of directors.”

The Oconto Falls Area Chamber of Commerce (OFACC) is a long-standing community organization comprised of businesses and individuals from communities throughout Oconto County and Northeast Wisconsin.  Its official mission is to be a valid and dynamic link between local businesses and the community. Through this mission, the objectives of the OFACC are to advocate for business interests and to promote business development, city beautification, and tourism. While the growth of the community through business development is key, the OFACC recognizes that activities, events, and recreation are what attract people to the place they choose to live and work.  The chamber maintains annual events such as concerts at the waterfront, a summer golf outing, a fall event connected to the trails and our healthy living community, and more. Oconto Falls has so much to offer! Visit ocontofallschamber.com to learn more.