Month: September 2014

DADDY D PRODUCTIONS presents SHAKE, RATTLE & ROLL on Sunday

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Shake Rattle & RollThe Oconto Falls Friends of the Arts are proud to continue their Fine Arts Series performance schedule with Daddy D Productions “Shake, Rattle, and Roll” Dinner & Show on Sunday, October 5.  The dinner and performance be held at Romy’s Holiday Inn-Kelly Lake and begin at 1 PM.

SHAKE, RATTLE, & ROLL celebrates all of the 1950’s music you can handle!  Cool tunes from Danny and the Juniors to hits from Bill Haley and the Comets.  Guys and Gals—It’s time to dust off your saddle shoes, find that poodle skirt, and break out the brylcreem!  This afternoon event also includes our Fine Arts Celebration Fundraiser & Raffle.  Purchase tickets for your chance to win in one of our numerous bucket raffles, 50/50 raffle, ticket raffle, or silent auction.  Seating is limited—advanced ticket sales only. Tickets are available online at www.ocontofallsfriendsofthearts.com and by calling (920) 848-7469.  Advanced sales only.

Local DNR Report

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DeerFall colors beginning to arrive just in time for autumnal equinox

Cooler temperatures in the last week had many people thinking autumn, which will officially arrive next Monday with the autumnal equinox. Although most trees are still green, leaves are starting to change colors, with some maples and sumac showing reds and ash trees starting to turn yellow and purple. Colors have reached about 25 percent in some counties on the Department of Tourism’s Fall Color Report (exit DNR).

Most trails are once again in good condition with repairs from recent storm damage completed. Washouts on the popular Sunset Bike Trail at Peninsula State Park have been filled and the trail reopened. The Black River State Forest and Jackson County ATVs trails are open and in good condition.

Water levels have started to drop on the lakes, rivers and streams, but they still remain high for this time of year. With high water levels and cool temperatures, fishing pressure has shown a sharp decline on most waters across the Northwoods. Bass fishing continues to be especially erratic and both largemouth and smallmouth have been tough to find. There have still been a fair number of musky anglers getting out and for the last few days, they have been enjoying some decent weather conditions and pretty good success. In the south, there have been some good catches of walleyes in the Rock River.

Poor weather also kept fishing pressure down on Green Bay, but there was some good musky fishing along the west shore with multiple catches reported by some boats. Along Lake Michigan, salmon and trout continue to move in along shore and fishing pressure was heavy on some piers and harbors, but there have only been a few reports of fish moving upstream on the Kewaunee and Ahnapee rivers.

The archery and crossbow opener had many reports of successful hunters bagging nice bucks, including quite a few with antlers still in velvet and hunters are reminded to contact a conservation warden for a permit if they want to keep those antlers. Many bucks are also being seen with polished antlers now. Cool weather has deer very active and deer movement will increase as the ground vegetation begins to turn brown and deer start thinking about breeding.

Many birds can be seen preparing for migration, while others are well on their way. Cranes and geese have been spotted gathering in fields in large numbers in the Sauk Prairie area. Robins and other resident birds are beginning to group up getting ready to head south. The migratory Canada geese that nest in Canada and migrate through Wisconsin in spring and fall are starting to build up in the Horicon and Theresa marsh areas.

Warm evening rains during this time tend to encourage frogs, toads and salamanders to migrate towards their wintering sites. On sunny days, you can expect to see snakes sunning themselves on the trails and travelling toward their winter hibernating spots. Monarch butterflies are gathering in small groups called flutters and the best time to see them is late afternoonson sunny, warm days.

Purple, blue, yellow, and white explosions of asters and goldenrods have come to life in the grasslands. Bonesets and brown-eyed susans are also still blooming.

Car Seat Event at Koehne in Oconto

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14796166_sIs your car seat one of the many that are not installed correctly? Do you have questions about your child’s car seat? Do you need a new car seat?

If you would like to learn how to safely install your child’s car seat, come to Koehne Buick Pontiac GMC in Oconto on Saturday, September 20th, 2014 between 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians will check your child’s car seat for safe installation, check the car seat for recalls, answer any questions you may have, and assist you with the safe and correct installation of your child’s car seat. You will leave knowing how to safely install your car seat if you need to take it out.

Do you need a new car seat? Brand new car seats will be available for $55 and booster seats for $35.

The Oconto County Child Passenger Safety Program offers grant funded car seats to eligible families. Reminders about the grant funded car seats:
• Car seats will be provided only to children who need a new seat.
• The child must be present.
• Grant funded car seats will be provided to families who qualify at no cost, however donations are welcome and appreciated!

“Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated,” stated Danielle Risner, Oconto County Safe Kids Coalition Coordinator. “Car seats save kids’ lives and we want to keep our program going as long as we possibly can.”

Car crashes are the leading cause of death for children under age 14. By making sure your child’s car seat is installed correctly, you are helping to make sure they will be protected if you get in a crash.

Please call the Oconto County Child Passenger Safety Program at (920) 834-7000 with questions.

Need help with your career?

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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERANeed help with your career?

Looking for a new job or recently graduated and starting a job search?

*build a resume
*prepare for an interview
*build a portfolio
*career assessments
*prepare for a job search

Nicole from Career services will be at NWTC in Oconto Falls on the following dates:

9/18
10/8
11/6
12/4

Call NWTC Oconto Falls @920-848-6982 to set up an appointment with Nicole today.

Audition For: Once Upon a Mattress

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Audition Date: September 12, 2014
Audition Times: 6:00p-8:00p
Place: The Byng Community Theater, 5852 Maple St, Abrams

More Info at www.AbramsTheatre.com

Actors age 13 and older are welcome to audition. Prepare an upbeat song from a musical to sing (not a song from Once Upon a Mattress). You will learn and perform a dance routine in small groups at the audition. You must audition in order to be in the show, no late entries will be allowed. Rehearsals will generally be on Sunday & Thursday nights beginning in September. Show dates are scheduled for December 5-7 & 12-14, 2014. Please consider your availability for all rehearsals and show dates, and your level of commitment before auditioning. We are always looking for Backstage and Front of House Crew Members as well. For more information call Brandon Byng at (920) 826-5852.

International Singing Superstar Anthony Kearns comes to Oconto Falls

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Anthony Kearns-Irish Tenors -1The Oconto Falls Friends of the Arts are proud to present ANTHONY KEARNS, STAR OF THE IRISH TENORS on Sunday, September 28 at 6 PM in the Falls Area Performing Arts Center. The performance is the second in this year’s Fine Arts Series. Please note: The performance time has changed to 6 PM due to the Packers Bear game.

Anthony Kearns, considered Ireland’s Foremost Tenor, is recognized around the globe for over a decade of extraordinary collaborative work with the PBS super-group, The Irish Tenors. As a classically trained tenor, he has the incredible ability to flawlessly sing what audiences love to hear. Performing a concert repertoire which spans the spectrum brilliantly from Ireland to Broadway, from well-loved melodies to popular classics, and from light hearted comedy to the greatest tenor arias every written, Anthony does it all with class, style, assurance, and perfection. He is the consummate performer with universal appeal.

Anthony Kearns is a superb singer, a confident, compelling performer.
… The Nashville Scene

Anthony Kearns, Ireland’s foremost tenor,
is a great ambassador for Ireland
The Honorable Michael Collins, Ireland’s Ambassador to the United States

Voices like this don’t come along very often. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime voice.
… Steffanie Pearce, Artistic and General Director, Opera Naples

Tickets are available by calling the Oconto Falls Friends of the Arts at (920) 848-7469, ordering by mail, or ordering online at www.ocontofallsfriendsofthearts.com This performance is made possible through the support of the Oconto Falls Friends of the Arts and performance sponsors ST PAPER, HEID MUSIC, and NEVA HODGE-LEMORANDE.

Community Memorial Hospital Joins Hospital Sisters Health System to Become HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital

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10636170_774137115980927_2390473045184817321_nHospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) is pleased to announce the addition of HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital in Oconto Falls – formerly known as Community Memorial Hospital (CMH) – to its family as of Sept. 1, 2014.

HSHS, based in Springfield, Illinois is comprised of 14 hospitals – eight in Illinois and six in Wisconsin. St. Vincent Hospital and St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center in Green Bay, St. Nicholas Hospital in Sheboygan and now HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital in Oconto Falls, make up the HSHS Eastern Wisconsin Division. All are sponsored ministries of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis. The hospitals work in partnership with Prevea Health across the region.

“Both HSHS and Community Memorial Hospital have a long tradition of providing high quality health care to those who seek healing. That dedication to caring for those in need is strengthened with CMH joining our health system as HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital,” said Mary Starmann-Harrison, President and CEO, HSHS. “St. Clare was a Franciscan saint who devoted her life to solitude, prayer and service. Her legacy reflects the commitment of our newest health care ministry to serve the residents in Oconto Falls and surrounding communities.”

The work of all hospitals within HSHS is guided by the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, and rooted in the Catholic spirit and commitment of St. Francis of Assisi. St. Francis of Assisi devoted himself to caring for the poor and sick, inspiring the Franciscan movement. St. Clare of Assisi is considered by many to be a co-founder of the Franciscan movement.

“By joining Hospital Sisters Health System, we are creating the foundation upon which we will continue our mission of providing high quality health care close to home, well into the future,” said Dan DeGroot, Chief Operating Officer, HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital. “We are all truly excited about what this means for our organization and more importantly, what this means for the patients and families we will continue to serve for years to come.”

In May 2011, CMH and HSHS entered into an affiliation agreement in an effort to enhance physician recruitment, implement an electronic health record system and improve the delivery of health care. Now, as an official member of the HSHS Eastern Wisconsin Division family, St. Clare adopts the HSHS mission “to reveal and embody Christ’s healing love for all people through our high-quality Franciscan health care ministry.” The high quality care that patients have been accustomed to for more than 93 years in the Oconto Falls community remains.

“This is truly an historic event as HSHS has not added a hospital to their health system since 1987,” said Therese Pandl, President & CEO, HSHS Eastern Wisconsin Division. “We are delighted to have HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital in Oconto Falls join our family. We believe that through working closely together, we can improve the health care of our communities and we will be stronger serving together.”

HSHS Eastern Wisconsin Division also works in partnership with Prevea Health. Prevea provides hospitals within the Division access to more than 200 physicians in more than 50 specialty areas. Prevea health centers can be found in communities all across Northeast Wisconsin, as far north as Marinette to as far south as Oostburg. HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital, in affiliation with Prevea Health, has six regional health centers in Gillett, Lena, Mountain, Suring, Oconto and Oconto Falls.

“Prevea has a mission to provide high-quality health care close to home,” said Dr. Ashok Rai, President and CEO, Prevea Health. “Our partnership with HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital means more people living in the northern regions will have access to that.”