OFHS Choirs Present Home for the Holidays XII on December 7

The Oconto Falls High School Choirs will be presenting HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS XII on Saturday, December 7 at 7:00 p.m. in the Falls Area Performing Arts Center.  Pre-concert music will begin at 6:10 p.m. in the Commons Area.  The concert will feature the Chamber Singers, Cantabile, Chorale, Concert Choir, and Vocal Jazz Ensemble.

This year’s performances will include many holiday classics, including Angels We Have Heard On High, It Came Upon A Midnight Clear, and the First Nowell.  The four choirs -Chamber Singers, Cantabile, Concert Choir and Chorale – will also join their voices to sing a collection of Alfred Burt carols, including Caroling, Caroling, All on A Christmas Morning, The Star Carol, and We’ll Dress The House.  The concert will also showcase the talents of the Vocal Jazz Ensemble singing Fum, Fum, Fum, A Very Merry Madrigal, and An Evening in December.  Many children’s favorites will be featured at this performance, including Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and We Are Santa’s Elves. The concert will conclude with the traditional Candlelight Processional— O Holy Night, Silent Night, Away In A Manger, and Joy to the World.  Community members and alumni will again be asked to join the OFHS Choirs for the finale selection Hallelujah Chorus from The Messiah

The concert is free and everyone is encouraged to attend this wonderful evening of holiday music!

Youth to Present ‘Elf the Musical Jr’ in Abrams

Abrams Spotlight Productions Inc. is spreading Christmas cheer with the comedy “Elf The Musical Jr.” Based on a 2003 hit movie, this fish-out-of-water comedy follows Buddy the Elf in his quest to find his true identity. The show features an all-youth cast, songs by Tony Award nominees Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin, and a book by Tony Award winners Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin.

“Doing a musical based on a movie can be hit or miss,” Director Elizbeth Jolly said. “Including enough of the movie while adding music and deepening the emotions for the stage is not an easy task. Elf really hits the nail on the head. I mean, when you have a show-stopping number called “sparklejollytwinklejingley,” you know you’re going to be in for a good time.”

Showtimes are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6, 7, 13 and 14, and 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 and 14, and Sunday, Dec. 8 and 15, at the Nancy Byng Community Theater, 5852 Maple St., Abrams. A limited number of tickets are available at AbramsTheater.com or by calling the box office, 920-826-5852.

Jolly said Elf contradicts the misconception that quality doesn’t matter in a kids’ show.

“I think that sells children short,” she said. “We are not just depending on their cuteness, although they are all adorable. The cast is intelligent, talented, and has put in a lot of work to make this a high quality, spectacular production.”

“Elf The Musical Jr.” is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).  All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. 421 West 54th Street, New York, NY 10019 Phone: 212-541-4684 Fax: 212-397-4684 www.MTIShows.com.

HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital to Present Live Nativity Scene in Downtown Oconto Falls on Thursday, Dec. 5

HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital invites the community to take in the sights and sounds of a live nativity scene in downtown Oconto Falls on Thursday, Dec. 5.

The live nativity scene, hosted by HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital, will take place in conjunction with other holiday-related community events happening along Main St. on Dec. 5, including Christmas Mouse Open House, wagon rides and pictures with Santa.

From 5 to 7 p.m., a group of HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital providers and colleagues will gather at the corner of Main St. and Caldwell Ave. to portray Mary and Joseph with baby Jesus, a shepherd, an angel and the Three Wise Men. Live animals will also be a part of the scene, including a donkey and sheep. At 7 p.m., a Scripture reading, featuring the story of the night Jesus was born, will be performed. Then, a collective singing of “Silent Night,” will close the special presentation.

Live Nativity Scene

  • Thursday, Dec. 5
  • 5 to 7 p.m.
    • Scripture reading and singing of “Silent Night” at 7 p.m.
  • Corner of Main St. and Caldwell Ave. in Oconto Falls

All community members interested in attending the 7 p.m. presentation are encouraged to stop in to one of the Main Street businesses participating in the Christmas Mouse Open House event the night-of, to pick up a free candle they can hold for the Scripture reading and singing of “Silent Night.”

“Five Things to Know” Ahead of National Rural Health Day, Coming Up Thursday, Nov. 21

National Rural Health Day, founded by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH), will be celebrated on Thursday, Nov. 21.

“Small towns, farming communities and frontier areas are wonderful places to live and work; they are places where neighbors know each other and work together,” said Teryl Eisinger, CEO of the NOSORH. “The hospitals and providers serving these rural communities not only provide quality patient care, but they also help keep good jobs in rural America.”

To honor National Rural Health Day, HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital and Prevea Health offer its rural communities “Five Things to Know” about the importance of rural health care in Oconto County, and across the country:

  1. An estimated 57 million people – nearly one in five Americans – live in rural and frontier communities throughout the United States.
  2. In 1977, the Rural Health Clinic Services Act helped to establish Rural Health Clinics, or RHCs, to address the shortage of physicians serving patients in rural areas.
  3. Today, there are more than 4,500 federally-designated RHCs nationwide providing health care services in underserved areas.
  4. Together, HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital and Prevea Health offer five RHCs throughout Oconto County to provide not only health care, but jobs to local residents. Our RHCs can be found in Oconto Falls, Gillett, Lena, Mountain and Suring.
  5. Founded as Community Memorial Hospital in Oconto Falls in 1921, HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital has been providing rural health care for nearly 100 years. It is a federally-designated critical access hospital offering 24-hour emergency care, urgent care and a variety of other services.

Safety Reminder for Gun-Deer Hunters: Protect Your Hearing!

The woods of Wisconsin will soon be filled with hunters for the annual gun-deer season. Prevea Health, along with HSHS St. Vincent, St. Mary’s, St. Nicholas and St. Clare Memorial Hospitals, want to remind all hunters the importance of protecting their hearing during this time.

The shot of a rifle or shotgun is approximately 140 decibels, which is the equivalent of standing next to a jet engine. Sounds at this noise level can cause instant and permanent hearing loss.

Symptoms of hearing loss include:

  • Vague feelings of pressure or fullness in your ears
  • Speech that seems muffled or far away
  • A ringing sound in your ears when you are in quiet places
  • Difficulty hearing when background noise is present

The only way to prevent hearing damage is to wear ear protection. Prevea Audiology offers consultations with hunters to determine the best way to protect their hearing while using their firearm. If needed, affordable, custom-fit hearing protection is available for adults and children. The devices are individually molded to each ear providing a more consistent seal for the control of incoming load sound as well as to relieve the discomfort caused by generic ear plugs.

Consultations and custom-fit hearing protection is available at Prevea health centers in Green Bay, Oconto Falls, Manitowoc and Sheboygan. Appointments can be made by calling (920) 496-4700.

Click here for more hunting-related safety tips.

The Avenue of Lights

Usher in the Christmas season at the holiday lighting ceremony for the Avenue of Lights. The Oconto Falls Area Chamber of Commerce is a proud supporter of this festive community tradition, presented by the Oconto Falls Lioness Club.

The excitement begins at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, at the Oconto Falls East Side Beach, 631 N. Main St., Oconto Falls. Enjoy the sounds of Christmas carols sung by the Oconto Falls High School Choir.

Mr. & Mrs. Claus arrive at 6:30 p.m. for the lighting of the lights and visits with the children.

Cookies and hot cocoa will be served!

Abrams theater to present Elf The Musical Jr.

Abrams Spotlight Productions Inc. will spread holiday cheer with its production of “Elf The Musical Jr.” Based on the beloved holiday film, this hilarious fish-out-of-water comedy follows Buddy the Elf in his quest to find his true identity.

The musical, featuring the talent of local youth, is based on the 2003 New Line Cinema hit. The show features songs by Tony Award nominees Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin and a book by Tony Award winners Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin.

Showtimes are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6, 7, 13 and 14, and 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8 and 15, at the Nancy Byng Community Theater, 5852 Maple St., Abrams. Tickets are selling fast. Purchase yours online at AbramsTheater.com.

“Elf The Musical Jr.” is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. 421 West 54th Street, New York, NY 10019 Phone: 212-541-4684 Fax: 212-397-4684 www.MTIShows.com.

Website Give-Away Contest

Because November is a time for thanksgiving, not “thanksgetting,” Packerland Websites will give away a free website to one well-deserving nonprofit in the area. In the Give Back to Nonprofits Contest, one lucky nonprofit organization will qualify for a Premium Theme, 7-page website, valued at $2,500. A runner-up and third-prize winner will qualify for 85% savings ($2,125 value) and 70% savings ($1,750 value), respectively, on a Premium Theme website.

Raise awareness for your organization

Nonprofit websites work 24/7 to raise awareness for a cause and offer help to those in need. An attractive, easy-to-navigate website inspires people to make a difference by volunteering, donating to the organization, or getting involved.

Give Back to Nonprofits Contest

The Give Back to Nonprofits Contest is open to nonprofit organizations with or without a current website. Churches, charitable organizations, youth sports associations, community service clubs and professional groups within approximately 35 miles of Green Bay are encouraged to apply.

Nominations open until Nov. 15

For contest rules, prize information, and nomination guidelines, go to PackerlandWebsites.com/contest. Nominations are open until Friday, Nov. 15, with nonprofits responding Nov. 16 to Dec. 16 with qualifying information. The winners will be selected based the attributes of the nonprofit organization, including need and projected improvement or benefit to the organization.

Best-selling author will visit the Oconto Falls Library

Best-selling author Nickolas Butler will visit the Oconto Falls Library at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14. He is the author of “Shotgun Lovesongs,” “Hearts of Men,” and “Little Faith.” All of his books have been bestsellers. He also has written several short stories and articles for magazines.

Nickolas was raised in Eau Claire and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Come and meet Nickolas, ask him about his life as an author, and pick up one of his bestsellers to read in November.

“Meet the Doc” Event, Featuring Dr. Alexa Gavaga

HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital and Prevea Health will host “Meet the Doc,” featuring internal medicine physician, Dr. Alexa Gavaga, in Gillett on Tuesday, Nov. 12.

Dr. Gavaga joined Prevea Health in September and is now seeing patients at the HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital Prevea Oconto Falls Health Center, 835 S. Main St. in Oconto Falls, and at the Prevea Shawano Health Center, 1300 E. Green Bay St. in Shawano.

As an internal medicine physician, Dr. Gavaga specializes in routine health care for adults, including preventive medicine, medication management and chronic disease management. The “Meet the Doc” event will allow community members a chance to meet Dr. Gavaga, and learn more about why an internal medicine physician is an important part of your health care team.

Meet the Doc

  • Tuesday, Nov. 12
  • 6 p.m.
  • Gillett High School, 208 W. Main St., Gillett
    • Event will be held in the Commons

A light meal will be served. To register, call (920) 846-8187 or visit: www.prevea.com/event