October 2018 News Break
Portage Area Chamber of Commerce
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A monarch butterfly, sporting Portage Pride-patterned orange and black, fluttered carefree around the tables where more than 50 people gathered at Edgewater Home & Garden for an outdoor "Dinner in the Garden" hosted by Launch Portage - Young Professionals on Sept. 15.
The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra Quartet played contemporary hits as attendees enjoyed a savory wine pairing with a delectable four-course dinner prepared by Chef Chad Kruswicki of The NorthShore and wine tastings with BonBon and Bordeaux.
The dinner was held to raise funds for the pavilion project at Pauquette Park and included a silent auction as well as the drawing for the Portage Service Club Association's summer-long raffle.
The committee would like to thank Edward Jones Financial Advisor: Klay Vehring, General Engineering Company, Shane Schmidt Insurance, BonBon and Bordeaux, Edgewater Home & Garden, The NorthShore, Wal-Mart and Rock N Wool Winery for their support..
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October Chamber Business Luncheon
The Portage Area Chamber of Commerce is offering another way to network with your fellow Chamber members and make those important connections that can help you in your business or career. Bring your business cards, brochures, or anything you wish to share with other members.
Luncheon Information
Mary Rose Strickland of New Life Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine will talk with us about the opioid epidemic. Instead of relying on dangerous medication she will showcase the value of activity and movement with information on how to do so in the context of (chronic) pain.
Mary Rose is Chief Operating Officer and Co-Owner of New Life. She is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Board Certified Orthopedic Specialist.
Location: Dino's Restaurant
Time: Lunch at 11:30AM, Presentation at Noon
Cost: pay for your lunch at the restaurant
Date: Tuesday, October 2, 2018
Please reserve your seat by calling the Chamber office
at 608-742-6242 to register. Seating is limited!
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Welcome New Chamber Members
Job1USA
Alyson Skelton at 920-392-9581
Job1USA employs thousands nationwide, meeting workers' needs for quality jobs, while
filling the needs of our business clients for both productivity and excellence.
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Around the Corner films in Portage
Emmy Award winning actor John McGivern explores living, working and playing in Wisconsin's unique communities in the Around the Corner with John McGivern series, a MilwaukeePBS production that began in 2012 to showcase Wisconsin’s fabulous communities through the stories of people as they live, work, and play in the place they call home.
John and the show’s crew have been filming around the place we call home, Portage, the past couple of weeks. Among the locations, the American Legion State Headquarters & Museum, where John interviewed Veterans who talked about the Legion and some of the programs they are involved in. The show's new season begins January 2019, with Portage spotlighted on March 28.
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Business Profile - Job1USA
From coast to coast, Job1USA matches top talent to some of the best employers throughout the nation. Established in 1951 by founder Frank Rumpf and now managed by his son, Bruce F. Rumpf, Job1USA is a third-generation family owned business with Frank’s grandchildren joining the business between 2015-2017.
As a national provider of employment solutions, we are first and foremost a people company. We believe in the diversity of our workforce and are committed to serving jobseekers and employers across the U.S.
Employees can jumpstart their career with Job1USA, being matched with a local employer with the best opportunity for them. Whether they are looking for an administrative, industrial, security, or janitorial job – or more, our motto is Your Career. Our Job.
Employees also earn rewards for the exceptional work they do every day! For each hour worked, they earn rewards points to use on everything from a family vacation, electronics, or help with their gas, groceries, or AAA memberships to help with transportation needs.
Our Client’s enjoy our single source complete Employment Solutions and Human Resource support services. From the application and interview through the hiring and on boarding of the employee to ongoing career support through their employment, our dedicated professionals are committed to a long term employment match.
Our services include Industrial and Clerical Staffing, Security Services, Janitorial & Building Maintenance Services, Direct Hire Recruiting, and our Job1Veterans Division has a veterans helping veterans focus.
Through our traditional staffing temporary or temp to hire, managed recruiting RPO services, private label and mobile hiring events, Job1USA is proud to be an employer’s top choice to meet your hiring and staffing needs.
Employees working in the staffing industry account for 32 percent of the total workforce and choose Job1USA because of our innovative employment programs including Job1REWARDS, EmployeeCASH payroll advance program, transportation solutions, and mobile scheduling & timekeeping technology.
Currently servicing but not limited to 34 states across the U.S., our geographic footprint is only defined by where employment services are needed.
For more information, contact Alyson Skelton at 920-392-9581.
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Portage earns Bronze WI Healthy Communities Designation
31 communities in Wisconsin receive designations
Portage has been recognized for its work to improve local health by receiving a Bronze tier Wisconsin Healthy Communities Designation.
This new program is intended to recognize and encourage achievements in health improvement in Wisconsin communities, and to promote cooperation across multiple sectors.
The Healthy Communities Designation program is designed to be accessible to communities of all shapes and sizes, both rural and urban. The definition of community is broad and can include counties, municipalities, neighborhoods and other self-defined, place-based communities in Wisconsin. The program uses a three-tiered approach–gold, silver and bronze–which are meant to provide a trajectory and serve as a guide for communities as they continue to strive toward better health.
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Edward Jones new location
The office of Edward Jones Financial Advisor: Klay Vehring has moved to 240 W. Cook St. in downtown Portage. Contact Klay at 608-742-8841. Join us on Thursday, October 18 at 9AM as we celebrate the move with a ribbon cutting.
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Text PACC to 51660
to receive information about upcoming Chamber events
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Looking for a Hot Deal? See our list?
Check out our Hot Deals webpage for deals our Chamber members are
offering. Have a Hot Deal of your own you want others to know about? Post
your deals on our webpage and join the Hot Deal brigade! There is no charge
for posting a Hot Deal, so post away!
If you have questions, call the Chamber office at 608-742-6242 to get started.
Click here to see the specials that are currently running!
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Fine Vine Wine Walk
Wine a little, laugh a lot during the Fine Vine Wine Walk on Friday, October 12 from 6pm to 9p
m. Spend time with your friends enjoying great wine inside various businesses and walking from place to place to shop. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door.
Tickets are available by cash or check at: Douglas' Big Dog Saloon, 218 W. Cook St.; Prairie Flower Beads, 210 W. Cook St.; Smart Woman/Fancy Pants, 124 W. Cook St.; and the Mercantile, 117 W. Cook St.
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Durward's Glen Fall Festival & Raffle
Durward's Glen Fall Festival & Craft Fair featuring arts, crafts and food booths will be held on Saturday, October 13 on their beautiful grounds. As part of the festivities, a week-long stay at Surfsound in North Carolina is being raffled off as a top prize. Raffle tickets are just $10 each for a chance to win some great prizes.
Volunteers are also wanted at Durward's Glen to help organize their new museum that will hold some amazing artifacts.
For more information, call Durward's Glen Retreat & Education Center, W11876 McLeisch, Baraboo, at 608-356-8113.
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BonBon and Bordeaux
BonBon and Bordeaux is now located inside the Mercantile at 117 W. Cook Street. Check out their selection of fine wine, unique gifts, custom gift baskets, gourmet chocolate and food.
For more information, call 608-617-0936.
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Free Advance Planning Seminar
An advance planning seminar will be held on Wednesday, October 10 at 10am and 6pm at Kratz Funeral Home, 302 E. Conant Street. Speakers covering the following topics will be on hand:
Legal Tools: John Miller, Attorney at Law, will explain which legal tools can help protect your family. Powers of attorney, wills, trusts, and health care directives…which documents are appropriate for you?
Advance Funeral Planning: Jeffery Stewart, Prearrangement Specialist, will explore the question of how advance funeral planning can help protect our loved ones. You will learn how to give your family peace of mind during the hardest days of their lives.
Identity Theft: A representative from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office will explain how we can protect ourselves against a rising threat in our society...identity theft. What precautions can you take so this doesn’t happen to you?
Stay after the seminar and visit with the speakers, enjoy coffee and cookies, enter a door prize drawing, take a tour of the facility, and receive a free information packet to take home. Reserve your spot today by calling 608-742-5585!
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River Haven Bowl-a-thon
The River Haven Homeless Shelter is looking for bowlers, lane sponsors, drawing prizes and silent auction items for its Bowl-a-thon on Saturday, November 17 at J & J Fireball Lanes, 817 E. Wisconsin Ave.
Consider donating to River Haven’s bowl-a-thon fundraiser to help them continue the mission taking in members of our community who have fallen on hard times and need a helping hand to become self-sufficient again.
If you would like to discuss donating to River Haven’s fundraiser in the form of event sponsorship and/or drawing prizes and silent auction items or would like to bowl, you can contact Cindy LeGrande, Executive Director of River Haven Homeless Shelter, at
riverhavenshelter@yahoo.com or call 608-742-7687.
Also, if you want play a couple frames of Wisconsin’s favorite pastime, they would love to have you bowl!
during one of the three sessions, 10am, 12:30pm and 3pm.
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Portage School District's First Community Newsletter
The very first issue of the Portage Community School District's Community Newsletter is now available. The link for the newsletter can be found on the district's website. We also have it here for you:
Click here to access the link.
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New web address for Waddell & Reed
For more information, contact Julie Groves or Kathy Houzner at 608-742-4688. Their office is located inside Cochrane Court at 311 E. Wisconsin St., Suite 109.
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Coat Drive underway
The Salvation Army Coat Drive Collection starts October 1. Drop off new or gently used clean jackets, coats, snow pants, hats, mittens and boots to
Portage Police Department, Portage Cleaners, Children's Library or local churches.
Distribution is scheduled for October 26 & 27 at Veteran's Memorial Field, Building #8, 300 Superior St. Please bring your children along with you to try on the items.
For more information, call Nancy Schaper at 608-742-7242.
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Neil's now serving lunch
Hungry? Leave the office and head to Neil's Wine House, now serving lunch Tuesday through Friday from 11am to 2pm.
Enjoy lunch or unwind with a glass of wine on the spacious outdoor deck. For more information, call Neil's Wine House, 235 W. Pleasant St., at 608-617-8463.
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Adams-Columbia Electric happenings
Adams-Columbia Electric Cooperative’s Fall Fest event will be at Flyte’s Fieldstones on Saturday, October 13. For more information,
click
here.
Are you interested in having a Toys for Tots box at your business for the upcoming holiday season? Please contact Adams-Columbia Electric Cooperative at 800-831-8629.
Adams-Columbia Electric Cooperative also has current and former members who have unclaimed patronage capital on file, over 10,000 names
.
We ask for your help in locating them. In many cases the member may have moved off our lines and simply not informed us of their new address. If you do find a name familiar to you, please ask either the individual member or the estate executor to contact us personally at 800-831-8629.
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Halloween at Portage Theatres
Portage Theatres is planning a great Halloween themed event for the kids. All you have to do is bring a non-perishable food item for the Food Pantry to participate. There will be a costume contest, goodie bags, movie and a sidewalk parade leaving from St. Mary parking lot (next to the Theatre along Conant St.).
Admission is one donated food item! Here is the schedule:
9:30am - costume contest registration at St. Mary's Parking Lot and parade line up
10am - parade starts and will go through downtown and end at Portage Theatres
11:00am - movie starts
Downtown businesses are encouraged to be out on the sidewalk and pass out promotional items, brochures and goodies to the kids. For more details call 608-742-6678 or visit
www.portagetheatres.com
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DSH contributes toward trails
Mike Decker from Divine Savior Healthcare presented a check in the amount of $17,550, proceeds from Divine Savior Healthcare’s annual run/walk, to members of the City of Portage AdHoc Trails Committee.
The committee is currently looking at trail connections on Hamilton Street and from Pine Meadow Park to the Ice Age Trail. Connections could be made as money is received, according to Mayor Rick Dodd.
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Chili'N at the Cabin
Is your chili the best? Challenge your friends, neighbors, businesses and chapters at the Chili Cook Off at Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters on Saturday, October 13.
Serving from Noon to 3pm; a bowl is just $5 or 5 tester cups for $5. Money raised will be used for restoration projects at Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters.
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Pumpkins in the Park
Join the Portage Park & Rec Department for Pumpkins in the Park at Collipp-Worden Park! Kids and families will enjoy pumpkin carving, live entertainment by Children’s Entertainer David Landau, fun games, face painting, and of course, plenty of candy!
The cost is $7 per person which includes one pumpkin & carving kit. Admission is free for those not carving a pumpkin. Pre-registration is required either
online or at the Portage Park & Rec Department, 701 W. Slifer St.
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Did you know???
When you shop, donate or volunteer at St. Vincent de Paul - Portage you are helping your neighbor in need.
The Portage location houses a food pantry which includes fresh produce and dairy products that is open to Columbia County residents, 6 days a week. They also operate a free medical clinic every Wednesday in the lower level of Wilz Hometown Pharmacy at 140 E. Cook St.
Helping those in Columbia County who need help by offering free clothing and household items, a loan closet provides additional help with walkers, canes, wheelchairs, risers, crutches, shower benches and many other medical aid devices.
Volunteer opportunities abound for most ages at St. Vincent de Paul - Portage, located at 1311 W. Wisconsin St. For more information, call 608-742-5513.
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Rotary welcomes exchange student
Portage Rotary welcomes its newest Rotary Exchange Student, Lion Veit, shown accepting the Portage Rotary flag with Youth Exchange Officer Robin Kvalo and President Rich Jacobson. Veit arrived the end of August and is currently attending Portage High School, playing football and is with the first of three host families.
For more information about the youth exchange program, visit
PortageRotaryClub.com or attend a meeting. The group meets at noon every Monday at Dino's Restaurant, 2900 New Pinery Road, Portage.
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Combat the Cold & Flu Season
Rhyme wants you to know that each year, the flu costs the United States more than $87 billion annually and is responsible for the loss of close to 17 million workdays each flu season.
Show bugs who's boss! Make sure your office is ready to tackle the Cold & Flu Season with top selling Wisconsin-made products from SC Johnson that you can stock up and save through Rhyme. For more information, call Rhyme at 608-742-3747.
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Business Boot Camp
Learn how to effectively start a new business! Attend the Business Boot Camp - Skills for Launching a Start Up on Friday, October 19 at UW-Baraboo/Sauk County, 1006 Connie Road, Baraboo.
Network with area entrepreneurs and get connected to business resources. Featured topics include:
· Exploring your Idea Business Model Canvas
· Understand Legal Entities
· Accounting Best Practices
· Financing your Start Up
· Branding and Online Presence
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Text PORTAGE to 51660
to receive information about upcoming Portage events
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Ribbon Cuttings
A ribbon cutting was held at Durward's Glen Retreat & Education Center to welcome them as members of the Portage Chamber.
Dedicated to the preservation of its unique natural beauty, historic past, and spiritual heritage, the Glen offers pastoral grounds, affordable accommodations, conference rooms, & meeting places for the greater community to use.
Join them for their Fall Festival & Craft Fair on Saturday, October 13.
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October Chamber Meetings & Events
2 Business Luncheon at Dino's Restaurant 11:30am
3 Ambassador Meeting at Community Bank 8am
18 Ribbon Cutting at Edward Jones: Klay Vehring Financial Advisor new office
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Join a Service Club
Rotary - Meets Mondays at Noon at Dino’s Restaurant, 2900 New Pinery Rd.
Lions Club - Meets the 2
nd and 4
th Wednesdays at 5:30pm at Dino’s Restaurant, 2900 New Pinery Rd., summer month meetings change locations
Kiwanis - Meets on Wednesdays at Noon at Pizza Ranch, 2905 New Pinery Rd.
Optimists - Meets on Tuesdays at 7am at Dino’s Restaurant, 2900 New Pinery Rd.
Elks - Meets 2nd & 4th Tuesday at 7pm; 4th Tuesday only during July and August
Women's Civic League - Meets 2nd Wednesday of the month at Dino’s Restaurant, 2900 New Pinery Rd.
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October Community Events
1-20 Salvation Army Coat Drive Coat Collection
2 Chamber Business Luncheon
2 Famous Portage People Class at Madison College
2 Poetry in Portage at Suzy's Steak and Seafood House
4 Painted Silk Scarves Class at the Mercantile
4-Nov 29. Biz Smart Training Class at UW Small Business Development Center
5 Teen Board Games and Perler Craft at the Portage Public Library
5 Portage High Homecoming Parade & Football Game
5 Opening Reception of Debbie Carley's Inner Landscapes at Portage Center for the Arts
5 Spirit of the Agency House Evening Tour
5 Gin, Chocolate & Bottle Rockets at Portage Center for the Arts
6 Family Fun Event at the Portage Public Library
6 Pumpkin Blow Out at Festival Foods
7 Bingo at the VFW
9 Why We Built the Way We Did Class at Madison College
10 Kratz Funeral Home Advanced Planning Seminar
10 Columbia County Humane Society Fundraiser at Pizza Ranch
11 'Smart' Cookie Sale at Divine Savior Healthcare
11 Friendship Supper at the Seventh-Day Adventist Church
11 Hand Built Pottery Class at the Mercantile
12 Fine Vine Wine Walk
12 Teen PlayStation VR Night at the Portage Public Library
12 Spirit of the Agency House Evening Tour
13 Chili’N at the Cabin at Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters
13 Durward's Glen Fall Festival & Craft Fair
13 An Outrageously Good Time! Show at Portage Center for the Arts
13 Police and Fire Department Open House
18 Opening Reception of Kenneth W. Carlson's exhibit 'As I See It Still' at Tivoli
19 Teen Scary Movie & Popcorn Night
19 Business Boot Camp at UW Baraboo-Sauk County
19 Spirit of the Agency House Evening Tour
19 Paranormal Investigation in the Portage Public Library
21 Bingo at the VFW
21 Pumpkins at the Park at Collipp-Worden
23 Portage Area Community Fund meeting at Portage Enterprise Center
23 Hearing Aid event at Our House Senior Living
24 Coffee with Our House Senior Living
24 Endeavor Sharing Supper
25 Eye Vision event at Our House Senior Living
25 Portage Center for the Arts Brown Bag Lunch Series
26-27 Salvation Army Coat Drive Distribution
27 Halloween at the Portage Theatres
27 Historic Indian Agency House Girl Scouts Birthday Celebration
27 The Brother Brothers at Portage Center for the Arts
29 Portage Sharing Supper at Wayne Bartels Middle School
31 Portage Trick or Treating
Weekly Recurring Events
Beer Bucket Bingo at Jack's Tap every Monday at 6:30pm
Portage United Methodist Church Bible Study at Heritage House, Tuesdays at 10am
Portage United Methodist Church Worship Service at Heritage House, Tuesdays at 11am
Farmers Market at Commerce Plaza every Thursday from Noon to 5pm
Open Pharmacy Forum at Wilz Hometown Pharmacy, every Wednesday, 6pm-7pm
GriefShare Support Group at Portage United Methodist Church, Thursdays, 2pm to 4pm
Medicare Workshop at Retirement Specialists, every Thursday at 4:30pm.
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