Portage Area Chamber of Commerce
NEWS BREAK
July 2020
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The Festival Foods Fireworks were a huge hit at a new location on the north side of Portage last Saturday with many positive comments on both the show and the expanded viewing areas. A big 'Thank You' to Festival Foods for the display and the City of Portage for their
support and site selection.
Photo by Solas & Kin Photography
We wish you a
Happy 4th of July!!
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A New Mural in Portage
The sixth mural in the Portage mural project was recently installed on the south wall of the Cottonwood Bar & Grill, 312 DeWitt St. The mural depicts the label from one of Eulberg Brewing Company's brands, Picnic Beer, which prominently features the portage.
Thank You to the Business Improvement District for funding and H & M Contracting for installation of artist Kelly Meredith's work. She completed the mural, her third in Portage, back in January but winter weather and the pandemic pushed the installation to June. Her previous murals are located on Wilz Hometown Pharmacy and the NAPA Auto Parts Building.
The other three murals in the project are located at the DAAR Engineering building on Cook Street, the former U.S. Bank drive-thru on Edgewater Street, and the former Parks and Recreation building on Silver Lake Drive.
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Free yoga session at Pauquette Park!
Join Madleen Alsabbah from Bee Alive Yoga Studio at Pauquette Park on Wednesday, July 1 from 9am-10am for a free yoga session! Just bring a yoga mat if you have one. Bottled water will be provided.
This yoga session, provided jointly by the Portage Public Library and the Parks and Recreation Department and funded by the Friends of the Portage Library, is for adults 18 and up. Beginners are welcome. If you have questions, email
programs@portagelibrary.us
or call the library at 608-742-4959.
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City Covid-19 Business Relief Loan Program
The City of Portage has established a loan fund program to provide financial assistance to privately owned businesses in the City that have been adversely affected and/or required to shut down in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The source of funding for this program is the Building Facade Loan Fund Program, which was made possible through the City of Portage and Portage Area Chamber of Commerce grant award in the
America's Best Communities Program, sponsored by Frontier Communications.
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New Chamber Members
Little Italy Italian Cuisine
2651 New Pinery Road; Portage, WI 53901
Armend Aliju at 608-566-1232
We provide you with authentic Italian cuisine and every dish will be
prepared especially for you.
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Alliant Energy donates masks
Thank You to Alliant Energy for donating 1,000 single-use face masks to our community!
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Tumbling Camp at Laura's School of Dance
Laura’s School of Dance and Tumbling is hosting a unicorn-themed tumbling camp on July 29, from 1pm-3:30pm. The cost is $50 and it will include tumbling, snacks, crafts and fun! Contact
laurasschoolofdance@ymail.com
to register.
Laura’s School of Dance and Tumbling, LLC in person registration will be on July 30 from 5pm-7pm, and August 20 from 5pm-7pm, At their studio held at 201 E. Albert St. in Portage. You may also register by phone by calling 866-DANCE-56. For more information contact the studio at
Laurasschoolofdance@ymail.com
.
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Dr. Soyer of Blau earns Webster Certification
Dr. Lacey Soyer of Blau Family Chiropractic has completed the requirements needed to be officially Webster certified by the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) enabling her to better serve pregnant women who are preparing for safer and easier birth outcomes.
Webster certified doctors are taught gentle adjusting techniques, individual case management systems and evidence-informed practice to best care for pregnant women. In addition to this, doctors are given an in-depth view of birth and are provided with the necessary skills and resources to support women who want safer natural births.
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PCA BIG Summer Sweepstakes!
It's time for Portage Center for the Arts' annual BIG Summer Sweepstakes! Your support is needed now more than ever, as PCA looks to ensure that it can reopen for the community when the time is right!
For those interested in tickets, please call the PCA at 608-742-5655 or
info@portagecenterforthearts.com
. For information about PCA programming, click the logo at right.
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Columbia County Fair Virtual Exhibit Showcase
A People’s Choice contest for the 2020 Columbia County Fair was created as part
the very first Columbia County Fair Virtual Showcase, offering a virtual way for exhibitors to exhibit their projects and hard work.
Junior and Senior Citizen exhibitors may complete the Google form (
link here
) and enter up to 2 of their projects in 2 of the 8 categories available:
Cultural Arts; Foods; Animals; Woodworking; Sewing; Photography; Horticulture; Seniors Citizens (Age 62+)
.
There is a category for animal and livestock exhibitors giving them an opportunity to display their animals and skills for all to see.
For the duration of fair week, Facebook users will be able to vote for their favorite projects in each category. At the end of fair week, 6pm on Sunday, July 26, a first and second place will be chosen and announced from each category! There will be no premiums, ribbons or trophies awarded this year. If you have questions, please contact fair board representative, Allison Foster at
bobbiejane@gmail.com
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Annual Elks Golf Outing
Play in the annual Elks Golf Outing at Portage Country Club on Saturday, July 11 with registration beginning at 7am and shotgun start at 8am. There will be dinner and prizes awarded at the Portage Elks Lodge, 201 W. Conant St.
For more information, call the the Elks Lodge at 608-742-6040.
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Public Library increases access to 10%; closed July 3-4
Based on the Department of Public Instruction guidelines, the Portage Public Library will allow a calculated 10% capacity access. Appointments will no longer be necessary. Upon arrival, a door monitor will welcome you into the building, unless capacity has been reached.
The Children’s entrance will remain closed, so patrons will be expected to enter and exit from the designated front entrance.
While inside the library, please practice social distancing, sanitizing protocols, and mask protection. The staff will be wearing masks when working with the public; they ask that you do the same. If you are checking out materials, self-checkout machines offer you a safe alternative to face-to-face checkout. The library cannot guarantee that social distancing and safe practices will be observed by every patron. Responsibility for exercising caution and safety rests with each individual.
If you are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, we ask that you do not visit the library.
Please note: The library will be closed on July 3 & 4 for the 4th of July holiday
.
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Agency House: free tours & trailway
The Historic Indian Agency House announced a special treat for 2020. Though hundreds of students had to miss out on their class trips to the Agency House this spring, a special philanthropist stepped in, enabling
FREE tours for families with school-aged children
this summer and fall.
While on the grounds of the Agency House, take in the scenic beauty of the 233-acre site and abundant wildlife that surrounds it. Go for a walk on the
Stories of the Land Interpretive Trailway
. A work in progress, the trailway
involves a signage-guided educational walk through a portion of the property engaging hikers with the fascinating history that happened on the soil beneath their feet. A grant from the Kohler Foundation has made this project possible.
The interpretive trail begins just off of the parking lot, adjacent to the Native encampment area which features a traditional Ho-Chunk dwelling called a chiporoke. This structure was constructed by a Ho-Chunk youth as an Eagle Scout project in the spring of 2019. The interpretive signage, when completed, will be located along the Outer Loop trail. There is also a Prairie Ridge trail option without signage.
The project is in the design and production phase. Stay tuned for updates.
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Surgeons Quarters opening July 1
Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters announced the site will be opening on Wednesday, July 1 for public tours. However, the Kids at the Cabin event scheduled for July 26 has been canceled.
For more information call 608-742-2949.
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Small Business Association Announces Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness Program
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) released the
application and instructions
for loan forgiveness under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The application and instructions provide additional clarity to borrowers regarding the process and calculations applicable to loan forgiveness.
The application, together with the PPP Loan Forgiveness Calculation Form and PPP Schedule (Schedule A) must be submitted to the lender servicing the loan. A PPP Borrower Demographic Information Form may also be completed at the borrower’s option. The application may be submitted to the lender electronically.
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Briants donate to Portage Youth, Inc.
Art and Rita Briant of Prairie Flower Beads contributed to Portage Youth, Inc., which is working to collect funds to restore the facility for the Portage Girl Scouts, the former home of the Portage Parks and Recreation, at 806 Silver Lake Drive.
Prairie Flower Beads is located at 210 W. Cook St. Call 608-742-5900 for more information.
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Museum at the Portage opens
The Museum at the Portage will be open by appointment starting July 8. Visitors will need to call at least a day in advance to arrange a tour. The museum is open Wednesday through Sundays through October.
For more information or to schedule a tour, call 608-742-6682.
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Agency House Speaker Series
The traditional evening Historic Agency House Speaker Series will take place on Tuesday evenings in July at 6:30pm, beginning July 7. Author Ann Keating starts the series with her discussion of her brand-new, fascinating book: The World of Juliette Kinzie: Chicago Before the Fire.
This is a free will donation event, with all donations helping to support this educational speaker series event. Registration is required. Sign up to participate in this online event at
www.agencyhouse.org/events
. Consider buying the book in our gift shop and reading it ahead of time.
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Archaeology Dig at Agency House
Roll up your sleeves and dig into the Agency House's buried history! Come prepared to get dirty, learn a lot, and have fun on
Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19 or Saturday, July 25 and Sunday, July 26.
You will be in hot pursuit of the hottest place on the hillside: the Agency blacksmith shop. Work right alongside the archaeologists. Try your hand at a variety of tasks from digging to screening and more. Children ages 5 and up are welcome to join in the fun with the direct supervision of a parent, guardian, or other responsible adult.
A membership (individual or family) is required in order to participate. It is recommend that you purchase your membership ahead of time, although memberships may also be purchased on the days of the excavation. Bring your membership card to the event.
General Engineering Company of Portage is sponsoring the dig. For more information, call 608-742-6362 or visit
www.agencyhouse.org.
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Spread the word about Portage!
Use #portagewi in your social media posts.
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Check out the Chamber's YouTube Channel
HERE
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Job postings on portagewi.com
Check out these
job postings
on our Chamber site from our member businesses. You are welcome to post job openings your business may have at any time. Call the Chamber office at 608-742-6242 for more information.
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Want to submit an article for this newsletter?
The Chamber's monthly newsletter deadlines the 20th of the month. Members are always welcome to let others know: about new products and services; introduce new associates or promotions; provide updates about their industry or business; give helpful tips; promote a sale or event. For more information, call the Portage Chamber at 608-742-6242.
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Text PACC to 51660
to receive information about upcoming Chamber events
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Text PORTAGE to 51660
to receive information about upcoming Portage events
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Join a Service Club -
Meetings subject to change
Rotary
- Meets Mondays at Noon at Dino’s Restaurant, 2900 New Pinery Rd.
Lions Club
- Meets the 2
nd
Wednesday of the month 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 Wednesdays of the month at Dino’s Restaurant, 2900 New Pinery Rd.
Wauona Trail Women's Club
- Meets 3rd Monday of the month at 11:30am at Dino's Restaurant, 2900 New Pinery Rd. (Sept-May)
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July Chamber Meetings & Events
8 Portage Chamber Golf Outing at Portage Country Club
10 Ribbon Cutting at Spark and Sparkle at 1pm
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