Michael September 17th, 2007
September is my favorite month. Within its days it holds the last vestiges of summer and the start of fall. The leaves haven’t started to turn yet, but I know they are only a couple of weeks away. Nonetheless you can see the signs of the turning season in the skies with the fall migration or in the farmer’s field as the corn turns brown, ready for harvest.
Ced Vig of the Rhinelander Daily News has more signs of September in his column. For example:
Cranberries soon to be harvested in Northwoods. Cranberries are one of only three fruits native to North America - the other two are blueberries and Concord grapes. This tasty little berry was a staple in the diets of American Indians long before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock.
Read the entire story here.
Michael July 26th, 2007
The Wisconsin Historical Society has beeen besieged with budget cuts every year for the last several years. As the well of State funding dries up, the Society has had to keep its operation running by seeking out other funding sources. One such source is the sale of historical image copies. The Historical Society has over three million images in its archives and has generated about $100,000 last year in the sales of copies of those images. About 30,000 of these images are searchable on the Historical Society Website and roughly another 6,000 will be added this year. Check out the collection and maybe you’ll find something to decorate your empty walls with.
Originally reported by the Janesville Gazette.
The Kids June 18th, 2007
We were at the Renewable Energy Fair. There was all kinds of ways that people of all ages can save energy. There was a type of candy that is the seeds of E85. It tasts like bubble gum, but when you fuel with E85 instead of gas, a flex fuel vehicle driver can prevent 4 tons of lifecycle carbon dioxide emission from entering our atmoshere every year. CO2 is a primary pollutant associated with global warming says the American Lung Association of MN. But there was also homade soap that had no animal fat in them so that way we can also save the animals. You can’t forget solar panels, they are the most known way to save energy.What solar panels do is use the sun as a natral way to fuel things. There were also these black tubes that you can let sit in the sun so that way there is anthor way that you can heat your water and save money by useing the sun. There are all kinds of different ways that you can save energy and money and you might even think about geting a car that runs on gas and electricity. Maybe in the future they will perfect the car that can use solar panels or just the electric car.
On the Greta Greatness Scale the Midwest Renewable Energy Fair rated 4 1\2 out of 5
Christine June 5th, 2007
Get ready for the Renewable Energy and Sustainable Living Fair coming up June 15 - 17 in Custer (just east of Stevens Point on Hwy 10). This is the largest event of its type and well worth the trip!
Their website describes the festival the best:
Since its inception in 1990, the Renewable Energy & Sustainable Living Fair has has shown 190,000 fairgoers how to change the world while having fun. Each summer the Fair transforms rural Custer, Wisconsin into the global hot spot for renewable energy education. The Fair is the world’s largest renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable living educational event of its kind. Please join us this year!
If you are looking for ideas on how to make your footprint on the earth smaller- this is the place to go. They have workshops galore, even the kids can get involved.
See you there!
Christine May 29th, 2007
It’s more than just theater, it is a full afternoon of fun (at least on Sunday it is the afternoon, other days it would be an evening of fun). We attended an afternoon performance of Beau Jest this past Sunday. We were treated to a fabulous Sunday brunch, a stroll in the gardens and great comedy.
We arrived at about 12:30 for a buffet lunch and were seated immediately. Everyone who helped us were incredibly curteous and professional. We had a leisurely lunch and tried just about everything! Greta reccomends the barbecue beef (sliced) and Carl will tell you all about the Blintzes (he got the last 2- what a happy kid!) I say try it all- each entree was wonderful.
Between lunch and the performance we had time to stroll through the gardens. They have a nice variety of plants and an awesome view of the Chippewa River Valley. Benches are placed all along the path for resting and enjoying the view. The pond is filled with frogs to be at this time.
The show itself was a hoot! The theater is very intimate and you can easily see the actors’ expressions. The kids and I laughed through each scene. There were several serious moments that were well done as well- even I could feel the tension. Definately a comedy for the whole family!
The Fanny Hill is located in Eau Claire. If you are looking for a great weekend getaway, extend your visit with a stay at the Victorian Inn that is part same building. The rooms are elegant and more than a bit romantic!
Check out there schedule at www.fannyhill.com.
Michael May 16th, 2007
Would you believe the last time the beer tax in Wisconsin was increased it was the year 1969. The tax per barrel was increased from $1.00 to $2.00. Now, some legislators want to increase it again from $2.00 to $10.00 per barrel. This works out to an increase from 3.6cents to 18 cents per six pack. The current tax brings in about 1.6 million dollars a year. The new tax could bring in $40 to $48 million. The money would be earmarked for alchohol abuse, addiction and education. Rep. Terese Berceau and Sen. Fred Risser, both Democrats from Madison are supporting the increased beer tax.
From the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel:
According to the national Beer Institute, Wisconsin ranked sixth in beer consumption in 2006, with an average of 38.2 gallons consumed for every person 21 and older.
Wisconsin’s $2-a-barrel tax is third lowest in the nation, behind the 59-cent levy in Wyoming and the $1.86 tax in Missouri.
In Madison, officials lined up to distance themselves from the beer proposal.
“I want the residents of (my) Senate district to know that I will fight this proposal with all my power,” state Sen. Roger Breske (D-Eland), the former president of the Tavern League of Wisconsin, said in a statement.
It sounds like this proposal probably won’t make it very far.
Michael May 11th, 2007
Grocery Getter,
originally uploaded by backroadwisconsin.
Lube up the chain and find a rubber band for your pants. Bike to Work week is coming next week. The Bike Federation of Wisconsin has activities planned in Madison and Milwaukee, but you don’t need to live in those communities to bike to work. If your daily commute is under 5 miles, then biking to work makes sense. It won’t take you much longer than driving and you get a bit of excercise and fresh air to boot. Plus think about all the gas you’ll save by not driving your car. Even if you can’t bike all week, at least try to bike on Friday the 18th for national Bike to Work day.
Christine May 10th, 2007
The schedule for Men’s Badger Hockey has been released! There are many highlights to the season as noted in the article on the Badger website:
“Highlighting the slate are up to 13 contests against 2006 NCAA Tournament teams, as well as a game against 2007 NCAA Champion Michigan State and a pair of home games against 2007 NCAA Frozen Four-partipant North Dakota. Other notable contests include four games against 2007 MacNaughton Cup champion Minnesota and the 19th annual Badger Hockey Showdown. The University of Wisconsin is also schedule to play host to the 2007 NCAA Midwest Regional at the Kohl Center on March 29-30.”
Christine May 7th, 2007
Although the Film Incentives law is not set to go into effect until 2008, Film Wisconsin has found a home at Visit Milwaukee. They have also received some funding from Visit Milwaukee to help attract more production crews to Milwaukee, such as the recent Hyundai commercial that used the Milwaukee Art Museum.
Check out this article at The Business Journal.
Michael May 2nd, 2007
Hudson, WI, the little town on the border of western Wisconsin now owns the distinction of being the “Best Small Town in the Midwest to Visit” as recognized by Midwest Living Magazine. Hudson actually came in 58 over of best midwest destinations, but topped the list in the best small town category.
As one who doesn’t know a whole lot about Hudson; my knowledge of the town is made up of the stretch of discount stores and gas stations that dot I-94 as the highway cross the St. Croix River into Minnesota. So this was a surprise to me that Hudson would receive this honor. Although I can’t deny it, the bluffs are beautiful and the expanse of the St Croix is a sight to behold. Winning this award definately brings new found respect to the town.
Read more about the award and the other top 100 midwest destinations in the June, 2007 issue of Midwest Living. More about Hudson’s award can be found in the Hudson Star-Observer.