FOND DU LAC – For the past five years, the Fond du Lac Morning Rotary Club has provided books to classrooms in Fond du Lac School District’s elementary schools. The project is part of an initiative to provide books that help kids view those who appear different from them through a new lens.
The Fond du Lac Morning Rotary Club has funded approximately 450 to 500 books at each of the school’s classroom libraries, and almost $20,000, since the project began. Rotary purchases the books and distributes them to the schools.
The school reading specialists select the books they would like to have ordered for their school. Teachers support the program because it provides more diverse-themed books and can be used to spark meaningful conversations.
Literacy and basic education are a focus of The Rotary Foundation and Fond du Lac Morning Rotary Club. For more information, visit fdlmorningrotary.com.
Pedestrian bridge opens:Check out the finished pedestrian bridge between Lakeside Park and Lakeside Park West
Holy Family initiates free summer lunch program
Holy Family Catholic Community will provide lunch to children and adults as part of its new program, Summer Bites.
For the past three summers, Holy Family worked with The Salvation Army of Fond du Lac County to provide free meals through the organization’s Brown Bag Lunch Program. This year, to expand the availability of meals in the community, Holy Family will offer its own summer lunch program.
Each Tuesday, now through Aug. 20, volunteers will pack approximately 400 lunches, which will include a sandwich, water or juice, fruit and a snack. The Charity Club sponsors the meat for sandwiches with the rest of the meal complied with donations from parishioners and the community.
Meals will be distributed at the following locations and times:
- Maplewood Commons, Martin Avenue and Hawthorne Drive, 11 to 11:20 a.m.
- Sacred Heart Church parking lot, 200 S. Peters Ave., 11 to 11:20 a.m.
- St. Mary’s Church parking lot, off Rees Street, 11 to 11:20 a.m.
- Jefferson Park, Ninth Street and Sherman Street, 11:30 to 11:50 a.m.
- Buttermilk Park parking lot, 700 S. Park Ave., 11:30 to 11:50 a.m.
- Little Ceasar’s parking lot, corner of Scott and Main Streets, 11:30 to 11:50 a.m.
- St. Katharine Drexel Shelter parking lot, 358 N. Peters Ave., noon to 12:20 p.m.
To volunteer or make a donation to the program, contact the Holy Family Parish Office at 920-921-0580.
Red Cross blood drives set in Fond du Lac County
American Red Cross asks the public to give blood or platelets to help combat a shortfall in recent donations. There is always a need for Type O and platelet donors.
A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required. Individuals 17 years old (16 with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in general good health may be eligible to donate blood. Donors younger than 18 also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Those who donate now through June 30 will get a $15 e-gift card to a merchant of choice. For more information, visit RedCrossBlood.org/DoGood.
Upcoming blood drives:
- June 18: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thrive Church, 79 E. Second St., Fond du Lac.
- June 20: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Avenue 795, 795 Fond du Lac Ave., Fond du Lac.
- June 25: 12:30 to 5:30 p.m., Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church ELCA, 430 Griswold St., Ripon.
- June 26: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Church of Peace, 158 S. Military Road, Fond du Lac.
- June 27: Noon to 5 p.m., Radisson Hotel and Conference Center, 625 W. Rolling Meadows Drive, Fond du Lac.
To make an appointment, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 800-733-2767.
Ripon library programs explore travel, celebrate pollinators
The Ripon Public Library has announced its something-for-everyone summer lineup. Programs are free, thanks to the Friends of the Library and other donations. Registration is not required unless noted.
A six-week series, “Armchair Travel,” will take place several Mondays starting June 17. The program will begin at noon at the library or via Zoom and is suited for ages 10 and older. The Zoom link can be found online at riponlibrary.org.
For the June 17 session, Mandy Kimes will present pictures and stories about her travels in the Dominican Republic. Attendees can bring a snack or lunch. Cookies and beverages will be served. The next session will explore Italy with Julia Manor.
The library will mark Pollinator Week June 16 to 22, in partnership with Ripon College.
A Ceresco Prairie Pollinator Walk will be held at 1 p.m. June 18. Dr. Ben Grady and Ripon College student researchers lead tours and discuss the importance of pollination while pointing out pollinators along the way. Meet behind the Willmore Center, 400 Union St., at the entrance to the Ceresco Prairie Conservancy. Rain date is 1 p.m. June 20.
On June 19, take part in pollinator-oriented activities from 4 to 6 p.m. during Pollinator Palooza. There will be native plant and seed giveaways, a collaborative collage art project, clay seed balls, along with information and activities to expand awareness of pollinators beyond bees and butterflies.
“Power of Pollinators Family Fun” will begin at 10 a.m. June 20. The event will include stories, music and hands-on activities geared toward youth ages 3 to 8.
A Game Night for those ages 16 and older will be offered 6 to 8 p.m. June 19. A variety of tabletop board games will be available including Everdell, Earth, Flamecraft, Horrified, Parks, and Thunder Road. Staff will be on hand to help.
For more information on any of these programs, visit the website at riponlibrary.org or call 920-748-6160.
Audubon members lead Tuesday Walks during summer
Explore trails and yards in Fond du Lac County and city with members of Audubon. All walks begin at 6:30 p.m. Wear good walking shoes, bring insect repellent, and binoculars if available.
Audubon’s Summer Evening Tuesday Walks continue June 18. This was the rain date for the Fond du Lac Chimney Survey. If the survey was completed, the group will take a road trip to Powell Lake Conservancy, W598 County K, Ripon. Meet at 5:45 p.m. to carpool in the southwest corner of Menards parking. The walk leader is Diana Beck.
A Farm Walk will be offered June 25 at W6744 Rogersville Road. Explore a farm with original farm buildings from the 1890s, draft horses, beehives, fields/gardens, and river shoreline along the west branch of the Fond du Lac River. Leaders are members of Furrows to Fences.
For more information about the summer walks, contact dianahbeck@gmail.com or 920-922-7931.
‘Right to Read’ documentary to be shown at Fond du Lac library
An award-winning documentary, “The Right to Read,” will be screened at the Fond du Lac Public Library, 32 Sheboygan St.
Free showings are scheduled for: 6 p.m. June 19; noon July 24; and 6 p.m. Aug. 21. Screenings are open to the public and include an opportunity to discuss the film.
Executive produced by LeVar Burton, “The Right to Read” shares the stories of an NAACP activist, a teacher, and two families who fight to provide America’s youngest generation with the most foundational indicator of lifelong success: the ability to read. The documentary has been selected nationally at multiple film festivals, including the 2023 Milwaukee Film Festival.
Public welcome to Strawberry Social at at Salem UMC
Salem United Methodist Church, 120 Sheboygan St., will host a Strawberry Social on June 25.
From 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., sloppy joes, chips, desserts, ice cream and strawberries will be served. The public is welcome to attend.
Inaugural ‘Bowl with the Dock Spiders’ charity event is June 25
The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders will host its first-ever charity bowling event, “Bowl with the Dock Spiders” on June 25 at Ledgeview Lanes in Fond du Lac. Funds raised will benefit The Arc Fond du Lac and Timber Rattlers Give Back to assist local charitable organizations.
The registration fee is $250 for each foursome and includes a Dock Spiders player or coach with each group. Check-in starts at 5 p.m. on the day of the event and bowling will begin at 6 p.m. Two games of bowling, plus pizza and soda is included with the registration fee (additional beverages will be available for purchase). Food service will begin at 8 p.m. and the winners of the raffle drawings will conclude the evening.
Register for the event by June 21 at dockspiders.com. The event will be capped at 36 foursomes. For more information, call 920-907-9833. Those unable to participate but would like to make a donation, should contact Jim Misudek at jmisudek@dockspiders.com.
Kristina Nielsen joins Fond du Lac SSM Health clinic
The SSM Health Fond du Lac Regional Clinic welcomes nurse practitioner Kristina Nielsen to its Health Plaza A location at 421 Camelot Drive, Fond du Lac. She is now accepting new patients.
Nielsen provides comprehensive, advanced orthopedic care to patients of all ages. She will provide pre-operative and post-operative care to patients undergoing orthopedic surgery. Nielsen has a particular interest in total joint replacements, acute joint pain, and fractures, as well as helping to see patients through their recovery of these conditions.
Nielsen is board certified and is a graduate of Marian University. For the past seven years, Nielsen worked as a registered nurse on the surgical and pediatric floor at SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital with orthopedic patients for the past six years.
For more information or to schedule an appointment with Nielsen, call 920-926-8616.
Fond du Lac County youth awarded Step-Up Scholarships
National Exchange Bank & Trust has awarded 2024 Step-Up Scholarships to Madison Hernandez at the high school level and Michael Doll at the college level. Hernandez and Doll were selected based on educational achievements, a written essay, and their contributions to community and school programs.
Hernandez plans to attend UW-Madison to major in psychology. She is the daughter of Adam Engles of North Fond du Lac and Elana Hernandez of Fond du Lac.
While attending Fond du Lac High School she participated in Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) Student Council, the National Honors Society, and Fond du Lac High School Student Council. In the community, Hernandez works as a barista for Uba Brews and Blends as well as Annie’s Fountain City Cafe. She also helped pass a “Trap-Neuter-Return” ordinance for the City of Fond du Lac and became co-founder of STEM TV.
Doll currently attends St. Norbert College where he is majoring in theology. He is the son of Kevin and Dawn Doll of Mt. Calvary.
Prior to attending St. Norbert, Doll was a member of a home school performing arts club, Schoenstatt Boys Youth, and 4-H. In college, he has become involved in Frassati College Catholic Men’s Group and Knights for Life. He also has been a volunteer for Shepherd of the Hills Parish and St. Norbert College Parish, and works as a cashier for Fleet Farm and in the cafeteria at St. Norbert College.
Two SSM Health nurses honored with DAISY Lifetime Awards
Kim Graff, a registered nurse with SSM Health Waupun Memorial Hospital Medical/Surgical, and Kristy Hilt, a registered nurse with SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital Home Infusion, has been awarded The DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award. The award recognizes nurses who have devoted their life’s work to the compassionate care of others.
According to a news release, honorees are considered for the award based on their career as a nurse in clinical practice, administration, education, and/or research that promote a positive image of professional nursing, among other criteria including having more than 25 years of service.
Graff was nominated by her fellow teammates. One of the nominations stated in part, “Her efforts to ensure the highest quality of care for patients has not only positively impacted individual lives but also the friends and family members of her patients. She consistently goes above and beyond to champion the rights and well-being of her patients, advocating for their needs and promoting a patient-centered approach within our system.”
Hilt was nominated by several colleagues. One of the nominations state, “Kristy is a ‘go-to’ person. She continually makes herself available to her team 24/7 to help troubleshoot. She never wants anyone to feel as if they are alone during a crisis.”
Nine scholarships awarded to Fond du Lac County students
The Hazel L. Stephenson Scholarship Committee has selected nine Fond du Lac County young adults to receive scholarships for the upcoming school year.
A total of $12,000 will be distributed among the following recipients:
- Aden Anderson is a returning student at UW-Madison working toward a degree in engineering mechanics with a certificate in business. He is a 2023 graduate of Fond du Lac High School.
- Jaimie Deschand is a current student at UW-Stevens Point majoring in mathematics with an actuarial emphasis. She is a 2022 graduate of Fond du Lac High School.
- Ella Goebel is a returning student at UW-Madison. Her major is rehabilitation psychology. She is a 2023 graduate of Campbellsport High School.
- Haley Huenink is a current student at UW-La Crosse where she majors in biology with a focus on biomedical science. She is a 2021 graduate of Waupun Area High School.
- Jaiden Lefeber is a returning student at UW-Milwaukee and plans to earn her degree in environmental engineering. She is a 2023 graduate of New Holstein High School.
- Olivia Lese will be a first year student at UW-La Crosse this fall. She plans to major in biology. She is a recent graduate of Waupun Area High School.
- Cameron Pokorny is a current student at UW-Platteville majoring in software engineering, with a minor in agribusiness. He is a 2022 graduate of Waupun Area High School.
- Hannah Scholten is a returning student at UW-La Crosse, where she majors in business administration. She is a 2021 graduate of Waupun Area High School.
- Callista Vande Berg will be a first year student at UW-Oshkosh. She plans to major in social work. She is a recent graduate of Laconia High School.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the fund. The Stephenson Scholarship Fund was established in 1974 by the will of the late Hazel L. Stephenson of Fond du Lac. Its purpose is to assist students from the county in attaining or completing an education at a UW System school.
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Fond du Lac County donation supports volunteers
Contact Mara Wegner atmwegner@gannett.comor 920-996-7241.
