Story originally printed in the Coulee News or online at www.couleenews.com
Published - Thursday, February 28, 2008
News in brief
Here is a selection of brief news items from this week's paper edition.
A woman who specializes in compilers and program optimization for high performance computers will give two presentations Monday, March 3, at UW-La Crosse.
Frances Allen, an IBM Fellow Emerita at the T.J. Watson Research Laboratory, will give a symposium at 11 a.m. on “Parallel Computers Will be Everywhere: How will we use them?” She will give a keynote on “Languages, Compilers and High Performance Systems: A Personal Perspective” at 5 p.m.
Both presentations, at the Cleary Alumni & Friends Center, are free and open to the public. A reception with Allen will follow both.
While the events are free, registration is encouraged. Register by calling the UW-La Crosse Foundation at 785-6803.
A “Raise the Roof” fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity will offer dancing to classic rock, food from area businesses and casino games on Saturday, March 1, at Stoney Creek Inn, Onalaska.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Advanced tickets are $8 and available at the Habitat ReStore in downtown La Crosse. Tickets at the door are $10.
“The support from the community this year is outstanding” said Linda Temte, chair of the committee organizing the event.
People can try food from Kate’s on State, Nell’s City Grill, Coney Island, Kwik Trip, and Premier Catering as well as play casino games donated by The Big Event Company. Everyone involved, including the band, The Remainders, have donated their products and services.
There also will be a raffle including a party for six at The Wine Guyz, a YMCA membership, $250 cash, a Fender Guitar from Dave’s Guitar and much more.
Temte said more than 50 area businesses are supporting this event through their donations and sponsorships and specially thanked platinum sponsors Brothers Bar & Grill, Logistics Health and Schweser/Kaplan.
For more information, visit the Habitat Web site at www.habitatlacrosse.org or call 785-2373.
A benefit will be held for long-time West Salem area resident Jerry Riley, who is battling pancreatic cancer.
Riley was diagnosed with cancer in October 2004. Although the cancer went into remission, it has returned and is advanced stages.
A benefit will be held in his honor to raise money for every day expenses, medical bills and medical supplies. The benefit will be Sunday, March 16 at The Log Cabin in Bangor from 2-6 p.m. There will be live music, raffle drawings and prize give-aways.
If interested in giving donations or items to be raffled off, send them to: Barb and Patrick Hansen, 204 E. Hamilton St., West Salem, WI 54669; or Richard and Judy Riley, 302 N. 17 Ave., Bangor, WI 54614.
For large item pick-up, contact Barb at 786-1169.
The Gospel Music Benefit Choir Concert to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of West Salem Area will be held Sunday, March 2 at the Heider Center at 2 p.m.
Music will be performed by Coulee Chordsmen and The Winona Hims.
Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and $5 for students.
Tickets are available at Coulee Chordsmen, EZ Print & Copy of West Salem, Features Sports Bar & Grill, Ace Hardware, Le Coulee Cheese Castle, Hansen’s IGA, Westview Inn, Brenengen Chevrolet and the Boys & Girls Club.
Tickets also can be purchased by contacting Dale Montgomery at 780-SING or Vicki Miller at 786-0338.
To help boost blood supplies during an often difficult month for blood donations due to inclement weather and the flu, the American Red Cross is giving blood donors a free movie pass if they recruit a new blood donor to donate blood or platelets at a participating blood donation center during February.
To be eligible for the free movie tickets, blood donors and their friends must complete a Bring-A-Friend card, both donate blood during February 2008, and the friend must be a new blood donor or someone who hasn’t donated since Jan. 1, 2006.
Once both donate blood and turn in the cards they will each receive a free pass to see a movie of their choice.
Log onto givebloodgivelife.org or call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE for full promotion details and to schedule blood donation appointments. To make platelet donation appointments in the La Crosse area, call 1-800-626-4017, ext. 357.
All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license, or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Donors must be at least 17 years old and must weigh at least 110 pounds.
The La Crosse County Health Department once again is offering radon test kits to anyone interested in checking the radon level in their home. Radon test kits can be purchased for $5 at the following locations:
Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and kills 20,000 people every year. For more information about radon, call 888-low-radon or visit www.lowradon.org.
West Salem Elementary School and various Coulee Region agencies will host Child Development Days March 7-8.
This joint program will offer information about your child’s development and the various services available to the families of West Salem.
Children will be participating in a variety of activities through a pre-arranged play area. Social, communication, motor and early learning skills will be observed. Growth and health information will be shared by various health personnel. Handouts and brochures from various community services will also be available.
The total time needed for the various activities will be about one hour.
If your child will be 4 years old by Sept. 1, call the elementary office at 786-1662 to preregister.
A wine and cheese tasting event on Tuesday, March 4, will raise money for for the La Crosse/Epinal Exchange Committee.
The event will run from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Hackberry’s Bistro, above the People’s Food Co-op, 315 Fifth Ave. S. in downtown La Crosse.
The event will feature four French wines and assorted French appetizers and cheeses, along with a silent auction and door prizes
Tickets are available from the People’s Food Co-op customer service desk and Stamp ‘n Hand in downtown La Crosse as well as any La Crosse/Epinal committee members.
Cost of a ticket is $28 in advance and $30 at the door.
Proceeds will benefit all the various Epinal committee activities, including cultural, student and sporting exchanges, hosting delegates from France and sponsoring special events.
Learn more about the La Crosse/Epinal Exchange at www.cityoflacrosse.org/index.asp?nid=567.
Hope Community Church in West Salem will host Christian romance writer Maureen Lang, author of “The Oak Leaves” and “On Sparrow Hill,” for an afternoon of spiritual and practical lessons she has learned raising a special-needs child.
“The Oak Leaves” is March Book of the Month at Shepherd’s Voice in Onalaska. Copies will be available for signing the day of the event.
The program, called “Designed by God,” starts at noon Saturday, March 29, and will feature a luncheon and fellowship time at the church, 134 E. Hamilton St. Cost is $5. For more information or reservations, call 786-4953 by March 22.
North, Bangor, New Amsterdam, Mindoro and North Bend Presbyterian churches will hold 6 p.m. potlucks followed by worship services for Lent at New Amsterdam Presbyterian Church on March 5 at Mindoro Presbyterian Church and on March 12 at North Bend Presbyterian Church.
The Franciscan Spirituality Center, 920 Market St., will hold the following programs during Lent. Call (608) 791-5295 or e-mail fscenter@fspa.org for more information. Scholarships and discounts are available.
On Saturday, March 8, the West Salem Parks and Recreation Department will hold a softball clinic for girls who are in first grade through eighth grade.
The clinic will provide an opportunity for players of all abilities to strengthen their skills and develop and learn the fundamentals of hitting, fielding, pitching, and throwing.
Check-in is at West Salem High School at 1:15 p.m. The clinic will run from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Players will be divided up so that everyone will receive appropriate instruction.
Registration forms are required and may be picked up at the recreation office at 175 S. Leonard St. The fee is $15 before March 7 or $20 at the door on March 8.
Parents and future coaches are welcome and encouraged to attend. Time will be set aside at the end of the clinic for questions from parents or coaches.
A spring baseball clinic for grades 2-8 will be held at West Salem Elementary’s gym on March 29.
For more information, contact the West Salem Parks and Recreation Department at 786-0222.
n March 6-7 — West Salem Elementary’s Child Development Days; if your child will be 4 years old by Sept. 1, call the elementary office at 786-1662 to preregister.
All stories copyright 2006 Coulee News and other attributed sources.