Here are a selection of brief news items from this week's paper edition, and possibly a few news briefs that didn't make it in the paper.

Belgian waffle breakfast planned at BHS

An all-you-can-eat Belgian waffle breakfast is planned for Sunday, Nov. 9, with proceeds supporting the Bangor High School post-prom party.

The event will run from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the high school cafeteria. Cost is $5 in advance or $6 at the door, with children 5 and younger eating free.

Advance tickets are available at the high school, Farmers State Bank, First National Bank of Bangor and Meyers Sales and Service.

Bangor music students plan Harvestfest

The Bangor Middle/High School music departments along with the Bangor Music Backers will host their annual Harvestfest on Friday, Nov. 14, in the high school gymnasium.

Doors will open at 6 p.m. with the band and choir concert beginning at 7 p.m., followed by festivities including a cake/pie walk, kid’s games, door prizes, bake sale and cash raffle giveaway. Concessions, including hot dogs and barbeque will be available before and after the concert.

Admission is $1, and advance raffle tickets can be purchased from any music student.

Bangor High School to host flu shot clinic

There will be a community flu clinic at Bangor High School on Nov. 18, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in the school district board room. The cost is $20 per shot. For more information, call Lori Schwarz at 486-5250.

Clearwater Farm selling trees, wreaths

Orders are now being taken for Fraser fir Christmas trees and wreaths as part of the sixth annual Clearwater Farm Foundation fundraiser.

Trees pre-ordered by Nov. 15 will get a $5 discount on tree prices, which are $55 for a 6- to 7-foot tree and $80 for a 8- to 12-foot tree. Wreaths are $20.

Tree pickup dates will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays, Nov. 29, Dec. 6 and Dec. 13 at Clearwater Farm on Green Coulee Road in Onalaska. On tree pickup days, watch out for the Christmas Elf, who will be peeking out of windows around the farm.

For more information or to order trees and wreaths, call Shari Collas at 783-0675 or e-mail sharicollas@yahoo.com.

Bowling event to help disabled kids get needed service dogs

Capable Canines of Wisconsin will host a Bowl for BowWows event to help raise funds for two area families in need of service dogs.

Westly Pfaff is severely autistic and needs a dog to keep him from wandering off and to find him when he does. Thomas Knutson is a hearing-impaired teen who needs to be alerted when the doorbell rings, alarms are activated and other emergencies. Both would greatly benefit from the help of their service dogs.

The event will be held Saturday, Nov. 15, at South Lanes in La Crosse with two bowling sessions, one from 2 to 5 p.m. and one from 9 p.m. to midnight. Teams will bowl three games.

The public is invited to sign up to bowl either as an individual to be placed on a team or come with a team of co-workers or a team of friends. The public also can make a pledge to one of the bowlers, be a sponsor or donate door prizes — shirts, gift cards or gift packages for those who raise pledges for our bowling event.

Those donating $100 or more will receive recognition throughout the event and have the chance to put marketing material in goody bags.

EcoPark wants your political yard signs

When the elections are over, people can put unwanted political yard signs to good use by recycling them. Myrick Hixon EcoPark volunteers are collecting them to re-use the wire holders and properly dispose of the signs.

People can drop off old, unwanted political yard signs at the Hixon Nature Center building, 2702 Quarry Road, La Crosse.

For more information, call the center at 784-0303.

Dance school workshops feature special guest

Misty’s School of Dance in Onalaska will host a two-day workshop with guest artist Marc Wayne and the Maxxas Dance Theatre on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 14-15.

Kansas City-based Wayne has been a professional entertainer for 25 years, dancing in movies, television and stage productions and is currently on the faculty at The Culture House as dance educator and director of the STAR (Serving Teens At Risk) Program).

The workshop is aimed at dancers of first intermediate level and up (approximately age 8 and older), and classes will be divided according to level.

A session featuring jazz choreography will run from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday. The Saturday session will run from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. and feature jazz, tap and modern dance.

Members of the Maxxas Dance Theatre and workshop participants will put on a free dance performance at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Classes and the performance will be at Misty’s, 980 12th Ave. S., Onalaska.

Cost of the workshop is $65, and registration deadline is Nov. 13. To register or for more information, call 779-4642.

MVC set for 11th annual banquet Nov. 13

The Mississippi Valley Conservancy, a regional land trust based in La Crosse, will celebrate 11 years of conservation and being named Land Trust of the Year at its annual banquet on Thursday, Nov. 13, at the La Crosse Radisson Hotel Ballroom starting at 5 p.m.

This year’s banquet features a special program honoring Ben Logan and his book “The Land Remembers.” Hors d’oeuvres and wine produced in the region will be served. The banquet also includes a silent auction that will feature a wide range of original and reproduced works of art and handiwork from area artisans, gift baskets, and many more unique items for every taste and budget.

To sign up for this gala event, call 784-3606, ext. 1, or e-mail: mrich@mississippivalleyconservancy.org.

Franciscan Skemp Onalaska clinic adds internal medicine

Franciscan Skemp Healthcare, part of Mayo Health System, opened an internal medicine department in the Onalaska clinic, 191 Theater Road, on Nov. 3.

The department will be staffed by Caroline Fisher, MD, and Mamatha Bollineni, MD, and will offer personal primary care for adults, which includes annual exams and preventive medicine as well as the management of acute and chronic medical conditions.

The department will be open varying hours between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. and will offer same day appointments. Walk-in patients are also welcome. Appointments can be made by calling (608) 392-5025.

Fisher is transferring her practice from the Franciscan Skemp La Crosse campus to Onalaska. Fisher earned her medical degree from the University of Wisconsin Medical School in Madison.

Bollineni is new to Franciscan Skemp Healthcare and recently completed her internal medicine residency at St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, Ill. She earned her medical degree from Guntur Medical College, Guntur, India.

Red Cross blood drives scheduled

Red Cross blood drives are planned in the coming weeks in La Crosse and West Salem.

Associated Bank of La Crosse, 601 N. Seventh St., will host a blood drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12.

A blood drive will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17, at Business Objects, 332 Front St. S. La Crosse.

A drive also is planned for 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25, at West Salem Presbyterian Church, 625 Franklin St.

To make an appointment for the La Crosse drives, call

1-800-GIVE-LIFE or visit www.givebloodgivelife.org.

To make an appointment for the West Salem drive, call Connie at 786-0684.

WTC seminar explores personality types

Western Technical College’s Business and Industry Services Division will offer the seminar “Why Do I Behave This Way? Exploring the MBTI” on Tuesday, Nov. 18, from 9 a.m.-noon, at the La Crosse campus.

This seminar will delve into the Meyers Briggs Type Indicator, the most widely used psychological instrument. It provides an approach to personal and group developments by looking at the multi-faceted way adult minds process information.

Participants will complete the MBTI test to identify their preferred personality type and discover how to use that information when interacting with others. The MBTI concepts may be used in team development, conflict management, leadership, coaching, and sales.

Cost is $95. To register, call 785-9232 or e-mail bis@westerntc.edu.

United Auto Supply launches food drive

United Auto Supply stores are conducting a food drive during the first two weeks of November. Everything collected will be donated to area food pantries.

Nonperishable food donations can be dropped off at any of 14 area United Auto Supply stores. For more information, call 782-6262.

Refuge photo contest entries sought

The Friends of the Upper Mississippi River Refuges are taking entries for the 11th annual photography contest.

Photos will be accepted from amateurs or professionals until Dec. 5. Photos should be sent or brought to the Winona District office of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge at 51 E. Fourth St., Room 203, in Winona, Minn.

Contest categories include landscape and wildflowers, people, bird life and other wildlife. All photos must be taken on the Upper Mississippi River, Driftless Area or Trempealeau National Wildlife refuges.

For rules and other information, contact Ranger Ed Lagace at (507) 494-6236 or log onto www.friendsofuppermiss.org.

Archaeology center sets fall reception

This past summer’s archaeological digs throughout the La Crosse area will be the focus of a presentation during the annual Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center’s fall reception.

The event begins with a social hour at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, in Port O’ Call, at the UW-La Crosse Cartwright Center-Gunning Addition. Awards will be presented at 7, followed by a lecture at 7:30.

The lecture highlights digs at Sand Lake in Onalaska as well as the center’s other summer excavations. The digs were directed by MVAC Executive Director Joseph Tiffany and MVAC archaeologist Wendy Holtz-Leith.

They will detail digs from phase II of excavations at the Lower Sand Lake site prompted by future development and road improvements. Among the finds were fragments of worked copper, obsidian flakes, the stem of a catlinite tobacco pipe and early Mississippian pottery. Additional findings from other investigations will be highlighted.

Tickets are $10 per person. Make reservations with MVAC, 1725 State St., La Crosse WI 54601 or 785-8463 by Friday, Nov. 7.

Kohl staffer to hold hours in Holmen

U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl’s staff assistant, John Medinger, will hold office hours to meet with constituents on Tuesday, Nov. 11, at Holmen Village Hall.

Medinger will be at Village Hall, 421 S. Main St., from 1 to 2 p.m. No appointment is necessary.

Medinger also can be contacted at Kohl’s regional office at 425 State St., Suite 202, La Crosse, or by calling 796-0045.

Disabled American Veterans need drivers, money for new vans

The Disabled American Veterans is mounting a fundraising drive to replace five aging vans of its statewide fleet used to transport veterans to and from VA medical facilities.

In addition, volunteer drivers are needed for the one van per day transporting veterans back and forth between La Crosse and the Tomah facility for scheduled medical appointments.

Volunteers with a regular driver’s license will need to pass a physical and get tested for tuberculosis. They would also undergo a criminal background check and a driving record check.

The DAV is seeking $100,000 in contributions for their New Van Fund. Checks can be made payable to DAV State Department New Van Fund, and send to DAV Department of Wiscon-sin, 130 Dauphin St., Green Bay, WI 54301.

For more information, to donate or to volunteer as a driver, contact Peggy Anderson at the Tomah VA at (608) 372-3971, ext. 66227.

State urges attention to heating issues

The Department of Administration’s Division of Energy Services and the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin are urging energy customers to contact their local utility if their heat is currently disconnected.

The agencies are also encouraging residents to take advantage of energy-efficiency programs and the state’s low-income bill payment assistance programs to reduce the burden of their utility bills this winter.

Wisconsin law states that consumers cannot be disconnected during the heating moratorium period from Nov. 1 to April 15, if they are connected at the start of the moratorium. Customers who are currently disconnected must make arrangements with their local utility to pay outstanding bills in order to have their service restored.

If a consumer has not made arrangements to pay an outstanding bill, the utility is not required to reconnect the service until payment arrangements have been made.

There is financial assistance available for eligible households who cannot pay their gas or electric bills this winter. The Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program administers low-income and energy assistance programs for the state. WHEAP is part of the state’s comprehensive Home Energy Plus program which also provides assistance with emergency energy needs, emergency furnace repairs, and weatherization and conservation services.

Eligibility is based on income and family size. For example, a family of four that earns $7,743.75 or less in the three months prior to applying for assistance is potentially eligible. For a two-person family the earnings must be $5,133.75 or less. Benefits are based on income levels and energy bills. Consumers do not have to be behind in their energy bill payments to qualify.

For information about WHEAP, including contact information for local energy assistance offices, call 1-866-HEATWIS (1-866-432-8947) or visit www.homeenergyplus.wi.gov.

Tips to conserve energy while staying warm

Worried about winter utility bills? The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin offers the following easy, low-cost steps that can help reduce energy use while staying safe.

Find and repair air drafts from windows and doorways.

Keep heating vents clear of rugs or furniture.

Ensure your furnace has clean air filters.

When doing laundry, use cold water and adjust water levels to fit the load size. Also, clean the lint filter after every dryer load.

Lower water heater temperatures to 115-120 degrees.

Remove window air conditioning units to stop winter drafts from coming through its vents.

Open the drapes or blinds during sunny days to take advantage of solar heat. Close them at night to reduce heat loss.

Turn down the thermostat several degrees when leaving the house for extended periods of time or before going to bed.

Close off rooms of your home that are not used.

Consumers also can help improve energy efficiency in their home by requesting a home energy audit through Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy Program. Focus on Energy consultants visit homes and suggest improvements to significantly lower energy bills, while staying safe and comfortable.

For more information about home energy audits, call Focus on Energy at 1-800-762-7077 or visit www.focusonenergy.org.

For more information about energy conservation, visit the PSC’s website at: http://psc.wi.gov/consumerinfo/conservation/indexConservation.htm.

Workshop looks at simpler holidays

The Southeast Minnesota chapter of the Holistic Moms Network will host a workshop on how to simplify the holidays and create an enjoyable celebration that reflects each participant’s values. It will take place on Nov. 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the Houston Nature Center, 215 W. Plum St. in Houston, Minn.

The workshop is based upon the New American Dream Web site brochure “Simplify the Holidays,” which can be found on www.newdream.org. As the brochure points out, “Too often, the holidays seem to exhaust rather than uplift us.”

Instead, the Holistic Moms Network’s workshop aims to help attendees “create holidays that instill more meaning into the season and encourage more sharing, laughter and personal renewal.”

The workshop will also present alternative gift ideas such as home-baked goods, tickets to an event or exhibit or even personal certificates for time with the children in your

The workshop is free, but an RVSP is required to reserve a seat. For more information or to reserve your space, contact Tricia Runningen at (507) 896-4752 or mtrunningen@acegroup.cc.

County homeowners get septic repair grants

The state of Wisconsin has awarded seven La Crosse County homeowners $29,975 this year for replacement of their failing private on-site waste septic system.

The participants came from the towns of Hamilton, Holland, Onalaska and Shelby. Awards granted to county residents since 1983 have totaled $469,690.

The purpose of this program is to help property owners make needed corrections to have their existing system replaced so that it does not cause infusion of sewage into the groundwater or allow sewage to come to the surface and thus, be a health hazard to the individuals and their neighbors.

To be eligible for the program, homeowners must have failing systems and replace that system according to state and local plumbing codes. For more information, contact the La Crosse County Health Department at 785-9872.

Alzheimer’s vigil set for Nov. 10 at BSJ

Bethany St. Joseph Care Center in La Crosse is hosting a candlelight vigil on Monday, Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. in honor of patients at Avalon, a BSJ special unit for patients who have memory care needs. The vigil is being held in conjunction with Alzheimer’s Awareness Month.

The vigil offers an opportunity to remember those who have suffered and died of Alzheimer’s; to honor and remember caregivers who gave and continue to give of themselves on behalf of others; and to bring awareness to the fight against Alzhemier’s disease and related dementia.

The vigil, the first BSJ has sponsored, will be held indoors in the BSJ Care Center Chapel located at 2501 Shelby Road in La Crosse.

For more information or to RSVP, contact Lori Bagniewski at 788-5700.

Youth club seeks variety of donations

The West Salem branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater La Crosse is seeking donations of a number of items, including:

Snacks, such as pretzels, crackers, sandwich cookies, cereal, hot dogs, peanut butter, popcorn, mac and cheese, fruits and veggies, juice

Art supplies such as markers, color pencils, crayons, water colors, tempera paints, stickers, glue, pencils, colored paper and coloring books.

Miscellaneous items including gently used furniture and rugs, PG- or G-rated DVDs, Playstation or Xbox games, board games, sports equipment, Band-Aids, Clorox wipes and seasonal decorations.

For more information, call Deana Protz, the club’s site director, at 786-1392.

Duck identification brochure released

“Waterfowlers Know Your Ducks” is the title of a new brochure printed by the La Crosse County Conservation Alliance in partnership with other local conservation organizations and La Crosse Graphics.

The brochure shows the distinguishing characteristics of canvasback and scaup. The reason is because there is no canvasback hunting season this year and the scaup bag limit has been reduced.

The Alliance also converted a VHS video “King of Ducks,” a 16-minute duck identification video, to DVD format.

Both the DVD and brochure are available online at www.Briceprairieconservation.org

Also available at the website is an online version of “Ducks at a Distance,” a waterfowl identification field guide by Bob Hines USFWS.

Paper copies of the brochure also are available.

Crafters sought for Lakeview bazaar

Crafters are needed for a holiday craft show and bazaar planned for Nov. 15 at Lakeview Health Center in West Salem.

The show will be open to the public with free admission. Booths are still available at $10 each.

The Lakeview Auxiliary also will be having a bake and lunch sale. For more information, call Rebecca at 786-1400, ext. 133.

Senior advocate volunteers needed

The Wisconsin Board on Aging is seeking volunteers to train as advocates for older adults living in La Crosse County nursing homes. For more information, call Karen Price at 789-6366.

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