String Ties to give holiday show

The Holmen Area Foundation will sponsor a holiday concert by local String Ties on Sunday, Dec. 13, starting at 3 p.m. in the Trygve Mathison Performing Arts Center at Holmen High School.

The bluegrass quartet includes bass player Larry Dalton, banjo player Tommy Pfaff, mandolin player Wayne Beezley and guitarist Dan Sebranek. After the concert there will be refreshments and a chance to meet the musicians.

There will also be a mitten and glove tree at the concert to assist needy families who need warm clothing for their children during the winter months.

Cost is $10, with a $2 discount for senior citizens.

Gospel choir plans Christmas concert

The Coulee Region Gospel Choir will present “Christmas Fantasia” on Saturday, Nov. 28, starting at 6:30 p.m. at Sand Lake Wesleyan Church, N5761 Hwy. SN in Onalaska.

The program, which takes the place of the choir’s traditional outdoor nativity pageant/concert in Holmen, will open with a brass quintet. The choir will sing several styles of Christmas favorites.

The event also will feature special guest performers including Katherine Weber singing from Handel’s “Messiah,” and Steven Marking, a world-class baritone singer who grew up in Holmen and lives in New York.

Deb Welander, Dean Gunnarson and Ruth Ann Granum direct the choir.

A minimum donation of $5 per person is asked to help cover expenses.

Raffle to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters chapter

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the 7 Rivers Region has launched its “Start the New Year in a BIG Way Raffle.” Tickets are on sale at $20 each. The drawing will be held Jan. 15 at the BBBS office at 1707 Main Street, Suite 438, La Crosse.

Fifty prizes will be awarded, including one grand prize of $5,000, with other prizes ranging from $500 to $30.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the 7 Rivers Region serves La Crosse, Winona and Trempealeau County. Big Brothers Big Sisters provides one-to-one mentoring relationships between caring volunteers and children. Through friendship with a Big Brother, Big Sister or Big Couple, children grow in caring and confidence, and become more successful in school and relationships with others.

For more information about Big Brothers Big Sisters, or about our raffle, contact Big Brothers Big Sisters in La Crosse at (608) 782-2227, in Winona at (507) 452-2227, or in Trempealeau County at (715) 985-2555.

EcoPark to host two talks on bird topics

Dan Jackson, president of the Audubon Society. will give a talk on “Feeder Birds of Southwest Wisconsin” on Saturday, Dec. 5, starting at noon at the Myrick Hixon EcoPark.

Also included will be a discussion of biology, phenology, and other tidbits that make birds special.

This program is for adults only and there is no charge, but a donation would be appreciated.

Also at the EcoPark, Andy Paulios, coordinator of the Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiative, will give an update on the organization’s new monitoring efforts for whip-poor-wills, owls, marshbirds and other bird species from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3. Cost is a $5 donation.

Kind to hold telephone town hall Dec. 2

U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, D-La Crosse, will hold a live discussion for residents of the 3rd Congressional District on Wednesday, Dec. 2, from 6:50 to 7:50 p.m.

Participants will have the opportunity to provide feedback and ask questions on agriculture issues including dairy prices and farm loans.

At the start of the call on Wednesday, a random selection of households in the district will receive a call from Kind, inviting them to participate in the telephone town hall. Constituents will then have the option of staying on the line to hear a few comments by Kind followed by the opportunity to participate in a question and answer session.

Interested constituents may also dial-into the telephone town hall by calling (toll-free) 877-269-7289 and using the code 15311.

Viterbo choir to perform Handel’s ‘Messiah’ Dec. 5-6

The Viterbo University Concert Choir and an orchestra of performers from throughout the region will perform Part I of Handel’s epic masterpiece, “Messiah,” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6 in the Fine Arts Center Main Theatre.

The work is the most beloved of Handel’s oratorios and is the most frequently performed piece of music in the English language.

This performance is directed by Viterbo music department faculty member Jean Saladino. It coincides with the Viterbo Concert Choir’s tour to London from Sunday, Dec. 27-Monday, Jan. 4. On this trip, the choir will be participating with choirs from around the United States and London and will perform at Southwark Cathedral with conductor Eric Dale Knapp.

This performance is scheduled for New Year’s Day and commemorates the 250th anniversary of Handel’s death. Viterbo has four students selected by audition to sing solos at the London performance — Marysa Abbas, Elayne Juten, Michael Rangel, and Katherine Weber.

Tickets are $17 for main floor, $16 for lower balcony, and $13 for upper balcony seating. For more information, contact the Viterbo box office at 796-3100 or visit www.viterbo.edu/fac.

Kind honored for anti-drinking efforts

Congressman Ron Kind, D-La Crosse, has been recognized by The Century Council, a national not-for-profit organization funded by distillers, for his outstanding commitment to fighting drunk driving and underage drinking. Kind was one of 21 Members of Congress to be honored for his ongoing dedication.

In June of 2009, Kind provided leadership and support for The Century Council’s Ask, Listen, Learn initiative, which encourages parents to talk with their children early and often about the dangers and risks associated with underage drinking.

Kohl honored for work on ag research

U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., was awarded the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities’ Congressional Workhorse Award for his work on behalf of agricultural research. Kohl is chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee.

Kohl fought to include $2.838 billion for U.S. Department of Agriculture research agencies in the conference report of this year’s agriculture appropriations bill. This is an increase of nearly $198 million above the fiscal year 2009 level.

The primary agricultural research agencies, the Agricultural Research Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, receive $1.251 billion and $1.343 billion respectively.

Winter road condition info available at 511

The 511 Traveler Information System, a service of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, has activated its winter road condition report feature. The report covers interstate highways and higher volume U.S. and state-numbered highways.

Winter road conditions are updated regularly as conditions change based on the field reporting from law enforcement and county highway departments. It does not include all highways at this time due to the limitations of the physical reporting requirements.

Information on winter road conditions can be obtained free by dialing 511 from a landline telephone or cell phone or by going online (www.511wi.gov).

In addition to winter road conditions, 511 provides information on incidents, including crashes and lane closures due to work zones. Information is provided by county or roadway segment.

511 traveler information is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and can be obtained by using either voice recognition or a phone’s touchtone keypad for those using a telephone or cell phone.

If in a moving vehicle, only passengers should call 511.

For best service when calling 511, WisDOT recommends minimizing background noise, including radios or open windows. Some cell phone service providers do not supply direct access to Wisconsin’s 511 traveler information system. Alternatively, the information is available free by dialing 866-511-WISC.

WTC students ready to deck your halls

The Interior Design Club at Western Technical College is offering its holiday decorating services to the public for a minimum donation of $70 for two hours of creative decorating of rooms, homes or apartments.

Students will be scheduling decorating help between Monday, Nov. 30, and Friday, Dec. 18.

To get on the schedule — it is first-come, first-served — contact Corbin Philhower at (937) 545-4545 or philhowerc@students.westerntc.edu.

Swinging Yuletide planned for UW-L

The Great River Big Band will join the UW-La Crosse instrumental and vocal jazz ensembles, along with the La Crosse Jazz Combo, for a Swinging Yuletide.

The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, in Valhalla, Cartwright Center-Gunning Addition. Seating for the event is cabaret style. A visit by Santa Claus is expected during the concert.

Tickets are a suggested donation of $5 for students and $10 for others, or reserved tickets for $20. Seating is limited; getting tickets early is recommended since the concert typically sells out.

For tickets or more information, call 785.8415.

‘Blizzard of Bucks’ coming to UW-L

The popular campus game show “Blizzard of Bucks” is coming to UW-La Crosse on Monday, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m. in Valhalla, Cartwright Center-Gunning Addition.

“Blizzard of Bucks” is a two-hour game show in which contestants compete in a variety of wacky games, hoping to ultimately win the grand prize of standing in a glass cylinder as up to $500 blows around them for the taking. The show promises to make audience members and contestants feel as if they are part of an actual game show with its use of sound, lights and Hollywood-style background. Admission is free.

Art by graduating students featured

Students graduating from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in December will display a variety of art work in the University Art Gallery.

“Graduating Seniors’ Art Exhibition” opens with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, in the University Art Gallery, located on the first floor of the UW-L Center for the Arts. The exhibit runs through Dec. 16. The reception and exhibit are free.

The students exhibiting include Patricia Bindley, Zoe Browne, Chelsie Heidke, Vong Lao, Tiffany Pedersen, Kaitlynn Radloff, Jessica Shively and Amanda Willison.

Regular gallery hours are noon to 8 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, noon to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and during Toland Theatre events. The gallery opens for appointments by calling the art department 785-8230.

Western to host children’s holiday event

The Western Technical College Parent Child Center will host its seventh annual Holiday Happening on Saturday, Dec. 5, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Center for Childhood Education building, 419 Ninth St. N., La Crosse.

A fundraiser for the center, the event features themed gift baskets, gift items and vendors such as Mary Kay, Gold Canyon Candles, Creative Memories, Avon and more.

The whole family is invited to attend this free event. An activity room will keep children busy with games and crafts while parents browse the booths. Lunch and snack items also will be for sale.

Proceeds from the Holiday Happening will be used to purchase new equipment for the classrooms.

The Parent Child Center offers child care for children ages 1-7 years. The center is available to Western Technical College faculty and students as well as the public, and it serves as a lab environment for Western’s Early Childhood Program participants. In conjunction with the La Crosse Public School District, the site also provides preschool services.

Clinic offers holistic health talk

The Franciscan Skemp Onalaska clinic’s December health and healing talk, “Spiritual Guidance and Meditation,” will be presented by Sr. Mary Kathryn Fogarty, FSPA.

This presentation will explore the meaning and purpose of spiritual guidance. There will also be time for some simple meditation practices.

The program will run from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday Dec. 3, in the lower level of the clinic, 191 Theater Road.

The presentation is free and open to all.

For more information or to register, call 392-9717.

Christmas classic returns to UW-L

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Department of Theatre Arts continues its 2009-2010 season with Charles Dickens’ well-loved holiday classic, “A Christmas Carol.”

Performances run Dec. 4-5 and 10-11 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 6 and 12-13 at 2 p.m. The performances will be staged in Toland Theatre inside UW-L’s Center for the Arts on the corner of 16th and Vine streets.

The Department of Theatre Arts welcomes two guest designers, lighting designer Jared Clarkin and scenic designer Billy Clow, to the production.

Clarkin is a UW-L graduate and is production manager for First Stage Children’s Theatre in Milwaukee. Billy Clow, former chairman of the UW-L Department of Theatre Arts and scenic and lighting designer, currently serves as dean of fine arts at the University of Montevallo.

Tickets for “A Christmas Carol” go on sale Monday, Nov. 30 at 1 p.m. Tickets are $14 for the general public, $12 for non-UW-L students, senior citizens and children and $5 for UW-L students with a valid student ID. For reservations, call the box office at 785-8522.

Retired teachers meet for lunch Dec. 7

The La Crosse Area Retired Educators will meet for lunch at 11:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7, at River Jack’s restaurant in La Crosse. Everyone who has retired from Wisconsin public schools is invited.

Lunch will be followed by music from a Logan High School singing group. Cost of the meal is $10. For reservations, call Karen Broadhead at 788-2485.

Program offers discount on LED lights

LED (light emitting diode) holiday lights are a proven way to help consumers trim energy costs while trimming their trees. Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s statewide energy efficiency and renewable energy resource, is offering financial incentives toward the purchase of Energy Star-qualified LED holiday light strings.

Now through Dec. 31, or while supplies last, Focus on Energy is offering a $3 instant reward, taken at the register, on the purchase of Energy Star-qualified LED holiday light strings at participating locations including Ace Hardware, Hardware Hank, Menards and Shopko. The rebate is limited to 12 light sets per customer.

State program offers energy aid

The Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program is now taking early energy assistance applications.

“Winter will be here before you know it,” Department of Administration Secretary Michael L. Morgan said. “Energy costs remain high and this is one way low-income families all over Wisconsin can receive assistance to offset the cost.”

The Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program provides a one-time payment each heating season (Oct. 1 through May 15) for heat and electric costs. Households eligible for energy assistance may receive payments under the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the state public benefits program. Payments depend upon household size, income level and home energy costs.

Wisconsin’s Home Energy Assistance Program helps households with incomes below 150 percent of the federal poverty level ($30,975 a year for a family of four) pay for home energy costs. Households may also qualify for crisis assistance benefits, which can include purchase of home heating fuel, reconnection of utility service, temporary shelter and heating unit replacements or repairs.

For more information about applying for the program, call 1-800-522-3014 or log onto www.homeenergyplus.wi.gov/.

County wins Healthy Homes grant

The La Crosse County Health Department has received a $7,900 Healthy Homes Project grant for from the Wisconsin Division of Public Health’s Bureau of Environmental and Occupational Health.

The Healthy Home Project funds will support home safety assessments for low-income parents with children younger than 8.

A health educator will work with each family to advise on how to make the home safer and healthier using a checklist. At the end of each home safety assessment, parents will receive free home safety devices to help prevent their child from getting injuries.

The program is available between November 2009 and September 2010. For more information, contact health educator Maichor Lee at 785-6235.

Web site offers anti-drug resource

Anyone who needs a tool to educate a family member or other friend about illicit drugs or alcohol can now obtain it through a new Web site: waragainstdrugs.org

The Web site offers a sampling of two booklets, “10 Things Your Friends May Not Know About Drugs,” and “How to Talk to Friends About Drugs.” Readers who need an anchor to educate their kids, grandkids, or other adult friends can use the booklets to explain and show how dangerous illicit drugs are to the body and mind.

Leaders of children and adult groups, such as clubs, charities, scouts, 4-H, chambers of commerce, businesses can use the booklets to raise much-needed funds as well as build positive PR for themselves.

The Web site was founded by Henry Schroeder, a longtime community newspaper publisher.

American Legion revives support fund

Wisconsin’s largest veteran service organization re-launched its Troop & Family Support Fund on Veterans Day.

The Wisconsin American Legion Family, which includes the Legion, Auxiliary, Sons of the American Legion and Legion Riders, is ramping up its efforts in anticipation of the 32nd Infantry returning from deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

About 3,500 National Guard soldiers will be returning to Wisconsin, and their needs will be varied, ranging from post-traumatic stress disorder and family reunification issues to emergency financial relief and job reintegration.

To contribute to the fund, send checks payable to: Troop & Family Support Fund, Wisconsin American Legion, P.O. Box 388, Portage, WI 53901. People also can make a secure online donation by credit card at www.wilegion.org/howcanyouhelp.

“The Wisconsin American Legion Family stands ready to assist our troops and their families in communities across the state from Kenosha to Superior and Green Bay to Platteville. We are asking for the public’s assistance to make a difference in the lives of those who have given much in service to our country,” said Department Commander Leo A. Endres.

Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law and 100 percent of all funds received directly benefit the troops and their families. Administrative costs are covered by the dues Legion members pay.

VA extends Agent Orange benefits to cover more ailments

Relying on an independent study by the Institute of Medicine, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki decided to establish a service-connection for Vietnam veterans with three specific illnesses based on the latest evidence of an association with the herbicides referred to as Agent Orange.

The illnesses affected by the recent decision are B cell leukemias, such as hairy cell leukemia; Parkinson’s disease; and ischemic heart disease.

Used in Vietnam to defoliate trees and remove concealment for the enemy, Agent Orange left a legacy of suffering and disability that continues to the present. Between January 1965 and April 1970, an estimated 2.6 million military personnel who served in Vietnam were potentially exposed to sprayed Agent Orange.

In practical terms, veterans who served in Vietnam during the war and who have a “presumed” illness don’t have to prove an association between their illnesses and their military service. This “presumption” simplifies and speeds up the application process for benefits.

The secretary’s decision brings to 15 the number of presumed illnesses recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Additional information about Agent Orange and VA’s services and programs for veterans exposed to the chemical are available at www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange.

Eagles band members for rent

People who need help getting their yards cleaned up or assistance with a long household to-do list can turn to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Screaming Eagles marching band for help.

Band members are once again offering their “Rent-an-Eagle” fundraiser. Members of the band will help with any and all general maintenance work, including yard work, seasonal cleaning, preparation for winter and more.

Band members are looking for work to help pay for a trip to Mexico in January. Cost of their services is a donation toward the trip.

To reserve a band member, call 785-6733 and leave a detailed message with name, phone number and a brief description of tasks that need doing. A band member will return the call to set up a time to help.

Alzheimers registry seeks participants

The Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute at the University of Wisconsin of Medicine and Public Health and Franciscan Skemp Healthcare are recruiting for the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention.

To be eligible for participation, people must:

New brochures cover car insurance issue

As new auto insurance laws begin to take effect in our state in the next year, the Wisconsin Association for Justice has released two brochures containing helpful information for Wisconsin auto insurance policyholders.

The first, “Understanding Auto Insurance," describes the basics about auto insurance and what is required of drivers in Wisconsin under the law as recently changed. The second, titled “What To Do If You Are In a Traffic Accident," informs them of proper steps to take to protect themselves by gathering necessary information at the time of the accident.

The brochures will be distributed to state legislators, news outlets and WAJ members across Wisconsin. The brochures are also available by contacting the Wisconsin Association for Justice office or view them online at www.wisjustice.org/consumerresources.

Roller derby team seeks members

The La Crosse Skating Sirens, the area’s newest roller derby team, are seeking adult women to join the team or serve as referees.

No experience is required and all skating levels are welcome.

The Sirens are looking to expand their roster and are having open practices on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8 to 10 p.m. in the old rubber mill building on St. Andrew Street.

The Sirens, a nonprofit organization, are an all-woman, skater-owned, flat-track roller derby league founded in April 2009 by Melissa Larivee and Leslie Malekovic. The Sirens follow the guidelines and standards set forth by Women’s Flat Track Derby Association.

For more information, log onto www.SkatingSirens.com.

To submit your information for a public service announcement, e-mail it to wsm.news@lee.net