Keeping good company: Violinist Randy Sabien bringing some great musicians to Heider(2010/03/11) Jazz violinist Randy Sabien is known for his musical eclecticism. Those who’ve seen Sabien before at the Heider Center in West Salem know that he’s as likely to play blues, country, swing and rock ’n’ roll as he is to play jazz — and that he’ll play all of those styles well.
RIDGERUNNER REPORTS: As river ice retreats, life is moving back in(2010/03/11) A river covered by ice and snow looks as peaceful as a white pillowy meadow in the middle of winter — even the mighty Mississippi. But with the return of longer days and more direct radiation from the sun in late February and March, the ice breaks up and begins to surge downstream.
Paxico plans party for debut CD(2010/03/11) The La Crosse area band Paxico will celebrate the release of the band’s first full-length CD, “Willing the Winter Away,” with a CD release party from 9 p.m. to midnight Saturday, March 27, at the Arterial in La Crosse.
LIBRARY NOTES: Life and landlord lessons come from Monopoly and the library(2010/03/11) As a child I would often play Monopoly with my brother, Gary, who was apparently born with the same real estate DNA as Donald Trump and ALWAYS beat me. I’d be sitting there with my measly Baltic Avenue and he’d be owning all the utilities, railroads and high end properties, each with an intimidating red hotel.
Standup guy: OHS grad gets Comedy Central show, releases debut CD(2010/03/10) In comedy, timing is everything. It’s clear that comedian Shane Mauss has learned that lesson well, judging from the roller-coaster joke that kicks off his soon-to-be-released debut CD, “Jokes to Make My Parents Proud.” His timing in booking a spot on “The Tonight Show” is another matter.
Onalaska soldier plays key role at Fort McCoy(2010/03/10) Col. Mike Todd bears a heavy burden. He and those under his command at Fort McCoy are the last line of readiness for troops being deployed to Afghanistan or any combat theater.
‘Much Ado about Nothing’ gets update in OHS staging(2010/03/10) The cast and crew of more than 40 Onalaska High School students will present William Shakespeare’s romantic comedy “Much Ado About Nothing” in an updated setting.
RIDGERUNNER REPORTS: Winter sleepers venture forth(2010/03/10) The combination of longer periods of daylight and the sunlight hitting our part of the Earth from a higher angle in the sky each day is stirring some of our winter sleepers that don’t really hibernate — that is they don’t shut down their metabolism quite as completely as the true hibernators. They often stay snuggled in a tree cavity or other shelter and sleep away much of the winter rather than stay active and feed like deer, squirrels, voles, mink and coyotes.
Chordsmen show to feature music from 1960s, ’70s(2010/03/10) When the Coulee Chordsmen hold their 64th annual show at the Heider Center on March 13, there just might be more of a “Sweet Caroline” vibe than a “Sweet Adeline” vibe.
Irish rhythms coming to Heider Center stage(2010/03/10) Jigs and reels — and plenty of other Irish dances — will be on display Sunday, March 7, when Flanagan’s Irish Dancers perform as part of the Marie W. Heider Center’s Family Series.
LIBRARY NOTES: Book gives a vivid look at Victorian life(2010/03/10) In much historical fiction, the main protagonist is either from the upper class or is a poor relative subsisting on the largess of a more well-to-do member of the family. Sometimes our hero is poor but manages to bring himself or herself up in the world. Either way, you don’t encounter much of the everyday life of Victorian times.
Program benefits young and old alike(2010/03/01) Students in Onalaska already are realizing the benefits of a new collaboration between the Onalaska School District and the La Crosse area Retired Senior Volunteer Program.
Benefit to help with bills of late Holmen woman(2010/03/01) A benefit for cancer victim Roberta Kratochvill will go on as planned despite her Feb. 21 death. It will be held March 6 at the Holmen American Legion. Friends and family still want to have the benefit to help defray medical and other costs associated with Roberta’s brief but intense illness.
Ancient Asian healing arts focus of Holmen meeting(2010/03/01) Xiaozan (Suzanne) Dong Anderson has introduced Coulee Region residents to a new — but ancient — healing art from her homeland in China. She will talk about Chinese cupping and other ancient healing methods at the next Holmen Area Historical Society meeting.
Charles Schulz’s legend still alive on Holmen rink(2010/03/01) One of the original Zamboni’s belonging to cartoonist Charles Schulz is in operation at Holmen’s Deerwood Park. Paul Kenny and others with the Tornado Youth Hockey organization purchased one of the original Zamboni’s used to clear ice at Schulz’s Redwood Empire Ice Arena in California.
Hints of spring in the air(2010/03/01) With the wild turkeys coming out in the open to feed lately, I am reminded of how many turkeys now live in the area and throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Gretchen’s Grub: Hearty Hamburger Vegetable Soup(2010/03/01) We are all eager for warmer weather and more sunshine. But when I checked the weather report for the next week, it forecast cold and more cold with a chance of snow. While that makes my husband happy because it prolongs the ski season, I prefer a warmer outlook.
Dog lovers to the rescue(2010/02/22) Jack and Lise Hedstrom came all the way from Decorah, Iowa, to the Onalaska Petco store Saturday to adopt Selena, a 1-year-old golden retriever from Rehome a Dog, a local nonprofit group whose members are foster parents for surrendered dogs of any breed.
If you’d like to make a call ... get yourself a phone(2010/02/22) The era of pay phones on every street corner in America is ending. With cell phones in the pockets of almost every teen and adult, payphones are becoming too costly to maintain with the dwindling amount of money being deposited.
RIDGERUNNER REPORTS: Voles play big role in predators’ winter diet(2010/02/22) With all the red-tailed hawks hunting for prey on Goose Island this winter, I wasn’t too surprised to finally see one actually dive for something a couple weeks ago. That day, I missed the kill because the hawk swooped behind a tree and landed in the snow. Last week, though, I got really lucky when an immature red-tailed hawk actually caught a vole right in front of me.
LIBRARY NOTES: Suzanne Collins always a safe bet for great reads(2010/02/22) A few years ago, I wrote an article about a children’s novel series by Suzanne Collins called “The Underland Chronicles.” I brought the first book home in a failed attempt to interest my children. None of them were willing to read a book with CN (children’s novel) on the spine — too lowering. I read the series and enjoyed it a great deal, so I wrote an article about it.
OHS dancers hitting their stride(2010/02/17) Jenna Schneider has seen a lot of dance teams, first as a dancer herself during her high school days at Onalaska High School and for the past six years coaching the OHS dance team. This year’s team is relatively young, with only two seniors, but it has something that doesn’t happen with every team: chemistry.
Longtime friends fight cancer battles together(2010/02/17) When Debbie “Taco” Villarreal learned she had ovarian cancer in March, she had Janet “J.O.” Balfany, her friend of 30 years, for support.
Logan songfest attracts strong showing of choirs(2010/02/17) The La Crosse Logan High School Showcase 2010 will bring together all of the La Crosse area show choirs again to one competition this weekend.
Dallas Brass bringing sound as big as Texas to Heider Center(2010/02/17) Looking for a way to liven up the start of your week? How about a musical journey through American history with five talented and outgoing horn players and a master percussionist? That’s the lively program scheduled for next Monday when the Dallas Brass visits the Marie W. Heider Center.
RIDGERUNNER REPORTS: Kids can learn to love the great outdoors(2010/02/17) For the past couple decades or more, experts have warned us that television, computers, video games and other electronic gadgets can seriously distract our children from the benefits of the outdoor world. Add to that their schoolwork, after-school sports and social events and you can see how little time is left for such pursuits. As both a parent and a former teacher, I have observed this trend even here in the Coulee Region, where opportunities for outdoor activities abound.
LIBRARY NOTES: County libraries had a very good 2009(2010/02/17) I was thinking I’d take this opportunity to toot our own horn at the La Crosse County Library. I had every intention to take all kinds of credit for a fabulous 2009 at our locations in Bangor, Campbell, Holmen, Onalaska and West Salem, but as I finish up our annual report to the state Department of Public Instruction, I realize it’s our users who deserve all the kudos and credit.
Hearts and Hammers pitch in for Haiti(2010/02/10) Many hands working with one heart collected and assembled more than 450 tents for people left homeless by the earthquake that shook Haiti on Jan. 12.
Mexican restaurant close to opening at Crossing Meadows(2010/02/10) A new Mexican restaurant is set to open soon in Onalaska. Noe Rico Carbolla and his wife, Juana Granillo, plan to open El Charro Mexican Restaurant on Friday, Feb. 12. The couple are remodeling the interior and have painted the exterior of the former Bakers Square restaurant at 1227 Crossing Meadows Drive in Onalaska.
RIDGERUNNER REPORTS: Mining the river valley for golden eagles(2010/02/10) Last week I achieved two goals I’ve had for quite awhile and both involved eagles. I had long hoped to see a golden eagle in the wild, and last weekend I had the chance to look for some in a part of Wisconsin where some visit every winter. Though I didn’t see any flying around that day, I did get to see one close up at the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, Minn.
LIBRARY NOTES: Library plays big role in book’s inspiring story(2010/02/10) William Kamkwamba lives in a small farming village in Malawi, a country in the south east part of Africa. People in his village called him “misala,” which means crazy, but after reading his story you can see that he is anything but crazy. “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind” by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer is a true story of inspiration, perseverance and faith.
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