News Briefs
Kocken rejoins On Broadway staff
GREEN BAY – Chelsea Kocken has rejoined the staff at On Broadway, Inc. as its new director of special events.
Kocken will help guide the recently-announced public market redevelopment project forward into its next phases, as well as other projects in the works.
She previously worked with On Broadway, Inc. from 2017 to 2020 as the director of special events, before being elevated to the nonprofit’s assistant director.
“I am excited to be back in the Broadway District and working on exciting projects that will continue to grow our downtown,” Kocken said.
Districtwide survey
SUAMICO – The deadline for Howard-Suamico School District (HSSD) residents to participate in a community-wide survey is 5 p.m. March 7.
Survey responses can be entered online (preferred) or by using the provided postage-paid reply envelope.
HSSD hired School Perceptions, an independent educational research firm, to conduct the survey.
Each survey invitation/link code may only be used once.
Community foundation announce retirement, successor
GREEN BAY – Therese Woelfel, vice president Donor Engagement and Strategic Communications with the Green Bay Community Foundation, will retire effective April 15.
Upon Woelfel’s retirement, Annie Dart will be promoted to take her place.
Since joining the foundation in 2015, Dart has worked closely with the donor and professional advisor community, as well as taken a leadership role in the development of Give BIG Green Bay.
Governor Evers approves I-43 improvements
GREEN BAY – Gov. Tony Evers signed a $23.97 million contract to improve 15.5 miles of Interstate-43 (I-43) from WIS 310 in Manitowoc County to WIS 96 in Brown County.
Construction will begin Monday, March 7, and is expected to be completed in November.
I-43 will remain open during work with single-lane closures.
Numerous on and off-ramps will be closed for short periods.
More information about the project can be found at projects.511wi.gov/i43mantygb/.
Toman joins BayCare Clinic Radiology
GREEN BAY – Jordan Toman, MD, a diagnostic radiologist specializing in women’s imaging,
has joined BayCare Clinic Radiology at Aurora BayCare Medical Center in Green Bay.
Toman earned her medical degree from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in
North Chicago, did her residency in diagnostic radiology at the University of Illinois at Chicago and completed fellowship training in women’s imaging at the Mayo Clinic.
In addition to specializing in women’s imaging, Toman reads all other general diagnostic radiology exams.
$2,000 youth softball grant
ASHWAUBENON – The Green Bay Rockers announced the organization is accepting applications for a softball grant through the Northwoods League Foundation’s ‘Share the Glove’ program.
John Fanta, Rockers vice president and general manager, said each grant includes one set of catcher’s gear, plus mitt, 10 fielding gloves, eight batting helmets, six bats and one bucket of practice balls.
A total of 25 grants are available across the league, with Green Bay chosen to provide one for the 2022 season.
All interested parties can complete an application on the Rockers’ website.
The application deadline is Friday, April 15.
Grant recipients will be notified in mid-May, ahead of the Rockers’ home opener.
Lambeau Field to host literacy event
GREEN BAY – The Green Bay Packers will host a literacy-themed event, “Timeout for Reading” at Lambeau Field from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 12.
The free-to-the-public event includes interactive entertainment and a book reading by a Packers celebrity.
A free book and bookmark will also be distributed to kids in pre-K through fifth grade while supplies last.
Special reading areas will be available for participants to read their free book or a book brought from home.
Summer day camps for children
GREEN BAY – Dinosaurs, race cars and ancient civilizations, oh my!
The Neville Public Museum announced its themes for its 2022 summer camps.
The following camps will be offered this summer:
• Week 1: June 27-30 – Campers will learn about dinosaurs and other ancient creatures, the rise of civilizations and end the week blasting off to outer space.
• Week 2: July 25-28 – This week is all about building and design, as campers put their creative mind to work as they construct and test race cars, bridges, towers and more.
Camp activities run 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Thursday each week, with wrap-around care available.
Camps are open to children entering grades 3-6 next school year.
Admission is $240 per camper for the week. Members receive a 20% discount.
More information can be found at nevillepublicmuseum.org/education/events-and-camps.
Director of curriculum and instruction announced
ASHWAUBENON – Dr. Andrew Bake has been named the district’s director of curriculum and instruction, effective July 1.
Bake is currently the principal at Valley View Elementary School.
His selection is the result of the current director, Jill Kieslich retiring at the end of this school year after 13 years with the district.
Bake holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, a masters in educational leadership from Marian University and a doctorate in educational leadership from Edgewood College.
Name the NWTC mascot
GREEN BAY – Since the creation of Northeast Wisconsin Technical College’s (NWTC) eagle mascot in 2017, it has gone without a name.
However, that won’t be the case for much longer.
To do so, the college is looking to the community for help, with a nod to NCAA’s March Madness.
Ideas should be submitted by midnight March 4 at nwtc.edu/mascot.
The top eight names will be placed into a bracket for Mascot Madness starting March 14.
Throughout the month of March, community members can vote for their favorite name within the matchup on NWTC’s social platforms.
In true March Madness fashion, a winner will be announced by the end of the month.
Hint: the college is looking for a name that represents NWTC’s commitment to its students, community and values.
Garden mentors needed
WISCONSIN – New Leaf is looking for garden mentors for its upcoming Garden Blitz.
Volunteers are needed to provide community members with the skills and support they need to grow their own food.
Mentors would be assigned a new gardener, who has received a New Leaf Garden Blitz garden box or rented a plot through the Brown County Community Gardens Program.
Pairs meet five times (virtually or in person) over the course of the season to provide guidance and build gardening confidence.
Those interested in helping out can find more information at newleaffoods.org/garden-blitz.
On Broadway volunteers of the year
GREEN BAY – On Broadway, Inc. named Francine and Ken Rovinski as its Volunteer of the Year award recipients.
The honor was announced at the State of the Broadway District on February 22.
The married duo helped set up every Farmers’ Market on Broadway in 2021 and are already signed up to volunteer for this same task in the 2022 season.
The pair also provided a trailer and truck to transport the 20-foot Christmas tree that went up in Red Sculpture Park for the lighting ceremony on Broadway.
Heritage Hill hires new staff members
ALLOUEZ – Heritage Hill State Historical Park welcomed Claire Gwaltney as the park’s director of engagement and Madeleine Buchholz as the director of visitor services.
In her role, Gwaltney will coordinate all of the park’s educational programming and interpretational staff.
Buchholz will manage fundraising for Heritage Hill, as well as its Foundation.
Buy local, buy Wisconsin grants
WISCONSIN – The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is accepting applications for 2022 Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin (BLBW) grants through April 2.
DATCP will award up to $300,000 in BLBW grant funding in 2022.
Qualified applicants include individuals, groups, or businesses involved in Wisconsin production agriculture, food processing, food distribution, food warehousing, retail food establishments or agricultural tourism operations.
Grant information and application materials are available at datcp.wi.gov/Pages/BuyLocalBuyWisconsinGrants.aspx.
Read-a-Thon visitor at Dickinson
DE PERE – Students at Dickinson Elementary School got a special visit Feb. 23.
De Pere Mayor James Boyd stopped by to read “A Bad Case of Stripes” during the school’s Read-a-Thon event.
During the two-week Read-a-Thon PTO fundraiser event, which ran Feb. 17-March 2, students were encouraged to read 375 minutes.
Friends and relatives of the young readers were encouraged to donate, with a goal of raising $15,000 for the replacement of the school’s iPads and Chromebooks, books, classroom supplies, field trips, playground equipment and more.
Principal Luke Herlache said donations came from people in 27 states, including Hawaii.
He said that last year, the money raised through the Read-a-Thon was used to purchase swings.
Prevea welcomes new physician
DE PERE – Prevea Health welcomes Dr. Christine Ripp, a board-certified family medicine physician, to its staff at Prevea East De Pere Health Center, located at 3860 Monroe Rd.
As a family medicine physician, Ripp provides health care to people of all ages and in all stages of life.
Her key services include:
• Routine care for children, adults and the elderly
• Women’s care
• Pregnancy care up to 28 weeks
• Preventive medicine
• Medication management
• Minor office procedures including nail removal, joint injections and skin procedures
Local resident joins North Shore staff
GREEN BAY – North Shore Bank announced Jacob Gunnlaugson has joined the community bank as a consumer loan originator for the bank’s North Region.
In his role, Gunnlaugson will work with existing, new and potential customers, and originate consumer, home equity and mortgage loans.
Gunnlaugson, a De Pere resident, has more than six years of banking experience, and will be serving customers out of the bank’s Green Bay east branch at 1901 Main St.