August 2022
Taste of Portage at Market Square
Bring your family to Market Square in Downtown Portage to enjoy the 2022 Taste of Portage Market Fair on Friday evening, August 26 and Saturday, August 27. Food vendors will be on hand serving up a variety of delicious dishes for you to try. It's always a treat to hear live music, too, and we have you covered with Best Practice on Friday evening and Copper Box and The WhiskeyBelles on Saturday. Relax, enjoy a bite to eat and wash it down with a sip of some suds from the beer stand.

Kids will have a great time in the Bouncy House, playing in the St. John's CDC Craft Station and getting their faces painted. The classic cars on display on Edgewater Street and the Columbia County Administration parking lot are always a popular draw, too.

For more information about this end of summer tradition, contact the Portage Area Chamber of Commerce at 608-742-6242 or visit portagewi.com.

Downtown Walking Tour
Spend the morning learning about Historic Downtown Portage. The guided tour with local historian Judy Eulberg starts at the Portage Area Chamber of Commerce office during the Taste of Portage on Saturday, August 27 at 10am. The Chamber office is located at 104 W. Cook Street. The event is free. For more information, call the Portage Chamber at 608-742-6242.
Get in on Canoes on Parade!
People have come from many places to visit the Canoes on Parade in Portage. The canoes are the talk of the town! If you haven't seen the canoes, you still have time.

Come see the upright canoes painted with various themes by local artists. Nine fiberglass canoes are up around Portage. Locals and visitors alike can stand in front of the upright canoes -- creating a close resemblance to portaging a canoe -- and pose for pictures, then share them on social media.

Click Here to view the map locations of the colorful canoes.
Click Here to print a map of the canoes.

The canoe project is being sponsored by the City of Portage Tourism Commission and coordinated by the Portage Area Chamber of Commerce. More details at www.portagewi.com.
Business Luncheon -Tuesday, August 2
The Portage Area Chamber of Commerce is offering another way to network with your fellow Chamber members and make those important connections that can help you in your business or career. Bring your business cards, brochures, or anything you wish to share with other members.
 
Luncheon Information:
Brian Scheibach of the Sleep in Heavenly Peace Portage Chapter will be our speaker today. They are a volunteer organization that builds beds for kids who are sleeping on the floor and there are multiple ways to get involved right here on with the Portage Chapter. The group is dedicated to building, assembling and delivering top-notch bunk beds to children and families in need.
  • You can volunteer and participate in a Bed Build Day or Delivery Event.
  • Your company, organization, or family can sponsor a Build Day.
  • You can make a financial or in-kind contribution to help local children by donating to the Portage chapter.

Location: Portage Pizza Ranch, 2905 New Pinery Road
Time: Lunch at 11:30AM, Presentation at Noon
Cost: Pay for your lunch at the restaurant
Date: Tuesday, August 2, 2022

Click Here to Register! Please RSVP to this event. Call the Portage Chamber at 608-742-6242.
Advertise in this Chamber newsletter
Having an event you want others to know about? Submit a one-time flyer insert in this newsletter for $25. Or place a year-long newsletter ad, which links to your website, for $250/year. Call the Portage Chamber for more information at 608-742-6242.
Welcome New Chamber Members

Bethlehem Lutheran Church
W8267 Highway 33 East, Portage, WI 53901
Pastor Jamie Benson at 608-742-8502
Our Mission Statement is that we are "God's family, Serving Christ with Love."
Our goal is to live this mission, to be a caring and connected group that works
together serving Christ and the community with compassion and love. ​

Hometown Bank
105 South Main Street, Poynette, WI 53955
Frank McDermott at 1-608-577-3268
Providing valuable best-practices, risk-management tools and creative financing
structures along with consistent access to capital as a Preferred SBA Lender.
Meet Frank McDermott
As a Commercial Relationship Manager, I look for qualified developers and business owners with growth opportunities who seek debt financing. I also act as an advisor for small business owner clients and provide an opinion in bank committees. I specifically work to analyze cash flow, financial statements, tax returns, growth ability, and collateral positions of potential borrowers. My responsibilities include composing credit requests, proposal letters, and commitment letters.
 
My lending niche includes a heavy concentration of SBA lending. SBA loans can provide an advantageous structure for businesses that seek to borrow. I've provided financing for several business acquisition transactions, real estate purchases, real estate construction, franchises, and equipment financing. My portfolio includes multiple manufacturing and trucking companies, mini storage facilities, campgrounds, assisted living facilities, and single user owner-occupied commercial real estate. I also utilize SBA lending to provide lines of credit to finance accounts receivable and inventory.
 
Frank McDermott, VP-Commercial Banking, Hometown Bank
Phone: 608-635-0454
Cell: 608-577-3268
Portage Community Vacation Bible School
By exploring God’s awesomeness, kids form a rock-solid faith for the road ahead. Ages 4th and 5th grade can attend this Vacation Bible School at Portage United Methodist Church on Monday, August 1 through Friday, August 5 from 8:30am to 11:30am each day.

Ages 6th grade on up can sign up to be a volunteer! Print the form and return with payment to one of the sponsoring churches: Portage United Methodist Church, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, St. Mary's Church or Amanda Thiele at 920-737-7804.
50 Cent Summer Movies
The Portage Theatres 50 cent Summer Movie Series continues into August. All shows are at 10am on Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays; August 2-4; August 9-11 & August 16-18.

Portage Theatres is located at 322 Wisconsin Street. Click here for more information.
National Night Out
Portage Area Police, Sheriff, Fire, and EMS are celebrating National Night Out on Tuesday, August 2, from 6pm to 10:30pm at Collipp-Worden Park, 210 W. Slifer Street in Portage.

This event will have many activities including a movie in the park at dusk (Sing 2), so pack a lawn chair or blanket and come enjoy an evening at the park!
Kids Yoga Classes
Kids Yoga Classes are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:15pm-5:15pm.

Register with Bee Alive Yoga, 230 W. Wisconsin Street, at 608-745-9333 or click here.
concert at the Portage
Poker at VFW
The VFW is open on Wednesdays for Texas Hold'em Poker. Poker starts at 7:30pm with a $20 buy in. All buy in money paid out to winners. Portage VFW Post #1707 is located at 215 W. Collins Street behind Walgreens. For more information, please call 608-742-5350.

Concerts at the Portage
Grab your lawn chair or blanket and come enjoy Concerts at the Portage Wednesday evening concert series on the stage behind the VFW located at 215 W. Collins Street (behind Walgreen's). Desserts are served by a local non-profit as a fundraiser.
The concerts begin at 6:30pm and run through August.
Portage Farmers Market; Elks Cookout
The Portage Farmers Market is hosted from May through October on every Thursday from Noon - 5pm at Commerce Plaza in downtown Portage.  The market features homegrown produce items, homemade items, and handcrafted items. For questions, contact the Market Manager, Paul Howe at 608-745-8334.

Portage Elks Veranda Cookout is held on Thursdays from 11am to 5pm at the Elks Lodge, 201 W. Conant Street, across from the Farmer Market. Enjoy a choice of burgers, brats, and BBQ pulled pork. Cookouts end in September.
Artist Opening Reception at PCA
The opening reception for artist Matt Miller and his exhibit "Impressions" will be held on Friday, August 5 from 4pm to 6pm at The Drury Gallery inside Portage Center for the Arts. Enjoy refreshments and meet the artist, The exhibit is on display though August 26. Gallery Hours are Wednesday-Friday from 1pm to 6pm and Saturdays from 10am to 3pm.

James and the Giant Peach
Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach is playing at the Zona Gale Theatre at Portage Center for the Arts, August 12-14 & August 19-21; Fridays & Saturdays at 7pm; Sundays at 3pm.

Roald Dahl's fantastical tale of a boy, his insect friends and their amazing journey across the ocean on a giant piece of fruit, the play is directed by Beth Edmondson with vocal direction by Holly Atkinson.

For more information about these and other happenings at the Portage Center for the Arts, call 608-742-5655 or visit https://www.portagecenterforthearts.com.
Community Archaeological Dig
Come be a part of an extraordinary opportunity for ages 5 through adult to work right alongside professional archaeologists in the search for the 1830s Agency blacksmith shop. 
 
The search continues for the 1830s blacksmith shop on Saturday and Sunday, August 6 and 7 plus the following weekend, August 13 and 14. Spectating is free. In order to participate in the dig itself, a membership is required. Pre-registration for dig time(s) is strongly recommended for this incredible opportunity to experience firsthand a real archaeological investigation.
 
Two weekends of live blacksmithing demonstrations are planned to coincide with the community archaeological dig. Explore the history, tools and techniques of blacksmithing in the attempt to locate the 1830s Agency blacksmith shop.

"The Historic Landscape" Speaker Series
Listen to Part 3 of "The Historic Landscape" Speaker Series featuring speaker Matt Blessing, Retired State Archivist and Division Administrator, Wisconsin Historical Society, at the Historic Indian Agency House on Tuesday, August 9 from 6:30pm to 7:30pm. The event is free to attend.

Matt will discuss the topic "Reading the Landscape: Aldo Leopold’s Use of History." Conservation legend Aldo Leopold purported that an ecological analysis of the landscape is essential to understanding the past. Human interaction with the land may help explain root causes of dramatic and sweeping events in human history, including those which played out right here at the Fox-Wisconsin portage.

The Historic Indian Agency House is located at 1490 Agency House Road. For more information, call 608-742-6362.
Bethlehem Lutheran Church Annual Rummage Sale & Bake Sale
Come see what treasures you can find at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church Annual Rummage & Bake Sale on Saturday, August 6 from 8am to 4pm. Name your Price items: Clothing – Children, Men, & Women, Household items, Kitchen Items, Linens, Craft, Furniture, Glassware, Tools and Toys. Bakery items are individually priced.

Blessing of the Pets & Pet Fest
Bethlehem Lutheran Church will be holding Blessing of the Pets Outdoor Worship Service on Sunday, August 14 from 9am to 9:30am. From 9:30am to Noon, vendors will be on hand and outdoor events will take place, including MATC Puppy/Dog Training Demonstration & Aspen Chiropractic & Wellness Injury Prevention Tips.
 
There is also collection of wish list items for the Columbia County Humane Society at this event with a free gift for the first 40 donations! Please note: pets that play well with all other types of animals are encouraged to attend. Bethlehem is not liable for bad behaviors. Please also make sure all pets are leashed at all times.

Visit www.bethlehemlcportage.org or call 608-742-8502. Bethlehem Lutheran Church - ELCA is located at W8267 Highway 33 East, Portage.
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Adult Technology Class
Come to the Portage Public Library for an Adult Technology Class. This beginner class will cover the basics of using technology including computers, smartphones and more. Class is held Wednesday, August 10 from 1pm to 2pm. Registration is required. Call 608-742-4959. The Portage Public Library is located at 253 W. Edgewater Street.
Yoga at Durward's Glen
Please join Durward's Glen as they team up with Bee Alive Yoga every other Saturday throughout the Summer!!! Sign up here or $20 in person the day of class. Remaining schedule of classes: August 6 & 20 and September 3 & 17 from 9am-10am.
 
Enjoy the beautiful peaceful Glen as you exercise in nature. Bring your mat! Durward's Glen is located at W11876 McLeisch Road. For more information, call 608-356-8113.
8th Cruisin for Critters
This event is a benefit for the Columbia County Humane Society on Sunday, August 14. Bring your motorcycle or other vehicle to go on a ride to support your local humane society. Check in is between 8am-10am at Johnson's Sales on Hwy 51 in Arlington, WI. Lunch is included with your paid entry fee. 

There's a designated ride route and trivia along the way! Gather for lunch. There is also a cash raffle happening! Click Here to register.
31st Annual Friendship Village
Come and enjoy a fun filled day celebrating Zona Gale on Saturday, August 20. Program begins at the Museum at the Portage, 804 MacFarlane Road, at 10am. A pie and ice cream social is scheduled on the lawn of the Women's Civic League Home, 506 W. Edgewater Street, from 2pm to 4pm. Donations are accepted. Contact Jeff Grothman: 608-742-2228 (daytime) 608-742-2946 (evening) for more information.
An Evening of Music
A benefit concert supporting River Haven Men's Shelter with Judy Considine Turner Kilian and Dave Considine will be held on Saturday, August 20 at 7pm at Trinity United Church of Christ, 503 W. Prospect Street. Free will offering, refreshments available. Judy's CD will be available for purchase.
Kids at the Cabin
Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters is hosting games for kids of all ages during their Kids at the Cabin event on Saturday, August 20 from 11am to 4pm.

Book Club
The Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters' August book club discussion centers on the book: A Well Behaved Woman by Therese Anne Fowler. The event is scheduled for Sunday, August 21 from 3pm to 5pm.

For more information on these and other events happening at the Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters, 1824 E. State Road 33, visit https://www.fortwinnebagosurgeonsquarters.org or call 608-742-2949.
Blau Chiropractic Free Posture Evaluation
Don't send your kiddos back to school in bad spinal shape! Come get a free posture evaluation on Thursday, August 25 from 5pm to 6pm at Blau Family Chiropractic! Enjoy a backpack giveaway and free screening followed by a short presentation from their doctors.
 
This is a free event happening at Blau Family Chiropractic & Integrated Wellness, 641 Latton Lane, Suite A. For more information, please call 608-742-1300.
Community Read with the Portage Library
A Community Read is a book club for the entire city, intended to cultivate a culture of reading, discussion, and growth, by bringing people together around impactful works of literature. In discussing and better understanding important issues that affect our community, we can work towards change that will improve everyone's quality of life.

For this year's Community Read, we will be focusing on Jolene Brackey's Creating Moments of Joy Along the Alzheimer's Journey. Our Kickoff Event will be August 1st and books should be available to the general public for 28-day checkout at that time.
Every Thursday in August, we will have a different event that focuses on Alzheimer's and dementia. Janet Wiegel of the Alzheimer's & Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin will be participating with the library to help bring these programs to our community.

August 1st Community Read 2022 Kick Off - books available for patrons to pick up at this time.
August 4th 10am - Alzheimer's and Dementia themed story time for children with Janet Weigel.
August 11th 1pm- Movie showing of Still Alice in the Bidwell Room. Q & A after the movie.
August 18th 5pm - Book discussion on Creating Moments of Joy with Janet Weigel.
August 25th 1:00 pm & 6:30 pm - Capstone Presentations. Jolene Brackey will present her book and speak on the topic of Alzheimer's and dementia. She will sell signed copies of her books after the presentation

Capstone Presentation on August 25
Jolene Brackey will present her book and speak on the topic of Alzheimer's and Dementia as part of the Community Read Capstone Presentation at the Portage Public Library on August 25 at 1pm and 6:30pm. She will sell signed copies of her books after the presentation.
 
Jolene Brackey's Creating Moments of Joy is an insightful journey into the heart of someone affected by Alzheimer's or dementia. Brackey, an advocate for Alzheimer's and dementia, draws not only on her various experiences but also interviews other caregivers, spouses, family members and friends, to bring together a wonderful book about how to help a person affected by Alzheimer's disease live their best life.

Brackey also discusses ways of overcoming the fear of the disease and about how we can change our mindset to help build stronger relationships with those diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer's.
Jolene's visit is sponsored by Klay Vehring, Financial Advisor at Edward Jones. The Portage Public Library is located at 253 West Edgewater Street. For more information, call the library at 608-742-4959.
Portage Sharing Supper
Come and "share supper" together with the community on Monday, August 29 from 5pm to 6:30pm at Wayne Bartels Middle School, 2505 New Pinery Road, and the last Monday of each month.

In addition to the free meal there is a "Kid's Corner" for young people to do a craft and hear a story as well as informational tables for adults. There will also be a free blood pressure station available.

The purpose of these suppers is to build and nourish community relationships by providing a dining experience that is free of all economic and social barriers.
Text PORTAGE to 51660
to receive information about upcoming Portage events
August Chamber Meetings and Events
2 Business Luncheon at Pizza Ranch at 11:30am
26-27 Taste of Portage Market Fair at Market Square
Spread the word about Portage!
Use #portagewi or #portagechamberwi in your social media posts.
Check out the Chamber's YouTube Channel HERE
Want to submit an article for this newsletter?
The Chamber's monthly newsletter deadlines the 20th of the month. Members are always welcome to let others know: about new products and services; introduce new associates or promotions; provide updates about their industry or business; give helpful tips; promote a sale or event. For more information, call the Portage Chamber at 608-742-6242.
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Submit your Events!
Are you planning an event this year? Get it posted on our web community calendar at www.portagewi.com. One of the most popular viewed of the Chamber website pages, the calendar allows you to submit your own events.

Simply click this link and submit your events. If you have questions, please call the Chamber office at 608-742-6242.
Job postings on portagewi.com
Check out these job postings on our Chamber site from our member businesses. You are welcome to post job openings your business may have at any time. Call the Chamber office at 608-742-6242 for more information.
Join a Service Club - Meetings subject to change
Rotary - Meets Mondays at Noon at Dino’s Restaurant, 2900 New Pinery Rd.
Lions Club - Meets the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 5:30pm at Dino’s Restaurant, 2900 New Pinery Rd., summer month meetings change locations
Kiwanis - Meets on Wednesdays at Noon at Pizza Ranch, 2905 New Pinery Rd.
Optimists - Meets on Tuesdays at 7am at Dino’s Restaurant, 2900 New Pinery Rd.
Elks - Meets 2nd & 4th Tuesday at 7pm; 2nd Tuesday only in July, August and December
Women's Civic League - Meets 2nd Wednesdays of the month at Dino’s Restaurant, 2900 New Pinery Rd.
*Please Note: Dino's Restaurant is temporarily closed. Please call Chamber office for meeting info at 608-742-6242.
Portage Area Chamber of Commerce | 608-742-6242 | pacc@portagewi.com | www.portagewi.com