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Portage Area Chamber of Commerce
NEWS BREAK
June 2021
Blessing and Groundbreaking Ceremony
All are invited to the east lawn of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception for a blessing and groundbreaking ceremony for the project to upgrade and expand church facilities on Tuesday, June 1 at Noon. No RSVP is required.

Contact Jamie Hahn at 608-742-6998 if you have questions. St. Mary's is located at 309 W. Cook Street.
Art that Blooms at PCA
The Portage Center for the Arts’ Art that Blooms Virtual Exhibit opens Friday, June 4. The onsite exhibit runs June 4 through July 23. Art that Blooms is a wonderful event, free and open to the public, featuring original artwork by area artists, along with fresh floral arrangements and poetry inspired by each individual work of art. All this comes together for a multi-sensory event the first full weekend in June!
 
Please note that group exhibits and opening receptions are pending the status of state and federal Covid 19 guidelines. Both gallery hours and capacity limits are reduced until further notice. Please check the Portage Center for the Arts website for further updates. Free admission always!

Try on some colorful wings at PCA
The community is welcome to drop by Portage Center for the Arts (PCA) to try on some colorful wings! Folks can share a photo of themselves wearing the wings at www.facebook.com/portagecenterforthearts.

If you make your post public, it should be viewable under the Community Tab. A photo or two will be selected at random for a sweet prize throughout the month of June!

Portage Center for the Arts is located at 301 E. Cook Street.
26th Anniversary Celebration at Blau Chiropractic
Bring a friend and come celebrate 26 years with Blau Chiropractic & Integrated Wellness. Enjoy office tours, games, food, prizes and more on Saturday, June 5 from 9am to Noon. Click Here for a list of activities.

Blau Family Chiropractic & Integrated Wellness is located at 641 Latton Lane. Visit www.blauchiropractic.com or call 608-742-1300 for more information.
museum at the portage
Grand Opening, Garden Ceremony at Museum at the Portage
Come to the Re-Opening Party at the Museum at the Portage on Saturday, June 5 from 11am to 1pm and tours will follow until 4pm

The new Memorial Brick Terrace will be dedicated and the new Museum Manager will be onsite for a meet and greet with guests. An expanded Zona Gale exhibit will be open for viewing. 

Light snacks and beverages will be served. At Noon there will be a Ribbon Cutting to officially open the new Memorial Brick Terrace. Museum at the Portage is located at 804 MacFarlane Road.  
Kids Yoga at Bee Alive Yoga Studio
Kids ages 6-11 years of age can participate in yoga during Canal Days on June 5 at 11:30am. Space is limited and the class will be 30 minutes. Make sure to call 745-9333 to register and find out all the details.

More classes for kids will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays during summer from 3:30pm to 4:15pm.

Register with Bee Alive Yoga, 230 W. Wisconsin Street, at 608-745-9333.
FWSQ Kids Historical Story Time
Join the Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters for a story time for kids on Friday, June 4 from 10:30am-11am. The book this month is I Am George Washington by Brad Meltzer.

Wisconsin Territory Day at FWSQ
Experience Wisconsin Territory Day at Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters with re-enactors, crafts for sale, artists, food, drink, tours of the site, a presentation on Native American trails by Herman Bender, and a quilt-turning display and more on Saturday, June 5 from 11am to 5pm.

Yoga at FWSQ
Join Bee Alive Yoga outdoors at Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters at 9am on Saturday, June 12. This is a donation based event, and the suggested donation is $15.

Book Club
Members of the Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters Book Club will gather to discuss Resistance Women by Jennifer Chiavernini at Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters on Wednesday, June 16 at 7:30pm.

Kids Cabin Crafting Day
Bring your kids for some guided crafting fun on Sunday, June 27 at 11am. The craft to make on this day is pounded flowers. All materials are provided.

Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters is located at 1824 State Highway 33. For more information, call 608-742-2949 or visit www.fortwinnebagosurgeonsquarters.org.
Civil War Encampment at Agency House
The year 1863 saw much action during the Civil War. Learn about this conflict from the perspective of those living on Portage, Wisconsin’s home front during the third year of the war. Interact with skilled reenactors throughout this event, scheduled for Saturday, June 5 and Sunday, June 6.
 
Flag Day Celebration at Agency House
On June 14, 1777, the United States adopted the stars-and-stripes as its official flag. The flag has flown as a symbol of our nation and all it stands for over the past 244 years. 

Join us for a Flag Day celebration beginning with a flag-raising and the pledge of allegiance led by members of Portage American Legion Post 47. Civil War reenactor and genealogy enthusiast Rita Apolonia Dow will present the riveting story of her husband’s ancestor, Charles C. Dow, as she traces his journey with the renowned Iron Brigade (2nd Wisconsin, Company G) from Portage to the war-torn fields and farm lots of Gettysburg.

Stories of Wisconsin: Dugout Canoe Project
Enjoy a relaxing evening at the Historic Indian Agency House while listening to stories of Wisconsin's days of old around a unique "camp fire" on Friday, June 25 from 6pm to 8pm. Each evening's story will be accompanied by progressing work on a fire-wrought dugout canoe! A hot dog fundraiser will be held concurrently with each event, so come with an appetite for history and fun.

Family Heirloom Workshop at Agency House
In 2021, the Agency House is exploring the ways in which history is passed down through time. The stories of your own family are a big part of that! Learn the best practices of preservation to ensure that your own family antiques and heirlooms are preserved for years to come, from textiles to ceramics, paper documents to furniture, and more.

This free Family Heirloom Workshop will be held on Saturday, June 26 from 10am to 11:30am. Explore practical, low-cost, and accessible preservation solutions through an engaging presentation, group discussion, and hands-on demonstrations led by collections care expert, Nicolette B. Meister (James E. Lockwood Jr. Director, Logan Museum of Anthropology, Beloit College).

The Historic Indian Agency House is located at 1490 Agency House Road. For more information about these and other events, visit www.agencyhouse.org or call 608-742-6362.
Canal Days - June 5
Come to Downtown Portage for kid's yoga, games & coloring contest, food, DIY workshops, sidewalk sales, vendors, walking tour, henna & glitter tattoos, aura photography, chair massages, face & arm painting, balloon sculpting.

Music (Grab your friends, bring along a chair and enjoy the music.)
Red Hot TradJazz Band will be playing from 11am-2pm at the grassy area across from Chamber of Commerce. 
Red Hot Horn Dawgs will be playing from 10:30am-1:30pm at Commerce Plaza.
Dennis' Solo Show (band leader of The Swing Crew) will be playing from 11am-1pm at the Main Street Consignment shop.

Businesses and vendors will be set-up along the sidewalks in downtown showcasing their products. Come stroll the sidewalks and enjoy the day with us.
Business Specials
R. Condon Gallery will be offering 15% off all products.
Mary Ramsey at EXP Realty will be hosting a game where you can win prizes that will cost $1 to play and all proceeds will go to the Columbia County Humane Society.
The Mercantile and Giggles for Kids will have sidewalk sales with specials and demonstrations. Kathleen Jahn of Kreations by KJ will be doing a demonstration of watercolor painting on sanded paper at The Mercantile.  
Smart Woman, Fancy Pants and Smart Woman Accessories will be offering sidewalk sales and various specials.
Portage Furniture Store will be having specials for the weekend.
Wilz Hometown Pharmacy invites you to come see all their new spring arrivals.
Wholeistic Healing will be offering chair massages and aura photography.
Portage Center for the Arts invites you to drop by and try on some colorful wings located on the front lawn. Share a photo of yourself wearing these wings.
 
Downtown restaurants will be selling food and The Portage Presbyterian Church will be selling brats, hot dogs and cupcakes in front of the Chamber of Commerce office as a fundraiser for River Haven Homeless Shelter.
 
Judy Eulberg will lead a walking tour of the downtown that leaves at 10am from the Chamber of Commerce.
 
Kid's Activities:
At Main Street Consignment, from 11am-2pm, outside on sidewalks the kids can come watch the balloon sculpting and take a free balloon animal/creature home with them. Plus, they can get their very own glitter tattoo applied. 

At The Mercantile you can register for a 'paint your own face mask' class with Peg Napralla at NOON. Limit to 10 kids. There is a $6 fee for materials. Call 745-5768 to register in advance.

At Wholeistic Healing there will be a kid's butterfly coloring contest and henna tattoos on the sidewalk.
 
At Prairie Flower Beads you can register for two kid's DIY workshops: make your own ankle bracelet and make your own arrowhead necklace. For kids ages 7 or older. Workshops are at 10:30am and 1:00pm and will be $7 per session for materials. Register at Prairie Flower Beads or call 742-5900 to reserve your spot. 

At Prairie Flower Beads there will be free face and arm painting with Elizabeth & and an activity station with The Learning Tree Child Care Center.

At Bee Alive Yoga there will be a Kid's Yoga class from 11:30am-12pm. For kids ages 6-11 years old and space is limited. Call 745-9333 to register your child ahead of time and to learn all the details.

Find the complete schedule at WWW.PORTAGEWI.COM
Chamber Golf Outing
The Portage Chamber is holding our annual Golf Outing on Wednesday, June 9th at the Portage Country Club. The outing is the largest fundraiser for the Chamber, helping us fulfill our leadership role in providing a healthy economy and high quality of life for the Portage area.

Join other Chamber members, clients and friends. Pre-registration is necessary for the outing. Tickets are on sale now and you can contact our office at 742-6242 for all the details.
June Chamber Meetings and Events
9 Chamber Golf Outing at Portage Country Club
16 Ribbon Cutting for Reliable Handyman Service at Portage Chamber office at 4pm
25 Grand Opening Celebration for the Beasley Pavilion with the Wisconsin National Guard 132nd Army Band at Pauquette Park at 6pm
Welcome New Members

Reliable Handyman Service
Lance DeJong at 608-235-1430
A handyman to help with all those projects that are on your 'to do' list.
Ribbon Cuttings
A ribbon cutting was held at Canape Sandwiches to welcome this new business to Portage.

Canape Sandwiches is now serving specialty sandwiches, hot dogs and more! They provide a variety of vegan and gluten free options. It truly is a place with a little something for everyone!


You will find Canape Sandwiches at 2830 New Pinery Road, Suite J. For more information, call 608-683-2003.
U.S. Cellular is hiring Retail Wireless Sales Consultants
There are many different avenues for sales with U.S. Cellular. Each offers lots of room for learning, professional growth, and sustained success throughout your career with this Dynamic Organization. 

Come have a career as a consulting expert on U.S. Cellular popular phones and networks. Control your earning potential. And experience real advancement.
 
Join U.S. Cellular, where our top performers earn $65k or more a year! You can sell technology or you can impact lives through technology. U.S. Cellular believes in teaching people how they can apply today’s best technology to create better in their lives—better connections with family and friends and better efficiencies with their time and money.

For more information on becoming a Retail Sales Consultant, Click Here.
Addressing the workforce shortage
One of the big problems many businesses faced pre-pandemic was finding workers. As businesses emerge from the pandemic, workers have become even more scant, leaving industries--particularly manufacturing, hospitality and the restaurant sectors--in a predicament. The business community is concerned about the number of open jobs and the lack of workers to fill those positions. One solution involves rescinding extra federal unemployment funds.

Discussions with a number of our Chamber member businesses revealed how the shortage is hurting them. Many of our businesses are offering higher pay, attractive sign-on bonuses, and other incentives to attract workers. Some businesses are being forced to shut down product and production lines or reduce hours.
 
Last week, the Portage Area Chamber of Commerce and many other fellow Chambers signed on to a letter sent from the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC) to Governor Evers asking to pull the state out of the federal unemployment program that gives people extra weekly benefits.
 
“This is an additional $300 a week individuals are receiving, and unfortunately it’s keeping people on the sidelines. It’s paying people not to work. We’re asking the governor to incentivize work and get people back on the job,” said Nick Novak, vice president of communications for WMC.

The Portage Chamber would like to hear from your business regarding your workforce situation. Call 608-742-6242 or email pacc@portagewi.com us with your comments/concerns and share with us your job openings.
concert at the Portage
Concerts at the Portage
A new summer of the Concerts at the Portage kicks off with the Portage High School Band on Wednesday, June 2. Grab your lawn chair or blanket and come enjoy these free concerts at 6pm every Wednesday on the stage behind the Portage VFW, 215 W. Collins Street (behind Walgreen's).

Desserts are served by a local non-profit as a fundraiser. These free concerts run through August 25.
Portage Summer Lunch Program
For the eighth summer the "Portage Summer Lunch Program for Kids" will ensure that kids and teens in Portage have a place to go for a nutritious lunch even when school is not in session.

Lunches will be served at these five sites:
           The Portage Public Library    11:15am -11:45am
           Goodyear Park / Splash Pad 11:10am -11:35am
           Lincoln Park                           11:45am -12:05pm
        Sanborn Park                         12:15pm - 12:35pm
School Road 11:30am - 12:00pm
The fifth site, School Road, has been added near the Portage High School's baseball and softball fields' concession stand from 11:30am to Noon each day. Lunches will be served, beginning on June 7 and continuing through August 31, at each of the sites, Monday through Friday, with the exception of July 5. New this summer, a "Weekend Bag" of non-perishable food will be provided for each young person every Friday.

If you are interested in helping as a volunteer, you can sign up at 2021 Summer Lunch Program (Portage) – Extension Columbia County (wisc.edu) If you have questions, please be sure to contact Caitlin Richardson (caitlin.richardson@wisc.edu) or Dave Hankins (pastordave@portagepresbyterian.com).
Lunches, Flag Day Celebration at Elks Lodge
Portage Elks Veranda Cookouts will be held on Thursdays from 11am-5pm and feature burgers, brats, and BBQ pulled pork. If you prefer to call ahead to place your order, please call 608-742-6040.

Join the Portage Elks Lodge #675 as they honor our flag on Sunday, June 13 at 11am. This event is open to the public.

The Elks Lodge is located at 201 W. Conant Street. For more information, call 608-742-6040.
Free Yoga at Pauquette Park
Join Madleen Alsabbah from Bee Alive Yoga Studio at Pauquette Park, 800 W. Conant Street, on Tuesday, June 8 from Noon to 1pm for a free yoga session! Beginners welcome. Bring a yoga mat if you have one. To register, email programs@portagelibrary.us or call the library at 608-742-4959.
Citywide Garage Sales
Find deals throughout Portage at the big Citywide Garage Sales Weekend, Thursday through Saturday, June 10-12.

The Portage Chamber has many garage sale locations and times on our website. Click here.
Columbia County Moo Day Brunch
You'll find all your favorites at this brunch serving from 9am to 1pm on Saturday, June 19! Pizza Hut pizza, grilled cheese, milk, go-gurt, cheese and ice cream sandwiches are all at Schoepp Farms, N2007 E. Harmon Road in Lodi. Other happenings include educational displays, entertainment, antique tractors, and pedal tractor pull.

Limited seating available with a drive through pick-up option. Ages 11 years to Adult is $7; 4-10 years is $4; 3 and under is free with paying adult. Bring a non-perishable food item and get $1 off - one per person. For more information, contact Debi Stiemke at 608-635-2858 and Deb Koopmans at 920-348-5675.
Books in the Park!
Portage Public Library Children's Department summer reading initiative, Let's Read, Portage! presents "Books in the Park" on Tuesday, June 22 from 9:30am to 10:30am at the Beasley Pavilion at Pauquette Park.

Mayor Dodd kicks off this free event with a proclamation, followed by story time with Mrs. Foster. Free book to every child, birth-12 years, cookies, stickers, photo ops and more!!

Visit www.portagelibrary.us or email Dawn Foster, Children's Services Librarian.
Portage City Flea Market
Come check out the Portage City Flea Market at the Columbia County Fairgrounds on Saturday, June 26 from 8am to 12pm. Local vendors will be selling crafts, collectibles, woodworking items, rummage sale items and much more! Spectator admission is free.
 
Interested in reserving a vendor space? Vendor fee is $25. Contact Mike Percy at the Portage Park & Recreation Department, 608-742-2178.
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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.
Spread the word about Portage!
Use #portagewi in your social media posts.
Check out the Chamber's YouTube Channel HERE
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.
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.
Text PACC to 51660
to receive information about upcoming Chamber events
Text PORTAGE to 51660
to receive information about upcoming Portage events
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; 4th Tuesday only during July and August
Women's Civic League - Meets 2nd Wednesdays of the month at Dino’s Restaurant, 2900 New Pinery Rd.
Portage Area Chamber of Commerce | 608-742-6242 | pacc@portagewi.com | www.portagewi.com