Chamber Chat 4/17/17

OCONTO CHAMBER CHAT

The monthly meeting for the Oconto Area chamber of Commerce was held at Brothers 3 on April 18, 2017.

Mark your calendar for “Water Fest” July 1, 2017 at the Oconto Harbor. Festivities will begin at 2:00-6:00 pm with the band Bad Habitz. At 6:30-10:00 p.m. Nashville Pipeline will perform. Fireworks will be shot off at the Harbor at 10:00 p.m. Other activities are also planned with a tentative lighted boat parade. Awards will be given out for the best decorated boat. Anyone may enter the boat parade. Vendors are encouraged to set up at the Harbor. There will be no cost for a booth. This is a joint venture between the Oconto Chamber and the City of Oconto Tourism Committee. Contact City Administrator Sara Perrizo if you wish to have a booth.  The overflow parking area will still be available for fishermen as there will be shuttles available at various spots for the general public.

Kites ‘N Kids is also scheduled for July 1st at the J. Douglas Bake Memorial Airport from 11 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. Donations of $50 or more are now being accepted at Oconto County Economic Development. There will be a kite show by the Wisconsin Kiters Club.

Order forms for the 12th Annual “ Lights for the Vets” to honor our veterans by decorating the fence on Business 41 are now available at the Bond Community Center and various businesses. This activity is sponsored by the Oconto Hospital Auxiliary and the American Legion Post 74.  The cost is $5 for a light and  an additional $5 for an American Flag.  Lights and Flags will be displayed beginning on Sunday, May 28th. Profits benefit Bellin Health Oconto Hospital and DAV of Oconto County.

The ATV Club is working hard to get signage put up around the City of Oconto for the routes. Due to the fact that signs are quite costly, they are asking for help to purchase more signs. If you are interested, you can join the club as an individual for $10 or a corporate membership is $30. Oconto County Economic Development is collecting donations for the signage. Mail checks to OCEDC PO Box 43 Oconto, WI 54153. Your contribution is tax deductible. The ATV Club will be providing “Welcome Signs” for businesses to welcome ATVs to their businesses.

April 23-29 is “Restaurant Week” Stop in at Angry Eddies, Brothers 3, Crivello’s, Irish Greens, Oconto Legion Golf Club, Wagner Shell or Wise Guys Riverside to vote for your favorite food establishment of the year. A plaque from the Chamber will be given to the winner to be displayed proudly.

Miss Copperfest 2017 application forms are now available at Oconto High School or Image Apparel.

The Chamber awards scholarships in the amounts of $1000, $750 and $500 to the 3 winners. This scholarship is a great opportunity for a business or organization to sponsor a candidate. The Chamber is also asking all former queens to participate in the Copperfest parade on Saturday, June 10th at 10:00 a.m. Contact Kathy @ Image Apparel if you can attend. This is the 35th year of Miss Copperfest.

The Chamber is hosting its 4th Recognition Banquet at Crivello’s on May 6th. The Volunteer of the Year is Janine Hornblad and the Business of the Year is Stephenson National Bank & Trust. Tickets for this event are $15 and can be purchased at Image Apparel.

Congratulations to the Oconto Utility Dept. as it was chosen as “Waste Water Treatment Plant of the Year” by the State of Wisconsin.

Don’t forget to register your golf cart at $25 per year if you plan to drive on City Streets. ATV riders also need to register at City Hall.

The Oconto Lions Club is collecting old and used reading glasses to be turned in at Lambeau Field on April 27th. The glassed can be dropped off at SNBT or Gallagher Funeral Home.

Oconto Bellin Hospital is pleased to announce that it will offer robotic surgery sometime in May.

The Machickanee Players will have a golf outing on May 6th at the Oconto Legion Golf Club. The next performance at various dates in May will be “The Odd Couple Female Version.” Tickets can be purchased on line.

DJ’s Oconto Lanes will sponsor a meat raffle this Saturday, April 22 from 1-4 pm to benefit the Oconto Area Humane Society.

Abrams Days Community Picnic will be July 29, 2017. There will be a parade, food and beverages, car show, vendors, raffles and various kids’ activities.

The Rose Award for the first quarter of 2017 went to Norm & Annette Courchaine for the outstanding job of renovating their home and Beyoutiful Boutique and owner Lisa Carey Hirst for renovating her business on Main St.

The Elks Club will sponsor a pancake Breakfast on May 21st to benefit the Skate Park.

Mark your calendar for the annual Chamber Joint Golf Outing at the Oconto Legion Golf Club. More details will follow as to the cost and time.

The Oconto High School Oral Interpersonal Communications class is asking for help in raising money and donations to provide My Little Pantries in Oconto. These are wooden pantries with a “take what you need, leave what you can” concept for individuals in need to have access to food, water and toiletries. Contact Lauren Bastian at 7bastlau@gmail.com

The Oconto Falls Area Chamber of Commerce will host its 3rd Annual “Run for the Trails” on June 24, 2017. Sponsorship is available as well as an opportunity for runners on a tour of Oconto Falls. There will also be the annual Memorial Day Celebration from May 26-May 29  in Oconto Falls. Email: memorialweekendcelebrationof@gmail.com or  merciers@bayland.net to enter a float in the parade or sponsorship.

The Oconto Hospital Citizen’s Foundation with support from the Oconto Lions, Elks and Kiwanis is sponsoring a Beer, Wine and Cheese Tasting event on April 22nd from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Advance Tickets are $30 each and $35 at the door.

The City of Oconto, community members and local agencies are involved in a Community Revitalization Program. The goal is to restore the housing stock in the City of Oconto. Some of the work that can be done on existing housing is accessibility, plumbing, electrical, basement, roof, heating and more.

If you feel you meet the criteria, call 715-524-8522. On April 20th from  2:00-6:00 p.m. there will be a forum at Oconto City Hall to give out further information.

The Oconto Chamber meets the 3rd Tuesday of every month at local food establishments. The next meeting will be at Wayne’s Family Restaurant on May 15, 2017.

It is never too late to join the Chamber. Dues for an average business are $100, a home based business with no store front and no employees is $50, non-profits and churches are $35 and an individual membership is $25.