September 2010 Addendum
 

There are a few more "Upcoming Events" happening in our area this September.  You may have already seen them announced elsewhere, but if not, here's some info:
 

• Thursday, September 23rd, 7:00 p.m., at the Stevens Point Public Library, delegates from our city’s Russian Sister City Project will present a program titled, “Russian Gardens and Dachas.”  Also presented will be their version of the “local food movement” – how they grow, preserve and market their own produce. 

Susan Zach is a member of the Russian Sister City Project and her group will be hosting five delegates from Rostov Veliky on their visit to the area September 17th to 25th.  Delegates include the mayors of Rostov Veliky and Poreche, an environmental teacher, city sanitation director and fish and game manager.  This program provides an opportunity for the public to meet the delegates.

Susan visited Rostov in 2001 and was invited to several dachas (the beautiful old wooden houses with very ornate windows that you see in Russian photos).  To quote Susan, “People in cities like Rostov Veliky like to use these dachas on the outskirts of town as their “summer cottage” where they surround themselves with their gardens. On my visits to the dachas we would talk sing, drink chai from a wood-fired samovar, walk to the river for a swim, pick ripe vegetables to put in the soup that was cooking on the stoves inside.  Like ‘playing in your garden.’”

  
• Portage County Land Conservation Department will be hosting Conservation Poster and Speaking Contests early this fall.  These contests will provide students an exciting opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings about animals, water, soil, and other related natural resource or environmental issues through art or speech.  Contest winners will continue on to a regional competition and potentially a state and national competition. Important dates to note: 

Friday, September 24, 4:30 pm – Speech contest registration deadline.  Speakers must pre-register with Patty Benedict, Land Conservation Division.  Call 715-346-1334 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

Thursday, September 30, 4:30 pm – Poster entries due.  Posters must be delivered by to the Land Conservation Division office, County Annex Building, Third Floor, 1462 Strongs Avenue, Stevens Point.  Posters will be judged and the top three entrants will be notified and receive awards.  First place posters in each category will advance to the regional contest – the North Central Area contest in Wausau.  First place posters from the regional contest will advance to the State competition to be held in Stevens Point.  State winners will advance to the National competition. 

Tuesday, October 5, 6:00 p.m. – Speaking Contest.  Speeches will be performed at the County Annex Building (rooms to be announced).  First place speakers in each category will advance to the regional contest – the North Central Area contest in Wausau.  First place speakers at the regional contest advance to the State competition to be held in Stevens Point. 

Questions can be directed to Patty Benedict, Portage County Land Conservation Division, 715-346-1334 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  The competition is sponsored by the Portage County Land Conservation Committee (LCC), Land Conservation Division (LCD), the Wisconsin Land & Water Conservation Association (WLWCA), and the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD.  Additional info is available on the WLWCA website, www.wlwca.org.

 
• The Stevens Point Area League of Women Voters is sponsoring the program, "There Is Enough Water In Central Wisconsin, Right? The History, Science and Economics of Our Water Supply."  The program will be presented on Thursday, September 30, at Theater @1800, 1800 North Point Drive, 7:00-9:00 p.m.  It is Free and open to the public.  The program agenda includes:

-- The role of water in the economy of Central Wisconsin (presented by Ken Schroeder and Jen Stewart)
-- The history and science of the area's water supply (presented by Ray Schmidt)
-- A panel of local leaders from business and government discussing potential solutions
-- Written questions from the audience.