Fond du Lac recovery community to gather at Lakeside Park Pavilion for Stigma Awareness, and more news in weekly dose
FOND DU LAC - Fond du Lac County Health Department and Community Medical Services, in collaboration with Wisconsin Voices for Recovery, will host a Stigma Awareness event on the barriers individuals seeking recovery face.
The event is scheduled for 3 to 7 p.m. Aug. 24 at Lakeside Park Pavilion, 71 Promen Drive, Fond du Lac.
“Every day, we feel the impact of substance use disorder in our community. Overdoses have taken too many lives and we need to recognize addiction as the disease it is and talk about it,” Community Health and Prevention Supervisor Sarah Gradinjan said in a news release. “Stigma is a huge a barrier, and it can be deadly. We are here to spread awareness that recovery is possible and help is available.”
Tables featuring local resources and organizations will be available. There also will be training for Narcan administration, a workshop on stigma and guest speakers who will share stories about addiction and recovery.
For more information, visit fdlco.wi.gov/gethelp.
Fond du Lac's lighthouse: Fond du Lac with no lighthouse? It almost happened. Here are 5 facts for National Lighthouse Day.
Welcome to your weekly dose. Here is more news from throughout Fond du Lac County.
Marian University to relocate nursing program after renovation
Marian University kicked off renovations with a bash. University faculty, staff, students, along with Sisters of the Congregation of St. Agnes — the order that founded Marian — took part in the demolition.
When finished, the first and second floors of the Stayer Center on Marian’s main campus will feature state-of-the-art simulation laboratories, classrooms and study areas for nursing and other health professions.
The bash also introduced a new program at Marian University — construction management.
Moving the nursing program means the building at 30 S. Main St. in downtown Fond du Lac will be put up for sale.
Back-to-school concert features MJM7
Catholic family band MJM7 will perform a back-to-school concert Aug. 27 at Holy Family Church. The concert will begin at 3 p.m. at the Prayer Garden, 271 Fourth Street Way.
MJM7 is led by Michael James Mette and his children, Charity, Cecilia and MJ. Attendees should take lawn chairs. In case of rain, the concert will be held in the church.
Admission is a freewill offering. All are welcome to attend.
Fond du Lac Symphonic Band set to perform in Lomira
On Aug. 17, the Fond du Lac Symphonic Band will present its 36th annual summer concert at Sterr Park in Lomira. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m., conducted by music director Evan Chancellor and associate conductor Jill Koerwitz.
Long-time band member Jason Ehlert, trombone, will play Annie Laurie, which was composed by early 20th-century bandmaster and famed trombonist Arthur Pryor. Dr. Don Steward, on xylophone, will play the Galop from The Comedians by Kabalevsky.
Folk music from varied traditions includes Four Shaker Dances, Fantasy on American Sailing Songs, and Irish Tune from County Derry. Familiar American music includes American Salute by Morton Gould, Glenn Miller in Concert, and Irving Berlin’s America; along with some popular American marches.
Concession sales will benefit the Friends of the Lomira Public Library. In case of inclement weather, the concert will be moved to Trinity Methodist Church.
Paddygrass entertains at Friends of Kettle Moraine event
The Friends of the Kettle Moraine will host dinner and a show with the band Paddygrass at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 19.
The show will be at the Mauthe Lake Recreation Area picnic shelter of the Kettle Moraine State Forest - Northern Unit at N1490 County GGG, Campbellsport. A Wisconsin State Park System vehicle admission sticker is required.
Dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. with the concert at 7 p.m. A bake sale will benefit the Friends of the Kettle Moraine.
The cost is a suggested donation of $5 per person. Attendees should take lawn chairs or blankets.
For more information, email friendsofthekettlemoraine@gmail.com.
Red Cross seeks more donations, local drives set
The American Red Cross is still struggling to keep hospitals stocked with blood products. Urgent needs include type O negative, type O positive, type B negative and type A negative blood donors, as well as platelet donors.
A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required. Individuals who are 17 years, weigh at least 110 pounds and are in general good health may be eligible to donate blood.
Local upcoming blood drives include the following:
Aug. 22: noon to 5 p.m., Knights of Columbus Hall, 795 Fond du Lac Ave.; and
Aug. 23: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Church of Peace, 158 S. Military Road.
To make an appointment, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information.
U.S. Rep. Grothman holds town hall in Campbellsport
U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman, a Republican who represents Wisconsin's Sixth Congressional District, will hold a town hall meeting Aug. 23 in Campbellsport.
The session will run 2 to 3 p.m. at Campbellsport Municipal Center, 470 Grand Ave.
Paul Dietrich to perform at Thrasher Opera House
The Green Lake Festival of Music and the Thrasher Opera House welcome Paul Dietrich’s 5+4 to the Thrasher for a 7 p.m. concert Aug. 25.
Dietrich began writing music for the 5+4 project in late 2019. The group combines the instrumentation of a traditional jazz quintet (trumpet, saxophone, piano, bass, drums) with a string quartet (two violins, viola, and cello). Band members are saxophonist Dustin Laurenzi, pianist Jason Kutz, bassist Brian Courage and drummer Jon Deitemyer.
A composer, trumpet player and educator based in the Midwest, Dietrich has led the Paul Dietrich Quintet since 2012 and the Paul Dietrich Jazz Ensemble since 2016.
Tickets are $25 at thrasheroperahouse.com or 920-294-4279.
Schmahl honored with DAISY award from SSM Health
Karen Courtney was diagnosed with cancer in August 2020. She found support through the SSM Health Cancer Care, especially with ongoing support from nurse, Sara Schmahl.
A nomination from Courtney led to Schmahl being named a DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses winner at the SSM Health Fond du Lac Regional Clinic.
The award is part of The DAISY Foundation’s mission to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care they provide patients and families.
Nurses may be nominated by patients, families and colleagues. Awards are presented to one recipient on a quarterly basis. Schmahl was recognized July 20 with a ceremony where she received a certificate, an award pin and a sculpture.
For more information, visit DAISYfoundation.org.
Brenda Paulin honored: This North Fond du Lac salon owner has been named among regional Women of Influence for her ‘true gift’ of uplifting women
Local students awarded AAUW scholarships
The Fond du Lac branch of AAUW has awarded $13,000 in scholarships to local students. Proceeds from the group’s annual used book sale funds the scholarships. The next sale will be in March 2024.
Four graduating high school seniors were awarded Elizabeth Waters Scholarships for their first year of college: Rachel Cook (Fond du Lac High School), Hailey Hoffmann (St. Mary’s Springs Academy), Hayden Mason (Fond du Lac High School) and Reese Neumann (St. Mary’s Springs Academy).
Three students enrolled in college were awarded Continuing Education Scholarships: Ella Borgwardt (Wisconsin Lutheran College), Katelyn King (Purdue University), and Kaylee Mess (University of Wisconsin-Platteville), and Katherine Gindt (University of Wisconsin-Parkside) was awarded a Re-entry Scholarship.
Ripon College continues Forever Ripon fundraising campaign
Ripon College raised nearly $19 million in 2023 through fundraising efforts. The college has reached 82% of its $75 million goal for its Forever Ripon campaign, raising $61 million. And there are two years left of the campaign.
Ripon College Trustees have made a gift to the campaign, and 40% of alumni have either made a financial commitment since the campaign began or volunteered in some capacity.
The Forever Ripon campaign is the largest philanthropic and engagement initiative in Ripon’s history. The three main goals are endowment growth, facility enhancement and the Ripon Fund.
For more information, visit ripon.edu/forever-ripon. To contribute, contact Shawn Karsten at karstens@ripon.edu or 920-748-8126.
Ripon College launches first master's degree program
Ripon College will launch its first master’s degree program, in exercise science, in the summer of 2024.
Courses for the 15-month graduate program will begin in summer 2024, according to vice president and dean of faculty John Sisko.
The program will offer three specializations: exercise physiology, sport psychology and sport management. Instructors with real-world experience in these areas will be added to the faculty.
Students in the program will be able to live on campus, but it will not be required.
For more about the program, visit ripon.edu/exs.
Get your dose — stay connected
Get your dose of local community news here each week. For updates throughout the week, visit fdlreporter.com or follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
News tips
Send tips to news@fdlreporter.com.
See our contact page.
Our impact
The Fond du Lac Reporter — part of USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin — strives to make a difference in our community. Read our 2022 Community Impact Report online.
Award-winning content
The Fond du Lac Reporter won four total awards in the 2022 Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation Better Newspaper Contest.
Read more about the awards and follow links to the award-winning content by clicking here.
Thanks for reading!
We appreciate your readership! Support our work by subscribing. Find details online or call 1-877-424-5048 and give offer code W-C4 to subscribe.
Contact Mara Wegner at mwegner@gannett.com or 920-996-7241.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Fond du Lac addiction recovery event slated at Lakeside Park Pavilion
