Fond du Lac's weekly dose has news from SSM Health Adult Day Services, Ripon College and more
OSHKOSH - A donation from Agnesian HealthCare Foundation in the amount of $33,425 has allowed SSM Health Adult Day Services, 420 E. Merrill Ave., to purchase its own handivan.
“Activity outings are an important part of helping seniors sustain their physical and mental health,” Julie Schwartz, Adult Day Services supervisor, said in a news release. “Being active can improve mood, sleep, and the immune system. Making friendships and accessing the local community and making those connections can really help to decrease isolation and loneliness, two areas where seniors may struggle if they are lacking in social engagement.”
Program clients — the elderly, chronically ill and disabled — get help with health and personal care as well as socializing. Services include administration of medication, personal care, games, exercise and more. Clients can attend full or half days, one to five days each week, depending on their needs.
Services are available 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays. For more information, call 920-921-5812.
Movie theater renovation: Fond du Lac movie theater's renovation finally set to begin after COVID-19 delay. Here's what's coming.
Welcome to your weekly dose. Here is more news from throughout Fond du Lac County.
Register now for annual Servants of the Poor Banquet
St. Vincent de Paul’s 14th annual Servants of the Poor Banquet will be held Sept. 26 at Avenue 795, 795 Fond du Lac Ave.
A social hour begins at 5:30 p.m. with a cash bar. Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. with the program beginning at 7:30 p.m., which includes the presentation of the Patricia “Pat” O’Hearn Award.
The cost is $25 per person or $200 for a table of eight. Reservations are required by Sept. 16. Financial assistance is available. Mail checks payable to St. Vincent de Paul Society to: Katie Deaver, N5660 County Y, Fond du Lac, WI 54937. Seats also may be reserved by contacting Deaver at 920-979-5503 or kdeaver111@gmail.com.
Osberger is guest speaker at Ripon College Sept. 19
Kathleen Osberger, author of “I Surrender: A Memoir of Chile’s Dictatorship, 1975,” will be the guest speaker at Ripon College Sept. 19.
The program opens the season for the college’s Center for Politics and the People. It will begin at 6:30 p.m. in Kresge Little Theatre, East Hall, on the campus. Admission is free and open to the public.
Professor Emeritus of Religion Brian Smith will speak with Osberger, followed by reflections from two Ripon College students. There will be time for questions.
“I Surrender” is published by Orbis Books. According to a news release, the book details how in September 1973, a CIA-assisted coup overthrew the democratically-elected president of Chile, ushering in the Pinochet dictatorship. In 1975, Osberger, a recent graduate and lay volunteer from Notre Dame, left for Santiago to teach in a Catholic grade school.
Osberger’s book depicts the solidarity of the Chilean people and the transformational role of nuns and priests dedicated to serving the poor, while highlighting the changing and challenged Catholic Church.
Osberger earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame, a master’s degree from Maryknoll School of Theology and a Master of Arts from the University of Chicago School of Social Work Administration. Her life was shaped by volunteer experiences when she lived in San Miguelito, Panamá; Santiago, Chile; Chimbote, Perú; and the South Bronx.
Parents can have car seats checked at free event
A free Car Seat Safety Check event will be held 3 to 6 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Fond du Lac Fire Department Station 1, 815 S. Main St. It is hosted by SSM Health Greater Fond du Lac and Fond du Lac/Fire Rescue.
It is important to choose the right seat for your child’s size and make sure it is used correctly to properly protect your child in a crash.
Participants should take their child, car seat, car seat instructions, and vehicle owner’s manual to the event.
Certified child passenger safety technicians will ensure your car seat is safe and properly installed; answer any questions about making transitions to booster seats or regular seat belts; and help get a car seat for those who need one.
Space is limited. To attend, register via email to FDLcarseatprogram@ssmhealth.com.
Red Cross needs platelet, blood donors to boost supply
The American Red Cross is still in need of donors of all blood types to help boost the national blood supply. There is a particular need for platelet donors and type O blood donors.
A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17, weigh at least 110 pounds and are in good health may be eligible to donate blood.
Sept. 20: 12:30 to 5:30 p.m., Oakfield Community Center, 130 N. Main St., Oakfield; and
Sept 26: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., American Legion, 500 Fond du Lac Ave.
To make an appointment, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-733-2767 or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.
National Exchange Bank marks opening of new eBankers
National Exchange Bank & Trust’s new drive-up at its downtown Fond du Lac location has opened and features eBankers, or Interactive Teller Machines. The existing drive-thru has permanently closed.
To celebrate, bank staff will greet customers outside offering a different full-size candy bar each day through Sept. 23 to those who complete a transaction on the new ITMs.
For more information, visit nebat.com.
Walk to End Alzheimer's set for Oct. 7 in Fond du Lac
Fond du Lac’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s will take place Oct. 7 at Moraine Park Technical College, 235 N. National Ave.
The event, hosted by the Alzheimer’s Association, begins at 8:30 a.m. with registration, an opening ceremony at 9:40 a.m., followed by the walk at 10 a.m. The day includes activities for kids, root beer floats and live music at the post-walk event.
The walk is led by a four-person team of Beth Atkinson Schultz, social worker; Dan Weidert, retired wildlife biologist; Pam Sippel, director of operations, Boys & Girls Club of Fond du Lac; and Penny Collin, kindergarten teacher, Fond du Lac School District.
To register for the walk, visit act.alz.org/fonddulac. For more information, call 800-272-3900.
Fond du Lac's new accessible playground is now open
The City of Fond du Lac recently held a ribbon-cutting for the opening of the accessible playground and Miracle League of Fond du Lac complex at Plamore Park.
The city allocated up to $1 million in federal funds through the the American Rescue Plan Act for construction, which began in August 2022.
The complex and playground are accessible for those with varying abilities. It is barrier-free and features a rubberized surface. A multi-purpose court allows for basketball and pickleball.
The Miracle League of Fond du Lac, provided by Brooke Industries Inc., offers inclusive and adaptive baseball opportunities for children and adults with disabilities. The new baseball field is made of rubberized turf so it is accessible by wheelchair and other mobility devices.
Read more about the new parks: What to know about Fond du Lac’s new accessible park, Miracle League baseball and other park updates
Ripon College student and two professors have research work published
Two Ripon College professors collaborating with a student has resulted in the work being presented at a conference and published in the journal Behavioral Brain Research.
The article is titled “Decrease in ER within the BNST of sexually naïve male rats following an encounter with a novel female.”
First author Brianna Bembenek, Ripon College Class of 2022, worked on the project in the lab of Associate Professor of Biology Robin Forbes-Lorman, senior author of the paper. They also worked with Associate Professor of Psychology Julia Meyers-Manor.
Bembenek is pursuing a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences with an emphasis in molecular pharmacology and experimental therapeutics at Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.
While many other research programs shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic, Bembenek continued to work on her own at home. She presented the work at the Midbrains conference in October 2020, which was held virtually.
She also networked with professors in the neuroscience field at a variety of graduate schools and secured a summer position at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. She received a Tribeta honor society research grant to help support her follow-up study during her senior year at Ripon.
Rasmussen honored with Daisy Award for patient care
Jennifer Rasmussen, a registered nurse and diabetes care and education specialist with Diabetes Services, has been recognized with a Daisy Award at SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital.
The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses was created as a way to thank nurses for making a difference in the lives of patients and their families. Nurses may be nominated by patients, families or colleagues. The recipient is chosen by the Professional Development Council at St. Agnes Hospital.
Rasmussen was recognized recently during a brief ceremony. She received a certificate that reads, “In deep appreciation of all you do, who you are, and the incredibly meaningful difference you make in the lives of so many people.” Honorees also receive a DAISY Award pin and a hand-carved sculpture called A Healer’s Touch.
For more information, visit DAISYfoundation.org.
Fond du Lac YMCA announces new financial aid process
The Fond du Lac Family YMCA has a new online application process for its financial assistance program, Membership for All. The program reduces fees, but does not elimate them.
Any individual or family whose total combined gross household income is less than $80,000 per year may apply. Monthly rates are based on total household income.
The application can be found online at fdlymca.org and allows you to upload all required documents. The application will be reviewed and an answer will be emailed within one to three business days. If approved, the applicant must enroll within 30 days or they will need to re-apply.
Printed applications also are available online or can be picked up at the YMCA, 90 W. Second St.
Nancy Hill rejoins Thrasher's Board of Directors
Nancy Hill has been appointed to the Thrasher Opera House Board of Directors. She served on the board previously.
According to a news release, Hill brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the organization.
The historic Thrasher Opera House offers an intimate venue. It was built in 1910, restored in 1997 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For more information, visit thrasheroperahouse.com.
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This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: Fond du Lac news includes new playgrounds, Walk to End Alzheimer's
