Two Rivers to dedicate Central Park stage to native sons the Schmitt Brothers July 15
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MANITOWOC - The community is invited to attend the official dedication of the Schmitt Brothers Stage beginning at noon July 15 in Two Rivers’ Central Park.
An integral part of Central Park West 365, a $1.6 million project to upgrade the city’s most significant public space, the Schmitt Brothers Stage will honor the famous champion quartet.
“It was in this very park that Two Rivers welcomed their hometown heroes after they won the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America (SPEBSQSA) title in 1951,” said former Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt, son of the quartet’s lead singer. “If the quartet were alive today, they would be thrilled to hear the harmony of this wonderful celebration and see this city coming together to create and enjoy this beautiful park.”
Two Rivers City Manager Greg Buckley added: “We are very pleased to work with the Schmitt family on this project and delighted to honor the quartet for supporting their hometown. This is a celebration of hometown values and a demonstration of the great things our community can accomplish.”
Events include a ribbon-cutting ceremony by officials and family members, including Buckley, Schmitt, the surviving wives of the quartet, Mary Ann and Toni Schmitt, as well as author P.T. Rivers.
In addition, an anonymously donated replica of the medal won by the quartet will be presented to the Two Rivers Historical Society for its display of Schmitt Brothers memorabilia.
The extended Schmitt family, who raised more than $122,000 for the naming rights, will be the first to perform on the stage in honor of the quartet.
At 2 p.m., a barbershop show will feature more than a dozen quartets and choruses, including many district champions and groups that sang with the Schmitt Brothers.
The lineup for the three-hour show presents the Clipper City Chordsmen from Manitowoc, Vintage Mix Quartet from Milwaukee, Fox Valleyaires Chorus from Appleton, 2023 International Junior Champion YTBN quartet from Burlington, the Capital Chordsmen Chorus from Madison, 2021 District Champion Coulee Classic Quartet from La Crosse, 2022 District Champion Forward Harmony Chorus from Greendale/Oconomowoc, the Winnebagoland Chorus from Oshkosh, District Champion Checkmate Quartet, HHT A-Capella Chorus from Plymouth, 2023 District and 2018 Senior Champion St. Croix Crossing Quartet, Northern Gateway Chorus from Stevens Point, and multi-year District Champion Midwest Vocal Express from Greendale.
In addition, the 1975 International Champion Happiness Emporium Quartet from Minneapolis, who performed many times with the Schmitt Brothers and are the only other international champions in the Land O’Lakes District, will take the stage.
During the event, civic organizations will sponsor a variety of food and snack stands, the Cool City Brewing Company will offer a special-edition brew for the occasion, and the Two Rivers Historical Society will scoop ice cream cones in the park and serve sundaes at the nearby Washington House Museum to honor the invention of the sweet dairy treat in Two Rivers.
P.T. Rivers, author of “The Schmitt Brothers,” will autograph copies of the book.
The public will also be invited to sit in a vintage convertible to have photos taken with the Schmitt Brothers.
The barbershop show will be followed by an afterglow beginning at 7 p.m. at the J.E. Hamilton Community House, across the street from the park.
On July 16, the city will celebrate the dedication of the overall park project.
For more details, visit exploretworivers.com.
About the Schmitt Brothers: The Schmitt Brothers — Jim, Joe, Paul and Fran — grew up in family of 17 just down the street from the park.
The first contest they won was not in front of a crowd of 8,000 at the international barbershop convention in Toledo, but on WOMT radio in Manitowoc when the youngest was just 4 years old.
They learned to sing in the St. Luke’s church choir and won the SPEBSQSA title after singing barbershop for only 18 months.
With performances routinely booked years in advance, the quartet sang together for 35 years, spreading harmony from all the major stages in the country as well as the Ed Sullivan, Arthur Godfrey and Lawrence Welk shows.
They raised 35 children, ran successful local businesses, and participated in and led civic organizations from the Elks and Lions clubs to the local chamber of commerce, school and church boards.
Find more at the following:
Follow The Schmitt Brothers Quartet on Facebook;
Listen to The Schmitt Brothers Greatest Hits on Apple Music and Spotify;
Read “The Schmitt Brothers” book, available at the Washington House Museum in Two Rivers, Heart & Homestead and LaDeDa Books & Beans in Manitowoc, and on amazon.com; and
Visit the Washington House Museum to see the display dedicated to the quartet.
Welcome to your weekly dose.Here is more news from throughout Manitowoc County.
Point Beach Nuclear Plant emergency response drill set for July 10-12
Manitowoc County Emergency Services will be conducting an emergency response drill with the Point Beach Nuclear Plant July 10-12.
Federal regulations require local and state government agencies whose jurisdictions are home to nuclear power plants to biennially demonstrate they can protect the health and safety of people living within 10 miles of the plant.
Numerous first responders and other agencies from the State of Wisconsin and Manitowoc County will be participating in the drill.
During the drill, the county will be opening a simulated evacuee reception center at the Manitowoc County Highway Shop, a simulated staging area at Two Creeks Fire Department, a simulated incident command post at Point Beach Nuclear Plant and activating its emergency operations center. Froedtert Holy Family Memorial Hospital will also be participating.
Kayla Beckerdite, Manitowoc County Emergency Services director, said in a news release: “It’s highly unlikely we will ever have to implement these procedures in our Emergency Operations Plan for a nuclear plant incident. However, participating in these drills makes us better prepared as a community to respond to a wide variety of disaster scenarios.”
The public may see various emergency response teams out in the field or see federal and state vehicles in the area during the drill. However, there is no reason to be alarmed as the events are just a drill, not a real event, the news release said.
The county and state will repeat the drill Aug. 14-16 in front of evaluators from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Heart-A-Rama presents American Heart Association $79,500 check from 2023 show
Local nonprofit Heart-A-Rama recently presented a check for $79,500 to the American Heart Association-Wisconsin.
The funds were raised from Heart-A-Rama’s 51st season show, which took place this spring in Two Rivers.
The money will go toward research to fight heart disease and to purchase automated external defibrillators for public gathering spaces in Manitowoc County.
Since 1971, Heart-A-Rama has been raising funds to benefit the American Heart Association by performing quirky, one-of-a-kind variety shows that inform, inspire and entertain.
Through the support of hundreds of volunteers, more than 105,000 audience members and 300-plus shows during the past 51 seasons, Heart-A-Rama has raised more than $3 million to benefit the American Heart Association.
In addition to supporting heart disease research, the funds also go toward purchasing AEDs for public and professional use in Manitowoc County.
2024 Heart-A-Rama shows will be April 25-27 and May 2-4.
Manitowoc County residents urged to take internet services survey
Manitowoc County’s public-private economic development organization Progress Lakeshore is joining the Wisconsin Broadband Office in urging households to take the Wisconsin Internet Self-Report survey.
The survey is confidential, and the number of responses will be visualized in an online mapping tool.
The WISE survey is online at https://maps.psc.wi.gov/apps/WISER/index.html or available via phone at 608-261-6026.
People can also contact Project Lakeshore for more information at 920-482-0540.
According to a news release, Progress Lakeshore, through a memorandum of understanding with Manitowoc County, is coordinating the local efforts for the New North Broadband Alliance project. The purpose of the regional project is to provide reports for inclusion in Wisconsin Public Service Commission’s Broadband Office Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Five-Year Action Plan as part of the federal Infrastructure BEAD Program.
WISER is an online survey with a speed test. It is designed to capture the complexity of residents’ experience with internet service or lack thereof so Progress Lakeshore and the Wisconsin Broadband Office can understand a variety of broadband needs.
The news release said that through this collaborative effort, the goal is to be able to further improve internet access, understand associated costs and support internet adoption for Wisconsin residents by identifying areas where internet is not available, too expensive, underperforming or intimidating to subscribe.
Manitowoc County Fairest of the Fair accepting applications
Applications are being accepted for the 2024 Manitowoc County Fairest of the Fair.
The Fairest of the Fair is the official ambassador of the Manitowoc County Fair and promotes the fair and advocates for the agriculture industry.
The Fairest will begin their reign on Sept. 1 and appear at parades and special events leading up to the 2024 Manitowoc County Fair.
The reign will end on Jan. 31, 2025, after they have competed at the Wisconsin Fairest of the Fair contest in early January at the Wisconsin Association of Fairs Convention.
The Fairest will also participate in radio interviews and record ads promoting the fair.
After completing their reign, the Fairest will receive a $1,500 scholarship.
The 2024 contest will take place during the fair week at 5 p.m. Aug. 26 inside the Ice Center. Applicants will have an individual and group interview with the judges, present a prepared 30-second radio interview and answer impromptu questions in an on-stage program.
Applicants must have high energy and strong enthusiasm for the fair. They must be a resident of Manitowoc County, have a valid driver’s license and be at least 18 as of Jan. 1, 2025.
The application and rules are online. Application and photo must be received by Aug. 1.
Call the Expo office at 920-683-4378 or email JennelShelton@manitowoccountywi.gov for more information.
July 15 exhibitor deadline for Manitowoc County Fair fast approaching
Manitowoc County Fair Board is reminding anyone who wishes to exhibit in the Open Class Division at this year’s Manitowoc County Fair that online entries are due by July 15.
The 2023 Manitowoc County Fair will be on the Manitowoc County Expo grounds, 4921 Expo Drive, Aug. 23-27. Theme will be “Pirates of the Carrots and Beans.”
The fair book is available online and has a complete listing of the department, classes and lot numbers available.
Exhibitors must complete the online Open Class registration form. Anyone without a computer can call the Expo office at 920-683-4378 to schedule an appointment to get assistance from staff.
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This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Two Rivers dedicates Central Park stage to Schmitt Brothers quartet
