Small Street Journal: march 3, 2017

WESTconsin Credit Union recently welcomed Brice Medin as senior business loan officer. Medin will be servicing business at WESTconsin’s new Altoona office that is presently under construction and opening this April in the River Prairie development. Until then, he is temporarily working between the company’s Menomonie – Downtown and Eau Claire offices. Medin’s professional background includes more than 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, most recently in Menomonie with Bremer Bank, NA where he specialized in commercial lending for 10 years.

The Oxbow Hotel and The Lakely was recently the winner of three categories during Downtown Eau Claire Inc.’s (DECI) 9th annual Downtown Eau Claire Awards ceremony. Recognition was received in each of the categories in which they were nominated for, including: Best Business, Best New Business and Best Renovation. The ceremony, held at The Lismore Hotel, included a total of eight categories. Other winners included:  Outstanding Achievement Award to John Mogensen, Member of the Year to Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild, Volunteer of the Year to Paul Brandt, Best Event to New Year’s Eve Gala & Light Up Eau Claire Best New Development to Haymarket Landing.

After six months of planning, a Leadership Eau Claire™ project team assigned to the development of a Public Arts Council at the request of the city manager for the City of Eau Claire, has developed a governing structure for the new organization. The governing body of the Eau Claire Public Arts Council will consist of nine voting members who will direct the selection, placement, maintenance, relocation and deaccessioning of artwork acquired through the public art program and is responsible for the selection and logistical management of public art projects.  The Executive Board shall consist of individuals with a strong interest in the arts, a formal professional background or employment in the arts, and/or experience with community-based organizations. Interested applicants may apply by requesting an application from Allison Shepard at artsmadepubliceauclaire@gmail.com   Priority will be given to applications received by March 8, 2017.

The Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation announced this year’s Golden Apple Awards Honorees. Golden Apple Honorees are nominated by their peers to receive grant funding to use in their schools, sponsored by generous area businesses. Honorees included: Chippewa Valley Montessori Charter School honors Jeremy Harrison, kindergarten-6th grade teacher; DeLong Middle School honors Sarah Binder, special education teacher; Flynn Elementary School - Joann Waldhart Adams, third grade teacher; Lakeshore Elementary School - Melinda Wright, physical education teacher; Locust Lane Elementary School - Mike Peplinski, fourth grade teacher; Longfellow Elementary School - Tom Dahl, physical education teacher; Manz Elementary School - Becky Linderholm, English learning teacher; Meadowview Elementary School - Katie Engel, school psychologist; Memorial High School - Erin Layde, biology and life science teacher; McKinley Charter School - Megan McCrackin, competency component teacher; North High School - Renee Morehead, family/consumer education teacher Northstar Middle School - Michelle Olson, sixth grade and English learning teacher; Northwoods Elementary School - Cheryl Moss, special education assistant teacher; Prairie Ridge Early Learning Center - Melinda Daubitz, Headstart assistant; Putnam Heights Elementary School - Dayna Smith, school secretary; Robbins Elementary School - Heather Kapanke, guidance counselor; Roosevelt Elementary School - Jason Wendtland, fourth grade teacher; Sam Davey Elementary School - Mary Uelmen, special education assistant teacher; Sherman Elementary School - Tim McManus, second grade teacher; and South Middle School - Scott Faris, science teacher.
 
Junior Achievement recently welcomed Beth Waldhart, assistant vice president of business banking at Charter Bank to Junior Achievement Board of Directors. Waldhart brings 15 years of lending experience to the bank with the last nine years at Regional Business Fund, Inc., an economic development financing program for business expansion and start up. There, she managed the non-profit organization and partnered with financial institutions to provide financing to many businesses throughout the Chippewa Valley and beyond.
 
Blugold Radio announced today a crowdfunding effort to raise money to finance a new studio space. Donations will pay for construction, ventilation, and sound dampening. The new studio will be located near the main desk of the McIntyre Library on the UWEC campus. Interested contributors can learn more on the station’s website, BlugoldRadio.org.
 
Wisconsin Philanthropy Network (WPN) is spearheading Endow Wisconsin, an exciting initiative designed to enhance individual and corporate support at each of Wisconsin’s 19 nationally accredited community foundations, which includes The Eau Claire Community Foundation. Proposed as a tax credit, Endow Wisconsin encourages donors to keep dollars in Wisconsin by providing a valuable incentive for Wisconsinites to share a portion of their hard-earned assets with their hometown communities. Adoption of the tax credit has the potential to raise significant dollars for use in Wisconsin while requiring only a modest investment from the state. For more information about Endow Wisconsin and its potential benefits for the Eau Claire area, you can write to info@eccommunityfoundation.org or call the ECCF office at (715) 552-3801.