Serving the Northwoods Communities of Rhinelander, Eagle River, Minocqua, Phelps, Three Lakes, Florence and Forest County.
District Dialogue
July 1, 2015
Vilas County Economic Development Corporation Manufacturing Incubator Open House
On Saturday, June 27, I was invited to attend the Vilas County Economic Development manufacturing incubator open house in Eagle River. It was interesting and exciting to see local businesses thriving in our local communities. After meeting with several members of the Vilas County Economic Development, I talked with Jack Chopin, who recently starting selling a product of his own.
Jack Chopin is the President of E-Z Eat Enterprises LLC and creator of the E-Z Eat. Jack suffers from a disability that hinders his ability to grasp, hold, or squeeze anything with his hands. This has made him very dependent on his wife Diana Chopin to help him do simple tasks, such as eating meals or buttoning a shirt.
After years of being dependent on Diana, Jack and his brother-in-law Ron Smith began to manufacture eating devices for physically challenged individuals. This invention holds the food in place so Jack can eat without the assistance of his wife. After a number of prototypes, Jack and Ron have created a product that will assist those suffering from arthritis, multiple sclerosis, amputated limbs, or other disabilities from relying on others to eat. Jack and Ron are in high hopes that the E-Z Eat will be utilized in hospitals and assisted living centers to provide independence for those with disabilities.
With the help of the Vilas County manufacturing incubator E-Z Eats Enterprises LLC has produced a number of the E-Z Eats. If you know someone that would benefit from using Jack's product or where it could be further utilized, please feel free to pass this information along.
To learn more about E-Z Eats, please visit their website.
Rep. Swearingen with Jack Chopin; President of EZ-EAT Enterprises, LLC, manufactures of eating devices for physically challenged individuals.
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Left to Right: Dick Leinenkugel, Rep. Swearingen, Dave Juday,
Barry Mcleane, Jeff Visner, and Carl Ruedebusch
WPS Donates to Local Charities
(Green Bay, WI) Forty-seven local non-profits recently received an unexpected grant from the Wisconsin Public Service Foundation. The unknowing recipients were nominated by employees at WPS. Employees were encouraged to nominate non-profits that had impacted their lives or community. Recipients were then chosen at random from a large pool of employee- nominated, community-based organizations to receive a $1,000 grant. "The new Employee Choice Grant has really captured the interest of our employees. It is WPS's hope that it will inspire them to give even more generously of their time and treasures in the future," said Karmen Lemke, Foundation Director. "They're appreciative and excited about helping out some amazing organizations that are making a difference in the communities that we serve."
About Wisconsin Public Service Foundation
The Foundation is funded by company shareholders, not by the customers
of its utility subsidiaries, and is in its 51st year. Through direct
grants, scholarships and an employee Matching Gifts and Dollars for
Doers program, the Foundation actively supports improvements in the
quality of life in the communities served by Wisconsin Public Service.
Since its inception, the Foundation has provided nearly $29 million in
contributions to programs that support activities in the areas of arts
and culture, community and neighborhood development, education, human
services and health, and care for the environment.
For more information,
click here.
Taste of Conover
Last Sunday, my wife Amy and I attended the Taste of Conover to sample great food and drinks from area restaurants. As always, the community put together quite the spread for all its attendants. One of the first people I ran into during the festival was Mike Balgaard, a high school friend who currently lives in Eagle River. Local community events like the Taste of Conover are a great place to reconnect with old friends and neighbors.
The Taste of Conover is an annual community events which attracts visitors from all over the Northwoods to sample dishes from local restaurants. It is a fantastic family-oriented environment with a dunk tank for the kids, great live music, along with plenty of samples and refreshments for the whole family. I applaud the Town of Conover for once again attracting a great crowd; see you next year!
Mike Balgaard and Rep. Swearingen
Contact(s): Aaron Buchholz, DNR land program manager, 920-662-5115
MADISON - The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources owns and
maintains thousands of miles of roads, and as a result of
Wisconsin State Statute 23.116, will be required to inventory and
map all roads located on department property.
Each map will designate which roads are open to the public for the use
of motorized vehicles and will determine when each road is open or
closed for such use. To provide for public recreational access and
management activities conducted by department staff and in response to
continued public interest and feedback, the department will create a
comprehensive road inventory system for department roads.
The department is currently seeking feedback regarding
general considerations that will be used to evaluate motorized road
access - to provide feedback, visit the department website,
dnr.wi.gov, and search keywords
"proposed DNR program guidance."
When program guidance has been approved, additional public input
opportunities will gather feedback for each property where motorized
access is evaluated. The public will play an important role in
evaluating which roads are open for motorized use.
In addition to feedback received from the public, a number of
considerations will be used to evaluate properties, including visitor
requests for access, operational feasibility, natural resource impacts
based on anticipated level of use, and economic benefits.
Upon completion, the department's
Public Access Lands atlas
will provide standardized property maps with the following
information:
roads open for public motorized use;
seasonality of open roads;
planned development level of open roads; and
types of motorized vehicles allowed on open roads.
Those interested in receiving email updates regarding the motorized
access planning project can sign up to receive email messages regarding
property info and other information. Visit dnr.wi.gov, select the email
icon near the bottom of the page for
"subscribe for updates for DNR topics," then follow the prompts and
select "motorized road access planning," found within the property
master planning list.
For more information regarding motorized road access on department-owned
lands, search keywords
"motorized road access."
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Happy Fourth of July!
I wanted to take a moment to wish everyone in the 34th Assembly District a happy and safe Independence Day! Be sure to visit the many local parades and community events in the greater Northwoods. For a complete listing of the Northwoods Fourth of July parades, please access the following links Oneida and Vilas, Florence County, and Forest county.
I will be participating in a number of parades around the district; I hope to see you this weekend!
The first Fourth of July parade is already in the books! On Sunday June 28, Senator Tiffany and I participated in the St. Germain parade with a number of enthusiastic patriots. It was great to see everyone in St. Germain. Enjoy the holiday weekend in the Northwoods!
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St. Germain 4th of July Parade
Rob with his youngest daughter Jessie in St. Germain.
Please click the following links for upcoming community events!
Music on Main Street – Big Road: July 1, Boulder Junction
Tommy O's Playhouse Tommy O Presents Broadway Musical Songbook: July 2, Hazelhurst
Concert In The Park/Celebration Brass Quintet: July 2, 9 & 16, Minocqua
Trig's Flea Market: July 2, 3, 8 & 9, Rhinelander
Chain Skimmers Ski shows: July 2, 4, 7, 9, 11 & 14, Land O' Lakes
Summer Patio Pounder: July 2, Boulder Junction
Minocqua Farmers Market: July 3 & 10, Minocqua
Great Antique Show: July 3 & 4, Minocqua
Min-Aqua-Bats Ski Show: July 3, 5 & 12, Minocqua
Big Fork Lake Venetian Boat Parade: July 3, Three Lakes
July 3 Celebration: July 3, Land O' Lakes
Friday Flea Market: July 3 & 10, Presque Isle
Canoe Paddle - Manitowish River - Hwy H & K to Island Lake: July 3, Manitowish Waters
Summer Salute Land O' Lakes Fireworks: July 3, Land O' Lakes
Rhinelander Farmers Market: July 4 &11, Rhinelander
Long Lake Fire Dept. Parade & Picnic: July 4, Florence
Just Tri It! Triathlon 2015: July 4, Manitowish Waters
FREE Water Ski Show: July 4, 8, 11 & 15, Manitowish Waters
Three Lakes Lions 63rd Annual Pancake Breakfast: July 4, Three Lakes
8th Muggy Buggy 5k & Xtreme Mud Run: July 4, Minocqua
Hodag Water Show: July 5 & 8, Rhinelander
Hazelhurst Lions Club Pancake Breakfast: July 5, Hazelhurst
Chequamegon Adventure Company Presents Tuesday Paddle Nite: July 7 & 14, Minocqua
St. Germain Flea Market: July 8 & 15, St. Germain
Summer Concert Series: July 8, St. Germain
Concert on the Riverwalk - Hand Picked Blue Grass: July 8, Rhinelander
Hodag Country Festival: July 9-12, Rhinelander
Hodag Breakfast: July 9-12, Rhinelander
St. Germain Lazy Daze of Summer Festival: July 9, St. Germain
35th Annual Guides Kids Day: July 9, Eagle River
Summer Markets Music Day: July 9, Land O' Lakes
Florence County Kids Hooked on Fishing: July 11, Florence
Badwater Bass Tourney: July 11, Florence
Blue Ox Trail Riders Golf Fundraiser: July 11, Florence
Phelps Farmer's Market: July 11, Phelps
Grace Lutheran Church Rummage Sale: July 10-12, Three Lakes
Wabeno 29th Annual Steam-Up Days: July 10-12, Wabeno
WinMan Interpretive Hike: July 10, Manitowish Waters
Annual Northwoods Hynm Festival: July 11 & 12, Minocqua
Fish & Game Club: July 14, Land O' Lakes
Please contact me at Rep.Swearingen@legis.wi.gov if you would like to UNSUBSCRIBE from my E-Updates
Office of Representative Rob Swearingen
Room 123 West
PO Box 8953, Madison WI 53708
Office: 608-266-7141
Toll Free: 888-534-0034