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WINE WALKS BILL PASSES THE SENATE FLOOR
Over the past decade, communities in Southwest and South Central Wisconsin have promoted businesses in their area by sponsoring events called Wine or Beer Walks. All of these areas are different, but, in general, they all have the same basic framework. If you have ever attended on of these events in the 42nd district, you know that during these events, patrons of legal drinking age purchase a ticket from the hosting organization and are given a wine or beer glass. The patron can then walk to each business involved in the event and sample wine or beer while they are inside.
These events serve as a wonderful tool for downtown promotion and tourism by drawing people into downtown areas who may not otherwise patronize these businesses. Guests are welcomed to sample wine and “shop” a store or business that they may have never entered before. These business owners have recognized significant value in giving new customers a chance to see their store without the pressure or purpose of a direct sale. They also give new businesses an opportunity to introduce themselves to their communities.
The following communities currently host Wine or Beer Walks in Wisconsin:
Baraboo
Boscobel
Lodi
Mauston
Middleton
Portage
Princeton
Reedsburg
Wisconsin Dells
In April 2015, the Wisconsin Department of Revenue issued an update to Publication 302 – Wisconsin Alcohol Beverage and Tobacco Laws for Retailers that specifically clarified that Wine Walk events have always been and are currently illegal.
Over the past several months, I have been working with Senator Howard Marklein, the communities who host these events, and other legislators to bring forward AB 320, the Wine Walks Bill, to fix this issue. This bill is an attempt to allow communities to operate these highly beneficial events in their area, but within the current framework of the law concerning temporary “Class B” picnic licenses. Most of the communities who have held these events were already seeking licensing in this fashion and were otherwise following current regulations and requirements in law.
Yesterday, our bill passed on the Senate floor unanimously! The bill is slated for a vote out of the Assembly committee next Tuesday, and hopefully will be placed on the agenda for Assembly floor session on Thursday, September 24th. If you are interested in watching this floor session, I encourage you to watch Wisconsin Eye online at the following link: http://www.wiseye.org/Home.aspx.
As always, please contact me with any questions!
JOB OPENINGS AT 15 YEAR HIGH
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says there is a record level of job postings in the U.S. with 5.8 million job openings at the end of July. Wisconsin is one of several states with an abundance of unfilled jobs. The Job Center of Wisconsin had more than 86,000 job listings. A large number of those high demand positions are for IT professionals, health care professionals, skilled workers and welders. We have addressed the so-called skills gap in the past, but obviously, more needs to be done. This is an area we will continue to work on in this and coming sessions.
MACKENZIE CENTER CALLS FOR HALLOWEEN VOLUNTEERS
What: The MacKenzie Center’s 9th Annual Haunted Hay Ride
When: Friday, October 30th AND Saturday, October 31st, 2015
Event runs 6:30 – 9:30pm each night however,
Volunteers begin Friday at 5pm - 10pm and Saturday 5:30pm - 10pm
Where: MacKenzie Center; Poynette, WI
Volunteers are needed to assist the Friends of the MacKenzie Center and the MacKenzie Center staff in organizing, creation and staffing of spooky stations along the Hay Ride route. Stations in the past included witches, zombies, pond monsters, headless horseman, and other fun Halloween themes.
This event welcomes thousands of visitors each year to celebrate Halloween and lots of volunteers are needed to assure a fun, safe and entertaining event for our visitors.
General Expectations and Guidelines for Volunteers:
Volunteers must be over the age of 18 or accompanied by a parent or guardian. Volunteers must complete a State of Wisconsin volunteer form.
Volunteers can be actors at existing stations along the route or can create their own.
Use your creative Halloween spirit with a group of colleagues, family or friends. 1. Some large props are available from past events; please inquire about availability.
Stations along the hay ride route must…1. Be staffed the entire time of the event. 2. Volunteers can take shifts and/or rotate, as scheduled by group, stations need the "actors" in place at all times. 3. Be presented in a spooky Halloween spirit, but family friendly.
Interested individuals can contact the MacKenzie Center at: dnrmackenziecenter@wisconsin.gov or phone 608-635-8105
CONTACT ME
As in the past, I would continue to encourage you to contact my office with ideas for this next legislative session and on individual pieces of legislation. Now more than ever your ideas and opinions need to be heard, so we can begin to get Wisconsin back to work. Please contact my office at 608-266-3404 or email me at Rep.Ripp@legis.wisconsin.gov, or stop by my Capitol office at 223 North. I look forward to hearing from you. As always, I will continue to work across the aisle to find common ground and move legislation forward.
Please share this update with your friends and neighbors within the 42nd Assembly District and if there is anyone you know who would like to be included, please respond to this email with their email address.