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Brenda Carus

Calling all Knitters

04-05-10
Brenda Carus
Fiber arts enthusiasts! Did you know that you can get yarn, patterns, needles and more all in Monticello? Knitter's Treat is the work of Ruth Knight Sybers, who's textile art is on display at The Dining Room at 209 Main. Knitter's Treat carries a variety of out-of-print and hard to find patterns, and Knight Sybers is willing to track down and special order patterns that you might be searching for.

This week, Knitter's Treat is having a spring sale at The Dining Room. There are two rooms filled with yarn, patterns and more. This sale runs April 8 through April 11, 1 - 8pm on Thursday through Saturday, and Sunday from 1 to 4 pm. Visit Green County Spotlight for a $1 off coupon.

Click to help Fowler Memorial Free Dental Clinic

04-02-10
Brenda Carus

Last year, the Fowler Memorial Free Dental Clinic opened in the Human Services building of the Pleasant View Complex here in Monroe.  This clinic provides free dental care to lower income children:  xrays, cleanings, fillings, flouride treatment, and sealants.  This clinic serves a strong need in the area.  While finding a doctor who accepts patients on medicaid or Badgercare is realatively easy, finding a dentist who will accept new patients with this insurance is much more difficult.  Fowler Memorial serves a population that is otherwise underserved.

Fowler Memorial Free Dental Clinic is currently trying to win a grant through Pepsi's Refresh Project.  Could you tak a minute to vote for them?

The $50,000 grant would help Fowler to purchase a bitewing x-ray machine as well as to provide care for double the number of children treated last year.  Currently, the clinic only serves children ages three through twelve and operates on Fridays only on a referral only basis.  The clinic would like to expand services.  They are always looking for dentistal professionals to volunteer services (the clinic is fully staffed by volunteer dentists and hygenists).  Private donations for funding in any amount are always welcome as well. 

 

Propery of the Week - Commercial Building in Monroe

04-02-10
Brenda Carus
This week's featured property is a commercial building in Monroe.


This is a great investment property with potential for whatever you need. There is over 4400 square feet of commercial space here, or you could take the 2066 square foot second floor and make it your residence with plenty of room in the 2338 square foot main floor for a business. You could also easily convert this spacious stone building into apartments. Elevator to all floors. This property is conveniently located a block off Monroe's beautiful downtown square. New furnace, new water heater and other improvements make this a good buy. Property is being sold as-is.

From Swaziland to Monroe, Wisconsin

03-29-10
Brenda Carus
An interesting multi-cultural, mixed media exhibit is opening at the Monroe Arts Center Frehner Gallery this Thursday.

"Message from Swaziland" was inspired by local artist Jennifer Rikkers' walk through parts of Africa when she participated in the 2008 Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation AIDS Walk Africa. Rikkers combined her photography with acrylic painting to create this exhibit highlighting the people of Swaziland who touched her so deeply during her walk through the country. Rikkers wanted to share the message of Swaziland's people, a people in a country that has been deeply affected by the HIV/AIDS crisis.

33% of the population of that country has the virus, and AIDS work there is critically important to that nation. Rikkers will be donating 33% of the proceeds from the sale of artwork in this exhibit to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation to help with their work.

This exhibit opens on Thursday, April 1 and runs through April 30. The opening reception is from 5 until 7 pm on Thursday, and the artist will giving a gallery talk at 5:30. This event is free, and families are welcome. We give kudos to the underwriters of this exhibit: The Swiss Colony, Monroe Publishing, Big Radio, Michael and Shelley Muranyi, Deb Thompson, Lee and Chris Knuteson, Barb Woodriff, and Pete Guenther.

Do you have your CSA share lined up for summer yet??

03-22-10
Brenda Carus
Oh yes, another local food post. You know me - love to buy local and buy direct! Good food is one of the joys of life.

It has been years since a CSA (community supported agriculture) has had a drop off point in or around Monroe. For those of you unfamiliar with what a CSA is, you purchase a share of the harvest from a local produce grower. These farmers grow vegetables on their area farm, and every week during the growing season, you receive a box of freshly picked, perfectly in season produce as your share of the harvest. These boxes are usually brought to a few central drop off points a specific times, and you must go there to pick up your produce. Locals who wanted to be members of a CSA have often had to go to Verona, Janesville, Beloit or elsewhere to pick up their food.

Wiser Farms Produce in Evansville will be doing a Monroe drop off point this year. Josh and Bekah are in their first year with their CSA, and they are only take 20 shares for this year's harvest. They are offering a 16 week season, getting their clients more of the summer harvest and less of the extended periods of greens that some CSAs with 20 week season seem to have. I spoke with Josh, and he said that so many people seem tired of greens by the time the summer produce comes around that he wanted to keep his season a little shorter.

A share for their 16 week season is $400, only $25 per week for a box filled with local, fresh produce. If you are looking for an easy way to eat more local foods or just want to make sure that you are eating more vegetables this summer, you can't get much easier than this. Pick up your box once a week and enjoy the fruits of someone else's labor.

They already have plants going in their hoophouses, and they will have bedding plants available (both vegetables and flowers).

Are you getting exciting about spring?