August 2014

Flower baskets bloom, hodags are admired, people sit outside in Pat's Beer Garden, the river sparkles brightly, people stroll slowly: it's summer in Downtown Rhinelander.

And there's more to look forward to! This month begins with Rhinelander's venerable tradition of Redikulus Dae on Brown Street, and ends with our town's newest tradition: PotatoFest festivities taking place throughout downtown Rhinelander. We hope to see you there!

The Editors

Remembering Dick Timmons
1930-2014

Richard "Dick" Timmons died July 20, 2014, at the age of 84. After his retirement as publisher of the Rhinelander Daily News (now the Northwoods River News), Dick became a tireless promoter of Rhinelander and volunteered his time and talents for many organizations. He was a member of DRI's Organization Committee from 2008- 2011 and helped direct the early development of DRI. He wrote articles for of the Rivertown Newsletter, and later served as a "stringer" for the What's Up Downtown electronic newsletter, writing articles as recently as last winter.

Dick acted as a strong advocate for revitalizing the downtown. We will miss his wisdom and his rapier wit. When he attended our meetings he dished up good-natured humor along with invaluable advice. Downtown has lost a good friend and supporter. The family asks that donations made in his name be directed to WXPR Public Radio, 28 N. Stevens St., Rhinelander, WI 54501.

Maggie up on the ladder hanging the office sign for PotatoFest

Mainstreet with Maggie

Busy, busy, busy. That pretty much "summer"izes a Northwoods summer. For Downtown Rhinelander Inc. August consists of the Oneida County Fair, Redikulus Dae and PotatoFest: all events that are for the community and truly brought to you by the community.

These events could not happen without the financial generosity given by so many area businesses and individuals, AND they would not be happening without the volunteer support of so many people willing to lend a hand and give some of their valuable time.

Another way you can show support is by simply attending these events. You'll be helping out a neighbor, friend, maybe even a family member, while having some fun yourself. However you choose to contribute, we thank you, and we look forward to seeing you this month.

Maggie Steffen,

DRI Executive Director

PotatoFest

Aug. 29-30, 2014

Downtown Rhinelander Inc. &

Tri County Council of Domestic Violence

FRIDAY NIGHT Aug. 29

Fish Fry and Beverages

Rhinelander Honda: Rhinelander Reunion Jam

Lead Band: The Whitehouse Players 5 pm-11 pm

SATURDAY - POTATOFEST 8 am - 11 pm

Sponsored by

Trig's, NRG Media, and

Rhinelander Cafe and Pub

New this year:

Rhinelander GM:

Duck Regatta,

organized by the Oneida County Tavern League & Tri County Council

People's State Bank:

3 on 3 Basketball Tournament

Guns & Hoses (Police vs. Firefighters)
Potato Peeling Contest

Back again:

Live Music

Rhinelander Community Band 11 am - 12 pm

Scott Kirby and Friends in the afternoon

Nikki and the Nimrods - 4-7 pm

The Dweebs - later evening

YMCA Couch Potato Race

Masonic Lodge Potato Pancake Breakfast

Parade

Potato Salad Taste Off

Craft & Food Vendors

Hodag Spud Sling

Baby Crawling Contest

Golden Potato Dig

Cribbage

Rhinelander Chrysler

French Fry Eating Contest

Mashed Potato Eating Contest

AND MUCH MORE !

Alice in Dairyland will open the event and lead the parade

Other Sponsors:

Days Inn/Claridge, Northland Orthopedics, Printpack, Walmart, Jim and Kay Dyreby, Heck Capital Advisors, Pat's Tavern, O'Melia Schiek & McEldowney, Wipfli LLC, Confort Inn, NOW Equipment, Dean Distributing

Photos from our July Events

Patti Gutteter, "HoDuck," Jana Zaremba, Aeneas Zaremba, getting ready for the 4th of July Parade.

Mayor Dick Johns Melcomes participants at the Streetscape Public meeting to discuss the street configuration.

Streetscape Public Meeting Update

On July 23 about 70 people attended the Streetscape public meeting to review the proposed street configuration. Attendees were asked to review the proposed configuration and comment on future ideas.

The meeting's purpose was to give an update on the planning which has been underway since spring 2014. The planning has included the Streetscape Advisory group consisting of city and DRI members, a Public meeting held in April, a BID meeting held in May, and a survey administered in June.

As a result of many hours of meeting and information gathering the proposed street configeration includes: two-way traffic with additional 5 feet of sidewalk for each side of Brown street from Anderson to Rives. The parking will be parallel on the West side and angle on the East side with one bike lane.

This configuration is a result of many factors including, safety vehicles, business owners parking concerns, and the need for more space to gather outside as a community.

Final decisions will be made by the city council. The next public presentation will take place September 24th in a joint meeting of the DRI Board and the City Council.

For a more detailed look at the proposed Streetscape click here.

Come and find me in

Downtown Rhinelander

We have 10
Hodags

on display through
September 2014

In This Issue

Mainstreet with Maggie

PotatoFest Celebration

Photos from July Events

Streetscape Update

Artist of the Month

DRI Committee Reports

SAVE THE DATE

Downtown Events

Aug 1-3	Oneida County Fair- Join us at the Beverage Tent
Aug 6	Redikulus Dae 8 am-4 pm
Aug 7	ArtStart Film: "La Sirga," Latin American Film Series 7:30 pm
Aug 9	Sew Smart: Thread, Needles and Stablizer Class 10 am - 1 pm call 715-362-8321
Aug 14	ArtStart Roots Concert 7:30 pm
Aug 23	RHS Color Dash 5K to register click here.
Aug 29-30	PotatoFest - (see details on left)

Welcome, Kate

Kate Bauman, DRI Administrative Assistant and Event Planner

We are so happy to welcome our new Admin-istrative Assistant, Kate Bauman. Kate has always been a strong supporter of the Rhinelander community and in her new role with DRI she will continue that work.

Stop and greet her at the DRI Office.

Message by

Chef Gutteter at work.

DRI President

Mark Gutteter,

Rhinelander Cafe & Pub

We have taken one step closer to walking through a rebuilt downtown. The streetscape layout is finalized after a huge amount of discussion, research, and public hearings. We are now looking forward to a rebuilt Brown street, one that combines diagonal and parallel parking and includes slightly wider sidewalks, which will pave the way for sidewalk seating, and be even more pedestrian friendly.

2016 is the year of road construction. If you combine the new streetscape with the facade grant program and the low interest loan program, you get a picture of how hard Downtown Rhinelander is working on the rebuilding process. With these programs in place, we are preparing a recruitment effort to attract new businesses our way. Remember: you have to walk before you can run, and it takes several steps to be called walking, but we are moving forward in a very positive way.

See you at the Potatofest,

Your President,
Mark Gutteter

Artist of the Month

A Feature of Diane's Frame Shop

Andy Fenner is a pastel artist who uses suede matboard as a canvas. The effect is an amazing amount of clarity with a softness in the details. Her paintings reflect the beauty of the Northwoods with landscapes and also bird paintings.

Andy's paintings are in many galleries throughout Wisconsin and she is a member of the Northwoods Art Tour. Her studio, Swallow Haven Studio, is located southeast of Tomahawk and is open by appointment. (715-966-1048)

DRI Committee Reports

This is a brief update on what the DRI committees are working on each month. We always have room for more participants. If you see a project you'd like to participate in, call and join us. Most meetings are held once a month during the second week.

Economic Restructuring: Ray Burgan, Chair

Recruiting downtown businesses through the Business Advisory group.

Design: Pat LaPorte, Chair

The Design Committee will be busy decorating the beer tent for the Oneida County Fair on Thursday morning. This year we will be doing a duck blind theme with the hope of selling tickets for the duck race at the Potato Fest. So dress up like your favorite duck or a duck hunter and help us tend bar at the fair.
Continuing to work closely with Vierbicher Planning and Engineering firm to develop the Streetscape for downtown Rhinelander.

Promotions: Position open

Individual Project Chairs are working on the events: Michelle Smith-Grage - Redikulus Dae Chair; Dan Kuzlik - PotatoFest Chair; Sherri Bellivieu - Onieda County Fair Beer Tent Chair.

Organization: Sally Latimer, Chair