NEWS BREAK JULY 2016
Bridal Pond Fountain 
A vision that started last fall came to fruition this week when water began flowing through the fountain at Bridal Pond in Pauquette Park once again. Already people have been taking images of the fountain and forwarding them on to friends and family all over the state. We are looking forward to having Pauquette Park serve as the backdrop to many reunion, wedding and senior photographs for years to come...and Concert in the Park tomorrow evening!!

With the help of the Portage Parks & Recreation Department the fountain will run during park hours and will be lit during evening hours for everyone to enjoy.
Thank you to the following businesses, organizations and individuals
for their generosity toward the Bridal Pond Fountain Project:

Portage Service Club Association
City of Portage
Frontier Communications - ABC grant
Charlie Mantey (in memory of Kathy Mantey)
BMO Harris Bank
Portage High Interact Club
Employees of Don-Rick Insurance
Rotary Club of Portage
Dave & Sandy Gunderson
Mel & Maureen Bindl (in memory of Kathy Mantey)
Rob Roth-Roth Professional Solutions
Jerry & Claudette Braun (in memory of Kathy Mantey)
Pat Halasz
Ron & Debbie Dorn  (in memory of Kathy Mantey)
Women's Civic League
Dennis Dorn
Monique Warnke - Just Me
Josh Vehring (in memory of Kathy Mantey)
Mike Hurd
George & Nancy Beasley
Columbia County Health & Human Services Team Members
Concert in the Park  
Join us for some great summer music at the Portage Concert in the Park Fireworks Celebration on Saturday, July 2. Bring your lawn chair to Pauquette Park (corner of  Hwy 33 and Pierce Street) and listen to the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra. Enjoy a cold treat of Culver's Custard and Pepsi products during the performance. Stay for the terrific fireworks show over the Wisconsin River!!

The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra performs their 'Bursts of Joy' concert at 7:30pm featuring sopranos Kitt Foss and her daughter Alli Foss followed by a fireworks display at 9:30pm. 
Donations are still being accepted to help continue this event.
Reserve a table for you and your guests and be close to the music. If you can help, please call Marianne at the Chamber, 608-742-6242.

Portage Chamber Golf Outing
The 34th Annual Chamber Golf Outing was held at the Portage Country Club. This year's event featured prefect weather (maybe the best ever for this event) and lots of fun! 

 
Congratulations to the winning team, pictured right, of Greg Holland, Justin Olson, Kim Standke and Tyler Hoel.
     
Thank you to our sponsors, golfers, prize contributors and volunteers for continually making our golf outing a big success.

Save the date of June 14, 2017 for the 35th Annual Portage Chamber Golf Outing!! 





Thank you 2016 Golf Sponsors! 
First Weber Realty                                 Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home 
Community Bank of Portage                   Forever Your's Jewelry
BMO Harris Bank                            
       H.G. Meigs/Meigs Trucking Inc. 
Frontier Communications                        Rhyme                                                   

Miller Brussell Ebben & Glaeske              Roth Professional Solutions
Rayovac                                                UW Health

Don-Rick Insurance                               
General Engineering

Trecek Automotive                                 Cascade Mountain
Zimmerman Plumbing                              Culvers Restaurant
Wal-Mart                                                Blau Family Chiropractic            
Cardinal Glass                                     Divine Savior Healthcare                          AmericanWay                                      Ho-Chunk Casino    
Crawford Oil & Propane                      United Country Hamele Auction Realty  

luncheon
Chamber Business Luncheon
The Portage Area Chamber of Commerce is offering another way to network with your fellow Chamber members and make those important connections that can help you in your business or career. Bring your business cards, brochures, or anything you wish to share with other members.

Speaker: Mayor Rick Dodd, will speak with us about his plans as the new Mayor for the City of Portage.
 
When: Tuesday, July 12
Where: B&B Hitching Post, 2503 W. Wisconsin St.
Time:  Lunch at 11:30AM, Presentation at Noon
Cost:  Pay for your lunch at the restaurant

Welcome New Members

 Zombyte Repairs
107 W. Cook St.     Portage, WI 53901  
Ryan Grotzke at 929-269-3349
We are a mobile repair shop that specializes in the repair of cellphones, tablets, laptops and other small electronics. We bring tech back from the dead!

ProLytic LLC
Portage, WI 53901
Lee J. Roundy at 608-566-5256  
Providing effective on-demand (as needed) business development and management services in accounting, bookkeeping, finance, human resources, supply chain operations and tax preparation.

Miracle-Ear 
120 Henry Dr.   Portage, WI 53901
   Brian Huegel at 608-745-9125
  We are a well-respected and well-known brand in hearing aids, providing one of the most complete customer-care packages on all hearing solutions, and our lifetime care promise.   
Business Profile - ProLytic LLC 
Since 2000, my family and I have called Portage "home" and I continue to be extremely proud to serve this growing community.  During our last sixteen years, we have met some of the most caring people, witnessed engaging service organizations and businesses, and volunteered alongside truly inspiring people.  Portage is a welcoming, safe place to raise our young family and scale a small business.
 
In March 2007, I was approached by a couple mid-sized businesses in Portage to perform on-demand bookkeeping and accounting services.  With 12 years of corporate, governmental, and sole proprietorship accounting experience, I developed my business plan and filed the Articles of Incorporation for my company, ProLytic, LLC.  The name is derived from two ruling objectives:  professionalism and proactive analytics.  ProLytic, LLC's five founding principles are at the very heart of the services I provide to each client:
  • Stakeholder Orientation - understand all facets of the client: its purpose, goals, history, workforce, financial standing, productivity, and motivations
  • Actions with Integrity - perform the most appropriate services with best effort, attention to detail, and transparency
  • Real-time, Prompt Communication - respond to client with all needed information the same business day so decision-making is not delayed
  • Best Practices, Current Trends - utilize only best practices, current information, and cost-efficient, effective services
  • Continuous Improvement - commit to on-going process improvement and continuing education
Through ProLytic, LLC, I provide a holistic approach to accounting, bookkeeping, finance, human resources management, supply chain operations, and tax preparation services for individuals, sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations.  I enjoy working with clients on-site to develop specific, measurable, attainable, reasonable, and timely (S.M.A.R.T.) goals and strategies to expand their market share.  The most rewarding aspect of my career is in the roles of advisor, mentor, and tutor - a fresh set of eyes and helping hands to provide vital business services, as the client desires.

For more information, please feel free to contact me.
 
Lee J. Roundy
Cell (608) 566-5256


List of Market Space items is growing!
Members are now able to post items they have for sale through our Chamber website on our Market Space page. Consider it a 'Craigslist' for Chamber members. There is no cost to list items that may fall outside of, but could also include, the realm of the usual type of products and services offered by a member. For example: A printing business may post an office desk it no longer has a need for. 
  
If you are interested in posting items you are looking to giveaway or sell, please call the Chamber office at 608-742-6242. View our Market Space page here.

The Edsels are coming!!
Portage will host the 2016 International Edsel Rally Convention from July 20 through July 23. Named after Henry Ford's son and produced 1958 through 1960, the Edsel is a vehicle with a unique history. Edsel owners bring their beloved cars to this annual convention held in different cities each year.

Enjoy this year's convention in Portage at the Best Western. Various tours are planned around the city for the car owners who are visiting from around the country.
Wisconsin German
Students from the University of Wisconsin - Madison are looking for people who grew up speaking German in Wisconsin. They are interested in recording individual and community histories of Wisconsin German speakers, looking to interview and record as many people as possible to learn about and preserve the language and history of German speaking Wisconsin residents.

If you or someone you know grew up speaking German and would be willing to meet with the students, please contact: Lucian Rothe at 573-639-1192 or email [email protected].  

Columbia County Fair
One of the oldest fairs in Wisconsin rolls on this year when the Columbia County Fair officially opens for the 165th time on Wednesday, July 27. The fair runs through July 31.

Click the logo at right for the fair schedule. 
Laura's School of Dance 
Register now for Summer lessons the weeks of August 1-5.

Certified professional instructors! Information online at Laurasschoolofdanceportage.com or by calling 866-dance56.

judy walking tour Historic Downtown Walking Tours 2016
Local historian Judy Eulberg will once again be leading historic guided downtown walking tours this summer. 

Among those who joined the tour last month were visitors from the city of LaCrosse and Waupaca County. We are excited to greet the next wave of visitors who take the tour. 

The informative one-hour tours are free to the public and leave from the Portage Chamber office at 104 W. Cook St. at 10am on the following Saturdays:
July 2 & August 6 
  

Ribbon Cuttings & Groundbreakings
A ribbon cutting was held at Collipp-Worden Park to celebrate the new Dream Court basketball court. Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation purchased the court through Nancy "Lady Magic" Lieberman Charities and World Ventures Foundation, Inc. and donated the court to the City of Portage. Gregg Steinhaus (holding the scissors), representing Fairway Independent Mortgage, was joined by Lieberman, a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame and two-time national champion (pictured right of Steinhaus), for the ribbon cutting.


A ribbon cutting was held at Zombyte Repairs, 107 W. Cook St., to welcome this new business to Portage. 

We offer experienced repair services for most electronic devices. You break it; We bring it back from the dead!

For more information, please call 929-269-3349.  




A ribbon cutting was held at Anytime Fitness, 2800 New Pinery Rd., to celebrate the completion of their new interior remodeling. 

Join a supportive, welcoming gym community, with people of all fitness levels who want to see you succeed.

For more information, call 608-745-0250. 


A ribbon cutting was held to celebrate the new location of Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation, 2425 New Pinery Road. 

Taking special care of people who are looking to purchase or refinance a home, we have a combined 60+ years in the mortgage industry and have developed a great reputation in the marketplace. 

For more information, please call 608-742-0097.

A groundbreaking was held at the future site of the Skate Park at Goodyear Park on June 13.  Construction has begun and the new facility will be open for everyone to enjoy this year.  The Skate Park will have a variety of street features and an open-ended bowl with a "curling stone house" at its center. 

K-9 Golf Outing  
The first annual Portage Police Department K-9 Unit Golf Outing will be held on Saturday, July 30 at 8am at the Portage Country Club. Proceeds will go to support the K-9 Unit to pay for vet bills, equipment, and training.
 
The golf outing event is for everyone. Participants will enjoy food, hole prizes, and silent auction. The event is a four-person scramble starting at 8am. $50 per person fee applies for members of Portage Country Club, $60 per person for non-members. Prizes awarded for 1st, 4th and 7th place. Deadline for sign-up is July 23. Register at Portage Police Department and Portage Country Club or mail in completed form. Make checks payable to the City of Portage K9 Unit.

For more information, contact Sgt. Ben Neumann at 608-742-2174 ext. 401 (email: [email protected]) or contact Mark Braska at 608-742-5121 (email: [email protected]).      

Looking for a Hot Deal? See our list!   

Check out our Hot Deals webpage for deals our Chamber members are offering. Have a Hot Deal of your own you want others to know about? Post your deals on our webpage and join the Hot Deal brigade! There is no charge for posting a Hot Deal, so post away!  If you have questions, call the Chamber office at 608-742-6242 to get started.

Click here to see the specials that are currently running!
Chamber July meetings & events
2     Concert in the Park Fireworks Celebration    7:30pm
4     Chamber office closed for Independence Day
11   Ribbon Cutting for new member Miracle-Ear   10am
19   Ribbon Cutting for new location of Free Spirit Travel    9am
20   Ribbon Cutting for new member ReStore-Habitat for Humanity  9am

Give Portage Green Gift Certificates
Portage Green Gift Certificates make an excellent gift. Used just like cash, the certificates can be purchased from the Portage Chamber in $5, $10 and $25 increments. Recipients of the Portage Green may redeem them at these participating Chamber member businesses. By buying Portage Green Gift Certificates, you are helping to boost local business by keeping thousands of dollars right here in Portage. For more information, call the Chamber at 608-742-6242.

Got News?

What is your business up to? Pass along information and corresponding photos to [email protected] and let us help spread the word about the great things your business or organization is doing. The deadline is the 20th of each month. 

July Community Events
Spread the word about your events by posting them on our website!

1    30th Anniversary Celebration at Cottonwood Bar and Grill
1-2   Quilters at the Museum exhibit at Museum at the Portage
2    Downtown Walking Tour
2    Concert in the Park Fireworks Celebration at Pauquette Park
5-9   Quilters at the Museum exhibit at Museum at the Portage
8    Our House Senior Living Brat Sale at Pierce's Market Place for Alzheimers & Dementia Alliance
8-9 Garden Tractor Daze
9   Fire Truck Rides at the former Kmart parking lot
11   Ribbon Cutting at Miracle-Ear
11-16   Youth Theatre Workshop at Portage Center for the Arts
12-16   Quilters at the Museum exhibit at Museum at the Portage
12   Portage Chamber Business Luncheon
14   Summer Dine & Dash at Our House Senior Living
15   Bingo at Our House Senior Living
15-Sept 30   'To Thine Own Art Be True' Art Exhibit on display at Tivoli
15-16   American Cancer Society Relay for Life at Portage High School Track
16   Portage City Flea Market
16   Columbia County Humane Society Jewelry & Purse Sale
16   Elks Golf Outing
16   Bill Welsh 90th Birthday Party Open House at Knights of Columbus Hall 
19   Ribbon Cutting at Free Spirit Travel
20-23   International Edsel Club Rally Convention
21-23   Friends of the Portage Library Book Sale
21   Innovation Champions Meeting 
24   Free Bridal Open House at Ho-Chunk Wisconsin Dells
25-28   Caring for Sports Injuries at Divine Savior Healthcare
25-28   Pioneer Camp Days at Historic Indian Agency House
26   Summer Speaker Series at Historic Indian Agency House
27-31   Columbia County Fair
30 Portage Police Department K9 Golf Outing

Monthly July Recurring Events:
Tuesdays - Thursdays: Portage Theatres Summer Series
Wednesdays: Concerts at the Portage
Thursdays: Portage Farmer's Market
Saturdays: Downtown Market
 

For more information about these and other events, go to www.portagewi.com. 

Organizing an event or having a sale?

Submit your event or sale to us and have it appear on the Chamber website calendar of events.You may enter your event by clicking here. Please note: Your submission will take a while to appear as the Chamber office first reviews the submissions before approving them to appear on the web calendar. For more information, please call our office 608-742-6242.


The Portage Area Chamber of Commerce is providing leadership for
 building a healthy economy and a high quality of life in the Portage Area.
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NEWS BREAK is a monthly publication of the Portage Area Chamber of Commerce.  Please contact the Chamber if you have news about your business that you would like to include in the next issue. 
 Our deadline is the 20th of the month.  Email your news to [email protected].