Welcome everyone to Midday magazine for this December 21st, 2023.
Have your host James J. Maylove here at 330.
We're going to welcome in Jasmine Carbohal for Associate 4H
Educator with UW-Madison Extension Wood County,
looking forward to talking with her,
looking forward to talking to our friend,
Jillian right now from Visit Rome.
Jill, good to see you.
Yeah, good to see you too.
I have to tell, I meant to tell you this actually,
off air, but I'm just going to do it now.
Okay.
My little sister's name is Jillian.
Oh!
In every once in a while, I almost call you Beans
because that's her nickname.
I don't know why.
I don't know where it comes from, but I'm sorry.
No, it's fine, and it's funny you mentioned that
because I think more when I was younger,
Jillian Beans, or I know my one uncle calls me
Bean once in a while, so it's got to be the name.
Something about the name, something about it.
Jillian joins us every month from our friends at Visit Rome,
when we say shout out to all the great people at Visit Rome Bureau.
Love talking with, and talking about the Rome area.
I've been very honest with the audience.
I am incredibly biased on this subject.
I love Rome.
It's one of my favorite places in the world,
and it's given me so much, and it's given our community so much.
Not just Rome residents, but certainly,
you know, like we know here in this area in Central Wisconsin,
all of our towns bleed into each other.
All of our towns have people that work in this town or live in this one.
We're all connected, and I think that we've seen a real rise
in the last 15, I could say even maybe 20 years
of seeing more business and rapids advertising in Rome.
Business in Rome advertising in Warsaw.
A lot of these kind of things.
Yeah, absolutely.
Are you guys noticing that too, at the Bureau?
Yeah, I would say so.
Just kind of all dipping our toes into our neighbors.
So the Adams County Chamber, Wisconsin Rapids Chamber of Commerce,
the Harder Wisconsin, and just kind of picking up their events
where they need help promoting.
They pick up our events that they feel need promoting.
So it's a big group effort.
It's not just all of us fighting against each other
trying to make you come to our spot,
because honestly, our spots run into each other.
Yeah.
There's no bad blood, obviously.
And it's such a great point to make too.
And I think it speaks to this area,
not only the people of this area,
but especially why this area has thrived
and where others haven't in many ways.
Central Wisconsin doing much better
than other parts of the country are and so forth.
It is no coincidence to me when we see
how connected we are and how much we work together.
It's not where it was when ages ago
when it was kind of crabs in a barrel
and everybody pulling the other person down.
We've realized that it's better to work together
and everybody rising tide, raising all boats kind of thing.
And there are so many great things going on in the role area.
We talk about Spring Valley all the time.
We talk about some of the other great things.
I was actually talking to some listeners over the weekend,
this week and her past weekend.
And one of them hadn't been in the state
in about a couple of years.
And immediately she tells me,
you didn't tell me about Quick Trip.
I only like Quick Trip in Rome.
And how excited she was about this and everything.
And not that she didn't love Pritzels or anything like that.
We got a lot of love for Pritzels.
I, the first place I went to in Wisconsin
pretty much was Pritzels.
As far as buying things are going to go into grab candy
or something like that.
They're deli that they had to love that place.
We know how much Wisconsinites love Quick Trip.
All you got to do is look at how many Quick trips
there are and you're walking distance.
Yeah.
Having that there was not just a good thing for the people of Rome.
But it shows the growth of Rome.
Quick Trip doesn't buy that location.
Quick Trip doesn't set up shop there.
If things aren't thriving.
If things aren't going good.
Yeah, exactly.
We encourage any local businesses out there.
Whether it's in the Rapids area or any of our listenership.
Reach out to the Visit Rome Bureau.
See what you can do working together.
And keep in mind, it doesn't just help them.
It doesn't just help your business.
It helps them.
And it promotes all local businesses.
Exactly.
There's a lot to be said for PR in 2023
and going into 2024.
And the kind of thing that you can't put a price tag on.
Whatever it might cost, the PR that you get from it
is you can't put a number on that.
It's pretty cool.
And there's so many great places.
Let's dive into some of those great places.
Coming up actually just this tomorrow.
Friday we kick off a great event going on.
Yeah.
So tomorrow, December 22nd and every other Friday
will be DJ Bingo at Whoosles at the Lakes.
That'll run 830 to 1030 pm.
Free to play raffles and fun with your host, Lucas.
Does a great job.
He does.
Lucas is really good at this.
He has a lot of fun with it too.
And make sure that you have fun.
And it's a free time.
It gets you out of the house.
Something to do.
I, some like this too.
You come out of it feeling really like your luck has changed.
Like it increases that as well.
It's fun.
Another great thing that we look for,
that we enjoy is trivia in the Rome area.
Yeah.
So I know often when I'm on here,
I talk about trivia at Whoosles,
which I will in just a minute.
So it's a tight.
But trivia at Lake Arrowhead running 4 to 5 pm.
They have their annual trivia nights.
They're doubling the number of dates.
Team registration is $20 per team.
The teams can be two to eight players.
Registration begins 30 minutes before the start of the event.
And the dates are Saturday, December 23rd.
Saturday, January 13th.
Saturday, January 27th.
And that is all they put out so far.
But if you're wondering, hey,
what do they have for February or March?
We encourage you to visit Lake Arrowhead's events page
for more info rules, regulations.
It seems like they're kind of intentionally keeping it a little loose,
especially this time of year.
People's has plans and they change or that.
And there's also people looking for things to do.
So you'll be able to give them kind of a heads up that you're coming,
but you don't have to do it right at the last second.
You could do it the day of the event.
That's a smart way to do it, I think, especially this time of year.
And people love trivia.
They love this.
We're going to talk more about it in the moment and everything.
I'm not so like trivia.
But a good on them for seeing that and bringing this back.
I know it was a very successful event the last time they had it.
Again, trivia at Lake Arrowhead.
Four to five coming up.
The first one looks like December 23rd.
Yes, Saturday.
Yep, the Saturday.
Looking at next week on December 27th.
Got some fun stuff going on then and every Wednesday.
Yeah, so from 1030 to 11am at the Luster Public Library of Rome,
they will be having a children's story time.
Join us for a weekly story time.
Open to kids of all ages.
Each interactive story time will feature a different set of books
read by library staff and community members.
Yeah, a big shout out to the Luster Public Library and the great work that they do over there
with things like this.
We talk about this with our United Way a lot.
We've got the evidence.
We've got the stats nowadays.
Kids learn better and want to read more when they are read to.
And it is oftentimes what you're reading.
So much that's important that an adult is taking the time to read to a child.
It means something.
It stands the test of time.
This has been going on since long before you and I were around.
Yeah, parents and adults reading the kids.
And we've got more and more evidence than ever that this makes kids not only
more intrigued to read and want to read,
but they better learning capabilities.
So many layers to this.
And maybe most important of all of it, it's a lot of fun.
It's great.
I don't know whether it was reading to my kids or reading what the United Way or anything
in their events.
There are so many great opportunities for this.
If the people over at the Luster Public Library ever looking for volunteers or anything,
just let us know and we'll make sure to put that out there.
I appreciate that they do this.
Again, story times 1030 to 11 every Wednesday over at the Luster Public Library.
Another great event going on in Wednesday is that our friends over at
Housels, shout out to Housels.
7pm to 8.30pm will be DJ trivia at Housels at the Lakes.
Like Bingo, trivia is always free, always fun.
There will be gift cards for first through third place.
And even if you don't consider yourself a trivia master,
go ahead, go anyway, feel surprised yourself.
Exactly.
Yes, you hit it on the head, Jillian.
I think that all of us have played the game where we're watching
Jeopardy and trying to see what we can get right.
And we're all blown away by what we know.
Yeah.
You know more than you realize, I think.
And it's a great way to test it or I think the other fun part of trivia,
and this is a sneaky part of it to me,
I don't think you can lose that trivia.
Because even when you learn something and there's no price for that,
it's not maybe as great as a gift card to somebody.
But it's pretty cool to learn things and I think
that that's a fun part of playing trivia too.
And certainly winning is fun.
And everything, that's always fun.
A good on Lucas and good on them for doing this with the gift prize,
a gift cards for first through third.
That's kind of a cool little bonus of something like this.
And again, it's a free of a 7 to 8 30 Wednesdays.
Every Wednesday at Housels at the Lakes joined DJ trivia.
It is a little weird that last week of December to me,
you know, after Christmas,
there's so much pomp and circumstance about Christmas.
And then we got to remember, oh yeah, there's new years yet.
Yeah.
And we're getting ready for that in the Rome area.
Yep. Saturday, December 30th.
I have to make sure this wasn't a typo.
New Year's Eve Eve at Lake Arrowhead.
It's running from 3 p.m. to 11.59 p.m.
So midnight, I guess.
Shout out Lake Arrowhead. That's smart.
That's a good promotion.
Nicely done.
Join us for New Year's Eve Eve at the clubhouse.
They're moving their party up one day and celebrating Saturday night.
The restaurant will close for regular service at 3
and will reopen for reservations only from 4.30 to 8.30 p.m.
Contact their staff at 7.15 3.25 2915
or bankwoods at Lake ArrowheadGolf.com to make your reservations.
Their limited menu is available to view
under the Discussions tab on their website.
Pre-ordering is recommended to make sure you secure your favorite items.
The lounge will be open for everyone all night starting at 11 a.m.
With live music by Southbound from 9 till midnight in the bankwood hall.
And of course the classy champagne toast at midnight.
Yes. Very nice.
I like this. This is a great event.
Shout out to Southbound.
Fantastic local band.
Been around a long time rocking our area.
Great guys in that band.
And this is a fun idea.
I like the idea of doing something like this,
especially with this odd way that New Year's day falls and all that.
It's smart.
It also seems like a real kind of a gift to the staff of Lake Arrowhead as well.
And keeping that in mind, it would have a busier times a year.
I imagine for the staff of Lake Arrowhead.
I've noticed them do these kind of things over the years and I admire it.
They don't necessarily look at for a lot of attention about it,
but they do a really nice job of thinking of their staff
and not putting them in awkward situations.
And certainly taking care of the locals.
And Lake Arrowhead's one of the better spots to go
for just even a couple of water you can enjoy.
Yeah.
Let it loan an event like this.
This is a fun one.
I love the name too.
New Year's EV.
That's great.
Well played.
Find out more about that.
Lake Arrowhead and reach out to our friends over there for more information.
And to RSVP.
And then another event going on on the 30th.
Yeah, Saturday, December 30th through Monday, January 1st, 2024.
Can't believe that.
Yeah, it's so weird.
New Year's Eve at San Valley.
Yeah.
Starting at 6.30 p.m.
Saturday and then running to some 30 p.m.
that Monday, the first.
Their culinary team crafted a lot, a wonderful seasonal menu
to enjoy family and close friends.
You're going to indulge in a gourmet meal featuring local sourced ingredients
and creative dishes.
I love all of that.
That's a great idea.
A lot of fun with the menu.
Yes, definitely.
And we encourage you to please
visit San Valley's website for more info.
Or call their number 855-276-5154
to reserve your spot if you want to participate in this gourmet meal.
I really think you can make the argument,
especially in that area.
But you may even be able to extend that to Central Wisconsin in general.
The San Valley work and that expansion and the growth of all of that
is one of the biggest stories in the last 5-10 years to me.
What is going on with that?
And all the things we start our conversation with, so much of that is tied to this
and the growth of that and everything.
It's really cool to see, especially because we can say stuff like this
where they get that and they put back into the community.
They really add to the community.
They're not just a business taking money out of the community.
It is a full circle thing where they take money and then they put it right back in.
It's a really cool thing what they're doing over there.
Yes, exactly.
And a lot of times, a lot of the cool stuff they have over there,
I'm not necessarily talking about it on the radio.
They have hiking trails, fat tire bike trails.
If their water freezes over,
they have a pond that you can skate on or play pond hockey.
They have just tons of things that I'm not advertising on the radio,
but they're there.
They're available.
They're for the public.
Even if you're just curious and you haven't been to San Valley before,
just head on over, check out the area.
It's really pretty.
I appreciate you touching on that, Gillian,
because we only get about 25 minutes together.
And while we cover a lot, you, Lisa and I,
there's stuff we don't always get a chance to touch on.
That's how big and fun the Roam Area is.
Encourage you not only to reach out to San Valley or Lake Arrowhead,
or any of our great friends over there,
but find out more at VisitRomeWi.com, visitRomeWi.com.
One of the touch on,
but there's a handful of traditions in this area that we love.
And one of the bigger ones that I learned about when I was a kid first living out here
was the polar plunge.
Yeah.
Love our polar plunge.
So much so that we're on our 27th already.
Yep.
27th annual polar plunge at the Lure Barn Grill in Roam.
That'll be running,
I believe just the jumping part, one to four p.m.
But whether you jump or choose to chicken out a little,
let's raise money for the Children's Miracle Network.
Sign up, get more information at the Just Giving website,
or call 715-325-65
It's one of the cooler things people do with the start their new year.
And when I talk to people that have done this like Sheriff Becker and his team and others,
yeah, they they talk about that, you know, it's called and all those things about it.
But every one of them when they're talking and sharing the stories of this are smiling.
Every single one of them that I've talked to and I've talked to a lot of people over the years
that have done this.
And every single time as they're talking about it,
yeah, they're telling me that they were freezing or they were cold in this moment or whatever.
But they're smiling and they're so happy they did it.
They feel so good about it afterwards.
And it's all because of raising these funds for the Children's Miracle Network.
It all comes back to that.
We know that there are polar plunges for our Special Olympics as well.
And another great cause there that helps out a lot of great things.
And whenever these things take place, encourage people to look into them.
And even if you don't feel, you know, you're whether it's brave enough or
or how if you want to look at it to do it yourself,
every one of us can spread the word about these events.
Every one of us can be supportive of these events and the causes that are behind them.
That's going to be a really fun one.
Be sure to check it out whether you were attending or just watching the Monday, January 1st,
27th annual polar plunge at the lower bar and grill in a shout out to our friends over there.
Remember, you can sign up and get more information for the just giving
for the Children's Miracle Network at their website or by calling 715-325-6555.
While we're already the Sunday, January 7th, wow.
We're back at Lake Arrowhead for booze beer and wine bingo running from 4 to 5 p.m.
Cards go on sale at 3 o'clock p.m., bingo starts at 4 p.m. sharp, so don't be late.
10 rounds of bingo for $13 a packet and that packet contains the cards for all rounds.
That's pretty cool and we love bingo in this area.
Love some bingo. That's going to be a lot of fun in Lake Arrowhead on January 7th.
We go to Friday, January 12th and through Monday for a really cool thing that San Valley is hosting.
Yeah, the elemental wellness retreat at San Valley.
I'm already signed up.
Yes, you got me already.
5 p.m. Friday through noon on Monday.
Escape where the magic of winter meets the power of transformation.
Immerse yourself in a unique experience designed to reset both body and mind.
This retreat offers a carefully curated blend of breathwork, sessions, contrast therapy with
saunas, and cold exposure options all set against the stunning backdrop of San Valley's natural
splendor. To register, visit the San Valley Pursuits website or call 855-434-3453 to sign up.
This type of thing has become much more popularized in recent years.
Yeah, it has been.
And I think it coincides with the rise of our attention to mental health and paying more attention
to that. And a lot more of people, so many good people out there.
There's so many great givers out there.
I talked to my daughter, my oldest about this quite a bit.
She's very empathetic, wants to help everybody out.
It takes a toll.
And if you're not taking care of your own backyard, it's really hard to help others.
Doing more of this is not just a good thing to do for you, but if you care about doing things
for others, it's really important for you to take care of your own backyard and for you to be
doing good too. If you got to con yourself, this is what I do.
You know, do it for other people, then whatever it takes to get you to do these kind of events.
A shout out to San Valley for seeing that, having an event like that in our area.
You don't have to travel three, four hours to go do something like this.
It's right here in Central Wisconsin. That part is nice too.
And I mean, I don't care what it costs. A weekend, get away, sounds nice to me.
Yeah.
All of this sounds great to me.
It sounds like a really fun event.
And if people want to find out more, again, then go to San Valley pursuits.
Saturday, January 13th, our great friends, the Roam Snow Bandits.
Got an event going on.
Yes. So the Roam Snow Bandits will have their annual ice fishery knock on wood.
Yes, they say this and there's no snow on the ground.
They'll be running from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
It's also known as the Pete and Well Paloza ice fishery.
Ice fishing for both adults and kids, as well as a raffle and other prizes.
There's no better way to spend a Saturday in Rome.
Yeah, yeah. It's a real fun event.
We've got a real love of fisheries in this area.
We do.
And more proof of that coming up Saturday, January 20th.
Yes, once again, hopefully snow.
Yes, everybody's nice.
But it's not kind of what is we're saying this yet.
7 30 a.m. to 4 30 p.m.
will be the Lake Sherwood fishery on January 20th.
That is a DNR free fishing day.
So it provides a family-friendly outdoor winter activity
and will also raise money for the Lake Sherwood Property Owners Association.
Registration will begin at the Sherwood Lodge at 7 30
and then, like I mentioned before, the event will end at 4 p.m.
followed by an award ceremony at 4 30 p.m.
Registration fees are 15 for adults and five for children,
12 years of age and under.
The cash payouts are made for the largest northern bass,
walleye, and largest overall fish,
while kids compete for trophies for panfish.
If you have any other questions,
want more info, contact LSPOA at 715-325-4066.
That's a great event.
Shout out to them for doing this.
And a big thank you to Lake Sherwood Property Owners Association
Conservation Group over there doing some really good work
and keeping our area beautiful over there.
Be a part of this, everybody, and find out more.
Sunday, January 21st, meat raffle.
I don't get to say that very much in my career.
Meat raffle.
Yeah, Lake Arrow had from 4 to 5 p.m.
They will have their meat raffle.
Get here early to grab a drink and snag a seat.
They will play two rounds on each date.
So far, they've only listed the January date,
so stay tuned for February, March, and so on and so forth.
Yeah, and when you guys join us next month,
I'm sure we'll be able to touch on that a little bit more.
As we're wrapping up, Jillian, I would like to touch on
some other fun happenings going on in the Rome area.
Yeah, so first, throwing it back to the beginning of December,
we'd like to give a shout out to all the businesses and
organizations that played a part in helping us with this year's
Christmas and Rome celebration.
Thanks to you, our event was a major success,
but the success is going to continue through the end of the year.
We encourage everyone to drive through the
Rome Town Center, which is the same location as our
summer farmers market, and view all of the holiday light displays
through the new year.
We appreciate that you guys hosting and having events like this.
I know my sister and I were benefited from it when we were kids in Rome,
and it's so like heartwarming and cool to see it's still going
strong and doing well and helping other kids and stuff.
It's a fun event, and big thank you to those businesses
helping being able to pull that off and do this
prevent right.
Yeah, Jillian, we've talked about a lot of great things today.
If people have questions, I want to know more.
How can they get in touch with you?
Yeah, you can either visit us at 1154,
Apache Avenue in Rome, but it is an Acusa address.
Call us at 715-325-3090, or reach out to us via email.
It should be on our website.
Info at visitromewi.com.
That's info at visitromewi.com.
And again, the website, visitromewi.com.
Be sure to throw that in your search bar, bookmark that page,
the wonderful website.
Get yourself some apparel too.
You guys got great stuff over there.
I didn't, I forgot to wear my shirt today,
but I love the shirt that I got from you guys.
It's awesome.
Say hi to Jillian Forest, please.
Lisa Forest, Jillian, I was looking at my name tag here.
Yeah, say hi to Lisa Forest, the whole staff.
Everybody over there, you have a great set of holidays,
and we'll talk to you guys next year.
Yeah, you too.
Happy holidays and happy new year.
Thanks, Jillian.
We'll come back and have some more fun on Midday Magazine right here
at WFHR, locally grown radio.
