Well, we have survived the Christmas and New Years holidays. All of our Christmas travelers made it here and back home safely and we are very thankful for that. The daughter and son-in-law from Appleton were delayed back home safely and we are very thankful for that. The daughter and son-in-law from Appleton were delayed in coming until Christmas Day because of weather concerns. So we got to celebrate another Packer victory and Christmas Day with them. Everything was back to nomal on Monday, December 26. Then came New Years weekend. The weather was not an issue but it was just as busy. On Saturday, December 31, we took in the grand opening/ ribbon cutting at Wundrow Auto Repair. What a beautiful addition to our community. So many nice touches, evidence that much thought went into the new building. The fireplace is beautiful, the mantel is made from a depot timber and several depot arches are incorporated into the waiting room. The office is also beautiful, definitely no comparison to the old building. The work bays are spacious and Todd declared they wil be clean as he had a great experience working at the school while the new garage was being constructed. We had a nice evening out for dinner and games to follow. And we took it all in before midnight! *** Did you know? Father Flanagan’s Home for Boys (Omaha, NE) was established in 1917. Over the years, this home has gained a reputation for the care and training provided to kids who were homeless or troubled because of their behaviors. Boys Town is dedicated to saving children and healing families. The programs at Boys Town have evolved with changing philosophies and since the 1970’s care has been provided in Family Homes on campus. In a recent newsletter, it was learned that in 2021 ground was broken for a new 110,000 square-foot education center, to replace the original Boys Town High School built in 1948. So after 74 years of use, the school was torn down to make room for a state-of-the-art facility to attract and retain the best and brightest faculty members. The new modern space is expected to better prepare students for advanced education and positive contributions to society. The three story structure will serve all students at Boys Town – elementary, middle and high school. In 2022, 55 seniors graduated from Boys Town High School. The new building is expected to open in August 2023. *** The Our Wisconsin Magazine is one of the most successful and popular publications in the state of Wisconsin. Established a few years back, the publication comes out six times a year. It is loaded with upbeat articles that are colorful, conversational and filled with interesting reading. The articles are short but worth reading as each contains an interesting story. It is also interesting to note that this magazine continues its growth and it recently published an annual report that indicates it has a total distribution of 103,334. *** From time to time I have written about the Regional Business Fund, Inc., that serves west central Wisconsin counties. One of the programs that this agency has available to communities is a Facade Loan Fund. This is a low interest fund that make loans to downtown businesses to improve the outside fronts of their businesses. A recent change now allows a business to make an application to access the program after a project is started or has been completed within the last 12 months. If interested check at https:///www.rbfinc.org/downtown-facade-loan-fund * The Regional Business Fund is a non-profit economic development corporation whose purpose is to promote business and economic development by providing business financing tools. RBF offers low interest loan funds to businesses that expand within the region; diversify the economy; add new technology; revitalize buildings in the region’s down towns; create or retain quality jobs; and leverage capital investment in the region. *** Gilman residents must be feeling like they are in the midst of a revitalization of their downtown. In recent years they have had an enlargement of their public library, the former bank building is serving as a sales outlet for area artisans, and now the Gilman Theater has been brought back to life. The Gilman Theater was built by my wife’s Uncle and Aunt Frank and Pearl Kinas, who also owned the theater in Thorp and Club 73, just north of Thorp. So this family connection had us especially drawn to what we heard, and later read was happening with the Gilman Theater. The revival of the theater was the vision of a couple who came to Gilman and opened the Grand Central Station bar four years ago. Realizing that there was little to do in Gilman, the couple saw promise in creating activity in town. After considerable work and expense, the couple has brought the theater to the point where it can be showing movies on weekends and they will be bringing a number of variety shows that hopefully will give locals things to do in the community. The restoration includes seats that were in storage at the Miner Theater in Ladysmith, a new stage for live performances, a new concessions area that the theater never previously had, and installation of a ticket booth on the outside of the building. The ticket booth and the original marquee make it close to what it looked like when it closed in the 1980’s. Who are the folks responsible for this revival? They are Deanna and Steve Bornheimer. Congratulations to them and best wishes for a successful venture. *** Weather always seems to be a subject of discussion in any season. Did you know that the worst weather disaster in history occurred on September 8, 1900, when the Galveston Hurricane claimed 8,000 lives. *** Smile time. The older I get the better I used to be. +++ Everything slows down with age, except the time it takes cake and ice cream to reach the hips. +++ Grandchildren don’t make a man feel old, it’s the knowledge that he’s married to a grandmother that does. +++ “When your friends flatter you on how young you look, it’s a sure sign you’re getting old.” Mark Twain +++ You know your getting older when everything either dries up or leaks. +++ “Looking fifty is great – if you’re sixty.” Joan Rivers +++ “At my age getting lucky means walking into a room and remembering what I came in for. +++ “Old age is when you resent the swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated because there are fewer articles to read.” George Burns +++ Time may be a great healer, but it’s a lousy beautician. +++ The one advantage of being 102, there’s no peer pressure. +++ Employment application blanks always ask who is to be notified in case of an emergency. I think you should write, “A good doctor!” +++ You know I spent a fortune on deodorant before I realized that people didn’t like me anyway. +++ I was thinking about old age and decided that is when you still have something on the ball but you are too tired to bounce it. +++ “It’s paradoxical that the idea of living a long life appeals to everyone, but the idea of getting old doesn’t appeal to anyone.” Andy Rooney

BY DAVID JANKOSKI