Garden reversal | The Weekly Wausonian

Wausau news for the week of June 20, 2024

Rib Mountain took a pause recently on awarding funding to Monk Botanical Gardens’ Blossom of Lights festival following the controversy around the gardens’ name change.

On Tuesday, it reversed course and released the funds. That move came nearly a week after the gardens announced that director Darcie Howard would be resigning.

At the previous meeting, Board President Paul Davids apologized for not taking more community input before deciding to change the name. Witnesses at the meeting say he then seemed taken aback when Board Member Fred Schaefer read an email from Howard calling out a group on Facebook for engaging bots and social media to target her and the gardens with a hate campaign.

The group denies any such tactics — and Howard did not respond to The Wausonian when asked for evidence of those tactics.

Rib Mountain’s decision followed an earlier decision by Weston’s tourism commission to deny a similar grant after a heated exchange between Howard and the commission.

Wausonian readers this week learned about a man starting a video game company in Wausau after a pretty impressive career in AAA film and video games:

We also gave you the scoop on what’s going on with the Rib Mountain Master Plan:

What else in Wausau?

The Dominos fall: The city’s Public Health and Safety Committee learned this week why The Domino hasn’t been open. It’s for sale. Also, says current owner Brett Milbradt, the previous owner locked the Google listing on “permanently closed,” and locked up the bar’s social media. The committee ordered the bar to get itself open by the end of the month if it wants to keep its liquor license. (Liquor licenses are in short supply and a business owning them must remain open and put it to use.) See the whole exchange below (confusing because they call for Brougan Milbradt but Brett came to the mic and didn’t correct them - I only found out from a video viewer right before this went to press that it was actually Brett speaking):

Around the metro

Looking deeper at ambulance service: Following a forum and meeting that ran two and a half hours, the village of Kronenwetter voted to explore further the idea of forming its own ambulance service, including developing a subcommittee to look at everything involved in it. The proposal first came from Kronenwetter Fire Chief Theresa O’Brien, who said it would save money as well as provide better response times to residents.

Remember those big plans for Rib Mountain?: The Wausonian learned last week that they’re finally underway as the Department of Natural Resources started holdings meetings to start actually developing the features outlined in the plan. The Wausonian wrote about the next steps of the Rib Mountain Master Plan here.

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Entertainment

Thursday, June 20: The Wausau Night Market is one of the newer things going on in our community, and it’s a great excuse to get down to the 400 Block on a Thursday evening. The night markets are held three times every summer, with one event in June, July and August. This Thursday’s event kicks off the series - find plenty of local makers, farmers selling food items, and live music. Check out items ranging from Indian baked goods to sipping vinegars to candles, eggs, artwork and much more. 5-9 pm. Check out the event page for more.

Fri-Sun, June 21-23: Wausau’s Big Weekend once meant a balloon and rib fest at the Wausau airport coupled with Chalkfest downtown. That’s evolved as the Taste and Glow Balloon Fest moved to Stettin, so now Wausau Events created Wings over Wausau (Fri-Sat). A professional airshow on both days is buttressed by fireworks at night for the event in the Southeast Side neighborhood. Plus a car show, drone demos, kids activities and much more. $5 per day. Gates open at 4 pm Friday, and 11 am Saturday. (But with a Run the Runway run at 8 am.) Going on at sort of the same time is Chalkfest (Sat-Sun). Sign up to create your own chalk space ($25) creation or simply stop down to watch the artists at work. Check out the event page for all the details of both events.

Fri-Sat, June 21-22: Joyann Parker might be based out of Minneapolis these days, but she’s a Wisconsin Girl through and through. In fact, she’s got a song to that tune! Called Sconnie Girl, Parker uses the track to celebrate some of the joys of being a Wisconsin gal while including the obligatory line about cheering the Packers and how much the Bears still suck. Parker’s latest album, Roots, has charted at No. 10 on the Billboard Blues charts and her southern blues style will draw you in with its sincerity. You’ll have two chances to see her this weekend: one is with a slice of pizza and beer at Stoney Acres Farm, a great way to spend a summer evening (music generally runs 5-8 pm) ; and Saturday at Malarkey’s Pub, where she’s joined by Matt Lamoir. (Music starts at 7:30 pm.)

Sunday, June 23: Before Lamplight Sessions owner Logan Erickson opened his new music venue, he organized shows at another venue: Isherwood Hall in Plover. It’s a cool, out-of-the-way venue and has featured some great folksy, bluegrass acts and has a great band coming this Sunday. Joe Kaplow is currently touring the country to support his third album Posh Poodle Krystal and Toe. Kaplow’s is a vintage folk sound, with the kind of songwriting that makes you feel chill but has interesting harmonies and sounds swirling beneath the surface. Think of a bluegrass aesthetic with modern recording and layer capabilities that make it transcend the genre. Suggested donation of $10. Food by Hanuman Express. Bring your own beverages. Food trucks at noon, show starts at 2 pm.

Looking for kids/family events? Check out the family-oriented listing from The Wausonian’s partner Wausau Mama, who puts together a weekly listing of children/family activities.

Sports

College baseball: The Wausau Woodchucks have continued their blistering start to the season, capping off an 8-game win streak Tuesday with a win over the Lakeshore Chinooks. The Chucks now hold a shocking 18-3 record, but surprisingly are only three games ahead of the Madison Mallards. The Mallards handed the Chucks one of their three losses this year. Still, the Chucks seem a likely shoe-in to garner a playoff spot based on their first-half of the season’s performance.

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