Chippewa Guide Your Web Guide to the Chippewa Valley http://www.chippewaguide.com/atom/feed 2007-12-31T16:28:23-06:00 Jake's http://www.chippewaguide.com/jakes 2008-09-25T14:39:17-05:00 2008-09-25T14:42:21-05:00 Steve Hanson We're all saddened to hear that Jake's is closing their doors. Jake's has been a little piece of sanity in the Chippewa Valley - good food, nice atmosphere, and live music.   They join a growing legion of local businesses, particularly restaurants and entertainment venues, that are closing since they just can't cope with all of the problems facing small businesses at the moment.

We hope that Jake's will find a new owner and will re-open in some way, preferably as a Northern Wisconsin supper club - a rarity these days, particularly around here.  

Goodbye Jake's - we'll miss youl.

]]> We're all saddened to hear that Jake's is closing their doors. Jake's has been a little piece of sanity in the Chippewa Valley - good food, nice atmosphere, and live music.   They join a growing legion of local businesses, particularly restaurants and entertainment venues, that are closing since they just can't cope with all of the problems facing small businesses at the moment.

We hope that Jake's will find a new owner and will re-open in some way, preferably as a Northern Wisconsin supper club - a rarity these days, particularly around here.  

Goodbye Jake's - we'll miss youl.

]]> Family Restaurant? - Update http://www.chippewaguide.com/family-restaurant 2008-09-03T15:24:15-05:00 2008-09-14T14:02:28-05:00 Steve Hanson I noted with some dismay when I drove past yesterday that the Parker's Tuscan Grille Restaurant in Menomonie had suddenly become the Parker's Family Restaurant.  Parker's has been one of my favorite places in the area to go get something to eat, so I'm a little frightened by the name change, since at least in this area Family Restaurant is not exactly a synonym for fine dining.  We'll let you know more after we get a chance to try it out in the new incarnation.

Update ---  Apparently nothing to worry about - same menu, same food ---seems to have just been a name change, thank goodness.  We'll be eating there again soon.

]]> I noted with some dismay when I drove past yesterday that the Parker's Tuscan Grille Restaurant in Menomonie had suddenly become the Parker's Family Restaurant.  Parker's has been one of my favorite places in the area to go get something to eat, so I'm a little frightened by the name change, since at least in this area Family Restaurant is not exactly a synonym for fine dining.  We'll let you know more after we get a chance to try it out in the new incarnation.

Update ---  Apparently nothing to worry about - same menu, same food ---seems to have just been a name change, thank goodness.  We'll be eating there again soon.

]]> Chippewa Valley Man Running for President http://www.chippewaguide.com/chippewa-valley-man-running-president 2008-06-30T22:31:08-05:00 2008-06-30T22:31:08-05:00 bschmock See Original Post

Yes, that title is correct. At first I didn't believe it either--but then both WEAU AND WQOW reported on it, so I knew it must be true. :P

His name is Bill Ingram, and he is considering running for the House of Representatives to unseat Representative Ron Kind--just in case the "President-thing" doesn't work out.

]]> See Original Post

Yes, that title is correct. At first I didn't believe it either--but then both WEAU AND WQOW reported on it, so I knew it must be true. :P

His name is Bill Ingram, and he is considering running for the House of Representatives to unseat Representative Ron Kind--just in case the "President-thing" doesn't work out.

I did a little more searching and was able to find this article by The Dunn County News and this article posted by the Newsroom at UWEC.

I'll be honest, I will still be voting for Senator Obama in November. However, I am impressed by Mr. Ingram's committment to solving problems and providing alternatives.

Also, be sure to see Bill Ingram's campaign website.

]]> Downsville Political Organization to Report from Democratic Convention http://www.chippewaguide.com/downsville-political-organization-report-democratic-convention 2008-05-14T12:36:09-05:00 2008-05-14T12:36:09-05:00 Steve Hanson The local Downsville political blog Uppity Wisconsin  has been selected as the Wisconsin member of the Democratic Convention State Blogging Corps.  

Uppity Wisconsin will live blog directly from the floor of the Democratic Convention. The members of the state blogging corps were announced this morning by Howard Dean in a web video.

Note - Steve Hanson, publisher of the Chippewa Guide is also the editor of Uppity Wisconsin, and will be a major part of the Uppity Wisconsin reporting team in Denver. 

]]> The local Downsville political blog Uppity Wisconsin  has been selected as the Wisconsin member of the Democratic Convention State Blogging Corps.  

Uppity Wisconsin will live blog directly from the floor of the Democratic Convention. The members of the state blogging corps were announced this morning by Howard Dean in a web video.

Note - Steve Hanson, publisher of the Chippewa Guide is also the editor of Uppity Wisconsin, and will be a major part of the Uppity Wisconsin reporting team in Denver. 

]]> What can the Chippewa Guide Do For You? http://www.chippewaguide.com/what-can-chippewa-guide-do-for-you 2008-05-03T11:06:19-05:00 2008-05-20T09:42:37-05:00 Steve Hanson We started the Chippewa Guide in an attempt to build an on-line community in the Chippewa Valley.  So far that's been a slow endeavor. Although we're getting an ever-increasing number of visitors, what we aren't getting is a lot of participation. We keep thinking this is because we're not doing something that you would like - so - if there's some feature, or kind of information you'd like to see in the Chippewa Guide, please let us know.  Even better  yet, put it in yourself.  We want to be the one-stop source for information on the Chippewa Valley, but honest, we need your help to accomplish that.  

So - Please let us know your thoughts.  Leave a comment on this article, or email us at sales [at] chippewaguide [dot] com. Thanks!

]]> We started the Chippewa Guide in an attempt to build an on-line community in the Chippewa Valley.  So far that's been a slow endeavor. Although we're getting an ever-increasing number of visitors, what we aren't getting is a lot of participation. We keep thinking this is because we're not doing something that you would like - so - if there's some feature, or kind of information you'd like to see in the Chippewa Guide, please let us know.  Even better  yet, put it in yourself.  We want to be the one-stop source for information on the Chippewa Valley, but honest, we need your help to accomplish that.  

So - Please let us know your thoughts.  Leave a comment on this article, or email us at sales [at] chippewaguide [dot] com. Thanks!<!--break-->

]]> Chippewa Guide Video http://www.chippewaguide.com/chippewa-guide-video 2008-04-15T15:22:52-05:00 2008-04-15T15:27:42-05:00 Steve Hanson We'll be including more video in the Chippewa Guide as time goes on - for now, here's the first stab at the Chippewa Guide Video Channel, featuring some recent sights and sounds from the Chippewa Valley.

]]> We'll be including more video in the Chippewa Guide as time goes on - for now, here's the first stab at the Chippewa Guide Video Channel, featuring some recent sights and sounds from the Chippewa Valley.

]]> Keep In Touch! http://www.chippewaguide.com/keep-in-touch 2008-04-09T18:36:04-05:00 2008-04-09T18:36:04-05:00 Steve Hanson We want to know what's happening in the Chippewa Valley so that we can tell everyone else.  Know of a great upcoming event?  A favorite restaurant?  An interesting story about something that is going on?  Let us know. 

We're also looking for anyone who'd like to write about the Chippewa Valley.  We'll offer a blog to anyone who can convince us that they have something interesting to say - just let us know. 

You can send press releases, or any other information to us with the contact form at the top of the guide, or just email us at sales [at] chippewaguide [dot] com.

Keep in touch!

]]> We want to know what's happening in the Chippewa Valley so that we can tell everyone else.  Know of a great upcoming event?  A favorite restaurant?  An interesting story about something that is going on?  Let us know. 

We're also looking for anyone who'd like to write about the Chippewa Valley.  We'll offer a blog to anyone who can convince us that they have something interesting to say - just let us know. 

You can send press releases, or any other information to us with the contact form at the top of the guide, or just email us at sales [at] chippewaguide [dot] com.

Keep in touch!

]]> Looking for Chippewa Valley Web Sites http://www.chippewaguide.com/looking-chippewa-valley-web-sites 2008-04-03T13:27:35-05:00 2008-04-03T13:28:43-05:00 Steve Hanson We're on the lookout for web sites in the Chippewa Valley.  If you have a favorite site, or you publish a site, let us know.  If the site has an RSS feed and you'd like to see it aggregated in with our Local Blogs section, that's even better.

In general, if you know about anything interesting going on in the Chippewa  Valley, we want to know about it and spread the word.  So please fee free to send us anything of interest through the contact form, or just email us at sales [at] chippewaguide [dot] com

Keep in touch! 

]]> We're on the lookout for web sites in the Chippewa Valley.  If you have a favorite site, or you publish a site, let us know.  If the site has an RSS feed and you'd like to see it aggregated in with our Local Blogs section, that's even better.

In general, if you know about anything interesting going on in the Chippewa  Valley, we want to know about it and spread the word.  So please fee free to send us anything of interest through the contact form, or just email us at sales [at] chippewaguide [dot] com

Keep in touch! 

]]> The Photo Contest is Now Open! http://www.chippewaguide.com/the-photo-contest-now-open 2008-03-31T15:21:45-05:00 2008-05-01T12:17:35-05:00 Steve Hanson The Chippewa Guide photo contest is now open. You may upload your photo entry by clicking on the camera at the left or by clicking here..

You may submit your photos between now and April 30. On May 1, we will begin judging. All judging will be on-line, and readers of the Chippewa Guide may all vote on their favorite photos.

There will be one prize for each category in the contest, and one grand prize for the highest rated photo in the contest. The grand prize will be a $50 gift certificate with the Eau Claire or Menomonie Chamber of commerce, good at any Chamber of Commerce member. Other prizes will be announced throughout the month.

A few rules:

  • Photos must have been taken in the Chippewa Valley.
  • You must provide a description of the photo, letting us know what the photograph is, and where it was taken.
  • You may enter as many photos as you wish
  • We will be the sole judges as to whether the photograph is appropriate for viewing on this web site.
  • In the case of a tie in the voting, the publishers of the Chippewa Guide will decide the winner.
  • All personal information about the entry will be kept private. Only the photograph, description, and title of the entry will be displayed.
  • We will disclose the winners at the time that the contest closes. All non-winning participants may remain anonymous.
  • If your photograph contains a recognizable image of a person, you must have their permission to post the photograph here. We will remove any photographs from the site if someone complains about a photograph of themselves. These entries will not be eligible for a prize.
  • By entering this photograph, you grant the Chippewa Guide non-exclusive rights to use the photograph on the Chippewa Guide web site (with credit to you as the photographer) after the contest ends. You may of course continue to use your own photograph in any way you wish.
  • You may only enter photographs that you have taken yourself, or which the photographer has given you permission to enter.
]]> The Chippewa Guide photo contest is now open. You may upload your photo entry by clicking on the camera at the left or by clicking here..

You may submit your photos between now and April 30. On May 1, we will begin judging. All judging will be on-line, and readers of the Chippewa Guide may all vote on their favorite photos.

There will be one prize for each category in the contest, and one grand prize for the highest rated photo in the contest. The grand prize will be a $50 gift certificate with the Eau Claire or Menomonie Chamber of commerce, good at any Chamber of Commerce member. Other prizes will be announced throughout the month.

A few rules:

  • Photos must have been taken in the Chippewa Valley.
  • You must provide a description of the photo, letting us know what the photograph is, and where it was taken.
  • You may enter as many photos as you wish
  • We will be the sole judges as to whether the photograph is appropriate for viewing on this web site.
  • In the case of a tie in the voting, the publishers of the Chippewa Guide will decide the winner.
  • All personal information about the entry will be kept private. Only the photograph, description, and title of the entry will be displayed.
  • We will disclose the winners at the time that the contest closes. All non-winning participants may remain anonymous.
  • If your photograph contains a recognizable image of a person, you must have their permission to post the photograph here. We will remove any photographs from the site if someone complains about a photograph of themselves. These entries will not be eligible for a prize.
  • By entering this photograph, you grant the Chippewa Guide non-exclusive rights to use the photograph on the Chippewa Guide web site (with credit to you as the photographer) after the contest ends. You may of course continue to use your own photograph in any way you wish.
  • You may only enter photographs that you have taken yourself, or which the photographer has given you permission to enter.<!--break-->
]]> Barcamp? Here? Why Not? http://www.chippewaguide.com/node/1345 2008-03-14T14:23:51-05:00 2008-04-03T13:34:11-05:00 Steve Hanson I've seen some discussion lately and have had some conversations with people revolving around the question - If this is the "tech corridor" of Wisconsin, why don't we have the kinds of web interactions and tech events that tech areas usually have?"

You'll ask yourself - what the heck does he mean by that?

I'm a web developer, and I build interactive web sites as a freelancer, mostly for nonprofits. This site is actually a pretty good example of what I do. Almost all of my clients are from outside of the area - in fact, one of the reasons I built this site was to try to have a local client - myself. I get clients on the coasts, clients in the Twin Cities, but in the Chippewa Valley, the general response I get is a blank stare. I'm beginning to believe that the Chippewa Valley isn't ready for Web 2.0.

 

This site is a good example. When I approach local businesses, they often think that this is a great idea, but they don't seem very much interested in participating, despite the fact that it's a great source of free publicity. Nonprofits that I approach in the area seem very wary of building a web presence that lets their constituents talk back to them. The idea that the Internet is inherently interactive seems to be lost on most people here, and I don't know why. I long for kindred tech geek spirits, and I'd love to meet you. I know you're out there.

]]> I've seen some discussion lately and have had some conversations with people revolving around the question - If this is the "tech corridor" of Wisconsin, why don't we have the kinds of web interactions and tech events that tech areas usually have?"

You'll ask yourself - what the heck does he mean by that?

I'm a web developer, and I build interactive web sites as a freelancer, mostly for nonprofits. This site is actually a pretty good example of what I do. Almost all of my clients are from outside of the area - in fact, one of the reasons I built this site was to try to have a local client - myself. I get clients on the coasts, clients in the Twin Cities, but in the Chippewa Valley, the general response I get is a blank stare. I'm beginning to believe that the Chippewa Valley isn't ready for Web 2.0.

 

This site is a good example. When I approach local businesses, they often think that this is a great idea, but they don't seem very much interested in participating, despite the fact that it's a great source of free publicity. Nonprofits that I approach in the area seem very wary of building a web presence that lets their constituents talk back to them. The idea that the Internet is inherently interactive seems to be lost on most people here, and I don't know why. I long for kindred tech geek spirits, and I'd love to meet you. I know you're out there.<!--break-->

I also edit a political web site, Uppity Wisconsin . It's based in Downsville (well, I'm based in Downsville so --). I have lots of politically active friends in the area, none of whom participate. They usually say that they're too shy to express an opinion that is publicly available - yet they write letters to the editor, they go to rallies, and they participate in lots of other ways. There are quite a few participants, but they're almost all from Madison or Milwaukee. Isn't there a possibility for web interaction in the rest of the state?

Likewise, I participate in lots of tech activities - Barcamps in other areas, Drupal Camps, nonprofit tech organizations, and more. The one thing all of this has in common is that none of it happens here.

So I have been asking myself - can we do something about that? Which finally brings me to the point. - Why not have a Chippewa Valley Barcamp? It would be a great way for people who are involved in net technologies to meet, and should provoke some interesting discussion. It also will give us all a chance to show off a little and demonstrate what we're doing.

What the heck is a BarCamp, I hear you cry? According to Wikipedia, it is

BarCamp is an international network of user generated conferences — open, participatory workshop-events, whose content is provided by participants — often focusing on early-stage web applications, and related open source technologies, social protocols, and open data formats.

For more information you can look at http://www.barcamp.org

I'm suggesting that Chippewa Guide and my consulting company Cruiskeen Consulting LLC get together with some other local organizations, and we organize a Chippewa Valley Barcamp. As a first stab, I suggest that we should make it be a smaller affair than a lot of them, and that we should go for a little broader audience than most - let's open it up to technologists of all sorts in the area, including talks on nanotechnology, web applications, the Internet as a communications tool, and more.

So Chippewa Valley, what do you think? I think that a Barcamp some time this summer would be great fun and a wonderful chance to bring together like-minded people. We're willing to organize it if you're willing to participate. Let us know you're willing to help out. A camp in Menomonie, Eau Claire, or Chippewa Falls would be great.

To give you a little better idea what BarCamp is like, here is a video from last year's BarCamp in Milwaukee.

 

]]> More Local Music http://www.chippewaguide.com/more-local-music 2008-02-06T10:58:27-06:00 2008-02-13T11:15:09-06:00 Steve Hanson We are in the process of expanding our listings of local music performances. You will be seeing more listings for local music that are provided by the good folks at Playing Here. These listings will appear on the pages for the individual cities on the web site, and are also being incorporated in the big events calendar.

We will continue to add other resources from the web as we find them. Note that bands and venues can now appear in the Chippewa Guide either by submitting events directly to us, or by submitting them to Playing Here (although submitting them directly will make them appear more places on the guide.)

If you are part of the local music scene, we're looking to talk to you - we would like to have more locally-based video and audio of music on the site - let us know, and we will be glad to work with you.

]]> We are in the process of expanding our listings of local music performances. You will be seeing more listings for local music that are provided by the good folks at Playing Here. These listings will appear on the pages for the individual cities on the web site, and are also being incorporated in the big events calendar.

We will continue to add other resources from the web as we find them. Note that bands and venues can now appear in the Chippewa Guide either by submitting events directly to us, or by submitting them to Playing Here (although submitting them directly will make them appear more places on the guide.)

If you are part of the local music scene, we're looking to talk to you - we would like to have more locally-based video and audio of music on the site - let us know, and we will be glad to work with you.<!--break-->

]]> What do you Want from Us? http://www.chippewaguide.com/what-do-you-want-us 2008-01-23T11:56:31-06:00 2008-01-29T17:30:27-06:00 Steve Hanson So -- last night we were having a staff meeting (me, the Knapsack Naturalist, Kaytie the Wonder dog, Earl-who-must-walk-all-over-the-keyboard-while-I-type, and of course Chip. We found ourselves wondering what you folks out there in Internet-land would really like from the Chippewa Guide. We've put together a modest poll, lurking over there to the right. Please let us know what you'd like, otherwise we're just flying blind while trying to guess. As always, if you have any suggestions or ideas, please send them to us at sales [at] chippewaguide [dot] com

Thanks!

]]> So -- last night we were having a staff meeting (me, the Knapsack Naturalist, Kaytie the Wonder dog, Earl-who-must-walk-all-over-the-keyboard-while-I-type, and of course Chip. We found ourselves wondering what you folks out there in Internet-land would really like from the Chippewa Guide. We've put together a modest poll, lurking over there to the right. Please let us know what you'd like, otherwise we're just flying blind while trying to guess. As always, if you have any suggestions or ideas, please send them to us at sales [at] chippewaguide [dot] com

Thanks!<!--break-->

]]> Looking for Contributors http://www.chippewaguide.com/looking-contributors 2008-01-10T12:01:30-06:00 2008-03-21T10:28:38-05:00 Steve Hanson The Chippewa Guide is looking for contributors. That can mean a lot of things:

  • Do you have a local blog or podcast? Would you like to have us put your blog's headlines in our local blog widget on the home page, and get you more readers? Let us know.
  • Are you interested in writing about local issues, arts, performers, or anything else about the Chippewa Valley? Join Scott Montesano by having a blog on the web site. Just let us know you're interested.
  • Have a business? Do you want to make more money? Put a listing in the Chippewa Guide and let people know about your business.
  • Have an event or performance you want to publicize? List it here for free and also have it appear in Google Calendar automatically.
  • We are interested in collaborating with other web sites and organizations in the Chippewa Valley. Let us know how we can work with you.
  • We are currently particularly looking for videos and photographs of the Chippewa Valley.
Just use the Contact Us form on this site and drop us a note. ]]> The Chippewa Guide is looking for contributors. That can mean a lot of things:

  • Do you have a local blog or podcast? Would you like to have us put your blog's headlines in our local blog widget on the home page, and get you more readers? Let us know.
  • Are you interested in writing about local issues, arts, performers, or anything else about the Chippewa Valley? Join Scott Montesano by having a blog on the web site. Just let us know you're interested.
  • Have a business? Do you want to make more money? Put a listing in the Chippewa Guide and let people know about your business.
  • Have an event or performance you want to publicize? List it here for free and also have it appear in Google Calendar automatically.
  • We are interested in collaborating with other web sites and organizations in the Chippewa Valley. Let us know how we can work with you.
  • We are currently particularly looking for videos and photographs of the Chippewa Valley.
Just use the Contact Us form on this site and drop us a note.<!--break--> ]]> Chippewa Guide Pet Directory http://www.chippewaguide.com/chippewa-guide-pet-directory 2008-01-06T17:22:05-06:00 2008-01-06T17:22:05-06:00 Steve Hanson This time of year all of the local pet shelters are full of animals needing a home. Out here at the farm we've had a wonderful procession of animal friends over the years, none of whom came from a pet store.

To both help out the animals, and to help you find a companion animal to keep you company, we're introducing the new  Chippewa Guide Pet Directory.  

You can use it to look for animals in all of the local county Humane Societies.  Our thanks to the kind folks at Petfinder.Com, who provide the computer magic to make this possible.

 

]]> This time of year all of the local pet shelters are full of animals needing a home. Out here at the farm we've had a wonderful procession of animal friends over the years, none of whom came from a pet store.

To both help out the animals, and to help you find a companion animal to keep you company, we're introducing the new  Chippewa Guide Pet Directory.  

You can use it to look for animals in all of the local county Humane Societies.  Our thanks to the kind folks at Petfinder.Com, who provide the computer magic to make this possible.

 

]]> New Sports Page http://www.chippewaguide.com/new-sports-page 2007-12-31T16:27:06-06:00 2007-12-31T16:28:23-06:00 Steve Hanson We now have a page for Sports news . We're working on new kinds of sports content for the page, and hope to shortly offer you calendars for the local high-school teams, etc. right on the web site.

If you'd like to see something added to our sports page, please let us know.

]]> We now have a page for Sports news . We're working on new kinds of sports content for the page, and hope to shortly offer you calendars for the local high-school teams, etc. right on the web site.

If you'd like to see something added to our sports page, please let us know.

]]>