The Bridge
News of Newburg

The Newburg Lioness has been very busy this winter planning many spring projects. April is Child abuse prevention month and once again we will have penny jars placed for your spare change. We will be having a brat fry in June in the parking lot of Tri Par, tentative date is June 11th on a Saturday. By the time this letter is out we will already have had our Easter egg hunt on the grounds of Welcome Home Bed and Breakfast on March 26th. The big spring event is our annual GERANIUM AND BEGONIA SALE! Plants will be delivered on the weekend of May 13th... the weekend after mother's day. We are doing this a little later so there will be no snow on the ground for delivery! Plants are in 4 1/2 inch pots and so healthy that they have been known to live for years in pots... blooming for those drab winter months if tended carefully. There will be order sheets available at Tri Par in Newburg as the chairman of this event works there and is always happy to take an order. If you have any planting questions she is also available for help with that as she works for the Ozaukee Yard and Garden line too. We have Non Stop Begonias this year and they are as wonderful as the geraniums, as they come from the same special green house. Prices are: Geraniums, $3.75 one plant, 6 for $18.00, 12 for $33.00 Begonias, $3.75 for one plant, 6 for $19.00, 12 for $35.00

Please support this event as the funds raised from this and other events go towards many local causes. We have supported local events for families who have medical emergencies, food baskets for the elderly, Easter egg hunt for local children, Pictures with Santa, Child abuse prevention, Social services good rewards for troubled families, and all the major Lion sponsored programs including Hearing, Leader Dog for the Blind, Lions camp, Mission to Mexico to name only a few. While I am at this... anyone interested in joining this fun group of people please let me know!

Thank You,

Lioness President

Barbara McHugh

The Newburg Lions started out the year by hosting a Blood Drive along with the Newburg Fire Department. Our first Blood Drive (held in fall of 2004) was a huge success, but our January of 2005 Blood Drive was a disaster. Members from the Newburg Fire Department accounted for the larger percentage of donors and the Village of Newburg was represented by a total of 2 donors. In the year 2002, approximately 35 pints of blood were used by 23 Village of Newburg residents in various hospitals or clinics. The good news is that the Lions Club and the Newburg Fire Department are having another Blood Drive. It will take place on June 23^rd at the Newburg Fire Department from 2:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. We hope the village and surrounding area will take part in this life saving drive. You can make reservations by calling me at 338-8204, but as always, "walk ins" are welcome.

We again are having our Big Raffle giving away $21,000 in prizes. The first place winner gets their choice between $10,000 savings bond or $5,000 in cash. Second place is $2,000 in cash and third place is $1,000 in cash. There will also be 47 - $100 cash winners and 50 - $75 cash winners. Another plus for purchasing a ticket early is that we are having $100 Early Bird drawings each month starting with our May meeting with a bonus drawing on the 4^th of July. This is your chance to help out your community by purchasing a ticket. They are great birthday and anniversary gifts. The raffle drawing will take place at the Newburg Fire Station on September 10^th in the afternoon.

The Lions Club Car Show is taking place on Sunday, August 21^st. Vendors are invited to participate whether they are selling crafts, produce, odds and ends, etc. FREE space to set up their wares will be provided. The famous lunch and refreshment stand will again be operated by the Lions and Lioness. The Newburg Fire Department Rescue Squad will again be showing us what they do best. We will also have Newburg’s own ROCKIN RON entertaining us throughout the afternoon. The park is open at 7 a.m. for Car Show entries and the Newburg Lioness will have coffee and donuts available at the same time. Anyone interested in donating any prizes for our Day of Show raffle, can do so by calling me at 338-8204 or any Lion member. We will consider any prizes, both new and used and also cash or gift certificates.

The Lions will be meeting the first Thursday of each month starting in May at the West Bend Lakes Golf Club and Recreation Center. The April meeting will still be the second Monday of the month. Anyone interested in joining a great organization, contact myself or any other Lion member.

Learn and Work Day will be on April 24th from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Bring your family and friends out for a day to work the land at Riveredge. What a great way to enjoy nature while learning about living well in our families, communities and the world. Join us on an adventure to give back to the earth as we learn and work with: organic gardening, construction of the solar panel arbor and other meaningful projects. Dress for the weather and plan on some physical activity. Call us if you are interested in this day.

Come and purchase herb plants for your kitchen garden. Learn about simple herbal remedies. Peruse the items our vendors provide:

Guest Speaker at noon – Ken Leinbach on "Green Building". Ken is director of the new Urban Ecology Center in Milwaukee which was built with recycled building materials.

5 Perennial gardens are looking for caretakers. Project starts today.

• Free and open to the public.

• Nutritious food and beverages will be for sale.

• Sign up for a share in Wellspring’s Organic Garden.

We are located at 4382 Hickory Road just outside of Newburg. If you have any questions, call us at 675-6755.

The school year is flying by. The beginning of March marked the start of our pre-registration for the next school year. Our preschool through eighth grade curriculum consists of all secular subjects to give children a complete education in all elementary branches of general knowledge. The students receive daily religious instruction from their teachers.

Our pre-school program next school year will run three days a week. It will be held on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings from 7:55-11:00 AM. The school fee for our pre-school will be $825 for the year. If you break this down, it results in $2.75 per hour. Our pre-school teacher has a four year degree in education and is in her second year at St. John’s. The students will find her room confident, loving, and secure. Some of the activities offered in our pre-school program include Bible Story Time, letter projects with skill sheets for practice, and learning to get along with others in a classroom setting.

On April 22 at 6:30 p.m. all the children will be performing the school musical. The school musical for this year is "Let George Do It." St. John’s will be having one more anniversary service marking the school’s 100^th year. It will be on Sunday, April 24 at 9:30 a.m. entitled "Christian Education in Concert."

Vacation Bible School will be held the week of June 13-18. If you are interested in signing your children up or want to know more information about it, please contact the school.

If you have any questions in regarding St. John’s Church and School please call 675-6852.

WHERE IS SPRING?????????  The birds are singing - Phoebes and Cardinals are loudly calling for a mate.   We had a flock of over 100 red winged  blackbirds at the corn feeder one snowy day.  As much as I love listening to them sing,  can¹t say I look forward to nesting season.  There¹s always a nest somewhere in the prairie - but one never knows exactly where.  A  protective parent dive bombs every time someone gets too close... and they mean business.  It hurts if they connect!

Winter broke, the sun came out,  just in time for the annual Lioness Easter Egg hunt on March 26.  (Thanks Bill Sackett for delivering the de-icer for that nasty slippery section on the driveway).  Since the snow was still too thick on the trail in the woods to walk on,  the Lioness’ went to Plan B.  The drab winter prairie suddenly came to life with hundred’s of brightly colored eggs and loads of active kids. Everyone, young and old, had a good time.

Seems unbelievable that  Welcome, H.O.M.E. - house of wheelchair friendly modification examples - opened our doors to the public 8 years ago.  Time flies...  during those years we’ve had guests from 30 different state and 8 countries.  Many of them ate at least one meal some place in Newburg.  If you serve food, I’d like to have a copy of your menu to keep in a folder for guests to look at.  You can pop it in the green mail box at the end of the Welcome, H.O.M.E. driveway (not the quilted mailbox on the road) or mail it to PO Box 333.

We’ve also had guests from all  around Wisconsin.  In March Susan S. celebrated her 45th birthday here. (Thanks Judy for telling her father Bob about Welcome, H.O.M.E. Bed and Breakfast).  Susan lives in an apartment in Madison with the assistance of personal attendants.  Many of her family live in this area.  It was a special weekend.

In July  a couple from California is coming to stay for a weekend.   I’ve never met them (she found us on the Internet).  When making their reservation the wife told me her husband will be returning from his third tour of duty in Iraq.  He mentioned that he’d really enjoy  attending a Kansas concert. She began to investigate and found that Kansas is playing at the Washington County Fair Friday, July 29.  So, as a gift to her husband, this couple is coming to Wisconsin (a state they know nothing about) just to go to the fair.  I thought it’d be fun to show them some Midwest hospitality.  I’m trying to pull together a "Welcome to Wisconsin and Thank You for Defending our Country" basket of goodies for them. Anyone have a gift certificate or some other symbol of Newburg, Washington or Ozaukee County, Wisconsin they’d like to contribute to this basket?  Let me know - Diane 675-2525.

Remember, although the B&B is designed to meet the needs of people living with disability, our doors are open to the public.   Think of us when you have out of town guests coming for a visit...  Families are welcomed.

We always have a "TO DO LIST" . If  your  youth group, church or civic organization are looking for a volunteer project to get involved with give us a call.  We’ll gladly  work  with you. Neighbors and friends Bob Schwinn, Leo Miller, Bill Kuptkovic are typically working Wednesday mornings from 8:00 - 11:30.  Stop in some Wednesday... offer a hand... drink a cup of  coffee...  just see what’s new.

Annually May brings what is perhaps one of the prettiest days of the year up here on the hill -  the Newburg Lioness geranium and begonia delivery on May 12.  The plants are pre-sold by the Lioness’. Then the entire order is delivered to  Welcome, H.O.M.E. for them to sort.  Hundred’s of multi-colored blooming flowers grouped under the carport creates a breathtaking sight.

Mark your calendars!   Saturday , September 10,  Welcome, H.O.M.E. B&B will again host  Celebrate Autumn on the Prairie. This year’s theme is  "There’s No Pace like HOME".    Admission is Free.  From 9:00 - 3:00 enjoy family activities -  listen to a professional story teller spin his tales, enjoy caramel apples, popcorn and cheese (compliments of the Ozaukee County Dairy Promotion Council), dance to the music, buy goodies at the bake sale, take a "Look and See" hike in the woods, make a scarecrow..
Crafters and artists interested in selling their items at Celebrate Autumn on the Prairie are encouraged to call for more information ( Jane Derks at 692-2554 or Diane Miller at 675-2525).   We’d also like to hear from bakers, musicians, volunteers interested in  helping with this event.

Do you drink coffee?  We’d like to have your empty cans to use for craft projects.  You can drop the cans off any time.   Just leave them at one of the doors if we’re not home.

We need your old clothes for our scarecrow making project.  Shabby is good - pants, shirts, hats, bandanas... We can pick them up or you can drop these off any time. Just a friendly reminder... the Welcome, H.O.M.E. B&B grounds are not public land.  However, we are VERY willing to share our space with you.  The trail in the woods, the picnic tables and benches, the Porta-Potty are all paid for and maintained by Welcome, H.O.M.E. Inc. - a nonprofit organization that is operated entirely by volunteers (we have NO paid staff). Our program is supported totally by private donations.   

Please be courteous of others by following a few simple rules which will allow everyone to safely enjoy their visit.  Parents, will you please mention these rules to your kids.

 1.)   No roller blades, skates or  bikes on the trail.  They create ruts on the surface that are dangerous to people who walk with crutches or canes.

 2.)  Leave your dogs at home.   Some of our guests have their service dogs with them.  We don’t want to take any chances of an accident happening.  
 
3).  Take all of your litter home with you.  We don’t want to attract any more raccoons than we already share the woods with now.

4.)  Enjoy the flowers, but please do not pick any.

We sincerely THANK YOU for your cooperation !!!   Enjoy spring.

by Phyllis Damrow

There is still time to sign up if you missed the baseball sign up in March. We had a great turnout and look forward to the many teams, coaches, sponsors and families for another great season. Anyone with questions on the league or concession stand or other general questions – please call Phyllis at 675-2493.

Riveredge is currently creating a compost demonstration area to showcase various examples of home composting techniques. In order to get these new compost bins cooking, we need to fill them with compostable material. If you are not currently composting at home, we could use your scraps. All you need to do is get a container with a lid (2 ½ gallon or 5 gallon buckets work great), and toss in your kitchen scraps with the exception of meat, fish, dairy products, grease, oil or fat. When the container is full, bring it to Riveredge and dump it into our community kitchen waste receptacle.

  
We could also use grass clippings, old hay or straw and dead leaves. These can be bagged and left at the designated yard waste drop-off site. Both the kitchen and yard waste drop off areas are located in the compost demonstration area. Bring us your waste and we will turn it into gold.

If you have a dog, a license may be obtained. All dogs must have a rabies vaccination and licensed by April 1^st yearly. Licenses obtained after April 1^st are subject to a $25.00 late charge. A license is required for all dogs, whether you own or rent at your residence. If you have any questions or are concerned about a dog not licensed, please give me a call.