Welcome to KickTime - News of the Kickapoo Valley, WI

A Driftless Regional web space for Kickapoo Valley news, events and local commerce (like recycling, ride sharing, eating from local sources, buying and supporting local entrepreneurs.)

Visit our Kickapedia site for links to local businesses, farms and services. This is a community wiki (like Wikipedia only smaller) that can be updated by anyone who logs in. The more you join in the better the information and quicker the updates. Don't be shy--if you make a mistake an old version can be restored.

Also try the link to the KickTime_Calendar. We try to keep it as complete, up-to-date and accurate as possible. Please forgive any errors and use the contact information provided for events to double check times and dates.

KickTime is a community project--you are encouraged to submit material. The first step is to create a login account. After logging in, submit your story and it will be reviewed and pushed to the front page within a day or two. See the FAQ for more details about posting material here. If you are totally flummoxed, email the story to admins[at]kicktime[dot]org.

So what do we look for? Events notices are common submissions, but a local view on issues would be a nice change of pace.

Please don't submit a reprint of a news story. Instead provide a new perspective or added insight;
Bring several views together to create a new way to imagine an issue;
Be clever, funny, original;
We encourage attitude and self-confidence, but base your writing on facts;
If you wish to pass literary or artistic judgment, or discuss the merits or demerits of someone or something, do it with subtlety and intelligence;
The more voices here the better!

Too much to ask? Well would you want to spend your precious time reading anything less?

The Marketplace

New Farmers Market in LaX

By borges, Section The Marketplace
Posted on Wed Aug 13, 2008 at 05:45:06 AM CST

There is a new Farmer's Market that opened this week at the Hmong Cultural and Community Center, corner of Mormon Coulee Rd. and Ward Avenue.

Hours: Thursdays from 7 AM to 7 PM.

This is the only Farmer's Market south of downtown.
June

[And if you are looking for a farmer's market nearer to your home a listing of area markets are on Kickapedia here. If you see anything inaccurate on the list, you can sign in and change it or email admins (at sign) kicktime.org to get it updated.]

Comments >>

Kickapoo Green Builders Guild BBQ

By borges, Section The Marketplace
Posted on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 12:43:33 PM CST

Members, Supporters and Friends of the Kickapoo Green Builders Guild,

We invite you to attend our next Quarterly Meeting set for Thursday, August 14th at 6:00pm. The KGBG would love to host you to a BBQ at Eckhart Park! Standard BBQ fare will be provided by the Guild, as well as snacks, sides & refreshments, but feel free to bring whatever else you choose to enjoy or to share! This is a family friendly event.

WHERE: Eckhart Park
WHEN: starting at 6:00pm
WHAT: BBQ open networking and project updates.

We'll forego a formal presentation, to instead allow ample space for social networking, group discussion and questions, as well as providing the opportunity for anyone who wishes to share updates, announcements, requests, etc. in regard to projects you may be working on.

If you haven't done so, please bookmark our website www.kickapoogreen.org for more information, member pages, as well as ongoing announcements of upcoming events.

We thank you again and again for the incredible interest and support our Kickapoo community has shown! We look forward to seeing you at the Quarterly Meeting!

Comments >>

Inventors and Entrepreneur Meeting--8/12

By borges, Section The Marketplace
Posted on Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 07:32:18 PM CST

The next Inventors and Entrepreneurs Club meeting is Tuesday, August 12th at the Gays Mills Community Building, 212 Main Street. (Look for our banner). Come early to network, program starts at 6:30 pm. Everyone is welcome!

Treat your Creative side!!
This month's topic is Using Innovation to Grow your Business, with Dave Franchino. He is President of Design Concepts in Madison, which is a group of product innovators, specifically product strategists, designers, engineers and researchers.

We will talk about:
*What makes a product remarkable?
*What is exceptional innovation?
*Emerging trends and roles for innovation.
*Where does innovation come from?
*The importance of strategic alliances.
*How Renaissance Innovators help your business.
*Innovation tools for success such as Product Design, Engineering, Model Making and Prototyping.

Please help us spread the word by bringing some friends along or forwarding this message. Remember, the meetings are free, the second Tuesday of every month, so join us when you can.

Thank you!!
Susan Noble
Executive Director, Vernon Economic Development Association
402 Courthouse Square, Banta Building Suite 207, Viroqua, WI 54665
608.637.5396
snoble(at-sign)veda-wi.org

Comments >>

Land's End Tent Sale starts 8/7

By borges, Section The Marketplace
Posted on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 12:23:07 PM CST

Land's End Tent Sale is on this week, August 7 to 10th according to their online service rep. This is rather different than last year when they had a webpage with all the details. I imagine the hours will be similar and location is Harris Park again.

Happy hunting.

Comments >>

Inventors and Entrepreneur Meeting 7/8

By borges, Section The Marketplace
Posted on Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 12:14:23 PM CST

The next Inventors and Entrepreneurs Club meeting is Tuesday, July 8th at the Gays Mills Community Building, 212 Main Street. This month's topic is "What Makes a Good Business or Product Idea?" Jan Gallagher, Director of the UW-L Small Business Development Center, will talk about what to look for when deciding to go forward with an idea. What evidence can you uncover to sort out your decision? What resources are available to help you? What are the steps to exploring your idea?

Come early to network at 6:00 pm, program starts at 6:30 pm. New ideas are just a spark away! Everyone is welcome.

Susan Noble
Executive Director, Vernon Economic Development Association
402 Courthouse Square, Banta Building Suite 207, Viroqua, WI 54665
608.637.5396
snoble[at]veda-wi(dot)org

Comments >>

Kickapoo Exchange Coop Flood News--Gays Mills meeting tonight

By borges, Section The Marketplace
Posted on Tue Jun 17, 2008 at 07:46:53 AM CST

The first meeting to discuss the fate of Gays Mills is at the Gays Mills Community Building June 17th at 7 PM.

The manager of the Kickapoo Exchange Coop sent a message to members that is in the full story and provides more details, but below is Erin's hope that all might participate and reach the best decision together:

By participating with an open mind and respect for each other's views, we may be able to create a stronger village community with improved chances of survival, viable economy, responsible land use and river management, and social cohesion.

If there ever was a community capable of creative visioning for a successful future, Gays Mills is the place. Here's hoping the community can rise above the extremity of the circumstances and find a positive way forward.

(426 words in story) Full Story

Inventors and Entrepreneur Meeting Canceled --Flooding

By borges, Section The Marketplace
Posted on Mon Jun 09, 2008 at 01:27:05 PM CST

The Inventors and Entrepreneurs Club meeting scheduled for Tuesday, June 10th at the Gays Mills Community Building is canceled due to the flooding. Vernon Vineyards will be featured again sometime later this year. Our speaker next month, on July 8th, will be Jan Gallagher, Director of the Small Business Development Center at UW-La Crosse, talking about "What makes a Good Business Idea."

Also, don't miss the 7 Rivers Inventors and Entrepreneurs Club Rendezvous on Thursday, June 26th at the Cleary Center, UW-La Crosse from 4:00 to 9:00 pm. The event is free and open to everyone! Seven I&E clubs across region will be participating so the networking opportunities will be terrific! Speakers will include Stuart Anders, President and CEO of Allied Industries, LLC and Ivan Davis, serial entrepreneur. Snacks and beverages will be provided. The program begins at 4:30 pm but it will be very informal so join us when you can.

Comments >>

Inventors and Entrepreneur Meeting--June 10

By borges, Section The Marketplace
Posted on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 09:26:42 AM CST

[ed note: This event is canceled due to flooding. See story here.]

Our next Inventors and Entrepreneurs Club meeting is Tuesday, June 10th at the Gays Mills Community Building, 212 Main Street. Come early to network, program starts at 6:30 pm, doors open at 6:00 pm. Everyone is welcome!

The speakers this month are Bob Starks and Loren Cade, co-owners of Vernon Vineyards Winery.

They established the vineyard in 2001 and the winery in the summer of 2006 as the first winery in Vernon County. They will share what they learned through their experience on "How to Survive as a New Business" including researching your idea, risk management, marketing, budgeting and finances. According to Bob, "It's important for businesses to work together to promote each other's business." Hear his perspective on "How getting involved in your community can help your business."

For more information contact Sue Noble, Vernon County Economic Development Association at snoble(at)veda-wi.org or 637-5396 and Laura Brown, Crawford County UW Extension at laura.brown(at)ces.uwex.edu or 326-0224.

Comments >>

Next 8 >>