Martha: After the Show

I had a great chance this past weekend to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather by plane! My friend Marty was kind enough to take my kids and me about 3,000 feet above the coulee region. What a way to see it! Just a four seater Cessna… but a lot more fun than a big plane because you can really see everything and he even let me take the controls. Yeah, I was surprised too. I can see how flying can be so addicting.

 By the way, when you see what the DNR did building new habitats for wildlife near Brownsville, it makes a lot more sense from up high, it’s a much different perspective. I’m going to have to talk Marty into that again sometime, when the leaves are still on the trees or boats are back on the river.

The group called Centering Onalaska is making a push for the arts with a new event called “Dishin’ Art”. The event will raise money that will help with everything from decorations downtown to providing a scholarship to a deserving art student at Onalaska High school.

“Dishin’ Art” is on November 2nd from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Maggie’s on Main in Onalaska.

They’ve asked a number of celebrities and artists to paint, decoupage, or otherwise decorate a plate to be auctioned off November 2nd at Maggie’s in a silent auction event.  That night, all guests will be able to vote on the pieces.  All plates will be displayed without a name and later in the evening the creators revealed. Yours truly will be providing my version of a “masterpiece”, make sure you come check them out! Plus, Maggie’s on Main has some great food including some really yummy desserts!

The public will have an opportunity to purchase and award votes in the following categories:
-Most Colorful
-Most Creative
-People’s Choice
-Most Humorous
-Most Community Spirit

It’s still a great time to see the leaves changing in Wisconsin and Minnesota and I’ve got a great new way for you to see the leaves changing, but it isn’t for the weak of heart! Have you ever tried ziplining? It’s when you are anywhere from 50 to 100 feet off the ground hanging from a cable strung between trees and your weight pulls you at some fairly high speeds through the trees! I don’t even like heights, but I forced myself to go because it looked too cool to pass up. You can do this at a brand new zipline course in the Wisconsin Dells at the Wilderness. The zipline stays open as long as the weather permits. It takes a group of about 5-10 people at a time and depending on the group size it will take you anywhere from an hour to two hours to finish all the different ziplines that are at times over the tree canopy. But there are some weight restrictions… you can’t weigh more than 265 pounds and you don’t want to weigh less than 100 pounds or you may not make it across a zipline since your weight is what pulls you across. Keep in mind, you are with some really great trained personnel and lots of tethers so it’s very safe. But if you don’t like heights, this could really push your limits! So while it’s still warm enough and the tree color in the Dells will be peaking over the next couple weeks you may want to try a zipline through the fall colors, it gives you a whole new adventure and perspective!

I have no idea how many people lined the parade route, but it had to be the biggest crowd I’ve seen since walking that parade the past 18 years! I really thought numbers would be down because it had rained the day before and rain was possible again during the parade. Needless to say, the sun won out and the crowd was really wonderful. It’s amazing how many people you can still identify even when you’re walking in the parade, throwing candy, all while workin’ the parade wave. Believe it or not there are some people I only see at the Mapleleaf parade. One young man I first met some years ago when he was about 12 years old. Each year we take our picture together and he gives me a pretzel necklace. I saw him through the years, he graduated from high school, then college. Two years ago he showed up with his wife and this year they showed up with their new baby! It’s so much fun seeing these people each year. So get ready for next year’s parade everybody… it’ll be the 50th Oktoberfest Celebration!

I wanted to take this opportunity to have you join me on my new blog site. One difficult thing about being a news anchor is that we talk at you and don’t get to have a real conversation with you. This way you can tell me about your story ideas, give us feedback and share your ideas that could help others.  I am always trying to look out for the consumer’s best interest with my On Your Side reports. Plus, I love to talk about family and my “Connect with Kids” reports delve into a lot of the issues that parents face today.  As a divorced mom, I am still raising two girls and my parents moved in with me a little more than four years ago. I am officially part of the “sandwich” generation. “It’s all good” as they say, but it comes with its challenges too.

I have lived in the La Crosse area for nearly 20 years and it’s great to blog with people about what they love about this area and the activities they like. We can talk about all those things that happen after the show!