Give-A-Kid-A-Book

Going on now through December 19th the Friends of the L.E. Phillips Public Library are collecting new, unwrapped books for the 19th Annual Give-A-Kid-A-Book project. Suggestions include board books for babies, easy picture books for pre-schoolers, and fiction and non-fiction books for ages 6 to 18. Dictionaries and audiobooks are also needed. Bring books to the library during regular library hours or they can be donated at Charter Bank.  Monetary donations are also welcome, and more books will be purchased with your contribution.

Real Estate is a great holiday gift that gives joy all year round.  Check out recreational and hunting properties in Eau Claire County and across Wisconsin on BuyWisconsinLand.com

3rd Annual Hogs and Hops

Join the Eau Claire Express in helping homeless veterans at the 3nd Annual Hogs and Hops Beer and BBQ Fest September 14th 3:30PM to 10:30PM at the County Jam grounds in Eau Claire.

Sample beer and ribs while listening to great music for a worth cause. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Get all the details here Hops and Hogs

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31st Annual Buckshot Run

Run or walk for Special Olympics at the 31st Annual Leader Telegram Buckshot Run Saturday August 31st, Carson Park in Eau Claire.

Go 5 miles or 2 miles, and bring the kids for the Kids Run. Or join the Party in the Park with music and food and cheer the racers on!

There is also a Lil Buckshot on Tuesday August 27th for those who can't make it Saturday.

Get all the details, course map and registrations forms here Buckshot Run

Have a great Labor Day weekend from all of us at BuyWisconsinLand.com

Stroll, Walk or Run

Walking and running are great exercise, and its even better when you do it for charity.

Saturday June 22nd enjoy a leisurely stroll through five beautiful gardens, enjoying art and music at the 16th Annual Friends of the Symphony Garden Stroll.  Rain or shine, the stroll will be from 9AM-4PM. Tickets are $15 and are available in advance or the day of the stroll at St. Mary's Community Center in Altoona. See all the details and where to buy tickets at the Symphony's website Garden Stroll

Saturday June 29th the 19th Annual RCU Charity Classic begins at 7AM at Phoenix Park in Eau Claire.  There will be a 10K walk/run, a 2-mile walk/run, and 1/2- and 1/4- mile children's races. You can register online at rcu.org

If you're looking for a weekend of fun to go with your run head to the 9th Annual Red Flint Firecracker Race and Run June 29th-30th. Saturday there will be a course pre-ride, a learn-to-race clinic, a spaghetti feed, and a campfire or night ride. Sunday's events include a breakfast, kid's race, and  5K or 10K race events. There are elevated viewing areas for watching the races.  Volunteers are needed - see event details, get registration and volunteer forms here Red Flint Firecracker.

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Eau Claire Marathon

Are you ready to run?

Saturday May 5th is the 5th Annual Eau Claire Marathon at Carson Park in Eau Claire. Race proceeds will help the YMCA building project. You can go the Full Marathon, Half Marathon, Marathon Relay or join the Fun Run to help this worthy cause. If you don't want to run, you can be a part of this event as a volunteer!

Get all the information for running or volunteering here Eau Claire Marathon

Rather find a place in the woods to sit and relax? BuyWisconsinLand.com

Easter Eggs and More

Easter weekend is here - and if you are looking for an Easter Egg Hunt for the kids or a great meal check out what's happening around the Eau Claire area.

Easter Egg Hunts on Saturday March 30th:

8AM-5PM - Easter Egg Hunt and special activities all day at Down To Earth in Eau Claire.

10AM-11PM - Chippewa Valley Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by the Chippewa Valley Boy Scouts at  Carson Park-Pine Pavilion in Eau Claire.
11AM-1PM - Easter Egg Hunt and activities for kids 10 and under at 10th Street Park in Altoona.

11AM-1PM - Easter Egg Hunt and Pictures with the Easter Bunny at Schultz's Country Barn in Eleva. Egg Hunt is at 11AM.

1PM-3PM - Easter Egg Hunt with the Easter Bunny at Green Oasis Garden Center in Chippewa Falls. Donations of a food items or money will be accepted for local food pantry.

Also on Saturday the Hope Gospel Mission in Eau Claire will be serving dinner from 5PM-7PM. Enjoy ham, rice pilaf, sweet potatoes, and more. All are welcome.

Easter Sunday, March 31st breakfast will be served at Grace Lutheran Church in Eau Claire from 7:30AM-10AM.

Also on Easter Sunday, there will be a Brunch Buffet from 9:30AM-2PM at Fanny Hill in Eau Claire. Cost is Adults: $19.99/Adults $9.99/kids 5-10 and 4 and under free. Call for reservations (715) 836-8184 or (800) 292-8026.

Have a FREE lunch Easter Sunday 11AM-3:PM at Culver's on Golf Road, Eau Claire. Donations accepted for Hope Gospel Mission and the Salvation Army.

Happy Easter from all of us at BuyWisconsinLand.com

Katharine's Wish

A local 13 year old has won the Jefferson Award for Public Service. Congratulations Katie Rhoten!

Eau Claire (WQOW)- At 13-years-old Katie Rhoten has faced more challenges than most people twice her age.

 

Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 9, and then Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis three years later -- Katie made the decision early on, that disease would not define her.

 

"It started immediately from her hospital bed, which was something to see, it kind of gives me chills," recalls Katie's mother, Kristin Everett. "Thinking about it right now, that she had that insight and that perspective at 9-years-old to say 'Hey, I'm hurting right now and this is really scary but we're going to move forward, we're going to get past this. We can turn it around and do something positive for others.'"

 

Full Story and Video Jefferson Award: Katie Rhoten

If you'd like to help see Katharine's Wish on Facebook or website katharineswish.org

Eat Great Food to Support the United Way

Music and Food will fill the air this weekend!  It's Taste of the Valley to benefit the United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley at Phoenix Park in Eau Claire.

Saturday June 2nd is a free concert by LoCash Cowboys. Gates open at 4:30PM. You must have a ticket to attend the concert - you can pick up tickets at County Jam, the Leader-Telegram and the Livery.  See the event flyer here 

Then Sunday June 3rd is the Taste of Valley from 11AM to 5:30PM. Over 50 foods from local restaurants and vendors for you to try.  Lots of great music all day, and a kids entertainment area too.  Shuttle buses will be running from downtown for this event. See the United Way website for details Taste of the Valley

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Easter in Eau Claire County

We hope you get a visit from the Easter Bunny on Sunday. Here's some things you can do while you wait and places to find a yummy breakfast Easter morning.

April 3rd-8th - Head over to the Children's Museum of Eau Claire and decorate easter eggs or draw bunny. Get more information here Children's Museum of Eau Claire: Easter and Earth Day

April 7th - Free Easter Dinner 5PM-7PM at Hope Gospel Mission Men’s Shelter in Eau Claire. You can find them on Facebook or on their website Here is the Easter Dinner Poster

Easter Morning Breakfasts:
7:30AM to 9AM - Faith Lutheran Church in Chippewa Falls.
7:30AM to 8:45AM - Grace Lutheran Church in Augusta.
7:30AM to 10:30AM - Hope Lutheran Church in Eau Claire.
7:30AM to 11AM - St John's Lutheran Church in Eau Claire.
7:30AM - Lake Street United Methodist Church in Eau Claire.
8AM to 8:45AM - Zion Lutheran Church in Chippewa Falls.
8:40AM at Baptist Evangelical Church in Eau Claire.

Happy Easter from everyone at BuyWisconsinLand.com

Polar Plunge This Weekend

Since the weather has been so nice, why not spend Sunday getting really cold for Special Olympics!

The 2012 Polar Plunge "Freezin' for a Reason" will be February 26th at Half Moon Beach in Carson Park.  You can register on Saturday at Wagner's Bowling Lanes from 3PM-7PM or at the site Sunday from 11AM-Noon.  Plunging is from Noon-3PM followed by a Warm-Up Party at Chuck's on Clairemont from 3PM-6PM.

You can wear a costume or sign up to "Toss your Boss"!  Even if you don't want to jump, raise funds and you can earn a "I was Too Chicken to Plunge" t-shirt.

Get all the details of the event at the Special Olmpics website 2012 Eau Claire Polar Plunge  and follow all the latest updates on Facebook Eau Claire Polar Plunge for Special Olympics 

Christmas Day Feasts

If you don't want to cook this Christmas Day, you don't need to!

Start out with breakfast at the Altoona VFW Breakfast 9AM to Noon. All you can eat $7/adults and $4/kids. Share your meal with local Veterans!

Around noon time head to Culvers for their Christmas Day Lunch from 11:30AM to 1:30PM. Enjoy chicken, fries, cole slaw, roll, drink and Culver's frozen custard! All are welcome. Suggested donation $5, proceeds go to the Salvation Army and Hope Gospel Mission.

Looking for a bigger meal? Head to Fanny Hill for their Annual Christmas Day Grand Buffet: made to order waffles, omelets, salad bar, homemade pastries, desserts, chef carved turkey and ham, roast beef, chicken, and more. Get the details on their website Fanny Hill

Happy Feasting! And from all of us at BuyWisconsinLand.com, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy 2012.

The Art of Woodturning

The Third Annual Wisconsin Woodturners Exposition will bring the best of the area out to show off their skills and raise some money for charity.

This event will be held November 5th 9AM-6PM and November 6th 9AM-5PM at the Plaza Hotel and Suites in Eau Claire. A Silent Auction will be held for supporting the youth outreach and a portion of the proceeds will go to Feed My People.

Enjoy professional demonstrations by Dick Sing, Jamie Donaldson, Jim Anderson, Wade Wendorf, Greg Haugen, Jarrod Stone, Ben Manor and Klaus Zunker. There will be many exhibits and vendors, and a Fiber Arts section.

For the schedule of events check out the Wisconsin Woodturners website 2011 Wisconsin Woodturners Exposition Follow us on Twitter twitter.com/wieauclaire

Festival in the Pines

It's the 29th Annual Festival in the Pines this weekend, August 27th and 28th, at Carson Park in Eau Claire.

This family fun event features shopping, activities, rides and entertainment for all, and benefits several local non profit organizations. Admission is $5, 11 and under are free.

Get all the details Festival in the Pines

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Water Street Mile

12th Annual Water Street Mile is Saturday July 9th on Water Street, downtown Eau Claire. The Water Street Mile is a one-mile "all comers" race with 13 race divisions.

Register on site from 7AM to 8:30AM at Menomonie Street Dental. Race begins at 9AM.

This race benefits the participants and programs at the L.E. Phillips Senior Center. Get more details at the Indianhead Track Club website

Bowl for Kids' Sake

There is still time to get your team signed up to Bowl for Kids' Sake - a benefit for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Northwestern Wisconsin.

Bowling will be May 3rd through the 6th at Wagner Lanes

Here are remain lanes as of this posting:
Eau Claire, Tues May 3rd at 8:00pm shift is CANCELED.
Eau Claire, Wed May 4th, 5:30 pm - 3 lanes remaining
Eau Claire, Wed May 4th, 8:00pm - 15 lanes remaining
Eau Claire, Thurs May 5th, 5:30pm shift is FULL!
Eau Claire, Thurs May 5th, 8:00pm - 6 lanes remaining
Eau Claire, Fri May 6th, 5:30pm - 1 lane remaining
Eau Claire, Fri May 6th, 8:00pm shift is FULL!
Register Here: http://www.bbbsnw.org/bfks/register.html

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Time to Boogie!!

The 12th Annual Eau Claire Ragtime Festival will be held January 14th to 16th at the First Congregational Church, 3rd Avenue and Broadway Street in Eau Claire.

Enjoy the sounds of original distinctly American music. Headliners include Bill Edwards, Martin Spitznagel, and Meredith Axelrod and Craig Ventresco. You can also enjoy silent moves with live accompaniment, an educational symposia, delicious food, or take master classes with Bill Edwards!

This year's Festival will benefit Beacon House, a shelter for families and pregnant women.

For details, event times and directions see ecragtime.org

Community Christmas Lunch

Culver's on Brackett Avenue in Eau Claire will be hosting a free Christmas Day Lunch from Noon to 2PM. You will receive 2 pieces of chicken with fries, coleslaw, roll, drink, and frozen custard. This a free meal for everyone, but a $5 donation would be welcome, proceeds will go to The Salvation Army and Hope Gospel Mission.

The team at BuyWisconsinLand.com: Roy, Lance, Jerry, Mike and Shelley, wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Joyous New Year!

Holiday Concert - Bring Books!

Ring in the holidays with UW Eau Claire!

The 36th Annual Holiday Concert will be at the Zorn Arena Sunday December 5th with performances at 2PM and 5PM. Admission is $5 for floor seats/3 for bleacher seats. Guests are encouraged to bring a new unwrapped book to donate to the Give-a-Kid-a-Book project sponsored by the Friends of the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library.

Get all the details here UW-Eau Claire hosting 36th annual Holiday Concert - WQOW TV: Eau Claire, WI NEWS18 News, Weather, and Sports

We at BuyWisconsinLand.com wish everyone a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

Football Team Hosts Fund Raiser

A local football team is dishing up to help families in need.

Eau Claire football team dishes up to help families - WQOW TV: Eau Claire, WI NEWS18 News, Weather, and Sports

Find your dream property in Eau Claire - BuyWisconsinLand.com - Eau Claire County