The Nuts & Bolts of Portage County

Category: SPASH news

  • City approves several street closures for public events

    City approves several street closures for public events

    Nuts & Bolts

    City leaders this week approved road closures to accommodate several upcoming events.

    The Stevens Point City Council gave a formal stamp of approval to several events approved by committees earlier this month. They follow:

    • Point Block Run on March 3

    The five-mile run returns for its 20th year. The run crosses the Wisconsin River twice and starts and finishes in front of the Stevens Point Brewery, 2617 Water St. The run begins at noon on March 4. Following the run, beer and music inside the heated tent.

    See more information on the event at pointbockrun.com.

    • HMoob Week on May 7

    The fifth annual Hmoob Week will be celebrated with events both in-person and virtual announced on the CAP Services Facebook page, beginning and ending at the Mathias Mitchell Public Square. According to city documents, CAP Services will transform the old Shopko parking lot into a celebration space with traditional Hmong dancing and folklore, showcase of traditional Hmong clothing, and featuring Hmong veterans in their military uniforms.

    • Local Food Fair on June 3

    The Local Food Fair is returning for another go at Pfiffner Pioneer Park. Sponsored by Central Rivers Farmshed, the event gives an opportunity for farmers and other local food producers to showcase their products from 4-10 p.m.

    • SPASH HOSA Color Run on May 6

    SPASH is hosting a HOSA (Future Health Professionals, formerly known as Health Occupations Students of America) Color Run as the high school, 1201 North Point Dr. The run/walk will be May 6 at 10 a.m. Proceeds will benefit CAP Services Youth Shelter. Contact Brett Lesniak at blesniak@pointschools.net for details on how to register.

  • SPASH seniors launch formal wear boutique for area high school students

    SPASH seniors launch formal wear boutique for area high school students

    By Brandi Makuski

    Area high school students have a chance to pick up some free formal wear thanks to a new boutique launched by three SPASH seniors.

    The SPASH Formalwear Free Boutique opened on Friday, Jan. 6. Organizers said about 50 people attended on the first day, taking home about half of the 180 items they’ve collected so far for the boutique.

    The boutique is part of a larger project for Chloe Kindle, 17, and 18-year-olds Jessica Klemen and Jack Diekelman. Kindle and Klemen, who both plan to attend a UW college to study nursing, are working on a self-esteem project for the SPASH HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) Club, while Diekelman is a member of the school’s FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leadership of America) Club, and is working on a project about reducing textiles in landfills.

    For all three, the boutique was a great fit.

    High schools traditionally hold three formal dances throughout the school year. Homecoming is in October, followed by the winter formal in February, and prom is held each April.

    Senior Jessica Kleman, 18, said three dances a year comes out to a hefty price tag for young ladies and their families.

    “Students are often pressured to wear a different outfit for each dance, especially the girls,” Klemen said. “So it can be a lot of money. But now they don’t have to worry about that.”

    The boutique is also part of the school’s clothing closet, which houses gently used SPASH Panther gear, casual clothing, and hygiene products. Klemen said the clothing closet and boutique are open to all SPASH students regardless of their socioeconomic background. All one needs to do is ask any staff member for access.

    But the boutique is open to all local high schoolers, public and parochial, Kindler said.

    “We have a lot of styles and a lot of sizes so we think most kids can find something they like,” she added.

    Customers who stop in will find racks of formal dresses—ranging in length from short to cocktail to ballgown, and more—and slacks and sports coats, shoes, and ties. A limited supply of jewelry is also available.

    “We’ll be taking donations for this all year but what we’re really like to see more of is jewelry,” said Brett Lesniak of the school’s career/tech ed department. “We’ve had a lot of people come through and it’d be nice to be able to send them home with some new earrings or something to go with their new dress.”

    The group needs gently-used dresses, slacks, sports coats, ties, shoes, and jewelry. Donations can be made on Sunday when the boutique is open, or anytime during school hours at the SPASH security desk.