What Landlords Look for in a Renter

personal qualities and background info that’s important to landlords

Tales From the Rental

local landlords share their odd and horrific tenant stories

Deciding What & How to Rent

Deciding between a home or apartment and Deciding between mom-n-pop or rental company

Renter’s Cheat Sheets

Here are some helpful tips for the serious renter. Cut them out. Laminate them. Place them in silver, heirloom frames and pass them on to the next generation.

"Scrambling" on Christmas Eve

My family was scurrying around, rummaging through dressers and closets trying to find belts/ties/shoes that matched our brown/black/navy socks/pants/skirts. Mom and I were sequestered in separate bathrooms, singeing our foreheads with curling irons.

With joyful ring. All caroling.

Hidden Treasures organizes carolers to take holiday cheer to the streets around the Valley

Hire local singers or musicians

area schools and the university make it easy to book a group for the holidays

Holiday movies, albums, books, and TV specials

this is the good stuff enough media to stuff your face, and then stockings for a family of five

The Worst Gifts Volume One Contributors Have Ever Received

consider our painful memories of gifts-gone-wrong

Oh Snap!

last second ideas for your holiday card

A Buy Local Gift Guide (2010)

Here’s an idea: why not pepper this year’s “gifts to buy” list with a number of fine items crafted right here in the good ol’ Chippewa Valley? It’s fun, thoughtful, and it helps contribute to the place you call home.

Local Letters to Santa

colorful correspondence between area folks and the big, bearded guy

Local Appearances by Mr. Claus

You wanna see the Big Guy face-to-face this year? Here's where to go.

Interview with “The Big Guy”

For the past four years, the role of downtown’s jolly old soul has been filled by John Curtis for Christmastime in the City.

What Local Kids Think Santa Does

what area third graders think Santa does at the North Pole each day

What Area Third Graders Would Serve for the Holiday Dinner

He picked it up and Santa almost ate it, but then the cookie said, “Don’t eat me!!!” And then Santa fainted. Then he got up and said “I am going to bed so I am not crazy anymore.” – Tyler N, Locust Lane Elementary

The best one-liners from kids’ letters

kids say the darnedest holiday-related things

The Rocket Slide

nostalgia and history surrounding a long-gone piece of Carson Park equipment

History Quest

Chippewa Valley Museum lets kids step into shoes of historical Northern Wisconsinites

Village of Terror

the Valley hasn’t seen anything this massive for Halloween

Haunts of EC Bus Tour

UWEC Players combine scares with improv comedy

Spook Houses, Tours, and Trails

The most popular haunted house in western Wisconsin expects to attract about 10,000 people to the town of Roberts, roughly an hour from Eau Claire, for this zombie-infested abode complete with a Kids Zone.

Case 1031: Bridge Street Investigations

join a real paranormal investigation

Haunted House 101

tips on creating your own scary experience from others who have done so locally and nationally

Haunted Listings

costumes, décor, pumpkins, and more

Hauntings 2010: An Introduction

I remember my first scary Halloween experience vividly. I was 7 years old, and my best friend invited me to the haunted house ...

Chippewa Valley Trick-or-Treating Hours

pretty much all the times you can get free candy around these parts

Shadow of a Doubt

local hunting product may sound weird, but it’s picking up momentum

4 Wacky Hunting Gear Items of Questionable Effectiveness

Chewing gum with pine oil and chlorophyll to eliminate the scent of breath.

4 Over-the-Top Hunting Gadgets No One Probably Needs

Heavily promoted in the 80s, the TKO was a gadget that allowed you to shoot two arrows at once. I wonder why it’s not around anymore …

Make Like an Outdoorsman and Leave No Trace

tips to minimize your impact in the bush

There and Back Again

a four-day biking trip from Menomonie to Bayfield

5 Valuable Biking Resources

Color-coded bicycle route maps for each county (red = more dangerous, green = friendly)

Apply the Terminology

They’re not just a red fruit with a juicy center.

The Roots of Your Fruit

How did your favorite apple varieties come to be so consistent?

Birthday Season

Take a Hike

see the leaves, feel the sun, suck some of the crisp autumn air

Autumnal Adventures

What kind of student were/are you?

a pop quiz, hot shot

Let MASH Decide the Rest of Your Life

Origami Fortunetellers Never Lie

directions to make these flowery seers of the future, and suggestions of local fortunes to stuff in there

The Test

a Mad Lib exercise and grammar teaching tool

Text Message Decoder

Young Person Jargon Translator

for adults that find notes, and suspect something is afoot

Making Service Learning Fun

UWEC students MUST do volunteer work, so here's a few of the coolest ways students have fulfilled that requirement.

ARTS CENTERS

events for the State Theatre, the Heyde Center, the Mabel Tainter Theater (2010-2011)

MUSIC

upcoming Chippewa Valley music events (2010-2011)

THEATER

upcoming Chippewa Valley theater events (2010-2011)

ART GALLERIES

upcoming Chippewa Valley art exhibitions (2010-2011)

CINEMA

upcoming Chippewa Valley film events (2010-2011)

UNIVERSITIES

various upcoming events at Chippewa Valley universities (2010-2011)

It's Not Easy Being Green

some ideas of things you can do to be more green

Green Businesses

A few of the area businesses doing something to be more environmentally conscious

Geo Metro

an Eau Claire couple gives geothermal energy a whirl

Green Group | Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters

Tom Stolp: Western Wisconsin Organizer for the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters

Attracting and Retaining Talent

companies are getting creative in trying to find and keep the right people for the job

Movin' On Up

tips to help you move up the company ladder

How to Enhance Your Brand

identify the distinctive qualities of the organization

What Local Companies Look for in Management Material

from Luther Middlefort and Royal Credit Union

Unique Work Environments, Philosophies, and Perks

ideas that have set some workplaces apart from the pack

Making Friends of Co-Workers and Bosses

some local treats for the whole office

Awesome Custom Workspaces

local and national examples of cool cubicles

Unusual Pet Hairstyles from the Chippewa Valley and Beyond

options for your pet other than the usual trim

Taking Pet Care to the Extreme

Local Pooches are Doggone Lucky

some great local places for pampering your pets

Where the Rabbits Roam

pets trim up and provide fertilizer for lawn

Foods You Should Not Let Pets Eat

Reinventing Our Streets - An Introduction

Over the next couple of years, the City of Eau Claire has a significant opportunity to redefine the experience of driving, walking, and biking through our community.

A Change Will Do Us Good

the city-approved plan to better the streets for bikes, pedestrians

Bikes Don't Grow on Trees

cyclists put them there because there aren’t enough bike racks

Reinventing Barstow Street

It’s time to take action. Time to introduce elements that make Barstow Street feel unique more of the time.

Hastings Changings

It’s time to reclaim some of the concrete previously used for cars and dedicate it to creating an environment friendlier to multiple modes of transportation.

Radical Idea: No Park

progressive utilization of rarely inhabited fire hydrant spaces

What Does It Take to Make These Changes?

a blunt conversation with a city official

Driving How We Get Around

these are the people shaping the transportation landscape. you got a problem, talk to them.

10 Cities with "Street Environments" Worth Striving for

Pedestrian Mall Madness

the benefits of widening sidewalks or creating pedestrian plazas

Asking for Alfresco

increasing the presence of sidewalk dining downtown

Success Story #1

a downtown revived from the dead by widening the sidewalk

The Car As a Guest

the proposal for a “woonerf” on Thorp Drive

Making Public Transportation Attractive

moving away from “welfare on wheels” and into invited experience

Rules of the Road

a recap of the laws for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians

Taking It to the Streets

the progressive start and controversial end of local Critical Mass bike rides

"I've Never Seen That. I Hate It."

instant reactions to the “new” are often misguided

Success Story #2

how a street obstruction trained drivers to see pedestrians on Water Street

Get This Show on the Road

the nation is starting to join the worldwide trend to increase investment in friendly streets

Where the Money Comes From

a quick list of some funding options

Streets - General Discussion

an open forum for readers to discuss "Reinventing Our Streets"

I'm attending the Hastings Way Public Workshop

Leave your name and a comment if you plan to attend.

Following Frank

a not-too-sprawling tour of some of Frank Lloyd Wright’s midwestern masterpieces

The Grape Escape

plotting the route of “Local Foods – Local Wines,” June 5-6

Visual Voyage

an art tour through WI and MN, showcasing our best galleries, studios, and museums

The Big Brew Tour

just a taste of the Best Brewmaster’s lairs in Wisconsin and Minnesota

A Trip Down the Chip

a five-day adventure with camping, fishing, canoeing, and biking (a fictionalized account)

Homes We Covet

a collection of local homes that are just really cool

Yards We Dig

a crop of cool local yards, from the front and from the back

Gnomes in the Loam

local company educates, entertains kids on gardening

Finding the Right Flowers for You

an amazing flow chart of fantastic flora fun

What Landlords Look for in a Renter

personal qualities and background info that’s important to landlords

Tales From the Rental

local landlords share their odd and horrific tenant stories

Deciding What & How to Rent

Deciding between a home or apartment and Deciding between mom-n-pop or rental company

Renter’s Cheat Sheets

Here are some helpful tips for the serious renter. Cut them out. Laminate them. Place them in silver, heirloom frames and pass them on to the next generation.

"Scrambling" on Christmas Eve

My family was scurrying around, rummaging through dressers and closets trying to find belts/ties/shoes that matched our brown/black/navy socks/pants/skirts. Mom and I were sequestered in separate bathrooms, singeing our foreheads with curling irons.

With joyful ring. All caroling.

Hidden Treasures organizes carolers to take holiday cheer to the streets around the Valley

Hire local singers or musicians

area schools and the university make it easy to book a group for the holidays

Holiday movies, albums, books, and TV specials

this is the good stuff enough media to stuff your face, and then stockings for a family of five

The Worst Gifts Volume One Contributors Have Ever Received

consider our painful memories of gifts-gone-wrong

Oh Snap!

last second ideas for your holiday card

A Buy Local Gift Guide (2010)

Here’s an idea: why not pepper this year’s “gifts to buy” list with a number of fine items crafted right here in the good ol’ Chippewa Valley? It’s fun, thoughtful, and it helps contribute to the place you call home.

Local Letters to Santa

colorful correspondence between area folks and the big, bearded guy

Local Appearances by Mr. Claus

You wanna see the Big Guy face-to-face this year? Here's where to go.

Interview with “The Big Guy”

For the past four years, the role of downtown’s jolly old soul has been filled by John Curtis for Christmastime in the City.

What Local Kids Think Santa Does

what area third graders think Santa does at the North Pole each day

What Area Third Graders Would Serve for the Holiday Dinner

He picked it up and Santa almost ate it, but then the cookie said, “Don’t eat me!!!” And then Santa fainted. Then he got up and said “I am going to bed so I am not crazy anymore.” – Tyler N, Locust Lane Elementary

The best one-liners from kids’ letters

kids say the darnedest holiday-related things

Freedom of Expression

new dance class encourages youths to improvise and create dance movements naturally

The Rocket Slide

nostalgia and history surrounding a long-gone piece of Carson Park equipment

History Quest

Chippewa Valley Museum lets kids step into shoes of historical Northern Wisconsinites

Village of Terror

the Valley hasn’t seen anything this massive for Halloween

Haunts of EC Bus Tour

UWEC Players combine scares with improv comedy

Spook Houses, Tours, and Trails

The most popular haunted house in western Wisconsin expects to attract about 10,000 people to the town of Roberts, roughly an hour from Eau Claire, for this zombie-infested abode complete with a Kids Zone.

Case 1031: Bridge Street Investigations

join a real paranormal investigation

Haunted House 101

tips on creating your own scary experience from others who have done so locally and nationally

Haunted Listings

costumes, décor, pumpkins, and more

Hauntings 2010: An Introduction

I remember my first scary Halloween experience vividly. I was 7 years old, and my best friend invited me to the haunted house ...

Chippewa Valley Trick-or-Treating Hours

pretty much all the times you can get free candy around these parts

Shadow of a Doubt

local hunting product may sound weird, but it’s picking up momentum

4 Wacky Hunting Gear Items of Questionable Effectiveness

Chewing gum with pine oil and chlorophyll to eliminate the scent of breath.

4 Over-the-Top Hunting Gadgets No One Probably Needs

Heavily promoted in the 80s, the TKO was a gadget that allowed you to shoot two arrows at once. I wonder why it’s not around anymore …

Make Like an Outdoorsman and Leave No Trace

tips to minimize your impact in the bush

There and Back Again

a four-day biking trip from Menomonie to Bayfield

5 Valuable Biking Resources

Color-coded bicycle route maps for each county (red = more dangerous, green = friendly)

Apply the Terminology

They’re not just a red fruit with a juicy center.

The Roots of Your Fruit

How did your favorite apple varieties come to be so consistent?

The Roots of Your Fruit

How did your favorite apple varieties come to be so consistent?

Birthday Season

Take a Hike

see the leaves, feel the sun, suck some of the crisp autumn air

Autumnal Adventures

What kind of student were/are you?

a pop quiz, hot shot

Let MASH Decide the Rest of Your Life

Origami Fortunetellers Never Lie

directions to make these flowery seers of the future, and suggestions of local fortunes to stuff in there

The Test

a Mad Lib exercise and grammar teaching tool

Text Message Decoder

Young Person Jargon Translator

for adults that find notes, and suspect something is afoot

Making Service Learning Fun

UWEC students MUST do volunteer work, so here's a few of the coolest ways students have fulfilled that requirement.

ARTS CENTERS

events for the State Theatre, the Heyde Center, the Mabel Tainter Theater (2010-2011)

MUSIC

upcoming Chippewa Valley music events (2010-2011)

THEATER

upcoming Chippewa Valley theater events (2010-2011)

ART GALLERIES

upcoming Chippewa Valley art exhibitions (2010-2011)

CINEMA

upcoming Chippewa Valley film events (2010-2011)

UNIVERSITIES

various upcoming events at Chippewa Valley universities (2010-2011)

It's Not Easy Being Green

some ideas of things you can do to be more green

Green Businesses

A few of the area businesses doing something to be more environmentally conscious

Geo Metro

an Eau Claire couple gives geothermal energy a whirl

Green Group | Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters

Tom Stolp: Western Wisconsin Organizer for the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters

Attracting and Retaining Talent

companies are getting creative in trying to find and keep the right people for the job

Movin' On Up

tips to help you move up the company ladder

How to Enhance Your Brand

identify the distinctive qualities of the organization

What Local Companies Look for in Management Material

from Luther Middlefort and Royal Credit Union

Unique Work Environments, Philosophies, and Perks

ideas that have set some workplaces apart from the pack

Making Friends of Co-Workers and Bosses

some local treats for the whole office

Awesome Custom Workspaces

local and national examples of cool cubicles

Unusual Pet Hairstyles from the Chippewa Valley and Beyond

options for your pet other than the usual trim

Taking Pet Care to the Extreme

Local Pooches are Doggone Lucky

some great local places for pampering your pets

Where the Rabbits Roam

pets trim up and provide fertilizer for lawn

Foods You Should Not Let Pets Eat

Reinventing Our Streets - An Introduction

Over the next couple of years, the City of Eau Claire has a significant opportunity to redefine the experience of driving, walking, and biking through our community.

A Change Will Do Us Good

the city-approved plan to better the streets for bikes, pedestrians

Bikes Don't Grow on Trees

cyclists put them there because there aren’t enough bike racks

Reinventing Barstow Street

It’s time to take action. Time to introduce elements that make Barstow Street feel unique more of the time.

Hastings Changings

It’s time to reclaim some of the concrete previously used for cars and dedicate it to creating an environment friendlier to multiple modes of transportation.

Radical Idea: No Park

progressive utilization of rarely inhabited fire hydrant spaces

What Does It Take to Make These Changes?

a blunt conversation with a city official

Driving How We Get Around

these are the people shaping the transportation landscape. you got a problem, talk to them.

10 Cities with "Street Environments" Worth Striving for

Pedestrian Mall Madness

the benefits of widening sidewalks or creating pedestrian plazas

Asking for Alfresco

increasing the presence of sidewalk dining downtown

Success Story #1

a downtown revived from the dead by widening the sidewalk

The Car As a Guest

the proposal for a “woonerf” on Thorp Drive

Making Public Transportation Attractive

moving away from “welfare on wheels” and into invited experience

Rules of the Road

a recap of the laws for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians

Taking It to the Streets

the progressive start and controversial end of local Critical Mass bike rides

"I've Never Seen That. I Hate It."

instant reactions to the “new” are often misguided

Success Story #2

how a street obstruction trained drivers to see pedestrians on Water Street

Get This Show on the Road

the nation is starting to join the worldwide trend to increase investment in friendly streets

Where the Money Comes From

a quick list of some funding options

Streets - General Discussion

an open forum for readers to discuss "Reinventing Our Streets"

I'm attending the Hastings Way Public Workshop

Leave your name and a comment if you plan to attend.

Following Frank

a not-too-sprawling tour of some of Frank Lloyd Wright’s midwestern masterpieces

The Grape Escape

plotting the route of “Local Foods – Local Wines,” June 5-6

Visual Voyage

an art tour through WI and MN, showcasing our best galleries, studios, and museums

The Big Brew Tour

just a taste of the Best Brewmaster’s lairs in Wisconsin and Minnesota

A Trip Down the Chip

a five-day adventure with camping, fishing, canoeing, and biking (a fictionalized account)

Homes We Covet

a collection of local homes that are just really cool

Yards We Dig

a crop of cool local yards, from the front and from the back

Gnomes in the Loam

local company educates, entertains kids on gardening

Finding the Right Flowers for You

an amazing flow chart of fantastic flora fun