Volume One Contributors

Jun. 23, 2020

UWEC Grad and Moroccan Cooking Expert Appears On Netflix Show

Amanda Mouttaki's first passion is traveling. Her second is sharing recipes.

Diana Peterson

Do you ever daydream about moving to another country and immersing yourself in that culture? Amanda Mouttaki had that desire. After her first ...

May. 26, 2020

Release Your Inner Archivist and Help Chronicle COVID-19 in the Valley

CV Museum, UWEC collaborate to create pandemic archive

Diana Peterson

Most of the time, people donate items to museums because they have historical significance – for example, a letter written by Benjamin Franklin. Currently there is a project in our community to collect items being used today. A team ...

Apr. 29, 2020

Gardening Is Cheaper Than Therapy (And You Get Tomatoes!)

newbie gardeners: take heed and dig in

Diana Peterson

One of the benefits of sheltering at home is having additional time to explore new interests. This is a great time to invest in a garden because we have the extra hours to research and ...

Feb. 20, 2020

Folksy Fun: Festival invites hands-on appreciation of local craft

Diana Peterson, photos by Andrea Paulseth

Folk arts are rooted in and reflective of the cultural life of a community. These artistic traditions are passed from generation to generation through demonstration, dialogue, and ...

Nov. 20, 2019

Playing With Your Food

local man serves up a restaurant-themed game

Diana Peterson

When someone is involved in the restaurant business, they accumulate a lot of interesting stories, humorous as well as horrifying. While the typical thought is ...

Oct. 10, 2019

Arm Yourself With Bulletproof Coffee

the buzz on butter-fortified beans

Diana Peterson

Bulletproof coffee is all over social media. Some people say it allows you to be creative and super focused. To others, it’s a lot of hype about nothing. Or maybe it’s ...

Sep. 20, 2019

Learning to Write Your Life Story

Patti See and Bruce Taylor lead an upcoming memoir workshop series

Diana Peterson

Writing is how we capture our thoughts, beliefs, and feelings and express them to others. Veteran Chippewa Valley writers Patti See and Bruce Taylor understand the importance of that process ...

Jul. 24, 2019

Western Wisconsin School Districts Partner to Create Online Learning Consortium

Diana Peterson

Until recently, a student had to choose between a brick-and-mortar school or a virtual charter school. Times have changed, and many school districts are discovering ways to combine both styles for the ultimate learning ...

May. 16, 2019

Wisdom in Aging: Wissota Chophouse’s secret to a perfect steak

Diana Peterson

Few dining experiences are as amazing as the ones you get in a great steakhouse when a tender, mouth-watering piece of meat is served simply prepared. So, what makes that encounter so special?

May. 6, 2019

Cooking Up a Good Time

restaurant experience inspires card game

Diana Peterson, photos by Andrea Paulseth

Dave Schneider has spent his entire career in the restaurant business, so it was only natural when he decided to create a card game that it would involve a culinary theme. It occurred to him that he ...

Feb. 26, 2019

The End of the World!

you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to write a techno-thriller – but it helps

Diana Peterson

Rick Jurmain has been a rocket scientist, an inventor, a business owner … and now he can add writer to the list: the perfect portable career for someone who loves to travel ...

Jan. 23, 2019

The Art of Slow Cooking

Karl’s Bar-B-Q Express gives catering success a Chippewa Falls home

Diana Peterson, photos by Andrea Paulseth

Karl Hartkemeyer isn’t just a barbecue chef; he’s a barbecue artist. While attending school for engineering, he became a restaurant cook to pay for his schooling. Hartkemeyer honed his culinary skills ...

Oct. 2, 2018

Altoona's New Coffee Joint Brings Beans From All Over the World

Diana Peterson, photos by Andrea Paulseth

Getting coffee has become an important part of our morning (and afternoon, and evening) routine. Coffee is more than a beverage: It’s a science, a passion, and a way of life. Cabin Coffee in Altoona’s River Prairie has figured that out ...

Aug. 22, 2018

Fulton's Workshop: Where Technology and History Meet

"I live for today. I dream for tomorrow, and I learn from yesterday." – Fulton Holtby

Diana Peterson, photos by Taylor Smith

Innovation is the essence of the Holtby Exhibit at the Russell J. Rassbach Heritage Museum in Menomonie. This new exhibit mixes the art of technology with history, communicating that anything is possible ...

Jun. 26, 2018

Click Through the Past: Digitization Project Preserves Region’s Musical History

Diana Peterson, photos by Rachel Worthing

Pick up any event guide or local calendar and it’s easy to see that music is an integral part of the Chippewa Valley. No matter what your personal preference – gospel, classic rock, folk, symphony, indie, blues ...

Jun. 1, 2018

Policeman With a Pen

law-enforcement career inspires crime novelist

Diana Peterson

Neal Griffin, an Eau Claire native, entered the crime-writing world three years ago with his debut novel, Benefit of the Doubt. His new release, By His Own Hand, set in the Eau Claire-inspired city ...

May. 17, 2018

Petal Pusher: Florist provides fresh take on bridal arrangements

Diana Peterson, photos by Andrea Paulseth

A bridal bouquet can truly capture the personality of a couple beginning their new life adventure. Mikelle Larson of Fersk Floral Artistry understands that and works hard to design stunning custom flower ...

May. 4, 2018

Doors of Diversity

professor’s book chronicles how community centers help immigrant families

Diana Peterson

More than half of U.S. school children are now people of color, many from immigrant and refugee families. These students have a variety of issues to deal with as they traverse from school to family life ...