Arts & Life

For the 29th year, the Rhinelander Lions Club will be hosting the "Christmas Not Alone" dinner.
Event co-chair Harry Helwig says the idea is to provide a hearty meal and companionship for those who don't have friends and family to be with on Christmas...

"...and the Rhinelander Lions, along with volunteers from the community, our Lioness from different areas, Leo club, we'll be preparing and serving a turkey dinner with all the trimmings on Christmas Day at the National Guard Armory in Rhinelander from 11:30 in the morning until 1:30 in the afternoon..."

It’s the holiday season and a time for giving.  That spirit of giving has a big impact year-round on Frederick Place, the temporary housing shelter in Rhinelander that serves 5 counties in the Northwoods. 

One day in November, the doorbell rang at Frederick Place. It was a 5 year-old boy, who’d come with his money to donate his $30 of birthday money to help the homeless. Heartwarming and unexpected gifts like these are starting to show up more often, says Executive Director Tammy Modic.

Today we debut a new series with food writer Susan Bronson.  She keeps a blog called A Less Processed Life, and each month she’ll be sharing recipes and stories from her Northwoods Kitchen.  In honor of the holidays, today Bronson shares one of her time-tested holiday traditions…that stars a 70-year-old kitchen appliance.  

An opera singer is performing in the Northwoods Thursday.  

Christiaan Smith-Kotlarek has a sold-out holiday performance at the Essenhaus in Wabeno.  It’s part of a monthly program called Third Thursday Theater.  For this week’s arts feature, WXPR’s Natalie Jablonski spoke with him about his musical background.

A leader at a local pet adoption facility says you should talk things through with someone before offering to gift a pet at Christmas.

Karen Norling is the Assistant Director of the Oneida County Human Society whose pet adoption center is in Rhinelander....

"...if you're considering giving a pet as a gift, you should make sure that everyone is actually looking for a pet they would like to keep. This time of year, after Christmas, a lot of animals are surrendered because because they were unwanted gifts...."

WXPR classical music host Harry Marshall, 69, died Wednesday, Dec. 10 at Agrace Hospice in Fitchburg, Wi.

Harry hosted WXPR's "Midday Classics" and "Classics By Request" beginning in 2013.

Harry was a resident of Woodcock Lake in Lake Tomahawk, and a member of St. Matthias’ Episcopal Church in Minocqua.  He also volunteered at St. Matthias’ Thrift Shop.

Harry was a much-loved member of the WXPR volunteers. His love of classical music and opera was deeply respected.

There are a number of agencies in the Northwoods that help people in need, but when you’re faced with a crisis, it can be difficult to figure out where to go. Who do you call, and how do you pay for gas to get there? One Minocqua organization aims to address that challenge.

Caritas is a one-stop shop for people in Vilas and Oneida Counties in temporary urgent need of help. Run by volunteers and donations, it’s given out more than $23,000 of emergency help to over 250 people since it opened just over a year ago. Sometimes, says volunteer Laurie Glowac,

A change in format for School of the Arts at Rhinelander. Director Lynn Tarnoff announced the 2015 program will run Friday through Sunday July 17 through the 19 only. Previously the program had run a week.

Tarnoff says a key reason is what appears to be a changing lifestyle of participants, geared more toward a weekend format...

"....we looked at the change in our attendee and with the success of adding the weekend option only we have some growing interest for a weekend program versus a five day..."

Imagine being able to interact with students in classrooms far away from where you are, yet still have the feeling you are in the room with them.

That's what a new program through Nicolet College will do when it begins next month.

It's a new type of distance learning technology called "telepresence". Dean of Business and Instructional Effectiveness, Chuck Komp,  says the experience is 'amazing', but the real benefit is cutting down on travel time and costs for students. Here's how it works...

Tune in to hear live Polka music with The Jim Pekol Band and Bluegrass with the Quilllpickers. Pledge now to support live music. When you pledge you'll be entered into our Five Days of WXPR Christmas Drawing. Saturday 12 people will win pasties from Joe's Pasty Shop in Rhinelander. 

5 days of WXPR Christmas drawing information.