Marathon
COMMUNITY LIVING
Send Marathon news to: RR@tpprinting.com phone: 715-223-2342 fax: 715-223-3505 P.O. Box 677 103 West Spruce Street Abbotsford, WI 54405 History Speaks
The Marathon County Historical Society and the Marathon County Public Library will present a History Speaks lecture by John Paul Whitaker on “Apples, Botany and Cider” Saturday, Oct. 23, 2 p.m. over Facebook Live and YouTube Live.
Whitaker will trace the story of the apple from its humble origins in central Asia to the diversity of varieties we can find in supermarkets today. Along the way, participants will learn why you can’t grow your favorite apples from seed, how we get orchards full of identical trees and what Johnny Appleseed had in common with bears and camels.
Whitaker joined the biology faculty of UW-Stevens Point at Wausau in 1999. Until he started his 1994 PhD project at UW-Madison on the ecology of apple insects, his closest brush with an apple tree was a neglected one in the yard next door to his childhood home. He now has a backyard orchard of about a dozen apple trees and a small cider press, and thinks apples are wonderful fruits with great stories to tell.
Book Club
The Marathon City Book Club will discuss “The Vanishing Half” by Brit Bennett on Monday, Oct. 11, 5:45 p.m. Call the Marathon City Branch Public Library at 715-443-2775 for more information.
Plant swap
If you want to get rid of some of the plants you have in your home or yard, or if you’re looking for a new plant to take care of and nurture, you can stop by a four-day plant swap at the Marathon City Branch Publ;ic Library.
From Sept. 29 through Oct. 2, members of the public can drop off a plant for someone else to have, or take a plant that someone else has donated. Plants will be set up on a table outside the library. Just stop by any time the library is open and you just might find your next favorite flower or house- plant.
People participating in the swap are asked to please follow all CDC-recommended guidelines to help protect themself and others from COVID-19. This event is free and open to the public with no registration required. For more information, call 715443-2775 or visit https://www. mcpl.us/events/10547.
Birth
A son, Rhett Ronald, was born Sept. 9, 2021, to Nicole and Derek Dehnel, Marathon, at the Aspirus Wausau Hospital. The infant weighed eight pounds, three ounces and measured 21 inches at birth.
Soap instruction
Marathon County Extension and the Farm Bureau will sponsor a class, “Soap making for beginners,” on Saturday, Oct. 16, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 212 River Drive, Wausau. Participants will learn to make soap using lye. There is a charge for the class, which includes lunch. All participants will leave with a bar of soap. For more information, call 715-261-1245.
Blessing animals
The Rev. Monsignor Joseph Diermeier will perform a blessing of the animals on Monday, Oct. 4, starting at 7:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s School, Marathon.
COVID dashboard
Marathon Public Schools reports seven out of 850 students and staff as of Sept. 27 are confirmed to have COVID- 19. The school system has had 25 cases so far this school year. The number of current close contact quarantine students is at 132. Most of those close contacts, 70, are at Marathon Venture Academy.
Tailgate party
St. Mary’s Catholic Church has announced it will hold its 25th annual Family Tailgate Party on Sunday, Oct. 10, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Special guest at the event will be Don “Majik: Majkowski who played 19871992 for the Green Bay Packers. He has been inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame. Lunch and admission are free.
MHS muscial
Mark your calendar for Nov. 12-14 as Marathon High School will present the “Addam’s Family Musical.”
If you would like to donate to the project, we are currently looking for light colored or white fabric sheets or curtains that can be dyed for costumes. Any sewing notions are always welcome as we have a number of costumes to design and build. Items can be delivered to the Marathon High School office.
Volunteers are needed to help with cutting, sewing and altering costumes. If interested, contact Connie Stieber at 715370-0519 after 3 p.m.
School planning
The School District of Marathon will soon begin a strategic planning initiative.
The school board is seeking to compile a list of interested district/community stakeholders for this process. If you would be interested in being considered for this committee work, email administrator Rick Parks at (rparks@marathon. k12.wi.us).
The dates of the strategic planning will be Friday, Oct. 1, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 2, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 12, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Saturday, Nov. 13, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Alumni welcome
Marathon High School band alumni are welcome to join this year’s school pep band.
The band is scheduled to play during home volleyball and football events. The high school will provide the music. Community members need to provide their own instruments with the exception of drums.
Contact band director Sara Sternberg for more information: ssternberg@marathon. k12.wi.us.
