Rhinelander VFW celebrates anniversary
The community is invited to a meet, greet and eat celebration at the Rhinelander VFW Ray Rousseau Post 3143, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., March 14. The event will celebrate the Post’s 85th anniversary and also Carl Weidling’s 100th birthday. A lunch of barbecues, potato salad, coleslaw, baked beans and dessert, will be provided by BAWB CREW. Post 3143 is located at 120 Park St. Rhinelander.

Journeys celebrating 24 years
Registration is open for the annual Eagle River Journeys race event May 9. Journeys features a half marathon, 13.1 mile power walk, 10K and 5K runs. The variety of routes through the Northwoods offers something for competitive runners and recreationalists alike. The half marathon is a USATF certified course. All races are open to both runners and walkers. Race registration/packet pick-up is on Friday, 5-9 p.m. May 8 at the Northland Pines High School. Race day starts at 9:30 a.m. with the half marathon and power walk, and the 10K and 5K races will begin at 10 a.m. An awards ceremony will follow at 2 p.m. Post-race festivities at Riverview Park are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and include live music, food and fun.

Food Pantry ‘Spring Challenge’
Donations made to the Rhinelander Area Food Pantry (RAFP) in March and April will be partially matched as part of the pantry’s annual Spring Challenge. Donations, which may include cash, checks, food items, which are valued at $1 per item or pound, or pledges obtained from March 1-April 30 will be partially matched by a local anonymous donor. Food items used for voting in the CANtastic event through March 6 at the Rouman Cinema will also count toward the challenge. To help the Food Pantry with their RAFP Spring Challenge, monetary donations can be made to Rhinelander Area Food Pantry c/o BMO Harris Bank, 7 N. Brown St., Rhinelander. Food items may be dropped off at the Food Pantry at 627 Coon Street from 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday.

Shamrock Shindig March 13
The Relay for Life of the Northwoods is hosting a fundraiser 5-8 p.m. Friday, March 13 at CT’s Deli in downtown Rhinelander. Funds raised at the Shamrock Shindig will help support research, patient services and other American Cancer Society programs. The shindig will have door prizes, 50/50 drawings, bucket drawing, music by Shannon Hauser on guitar and guest bartenders. CT’s will donate 50% of the bar proceeds to the fundraiser. The Relay for Life of the Northwoods will take place 2-7 p.m., Saturday, May 16 at the derby complex in Eagle River. For more information, visit relayforlife.org/northwoodswi.

State Department of Veteran Affairs receives award
The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) was awarded the Abraham Lincoln Pillars of Excellence Award for its Veterans Outreach and Recovery Program (VORP). The award recognizes outstanding programs that support veterans. VORP is a comprehensive, coordinated outreach, treatment and recovery support program that brings together government and community resources to eliminate barriers for veterans who are struggling. The hallmark of VORP is its reliance on WDVA staff’s direct contact with veterans in need, focusing first on developing a trusting relationship. VORP outreach and recovery coordinators work as case managers, each assigned to a specific geographic region. They work with veterans wherever they are located, including shelters, motels, and uninhabitable areas such as streets, rail yards, cars they call home, or remote forest and river bank areas throughout Wisconsin. Since April 2018, VORP has assisted more than 1,000 participants with life-sustaining services.

Seed library workshop
The Rhinelander District Library will open its seed library Friday, March 27. From 1-2 p.m. that day Mike Haasl, founder of the Homesteading Club, will teach a seed-saving workshop. Learn the basics of saving “true to type” seeds and hear many tips on how to grow, process and store them. This includes first access to the seed library and a handout with helpful information. There is no charge to attend and all are welcome. The workshop is sponsored by the Peters Memorial and a donation from the Homesteading Club. For more information, contact Cindy, 715-365-1070, ext. 1086.