A Joint Initiative Between     Heart of Wisconsin     Business & Economic Alliance and     Community Foundation of     South Wood County

Home About Us B2B Club Breaking News Contact Donate Events / Programs Feedback Ideas Incubator Industry Clusters Links / Resources Progess Funds Progress Teams Public Art / Murals Publications		Breaking News March 6, 2006 - Current activities keep Rome busy By: Kaye Eckert, for the Daily Tribune Editor's note: The Daily Tribune will regularly run columns updating Community Progress Initiative activities and the work of its groups in local communities. Rome's Community Progress Initiatives are in full gear already this year. The Rome is More team currently is taking status and summarizing all subcommittee work and accomplishments to date and planning a goal-setting session at the next Unity Meeting of all committees April 12. More will be published on this in the future. This article will give a quick overview of just a few of the current activities. Rome now know what's happening -- and when it's happening. The community responded enthusiastically to the Rome Is More team's request for information to create a community calendar of local events for 2006 and 2007. Events and organizational meetings were put into a calendar created by team member Ted Waite. Distribution will be done via e-mail to all event and organization chairpersons along with announcements that copies will be available at Town Hall and the Rome Library. Town Clerk Terri Anderson says this calendar is something that has been needed for a long time and applauds this accomplishment. Lori Pritzl, Town Postal Team, established local postal service at Pritzl's Corner Mart. This is a great convenience to people in the area, especially for mailing parcels. The Senior Housing Committee chaired by Rick Antin saw their hard work come to fruition Jan. 11, when an agreement was signed between the town of Rome and Ecumen for the project's first phase of development. Design details now will start to be finalized. The developer expects to break ground on the Alpine Village Retirement Community this summer. As Rome is home to many seniors, this new development allows them an opportunity to stay within the community when they cannot, or no longer want, to maintain their homes. Residents in Rome hope the retirement community will draw businesses and services that seniors utilize such as a pharmacy. Some think a YMCA with an exercise pool would be ideal. Anticipation of warmer weather and ground thaws just around the corner is kicking the Dog Park Team into high gear. New members are joining the team to educate people that this will not only be good for dog owners but for the town as well. It will be a place where dogs can run off leash and play with other dogs in a safe, fenced-in area while supervised by their owners. New member Kathy Halverson is looking forward to not having to trek up to Plover to exercise her chocolate lab. The group has scouted dog parks in other areas to learn about construction and rules of use. Rick Ramstack and Bob Eckert obtained site location and measurements for estimating fencing costs. The team is looking for sponsors to cover fencing and sign costs. In return, sponsors' names will be posted on the park's sign. Veterinarians, groomers, trainers, kennels and pet sitters could specifically benefit from becoming sponsors. The team is determining park rules and layout to make Rome's Dog Park a reality this spring/summer. More will be published soon. The Rome is More Team anticipates another active year for Rome's Progress Initiatives teams. The Rome Connection Team, co-chaired by Kathleen Krueger and Linda Sheppard, already is planning this year's Taste of Rome event. The Community Fund Team, chaired by Bob Ebben, is continuing their solicitation efforts for donations to Rome's Community Fund, which will allow progress initiatives to continue into the future. All agree this is important because people are continually coming up with new initiatives, such as the Cookbook Committee initiated by Darlene Alexander On April 12, all committees will meet to discuss status, set goals and make plans. McCray and Scalzo say this is expected to be an exciting time for all. If you'd like to get involved with Rome's Community Progress Initiative, contact Sharon McCray at drskm2@wctc.net or Arlene Scalzo at ascalzo@wctc.net. Kaye Eckert is a volunteer for the Rome Progress Initiative.
		Copyright © 2005, Community Progress Initiative, South Wood County & Town of Rome