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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11.24.23 Newsletter TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council FROM: Mark Rohloff, City Manager DATE: November 24, 2023 RE: Weekly Newsletter 1. NEW PROGRAM FOR LIFELONG LEARNERS AT THE SENIORS CENTER: According to Scientific American, learning new things leads to improved cognitive scores for memory and attention. Committing to lifelong learning helps older adults avoid cognitive decline. The Oshkosh Seniors Center is excited to present a six-month trial for a free subscription to GetSetUp, an online community of active agers who want to learn new skills, connect with others, and unlock new life experiences! The subscription is usually priced at $20 per month but will be free to participants at the Center through May 21st. The goal is to gather positive data to help secure funding in the future to keep the subscription free to Center participants. The Center hosted an introductory presentation, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. People immediately began signing up for accounts and booking classes. Over 4 million older adults subscribe to GetSetUp, and the learning platform continues to grow. There are dozens of programs offered every day at all hours. Here's a sample of today's variety: • Five snacks to keep your brain sharp • Better balance in minutes • Creative mindfulness with neuro-graphic circles • Creating a meaningful life in midlife and beyond We encourage you to visit the Oshkosh Seniors Center’s GetSetUp landing page to explore the variety and quality of programs taught by older adults for older adults: https://www.getsetup.io/partner/Oshkosh. 2. BACK IN HARMONY, THE GOLDEN TONES CHORUS RETURNS: After a three-year absence, the Oshkosh Seniors Center’s Golden Tones Chorus is offering a holiday concert, "Back in Harmony," on Sunday, December 10th at 2:00 PM. The holiday concert is a fan favorite, and they will perform at the Center's north building located at 234 N. Campbell Road. Tickets must be purchased in advance. You may purchase your tickets at either front desk now through December 8th. Let's show our support for the return of the Golden Tones Chorus led by Paula Steinert and piano accompanist Marshall Potter. Please contact Dan Braun, Senior Services Manager, at (920)232-5300 for more information about the Oshkosh Seniors Center. You can find the Center's program newsletter on our webpage: https://www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us/SeniorServices/. 3. DECKING THE HALLS ON MAIN STREET: The Parks Department helps to deck the halls of Main Street for the holiday season. Downtown Oshkosh is transformed with over 100 planted pots and decorated evergreen boughs, accented with sprigs of magnolia and Oregonia. The larger planters have white paper birch sticks and red osier dogwood twigs to add dimension and color. To help with the holiday ambiance, wreaths, garland, and holiday banners don lampposts up and down Main Street. The decorations make shopping, dining, and visiting Downtown Oshkosh a magical experience. In the center of Opera House Square is the picturesque holiday tree. Wrapped with lights and ornaments hanging from its branches, it captures the season's spirit. If you have questions about forestry-related topics, please contact Travis Derks, Landscape Operations Manager, at (920)236-5080. 4. A PRUNED TREE IS A HEALTHIER TREE: Winter is the annual pruning cycle time for the Landscape Operations Division. Each pruning cycle consists of working on approximately 2,000 trees. This winter, staff will concentrate on pruning the trees east of Highway 41 to Lake Winnebago, south of 9th Ave. When pruning, staff removes deadwood over 2 inches, broken or diseased branches, and branches hanging less than 16 feet above the road and 8 feet above the sidewalk. The younger trees will be pruned for structure to prevent problems in the future. The Landscape Operations crews appreciate your patience and understanding while they work through the pruning cycle. If you have questions about forestry-related topics, please contact Travis Derks, Landscape Operations Manager, at (920)236-5080. 5. ONHS COMMUNITIES STUDENTS HIT OSHKOSH FM AIRWAVES: Oshkosh Media staff welcomed students from the Oshkosh North High School Communities program into the Oshkosh FM radio studio to help spread the word about the students’ “Zero Waste Project.” The public service announcements (PSA), written and recorded by the 9th and 10th grade students themselves, promote ways that people can cut down on waste and increase recycling. Staff then edited the PSAs together and put them into the rotation on Oshkosh FM, which can be found at 101.9 FM on the radio dial, and is also streaming live on OshkoshMedia.org and on the TuneIn Radio mobile app. Tune in throughout the day to catch the PSAs, along with an eclectic mix of music, local news, and updates. For more information, contact Media Services Coordinator Jake Timm at (920) 236-5261. 6. WATCH MOVIES WITH FRIENDS THIS WINTER AT OPL: River East Neighborhood Association and Oshkosh Public Library invite you to a free showing of Jingle All the Way on Sunday, December 10th at 1:00 PM in the library’s lower level. This event is an opportunity for the community to come together, share some treats, and enjoy socializing in a casual environment. Everyone is welcome. For more information, please email or visit the library’s website. 7. GET INVOLVED IN A BOARD OR COMMISSION: If you are interested in serving your community, please consider becoming a member of one of the City’s citizen advisory boards, commissions, or committees. To learn more about the boards and commissions, or to complete an application to serve, follow the link below: https://www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us/boardsandcommissions/ 8. MINUTES FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: All meeting minutes are uploaded to the website upon approval. Please follow the link below for the most updated information & meeting minutes: https://onboard.ci.oshkosh.wi.us/ 9. ATTACHMENTS: Oshkosh Public Library December Calendar 10. LOOKING AHEAD: Among the meetings I have scheduled for the week of November 27th include the following: on Monday at 10:00 AM, staff and I will tour the Oshkosh City Center building, and at 1:30 PM, I will meet with City Attorney Lynn Lorenson to prepare for the closed session on Tuesday before the Council meeting. On Tuesday at 2:00 PM, I will meet with staff to discuss the Best Western Hotel renovation project. On Thursday at 5:30 PM, I will attend an event at Reeve Union put on by the Whitburn Center for Governance and Policy Research on “Demystifying the Wisconsin Budget Process.” If you have any questions about my upcoming schedule, please do not hesitate to contact me.