The Post-Crescent (Appleton, WI) articles from November 2006

The Post-Crescent (Appleton, WI) archives from November 2006

Be mindful of hidden fees on gift cards, certificates.
November 30, 2006... Byline: Pete Bach Nov. 30--APPLETON, Wis. -- The first thing to know about gift cards is they're not free. They cost money, and they gradually decline in value if not used, a feature that appalled Mary Hermsen of Appleton when she...

The Post-Crescent, Appleton, Wis., Larry Avila column.
November 28, 2006... Byline: Larry Avila Nov. 28--LIKE IT OR NOT, THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT IS SHINING ON WISCONSIN: Wisconsin is more than the Dairy State, the home of Harley-Davidson and the Green Bay Packers. While the rest of the nation may view our...

The Post-Crescent, Appleton, Wis., Business Innovator column.
November 27, 2006... Byline: Maureen Wallenfang Nov. 27--Susan G. Allen is a jewelry designer whose business continues to expand with a seasonal kiosk at the Fox River Mall, a new studio and an eye toward new markets. QUESTION: You're an entrepreneur at...

Experts say return after maternity leave stressful but manageable.
November 21, 2006... Byline: Pete Bach Nov. 21--Going back to work after having a baby can be an emotional roller coaster, especially for new mothers, a professional -- and mother of three -- said. "That first day back is pretty awful," said Lisa...

The Post-Crescent, Appleton, Wis., Business Innovator column.
November 20, 2006... Byline: Maureen Wallenfang Nov. 20--BAR OWNER LOOKS TO BANDS, A BEER GARDEN TO MAKE IT QUESTION: What was your first reaction when you heard voters upheld the Appleton smoking ban? ANSWER: The first thing I thought of was, well,...

Fire truck maker Seagrave helps state raise national manufacturing presence.
November 19, 2006... Byline: Larry Avila Nov. 19--Scott Mintier is enjoying a little more elbow room these days. His company, Seagrave Fire Apparatus LLC, a maker of firefighting vehicles, recently opened its new 137,000-square-foot final assembly building...

Shoppers to spend some bucks.
November 17, 2006... Byline: Maureen Wallenfang Nov. 17--If you're from Wisconsin, you know the local customs. But those new to the area may be shocked to see 65,000 people at the Fox River Mall on Saturday. The large crowds are due to the start of the...

How-to: Free info available about financial aid.
November 16, 2006... Byline: Pete Bach Nov. 16--APPLETON -- Most college students have heard of FAFSA. It's short for Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and those familiar with it say it should be the first stop on the college aid trail. Jan....

The Post-Crescent, Appleton, Wis., Buzz Mailbag column.
November 15, 2006... Byline: Maureen Wallenfang Nov. 15--FESTIVAL FOODS CONSIDERS NEENAH SITE, BUT NOTHING CERTAIN QUESTION: Rumors have been floating around Neenah for the past few weeks that Festival Foods is planning its next store on the strip mall,...

The Post-Crescent, Appleton, Wis., Larry Avila column.(Column)
November 14, 2006... Byline: Larry Avila Nov. 14--MATERIAL TEMPTATIONS TOUGH TO RESIST BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE: One evening when I was surfing the Web at home one of those annoying pop-up ads came up and distracted me from my original research task. The ad...

Chief innovation officer for Kimberly-Clark Corp. resigns.
November 14, 2006... Byline: Larry Avila Nov. 14--TOWN OF MENASHA -- Helping Kimberly-Clark Corp. implement plans to develop and get products to market faster is how Cheryl Perkins would like to be remembered after she leaves the company at year's end. ...

Workplace trust hard to gain, but consistency, transparency key.
November 14, 2006... Byline: Pete Bach Nov. 14--Fostering an atmosphere of trust at work unquestionably leads to a more productive and satisfied work force. But instilling trust and keeping it present an ongoing challenge to employers. "Most of them...

The Post-Crescent, Appleton, Wis., Business Innovator column.
November 13, 2006... Byline: Maureen Wallenfang Nov. 13--Meet Inc. Innovator: Trevor Reader New Pullman's restaurant has familiar roots. QUESTION: I'm eager to hear about Pullman's, your upcoming restaurant in Trolley Square. Tell me about it. ...

United States Chamber recognizes Kimberly Clark efforts to help children.
November 11, 2006... Byline: Larry Avila Nov. 11--Kimberly-Clark Corp., known as a major Fox Cities employer and maker of well-recognized consumer brands like Kleenex and Huggies, can add another designation to its nameplate -- international humanitarian....

Better Business Bureau opens Grand Chute, Wis., location.
November 10, 2006... Byline: Larry Avila Nov. 10--GRAND CHUTE -- As soon as a telephone line became active, the calls started coming. "We just got it hooked up on Monday," said JoEllen Wollangk. She is the regional manager for the Better Business...

The Post-Crescent, Appleton, Wis., Maureen Wallenfang column.
November 10, 2006... Byline: Maureen Wallenfang Nov. 10--APPLETON BAKERY TO RELOCATE TO BIGGER DARBOY SITE: As Homer Simpson would say, "Mmmmm, doughnuts." Manderfield's Home Bakery, a longtime, local, family-owned business, is moving its pastry,...

From one owner to the next.
November 9, 2006... Byline: Pete Bach Nov. 9--GREENVILLE -- K-Way Systems Inc., is now K-Way Systems LLC. David and Amy Stern recently sold the second-generation business to a group of eight business partners. The transaction went as smoothly as it did...

CEO: Banta cuts will be careful.
November 9, 2006... Byline: Pete Bach Nov. 9--CHICAGO -- The head of R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co. Tuesday promised a deliberate cost cutting approach when its acquisition of Menasha-based Banta Corp. closes in early 2007. Mark Angelson, speaking to...

Voters buy Neenah schools time.
November 8, 2006... Byline: Duke Behnke Nov. 8--NEENAH -- Voters authorized the Neenah school district to raise an additional $6 million in property taxes during the next three years to run its schools. Tuesday's referendum to exceed state revenue...

Virchow Krause to get larger space.
November 8, 2006... Nov. 8--APPLETON -- Virchow, Krause & Co. LLP will move to a new office at Ballard Road and U.S. 41 by November 2007. The new 40,000-square-foot facility doubles the size of the company's Appleton facility, according to company officials....

Papers to adjust news approach: Gannett rolls out 'Information Center' concept.
November 8, 2006... Nov. 8--APPLETON -- Gannett Co. Inc., the nation's largest newspaper group, announced that news operations at its 90 daily newspapers, including The Post-Crescent, will soon transform into "Information Centers." The strategy, outlined by...

Hilbert school referendum fails by 8 votes.
November 8, 2006... Byline: Kara Patterson Nov. 8--HILBERT -- Voters in the Hilbert School District narrowly rejected a referendum Tuesday to borrow $9.5 million to renovate and construct a new campus to house the elementary, middle and high school. The...

Workers, employers both see advantages in temp-to-hire setup.
November 7, 2006... Byline: Pete Bach Nov. 7--APPLETON -- Nora Holzwart, president of Northeast Photocopy, 3000 N. Pointer Road, is "test driving" a couple of new staff prospects. The two -- Raana Gatza and Amy Simon -- started Wednesday at NEP as...

The Post-Crescent, Appleton, Wis., Business Innovator column.
November 6, 2006... Byline: Maureen Wallenfang Nov. 6--Jose Morales, realtor, helps Hispanic families realize dreams. QUESTION: We first talked almost three years ago when you were just starting to sell homes to Hispanic buyers in the Fox Cities. What...

Calumet officials differ on figures for nursing home.
November 3, 2006... Byline: Susan Squires Nov. 3--NEW HOLSTEIN -- Calumet County doesn't immediately need the extra tax money it is asking voters to approve Tuesday for its nursing home, a County Board member says. The county's administrator disagrees. ...

Smoking ban gets its third airing.
November 3, 2006... Byline: Steve Wideman Nov. 3--APPLETON -- Temperatures late Thursday hovered in the low 30s with wind chills approaching 20 degrees, but that didn't discourage Sharon Reader from circling dozens of city blocks on foot. Reader, who...

The Post-Crescent, Appleton, Wis., Maureen Wallenfang column.
November 3, 2006... Byline: Maureen Wallenfang Nov. 3--A seismic shift is about to occur in the grocery business on Appleton's east side with the opening of the new $6 million Festival Foods Wednesday. It's the first Festival Foods in the Appleton area...

Appleton, Wis., business leaders sort out sale of commercial printer Banta.
November 2, 2006... Byline: Pete Bach Nov. 2--Many area community and business leaders say they know too little yet about Chicago-based R.R. Donnelley's pending $1.3 billion buyout of Banta Corp. to worry about its future. Dick Kendall, executive...

Plexus sales hit $1B again.
November 2, 2006... Nov. 2--NEENAH -- Plexus Corp. is on a billion-dollar roll. The company reported Wednesday that its overall net sales for fiscal 2006 topped $1.46 billion, an increase from last year's figure of $1.23 billion. This is the third straight...

Neenah settles eminent domain challenge.
November 2, 2006... Byline: Duke Behnke Nov. 2--NEENAH -- The city will pay $300,000 to settle an eminent domain challenge for a six-acre property at the southeast corner of Winnebago County G and Dixie Road. The Common Council approved the payment...

Rebuilding together.
November 2, 2006... Byline: Kara Patterson Nov. 2--DARBOY, Wis. -- Rebuilding Together Fox Valley is searching for more community collaborations for its toolkit as it climbs the ladder toward its goal of rehabilitating 100 homes by year's end. ...