Summer Fun in West Bend w/Noelle Braun

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Fuzz Martin: And just like that.




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It's another week.




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Hello, my friend.




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Thank you for listening to Fifteen
Minutes with Fuzz, a show about the




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positive things happening in and
around Washington County, Wisconsin.




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My name is Fuzz Martin, and
I do appreciate you listening




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and joining me here today.




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Whether you're in your car, you're
out jogging, you're at the gym.




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You're listening at the
office or just existing.




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Thank you so much Hey, I'm currently
lining up guests for upcoming




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weeks of the show, and while I
usually ask this question at the




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end of the episode, I'm going to
make a request with you right now.




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If you have an idea for the show,
reach out to me, 15withfuzz at gmail.




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com, spell out the word
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com, or go to fuzz.




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cc slash guest, that is fuzz.




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cc slash guest.




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And, there's a little easy form right
there when you go there to fill out




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this week, I am joined by Noelle Braun
of the Downtown West Bend Association.




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There are tons of great things
happening in West Bend, including




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music on Main, the Art Walk banner
project, the farmer's market.




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And a whole bunch of other cool things.




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And with that, here are 15 minutes on
the cool things happening in downtown




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West Bend this summer with Noelle Braun
of the Downtown West Bend Association,




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right here on Fifteen Minutes with Fuzz.




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Noelle, glad to see you again.




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Thanks so much for coming
back in the studio.




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You just had spring fling.




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You just had the wine hop, but the
Downtown West Bend Association has so




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many things happening this spring and
in the summer, and I'm glad to have




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you in here to talk about those today.




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Noelle Braun: Yeah, thank you so much.




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There is a lot to let you know.




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Yeah,




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Fuzz Martin: I've seen a ton of like
your posters and things around, and




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I'm like, well, we should probably
connect again and talk about, Some




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of the things that are going on.




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So, first of all, we've got the downtown
Art Walk banner project happening.




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It is You guys have the grand
opening gallery coming up, right?




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Noelle Braun: Yes, that is coming
up on Saturday, May 4th, 3:30 to




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6:30 at the Museum of Wisconsin Art.




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Fuzz Martin: All right, very good.




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So Tell us a little bit about what
Art Walk is for maybe people who




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haven't experienced it before What
is the downtown West Bend Art Walk?




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Noelle Braun: Yeah, so the Art Walk
banner project You I'm learning to, and




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it's still in my first year of being
with the Downtown West Bend Association.




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But if people are, you know, from
the area, you've been downtown in the




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summer, you'll see these beautiful
banners that are painted hanging




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on Main Street and on 6th Avenue.




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And that is from local artists who
paint these banners every year.




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So it's a great way to celebrate local
arts, to celebrate our community, to




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create a beautiful, vibrant outdoor
gallery, and yeah, just add some




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color and vibrancy to our downtown.




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Fuzz Martin: And so the, these banners,
obviously, like you said, they're




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very colorful, and they're painted
by local artists, and And that's why




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you kick things off at MOWA, right?




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Noelle Braun: Yes, it's a great
partnership, collaboration




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that we have with them.




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They allow us to use their space
for this Grand Gallery opening.




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So what people can expect this
year is on May 4th, we are




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inviting people to this free event.




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I really want to emphasize that.




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It is a great way to see this
beautiful art museum, this gem




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that we have in our community.




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Their exhibits will be open
during the Grand Gallery open.




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But when people come, they'll be
able to see all of the banners from




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2024 that the artists have painted.




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And then the banners from 2022 were
recently hanging up in City Hall.




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There's a bit of a rotation every year.




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Sure.




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And those banners will be up
for bid, like for auction.




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Okay.




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At this event.




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So all of the art lovers out there, if
you want a piece of local art, they are,




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you know, banners that get hung up on the.




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light poles.




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But they could certainly hang up
easily on a wall, you know, add to




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your collection of art that you have.




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So we're looking forward to that too.




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And there's also, desserts and appetizers
that have been donated by local




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businesses and restaurants in town.




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There'll be some jazz music
playing, a cash bar provided




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by the Museum of Wisconsin Art.




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So it's just a great event.




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And this year for the first time
ever, we're doing a fun We're going




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to be doing a Kentucky Derby theme
because the event falls on the




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same day as the Kentucky Derby.




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So like, let's have fun with this.




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People are invited to wear, you know,
hats with the big flowers and feathers




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or dress up colorfully and just enjoy
that atmosphere too at the event.




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Fuzz Martin: Excellent.




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Will there be mint juleps at the cash bar?




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Noelle Braun: I have asked.




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That's so funny.




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That's funny.




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You mentioned that.




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I'm like, wouldn't that be
a great way to tie that in?




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For what I understand at Moa, they
can only have beer and wine there,




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but we're looking into a fun,
possibly a non alcoholic version.




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Okay.




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We just got to see if the mints going to
be available, but we're looking into it.




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Fuzz Martin: Yeah.




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Stay tuned.




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Gotcha.




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Yes.




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When it comes to liquor licenses
for events like that, it's




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usually just beer and wine.




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Yes.




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Unless I don't even know
how you get the other ones.




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Noelle Braun: Right.




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Fuzz Martin: It's




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Noelle Braun: beyond me.




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Awesome.




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Yes, beyond us.




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Fuzz Martin: And I work
in government sometimes.




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So this is the 12th year of the Art Walk
Banner Project, and I know this is only




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your first full year as the Executive
Director for the Downtown West Bend




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Association, but how has that Art Walk
Banner Project evolved over the years?




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Noelle Braun: From what I understand, it
was started by one of our board members,




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Chris Porter, who is an artist and a
local resident, and just was thinking of




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different ways to beautify our downtown.




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So that continues, absolutely.




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This year too, the banners are
going to be hung up again on Main




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Street and also on 6th Avenue.




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With the new light poles on Main Street
since the reconstruction of the road




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there will also be some beautiful
flowering baskets, like hanging flower




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baskets that will be on every other pole.




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So just giving everyone a
preview for what's to come.




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There's more beautification
coming to downtown.




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Sure.




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But I believe from what I understand
over the years it's Become more and




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more of a celebration at the Museum
of Wisconsin Art, the addition of




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the food, the addition of, you know,
auctioning off all the beautiful




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artwork that was in the past.




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You know, adding in the music,
just like more of the atmosphere.




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I think we're just trying to
elevate that more every year.




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Fuzz Martin: Sure.




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And this, you know, the mission
that you have with the Downtown West




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Bend Association is to help support.




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Businesses and get more foot
traffic downtown so that




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people go to these businesses.




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So by, you know, giving you a reason to
come and tour downtown, hopefully you'll




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stop at some area businesses and stop in
and, and buy and support local, right?




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That




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Noelle Braun: is always with
everything we do, our mission at




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Mine, our mission is to enhance
and preserve the heart of downtown.




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All of these banners too are, are,
sponsored by different businesses.




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So we have some great businesses,
some great returning sponsors




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who love this art project.




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They want to support, they'll get
their name on the banner or multiple




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banners that they decide to sponsor.




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And so it's a great recognition
for them to downtown.




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The banners are hung up all summer and
into the fall, basically like our farmer's




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market season till end of October.




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Fuzz Martin: Great.




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And we'll talk about the farmer's
market coming up right now.




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So it's obviously the farmer's market.




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A beloved community event.




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Last year, it was up around
the we're right here.




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I'm pointing outside the window,
6th Avenue and 5th Avenue and Tower




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Noelle Braun: Heritage
Center around that square.




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Yep.




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Fuzz Martin: Because of the road
construction that was happening and it.




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Then I think there was some
there was a survey or something




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and now you're going to move it
back down to Main Street, right?




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Noelle Braun: Yes, that is it.




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That is where it is going to be.




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We're bringing it back
to its original location.




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You know, definitely heard loud
and clear majority of, you know,




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the downtown businesses and the
attendees the vendors themselves.




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We wanted to hear from everyone Last
year was a great temporary location, but




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we're really excited to be back downtown.




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It truly does bring a lot of
business to these downtown




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businesses lining up and down Main
Street and even like Sixth Avenue.




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It's just a great place to walk through,
see all of these amazing vendors and then.




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You know, grab a little bit of brunch
or a drink or stop into the shop




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and it's just has a great community
feel and we're excited to have it




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on the new road and celebrate that.




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Fuzz Martin: Exactly.




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It'll be nice and smooth while
you walk your you know, take




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the stroller with your kids.




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Yeah,




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Noelle Braun: take the wagon, take
the stroller, whatever you need to do.




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Fuzz Martin: A little bit wider in
some spots, a little bit, you know,




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so so Westman Farmer's Market is, An
award winning farmer's market, right?




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So there you have lots of different
artisans and farmers with produce




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and different local shops anything
new that we can expect this year




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Noelle Braun: So we are getting all
of our applications in right now.




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We have the majority of everyone
Confirmed sending in everything that




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they need you know this The farmer's
market has been voted number one for




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the last two years in a row in the
state of Wisconsin through the survey




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through the American Farmland Trust.




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So we're going to continue to ask
people to vote this year, but we




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do have a really beautiful market.




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We're really blessed and
fortunate in our community.




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We have well over 90 vendors on any given
Saturday that does continue to grow.




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Our farmers, you know, they're the ones
who really started like at least like four




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decades ago, learning so much about this.




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But.




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They're the, you know, big reason that
people come and now we're fortunate to




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add a lot of different variety too in
businesses that are able to be there.




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Some of the newer things this year
we have a newer bakery that's gonna




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be here called Daisy's Sweet Treats.




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The new owner of the Barton
Cafe, she's gonna be coming down.




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Seasonally, which means like for the full
season expect to see them most Saturdays.




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You know, one of the different
businesses that we have that's coming.




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He is an artisan that
makes items out of copper.




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So it's just like really neat to
see like these really talented small




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business owners that are able to showcase
the beautiful things that they make




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on this type of at this big event.




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So he makes more like bowls,
trays, jewelry, things like that.




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And then we are.




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In talks right now with another
possible food truck that would be




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hopefully serving some authentic tacos.




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I know that's been kind of lacking
for a little bit at the market.




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We have some great food at the market.




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Just another wonderful addition.




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But yeah, that's that's
in the works right now.




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So.




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Fuzz Martin: Excellent.




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So when does the farmers
market start this year?




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Noelle Braun: Farmer's Market
starts on Saturday, May 18th.




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Fuzz Martin: Okay.




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Noelle Braun: And it's every
Saturday until October 26th,




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the last Saturday in October.




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And it's from 7.




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a.




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m.




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Fuzz Martin: All right.




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Very good.




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And again, back to its original location.




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on Main Street and 6th.




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Downtown, downtown.




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Noelle Braun: This is




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Fuzz Martin: still downtown where
we're sitting right now at Epic, but




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it is you know, the true downtown.




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Not the outskirts downtown.




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Noelle Braun: And I do want to
mention, we're back downtown.




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We are making some slight
updates to the mapping of it.




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We are extending the market for Further
down to Hickory, where the Pearl of




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Canton and the West Bend Music Academy is.




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It's with the new road as people
remember the old road, there were




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these roundabouts in the street and
that people could more easily turn




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around and because the new road doesn't
have those anymore it's making better




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sense for safety and security that
we blocked the street off at Hickory.




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So people have a way to turn a lot easier.




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There's still, you know, some
like beautiful parking that they




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have like behind the downtown
businesses by the river walk.




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There's yeah, there's parking like it's,
it's worth it to walk a little further




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to get to this market if you need to.




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But yeah, so that is changing and we're
also going to be trying out some parking




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on 6th Avenue for those that have limited
mobility or need handicap parking.




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We're going to give that
a try for this year too.




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So yeah, again, it's going to start at
the top where it normally has at the very




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top of Main Street and you're just going
to be heading a little further south




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Fuzz Martin: this year.




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And my hack for parking is to park
over by the MOA parking lot to the




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east of the Aspen trees or whatever
they have, the birch Aspen trees.




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Yeah,




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Noelle Braun: those quaking Aspen trees.




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Yeah,




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Fuzz Martin: yeah.




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So that's where we park.




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Noelle Braun: That's a good idea
because then you can walk across the




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bridges and it's really beautiful.




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So, another great parking area.




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And




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Fuzz Martin: it's, West Bend
has become so walkable and such.




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So so that's fun.




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And then.




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One other event that everybody looks
forward to every year is Music on Main.




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So when is that starting up again?




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Noelle Braun: Yes, we are so
excited to bring Music on Main back




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downtown as well on Main Street.




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It's going to have a big
kickoff on Thursday, May 30th.




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Fuzz Martin: Okay.




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Noelle Braun: And we have
a press release out now.




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We're getting more of the word out,
but the biggest changes with Music on




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Main this year is that the first and
the last Music on Main are going to be




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in a block party street dance format.




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Fuzz Martin: Awesome.




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Noelle Braun: Yes.




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So we are working very closely with
the Bend Theater to make this happen.




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The other 12 Thursdays, cause
there's gonna be 14 Thursdays total.




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So May 30th being the first one,
September 5th being the last one.




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And the other 12 Thursdays are,
we're going to utilize that Old




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Settlers Park stage as it has been.




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It's a great location for music on Maine.




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But yeah, I thank the Bend Theater
for thinking more outside the box and




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thinking bigger in regards to this event.




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So the plan is to shut down a
little bit more of the road.




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So from the top of Old Settlers Park
by Main and 6, south to Hickory.




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Fuzz Martin: Okay.




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Noelle Braun: And we're going to
be putting a stage in the road




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and getting two bigger bands.




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On May 30th, our opening band
is Andrea and the Mods and




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the main act is Johnny Wad.




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And on September 5th our opening band
will be Jeff Landon's High Country and




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the main act being the Foo Foo Dolls.




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Excellent.




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So yeah, we're really
excited to bring them in.




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Fuzz Martin: When I was in
radio Jeff Landon would always




00:14:07

participate in the radio show.




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We have the Hodeg
Country Pickoff and such.




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So I, I know Jeff really well, but I
have not seen him in probably a decade.




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So




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Noelle Braun: yes, he's been doing a
lot with his music over all these years




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and making a good name for himself.




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So yeah, really excited to bring them in.




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And I, again, I think the band
for getting some of these acts




00:14:27

too, for these big block parties.




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But we have, we have a great lineup.




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We have so many different artists.




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different genres of music.




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There's something for everyone.




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If you look at the list and see who
you want to see, hopefully we'll see




00:14:38

a majority, if not all of these music.




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I mean, it's because they're so fun.




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It's just a great way
to, to celebrate summer.




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And it's always free to
attend this event too.




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Fuzz Martin: Perfect.




00:14:47

And so again, it kicks off on
May 30th, Thursday, May 30th.




00:14:50

And then the other 12,
what time do those start?




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Noelle Braun: Great question.




00:14:54

So on May 30th and September 5th,
those are starting at five o'clock.




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Fuzz Martin: Okay.




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Noelle Braun: So that's when that
that opening band will be playing.




00:15:01

The other Thursdays, it depends
if there's an opening act




00:15:04

or not for any of our music.




00:15:05

I mean, if we get an opening band
performing, that'll start at five.




00:15:09

Okay.




00:15:09

But our main stage acts start at 6
30 and the event goes till nine 30.




00:15:14

Fuzz Martin: Excellent.




00:15:14

All right.




00:15:15

Very good.




00:15:15

Well, Noel, I got a lot of great stuff
happening with Downtown West Bend.




00:15:21

If people want to learn more about
these events that we've spoken about




00:15:24

today the losing my mind here, the
Art Walk, the Farmer's Market, Music




00:15:30

on Main, you've got Wheels on Main
after that, you've got another,




00:15:35

another Wine Walk in October, right?




00:15:37

Yeah, so.




00:15:39

Always something awesome going on
town and thanks for all you do.




00:15:42

But where can people learn more
about these events and others?




00:15:45

Noelle Braun: Absolutely.




00:15:46

So people can learn more at
our website, which is www.




00:15:50

downtownwestbend.




00:15:52

com.




00:15:53

All of our events are there.




00:15:55

We update them frequently.




00:15:56

We also have a really
good presence on Facebook.




00:15:58

People are using that
social media platform.




00:16:01

We yeah, we do have about
like 10, 000 followers just




00:16:03

on our regular Facebook page.




00:16:05

Facebook page and then we
have more like in the music on




00:16:08

Maine and the farmer's market.




00:16:10

We have Facebook pages for all three
of those and we're always updating and




00:16:14

letting people know what's happening
downtown and love to promote the




00:16:18

businesses that are in the area too.




00:16:20

Fuzz Martin: Yeah, it definitely
contributes to the vitality of our




00:16:22

downtown and those business owners
whose livelihoods depend on you.




00:16:26

Listening, coming, buying dinner, buying
you know, different kinds of items at




00:16:32

retail and food and drinks and all that.




00:16:35

So get out there and support local.




00:16:39

Noelle Braun: Absolutely.




00:16:39

Fuzz Martin: All right.




00:16:40

Noelle, thanks for coming in.




00:16:41

Noelle Braun: Thank you so much.




00:16:46

Fuzz Martin: Thank you again to
Noelle Braun of the Downtown West Bend




00:16:49

Association for joining me on this week's
episode of Fifteen Minutes with Fuzz.




00:16:53

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the show, but if you ever have an idea




00:16:57

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I should talk to, please tell me.




00:17:01

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00:17:04

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00:17:07

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com or really anywhere you list a podcast,
wherever you're listening right now, just




00:17:30

be sure to destroy that follow button.




00:17:33

And I'll talk to you next Tuesday,
right here on Fifteen Minutes with Fuzz.