Two Rivers' Fourth of July celebration includes music, fireworks and more at Walsh Field. Here's the latest news in brief.
MANITOWOC - The next Two Rivers Community Band concert will be in conjunction with the Two Rivers Fourth of July festivities at Walsh Field July 4. The concert portion starts at approximately 7:20 p.m.
Don Konop will sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” to begin the concert and lead the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
A variety of patriotic numbers are on the program: “God Bless America,” “Land of the Brave,” “American Patrol,” “Power and Glory” and “America the Beautiful.”
Assistant Conductor Mike Johanek will take the baton for “The Forge of Freedom.”
Other program numbers are “Salute to America’s Finest,” “Riders for the Flag,” “Remember Pearl Harbor,” “The Old Guard” and “Hail America.”
If weather is bad, the city of Two Rivers will make an announcement as to a possible rain date.
Walsh Field is at 2201 Polk St. Fourth of July festivities at the park run 5-10:30 p.m. Here's the full lineup:
5 p.m.: Family activities, games, concessions
7:20 p.m.: Flag-raising ceremony
7:25 p.m.: Two Rivers Community Band
8:30 p.m.: Sponsor appreciation
8:50 p.m.: Clipper City Chordsmen
9:30 p.m.: Fireworks
Schools: Pools at two Manitowoc public schools to close amid structural safety concerns
Kiel Municipal Band readies for Patriotic Concert
Kiel Municipal Band will present its annual Patriotic Concert at 7 p.m. July 3 at City Park. The concert is free, family friendly and open to everyone. If it rains, the concert will be at the Kiel High School Performing Arts Center.
The concert is a tradition in t he area with special music for Independence Day. The KMB and community will participate in a salute to active-duty military personnel and veterans at the finale of the concert.
Prior to the concert, starting at 4 p.m. and continuing until 8 p.m., St. Peter’s United Church of Christ will host a Picnic in the Park.
The KMB will also present its Patriotic Concert as part of the annual Kohler American Club July 4 celebration and fireworks at Ravine Park in Kohler at 8 p.m. July 4.
Reis Endowment Fund donates $5,000 to Boys & Girls Club
Two Rivers-based Helen Gajdys Reis & Lester Reis Endowment Fund recently presented a donation of $5,000 to the Boys & Girls Club of Manitowoc County.
The club’s mission is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those whose need is most, to become productive, caring and responsible citizens. The mission correlates to the mission of the Helen Gajdys Reis & Lester Reis Endowment Fund.
As an example of what the endowment fund has done, 1,000 new jackets have been provided in a little more than six years to be distributed by The Salvation Army in Manitowoc. The fund was able to do this through contributions from donors in Manitowoc County and also the board members of the fund. The coat project was accomplished by the efforts of Gloria Theis and Mary Reis. Board members of the fund are Gloria Theis, Kathy Hanke, Howie Zimmerman, Andy Steimle, and George and Mary Reis.
Contributions to the annual fundraising can be sent to Reis Endowment, P.O. Box 388, Two Rivers, WI 54241.
Lakeshore Tae Kwon Do Black Belt earns national title
Lakeshore Tae Kwon Do in Manitowoc has a national champion. Second-degree Black Belt Brad Yaggie won the first-place gold medal in Black Belt Sparring at the 2024 UTA Grand Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He also won a bronze medal in Traditional Forms at the competition.
The 2024 UTA Grand Nationals brings together top martial artists from across the nation.
Miss Harbor Cities’ Teen first runner-up at Miss Wisconsin’s Teen competition
Miss Harbor Cities’ Teen Katherine Vadney placed first runner-up to Miss Wisconsin’s Teen June 21 in Oshkosh. Vadney is the winner of more than $800 in scholarships.
The winner of the competition was Ella Bey, winning more than $3,200 in scholarships and a trip to the Miss America’s Teen competition in Orlando in January 2025.
Vadney, of Manitowoc, is a graduate of Roncalli High School and rising college freshman at the Catholic University of America. She advocates for Early Literacy in the Digital Age. She performed a Ballet en Pointe variation from Paquita for the talent phase of competition.
Last year’s Miss Harbor Cities’ Teen 2023, Natalie Popp, competed as Miss Madison’s Teen and placed second runner-up, won the Patriotism Reigns Essay contest and the Overall Interview Award, receiving more than $1,400 in scholarships.
The next Miss Harbor Cities competition will be held Sept. 21 at the Capitol Civic Centre in Manitowoc. Applications are available at missharborcities.org.
Pastel exhibit on view at Rahr-West
Rahr-West Art Museum in Manitowoc is hosting “That Special Place,” a juried exhibit of pastel art by members of the Wisconsin Pastel Association.
Juror David Carpenter presented the following recognitions at a reception for the show June 23:
Best in Show: Roberta Condon, “Tumbling with the Terns”
First Place: Audrey Dulmes, “Fast Train to Paris”
Second Place: Suzanne Manthe, “Dressed in Pink”
Third Place: Darcy Doiel, “Last Sleep in Rome”
Honorable Mention: Debbie Callahan, “Two Friends”; Julia Pagenkopf, “Salmon Running”; Jeanne Bril, “The Weight of the Sky”; Mary Rypel Anderson, “Northern Peace”; Chris Behrs, “Rural Rain”; and Rita Burnap, “Sunrise on the Dunes”
The “That Special Place” exhibit will be open through Aug. 4 at the museum, 610 N. Eighth St. Admission to the museum is free. Learn more at rahrwestartmuseum.org.
Historical Society holds Kid Free Thursdays in July
Manitowoc County Historical Society, 924 Pinecrest Road, Manitowoc, will offer free general admission to kids younger than 12 on Thursdays in the month of July (closed July 4), from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is a limit of three free children with one paid adult admission.
Each week will feature a new theme in the Historic Village, including hands-on activities that will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Themes are as follow:
July 11: The Science of Cooking
July 18: Crafts and Trades
July 25: Fun and Games
Contact the museum at 920-684-4445 or go to ManitowocCountyHistory.org.
No Fish & Game meeting in July
Manitowoc Unit of Fish & Game will not meet in July because of the July 4 holiday. Its next meeting will be at 7 p.m. Aug. 14 in Lincoln Park Cabin No. 1. The community is welcome to attend.
Learn more at mantyfg.org or contact Unit Vice President Anne Busse at [email protected] or [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Fourth of July in Two Rivers: Fireworks, music and more at Walsh Field
