New Lisbon Correctional Facility is now partnering with Habitat for Humanity.  The inmates will be building custom cabinets and vanities for the new builds.

Biesek family has closed on their new home in Mauston.

Congratulations!!

Welcome to the Habitat family

Please contact Stacy – Executive Director, if you are interested in becoming a board member.

Meetings to be scheduled to select families for two new Habitat for Humanity homes:  One each in Adams and Juneau Counties

Do you know a single parent or a couple (with or without children), who would be interested in a Habitat for Humanity house? The Adams-Juneau County chapter of Habitat for Humanity is seeking families for two new houses to be built over the next year, starting in September of 2014, to be completed in May of 2015. One house will be in Mauston and a second house will be located in the Village of Friendship.

Jim Abbs, spokesperson for the Habitat Board, said “We really can’t finalize our planning without selecting families. While our houses are not custom-built or large we do try and accommodate families of different sizes and with special needs.

Selection of Habitat families is based on several factors:
• Current housing that is inadequate, unsafe or unaffordable|
• A yearly income that does not exceed certain limits (varies with family size)

• Willingness to provide 250-500 sweat equity hours of work toward building their home
• Willingness to attend homeowner workshops before construction of their home
• Ability to make low payments on a 20-year zero percent interest mortgage

Interested families are encouraged to schedule a personal information meeting at the Habitat for Humanity Office on Hwy 12 & 16 in Mauston (in same building as the Habitat ReStore) by calling (608) 847-2000.

“In order to be considered for a home, families must attend one of these family informational meetings,” said Jerry Schroeder, Chair of the Habitat Construction Committee,  “That begins the application process.”

Habitat for Humanity of Adams and Juneau Counties is a nonprofit housing ministry that builds houses in partnership with low income families, and then sells the houses to the families at no profit with a zero-interest mortgage.  In Adams and Juneau Counties, Habitat has built or renovated home for 18 families, 13 in the last 5 years. Nationwide, Habitat for Humanity has helped build or renovate more than800,000 decent, affordable houses, providing simple decent homes for more than 3 million people.

“We are honored to be part of this work,” notes Abbs, “ There are too many families living in housing that is not safe, healthy or affordable.”

More information is available at the local Habitat website, www.habitatajc.org  or by calling (608) 847-2000 or (608) 238-5214.

Photo Captions:   Raising a wall at a Habitat House,    Sign at a Habitat house built in 2011

Habitat for Humanity of Adams & Juneau County celebrated the construction of its 18th and 19th homes at dedication ceremonies last week. THe homes are located at 301 North Union STreet in Mauston and 224 North Cedar Street in Adams. At the dedication, the Deitz and Manning Families thanked all those who worked so hard to help get them a home of their own.

These houses were made possible by the work of the Mauston and Adams-Friendship HIgh School construction classes, taught by Randy Fabian and Doug Eichmann, respectively. The students and teachers started working on these homes in September of 2013 and continued during the school year – through heat, cold, rain, and snow.

THe Manning and Deitz Partner Families also performed many hours of “sweat equity” working on their homes.

Donations of money, materials, and volunteer labor from local businesses and organizations was provided by the Bank of Mauston, BMO Harris Bank, JC’s Electric, Heating & Air Conditioning, BTU Management, Len’s Drywall, Dehmlow Excavating, and Dependable Concrete Inc. Because of their generosity, Habitat was able to build the two homes and sell them at affordable prices. The Manning and Deitz families purchased the homes with a no-profit loan, and their monthly mortgage payments will be used to build more Habitat houses.

Habitat also received supplies, materials, and professional services from many others, including Whirlpool, Kohler, Square D, Yale Security, Hunter-Douglas, and Dow Corning.

Plans are underway to start two new Habitat homes in Mauston and Adams in collaboration with the high schools, starting this coming September. To find out how you can get involved with Habitat for Humanity in Adams and Juneau Counties, visitwww.habitat-ajc.org, call 608-847-2000, or e-mail us at habitatajcoutreach.org.

The staff at the Mauston Habitat for Humanity ReStore knew that the antique sewing machine that came off the truck at the end of April was a special piece. The machine was beautifully painted, and the cabinet it folded into was made of solid, quarter-sawn, white oak. Recognizing the beauty as well as the historical value of the piece, Jim Abbs, president of the Board of Habitat for Humanity of Adams & Juneau County, decided the best home for the machine was one where its history would be valued.
The Elroy Historical Society, located in downtown Elroy, is home to over 400 exhibits featuring objects from Elroy’s past. Exhibits show what life was like in Elroy when it was a bustling railroad town, as well as objects related to farming and family life in early Juneau County. The museum did not, however, have an antique sewing machine. Donna Rawn, president of the Elroy Historical Society, jumped at the chance to incorporate such a unique piece into the museum’s exhibits.

The sewing machine, donated by Janet Ackerson of Wonewoc, was manufactured by the New Home company in Orange, Massachusetts. The serial number dates it from 1901. The unique “parlor cabinet” design was a highly sought after feature for sewing machines, and made it one of the most expensive types of machines on the market.
At the Elroy Historical Society’s museum, it will be used to illustrate what domestic life was like for many Juneau County families in the early twentieth century.

The Mauston Habitat for Humanity ReStore is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10-5. All proceeds from sales go towards supporting Habitat for Humanity of Adams and Juneau County. The Elroy Historical Society Museum is open from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday, or by appointment.

After a year of service to Habitat for Humanity of Adams & Juneau Counties and the local community, John Hunter will conclude his term with the AmeriCorps VISTA program this month. John has been the Donation Coordinator at the Mauston ReStore throughout his VISTA term. His work has included scheduling donations, marketing and advertising to solicit material donations to the ReStore, and writing and designing the newsletter.

Stepping in to the Donation Coordinator role is Kevin Anderson, who started his one year term as a VISTA in mid-June. Kevin recently moved to Mauston from just outside of Washington D.C. Last year he served a one year term with FEMA Corps, a branch of AmeriCorps dedicated to disaster preparedness, response, and relief. Prior to working with FEMA Corps, Kevin studied graphic design at the Art Institute of Washington. He will be using the skills he learned there to help Habitat and the ReStore in designing marketing materials, which will be just one of many roles he will fill for Habitat.

As of April, Habitat for Humanity of Adams & Juneau Counties has moved into the third year of its partnership with the AmeriCorps VISTA program. This year the affiliate and ReStore will host three one-year VISTAs and three summer VISTAs.

This month the ReStore is also saying goodbye to Assistant Manager Elizabeth Cobosco. Elizabeth is originally from Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, and has also lived in Eau Claire.  She moved to Mauston last year with her husband, who is an active duty National Guard member.

Elizabeth started working at the Mauston ReStore in September, where she put the skills she developed as a Front End Manager at Menard’s flagship store in Eau Claire to good use. Her knowledge of building materials and sales ability have been a great asset to the ReStore, and she will be missed! The best part about working at the ReStore for Elizabeth has been the opportunity to help the community and get involved with Habitat.

Elizabeth and her husband are moving back to Eau Claire, where she plans to enroll at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire to complete her biology degree.

In June, the Mauston Habitat ReStore is kicking off a new way to get great deals. The new program is called the ReStore Rewards Club and is designed to reward savvy customers who shop frequently at the Mauston ReStore.

There is no cost to join the program; one just needs to follow three simple steps: One-Fill out a short registration form. Two-Pick up a small, durable ReStore Rewards Card. Three-Shop! Every $20 spent at the ReStore yields a single punch in the card. Once 20 holes are punched, the buyer gets 50% off a purchase of up to $400, and a new card.

There are several other benefits for Rewards card members. Members will receive a 10% discount on any item when they sign up. Clun members who show their card within seven days of their birthday get 20% off the purchase of a single item. Anyone signing up for a card before the end of June will also get one hole punch, even without a purchase. To take advantage of all these deals, stop by in June to fill out our short registration form, receive your ReStore Rewards Card, and shop!

The Mauston Habitat ReStore was honored to host the State annual ReStore Conference on Monday, April 28, attended by representatives from ReStores around Wisconsin. Topics included development of marketing research tools, the Madison ReStore’s “Urban Wood” lumber recycling program, special donation projects, and gathering volunteer and donor data.

Representatives from ReStores in Appleton, Green Bay, La Crosse, Madison, Marinette, Mauston, Milwaukee, New Richmond, Oshkosh, Plymouth, Sauk and Columbia counties, Sheboygan, Spooner, St. Croix Falls, Sturgeon Bay, Waukesha, Wausau, West Bend, and the UW-Extension office in Mauston were in attendance.

“This is a very dedicated group,” commented UW-Extension’s Gary Kirking, one of the presenters.

The Mauston ReStore staff discussed its program of donation pick-ups outside of Adams and Juneau counties. While there are 42 Habitat for Humanity affiliates in Wisconsin, only 26 of them have ReStores, and many of them do not have ReStores. The Mauston ReStore has partnered with the Habitat for Humanity affiliates of Monroe, Wood, Marquette, Waushara, and Green Lake Counties to pick up donations and then share the profits.

“This Mauston ReStore effort not only helps to raise money to build houses, it also increases the profile of Habitat for Humanity throughout central Wisconsin,” said Jim Abbs, local Habitat board President. Just in the last year alone, the Mauston ReStore has helped raise over $55,000 with this program, and hopes that other ReStores will consider doing the same.