January 14, 2025 • 18 mins
We’re off to the races! This week, I’m joined by Anna Cain and Bekki Scheel of Kewaskum Friends of Parks to talk about their exciting inaugural event, A Night at the Races. Taking place on Friday, January 31, 2025, at Foundry 45 in Kewaskum, this Derby-themed fundraiser will support the group’s mission to enhance the village’s parks system.
Anna and Bekki share details about the event, including what to expect (spoiler: there’s video horse betting, prizes, and Kentucky Derby-inspired food and drinks), as well as their ambitious plans to improve Kewaskum parks with projects like:
• A beer garden with a community room at Kiwanis Park
• A kayak launch at River Hill Park
• An all-abilities playground at Kiwanis
If you’re looking for a fun way to support your community, grab your Derby hat, buy your tickets, and join in the fun!
Episode Highlights:
• Meet Anna Cain and Bekki Scheel and learn about Kewaskum Friends of Parks.
• Details about A Night at the Races event.
• A sneak peek at the park improvement projects in the works.
• How you can get involved and make a difference.
Event Details:
A Night at the Races
Friday, January 31, 2025
5–11 PM
Foundry 45, Kewaskum, WI
Tickets available on Eventbrite.
Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
• Kewaskum Friends of Parks on Facebook: Facebook
• Tickets for A Night at the Races: Eventbrite
Connect with Fifteen Minutes with Fuzz:
• Website: fuzzmartin.com
Thank you for supporting Kewaskum Friends of Parks and for tuning in to another episode of Fifteen Minutes with Fuzz! Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review—it really helps!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Fuzz Martin (00:08):
Hello, fine listener.
It's been about a month.
I hope you're doing well.
My name is Fuzz Martin, and thisis a podcast about positive things
happening in and around WashingtonCounty, Wisconsin called Fifteen Minutes
with Fuzz, and each week I chat withsomeone from the local community about
positive things happening in our area.
Take care.
Bye.
Since it's been a month, I'm alittle out of practice and forgot
(00:30):
to record the intro in the studio,so I'm using a different microphone.
So if it sounds different, that's why.
If you can't tell that's because,man, I've been editing audio
since my first radio gig at 104.
5 WSLD, your home in the country,uh, since I was 17 years old.
And at that time, by the way, I wentby the name Fuzzy the Weekend Guy.
(00:53):
And then when I turned 18, becauseI was an adult, I dropped the Y and
that's how I became Fuzz, origin story.
Anyway, enough strolling down memory lane.
Today, we are speaking with AnnaCain and Bekki Scheel of Kewaskum
Friends of Parks about their upcoming.
A Night at the Races fundraiser, whichis taking place on Friday, January 31st
at Foundry 45, right here in Kewaskum.
(01:16):
It's a great event at a greatvenue for a great cause.
It's going to help someof our great parks.
And with that, here are 15 minutes on ANight at the Races with Bekki Scheel and
Anna Cain on Fifteen Minutes with Fuzz.
Bekki
(01:40):
and Anna, thank you so much for joining meagain here at Fifteen Minutes with Fuzz.
Can you start by telling us forthose who maybe hadn't listened
to the First episode that we didtogether, which was for the Pints
Polka event that you had, last year.
Can you please tell us aboutKewaskum Friends of Park, what the
group is about, what inspired itscreation, and what is your mission?
Anna Cain (02:02):
So, Kewaskum Friends of Parks is a non profit.
We, have a board of now eleven people.
Our goal is basically to maintainand improve the parks in Kewaskum.
So, lots of goals in mind andwhat we are fundraising for.
Fuzz Martin (02:17):
Excellent.
So what role do parks playin the Kewaskum community?
Why is it so important tomaintain and also improve them?
Bekki Scheel (02:26):
I think the parks in Kewaskum are really beautiful
and we have some really greatgroundwork that's already laid out.
Just some of the places and buildingsand so on in our parks are just a
little bit outdated and I think thatthere's some really great opportunities
to build up those areas and help todraw people to utilize our parks.
In a way better, more amazing way.
Fuzz Martin (02:47):
Yeah, than they're currently being used.
Right?
Absolutely.
Bekki Scheel (02:50):
We want to see people out in the parks.
We want to see peopleutilizing these public spaces.
We want to host events in the parks.
We want kids to be ableto play in the parks.
We want to draw people to other, fromother communities to our community
to show them how awesome Kewaskum is.
And I think improving some ofthe parks that we already have.
We'll really go a long way.
Fuzz Martin (03:09):
Sure.
And, obviously, I'm gonna speak froma politician's standpoint right now.
There's not a whole lot of fundsfrom taxes and things like that that
can go to this, so that's where Anorganization such as yours is important
to helping support that, right?
Yeah.
Bekki Scheel (03:22):
And every community has a Parks Depart or
a parks friend of Parks group.
Mm-hmm . Like what we have, ours isjust, you know, newer to inception and
we're just getting the ball rolling.
But there's a lot of other communitiesthat have these parks group that
have done really cool thingswithin their communities, and I
think that that's our goal is to.
Find the inspiration from some ofthese other parks groups and see what
(03:42):
they've done and how we can replicateand do awesome things in Kewaskum too.
Fuzz Martin (03:47):
What are some of the key projects that Kewaskum Friends of Parks
are, what are the projects that youare currently working on for the parks?
Bekki Scheel (03:55):
Yeah, we have probably like a top three I would say right
now that we've kind of identified withcommunity help and within our group.
So, the first one is, once the Kewaskumpool was closed down, we have this
beautiful blank space up there.
We really have some big intentionsto put a community room slash beer
garden, a place that people can rentout a space to have a bridal shower,
(04:19):
a graduation party, a family reunionthat has indoor and outdoor space that
we can use year round in Kewaskum,and also attach to it a really cool.
Beer Garden stage area where we canalso host outdoor events, and, and have
just a really nice community space.
another one that I have somepassion for is a kayak launch.
I think we have a completely underutilizedriver space in one of our beautiful
(04:44):
Kewaskum parks and being able to accessthat river in a, a fully different way.
Then what we've been able toutilize it for, fishing, kayaks, get
people out on the water would be areally, a really neat thing to do.
And then I think Anna wouldprobably take the, the last big
project that we have our eyes on.
Anna Cain (05:04):
Yeah, the last project, that will hopefully be in the area of the, Old
Pond would be the All Abilities Playgroundthat we are currently working on building
and coming up with the renderings for.
Fuzz Martin (05:17):
All of these things obviously take money to make that happen, and
in some cases a lot of money, right?
That's where fundraising eventscome in, and Kewaskum Friends of
Parks has a big night coming up onFriday, January 31st from 5 to 11 p.
m.
at Foundry 45 in Kewaskum.
Can you walk us througha night at the races?
(05:37):
And what attendees canexpect at the event.
Bekki Scheel (05:41):
Absolutely.
So, part of getting, Kewaskum Friendsof Parks name out there is trying to do
some of these really fun, creative events,and the Night of the Races came from,
one of our members attending a similarKentucky Derby themed event out of state.
The night will be at Foundry45, which is a really beautiful
venue right in our own community.
(06:02):
So, What you do is you buy a ticket, youcome, get in the door, we have a wonderful
menu from Crave Catering that's goingto be doing Kentucky Derby style food,
beverages, and a dessert bar, we willhave the projector, uh, on the stage,
so Everybody will be able to watch theselive horse races, like a DVD or a video
(06:25):
of some horse races that, you know, mightbe from the 80s, might be from the 2000s.
They're not the Kentucky Derby thatyou can Google to see who wins.
It's some obscure horse races, butyou'll be actually watching live footage
of horse races prior to every race.
Every attendee will have theopportunity to buy some funny
money, like Monopoly cash.
They can use that Monopoly moneyto place their bets on the horses.
(06:48):
Everybody will have a brochurewith the horse names, the, the
horse odds, and you can make someeducated guesses on how to try to
figure out who you want to root for.
And then collectively as a big groupof hopefully 300 plus people, we'll
all be able to cheer on the horsesand watch each race individually.
Winners get called up on stage,congratulated, and then they
(07:08):
win tickets that they can enterto win some awesome prizes.
Fuzz Martin (07:11):
Can you talk about what some of those prizes are
that people are able to win?
Anna Cain (07:15):
So, yeah, we have lots of very fantastic prizes that have been
graciously donated by so many people.
We have a free membership for HoneyCorp golf course that they donated.
Ace Hardware has donated a Blackstone.
We have Chainsaw.
We have a nice cooler, Drexeldonated some of that stuff.
(07:40):
We have also kayaks that are going to bethere, as well as paddle board, portable
pick a ball net, anything that kind ofhas to do with, obviously, the parks.
Fuzz Martin (07:51):
Again, that event goes from 5 to 11 on the 31st.
How much are tickets for people to get in?
Bekki Scheel (07:55):
Tickets are 60 per individual.
We also have, some tablesthat are available.
So.
a larger group or a business canget a VIP table, kind of a front
row seat with some extra fixings,to view the horse races also.
Fuzz Martin (08:07):
Great, and if people want to get tickets or buy a
table for their organization,what's the best way to do so?
Bekki Scheel (08:14):
Yeah, we have an online link that you can use that we can,
send out or find us on social media.
We also have, the Village ofKewaskum is having ticket sales during
any of their open business hours.
You can stop in thereand, and get a ticket.
Fuzz Martin (08:28):
Great.
So, so just walk into the Annexand, and they'll hook you up.
You got it.
Yep.
All right.
Perfect.
So, tell us about how you cameup with the idea for the event.
You said one of your boardmembers had attended one of these.
Is this an event where somebody,like, you have an organization that
comes in that does these kinds ofhorse races or are you guys doing
all the work yourself here on that?
Bekki Scheel (08:47):
We are not doing all the work ourselves, thank goodness.
This is a nice package that we can, thatwe can purchase and we can utilize for
the event and it'll walk us through itand make a great experience for everybody.
Fuzz Martin (08:58):
Awesome.
Sounds fun and I, I've neverbeen to one so, looking forward.
I still have to get my tickets, so.
Bekki Scheel (09:04):
This is your reminder.
This
Fuzz Martin (09:05):
interview is a reminder for, this interview is a reminder
for me more than it is an interviewfor the guests, so just remind
me to get, to go buy our tickets.
Stay in, in the Kentucky Derby theme.
So it says in your Facebook event thatpeople are, encouraged to dress up.
So tell us, tell us what you think,what are, what are people going to be
wearing at the, Night at the Races.
Anna Cain (09:25):
So, think Kentucky Derby.
We want to see your big hats,your pastels, your suspenders.
It's going to have thedecor is lots of red roses.
So come in your KentuckyDerby inspired dress.
Fuzz Martin (09:39):
Okay.
I'm excited to see what Adam Gitteris going to show up in just because
I can only imagine right now.
Bekki Scheel (09:46):
And there's prizes also for best dressed.
We have wonderful giveaways for.
For those who are voted the best dressedof the evening, so more, more incentive.
Fuzz Martin (09:57):
Excellent.
All right.
Well, I got to start working on that too.
So, the, you also mentioned Crave willbe catering, and they'll have some
Kentucky Derby themed food and beverages.
I'm guessing mint julepswill probably be on,
Bekki Scheel (10:11):
On the menu.
On
Fuzz Martin (10:12):
the menu.
What else, what, what other kind offood or beverages can people expect?
Bekki Scheel (10:16):
I think we have some bourbon, and some really great
bourbon giveaways and, and, anddifferent prizes to win that are,
you know, along the theme also.
I believe we also have some really great,you know, chicken and, Mac and cheese.
Foundry
Anna Cain (10:32):
45, has a drink also inspired, that they do donate
back a percentage of the drink.
I think it's mint julep inspired.
Sure.
I think Moscow Mule.
Fuzz Martin (10:43):
Oh, excellent.
Yeah.
Thank you.
All right.
Very good.
I'm in.
Um.
I also recently saw on Facebook thatyou've landed Mike Paul of Paul Auction
Company to be your emcee for the night.
So that makes it official becausehe's really good at what he does.
Bekki Scheel (10:58):
Isn't that true?
Um,
Fuzz Martin (10:59):
so can you tell us about, that part of the event?
Like, so you're not actually having actualraffles that are like auctions, right?
Correct.
It's not an auction, no.
But from, but there are prizesthat people can win as part of the,
The video, horse races and such.
Is there none of those?
Bekki Scheel (11:14):
Yep.
Yep.
If you're gonna, if you decidethat you want to bet on the horses.
We have you winning the raffle ticketsso that you can go ahead and put your
ticket into tons of really great prizes.
Mike's role in all of this, andwe're so fortunate and lucky that
he agreed to help us out with this.
Mike's awesome, and if you know or ifyou've ever been to any of his events,
Other events, you know, that this ticketwill not only be horse races, but it'll
(11:37):
be, you know, the Mike Paul comedy show.
Mm-hmm . And the Mike PaulEntertainment for the evening.
Um, which is probably worththe $60 ticket, in my opinion.
Mm-hmm . So, he's just gonna be our mcfor the evening, kind of help us to keep
things moving and to keep on the pace.
And then to help us to announcethe winners and to hand out the
tickets for the winners and, and.
The whole program.
Fuzz Martin (11:57):
Great.
That's excellent.
Sounds like a lot of fun.
So all the proceeds from the event goto toward park improvements, right?
So can you share about what specificprojects or upgrades you're planning to
fund or hoping to fund with this event?
Bekki Scheel (12:11):
Yeah, those top three that we had kind of mentioned I
think are the ones on the list.
So the beer garden, the playground,you know, what we can do with that
space and if we can kind of getthat up and rolling sooner rather
than later would really be ideal.
The kayak launch is a, you know,a smaller ticket price point.
So I think that that's something thatwe really have intentions of getting
(12:32):
done here in the near future as well.
And we're definitely getting close tomaking a lot of these things happen.
But like you said, a lot of thesethings come with big ticket prices and
the continuing fundraising on, on ourteam's part is what we really need to
do to keep kind of spreading that word.
Fuzz Martin (12:49):
Absolutely.
So.
What is the long term visionfor Kewaskum Friends of Parks?
What are you guys looking to do?
I know you've got these three, but what doyou want to accomplish in the long term?
Bekki Scheel (13:04):
I think we really just want to make Kewaskum Parks a destination park.
We want to have the amenities here wherepeople talk about us in other communities.
And they want to come and visit us.
When you have your kids scheduled fora baseball tournament, and you know
that you're playing in Kewaskum thisweekend, we want you to be really excited.
Like, Kewaskum is a great facility,and we know that there's a lot to do
(13:26):
there, and everybody that goes thereis going to have an enjoyable time, and
we want that feel throughout our parks.
And it's not about all just KiwanisPark, it's about River Hill and getting
people to utilize the river, and Utilizethat park in different ways, too.
We just have a lot of untapped,really beautiful spaces
that we want to capitalize
Anna Cain (13:43):
on.
Having a destination for people to goto also with having a beer garden or a
playground, this kayak launch will alsobring in money for businesses in the area.
So someone comes to play onthe playground, takes their
kids to Dairy Queen afterwards.
So our goal is to bring more.
People to the area.
Fuzz Martin (14:04):
Strong parks are good for a strong community and strong
businesses and everything, right?
Bekki Scheel (14:09):
Absolutely.
Fuzz Martin (14:11):
So, for each of you, you obviously have passion for this.
What, uh, for, and this is a questionfor, that you should, I'd like you to both
answer please, which is, what drew you tobecome involved with Kewaskum Friends of
Parks and really found Kewaskum Friendsof Parks, um, and what has been the
most rewarding part of your work so far?
Anna Cain (14:32):
So what initially drew me to the parks is, I started visiting
all inclusive playgrounds with Two ofmy kids, my older son had passed away
young, who would potentially have adisability if he were still here, that as
a way to honor and remember him, I tookmy kids to these all inclusive parks.
(14:53):
We had to travel to do that.
I got this bug that we need tohave one in every community.
There is no reason to put up aplayground without every child.
in mind.
So that's initially what drew me andthen I got this huge passion for how
important parks are for everybody.
Fuzz Martin (15:11):
Great.
And you, Becky?
Bekki Scheel (15:13):
Yeah, I think just being local to the Kewaskum area and being
raised in these parks and raised inthese facilities and now being a mom
who's raising my kids in the same parksand same facilities, we spend so much
time every summer at Music in the park.
We spend so much time everysummer at the Ball Diamonds.
You know, this is something that ourfamily is just really involved in.
(15:34):
Spending a lot of time up theremeans I want the facilities to
be awesome and I want them to beawesome for a really long time.
So, I think, Just jumping in withAnna, this has been kind of a fun
experience for us to go through together.
Fuzz Martin (15:48):
Excellent.
For those who can't attend Nightat the Races, what are some other
ways that people can get involvedwith Kewaskum Friends of Parks?
Anna Cain (15:57):
We are always looking for people to help volunteer.
We have meetings every monththat we are more than happy
to get the community involved.
Involved and attend, you can donateto, obviously, Kewaskum Friends
of Parks, you can look for us onsocial media, follow us that way,
share, post, power of social media.
Bekki Scheel (16:17):
And definitely watch for other events that are coming up.
So, we already have the repeatPints and Polka date out there.
Off the top of my head, I can't think ofwhat day it is, but it is in May again.
May 17th, I believe.
Fuzz Martin (16:29):
Okay.
Bekki Scheel (16:30):
And that is going to be A repeat, but even better than I think
what we did the first time around.
So, so that one's coming up andI'm sure we'll have another couple
other events happening in thesummer in the different parks.
We had an awesome, successfulpickleball season up at Keewanese Park.
We did monthly pickleball leagues,you know, just ways to get people
out using the park, socializing,meeting new people, staying active,
Fuzz Martin (16:54):
all of it.
Well, thank you both for your passionfor this and for all you're doing to
help improve and maintain the parks inKewaskum, and I think it's awesome that
you're so passionate about it and activelyinvolved and getting others involved.
So thank you very muchand thanks for coming on.
Bekki Scheel (17:11):
Yeah, thank you so much.
Thanks for having us.
Fuzz Martin (17:14):
So again, Night at the Races is happening on Friday,
January 31st from 5 to 11 p.
m at Kewaskum, and you can get ticketsby following the link on social media
if you go to Kewaskum Friends of Parks.
You'll find it, right?
Anna Cain (17:28):
Absolutely.
It's there.
We're stopping at the annex.
Fuzz Martin (17:32):
Thank you again to Anna Cain and Bekki Scheel of Kewaskum Friends
of Parks for joining me on this week'sepisode of Fifteen Minutes with Fuzz.
If you ever have an idea for a guestfor this show, don't even think
about hesitating to reach out to me.
You can email me at mypersonal email address.
That I've had since I was22 years old, 23 years old.
(17:58):
And that is fuzz at fuzzmartin.
com.
Again, fuzz at fuzzmartin.
com, or you can usethe form at fuzzmartin.
com slash guest, that's G U E S T.
Episodes of the show, youcan find them at Spotify.
Apple Podcasts, YouTube,iHeartPod News, or at fuzzmartin.
com.
New episodes coming on Tuesdays.
You're awesome every single day.
(18:20):
And I appreciate you listening inyour car, AirPods, on your computer
speakers or wherever, right hereto Fifteen Minutes with Fuzz.
Hello, fine listener.
It's been about a month.
I hope you're doing well.
My name is Fuzz Martin, and thisis a podcast about positive things
happening in and around WashingtonCounty, Wisconsin called Fifteen Minutes
with Fuzz, and each week I chat withsomeone from the local community about
positive things happening in our area.
Take care.
Bye.
Since it's been a month, I'm alittle out of practice and forgot
(00:30):
to record the intro in the studio,so I'm using a different microphone.
So if it sounds different, that's why.
If you can't tell that's because,man, I've been editing audio
since my first radio gig at 104.
5 WSLD, your home in the country,uh, since I was 17 years old.
And at that time, by the way, I wentby the name Fuzzy the Weekend Guy.
(00:53):
And then when I turned 18, becauseI was an adult, I dropped the Y and
that's how I became Fuzz, origin story.
Anyway, enough strolling down memory lane.
Today, we are speaking with AnnaCain and Bekki Scheel of Kewaskum
Friends of Parks about their upcoming.
A Night at the Races fundraiser, whichis taking place on Friday, January 31st
at Foundry 45, right here in Kewaskum.
(01:16):
It's a great event at a greatvenue for a great cause.
It's going to help someof our great parks.
And with that, here are 15 minutes on ANight at the Races with Bekki Scheel and
Anna Cain on Fifteen Minutes with Fuzz.
Bekki
(01:40):
and Anna, thank you so much for joining meagain here at Fifteen Minutes with Fuzz.
Can you start by telling us forthose who maybe hadn't listened
to the First episode that we didtogether, which was for the Pints
Polka event that you had, last year.
Can you please tell us aboutKewaskum Friends of Park, what the
group is about, what inspired itscreation, and what is your mission?
Anna Cain (02:02):
So, Kewaskum Friends of Parks is a non profit.
We, have a board of now eleven people.
Our goal is basically to maintainand improve the parks in Kewaskum.
So, lots of goals in mind andwhat we are fundraising for.
Fuzz Martin (02:17):
Excellent.
So what role do parks playin the Kewaskum community?
Why is it so important tomaintain and also improve them?
Bekki Scheel (02:26):
I think the parks in Kewaskum are really beautiful
and we have some really greatgroundwork that's already laid out.
Just some of the places and buildingsand so on in our parks are just a
little bit outdated and I think thatthere's some really great opportunities
to build up those areas and help todraw people to utilize our parks.
In a way better, more amazing way.
Fuzz Martin (02:47):
Yeah, than they're currently being used.
Right?
Absolutely.
Bekki Scheel (02:50):
We want to see people out in the parks.
We want to see peopleutilizing these public spaces.
We want to host events in the parks.
We want kids to be ableto play in the parks.
We want to draw people to other, fromother communities to our community
to show them how awesome Kewaskum is.
And I think improving some ofthe parks that we already have.
We'll really go a long way.
Fuzz Martin (03:09):
Sure.
And, obviously, I'm gonna speak froma politician's standpoint right now.
There's not a whole lot of fundsfrom taxes and things like that that
can go to this, so that's where Anorganization such as yours is important
to helping support that, right?
Yeah.
Bekki Scheel (03:22):
And every community has a Parks Depart or
a parks friend of Parks group.
Mm-hmm . Like what we have, ours isjust, you know, newer to inception and
we're just getting the ball rolling.
But there's a lot of other communitiesthat have these parks group that
have done really cool thingswithin their communities, and I
think that that's our goal is to.
Find the inspiration from some ofthese other parks groups and see what
(03:42):
they've done and how we can replicateand do awesome things in Kewaskum too.
Fuzz Martin (03:47):
What are some of the key projects that Kewaskum Friends of Parks
are, what are the projects that youare currently working on for the parks?
Bekki Scheel (03:55):
Yeah, we have probably like a top three I would say right
now that we've kind of identified withcommunity help and within our group.
So, the first one is, once the Kewaskumpool was closed down, we have this
beautiful blank space up there.
We really have some big intentionsto put a community room slash beer
garden, a place that people can rentout a space to have a bridal shower,
(04:19):
a graduation party, a family reunionthat has indoor and outdoor space that
we can use year round in Kewaskum,and also attach to it a really cool.
Beer Garden stage area where we canalso host outdoor events, and, and have
just a really nice community space.
another one that I have somepassion for is a kayak launch.
I think we have a completely underutilizedriver space in one of our beautiful
(04:44):
Kewaskum parks and being able to accessthat river in a, a fully different way.
Then what we've been able toutilize it for, fishing, kayaks, get
people out on the water would be areally, a really neat thing to do.
And then I think Anna wouldprobably take the, the last big
project that we have our eyes on.
Anna Cain (05:04):
Yeah, the last project, that will hopefully be in the area of the, Old
Pond would be the All Abilities Playgroundthat we are currently working on building
and coming up with the renderings for.
Fuzz Martin (05:17):
All of these things obviously take money to make that happen, and
in some cases a lot of money, right?
That's where fundraising eventscome in, and Kewaskum Friends of
Parks has a big night coming up onFriday, January 31st from 5 to 11 p.
m.
at Foundry 45 in Kewaskum.
Can you walk us througha night at the races?
(05:37):
And what attendees canexpect at the event.
Bekki Scheel (05:41):
Absolutely.
So, part of getting, Kewaskum Friendsof Parks name out there is trying to do
some of these really fun, creative events,and the Night of the Races came from,
one of our members attending a similarKentucky Derby themed event out of state.
The night will be at Foundry45, which is a really beautiful
venue right in our own community.
(06:02):
So, What you do is you buy a ticket, youcome, get in the door, we have a wonderful
menu from Crave Catering that's goingto be doing Kentucky Derby style food,
beverages, and a dessert bar, we willhave the projector, uh, on the stage,
so Everybody will be able to watch theselive horse races, like a DVD or a video
(06:25):
of some horse races that, you know, mightbe from the 80s, might be from the 2000s.
They're not the Kentucky Derby thatyou can Google to see who wins.
It's some obscure horse races, butyou'll be actually watching live footage
of horse races prior to every race.
Every attendee will have theopportunity to buy some funny
money, like Monopoly cash.
They can use that Monopoly moneyto place their bets on the horses.
(06:48):
Everybody will have a brochurewith the horse names, the, the
horse odds, and you can make someeducated guesses on how to try to
figure out who you want to root for.
And then collectively as a big groupof hopefully 300 plus people, we'll
all be able to cheer on the horsesand watch each race individually.
Winners get called up on stage,congratulated, and then they
(07:08):
win tickets that they can enterto win some awesome prizes.
Fuzz Martin (07:11):
Can you talk about what some of those prizes are
that people are able to win?
Anna Cain (07:15):
So, yeah, we have lots of very fantastic prizes that have been
graciously donated by so many people.
We have a free membership for HoneyCorp golf course that they donated.
Ace Hardware has donated a Blackstone.
We have Chainsaw.
We have a nice cooler, Drexeldonated some of that stuff.
(07:40):
We have also kayaks that are going to bethere, as well as paddle board, portable
pick a ball net, anything that kind ofhas to do with, obviously, the parks.
Fuzz Martin (07:51):
Again, that event goes from 5 to 11 on the 31st.
How much are tickets for people to get in?
Bekki Scheel (07:55):
Tickets are 60 per individual.
We also have, some tablesthat are available.
So.
a larger group or a business canget a VIP table, kind of a front
row seat with some extra fixings,to view the horse races also.
Fuzz Martin (08:07):
Great, and if people want to get tickets or buy a
table for their organization,what's the best way to do so?
Bekki Scheel (08:14):
Yeah, we have an online link that you can use that we can,
send out or find us on social media.
We also have, the Village ofKewaskum is having ticket sales during
any of their open business hours.
You can stop in thereand, and get a ticket.
Fuzz Martin (08:28):
Great.
So, so just walk into the Annexand, and they'll hook you up.
You got it.
Yep.
All right.
Perfect.
So, tell us about how you cameup with the idea for the event.
You said one of your boardmembers had attended one of these.
Is this an event where somebody,like, you have an organization that
comes in that does these kinds ofhorse races or are you guys doing
all the work yourself here on that?
Bekki Scheel (08:47):
We are not doing all the work ourselves, thank goodness.
This is a nice package that we can, thatwe can purchase and we can utilize for
the event and it'll walk us through itand make a great experience for everybody.
Fuzz Martin (08:58):
Awesome.
Sounds fun and I, I've neverbeen to one so, looking forward.
I still have to get my tickets, so.
Bekki Scheel (09:04):
This is your reminder.
This
Fuzz Martin (09:05):
interview is a reminder for, this interview is a reminder
for me more than it is an interviewfor the guests, so just remind
me to get, to go buy our tickets.
Stay in, in the Kentucky Derby theme.
So it says in your Facebook event thatpeople are, encouraged to dress up.
So tell us, tell us what you think,what are, what are people going to be
wearing at the, Night at the Races.
Anna Cain (09:25):
So, think Kentucky Derby.
We want to see your big hats,your pastels, your suspenders.
It's going to have thedecor is lots of red roses.
So come in your KentuckyDerby inspired dress.
Fuzz Martin (09:39):
Okay.
I'm excited to see what Adam Gitteris going to show up in just because
I can only imagine right now.
Bekki Scheel (09:46):
And there's prizes also for best dressed.
We have wonderful giveaways for.
For those who are voted the best dressedof the evening, so more, more incentive.
Fuzz Martin (09:57):
Excellent.
All right.
Well, I got to start working on that too.
So, the, you also mentioned Crave willbe catering, and they'll have some
Kentucky Derby themed food and beverages.
I'm guessing mint julepswill probably be on,
Bekki Scheel (10:11):
On the menu.
On
Fuzz Martin (10:12):
the menu.
What else, what, what other kind offood or beverages can people expect?
Bekki Scheel (10:16):
I think we have some bourbon, and some really great
bourbon giveaways and, and, anddifferent prizes to win that are,
you know, along the theme also.
I believe we also have some really great,you know, chicken and, Mac and cheese.
Foundry
Anna Cain (10:32):
45, has a drink also inspired, that they do donate
back a percentage of the drink.
I think it's mint julep inspired.
Sure.
I think Moscow Mule.
Fuzz Martin (10:43):
Oh, excellent.
Yeah.
Thank you.
All right.
Very good.
I'm in.
Um.
I also recently saw on Facebook thatyou've landed Mike Paul of Paul Auction
Company to be your emcee for the night.
So that makes it official becausehe's really good at what he does.
Bekki Scheel (10:58):
Isn't that true?
Um,
Fuzz Martin (10:59):
so can you tell us about, that part of the event?
Like, so you're not actually having actualraffles that are like auctions, right?
Correct.
It's not an auction, no.
But from, but there are prizesthat people can win as part of the,
The video, horse races and such.
Is there none of those?
Bekki Scheel (11:14):
Yep.
Yep.
If you're gonna, if you decidethat you want to bet on the horses.
We have you winning the raffle ticketsso that you can go ahead and put your
ticket into tons of really great prizes.
Mike's role in all of this, andwe're so fortunate and lucky that
he agreed to help us out with this.
Mike's awesome, and if you know or ifyou've ever been to any of his events,
Other events, you know, that this ticketwill not only be horse races, but it'll
(11:37):
be, you know, the Mike Paul comedy show.
Mm-hmm . And the Mike PaulEntertainment for the evening.
Um, which is probably worththe $60 ticket, in my opinion.
Mm-hmm . So, he's just gonna be our mcfor the evening, kind of help us to keep
things moving and to keep on the pace.
And then to help us to announcethe winners and to hand out the
tickets for the winners and, and.
The whole program.
Fuzz Martin (11:57):
Great.
That's excellent.
Sounds like a lot of fun.
So all the proceeds from the event goto toward park improvements, right?
So can you share about what specificprojects or upgrades you're planning to
fund or hoping to fund with this event?
Bekki Scheel (12:11):
Yeah, those top three that we had kind of mentioned I
think are the ones on the list.
So the beer garden, the playground,you know, what we can do with that
space and if we can kind of getthat up and rolling sooner rather
than later would really be ideal.
The kayak launch is a, you know,a smaller ticket price point.
So I think that that's something thatwe really have intentions of getting
(12:32):
done here in the near future as well.
And we're definitely getting close tomaking a lot of these things happen.
But like you said, a lot of thesethings come with big ticket prices and
the continuing fundraising on, on ourteam's part is what we really need to
do to keep kind of spreading that word.
Fuzz Martin (12:49):
Absolutely.
So.
What is the long term visionfor Kewaskum Friends of Parks?
What are you guys looking to do?
I know you've got these three, but what doyou want to accomplish in the long term?
Bekki Scheel (13:04):
I think we really just want to make Kewaskum Parks a destination park.
We want to have the amenities here wherepeople talk about us in other communities.
And they want to come and visit us.
When you have your kids scheduled fora baseball tournament, and you know
that you're playing in Kewaskum thisweekend, we want you to be really excited.
Like, Kewaskum is a great facility,and we know that there's a lot to do
(13:26):
there, and everybody that goes thereis going to have an enjoyable time, and
we want that feel throughout our parks.
And it's not about all just KiwanisPark, it's about River Hill and getting
people to utilize the river, and Utilizethat park in different ways, too.
We just have a lot of untapped,really beautiful spaces
that we want to capitalize
Anna Cain (13:43):
on.
Having a destination for people to goto also with having a beer garden or a
playground, this kayak launch will alsobring in money for businesses in the area.
So someone comes to play onthe playground, takes their
kids to Dairy Queen afterwards.
So our goal is to bring more.
People to the area.
Fuzz Martin (14:04):
Strong parks are good for a strong community and strong
businesses and everything, right?
Bekki Scheel (14:09):
Absolutely.
Fuzz Martin (14:11):
So, for each of you, you obviously have passion for this.
What, uh, for, and this is a questionfor, that you should, I'd like you to both
answer please, which is, what drew you tobecome involved with Kewaskum Friends of
Parks and really found Kewaskum Friendsof Parks, um, and what has been the
most rewarding part of your work so far?
Anna Cain (14:32):
So what initially drew me to the parks is, I started visiting
all inclusive playgrounds with Two ofmy kids, my older son had passed away
young, who would potentially have adisability if he were still here, that as
a way to honor and remember him, I tookmy kids to these all inclusive parks.
(14:53):
We had to travel to do that.
I got this bug that we need tohave one in every community.
There is no reason to put up aplayground without every child.
in mind.
So that's initially what drew me andthen I got this huge passion for how
important parks are for everybody.
Fuzz Martin (15:11):
Great.
And you, Becky?
Bekki Scheel (15:13):
Yeah, I think just being local to the Kewaskum area and being
raised in these parks and raised inthese facilities and now being a mom
who's raising my kids in the same parksand same facilities, we spend so much
time every summer at Music in the park.
We spend so much time everysummer at the Ball Diamonds.
You know, this is something that ourfamily is just really involved in.
(15:34):
Spending a lot of time up theremeans I want the facilities to
be awesome and I want them to beawesome for a really long time.
So, I think, Just jumping in withAnna, this has been kind of a fun
experience for us to go through together.
Fuzz Martin (15:48):
Excellent.
For those who can't attend Nightat the Races, what are some other
ways that people can get involvedwith Kewaskum Friends of Parks?
Anna Cain (15:57):
We are always looking for people to help volunteer.
We have meetings every monththat we are more than happy
to get the community involved.
Involved and attend, you can donateto, obviously, Kewaskum Friends
of Parks, you can look for us onsocial media, follow us that way,
share, post, power of social media.
Bekki Scheel (16:17):
And definitely watch for other events that are coming up.
So, we already have the repeatPints and Polka date out there.
Off the top of my head, I can't think ofwhat day it is, but it is in May again.
May 17th, I believe.
Fuzz Martin (16:29):
Okay.
Bekki Scheel (16:30):
And that is going to be A repeat, but even better than I think
what we did the first time around.
So, so that one's coming up andI'm sure we'll have another couple
other events happening in thesummer in the different parks.
We had an awesome, successfulpickleball season up at Keewanese Park.
We did monthly pickleball leagues,you know, just ways to get people
out using the park, socializing,meeting new people, staying active,
Fuzz Martin (16:54):
all of it.
Well, thank you both for your passionfor this and for all you're doing to
help improve and maintain the parks inKewaskum, and I think it's awesome that
you're so passionate about it and activelyinvolved and getting others involved.
So thank you very muchand thanks for coming on.
Bekki Scheel (17:11):
Yeah, thank you so much.
Thanks for having us.
Fuzz Martin (17:14):
So again, Night at the Races is happening on Friday,
January 31st from 5 to 11 p.
m at Kewaskum, and you can get ticketsby following the link on social media
if you go to Kewaskum Friends of Parks.
You'll find it, right?
Anna Cain (17:28):
Absolutely.
It's there.
We're stopping at the annex.
Fuzz Martin (17:32):
Thank you again to Anna Cain and Bekki Scheel of Kewaskum Friends
of Parks for joining me on this week'sepisode of Fifteen Minutes with Fuzz.
If you ever have an idea for a guestfor this show, don't even think
about hesitating to reach out to me.
You can email me at mypersonal email address.
That I've had since I was22 years old, 23 years old.
(17:58):
And that is fuzz at fuzzmartin.
com.
Again, fuzz at fuzzmartin.
com, or you can usethe form at fuzzmartin.
com slash guest, that's G U E S T.
Episodes of the show, youcan find them at Spotify.
Apple Podcasts, YouTube,iHeartPod News, or at fuzzmartin.
com.
New episodes coming on Tuesdays.
You're awesome every single day.
(18:20):
And I appreciate you listening inyour car, AirPods, on your computer
speakers or wherever, right hereto Fifteen Minutes with Fuzz.
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