The Menominee community will play a role in the United States’ 250th anniversary celebration. “Of the People: The Smithsonian Festival of Festivals” will host about 40 festivals around the country, with the July 29 production of the Menominee Pageant being the only event held in Wisconsin.

Free pizza? In Shawano? It happened.

Free pizza was the ticket May 15 at Stubborn Brothers Brewery to help choose the cheese that will be featured on the pies at Stubborn Slice, the new venture of Erik and Aaron Gilling, owners of Stubborn Brothers.

Classic Neapolitan style pizza and thin crust pizzas will be on the menu.

We recently enjoyed a birding trip to the southeast United States that rewarded us with sightings of many bird species not seen in Wisconsin. These included the wood stork, roseate spoonbill, yellow-crowned night heron and brown pelican among others. It also allowed us to see many more egrets than we’d see here in northeast Wisconsin.

I joined the American Legion Auxiliary in 2004. Jon had joined the Legion, and I’d just published “My Mother Kept a Scrapbook: The True Story of a WWII POW” by Gerhard Johnson. Lifelong fishing buddies, Jon and Gerhard were both born and raised in Elderon.

Make it fun and convenient to add some homegrown flavor to cookouts, garden parties and meals. Grow a few herbs in containers on a patio, deck or balcony.

Set a pot near the grill and fill it with favorite grilling herbs. Include some barbecue rosemary known for its especially good flavor and aroma suited to cooking. Plus, the strong stems make the perfect skewer, something guests are sure to remember.

Luke and Terri Erb’s family business, Erb’s Farm and Flower, offers more than just plants and flowers.

Together with son Ezra Erb, the couple desires to instill in youngsters the love of growing. Erb Farm is a big supporter of the Bonduel School District garden, hosting June summer-school field trips annually.

The busy morning is full of activity.