This is the Heart of Fond du Lac

I want to share a wonderful piece written by Peggy Breister in the FDL Reporter in January 2015.  A daisy, a day, a penny from heaven and a good deed.   This piece won first place feature at the Wisconsin Newspaper's 2016 Convention.

It elegantly conveys the heart of Fond du Lac,  caring, considerate people not looking for attention.  People who every day look for a way to make the life of their fellow citizens a bit brighter.

A giant THANK YOU to Kevin and Jerrod!!

I want to add my own story.  In late 2006, I took my mother to Sears for her final shopping trip.  My mother had Alzheimers and for the last months of her life she was in a wheelchair and barely able to speak.  She communicated only with expression, but she still enjoyed going out to shop, so I would take her to the mall.

As I wheeled her down the aisle in Sears, a group of young high school aged boys passed by and they all smiled broadly at her. She was smiling broadly too.  That moment immediately struck me as the reason why I love living in Fond du Lac.  I don't know who started it, and that really doesn't matter, it was a very happy moment for all of us.

Fruth Field Proposal Documents

Below are links for two documents that were presented last Monday, 8 February 2016 at the Fond du Lac School Board Workshop meeting.

Have a look!

Fruth Project Budget

Fruth Project Master Plan

Fruth Field News

Fruth Field is in Fond du Lac County District #24.  In my neighborhood to be precise!  

On Monday, Feb 8, 2016, the Fond du Lac School Board held a workshop and a proposal for improvements to Fruth Field were presented.

Here is a link to a rather outdated page on the Fond du Lac school district website.

And a Facebook page that has not had activity since 2013.

What do you think?  I would love to hear your thoughts.   Email me at mbhfor24@gmail.com

I am linking to all the local media that I could find on this proposal.

FDL Reporter  This article recaps Monday's presentation and has the map that was shown at the meeting.

KFIZ - written recap

Radioplus - written recap

Between the Lines interview with Dr Jim Sebert,

KFIZ Bob Hoffmaster interview with Dr Jim Sebert

Let me Introduce Myself

Hi, My name is Mary Hayes and I am running for County Supervisor of District #24 in Fond du Lac, County, Wisconsin.

Fond du Lac county is a great place to live, but we have some challenges.  I will work hard for you to ensure that together we build a better tomorrow.

Please feel free to email me at mbhfor24@gmail.com.
Or call me at 920 922-1060.
Let me know what matters to you.

I also have a facebook page.  Click here to go there.


I'm going to start by introducing myself ...

I am a Wisconsin native and a 1972 graduate of Ripon High School. I graduated from North Central College in Naperville, IL in 1976 with a double major in Art and Chemistry.

I have broad work experience in the sciences, working as a food analyst at a cheese company, a research associate at the Blood Center of Southeastern Wisconsin and as a serological analyst at the Wisconsin State Crime Lab. I moved to Minnesota and did a graduate level teaching certification program in Chemistry and Physics at the University of Minnesota before teaching in the Wayzata school district. My husband's company moved us to the Washington DC area in 1995.

At that time, I started my business, with just a single product idea. That idea, a paper template used by quilters call Thangles, was a phenomenal hit in the quilting market.* My husband quilt his job to join the business and we started the wild ride that is owning your own small manufacturing/wholesale business. He does the manufacturing/day to day operations. I do the marketing/accounting creative stuff. After 20 years, we still make our living selling wholesale to independent quilt retailers all across the United States and in foreign countries too. In addition, I design, publish and sell patterns for quilts. We also have a retail internet mail order store. Check us out at www.thangles.com.

My family is rooted in Fond du Lac county, my great great grandfather homesteaded in the town of Eden in 1846. I spent my summers as a child on my grandparent's farm in the town of Byron. I always wanted to return to the rolling hills and friendly communities of Fond du Lac county.

In 2001, we moved back to Wisconsin.** My husband and I purchased a house in the Linden Street historical district. We love old houses and remodeling them. We also came back to take care of my parents. Their wish was to remain in their home in their final years. Fulfilling that wish was the greatest accomplishment of my life. My mother died of Alzheimer's in 2007 and my father died one month after his 92^nd birthday in 2013.

I benefited greatly from Fond du Lac county growing up. I got an excellent education in the Ripon school system. The support of many caring adults in the community helped me to learn about the value of hard work and also the value of giving back to your community. Every Veterans Day, I think of Mrs Hritzko. I met her when I was a Brownie and she came dressed in her uniform and told us about her experience as a WAC. That is how I learned that women served in the military.

Like many young people, I left Fond du Lac county and spent many years living out of state. I feel fortunate that I could come back and that I now have time to serve the community. I am the Vice President of the Fond du Lac County Genealogical Society. I volunteer at the FDL Historical Society and Taycheedah Correctional Institution. My interests include genealogy, historical research, reading, science education, quilting, knitting and cooking.

*Most people are surprised by the size of the retail quilting market in the United States. It is about $4 billion a year. This is a premium hobby market. The customers are people who make quilts for themselves or to give as gifts.

**Ask me sometime for all of the good reasons we wanted to move our business here from the east coast. Wisconsin is a great place to locate your business for a host of reasons.