Grammy winner behind 'God Bless the USA,' Brewfest and Porta Potty Races top busy February in Manitowoc: Your weekly dose
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
MANITOWOC - Grammy Award-winning and multi-platinum recording artist Lee Greenwood will be performing at Manitowoc's Capitol Civic Centre, 913 S. Eighth St., Feb. 17.
Best known for his hit “God Bless the USA,” Greenwood will be appearing as part of his American Spirit Tour … Once And For All. Tickets start at $49 and can be purchased at cccshows.org or by calling 920-683-2184.
With hits such as “IOU,” “It Turns Me Inside Out,” “Ring On Her Finger Time On Her Hands,” “I Don’t Mind the Thorns If You’re The Rose,” “Dixie Road” and others, Greenwood has charted 32 singles over his four-decade career.
He has won numerous industry awards including Male Vocalist of the Year from the Academy of Country Music in 1983, two Male Vocalist of the Year awards from the Country Music Association in 1983 and 1984 and a Grammy for Top Male Vocal Performance in 1985 for “I.O.U.”
The CMA also named “God Bless the U.S.A.” Song of the Year in 1985.
“God Bless the USA” went far beyond what Greenwood expected when he wrote it in the back of his tour bus in 1983. The song has been in the top five on the country singles charts three times (1991, 2001 and 2003), giving it the distinction of being the only song in any genre of music to achieve that feat. It was also No. 1 on the pop charts after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. In addition, CBS News voted “God Bless the U.S.A.” the most recognizable patriotic song in America.
Welcome to your weekly dose.
Read on for more news from throughout Manitowoc County in your weekly dose of community news. This week, we look at events coming up in February in Manitowoc County.
▶ Historical Society to host Romy Gosz program Feb. 16: Manitowoc County Historical Society will hold its first Hungry for History program of the year with a focus on local musician Romy Gosz, who entertained audiences decades ago with the Romy Gosz Orchestra.
The program will be Feb. 16 at Branch Station, 8112 Village Drive, Whitelaw, with doors opening at 11 a.m. and presentation starting at 11:30 a.m. and meal following the presentation.
Lloyd Gosz, youngest of the Gosz clan, will join the event to share family stories and musical background during the program and share some memorabilia.
Roman (Romy) Gosz had taken over the Gosz Family Orchestra in 1930. By the 1940s, he was widely known as the “Polka King,” with several recording contracts and a national following.
The Romy Gosz Orchestra toured throughout the Midwest, but also played frequently at dances and other special events in Manitowoc County.
The program is part of the Society’s Hungry for History series with a meal following the program. The menu for the program will be pulled barbecued pork sandwiches with coleslaw and a bowl of soup. Those with dietary restrictions should note those while placing reservations.
Cost is $35 with Historical Society members receiving a 15% discount. Advance registration is required by calling the Historical Society at 920-684-4445.
▶ Winter Brewfest set for Feb. 18: Manitowoc Noon Rotary Club will again host Winter Brewfest, now in its 25th year, from 1 to 5 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Manitowoc County Expo Center.
This is the second time Noon Rotary will present the event after it was hosted for many years by the now-disbanded Manitowoc Jaycees. Proceeds go back to the community through the Noon Rotary Club.
Tickets are $35 in advance or $40 at the door. Advance tickets are available at PetSkull Brewing, Sabbatical Brewing Co., Craft Creek Brewing Co., and Superior Discount Liquors, or from Manitowoc Noon Rotary members. Admission is for ages 21 and older only.
The event features samples of more than 100 brews from 25-plus local and regional craft breweries, domestic and import varieties and home brews.
The event also features entertainment, raffle prizes, games and contests.
Concessions will be sold by local nonprofit organization InCourage.
▶ Tropical Blast to raise funds for Woodland Dunes: Woodland Dunes Nature Center and Preserve in Two Rivers is ready to have a “Blast” again on Feb. 25 during the seventh annual Tropical Blast at Sepia Chapel, 1820 Jefferson St., in Two Rivers.
“This is our largest fundraising event of the year and we are so happy to be bringing something bright and fun in the middle of this gray winter,” said Nancy Nabak, event organizer and communication coordinator for Woodland Dunes, in a news release.
Nabak said they hope to raise more than $40,000 to support nature-based education and conservation programs.
The evening will consist of a cocktail hour with Caribbean music, a dinner catered by Courthouse Pub, a raffle with real pineapples, and a chance to win a gas grill or dress watch, both valued at more than $400. A wine raffle and oral and silent auctions are also included.
Suggested attire is resort casual, beach formal.
Reservations sell out early, so people are advised to register now by calling 920-793-4007 or going to https://www.woodlanddunes.org/tropical-blast/.
▶ Porta Potty Races return Feb. 25: Lakeshore Foster Families & Friends will hold its Porta Potty Races fundraiser from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Feb. 25 at The Smiling Moose Saloon & Grill, 10731 State 42 in Newton, with racing starting at noon.
The event includes food, drinks, raffles and family fun.
Race rules state all competing lavatories have three walls and a toilet seat, leaving room for a range of design strategies.
Participants build their own racing loos, homemade structures built atop skis, so their porta potties level up from portable to race-able.
Within each unique exterior sits a courageous “driver,” operating the latrine with nerves of steel. Racing teams of three or fewer members then push and pull their contraptions 30 yards to cross the finish line.
People can register a team up until the day of the event for $40.
More information is at www.lakeshorefosterfamilies.org/porta-potty-races.
▶ Roncalli student to perform at Carnegie Hall: Matthew Bonin, a student at Roncalli High School, has been selected for the High School Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall.
Bonin will perform trumpet this February with the Honors Symphonic Band. Participation in the Honors Ensembles is limited to the highest-rated young performers from across the world.
Bonin auditioned for the Honors Performance Series and was recently accepted after a review by the Honors Selection Board. Acceptance to the elite group is a direct result of the talent, dedication, and achievements demonstrated in their application and audition recording.
Bonin has studied music for 11 years and is a member of the Roncalli concert band, pep band and jazz ensemble. He recently played lead trumpet in the school performance “Les Misérables.”
Bonin has also enjoyed performing in District and State Solo and Ensemble competitions since eighth grade, receiving multiple honors.
“I am honored to play with extraordinary musicians from all over the world and excited to experience the music we create in Carnegie Hall,” Bonin said in a news release.
Bonin will join performers in February for a special performance at Carnegie Hall. The finalists will come together in New York City, where they will have the chance to learn from world-renowned conductors, work with other performers and get a taste of New York. The Honors Performance will take place at Carnegie Hall and is open to the public.
The Honors Performance Series was created to showcase accomplished individual student performers on an international level by allowing them to study under master conductors and perform in world-renowned venues.
The Honors Performance Series is presented by WorldStrides. Learn more at honorsperformance.org and worldstrides.com.
Our impact
The Herald Times Reporter — part of USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin — strives to make a difference in our community. Read our 2022 Community Impact Report and our 2021 Community Impact Report.
Get your dose — stay connected
Get your dose of local community news here each week. For updates throughout the week, come back to htrnews.com or follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
News tips
Send tips to htrnews@htnrews.com. See our contact page.
Thanks for reading!
We appreciate your readership! Support our work by subscribing.
Last week's most-read stories
Manitowoc's former Visitor Bureau site on Calumet Avenue sold to Illinois developer
Manitowoc school referendum to ask for $61.7M in increased spending limits over the next five years
Contact Brandon Reid at 920-686-2984 or breid@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @breidHTRNews.
This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Grammy winner Lee Greenwood coming to Manitowoc Capitol Civic Centre
