Tomahawk Main Street, Inc., was excited to be at the 33rd Annual Wisconsin Main Street Awards held at Gather on Broadway in Green Bay on Friday, April 19th. Andrea Krueger, Tomahawk Main Street Board Member; Joan Laabs, Volunteer; Jennifer Turkiewicz, Executive Director; and Andy and Laurie Goretski were present to represent our community.
North for the 4th T-shirt Sales
Best Promotional Marketing Campaign - Honorable Mention
The first award received was Honorable Mention in the Best Promotional Marketing Campaign, an award that recognizes excellence in an image/branding item, campaign, event or series, whether print or broadcast. How could we not nominate a decades-long tradition that allows those celebrating Independence Day in Tomahawk to do so in style?
The North for the 4th T-shirt fundraiser started about 40 years ago, when the shirts were sold to raise funds for area environmental groups. After those groups disbanded, the Tomahawk Downtown Business Council headed the fundraiser. Today, Tomahawk Main Street organizes the shirt sale, representing one of the organization’s largest annual fundraisers. Each year, our team creates a new design - whether representing days gone by with lazy day fishing, family traditions like the Fire Department’s hose wars, or current trends like 2023’s “Top Gun,” these shirts are a yearly must have. There is nothing like walking down the street and seeing each year’s design sported on young and old alike; many folks have started a collection, making sure each year’s shirt and design have been brought home. It is fun to start receiving phone calls after the first of the year with suggestions, ideas, and hopes for what this year’s design will bring. The sale has now extended into sweatshirts and racerback tank tops, and we continue to sell out year after year. In fact, over the last two years, we have ordered almost four times as much product as in previous years, and we still can’t keep them on the shelves! Our North for the 4th shirts are the latest in a long line of traditions folks love to come home to in Tomahawk.
The Best Historic Restoration Award honors the best interior and/or exterior rehabilitation, based on proper historic restoration principles. When the opportunity to nominate a project in this category, there was no doubt what that would be.
Twenty years ago, a group of artists shared their love of the arts by creating murals in our historic downtown. One was the mural dedicated to our founding Father, William H. Bradley. Through the years, the elements had been unkind; our mission - breathe life back into what many describe as a must-stop picture opportunity for our area.
We were lucky to procure Andy Goretski from Custom Murals, a local artist, to do the restoration. Not only is Andy extremely talented, but he was one of the original artists involved in the project. Andy brought his gift, paintbrushes, and a big heart to the store side, and he delivered! Mr. Bradley once again stands out, and even the smallest details pop, like the polka dots on Mr. Bradley’s bowtie. From cleaning up details, such as the correct death date that was mistaken years before, to the more detailed tree bough running inside the mural, there is no doubt how proud we are of our heritage and the gratitude felt for the man behind the town.
There is never an easy breath when history is toyed with. Taking the time he needed, Andy alone restored a masterpiece. We gave no restrictions, allowing Andy the freedom to call the shots – work when it is best for you (and the paint!), go about the process as you see fit (who better knows the best way to blend, what part should come first, etc.), and just let us know what weather to pray for!
Joan Laabs
Volunteer of the Year
The Community Champion (previously referred to as the Volunteer of the Year) Award is designed to recognize the individual who contributed the most to the Main Street program throughout the past year, and the final award recipient of the night is no stranger to Tomahawk, especially to our Tomahawk Main Street program. Joan has been an asset to our Main Street program for years. She may have begun by simply helping around the office – making copies, handing out flyers, and organizing, but every year, she jumps in a little more and more. Joan and her family have been wonderful donors to the program, but when she comes to an event, Joan’s smile pulls in folks from all around.
Joan helped implement the “We Give Thanks” program, helping Tomahawk Main Street raise over $6,500.00 for twenty area organizations. She is our official greeter at the Main Street Memories Car Show, and participants love to see her waiting on the boulevard each year to welcome and thank them for coming. Joan is a great raffle ticket saleswoman, and her bag stuffing skills are almost unmatchable.
Joan loves our community, and not only does she volunteer, but she keeps it local – she is always willing to donate, volunteer her time, and also serves on our Promotions Committee (as well as for additional organizations around town). When she needs a gift, Joan always comes down to Main Street to find that unique gift for that special someone. When he was alive, Joan’s husband, John also like to help, and after his passing, she continues their mission to do all they can for the town they love.
