August 16 benefit to raise money for flood victims

From the Edgerton Reporter
Holly Garey Special to the Reporter

The Shoreline Recovery and Restoration Benefit will take place on August 16 at Fins Bar and Grill in Newville. Proceeds from the event will go to the Shoreline Recovery and Restoration Fund, a component of the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin. The benefit starts at 10 a.m. and lasts until close.


The Shoreline Recovery and Restoration Committee, a non-profit organization, has been meeting Tuesdays and Thursdays for the last month to discuss all the events and activities that will happen the day of the event. The group is made up of local businesses including the Buckhorn Supper Club, Carl’s Shell, Norm’s Hideaway, Fins Bar and Grill, Sherman Sanitation, Rock River Marina and the Edgerton Reporter.


The businesses have come together to organize the event to aid in shoreline recovery efforts. Fins Bar and Grill has donated their business as a location for the event, while other businesses will provide prizes, auction items and refreshments.


While the coalition is only set up to raise money for the event, Sue Conley, executive director of the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin (CFSW), met the group to create a “Special Project Fund” for the group. The Special Project Fund is set up by the Shoreline Recovery and Restoration Committee through the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin because the committee has a specific purpose with a specific time period, but is not large enough to become its own charity. With Jane Duesterback as the group’s CFSW representative, the money raised will go back to the people who were affected in the Lake Koshkonong/Rock River area, from Fort Atkinson to Blackhawk Island.


The benefit will include many events throughout the day, like door prizes, a silent auction, 50-50 raffle, music, and a boat and Sea-Doo raffle. Refreshments will be provided. Raffle tickets for a Lowe 1648 boat with a 15H Mercury Motor and a new Karavan trailer or a GTI Sea-Doo, both provided by Rock River Marina, are one for $10 or three for $25. Raffle tickets can be purchased at a variety of business, including Fins Bar and Grill, Buckhorn Supper Club, Norm’s Hideaway, Rock River Marina, Snuffy’s Still, Wisconsin Wine and Cheese, and Carl’s Shell. The drawing for the grand prizes is at 8 p.m. and you need not be present to win.


The Shoreline Recovery and Restoration Committee is looking for volunteers for the day of the event to help step up for the event, to help sell raffle tickets, among other activities through out the day. Members of the committee said that the purpose of the benefit is to help raise money to help restore what has been damaged in the area and if there is enough funds left over, to revamp the area. All proceeds will go to the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin, which will help distribute the money to the Lake Koshkonong area.


“Pat and I have been extremely touched by the number of people who have come forward to help and that have invested a considerable amount of time to come to the meetings and put all their efforts in to the event,” Sue Hogan, co-owner of Fins Bar and Grill, said.


People affected by the floods are doing their parts in helping the event succeed. Hogan said that two individuals, who live on the north side of the lake, came in to Fins and told Hogan about how their properties have been damaged.


“They came to thank us for putting on the benefit, and then they bought raffle tickets,” Hogan said.


Money will be used to hire contractors to circle the lake and river with equipment capable of removing debris. The money raised will not be used to reimburse residents for labor already completed prior to the event.


Cash and check donations are accepted and can either be made out to the Shoreline Recovery and Restoration Fund or to the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin and can be mailed to Shoreline Recovery and Restoration Fund, PO Box 8152, Janesville, WI 53547.


If a check is made for a donation or for the boat and Sea-Doo raffle, make sure to write under the memo ‘raffle tickets’ or ‘Shoreline R&R Fund.’