Phillips WI rated #28 of Top 200 Towns
by Outdoor Life Magazine!
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 Upcoming Events:

FARMERS MARKET

May 29 - September 25, 2010
Corner of Maple & Avon, downtown Phillips, in the lot just north of Copps Food Center
Every Sat. 9am - noon; Tuesday afternoons from 3 - 5:30 p.m.  beginning in mid-July.  The market location is just off Hwy. 13 at the corner of Maple & Avon in the lot just north of Copps Food Center. Markets will continue weekly until October. Items available vary from week to week and depend on time of year. Items may include homemade soap (some is made from goat's milk), honey, candy, houseplants, dried flowers, llama fertilizer and other llama products, breads, cookies and rolls, beef and mutton meat, eggs, lettuce, herbs, all kinds of vegetables in season, wild blueberries, raspberries, bedding plants, maple syrup, and apples. Vendors interested in participating should call 339-6516. The cost for a vendor space is $2.00 - come every Saturday or just one.

Website:  www.pricecountywi.net/fm/index.htm
715-339-6516

the Crazy Loon presents

THURSDAY EVENING PADDLE OUTINGS

June 3 thru August 26, 2010 - Tentative
Locations TBA
6 p.m. Join the staff and friends of The Crazy Loon for an easy out and back paddle on Thursday evenings starting in June.  Meet at a Phillips, WI  area resort, restaurant, boat landing or park with plans to be on the water by 6 p.m.  We paddle at a leisurely pace and, depending on the weather, stay out on the water for 1-1/2 to 2 hours.  We often encounter wildlife, a great sunset and maybe even a full moon when we are a little more adventurous and stay out that late.
 

E-mail:  tcloon@pctcnet.net; Website:  www.thecrazyloon.com

715-339-6254

This loon (above) swam over to host Stephanie Klett (above, left) and Ron Kendziera during the filming by Discover Wisconsin.

Chris Kendziera is filmed for the show (center). Amy May is a videographer for the show(left) and Whitney Hunt-Abbott (right) is one of the show’s producers.

Hunt-Abbott and May film the canoers and kayakers paddling away (below). Eric Knudson photos

Discover Wisconsin filming unique Northwoods waterways

Price County featured canoeing and kayaking on the Flambeau river

Published: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 11:16 PM CDT

Discover Wisconsin television series was recently in Price County shooting a segment for a show that will air sometime next year.

The show will feature the unique waterways of northern Wisconsin. The segment on Price County will feature canoeing and kayaking on the Flambeau river. The film crew was in Phillips recently where they met with Ron and Chris Kendziera of The Crazy Loon. From there the film crew and a group of area residents headed to the river where they shot footage for the show.

The film crew was also shooting footage in Iron, Bayfield, Ashland, Douglas, Washburn, Polk, Burnett and Barron counties. The show was made possible through a cooperative effort between the counties and the Lac Courte Oreilles. 

Snowshoe Clinic at Concrete Park a success

Approximately 40 people from toddlers to senior citizens enjoy Jan. 18 activity

Published: Thursday, January 29, 2009 8:11 AM CST

Cathy Peterson, THE-BEE

Sponsored by the Friends of Fred Smith, Inc., the snowshoe clinic held Jan. 18 at Wisconsin Concrete Park south of Phillips attracted approximately 40 people ranging in age from toddlers to senior citizens. According to Terra Gastmann, event coordinator, two couples from the Minneapolis-St. Paul area were among those who enjoyed the afternoon.

“After days of sub-zero temperatures, the weather was perfect for spending time outdoors,” she said.   Attendees gathered first in the new, heated Friends of Fred Smith Studio to hear a number of presenters, including Dr. Mel Eggebrecht,  who demonstrated simple exercises to avoid injury. The owner of sPorT plus physical therapy, she also taught those present the correct way to do stretching.

 Phillips School District educator Nancy Anderson gave a presentation on nutrition and talked about the proper way to dress for outdoor winter activities.  Ron and Chris Kendziera, owners of The Crazy Loon who  supplied all the snowshoes, explained the different types available, then helped participants find the size they needed.

“After everyone was hooked up into their snowshoes, they went outside and walked the half-mile trail around the park,” Gastmann said.

Hannah and Ethan Gastmann along with Kristi Speer, accompanied people who had never snowshoed before and offered assistance when needed. A number of people turned around and did the trail all over again.

“There were big smiles of the faces of every participant as they finished the hike,” Terra Gastmann stated. “It was a very successful activity.”
 

Once they had selected and put on the snowshoes provided by Ron and Chris Kendziera, owners of The Crazy Loon, snowshoe clinic attendees were ready to walk along the half-mile nature trail at Wisconsin Concrete Park. Submitted photos

A wintery landscape doesn’t keep this snowshoe clinic attendee from viewing some of Fred Smith’s unique sculptures located in Wisconsin Concrete Park.

Go Red! Event features dinner, fashion show

Price County Women’s Health Alliance hosts program held March 26 in Park Falls

Published: Thursday, April 2, 2009 10:06 AM CDT

Cathy Peterson, THE-BEE

Again this year, the Price County Women’s Health Alliance hosted a very successful Go Red! Love Your Heart event which offered an evening of food, fashion and fun. Held March 26 in the banquet hall of Flambeau Lanes, Park Falls, the program included a brief presentation on hormone replacement therapy provided by Marshfield Clinic OB/GYN Specialist  Dr. Lloyd Bakken.

Following a “heart-healthy” dinner and Dr. Bakken’s presentation, local residents modeled some of the newest in spring fashions from The Crazy Loon and Four Seasons Northwoods Apparel shops in Phillips, and Upper Street Apparel, Park Falls. According to Lynn Downing, a Price County Health Department nurse and past chairman of the women’s health alliance, 140 women and a few men enjoyed the event.  “The fashion show was fantastic, with the participants modeling the latest in new spring clothing and entertaining the audience with their charm and poise,” she said.

The annual Go Red! Love Your Heart event is sponsored by the Price County Health Alliance, Marshfield Clinic and Flambeau Hospital.

        The Crazy Loon co-owner Ron Kendziera models some of the casual spring styles available at the store
      in downtown Phillips during the fashion show held      March 26 as part of the annual Go Red! Love
Your Heart event. Staff photo

Click the Link below for photos:
Thursday Evening Paddles

Pedal and paddle: The Phillips July 4 parade entry of Chris and Ron Kendziera, owners of Crazy Loon, reflects their enthusiasm for and interest in outdoor activities. Staff photos

“The Crazy Loon” expands in downtown Phillips

Ron and Chris Kendziera pleased to have more space to display silent sport merchandise

Published: Wednesday, December 2, 2009 11:08 PM CST

Cathy Peterson
THE-BEE

Less than five years after opening “The Crazy Loon” at 125 North Lake Avenue in Phillips, Ron and Chris Kendziera  have   expanded their business.  They now have twice as much space to display  their merchandise, much of it designed for people who participate in silent sports.

 “Chris and I enjoy being outdoors and  and doing things like biking, hiking, camping, canoeing and kayaking,” Ron said. “We wanted our business to provide a great shopping experience to  those who like the same kinds of activities and are very appreciative of the wonderful support we’ve received from our customers.”

   Former residents of Boscobel, Ron was employed in manufacturing and Chris had done office work while raising two sons. They came to Phillips whenever possible to visit with relatives who lived in the area and for vacations and decided this community was where they wanted to live when they retired.

  While building their retirement home on Flemings Rapids Road, they decided to purchase a vacant building in downtown Phillips in order to retire early and start  their own business. They chose the  name “The Crazy Loon” because both of them enjoy watching loons, and their sons wondered if going into business might make their parents a bit crazy.

  “Having a retail business was a  new venture for us and it continues to be a learning experience, but considering  the response, we don’t  think we were crazy,  Ron said. “Since we have the same interests as most of our customers, we really enjoy talking with them and offering friendly service and quality products at reasonable prices.”

 Until this past summer, the Kendzieras rented out part of their building and kept  larger items in the basement. When the renter closed her business, the couple decided to use the now-empty space to display the canoes, kayaks, snowshoes and cross-country skis to make shopping easier for their customers.

  “Before the expansion, the store was getting pretty crowded,” Chris said. “Every year, we like going to retail shows  so we can offer some new and interesting items we think our customers will like.”

   This  winter, the  Kendzieras added  homemade candies and old fashioned toys manufactured in the United States, as well as cross-country skis to the merchandise they have  in stock. Other items available include equipment, clothing, footwear and accessories for a variety of seasonal silent sports.

 “We have candles, jewelry, books and similar items that would make great gifts,” Ron said. “We also offer gift certificates and will rent skis and snowshoes or canoes and kayaks depending on the season.”

  The couple makes a real effort to look for unique items that are not available elsewhere in Phillips and try to find merchandise that is  manufactured  in  Wisconsin or other states. They continue to promote and help with numerous community events  and have sponsored or  taught several classes themselves.

    “Chris and I are so pleased to be a part of this community,” Ron said. “We are also happy that after five years of working together every day, our marriage, like our business, is doing well, too.”

   “The Crazy Loon” is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. However, during the holiday season, the store will be open until 7 p.m on Fridays and  from 10 a.m to 2 p.m.  on Sundays.  For more information, call 339-6254 or log onto www.thecrazyloon.com

Winter recreation:

Published: Wednesday, January 13, 2010 11:08 PM CST

 Chris and Ron Kendziera, owners of The Crazy Loon, presented information on snowshoeing techniques and equipment during the second session of the Snowshoe Clinic held at Wisconsin Concrete Park's Friends of Fred Smith Studio. About 40 people of all ages attended the clinic which included tips on proper clothing for winter activities, a demonstration of stretching exercises  and an opportunity to try snowshoeing along the half-mile trail at the park.  

Trails Open House a Success

Published: Wednesday, February 3, 2010 11:08 PM CST

   Saturday's Trails Open House was a big success! With sunny skies and 15 degree temps, around 100 people showed up to enjoy the day. Ron and Chris Kendziera from The Crazy Loon, with help from Ric Bejcek, kept busy outfitting everyone with snowshoes and skis. Joe Coyle skied many laps helping people learn how to ski. We all enjoyed the beautiful ice decorations that Joe had created and hung from the trees throughout the trail system.

   People clearly enjoyed the trails; many trying both snowshoeing and skiing. The bonfire was appreciated as folks drank cocoa and ate cookies. Todd Zumach provided the beautiful new fire ring and kept the flames going throughout the afternoon.

   With many weeks left of the winter, everyone is encouraged to use and enjoy the trails!