CLACC Looks Back at 2025

It Was a Very Good Year

By Muriel Nelson

As its business year ends, the Clear Lake Area Community Center looks back at the ‘Year That Was’ while planning for the coming year.  In summary, it was a good year when some important projects were completed and while others are getting underway. 

For instance, thanks to a $148,000 grant from Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation-Brownfield Site Assessment Grant program, the project to remove asbestos from areas where it could eventually become unsafe was completed in March. This was a steppingstone to other operational goals. For example, once the asbestos-laden boilers were removed from the ‘old boiler room’ in late 2024, that space was upfitted in 2025 with new cement flooring and additional electricity to create a business suite suitable for a tenant requiring a somewhat industrial environment.  Mission accomplished! Wood Cutlery relocated into that space, now Room B4, in late summer.

Of course, Wood Cutlery’s relocation opened space for new tenants. The center checked its waiting list of potential tenants and My Best Friend’s Bookshelf joined the more than 30 tenants already occupying the community center’s suites. Since there is a long waiting list, the center continues to seek out space for new tenants. 

Another significant building improvement was a new roof installed over the thrift shop. The old roof was showing its age. Thanks to another grant, this one from the Fred C. & Katherine B. Andersen Foundation, the center was able to replace the remaining section of roof that was installed back in the 1990s. The center now has solid roofing throughout!

As you can see, grants have been essential to the building improvement projects. The Grant Committee, a group of seven dedicated volunteers, has been able to acquire over $225,000 in grants during 2025. Thanks to their work, the center has completed five capital improvement projects in the last two years and has at least seven more on the “to do” list.

Fundraisers are also very important in providing essential money to the community center. An impressive one in February 2025 was the annual Cupids Carnival, organized by tenant Candace Kuhl of Can Dance and supported by many other tenants along with local businesses and community members. It was a fun-filled event with activities geared for families including the Event Center filled with games for the kiddos. Oh yes, lots of food too!

Shortly after taking a turn at Nilssen’s brat stand, another fund-raising opportunity, the community center enjoyed participating in Clear Lake Heritage Days in June.  The Event Center was the location for not only the coronation of Miss Clear Lake but also the Royal Reunion of past holders of the Miss Clear Lake title. In addition, Ray Cress coordinated a community display at the center commemorating Clear Lake’s 150th anniversary. Center volunteers also hit the streets and manned the CLACC-sponsored food tent that featured the increasingly popular walking tacos. 

The community center volunteers enjoy inviting the local community into the center. This includes the six Senior Luncheons held in the Dining Room. Thanks to our co-chair and volunteer caterer Joan Lillie and Grill Master Warren DeBoer, every meal was a tasty event.  Some luncheons were followed by an educational session geared for senior interests. The strong community participation for this program is appreciated.

Many years ago, the center building was a storm shelter for the community. Village Emergency Services have re-established this agreement with the center. Signs are posted to alert individuals where to go inside the building to seek shelter once the local Emergency Services announce a weather emergency.  

CLACC has long been an all-volunteer organization.  That’s right, the day-to-day management, handy man maintenance and construction, plus thrift shop operations are accomplished by people who consistently devote their time and talents to their community center. The center is grateful to each one of these dedicated individuals.

The center also benefited from the volunteer work of groups within the community. These are some examples: Last Spring, a group of local high school students spent Earth Day performing some heavy-duty work relocating equipment and furniture within the facility. This activity was especially fitting since the Community Center is the same building that Gaylord Nelson, the founder of Earth Day, attended as a high school student.  A team from Pillar Bank spent several hours fighting the overgrown weeds in one of the many flower beds. Another group of students from the Methodist Church returned in June to tidy up the grounds before Heritage Days. 

Then, there’s the Daymaker’s Moving and Storage team who along with tenant Jake Blair, moved a HEAVY, UNWIELDY antique printing press from the ground floor to its forever location outside the Chronicle office on the second floor (There was a reason that relocation was years in the making!). In addition, the center was blessed to have workers from Specialty Coating Systems come throughout late summer and fall to help with painting, handyman work, tiling, more grounds upkeep and deep cleaning within the building. 

I know I’ve overlooked many good volunteers and groups.  Please know you are very much appreciated!

You may be asking what’s ahead in 2026……a whole lot! The center needs to proceed with the HVAC project in the gymnasium wing. To accomplish this, the center must acquire more funding for the project through new fundraisers, donations from the community and or course, finding more grants. There are other capital improvements that must be accomplished in the next 2-5 years.  This includes HVAC upgrades in other parts of the building, a new stage with lighting and audio systems in the Event Center, window replacements, parking lot reconstruction and expansion, tuck-pointing the brick façade of the building, and more. The 104-year-old building, well maintained as it is, continues to need major “replacement parts”.

Your local community center will close the books on 2025 being grateful for the outstanding support from this community.  This includes the many people who routinely volunteer, to those who respond to an “ask”, to those who donate financially, to the many who rent the facilities for special events and especially, our wonderful tenants.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone!