Let’s All Go to the Movies… West Bend Cinema- Off Paradise

West Bend Cinema – Off Paradise

Let’s All Go to the Movies…

#WBBizBuzz Featured Business

Let’s all go to the lobby, to get ourselves a treat. You might remember seeing this ad play before watching the latest release from Hollywood. Popcorn, hot dogs, soda…all of it just a few steps away and quick enough to grab before your feature started. Going to the movies was never about just watching a movie. It was an outing, a social event, an entire experience to eat, drink and enjoy watching a movie on the big screen.

When a group of local West Bend investors purchased the old Paradise Theater, they had one goal in mind: to bring back the magical and nostalgic experience of going to see the movies to our West Bend theater. Since then, the West Bend Cinema-off Paradise, has been thriving with a brand new management team, all new deluxe rocker/recliner seating, expanded hours and many new concession items for purchase. Yes, this includes hot pizza, wine, beer, margaritas, hard seltzer. The West Bend Cinema is now the largest independently owned theater in Wisconsin, with 10 screens.

West Bend Cinema

All 10 theaters have brand new seating, sound systems have been upgraded, many screens have been replaced, and the lobby and bathrooms have been updated and renovated to provide moviegoers with a better, cleaner and more comfortable experience.

One of the screens.

And let’s not forget the concessions. Besides the typical movie fare such as popcorn, candy and soda, patrons can also nosh on hot pizza, soft pretzels, Kettle Corn, nachos and other savory sweets. Coffee, hot chocolate and adult beverages (valid ID required) are also available.

The West Bend Cinema prides itself on being a community staple, with local partnerships across the community and reasonably priced tickets and concessions, making it even more accessible to our local movie lovers.

In fact, it turns out that you can save a whole lot of money, just by watching movies here in West Bend. We took a minute to do the math for you:

Competing theater charges:

~$23 in gas (estimated round trip mileage 40 miles)  

  $38 for four adult matinee movie tickets

~$60 For two large popcorns and four beverages

That’s $121

Save over 50% by staying local at the West Bend Cinema!

That’s right, you get 4 tickets, 4 large drinks and 2 large popcorns for only $50

Now you won’t have to drive NEARLY as far. And it’s available 7 days a week!

Don’t take our word for it. Come check it out for yourself. With movies such as Avengers: Endgame, Pokemon: Detective Pikachu, John Wick: Chapter 3-Parabellum, the live-action Aladdin and Godzilla: King of the Monsters, plus more on the schedule in the next few months, now is the time to make your way there and see your amazing and locally owned and operated West Bend Cinema-off Paradise (next to Meijer).

And mark your calendar now to join us at the WB Cinema’s Annual Summer Blockbuster Launch Party on June 15th. This celebrate West Bend event is totally free with tons of activities, free food, live performances, trivia, music, prizes and discounts on all concessions. Fun for all ages!

You can follow WB Cinema on Facebook and Instagram at @westbendcinema or on SnapChat at wbcinema. You can also see their website: westbendcinema.com.

About LMC BizBuzz

Keep up to date with all of our BizBuzz articles by liking our Facebook page @lauramitchellconsulting, and following us on Instagram @lmcmarketing and follow us on Twitter @LMCMktg. We will see you next time!  #LMCintheWB #WBBizBuzz #LMCMktg

LMC is a full service guerrilla marketing and business development shop focused on social media, web design, strategic planning, creative campaigns, PR and copywriting. WWW.LMCLLC.US

Beware the Sombrero: 5 Shockingly Melodramatic Things I Learned Doing Hard Time at LMC

Hey, it’s Charlie. I have officially managed to survive one full loop around the sun at LMC.

When I stepped foot in the office one year ago, I was both nervous and excited about the opportunity to work with an incredibly talented group of people and put my skills to use on a variety of fascinating new projects.

Now, a year later, the work continues to be as exciting as ever. The agency environment, which was foreign to me, has become more like family. And, provided Chris makes the coffee strong enough, we work like a well-oiled machine.

The only thing I have to fear is going out for tacos.

As a right of passage at LMC, it is tradition to take a moment to meditate on our personal growth on our LMC-iversary. What have we achieved? What have we learned? Are we eating our string cheese correctly?

Here are five important life lessons I’ve learned in my experience at LMC so far:

1. Live. Laugh. Let go.

When I started at LMC in April of 2018, I wanted to prove I had the chops. I’d spent many grueling years on my own in the freelance trenches, building a brand and making a name for myself. But LMC is an incredibly collaborative environment. Everyone has a hand in every project, reviews each others’ work, and makes recommendations/revisions – and the finished product is absolutely better for it. Sometimes ego gets in the way of quality. They’re probably rewriting this sentence right now as I’m typing it. That’s fine. I can handle it.

Lesson Learned: You don’t have to do it alone. And some days…it’s good to have backup.

2. You do NOT pull cheese

During my “interview” over margaritas at a local taco joint (where we spend a great deal of lunch breaks) the single most important question I was asked was, “How do you eat string cheese?” Because one faction of the office (Scott) vehemently defends his position that you bite it. Another contingent, i.e. just about everyone else, believes you pull it apart piece by piece, in strings as the name suggests. Kristin prefers a hybrid method in which you bite first, then pull. If you ask Scott (which I would advise against) cheese is not meant to be pulled.

I believe I was hired solely on the strength of my distinctive answer: That I preferred to live dangerously by not only pulling the string cheese, but following it with a Cool Ranch Dorito for that devastating one-two combo of intermingling flavors.

Lesson Learned: String cheese is a mysterious and polarizing food.

3. Laura likes to make me suffer

When I arrived at the office one crisp morning in early December, Laura casually said to me, “We were just talking about you! We were thinking you’d make a great elf.”

The fight or flight response activated. Cue the cold sweats and heart palpitations.

What did I just walk into?

Sure it could be nothing more than the lighthearted musings of a fun-loving extrovert, but Laura’s disposition became clear when we had a company lunch for my birthday (at that same local taco joint.) There, hapless victims find themselves at the unflinching mercy of the birthday sombrero, should they be unlucky enough to wander in on the anniversary of their entrance into this cruel world.

Beware the sombreroAs I sat at the table quivering in fear, Laura eased my mind by assuring me she wouldn’t tell the waiter it was birthday. The moment after I thanked her for that kind act of mercy, I realized the waiter had been looming over my shoulder the whole time…and Laura had no intention of allowing me to escape my fate that day.

Of course, the torture is all in good fun (probably) and the LMC team has really started to feel like family to me.

In 12 short months, LMC has provided me some amazing and fun opportunities for new experiences, no matter how much they pushed me out of my comfort zone – which sometimes we introverts need whether we’re willing to accept it or not. It brought me to the historic theater for the downtown fall festival, where I got to put my “web” design skills to good use as we spooked it up for Halloween, and explore the old building’s dark crevices and subterranean caverns for evidence of its haunted legend. I helped Santa carry his bag (Christmas magic is heavy) and then he joined us for a jolly round of margaritas. Yes, at that same taco place. I spent a few hours hauling old seats out of the remodelled cinema, which combined two great things: my love for movies and the theater experience, and getting away from the computer once in a while.

And finally, I got to flex my skills on a variety of interesting projects, some a personal first, such as designing an ad that was displayed in Times Square. I’m still pretty stoked about that one.

Lesson Learned: Sure, I liked my desk in the dim, secluded corner rather than in the middle of the room, but comforts and routine stifles creativity.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo1wHC8Berc/

4. Nobody puts Laura’s whiteboard creativity in the corner

The white board is for creativity, okay? So many design projects start with Laura’s ideas in blue dry erase marker, which eventually gets translated into something resembling a polished website or graphic design. The whiteboard is for freedom of expression. This is where ideas are born. You can’t constrict that to a small designated area of the board.

Lesson learned: The whiteboard is a lawless land where anything goes.

5. There’s always time to talk shop

At LMC we’re all creatives of some sort. Artists, actors, writers, musicians. And whether we’re talking about the latest book we read, or our preferred choice of recording gear, that drive to create is what makes us who we are and should be embraced. Not to mention those skills have definitely come in handy on a project or two.

Lesson learned: We bring a lot to the table with our artistic backgrounds, but maybe I shouldn’t ask Nick so many questions about “re-amping” in the studio when he’s trying to focus on something else.

In short, teamwork is great, and breaking out of routine helps keep the creative juices flowing…but beware a lunch invitation from Laura.

Christmas magic is heavy

Here’s to another amazing year with the LMC team!

Your Home Away From Home- Cedar Community

Your Home Away From Home-

Cedar Community

#WBBizBuzz Featured Business

As we age, we are faced with many choices and emotional changes. Planning a retirement, giving up the keys, or when to move out of your home are all difficult and emotional decisions. When it’s time to choose a community for yourself or your loved one, how do you pick the right one? And which things are important to consider? We decided to do some digging and started talking with the fine staff at Cedar Community, located right off Big Cedar Lake in West Bend.

Cedar Community offers a range of services including independent living, assisted living & memory care, skilled nursing, home care and hospice options. With over 400 employees and 500+ volunteers, Cedar Community has a faith-based approach to providing their residents with the highest quality of care, while offering a slew of activities, resources, and services, on a beautiful and peaceful 250 acre setting. With amenities such as nature trails, salons, fitness centers, woodworking shops, cafes and social events, it’s easy to see why it would be enjoyable to live here.

Cedar Community wants to make sure their residents thrive and live healthy lives. They offer many exercise and healthy lifestyle-based activities such as swimming, water aerobics, weights or even chair exercises. And it doesn’t stop at just being physically fit. They also offer religious programs, art classes, social opportunities and other entertainment options to ensure resident satisfaction.

Cedar Community is the only not-for-profit engaged retirement-living community based in Washington County. It was founded in 1956, after a retiring farmer donated his land on Big Cedar Lake to the United Church of Christ. From humble beginnings, Cedar Community now cares for over 900 residents throughout Washington and Sheboygan counties, all with the same commitment to making your family feel just as important as their own.

Care follows the acronym LIVE. Cedar Community approaches care with (L)ove, (I)ntegrity, (V)itality and (E)xcellence. Don’t just take our word for it though, go and have a look yourself and get a tour of their beautiful residences and property. Enjoy the view!

Visit them online at: www.cedarcommunity.org or follow them on Facebook at @cedarcommunity, Instagram at cedarcommunity1953 or on Twitter @cedar_community

About LMC Biz Buzz

Keep up to date with all of our Biz Buzz articles by liking our Facebook page @lauramitchellconsulting, and following us on Instagram @lmcmarketing. We will see you next time!  #LMCintheWB #WBBizBuzz #LMCMktg

LMC is a full-service guerrilla marketing and business development shop focused on social media, web design, strategic planning, creative campaigns, PR and copywriting. WWW.LMCLLC.US 262-353-3412 @laurahmitchell

Located downtown West Bend: 109 N. 6th Ave (next to Slesar Glass)

 

 

A Grand Plan for Grander Care- LMC Biz Buzz Company: GrandCare Systems

Born between 1946 and 1964, the Baby Boomer generation came along right after WWII. They make up about 26% of the entire United States population, a number that is only matched by Millenials. They own the majority of the homes in the United States and, in fact, usually own more than one property. With such numbers, boomers are determined to change the way we age in America. They will not settle for the care and surroundings that their own parents received. The boomers want to remain independent and in their own homes.

In a world of Uber, GrubHub, and Amazon, at-home caregiving and independence-enabling services will be the “go to” for our aging neighborhoods. GrandCare Systems, located in the heart of downtown West Bend, has been on the cutting edge of the digital caregiving bubble since the late 2000s. We had a chance to sit down with co-founding members, Charlie and Gaytha Hillman to find out more.

“If our healthcare system and caregiving methods continue in this way, the cost of my generation’s care will bankrupt our grandchildren and great grandchildren,” says Charlie. “I wanted to be a part of the solution, and I think GrandCare can play a significant role in changing the way caregiving services are delivered.”

“We were a disruptive era of fashion, music and raising kids. Now it only makes sense that we will redefine the way we choose to age,” adds in Gaytha. “We aren’t going to stand by and simply allow things to happen to us. We will use home health care technology like GrandCare to stay at home for longer.”

The Hillmans have spent a majority of their lives in West Bend and serving the greater community in various business and volunteering positions. Charlie grew up in West Bend. His father, Larry was an engineer at the West Bend Company. His mother, Helen (known to her students as “The Frau”) taught German. In fact, it was Helen who introduced Charlie and Gaytha. After Gaytha graduated from UW-Madison, she relocated to West Bend to student teach German classes under Helen. Charlie had been in Boston attending MIT, but happened to be home for a semester with mono. Helen arranged for the two to meet and the rest is history!

Charlie and Gaytha spent a few years in the early 80s in California when Charlie was recruited for computer engineering work in Silicon Valley. In 1984, the Hillmans came back to West Bend to start up Hillman Consulting, a CAD/CAM and computer consulting company. Gaytha and Helen also founded West Bend Travels in the old Geib Hotel (now home to Alexssa). Charlie and Gaytha later formed HNET, the first Internet Service Provider in the county. GrandCare being their latest venture, and it is truly a family affair. In 2005, their daughter Laura and her husband Nick moved back from Minneapolis, to round out the founding team of GrandCare.

GrandCare was created to help seniors–even those in rural, isolated areas–maintain independence and stay healthier, happier and safer at home. It also gives family members peace-of-mind knowing that their aging loved ones are doing well at home.

The idea for GrandCare came to Charlie when he was visiting his great great Aunt Clara, who lived in a cottage on the Hillman’s property. She would come to their house twice a day for meals, but the Hillmans were not often at her cottage. On a cold January day, she called Charlie saying she was cold. He headed right over and saw that the windows were wide open. Apparently, she had opened the windows after smelling a “burning smell.” He went into the basement and saw that the furnace was literally on fire. Later, he would find out that she had heard clanging sounds in the basement and a beeping noise for days, but didn’t know what it was. “I didn’t want to be a bother,” was Aunt Clara’s response as to why she hadn’t let anyone know sooner.

Charlie knew there had to be others experiencing the worry and stress he was. He searched for existing products and came up with nothing. He put his engineering mind and MIT education to good use and decided to design a technology to provide remote monitoring capabilities and enhanced communications between the loved one and family members. GrandCare is available not only for use in the United States, but internationally in countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Aruba, Bermuda and New Zealand.

The system can be used in both single-family homes or in senior living communities. GrandCare is a large touchscreen that is placed into the loved one’s residence. It is a source of information and communication with pictures, videos, games, trivia, weather/news, simple video chatting and reminders. Caregivers can simply log in or check the GrandCare app to add communications or check on activity, medications or health readings.They can also get alerts if something seems amiss (e.g. didn’t take medications, blood pressure is too high, didn’t get out of bed, or isn’t moving around normally). GrandCare requires zero computer knowledge on the senior’s part.

Are you reading this article and interested in learning more about GrandCare? GrandCare has a special discount just for you. Use BIZBUZZ and receive a 15% discount on your GrandCare System.

The Hillmans still continue to be active in the greater community of West Bend and have participated in many charitable organizations including COLUMNS, the Washington County Campus Foundation, Trinity Lutheran Church, the Volunteer Center, the Oz/Wash County Land Trust, Friends of Sculpture, Riveredge Nature Center, School Board, the West Bend Chamber of Commerce, Noon Rotary, to name just a few. Charlie and Gaytha co-chaired the United Way fundraising campaign with record-breaking results and have been recipients of various service awards including the Cliff Nelson Volunteer Award and the Volunteer Center Dynamic Duo.  

Just one of the features of the GrandCare system

Find more information on GrandCare either through their website: grandcare.com or their Facebook or Instagram pages: @GrandCareSystems info@grandcare.com  262-338-6147

About LMC Biz Buzz

Keep up to date with all of our Biz Buzz articles by liking our Facebook page, and following us on Instagram @lmcmarketing. We will see you next time!

#LMCintheWB #WBBizBuzz #LMCMktg

LMC is a full service guerrilla marketing and business development shop focused on social media, web design, strategic planning, creative campaigns, PR and copywriting.

WWW.LMCLLC.US

262-353-3412 @laurahmitchell

109 N. 6th Ave, downtown West Bend next to Slesar Glass

Cafe Floriana- What’s In A Name?

I was reminded a line from the movie Robots after meeting with sisters Katherine (Kat) Schenk and Sara Young of Cafe Floriana.

“See a need. Fill a need.”

Owner Katherine Schenk and Kitchen Manager Sara Young

A while back, the two were visiting their parents in the newly opened Cast Iron Apartments, and noticed that the common area would fill up quickly…and loudly. So, they started discussing how nice it would be if there were a coffee shop close enough for everyone to go to. A place that could serve the neighborhood, the city, or even an LMC interviewer from Glendale.

“Once we decided on this place, we knew it couldn’t be any other spot,” Kat said. “It was here or nowhere.”

After finalizing the location, the siblings got to work on bringing their vision to life. This included deciding on a name and a focus. The name Cafe Floriana pays homage to Kat’s time in the Mediterranean island country of Malta, where she lived in the beautiful city of Floriana.

And it’s not just the two of them. Cafe Floriana currently counts 10 smiling employees. Among the employees, you’ll see their dad helping with maintenance and cleaning, and their mom helping in the kitchen and behind the counter.

Their grand plan is to be the neighborhood coffee shop. They want their guests to leave the cafe with full bellies and happy hearts. The way they see it, if they are a great part of everyone’s day, then they have done their jobs.

The women say they will never settle. In the past few weeks since the cafe has opened, they have expanded the menu to include gluten friendly options, as well as specialty drinks such as a Peppermint Matcha Latte and an Irish Cream White Chocolate Mocha, just in time for St. Patrick’s Day.

There are also some unique and special plans and events coming up. These include having a pet-friendly outdoor area, and a “Coffee and Dessert Night” complete with later evening hours and specialty coffee “mock”tails. Catering options and a possible spot at the West Bend Farmer’s Market are also in the works. All of these, while still maintaining a focus of being totally authentic, meaning no box or premade mixes. This allows them to be as “clean” as possible with no worries about GMOs or processed foods.

Stop in and see for yourself. While you’re there, order a delicious sandwich, smoothie or hot drink!

You can follow Cafe Floriana on Facebook and Instagram: @CafeFloriana

About LMC Biz Buzz

Keep up to date with all of our Biz Buzz articles by liking our Facebook page @lauramitchellconsulting, and following us on Instagram @lmcmarketing. We will see you next time!  #LMCintheWB #WBBizBuzz #LMCMktg

LMC is a full service guerrilla marketing and business development shop focused on social media, web design, strategic planning, creative campaigns, PR and copywriting. WWW.LMCLLC.US 262-353-3412 @laurahmitchell