Shortcuts | Feb. 9, 2012

condensed local news about civic and cultural goings-on

V1 Staff |

KINCAID RESURRECTS ‘STATE OF THE CITY’ ADDRESS

Eau Claire’s City Council President Kerry Kincaid reflected on the past year and the upcoming projects and challenges for the city recently in a public address, bringing back a tradition from a over a decade ago. Her State of the City theme was “Eau Claire is a city that works.” In the address, Kincaid discussed the reconstruction of Hastings Way, collaboration with surrounding communities, and improved water quality in Half Moon Lake. Kincaid also looked ahead to the challenges the city will be facing, such as low wages, environmental conservation, the transit system, and high city employee retirements. The announcement is available on the city’s YouTube page, or you can see the outline of the address in a PDF slideshow, available on the City Council’s webpage.

UWEC CODERS BEST IN NATION

A group of UWEC students conquered the competition of some really prestigious schools (Cornell, Georgia Tech, Stanford) to obtain the Windward Code Wars Trophy in the Windward International Collegiate Programming Championships last month. Each team writes an artificial intelligence player for a game based on RoboRally and has an eight-hour deadline to find the A.I. problem, analyze it, write a solution, test it, and debug it. Each team’s software battles one another, trying to kill the other teams. The champion team is comprised of James Felton, Jonathan Fretheim, Becky Sippert, and Corey Schulz. The UWEC team is thrilled to be able to bring a victory back to EC with them, especially such a dominating one with a 502-point finish compared to the second place finisher’s 468.

NON-PROFIT RAISED $63K FOR EAU CLAIRE PARKS LAST YEAR

The Eau Claire Community Parks Association is pleased to announce that the non-profit foundation contributed more than $63,640 in 2011 to local park projects. The largest contribution was to complete a trail at the Soccer Park  ($18,450). The Association also provided $15,840 for scoreboard updates at Carson Park, to the Farmers Market (kiosk), Baseball Stadium Wall of Fame (new plaques), Forest Street Community Gardens (equipment), a Ski Trail Groomer, benches for Domer Park, and sponsorship of the Amazing Eau Claire Clean-Up. Projects for 2012 include funda Skateboard Park at Lakeshore Playground, and funding for a lighting project at the Fairfax Little League Baseball Fields. More info, project updates, and photos can be found on their facebook page.