Portage County capsules LIBRARIES CLOSED FOR HOLIDAY: The Portage County Public Library will be closed at all locations on Wednesday, July 4. The libraries will reopen for their regular hours on Thursday, July 5. * * * GOVERNMENT OFFICES CLOSED: Most governmental offices and many businesses will be closed because of the Fourth of July. Law enforcement agencies will continue to operate. * * * YOGA OFFERED FOR VOLUNTEER PACKERS: The Yoga Studio, 15 Park Ridge Drive, Park Ridge, is offering a free hour of yoga for volunteers who will pack supplies for the Shama Center, a nonprofit organization serving needy people in India. During July, a yoga class will be offered from 9 to 10 a.m. on Saturdays, with volunteers then folding and packing clothing and other materials from 10 to 11 a.m. The Shama Center, which stands for the flame of humanitarianism, is collecting new and used clothing for children and adults, medical equipment; medical supplies, crutches, canes, braces, pharmaceuticals, clean bedding, housewares, educational materials, toys, books, fabrics and sewing materials. The center also accepts cash donations. * * * PASTOR AT ST. STANISLAUS IS MOVING: The Rev. Donald Przybylski, the pastor at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Stevens Point the past 15 years is transferring to St. Paul Catholic Church in Mosinee. In this week's bulletin, Rev. Przybylski said Bishop Raymond L. Burke of the La Crosse Diocese asked him to make the transfer, which will be effective the weekend of July 14-15. His last weekend of Masses will be July 7-8. Rev. Przybylski, a native of Junction City, has also been dean of the Stevens Point Deanery, with his term expiring in March 2002. He also served as an assistant pastor at St. Peter Parish in Stevens Point in the 1980s. His replacement at St. Stanislaus has not been announced yet, and Rev. Przybylski told parishioners to expect replacement priests from the La Crosse chancery or retired priests to cover weekend responsibilities. * * * ST. CASIMIR AND ST. MARY PARISHES GET NEW PASTOR: The Rev. Wesley Janowski, C.R., has been appointed parochial administrator of St. Casimir Parish in the town of Hull and St. Mary Parish in Torun, according to the Times Review, the newspaper of the La Crosse Diocese. Rev. Janowski's appointment is effective June 12, and he will reside at the St. Casimir rectory. He replaces the Rev. Donald Walczak, who died April 7. * * * AMHERST FIRE DISTRICT OPEN HOUSE: The Amherst Fire District will host an open house at the fire station from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 4. The Portage County Smoke House will be at the station to teach children about fire safety. At 1 p.m., the Spirit of Marshfield helicopter is scheduled to arrive. A "Jaws of Life" demonstration will be held at 2 p.m. Firefighters will be on hand all day to answer questions and give tours. * * * LEARN TO DOG SLED: The Wisconsin Trailblazers Sled Dog Club will host the International Sled Dog Racing Association (ISDRA) Annual Meeting Saturday and Sunday, July 7 and 8, at the Best Western Royale Inn and Conference Center in Stevens Point. On Saturday, July 7, the Wisconsin Trailblazers Sled Dog Club will host a beginning dog mushing seminar that is open to the general public. The event starts at 9 a.m. at the Best Western Royale Inn. There is no charge. Reservations are appreciated, but not needed. Contact Jan at (715) 536-6133 or ATWSLEDOG@aol.com for more information. The ISDRA sanctions and approves sled dog racing in the U.S., Canada, Japan and other countries. * * * NEW HOPE FIRECRACKER: The annual Town of New Hope Firecracker, a Fourth of July parade, will be held on Wednesday, July 4. The parade begins on Highway T, south of Hotvedt Road, travels south on T to South Lake Road, goes southwest on South Lake to Trout Creek Road, then east on Trout Creek to T and north on T back to the start. The parade gets organized at 1 p.m. in a field at the Sally Ellingboe farm and begins at 2 p.m., complete with kazoo bands. For more information, contact Jenny Ludeman, 824-2972. * * * IKE WALTONS MEET JULY 5: The Bill Cook Chapter of the Izaak Walton League will hold its next meeting Thursday, July 5, at 7 p.m. at the clubhouse. The club's normal meeting day is the first Wednesday, but next month that's the 4th of July. * * * BABCOCK CALLS FOR INPUT: School Superintendent Emerey Babcock made a call for community input when the Stevens Point Area Public School District Board met Monday, June 25. The Hoffman Corp. is conducting an independent study for the district to help it determine future direction, facility needs and improve communication. Hoffman scheduled six information sessions, but Babcock said that the district was forced to cancel the first two sessions because only three people registered for them. Community members must register to participate in the sessions. The next sessions are scheduled for Wednesday, July 11, and Thursday, July 12, at Washington Elementary School. Those willing to participate can call 345-5456 to register. * * * SCHOOL BOARD GETS NEW MEMBER: The School Board also welcomed a new member at its meeting, with Jim Harmon filling the seat recently vacated by the death of Scott Schultz. Harmon will occupy the seat until the next School Board elections in April.