Portage County capsules PACELLI PROJECTS: The Stevens Point Catholic Schools Commission is considering funding possibilities for over $800,000 in proposed projects at the high school. The projects, which SPACS Administrator Gregg Hansel presented to the commission Monday night, are broken into three prioritized areas: safety, programming, and other needs. The first area, safety, includes electrical and stage rigging in the Fine Arts Center for $172,000. Hansel said the current lighting is inadequate and when the school hosts its musical in the spring, equipment will have to be rented. Fixing structural damage to the east side of the school for $4,900, roof replacement over the Fine Arts Center for $27,000, and adding ventilation to Room 109 for $4,000 are also among the safety needs. An additional $353,000 is earmarked for renovations to the Fine Arts Center in the programming area. That money would install acoustical tiles and remodel what is the former gymnasium. "This is badly needed for the entire SPACS system," Hansel said. "If you go to a performance there, it's hard to see and hear. We would like to make a place for the whole community." A second computer lab is also in the programming area, but that new lab should be up and running by Jan. 15, Hansel said. The original cost to the district was expected to be $50,000, but the actual cost is only $5,000. Hansel said the rest came through third-source income from capital improvements, private donations and discounts. Pacelli currently has one computer lab equipped with mostly Macintosh computers and several IBM compatible machines. Once the new lab opens, the school will have one Macintosh lab and one IBM compatible lab. The third area, other needs, includes replacing all of the windows at the school. That project could cost around $200,000. Hansel said the entire set of windows need to be replaced and some leak if there's a driving rainstorm with winds from the east. An elevator car, which would make the entire school handicapped accessible, is included with the other needs. The car would cost $50,000 and the school already has an elevator shaft, which was constructed during renovations five years ago. Hansel said the district could receive funding from a grant but it can't apply for it until Jan. 1. The commission discussed funding options in closed session Monday and may make a decision at its January meeting. * * * OPEN HOUSE: SEASONS Café & Gift Shop at St. Michael's Hospital has scheduled an open house from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9. The volunteer-run shop is open seven days a week and sells seasonal items, including Santas, angels, ornaments, candles and stuffed toys. An old-fashioned turkey dinner, including all the trimmings, will also be available in the café. All proceeds from sales in the shop support St. Michael's Foundation, which benefits community health services and education. * * * TWO NEW DEACONS: Two more Catholic parishes in Portage County will have permanent deacons following their ordination Saturday, Dec. 11, at St. Joseph the Workman Cathedral in La Crosse. The Times Review, the La Crosse Diocese newspaper, reported in its Dec. 2 issue that Bishop Raymond L. Burke will ordain 10 men, including Donald Borski of St. Stanislaus Parish and Arthur Schaller of St. Mary Immaculate Conception Parish in Custer at a 10 a.m. Mass. Borski is a recent retiree from Consolidated Papers Inc. while Schaller is a self-employed carpenter and part-time delivery person. * * * DEMOCRATS COLLECT FOR OPERATION BOOTSTRAP: The Portage County Democratic Party will collect nonperishable food items for Operation Bootstrap at its December meeting and Christmas party. Paul Mertz, party president, backs the idea of helping out in the community, especially at Christmas, and said political parties are often regarded as being only interested in managing government through successful elections. Members can bring nonperishable food to the meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 14, at the North Side Bar, 801 Second St. * * * NEW CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER: Brent Low is the new chief operating officer/Central Wisconsin for Thomson Wisconsin newspapers, including the Stevens Point Journal, the Journal reported Tuesday, Dec. 7. Low, who will also be publisher of the Daily Tribune, Wisconsin Rapids, replaces Randy Graf, who had been chief executive officer of the Central Wisconsin Strategic Marketing Group. The Journal reported Graf left Thomson Newspapers to pursue other interests. Low will be responsible for all day-to-day functions of the three Thomson newspapers in central Wisconsin, the Journal, the Daily Tribune and the Marshfield News-Herald. * * * PACELLI EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION: The Pacelli High School Educational Foundation new members include Dr. Matt Riordan and Mary Ann Okray. Renewing their term on the board are James A. Cooper, Rollie Diehl, Bernie Hlavac, Bill DeBot, Joseph "Rusty" Mitch, E. John Buzza and Tom Flugaur. The foundation was founded more than 25 years ago to help support the special needs of Pacelli, providing additional resources.