Graduation, the farmers' market and other fast-approaching seasons

Happy Thursday, Streetwise readers.

Summer is coming before we know it, and one of the first signs is the Downtown Fond du Lac Farmers Market, which will hold its opening day May 18 and continue every Saturday through October. I have a preview of the season, including what to expect from the vendors, who's performing live and when to watch out for special events.

On the heels of the first farmers' market will be the end of the school year, which means graduation season for many high school students. Outgoing seniors are planning their futures, but incoming juniors and seniors have their own futures looming before them, too.

As a result, several Fond du Lac businesses and organizations have worked out how to engage teens and help them build job paths for after graduation, whether in the form of youth apprenticeships, programs like Project G.R.I.L.L. or, in the Fond du Lac Public Library's case, a brand-new teen internship position for the summer.

Freshman students at University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh's Fond du Lac campus, however, won't be returning next school year as the school's June closing date draws closer. I have an update on how UW Oshkosh and Moraine Park Technical College are supporting students, a grant Fond du Lac could get for the empty campus and some historical memories dating back to the school's inception in 1968.

A new opening includes Aurora Medical Center's expansion, which has been four years in the making. Patients now have access to an emergency department, pharmacy, new inpatient rooms and more.

An open house was held in April, and the center opened to patients May 6.

Finally, it's not too late to give me your input on Fond du Lac's parks, including what you like about the parks now, and what you'd like to see next as the city continues to invest in the outdoor amenities. Let me know by emailing dlemke@gannett.com.

That's it for this week, but I'll be back soon with more summery events and other happenings in Fond du Lac.

Thanks for reading! You can send me feedback and tips to dlemke@gannett.com. Did someone forward you this email? Sign up for this newsletter so you don't miss the next issue. And, if you don't already, please consider subscribing to The Reporter if you enjoy my work.

Who is Streetwise?

I'm Daphne Lemke, Streetwise business reporter for the Fond du Lac Reporter. I write about what's happening in the Fond du Lac-area business community.