The Cool Place in Pulaski seeks community help to stay afloat amidst business slowdown
PULASKI, Wis. (WFRV) – A small indoor play space in Pulaski is asking for help to stay open.
The Cool Place, which serves infants, toddlers, and children under ten, is struggling to stay afloat this summer. Owner Jenny Hanson says without community support, the business may not survive past winter.
Packers honor Wisconsin law enforcement officers with Protect & Serve Award
'The summer months are very hard for small businesses,' Hanson said. 'We're competing with splash pads, parks, libraries, all the things families can do for free.'
Hanson says business slows significantly when school is out, and the slowdown is burning through their winter savings. Last year, revenue from the business's ice cream truck helped keep them afloat. This year, she's hoping local families will step in.
'This is my biggest joy,' Hanson said. 'It kind of hurts my heart when people aren't here. I just want to keep the doors open for families who need this space.'
Longtime visitor and volunteer Levana Gray says the play place is about more than just kids.
'Little kids get to meet other little kids and get that interaction,' Gray said. 'But it's also so important for parents. Moms come together, dads come together, it helps create the kind of network a community needs.'
Hanson emphasizes that The Cool Place isn't just for young children. The attached café is open to everyone—teens looking for a quiet spot, parents working remotely, or anyone needing a break.
Wisconsin native leading Green Bay Blizzard offense to new heights
'We want people to come see what we're about,' Hanson said. 'Whether it's for little kids or older ones, or just someone wanting a cup of coffee, we're here for the whole community.'
Hanson says people can support The Cool Place by booking parties, buying gift passes, sponsoring playtime for other families, or simply spreading the word.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Yahoo
DHS: ICE agents detained Mass. student in operation targeting father
June 2 (UPI) -- A Massachusetts high school student was detained over the weekend in an immigration law enforcement operation targeting his father, the Trump administration said Tuesday as it responded to anger over the arrest of 18-year-old Marcelo Gomes da Silva. Marcelo Gomes da Silva, a Brazilian native, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement Saturday while en route to volleyball practice. His arrest prompted scores of students at his Milford High School to walk out of class in protest on Monday, and Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey demanded answers from the Trump administration, which she accuses of creating "fear in our communities" through its immigration crackdown. "I'm disturbed and outraged by reports that a Milford High School student was arrested by ICE on his way to volleyball practice yesterday," Healey said in a statement. "I'm demanding that ICE provide immediate information about why he was arrested, where he is and how his due process is being protected." In response, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that da Silva was arrested by ICE agents "engaged in a targeted immigration enforcement operation of a known public safety threat and illegal alien, Joao Paulo Gomes Pereira," who is the teenager's father. DHS said justification for arresting Gomes Pereira was that local authorities informed ICE that he is in the country undocumented and "has a habit of reckless driving at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour through residential areas." ICE agents identified Gomes Pereira's vehicle and arrested both the father and son during a traffic stop. "While ICE officers never intended to apprehend Gomes-DaSilva, he was found to be in the United States illegally and subject to removal proceedings, so officers made the arrest," DHS said in the statement. The student is in ICE custody pending removal proceedings, it said. The pair were seemingly arrested during a one-month law enforcement crackdown in the state on undocumented migrants, the results of which were announced Monday during a press conference held by federal officials who said they detained 1,461 migrants. Concerning Gomes da Silva's detainment, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley for Massachusetts blamed the state over its alleged sanctuary policies, stating that when local law enforcement declines to work with federal immigration authorities, ICE is forced to go into their streets, and if they find undocumented individuals, they will be arrested. "He is 18 years old. He's unlawfully in this country. And, unfortunately, we had to go to Milford to look for someone else and we came across him and he was arrested," she said, then shrugged. "That's where that stands." Healey has repeatedly said Massachusetts is not a sanctuary state. In response to a reporter's question about what danger the student posed, Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons retorted by asking whether they would be asking the same question if it was state police and not ICE agents that performed the arrest. "I didn't say he was dangerous, I said he's in this country illegally. We're not going to walk away from anybody," he said. "There are 18-year-olds arrested, but we are focused on this one. And I will say, his dad hasn't turned himself in yet and his dad knowns he's the target of it." In a writ of habeas corpus filed Sunday by attorney Miriam Conrad, who is representing Gomes da Silva, she said her client entered the U.S. through a student visa in 2021, which has lapsed but the student is eligible for and intends to apply for asylum. "Petitioner has no criminal history," the court document states. "Petitioner is currently being detained by federal agents without cause and in violation of his constitutional rights under the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution." The officials said during the press conference that nearly 1,500 undocumented migrants were detained in Operation Patriot, which was launched amid the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration and controversial attempt at mass deportations. The Trump administration deportations have been met with legal challenges as well as accusations of deporting U.S. citizens, including children. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., chastised the Trump administration over its detainment of Gomes da Silva. "This isn't about public safety. This is about cruelty and power and fear engendered by the Trump administration," he said in a video statement published to X. "To the Milford community, I'm with you as we tell the Trump administration to keep its hands off your kids."
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Trump Judge Blocks Deportation of Venezuelan Migrant Under Alien Enemies Act
A Trump-appointed judge blocked the deportation of a Venezuelan man over a lack of due process, but conceded that the president has 'close to unlimited' authority under a wartime law. U.S. District Judge John Holcomb on Monday blocked the Trump administration from deporting Darwin Antonio Arevalo Millan under the Alien Enemies Act, an 18th-century wartime authority that President Donald Trump invoked to justify the deportation of Venezuelans. Arevalo, a vocal critic of the Venezuelan government, applied for asylum in the U.S. and was granted a permit that allowed him to work and reside in the country while his application was pending. During a scheduled check-in with ICE, however, he was arrested without prior notice or warrant. Arevalo alleged that his arrest was connected to the fact that he was a Venezuelan with tattoos, which the government has used to identify possible members of the gang Tren de Aragua. Holcomb, who was appointed by Trump in 2019, said the government told the court that it was 'unsure' whether it would provide a 14-day notice to detainees before deporting them, despite another court's earlier conclusion that it was constitutionally required. 'Arevalo seeks to avoid being deported as an alien enemy without being afforded the opportunity to challenge that designation—not to avoid deportation altogether,' Holcomb wrote. 'Thus, the potential harm is that, in the absence of preliminary injunctive relief, the government would deport Arevalo without allowing him to challenge his designation as an alien enemy.' Last month, federal judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr.—also a Trump appointee—blocked further deportations under the Alien Enemies Act after ruling that Trump could not invoke the law without a declaration of war by Congress. Holcomb saw things differently. He said that the Alien Enemies Act grants the president 'close to unlimited' authority in deciding whether an 'invasion' or 'predatory incursion' has occurred. 'Although some courts have attempted to construe the terms contained in the AEA while purporting to defer to the president's judgment about the existence of either an invasion or predatory incursion, the court sees no way to strike such a balance,' he wrote. 'The AEA provides that the president—and not an Article III court—may proclaim whether an invasion or predatory incursion exists,' Holcomb added .'Thus, construing those terms is inconsistent with the text of the AEA.' The Trump administration's mass deportation blitz has put the executive and the judiciary increasingly at odds. Trump has repeatedly railed against 'radical leftist' judges for blocking the implementation of his sweeping agenda, which several courts have restrained. Last week, however, the Supreme Court handed Trump a big win by allowing the government to revoke the temporary legal status of half a million migrants from Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Haiti granted by the Biden administration. 'The court allows the government to do what it wants to do regardless,' liberal justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote in her dissenting opinion, 'rendering constraints of law irrelevant and unleashing devastation in the process.'
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Governor Tony Evers celebrates June Dairy Month with visits to local businesses
CHILTON, Wis. (WFRV) – As June Dairy Month begins, Governor Tony Evers honored the heart of Wisconsin's agricultural legacy with visits to Turtle Lake and Chilton on Monday. This celebration underscores the resilience and vitality of the state's dairy industry, which not only forms the backbone of the local economy but also enriches Wisconsin's cultural heritage. Appleton's Lamers Dairy brings back 'Cones for a Cause' to raise money during June Dairy Month With a remarkable $50 billion industry that employs over 120,000 individuals, Wisconsin proudly holds the title of 'America's Dairyland,' boasting more dairy farms than any other state in the nation. Gov. Evers has long been an advocate for Wisconsin's farmers, focusing on initiatives that support agricultural families and bolster rural communities. His administration has invested heavily in programs aimed at enhancing the state's agricultural exports, with goals to increase dairy, meat, crop, and other product exports by 25 percent. A highlight of the governor's visit was the Scoops Ice Cream House in Chilton, which received a Dairy Processor Grant from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) in 2023. This funding enabled Scoops to modernize its facilities and expand its operations. 'It's a good example of how small businesses thrive with the right assistance,' Gov. Evers remarked, emphasizing the importance of such establishments. The governor's commitment extends beyond individual businesses; he has also pioneered initiatives like the Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports and established the Wisconsin Office of Rural Prosperity. These efforts aim to streamline resources for rural communities and enhance the efficiency of the agricultural supply chain, particularly in meat and dairy processing. De Pere selects new Fire Chief to replace retiring Matzke, set to start June 9 As June Dairy Month progresses, Gov. Evers encourages all Wisconsinites to appreciate the critical role dairy plays in the state's economy and culture. 'Milk brings its cheese, brings its ice cream, and other products, and we highlight this during this time,' he stated, emphasizing that dairy is a symbol of Wisconsin's identity. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
