On 9/16/11 the Mayor's office received an email from a visitor and it read:
I absolutely love Wausau. It is Wisconsin at its most beautiful. The trees are abundant and there is much to do!! The air is crisp and clean and the people are friendly and kind. I currently live in Chicago with my husband. We are constantly planning how and when we will be able to move. It is my dream to one day work as a librarian in Wausau. I truly hope that my dream comes true!
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On 8/10/11 the Mayor received this comment and photo from a resident:
Hi, I am 7 years old and I attend school within the Wausau School District. I like Wausau because I like playing in the Splash Pad on the 400 Block. Here is my photo that my parents took.
Photo 1
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On 5/26/11 a former Wausau resident who lived here for 13 years wrote this:
My family and I moved to Wausau in 1994 from suburban Chicago. At that time, downtown was dilapidated and unattractive. While the community was growing and pleasant, the city core lacked energy. In the following years the downtown was completely renovated and exciting things began to happen all over the city. The creation of the open square off of Scott Street provided a wonderful place for city residents to gather and enjoy concerts and other events in downtown. The expansion and renovation of the Grand Theater added to an already lively performing arts scene. The growth of Rib Mountain's Granite Peak made Wausau a skiing destination. The newly completed interchange of highways 29 and 51 improved the flow of traffic through the city. The recent expansion of UW-Marathon County foretells a likely expansion into a four-year university. Wausau has so many assets, and it takes only one look at downtown to realize that the city has a vibrance that cities twice its size often lack. Since moving to Milwaukee and then to Boston several years ago, I realize how well Wausau has set itself up for success. It's a great place to live and I would love to move back to Wausau in the future.
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On 2/8/11, the City of Wausau received this comment in an email message:
About 15 months ago a job opportunity took me away from Wausau (home for approximately 30 years) to Milwaukee. Being uncertain of where I will live after this job, I have kept my doctor and dental providers in Wausau. This ensures that I visit the area at least twice a year.
This past weekend while visiting I realized what a great community Wausau is. Convenient services, consistently good winter snow for skiing, snowshoeing, etc. Plus curling and a wonderful YMCA facilities-I hit them all! I also took a look at City Pages and realized the city, while not having the number of options a large metropolitan area has does host some nice performing arts events. Couple all this with the friendly people of Wausau and it will be hard for me to not return to Wausau. The other impressive thing about the people of Wausau are the number of outreach organizations-Laotian People to People Project, Good News, Kenya Water Project, Victims of War, etc. There is much for Wausau to be proud of!
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On 12/1/10, an anonymous local resident wrote to the City of Wausau with this comment:
Kudos to our City Council and Mayor for the cooperative spirit and unity they are displaying. The American people have been fed up with our national politics and demonstrated their dissatisfaction during the last national election. But locally, we can be proud of the people we've elected to serve here in Wausau. They have healthy debate and then seem to vote for what is best for the whole city, not just some special interest group. Wausau is on the move because our local elected officials are all working hard together for us.
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On 12/1/10, the following comment was brought to the City's attention from a local resident:
WOW....What a welcoming corridor 3rd Street is, leading people from Bridge Street to the downtown area!. This is truly inviting. The lights at night give a feeling of safety and aliveness. It creates a very positive image of the City of Wausau. Wausah has been a great place to raise our family. Thanks to all the City planners and the city residents who followed through on such a wonderful vision for Wausau. I was so uplifted with it all that I had to stop and take these pictures.
Photo 1
Photo 2
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On 11/09/10, a 3rd Grade Student from Thomas Jefferson Elementary School wrote this:
Dear Mayor Tipple,
We are learning about our community. I like to dance and read. I think Wausau is a great place to live. I like to go to Marathon Park. I enjoy going to Wausau Academy of Dance. I can't wait for the "Olive Garden" to open. I have a question. Why did you decide to run for Mayor? It would be cool if Wausau had the store "Toys R Us". Wausau is not just a good place to live, but also a great place to live, work and play!
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On 7/30/10, a City of Wausau resident sent these comments:
Wausau has so many features that make it a great city - a beautiful downtown, neighborhoods that encourage community, history, museums and a theater, shop owners who are also our neighbors and generous people who support the community in eveyr way. It's a great place to live and work.
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On 6/25/10, a Wausau resident submitted these comments:
Wausau is a very walk-able city. It is aesthetically situated along the state’s longest and hardest working rivers. The Wisconsin River brings in wildlife and recreational opportunities while providing us with hydroelectric power. The Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum is one of the nation’s leading outdoor and wildlife art museums. It has brought in works by many diverse artists including photographers like Clyde Butcher and O. Winston Link.
The downtown in Wausau is alive and bustling. Summers on the City Square include live outdoor concerts, and open air markets. We have our issues but crime is low and most streets are safe to walk at night.
Educational opportunities are increasing with the growth of the UW Marathon County campus, Northcentral Technical College, private colleges like Rasmussen, and Concordia University’s Outreach Center at Trinity Lutheran Church.
Wausau residents are hard working and determined to make the community succeed. We see issues and tackle them head on to make our city that much more livable.
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A City Crew received this comment during the 3rd Street construction:
"On behalf of the River District businesses, Thank you for your hard work on 3rd Street, keeping our store fronts accessible, and parking available for downtown patrons! Thanks!"
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On 5/13/10, the City of Wausau received this comment from an individual who resides in Wausau:
The videos you have on your website showcasing the Fire, Police, and Public Works Departments are great. I love how they show what these city employees do to serve the citizens. We can certainly be proud of these employees. I hope the City is planning to showcase other departments, too. We have good reason to celebrate our community!