Sailing Center hosts summer solstice event
The Milwaukee Community Sailing Center has partnered with the MAST Yacht Club, Milwaukee Yacht Club, and the South Shore Yacht Club to host the second annual Summer Sailstice on Saturday, June 18.
Milwaukee is one of numerous sailing communities around the world that uses the Saturday closest to the Summer Solstice as a day to celebrate and introduce sailing to community members, first time boaters and sailing enthusiasts. Thousands of sailors from 50 states and 47 countries will participate.
The celebration will begin at 8 a.m. with a $7 all-you-can-eat Pancake Breakfast at the Milwaukee Yacht Club, 1700 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive. The public will be able to ride the sailing club’s fleet sailboats from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The event will also be an open house of the organization’s newly constructed and eco-friendly facility situated on Lake Michigan, with classrooms and a community room available for meeting space and event rental. Activities include a Rain Gutter Regatta and a sailing poker run as well.
Southeastern Wisconsin health care costs still above Midwest average
The Greater Milwaukee Business Foundation on Health Inc. has released the results of its fourth study on overall health care costs in southeastern Wisconsin, indicating that in comparison with the Midwest average, health care commercial premium costs for 2009 in southeastern Wisconsin were 8 percent higher than average costs in the Midwest.
“The difference between average health care premium costs in southeast Wisconsin and the Midwest average was relatively unchanged from the 2007 study we completed,” said Ron Dix, executive director of the Foundation. “In 2007 average healthcare premium costs were shown to be 9 percent higher and they were 8 percent higher in 2009,” Dix said.
According to Dix, previously conducted studies showed that the cost of health care premiums in 2000 were 55 percent higher than the Midwest average and 39 percent higher than the Midwest average in 2003. The most recent study was conducted using data from 2009.
The study used the same methodologies as the foundation’s three previous studies on this topic to ensure that accurate comparisons can be drawn among the studies. Consulting firms Mercer and Milliman authored the study, and the findings are based on the analysis of 2009 combined employer and employee health care premium costs of commercial health plan members under the age of 65.
The study included residents of Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, Ozaukee, Kenosha, Walworth and Washington counties.
The study indicated that factors including a higher average age of participants in southeastern Wisconsin and richer plan designs from employers may contribute to higher average costs in southeastern Wisconsin.
“In order to drive area health care premium costs down to the Midwest average, we will need to address the two key drivers of this healthcare premium cost discrepancy – reimbursement levels to providers and benefit plans offered by employers,” said Dix. “Unless provider reimbursement levels and benefit plan design come more into line with those of our colleagues in the Midwest, it is difficult to imagine that overall costs in southeast Wisconsin will approach the Midwest average.”
State Fair releases deal book
Officials at Wisconsin State Fair released the first ever 2011 Fair Deals Bargain Book yesterday. The book will offer fairgoers hundreds of dollars in savings from more than 40 Fair vendors and partners.
The 160th Wisconsin State Fairwill take place Thursday, Aug. 4 through Sunday, Aug. 14.
Fast Track Oil Change Centers have partnered with the Fair and will sell the books at their 12 Milwaukee area locations for $3. A coupon for $15 off a full-service oil change at Fast Track is also included in the book. Books can also be purchased for $4 at the Fair Ticket Offices on West Greenfield Ave., and the Main Gate at the Wisconsin State Fair grounds.
For a list of all participating vendors and partners, please visit the Fair website.
