My kids have been begging to stay up late all summer. Tonight I'm finally saying yes, because at 11:13 the moon goes red over Green Bay, and that beats anything on a screen.

Last week of summer break. You can feel it, right? Backpacks by the door. Pool schedules ending.

This week the whole town is squeezing in one more good thing. Go squeeze yours.

— MH

De Pere High School was just ranked among the top 4% of high schools in the entire country. Not a Wisconsin ranking. National. A well-earned brag for the students, teachers, and families who made it happen, right as the new school year kicks off.

With school starting within days, De Pere police ran a pedestrian safety operation Thursday morning, issuing warnings and tickets to drivers who failed to yield at crosswalks. Consider it the season's reminder: kids will be everywhere. Drive like it.

De Pere's fall hydrant flushing starts Monday and runs through early October, moving east to west. You might notice temporary discoloration (safe to drink, but hold off on the white laundry) or a brief pressure drop. If your water looks rusty, run the cold tap for a few minutes.

You Belong cut the ribbon on Belong & Brew, a new inclusive café, the same week Leadership Green Bay's Team 1 wrapped the You Belong Here children's book, written to spark conversations about kindness, empathy, and inclusion. You Belong offers family classes, respite care, and vocational training for adults living with disabilities, and now there's a place to grab a coffee and support it all.

Lil Birdy Bakehouse just dropped four new cakesicle flavors: Snickerdoodle (cinnamon cake in cinnamon sugar), Turtle (butter pecan, caramel, chocolate, pretzels, sea salt), Carrot Cake loaded with cream cheese chocolate chips, and Toasted Coconut. The cart opens Friday 8 am to 9 pm, and small-batch means gone by afternoon.

Ever wonder what's on those giant ships you see from the bridge? In July alone, 239,091 metric tons of cargo moved through Port Green Bay, up 8% from last July, carried in by 22 vessels. The stuff of everyday life: cement, limestone, salt for winter roads, petroleum, coal. And two numbers jump out. Coal shipments are running 124% ahead of last year, and petroleum products are up a wild 244%. Port director Dean Haen says the steady mix of materials is a good sign for the shipping season, and with 14 terminal operators along three miles of the Fox River, the port remains one of the quiet engines of the local economy. Next time a freighter slides under the bridge, you'll know what it's hauling.

Tonight, the full Sturgeon Moon slides almost entirely into Earth's shadow, with 96% coverage turning it a deep rust red at peak. Wisconsin has some of the best viewing in the country for this one, and skies should be mostly clear. Let the kids stay up late. This is a school-appropriate excuse.

Downtown De Pere is going out with a doubleheader. Tonight's Farmers Market runs 3 to 8 pm with live music from Steve Keely + The Hip Shot. Then Friday brings the final Music on the Plaza of the season, 5 to 8 pm, featuring Arilya Live Loop. If you haven't made it to the plaza this summer, this is your last call.

No ticket to the preseason finale? Great North Commons is throwing the game day party one block from the stadium, with Suzie & The Detonators on the patio stage at 7:30 pm and Pope's Pizza fueling the operation. Catch the game on screen, catch the band, walk home happy.

The city pools are closed for the season, but Joannes Aquatic Center is reopening for one day, and humans are not the guests of honor. Register your dog for three hours of open swim on National Dog Day weekend.

Send The French House of Clay a good photo of your pet, show up Wednesday, and they'll help you stencil and carve your furry (or feathered, or scaly) friend's portrait into custom pottery. No experience needed, and you leave with a one-of-a-kind keepsake.

Ever wondered what actually happens behind the scenes at your police department? De Pere PD's Citizen's Academy runs Tuesday evenings Sept 8 through Nov 1 and covers traffic stops, the K-9 unit, drug trends, use of force, crime scene investigation, and a night with De Pere Fire Rescue. Open to anyone 18 and up who lives or works in De Pere, and the sign-up deadline was just extended to Sept 3.

Board & Brush Green Bay is celebrating National Dog Day with a giveaway: drop a photo of your dog in the comments of their post, and five random winners get a $50 code for a DIY workshop. Closes Friday.

De Pere's fall parkway tree orders are open. If there's room in the terrace strip between your sidewalk and curb, the city's forestry division can likely plant there. The order form covers costs and available species. The deadline is Sept 25.

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NWTC's Artisan and Business Center just opened fall class registration: ceramics, fused glass, painting, drawing, sewing, woodturning, and more. Most classes run once a week for six weeks; materials are included in the fee; most are beginner-friendly, and it's open to everyone, not just students. Scholarships are available too. Classes are filling.

The Packers close the preseason Friday night at Lambeau against Arizona, and there's a first-in-NFL-history wrinkle: head coach Matt LaFleur faces his younger brother Mike, now running the Cardinals. It's the only home preseason game of the year, and it doubles as the Packers Give Back Game honoring NAMI Wisconsin's mental health work. Green Bay Metro runs free shuttles to Lambeau on the half hour from 3 to 6 pm and again after the game. Then the real countdown starts: final roster cuts land next week, and Week 1 is almost here.

4Given Mentoring and Fresh Start Mentoring & Youth Services spent the summer rallying community partners to stuff 500 backpacks with school supplies, and they're giving them all away this afternoon. Free while supplies last, open to all students and families, with one rule: the student has to be there in person. Local barbershops, detailers, chiropractors, and restaurants all pitched in to make it happen. Start the year strong.

🍯 That's the week. Downtown's the place to be, so go catch a show, grab a treat, and I'll see you next Thursday.

📩 Got something Green Bay should know? A new business, event, or shoutout? Just hit reply; we’re all ears, or click the link here.

Stay local. Stay buzzing, and maybe see you at an event. Don’t forget to say Hiiiii!

MH.

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