Snow sculptor helps Boys & Girls Club celebrate 20th anniversary

By Patrick Lynn

The Boys & Girls Club of Portage Co. has turned 20.

The popular after-school club was launched locally by philanthropists John and Patty Noel in 2002. The Noels, along with other founding board members, celebrated the milestone at the Club’s Berard Center, 941 Michigan Ave., on Feb. 12.

According to a news release from the Club, it’s served over 14,000 kids during its first 20 years in operation.

In honor of the benchmark, Clark St. artist Jef Schobert, who is known across the region for his Snow Art Zone, created a snow sculpture in front of the center on Michigan Ave.

Schobert is a long-time resident of Stevens Point and a veteran of the United States Army. He began snow sculpting as a child and continues the work as a hobby, often incorporating local and national events, or recently-released movies, into his creations. Recent creations include Marvel characters such as the Hulk, Spiderman, and Venom. Photos and videos of his work can be found on his Facebook page.

The Boys & Girls Club started with one small location on Ellis St. downtown Stevens Point and a school site within the Kennedy Elementary School in Junction City. Today, the Club has 10 sites spread across the entire county, with branches in Stevens Point, Plover, Junction City, Rosholt, and Almond-Bancroft.