At the end of each year, I take the opportunity to express my gratitude to all who were part of Madison Locally Sourced . Thanks to those without whom Madison Locally Sourced would not exist: Jenny Denman, Kyle Jacobson, and Barbara Wilson. Those who provide support: Lisa Abler, Olivia Leichsenring, Lisa Likwarz, and Linda Walker. Regular contributors: Jeanne Engle, Chris Gargan, Efrat Koppel, Lori Scarlett, and Eric Tadsen. Additional contributors: Lisa Bernard, Chris Brockel, Mark Glazer, Doug Holz, Jill Jacklitz, Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin, Emma Schatz, Abigail Swetz, Wisconsin State Park System, and the additional photographers who let us share their images on our pages.
I'm grateful for our advertising sponsors, who support what we do both on a collaborative and practical basis. They understand that we’re friends and neighbors, and that when we all do our best, we come together and support one another.
Thanks to our readers for the kind words of support you share and for picking up each issue and reading it cover to cover. It means so much to have you confirm that a community magazine is important to you and worth reading. And thank you for showing your support to our advertisers, who make it possible to bring Madison Locally Sourced to you.
Apologies to anyone I haven’t noted. I’m fortunate to have so many to thank that I may inevitably miss someone.
cover photograph
Susan Richter O'Connell piece by Cole Rodgers photographs on page 3 (top right)
Paoli Road Mercantile by Eric Tadsen (bottom left to right): Susan Richter O'Connell piece by Susan Richter O'Connell P rovided by Dane County Humane Society
Finally, I want to share some personal thoughts. There are many difficult things going on right now. It’s my opinion that the strength of our country isn’t based on perceived power, money, and threatening words, but on the positive and collaborative efforts from the individuals who live here. We’re all better because we’re all here. Our differences allow us to learn from one another and follow the best path possible. We’re better because of our empathy and caring for others, whether inside or outside our country. And we’re never richer than when we’re looking after each other, acting on behalf of one another, and offering a hand to those who need our help to be lifted.
Wishing you peace and strength of heart.
Supporting our Veterans, One Home
at a Time
Project Home is committed to ensuring that our nation's heroes have the homes they deserve. Through our Serving Those Who Served (STWS) program, we provide vital home repairs, modifications, and improvements to low-tomoderate income veterans and their families.
Why STWS?
Addressing Unmet Needs: STWS was established to address the specific needs of veterans in our community.
Improving Quality of Life: By making homes more accessible and comfortable, we're helping veterans stay safely and independently in their homes.
Honoring Sacrifice: It's a tangible way to express our gratitude for the sacrifices made by our veterans.
Our Impact:
Since its inception in 2016, STWS has completed over $408,000 worth of home repairs for 58 veterans and their families. These improvements have included everything from accessibility modifications to energy-efficient upgrades.
How Can You Help?
Donate: Your generous contribution can make a significant difference in the lives of our veterans.
Volunteer: Share your time and skills to help us make a positive impact.
Spread the Word: Help us reach more veterans by sharing information about STWS with your friends and family.
Together, we can ensure that our veterans have the homes they deserve.
Donate today!
New wider accessible shower equipped with grab bars and a seat.
One veteran shared his gratitude: "Thanks to STWS, I can finally enjoy my home without worrying about safety hazards. It's a huge relief." - John Smith
PAOLI ROAD
Mercantile
by Kyle Jacobson
As I walked down Paoli Road with Julie Walser, artist and owner of Paoli Road Mercantile, she shared with me the history of every building we passed— including the old gristmill. It wasn’t long before we made it from one end of downtown to the other, crossing the Sugar River to Seven Acre Dairy, which was once home to Paoli Creamery, Wisconsin’s largest butter-making plant from 1888 to 1980. The building and its history live on through its occupants: a restaurant and bar, café, boutique hotel, and microdairy for Landmark Creamery. Julie quickly had me convinced that Paoli, from its past mills and dairy factory to the evolving business culture of today, is a community of resilience and renaissance.
Like many of the other 162 residents, Julie knows Paoli’s history inside and
out. It helps her appreciate the weight of her responsibilities on the board of the Paoli Merchants’ Association, whose members play a role in shaping the town’s future. As we watch a fisherman cast into the river from our vantage on Seven Acre Dairy’s patio, she seems to take stock in what’s going on simply because she’s attuned to Paoli’s daily rhythms.
Across the river is the building that used to operate as a grist mill. The Mill, as it’s now called, houses shops, a brewery, craft cocktail bar, food hut, and hosts an eclectic range of music acts and events. In front of the Mill is a small shack, which Julie knows all too well.
“That little stone scale house, for 30 years, it was a little tiny cheese shop,” says Julie. “It was the cutest little building. ... One day I’m on my way home
from work, I noticed it was for rent. My husband said, ‘Don’t you want to open up your own place?’ It wasn’t even on my radar. I was doing art shows with my jewelry. It really hadn’t dawned on me to even think about opening a business since I had a full-time job as a manager of the loss prevention department at UW Credit Union (UWCU).”
The owner of the scale house was Bill Hastings. Julie says, “Everything in Paoli was kind of abandoned in the early ’80s after the old mill and the butter and cheese factory shuttered. Soon after the mill property was up for land auction. It was between two people. The one guy wanted to turn it into a salvage yard, and then there was Bill. Luckily, Bill got the bid, and then he started fixing up the town.”
Unfortunately, when Julie reached out to Bill about renting the space, in 2017,
he mentioned that he had promised it to someone else. A week later, Julie called to check the status. “He said, ‘Oh, I told her you were taking it.’ And that’s when I started Paoli Road Mercantile.”
The business was a small gallery featuring somewhere between 20 and 25 artists. Three years later, in 2020, a larger location down the block, formerly CLUCK the Chicken Store, became available. It would be perfect for incorporating a studio space in the back, and the gallery in front could feature more artists.
Two weeks after signing the paperwork, the COVID pandemic hit, but the timing proved fortunate. She had a month to move her inventory to the new space without having to juggle running the store. The new-to-her location was built about 100 years earlier as a gas welding and Model T repair shop before becoming a gas station from 1958 to 1972. Julie has leaned into the building’s history, displaying some pictures from its past at the entrance. Overhead, thick bow trusses, perhaps bent in the waters of the long-defunct millrun, stretch from wall to wall. By 2022, when Seven Acre Dairy came to town, she made the decision to leave her job at UWCU and focus on her gallery and studio.
“I believe in handcraf t ed work . ”
Today, when patrons walk through the doors of Paoli Road Mercantile, they’re greeted with a curated range of works from around 75 different artists. Julie’s network has grown through workshops and friendships, bringing in pieces like Karen Edgerly’s distinctly handmade jewelry from Colorado and Maia Leppo’s contemporary designs from Pittsburgh. Closer to home, Lane Bacon’s jewelry boxes, each an ode to natural beauty, and Dean Leeper and Andrew Linderman’s functional pottery with an eye toward
elegance anchor the space to Wisconsin. Julie’s own work is also on display: architectural, minimalistic jewelry pieces crafted in sterling and goldfill metals occasionally accented with stones, enamel, and vintage elements.
Paintings, photography, and stained glass adorn the walls, and bright wiry metal sculpture from Nana Schowalter bring the shop’s outside to life. Back inside, candles, teas, and chocolates from nearby establishments round out the experience. You can learn everything you might want to know about the artists and makers through Julie, as she’s always excited to share the stories of artists and their pieces.
She sees her business as something she can give to the community of creators she’s been a part of for so many years.
“I believe in handcrafted work made by local and regional artists and makers— unique, one-of-a-kind pieces that you can’t get elsewhere.” To further showcase talent across the state, Julie hosts Paoli’s Wisconsin Metalsmith Trunk Show & Sale over the holiday season, where eventgoers will find even more jewelry pieces from more than 20 of Wisconsin’s talented artists.
Since its founding, Paoli has pushed itself forward with purpose. When industry changed and businesses closed, nothing was truly abandoned. Today, those who put the hamlet on the map are celebrated for their vision. Julie says,
“I love Paoli. It’s charming. We have great restaurants, boutique shops, and live music year-round. Kayaking on the Sugar River, plenty of biking and hiking trails. It’s such a great vibe.” Her gallery adds to that charm, reminding Madison residents that small-town tenacity can awaken fresh perspective.
Kyle Jacobson is a writer who likes to explore the edges of his values.
Photographs by Eric Tadsen .
6904 Paoli Rd. Paoli, WI 53508 (608) 845-2311
paoli-mercantile.com
Check out
Drumlin Ridge, located just outside Madison, offers a private rental space for small gatherings. Guests can relax with a glass or a custom flight of locally produced wine while overlooking the hillside vineyard. Enjoy small plates or browse the gift shop.
6000 River Rd., Waunakee 608-849-9463 DRUMLINRIDGEWINERY.COM
Photograph by Barbara Wilson
Kyle Jacobson
Mike O’Connor, Joanie Rubel, and Andy Cramer with WORT’s first broadcast, December 1, 1975.
Celebrates 50 Years of Community Radio WORT
On December 1, WORT 89.9 FM celebrates 50 years as Madison’s community radio station. Many changes have happened over the years, but WORT’s programming continues to hold true to its core ethos of elevating the voices of the underrepresented; challenging cultural norms; and providing a wide selection of music in a multitude of genres, focusing on local artists.
WORT’s programming is created by volunteers who are passionate about their craft, whether curating award-winning
In the early 1970s, five local radicals had a dream of creating a community radio station in Madison.
local news, providing a space for important conversations with community changemakers, or serving up an eclectic mix of music to entertain and uplift. WORT offers a space for all, including the BiPOC, LGBTQIA+, Latine, Hmong-speaking, and women’s communities. The station is financially supported entirely through donations from individuals; local business support; and a variety of fundraising events, including WORTstock at Warner Park in late May.
Humble Beginnings
In the early 1970s, five local radicals had a dream of creating a community radio station in Madison. Pat Ryan, an engineer at WHA Radio, lived in one-half of the same house as John Ohlinger, who had been involved in noncommercial radio, most notably as news director for the original listener-supported stations of the Pacifica Foundation in California. There was a married couple, the Deveraux-Webers, who earlier tried valiantly,
The original WORT studio on Winnebago Street.
Photograph provided by WORT
Photograph provided by WORT
but unsuccessfully, to get a similar project started here under the name The Human Radio Corporation. Pat Ryan’s engineering colleague at WHA, Mike O’Connor, is the main reason there’s a community radio station in Madison. He’d been active with listener-supported stations in St. Louis. The foundation’s name, Back Porch Radio, expressed Mike’s philosophy of an easy-going, unpretentious, down-home approach to broadcasting.
Soon, more people got involved in program committees, and meetings about format, governance, and other matters were hashed out at length. The unused studios and transmitter of the commercial FM station WMFM on Winnebago Street in the Atwood neighborhood became available and seemed like the perfect location. Finally, on Monday, December 1, 1975, at 8:00 p.m., after many thousands of hours of unpaid volunteer work, Mike flipped a switch, made some nonchalant remarks, and WORT was on the air. Within a few weeks, there were many
locally produced programs, including In America, They Call Us Dykes; What Is to Be Will Be, What Ain’t to Be, Just Might Happen; The Madison Review of Books; and Bob Lynn’s Thursday Night Free University. Some that started in the first weeks are still going strong, including Bonnie Kalmbach’s Two for the Blues and Rockin’ John McDonald’s I Like It Like That.
Rolling With the Changes
Crispy Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo
In 1982, WORT sought to relocate and found its new home on South Bedford Street. There have been a myriad of changes since. It’s no secret that the face of broadcasting has changed and continues to evolve—new technologies emerge along with new listening habits. In 2006, WORT began streaming its programming online, with major website updates since then to offer live streams, an archive player, a go-to music event calendar, links to podcasts, and posts related to programming with links to the audio. Through donor support, WORT was also able to upgrade its outdated soundboards to allow its
by
Photograph
Jon Miner
WORTistas celebrating at WORTstock.
volunteers to engineer shows using the latest technology available. In 2023, the WORT FM app was launched for convenient listening on mobile phones. WORT also has a strong social media presence on Facebook and Instagram. New shows and new hosts continue to enrich the program schedule along with the standard favorites, like Tropical Riddims with FRP.
Earlier this decade, WORT had to figure out how to keep a volunteer-based radio station running during a pandemic lockdown. When everything closed in early 2020, WORT continued to broadcast news, music, and information during a particularly traumatic time for everyone. Volunteer programmers
learned to prerecord shows and host shows live from their homes using internet technology, while a skeleton staff ran the boards and continued station operations. The shows continued to air, and the community could still come together, if only through the airwaves. As the lockdown lifted and volunteers returned to the station, a wide variety of precautions kept everyone safe from mass exposure. Through collaborative efforts and quick thinking, WORT remained a vital resource in a particularly dangerous time.
Looking to the Future
The complete loss of Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) funding has created another hurdle for WORT
Photograph provided by
WORT
Rockin’ John McDonald, host of I Like It Like That, in front of the Winnebago studio.
to overcome. Due to the federal cancellation of these funds, WORT has lost more than $115,000 in already awarded 2026 grants. WORT is financially strong, but with more than 13 percent of its funding eliminated, community support will be more vital than ever. Since the announcement of CPB’s closure, the outpouring of support from the community has been incredibly strong. As the number of independent news sources continues to dwindle, WORT’s news team remains devoted to bringing local stories, election coverage with candidate interviews, and the deep conversations that go beyond talking points.
To face the challenges ahead, WORT intends to hold true to its ethos of collaboration and consensus. Volunteers are strong stakeholders in the organization and have representation on the board of directors along with listener-sponsors and a staff representative. The full-time staff runs the day-to-day operations as a collective, a unique structure that eliminates the
need for a station manager and manages operations through a consensus process where all voices are heard. Challenges are solved collaboratively rather than through a top-down, hierarchical approach. It’s one of the core principles of the station’s founding, and it’s still evident in the culture of WORT today. Though collaboration can be a messy process at times, it results in better-
thought-out strategies. WORT’s phone lines and new Discord server are open to listener comments, and hosts are happy to hear from members of the public.
To learn more, visit wortfm.org.
Article and photographs contributed by WORT 89.9 FM Community Radio.
Photograph provided by WORT
PC Allen of One Fine Morning hosts a student tour.
Modern Spice Shop & Restaurant
Building a Fair Wisconsin
by Abigail Swetz
My name is Abigail Swetz, my pronouns are she/her, and I call Wisconsin home because I saw “A Fair Wisconsin Votes No” signs in yard after yard when I visited Madison in 2006 during the campaign against the ban on gay marriage. Today, I lead Fair Wisconsin as the executive director of Wisconsin’s only statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights and political advocacy organization. Ensuring protections for LGBTQ+ individuals at the state and local levels of government has only grown more important, and the growing urgency of our work at Fair Wisconsin continues to galvanize our small-but-mighty team.
Fair Wisconsin has been around in one form or another for over three decades. The organization has an incredible history of working to advance, achieve, and protect LGBTQ+
equality here in Wisconsin. This summer marked my one-year anniversary here at Fair Wisconsin, so I’ve been reflecting a bit on our work. Our community is facing so many challenges on so many fronts, and we’re fighting for equality on every one of them.
In elections, Fair Wisconsin has increased our get-out-thevote (GOTV) work, sending over 4,000 handwritten postcards and over 350,000 texts, and we’ve launched GOTV ads on LGBTQ+ dating apps that were seen over 2.4 million times.
For our advocacy, we’ve submitted over 18,000 pages of testimony and testified at committee hearings four times, held eight informational webinars and community processing
Fair Wisconsin turned 31 in 2025.
workshops, and brought over 150 grassroots advocates to the Wisconsin State Capitol to speak to their elected representatives during our biannual Equality Day.
In terms of educating the public, we held community processing workshops following the November 2024 election, and have presented four informational webinars on the policy and legal landscape impacting our community under the current federal administration. We’re working with UW System students to research municipal ordinances and look for opportunities to expand protections for LGBTQ+ people across our state, building on our work in partnership with GSAFE to ensure protections are not only present, but also followed.
We’ve also formed a robust volunteer network, given numerous media interviews to lift the stories of LGBTQ+ Wisconsinites, developed a new project to help defend against anti-trans political attacks, and have seen the Wisconsin State Supreme Court uphold a rule banning conversion therapy.
It’s important work, and I’m proud of it and my team for getting it done. But let’s be honest about what we face. The current federal administration ran a campaign based on anti-trans rhetoric, and they’re doing everything they can to turn that rhetoric into policy. They’re starting with the most vicious assaults aimed at our transgender siblings, and the attacks aren’t stopping there.
Politicians can try to deny we have a history, they can try and drive us back into the closet, they can try and prevent us from having a rich future, but they will not succeed. And that’s thanks to this basic truth: we are here. We’re here as LGTBQ+ people, and we’re here as allies and as advocates. Fair Wisconsin is here. We’re here and we’re not going anywhere. If anything,
we’re running into the fight because Fair Wisconsin is doing the work today to ensure our LGBTQ+ community can thrive tomorrow.
By working with national partners to stand up for our rights while also keeping
our focus on expanding LGBTQ+ protections here in Wisconsin, we’ll ensure our state is a place where all of us can thrive.
Fair Wisconsin turned 31 in 2025, meaning this organization has seen its
fair share of ups and downs in the fight for LGBTQ+ equality in our state and in our country. Our LGBTQ+ community, especially our trans and nonbinary friends and family, is facing such hostility that it’s hard to see the hope some days, and the nights can feel very, very dark. Then I wake up and hug my family and
turn on my computer to see what’s next. Yes, there’s often a new federal action to fight against, but there are also volunteer sign-ups and donation notifications and sometimes even emails thanking us for the work or suggesting new ideas for further action. That gives me a lot of hope because it means that our Wisconsin
Orthopedic Services
LGBTQ+ and allied communities still believe in our collective future being better than our present and that we’re willing to work for it together.
Thank you for reading about Fair Wisconsin’s work. I hope to see you at an upcoming event or in our volunteer and subscriber or donation notifications. Most of all, I hope I see you living joyously despite those who prefer you stay quiet. Living our lives as queer and allied people is incredibly important work.
Abigail Swetz is executive director of Fair Wisconsin.
Photograph by Dutcher
Photography
Abigail Swetz
Photograph provided by Fair Wisconsin
Dane County Humane Society Giving Shelter
by Lisa Bernard
The winter holidays are a time for reflection, generosity, and giving back. Perhaps that’s why many people choose this season, often starting Giving Tuesday, to support causes they care about.
Dane County Humane Society (DCHS) and other nonprofits need the public’s support now more than ever to meet growing demands after last year’s rising pricings and government funding uncertainty. DCHS is a private, donor-supported nonprofit dedicated to helping people help animals. It’s not a government agency nor part of a national animal welfare organization. DCHS provides shelter; care; and new beginnings for thousands of companion, exotic, barnyard, and wild animals each year.
DCHS’ work goes beyond animal sheltering by also offering humane education programs, community-based care for pets, dog-training classes, wildlife rehabilitation, and more.
Kevin before surgery.
The majority of DCHS’ funding comes from the generosity of the community and beyond...
While DCHS holds a long-standing contract with Public Health Madison & Dane County to provide state-mandated public services, including shelter and care for stray animals, bite quarantine, and rabies prevention, the contract covers less than 10 percent of DCHS’ $8.1 million annual budget. Program services and fees help, but accounted for just 13 percent of DCHS’ 2024 revenue toward efforts to keep offerings affordable for pet families.
The majority of DCHS’ funding comes from the generosity of the community and beyond through individual donations, bequests, corporate support, grants, and fundraising efforts. DCHS maximizes every dollar received. In fact, Charity Navigator, America’s largest charity evaluator, awarded their highest rating of four stars to DCHS in recognition of their financial accountability and transparency.
While item donations are appreciated, monetary contributions give DCHS the greatest flexibility to apply immediately for daily shelter operations; community outreach; and emergency cases, like Kevin.
Kevin, an adult stray cat, was dragging himself along the pavement when a good samaritan found and brought him to DCHS for help. He was in pain, and x-rays revealed extensive trauma: his left hip and right ankle were dislocated and his right fibula was fractured. The community came together to raise the necessary funds to cover surgeries with an orthopedic specialist. After a couple of months of DCHS veterinarians providing daily care and bandage and splint changes, Kevin was medically cleared for adoption and went to his new home the same day.
Shelters and rescues often rely on private clinics for medical services, but they have become busier and more expensive as the United States faces a veterinarian shortage, causing appointments to be scheduled further out. Since most animal groups require dogs and cats to be spayed and neutered before adoption, surgical delays mean animals are waiting longer in shelters, leading to more overcrowding. DCHS is fortunate to have their own skilled veterinarians.
Since DCHS has its own medical team, they created their Shelter Support Program to help other animal groups in need of affordable veterinary care to keep their population moving. DCHS also transfers in animals with complex medical needs from local shelters—animals like Stanley.
Stanley suffered damage to his hips, causing limited mobility and pain. He needed surgery, but his previous shelter didn’t have the resources to provide that care. Stanley was transferred to DCHS,
Stanley at Dane County Humane Society.
Kevin in his new home.
where their veterinarians performed his surgery. Stanley was placed with a foster family to recover, and during the process, his foster fell in love and adopted him.
Thanks to supporters, DCHS also has a dental suite to provide much needed dental care to animals, like Eddie. When he and nearly 30 other cats were
surrendered from one household, Eddie was described as the “mean” one. But DCHS’ teams quickly discovered he was acting out in pain. Eddie was suffering from severe dental disease throughout his mouth. DCHS’ veterinarians cleaned his teeth, extracting seven diseased and painful teeth. As Eddie recovered, his sweet and affectionate personality shined. Eddie was adopted and has been thriving in his new home.
DCHS’ programs go beyond companion animals. Its Wildlife Center, founded in 2002, admits over 3,000 sick, injured, and orphaned wild animals each year for rehabilitation. The Wildlife Center reached a milestone over the summer when they admitted their 50,000th patient, a tiny orphaned mallard duckling, one of their most common species of patients.
DCHS’ Wildlife Center works with approximately 150 different species, including all bird, reptile, amphibian, and most mammal species native to Wisconsin. They receive wild animals from all over the state, primarily from the southern half, including 32 Wisconsin counties.
With rising prices, the cost to rehabilitate a single patient has doubled in recent
years to $200. Wisconsin law doesn’t allow wildlife rehabilitators to charge for their services, so DCHS’ Wildlife Center offers them free to anyone who finds a wild animal in need. The Wildlife Center relies entirely on generous donors to keep the program running.
Thanks to supporters, DCHS’ impact goes beyond the shelter walls. The Pets for Life (PFL) program reached 121 new clients and 274 pets residing in petresource deserts in the Madison area, providing them with free spay/neuter surgeries, wellness care, vaccinations, pet supplies, and information. PFL also hosted its Community Dog Day event, providing 147 dogs with free medical care and supplies, including 139 veterinary exams, 205 vaccines, and 70 microchips.
Eddie in his new home.
Providing medical care at Community Dog Day.
A patient at DCHS Wildlife Center.
You can help animals by making a holiday gift to DCHS online or dropping off a check at DCHS. You may also become a Constant Companion by donating monthly to provide reliable support, give in honor or memory of someone, and set up a peer-to-peer fundraiser online to encourage others to join in. However you show your support, your generosity will provide shelter, healing, and new beginnings to numerous animals in need.
Lisa Bernard is the development & communications supervisor at Dane County Humane Society. giveshelter.org
Photographs provided by Dane County Humane Society
Lisa Bernard
Founded in 1971. 100% Local. Benefits residents in Dane and Green Counties.
Tailless Rodents
by Lori Scarlett, DVM
I previously wrote an article extolling the virtues of rats as pets. They’re gentle creatures that enjoy interacting with humans, are intelligent, will eat just about anything you offer them, and are very much like dogs in a tiny package. My family had several rats as pets when my youngest son was growing up, but when I mention rats to other mothers, they get that look on their face and always mention that rat tail. I get it— the bald, long tail is a little creepy. So to avoid that reaction, may I suggest two other enjoyable small pets: guinea pigs and hamsters.
There are many animal groups that appear on my Facebook feed. I enjoy the cat and dog videos and the ones of baby zoo animals (Ume the tapir is my favorite), but the ones of guinea pigs had me trying to convince my publisher to
adopt a herd of them. Guinea pigs make wonderful pets, but they do have some specific health needs.
A guinea pig, also known as a cavy, is a rodent originally from South America. They were domesticated in the Andes as a source of meat and are still eaten in some parts of the world. Dutch explorers brought guinea pigs back to Europe in the 16th century, where fanciers bred them for different colors and fur types. In the 18th century, they were widely used in laboratories, making significant contributions to the field of science.
Guinea pigs live an average of five to seven years and weigh around two and a half pounds. They come in a variety of colors and coats: the silkie has mediumlength silky hair, while the Peruvian has long, silky hair. The English, or shorthair,
has a uniformly short coat, while Abyssinians have whorls or rosettes in their short, wiry fur coat.
Because of their size, it’s best to pick them up with both hands, one under the belly and one under the rump, and are better pets for older children. Guinea pigs tend to be curious and friendly, and will approach a hand in their cage. It’s essential to handle them gently and often when they are young so they become accustomed to being held and are much less likely to bite.
Solid-floored cages are the best option for housing a guinea pig to help prevent foot infections (bumblefoot) and broken legs, which can happen if a leg gets caught in wire mesh. Bedding materials are typically wood shavings, shredded paper, and commercial pellets. Their cage should be in a quiet spot away from noise; direct sunlight; and cold, damp areas. They’re nocturnal and more active at night, but require quiet periods of light to sleep during the day.
Because they’re social creatures and are thigmotactic (they like to lean against each other), it’s best to have at least two guinea pigs, if not more. If you have both male and female guinea pigs, you will need to have the male guinea pigs neutered to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
Guinea pigs are herbivores, eating grasses, fruits, and vegetables. If you get a young guinea pig, it’s vital to offer them a wide variety of foods so they’ll be more willing to try different things as they get
older. They need grass hay or Timothy grass available at all times, and it should compose at least 80 percent of their diet. Alfalfa is a legume, not a grass, and is too high in calcium and calories to be used.
Unlike cats and dogs, guinea pigs don’t produce their own vitamin C, so they require foods to get enough. Parsley, kale, kiwi, and broccoli have the highest amounts of vitamin C and are easy to provide as long as your guinea pig enjoys eating them. If a guinea pig doesn’t get enough vitamin C, they’ll develop scurvy, leading to a poor appetite; swollen, painful joints; reluctance to move; and spontaneous bleeding. This can be fatal if left untreated.
If having two or more two-and-a-halfpound rodents is too many to consider, tailless or not, I suggest a Syrian hamster. You would get only one hamster, as they tend to become aggressive and fight if housed with others. They only weigh about five ounces, the size of a medium peach. They live an average of two to three years, a shorter time commitment than a guinea pig.
Hamsters are easily startled when asleep, which will be during the daytime, and more likely to bite than guinea pigs (or rats), so they’re not ideal for a small child. If you get a young hamster and handle it frequently, it should be docile and less likely to bite as an adult. Like some people before their morning coffee, it’s best to allow your hamster to fully awaken before trying to pick it up.
There are three types of hamsters: the common golden; the long-haired teddy bear; and the short-haired, multicolored fancy. In 1930, a litter of eight baby hamsters was taken to Palestine and raised as research animals. Three survived, and virtually all domesticated hamsters today are descended from them. There are also Chinese hamsters, which are smaller and have a dark-brown coat, as well as Armenian and European hamsters, which are primarily used in scientific research.
Housing a hamster is similar to a guinea pig. An enclosure with a solid glass bottom and lots of shredded paper will make your hamster happy. Plan on
scooping out soiled litter daily; cleaning the cage once or twice a week with warm, soapy water; and replacing the bedding to keep odors down and your hamster healthy.
Hamsters are omnivores and can eat a variety of foods, but the majority of their diet should be a pelleted rodent ration containing 15 to 20 percent protein. You can supplement their diet with sugarless breakfast cereal, whole wheat bread, pasta, cheese, cooked lean meats, fruits, and vegetables. Hamsters have large cheek pouches and love to stuff them full of food then later hide the food in the corners of their cages.
With good care, diet, and clean cages, hamsters are generally healthy, but they can develop diarrhea (sometimes fatal), bladder stones, heart disease, or cancer. Because they are prey animals, they often hide their sickness for a long
time, making it difficult to get them to a veterinarian early in the disease process.
As pets for older children or adults, both hamsters and guinea pigs have a lot going for them. If you can’t have a cat or a dog and don’t want a rat, I encourage you to consider one of these tailless rodents instead.
Dr. Lori Scarlett, DVM, is the owner and veterinarian at Four Lakes Veterinary Clinic. fourlakesvet.com
Dr. Lori Scarlett
Photograph by Guy Nichols
Susan Richter O’Connell
By Efrat Koppel
A long workbench anchors Susan Richter O’Connell’s studio, where shelves and drawers hold neatly sorted boxes of stones, enamel shapes, and metals ready to be pulled into new designs. Tools, a flex shaft, vice, and anvil sit within reach, while a soldering area next to the bench allows her to solder and torch enamel. Though she sometimes sketches ideas, most of her pieces emerge at the bench in the basement under deliberate light as she experiments and reimagines materials into finished jewelry. “I feel
like it reveals my truest self,” says Susan, describing her work. “It’s the most honest language.”
Susan is a self-taught metalsmith, a practice that grew out of her love of collecting beach stones (then on the East Coast, now along Lake Michigan). “I loved them so much. They went from being in my pocket to how can I continue to carry them with me? How can I have other people see them? And that’s when I started making jewelry as a way to take
Where the stones captured Susan’s attention through texture and shape, enamel offered an opportunity to add a punch of color .
these found objects and have something I could share with other people.”
What began with silver thread wrapped around found objects became the passion and work of her life. Once a dancer who sold jewelry on the side while teaching dance classes, Susan emerged as a master in her space, leading workshops throughout the northeastern part of Wisconsin and maintaining an intuitive, material-driven design process. She also started teaching and developing the metalsmithing classes at the John Michael Kohler Art Center in Sheboygan.
Susan’s focus in her jewelry shifted a decade ago, when enameling became more possible for her. She learned how to use the same torch she used for metal soldering to fuse enamel to metal. A further breakthrough came in 2019, when she and her husband moved to Menominee for his teaching position at University of Wisconsin-Stout. In the small town without an arts center, Susan began auditing metalworking classes to connect with an artistic community. Professors and students were “pushing the envelope, making crazy beautiful pieces,” she says. “I knew we were going to be there for a short time, so I sunk my teeth into all I could learn.” In addition, these courses required Susan to build within a prompt, something that would return years later as a defining force in her creative process.
Enamel was a natural fit for Susan. A child of the flower power generation, bright colors have been dear to her all her life. Where the stones captured Susan’s attention through texture and shape, enamel offered an opportunity to add a punch of color. At first, the technique didn’t take off with her customer base, acclimated to the natural tones of her stonework, but that changed when they’d see her in person. “I’m small, and I wear these pieces that tend to be pretty big. Previously, people would say, ‘Oh, I can’t wear anything that big. I’m too small.’ But
Photograph by Cole Rodgers
Photograph by Guy Nichols
then here I am, this small person wearing five necklaces, earrings, several rings. I overdo it at shows, and the jewelry gets bought off of me.”
With Susan’s livelihood rooted in art fairs, in-person classes, and stores and gallery sales, the COVID pandemic brought to a halt everything that comprised her income until then. Historically, she had worked deeply with the communities that surrounded her in a six-hour radius. Her practice was sustained on long-cultivated in-person relationships. Now, she began connecting online with jewelers from around the country through a group she’d been following for years called SNAG (Society of North American Goldsmiths). Though nervous to join a room with big names in the field, she found the community welcoming, eager to share opportunities.
Susan had never considered national exhibitions before; she found it difficult to use words to articulate her work, which is intuitive. Yet soon her pieces were in galleries and exhibitions across the country. “COVID shut everything down, but it also opened doors. All of a sudden, I was in shows in Boston, Baltimore, Seattle, and Tucson—things I never would’ve applied for if it weren’t for that SNAG connection.”
She also applied for Artful Home, an online retailer. The application required a big effort she’d always put off. During COVID, with no other options, she submitted and got accepted. This became her financial lifeline, replacing much of her lost income and connecting to buyers from across the country.
The pandemic provided the conditions, however unexpectedly, that grew Susan’s career. Her work was a perfect fit for the
Photograph by Cole Rodgers
Photograph by Susan Richter O'Connell
Photograph by Susan Richter O'Connell
moment. “So many people were working on Zoom and not going into the office to work, and they wanted statements that could be seen.”
People buy jewelry no matter what’s going on in their lives, and sometimes during hardship, even more so. “I remember really clearly, one of my regular customers in Madison at Art Fair on the Square came and she got a more expensive bracelet than she would typically have bought. And she said, ‘I deserve this. I just deserve this now. It’s been such a hard year.’”
Looking ahead, Susan’s focus is on more exhibitions around the country, now her favorite challenge. “I love applying for shows. I love the limits, the parameters enforced by their call. You’re not building
Abel Contemporary Gallery
Photograph by Susan Richter
O'Connell
Image: Barry Roal Carlsen
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for a customer; you’re building for a challenge. You can take all the stops out.” She shows me a box that has a large flower on top. Popping it open, the lid itself becomes a ring. “That’s where I feel my largest growth has happened in recent years.”
Those challenges are not only professional exercises; they’ve become integral to how Susan experiences and expands her own creativity. As she stretches into exhibitions, where jewelry is made not explicitly to be sold, but to be
appreciated as art in its own right, Susan is more committed than ever to her craft. “I can’t yet imagine myself or my life without this daily practice.”
Efrat Koppel is an arts writer and lifelong arts lover and practitioner. Efrat writes about local artists, creative process, and the role of place in shaping artistic identity. When not writing, Efrat is involved with Dane County Food Collective, supporting food systems and community resilience in southern Wisconsin. Home of the 20 oz. Bone-in Tenderloin
See more at susanrichteroconnelljewelry.com.
You can purchase Susan’s work at Abel Contemporary Gallery (abelcontemporary.com) in Stoughton or Milward Farrell Fine Art (milwardfarrellfineart.com) in Madison.
Efrat Koppel
Photograph by Susan Richter O'Connell
Photograph by
Susan Richter
O'Connell
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