BRAVA May June 2023

The Home & Garden

IT'S ALL FOR THE LOVE OF OUR COMMUNITY

We didn’t get into this business because we love banking. We do it for the love of helping the people and businesses in our community prosper. Together, we get to NEXT.

Waunakee: Arboretum Village • Savannah Village • Westbridge • K ilkenny Farms

Dane: Tanimarah Ridge • DeForest: Savannah Brooks

Sun Prairie Area: Windsor Gardens • Happy Valley Addition

Deer field: Savannah Parks

celebrate music with us

Your Madison Symphony Orchestra’s 23/24 season celebrating John DeMain’s 30th annversary begins in September! Choose from 5–8 concerts plus our special presentation of MSO at the Movies. Explore our new season and subscribe online: madisonsymphony.org/23-24 .

American Rhapsody

John DeMain, Conducting Terrence Wilson, Piano music

Aaron Copland, Appalachian Spring George Gershwin, Rhapsody in Blue

John Adams, The Chairman Dances: Foxtrot for Orchestra Howard Hanson, Symphony No. 2, Op. 30 “Romantic”

Monumental Moments

Kyle Knox, Conducting Naha Greenholtz, Violin music

Leonard Bernstein, Three Dance Variations from “Fancy Free” Dmitri Shostakovich, Concerto No. 1 in A minor for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 77(99) Johannes Brahms (orchestrated by Arnold Schoenberg) , Piano Quartet in G minor, Op. 25

Symphony Gems

John DeMain, Conducting Jonathan Biss, Piano music

sept 22, 23 & 24

jan 19, 20 & 21

The Perfect Pair: Mozart & Mahler

John DeMain, Conducting Joyce Yang, Piano music

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, K. 491

Gustav Mahler, Symphony No. 5

mar 15, 16 & 17

apr 12, 13 & 14

oct 20, 21 & 22

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Symphony No. 35 in D Major, K. 385 “Haffner”  Robert Schumann, Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54  William Levi Dawson, Negro Folk Symphony nov 17, 18 & 19

A Madison Symphony Christmas

John DeMain, Conducting

Evelyn Saavedra, Soprano Limmie Pulliam, Tenor Madison Symphony Chorus, Beverly Taylor, Director  Mount Zion Gospel Choir, Tamera and Leotha Stanley, Directors  Madison Youth Choirs, Michael Ross, Artistic Director dec 1, 2 & 3

MSO at the Movies

Kyle Knox, Conducting PIXAR IN CONCERT

Music and visuals from 15 classic films including Toy Story, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, WALL-E, Up, Coco, and Inside Out. Advance ticket purchase available for subscribers before single tickets go on sale August 19, 2023. feb 24

may 3, 4 & 5

Favorites of mine & your choice!

John DeMain, Conducting

Steven Isserlis, Cello music

Jennifer Higdon, Loco

Dmitri Kabalevsky, Cello Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 77 audience choice

Ludwig van Beethoven, Symphony No. 6, Op. 68 “Pastorale”

Antonín Dvořák, Symphony No. 9, Op. 95 “From the New World”

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakoff, Scheherazade, Op. 35

Your Write in Selection

Boundless Beauty

John DeMain, Conducting

Madison Symphony Chorus, Beverly Taylor, Director

Alexandra LoBianco, Soprano

Margaret Gawrysiak, Mezzo-soprano

Jonathan Burton, Tenor

Kyle Ketelsen, Baritone music

Giuseppe Verdi, Requiem

Fiesta Finale

John DeMain, Conducting Rachid Bernal, Piano Mariachi Los Camperos music

José Pablo Moncayo, Huapango

Manuel de Falla, Noches en los jardines de España (Nights in the Gardens of Spain) Silvestre Revueltas, Suite from La Noche de los Mayas* (The Night of the Maya), compiled by José Yves Limantour Selections by Mariachi Los Camperos and the Madison Symphony Orchestra *Synchronized imagery assembled by Peter Rodgers

Life, Transformed

Four transgender women reflect on their journeys and the power of living authentically.

38

Better Than Ever

Three home before-and-afters with wow-worthy results.

49

Outdoor Serenity

Tour a Japanese-inspired garden and a welcoming green getaway in the city.

Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford

Dynamic Duos

These mother-daughter teams work perfectly in tandem at businesses they started. 67

MONEY SMARTS

BY KIM SPONEM

I just graduated from college. How can I start off on the right foot with money?

Congratulations, graduate! You have already taken a step in the right direction money-wise by investing in your education. Your first job will probably provide more income than you had as a student, but no matter your income, remember you can’t spend your way to wealth. Someone who earns less and saves more can build more wealth than someone who earns a lot and does not save.

Whatever your starting pay, here are six things that will start you off on the right foot:

1. Consider what’s most important to you financially and write down the top three. I’d start there because when you know where you want to go, it helps you make better money decisions more confidently and gives you a sense of progress as you do. It makes managing money more fun, too. If you’re saving for a car, passing up a $5 coffee or $30 pizza night can be easier and even become a game to move toward your goal.

2. Start saving regularly and automatically as much as you can, as early as you can. The first thing to save for is an emergency fund. When you build that up to $1,000, you’ll have a buffer that will help you avoid credit card debt when things come up, and they will. Automated deposits to special savings accounts with every paycheck make it easier to build up emergency funds and to save for your goals, from trips to a down payment on a home to retirement.

3. Savings should be the first thing to come out of your paycheck. You’ve probably heard “pay yourself first.” It’s wise advice. Automatic deposits help you avoid the habit of savings being “whatever is left” after spending for the month. Unfortunately, there is often little to nothing left with that approach, and savings don’t grow.

4. Pay off debt. You did not mention student loans, but many graduates have some of those, and you may have an auto loan. All debt is not bad, but lots of debt can be a burden and can limit your ability to achieve your financial goals. Your credit rating is very important, and you can help build that by making debt payments on time every time.

5. Be good to your future self. Invest in your retirement now. Take advantage of any employer match in a 401(k) plan. That is literally free money for your future. And if your employer does not have a match, take advantage of a 401(k) plan if offered. If not, open an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). It’s easy, and when you automatically contribute even a small amount regularly over time, it builds peace of mind for you and your future self.

6 Taking the steps above will make a difference, and if you want to do even more, start tracking where your money is going by tracking your income and expenses to create a budget. Make an educated guess on income if you’re looking for a job. Even your expenses may be a guess as your housing costs may change dramatically from college. The exercise of creating a budget is a powerful way to open your eyes to what you’ll need to do to get where you’d like to go. Many financial institutions offer budgeting tools and there are free tools available at SummitCreditUnion.com on the Money Smarts page.

Congratulations, and I hope your first stop is to a credit union, like Summit. As not-for-profit cooperatives, we exist for our members’ financial well-being, so you’ll have a partner in your journey.

Kim Sponem is CEO & President, since 2002, of Summit Credit Union, a $6.2 billion, member-owned financial cooperative with more than 237,000 members. Kim has a passion for empowering people to improve their financial well-being for a richer life.

Ask Kim your money questions at MoneySmarts@SummitCreditUnion.com.

A CITY FULL OF REMARKABLE WOMEN

As I write this today, in mid-April, our 2023 Women to Watch event is tonight. I’m grateful that BRAVA can share the stories of these women who lift all of us up with the work they’re doing. This party is an inspirational and meaningful way to connect with our Women to Watch, sponsors, readers and contributors. But there are so many more women toiling each day throughout the city to make it a better place — it’s almost overwhelming (in a good way). And this issue is full of them.

Did you know the OWN IT: Building Black Wealth program was founded by two women (Tiffany Malone and Sara Alvarado) here in Madison? This nonprofit works to build generational wealth for Black and brown families who’ve historically faced serious barriers to home ownership. We talked to Myesha Thompson, the director of the nonprofit, about the program and how it’s making a difference on P. 24. May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage (AAPI) Month, and there are so many AAPI women in Madison that are making remarkable strides in their professions. We talked to three of them about how they got into their career fields and what challenges they’ve faced as Asian women in the Midwest. Check out those profiles on P. 18.

On April 4, Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford became the first transgender woman in Madison to win an election — she’s now the District 15 alderperson on the city’s Common Council. Congrats, Dina Nina! Read more about her in our “Life Transformed” feature on P. 56.

BRAVA once again won two honors at the 2022 Milwaukee Press Club Excellence in Journalism Awards. Our May/June 2022 cover won for Best Single Cover Design (see left) , and we were also recognized for Best Overall Design. Thank you to BRAVA’s staff for your exemplary work in every issue!

While we’re on celebratory months, June is Pride Month. In honor of this, four transgender women shared their journeys with BRAVA on living authentic lives in the capital city in “Life, Transformed.” Emily Mills writes: “From community activists to spiritual seekers, dynamic artists and teachers, these women are just a few of those who’ve become role models for people across the gender spectrum.” It’s a fascinating read and a great way for us to learn more and cultivate a more understanding and accepting community. Read it on P. 56.

Do you like the kitchen on our cover? I sure do. It has all of the best home trends right now — neutrals, wood, texture and greenery — and employs them skillfully in one room. This magazine is full of inspirational home and garden content, including trends, décor ideas, before and after projects, and garden escapes. The Home & Garden Issue is always a favorite of mine because home is so important to all of us, and having a beautifully-designed abode just makes you feel good .

Enjoy the issue!

Shayna Mace Editorial Director @shaynamace

The Madison Reading Project’s Read(y) to Wear event, which raises money for the literacy nonprofit, is taking place on June 14 at The Sylvee. Watch a runway show with models wearing fashions literally crafted out of paper. We’ll be there again this year. madisonreadingproject.com/ readytowear2023

TOP LEFT SHANNA WOLF

BUSINESS

PUBLISHER

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VICE PRESIDENT OF PUBLICATIONS

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EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Shayna Mace shayna@bravamagazine.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Melissa Moody mmoody@ntmediagroup.com

FACT - CHECKER

Mason Braasch

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DIGITAL DIRECTOR

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ADVERTISING COORDINATOR

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ACCOUNTING accounting@ntmediagroup.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Julie Barber, Shelby Deering, Maura Keller, Katy Macek, Melanie Radzicki McManus, Emily Mills, Kevin Revolinski, Hillary Schave, Jessica Steinhoff, Sue Sveum, Katie Vaughn, Amanda N. Wegner, Hannah Wente, Shanna Wolf

BRAVA Magazine is a publication of Nei-Turner Media Group, Inc. Gary E. Nei, Chairman, William Turner, President.

This issue or any part thereof may not be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved. ©2023

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BRAVA (ISSN 1934-4317) MAY/JUNE 2023, Volume 24, Number 03, is published bimonthly (six times a year) by Nei-Turner Media Group, Inc. Periodicals postage paid at 3902 Milwaukee St., Madison WI 53714 and additional offices. Postmaster send address changes to: BRAVA Magazine, 951 Kimball Ln., Ste. 122, Verona WI 53593-1786.

SHADES OF SUNSET

On-trend tones of blush pink, cinnamon, poppy and rust pep up your closet this season.

STYLING BY SHAYNA MACE

PHOTOGRAPHY BY HILLARY SCHAVE

ACTIVELY CHIC

North Face Antora rain hoodie, $120 , Vuori fitted white T-shirt, $60 , Vuori Miles jogger pant, $118 , Fjällräven

Kanken hip pack, $56 , CoCo hair claw, $9 , Sunski Ventana sunglasses, $65 , and Nat + Noor Nora tortoise hoops, $25 , all from Hive of Madison ; and Gola Trident sneaker, $110 , Sunne Boutique

RELAXED, WITH STYLE

hem & thread

checkerboard cardigan, $60, Volcom graphic T-shirt, $35, Lovervet mid-rise straight jean, $60, chain necklace, $65, labradorite necklace, $155, Riley crossbody bag, $36, JaxKelly clear quartz crystal hoops, $38, and DIFF Star Wars Queen Amidala sunglasses, $105, all from A New Day Boutique; and TOMS Diana wedge, $80, Hive of Madison.

IT'S A WRAP

MKT Studio wrap

$282 , Commando butter tank bodysuit, Etica Finn ankle , Nida Lu Metro Deniz gold

$150, Bembien Le Sac handbag, , and INK+ALLOY , all from Sunne Boutique Bronwen turquoise trail necklace, and Sunski Camina tortoise sunglasses, $65, both from Hive of Madison

LA Made Havana , Baggu Puffy fanny pack, , INK+ALLOY bird hoops, $35, INK+ALLOY ball $30/each , ; Vervet distressed patched , A New Day Boutiqu e; and Kork-Ease Myrna wedges, $140 , Hive of Madison

Safe Travels

Gearing up for a trip? UnityPoint Health – Meriter’s Travel Clinic is a resource for staying healthy on the go.

As summer approaches, many people are getting ready to travel. Before packing your bags, it is essential to take the necessary precautions to stay healthy while traveling. This is where UnityPoint Health – Meriter’s Travel Clinic can provide a range of services to ensure a safe and healthy trip.

Located in UnityPoint Health –Meriter’s West Washington Clinic, the Travel Clinic is a one-stop shop for all travel-related health needs. The clinic provides pretravel consultations, vaccinations, medications and education on how to stay healthy during a trip. The Travel Clinic is staffed by health care professionals who have specialized training in travel medicine, ensuring the best care for travelers.

The clinic’s pre-travel consultation allows health care professionals to assess an adult traveler’s health status, identify potential health risks based on their travel destination and provide guidance on how to stay healthy. The consultation

covers a range of topics, including immunizations, malaria prophylaxis, traveler’s diarrhea and other illnesses related to specific destinations.

The clinic can provide necessary vaccinations to protect against diseases such as hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid fever and yellow fever, that can be common when traveling to certain regions outside the U.S. The clinic can also provide medications to prevent illnesses such as malaria, altitude sickness and traveler’s diarrhea.

In addition to vaccinations and medications, the clinic also provides education on how to stay healthy during travel. This includes information on safe food and water consumption, insect precautions, and how to avoid common regionspecific or common illnesses such as a cold or flu that travelers can catch while traveling.

“As the world becomes increasingly connected, it’s important for

travelers to stay informed about the health risks in the destinations they plan to visit,” says Megan Foss, APNP. “We work closely with each patient to assess their individual travel risks and create a personalized plan to help ensure their health and safety during their travels.”

Providers at the Travel Clinic can see adult patients going on international vacations, business trips or international service mission trips, as well as adult students going to a foreign destination for study or research.

It’s important to schedule your appointment well in advance of your travel to ensure enough time for health plans or vaccinations. The Travel Clinic team recommends scheduling appointments at least six weeks in advance.

To schedule an appointment for your summer travels and for more information, call 608-417-8300.

HAUTE HOME

BY SHAYNA MACE

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHANNA WOLF

When Dani Petta and Kim Schaaf met years ago when their kids attended elementary school together, they started chatting about opening a design studio and retail shop together. Fast-forward to October 2022, and the duo opened their home goods shop, Linen & Clove, in Verona. Although neither had retail experience (Petta was an HR executive and Schaaf was a technology and educational learning coach) they quickly figured out their aesthetic and favorite brands

A clean, minimalist palette of black, white and wood permeates the lofty space, which used to be a gym — and had quite a utilitarian look, says Schaaf. Now, shiplap-covered walls, sleek black sconces, white oak shelving and a faux fireplace give shoppers a homey vibe.

Petta and Schaaf also have a design studio, offering everything from décor advice to renovation and new build design consultations. This is a dream come true — I love helping people bring their ideas to life,” says Schaaf. “Home is so important and having one that you love makes a huge difference.”

606 W. Verona Ave., Verona, linenandclove.com

SHOP THE LOOK

The duo love finding and framing art, like this country landscape print. $105

signature black candle is a mix of fig and almond. $28

Serve charcuterie on this stylish contrasting board with a dip bowl set. $24 & $43

These dot canisters are a chic way to store baking ingredients or snacks. $32-$46

Spruce up a mantel, desk or windowsill affordably with this vase and greenery. $10

The shop sells an assortment of fun throw pillows, perfect for changing out with the seasons. $40

MAINTAINING YOUR BRAIN

Important Alzheimer’s disease prevention tips for women and updates on clinical studies.

BY AMANDA N. WEGNER

With about 13 million women in the U.S. living with Alzheimer’s disease or caring for someone who has it, you likely know someone touched by this terrible disease.

Alzheimer’s, the most common cause of dementia, disproportionately affects women — almost two-thirds of American seniors living with the disease are women. We also make up 60% to 70% of unpaid caregivers for those with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to share practical prevention tips and some exciting news about the future of Alzheimer’s research and interventions.

REDUCING YOUR RISK

We know that more than two-thirds of Alzheimer’s cases and other dementias are associated with modifiable risk factors, says Lisa Groon, senior health systems director at the Alzheimer’s Association. The top three factors are midlife obesity, lack of physical activity and low educational attainment. In turn, moving your body, eating nutritional foods and challenging your brain can help you reduce your risk of an Alzheimer’s or dementia diagnosis.

“ I believe personal connection and new research is what’s leading to the stronger interest in this topic. Women are strong advocates and may feel more comfortable telling stories about their experiences. ”

— Lisa Groon

Blood pressure management is also critical, and women who plan to have children should especially take note. Groon explains that women with hypertension (high blood

pressure) or those who experienced preeclampsia during pregnancy have a 1.8 times higher risk of Alzheimer’s. This is because high blood pressure, which impairs blood flow to the brain, can increase betaamyloid, a protein associated with Alzheimer’s that can create brain changes affecting memory and thinking.

“Early hypertensive episodes can impact you later in life, 20 to 30 years later. That makes prenatal care and early treatment and detection of high blood pressure in pregnancy incredibly important,” says Groon.

She adds that keeping tabs on your blood pressure health is vital in pregnancy and throughout life. Aim to keep your systolic blood pressure, which is the top number in a blood pressure reading, under 120.

AN EXCITING NEW TREATMENT OPTION

Although current medications cannot cure Alzheimer’s, there is hope in new treatments, which address the underlying biology of the disease. Additionally, other medications may help lessen symptoms, such as memory loss and confusion.

In early January, the Food & Drug Administration approved Lecanemab, the first treatment in history for Alzheimer’s. The drug has been shown to moderately slow cognitive and functional decline in early stages of the disease.

“This is very encouraging at the Alzheimer’s Association,” says Groon. “It allows us to look at different ways to impact the disease from a biological perspective. And, more importantly, it offers hope and time for conversations about plans for the future — conversations that families haven’t always had time to have.”

While the drug has been approved, organizations like the Alzheimer’s Association are working diligently to ensure it is available and covered by insurance.

SHOP LOCAL

LIVE. WORK. PLAY.

Rubin’s proudly carries BDI office and living room furniture. The Reveal collection of motion tables is ready to rise to any occasion. Whether as a versatile workspace or an attractive coffee table, these unique designs smoothly glide from their lowered position to the perfect height for work or play.

RUBIN’S CONTEMPORARY FURNITURE

2300 Badger Ln., Madison

608.255.8998

670 S. Whitney Way, Madison

608.274.5575

rubinsfurniture.com

TEXTURE & NEUTRALS FOR SPRING 23

Crochet tops and bottoms of all styles — wide-leg, narrow-leg, short, cropped, blue jeans or patterned all work this season. Not to mention accessories in all colors and textures!

Be true to you with your own style this season. We’re here to help you look and feel your best for spring!

SHOP

DECOR!

Spring is in full swing in the showroom! Bring on the new summer items! Join us in May for our Mother’s Day Event and again in June for Bring a Friend Fridays. Follow us on Facebook (@decor-for the well-dressed home) or stop into our Fitchburg showroom for more details.

DÉCOR FOR THE WELL-DRESSED HOME

3000 Cahill Main, Suite 215 Fitchburg, WI 53711

608.444.0571

decormadison.com

SUMMER SIZZLERS

Skorts, skorts and more skorts!

Swig insulated coolies, sundresses, shorts, shirts and so much more!

We have fun summer prints and colors for women and men!

MCFEE ON MAIN

400 E. Main St.

Mount Horeb, WI 53572

mcfeeonmain.com

305 E. Main St. Waunakee, WI 53597

608.849.2426

ciaobellaboutiqueandmore.com

CIAO BELLA BOUTIQUE AND MORE

GORGEOUS GARDEN GIFTS

Pick up the perfect home accent piece at Olbrich’s Gift Shop! Browse a wide selection of unique, sociallyresponsible gifts such as 3-D wall art puzzles from Studio Roof (pictured) and many locally-made products. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

OLBRICH BOTANICAL GARDENS

3330 Atwood Ave.

Madison, WI 53704

608.246.4550

olbrich.org

SHOP SMALL THIS SUMMER!

The Blumenladen Collective is the perfect destination — our three shops provide a getaway for you to celebrate your style, home, family and garden.

The Boutique offers uptown looks while remaining rooted in our small-town values. We carry 20-plus brands that have inclusive sizing and an array of accessories. We value your decision to shop small and look forward to seeing you in New Glarus!

ACT EARLY

Interestingly, the Alzheimer’s Association has seen an increase in younger women participating in events and educational activities. Groon attributes this to the disease’s disproportionate effect on women and many women in the sandwich generation that are caring for both children and possibly a parent with the disease.

“I believe personal connection and new research is what’s leading to the stronger interest in this topic,” says Groon. “Women are strong advocates and may feel more comfortable telling stories about their experiences. That leads to more empowerment and engagement, and progress toward a world without dementia.”

Amanda N. Wegner is a local freelance writer, and communications and marketing professional.

STUDYING AHEAD

Through the AHEAD study, researchers are examining whether Lecanemab can be used as a preventative medication.

“There is no known preventative measure for Alzheimer’s disease,” says Olivia Deering, a clinical research coordinator with The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s AHEAD study and a community educator with the Alzheimer’s Association. “With all the changes that occur in the brain, it can be years before someone develops symptoms, and it would be huge to find a preventative to stop brain changes and prevent Alzheimer’s.”

Deering worked as an EMT before joining the study, and in that role, she saw the struggles older adults with Alzheimer’s and dementia face. And her work with the AHEAD study became personal after her grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

The study is recruiting participants as young as 55 years old who are at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. It is especially important to recruit underrepresented groups because some communities such as African American/Black, Latino, or Asian American and Pacific Islander individuals, may be at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

THE BLUMENLADEN COLLECTIVE

18 7th Ave.

New Glarus, WI 53574

608.636.2008

railroadstboutique.com

“Our participants are rock stars,” says Deering, “and it’s amazing to see people come together worldwide to try to find a preventative tool against Alzheimer’s.”

Learn more about the AHEAD study and eligibility at adrc.wisc.edu/ahead-study.

Photo credit: Studio Roof

BREAKING CULTURAL AND CAREER BARRIERS

In honor of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month in May, three women talk about their unique careers.

BY KATY MACEK

From sustainability to deep tech venture capital and creating “human-centric” teams, three Madison-based women have made major accomplishments in their chosen career paths — and offer unique perspectives on what it means to be Asian American in Madison.

BUILDING A DREAM CAREER

After 2½ years working as a diversity and inclusion advisor for American Family Insurance, Angela Jenkins was promoted last May to chief of staff to the associate vice president of data science and analytics lab. In her new role, she leads and executes strategies to bring in top tech talent into the lab within the insurance company.

“ As a woman of color, I'm often the one, or maybe like one of two in the space. ”

— Angela Jenkins

“Not only do I get to help drive what the strategy is, but I get to see the results,” she says. “I’m able to see the strategies come to fruition, and that’s been the biggest difference compared to my former role as an advisor.”

Jenkins’ story began in Kuala Lumpur, where she was born. Her parents emigrated to Seattle when she was 12 years old.

After a long, successful career in the field of biomedical engineering and pharmacology research, she changed course and became a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practitioner.

“It [was] really the lack of role models and mentors,” that drove her to change industries, she says. “As a woman of color (Jenkins is Malaysian Chinese), I’m often the one, or maybe like one of two in the space.”

Now, she thinks her job with American Family is a unique hybrid of her experience.

“It’s a blend of my love of social justice, research, science, engineering and technology,” she says. “I really found my purpose in this work, and that’s what drives me.”

It’s also why she attends career fairs and establishes partnerships with nonprofits and higher education institutions. She is also part of the AAPI Coalition of Wisconsin, teaching and advocating for AAPI history to be taught and integrated into K-12 curriculum — something that is typically excluded from American history lessons and courses, she says.

While her work in the DEI space focuses on racialized people, she says that often, Asians and Asian Americans are not included in those conversations.

“It’s difficult and challenging and maddening to have a seat at the table and yet it’s never acknowledged. I’m right here and yet I’m not seen,” she says. “The ‘model minority’ myth has really caused deep damage from representation to the specific needs of AAPI communities and populations.”

USING SCIENCE TO POWER BUSINESS

MODELS

Nhi Le (pronounced ñee leh) is a principal at Alpha Intelligence Capital and runs a consultancy called Mariton Partners that specializes in deep tech venture capital. Le explains that deep tech startups bring to market products that are developed through years of extensive scientific research or engineering. She points to Moderna, maker of one of the first COVID-19 vaccines

as an example of a deep tech startup. The company was founded by a second-generation immigrant who wanted to employ stem cell research developed in his lab at Harvard University to create new medicines.

Le also serves as a mentor for the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation’s Accelerator program, which helps inventors figure out how to take their research from the lab bench to the marketplace. In addition, she advises Doyenne Group’s Evergreen Fund, a program that gives grants and equity financing to Wisconsin-based businesses that are women- and minority-owned.

“ ... Many people have gone out of their way to actively open doors for me [and] get me into rooms typically

inaccessible to immigrants and minorities

... ”

— Nhi Le

Her consulting work focuses on helping academic research-based startups develop business plans, find financing, and scale and grow. She brings a business mindset to the scientific world.

“Entrepreneurship is hard — and it’s doubly hard when it’s a sciencebased company, because usually companies in this space are started by scientists. But, scientists know very little about the business side … so translating the science into a business application that people can use and understand is hard. I help act as a translator … I help [the scientist] figure out what form of their research can be commercialized.”

Le graduated from Georgia Tech

Pivot

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Cabinetry and Floors for Any Style

• Many versatile cabinet lines

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We offer a wide variety of cabinet, tile and floor solutions for any room in your home.

Visit our new Kitchen & Bath Showroom to get inspired and work with our professionals to design your next project.

Triangle St., McFarland

608-222-5071

with a double major in biomedical engineering and material science engineering, and received a PhD in material science specializing in stem cell research UW–Madison.

Le says being an immigrant, Vietnamese American woman in a STEM field can be isolating. She’s had her share of moments where she’s been uncomfortable or a colleague has failed to consider her culture. But, she’s mostly optimistic about the opportunities she’s been given and the support she’s received.

“... Many people have gone out of their way to actively open doors for me [and] get me into rooms typically inaccessible to immigrants and minorities, and [have] spoken well of me in those spaces to manifest opportunities I didn’t even know to ask for. I don’t know if people would think of me and my brand the same if I wasn’t who I am, in my entirety.”

PROMOTING SOCIAL JUSTICE THROUGH SUSTAINABILITY

Caroline Tu Farley is program director for the Linda and Gene Farley Center for Peace, Justice and Sustainability in Verona. The nonprofit sits on an idyllic 108-acre property of farm and woodland.

Tu Farley, whose mom was Japanese American and dad is Taiwanese, says her passion for peace, social justice

and ecological sustainability is what brought her to the center. The nonprofit is named after Tu Farley’s motherand father-in-law, and is what brought her to Madison in 2015 from Colorado, where she was living.

Her program work supports the center’s many initiatives. One is removing barriers to farming by offering underrepresented groups land, resources and technical

support for small farm businesses. She also manages the Natural Path Sanctuary, a certified green burial site, or “green cemetery.”

The center offers tools and training for beekeeping, festivals, concerts, workshops on natural burials, food pantry gardens, land art exhibits and volunteer days. It also serves as an event space for other nonprofits, such as Urban Triage’s Supporting Black Healthy Agriculture program.

She is also on the advisory board for the Madison-based nonprofit We Are Many-United Against Hate, a group that “seeks equal protection for all, united against hate, bigotry and racism,” according to its website.

“There are groups [and] people that really do believe in making things better for everybody,” Tu Farley says. “I like to be around those types of people and organizations.”

She acknowledges that she has faced challenges based on cultural assumptions people have made about her. She says she has found ways to accept, overcome, educate and stand up to misconceptions, bigotry and racism.

“There are certain stereotypes or biases people have of you before they even meet you or just by looking at you,” she says. “But I like to surprise them.”

Katy Macek is a journalist passionate about women, business and art.

The Linda and Gene Farley Center for Peace, Justice and Sustainability

BOARDMAN CLARK

1 S. Pinckney St., Ste. 410 Madison, WI 53703

608.283.1724

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ASK A PROFESSIONAL:

CURRENT MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS IN IMMIGRATION LAW

ASK SARAH GHAZI-MORADI, ATTORNEY WITH BOARDMAN CLARK

United States Immigration law is notoriously complicated and ever changing. As a result, the public’s understanding of immigration is often cloudy. One area in particular that is ripe with misconceptions is refugee law, and most recently, the status of Afghan refugees in America. In 2021, the U.S. withdrew their military presence from Afghanistan and subsequently triggered a new wave of immigration as individuals fleeing the country sought relief abroad. Now, over a year and a half later, with countless Afghans settling in Wisconsin, it remains clear that many misconceptions remain.

To understand the immigration hurdles faced by Afghans in America, it is best to begin with the various forms of immigrant status and their benefits. Refugee status is perhaps the most well-known type of immigrant status. It is awarded to individuals fleeing persecution from their government based off of their race, religion, national origin, or affiliation with a particular group. In the U.S., refugee status is one of the few forms of legal status that offers a pathway to green card status and eventually citizenship. Notably, refugee status guarantees that an individual may not be deported to their country of origin, where they may face fear of harm.

Despite countless headlines concerning Afghan Refugees, not all individuals from Afghanistan have been afforded refugee status. Some have been granted a special immigrant visa, or “SIV.” The SIV has been used for those who were employed by or worked on behalf of the U.S. government. Like refugee status, the SIV requires a lengthy vetting process, and provides a pathway to permanent residence status in the U.S.

Finally, there are the tens of thousands of individuals from Afghanistan fleeing turmoil abroad who have not yet been afforded refugee status or granted a SIV. Instead, they have been resettled as evacuees or parolees, a type of legal status that allows these individuals to temporarily live and work in the U.S., but fails to offer the security and permanent pathway to citizenship typical with refugee or SIV status. For those without

refugee or SIV status, parole is only a bandaid, which allows an individual to be in the country lawfully for a two-year period. During this time, the parolee may obtain work authorization, but is not eligible for most benefits and services typically afforded to refugees. Groups that provide aid for refugees are hampered in the level of support they can provide parolees. The alternative? For some, it may be to apply for asylum, a time-consuming process with strict requirements that are difficult to satisfy.

The only long-term solution for parolees is comprehensive legislation that offers a clear pathway to lawful, permanent status. There have been efforts to enact such a bill; however, bills like the Afghan Adjustment Act have been collecting dust despite bipartisan support. Opponents have criticized the bill with another common misconception surrounding the Afghan community: claims that Afghan refugees/ parolees pose a threat to national security. Prior to their entry in the U.S., Afghan refugees and parolees were aggressively vetted by the U.S. government. The multistep process involves extensive biometric and biographic screening conducted by intelligence and counterterrorism professionals from the federal government. In many cases, these evacuees are being vetted at multiple stages of their transition to the U.S. This ensures that every individual entering the country does not pose a public safety risk.

As the two-year residency allotment for parolees draws near, it is critical that the government act quickly and comprehensively so that nobody is trapped in a legal limbo. By clearing the hazy fog that seems to surround immigration law, we will hopefully begin to understand what work lies ahead to ensure humanitarian protections to all Afghans who are rebuilding their lives in the U.S.

Sarah Ghazi-Moradi is an Attorney in Boardman Clark’s Immigration, School Law, andTrust & Estates practice groups. Contact her at sghazi-moradi@boardmanclark.com or (608) 286-7165.

CLOSING THE WEALTH GAP FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR

How local programs are addressing the issue.

BY AMANDA N. WEGNER

Over time, real estate can be a powerful tool for building wealth. But for decades, many people of color were locked out of the housing market due to segregation, redlining and racial inequity, denying them access to a significant driver for generational wealth.

“During the 1940s and 1950s, the Federal Housing Administration, Veterans Administration and GI Bill backed $120 billion in home loans — of which 98% went to white homebuyers,” says Myesha Thompson, the new director of OWN IT: Building Black Wealth. “If you understand how real estate appreciation works, this clearly sheds light on how the wealth gap is getting worse and not better.”

“ What is powerful about this movement is that it is a collaboration within the real estate and financial communities. We are changing the way change can happen! ”

— Myesha Thompson

Founded in April 2021, OWN IT: Building Black Wealth is a private-sector initiative led by a diverse team of Madison-area

real estate, banking and financial professionals who acknowledge the systemic racism embedded within their industries. It’s designed to reduce barriers to wealth and home ownership for families of color who have been prevented from accumulating generational wealth historically because of redlining (a general term for racial discrimination in housing) and other racist policies. The program has two key elements: education and access to $15,000 down payment grants for first-time homebuyers. The funding comes from donations from community members and businesses of all sizes. Real estate professionals can also be program ambassadors and donate a percentage of every commission check they receive to the program.

OWN IT piloted the program with One City School’s families, alumni and staff. Ten families have received grants since the inception of the program and eight of them have closed on their homes, says Thompson.

Anneka Mckenzie, an OWN IT grant recipient, moved here from Jamaica as a single mother with a three-year-old son and no family support.

“Programs like OWN IT are very important for people of color because they give us hope and help to bridge gaps in society ... ” she says. “It means a lot that an immigrant like me was given the opportunity to participate in such a lifechanging program. It hasn’t been an easy journey for me.”

Thompson notes that OWN IT plans to continue its program model with hopes for expansion.

“What is powerful about this movement is that it is a collaboration within the real estate and financial communities,”

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says Thompson. “We are changing the way change can happen!”

Closing the racial wealth gap also requires addressing the root causes of these gaps, says Angela Jones, director of community impact-income at United Way of Dane County, which has several initiatives to address equity gaps, including creating training opportunities for people to secure family-supporting jobs with quality benefits. It also calls on the whole community to address the systemic racism still apparent in many institutions.

Thompson says there is no one simple way to close the gap — there are a number of solutions that people are working on. She says the best path is to continue to work toward solutions, evaluate what is working, what isn’t and adjust to make changes.

“Understanding it is both complex and urgent means that collaboration is key,” she says.”

And we can all have a hand in this. Araceli Esparza, founder of Midwest Mujeres Collective and a frequent speaker on equity, recommends advocating in your workplace and creating educational and empowerment opportunities. Jones recommends using your voice and votes to help make changes. Thompson says to “actively challenge the policies, procedures and practices that are still in place today.” Volunteer with organizations that are working to make life better for individuals and families in our community. And give

generously to organizations to help continue and grow this work.

“We already have a generous community,” says Jones, “but we need everyone that can give to give so we can move the needle on issues that are keeping people from being able to change their lives and the lives of their children.”

Amanda N. Wegner is a local freelance writer, and communications and marketing professional.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• OWN IT: Building Black Wealth ownitbbw.com

• United Way of Dane County unitedwaydanecounty.org

• Save the Date for Yo Quiero Dinero, a financial wellness event scheduled for Friday, June 16 at 7 p.m., at MyArts. Visit midwestmujeres.com for information.

What No One Tells You About Women’s Health Over 40

BY SUE SVEUM

MOOD CHANGES

HEADACHES HOT FLASHES

DEPRESSION

WEIGHT GAIN NIGHT SWEATS CHILLS INSOMNIA

While men and women share many common health concerns, there are some that only women experience and can fully understand. You know the ones — periods, pregnancy, perimenopause and pelvic health. From cramps to hot flashes, women go through physical and hormonal changes that are unique to them.

Here, four SSM Health providers share common health issues affecting women as we age. You’ll find expectations, explanations, advice — and most of all, assurance that you are not alone.

SCAN THIS CODE to learn more about our Women's Health services and make an appoinment

Treating Hot Flashes and Night Sweats

Many women going through perimenopause or menopause are all too familiar with the symptoms — especially hot flashes. But many don’t realize there are treatment options available. According to Dr. Marisa Sturza, OB/GYN at SSM Health, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may be the answer.

What is hormone replacement therapy?

HRT commonly refers to a low-dose estrogen patch or oral progesterone. “It’s offered to women going through perimenopause or menopause with bothersome symptoms,” explains Sturza, adding that common symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, urinary irritation or infections, and mood changes.

Don’t hesitate to talk with your provider — and don’t feel embarrassed. These symptoms are super common, and we talk about them all the time with our patients.

— Dr. Marisa Sturza

Who should consider HRT?

If symptoms interfere with your quality of life, talk to your provider. “It’s really a patient-centered decision,” she says. “Discussing options doesn’t mean that a person needs to move forward with treatment.”

How does it work?

Low-dose estrogen is given in patch form. “Typically, patients are started on the lowest level of estrogen that treats their symptoms,” explains Sturza, “and the patch is lower than the estrogen in most oral estrogen pills.” For patients whose main symptoms are vaginal dryness, pain with intercourse or UTIs, low-dose vaginal estrogen is a great therapy option.

Are there side effects?

Low-dose patches have been shown to be a much lower risk in terms of blood clots and stroke than

oral estrogen, although some patients experience skin irritation with a patch. Risks, benefits and potential side effects are great things to discuss with your health care provider.

What should I expect at the appointment?

You should expect to discuss your complete medical history along with a detailed conversation about symptoms you’d like to control (such as frequency and time of day of your symptoms, as well as your goals for treatment). If you’re having vaginal and/or urinary symptoms, you’ll have a pelvic exam to evaluate whether vaginal estrogen would be helpful for you.

“There are lots of good treatment options to consider,” stresses Sturza. “Don’t hesitate to talk with your provider — and don’t feel embarrassed. These symptoms are super common, and we talk about them all the time with our patients.”

The Other Symptoms of Menopause

If you thought having hot flashes was the major sign of menopause you wouldn’t be alone — but there are many other symptoms of menopause beyond that. Most women have never heard of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). According to Dr. Daniel Pellicer, OB/GYN at SSM Health, if you’ve ever experienced the symptoms of GSM, you’re definitely not alone.

What is GSM?

GSM is a collection of symptoms (and physical exam findings) affecting the vulva, vagina, bladder

and urethra — all related to low estrogen levels in postmenopausal patients. Some studies estimate that 50% or more of women report being bothered by symptoms of GSM after menopause.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms can include dryness, irritation, itching or burning; decreased lubrication, pain or discomfort with intercourse; changes in vaginal discharge; or urinary symptoms (e.g. frequency, urgency, pain or discomfort with urination, or recurrent UTIs).

This condition is no one's fault — and I always emphasize to my patients that while GSM(genitourinary syndrome of menopause) can affect quality of life, it isn't dangerous.

”

— Dr. Daniel Pellicer

What causes GSM?

Vulva, vagina, bladder and urethra tissues have lots of estrogen receptors. “So when estrogen levels decrease after menopause (or after medical or surgical therapies that lead to menopause), the look and feel of tissues can change over time as a result,” explains Pellicer. “This condition is no one’s fault — and I always emphasize to my patients that while GSM can affect quality of life, it isn’t dangerous.”

When should I see a doctor?

You should seek care if you notice any GSM symptoms. Your provider will want to confirm the diagnosis before discussing possible treatment options.

What should I expect at the appointment?

Your provider will ask you about your symptoms and perform a pelvic exam. They may also recommend certain labs to rule out similar conditions like a yeast infection or a urinary tract infection.

How is it treated?

It’s typically treated with application of moisturizers, lubricants or estrogen. “Initial treatment is typically with over-the-counter non-hormonal vaginal

moisturizers and lubricants,” says Pellicer. “For those with more severe symptoms, vaginal estrogen may be recommended.”

Understanding Female Sexual Dysfunction

One common consequence of menopause is female sexual dysfunction and low libido — an often embarrassing and difficult issue for women to discuss. If this sounds like you, Dr. Dawn Kalin, OB/ GYN at SSM Health, says don’t feel embarrassed — and do talk to your doctor.

What is female sexual dysfunction?

It encompasses issues causing distress related to low libido or hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD), arousal and sexual pain. “Female sexual dysfunction is actually incredibly common — especially among women ages 45-64,” stresses Kalin. “As many as 4050% of women report experiencing these problems.”

Female sexual dysfunction is actually incredibly common — especially among women ages 45-64.

”

— Dr. Dawn Kalin

How do I know if I have HSDD?

You may notice a lack of interest in sexual activity — even to the point of causing stress in your relationship. The diagnosis is made by a healthcare professional after a thorough history is obtained. A pelvic exam may also be done. “But the most important part of diagnosis,” says Kalin, “is talking openly with your provider about your questions and concerns.”

Possible

Causes

Low libido and painful sex are often caused by a combination of psychological, social, biological and environmental contributors. The most common are:

• Menopause

• Depression and/or anxiety

• History of sexual trauma

• Problems with your partner

• Stress — emotional and environmental

• Postpartum and/or breastfeeding

• Medical problems such as diabetes

• Drug and alcohol use

• Some antidepressants such as SSRIs

How is it treated?

HSDD can be treated with medication, therapy or a combination of the two. There are two FDAapproved medications for HSDD — a pill and an injection that you give yourself. Certain medications can help increase libido. And hormones such as testosterone, estrogen and progesterone are also frequently prescribed to help postmenopausal women with HSDD.

“If you want to avoid medication, therapy using cognitive behavioral techniques and mindfulness is an excellent way to treat HSDD and help you work through this disorder,” says Kalin. “Talk to your provider about the best treatment for you .”

5 Things to Know About Pelvic Health

You may be surprised to learn that pelvic health issues are very common among women over 40. They range from pelvic floor disorders — such as urinary and bowel incontinence — to pelvic organ prolapse, vulvar disorders, pelvic pain and sexual dysfunction.

Something to talk

about

If you haven’t heard a lot about these problems, you aren’t alone. That’s because they aren’t things that many women feel comfortable discussing.

“It’s not uncommon to suffer in silence,” says Dr. Bruce Drummond, urogynecologist at SSM Health, adding that there are effective therapies that relieve symptoms for bladder and bowel control, and pelvic organ prolapse or vaginal hernia. “When pelvic symptoms bother you — or you’re avoiding social interactions and not doing the activities you’d like to do, it’s time to ask for a referral.”

Can urinary incontinence be treated?

Urinary leakage can be treated with physical therapy, medications, Botox, neuromodulation or slings — starting with minimally invasive procedures designed to get you back to the things you would like to be doing. “Think of getting older as inevitable,” says Drummond, “but aging is a manageable condition.”

How is pelvic prolapse treated?

Pelvic organ prolapse is quite common. It’s not surprising that pregnancy may damage the pelvic floor — including the supporting pelvic structures, nerves and muscles. There are many treatment options available for pelvic prolapse. Some women may opt for surgery to address the issue. In fact, one out of nine women will undergo prolapse surgery.

“When pelvic symptoms bother you — or you’re avoiding social interactions and not doing the activities you’d like to do, it’s time to ask for a referral.

”

—

Dr. Bruce Drummond

Are treatments effective?

Yes! Surgery for pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence is 85% effective in reducing the sensation of protrusion or urine leakage.

What should I expect at my first appointment?

“It’s normal to be nervous, but most women are relieved to know what’s going on and that something can be done,” explains Drummond. “You’ll discuss bothersome symptoms, have a screening urine test, bladder volume scan and pelvic exam to evaluate for vaginal hernias, pelvic masses and Kegel muscle responsiveness. Then a plan is made.” 

With over 40 years of experience building homes in Wisconsin, our team of skilled designers, craftsmen and suppliers are dedicated to creating your dream home. We build custom homes to the highest standard, so you can be confident in the quality, style and durability of your new home.

CLEAN SCENE

These home décor pieces make a quiet statement in soft neutrals and woods.

STYLING

BY

SHANYA MACE

PHOTOGRAPHY BY HILLARY SCHAVE

Clockwise from top left: Marble and wood serving board, $44 , Linen & Clove ; mango wood and enamel cheese serving set, $44 , Fontaine ; Norman Copenhagen oak shorebirds, $35 & $45 , and natural birch candlesticks, $24 & $28 , all from The Century House ; woven cotton striped napkins, $18 (set of four) , Linen & Clove ; face ceramic bud vase, $32.95 , and real-touch tulips, $1.95 each , Fontaine ; contemporary bud vase, $24 , and ranunculus spray, $10 , Linen & Clove ; and Mudpie white marble decorative links, $30 , Linen & Clove .

DOWN TO EARTH

Bring the outdoors inside with these five tips.

BY SHELBY DEERING

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARTIN MENOCAL, MENOCAL PICTURES

Think back to the last time you went on a hike or sat in your garden. Did you ground yourself in the moment? Did it ease your nerves and lift your spirits? If so, it’s not all in your head.

In a study from the journal Mind, 95% of participants reported an improved mood after spending time outdoors. Another study, published in 2014 in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, cited that people start feeling these positive effects after only 15 minutes outside. It’s no wonder that during the pandemic and in these stressful times, many of us are craving nature more than ever before.

This desire to experience more of the outdoors has crossed over into our homes. It’s called biophilic design, and it’s quickly becoming a leading interior design trend.

Stemming from a Greek word for “love of living things,” Joy Pontrello, creator and principal designer of Madison-based Joy Interiors, specializes in this approach, and defines it as, “an evidence-based, revolutionary design movement that focuses

on the human connection between nature and the built environment.” Biologist E.O. Wilson introduced the concept of biophilic design in 1984, and it is now widely accepted that our home and work spaces can significantly influence our physical and mental wellbeing.

And since we spend 90% of our time indoors, as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports, it only makes sense to bring nature in.

“Humans have evolved in the natural environment for millions of years and have lived in an urban industrial environment for only the past 200 years,” Pontrello points out. “Therefore, we are not well-adapted to our current environment.” On the flip side, the designer says that biophilic aesthetics can improve “creativity, productivity, happiness, health and wellbeing.”

If this sounds like a design approach you’d like to harness in your own home, read on for Pontrello’s top tips.

MAXIMIZE NATURAL LIGHT

Pontrello recommends removing anything that obstructs the flow of natural light into your space. Remove heavy curtains and valances, move furniture away from windows and open your blinds. Install sheer curtains that bring in natural light but still provide privacy when needed. And don’t forget to clean your windows regularly.

USE NATURAL MATERIALS

“A key way to harness biophilic design and the power of nature is by utilizing natural materials,” Pontrello says. This means incorporating bamboo, cork, sustainable timber, stone and rattan into your home, which, as a bonus, are sustainable materials, too.

EMBRACE PATTERNS WITNESSED IN NATURE

If you look around, nature is all about patterns, and you can weave them into your spaces. Pontrello says that hexagon or botanical leaf motifs evoke “a positive human reaction.” Fractal patterns, or series of patterns that can be seen in the veins of leaves and frost on a window, can be calming.

“You can emulate these patterns in your home with wall tiles, natural wood grain, wallpapers in geometric designs and décor and accessories that take inspiration from nature,” Pontrello says.

DECORATE WITH PLANTS

As one of Pontrello’s favorite design elements, she says that plants “instantly freshen and make a space feel alive.” She says that if you don’t have a green thumb, choose sturdy plants that

Sweeney-Magazine-ad-12April2023-OL.pdf 1 4/12/23 3:58 PM

“Save the more demanding plants, such as the fiddle leaf fig and ficus, for when you gain experience,” Pontrello advises.

BEAUTIFY WITH COLOR

Color is an excellent way to connect to nature and it significantly influences our mood, says Pontrello. First, consider the function of the space. There are calming hues, and tones that can stimulate energy and excitement — and everything in between.

Fortunately, many colors found in nature are also very on-trend right now, such as earth tones that include sage, terra cotta and muted blues.

“I used to be a minimalist with color, but now I love bringing color into spaces,” explains Pontrello. “Start by experimenting with an accent wall. Another way I love bringing color in is with wallpaper — there are so many styles that are inspired by nature.”

Shelby Deering is a freelance lifestyle writer living in Madison.

BETTER EVER than

Whether it’s opening up a heavily-trafficked room or updating décor, these home before-and-afters all have wow-worthy results.

BY MELANIE RADZICKI MCMANUS

Feel the Flow

When Shannon and Thomas Wenisch moved into their Madison home in 2019, a kitchen remodel was a top priority. The space had a poor flow and, at 30-plus years old, was dated. With the help of Linda Sweeney, coowner of Sweeney Design, the couple assessed the main problems. The refrigerator jutted out into the mudroom entryway — a heavily trafficked area — and no one could stand in front of the oven door when it was opened. The island, a major element, was set too close to the main working areas. A kitchen desk merely collected junk.

“We proposed lengthening the island to 9½ feet and moving it toward the family room,” says Sweeney. “We also proposed moving the wall in the pantry behind the refrigerator one foot.” This would allow for the installation of a counter-

depth refrigerator, opening up the mudroom walk-through space to 48 inches versus the former 36. The Wenisches opted to replace the desk with a beverage station, complete with an under-the-counter fridge.

Curran Cabinetry and Design handcrafted new maple cabinetry, which was painted white and stretches to the ceiling. The company also created a striking walnut island and shelving. “I wanted the walnut to break up all the white,” says Shannon. “There are a lot of trees behind [the home], and the walnut ties it all together.” (The home backs up to Sauk Creek Greenway.)

The countertops were swapped out with gray-veined marble with aqua splashes, procured from The Granite Shop in Madison. The couple appreciated how the company first

“There are a lot of trees behind [the home], and the walnut [in the kitchen] ties it all together.”

— Shannon Wenisch

showed them which pieces of marble they would use and how they would piece them together so that the veining would match up. Instead of a backsplash comprised of ever-popular subway tile, the Wenisches opted for three-inch hex tiles.

“I love my new kitchen,” Shannon says. “The space functions way better. It makes more sense.”

A pop-up mixer stand (

lifting, while

replace a lazy

) saves Shannon’s back from

in the

“You lose a little space, but you get a much more useful space,” Shannon says. “With a lazy Susan, you’re always losing something back there.”

below right

heavy

90-degree drawers

kitchen corner ( top )

Susan.

From Dated to Dashing

Light and bright were on the minds of Emmalee and Jake Hagenbucher after purchasing their Middleton home in 2021. The home had a Tuscan feel, with a dark, dated palette.

“The goal was to modernize and brighten the spaces, while neutralizing the existing red wood used throughout the home in the flooring and millwork,” says Larissa Anderson, owner of Haven Design Studio.

The couple painted the living room’s terra cotta-colored fireplace column the same Edgecomb Gray by Benjamin Moore as the rest of the walls, then swapped out the orange and brown fireplace surround with a lighter stone.

“This particular type of stone, and the over-grout technique used, are reminiscent of barns outside of Madison, where Emmalee grew up,” Anderson says. “I love

introducing design elements that are meaningful to the client, as it personalizes the home and helps tell the story of the family that lives there.”

In the kitchen, the couple kept the existing cabinetry, repainting it Benjamin Moore’s White Dove. The island, stained brown, was lightened with a coat of Chelsea Gray, also by Benjamin Moore. All of the brown, speckled granite countertops were exchanged for

lightly veined white quartz, while polished marble mosaic tile replaced the old orange backsplash tile.

“When we got rid of that orange tile and put in the marble with white grout, it really brightened up the space,” Emmalee says.

The couple traded heavy light fixtures in the foyer, stairwell, kitchen and dining area for lighting in fun shapes, while Anderson chose a Joybird storage console for the entry. Crafted from pale mango wood and caning, it

Light-colored walls and furnishings tone down the rich red flooring and woodwork, which previously dominated the home’s look and feel. The living room’s camel leather sectional ( left ), was the starting point in creating that room’s new look.

“We liked its warm tone and the fact that it’s a cozy, inviting space,” says Emmalee.

adds organic texture while serving as a convenient drop zone when the owners enter the home. Today, the couple loves their home’s new look. “Focus on the overall feel you’re trying to achieve, and don’t get stuck thinking about one thing,” Emmalee advises to those contemplating a remodel. “And sometimes go with your gut — with your designer’s help!”

The Hagenbucher home today is welcoming with a modern vibe, thanks to touches like the dining area pendant light, created from bleached natural rope, accented with a brass band. Additional splashes of brass in the kitchen hardware and fixtures tie the rooms together, while providing warmth and a bit of glamour.

Above the City

Dallas is home for Jeannie and Steve Zemaitis. But the couple frequently travels to Madison to catch Badger football games — Steve is an alum — and to escape the Texas heat. So, a few years ago they purchased a condo in downtown Madison as a second home. Built in 2003, it was due for a major revamp.

The couple tapped Brittany Ballweg, owner and lead designer at Interiors By B, for assistance. The condo’s curved living room featured heavy, dark drapes in between each set of windows, plus a dated ceiling fan and tile fireplace surround. The Zemaitises opted to remove the drapes and paint the walls Sherwin-Williams’ City Loft, an off-white hue with beige and red undertones. Round coffee and cocktail tables mimic the room’s shape, while a walnut ceiling fan with burnished brass hardware adds to the room’s sleek, contemporary vibe.

Large photos of the couple’s three dogs, set in between the windows, add pops of color to the space. “Those are our

Before

“This is our home away from home, and we love coming here.”

— Jeannie Zemaitis

babies,” Jeannie says. “They live full-time in Dallas, so we wanted to bring some of our Texas home here.”

An Uttermost bar cabinet with an aged ebony finish and chevron pattern sits just off the dining area, nicely complementing the dining room table, which is topped with black and white veined marble. Warm, brushed brass accents are found in the table’s legs and chairs, plus in the barware and mirror on and above the cabinet.

Glazed ceramic wall tiles set in a herringbone pattern now surround both sides of the two-sided fireplace, which also opens into the office. The glazing lends the tile variations in color hues and tones, while the oak mantles — which top both sides of the fireplace — tie in with the hardwood flooring.

“This is our home away from home, and we love coming here,” Jeannie says. “Half the time we don’t want to leave, because we like it so much.”

The area rugs were selected for their contemporary patterns and warm, natural tones. “The rug under the dining room table helps pull the caramel color in the light fixture down to the floor,” says Ballweg. Meanwhile, the office rug, by Jaipur Living, mimics the look of marble and correlates with the colors in the painting above the fireplace.

Melanie Radzicki McManus is a freelance travel writer and speaker based in Sun Prairie.

PRE-DIVORCE PLANNING CHECKLIST

By Heather Needham, Financial Advisor CDFA®

While America’s divorce rate has dropped in the last decade, three out of every 10 marriages still end in divorce. If you are considering divorce, it’s essential to have a strong team behind you, including a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA), who can help you achieve an equitable divorce settlement. As a CDFA with Northwestern Mutual, here is a pre-divorce checklist I use with clients to help them get their financial affairs in order.

1. Consult a divorce lawyer or CDFA. The best time to consult a divorce attorney, mediator and CDFA professional is when you’re considering a divorce. Prepare by learning about the different divorce options to determine what works best for you. There are many important considerations to be aware of, such as timelines for dividing retirement plans, financial accounts and health insurance.

2. Prepare a parenting plan. If you have minor children, a mediator or attorney can help both parties develop a parenting plan in the family’s best interest. This includes evaluating your living circumstances moving forward.

3. Create a post-divorce budget. Meet with a CDFA professional to consider all your monthly expenses and estimated income. This will help your attorney or mediation team determine appropriate maintenance and child support amounts.

4. Prepare a complete list of assets and liabilities.

List all marital and non-marital property. If you are a business owner, five years of tax returns will be necessary.

5. Compile all financial statements and documents.

Documents you should provide to your lawyer and CDFA professional include, but are not limited to: three years of income tax returns, investment account statements, insurance information and more. Scan the QR code to the right for a complete list of documents you’ll want on hand.

6. Take a home inventory. Include furniture, electronics, artwork, jewelry and other items of value.

7. Assess your earning potential. You’ll need your current salary and bonus

information if employed. Be sure to include any profit sharing provided by your employer or company. If you are not employed and will require income to supplement maintenance and/or child support, start thinking about your employment options and associated income levels.

8. Ensure your privacy.

Consider opening a PO box where you can receive confidential correspondence from your attorney and other advisors. Also, consider changing passwords for online accounts.

9. Start building credit.

Open personal checking and credit card accounts in your name to start building personal credit. Access a free credit report to check your credit status.

10. Ensure your safety.

If you feel you or your family are not safe, contact a domestic abuse hotline or law enforcement immediately.

Download the complete predivorce checklist for FREE by scanning the QR code.

Contact Heather Needham directly at 608-219-1401 or heather.needham@nm.com

You can also connect at heatherneedham.nm.com or on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/heatherneedhamcdfa.

Disclosure: Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Milwaukee, WI and its subsidiaries. Sandy Botcher is associated with the local office at the above address and is not a licensed insurance agent, registered representative of a broker-dealer, investment adviser representative of a registered investment adviser, or representative of a federal savings bank. While links to other websites are provided for convenience and information, please be advised that except for information related to Northwestern Mutual (NM), the inclusion of, or linking to, other websites does not imply NM endorsement of, nor responsibility for, those websites.

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Outdoor Serenity

These local gardens prioritize texture over color for backyard spaces that are all but understated.

By Hannah Wente

Photography by Shanna Wolf

Eastern Influence

When Mary and Jim Baliker built their house in the Town of Middleton 20 years ago, the backyard was … blah. With a goal to beautify and improve their yard, the couple set out to create a reflective space for themselves and their friends to relax in. A Japanese garden seemed like the perfect fit.

Jim spent his early childhood in Japan due to his dad’s military post. Mary always had an interest in Japanese gardens because of their connection to nature.

“[A Japanese garden] can be a healing garden,” Mary says. “They can inspire reflection. To me, a garden is very calming for your mind and body.”

Back in 2004, the couple worked with a local landscape architect who designed the couple’s Japanese garden, balancing plants, trees and special features so the space could evolve over time.

Top: Purple irises, yellow lilies, blooming moss and lavender punctuate the garden while a Buddha statue watches calmly over a pond, secluded by grasses. At night, the garden’s pathway is lit Bottom: The family can enjoy their garden and dine on their outdoor table. A mini waterfall gurgles in the pond (one of three ponds in the garden) and has a bridge over it.

“With a Japanese garden, you want to make sure you have certain features,” says Mary. “You put in rocks, water [elements] and ponds.”

The couple divides and conquers in the care of their garden. Jim does maintenance on the ponds, moves rocks and digs holes. Mary cultivates the plants, planting anew each season and replacing ones that don’t make it. She regularly researches Japanese gardens to identify new flowers the couple can add. Her advice? Work with a local garden center to special-order plants that you can only find online.

Decades after its installation, the couple is working this summer with another landscape architect, Midwest Japanese Garden owner John Matthews, to explore updating their green oasis.

The meticulous upkeep of their Japanese garden is worth it, and continues to be a getaway for the couple — just steps away from their home.

“It’s really a passion of ours, and even during the height of the pandemic, we had dinners outside with friends. Everyone wants to sit out in our garden. When it’s cool, we can sit by the fire pit. It’s just great to get away from a normal yard,” says Mary.

She loves the sights and sounds that connect her to nature on a daily basis.

“You hear the water splashing and the fish swimming,” she says. “I’ll get hummingbirds feeding on the flowers. A lot of birds will fly in and have a bath in the water.”

Sounds like summer. We’ll be right over, Mary.

Clockwise from top: A wisteria vine grows along a torii gate, a traditional Japanese feature that often acts as a passage into a sacred space. Next to the gate, a blue spruce tree provides shade Bottom right: Mary and Jim Baliker pose with their dogs, Kona and Juneau. The dogs love the garden too — “They just sit and enjoy it,” says Mary. Middle: A pink lotus flower drifts in the pond.

In Full Bloom

Marla Rybowiak comes from a long line of gardeners, including her grandmother, a Polish immigrant, her mother and siblings. In 1996, she and husband Jeff Deacetis moved to a home in the Westmorland neighborhood with an established garden. It also had a small patio and lawn.

“We wanted less lawn and more plants to have a better impact on the environment,” says Rybowiak. “We also knew if we planted smartly, we wouldn’t have to do a lot of replanting or watering.”

She worked with landscape architect Peter Nause of Second Nature Landscapes to design a larger patio surrounded by hardier plants, shrubs and trees that all require less water.

“All we have to do now is sit back and enjoy,” explains Rybowiak. “Take a chance on not using fertilizers and chemicals — you’ll feel better about what you’re doing [in your garden].”

Rybowiak and Deacetis spend many hours and even full days out in the garden, sometimes pruning plants — but mostly embracing their surroundings.

“Throughout the seasons, it provides us with different pleasures,” Rybowiak explains. “In the spring, there’s nothing better than seeing your bulbs open up, and all of the beautiful greenery of the hostas. We have a weeping larch that changes colors and drops its needles. Then, lilacs bloom and the bees come. In the summer, it’s wonderful when the

Top: Marla Rybowiak incoporates color in her landscaping with annuals in pots, placed on her front steps. The planters contain begonias, purple potato vines, her mom’s petunias, coleus and grasses. The home’s address plate was made by ceramist Deb L’Air, an Art Fair on the Square vendor. Bottom: A Japanese maple and hostas surround a wooden structure, built by local craftsman Steve Rose, out of reclaimed Douglas fir. It allows for both privacy and interaction with neighbors.

trees are in full bloom and provide shade. Our Japanese maple changes into a dark burgundy every fall.”

Rybowiak doesn’t plan to slow her gardening ambitions any time soon.

“It’s an addiction,” she says. “There’s always an idea of going and finding new varieties of hostas to stick somewhere.”

When something fails, pivot, says Rybowiak. The couple tried a Japanese maple in the same spot three times, and

Top left: A friend hung a wren house on the couple’s Japanese maple as a surprise. Right: The patio is surrounded by a Japanese maple, woody plants, hostas (which symbolize friendship and devotion) and a burning bush Rybowiak saved from the original garden. Center: Rybowiak loves filling hanging planters with shady annuals.

Friday June 16 4-9 pm

June 17 4-9 pm

Grab a beverage and take a stroll in the Gardens with your sweetheart, play a game of bocce ball or cornhole with your pals, or start a dance party on the Great Lawn. From fantastic local food cart fare, to giant lawn games, to tunes from local musicians, there’s something for EVERYONE at Summer Breeze!

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it didn’t thrive. So, they’re going to try PeeGee hydrangeas there instead this year. It’s trial and error, she says.

Her advice to new gardeners is to observe the space you have and be thoughtful about what you want before making any decisions too quickly. She also advises sharing plants, ideas and challenges with friends and neighbors “to bring joy to your gardening.”

Today, Rybowiak’s garden is filled with plants from her mother, a tribute to her family’s love of gardening.

“People stop by and say, ‘Your mom’s garden is blooming,’” says Rybowiak.

No Mow May ( beecityusa.org ) has grown in popularity around the world. People pause mowing their lawn to help early-season pollinators find habitats and food. It’s also important to support pollinators all summer long by planting native plants to replace or provide edging for your lawn.

Located on Paunack Avenue, this Little Free Library has a monarch butterfly pollinator station and garden in the Westmorland neighborhood.

Photographer Shanna Wolf says the neighborhood places an emphasis on native plantings and no pesticides.

Let our interior design and remodeling team turn your home into a luxurious and inspiring space

Hannah Wente is a freelance writer who builds community through her writing.

In my earliest memories, my mother had me and my younger brother out in the garden every possible day, at the bottom of the hill behind our house. She raised carrots, peas, tomatoes, peppers, lettuce and two little veggie bandits. (We used to eat fresh okra right off the plant until she’d catch us and chase us away.)

Gardening with her taught us to be patient, detail-oriented, and optimistic about the future. Sure, working in the dirt under a hot sun seemed insufferable. Making certain each plant was exactly positioned for maximum success. Of course, my brother and I didn’t understand that these little plants were also helping sustain a family making less than $10,000 a year.

In 1984, Mom got a part-time job working for a charming, young man named Gordy Kopke on his farm in the pastoral township of Dunn, just outside of Oregon, Wisconsin. His talent for spotting beauty was not just limited to flowers,

and he eventually convinced her to make the move into the countryside. Over the next 35 years, they planted and harvested. Gordy built additional greenhouses and Mom helped fill them with the plants and flowers they loved. All the while, my brother and I watched, played in the dirt, and learned of growth, compassion, patience, and joy. Today, Mom and Gordy still ensure we focus on the details and are helping mentor the next generation of our family. There are a few more of us hanging around now, and we’re grateful for the privilege to be a part of it all. Thank you both for helping us plant some memories.

(Love ya, Mom!)

…also, we sell gorgeous flowers and amazing veggie plants you’ll really enjoy. Please check us out!

- Josh Smith

LIFE, TRANS FORMED

Four transgender women reflect on their journeys and the power of living authentically.

BY EMILY MILLS PHOTOGRAPHY BY HILLARY SCHAVE

Pride Month is always a great time for the LGBTQ+ community to come together to celebrate its perseverance, its vibrancy and its incredible diversity. A crucial part of that community are people who are transgender, nonbinary and/or gender expansive. Though they’re almost always at the forefront of the push for greater rights and respect for everyone, transgender people too often also face the most ignorance and bigotry — that is, when they’re not being overlooked entirely.

We could all learn a thing or two from transgender people: more ways of being, more possibilities for joy, and love and expression. What does it mean to be a

woman, for instance? Even for those who are cisgender (someone who identifies with the sex they were assigned at birth), it is an extremely personal state of being. The same is true for women who are transgender. There is no one “right” way to be a woman; no defining body part or look.

As anti-LGBTQ legislation and rhetoric ramps up nationwide, with a particular focus on transgender people, this only adds to the discrimination, safety concerns and employment challenges that transgender people face daily. But the transgender community shouldn’t be thought of as struggling because of misunderstanding and misplaced hatred. Trans people have

existed since the beginning of humanity. Trans women are a diverse and vital part of our communities. While so many politicians and others are trying to spread fear and sow division, trans women — like anyone — simply want the opportunity to live meaningful, authentic lives.

The four women profiled in this piece are all doing just that and have been gracious enough to share a little about their journeys and their experiences. From community activists to spiritual seekers, dynamic artists and teachers, these women are just a few of those who’ve become role models for people across the gender spectrum. In ways large and small, they’re helping make Madison — and the world — a better place for everyone.

Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford Martinez-Rutherford is a funny lady, it’s true. The longtime stand-up comedian is a lot of other things, too: entrepreneur, spiritual seeker, public servant. The founder of Lady Laughs Comedy, a training and event production company focused on lifting up women and people from marginalized communities in the comedy scene, Martinez-Rutherford is also very busy.

Born and raised in Texas, MartinezRutherford’s road to Madison was a winding one. She initially found herself traveling the country as a small group pastor for non-denominational evangelical churches, and was eventually assigned to go to Sydney, Australia, to “plant” a new church there. It proved to be a turning point for her, however, as years of internal searching and external battles with church authority figures finally opened her eyes to a more authentic path.

“I truly believed and tried really hard, tried to pray that gay away,” she says with a rueful chuckle. “There was finally a point where I was just so done jumping through hoops. I was done. I finally was just like, ‘I’m just me.’”

Instead of crossing an ocean to plant a church, Martinez-Rutherford headed to Los Angeles, where she spent 10 years building her career as a stand-up comic.

LA, she says, gave her the space to really find herself.

“I was far enough away from my family and from religion. It was still scary, because there’s always that religious voice in your head that says, ‘No, that’s wrong.’” Martinez-Rutherford says. “But I was standing on a corner waiting for a bus one day and I had this sort of connection with the divine. I realized that I was scared, but the voice told me, ‘You need to be yourself.’ Be visible, because it could help someone in the middle of the country see themselves and not want to kill themselves. It was liberating. I took my first shot of HRT [hormone replacement therapy] in January of 2007. And all the things I was scared of didn’t happen! For the first time, I understood the way I thought, the way I felt, more than I’d ever known. Right from that first moment, I just started feeling better about who I was and how I showed up in the world.”

It was at the urging of her best friend that she took a chance and eventually made the move to Madison.

“I figured I’d move to the middle of the country and either someone would marry me or murder me, but neither one has happened!” she jokes. Instead, she says she found “I could breathe.” She

“There

was finally a point where I was just so done jumping through hoops. I was done. I finally was just like,

‘I’m just me.’”

—DinaNinaMartinez-Rutherford

discovered a community through working at Monty’s Blue Plate Diner, where she immediately met another trans person on staff and built friendships with regular customers that have lasted to this day.

Since then, Martinez-Rutherford has built something of her own mini comedy empire in town, launching Lady Laughs Comedy as a home base for teaching all-comers everything from stand-up to improv to sketch comedy, and throwing a comedy festival that spotlights local and regional and national women and LGBTQ+ folks in an industry still dominated by white men.

Another turning point came in the wake of the Club Q shooting in Colorado in February 2022. It was a moment that finally galvanized Martinez-Rutherford into action, doing something she’d been urging others to do for years: become civically engaged. In late 2022, she officially threw her hat in the ring to run for District 15 alder, focusing her

“I am not the advocate, I just want to provide a platform and a place for building community.”

—TessaJadePrice

platform on LGBTQ+ rights, access to affordable housing and other issues especially important for people working in the service and other low-income industries. Happily, MartinezRutherford claimed victory in the April 2023 election.

“The deeper I get, the more I see the problems in more places than I ever wanted to,” she muses. “As someone who struggles, I will say this a million times, I know what it’s like to eat rice for an entire month. That’s a problem! It’s not just trans people that are experiencing it, it’s all of us. I want to find ways to make that better.”

Tessa Jade Price

For a self-described “quiet nerd” who prefers spending time with friends and her cat, playing video games or listening to music, Price has nonetheless been making a lot of waves in recent years. The main organizer behind Trans Advocacy

Madison (TAM), an informal, grassroots advocacy group, Price is doing what she feels she has to for the wellbeing of herself and her community.

“I’m transgender [and] I’m a woman — how does that apply to the world and what can I do to help?” she asks. It was the 2020 Black Lives Matter protest movement that tipped the scale for Price toward concerted activism. Politics was always something she’d been interested in, but coming out as trans that same year further motivated her to get more involved. She started TAM in early 2021 as a way to build awareness of and organize protests against rising anti-transgender hate messaging she saw in and around Madison. Nationally, anti-LGBTQ/anti-trans legislation has also significantly ramped up.

Price uses TAM as a way to bring together other trans folks and allies to organize counter-protests at anti-trans and anti-drag rallies. It’s also been a way to share resources and build community, connecting people with each other and providing a conduit for mutual aid.

“I am not the advocate, I just want

to provide a platform and a place for building community,” she says. The goal is also to build bridges between existing groups and social bubbles. Even when these group’s strategies don’t align 100%, Price says, the point is to build a bigger and bigger collective of people “who agree that hate is bad. If we have that in common, great, let’s build from there!”

In the coming weeks and months, Price hopes to continue to expand TAM’s organizing abilities and to build a more collective decision-making process, creating a more intersectional and sustainable coalition that can continue to play a vital role in the community for years to come.

Lyric Harris (aka Amethyst Von Trollenberg)

Very few of us can likely point to one, clear “A-Ha!” moment that changed the course of our lives forever. Harris can, though. As a teenager, she was surfing YouTube when she came across a video of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” star Courtney Act.

“Being on stage, I felt so electric.”

—LyricHarris

“I’d never seen drag before,” Harris recalls. But something about it immediately clicked. “Drag was a revelation,” she adds. She’d had no role models growing up; no examples of the possibilities that existed, but says she always had a sense inside about herself that didn’t fit with who others told her she was supposed to be.

First, a quick lesson: Drag is an art form that can be performed by anyone, of any gender identity or sexuality. It’s played an important role in queer life for at least a hundred years, providing a means of personal expression and artistic creativity, while also subverting mainstream society’s expectations, often with a cheeky wink. Drag has long been an art form that blends performance art, theater, music, fashion, costume, makeup and wigs with one’s own body as the canvas. The idea is to play with, exaggerate and subvert

gender stereotypes and norms.

Which is exactly what it allowed Harris to do. She says she spent three years doing nothing but learning, watching video tutorials on makeup and hair and costuming, before thinking about performing. When she finally did, she was instantly hooked.

“Being on stage, I felt so electric,” Harris remembers. Almost immediately, however, she felt a gulf between herself and the majority cis gay men who performed alongside her.

“We’d be in the green room after a show and they’d all hurry to get out of makeup and wigs, put on their ball caps and boy clothes, and I’d just sit there fixing my makeup and not wanting to take off my outfit for as long as possible.”

Eventually, she met Baby Bear, a queer performance and burlesque artist who

Key Terms

Cisgender or cis (pronounced “siss”):

A person whose gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth.

Gender identity: A person’s felt/ internal sense of self/gender.

LGBTQ: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning

Sexual orientation: How and towards whom a person feels sexual attraction.

Queer: An umbrella term reclaimed by activists as early as the 1980s to encompass anyone who isn’t cisgender and heterosexual (but not used by everyone within the LGBTQ community).

Transgender or trans: A person whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth.

Local Trans/ LGBTQ-led organizations and groups

Diverse

& Resilient and SHEBA (Sisters Helping Each Other Battle Adversity)

Run by and for Black transgender and gender-expansive women, SHEBA meets biweekly to support and empower transgender women. They also offer leadership development, outside facilitations, HIV prevention, healing alternatives and overall community. diverseandresilient.org/ work/cultivating-leaders/sheba

GSAFE

Focused on LGBTQ+ young people/ students, GSAFE offers a wide range of support services, leadership development, and community building across the state of Wisconsin. gsafewi.org

OutReach LGBT Community Center and Madison Area

Transgender Association (MATA)

Founded in 1998, this long-running program of OutReach is run as a social support group by and for transgender, gender-expansive, and questioning individuals in the Madison area. They hold regular meetings, as well as safer sex and legal resources for the community. transgenderservices.org

PFLAG

With chapters in a dozen locations across Wisconsin (and hundreds nationally), PFLAG’s goal is to provide support and community for anyone who knows and loves an LGBTQ+ person. pflag.org

Trans Advocacy Madison

A grassroots coalition of people interested in advocating for the lives and wellbeing of transgender and non-binary people, this group has a private Facebook group for organizing and sharing resources and support. facebook.com/transadvocacymadison

hosted a smaller, alternative event. He invited Harris, now under her stage name Amethyst Von Trollenberg, to be part of the show. It was there that she finally met and saw performers who encompassed a wider range of gender identities and styles, everyone from singers and burlesque performers to drag kings and more.

“It was my entry point. As much as I love drag, it wasn’t enough.”

She changed her approach to performance, but it was also a turning point for her personally. She credits longtime Madison performer and emcee, Cass Marie, with helping nudge her, lovingly, to finally admitting to herself a truth long suppressed.

“Cass sat me down and told me to say it. Say it out loud. ‘I am a woman,’” Harris remembers. When she finally did, she says, it flooded her with emotions. The flood only intensified when Cass then asked her where and how she saw herself when she imagined the future.

“I’d never thought about getting older,” Harris admits. “I thought I’d turn 25 and that would be it. I never imagined a future for myself.” But finally admitting

to herself who she was helped bring that future into focus.

Since then, Harris performed at and helped run the weekly Five Star Tease show alongside Mercury Stardust and others that ended its run last November. She’s currently a coproducer of Bumday Productions, which runs regular burlesque and performance art brunches and shows at the Bur Oak and North Street Cabaret. She’s taken voice and sewing lessons thanks to Madison College’s continuing education offerings, working hard to expand and improve her already impressive skill set.

The community she’s found and helped to build among performers in Madison is one that’s more inclusive, more diverse, and more supportive than she could have ever imagined.

“I never thought I’d have friends like I do now,” she adds.

Now if you ask Harris about what she sees in her future, the picture is clear: “I see myself as one of those smoky jazz singers at the piano,” she says with a smile, “or maybe the old lady who runs a local

“I was a girl who had been socialized having to go into the boy’s locker room … but the woman was always there.”

—Vica-EttaSteel

karaoke night on a Wednesday. They’re the keepers of our community!”

Vica-Etta Steel

Many of us wait for signs to tell us we’re on the right or wrong path in life. For Steel, it took what felt like a heart attack to finally push her toward living her most authentic life.

The former public school teacherturned-vicar says the crisis ended up being due to anxiety, not her heart, but it was enough to make her finally sit up and take seriously something she’d been grappling with since childhood.

“I was a girl who had been socialized having to go into the boy’s locker room … but the woman was always there,” Steel says. Thankfully, Stella, her wife of 37 years, was right there with her as she made the transition to living openly as a woman. After the not-actually-a-heartattack, her wife said, “‘We need to come out.’” And so Steel did.

There were people at her school who supported her transition, especially the students. Some things went well, but others less so. Eventually, the situation grew untenable and she decided to leave the profession, returning instead to the church she’d previously left entirely, unable to reconcile her identity with doctrine.

Fortunately, Steel found St. John’s Lutheran Church in Madison and their open and affirming congregation. She began preaching just a year after joining the faith and also entered seminary, where she’s been enrolled for the past year and a half. In the meantime, she

she has a weekly presence at the Dane County Farmers’ Market and a TikTok ministry, too. Head down to the Capitol Square on any given Saturday from late spring to fall, and you’re very likely to encounter Steel at what she calls her “card-table sanctuary,” handing out rainbow and transgender pride buttons and stickers, chatting with passersby, and singing songs.

In part to reach a younger generation of queer and trans folks, she shares daily reflections, affirmations and also sings on TikTok. Steel is thoughtful and frank, but always warm and welcoming, offering a sort of virtual hug to allcomers. Whether you’re Christian or not, or even believe in God, her approach is to share her own spiritual and personal journey in the hopes of helping others see a path forward for themselves.

Still, not every congregation — or location — is a safe space. She vets every church she visits, noting that just because they have a Pride flag up doesn’t mean it’s going to be actively welcoming toward her. Out in the world, too, there’s always an awareness that too many people still misunderstand and/or actively discriminate against transgender people.

“I don’t go anywhere alone,” Steel notes. “I always go with another woman who’s an ally.”

Thanks to her own internal sense of self, and allyship from friends and loved ones, Steel is continuing on her journey of personal and spiritual discovery.

“[My approach] is very much universalist. That means, nobody gives a damn how you particularly want to phrase things, except that it’s beautiful. Whether you say God or Buddha or Allah, or you just say the divine, or you say that nature is your religion. It’s beautiful, right? To believe in something. Have that faith,” she says. “The language of God, of decay and growth, is all saying ‘love.’ So how can we in our hubris claim we know anything? It’s not about knowing. It’s about feeling and believing.”

Emily Mills is a Madison-based writer, photographer, musician, nature enthusiast and LGBTQ+ advocate.

Dynamic

Duos

These mother-daughter teams work perfectly in tandem at businesses they started — and are even providing inspiration to a third generation, who are watching and learning how to #girlboss.

BY KATY MACEK AND KATIE VAUGHN PHOTOGRAPHY BY HILLARY SCHAVE

Together by Design

When Jill Dybdahl opened Dybdahl Design Group with her husband Paul in 1992, their four-year-old daughter Anna began coming to the office with them whenever she wasn’t in school. In a pair of full-circle moments, Anna Herman officially joined the company in 2010, and now her daughter, Charlotte, is growing up observing the business too.

Based in Middleton for more than 30 years, Dybdahl Design Group focuses on helping homeowners create custom-designed kitchens, bathrooms, offices, wine cellars and other spaces. With more than 2,000 projects to their name, the company works in styles ranging from traditional to modern — and everything in between.

“The only thing I’d say [that’s] signature to us is our quality,” Dybdahl says. “It’s known that each project is unique to that client.”

“Everything is absolutely custom made to order,” Herman adds. Dybdahl and Herman enjoy the work, and how each project provides the opportunity to improve their clients’ lifestyles.

“It’s important to us as a company to learn how people use their spaces,” Herman says, “to find what’s best for their family and flow.”

Clients seem to appreciate the commitment and sense of stability that come from a family-run company, and Dybdahl

and Herman say that working together suits them as well. It helps that each knows her individual role — Dybdahl is senior designer and Herman runs the business side.

“It’s perfectly natural,” Dybdahl says of working with her daughter. “We have such mutual respect for each other’s gifts and talents.”

“Clients love her,” Herman says of her mom. “A lot of them become lifelong friends.”

It’s also meaningful to both Dybdahl and Herman that Charlotte is growing up not only spending so much time with them, but also seeing her mother and grandmother work well together.

“I think it just shows really good family values,” Herman says.

“We have excellent communication,” Dybdahl says. “Our phones are always on for each other. We are always available for each other.” – KV

Wonderfully Empowering

When Elizabeth Medina became pregnant with her daughter, she started taking note of the words featured on products for girls.

“I began to see the world through [my daughter’s] eyes even before she was born,” Medina says. By then, she’d spent a decade working in the New York City fashion industry, and she recognized an opportunity for more empowering messages. So she shared her idea with her mom.

“I came up in the ’70s and I loved the concept,” says Medina’s mom Deb Kusmec, who has had to advocate for her place in environments typically tailored to men.

The two worked on the concept, and in Verona in early 2014, they launched Girl Wonderful, a girl-positive brand of clothing and accessories. The signature items are soft gray T-shirts featuring messages such as “GIRL STRONG,” “GIRL SCIENTIST” and “GIRL ATHLETE” in bold black letters. The simple design lets each girl put her own stylistic spin on the shirt.

“The tee doesn’t make the girl, the girl makes the tee,” Medina says.

To date, Medina and Kusmec have sold tees in all 50 states, as well as Canada, Europe and Australia. Medina handles the creative, branding and social media, while Kusmec takes on the business side.

And, to their delight, Medina’s daughter Isa has gotten involved, lending her opinion across the business and, of course, wearing the tees to school. “It’s three different perspectives from three different generations,” Medina says.

They love hearing from customers, especially about how the messages of the shirts have sparked conversations about girls’ interests. And Kusmec and Medina have fielded questions as well, particularly why they choose to qualify their messages with the word GIRL

“It’s the power of representation,” Medina says. “It’s hard to be what you can’t see.”

“Girls need that advocate,” Kusmec adds. “Think of all the firsts we’re still seeing. And yet we haven’t had all the firsts yet.”

And they look forward to when it’s commonplace to see women leading in all spaces.

“The day we’re able to retire “GIRL ASTRONAUT,” says Medina, “and just put “ASTRONAUT” on it will be a really good day.” – KV

A Family Business With Deep Roots

Tami Gruber and her daughter, Toni Harris, have always been “overly close,” they say; two creative minds in a pod.

“Me and my mom work super well together,” Harris says, before Gruber jumps in to add: “We feed off each other.”

So when Harris’ dad finally bought her mom a retail space for her dream shop, it was only natural for Harris to come help out.

Now, the two run Simply Rooted & Co., a home décor shop in Spring Green. It’s just down the road from the Spring Green Motel, which Gruber and her husband, Fred, also co-own.

“It’s fun now to watch my mom live her dream … and being [at] her side helping her do this. I’m very proud of her,” says Harris.

They also balance each other out. While she says her mom is sweet and soft spoken, Harris is decisive.

Growing up, Harris watched Gruber raise her and her four siblings, attending every single event and creating a close-knit family that’s remained tight to this day.

Owning her own specialty shop has been a dream of Gruber’s for many decades, but she says she set it to the side while raising her children and subsequently running the motel for years. Then, fate intervened: A storefront became available.

“My dad was like … hey Tam, I bought you a gift shop,” Harris says.

Things moved smoothly from there, and Gruber opened Simply Rooted in April 2022.

All of Harris’ siblings and her dad help out at the shop, but it’s Harris who is by Gruber’s side on a regular basis.

Gruber feels like she’s found her stride, and she enjoys that her grandkids can now come hang out at the shop, too.

“It’s kind of surreal,” Gruber says. “At night when I’m all alone [at the shop], turning the lights off and walking around, it just feels really good to be at this spot in my life.” – KM

How great would it be if she could grow up and earn as much as a man?

1963

How great would it be if she could grow up and earn as much as a man?

2023

The Equal Pay Act passed in 1963 to put an end to wage disparity based on sex but there’s still work to do. Women continue to be underrepresented in higher paying roles and industries, are more likely to work lower-paying jobs in fields that are undervalued, often carry additional caregiving responsibilities, and can face unfair compensation practices. And that makes it harder for women to build wealth over time.

We are leading the conversation about ways to close the wealth gap because it puts women behind in being able to save for the future and avoid poverty in retirement. In addition to our award-winning financial wellness programs, we put our own pay equity policy in place to ensure female job candidates don’t fall behind their male colleagues. And we are working on new programs to help close the wealth gap in our communities. Because when women thrive, the whole community thrives.

Learn more about

Health Series THRIVE AFTER 55

How Physical Therapy Can Help Arthritis Pain

Stoughton Health physical therapist Elizabeth Weihert discusses alleviating arthritis aches and pains.

It should come as no surprise that arthritis is one of the leading causes of pain in older adults. What may surprise you is that physical therapy can significantly help with arthritis pain management.

According to Elizabeth Weihert, physical therapist at Stoughton Health, physical therapy has shown to be effective in treating arthritis, and may help to avoid surgery as well as reduce or eliminate the use of prescription pain medications. Physical therapy is cost effective and is usually covered by insurance.

Activities and techniques utilized in physical therapy can help improve and restore mobility of a joint, increase muscle strength to support the surrounding joints, improve overall fitness to increase tolerance to activities, reduce pain and swelling, improve balance and stability, and improve function of daily activities in patients dealing with arthritis. Physical therapists can provide education on joint protection and body mechanics, which can help slow the arthritic progression and

preserve the ability to perform daily activities.

A physical therapist will begin with a thorough evaluation and assessment of a patient to determine what areas of attention the joint might need in order to improve. Then they will determine a specific plan of care to help reach the patient’s goals.

As Weihert explains, one area a physical therapist might focus on is teaching exercises to address a patient’s specific area of arthritis. For example, physical therapy can help to teach proper posture and body mechanics used during daily activities, which can help protect the patient’s arthritic joints.

“A physical therapist may also instruct patients in the proper use of an assistive device, such as a walker or cane, which can reduce stress and provide support to the joints,” Weihert says. “They can recommend different home treatment options to help a patient, such as the use of splints/braces to support and protect joints, use of hot and cold therapies to

reduce overall joint pain and stiffness, and use of shoe inserts to reduce stress on joints in the lower body.”

Warm water exercise is also ideal for the treatment of arthritis. The buoyancy of the water can reduce impact on the joints, allowing the patient to move more freely and easily in the water.

It can be helpful to have a patient start a conversation with their medical team to determine if physical therapy might be a helpful avenue of treatment for their specific situation.

“In most cases though, a physician’s referral for physical therapy is not needed, unless a patient has Medicare or Medicaid. They can call Stoughton Health Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine directly and we will help them determine insurance coverage and if a referral is necessary,” says Weihert.

To schedule an appointment, please call one of our clinics.

Stoughton: 608-873-2392 Oregon: 608-835-5373

T ime for FUN

These Midwestern getaways offer it all this summer — good food, festivals, activities and much more.

BY MELANIE RADZICKI MCMANUS

FOX CITIES

SOUTHERN

LA CROSSE

CHICAGO’S NORTH SHORE

JANESVILLE

ELKHART LAKE

Shop Janesvilleʼs Unique Boutiques and Shops

Head to Janesville to check out its unique variety of locally-owned shops, like Adorn Janesville, a boutique selling quality and handmade items sourced from both local and fair-trade artisans. Their unique selection includes leather bags, tarot cards, biodegradable sisal soap and bamboo boxer shorts. At Urban Boutique, which sells stylish women’s clothing and accessories, you can score cow-print boots, knee-length cardigans or a crossbody purse. Shop your favorite brands at Velvet & Tulle like Lucky, Nation and Michael Stars. At The French Lily Boutique, find a fresh new summer look, including a new outfit, accessories or even hairstyle.

For resale finds, head to 608 Vintage, a 13,500-square-foot store loaded with items from more than 300 vendors. Many sell strictly vintage pieces, including clothing, jewelry and toys, but some offer handmade items. Visit Blessed Divine Creations where you can shop wares from local, Blackowned businesses, including clothing, handmade gift baskets, fragrance, lotions and even cinnamon-roasted pecans and cashews. Art lovers should check out Raven’s Wish Gallery, where you can browse and purchase contemporary artwork from more than 75 regional and national artists. Their selection includes jewelry, freeform quilting, paintings, pottery and photography.

Both Rotary Botanical Gardens and the Rock County Historical Society gift shops feature art pieces and practical items from local and regional makers. They offer a nice selection of handmade jewelry, garden art, pottery and sculptures. You could pick up a set of hand-turned wooden salt and pepper shakers, a scented candle or fused glass garden art.

For more information on shopping, dining and recreational opportunities in Janesville, visit janesvillecvb.com.

DINE LIKE THE LOCALS

FOLLOW THE ART TRAIL

Explore Janesville’s more than 60 pieces of public art, including 27 large-scale murals created by local, national and international artists. The collection also features sculptures, statues, historical markers and monuments. Go to janesvillecvb.com and download the Public Art Trail brochure to begin your arts exploration. It will be easy to spot some pieces, like the 5-story “In History We Trust” mural and “Resilience,” a 28-foottall steel and glass sculpture with LED lighting that crosses the Rock River.

Plan your visit at janesvillecvb.com

Catch Janesville’s vibe by dining at favorite local hotspots such as Sandwich Bar , Lark and Genisa Wine Bar . The colorfully-painted Sandwich Bar features gourmet sandwiches like It’s Not a Tuna Melt, a smoked-trout spread on toasted rye with Swiss cheese and apple. The casual-chic Lark is the place to enjoy a crispy pork-belly taco or mushroom pastrami and craft cocktails, while Genisa Wine Bar carries a selection of more than 100 international wines and offers specialty pizzas, charcuterie boards and decadent desserts.

Pictured: Rock County Historical Society Gift Shop ©Full Spectrum Photography

It’s Happening in Mineral Point

Perched in Wisconsin’s hilly Driftless Area, Mineral Point offers outdoors enthusiasts numerous recreational options. Hikers can explore the paths at Merry Christmas Mine Hill. Part of the Pendarvis State Historic Site, the trails showcase remnants of the town’s mining past, while passing through a 43-acre restored prairie. Additional miles of trail await at Blackhawk Lake Recreation Area, Yellowstone Lake, Governor Dodge State Park and Tower Hill State Park, all of which lie within a half-hour of town. Cyclists can peddle along the scenic Cheese Country Trail, a 47-mile multiuse path connecting Mineral Point and Monroe. The 40-mile Military Ridge State Trail is also nearby, and the rural roads offer great cycling, too. If fishing is your passion, nearby Ludden Lake is home to largemouth and smallmouth bass and panfish, while trout can be found in the Mineral Point branch of the Pecatonica River Duffers should check out Dodge Point Country Club, where 18 holes await, or head to Spring Green’ s House on the Rock Resort, which boasts 27 holes. Its 18-hole Springs Course was designed by legendary golf course architect Robert Trent Jones, Sr., while the nine-hole North Nine was designed by Roger Packard and two-time U.S. Open champ Andy North.

Fun in Mineral Point isn’t just about the outdoors. Stroll through the quaint downtown and check out its mix of shops, such as Sullivan’s , a vintage spot where 60-plus vendors sell a mix of clothing, décor, wine and spirits. At The Mineral Point Gallery, you’ ll find art created by people of diverse backgrounds. Or indulge in a massage at The Haven on High, which also offers couples’ massage. Wind down with a quality cup of joe, or perhaps some wine or craft beer. Café 43 serves all three from its location in the former Old Royal Inn, an iconic local building. Commerce Street Brewery has both house and guest beers on tap, plus serves dishes like Korean beef tacos. It’s always wine o'clock at American Wine Project, a hybrid-producing winery where tastings are available. When it’s time to crash, stay in one of the city's numerous lodgings, which include cabins, inns and boutique hotels.

CHALLENGE YOURSELF

Enjoy a little competition? Then sign up for one of Mineral Point ’s athletic events. Every July 4th, the city hosts the Gettin ’ The Lead Out Historic Run , which consists of 2- and 5-mile races through town. The Dairyland Dare , coming Aug. 5, 2023, offers cyclists four epic challenges: biking 50K, 100K, 150K or 200K through the notoriously hilly region — and finishing before the sun goes down.

In Plein Sight

After a smashing debut last year, the second annual Illinois-based Evanston Plein Air Festival is coming to town July 9-16. Plein air painting is the practice of painting outside instead of in a studio. Popularized by 19thcentury luminaries such as Claude Monet, artists typically set up their easels in the outdoors and quickly sketch a scene to capture the changing, ephemeral light.

During the festival, participating artists will be scattered across Evanston, recreating the city’s most beautiful natural areas, favorite landmarks and built environments on their canvases. Visitors can grab a map highlighting the painters’ locales or follow the event on Instagram, then find a few artists to observe in action. The painters enjoy answering questions about their specific creations and the plein air style. Many also carry small works with them to sell off the easel.

Visitors can also take part in artist-run workshops about the plein air style, while teens can sign up for a teen art competition. The competition consists of an initial plein air workshop, followed by a timed painting event. The event’s grand finale on July 16 involves each artist submitting a painting for judging. There are awards for Best of Show, Honorable Mention (four awards) and Festival Favorite, which is determined by the fans. There will also be an openair exhibit of the artists’ additional works, which will be available for purchase.

DON’T MISS THESE GEMS

SAVE THE DATES!

Mark your calendar for these prime North Shore events.

Northbrook Art in the Park: May 20-21

Skokie Festival of Cultures: May 20-21

Winnetka Music Festival: June 16-17

Glenview Summer Fest: June 24

Run the Runway (Wheeling): June 24

Vintage Garage Evanston: July 16

Glencoe Festival of Art: July 22-23

Northbrook Grand Prix: July 27

Art at the Glen Town Center (Glenview): July 29-30

Two North Shore treasures are Ravinia and the Chicago Botanic Garden . Ravinia, opened in 1904, is North America’s oldest, most diverse music festival. The months-long annual event is held in a picturesque, 36-acre setting in Highland Park. Bring a picnic, or purchase a meal at one of the park’s restaurants, then settle in to listen to some exceptional music. Featured artists run the gamut, including Brandi Carlisle, Carrie Underwood, John Legend, Kenny Loggins and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The Chicago Botanic Garden showcases 27 diverse garden types and four natural areas, which are surrounded by nine islands. Tour on foot or by a tram, making sure to stop at the Butterflies and Blooms exhibit and the Model Train Garden, where 18 model G-scale trains on 18 tracks click and clack their way over 26 bridges, while passing 50 miniature American landmarks.

Bordering Chicago along Lake Michigan, Chicago’s North Shore provides safe accommodations with easy access to the city, Wrigley Field and North Shore attractions. You’ll find affordable hotels — most with freeparking, amazing restaurants, easy access to the city, unique North Shore attractions and more.

Find events, hotel packages and more: visitchicagonorthshore.com @chicagonorthshore

Pedaling Through Southern Minnesota

Bicycling is a great way to enjoy the and take in some impressive scenery. And Southern Minnesota is laced with inviting trails for you to explore. Take the Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail, which connects the towns of Mankato and Faribault. Created on a former railroad bed, the 39mile, multiuse path provides a level ride along the Minnesota River and through pretty Sakatah Lake State Park. Other choices are the Root and Harmony-Preston Valley State Trails in southeastern Minnesota. Winding 60 miles through the state’s hilly bluff country, you’ll definitely encounter some climbs. But the views will be worth it, as the trails unspool along the scenic Root River. You’ll be pedaling through several historic towns, too, so there are plenty of opportunities to rest and grab some refreshments.

To take in a little history during your excursion, try the Casey Jones State Trail, a nearly 20-mile path connecting Currie and Pipestone in the state’s southwestern corner. In addition to riding past tallgrass prairie remnants, wooded ravines and Lake Shetek, you’ll be within easy access of Pipestone National Monument and Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Walnut Grove home

Mankato’s Red Jacket Trail is a pleasant amble that begins south of town and runs 13 miles to the outskirts of Rapidan. The paved trail showcases woodlands and meadows, where wildlife is often spotted, plus the Mount Kato Ski Area. You’ll also get to pedal across the Red Jacket Trestle, a former railroad bridge that sits 80 feet above the Le Sueur River.

WHEN IT’S WINE O’CLOCK …

Three select spots for wine-tasting are Grandview Valley Winery, Morgan Creek Vineyards and Round Lake Vineyards & Winery. Grandview Valley makes most of its wine using its own grapes. Sip your favorite varietal while noshing on homemade crab rangoon or a Reuben pizza. Every Friday evening from May through October, it’s Winedown for the Weekend at Morgan Creek. During the event, you’ll enjoy Neapolitan pizzettes and Swiss raclettes while sipping wine and listening to classical and jazz tunes. Round Lake’s bistro allows you to pair its wines with a bacon-wrapped filet, coconut shrimp or even a bison T-bone.

SAMPLE SOME SUDS

Southern Minnesota is home to several dozen breweries, so you have plenty of options for suds sampling. New Ulm’s August Schell Brewing Company, founded in 1860, is the state’s oldest brewery. Take a tour before heading to the bier halle for sampling. Waseca’s Half Pint Brew Co. is Minnesota’s first farm brewery and taproom. Enjoy one of its eight tap beers with pizza delivered by neighboring Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm. At Island City Brewing Co. in downtown Winona, sip some brews while playing trivia or bingo.

Every Season is special in Southern Minnesota

Ramsey Park, Redwood Falls

Artful Encounters in the Fox Cities

Great art is sprinkled throughout the Fox Cities, but sometimes you have to know where to look. The local ACRESofART program has placed more than 20 sculptures around the valley for visitor’s viewing pleasure. While most are in Appleton, Neenah and Menasha, five new pieces were added last year in Kaukauna and Little Chute, including “Kitty & Bunny” and “Scaramouche.” Download the free Otocast app to see exactly where they are, then head out for a scavenger hunt. Along the way, look for the colorful murals decorating various buildings in the region.

If you enjoy browsing through museums, don’t miss the Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass in Neenah. Housed in a century-old Tudor mansion built by John and Evangeline Bergstrom, the museum features Evangeline’s extensive collection of antique glass paperweights. It’s also home to a Germanic glass collection purchased by Ernst Mahler, a former Kimberly-Clark executive. In all, there are more than 3,500 objects tucked in the museum, including art and contemporary glass, plus an assortment of miscellaneous pieces, such as a collection of 300 glass buttons. By the way, this museum is kid-friendly!

Appleton’s Trout Museum of Art focuses on contemporary art exhibits, especially those highlighting artists from diverse communities. The museum, which also offers art workshops and kids’ camps, hosts 12 to 18 exhibitions per year. While out and about, look for the city’s decorated utility and traffic boxes, plus the poetry stamped into the sidewalks.

In a surprise to many, the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center premieres more Broadway shows than any other spot in Wisconsin. The center also hosts concerts, speaking engagements and more. At the two-stage Gibson Community Music Hall, an Art Deco structure built in 1931, you can catch a performance from artists representing a variety of musical genres.

JAM TO THE TUNES

Plan to spend some Thursday nights (June 1-Aug. 31, 5:30-8:30 p.m.) at Jones Park in Appleton. That’s when the park comes alive as host of the free Heid Music Summer Concert Series . The series features a different regional band every week, with the bands covering a variety of musical genres. Beer and wine are available, plus food from local vendors. Local retailers stay open later for your shopping convenience, too.

A Relaxing Getaway

Aspira Spa, located in the The Osthoff Resort, is an Elkhart Lake treasure.

Nestled among cedar trees and surrounded by the spring-fed waters of the lake, it’s a true respite where visitors can ground, connect and nourish themselves. The 22,000-squarefoot spa has 22 treatment rooms, indoor and outdoor whirpools, sauna, meditation sanctuary and spa café. Book a massage, facial or body treatment, then head to the spa café for a grain bowl or berry parfait.

One of the newest offerings at Aspira Spa is a salt therapy room. Salt rooms are famous for their ability to help combat respiratory issues, inflammation and various skin conditions, plus reduce stress and improve sleep quality. The peaceful room, filled with rock salt, features plush lounge chairs so you can comfortably nap, read or rest while your body absorbs the room's mineral-rich air.

If you’d like to experience Aspira Spa, you don’t have to stay at The Osthoff or book a treatment. Visitors can purchase a day pass which affords all-day access to the indoor/outdoor whirlpools, sauna and meditation sanctuary. (While day passes are generally available, it’s recommended to call ahead for availability.)

IT’S HAPPENING IN ELKHART LAKE

Now that spring is here, grab your gal pals and head to Elkhart Lake for a rejuvenating getaway. The quaint, walkable village sits on the shores of picturesque Elkhart Lake and offers a little bit of everything.

If shopping is your passion, check out the boutiques. Gina’s Fine Gifts & Framing carries an intriguing variety of quality items, from Kühl clothing and studded glass decanters to natural cherry cribbage boards. Nordic Accents sells imported Scandinavian goods, while the new Intuitive Balance has ethically sourced crystals and offers guided meditation. Two Fish Gallery is known for its fine arts and crafts and fair trade pieces.

When it’s time to dine, Lake Street Café offers both wood-fired pizzas and finer fare. Enjoy either with a glass of wine selected from the café’s wine list, which is Wisconsin’s third-largest. At the neighboring Paddock Club , the menu changes with the seasons, but the pasta is always a solid choice.

Save time during your getaway for wine and beer sampling. SwitchGear Brewing Co . has more than a dozen beers on tap and offers flights and tastings. Vintage Elkhart Lake sells vino samples via a Wine-o-Matic machine, which allows you to purchase everything from a small sip to a full glass. Enjoy your selections in the shop’s lounge. The store also sells specialty foods, craft beer and spirits.

Get a glimpse into the heart of Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Leave behind checklists of places to see and things to do and discover what it means to truly ‘live in the moment’. Take time to find hidden gems, connect with locals, and appreciate the beauty in your surroundings. Dive into the history, people, food, and music and let the authentic Elkhart Experience unfold at its own pace. It’s the Elkhart

Way.

Lovely La Crosse

The La Crosse Region is brimming with adventure! No matter your niche, there is truly something for everyone. Nestled between ancient bluffs and along the Mississippi River, the area offers exciting flavors, charming history, captivating views and unparalleled outdoor recreation suitable for all ages. Hike or mountain bike over 100 miles of trails along the bluffs and waterways. Paddle the many waterways by kayak, canoe and stand up paddleboard, and explore the area with your favorite entourage. Don’t forget the fishing opportunities, either.

Experience local culture and cuisine at Moon Tunes, a legendary festival in Riverside Park that’s held Thursday evenings (May through September,

5:30-8 p.m.), next to Historic Downtown La Crosse and the Mississippi River. The event draws in both locals and visitors for live performances and savory bites. Before or after the festival, sample La Crosse’s excellent dining options, sprinkled throughout the area.

The La Crosse Region has plenty of other interesting activities to keep your crew busy, including goat yoga, swimming, Segway tours, riverboat cruises, cheese curds and tasting homemade ice cream made with fresh Wisconsin dairy. Get ready to make memories with those that matter the most between the bluffs and along the Mississippi River!

Fun With Family

Beloit is the perfect getaway close to Madison to start family traditions. Step back in time with a tour of Beckman Mill, an authentically-restored 1868 grist mill. The area’s nature centers and preserves offer plenty of activities to experience the great outdoors. Families will also love the 7th Annual Beloit Dirty Dash, Old Settlers Days, Movie on the Big Lawn and the state’s second-largest farmers’ market. Or, gather friends and family for an evening of baseball at the Beloit Sky Carp’s new downtown stadium — the team is the area’s High-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. Need a rainy-day activity? Play a game of indoor zombie dodgeball at Ironworks Golf Lab.

Plan your visit at visitbeloit.com

Summer Happenings

Beloit Sky Carp Baseball, now-September. skycarp.com Farmers’ Market , Saturdays, May-October, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. downtownbeloit.com Beckman Mill Guided Tours, Saturdays and Sundays, May-October, 1-4 p.m. beckmanmill.org

7th Annual Beloit Dirty Dash, Aug. 19. beloitrecreation.com/dirty-dash Movie on the Big Lawn, Sept. 8. friendsofriverfront.com

MMER STRONG

Warmer weather and longer days mean summer is nearly here! Here are five tips to help you get Summer Strong, ready to take on every adventure and activity you want to enjoy summer to the max!

SE T YOU R FOC US.

Start by setting a specific goal for your summer fitness journey. Kn owing your purpose and when you want to achieve it by will help you create a roadmap to succeed. Then, tracking your progress along the way with a fitness journal, InBody scans (your first one is free with a membership!) and how you feel during different activities over time will help you know if you’re on track or nee d to alter your plan to reach your goal.

START MOVING!

Take a cycling class, swim laps in our p o ol or watch your favorite show while on the treadmill! Improving the function and performance of your heart, lungs

circulatory system are the primary results are

of cardio, and different types of cardio can build specific muscles. Start small, then add a few minutes to your workout, or pepper in higher-intensity spurts or intervals each time to steadily increase your endurance.

BU I LD YO UR S TR E NG TH .

Incorporating strength training helps build lean muscle mass, bo ost metab olism, increase bone density and improve overall fitness. Add bodyweight exercises, weights or strength training classes to your routine.

FU E L YO UR BODY.

Eating a balance d diet is essential for f ueling your workouts and building lean muscle mass. Fo cus on what to add to your diet, including enough protein and whole, nutrient-dense foo ds. Start by adding foods that will best f uel and satiate you at every meal — that will naturally help you avoid highly processed or sugary foo ds that can sabotage your progress.

RE ST & RE CHARGE.

Ensure you allow time for your body to recover — it’s essential for longterm success. Create space to relax and recover, taking at least one full day off of exercise per week. Hang out with friends or get extra sleep. On workout days, try using our saunas or hot tubs post-workout. Find a rhythm of working out and recovering that feels best for you.

Remember to listen to your body, stay consistent and enjoy the process of getting stronger and healthier every day Let’s create your better tomorrow!

THINK LOCALLY, EAT GLOBALLY

A world of flavors awaits in Madison’s exciting international food hall.

BY KEVIN REVOLINSKI

PHOTOGRAPHY BY HILLARY

SCHAVE

Ramen, birria tacos, steamed dumplings, Hmong egg rolls, stir-fried noodles and bubble tea with a side of mochi donuts. This is not a fantasy menu, but a possible meal at Global Market & Food Hall on Madison’s east side.

Taiwan Street’s pho and Kawasaki’s braised pork and rice

In August 2020, restaurateur James Jiang and the owners of J&P Fresh Market paired up to open a large, diverse Asian-centric grocery store with an adjoined food court of local eateries. As CEO, Jiang guided many of the vendors, most of them immigrant entrepreneurs, through the business details.

The food hall’s eateries offer diverse Asian cuisines, but also include Arod’s Tex Mex & American Grill and Captain Frank Seafood Boiler. (As a side note, Global Market has arguably the most extensive seafood selection in town.)

Jiang also sold Chen’s Dumpling House downtown that he owned and opened Dumpling House in the food hall, keeping manager Selina Gao on board. Besides dumplings, they serve noodles, dim sum and Cantonese barbecue pork buns.

“It’s getting better compared to when we first opened; getting busier,” says Gao, acknowledging it was a challenge to open during the pandemic with mostly word-of-mouth promotion. She notes that customers like the concept — they come in friend or family groups and order from several places at once.

One of those is Hmong Kitchen. Having established a fan base with their egg rolls at Monona’s Farmers Market, cooks See Xiong and Byang Yang expanded to a full menu that includes green papaya salad, sticky rice, fried pork belly and Hmong pork sausage.

Two eateries operate in tandem: Taiwan Street serves Lu Rou Fan, the braised pork and rice comfort food of the island nation, while Kawasaki offers ramen, udon and omurice.

Co-owner Ling Chen, who has many years of restaurant ownership experience, is originally from Taipei, while her husband and head chef Shengjie Dong grew up right across the strait in Fujian, China. They serve bubble teas and their dessert shop features cakes, Swiss rolls (very popular in East Asia), egg tarts and more.

The newest vendor is Glazed, producing mochi donuts, made with glutinous rice flour and tapioca starch for a light crunch and a fluffy, chewy interior. Co-founder Kia Yang grew up in Madison, but was born in La Crosse three months after her family immigrated to the U.S. in 1995. From childhood, her parents were Hmong refugees in camps in Thailand, and her maternal grandfather, a Vietnam War veteran, had been able to sponsor them.

Taiwan Street

Hmong Kitchen

Dumpling House

“I wouldn’t [have] been able to do [this] without my family, especially my mom,” says Yang. Two more siblings assist her and her mother helps make the donuts and fresh spring rolls. “My mom’s pretty good at everything,” she says. Mama’s Food is a short side menu of her creations. Donut flavors include churro, funnel cake, Oreos and Fruity Pebbles, plus daily specials.

If you think choosing a donut is hard, the Food Hall has nine-plus options (so far). Most of the vendors are open daily for lunch and dinner, and offer carryout and delivery.

Glazed

Kevin Revolinski is a Madison-based writer specializing in travel, the outdoors and food.

FROM NEW ORLEANS TO NEW COMFORTS

After 15 years of multiple accolades for his fine-dining New Orleansstyle restaurant in Fitchburg, chef Dave Heide made quite a culinary impression in the area.

Recently, Heide decided to switch restaurant concepts, and reopened the establishment as Ollie’s after a complete remodel.

“[My son] Ollie was part of all of the design choices, and when we picked out the menu for this, it was all about, ‘What were the foods we loved eating out as a family?’”

They remodeled as much as they could as a family. Heide built a new bar and banquettes. Ollie chose colors and used a blowtorch to burn the wood crates that make up the back bar.

The casual menu offers eight smash burgers, and six different mac and cheese dishes. With bread bowls, pizzas and a fish fry, it truly feels like a family favorites list. Almost the entire menu can be made gluten-free, and vegan options total 18.

“All of it is from scratch,” says Heide, from the gyro meat to the potato buns for the burgers. He sources as much as he can from local providers, such as Farmer John’s curds and beef from family farm Dreamy 280.

Improv night is after 8 p.m. on Fridays, and Heide is behind the bar for drink requests. “You can say, ‘I want to be in the middle of an apple orchard in the fall with a campfire in the background.’ We’ll make you that drink. You get a drink and you get entertained at the same time.”

SPRING INTO SUMMER WITH THESE MUST - EXPERIENCE ARTS EVENTS

BY JESSICA STEINHOFF

LIVE MUSIC

WISCONSIN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA’S “BANFIELD & BEETHOVEN”

May 12, Overture Center

Guest soloist Michael Mizrahi shows off his chops in Beethoven’s “Piano Concerto No. 1,” after which the orchestra presents the composer’s “Pastoral” Symphony, which depicts singing birds, a dramatic thunderstorm and other scenes from a countryside ramble.

Want more WCO in your summer? Gear up for the 40th season of Concerts on the Square, which begins in June. wcoconcerts.org

THEO KATZMAN

May 14, Barrymore Theatre Katzman is one-quarter of the acclaimed funk band Vulfpeck, a producer for Carly Rae Jepsen and a master at creating songs that illuminate his instrumental talents and soulful vocals. His brand-new album, “Be the Wheel,” is the focus of this show. barrymorelive.com

SHANIA TWAIN

May 16, Kohl Center

The Canadian country-pop queen brings Madison her latest album, “Queen of Me,” which features the nostalgic seasonal single “Last Day of Summer.” uwbadgers.evenue.net

QUINN XCII

June 9, The Sylvee

This Detroit-raised artist fashions bangers out of hip-hop, reggae and electronic dance music. For a sense of his vibe, check out “Let Me Down,” a duet with Chelsea Cutler on his new album, “The People’s Champ.” thesylvee.com

MILKY CHANCE

June 26, The Sylvee

This German duo’s track “Stolen Dance” has been in heavy rotation on local radio stations for a full decade, and newer material like “Colorado” is just as likely to haunt your dreams. thesylvee.com

THEATER AND DANCE

DISNEY’S “THE LION KING”

May 12-14, 16-20 & 23-28, Overture Center

With giant puppets, vivid sets and Elton John’s unforgettable anthems, this Tony Award-winner is the perfect show for introducing kids to Broadway. overture.org

MADISON THEATRE GUILD’S “MOON OVER BUFFALO”

May 12 & 13, 18-21 & 25-27, Bartell Theatre

In this screwball comedy set in the 1950s, a pair of washed-up Broadway stars have one last shot at their Hollywood dreams when Frank Capra buys tickets to the production they’re preparing. bartelltheatre.org

FORWARD THEATER COMPANY’S “OUT IN THIS WORLD”

May 18-20, Overture Center

A dozen storytellers share original tales of discovery, redemption and more at the local theater company’s annual monologue festival. forwardtheater.com

KANOPY DANCE’S “THE NEXT GENERATION OF DANCE”

May 20, Overture Center

Witness the talents of Kanopy’s preprofessional program, Kanopy 2, which has launched a number of professional dancers, as they perform iconic works by Robert E. Cleary and Lisa Thurrell, the Kanopy’s artistic co-directors. kanopydance.org

VISUAL ART, FESTIVALS AND MORE

“FLOYD NEWSUM: EVOLUTION OF SIGHT”

Media Sponsor:

May 20-Oct. 8, Madison Museum of Contemporary Art

Layers of color and texture combine with family photos and symbols in this Memphis-born artist’s evocative work, which ranges from paintings to public art. To learn more, attend a talk by the artist on Friday, May 19, at 6 p.m. mmoca.org

WISCON

May 29-29, Madison Concourse Hotel and online

Presentations by guests of honor Rivers

Solomon and Martha Wells are the highlight of this feminist sci-fi convention, which also offers writing workshops, readings, themed celebrations and an art show. wiscon.net

JOE DOMBROWSKI

June 15-17, Comedy on State

Known as Mr. D to his fans, Dombrowski isn’t just a podcaster and YouTube sensation. He’s also a grade-school teacher, which provides all sorts of great material for his stand-up sets. madisoncomedy.com

SONGS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE AT MCPIKE PARK

McPike Park is a hotbed of artistic activity this summer, with a growing slate of performers gearing up to entertain and inspire in June. Don’t miss these standouts from The Sessions at McPike Park lineup, taking place June 16-18. The performances will raise money for Centro Hispano, the Urban League and other community organizations. sessionsatmcpike.org

AARON LEE TASJAN

June 16, 8:30 p.m.

Tasjan has serious musical skills and a Grammy Award to prove it, but he doesn’t take himself too seriously.

“He’s whimsical and wails on guitar,” says Bob Queen, the Sessions’ volunteer concert booker. “He reminds me of a rock ’n’ roll Arlo Guthrie.”

XIOMARA LAUGART

June 17, 8:30 p.m.

This Havana-born singer specializes in nueva trova, a type of Cuban music that emerged in the 1960s after the Cuban Revolution, which is infused with modern socialjustice themes.

“She’s one of Cuba’s finest vocalists and portrayed Celia Cruz in the New York City theater world,” Queen says, adding that some concert-goers may also recognize Laugart from the Afro-Latin band Yerba Buena.

THE OSHIMA BROTHERS

June 18, 8:15 p.m.

Raised by American folk musician parents, brothers Sean and Jamie Oshima were destined for the stage. The duo plays multiple instruments, with a sound described as contemporary folk, acoustic pop and Americana. With an easy-listening vibe, they’re the perfect act to listen to on a warm summer night.

Monday, June 19, 2023

RSVP by June 5, 2023 madisonsymphony.org/cog

JOIN US ON JUNETEENTH

June 19, 2023 (Juneteenth!) will be a memorable day of golf and magical evening of entertainment and celebration of freedom.

Golf Tournament (scramble format) at Bishops Bay Country Club; foursome photo with celebrity guest Mike Leckrone, Hole-in-One contests with a chance to win one of three cars, and prizes including Clubhouse gift certificates.

Reception with passed hors d’oeuvres, complimentary margaritas and cash bar.

Concert under the tent by members of the Madison Symphony Orchestra led by Associate Conductor Kyle Knox. The program in celebration of Juneteenth includes selections by African American composers Florence Price and William Grant Still, and guest performances by: Tamera and Leotha Stanley, Bolz Young Artist Competition winner, cellist Amelia Zitoun, and UW–Madison Marching Band Director Emeritus Mike Leckrone

Gourmet Plated Dinner in a tent overlooking Lake Mendota immediately following the concert.

Amelia Zitoun

A SECOND LOOK | Left: Tessa Jade Price is the main organizer behind Trans Advocacy Madison (TAM), an informal, grassroots advocacy group. TAM builds awareness of and organizes protests against the rising anti-transgender hate messaging she saw in and around Madison. Top right: Hungry? Head to Global Food Market & Food Hall for some international eats. Shown is Taiwan Street ’ s vermicelli house combination pho and Kawasaki ’ s braised pork and rice, paired with their refreshing blue Hawaiian bubble tea. Bottom: Elizabeth Medina and her mom, Deb Kusmec, started Girl Wonderful in 2014, a girl-positive brand of clothing and accessories. Medina ’ s daughter, Isa, has also gotten involved in the business, lending her opinion on products and wearing the brand ’ s T-shirts to school.