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I’m always here I’M STILL HERE!for you! 26 years in VASD Housing Market

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Kathy Bartels

Friday, January 8, 2021 • Vol. 7, No. 11 • Fitchburg, WI • ConnectFitchburg.com • $1

608-235-2927

KBartels@StarkHomes.com

Inside

Stories of 2020

City of Fitchburg

Redistricting committee planned to start in 2021

Inclusive playground designing to start at McKee Park

City cannot take future Town of Madison annexation into consideration

Page 5

KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group

ICity named 2020 climate champion

Sports

Photo by Kimberly Wethal

Playgrounds in Fitchburg, and around the state, were ordered to close on March 25 by Gov. Tony Evers’ “Safer at Home” mandate that limits public interactions.

Adapting to the pandemic Education, elections take center stage in a newly virtual world

UNG STAFF

Hockey, boys swim teams bring home gold Page 12

Schools Clardy chosen for top post

Unified Newspaper Group

sually, the Fitchburg Star is good at predicting what news will grace our front pages as it looks forward to the upcoming year. But we didn’t see the COVID-19 pandemic coming. While some of the things the Star listed in its 2020 Stories to Watch happened – construction commenced on Fish Hatchery and

McKee Roads, and two Madison Metropolitan School District referendums graced the November ballot – they were muted in comparison to the havoc COVID-19 wreaked. Others didn’t happen, or were altered because of the pandemic. Officials made government decisions virtually over Zoom, such as approving an external investigation into the city administrator’s conduct, or relocating District 1’s polling place back to the Jamestown neighborhood.

For that reason, COVID-19 is our top story of the year, because of how it seeped into every single aspect of life as we knew it. No school, business or person was unaffected, and it has been the cause of significant pain and grief throughout our community. High school students didn’t get a spring sports season or a traditional graduation, many businesses closed temporarily or permanently.

Turn to 2020/Page 8

Page 16

Business

Stories to watch 2021

Awaiting the COVID-19 end Potential recovery will define 2021

HighLine Apartments offer seniors housing options Page 19

KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group

As much as we all hoped for 2020’s mess to disappear on Jan. 1, the reality is we aren’t quite rid of it. Unfortunately, our Fitchburg Star headlines will reflect that for

at least the beginning of 2021. But with COVID-19 vaccine distribution underway, there’s a sense of renewed hope that this year we might glimpse what “normal” used to look like. But we’ll be following other stories too, ones that aren’t necessarily related to the pandemic. One we know about is more construction along Fish Hatchery Road. Another is the discussion of redrawing aldermanic lines from the

2020 federal census and city growth – with the expected addition of part of the Town of Madison in 2022 in mind. Also likely to be worth following are the unveiling of new schools in the Oregon and Verona districts, the possible creation of community centers in the northern neighborhoods of the city, attempts to reduce flooding on the southern and western borders of the city and the addition of

Turn to Redistricting/Page 5

Turn to 2021/Page 10

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Page 7

The City of Fitchburg will start the process of aldermanic redistricting in 2021. Mayor Aaron Richardson announced during the Tuesday, Dec. 8, Common Council meeting that the city would form an ad-hoc committee for redistricting to be chaired by Ald. Randy Udell (Dist. 4). It will include six residents – one from each district and two at-large, with one person being specifically from a rural area – and city staff such as the clerk and the administrator. Recruiting for the committee will start in January and go through March, Richardson said. Members will be appointed in April, and by June, they will provide options to the council before it votes on redistricting in July. The state requires that municipalities redistrict following the decennial federal census, and do so in a way that keeps districts contiguous. What district a person lives limits who can run for a position – only those who live in a specific district are allowed to represent it. Residents on the ad-hoc committee will be able to vote on the restricting proposals, while city staff members cannot, Richardson said. He added that he doesn’t want redistricting to be a political exercise, so anyone he appoints to the ad-hoc committee cannot have previously been an elected official, and anyone who serves on the committee can’t then run for Common Council within a year. Anyone who was on the redistricting committee 10 years ago also won’t be appointed, Richardson added, to ensure new voices are brought in. He said the most important aspect of the redistricting committee is ensuring there isn’t any gerrymandering of districts and that new districts don’t create voter confusion. “I don’t think that’s been a problem in the past, but I think that’s an important thing to say and more of an issue on the state and federal level than it is here,” Richardson said. “I also want to

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January 8, 2021

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Fitchburg Star

Photos of 2020 Journalists at the Star are as much photographers as they are watchdogs and writers. And although 2020 brought few chances to capture kids playing together at McKee Farms Park or families enjoying the Agora Art Fair, we’ve selected some of our favorite photos from 2020 snapped by a variety of our reporters.

Photo by Emilie Heidemann

Hop Haus rooftop bartender Courtney Preiss pours a craft brew for a customer in September.

On the Web

For more Photos of 2020 visit;

ConnectFitchburg.com

Photo by Justin Loewen

Dressed as Batgirl, Robin Meiller, 8, of Fitchburg recoils from touching the contents of a Halloween mystery box during private festivities in Fitchburg on Saturday, Oct. 31.

Photo by Emilie Heidemann

Elena Wimer, 6, and her little brother, Malcolm, 3, enjoy some autumn doughnuts at the Farmers’ Market.

Photo by Justin Loewen

“Pick Me Up at the Border!” bike ride participants gather for a group photo at Race Day Events headquarters in Fitchburg prior to the start of the event on Friday, Sept. 11.

Photo by Emilie Heidemann

The Fischers of Fitchburg pat the mulch in place for the tree they planted at Oak Meadow park in April.

Photo by Kimberly Wethal

From left, first grader Donte Phillips, kindergartener Da’Miyah Phillips, their mother Detra McNeal, fourth grader Deonte Phillips and seventh grader Amari Phillips watch and wave as cars go by during a teacher caravan through the Country View Elementary school boundaries in Verona and Fitchburg on Friday, April 24.

Photo by Kimberly Wethal

At right, deputy city clerk Jami Erickson checks in a person during early voting hours on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at the City of Fitchburg Community Center.

Photo by Emilie Heidemann

Bryce Farley, 2, Oregon, swings on a swing at the Kids Crossing playground at McKee Farms Park in June.

Photo by Justin Loewen

A tree filled with ornaments attracts the attention of Stephanie Ballweg, left, of Cross Plains and Renee Gehrke of Oregon.

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On Wednesday, May 6, Senior Center staff smiled and waved at a parade of familiar faces they had not seen in a while due to the Coronavirus quarantine. Dressed in colorful costumes, staff members handed out masks, cookies, goodie bags and puzzles from a safe distance through vehicle windows as guests drove past the center.

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January 8, 2021

DHS launches ‘WI Exposure App’ Your smartphone will now be able to assist in contact tracing for COVID-19 – and alert you when you could have potentially been exposed. The state Department of Health Services launched a COVID-19 tracking app on Wednesday, Dec. 23, that will alert you if someone you were near tests positive for COVID-19. The app, which requires people to self-report their positive cases but does not share personal information with others, uses Bluetooth Technology to exchange anonymous signals with nearby phones that are in the same vicinity for at least 15 minute, a news release from the department states. If someone has the app and reports they’ve tested positive, a notification will go to your phone that you could have been exposed. For the app to work properly, people must download or activate the app prior to testing positive so Bluetooth function on phones can interact with one another during a potential exposure. The voluntary app is meant as a compliment to the state’s and county’s efforts to contact trace. In the news release, Gov. Tony Evers said the exposure app was another tool in the state’s toolbox to help mitigate the

How to activate the WI Exposure App • For iOS (Apple) devices: Go to your Settings app and search for “Exposure Notifications.” From there, you can turn them on and then select your country and state. If you test positive for COVID-19, go to the app and report it. • For Android devices: In the Google Play store, search for “WI Exposure Notification” and download the app. spread of COVID-19. “The more people who use it, the more effective it will be,” he said in the release. “Now that we have a vaccine, there’s light at the end of the tunnel, folks, but we’re not in the clear just yet—we still need everyone to do their part to help fight this virus.” — Kimberly Wethal

Screenshot

A screenshot of an iPhone where the Exposure Notifications for COVID-19 have been turned on. The state Department of Health Services launched the technology on Wednesday, Dec. 23, which allows for anonymous Bluetooth signals to be traded between smartphone devices and can inform someone if they’ve been in the proximity of someone who tested positive for COVID-19.

Bozeman becomes account executive Unified Newspaper Group congratulates Bryann Bozeman on becoming its account executive for the Verona and Fitchburg areas, as well as western Madison. Bozeman, who joined UNG as a customer relationship coordinator in August, succeeds Donna Larson, who has handled that territory for a decade. Larson is retiring Dec. 31 to spend more time with her husband at their lake house, golf, and finish her son’s baby

books. Molly Gullickson joined UNG earlier in the month to train into the customer relationship coordinator role. Bozeman, Gullickson and Stoughton/Oregon account executive Catherine Stang will work as a team to handle customer needs and discover opportunities to help businesses reach our readers both in the newspaper and through our websites, as well as marketing

Hello,

themselves through our digital partnerships. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Bozeman’s opportunity to meet our many Verona and Fitchburg business owners has been limited. But she looks forward to participating in chamber and community events in both communities. Bozeman, a Sun Prairie resident and Poynette native, formerly worked for nearly 15 years at

goodbye!

Sleep Number, where she was a store manager. She enjoys spending as much time as possible with her two daughters (Daylin, 7, and Ellie, 5) and their two cats, Ringo and Rosie. When she happens to find a little extra time she can be found doing something creative, such as making jewelry, drawing or singing, or just being outside. She can be reached at veronasales@wcinet.com.

Fitchburg Star

COVID-19 snapshot from Dec. 7 through Jan. 4 A quarter of the confirmed COVID-19 cases in Fitchburg have come in the last month. On Jan. 4, state Department of Health Services data showed there were 2,081 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Fitchburg. (The majority of those are likely recovered cases.) That’s up from 1,535 confirmed cases as of Monday, Dec. 7 — meaning that 26% of all cases were diagnosed in that time. Starting Wednesday, Dec. 2, the state Department of Health Services started releasing COVID-19 data for cities, villages and townships, as well as school districts and ZIP codes. The state Department of Health Services receives data from county health departments and hospitals that are uploaded into its electronic disease surveillance system by 9 a.m. the day of the report. At 2 p.m., the department releases new information on its website. Cumulative cases are a representation of all cases reported since March 15. The data dashboard can be located at dhs. wisconsin.gov/covid-19/data.htm.— Kimberly Wethal

Fitchburg COVID-19 numbers City of Fitchburg • Average no. of new daily cases within last seven days: 30.57 • Cumulative cases: 2,081 • Change over Monday, Dec. 7: 546 • Percentage positive since March 15: 7.24% • Increase of percentage positive since Monday, Dec. 7: 1.9%

We’d like to introduce

Bryann Bozeman

as the new Fitchburg Star’s Advertising Account Executive.

Donna Larson has served Verona and Fitchburg

businesses for more than a decade, providing advice and solutions for our community businesses to get the word out about their services.

Contact Bryann at fitchburgsales@wcinet.com or 845-9559

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As Donna planned her retirement as our Verona/ Fitchburg Advertising Account Executive, Bryann trained for several months to take that role. She has an extensive background in sales and has been looking forward to meeting our customers.

January 8, 2021

Opinion

Fitchburg Star

ConnectFitchburg.com

Boost your mood with better food

he holiday lights are down, the gifts are unwrapped and put away and our Christmas tree is on the curb waiting to be taken away. After the excitement of the holiday season, I always find myself feeling a little blue when everything returns back to normal – whatever that is this year. In Wisconsin, we’re used to long, cold winters, but this year, especially, I’m noticing a sense of cabin fever and isolation more than ever. My mood just doesn’t seem to match what it was during the holiday season. The short days can make it easy to want to find comfort in foods like chips, ice cream or rich and savory foods when we’re cooped up inside. And, yes, while these foods may help distract us in the short term, over time, they can leave us feeling lethargic and dissatisfied. We have much better options that can actually improve our mood. Don’t get me wrong, I love the comfort of hot chocolate or a warm cup of creamy soup

after being outside in the cold, but some foods have been shown to do a better job at boosting our moods than others. Hoerr With plenty more winter ahead of us, I think we could all benefit from more mood-enhancing foods as we enter the New Year. These include probiotics and foods containing fiber, omega-3 fats or B vitamins – along with good habits like eating, sleeping and exercising on a regular schedule. Probiotics include yogurt, fresh sauerkraut, kimchi or kefir and help us build a healthier gut microbiome. If our gut is happy, we’re more likely to be happy, too. Our microbiome plays a significant role in our mood and mental health. Our gut and brain are in close communication with one another – so close that our gut is sometimes known as our “second brain.” Since most of the neurotransmitters that regulate our mood,

See something wrong? The Fitchburg Star does not sweep errors under the rug. If you see something you know or even think is in error, please contact editor Jim Ferolie at 845-9559 or at fitchburgstar@wcinet.com so we can get it right.

Friday, Month, Year • Vol. 7, No. 11

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Reach us by email General Manager Jim Ferolie jim.ferolie@wcinet.com Display Advertising Bryann Bozeman fitchburgsales@wcinet.com Subscriptions and circulation ungcirculation@wcinet.com News Kimberly Wethal newseditor@wcinet.com Sports Mark Nesbitt ungsportseditor@wcinet.com Business news Emilie Heidemann ungbusiness@wcinet.com Community news Emilie Heidemann communityreporter@wcinet.com Reporters Mackenzie Krumme, Neal Patten, Scott De Laruelle

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also affect our mood. Make it a priority to get enough food consistently throughout the day to keep your blood sugars stable, which will help prevent irritability. Choose whole grains, such as oatmeal or whole grain bread, salads, create a tuna melt or to start your morning. The high add it into casseroles. For those amounts of fiber in these foods who aren’t fish-lovers, use flax- slows down the release of sugar seed, chia seeds or walnuts to into your bloodstream, keeping contribute to your omega-3 fat your blood sugar levels mainneeds. Sprinkle these onto saltained at a happy and stable ads or oatmeal or include them level. in smoothies or baked goods for Of course, food is a small a nutritional boost. piece of the big puzzle. Don’t B vitamins aren’t in the spot- forget to get plenty of sleep, light as often as other nutrients finding healthy ways to reduce we hear about, but they play your stress, staying active and a key role in regulating our seeking help when needed as mood. Collectively, these vitawe put on more layers and mins can help increase levels anticipate what 2021 holds for of hormones like serotonin and us. dopamine. Kara Hoerr, MS, RDN, CD, is a Whole grains, beans, lentils registered dietitian nutritionist and leafy greens are all ways to and owner of Kara Hoerr Nutriincrease your vitamin B intake. tion. Visit karahoerrnutrition. Thankfully, these sources are com, email kara@karahoerrexcellent added into comfortnutrition.com or call 620-4461. ing, warm soups. This information is not intended Nobody likes someone who as medical advice. Please conis hangry, which shows firstsult a medical professional for hand how the lack of food can individual advice.

Nobody likes someone who is hangry, which shows first-hand how the lack of food can also affect our mood. Make it a priority to get enough food consistently throughout the day to keep your blood sugars stable, which will help prevent irritability. like dopamine or serotonin, are produced by the microbes in our gut, it makes sense that feeding our gut with the right foods can improve our mood. If probiotics aren’t your thing, including more fiber from whole grains, fruit and vegetables will help your good bacteria in your gut thrive. Omega-3 fats, which are found primarily in fatty fish like salmon, tuna and sardines, are crucial for our brain’s development and normal functioning. Omega-3 fats are essential for us since we can’t produce these fats on our own. They’ve been shown to help lower levels of depression, and without them, our mental health might start to suffer. If fish isn’t on your weekly menu right now, try adding canned tuna or salmon to

Protecting our watersheds is in everyone’s interest Fitchburg has four watersheds that are the headwaters to seven different creeks. The water flowing in these creeks comes from the rain that falls on our houses and yards, our city streets and parks, our farmlands and underground springs. As each of these creeks flows through its respective watershed, they are subject to threats from pollution that degrade the water quality. For example, algae blooms from fertilizer runoff draining into Swan Creek harm nearby Lake Waubesa. These algae blooms, along with bacteria, can create toxic conditions for both humans and wildlife and can ruin swimming and boating opportunities. As an environmental scientist, I know the importance of protecting the creeks and streams that flow through our community. Unhealthy watersheds affect both humans and wildlife. Our watersheds help replenish our drinking water supplies, provide water for agriculture, offer opportunities for recreation (kayaking and fishing) and provide valuable habitat and corridors for numerous diverse wildlife and plant species. The aquatic life that lives in our lakes and streams quickly suffers from the effects of watershed pollution. Biodiversity of animal life is harmed by habitats that are altered as a result of pollutants in our waterways. Habitats that were once a thriving mixture of plants might now be replaced by non-native plant species that can tolerate higher levels of pollution. This shift, in turn, can affect the food chain, from the seeds that feed birds and animals to the fish that feed humans. Protecting our lakes, creeks and watersheds starts with having an informed and engaged public that is willing to speak up and make changes.

picking up after your dog and disposing of pet waste in the trash. On agricultural lands, farmers should keep livestock out of creeks and streams, manage barnyard stormwater and retain crop residues to minimize soil erosion. Creating vegetative buffer strips between farmed land We need our elected officials to and the stream will help to minimize make good decisions when addressing actions that might affect the envi- nutrient runoff. You can also get involved in comronment, such as new developments. When a new development is planned, munity activities to remove waste from waterways and volunteer to we need to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to protect the sur- assist in water quality monitoring. Fitchburg hosts a waterway cleanup rounding environment. every spring, and the Rock River One example of this is the new and large Terravessa development on Coalition and the Clean Water Alliance are always looking for volunthe east side of Fitchburg. Its develteers to collect water quality data. opers have taken steps to minimize Talk to your neighbors about how stormwater runoff to Swan Creek by they can help, too, as well as your building bioswales, rain gardens and local elected officials. wetlands. You can ask alders and city staff To monitor pollutant loading whether appropriate environmento Swan Creek, the city recently tal measures are being planned and approved partnership funding for the implemented for new developments, installation of U.S. Geological Surand you can provide input at the vey stream gauging station on Swan City’s Common Council and commitCreek. This information will tell local tee or commission meetings in favor scientists and engineers how effective of local, state, and national policies they’ve been in reducing pollutant that conserve water and reduce polloadings to our waterbodies. lution. Consider speaking at the Plan If water quality is maintained or Commission and Resource Conserimproving, our community will convation Commission meetings, among tinue its best management practices others. for storm water management. HowWe owe it to our ourselves, and ever, declining water quality would future generations, to take the right drive action toward improving best steps to better protect our delicate management practices with stormwa- watersheds. To sustain healthy ter management. streams and lakes, we need you to We must do more than rely on the get involved, as you can make a difcity staff to ensure our waterways are ference in protecting our watersheds protected. We as individuals need to and take pride in knowing that you take action to reduce pollutant loads helped. from our farm fields and residential Ron French is president of Great areas. Lakes Ecological Monitoring LLC, Some of these actions can be as a veteran-owned small business in simple as keeping our leaves out of Fitchburg, and a member of Fitchthe streets (so they don’t get into burg’s Resource Conservation Comstorm drains), creating rain garmission. He lives in Fitchburg with dens and installing rain barrels to his wife Anne, and their 4 year old dog, Sasha. help reduce flooding and pollution,

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January 8, 2021

Spring election

Primary will be held for District 3 in February Three alder seats contested; school board will see turnover KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group

City of Fitchburg residents will have a contested election come April in three of four aldermanic districts – and one will have a primary in February. At least two new people are guaranteed to join the Common Council in April, as both Alds. Sarah Shroeder (Dist. 3) and Tom Clauder (Dist. 4) filed for non-candidacy last month. Clauder, who has been in city government for over a decade as an alder and is a former mayor, told the Star in early December that he was planning to not run because he wanted to give someone else a voice in government. Schroeder filed for non-candidacy in late December, but she did not return calls from the Star earlier in the month about her plans for whether she was running again. There could be as many as four new alders on the council after the April 6 election. In District 3, three newcomers will compete for the seat Schroeder is vacating, which has triggered a primary election Tuesday, Feb. 16. Those candidates are Shawnicia Youmas, Nicholas DiMiceli and Jay Allen. Youmas, a Black woman, lives in the Leopold neighborhood, where nearly three-quarters of her neighbors are people of color based on the 2010 federal census. Youmas would bring her experiences of living in the neighborhood to the council, Ald. Dorothy Krause, who is also up for re-election, wrote in an email to the Star. DiMiceli, a cybersecurity infrastructure engineer, came to the Common Council in late August to ask for alder support to oppose Public Health Madison and Dane County’s prohibition on grades 3-12 being taught in-person, an order which was later enjoined. Allen, a former mayor from 2009-11, also ran unsuccessful campaigns for mayor in 2013 and 2015 and lost to Aaron Richardson for the District 3 seat in 2017. Allen was for many years a key figure in the Fitchburg Days festival and took on the event with a new committee for three years after several members of the nonprofit that ran the festival resigned in 2015. In Districts 1 and 2, two incumbents will compete to keep their seats on the Council. Dave Herbst, an electrical utility field and design engineer, is challenging Krause in District 1. Herbst ran for the

other District 1 seat in the 2020 spring election against Ald. Joe Maldonado. Krause, who is self-employed and is also on the Dane County Board of Supervisors, has held the seat for almost a decade. In District 2, Steven Heller, a project manager at Epic, will challenge Ald. Julia Arata-Fratta. Arata-Fratta, a tax accountant and business consultant, is running for her fourth consecutive term. In District 4, a retired police officer will succeed a retired police officer. Jim Wheeler, a retired City of Madison police captain and an active volunteer for the United Way of Dane County who has publicly advocated for eliminating homelessness, is the only candidate on the ballot for the spot being vacated by Clauder, a former Fitchburg police officer. In addition to all three of the city’s school boards, there will also be a contest for the county executive, the state superintendent of schools and a slate of Dane County circuit court judges, all of whom are incumbents running unopposed.

Verona Area School District

For the Verona Area school board, six people are running for three at-large seats. Two of those include incumbents Carolyn Jahnke and Kalyanna Williams. Jahnke, who was previously Verona Area International School governance council president, has been on the board since 2018. Williams was appointed mid-last year to fill a vacancy created by former board member Debbie Biddle, who left the board in July. Four other people are on the ballot: Jennifer Murphy, Nicole Vafadari, John Porco and Leotha Stanley. Murphy, Porco and Stanley were part of the 10-candidate slate that applied to fill Biddle’s seat last year. Murphy is a math teacher at Savanna Oaks Middle School and is a faculty associate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison secondary education math masters program. Porco is a UW-Madison instructor and a former K-12 engagement coordinator for Literacy by the Lakes who is president of the New Century School governance board. Stanley is the employment specialist and fatherhood program coordinator at Urban League of Greater Madison and previously served as the attendance coordinator at Verona Area High School. Vafadari, who is the director of application systems implementation at Healthgrades, is the only person currently running that has not run for or applied to a seat before. All seats on the school board are for three-year terms. The three highest vote-getters for the at-large seats will win a place on the school board in April.

Board member Meredith Stier Christensen is also running for her Outside Cities seat without a challenger.

Oregon School District

In the Oregon School District, both school board races have two candidates. In Area I, which encompasses the Village of Oregon, Josh King and Mary Lokuta will vie to succeed longtime board member and president Steve Zach. In Area III, which comprises the towns of Brooklyn, Montrose, Oregon, Rutland and Union, and the Village of Brooklyn, incumbent Tim Pankratz faces challenger Aaron Heisler.

Madison Metropolitan School District

There are two candidates running for two seats for the Madison Metropolitan Board of Education. Incumbent Savion Castro is running for his second term, after being appointed to the board in 2019 and winning a special election for his seat in 2020. For the second year in a row, Castro is running unopposed – a stark contrast to the 40 people who initially applied for his seat with him two years ago. Another seat, being vacated by board president Gloria Reyes, is being sought by Maia Pearson. Pearson ran for the school board last year, but lost to board member Christina Gomez Schmidt.

Dane County

County executive Joe Parisi will run again for his third full term with a challenger for the first time since defeating five other candidates in 2011. On Tuesday, Jan. 5, Mary Ann Nicholson, who lives in the Town of Springdale just outside of Verona, turned in her nomination papers to run against Parisi as an Independent. According to her website, Nicholson is a proponent of open schools and restarting youth sports that have been limited by county COVID-19 regulations. Her website says she also opposes the county buying properties that are then removed from the tax base and costing more in property taxes to maintain roads. Parisi has centralized his re-election campaign around continuing to guide the county through the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects. “Covid-19 has tested us, tearing at the very fabric of our physical, emotional and economic well-being,” he wrote in a news release announcing his re-election bid. “The challenges before us from this pandemic are like none we have faced in our lifetime.” Email reporter Kimberly Wethal at kimberly.wethal@wcinet.com and follow her on Twitter @kimberly_wethal.

Fitchburg Star

Redistricting: Dissolution of Town of Madison won’t be taken into account Continued from page 1 make sure we keep neighborhoods intact – I don’t want to have lines split down the middle and be confusing for people.” The city will not be able to take into consideration the 1,500 people who will

City in brief

become Fitchburg residents in October 2022, when the Town of Madison dissolves, during redistricting decisions in 2021. Email reporter Kimberly Wethal at kimberly. wethal@wcinet.com and follow her on Twitter @ kimberly_wethal.

working with the property

Assessing department owner and the United States Postal Service to keep the offers Zoom, phone site a postal contract station. appointments The city’s assessing Fish Hatch department will be conduct- Stop-and-Go closes ing property assessments in a different way next year because of COVID-19. Mike Zimmerman, filling in for the role of city administrator at the Common Council’s Tuesday, Dec. 8, meeting, said that the assessing department will offer Zoom or phone appointments to conduct re-evaluations of properties. Another option would include having an appraiser visit the exterior of a property, and then following up over a phone call to discuss any changes made to the interior. The department will also accept photos with date stamps of recent changes within a home or a building through email. The assessing department can be reached through email at assessing@fitchburgwi.gov.

Cahill Main postal contract station still open

The Stop-N-Go on Fish Hatchery Road has closed, Zimmerman announced at the Tuesday, Dec. 8, Common Council meeting. The gas station closed as a result of a Kwik Trip company buyout, announced in late July. The company already has two locations on Fish Hatchery Road, north of the Beltline in the City of Madison – one was originally built as a Kwik Trip, while the other is a former PDQ bought out by the company. Zimmerman said that the city is working with the owner to discuss the future of the property. The Stop-N-Go property, along with others nearby, have been marked in the North Fish Hatchery Road development plan as “Level 1 Redevelopment,” where other portions of the building are either vacant or for sale.

Hwy. MM stoplight Fitchburg’s only post cost-sharing approved

office location will operate until at least March 11. Zimmerman said that while the former Sue’s Hallmark, 3000 Cahill Main, Suite 116, is no longer affiliated with the Hallmark company — it’s since become Sue’s Gift Shop — the postal contract station is still active. He added that the city will be

The Council approved a cost-sharing agreement with Dane County for the installment of traffic lights and other intersection improvements at Hwy. MM and Lacy Road. Under the agreement, the county’s portion of the $571,000 project can’t exceed more than half of the projected cost.

City of Fitchburg

Inclusive playground designing to start at McKee Farms Park Elver parks, with plans to add more around the city. The effort to bring an inclusive playground to McKee Farms Park started in early 2018 when the council approved the project. Those plans included a 4,000-square foot playground area with adaptive high-backed swings, a roller slide and a wheelchair-accessible glider. Arata-Fratta requested the city release the funds despite the fundraising goal not yet

KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group

The city could soon have its first inclusive playground at McKee Farms Park. The City of Fitchburg Common Council unanimously agreed to release $130,000 in funds at its Tuesday, Dec. 8, meeting so the design phase for an inclusive playground at McKee Farms Park can start. Inclusive playgrounds allow children and family members with physical limitations such as being in a wheelchair or having sight impairments to play together. Often, these include ramps and Braille markings, and quiet areas for children on

Photo courtesy of City of Fitchburg

An example of an inclusive parks in another city that was included with the proposal for the City of Fitchburg. the autism spectrum. The city is contributing $130,000 to the park with fees residential developers pay when they don’t create a dedicated park space within the plot design. That’s half of

the expected cost of the playground, and private donations were expected to cover the rest. Ald. Julia Arata-Fratta (Dist. 2) said that donors have contributed $70,000 to the project so far.

The inclusive playground — to be located just to the west of the splash pad at McKee Farms Park — would be Fitchburg’s first, and the third in the Dane County area. The City of Madison has two at Brittingham and

being met, because she hoped a completed playground design would allow donors and investors to feel more comfortable funding the project, because they knew it was moving forward. “If you can allow us to release the funds and so we can design it and try to build it so that when COVID-19 is done and all of the kids are coming back to the park, we have this beautiful park in our park system,” Arata-Fratta said.

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Council authorizes release of funds to start project

January 8, 2021

ConnectFitchburg.com

Fitchburg Star

Fitchburg Public Library

What to read in January {p dir=”ltr”}Bored during the COVID-19 pandemic? Why not become a bookworm? {p dir=”ltr”}The Fitchburg Public Library has put together a list of reading recommendations for the month of January. {p dir=”ltr”}Library adult and technical services manager Tegan Karow assembled this list.

‘Cuyahoga’ by Pete Beatty

Big Son is a spirit of the times — being 1837. Behind his broad shoulders, shiny hair, and church-organ laugh, Big Son practically made Ohio City all by himself. The feats of this proto-superhero have earned him wonder and whiskey toasts but very little in the way of fortune. And without money, Big cannot become an honest husband to his beloved Cloe (who may or may not want to be his wife, honestly). In pursuit of a steady wage, our hero hits the (dirt) streets of Ohio City and Cleveland, the twin towns racing to become the first great metropolis of the West. Their rivalry reaches a boil over the building of a bridge across the Cuyahoga River and Big stumbles right into the kettle. The resulting misadventures involve elderly terrorists, infrastructure collapse, steamboat races, wild pigs, and multiple ruined weddings.

enraged by a series of front-page newspaper stories extolling Jasper’s exploits, decides he’s had enough of the embarrassment and uses his political connections to keep his son out of the headlines--and off the police Force. Jasper is sent packing to New York City on a year-long assignment to train detectives, and discovers a police department hovering on the brink of armed conflict. Assigned to investigate the murder of philanthropist and reformer Stephen Finch, Jasper joins forces with a man who might be even more of an outsider than he is: Hieronymus Law, a detective who had investigated two almost identical killings--and who is rumored to have taken money to help frame an innocent woman for murder. Law is bent on restoring his good name.

‘Germania’ by Harald Gilbers

Berlin 1944: a serial killer stalks the bombed-out capital of the Reich, preying on women and laying their mutilated bodies in front of war memorials. All of the victims are linked to the Nazi party. But according to one eyewitness account, the perpetrator is not an opponent of Hitler’s regime, but rather a loyal Nazi. Jewish detective Richard Oppenheimer, once a successful investigator for the Berlin police, is reactivated by the Gestapo and forced onto the case. ‘Dark August’ by Katie Tallo Oppenheimer is not just concerned An electrifying, page-turning debut with catching the killer and helping about a young woman haunted by her others survive, but also his own surtragic past, who returns to her home- vival. town and discovers that there might be more to her police detective moth- ‘D (A Tale of Two Worlds)’ er’s death. by Michel Faber It all starts in the morning the let‘The Lies You Told’ ter D disappears from language. First, by Harriet Tyee it vanishes from Dhikilo’s parents’ When Sadie Roper moves back to conversation at breakfast, then from London, she’s determined to pick the road signs outside and from her up the pieces of her shattered life. school dinners. Soon the local denFirst, she needs to get her daugh- tist and the neighbor’s dalmatian are ter settled into a new school-one of missing, and even the Donkey Derthe most exclusive in the city. Next, by has been called off. Though she she’s going to get back the high-flying doesn’t know why, Dhikilo is sumcriminal barrister career she sacrificed moned to the home of her old histofor marriage ten years earlier. ry teacher Professor Dodderfield and But nothing goes quite as planned. his faithful Labrador, Nelly Robinson. The school is not very welcom- And this is where our story begins. ing newcomers, her daughter hasn’t Set between England and the wintry made any friends yet and the other land of Liminus, a world enslaved by mothers are as fiercely competitive the monstrous Gamp and populated as their children. Sadie immediate- by fearsome, enchanting creatures, D ly finds herself on the outside as she (A Tale of Two Worlds) is told with navigates the fraught politics of the simple beauty and warmth. school gate. But the tide starts to turn as Sadie begins to work on a scan- ‘Northern Wrath’ dalous, high-profile case that is the by Thilde Kold Holdt perfect opportunity to prove herself A dead man, walking between the again, even though a dangerous flirta- worlds, foresees the end of the gods. tion threatens to cloud her profession- A survivor searching for a weapon al judgement. releases a demon from fiery Muspelheim. A village is slaughtered by ‘Back to September’ Christians, and revenge must be takby Melissa Brayden en. The bonds between the gods and Hannah Shephard likes her life, her Midgard are weakening. It is up to job, and her perfectly cozy apartment Hilda, Ragnar, their tribesmen Einaround the corner from her shop. er and Finn, the chief’s wife Siv and She’s never been one to take big risks Tyra, her adopted daughter, to fight to and would much rather stay in on save the old ways from dying out, and a Friday night with a warm cup of to save their gods in the process. decaf and her favorite mystery novel, so why do her friends insist she ‘The Rush’s Edge’ needs more? Plus, Hannah has bigger by Ginger Smith Halvor Cullen, a genetically-enproblems to focus on. She’s in trouble. Well, her bookstore is, and if she gineered and technology implanted doesn’t find a way to bring in some ex-soldier, doesn’t see himself as a more cash, she’ll be closing the doors hero. After getting out of the service, of a likely story for good. When world all he is interested in is chasing the famous romance novelist Parker Bris- adrenaline rush his body was designed tow accepts her request to come in for to crave. Hal knows he won’t live a signing, Hannah might finally be long anyway; vat soldiers like him are able to drum up some much-needed designed to die early or will be burnt out from relentlessly seeking the rush. attention and save the shop. His best friend and former CO, Tyce, ‘Absence of Mercy’ is determined not to let that happen by S.M. Goodwin and distracts him by working salvagJasper Lightner is a decorat - ing crashed ships in the Edge. Then ed Crimean War hero and the most Hal’s ship gets a new crewmember, admired inspector in London’s Met- a hacker-turned-tecker named Vivi. ropolitan Police. Along with a chest As they become friends, Hal wonders full of medals, he’s got a head injury if he has got a chance with a natuthat’s left large chunks of his memory ral-born like her. Then on a job, the missing. But Jasper’s biggest problem crew finds a sphere that downloads an is his father, the Duke of Kersey, who, alien presence into their ship.

Upcoming events in Fitchburg

Fitchburg Family Pharmacy COVID-19 testing

Fitchburg Family Pharmacy offers free COVID-19 testing services from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The pharmacy, 3050 Cahill Main, is partnering with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to disseminate a vaccine when it becomes available as well. For more information, call 274-3784.

Digital book displays

If you miss browsing the Fitchburg Public Library’s book display, there’s a virtual solution. The library is featuring digital book displays on its Facebook page. To check out a book, click its image and place a hold in LINKcat. Once you receive a notice that your hold is available, call 729-1790 to pick it up. For general information, email library.reference@fitchburg.wi.gov.

‘Teen Takeaway’ bags

The Fitchburg Public Library is now offering monthly “Teen Takeaway” bags for ages 13-17. Each monthly bag highlights a specific genre and contains a library book, a book to keep, activities and other prizes. January’s genre is survival. People can arrange pickups through the library’s curbside service. Call 729-1790 during curbside hours to schedule a pickup. Quantities are limited. Fo r i n f o r m a t i o n , e m a i l library_teen@fitchburgwi.gov.

‘Read Woke’ program

The Fitchburg Public Library’s adult winter reading program is taking place until Feb. 28. The program, “Read Woke,” challenges participants to read books from diverse authors in order to complete “badges” and win prizes. For example, if a reader completes five activity badges, they can win a $5 gift card to Oasis Cafe. Registration is required through Beanstack for individuals and groups.

For information, visit fitch- ‘Finding Chika’ burgwi.beanstack.com/readA t 1 0  a . m . We d n e s d a y, er365. Jan. 20, the Fitchburg Public Library is hosting its morning ‘Let’s Talk Hearing’ The Fitchburg Senior Center book club. Participants will discuss is hosting a “Let’s Talk Hearing: Advice To Make Your “Finding Chika” by Mitch Ears Smile” event at 10 a.m. Albom. Fo r i n f o r m a t i o n , e m a i l Thursday, Jan. 14. library.reference@fitchburgThis class will teach participants how to get the hearing wi.gov. care and technology designed ‘This Is How it Always Is’ to work for them. At 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, F o r i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t the Fitchburg Public Library fscprograms.com. is hosting its virtual evening club. Learn how to be grateful book Participants are set to disPeople can join in on a vir- cuss “This is How it Always tual program about being Is” by Laurie Frankel. grateful at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Copies are available to Jan. 13, over Zoom through check out through the library’s the Fitchburg Senior Center. curbside service. Call (608) Be ready to start your own 729-1790 during curbside grateful jar. Staff will send hours to schedule a pickup. a Zoom link prior to the proFo r i n f o r m a t i o n , e m a i l gram. rebecca.swanson@fitchburgFor information, email suz- wi.gov. ie.jones@fitchburgwi.gov.

‘The Splendid and the Vile’

The Fitchburg Senior Center REACH book club is meeting at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 14, over Zoom. The club will discuss “The Splendid and the Vile” by Erik Larson. For information, call (608) 270-4290.

Christmas tree, light collection

The City of Fitchburg is collecting Christmas trees for recycling starting at 6:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 18. The city is also taking Christmas tree lights that no longer work for the same purpose at 5520 Lacy Road in a special cart. The public should place the trees at the curb with the trunk facing the street. All decorating material must be removed. P e o p l e c a n a l s o r e cy c l e wreaths, also removing all decorations and delivering to a drop off site at 2373 S. Fish Hatchery Road. For the lights, residents should remove any bulbs larger than a marble-size and recycle those separately. For information, visit fitchburgwi.gov.

Mystery book club

The Fitchburg Senior Center “I Love a Mystery Book Club” will meet at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28, over Zoom. The club is discussing “Mother-in-law” by Sally Hepworth. For information, suzie. jones@fitchburgwi.gov.

Virtual travel show

The Fitchburg Senior Center is planning a virtual travel show at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16. The February senior center newsletter will offer more details about the event, but it is for those who miss traveling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fo r i n f o r m a t i o n i n t h e meantime, call (608) 2742768.

COVID-19 vaccine seminar

At 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, the Fitchburg Senior Center is offering a virtual seminar about COVID-19 vaccines. The presentation will be all about what’s in the vaccine as well as how it’s being distributed throughout the community. For information, visit fscprograms.com.

Residents participate in holiday light tour activity on the night of Saturday, Dec. 19, as numerous vehicles set out on the city’s holiday light tour to view dozens of decorated resiFitchburg’s streets were buzzing with dences and businesses.

JUSTIN LOEWEN Star correspondent

Photo by Justin Loewen

Lynn Sullivan of Madison uses her phone to show off the decorated houses of Hollyhock Street to a family member from Arizona during Fitchburg’s holiday light tour on Saturday, Dec. 19.

ConnectFitchburg.com

January 8, 2021

Fitchburg Star

Dane County

City named 2020 county climate champion SARA SCHOENBORN Star correspondent

The Dane County Office of Energy and Climate Change has selected the City of Fitchburg as a recipient of its first climate champion award. City sustainability specialist Phil Grupe, whose role is focused on the city’s energy use and energy commitments, said there’s a lot the city has done as a municipality to reduce its consumption and strive for energy independence. Receiving this recognition from the county is a validation of those efforts, Grupe said. “Fitchburg both as a municipality and also as a broader community have really made it clear that responding to climate change and more broadly, being responsible environmental stewards, is important to us,” he said. “We try hard to recognize the goals of the community and to respond accordingly.” Grupe said an aspect of the county’s climate action plan, adopted in April 2020, includes recognizing municipalities, cities and towns within the county which have made significant progress on their own climate commitments that fall within Dane

County’s larger climate goals. In the last decade, the city has taken steps to be more energy conscious. In 2010, the city joined the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection agreement and committed to 25% renewable energy usage by 2025. Since then, city hall, the library and the public works building have been retrofitted with solar panels and two fire stations were built with the intention of installing solar panels on the roof. In 2019, the city took its energy goals a step further as the Common Council voted to commit the city to using 100% renewable energy by 2030. This year, the city signed an agreement with Madison Gas and Electric to receive 500 kilowatts of energy from the O’Brien solar farm at the corners of Lacy Road and Seminole Highway. The energy that will be generated at the solar farm is enough for 20% of the city’s energy needs, bringing its energy needs being met to 33%. Grupe and city environmental engineer Claudia Guy applied for recognition in two different categories of energy savings and water use. The water use application detailed the city’s water use reduction and

File by Kimberly Wethal

The solar panels on top of the CIty of Fitchburg’s Fire Station No. 2 on Marketplace Drive. The City of Fitchburg has been named a county climate champion in 2020, and three of its buildings have received individual accolades. water quality improvements over the years, including water monitoring, improving water filtration and pollution runoff reduction. “Municipal operations are trying to reduce the impact of winter salt use on sidewalks and roads as well as engaging and educating the

residential and business community to do the same,” Grupe said. The city’s energy savings application focused specifically on three of its buildings that Grupe said have strong performances in reducing energy usage: the fire stations on Marketplace Drive and Syene Road,

and the public library. “All three of them have rooftop solar panels and make use of varying amounts of geothermal for heating and cooling,” Grupe said. “They have put a lot of effort into minimizing their energy impact.” In addition to being named a Climate Champion, the recognition includes five levels: Emerging, and 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-Star. The county gave Fire Station No. 3 on Syene Road an Emerging designation, and awarded both Fire Station No. 2 on Marketplace Drive and the public library a 1-Star rating. The county awarded the city a 3-star rating for water use. The county based its designations on the intensity of energy use in comparison to a building’s square footage, and water use designations on the number of savings actions taken by a municipality, Grupe explained. Grupe said the city will remain focused on keeping water quality high, reducing runoff, reducing energy use and utilizing more renewable energy as new construction continues. “Fitchburg has shown they are committed to these kinds of efforts,” he said. “We’re trying to make sure the work we do reflects that.”

Friends of Military Council postpones decision on new District 1 polling place for the November election, or choose a location for years prior to the city sellRidge State Trail receives KIMBERLY WETHAL different location. ing it to a private owner in 2017. The The proposal had to be withdrawn county bought it back around a year Dane County’s new Emergency Oper- during the meeting because the county ago, prompting the city to relocate the 2020 HERO Award ations Center building in the Jamestown had informed the city that while it was District 1 polling location outside of the Unified Newspaper Group

Star correspondent

The state Department of Natural Resources has awarded the Friends of Military Ridge State Trail a 2020 HERO Award. Friends president Jerry Wilson said that while he doesn’t know who nominated the group for the Friends of the Wisconsin State Parks award, he’s grateful and honored that it was selected. The awards were announced on Oct. 23. According to the state department’s website, it gives out the award to nonprofit organizations like the Friends that helps the state maintain its trails and natural areas by keeping them in good shape and user-friendly. “This group continually puts in hard work year after year to make the trail a great place to recreate and to enjoy,” the news release states. “They are a group that is a real asset to the trail, the trail users and the community.” The Military Ridge State Trail’s history dates back to the late 1800s, Wilson said, with it formerly being a train line servicing the military, and then passenger and freight lines. Nearly 45 miles long, the trail runs from Fitchburg to Dodgeville, through the municipalities of Verona, Mount Horeb, Blue Mounds and Barneveld, as well as rural areas in between. As rail use decreased, the path was converted as a part of the rails to trails program, though a number of reminders of the trail’s origins still remain. “It’s amazing how many of the railroad bridges that were built with wood are still standing and we are still using them for bike traffic and people traffic,” Wilson said. Today, the path is utilized by hikers, bicyclists, cross-country

On the Web

To learn more about the Friends of Military Ridge State Trail, visit:

friendsofmilitaryridgetrail.org skiers and snowmobilers. And while the pandemic has made in-person trail upkeep projects more difficult, Wilson said, use of the trail has increased. The growth in use will also hopefully lead to an increase in membership, Wilson said. “We started out having representatives from all the villages and towns along the trail. As time goes by, we are aging out and short of members,” he said, adding that committee members know their areas and bring valuable input to the meetings, which are held monthly. Visitors can also purchase their trail passes on the site, where an annual pass is $25 and a day pass is $5. Passes are required for anyone 16 years old and over who wish to use bicycles or skates on the trail. Wilson said these passes provide for most of the group’s funding, other than what they receive from grants. Funds are used to provide for trail maintenance and upkeep, as well as provide for the educational kiosks located along the trail, Wilson said. “The other thing we experimented with is we have three little libraries along the trail. We try to keep information in there about the trail, nature and the environment,” he said. Despite the obvious changes to the trail as it transitioned away from rail, Wilson said the group tries to stay true to its origins. “We’ve had to change the route a little bit with village and city construction,” he said. “We’ve tried to stay true to the train route.”

neighborhood will not be an option for the City of Fitchburg’s District 1 polling place in April. Mayor Aaron Richardson had brought forward a proposal at the Common Council’s Tuesday, Dec. 8, meeting that would make the county building – formerly Fire Station No. 2 and a polling location for District 1 – the permanent polling location, starting in January 2021. The city could resign an agreement with Little John’s for use of its space for the spring elections like it did

willing to be a polling place for future elections, renovations would be happening during the winter and spring months, and it wouldn’t be feasible to hold an election there. “This will be a part of the redistricting, though, and something they can bring forward for a recommendation on moving it,” Richardson said. “There’s not an election next fall, so after this spring, we’ve got some time before the next election anyways.” The emergency operations center building was a Fitchburg polling

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district to the Marketplace Drive fire station. Alders were successful in moving the polling location back to the District for the November presidential election, to Little John’s Restaurant at 5302 Verona Road. In the months leading up to the November election, alders tried to solidify a new location west of Verona Road, stating that the nature of the fire station’s location across two major thoroughfares was a barrier to voting for District 1, where a large population of people who are socioeconomically challenged live.

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SARA SCHOENBORN

January 8, 2021

Fitchburg Star

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2020: COVID-19 hits the area, virtual learning controversies and major construction projects Continued from page 1 Our No. 2 story of the year is the emotion-driven fight over whether students should be back in school after the state ordered schools to close in March to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 at a time when less was known about the disease and how to battle it. No. 3 is the traffic headaches that occurred as a result of two major corridors being under construction, and No. 4 is the hard-fought battle to move District 1’s polling location just in time before the November election. It was a big year for schools, demonstrated by Nos. 5, 7 and 9 focusing on the new aspects of each of the city’s three school districts. Two of them opened new buildings and shifted students around – with Oregon’s building being rooted in the Terravessa development – and all three either now have a new superintendent, or are close to naming a successor. The other stories, at Nos. 6, 8 and a tie for 9, are all city related – including an investigation into the administrator’s conduct after an October arrest at a Myrtle Beach Photo by Kimberly Wethal restaurant, looking for solutions to flooding throughout the city and a The Fitchburg Senior Center closed its doors to visitors from the public mid-March as the county and state imposed restrictions on public gatherings. teen center in the Jamestown neigh- The senior center is still offering services for residents, such as meal delivery and mental health help, just not from its physical location. borhood that will wait until a future But in all of those conversations, The pain was two of the city’s 2017, the city moved the District 1 6. City launches year. one thing was a constant – kids major thoroughfares, Fish Hatchery polling place to Fire Station No. 2 would go to school five days a week Road and McKee Road – under con- on Marketplace Drive, away from investigation into regardless. struction starting in April and ending the former fire station building in the administrator conduct 1. COVID-19 rocks our Until this year, that is. in mid-fall. Jamestown neighborhood. communities An alleged fight in a South CaroAfter the COVID-19 pandemWhile the state’s Safer at Home Those alders argued during meetIn March, just as the snow was ic prompted the state to close all mandate kept a significant num- ings leading up to the change that lina restaurant that is thought to have starting to melt and life started to schools in March, reopening time- ber of drivers off the roads in early the polling place was difficult to involved city administrator Patrick bloom, it seemed most everything lines were in limbo. Getting over the spring and made it easier to navigate reach, especially for voters who Marsh in October and resulted in about Fitchburg came to a standstill. hurdles of operating a school district new traffic patterns, by summer and had limited access to transportation three charges has prompted the city School hallways emptied, and the during a pandemic was one thing – late fall, the number of vehicles on because of socioeconomic factors. to open an investigation into his consame thing happened to many busi- meanwhile, virtual learning became a the road had increased, creating sig- That alone contributed to voter sup- duct. In November, the Common Counnesses and public areas as we all controversy driven by emotions. nificant bottlenecks, especially near pression, the alders argued. adjusted to this new change. Some students thrived in the virtu- the Beltline and Verona Road ramps. Polling locations for all districts in cil approved having a third-party Eventually, McKee Farms, where al environment, while others strugThe gain is that the construction the city could change for future elec- team do an investigation of Marsh’s festivals like Concerts in the Park gled. Virtual learning during the on McKee Road, which was actu- tions after the city’s ad-hoc commit- conduct after Marsh’s arrest was made public. and Festa Italia draw hundreds, spring, and for grades 3-12 in the fall, ally two projects – one by the state tee redistricts the city in 2021. Shortly after, mayor Aaron Richwere canceled, as was the splash pad required parents to make additional Department of Transportation, the — Kimberly Wethal ardson placed Marsh on administraopening. childcare arrangements, sometimes other by the city which took the tive leave. Alders had publicly advoA quick succession of public made more difficult by a stressed opportunity to give drivers head- 5. Oregon School District cated for Marsh to be placed on leave health orders brought about lawsuits childcare sector. Parents watched aches only once, rather than twice opens first Fitchburg in the weeks leading up to a vote on that caused confusion and constant their children in the Class of 2020 – marks the end of a seven-year conthe third-party investigation. change. graduate virtually; in the fall months, struction project rebuilding Verona elementary school The entire scope of the investigaStudents in all three school dis- they missed watching high school Road from the Beltline to McKee. Rising out of the fast-growing tricts learned how to stay engaged sports. And on Fish Hatchery Road, the Terravessa development, Forest tion is unknown. According to police reports, Marsh during the spring months from home Each of Fitchburg’s school districts project’s second phase will start in Edge Elementary School is a beawas allegedly involved in an incident through technology. They learned took a different approach as to which April 2021, and will reconstruct the con of the area’s future. over Zoom after an extended spring students could come back, and when. southern portion of the road from The 130,000-square-foot build- in Myrtle Beach on Oct. 23, where break, and most started their 2020Madison Metropolitan decid- Traceway Drive to Brendan Ave- ing, with a small school forest someone was injured in an altercation 21 school year that way, too. ed during the summer that all stu- nue. The project replaces a beat-up, behind it, blends natural themes after he refused to wear a mask, and became frustrated with wait times at Governments went virtual, too, dents would be virtual through bumpy portion of the county high- with modern design. making decisions over video con- first semester. The city’s two other way that was in need of repair. This is the city’s second pub- a restaurant. Myrtle Beach Police referred ferences and suffering through tech- districts, however, have see-sawed — Kimberly Wethal lic elementary school, and third nology glitches while holding public and changed throughout the last six overall – Verona Area School Dis- charges of third-degree battery, pubhearings with mixed success. months, sometimes in the span of 4. City moves District 1 trict has an elementary and mid- lic intoxication and disorderly conWhile we’ve collectively learned two weeks. dle school campus near Seminole duct for Marsh following the incipolling place dent, and was due in Horry County to live in a COVID-19 pandemic As county orders changed throughHighway along Lacy Road. In the November election, District world, the grief for many has contin- out the summer and the average of After years of planning and Court Dec. 1 for the charges. He told the Star in November that ued into late 2020 and will continue new daily cases rose, the Verona 1 residents had a new polling loca- months of construction, the school in the New Year until transmission Area School District’s ever-chang- tion closer to where they used to opened in August, though so far, he trusted the judicial process and of the virus is under control. Many ing planning for fall felt like whip- vote. mainly only students in grades K-2 was looking forward to the matter In late September, the city finally are attending. being resolved. have gotten sick or know people lash. Administrators first announced — Kimberly Wethal who have and were unable to visit a hybrid learning plan, then went found a location – Little John’s at With a multitude of windows 5302 Verona Road, just off Anton loved ones during their illnesses. in-person all five days before retractletting natural light in, the school’s Drive – that was large enough to not design emphasizes the area’s nat- 7. New superintendents in Some are heartbroken over the ing to prefer an all-virtual start. only host a presidential election, but death of a loved one, or the lack of In late July, school board members ural look, featuring an outdoor all three districts time spent with a loved one who decided instead on what some called one that also offered plenty of space classroom, gardens and planting Two of the city’s school districts got didn’t die of the virus, but spent the a compromise – to bring K-2 in for to keep county mandated six-foot beds. Nature themes are found a new superintendent this year – and the social distancing between poll worklast months of their lives isolated. half days and seek a phased in-person throughout the building, with third is right on the cusp of announcing ers and voters. We’ve lost or drastically changed restart for other grades. green carpeting that looks like The council voted to move the grass and plastic chairs that like a successor. social gatherings, which come with On Dec, 14, Public Health MadIn July, the Madison Metropolitan their own bout of grief. And while ison and Dane County issued a new location in late September, and it stones — even some wood from Board of Education announced the hire truly became a “now or never” sitvaccines have been approved and health order allowing phased reopentrees harvested to make room for of Carlton Jenkins, who has experiare providing a sense of renewed ing of in-person schooling by grade uation – the deadline to move a the school was used in counter- ence in the district as a former Madison polling location before an election hope in the New Year, it’ll be levels. At a school board meeting that tops. Memorial associate principal. Jenkins months before we all have access night, Bergstrom said the district is was quickly approaching, and time The school is also believed to be succeeds Jennifer Cheatham, who left to them, and can return to life as we planning to have students in grades had been wasted for a month pri- the first “Net Zero” public school in 2019. have known it – if we ever do. 3-5 return Tuesday, Jan. 19 for half- or as District 1 alders and the city in Wisconsin, producing more The board had first hired Tex— Kimberly Wethal days, with sixth-graders returning for clerk’s department didn’t work energy through solar power than it as-based Matthew Gutiérrez as superinhand-in-hand in changing the locaon Monday, Jan. 25. uses. tendent in February of this year, but he 2. Virtual learning becomes half-days — Kimberly Wethal and Scott De tion. Instead, starting in late August, Over two summers, the district’s backed out as the pandemic hit, stating alders pitched ideas for locations Laruelle design group visited several dozen a major controversy that a polling place could be held in schools in the area, also traveling that he needed to stay with his current Debates at school board meetings 3. Fish Hatchery, McKee November, only to have clerk Tracy as far as Milwaukee and the Fox district to help it COVID-19. In the Oregon School District, superhave always been common – most Oldenburg come back to say why a Valley. Its feedback resulted in intendent Brian Busler called it a career, recently, over a new high school ref- roads construction begins; specific location didn’t work. several features, including areas erendum, new attendance boundaries Verona Road ends District 1 alders, as well as those for (eventual) large group teaching retiring on July 1, after starting his tenure leading the district in 2006. or how to align the curriculum and No pain, no gain – at least that’s in District 2 next door, were ada- and some classrooms joined for Deputy superintendent and longtime schedules at the district’s two middle mant in moving the polling locawhat it felt like traveling around partner teaching. schools. tion back within the district lines. In Fitchburg this year. — Scott De Laruelle Turn to 2020/Page 9

ConnectFitchburg.com

January 8, 2021

2020: New Verona Area High School opens, teen center delayed Continued from page 8 district educator Leslie Bergstrom succeeded him. As he looked ahead to a long-awaited trip west for some fly fishing, and later, part-time teaching at Edgewood College, Busler spoke with the Star in June. And the Verona Area School District should be announcing its new superintendent selection at its Monday, Jan. 4, meeting. That person will succeed current superintendent Dean Gorrell, who is planning to retire at the end of the school year on June 30. — Kimberly Wethal and Scott De Laruelle

Honorable mentions Huge solar farm project approved

8. City turns attention to flooding lakes

While flooding and road closures took a backseat to dominating the headlines like it has the last few years, the solutions to how the city was going to work alongside other entities in an attempt to solve the stormwater issues did. The city is working on mitigation solutions for both Lake Barney on the city’s southern edge, as well as Goose Lake on the border of Fitchburg and the Town of Verona. In both situations, poor or little water management infrastructure prevents water from moving out of the area, which has caused road closures or has collectively cost nearby homeowners hundreds of thousands of dollars. For Goose Lake, solutions have been proposed, but the city and town haven’t approved any. Any solution will require increasing Goose Lake’s current capacity to make it more adaptable to large water events, as well as larger culverts to increase outflow and potentially sending water onto private land to prevent water from having to flow underneath Hwy. 18-151 into the Badger Mill Creek. No solutions have been presented for Lake Barney, but the council did vote to put monitoring wells there so that consultants could get a better picture of what was happening in the area.

Fitchburg Star

Photo by Kimberly Wethal

City services like the library closed halfway through March as county and state officials began to put restrictions on public gatherings and activities to limit the spread of COVID-19. — Kimberly Wethal but many of the new high school’s amenities – including two swim9 (tie). New high ming pools and a full set of athletic fields – have been unused. school opens The high school building feaThe new Verona Area High tures plenty of spaces designed for School opened this year – just not learning, with an expanded career with the fanfare and celebration the and technical education space, as school district envisioned. well as a variety of study spaces Hundreds of students are in the that are meant to support the disbuilding each week, but in a limit- trict’s personal learning initiatives. ed capacity. Many have taken tours And for students pursuing the of the building, while others are arts, the performing arts center has coming in for supplementary edu- a professional recording set-up cation, doing hands-on learning or embedded into it, along with phodoing coaching contact days for tography and videography labs. their sports. The construction of the buildRegardless of how the schools ing allowed the district to close opened for students this year, five its aging Sugar Creek and New other sites throughout the district Century schools and move then found themselves in new hallways to the former Badger Ridge Midthis year. For most, it provides dle School and Core Knowledge relief to the cramped spaces they Charter School building at 740 N. once occupied, giving them room Main St. Those schools moved to expand in the future by moving into the former high school. them to larger buildings or remov— Kimberly Wethal ing sites from buildings that were 9 (tie). Teen center will wait bursting at the seams. That extra space has been useful The city will not see the openfor the social distancing needed ing of a teen center in 2021 – but a to bring students back to classes, community engagement study will

be started in the meantime. The city set aside $40,000 for the first portion of a two-year study, with Ald. Joe Maldonado pledging that $5,000 of that will come from his alder salary and another $10,000 will come from fundraising. During the budget process, alders said no to the purchase of the vacant Roughin’ It in Style building overlooking Verona Road, citing a tighter budget and the desire to have lower taxes because of the effects the pandemic was having on residents. The 2017 Anton Drive Redevelopment Plan had outlined a need for such a center, stating that community meeting spaces are encouraged, along with more affordable housing and a walkable neighborhood. The city is in the midst of a larger project for the same purpose on the north side, a $5 million plan to build a Neighborhood Hub near Leopold Elementary School, in District 2. That’s scheduled for 2022 construction. — Kimberly Wethal

The solar farm project that will help to power the city’s electricity needs, as well as other companies in Dane County, got the approvals it needed this year. The 20 megawatt solar farm on the O’Brien property on either side of Seminole Highway south of Lacy Road received state approval in October after the city approved it in January and agreed to buy energy generated from it in March. The City of Fitchburg is one of those partners that will be receiving 500 kilowatts of energy from the project, which is twice as much as the Common Council initially approved. MGE allocated additional energy to the city from a second 250-kilowatt array on the solar farm after another of the utility’s partners requested to receive less. That will allow Fitchburg to meet its goal of having 25% of its energy needs met by renewable energy by 2025. The energy generated by the project will bring the city to around 33%. – Kimberly Wethal

Local clerks adapt to election court decisions, recounts

The November election took more than a month to settle. In the spring, COVID-19 posed significant challenges for local municipality clerks, who faced unprecedented levels of absentee ballot requests and exponential increases in costs to send them. The day before the April 7 spring election, Gov. Tony Evers attempted to postpone it because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the state Supreme Court quickly overruled him. It took a week after polls closed for election results, with absentee ballots getting extra time to arrive. In November, President Donald Trump’s campaign’s accusations of both voter fraud and clerks disobeying election laws prompted a recount in the state’s two most populous counties, Milwaukee and Dane. The recount required all municipal clerks in Dane County to go to Madison’s Monona Terrace to verify their results. – Kimberly Wethal

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January 8, 2021

ConnectFitchburg.com

Fitchburg Star

2021: Looking ahead at construction projects, schools, redistricting and solving flood issues Continued from page 1

Stories to Watch 2021: Honorable mentions

1. The new world

The largest unknown — that we know of — will be how the pandemic ends and how it will continue to change what life looks like. Will Festa Italia or Concerts in the Park return this year? Will audiences watch their students perform on the court, fields and the theatre stages again? Will the Class of 2021 get an in-person graduation ceremony? Will this be the year where we can embrace one another and not worry about the safety of those around us? We couldn’t possibly begin to predict what will change for Fitchburgers and the rest of the world in 2021, but what we know is that we’ll be following what we hope is the end of the pandemic and the return to life as we sort of knew it. Two of the districts are already planning for a return to in-person learning for all. School will look significantly different for those students who were last educated in a building in mid-March. Social distancing and masks will be a given, and their classrooms will be a combination of in-person and virtual learning as teachers and staff educate concurrently to both their virtual and in-person students. The largest hurdle for school districts, though, will be making sure their plans are operationally solvent. Without enough bus drivers and substitute staff, maintaining an educational system that reduces disruption for students will be a challenge. Then there are the questions of other aspects of life that were once celebrated prior to the pandemic. If large-scale events, such as Kids Building WI or the Agora Art Fair, can be held this year there could be changes to make the events more hygiene-focused, and it’ll be interesting to see what people’s comfort level of crowds is. Businesses will need to continue to adapt to the virus and eventually adapt away from it to operations like what they had prior to March 2020. It’s likely, however, that some things they have implemented as safety precautions could stick around long term.

2. More Fish Hatch construction

They say that only two things are certain – death and taxes – but you can add more Fish Hatchery Road construction this spring to that list. In 2021, that construction will be the only construction project on a main thoroughfare. Last year’s work was particularly painful in that regard, as not only was Fish Hatchery Road just south of the Beltline ripped up and down to one lane each way, but parts of McKee Road on either side of Verona Road was nothing but gravel and orange cones throughout the spring, summer and early fall. This year’s work will rebuild the southern half of the project from Traceway Drive to Brendan Avenue just south of McKee Road. In 2019, the city split the Fish Hatchery Road project

Photo by Kimberly Wethal

Orange cones outnumber vehicles on Fish Hatchery Road, as the state’s “Safer at Home” mandate reduces the amount of traffic on area roads. The first phase of the reconstruction project, from the Beltline to Traceway Drive, took place in 2020, while the second phase of the project will take place in 2021. into two segments after staff and alders determined the original bids for it based on an aggressive one-year timeline were too costly. The $20.3 million project is being equally funded by the city and the county, with an additional $572,000 from the City of Madison for its portion near the Beltline. In addition to reconstruction of the road, Phase 2 of the project will also include the construction of a bridge on the edge of the Nine Springs Golf Course property for a multiuse path. That project was a difficult one to plan, as the city needed to go to court to get a decades-old deed restriction lifted.

3. New schools for Fitchburg students get unveiled

The Verona Area School District and Oregon School District each opened new school facilities this year, including one in Fitchburg. Both, however, came without the celebrations that had been planned or the large number of students that would normally be expected. OSD opened Forest Edge Elementary School, which serves students in grades K-6, in Fitchburg’s far northwest corner last fall. Adjacent to the school building sits the district’s new school forest, which will be used for future environmental education for students of all ages. And VASD opened its new $182 million high school campus on the far side of the City of Verona. In both cases, the schools have not hosted anywhere near the numbers they were built for, with FES taking some K-2 students in the first semester and the high school housing only staff and students who were using the district’s “plus” learning opportunities and coaching contact days. FES is expected to have all six grade levels by the end of January, and Verona has planned to bring many more high school students in – attending two days a week each – for hybrid learning starting in early February. VASD shifted around students at all of its other sites last fall, too – whether through new attendance area boundaries, moved building locations, or both. Many Fitchburg students, especially in the northwest corner of the city, found themselves attending a new school for the start of the

2020-21 school year. But because of the pandemic, the fanfare and excitement over opening new schools for Fitchburg children to attend was muted. In the coming year, as it potentially becomes safer to gather, we can expect that the respective districts will bring the celebrations and tours off of the back-burner and consider holding open house events – even if they’re sizably smaller than first intended.

4. Changes to city aldermanic districts

Two years after the city moved voting sites because of its new fire stations, many voters will again have new polling places — and some will be in new voting districts altogether. The City of Fitchburg will start the process of aldermanic redistricting in 2021. An ad-hoc redistricting committee will start recruiting in January and convene as early as April. The committee will consist of six residents – one from each of the districts and two at-large – who will help city staff redraw the aldermanic ward boundaries using updated information from the 2020 federal census. The process is not meant to be a political exercise, unlike the increasingly common gerrymandering state legislatures across the country have used to redraw lines for decades. As the city redraws its aldermanic districts, it will not be able to take into consideration the 1,500 people who will become Fitchburg residents in October 2022, when the Town of Madison dissolves, during redistricting decisions in 2021. That means another round of redistricting is likely to take place in late 2022 and early 2023. Concurrently with the redistricting process, the city will likely start to look for a more permanent District 1 polling place that moves it back into the Jamestown neighborhood. The District 1 polling place had been moved to Fire Station No. 2 on Marketplace Drive outside the district in 2017, which alders claimed made it difficult for residents with little to no access to transportation to vote.

5. Flooding fixes in town, Fitchburg

The city is planning to work with several other governments to solve flooding problems on its southern and western borders.

Fitchburg and the Town of Verona last year approved a contract for consultants to examine the issues with flooding that have led to multiple closures of Fitchrona Road over the last two decades. Those consultants have looked at the challenging topography of the area that currently has water flow from Goose Lake needing to move to higher elevations and underneath U.S. Hwy. 18-151 twice to flow out of the area. The city also installed well monitors near Lake Barney, on the borders of the Town and Village of Oregon, as consultants continue to investigate the pattern of water flow from a glacial kettle that ballooned more than 20 times its historical size in late October 2018. That flooding continued to plague nearby residents in the following months as they collectively spent hundreds of thousands to keep the water at bay or out of their basement. The city and its respective partners for each area have yet to decide on any solutions, but they could make progress this year. Email reporter Kimberly Wethal at kimberly.wethal@ wcinet.com and follow her on Twitter @kimberly_wethal.

Meijer could begin building store Plans to develop a tricky piece of land with significant stormwater issues could move forward this year. Meijer came to the city last year with plans to build a 159,000 square foot store at the northwest corner of Fitchrona and McKee Roads, across from Wingra Stone and near three other big box stores across the street. The timeline for Meijer’s possible construction and opening hasn’t been made public yet – Meijer real estate manager Ashley Mack told alders during council meetings last year that the company didn’t square away official dates until it got further along in the development process. Community, teen centers Creating or enhancing community spaces in two areas of the city appears to be a priority for some alders. While there’s not an exact timeline laid out for the Hub development or the proposed teen center in the Jamestown neighborhood, both could make progress this year. The Hub would be just off of Fish Hatchery Road, on either side of Traceway Drive, and as planned, it would feature a 14,500-square foot recreation facility, two community buildings, an adventure playground, bike tracks and an outdoor plaza, constructed in two phases. And while the city punted the purchase of a building along Anton Drive for a teen center to a future year, a community engagement study is planned to start this year to gauge interest and needs from residents and nearby Madison neighborhoods. The city will also likely add a community amenity to McKee Farms Park this year, as it plans to start designing an inclusive playground that facilitates children of all abilities playing together. Town of Madison dissolution The city is less than two years away from inheriting pieces of the Town of Madison when it dissolves in October 2022. Planning for the extra residents and city services will likely start in earnest this year. The most prominent planning for the town’s dissolution will likely show up in the 2022 operating budget, which will be released in September of this year. In the budget, mayor Aaron Richardson will need to prepare to add more staff to help police patrol 1,500 more residents, as well as plow and maintain roads. The city’s two fire stations, which it began planning more than a decade ago, were configured with the extra territory in mind.

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January 8, 2021 - Fitchburg Star 11

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Friday, January, 8 2021

The

Fitchburg Star

For more sports coverage, visit: ConnectFitchburg.com

Sports

Mark Nesbitt, sports editor 845-9559 x237 • ungsportseditor@wcinet.com Fax: 845-9550

Top sports stories of 2020

Hockey, boys swim teams bring home gold Edgewood’s Deang, Richardson; Madison West’s Casey-Hrenak, Feller win state titles MARK NESBITT Sports editor

In the first few months of 2020, dozens of high school teams propelled themselves and their teams to state competitions. Unfortunately, after Verona Area High School’s triumphs in hockey and Madison Edgewood’s repeat state championship in boys swimming, organized sporting events mostly came to a stop for the year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the cancellations and postponements, there are still many athletic accomplishments Fitchburgers can celebrate. Prior to the pandemic, the Fitchburg area was well-represented at the state level, with five teams making state runs last winter. The Verona boys hockey team won its second state title in program history, and the Edgewood boys swimming team, led by University of Wisconsin-Madison commit Truman teDuits, repeated as the WIAA Division 2 state champions. Edgewood senior Baluck Deang became the school’s first girls’ singles tennis champion in 2019 and now is the program’s first repeat winner. In its first state appearance, the Madison Metro Lynx girls hockey team brought home the silver trophy as the state runner-up. The Oregon High School girls basketball team made its first Division 2 state tournament run since 1980. Madison West senior Isaac Casey-Hrenak, a University of Wisconsin-Madison commit, and senior Charlie Feller, a University of Iowa commit, both won gold medals at the Division 1 state meet. Edgewood senior Leo Richardson was one of the few fall sports athletes to have a memorable season, winning a state title in the Division 2 cross country meet. The Verona Area/Madison Edgewood gymnastics team stunned a talented field and qualified for the WIAA Division 1 state meet to end Middleton’s run of eight straight state appearances.

File photo

Verona’s Walker Haessig, left, hugs Cale Rufenacht after the Wildcats beat Notre Dame de la Baie Academy 2-1 in overtime to win a WIAA Division 1 state championship on March 7, at the the Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison.

Renlund ripped off his helmet and tossed it in the air as the celebration began for the Wildcats (25-4) after his goal gave the Wildcats a second state title and first since 2014. The Wildcats were in the state tournament for the third straight year. “It’s my biggest goal for sure,” Renlund told the Press following the win. “I know there was a little bit of luck involved. But I can definitely chalk it up to all of the hours in the basement and all the hours of practice, just knowing where I should be.” The Tritons outshot the Wildcats 31-20 and had golden opportunities on back-to-back power plays midway through the second period. Verona first-team all-state goaltender Kaden Grant stopped several shots to keep Verona within striking distance. Grant made 1. Verona boys hockey 14 of his 30 saves in the second wins state title Forward Leo Renlund and the period. boys hockey team made their 2. Edgewood boys swim luck when it counted, winning team repeats as Div. 2 two games in overtime to win the Division 1 state championship in state champs Edgewood senior and UW March. Third-seeded Verona stunned recruit Truman teDuits had a top-seeded Notre Dame de la Division 2 state swimming meet Baie 2-1 in overtime on Saturday, to remember after setting two March 7, at the Alliant Energy state records and helping the Center’s Veterans Memorial Col- Crusaders repeat as team champions. iseum. TeDuits won individual state During overtime, Renlund caught an airborne puck from titles in the 200-yard individuNotre Dame goaltender Bo Buck- al medley (1:50.03) and the 100 ley. He then quickly dropped the butterfly (49.52) on Friday, Feb. puck and fired a shot just under 21, at the University of WisconBuckley’s legs 6:17 minutes into sin Natatorium. His time in the fly tied the state record set by overtime for the victory.

File photo

The Madison Edgewood boys swimming team celebrates after repeating as WIAA Division 2 state champions on Friday, Feb. 21, at the University of Wisconsin’s Natatorium in Madison. McFarland’s Ryan O’Donnell in 2011. “Tying that state record was pretty amazing,” teDuits said. “I would have liked to have beat it, but a tie is pretty good. I’ll take it.” Edgewood won four individual state titles and touched the wall first in two relays en route

to repeating as state champions with 293 points, well ahead of runner-up Cedarburg (265). The Crusaders won the first four events — diving, the 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle and 200 individual medley to race out to an early lead. Junior Ben Stitgen won the diving title for the third consecutive

year with a score of 483.70. TeDuits teamed with Alex Moen, Colin Senke and Chase Korb to win the 200 medley relay in a state-record time of 1:33.77, a little more than two seconds ahead of Baraboo. Senior Nate Frucht, a Boston

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January 8, 2021

Fitchburg Star

Verona/Mount Horeb boys swimming

VA/MH sweeps dual with No. 1 Sauk Prairie, Edgewood Wildcats return seven state qualifiers MARK NESBITT Sports editor

If Verona Area/Mount Horeb senior Ben Wellnitz planned on making a bet before the season, he never would have imagined an in-person swim meet to open the season. The Wildcats opened the season with a double dual sweep of Sauk Prairie, the top-ranked team in Division 2, and two-time Division 2 state champion Madison Edgewood. “It’s exhausting because our season was cut short,” Wellnitz said. “It’s nice to be back with people again. It was a good atmosphere so you could get up and race well.” Wellnitz carried a lead for VA/ MH in the 400-yard freestyle relay into the final flip turn and 25 meters, but Madison Edgewood’s Colin Senke rallied to outtouch him at the finish. The Wildcats’ quartet of Christopher Lofts, Dane Sickler, Max McCartney and Wellnitz took second with a time of 3 minutes, 29.97 seconds, .8 of a second away from the Crusaders. It marked the first WIAA-sanctioned Verona Area High School sports event in 10 months since when the Wildcat boys hockey team won a state championship over Notre Dame de la Baie Academy. “In the last relay even if you can’t distinctly hear people cheering you know people are cheering and everything,” he said. “That relay is always really hyped up.” The appearance of the meet had a different look. Swimmers were required to wear masks outside the pool and even as they walked up to the blocks to start a race. They weren’t allowed to peel off a mask until they got on the starting blocks. Only 13 swimmers were

Photo by Mark Nesbitt

Verona Area/Mount Horeb sophomore Liam Updegrove swims the 500-yard freestyle in a double dual on Tuesday, Jan. 5, against Sauk Prairie and Madison Edgewood at Sauk Prairie High School. The Wildcats swept the season-opening double dual.

“At the end of last season, we allowed to compete because of with Wellnitz and sophomore social distancing. There were no Liam Updegrove to win the 200 were hopeful that with the swimmers we had returning, we could free relay (1:39.15). handshakes or high fives. possibly have one of our strongest Wildcats’ peak uncertain Sauk Prairie double dual teams ever,” VA/MH coach Bill The VA/MH boys swim team with slow ramp-up Wuerger said. “After everything showed its strength in the relays Determining what level or peak that’s happened over the last nine and overall depth, winning three each swim team can reach is plus months, we’re just happy to events and two relays to sweep uncertain because of an interrupt- have the opportunity to hold practhe double dual with Sauk Prai- ed practice time and a condensed tices, and compete in a couple of rie and Edgewood Jan. 5 at Sauk competition season before the in-person meets. Especially for Prairie High School. sectional meet set for Saturday, our five seniors, we’re glad they The Wildcats knocked off Sauk Feb. 6. have the chance to practice and Prairie/Wisconsin Heights 99-71 The Wildcats started practice, compete at our new aquatic cenand beat Edgewood 98-70. but when Public Health Madison ter.” Junior Max McCartney won and Dane County banned indoor The VA/MH swim coaches only the 100 freestyle (50.16) and took gatherings for one month, it put have seven weeks to work with second in the 50 free (22.94). swimming on the backburner. the team instead of 14. Wellnitz won the 200 freestyle Some VA/MH swimmers com“This makes it difficult to set (1:55.56) and took second in the peted in club swimming during goals for this team,” Wuerg500 free (5:18.09). Junior Avery the summer and fall, while others er said. “Since we only have Blas finished first in the 200 indi- are still working to get back in a handful of meets, I hope the vidual medley (2:10) and placed shape. The Wildcats have seven boys will be excited to compete second in the 100 breaststroke swimmers back who competed at and swim well at every meet. (1:06.46). the WIAA Division 1 state swim We hope that everyone stays healthy, and that we can make it Blas and McCartney teamed meet last year.

through the season.” The Wildcats finished eighth in the state team standings with 92 points last season. Big Eight Conference rival Middleton captured the state title (228), just ahead of Waukesha South/Catholic Memorial (222). Swimmers returning with state experience are junior Oscar Best, Wellnitz, senior Conner Arneson and Lofts and juniors McCartney, Luke Bennin and Nathan Rozeboom. Best finished third in the state in the 100-yard butterfly, breaking his previous school record with a time of 50.25 seconds. The Wildcats return half of their 200-yard freestyle relay team — Best and McCartney — that finished sixth at state last year with a time of 1:27.01. The team also returns half of its 200 medley relay team with Best and Bennin that took eighth at state with a school-record time of 1:35.33, one second away from tying Madison West for sixth. Best and Bennin were also part of the medley relay team that won a conference championship last year. The Wildcats will again be strong in the long distance events. Wellnitz took seventh at state in the 200 free (1:45.19), just .59 seconds away from a medal to place 11th in the 500 free (4:47.35). Arneson took 19th in the 500 free (4:52.32) and 24th in the 200 free (1:49.08) at state last season. Wu e r g e r s a i d t h e t e a m ’s strengths will be breaststroke, butterfly and distance freestyle. Verona/Mount Horeb returns every member of its 400 free relay team — McCartney, Wellnitz, Lofts and Rozeboom — which finished 20th at state last year (3:18.45). The Big Eight Conference will not host league dual meets or have a conference championship meet this season. However, the Wildcats will have a dual meet against Sun Prairie.

Edgewood boys swimming

Senke saves Madison Edgewood in 400 free relay Crusaders drop double dual to Div. 1 Verona Area/Mount Horeb, top-ranked Sauk Prairie MARK NESBITT Sports editor

With each strong forearm propelling him through the water, Madison Edgewood’s Colin Senke could feel the energy in the pool in the final event, the 400yard freestyle relay. He could hear his teammates spread out across the pool deck cheering. He continued powering through the water and came back to edge Verona/Mount Horeb to win the event in a double dual with the Wildcats and Sauk Prairie on Tuesday, Jan. 5, at Sauk Prairie High School. “I could hear people cheering,” Senke said. “I could tell it was getting close. That’s the best part of it. That is what drives me.” Senke swam the anchor leg and teamed with Jaxon Vandenbrook, Kyle Cason and Davis Petersen to finish first with a time of 3

minutes, 29.97 seconds, just .8 of a second ahead of the Wildcats. The Crusaders, the two-time defending WIAA Division 2 state champions, lost a double dual, but turned in several season-best times, including the 400 free relay. Verona/Mount Horeb knocked off Edgewood 99-71 and Sauk Prairie, ranked No. 1 in Division 2, outdistanced the Crusaders 94-74. The Crusaders, who have seven swimmers on the team, dropped to 2-4 in dual meets. The appearance of the meet had a different look. Swimmers were required to wear masks outside the pool and even as they walked up to the blocks to start a race. They weren’t allowed to peel off a mask until they got on the starting blocks. Only 13 swimmers were allowed to compete because of social distancing. There were no handshakes or high fives. After winning the 400 free relay, Senke dragged his arm through the pool, splashing water in celebration. Getting back to some semblance of normalcy with in-person swim meets has been a blessing for Senke, who also won the 100

Photo by Mark Nesbitt

Madison Edgewood’s Davis Petersen swims the 500-yard freestyle in a double dual against Verona Area/Mount Horeb and Sauk Prairie/Wisconsin Heights on Tuesday, Jan. 5, at Sauk Prairie High School. Petersen won the race with a time of 5 minutes, 17.39 seconds. butterfly (54.51) and 100 backstroke (54.50). “Even with all of the restrictions, the guys definitely welcome that,” he said. “The guys just want to race. It’s something we really took for granted these past few seasons. I think getting to do it now after being so long since we

have been able to do it is just giving us a whole new appreciation for this stuff.” Wearing masks before competing may be new to some swimmers, but even though it’s not ideal, most are embracing it for a chance to compete. “ I t ’s a n o t h e r o b s t a c l e w e

have to overcome,” Edgewood co-coach Michael Milinovich said. “The sport of swimming is all about being as uncomfortable as you can and just moving through it. It’s just another thing these guys have to be uncomfortable with. They are doing a great job of owning it and doing what they need to do to stay safe.” Petersen won the 500 freestyle (5:17.39) and placed second in the 200 free (1:56.37). “Davis is our workhorse for sure,” Milinovich said. “He swam that 500 almost as perfectly as he could. To be able to save for that last 200 and being able to get him that last 100 was perfect.” Jake Jensen took second in the 100 back (59.92) and Vandenbrook finished second in the 100 free (52.44). “This is probably one of the fastest meets that is happening right now between Verona and Sauk Prairie,” Milinovich said. “We are really excited we could add Verona to this meet to increase the competition. Everyone stepped up and raced even though the competition increased. They just stepped up their expectations and went for it.”

January 8, 2021

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Fitchburg Star

Verona boys hockey

Jack Link’s New Glarus, WI NOW HIRING!! COME RUN WITH SASQUATCH!!

Photo by Mark Nesbitt

Verona’s Troy Tollefson (18) puts a shot on net against Monroe goaltender Jayden Johnson. The Wildcats are switching from a club hockey team to a WIAA-sanctioned team. Verona will have to practice 10 days before they can play a WIAA game.

Verona game with Oregon canceled MARK NESBITT Sports editor

The Verona boys hockey team’s game against Oregon slated for Friday, Jan. 8, at the Stateline Ice and Community Expo in Monroe has been canceled because of the program’s switch to a WIAA-sanctioned season. Ve r o n a h e a d h o c k e y coach Joel Marshall made the announcement to the Press on Tuesday, Jan. 5. The Wildcats returned to WIAA play with its first practice on Monday. Before that, Verona (9-3) played its first 12 games as a club team under the Wisconsin Amaetur Hockey Associaition. “We have a good group of guys who deserve to defend their (state) title,” Marshall said. “We definitely have the chance now. It’s all pending now that we can stay safe.” It’s been about 10 months since the Wildcats won the program’s second WIAA Division 1 state championship. Verona will need 10 practices before it can play its first WIAA-sanctioned game. The earliest the Wildcats can play is Jan. 14. Verona has a game scheduled with Notre Dame de la Baie Academy on Saturday, Jan. 16, in Wausau. It will be a rematch of last year’s state title game where Verona clipped Notre Dame 2-1 in overtime. Games were prohibited from being played in the county because of Madison Public Health and Dane County’s order that limits gatherings to 10 people or less inside and 25 or less outside. Verona Area High School

Athletic Director Joel Zimba made an announcement Dec. 23 that the school would be allowed to play games outside of Dane County starting Jan. 12. However, at the time Zimba said sports at a high-risk of spreading COVID-19 like hockey and wrestling may not be able to play in postseason competition if Dane County announced an order against playing outside of the county. M a r s h a l l s a i d VA H S worked with other high school hockey programs and the Wisconsin Hockey Association and came to an agreement that if prep players were going to play, the safest and most uniform way would be in a WIAA-sanctioned season. Marshall said Verona is no longer prohibited from playing in the postseason. The WIAA changed its plan and there is no limit for the number of games required to become postseason eligible this season. The usual site for the state tournament, Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Alliant Energy Center, won’t host state this year because of the county restrictions on gatherings. The state tournament is slated for Feb. 18-20 at the South Wood County Rink in Wisconsin Rapids. Regional hockey games are scheduled for Feb. 2, 4, 5. Sectionals are slated for Feb. 9, 12 or 13. Each

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Verona winter sports team will play all road games outside of the county. Zimba said VAHS will not practice at any other site than VAHS and will not host any neutral site games outside of the county.

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Fitchburg Star

Stories:: From boys tennis champ to girls gymnast state qualifiers, it was a memorable year Continued from page 12 University recruit, defended his title in the 200 free with a time of 1:41.30, 2.24 seconds ahead of Elkhorn’s Hunter Jonson. Frucht was the runner-up in the 500 free (4:42), a little less than three seconds behind Cedarburg’s Isaac Fleig. Senke finished second in the 100 back (50.82), Moen took third (51.60) and sophomore Davis Petersen placed ninth (56.07). Edgewood’s 200 free relay team of Moen, Petersen, Korb and Frucht finished second (1:27.06), .1 seconds behind Elkhorn.

3. Deang repeats as No. 1 singles tennis state champ

Baluck Deang rolled to a second straight No. 1 singles Division 2 state championship Oct. 18, at Sports Core in Kohler. She helped the Crusaders qualify for the team state tournament for an 11th time, the first since the team won it all back-to-back in 2015-16. In the final, Deang (13-1) defeated previously unbeaten Appleton Xavier senior Erika Curtin 6-3, 7-5. After breezing to a win in the first set over Curtin (14-1), Deang trailed 5-3 in the second set. She won the final four games.

4. Metro Lynx finish as state runner-up

The Madison Metro Lynx girls hockey co-op had a historic season of firsts en route to finishing as the state runner-up in the program’s first state appearance. The Metro Lynx went on to win the Badger Conference for the first time in program history, sharing the title with the Cap City Cougars and Rock County Fury. The Lynx knocked off Milwaukee University, Central Wisconsin and Hudson and climbed the Division 1 rankings with statement wins. The Lynx beat the Cap City Cougars 3-0 in a sectional final to punch its ticket to state. The Lynx earned the No. 1 seed in the state tournament and beat fourth-seeded Rock County Fury 5-2 in a rubber match on March 5. Verona’s Rachel Mirwald scored two goals to lead the Lynx. In the championship game, the Lynx lost to the Fox Cities Stars, 5-3. The second-seeded Stars (227) won their second straight state title by outshooting the Lynx 38-18, finished 2-for-5 on the power play and killed all four penalties. Trailing 2-0, the Lynx got on the board when defenseman Lauren Johnson dished a pass to defenseman Grace Bonnell in the left slot and Bonnell sent a cross-ice pass to senior forward Sydney Raaths, who beat Scriboski for her 33rd goal of the season. The Lynx then committed three straight penalties and killed the first and third, but not the second and the Stars took a 4-1 lead. The Lynx rallied with goals by Johnson off an assist from forward Kaya Pelton-Byce and a goal by forward Mia Goetzke to cut the deficit to 4-3.

5. Oregon girls basketball makes first state run in 40 years

March Madness took on a new meaning for the Oregon High School girls basketball team in 2020. The month is usually dominated by basketball talk, and five high school girls basketball teams in the state capped their seasons with a prize – the state championship trophy and other honors

File photos

The Metro Lynx’s Rachel Mirwald (right) races up the ice ahead of the Wisconsin Valley Union defense Sunday, Dec. 29, at Madison Ice Arena. The host Lynx won the Culver’s Cup with a 3-1 victory over WVU.

Oregon players celebrate their 51-46 win over Waukesha West in the Division 2 Janesville Craig sectional championship on Saturday, March 7. The Panthers advanced to the state tournament for the third time in program history and first since 1980. bestowed upon them by their school. The Panthers were dealt a crushing blow March 12 when the WIAA canceled all remaining games of the state tourn a m e n t , i n c l u d i n g O r eg o n ’s state semifinal contest, and the remainder of the boys basketball tournament. “It’s tough, but we still have so much to be proud of,” Oregon senior point guard Izzie Peterson told the Observer this spring. “Being conference, regional and sectional champs is amazing. We kept telling ourselves that we would have brought a gold ball back if we had played.” Oregon (21-5) secured the program’s third state berth and first since the second of backto-back appearances in Division 1 in 1980. Oregon edged Waukesha West 51-46 to capture a Division 2 sectional championship, which came on the heels of beating Reedsburg 57-43 in a regional final. The Panthers had won the Badger South Conference championship after posting an 11-3 record, two games ahead of

second-place Watertown.

6. West’s Casey-Hrenak, Feller strike gold

The Regents finished fourth at the Division 1 state meet with 180 points and had two swimmers win state championships at the UW Natatorium on Feb. 22. Casey-Hrenak captured the 100-yard freestyle state title in 44.97 seconds, 0.48 seconds ahead of Sun Prairie junior Ben Wiegand. Both Casey-Hrenak and Wiegand broke the previous state record in the 50 free. However, Wiegand took gold with a time of 20.16 seconds and CaseyHrenak finished second (20.43). The duo broke the previous record (20.44) set by Sauk Prairie/Wisconsin Heights’ Matt Friede in 2010. The other title for the Regents came from Feller who won the 100 breaststroke in 56.10 seconds, 0.69 seconds ahead of Wiegand. Big Eight Conference rival Middleton snapped Madison West’s streak of two straight Division 1 state championships.

Madison West senior Isaac Casey-Hrenak reacts after winning the Division 1 state championship in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 44.97 seconds on Saturday, Feb. 22, at the University orf Wisconsin Natatorium.

7. Richardson wins Div. 2 cross country title

Richardson won a Division 2 state cross country title, and nine days later, he verbally committed to run cross country and track at UW. Richardson dominated the field in the Division 2 state cross country meet at Colby High School, winning a state title with a time of 15:47. It was more than 44 seconds ahead of runner-up Hunter Krepline of Brillion in the 5,000-meter race. Richardson bolted to the lead in the first 50 yards of his race. His first mile (4:54) was one of his top splits of the season. He finished about 10 seconds off his best time that came the week before in the sectional (15:37).

8. Verona/Madison Edgewood gymnasts qualify for state

The V/ME girls gymnastics team made a surprise run to the Division 1 state meet and finished 10th. The Wildcats/Crusaders finished second at the Middleton sectional with 137.300 points to

qualify for state, 1.075 points behind sectional champion Madison Memorial. The Wildcats/Crusaders led the Cardinals by 1.425 points going into the final apparatus — the uneven bars. Hailey Dohnal and Ella Crowley also qualified for state in the all-around competition. Dohnal finished fourth at the sectional (35.20) and Crowley took fifth (34.625). The top five finishers on each apparatus qualified for state. Dohnal won a sectional championship in the vault with a score of 9.15. She scored a 9.2 on her second attempt, but an average is taken from two judges on two attempts. The Wildcat/Crusaders placed 10th out of 11 teams in the state team competition March 6 at Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln High School, with a score of 134.482. The Wildcats/Crusaders finished 0.27 points behind ninth-place Marshfield. Dohnal finished 16th on the balance beam (9.117) and 22nd in the all-around competition (34.883) a day later. Freshman Ella Crowley took 23rd in the allaround (34.267).

January 8, 2021

Fitchburg Star

Verona Schools

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Verona Area School District

Clardy chosen for top post

MMSD administrator comes with all levels of experience KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group

Dr. Tremayne Clardy will be the next Verona Area School District superintendent. The Verona Area Board of Education unanimously approved Clardy’s hire at its Monday, Jan. 4, capping off a 10-month search for Dean Gorrell’s successor. The board also approved a consulting contract that would allow Clardy to be involved in hiring decisions and learn the operational aspects of the district while still employed at Madison Metropolitan School District. Clardy is the c0-chief of schools for elementary education at Madison Metropolitan. He’s held multiple leadership positions since 2017, including chief of middle schools until earlier this year. Prior to coming to Madison Metropolitan, Clardy was a middle school and assistant high school principal during his more than two decades in education. His official first day is July 1, but he’ll start prior to then in a consulting role. Clardy told the board he felt honored to have been able to interact with students, families and community members during the selection process

to determine VASD was the right fit for him. “I honestly, truly believe that the Verona Area School District is positioned to Clardy be the national model for excellence and equity, and we’ll continue to hold true to that belief, and we’ll make it come to fruition as a team,” he said. Board president Noah Roberts said he was “beyond thrilled” to offer the superintendent role to Clardy because he knows the board has selected someone that has what it takes to help the district reach its goals of equity and excellence for every student. “Dr. Clardy brings integrity, vision and the leadership experience that VASD needs to continue our work toward our collective goals,” Roberts said. A rural east Texas native who spent some of his formative years below the poverty line, Clardy earned his doctorate in education and master of the arts degrees from Aurora University in Illinois, and his master of science and bachelor’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He was one of four finalists who participated in a virtual “Day in the District” during the second week of December. The all-day sessions featured virtual discussions with administration, staff, students and community

Screenshot

Dr. Tremayne Clardy (second row, left column) gives his presentation during his Day in the District session on Dec. 7. members. Other finalists were VASD assistant superintendent for academic services Laurie Burgos, Middleton-Cross Plains School District director of elementary education Rainey Briggs and School District of Waukesha deputy superintendent Joseph Koch. Briggs withdrew days after the public appearances. Clardy participated in his Day in the District on Dec. 7, where he emphasized the importance of education in changing a student’s life. “For me, education is the way to unlock the golden door of freedom,” Clardy said during that Zoom session. “It’s a quote by George Washington Carver, but it really encompasses my throughline of why I’m so, so passionate about education, so, so passionate about excellence and student success, and really helping our students rise to the top to meet their full potential.” During the Jan. 4 school board meeting, Clardy also

addressed any district teachers or staff who might have been watching virtually. He stated that in him, they have a partner in education for the rest of their careers. “(The) pandemic really confirmed what we’ve always known – just how immeasurable you are not just to the Verona area community, but to our whole society,” Clardy said. “You’re truly the glue that held us together during this pandemic, along with our first responders.” Gorrell, who is to retire June 30, told the board he plans to help he’s got a stake in ensuring the transition into his retirement goes smoothly. “I’ve got a 7 year old who will be a second grader next year, so I have a vested interest in turning the keys over,” he said. Email reporter Kimberly Wethal at kimberly.wethal@ wcinet.com and follow her on Twitter @kimberly_wethal.

Grades 6-12 to return in February Students learn in hybrid model with two days in-person KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group

A few weeks ago, figuring out when Verona Area School District students in grades 3-12 could return to in-person learning – however limited it might be – was anyone’s guess. As of the Monday, Dec. 21, meeting, all grade levels now have a plan for when they’ll return to a hybrid learning model. Middle and high school students will return for two in-person days and two virtual days on Feb. 9, just a few weeks after the start of the third quarter. Earlier this month, district administration announced plans for bringing back students in grades 3-5 in anticipation of new Public Health Madison and Dane County school recommendations that encourages phasing more students in, which was announced a week later. The plan for bringing back the middle and high school students was only discussed by board members at the Dec. 21 meeting to provide administrators with feedback on how to proceed. The plan falls under the phased-return plan school board members approved for the 2020-21 school year back in July. How district administration chooses to implement the July mandate given to them by the school board is purely operational, and school board members have no other opportunities

Photo by Kimberly Wethal

There are multiple areas in the new Verona Area High School that have a variety of seating where students can work collaboratively or on their own. to vote in how that’s done. This is the first time the district has seriously considered bringing older grades of students back to in-person learning since the summer months. In June and July, district administration first announced a hybrid plan for fall 2020, then changed course to a five-day, in-person learning model after family survey results, before backpedalling to a fully virtual recommendation as new daily cases of COVID-19 started to rise by the end of July. District administrators announced the new aspect of the district’s reopening plan to the school board during its Dec. 21 meeting, and a few hours earlier, sent out a survey to families with children in grades 6-12 asking them if they preferred a hybrid or virtual-only model. By the time of the school board meeting later that night, nearly 400 people had already responded, assistant superintendent for academic services Laurie Burgos said.

VAHS Theatre Department sells T-shirts as fundraiser

Mondays would remain a prep day for all staff, and students would be split into cohorts, named “WILDCATS” for the hybrid model. Anyone in the “WILD” cohorts would attend school in-person all day on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and those in the “CATS” cohorts would attend in-person on Thursdays and Fridays. Families will be placed in the same cohort, Burgos said, so that all children are on the same schedule for in-person learning. Students in all grade levels would participate in a concurrent teaching model, Burgos told the board, meaning teachers would educate students who are in-person and virtual over Zoom at the same time. The idea of concurrent learning raised concerns from board members Kalyanna Williams and Amy Almond that were also raised at the Dec. 7 meeting, as they worried about educator burn-out over having to teach to both in-person and virtual students at the same time.

Burgos said the district was providing teachers and support staff with professional development, as well as speaking with other districts who have done concurrent learning during the first and second quarters to learn what worked. Some district teachers have been doing concurrent teaching for the last few weeks, Burgos added, as some students have needed to quarantine or isolate, or whose parents asked that they be kept home in the weeks leading up to the holidays. With a significant number of students who had been in the in-person model learning from home, Burgos said teachers had to adapt to a concurrent teaching style, since there too many students to temporarily transfer to virtual-only teachers. “In terms of teacher burn-out, we are concerned about that,” Burgos said. “There aren’t a lot of good options on the table – if we weren’t using concurrent learning, our teachers would be planning for the eight children that are sitting in front of them on Tuesday/Wednesday, as well as planning for all of the children who are sitting at home doing asynchronous learning independently with no support from the teacher for two full days. “That’s a lot of work to be prepping for – it’s like double the prep work, and half of the instructional time,” Burgos added. Email reporter Kimberly Wethal at kimberly.wethal@ wcinet.com and follow her on Twitter @kimberly_wethal.

Photo submitted

Verona Area High School senior Erin Zenk stands with the T-shirts she designed as a fundraiser for the school theatre department. The T-shirts were handed out to those who purchased them on Monday, Dec. 21.

Verona Schools in brief Superintendent pick expected Jan. 4

New year, new superintendent. The Verona Area Board of Education plans to announce its selection for the superintendent post on Monday, Jan. 4. The board went into closed session during its Monday, Dec. 21, meeting to discuss which of the three remaining candidates it wanted to lead the district come July 2021. The board conducted final interviews with candidates Dr. Tremayne Clardy, Laurie Burgos and Dr. Joseph Koch over Dec. 14-15. The board was also planning to interview Dr. Rainey Briggs for the role, but Briggs withdrew his name from consideration the week after the virtual “Day in the District” events. Whoever the board selects will succeed current superintendent Dean Gorrell, who will retire on June 30, 2021.

Verona, Finnish students present trans-Atlantic solutions for climate change In a virtual call filled with peers, teachers and representatives from local and federal governments, Verona Area High School students and their Finnish counterparts pitched ideas last month to solve at least a few of the world’s problems.

District will provide 80 hours of COVID-19 leave to full-time staff, exclusive substitutes

The Verona Area School District will offer its employees and exclusive substitutes 80 hours of COVID-19 leave in response to the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act expiring.

Sugar Creek hands out 4,000 books to students

Sugar Creek Elementary School students were given the answer to any winter break boredom before they left for winter break earlier this month.

Two dozen participate in ‘Bring Kids Back’ rally

Around two dozen people ranging in age from elementary school students to adults participated in a “Bring Kids Back” rally on Monday, Dec. 21, outside of the Verona Area School District administration building. Email Unified Newspaper Group reporter Scott De Laruelle at scott.delaruelle@wcinet.com.

Oregon Schools

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Oregon School District superintendent Leslie Bergstrom said school administrators are now contacting any families who have yet to respond to the virtual/online school preference, and are setting up small groups for grades 3-12, as well as bus routes. So far, around 25% of families have opted for Oregon Online for the second semester, Bergstrom said, including around 100 students who switched from the phased restart plan. The district plans to set up meetings with new teachers and families before the second semester starts, as well as orientation events for students who will be new to buildings. The district is also seeking paraprofessionals and substitute teachers to fill in for expected staff absences due to illness or COVID-19 quarantine. Teachers in quarantine who are feeling well can livestream and teach from home, but would indeed an adult staff member to supervise the physical classroom. Bergstrom said so far the district has identified 22 substitute teachers willing to work in person, though some currently have jobs in other districts, which could complicate their hiring. “We are asking the community for help,” she said. “Every single district in the state of Wisconsin is trying to do the exact same things, because they are facing (a shortage)”

Fitchburg Star

Oregon School District

In-person learning set for next semester Grades 3-6 students to return Jan. 19, middle and high schoolers Feb. 8 SCOTT DE LARUELLE Unified Newspaper Group

If everything goes as planned, all students in the Oregon School District who want to return to in-person learning will be back in their classrooms by Feb. 8. That’s the latest from district superintendent Leslie Bergstrom, who updated school board members on in-person plans at a special meeting Tuesday, Dec. 22, including that February target date for grades 7-12. Last week, Bergstrom announced that students in grades 3-6 – involving all four elementary schools and Rome Corners Intermediate – are set to return to in-person learning on Tuesday, Jan. 19. Families have been notified so they can start planning. School is now on winter break through Jan. 4, after which students will finish out the last two weeks of the first semester. Bergstrom said the timing for those grades to return aligned with a district medical working group recommendation to wait 14 days until after the winter break, which ends Jan. 3. “It’s a date we feel is very appropriate,” she said. “It allows us to monitor any spread that may have a occured over the holidays. And it’s important to give families enough time to plan daycare arrangements and to figure out logistics.” Updated guidance provided by Public Health Madison and Dane County on Dec. 14 recommends in-person learning for grades 3-12, provided safety measures are in place and it’s done in a phased approach, starting with elementary school. Bergstrom stressed that with the expected return of more in-person learning, the district isn’t loosening any current safety protocols for students in grades 4K-2, who returned to schools part-time on Oct. 5. “The reason students are

able to be in school and not contribute to community spread is the fact that we have the strong measures in place,” she said. “So when you are considering how the plan impacts you and your family, please know we will be utilizing the strongest safety measures possible.” Students in grades 3-6 will be split into two groups, and come in either in the morning or afternoon for in-person learning, spending the other half of the day learning virtually. Students in grades 4K-6 will be in small group “cohorts” of around 10-12 children and mostly remain in one classroom. Students in grades 7-12 have larger “group assignments” and more movement around the school, which Bergstrom said will be different than the younger grades. “They will change classrooms,” she said. “They will be moving in the hallways, and we will be doing everything possible to ensure hallways are safe places, and students are keeping their distance, but it’s not the same as the younger grades, where they are together with a small group all day.” Bergstrom said the district will focus on the emotional aspect of transitioning to second semester, starting daily “check-ins” with K-4 students, as well as “student well checks” for grades 5-12. At Oregon Middle School and Oregon High School, in-person classes will begin on Feb. 8, with a “flipped” model, where teachers introduce lessons virtually, then discuss and work through them with students in person. Students would be split into two groups, alternating between virtual and in-person days. One group will attend school Mondays and Thursdays and the other Tuesdays and Fridays, with Wednesday a virtual day for all. Bergstrom said she expects class sizes at the middle and high school to also be around 10-12, due to physical distancing requirements. “Our students will have an experience that is very safe, because we’ll be able to keep

DONATE TODAY to help build a new Veterans Park for the City of Fitchburg

Sept. 8 All students begin online Sept.14 Grades 4K-2 returns in-person two hours/week Sept. 14 Students with specific needs return (individuallyscheduled) Oct. 5 Grades 4K-2 in-person half-days Oct. 5 Grades 5-12 support hubs (by invitation) Jan. 19 Grades 3-6 come back for in-person half-days Feb. 8 Grades 7-12 in-person with “flipped” model distance and we are requiring masks,” she said. “We’re very excited — the class size will be a good one to allow for individual student attention, and that is part of the reason for the selection of the flipped model… we believe it allows us a level of responsiveness.” There will be changes, though, Bergstrom emphasized, such as less small group time with teachers, who will be busier throughout the day, working with either in-person or online students. “I know some students have enjoyed some individual conferencing, and there’s certainly less time on the schedule for those things,” she explained. Put simply, “school will feel different” in the classrooms, Bergstrom added. “This is a change, not only from what they have been experiencing so far

this school year, but how they had experienced school in the past — in such small groups wearing masks, keeping physical distance,” she said. “This is our next step – not our final – toward having students in the buildings, with their teachers in a somewhat normal fashion.” Board member Kevin Mehring told the administration during the special meeting he wasn’t keen on the flipped model because it didn’t doesn’t give students enough time in school, and too much on their computers. “I’m not a huge fan of going back to school just eight hours a week … you should be back for the full day, at least,” he said. “They should be spending more time with their teachers, in actual live teaching.” High school principal Jim Pliner said the flipped model will work better, as it’s more effective at “helping students

Photo by Justin Loewen

From right, Netherwood Knoll Elementary School librarian Angela Brauns welcomes Kaden Cunningham back to school.

master the essential learning standards and content that is a part of the curriculum.” He said some classes may use concurrent instruction — where a teacher is working with in-person and virtual students at the same time — but not as a “model in whole.” “It lowers the bar, and it makes us vulnerable when we have staffing issues,” Pliner said. “We want to lean on flipped instruction because we know we’ve learned so much about how to leverage it, and to continue to keep coherent educational experiences for kids in the classroom.” Email Unified Newspaper Group reporter Scott De Laruelle at scott.delaruelle@wcinet.com.

Ask T he Wealth Care Experts!

Financial Resolutions

TO MAKE IN THE NEW YEAR

For many of us, the new year means a fresh start and the chance to set new goals. As you consider your resolutions, you may want to add “strengthen my financial foundation” to the list. Here are five ways you can put yourself on firmer financial footing in 2021: #1 – IDENTIFY WHAT’S WORKING AND WHAT ISN’T There may be aspects of your financial life that are meeting your expectations and others that aren’t. Most important is to determine if you are on track to achieve key financial goals. Are you saving enough for retirement or your kids’ college education? Do you have enough in your emergency fund? Are your investments well positioned for the long run? Consider meeting with a financial advisor to get an objective opinion on what’s working and areas of potential improvement. #2 – DEVELOP AN ACHIEVABLE SPENDING PLAN There is a constant tug-of-war between spending money and saving it. If you can find ways to trim your spending, you’ll have more money to set aside toward your most important goals, such as retirement and education funding. It may start by establishing a spending cap for each month. #3 – BOOST YOUR RETIREMENT PLAN CONTRIBUTIONS Any time you receive a raise at work, consider adjusting the money you set aside for your retirement accounts by a comparable percentage. For example, if you invest $500 per paycheck into your workplace retirement plan, and then receive a three percent raise, consider increasing your retirement plan contribution to $515 (equal to three percent). Making that a regular habit can help you achieve your goals more quickly.

#4 – MAKE SURE YOU ARE SET FOR EMERGENCIES A rainy day fund is foundational to your financial plan. In times when you face an increased risk of an interruption to your income (like in today’s more economically challenged environment), it takes on added importance. You want at least three-to-six months of expenses covered by your emergency fund. If you are short of that, make a priority of adding to it. #5 – EXPLORE YOUR BORROWING OPTIONS If you are paying a mortgage, car loan, student debt or credit card balances, consider more cost-effective ways to manage your debt. Finding ways to refinance debt at a lower interest rate is one consideration. Another is to focus on paying off the most expensive debt more quickly. Check your credit score to determine how it might impact your financing options. Gaining more control over debt is an important way to improve your financial standing over the next year.

• Focus on Fundamentals • Good intentions are in ample supply at this time of year. The key to making meaningful changes is to focus on the fundamental aspects of your financial life and follow through on the plans you make. Working with a financial advisor can help you be more accountable and provide guidance to help you stay or as much as will fit.

With the right financial advisor, life can be brilliant. Aaron Zimmer, CFP®, BFA™, APMA®, ChSNC®

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Make a year-end gift and honor a veteran. Please send your donation/contribution to: Fitchburg Veterans Memorial c/o Oak Bank, Attn: Stephanie East 5951 McKee Road, Suite 100, Fitchburg, WI 53719

Back to school

Private Wealth Advisor Franchise Owner 2912 Marketplace Dr, Ste 100 | Madison, WI 53719 608-663-7526 Aaron.j.zimmer@ampf.com | www.capitalwealthcares.com

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Next steps to bringing students back

January 8, 2021

18 Fitchburg Star - January 8, 2021

City Hall - Main Line Administration Assessing Building Inspections City Clerk Economic Development

270-4200 270-4213 270-4235 270-4240 270-4210 270-4246

FACTv Finance Fire Department FitchRona Human Resources Library Municipal Court

270-4225 270-4251 278-2980 275-7148 270-4211 729-1760 270-4224

Parks & Forestry Planning/Zoning Police Public Works Recreation/Community Center Senior Center Utilities

270-4288 270-4258 270-4300 270-4260 270-4285 270-4290 270-4270

5520 Lacy Road, Fitchburg, WI 53711 • www.fitchburgwi.gov

SNOW & ICE REMOVAL GUIDELINES FOR CITY OF FITCHBURG PROPERTY OWNERS Property owners are required to keep sidewalks clear of snow and ice so that pedestrians can navigate safely. Fitchburg ordinance states: Sec. 27-114.- Snow and ice to be removed from sidewalks. The owner of each lot or part of lot shall remove or cause to be removed all snow and ice which may have fallen or accumulated upon the sidewalk in front of the premises which he/she owns not later than 6:00 p.m. of the day after the same has ceased to fall or accumulate; provided that when ice has so formed upon any sidewalk that it cannot be removed, then

the owner shall keep the same effectively sprinkled with sand, salt or other suitable substance in such manner as to prevent the ice from being dangerous, until such time as it can be removed, and then it shall be promptly removed. The fine for failure to remove snow/ ice is $187. A notice/reminder is typically given to violators on the 1st offense; however, NO warning is given for 2nd & subsequent violations. Go to wisaltwise.com/homeowner for guidelines on effective salting and sanding practices that also protect Fitchburg waterways.

QUARTERLY RECYCLING REMINDERS Fitchburg has unlimited curbside recycling. Simply place overflow recyclables in a clear plastic bag next to your recycling cart when you set it out by the curb. It is not necessary to bag the recyclables in your cart. In fact, processing them is easier if you don’t. However, if you chose to bag them, use a clear plastic bag. Anything in other than a clear plastic bag will be processed as trash! Please keep your recyclables dry by keeping the lid on your recycling cart

closed. Rain-soaked paper and cardboard affects its ability to be recycled. Flatten cardboard before putting it in your recycling cart. Place your recycling cart and refuse cart curbside, either in your driveway or in the terrace. Do not place them in the street where they can interfere with vehicle traffic, street sweeping and snow removal. Recycling answers: http://www.fitchburgwi.gov/146/Refuse-Recycling

GREEN E-BLAST SIGN-UP INFO

Want to stay informed on sustainable suggestions, issues and area events? Sign up for Green Fitchburg e-blasts. Scroll down the page at http://www.fitchburgwi.gov/list.aspx until you find Green Fitchburg and follow the instructions from there. Fitchburg does not share email addresses.

NOW ACCEPTING MAYORAL APPOINTMENT APPLICATION FORMS The City is seeking applications from Fitchburg residents interested in serving on citizen committees. Serving on a citizen committee or commission is a substantial and meaningful opportunity for citizens to participate in city government and to contribute their time, talents and expertise to Fitchburg. Applications are reviewed by the

Mayor for appointment and confirmed by the Common Council. Term lengths range from 2, 3 and 5 years. Applications received will be considered for appointments beginning in April. View a complete list of committees and commissions: https://bit.ly/2VW3MPv Complete the application form for consideration here: https://bit.ly/3cymLp5

HOLIDAY TREE COLLECTION Weather permitting, holiday tree collection will begin the week of January 4th for properties within the City of Fitchburg brush collection. A second collection will take place the week of January 18th. Trees should be at the curb by 6:30 am on Monday morning of the collection week with trunks facing street. All decorating material must be removed. Flocked trees are not collected and must be disposed of in the refuse, with a refuse tag attached. Wreaths and garland are considered refuse if they are flocked or contain metal or other supporting devices. However, with a little elbow grease, real wreaths

can be recycled! Remove all decorations and supporting material from the wreath. Take to the Fitchburg Recycling Drop-off Site at 2373 S. Fish Hatchery Rd and put the boughs in the Yardwaste area and metal or steel framing in the Scrap Metal area. Ornaments are not recyclable and should be reused or placed in your green refuse cart. Plastic-coated metal is also not recyclable. For more information on how to reduce your waste footprint this holiday season, check out the City’s Holiday Recycling Guide available at: https://www. fitchburgwi.gov/2570/Seasonal.

Thank you to all of the participating homes & businesses, The UPS Store, Signarama, & the Fitchburg Chamber of Commerce for a successful event!

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January 8, 2021

Fitchburg Star

Business brief Hy-Vee offers rapid COVID-19 tests

Rapid COVID-19 tests, which take approximately two hours to deliver results, are available at Hy-Vee, 2920 Fitchrona Road, a business news release states. Hy-Vee pharmacists administer the nasal swab test in an outdoor, drive-thru process. Patients are asked to wear a mask and stay in their vehicle, the release states The rapid antigen test is only available to those who are symptomatic or asymptomatic, but have been exposed to someone who is COVID-19 positive, the release states. The cost for the rapid test varies by location but can be viewed online while scheduling an appointment. Patients who do not fit the criteria for rapid testing can still receive a free lab test. These results are available within three to five business days, the release states.. Patients must schedule an appointment online at hy-vee.com/covidtesting.

The HighLine is located at 2001 Traceway Drive.

Photos courtesy of HighLine Apart

An ‘ideally suited’ space HighLine Apartments provide seniors with housing option

MOLLY CARMICHAEL Star Correspondent

When the City of Fitchburg saw there was a need for affordable senior housing, developers planned the HighLine Apartment complex, which opened in May 2020. The apartments, located at 2001 Traceway Drive, are available to prospective renters who are at least 55 years old and fall within an income range for their desired unit. The property is subsidized by tax credits, so state and federal organizations set up maximum rent prices, property manager Stacy Sumwalt told the Star. Rental prices currently range from $930 to $1,195. And while there are several different layouts, there are four main options including one bedroom, one bedroom with a den, two bedrooms with one bathroom and two bedrooms with two bathrooms. Amenities such as air conditioning, a dishwasher, a washer and dryer, internet access and cable are available, HighLine spokesperson Brandon Scholz told the Star. Scholz said the building is “ideally suited for seniors” because of the businesses in the surrounding community which include shopping centers, restaurants, a golf course and both Meriter and UW Health Clinic. And being just off of Fish Hatchery Road, the trip up to Madison is simple, Scholz said. HighLine also has in-building features, which are accessible for people with disabilities, including a fitness center, underground parking garage, a library and club rooms, Scholz said. If it weren’t for COVID-19, an added benefit for seniors who live at the complex would be social events. Sumwalt said she hopes to plan them for the apartment’s residents to build community once the pandemic sees its end. “Our goal here is to obviously make our residents feel at home and comfortable,” she said.

Photo by Mark Nesbitt

Patrick Anderson, Fitch-Rona EMS Chief, is swabbed for a COVID-19 test on Thursday, June 25.

JangoDx offers free COVID-19 testing on Greenway Drive There are various shared spaces around the building.

HighLine Senior Apartments

JangoDx, a division of Fitchburg-based biotechnology company JangoBio, is offering free COVID-19 testing in the city. All the public has to do is set up an appointment through a website portal, and meet JangoDx staff at a drive-thru site located at the upper lot of 2997 Yarmouth Greenway Dr. at the chosen time. JangoDx, according to the company’s website, is working with the state’s Department of Health Services to offer the testing. The company can collect patient information and swabs in under five minutes, with results available within 3-7 days over an email or a text message. Unlike some sites in Dane County, testing at the Fitchburg location is self-administered, requiring a gentle swabbing at the base of the nasal canal. A YouTube video trains individuals for the process ahead of time online, or else staff at the testing site can run them through the process. For more information and for a full list of JangoDx testing sites throughout the Dane County area, visit jangodx.com/ community-testing.

If You Go What: Free COVID-19 testing by JangoDx When: By appointment Where: 2997 Yarmouth Greenway Dr. Info: jangodx.com/community-testing/

2001 Traceway Dr, Fitchburg, WI highlinesenior.com 236-3176 Virtual tours of units can be found online.

20 Fitchburg Star - January 8, 2021

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Weâ€™re Here in Person and Online! We are working hard to fill your online orders timely. Thank you for your patience!

Store Hours: 6:30am-9:00pm Monday-Sunday 210 S. Main St., Verona

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Your locally owned grocer for 118 years.