12/11/2020 Fitchburg Star

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Friday, December 11, 2020 • Vol. 7, No. 10 • Fitchburg, WI • ConnectFitchburg.com • $1

Spring election

Inside

Four local seats open Clauder, three school board members won’t seek re-election

Resident starts “Buy Nothing” Facebook group

KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group

Page 7

Business

Photo by Emilie Heidemann

Resident starts “Buy Nothing” Facebook group Page 8

Sports Badgers can’t rally past Hawkeyes Page 12

Schools

Hop Haus co-owner Sara Hoechst told the Star foot traffic has been down by around 80-85% at the Verona-based brewery’s Fitchburg location, 2975 Sub-Zero Pkwy., since summer.

Bracing for the pandemic winter

Fitchburg businesses continue to adapt to COVID-19 Distillery and Hop Haus are getting creative as they prepare for the post-holiday lull, when frigid s the COVID-19 pandemic temperatures already tend to keep people home. And with the added steamrolls into winter, it burden of the illness, the businessseems all odds are against es report lower foot traffic volthe area businesses trying to stay umes as Dane County bans indoor afloat financially.

That includes those in the City gatherings, and as people remain isolated for fear of getting sick of Fitchburg.

Places like Rolling Pin Bake with the illness.

But those same owners and Shop, Cosa Boutique, Yahara Bay

managers said they remain optimistic, conceptualizing ways to keep their customers and clients engaged while keeping their e m p l oy e e s h e a l t h y, w h e t h e r through contactless events, online shopping deals or business partnerships. It’s apparent they, and likely many other Fitchburg businesses, won’t go down without a

EMILIE HEIDEMANN Unified Newspaper Group

A

Turn to Winter/Page 10

At least one City of Fitchburg alder and one school board member from each one of Fitchburg’s three school districts won’t be running for re-election this spring.

Ald. Tom Clauder (Dist. 4) told the Star on Friday, Dec. 4, that he had decided not to run again, stating that he had spent a decade combined as the city’s mayor and an alder and that it was time for someone else to have a chance to lead.

“I do appreciate the voters voting for me and their support that I received over the years,” Clauder said. “I talked to my family, and even one of my daughters said, ‘Dad, 10 years is a long time, it’s time for someone else.’”

One person from each school district’s board – Oregon, Verona Area and Madison Metropolitan – has announced their intention to step back from their roles in April of next year. They are board president Steve Zach, who represents the Village of Oregon for the Oregon School District; Tom Duerst, who holds an at-large seat in Verona; and board president Gloria Reyes for Madison.

Dane County Executive Joe Parisi is also up for re-election, and he announced Nov. 17 he will be seeking his third full term.

For all local and county governmental bodies, the first day aspiring candidates could start circulating nomination papers and collecting signatures was Sunday, Dec. 1. The spring election is Tuesday, April 6,

Turn to Election/Page 11

City of Fitchburg

City administrator placed on administrative leave

Council approves third-party Page 15 investigation of conduct

OSD preparing for in-person second semester Page 16

KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group

City of Fitchburg administrator Patrick Marsh has been put on administrative leave, mayor Aaron Richardson confirmed with the

Star last week.

Richardson would not publicly state why the city put Marsh on leave, because he said the situation is a personnel matter. The leave Marsh comes a week after the City of Fitchburg Common Council unanimously authorized funds at its Tuesday,

Nov. 24, meeting to move forward with hiring Riseling Group.

That consulting firm will conduct an external investigation of Marsh’s conduct, during which Ald. Gabriella Gerhardt (Dist. 2) advocated for the leave after the vote.

Gerhardt said that her top concern was the physical and mental health of city staff before and during the investigation.

“I think the staff of the City of Fitchburg, the residents of the City of Fitchburg and the reputation of the city really matter in this discussion,” she said. “I wish that the city would consider a suspension of the administrator in the lead-up into and during the investigation … ultimately this comes down to the mayor, and the mayor’s going

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Fitchburg Star

December 11, 2020

‘A page a day’ Winter market takes over

greenhouse at Fitchburg Farms

The Free Little Library sits outside Kids’ Crossing playground at McKee Farms Park.

Oakhill Correctional teams up with Fitchburg-Verona Rotary Club to build little free library JOE HALLEY Star correspondent

Inmates at a City of Fitchburg minimum security prison just outside Oregon provided free books to the public just before Halloween.

That was through a little free library they built at McKee Farms Park in Fitchburg.

The effort to build, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Fitchburg-Verona and Oakhill Correctional Institute, brought a birdhouse-shaped wooden box featuring messages on both sides, with a forest painted on the back of the structure, to the park.

Now, people can come pick up books, or drop them off at their leisure.

They are greeted with messages that say “a page a day” and “so many books, so little time.”

Oakhill recreational leader Marilea Groves told the Star the inmates had just voluntarily come out of making 4,000 masks for staff and fellow residents at Oakhill. So when Fitchburg-Verona Rotary Club

Photo submitted

president Tim Beauthein and member Tom Marshall suggested the idea of building a little free library she quickly asked inmates to participate in the project.

“We’ve been involved with many arts and craft programs,” she said. “You can tell alot of them enjoy doing something different and for good.”

Then, with the help of Steven Jaeggi, head of building services, and a few inmates, the team made a plan.

And so, the institution purchased all the supplies for the little free library, Groves said, and received donations of books from surrounding communities.

Beauthein said he donated 50 books to the library himself.

Participating in community projects proves beneficial for Oakhill inmates, Groves said, having been with the institute for 36 years.

Groves is already looking for the next project inmates can be involved in.

Beauthien said he thinks the rotary club and institute will team up again in the future — they are already looking for the next location to put a little library.

“Little libraries have become (popular) because of the pandemic,” Beauthien said. “That’s the idea behind it.”

Since kicking off Oct. 31, Fitchburg Farms’ winter market has been open daily, featuring dozens of handcrafted holiday goods spread throughout the garden center’s greenhouse.

The craft fair is home to local vendors selling a variety of holiday decorations, arrangements and many other items, and will remain open through Dec. 20.

- Justin Loewen

Photos by Justin Loewen

Carol Mays creates a festive arrangement by gluing pine cones onto a branch during Fitchburg Farms’ winter market on Saturday, Dec. 5.

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

From left, Charley, 8, Audra and Dave Chaimson of Oregon check out a variety of ornaments.

Shoppers roamed a greenhouse that was overflowing with festive goods during the garden center’s winter market.

From left, Chris Packard and Wendie Bartelt of Oregon inspect a gallery of seasonal paintings.

Poinsettias were some of the many holiday goods available.

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December 11, 2020

COVID-19 snapshot from Dec. 4-7

Starting Wednesday, Dec. 2, the state Department of Health Services started releasing COVID-19 data for cities, villages and townships, as well as City of Verona school districts and ZIP codes.

The state Department of Health • Average no. of new daily cases within last seven days: 16.43 Services receives data from county health departments and hospitals that • Cumulative cases: 1,535 are uploaded into its electronic disease • Change over Friday, Dec. 4: 44 surveillance system by 9 a.m. the day of the report. At 2 p.m., the department • Percentage positive since March 15: 5.34% releases new information on its website.

The Fitchburg Star has compiled the regular COVID-19 number updates to 15. prevalence of COVID-19 in Fitchburg provide more information to readers.

The data dashboard can be located at between Friday, Dec. 4 and Monday, Cumulative cases are a representa- dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/data.htm.

Dec. 7. The Star plans to keep running tion of all cases reported since March — Kimberly Wethal

Verona COVID-19 numbers

Dane County

Parisi announces spring re-election bid Former area State Rep. has been county executive since 2011

Photo by Alexander Cramer

Dane County executive Joe Parisi answers questions from the crowd at the Oregon Area Senior Center Feb. 20, 2019.

– bring people together, get work done, and deliver tangible results.”

Parisi touted his accomplishments in recent years, including creating mental health teams for public schools,

3

State launches COVID-19 dashboard to include cities, villages, school districts Fitchburg sees 5.1% positive since pandemic start KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group

For the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, people are able to view data based on their municipalities, school districts and zip codes.

The state Department of Health Services launched the more inclusive dashboard Wednesday, Dec. 2, that shows seven-day average rates of new cases, cumulative case counts and rates per capita of cases and deaths. Previously, people were only able to view the rate and count of COVID-19 cases and deaths at the county and census tract level.

“We work hard to provide local and tribal health officials and the public with timely COVID-19 i n f o r m a t i o n ,” s e c r e tary-designee Andrea Palm said in a news release from the department. “Breaking down existing case data by these additional geographies offers new ways for people to understand COVID-19 activity within

their communities.”

Census tracts, while providing some local information, don’t completely line up with municipal b o u n d a r i e s . S o m e c e nsus tracts cover parts of a city or village, as well as a town, or partial pieces, making it difficult to stitch together a completely accurate picture of what local infection rates look like.

The news release states that the school district information is inclusive of all people who live within the district boundaries, not just school-aged children, and that cases or deaths related to outbreaks at specific schools across the state are not shown.

According to the dashboard, Fitchburg has had a 5.1% positivity rate accumulated since the month of March.

The data can be viewed by going to dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/data. htm. The new municipal and school district data is currently located near the bottom of the page.

Email reporter Kimberly Wethal at kimberly. wethal@wcinet.com and follow her on Twitter @ kimberly_wethal.​

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Dane County executive Joe Parisi plans to seek re-election next spring for the top county job he’s held for nearly a decade.

In a Tuesday, Nov. 17 news release, Parisi said county government needs to continue coordinating its response to — and eventual recovery from — the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Covid-19 has tested us, tearing at the very fabric of our physical, emotional and economic well-being,” he said in the news release. “The challenges before us from this pandemic are like none we have faced in our lifetime.

They also present great opportunities to do what we do best in Dane County

cleaning sediment from area waterways and increasing the county’s green energy production.

“We have gotten an awful lot done, but it’s clear there’s still much to do,” he said in the news release. “I’m honored to have the trust of these leaders and the opportunity to serve the community I grew up in and love.”

A Dane County native, Parisi received 70% of the vote when he was elected county executive in a special election in the spring 2011. Previously he was a State Representative in the 48th Assembly District, which included Madison’s east side, the City of Monona, Village of McFarland and Town of Dunn. Prior to that, he was Dane County Clerk from 1996 to 2004.

Email Unified Newspaper Group reporter Scott De Laruelle at scott. delaruelle@wcinet.com.

Fitchburg Star

4

December 11, 2020

Letter to the editor

Faith in electoral process confirmed Growing up in a small town in rural Wisconsin, I have always voted. It was a responsibility my parents taught me was an important responsibility for the good of the wider community. When my children were young, I took them with me as I voted.

Participating in the election process is a sacred task which is a part of our civic duty. This year’s presidential election was no exception. I believe no matter who you voted for in the 2020 presidential race, collectively we participated in the most consequential election of our lifetime.

With the recount now underway in Dane and Milwaukee counties, I have been reflecting on my own election day experience. For health and safety reasons during the pandemic, as a resident of Fitchburg I opted to vote by mail.

I was able to follow the progress of my ballot on MyVoteWisconsin. I am grateful for the many ways the dedicated county clerks and poll workers provided for us to cast our ballots.

Then on November 3, I did something for the very first time. I served a four-hour shift as a “poll chaplain” with another local pastor. We were stationed on the grounds of Leopold Community School, outside the polling location.

The Wisconsin Interfaith Voter Engagement Campaign recruited faith leaders from

ConnectFitchburg.com

Fitchburg Star

across Wisconsin to be a nonpartisan, peaceful, and prayerful presence at the polls. As poll chaplains, we were prepared for potential incidents of voter intimidation. I had participated in training which suggested potential responses to a variety of situations, such as informing election officials should there be concerns, and to stand with anyone being harassed.

However, no concerns emerged during my shift. My experience contrasts with the unsubstantiated calls regarding voter fraud in the news today.

As a poll chaplain, I checked in with the poll workers.

I talked with people from groups who were serving as observers.

Everyone wore masks and physically distanced to protect one another from the coronavirus. I watched as voters entered the school building, while others voted at the curb.

The morning was a wonderful testament to democracy in action.

Every voter, and every vote, is an essential component to the health of our democracy.

As the process continues towards the electoral college, culminating in the Presidential Inauguration on January 20, 2021, my faith in the integrity of our election process continues to be affirmed.

Rev. Kris Gorton Fitchburg

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Stay grateful amid all the problems 2020 has brought us

I

t’s hard to believe we’ve been at this new normal for almost a year now.

Having just passed Thanksgiving, one that looked very different from last year, it’s the perfect time to stay consistent with a daily gratitude practice.

Gratitude is a lifestyle. No matter how hard things seem, we can always let our attention find and then rest on something we’re grateful for.

Don’t let pandemic stress make you miss the benefits from appreciating what’s around you.

Practicing gratitude changes your brain in a positive way. It’s a simple, free way to wake up the parts of your brain that help you feel better.

Unlike searching for that feeling of well-being in unhealthy, unsustainable ways, gratitude has no negative side effects.

Gratitude trains your brain to release more dopamine and serotonin, which are our own powerful feel-good chemicals. Stress hormones decrease, which can gently lift anxiety and depression. The practice of gratitude has shown to help people adapt better to the stress they have in their life.

There are many studies that document the health and life benefits of a gratitude practice.

In a study of 400 people, higher levels of gratitude were linked to better sleep quality and duration.

Another study of 411 people measured happiness scores after writing a thank-you letter to someone in their life who had never been properly thanked for their kindness.

Those who wrote letters showed an immediate and dramatic increase

in happiness, and the benefit was still measurable a month later.

Be patient and keep at it. Results will snowball over time.

If you set a regular time in your day Konopacki to find two or three things you’re grateful for, you won’t have to make the decision to do it again each day and you’re more likely to reach the cumulative benefits. Consider making it before you fall asleep, first thing in the morning or over your lunch break.

This year has brought me many things to be grateful for. I pulled together a few highlights for a blog recently, at bodywavechiro/blog. It was a fun way to share some of what 2020 has looked like for me.

That included getting married, finding my dog after she ran off into the woods by our house, finding more creative ways to connect with people I love, seeing people take a high level of responsibility for others’ safety in my office and being able to stay hopeful.

Our wedding was a safe and small 25-person outdoor ceremony in the field next to my house. It was windy that day but the weather held and it didn’t rain.

Everything came together with help from family and neighbors; we used beautiful summer evenings to meet outside and plan. I never thought I’d be zooming my wedding ceremony for out-of-town guests!

Losing and then finding my dog made for a long morning. We got her back after an hour of mentally

ping-ponging between worst- and best-case scenarios.

She definitely had fun: She returned a muddy, burr and tick covered mess and slept the rest of the day.

Among the creative ways I’ve connected are more bike rides with my niece, outdoor movies with neighbors and trying new shared distant hobbies of calligraphy, quilting and canning.

My 83-year-old mom and I also have a heated online Scrabble game going most days. When I get a really good word, she calls me immediately to recap how awesome it was.

One of the main reasons it feels safe and joyful for me to be at work is that I see people being smart about keeping themselves and others safe.

I see that with how people manage any symptoms and quarantine when recommended and with the concern I overhear for others’ health and well-being.

Thanks to everyone who added their comments onto this year’s office gratitude tree.

When this pandemic seems long and overwhelming, I remember it’s not going to last forever. We will get back to seeing the people we care about, doing the things we want and feeling the background stress of pandemic survival fade into the background.

Thanks for reading and for being a part of this community. I wish you easy, consistent access to gratitude, hope and grace going forward.

Dr. Laura Konopacki is the owner of Body Wave chiropractic in Fitchburg, and she has training in pediatrics and functional neurology.

Reduce, reuse and recycle your pandemic/holiday cardboard Online shopping has become a larger part of our retail framework over the past decade.

Enter a global pandemic in 2020 and the amount of cardboard we are using is exploding.

I’ve noticed that I have made more trips to the Fitchburg recycling dropoff site this year and have spent more Monday evenings trying to figure out how to pack two weeks of recyclables into our cart. As we are now into the holiday season, I foresee more cardboard management in my near future.

As you might imagine, cardboard is being received at record levels at material recovery facilities (where recyclables get processed) across the United States. While we are clearly doing well at recycling, we should, as consumers, think critically about how we can reduce the number of cardboard boxes we use and reuse what we can.

The increase in cardboard we’ve been experiencing results in more trees being sacrificed, more energy being used to produce the cardboard, to transport it and to recycle it and an increase waste hauling and recycling fees.

If you must use cardboard for your purchases at local stores, try to use the smallest size box possible. And for online deliveries, try to combine orders. Amazon offers that option on many items, which not only saves cardboard, it saves energy to deliver the items to you.

After you’ve reduced your consumption of cardboard as much as possible, reuse it for storage, mailing or moving. There are also options to donate it.

Churches, community organizations, thrift store and private box exchanges are among the possibilities. Community centers, schools or libraries might need them for art projects.

When you can’t reuse or donate it, recycle it.

Fitchburg has unlimited curbside recyclables pickup, but our recycling carts have limited space. Flattening or cutting your boxes can help save space.

For short-term surges with cardboard use, you can either set it aside for your next collection or cut down your cardboard and place it in clear, plastic bags curbside next to your recycling cart.

If you have excess cardboard consistently and you are not already at the 95-gallon cart size for recyclables, consider switching carts by calling Pellitteri Waste Systems at (608) 257-4285. This might come with a $25 fee.

Another option is to take your

cardboard to the Fitchburg recycling drop-off site. I’ve observed many residents using this option, but it is the most expensive one for recycling cardboard.

The drop-off site is free for Fitchburg residents, but the related hauling costs to empty the containers results in higher annual refuse and recycling fees overall.

If you have visited the drop-off site and opened a lid to a cardboard container, you probably have had several pieces of cardboard fall out of the overflowing cardboard containers, especially around the holiday season.

It is important to flatten or cut up your boxes before placing them into the community containers to save space at the community level, just like in your own recycling cart.

Fitchburg will be adding two more containers at the drop-off site in 2021 to try to keep up with all of our cardboard consumption.

While online shopping appears to be here to stay, my hope is that our cardboard consumption will decrease as the pandemic begins to fade away in 2021. We can all chip in to manage our cardboard use better and keep our community recycling costs stable.

Chris Jimieson is a member of Fitchburg’s Resource Conservation Commission and a geological engineer at SCS Engineers in Madison. He lives in Swan Creek with his wife and their 11-year-old son.

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December 11, 2020

Fitchburg Star

5

City of Fitchburg

Recreation employees will be paid in 2021 Alders voted to push back parking lot repairs KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group

Two City of Fitchburg Recreation Department employees will stay on in their current positions after Jan. 1 despite previous concerns they would be laid off or transferred to another department.

During the Tuesday, Dec. 8, Common Council meeting, alders unanimously voted to transfer $75,000 in funds away from the public works department to make sure they can be paid. At a Nov. 11 personnel committee meeting, city human resources director Sarah Olson announced that the city was looking at laying off recreation department employee Austin Coss and temporarily reassigning recreation director Chad Sigl to a different department – with a significant pay cut.

Sigl and Coss’ paychecks are funded through recreation fees

coming from summer sports and fitness programming; but much of those funds dried up as the city canceled activities because of the COVID-19 pandemic, causing a funding gap of $93,000.

The recreation department, which relies mostly on external funding from rental and registration fees, brought in $165,227 in 2019 and more than $190,000 each year in 2017 and 2018. While the City did not have numbers for what the recreation brought in prior to March available in the council packet, no revenue was brought in April going forward because all events and activities were canceled.

Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security funds directed toward the city could also help fill the funding gap for Sigl and Coss’ positions, city administrator Patrick Marsh told the alders. But whether funding comes in 2021 is completely out of the city’s control.

To even out the gap, the council agreed to postpone the parking lot resurfacing for McKee Farms park, which is estimated to cost around

$75,000.

“Even though it is a part of my district, I am able to compromise and see that it can be delayed for a year – nothing is going to happen if we delay this project for a year,” Ald. Julia Arata-Fratta (Dist. 2) said.

The council removed sidewalk repairs from the original proposal, which would have added another $17,000 to the surplus and would have covered nearly all of the two employees’ wages. The Council decided to keep the sidewalk repairs in the budget because the repair program is required by the state, and 4,100 square feet of sidewalks are currently designated as a tripping hazard.

While the budget amendment is enough to keep paying Sigl and Coss in their roles at the start of the year, the council will be required to revisit the budget in 2021 to make sure funding is available to pay them. Alders voiced the desire to bring it up again at the Jan. 26 meeting, where more options could be presented to to make up the difference, or perhaps a clearer picture

could emerge on whether the city could look to start scheduling recreation activities for later in the year.

During the November personnel committee meeting, Alds. Dorothy Krause (D-1), Gabriella Gerhardt (D-2) and Tom Clauder (D-4) requested that city staff look through the city’s finances to see if there was a way to pay Sigl and Coss.

In the absence of recreation programs this year, Sigl and Coss have helped with parks maintenance and public works.

Mayor Aaron Richardson told alders during the November personnel committee meeting that having a recreation department is important to him and that he wants to bring back programming as soon as possible.

The city needs the recreation assistant role, Richardson added, so he doesn’t want to completely eliminate it, and said in November that if a lay-off was necessary, he’d want for it to be for as short of a time as possible.

“When I was putting our budget for 2021 together a couple of

months ago, our hope was that COVID-19 would be getting better by now, and we could start doing rec programs soon, and it wouldn’t be a problem,” he said. “Obviously that’s not happening, and COVID-19’s getting worse.”

Clauder expressed irritation at the announcement’s timing – the personnel committee was held less than 18 hours after the conclusion of the budget hearing and approval process on Nov. 10. He also voiced annoyance at how city staff didn’t bring forward the impending layoff and job change before then.

“For God’s sake, why didn’t we know about this before now … why didn’t somebody bring this up to us and say, ‘hey, we may have to lay off people’,” he said. “Now I’m sitting here and I’m kind of frustrated, and damn it, we just passed a budget last night and (the ink’s) not dry … I don’t mean to be too strong, but it’s hard to swallow.”

Email reporter Kimberly Wethal at kimberly.wethal@wcinet.com and follow her on Twitter @kimberly_wethal.​

Ambulances for EMS now have ventilators Gullickson joins UNG MACKENZIE KRUMME Unified Newspaper Group

Fitch-Rona EMS has added three transport ventilators to its equipment to help with COVID-19 cases and other people experiencing respiratory distress.

In October, the multi-jurisdictional department became the only 911 service in Dane County to receive the ventilators, which help patients breathe by mechanically bringing oxygen into their lungs through a tube that is inserted in their throat.

Each of the three front-line services ambulances — two in Fitchburg and one in Verona — will have a transport ventilator inside.

Previously, the team used a bag valve mask, which is a piece of equipment that requires a person to manually squeeze a bag every six to eight

seconds and thrust air into someone’s lungs. And although first responders will still start with the bag valve masks method, the new transport ventilators free-up a first responder and allow a consistent airflow to the patient, Fitch-Rona EMS chief Patrick Anderson said.

The 15 pound shoebox-size ventilators are programmed to control the timing of airflow and the volume of air delivered to a patient.

“That is what (the ventilator) does: It doesn’t get distracted; it will breathe routinely,” he said.

He added that because COVID-19 is airborne, it is important for first responders to stay as far away from patients’ heads as possible.

“Anything we can do to get farther away from a patient’s airway is better,” he said. “There is also antimicrobial and antiviral tubing.”

The department has considered

purchasing the transport ventilators for years but was able to use $33,000 of funding through the The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act, to purchase, Anderson said.

On average, two or three patients a month require the use of a ventilator, Anderson said, and although that is not a huge demand — the department will be able to loan the equipment to hospitals or clinics in crisis situations.

The national shortage of ventilators caused a six-month delay in the delivery of the equipment, Anderson added. Anderson said that while there is still a shortage for the disposable equipment that is used with the ventilators, such as tubing, he thinks the department won’t run out anytime soon.

Contact Mackenzie Krumme at mackenzie.krumme@wcinet.com.

Police participating in ‘Drive Sober Get Pulled Over’ campaign until Jan. 1 larger numbers for longer hours to wait for impaired drivers.

Motorists who are convicted of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs while driving can face fines, loss of their driver’s license and jail time, the release states. Additional penalties include the installation of an ignition interlock device.

Fitchburg police are investigating an early morning incident on Friday, Dec. 4, where witnesses reported gunfire from several directions in the Belmar Hills neighborhood.

According to a Dec. 4.

Fitchburg Police Department news release, officers responded around 1:38 a.m. that morning after numerous callers reporting hearing “gunfire from several different directions.”

Officers began a detailed search of several streets and intersections in the neighborhood, finding seven casings in the roadway of the 2300 block of Red Arrow

Trail. According to the news release, a check of surrounding residences did not turn up any property damage, nor was there any indication that anyone was struck by the gunfire. Witnesses reported seeing a white vehicle fleeing the area at a high rate of speed.

Anyone with information on this ongoing investigation is encouraged to call the Fitchburg Police Department at (608) 270-4300 or Madison Area Crime Stoppers at (608) 266-6014.

Email Unified Newspaper Group reporter Scott De Laruelle at scott.delaruelle@ wcinet.com.

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Police investigating after shots fired

Every three hours in Wisconsin, someone is injured or killed in an alcohol related crash, the release states.

So if a member of the public suspects someone is driving impaired, they are encouraged to call 911.

For more information, call the Fitchburg Police Department at (608) 2704300.

Bill Jollie 608-206-2834 • jollietree@aol.com

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The Fitchburg Police Department is joining local law enforcement agencies across Wisconsin in a “Drive Sober Get Pulled Over” campaign.

The campaign will last from Friday, Dec. 18 through Friday, Dec. 1, according to a news release.

The release state Fitchburg police, and other state agencies, will patrol in

Molly Gullickson has joined Unified Newspaper Group’s staff as our customer relationship coordinator.

In this role, Gullickson will provide a critical link between our advertising account executives and customers. She’ll be responsible for ensuring quality advertising, marketing and customer service for the advertisers of UNG, which publishes the Verona Press, Oregon Observer, Stoughton Courier Hub, Fitchburg Star and Great Dane.

Bryann Bozeman formerly held this position and is transitioning to an advertising account executive role.

Gullickson, an Evansville resident and Dodgeville area native, comes

to UNG with over 10 years of customer service experience i n va r i o u s roles. She Gullickson most recently worked at Symdon Chevrolet, where she worked as a business development manager.

Gullickson lives with her husband, a black lab and two cats in their home in Evansville. She and her husband spend most of their time at home being movie critics and popping all of the popcorn, and on weekends they love to go for long walks and hikes in the surrounding areas.

She can be reached at molly.gullickson@wcinet. com.

To All Fahey Sales & Service Customers Due to health reasons I will be retiring as of December 31, 2020.

Lee Paynter, who has worked for us for 30 years, will be buying the business on January 1, 2021.

The new name of the business will be Fahey Pumps. The telephone numbers will remain the same. I want to thank all of you great customers for supporting me and my family for 58 years.

I have always felt that I needed you more than you need me.

Thank you again and best wishes.

Sincerely, Louie Fahey

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6

December 11, 2020

ConnectFitchburg.com

Fitchburg Star

Fitchburg bars, cafes and restaurants offer delivery, carryout U n i fi e d N ew s p a p e r G r o u p has compiled a listing of restaurants still serving Fitchburg throughout the COVID-19 crisis.

We have attempted to be as thorough as possible, but situations were still changing as of our print deadline, and not all businesses were available when we attempted contact.

All listings are as of Wednesday, Dec. 9.

We advise you contact the following establishments for the most up-to-date hours and availability.

Please email ungbusiness@ wcinet.com if you’d like to be added to this list or to make an update to your listing.

Monday-Saturday; 11 a.m. to Hours: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. MonJimmy John’s day-Friday; 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Available: Carryout, curbside, Available: Pickup, no-contact 9 p.m., Sunday delivery delivery Monkeyshines Bar and Grill Saturday Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Available: Curbside pickup, Starbucks 4-9 p.m. Saturdays, 4-8:30 p.m. (Fish Hatchery); 10:30 a.m. to delivery Available: Drive-through Sundays 9 p.m. (McKee) Hours: 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Food hours: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Curry In The Box

Dairy Queen Grill & Chill

Laredo’s

Noodles And Company

Available: Carryout, no-contact Available: Carryout, no-contact Available: Curbside, delivery, delivery delivery, dine-in dine-in Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday-Sunday Enrique’s Grill Liliana’s Restaurant Available: Carryout Available: Curbside pickup, Oasis Café Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. delivery Available: Carryout, delivery, Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Mon- dine-in The Flying Hound day-Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Available: Carryout Friday-Saturday; 10 a.m. to Monday-Friday; 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Sun- Saturday day Funk’s Pub Pancheros Available: Carryout Little Caesars Pizza Available: Carryout, delivery Hours: 3-8 p.m. Thursday-SatAvailable: Carryout, delivery Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Barriques urday Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. MonAvailable: Curbside pickup, Glass Nickel Pizza Co. day-Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Pancake Café delivery, outdoor seating Available: Carryout, dine-in Friday-Sunday Available: Carryout, no-contact Hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Hours: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. delivery Me And Julio Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Benvenuto’s Italian Grill Available: Carryout, delivery, Panera Bread Available: Carryout, curbside Sunday-Thursday; 10:30 a.m. to dine-in Available: Carryout, curbside, 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday pickup, no-contact delivery Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Mon- delivery, dine-in Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The Great Dane Pub Hours: 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. day-Saturday; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday Available: Carryout, delivery Buffalo Wild Wings Quivey’s Grove Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Available: Pickup, delivery, Mod Pizza Availability: Carryout dine-in Haveli Indian Restaurant Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Available: Carryout, curbside, Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and 4-8 p.m. Tuesday-Thursdelivery Available: Carryout day and Saturday; 11:30 a.m. to Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Hours: 5-9 p.m.

Chocolate Shoppe 9 p.m. Friday

Ice Cream

Hy-Vee Market Grille

Moo-Yah

Available: Curbside, delivery, Available: Carryout, curbside, Rolling Pin Bake Shop Available: Carryout outdoor seating Available: Carryout, curbside, Hours: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Mon- delivery day-Saturday Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., dine-in Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

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 Cahiill 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 (608) 2743784.

link will be sent out prior to class.

For information, email suzie.jones@ fitchburgwi.gov.

‘Mind Over Matter’

People can join in on a “Mind Over Matter” workshop to help with bladder issues starting at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6.

This three-session online workshop for senior women will include information, group activities and simple exercises to do at home. The next sessions are scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon on Jan. 20 Digital book displays and Feb. 3. The cost is $20.

If you miss browsing the Fitchburg For information, email miller.alyce@ Public Library’s book display, there’s a countyofdane.com. virtual solution.

The library is featuring digital book Being grateful displays on its Facebook page. To check People can join in on a virtual proout a book, click its image and place a gram about being grateful at 2 p.m. hold in LINKcat. Once you receive a Wednesday, Jan. 13, over Zoom through notice that your hold is available, call the Fitchburg Senior Center.

(608) 729-1790 to pick it up.

Be ready to start your own grateful jar.

For general information, email library. Staff will send a Zoom link prior to the reference@fitchburg.wi.gov. program.

For information, email suzie.jones@ Taking, making crafts Stop into the Fitchburg Public Library fitchburgwi.gov. at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 14, to pick up a REACH book club craft bag.

The Fitchburg Senior Center REACH The library’s “take and make” craft program is limited to one bag per per- book club is meeting at 1:30 p.m. Thursson. There are bags for children ages 2-5 day, Jan. 14, over Zoom. The club will discuss “The Splendid and the Vile” by and 6-12 and adults while supplies last.

People are advised to wear a mask Erik Larson.

For information, call (608) 270-4290. when they pick their bag up.

For information, call (608) 729-1763. Evening book club Starting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, ‘Giving Tree’ donations the Fitchburg Public Library is bringing The Fitchburg Senior Center is asking for gift card donations to local grocery back its evening adult book club, just and home good stores until Friday, Dec. virtually.

People can join in on a discussion 18.

The center wishes to give seniors the about “This Is How It Always Is” by ability to independently shop through its Laurie Frankel. Copies of the book are “Giving Tree” program, and asks for a available through the library’s curbside value of $25 and above. People can mail service. Call (608) 729-1790 during or drop off cards to the senior center at curbside hours to schedule pickup.

Registration is required and staff will 5510 Lacy Road ATTN: Senior Tree.

For information, call (608) 270-4290. provide a Zoom link.

For information, email rebecca.swanZoom aerobics class son@fitchburgwi.gov.

The senior center is starting a fourweek Zoom aerobics class at 8:30 a.m. Mystery book club The Fitchburg Senior Center “I Love Monday, Jan. 4.

The class is set for the same time sub- a Mystery Book Club” will meet at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28, over Zoom. sequent Mondays and Wednesdays.

For information, suzie.jones@fitchA minimum of six participants required, and the cost is $30. The Zoom burgwi.gov.

Surya Cafe

Availability: Carryout, outdoor dining Hours: 4-6 p.m.

Tapatios

Available: Carryout, delivery, dine-in Hours: 4-8 p.m.

Thai Noodles

Available: Carryout, delivery Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 1-9 p.m., Sunday

Thirsty Goat

Available: Carryout, delivery Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Toppers Pizza

Available: Carryout, contactless delivery Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Sunday-Wednesday, 10:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday; 10:30 a.m. to 3 a.m. Saturday

Yahara Bay Distillery

Available: Curbside Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday; noon to 4 p.m. Saturday

Closed:

Atomic Koi Cocktail Lounge Tuscany Grill

Virtual church services in Fitchburg The Star has compiled a list of scheduled virtual church services amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

If your church is hosting an online event and would like to be included in this listing, please send any pertinent information to ungcalendar@ wcinet.com.

The listing will run intermittently as space and time allows, and was last updated Wednesday, Dec. 9.

Chapel Valley Church

All Saints Lutheran Church

The Church at Christ Memorial

All Saints Lutheran Church, 2951 Chapel Valley Road, hosts virtual services at 9 a.m.

Sundays accessible on Youtube and Facebook.

Pastor Kristin Woelk delivers each service.

For more information, call 276-7729 or visit allsaints-madison.org.

Apostolic Faith Church

Chapel Valley Church, a mobile church, hosts virtual services at 10 a.m. Sundays on Youtube, Facebook, and chapelvalley.org The church’s worship team and Pastors Jeremiah and Suzie Genin invite the public to join in every Sunday.

For more information email info@chapelvalley.org or call 515-8855.

The Church at Christ Memorial, 2833 Raritan Road, hosts virtual services at 9 a.m.

Sundays at livelifetogether.com/livestream or facebook.com/livelifetogether.

Pastor Jeff Meyer and Matt Wipperman deliver services each week on the live stream.

For more information, call 271-2811 or visit livelifetogether.com.

Apostolic Faith Church, 2001 Harley Dr., hosts virtual services at 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. Sun- Memorial United Church of Christ Memorial United Church of Christ, 5705 days accessible over apostolicfaithmadison.org.

For more information, email cschleicher@ Lacy Road, hosts virtual services at 9:30 a.m.

Sundays. afpastor.org.

The services are accessible over Zoom or Blackhawk Church on the church’s Facebook page. To access a Blackhawk Church, 9620 Brader Way, hosts Zoom service, visit memorialucc.org and folvirtual services at 9 a.m., 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. low the link.

For more information, visit memorialucc.

Sundays.

There are also services for kids accessible org. at blackhawkchurch.org/connect/kidsstudents/ kids/online. Videos are geared toward first and Living Water Community Church Living Water Community Church virtual second graders and are around 20-30 minutes long. Regular services are accessible at black- services can be found at livingwatercommunihawkchurch.org, the church’s YouTube page tychurchinc.com.

Services are led by Pastors Cat and Jeff and Facebook page.

Those last around one hour to an hour and Smith.

For more information, email jeffncathyr1@ fifteen minutes.

For more information, 828-4200 or visit the gmail.com. church’s website.

City on a Hill

City on a Hill, 2924 Fish Hatchery Road, hosts virtual services at 10 a.m. Sundays accessible at live.cityonahill.co.

The church’s worship team and pastors deliver each service and invite the public to join in each week.

For more information, call 650-5422.

Redeemer City Church

Redeemer City Church, 5356 King James Way, posts its sermons, which take place Sundays at 10 a.m., online at redeemercitychurch. org/sermons.

Services are also filmed live for the Redeemer City Church YouTube channel.

For more information, visit the redeemercitychurch.org.

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.

ConnectFitchburg.com

December 11, 2020

Fitchburg Star

7

An economy of gifts Library expands public WiFi access

‘Buy Nothing’ project encourages giving over spending through Facebook

Guests can use the internet while sitting in parking lot

SARA SCHOENBORN

In an effort to better serve the city during COVID-19, the Fitchburg Public Library has expanded its external public WiFi access.

Where the library’s internet connection was limited to the two parking spaces closest to the 5530 Lady Road building, electronic services librarian Lisa Stippich told the Star it now reaches throughout the entire parking lot.

Stippich said the public can use the expanded WiFi without needing a password, whenever it needs.

She said the $1,600 expansion was made possible through a collaborative effort with the South Central Library System. Because the Fitchburg Public Library is part of the system, it received Library Services

SARA SCHOENBORN Star correspondent

Star correspondent

Photo submitted

Sydney Liu moved to the Fitchburg area in May, subsequently starting up the city’s “Buy Nothing” Facebook page when she wanted to find furniture for her new home.

neighbor was able to make good use of it.”

Electronic services librarian Lisa Stippich and Technology Act grant funds. The organizations also worked with the City of Fitchburg to use a portion of their designated CARES Act funding.

Reliable internet access, Stippich said, has historically been an asset libraries have provided to the public for checking email, school work and even job hunting.

Since the library closed its building down in March, staff wanted to find a way to still be able to serve guests who work from home, attend school

virtually and need access to online medical care.

“We were trying to find ways to still give patrons as much access to our services as we could,” Stippich said.

“We really wanted to figure out how to still provide that service to people even if they couldn’t come into the building.

We are really excited to be able to provide this now to our patrons because we know they miss coming in and using our services.”

RECYCLING GUIDE

Have you already mastered the “ABC’s” of recycling? If so, we hope this list of common recycling mistakes will help you become a super recycler!

If you’re ever unsure what to do with an unwanted item, please check out the City of Fitchburg’s Recycling Guide at the link below: https://www.fitchburgwi.gov/146/Refuse-Recycling

Have you ever wondered what happens to recyclable material after it leaves your house? Find out more about the recycling process at: https://www.pellitteri.com/pages/kipp-st-mrf-video

Did you know these items CAN be recycled in your blue recycling cart?

Juice and milk cartons

Pots and pans

Plastic grocery bags (combine into one bag the size of a basketball and tie shut)

Shredded paper (in a clear plastic bag, tied shut, about the size of a basketball)

Recyclable plastics (#1-#7)

Batteries

Greasy pizza boxes

Any recyclable plastic that contains food waste

Small metal appliances

Empty Aerosol cans

The following items CANNOT be recycled in your green refuse cart.

Styrofoam Electronics Clothing

Padded envelopes Propane tanks “Wishcycling” is when you recycle an item because you wish it were recyclable, even though it is not. While we wish every item could be recycled, this is not the case. In fact, when you recycle an item incorrectly, it can contaminate the recycling stream and cause properly recycled items to be taken to the landfill. When in doubt, check if your item can be recycled at https://www.fitchburgwi.gov/146/Refuse-Recycling before tossing it in your blue recycling cart.

adno=192505

When Fitchburg resident Sydney Liu moved to the city from Seattle, Washington, in May, she needed furniture.

She went online, searching for a local “Buy Nothing” page on Facebook – a tool she had used while living on the west coast.

Not finding a page for the Fitchburg area upon her arrival to the city, Liu told the Star she decided to start one. She missed the convenience of being able to track a “Buy Nothing” group down whenever she moved to a new west coast home.

The page’s title means exactly what it states. It offers members a way to give, receive, share and lend items to one another in a hyperlocal gift economy. The pages are part of a larger project — the “Buy Nothing Project” — whose mission is to create wealth “in the web of connections formed between people who are real-life neighbors,” according to the organization’s website.

When Liu said she visited the “Buy Nothing” website to launch Fitchburg’s page, it had detailed instructions for how to do so, including videos and suggested rules for the group.

For example, page participation is limited geographically to southwest Madison and north Fitchburg, because of the city’s population, she said.

“The Buy Nothing Project recommends having groups with smaller populations so it still feels like a local community and people don’t have to travel as far,” she said.

More rules include, building trust, giving freely, participating “as yourself,” “showing your humanity” and following the law, according to the website.

Group participants also have to verify they are in the area “Buy Nothing” represents, and not to use text message language or abbreviations. Givers also have the freedom to decide who their item ultimately goes to.

“Everything that is given is given freely by a member of the community,” Liu said.

“We are not first come, first served unless the person who posts wants to do it that way.

It is always up to the giver, who they give their item to.”

She said she believes everyone has collections of clutter they are willing to part with, which may just speak to someone else’s taste or style.

Her hope is that those individuals use this Facebook group as a way to give and receive with their neighbors.

“I would like to see less waste in my community and for people to have appreciation for their items,” Liu said.

“I hope this group encourages people to be a little more mindful about the abundance that most of us have.”

“I think it’s rewarding knowing someone is going to make use of an item,” she added. “It’s great to see that your item ended up in your neighbor’s hands and your

“We were trying to find ways to still give patrons as much access to our services as we could. We really wanted to figure out how to still provide that service to people even if they couldn’t come into the building.

We are really excited to be able to provide this now to our patrons because we know they miss coming in and using our services.”

Cut me out and put me on your refrigerator!

8

December 11, 2020

ConnectFitchburg.com

Fitchburg Star

Progress Center for Black Women goes mobile

Van brings nonprofit services to clients’ homes EMILIE HEIDEMANN Unified Newspaper Group

The Progress Center for Black Women has gone mobile – literally.

Founder and director Sabrina Madison told the Star the nonprofit purchased a van, called the “Mobile Resource Center,” earlier this fall. It can deliver everything clients need, whether it’s for running their business or simply getting groceries.

The van helps make the center’s services more accessible during the COVID-19 pandemic, Madison said. The vehicle also brings the “living

room” atmosphere the center’s physical space evokes right to clients’ doorsteps, she explained, as well as laughter, warmth and conversation.

Before the nonprofit bought the van, Madison said COVID-19 incentivized the Progress Center for Black Women to assist its clientele virtually or over the phone.

Women, and Black women in particular, have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, as the hospitalization and death rates for people of color from COVID-19 is higher, and many have taken the role of caregiver for children out of school.

Madison told the Star in June COVID-19 affects minority communities because a large proportion of them work in the industries deemed essential – such as grocery

Progress Center for Black Women 5936 Seminole Centre Ct. #211 467-6744 centerforblackwomen. org stores, hotels and restaurants.

So the need for a van became evermore apparent, Madison said, as she continued to observe client hardships.

She said even though the nonprofit went virtual, there were still some clients who needed to physically stop by the Progress Center for Black Women. And for those who

could no longer afford to drive, Madison found herself delivering resources with her own car, she said, but that quickly became a non-viable option.

“I have put almost 10,000 miles on my personal car since March,” she said. “I was loading it up with bags of stuff.”

Madison said she did what she said Black women do best — adapt to a new circumstance in a clever and creative fashion.

She redirected some funds the center received from the City of Madison, along with money through the Evjue Foundation, UW-Health, UnityPoint Health-Meriter, United Way of Dane County and local businesses to purchase the vehicle.

Now, when a client needs center resources, they see a van decked out in the nonprofit’s blue and purple colors

Photo submitted

The Progress Center for Black Women has gone mobile. show up in their driveway.

They can’t miss it, as a sign on the van’s door reads “Mobile Resource Center” and displays the nonprofit’s website and phone number.

And Madison said she dons mask and asks how they are doing, and what she can help

them with. Those interactions make the entire operation worthwhile, she said.

“The goal is to create joy,” Madison said.

Email Emilie Heidemann at emilie.heidemann@wcinet. com or follow her on Twitter at @HeidemannEmilie.

Fitchburg Solid Waste and Recycling Calendar

2021

January S

3 10 17 24 31

M

4 11 18 25

T

5 12 19 26

W

6 13 20 27

T

F

S

7 14 21 28

H 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

S

M

T

W

T

F

S

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24

M

T

W

T

F

S

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24 31

F

S

S

4 11 18 25

S

7 14 21 28

M

T

W

T

F

S

1 8 15 22

2 9 16 23

3 10 17 24

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

March S

M

T

W

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F

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7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24 31

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27 Photo submitted

April

July

February

5 12 19 26

October S

M

T

W

T

3 10 17 24 31

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

May S

M

T

W

T

F

S

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 26 H

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

August S

M

T

W

T

F

S

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24 31

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

W

T

F

S

November S

7 14 21 28

M

1 8 15 22 29

T

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24

4 11 18 H

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

June

The 2019 5K for Girls on the Run.

S

M

T

W

T

F

S

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

September S

5 12 19 26

M

H 13 20 27

T

W

T

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7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24

4 11 18 25

F

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December S

M

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5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

W

1 8 15 22 29

T

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24 31

4 11 18 25

Color coding Legend: BRUSH COLLECTION = Recycling Week April 5 - 9 August 9 - 13 April 19-23* Aug. 30 - Sep. 3 1 = Holiday Tree Collection Week* May 3 - 7 Sep. 20 - 24 1 = Brush Collection Week* May 17 - 21* Oct. 4 - 8 1 = Brush and Yardwaste Collection Week* H = Holiday that affects Collection** June 7 - 11 Oct. 18 - 22* Note: Refuse collection is weekly, recycling every other week June 28 - July 2 Nov. 1 - 5 * Place items at curb by 6:30am Monday. Collection will July 19 - 23 Nov. 15 - 19* occur during the following week weather permitting. * Yardwaste also collected during these weeks.

Place brush neatly at the curb (not in street) by 6:30am ** Collection delayed 1 day after the Holiday (Jan 1, May 31, Sept 6, Nov 25) Monday on collection weeks. Brush must be less than HOLIDAY TREE COLLECTION 5 ft long and 6 inches in diameter. Lay branches Actual collection dates may January 4 - 8 perpendicular to the street with the cut end toward the street. depend on weather.

January 18 - 22 Place yardwaste in reusable containers or bags or compostable bags at the curb (not in the street). Do not tie Place Holiday Trees at the curb (not in street) by 6:30am Monday on collection weeks. the bags.

Place carts behind the curbline (not in the street) by 6:30am on your collection day.

Need a bigger recycling cart? Contact Pellitteri at 608-257-HAUL (4285) to arrange for a cart swap ($25 fee applies).

Not sure what to do with your stuff? Look up how recycle, reuse, or dispose of items at: www.fitchburgwi.gov/146/Refuse-Recycling.

Fitchburg residents can pick up one FREE reusable yardwaste bag at City Hall (5520 Lacy Rd) while supplies last. Additional bags are $2 each. adno=192506

Cut me out and put me on your refrigerator!

Girls on the Run nonprofit receives $10,000 grant EMILIE HEIDEMANN Unified Newspaper Group

Girls on the Run of S o u t h C e n t r a l Wi s c o n sin, which services communities throughout Dane County, received a $10,000 grant this month — the largest in the nonprofit’s history.

The grant from the American Girl’s Fund for Children, supported Girls on the Run Fall 2020 programming, according to a news release.

The money also “furthered the group’s mission to help participants develop confidence, learn a b o u t bu i l d i n g h e a l t h y relationships and become physically prepared to c o m p e t e i n a 5 k r u n ,” according to the release.

The 3.1 mile run, which c o m p l e t e d N ov. 7 , h a d over 400 participants, the release states.

“This grant is remarkable,” Christine Benedict, nonprofit executive director said in the release, referring to COVID-19 hurdles. “It couldn’t have come at a more important time for our organization.

Email Emilie Heidemann at emilie.heidemann@ wcinet.com or follow her on Twitter at @HeidemannEmilie.

ConnectFitchburg.com

December 11, 2020

Fitchburg Star

9

Dane County

City of Fitchburg

New order prohibits indoor gatherings

Taxes up $220 on average

Find out more about the county’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic at

KIMBERLY WETHAL

publichealthmdc.com/ coronavirus

Unified Newspaper Group

teeth, too, as the county can issue a fine of up to $1,000 for every violation of the health order, plus court costs.

“We ask that everyone exercise good judgement and follow the orders,” Heinrich said.

“The intention of the order is not to penalize businesses or individuals, but to keep everyone safe during this pandemic.”

Dane County is now averaging 433 cases per day over a 7-day period, more than double the number of cases from a month ago. As of Nov. 17, 174 people were hospitalized with COVID-19, including 48 in the ICU. According to the news release, nine hospitals in the region reported at least one day of critical staffing shortage, including one in Dane County.

“Our hospitals are overflowing, our doctors and nurses are running ragged, and everywhere we turn, there is sickness, creating a challenge like none other we have ever seen,” said county executive Joe Parisi in the news release.

“These new orders, like their predecessors, are designed to call attention to where we are seeing the greatest amount of disease spread and interrupt the virus’ quick movement through our community.”

According to the news release, the order is informed by data collected from contact tracing interviews and compliance checks that showed people having close contact with others is driving the spread of COVID-19.

Between Oct. 27 and Nov. 9, nearly one-third of people with COVID-19 reported non-household close contact with another case. And nearly a quarter of those who tested positive attended a gathering or party in the past two weeks.

Email Unified Newspaper Group reporter Scott De Laruelle at scott.delaruelle@ wcinet.com.

Oregon School District residents will start feeling the effects of its $46 million referendum voters passed in 2018 with this year’s property tax bills.

The City of Fitchburg mailed its unusually complicated tax bills this week, and city residents face an average increase of $220 this year, much of that allocated to an increase from the school district. The owner of an average home will pay around $6,600 this year in property taxes overall.

For those in OSD, the average increase will be $283, while those in the Verona Area and Madison Metropolitan school districts will have smaller average increases, $200 and $178, respectively.

Across the city, property assessments are up 6.1%, or $19,200 on an average home now assessed at $330,100. That’s an increase of nearly $35,000 from 2018, when the average home was valued at $294,000.

For property owners who had their homes reassessed this year, that could spell potentially higher taxes, but the impact of the changes in property taxes will vary significantly from home to home.

The method of keeping property tax assessments in line with market rates varies from community to community. That

can make it confusing for homeowners as they see their bills change from year to year and try to follow how each government’s taxes are changing.

For Verona Area School District residents, a slight drop in the mill rate (per $1,000 in assessed value) will mean any increases from the 2017 new high school referendum are having a smaller impact than last year.

Madison Metropolitan’s set of school referendums worth $350 million that was passed this November are contributing to an increase there, as well.

Oregon School District residents’ taxes have been a bit of a zig-zag the last few years because of alternating increases and decreases in school tax rates. In previous years, taxes in Fitchburg for OSD fell by an average of $116 in 2019, but increased by $126 in 2018.

The rate of increase will vary significantly based on whether a property value went up – if a homeowner’s property stayed the same for this year, that increase from the school district would be much smaller, at around $47 on a $330,100 home.

In addition, some homes will experience large increases and others might have no increase at all, based on the City of Fitchburg’s rolling assessment method, which analyzes market rates by neighborhood and property type.

That method typically prevents the shocking increases in property values seen in communities such as Verona, which holds values even between full reassessments unless there’s a sale or a change in the home, such as an addition.

Fitchburg produces three sets of tax information, one for each district, but

uses a common average across the city, which can add to the confusion.

One change that’s common to most tax bills in the city (those which are a property owner’s primary home), the state’s Lottery Tax credit, will save homeowners some money, although not as much as last year. This year, the lottery credit is $194, down around $25 from last year.

It does not vary based on the price of the home.

Going the other direction, all single-family, duplex and triplex homes in the city will see a slight increase in the city’s garbage rates, which are going up $6 per home. That’s mostly a result of a change in the global market for recyclable materials, and some other communities in Dane County are seeing increases or changes to their services for the same reason, as well.

Typically, school taxes account for about half of a property’s tax bill. This year, the city’s share of the tax bill, which is about 40 percent, will bring a decrease of $89 to homeowners who didn’t see a difference in their assessments, but an increase of $70 to the average homeowner.

County taxes are also a factor, adding an average $13 to each bill.

The city is asking residents to pay either online or drop payments off in the dropbox in the city hall foyer, rather than come inside city hall to pay. Anyone who wants to pay in person should schedule an appointment with the city by calling 270-4270 ext. 6.

Email reporter Kimberly Wethal at kimberly.wethal@wcinet.com and follow her on Twitter @kimberly_wethal.​

Fitchburg holiday light tour set for Saturday, Dec. 19

EMILIE HEIDEMANN Unified Newspaper Group

The Fitchburg community is hosting a Holiday Light Tour from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19.

The city will compile a master map of all participating homes in the tour. Each will be assigned a number that will be visible for tour voters. The home with the

most votes — and the brightest holiday decor — will receive a gift certificate to a local Fitchburg business.

To participate, email administration@ fitchburgwi.gov with your interest and address by 8 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16.

For information, visit fitchburgwi.gov.

Email Emilie Heidemann at emilie.heidemann@wcinet.com or follow her on Twitter at @HeidemannEmilie.

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Months after Dane County opened up to allow more indoor and outdoor gatherings, it is back to prohibiting or severely restricting them until Dec. 16.

On Tuesday, Nov. 17, in response to a “substantial, sustained growth in new COVID-19 infections,” Public Health Madison and Dane County issued Emergency Order #10, which prohibits indoor gatherings of any size.

Outdoor gatherings are permitted with 10 people or less, with physical distancing.

The order went into effect Wednesday, Nov. 18, said PHMHeinrich DC director Janel Heinrich in a county news release, and continues to require face coverings and limits the capacity for most businesses to 50%.

“This virus does not spread on its own. We spread it,” she said in the release. “Every gathering — no matter the size — is an opportunity for disease spread and prolongs the pandemic. We are hopeful that with the community’s cooperation, we can bring our numbers down and avoid more hospitalizations and deaths.”

In-person games, sports, competitions, group exercise classes, meetings, trainings, movies, events and conferences are all considered mass gatherings, according to the news release. Indoor mass gatherings of any people who do not live together are prohibited.

Outdoor mass gatherings are limited to 10 people who do not live together, with physical distancing. The previous limit for gatherings was 10 indoors and 25 outdoors, with physical distancing. PHMDC is also asking people to use virtual options, work from home if able, wear a mask, avoid close contact with others, and stay home if they feel sick.

The new order has some

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Outdoor gatherings limited to 10 or less through Dec. 16

School district fluctuations drive increase as home values rise

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December 11, 2020

Winter: Online sales another source of revenue for businesses Continued from page 1 fight and continue to adapt to ever changing conditions.

For example, Hop Haus co-owner Sara Hoechst told the Star foot traffic is down by around 80-85% at the Verona-based brewery’s Fitchburg location, 2975 Sub-Zero Pkwy., since summer. But the business is likely to partner with others in the area for a January scavenger hunt.

“We’ve got some discussions started,” Hoechst said of the possible event.

In the meantime, Hoechst said the establishment sees its space operate at around 2-6% capacity. When the Fitchburg location opened over the summer, Hoescht said had 50 employees with the added benefit of outdoor seating and warm weather.

Now, she said that number looks more like 20.

“A lot of people don’t realize how bad it’s gotten,” Hoechst said. “Places may quietly close over the winter months, unless there is some serious stimulus money or a vaccine.

“It’s hard when you have to keep letting people go,” she added. “It’s a huge crush to your heart.”

Rolling Pin Bake Shop co-owner

Business in brief UW Credit Union supports remote learning

UW Credit Union, with locations at 2885 Fish Hatchery Road and 6331 McKee Road, has partnered with Banzai, a national financial literacy program to bring a literacy program to 20 Dane County schools.

Tanya Laiter echoed Hoecht sentiments.

She told the Star the shop, located at 2935 S. Fish Hatchery Road, has seen a 10% drop in foot traffic since summer, but anticipates an even larger decrease come January. The shop partnered with food delivery service EatStreet to accommodate people who don’t want to leave their homes.

At Yahara Bay Distillery, 6250 Nesbitt Road, #200, general manager Nels Forde told the Star that while the City of Fitchburg granted an extension allowing outdoor seating in the business’s parking lot over the summer, he axed the idea as cases kept increasing.

Fortunately, because the distillery has not opened to the public since March, “we are not needing to shift or refocus during the winter.” Forde said 90% of the distillery’s business comes from its manufacturing side, anyway.

He said amid the pandemic, spirits sales also remain high, especially online.

The making of hand sanitizer has also helped the distillery.

“That helped us make up some of the revenue and keep the lights on,” he said.

Online sales have also buoyed Cosa Boutique, 6250 Nesbitt Road, Suite

Banzai is an “interactive, online program supplemented by printed workbooks,” according to a news release. It aligns with Wisconsin state curriculum requirements for personal finance education. Students can complete the coursework, the release states, on any computer or mobile device. And teachers can monitor progress remotely.

500.

Jenny Kuckuk, a boutique buyer, told the Star the business started a virtual styling subscription service last spring, responding to the sudden drop in foot traffic as closures swept across the state.

“Someone could subscribe and get a styling box sent to them,” she said of the service.

Clients can go on the Cosa Boutique website and fill out a survey that details their measurements, and what colors, patterns and pieces they enjoy.

Based on that information, a Cosa stylist will choose pieces from the store to send directly to the client’s home.

So while foot traffic remains low for the shop, “we are remaining hopeful,” Kuckuk said.

Like Hop Haus and Yahara Bay, Cosa is partnering with area boutiques to think of ways to stay connected to clients.

“This should be our best season,” Hoechst said. “It is the holidays and everyone should be full and packed and having parties for work.”

“It is just dead,” she added.

Email Emilie Heidemann at emilie. heidemann@wcinet.com or follow her on Twitter at @HeidemannEmilie.

“It has become the largest program of its kind, servicing more than 60,000 teachers nationwide,” the release states.

For more information, call (888) 822-6924.

donations for its Toys for Tots program.

Except this year, according to a business email to the Star, the business’s donation bins are empty.

SwimWest is currently collecting food donaSwimWest hosts tions from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Monday through Friday, ‘Toys for Tots’ event 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays The time has come again and 1-6 p.m. Sundays at for SwimWest to collect its 6220 Nesbitt Road and

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Homes considered uninhabitable after gunshot hits wall Juvenile detained at the scene Two homes are considered uninhabitable after a gunshot went through the wall of a residence and damaged the sprinkler system inside the building Wednesday morning.

City of Fitchburg police responded to a report of a weapons violation just after 1 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11, a department release states.

U p o n a r r iva l , p o l i c e found that a single gunshot had penetrated the wall of a residence, resulting in the sprinkler system flooding the residence, as

well as the home next to it.

Officers detained a male juvenile at the scene and took him to the Juvenile R e c e p t i o n C e n t e r, t h e release stated.

The Fitchburg Fire Department assisted in cleaning up the flooding and controlling the water flow from the sprinkler system. The Red Cross also provided a resident and their child with temporary housing.

A Fitchburg police investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Email reporter Kimberly Wethal at kimberly. wethal@wcinet.com and follow her on Twitter @ kimberly_wethal.​

until Dec. 15, according to a news release.

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1001 Deming Way, Madison, locations.

For more information, email karen@swimwest. com.

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December 11, 2020

Fitchburg Star

11

Election: Spring election will feature races for Dane County executive, state superintendent Continued from page 1 and if a primary is needed, that would be Tuesday, Feb. 16.

Incumbents have until Dec. 28 to announce if they do not plan to run again, providing prospective candidates time to collect signatures to get nominated. Each race has a different number of qualified signatures a candidate must collect to get their name on the ballot, and all nominations must be fully completed and turned in to each respective organization clerk or agency by the end of the day Tuesday, Jan. 5.

Candidates who plan to run again include Alds. Dorothy Krause (D-1) and Julia Arata-Fratta. Ald. Sarah Shroeder (D-3) had not returned multiple calls from the Star by Wednesday, Dec. 9, asking whether she planned to run for her seat again.

Both the Oregon and Madison Metropolitan school districts have one person up for re-election who is planning to run again. For Oregon, Troy Pankratz will run again, as will Savion Castro for Madison Metropolitan.

The three remaining Verona Area Board of Education school board members – Meredith Stier Christensen, Carolyn Jahnke and Kalyanna Williams – all plan to re-run for their seats. Stier Christensen’s seat is limited to candidates from the areas outside of the cities of Verona and Fitchburg, but all district residents have the ability to vote for all seats.

Candidates must file a campaign finance registration form prior to collecting signatures

Photo by Kimberly Wethal

A sign sits outside District 4’s polling place at the city’s Community Center, as did other signs around the city directing voters where to go.

The city had around 86% overall voter turnout for the election.

former executive Kathleen Falk announced her resignation. He then won two additional terms in 2013 and 2017.

There are no County Board of Supervisors elections this year; those are held in even-numbered years.

All materials must be turned in to the Dane County clerk by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5.

If there are more than two canDane County didates running, a primary elecDane County executive Joe tion will be held to narrow the Parisi will run for his third term field on Tuesday, Feb. 16. in April 2021, citing the county’s need for coordination in Verona Area School District Duerst, who has been on the COVID-19 recovery as the main board for 15 years and was at one focus of his campaign.

Parisi was first elected to the time the school board president, county executive seat in 2011 declined to run again because he during a special election after felt he had spent enough time on

on nomination papers for their respective jurisdiction; otherwise, the District Attorney would have the right to file a complaint for campaigning without being registered.

The spring election will feature local races and races for the Dane County executive and the state superintendent of public instruction.

the board.

“It’s really with a heavy heart that I’ve decided to not seek re-election as a school board member, I feel it’s time to turn this over to someone else,” Duerst said in a news release from the district. “It really has been an honor and privilege for me to serve the Verona Area School District for 15 years.”

Normally, all three At-large seats would not be up for re-election at the same time, but with the resignation of board member Debbie Biddle a few months after starting her three-year term, the board elected to appoint Kalyanna Williams to her seat and hold a special election in 2021.

Nomination papers can be picked up at the district administration office, 700 N. Main St. School board clerk Jahnke, deputy clerk Duerst and a third party not up for re-election will review each set of nomination forms to ensure all of their 100 signatures qualify.

The deadline to turn in all nomination forms is Tuesday, Jan. 5.

Oregon School District

Zach, who was first elected to the Oregon School Board in 1999 and was elected as board president in 2016, told the Star that it’s time for someone else to take a turn. He had been looking to step away three years ago, Zach said, but with the impending retirement of former superintendent Brian Busler and the construction of a new school, he felt his board experience would be vital for a few more years.

“Being on the board was not just a time commitment for me,” he wrote. “I owe my wife some pay back for the 22 years worth of every second and fourth Mondays, meetings in-between, and restless nights when I couldn’t fall asleep because of district-related issues.”

Pankratz, who is running for his seat, represents Area III, which covers the towns of Rutland, Montrose, Oregon, Brooklyn and Union, as well as the Village of Brooklyn.

Madison Metropolitan School District

Reyes cited her new role as the CEO and executive director of Briarpatch Services as her reason for not running again, according to a Wisconsin State Journal story from Dec. 2.

Elected in 2017, she was the first Latina to serve on the Madison Metropolitan school board.

“We have begun to build a new normal, where Black excellence is not just words we say but is incorporated into all we do; where inclusion and equity brings justice to those most vulnerable in our communities; a new normal where we close achievement gaps,” Reyes said in a statement.

Maia Pearson has already registered to run for Reyes’ seat. Pearson lost an election bid for Seat 6 in April 2020 against board member Christina Gomez Schmidt.

Email reporter Kimberly Wethal at kimberly.wethal@wcinet.com and follow her on Twitter @kimberly_wethal.​

Leave: Consulting firm will conduct investigation of conduct following South Carolina arrest Continued from page 1 to own this.”

Regardless of what entity conducts an investigation, its findings would be given to Richardson, who has the authority to discipline the city administrator. Richardson said he would consider the recommendations from human resources staff, as well as feedback from alders. According to the administrator contract, the council would need a majority vote on possible termination after a recommendation from the mayor.

The council spent an hour discussing outsourcing the conduct investigation in closed session before voting. Prior to the council’s vote, Alds. Dorothy Krause (D-1), Gerhardt

and Tom Clauder (D-4) seemed to agree at a Nov. 11 Personnel Committee meeting that an outside party should perform an investigation into Marsh’s conduct, instead of having it completed internally.

According to a police incident report from Oct. 23, City of Myrtle Beach police arrested Marsh at Damon’s bar and restaurant after he allegedly engaged in a fight over not wanting to wear a mask, in addition to a long wait time for a table. Marsh was charged with battery and assault, disorderly conduct and public intoxication after a fight ensued where one person was cut on their forehead.

Following the news of the arrest, mayor Aaron

Richardson said the city’s Human Resources department was planning an investigation into Marsh’s conduct. Richardson also said he was looking to have a Code of Conduct drafted for the city department heads, the mayor and members of the Common Council to create expectations for behavior.

Clauder said during the Nov. 11 personnel meeting he’d like to make a “clean cut” with the investigation, and prevent any city employees, including human resources and the city attorney, from investigating their own boss’ conduct. Krause and Gerhardt agreed, both saying they felt it wasn’t appropriate for anyone in the city to be involved in the process.

Gerhardt asked human resources director Sarah Olson during the Personnel Committee meeting if the reputation of the city could be taken into consideration with the investigation and any potential reprimand that follows.

“In my mind, the mayor, the council, the city administrator and the two chiefs are the faces of the city,” Gerhardt said. “Because of the high-profile nature of those positions, I do think the reputation of the city is a factor.”

Richardson said that

while he would take the city’s reputation into consideration, giving reprimand on that reason alone would be walking a thin line because there is currently no code of conduct t h a t n o n - p o l i c e o r fi r e department employees are beholden to.

“I think the challenging thing is that because those things aren’t in handbooks and guidelines and codes of conduct, it’s hard – and possibly illegal, I’m not an HR expert – to possibly use those as a major factor,” he said.

Clauder said that like it or not, all city employees need to be aware that people will associate them with the city even when they’re not acting in an official capacity for the city.

“It’s the life we live,” he said. “Be aware, when you’re elected or work for the city, it goes with you wherever you go.”

Email reporter Kimberly Wethal at kimberly. wethal@wcinet.com and follow her on Twitter @ kimberly_wethal.​

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12

Sports

Friday, December 11, 2020

The

Fitchburg Star

For more sports coverage, visit: ConnectFitchburg.com

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

Atterbury hooked on speed skating Verona Area International School fifth-grader takes on challenge of races in Oregon MARK NESBITT Sports editor

If 10 year old Leah Atterbury’s grandfather could see her speed skating around the ice now, he would be smiling.

Atterbury, of Fitchburg, is a fifth-grader at the Verona Area International School who has been hooked on speed skating since taking a one-month lesson offered by the Madison Speedskating Club last year, where she learned the basics.

“It’s a lot of different motions than hockey,” Atterbury said. “In speedskating, you have to go as fast as you can and skate a lot lower.”

Atterbury’s late grandfather, David Medaris, who grew up in Madison with U.S. Olympian speedskater Eric Heiden, who won five gold medals, set four Olympic records and one world record at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. Wisconsin has a long tradition of speed skating in the Olympics that includes Heiden, Verona native Casey FitzRandolph, the 2002 gold medalist who owns the Olympic record in the 500 meters, Dan Jansen (West Allis), Dan Immerfall (Madison) and Chris Witty (West Allis).

Shortly after that, Atterbury joined the club and has been competing in intrasquad speed skating races the final Monday every month at the Oregon Ice Arena. Each race

Turn to Speedskating/Page 14

Photo submitted

Leah Atterbury, 10 of Fitchburg, a fifth-grader in Verona, has been speed skating for 1 1/2 years. She started last year after taking a lesson with the Madison Speedskating Club. She races in intrasquad club races once a month at the Oregon Ice Arena.

Women’s college basketball

Badgers can’t rally past Hawkeyes MARK NESBITT Sports editor

Graduate transfer Estella Moschkau, a 2017 Madison Edgewood alumnus, scored seven points and grabbed five rebounds in the Badgers’ 85-78 loss to Iowa in the Big Ten opener for both teams on Saturday, Dec. 5, at Carver Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City.

With the loss, the University of Wisconsin women’s basketball team drops to 1-1, 0-1 Big Ten. Moschkau, a transfer from Stanford, is averaging seven points and three assists in two games.

She was named Wisconsin co-Miss Basketball and the Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year in 2017 after leading the Crusaders to a WIAA Division 3 state championship.

Wisconsin tied Iowa at 41 with under 8 minutes to play in the third quarter but the Hawkeyes went on a 20-10 run to lead 61-51 after three quarters.

It was a see-saw game in the first half. Wisconsin trailed by 14 points with less than 5 minutes to play before going on an 11-0 run over the next 3 minutes to cut the Hawkeyes’ lead to 35-32 with 1:59 to play in the half.

Iowa got its lead back up to eight points with 13 seconds to go before Moschkau drilled a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to cut the Iowa lead to 40-35 at the half.

UW redshirt junior Alex Luehring scored one point and had one rebound against the Hawkeyes.

She scored 11 points and hit two 3-pointers in the season-opening 73-66 win over Northern Iowa Nov. 29.

Luehring, a 2017 Verona Area High School graduate, is averaging 6 points per game for the Badgers.

Wisconsin will host Rutgers on Friday, Dec. 11, at the Kohl Center in Madison.

Boys hockey

Verona playing club season Not affiliated with VAHS and not WIAA-sanctioned

Did You Know?

MARK NESBITT Sports editor

Many Verona Area High School hockey players didn’t know if they would hear those sweet words, “drop the puck.”

A group of 20 VAHS players has formed a Wisconsin Amateur Hockey Association club team not sanctioned with the WIAA or affiliated with VAHS. The team is being run by parent volunteers. Former Verona junior varsity hockey coach Scott Mirwald is serving as the head coach and senior Nathan Jurrens’ father, Jay Jurrens has taken on the scheduling aspect for the club.

The team split two games in the opening weekend of play. On Friday, Nov. 27, Verona beat West Bend 6-1 in the season opener. On the next day, Kettle Moraine skated past Verona 2-1.

The Verona varsity club hockey team is practicing at the Sauk Prairie Ice Arena and is playing all of its 20-game season on the road outside of Dane County.

“From hearing the rumors,

File photo

The Verona boys hockey team started playing a varsity club season last weekend. The team has 20 games scheduled and plans to play all of them on the road outside Dane County unless COVID-19 gathering bans are lifted by the county. we didn’t know if there was going to be a hockey season,” Nathan Jurrens said. “It’s definitely really exciting to get back on the ice. Even though it’s not a regular WIAA season, the seniors are excited to have the opportunity to represent the Wildcats. Everyone is really fortunate and grateful to have the opportunity to play right now.”

The Verona boys hockey team was the last high school sports team to play an official game, winning the WIAA Division 1 state championship 2-1 in overtime over

Notre Dame de la Baie. It’s been almost nine months since the Wildcats won the program’s second state title.

Public Health Madison and Dane County still has an order in effect banning all indoor gatherings until Dec. 16.

If the Verona hockey team remains a club team throughout the winter season because of COVID-19 restrictions, it would not be eligible for the WIAA postseason or the state tournament.

“The goal is to get back into

Turn to Hockey/Page 14

Five of the six Verona players named to the Division 1 Wisconsin Hockey Coaches Association AllState team last year return this season. That includes first-team all-state selections Nathan Jurrens (defenseman) and Kaden Grant (goaltender).

The other honorable mention all-state selections last year from the Wildcats are seniors Walker Haessig (forward), Leo Renlund (forward) and Josh Osting (defenseman).

The Wildcats (25-4) won their fourth consecutive Big Eight Conference championship by going 14-0 last season.

Verona coach Joel Marshall was named the conference’s coach of the year.

ConnectFitchburg.com

December 11, 2020

Fitchburg Star

13

Prep sports

VAHS indoor practices, open gyms come to a halt New Dane County order bans indoor gatherings

Cases continue to rise COVID-19 cases have been surging in Dane County, which is averaging 433 COVID-19 cases per day over a 7-day period, more than double the number from a month ago, according to PHMDC. In the Dane County COVID-19 data report from Nov. 3-16, more than one person out of every 100 in the county tested positive for COVID-19 during that time period. The positivity rate in the county is 8.3%, which is the positive tests as a percent of total tests across a two-week period.

“Our hospitals are overflowing, our doctors and nurses are running ragged, and everywhere we turn, there is sickness, creating a challenge like none other we have ever seen,” County Executive Joe Parisi said in a statement. “These new orders, like their predecessors, are designed to call attention to where we are seeing the greatest amount of disease spread and interrupt the virus’ quick movement through our community.”

MARK NESBITT Sports editor

The Verona Area/Madison Edgewood girls gymnastics team held just one practice before Public Health Madison and Dane County issued an order banning indoor gatherings because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

That includes in-person games, sports and competitions, putting an end to small group practices and open gyms that some schools like Verona had started. Practice for girls basketball, gymnastics, boys and girls hockey started Monday, Nov. 16. Practice for boys basketball, wrestling and boys swimming was scheduled to start practice Monday, Nov. 23.

The challenge during the next month will be developing routines to prepare for the first meet, Verona Area/Madison Edgewood gymnastics coach Rachael Hauser told the Press. She said many gymnasts have new floor routines or routines that have been modified to accommodate new skills, and it takes a lot of repetition to get comfortable with the change in choreography.

“Since the majority of the team has been working out for the last few months, I’m not so much worried about skills or conditioning levels, but more about getting new routines competition-ready,” Hauser said.

Verona Area High School

File photo

Verona’s Ella Crowley does a tuck off the balance beam in a dual meet against Madison Memorial last season at Glacier Edge Elementary School in Verona. athletic director Joel Zimba said the new county order barring gatherings is a challenge for all the teams. He noted that high school teams will have to abide by the WIAA’s minimum required practice time before competition can begin.

“We have to do our best to support one another and work within the constraints that we have once we are allowed to get going again in Dane County,” Zimba said. “It pushes everything back, which is always more of a challenge.”

The state is still requiring

face masks and the county is limiting outdoor gatherings are limited to 10 people or less. Anyone hosting a gathering could face a fine of $1,000 plus court costs.

Zimba said no winter sports teams at Verona are planning small group practices outside but they will be allowed to conduct virtual coaching sessions on Zoom and other platforms. Some VAHS student-athletes are taking advantage of club sports opportunities and playing in tournaments in other states.

Both the Verona girls

and boys basketball teams were waiting to start official practices until county health restrictions were not as tight and more practice activities were allowed.

Both the VAHS girls and boys basketball teams were planning to have open gyms starting this week instead of official practices.

Under a WIAA adjusted in-season ruling for this year, student-athletes are allowed to play in two in-season events. In past years, athletes were limited to just two other games in season. Since Verona hasn’t officially started basketball practice, VAHS student-athletes are not limited to just two events at this time, while other players at schools like Middleton High School who have started official basketball

practices are limited to just two events.

“I think we need to focus on what kids need to do for their mental health,” Verona girls basketball coach Angie Murphy said. “Girls and boys are allowed to pursue other opportunities until we start practice.”

Murphy said she’s waiting to use her five additional coaching contact days until some county restrictions are lifted.

Prior to the latest county order, the COVID-19 safety measures included players wearing masks, temperature and health self-checks and drills spaced six feet or more apart. For the gymnastics team, equipment was sprayed with disinfectant after each drill and hand sanitizer stations were spread out across the gym,

Socialemotional effects Two areas of growing concern for high school administrators are the growing numbers of depression and anxiety cases.

A University of Wisconsin-Madison COVID-19 survey compared data from 3,200 Wisconsin athletes in May to data collected from over 5,000 adolescent athletes prior to COVID-19. They found that physical activity levels had dropped by 50% during the pandemic and symptoms of depression rose 33%.

Hauser said.

She added that the team has been eager to practice.

“I think the surprise trip to state last season really lit a fire with this group, and they have been working extremely hard all summer coming off that experience,” Hauser said.

Hauser said all gymnasts on the VA/ME have lists of skills and goals to be working on, including some long-term goals that aren’t for this season.

“I’m confident that if we can get back in the gym, we will at minimum be able to do some virtual meets,” Hauser said.

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December 11, 2020

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Fitchburg Star

Boys hockey

Verona earns split with Superior with 4-2 win MARK NESBITT Sports editor

Verona junior forward Anthony Heinrichs continued his hot start to the season with a hat trick to power the Wildcat boys hockey team to a weekend split with Superior.

Verona (3-2), playing a Wisconsin Amateur Hockey Association club season until a WIAA season can begin, knocked off Superior 4-2 on Sunday, Dec. 6, at the Superior Ice Arena.

In a game the day before, Superior shut out the Wildcats 4-0. The weekend split came after Verona stormed past Monroe 10-1 in a game on Tuesday, Dec. 1, at the Stateline Ice and Hockey Expo in Monroe.

Heinrichs is the leading point scorer (9) through five games this season with five goals and four assists.

“Even though we are not playing a WIAA season, all of the high school teams want to play us because we are the defending champs,” Verona coach Scott Mirwald said. “They know we have the talent and depth.”

Mirwald has served as a volunteer assistant coach for six years and took over head coaching duties this season since the Wildcats are playing a WAHA club season.

When and if they are allowed to switch back to a WIAA season, Verona hopes they will have games under their belt to make another state championship run after winning a WIAA Division 1 title last season.

WIth the Public Health Madison and Dane County order banning indoor gatherings, games are prohibited inside the county.

“It probably won’t happen in Dane County,” Mirwald said.

“You just feel bad for the seniors

If You Go What: Verona vs. Waunakee When: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15 Where: Poppy Waterman Ice Arena, Miller Drive, Lake Delton

Superior 4, Verona 0

Superior used the momentum of two second-period goals to roll past Verona on Saturday.

It marks the first time the Wildcats were shut out in 11 games. The last time Verona was shut out came Jan. 17, in a 3-0 loss to Wausau West.

Verona 10, Monroe 1

not being able to defend their Verona senior Samuel Iszczyszyn title.” scored two goals and the Wildcats rolled past the Monroe hockey co-op Verona 4, Superior 2 on Tuesday.

Hasseig scored one goal and had Heinrichs scored three goals to propel the Wildcats to a win over three assists as the Wildcats’ four lines wore down Monroe.

Superior on Sunday.

The Wildcats came out strong, About 1:30 into the second period, Heinrichs scored a go-ahead scoring three goals in the first perigoal to give the Wildcats a 2-1 od. Lindell struck first for Verona on lead. He scored his third goal on a pass from senior forward Leo Renan assist from senior Walker Haes- lund at 2:03.

About 5 minutes later, Iszczyszyn sig and Carson Lindell to extend scored his first goal on an assist from the lead to 3-1.

Hasseig finished with one goal Heinrichs. Then Maxwell Codde scored on a pass from Andrew Aune and three assists.

to give the Wildcats a 3-0 lead with 24 seconds to go in the first period.

In the second period, Verona got goals from Cordray, Brady Stebbeds, Haessig and Renlund to take a commanding 7-1 lead.

“We have three string lines deep and they have two,” Mirwald said of the Avalanche. “Our depth is going to be our key all season. We got multiple goals from three lines.”

Verona had two starting defensemen miss the game — Jurrens and senior Josh Osting. Mirwald said Jurrens missed the game because of a foot injury and Osting missed the game because of illness.

The Wildcats had senior Calvin Moioffer and freshman David Dina step into starting defenseman roles.

Lindell and Tollefson also played big minutes as defenseman.

Mirwald said the key was keeping Monroe on the outside and not letting them get into the dangerous areas to attack.

Hockey: Hoping for another shot at a state championship Continued from page 12 the WIAA in the state tournament,” Renlund said. “We can’t have VAHS on our uniforms. Getting to play at all is something we are happy about.”

The team is wearing grey jerseys that don’t reference VAHS. This is not what many hockey players envisioned after they celebrated winning the gold last year.

“Even if it’s not what we expected it to be, we may be able to flip back to a WIAA team and play for another state championship,” Nathan Jurrens said. “We are hoping for another shot to take a crack at a state championship.”

Both Nathan Jurrens and Renlund hope to earn a chance to play hockey in college. They are aware a junior hockey opportunity in the USHL or NAHL could be a precursor before they get their chance. Both Jurrens and Renlund got a chance to play two games for the Oregon Tradesmen NA3HL junior hockey league team two weeks ago. Renlund scored a goal in his first game with the Tradesmen, a 4-2 win over the Rochester Grizzlies on Friday, Nov. 20, at the Stateline Community

Expo in Monroe.

“The game was a lot faster,” Renlund said.

Last season for Verona, Jurrens racked up 36 points (13 goals, 18 assists) and anchored a defense that recorded 11 shutouts in 29 games. Renlund, an honorable mention all-state selection, had 42 points (12 goals, 30 assists) and scored the game-winning goal in the state title game.

Renlund said many of the top collegiate hockey teams sign older players out of junior leagues like the USHL and NAHL because they have more time to develop and become stronger.

“By the time they are in college they are 24 or 25 compared to a 19-year-old,” Renlund said. “It just makes the game a lot faster and stronger.”

Jurrens said playing one game with the Tradesmen gave him a glimpse of what junior hockey may be like.

“I liked having to adapt to a new setting for hockey,” Jurrens said. “I liked the faster pace than high school and it was a lot more physical. It was really a great first experience in junior hockey. I can’t wait to see what can happen in the future in the USHL or NAHL.”

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Verona schools

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December 11, 2020

Fitchburg Star

15

Verona Area School District

Verona Area School District

Grades 3-5 return planned

VAHS hosts annual Social Justice Youth Summit

Schedules would switch to full-day instruction two days a week

KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group

Starting in late January, the Verona Area School District is hoping to bring more elementary school students in for in-person classes, and for longer days than what it’s offering now.

Under the district’s new plan based on Public Health Madison and Dane County recommendations, grades Pre-K-5 would come back to the school buildings for a full school day, two days a week, with two other days spent being virtual and Monday being a teacher prep day, starting second semester on Jan. 26.

“There was a heavy emphasis at (the latest PHMDC and superintendents) meeting on Friday about the need to just be public about getting kids back in school as being our collective No. 1 priority,” district

superintendent Dean Gorrell told the school board at its Monday, Dec. 7, meeting.

With students split into cohorts to meet social distancing requirements from the county, teachers would teach their in-person and virtual classrooms at the same time from 7:35 a.m. to 2:40 p.m. four days a week, and use Monday as a preparation day.

Families who wish to keep their students fully virtual will still have that option, Gorrell told the school board.

The new plan for elementary school students was only discussed by board members at the meeting to provide administration feedback on how to proceed. The plan falls under the phased-return plan that school board members approved for the 2020-21 school year back in July.

Middle and high school students will remain fully virtual – for now.

Gorrell said that both the district and PHMDC will continue to watch trends for both regional hospital

capacities and how COVID-19 vaccinations progress in the community, and hinted more students could be added in the second semester.

He said that following discussions with PHMDC, he expected them to publish revised recommendations for schools that would encourage school districts to bring in grades 3-5 that would not be as strict as the current recommendations. The recommendations come with a caveat for school districts, stating they can open up to more students as long as certain health and disease mitigation factors could be met.

PHMDC could add more requirements or protocols for school districts as they bring more students back, but Gorrell said that county-area superintendents have not been fully informed as to what some of those might be. He added that in those meetings with PHMDC officials, superintendents urged them to consider the hurdles districts have to overcome with planning for more

Turn to Return/Page 16

This year’s virtual event on Dec. 4 featured keynote speaker Bettina Love, who discussed Hip Hop Civics Ed and how that, when included with intersectionality and abolitionist teaching, can create a space where Black lives matter and youth are engaged in fighting for justice and inclusion.

District contract tracers seek to keep student, families safe

The job that Pat Lynam came back to this fall isn’t the same one she intended to retire from in spring. Lynam, who retired from the district after being a nurse for two and half decades, found herself re-employed – this time, as a part of the team contact tracing for students and staff exposed to COVID-19

District launches COVID-19 dashboard

VASD has launched a data dashboard to show in realtime the impact COVID-19 is having on staff and students.

Launched Nov. 19, it shows how many students and staff are either sick with COVID-19, considered to be a close contact of someone who tested positive, or is in quarantine/isolation.

VAIS celebrates World Kindness Day

The Verona Area International School’s (VAIS) second grade classroom celebrated World Kindness Day by listening to the book “The Kindness Quilt” by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace and making “Kindness is...” posters to display on the walls of VAIS. Email Unified Newspaper Group reporter Scott De Laruelle at scott.delaruelle@wcinet.com.

Verona Area School District

Four superintendent finalists announced District will hold “Virtual Day in the District” sessions All four finalist candidates for the Verona Area School District superintendent position will spend a “Virtual Day in the District” by conducting Zoom listening sessions from Dec. 7-10.

The sessions will be held in both English and Spanish each night, with the English sessions scheduled for 6:30-7:30 p.m. and the Spanish sessions from 7:30-8:30 p.m.

Dr. Tremayne Clardy will be featured Dec. 7; Dr. Joseph Koch on Dec. 8; Laurie Burgos on Dec. 9; and Dr. Rainey Briggs on Dec. 10.

The Zoom listening sessions are accessible on the district’s website, verona.k12. wi.us. Under the “About VASD” tab, there’s a section that reads “Superintendent search,” and the links for each Zoom meeting are listed under “Search Calendar.”

All four finalists currently employed in Wisconsin KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group

The Verona Area Board of Education has decided on four finalists for the post of superintendent.

After interviews held Nov. 16-17, the board narrowed the pool of applicants from 36 to four, which were announced on Monday, Nov. 30. Those candidates, in alphabetical order, are Dr. Rainey Briggs, Laurie Burgos, Dr. Tremayne Clardy and Dr. Joseph Koch, all of whom are currently employed in education administration within the state.

“All four candidates have deep roots in education and instruction, and extensive leadership in progressive school districts like ours,” Meredith Stier Christensen, board vice president and search committee chair, said in a news release.

All four finalists will move on to the next step of the interview process, which includes Virtual “Day in the District” sessions set for Dec. 7-10 in both English and Spanish, and then another round of interviews with the school board Dec. 14-15.

The school board is expected to announce its selection for the next superintendent on Monday, Dec. 21.

District superintendent Dean Gorrell announced his upcoming retirement in January of this year, giving the board nearly 18 months to select his successor.

He will retire at the end of the 2020-21 school year on June 30, 2021.

The process to name a successor officially launched in January and in April, the board selected search firm Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates to aid them in the process.

Three of the finalists work within Dane County, as Briggs is the director of elementary education at Middleton-Cross Plains School District, Burgos is the current assistant superintendent for academic services at Verona Area School District and Clardy is the chief of schools for elementary education in the Madison Metropolitan School District. Koch, who works for the Waukesha School District as deputy superintendent, has experience in other areas throughout the state.

Email reporter Kimberly Wethal at kimberly.wethal@wcinet.com and follow her on Twitter @kimberly_wethal.

Laurie Burgos

Rainey Briggs

Burgos is the assistant superintendent of academic services for the Verona Area School District. She took over the position after a restructuring of the district’s administrative team in January 2020 Burgos that was announced around the time current superintendent Dean Gorrell announced his retirement plans.

Previously, Burgos had been the director of bilingual programs and instructional equity since 2014, and had been the coordinator of bilingual programming for Racine Unified School District before coming to the district.

She is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Spanish. She holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Cardinal Stritch University.

Briggs is the director of elementary education for the Middleton Cross-Plains School District, where he’s worked for four years. Prior to that, he was the principal at Horizon Elementary School in the Sun Briggs Prairie Area School District.

In addition to his current role, Briggs has spent his 17 years in education as a high school assistant principal and a classroom teacher. Earlier this year, he was a finalist in the School District of La Crosse’s superintendent search.

Briggs holds an Education Doctorate from Edgewood College, a Master’s Degree from Viterbo University in La Crosse and a Bachelor’s Degree in Community Health from Minnesota State University in Mankato, Minnesota.

Joseph Koch Tremayne Clardy Clardy is the chief of schools for elementary education for Madison Metropolitan School District, where he’s held multiple leadership positions since 2017, including chief of Clardy middle schools until earlier this year.

Prior to coming to Madison Metropolitan, Clardy had been a middle school and assistant high school principal during his more than two decades in education.

Clardy earned his Ed.D and Masters of the Arts degrees from Aurora University in Illinois, and his Master’s of Science and Bachelor’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Koch is deputy superintendent of the School District of Waukesha, a role he’s been in for six years. Previously, Koch had been the director of special education and pupil services for the Cedarburg Koch School District, and in a similar role for the School District of Denmark/Two Rivers Public School.

Earlier this year, he was one of three finalists for superintendent at the School District of Waukesha. Previous to his leadership roles, Koch was a special education teacher for nearly a decade.

Koch has a doctorate degree in Leadership from Cardinal Stritch University, and earned his Master’s Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

16

December 11, 2020

Fitchburg Star

Oregon/Verona schools

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Oregon School District

OSD plans for in-person second semester

OMS, OHS getting ready for possible return of students next month SCOTT DE LARUELLE Unified Newspaper Group

In just over a month, the second semester for the Oregon School District is set to begin.

While administrators don’t yet know when county health officials will allow most students to attend in-person, they’re preparing for more, or even all, district students to be back in classes as early as Monday, Jan. 19, when the second semester begins.

Current Public Health Bergstrom Madison and Dane County recommendations are to have only students in grades K-2 at schools, based on COVID-19 metrics. But the administrative team is hoping to have more grades back in school for the second semester, district superintendent Leslie Bergstrom said at the Monday, Nov. 23, school board meeting.

“I feel very confident that will happen,” she said. “We’re hoping to be able to get some information very soon that gives us much more clear guidance related to when we can bring in our next phase of students.”

If more students return to the building, that could present some operational hurdles administrators need to climb first. Those include figuring out which students are returning, how their new cohort groups will be staffed and how to provide socially distanced transportation.

The district is already working on all three, Bergstrom said, noting they are significant operational requirements.

For the past few weeks, the district has actively advertised for substitute teachers and paraprofessionals to help manage classrooms, as well as nursing staff to conduct contact tracing. Bergstrom said the district “absolutely has to have a deeper substitute pool” to fill in when staff are ill or under COVID-19 quarantine, which she said has caused frequent staffing problems this year.

“It’s very difficult to find a substitute when there is a staff absence,” she said. “We would love to have more people apply for open positions.”

Next week, the district will email families of middle and high school students an instructional video to give them an idea of what the second semester would look like when phased restart students return, Bergstrom said. She said the district will offer virtual schooling the rest of the year for families who would prefer it.

“We want to refresh peoples’ memory so they have a really good memory of what school will look like and what safety measures will be in place so they can begin to select for semester 2 if they want to be in Oregon Online or phased restart,” she said.

Student survey The district will look to improve its tech support and increase the academic rigor of its online classes after students provided information in a recent survey.

District superintendent Leslie Bergstrom talked at the Monday, Nov. 23, school board meeting about the results of grades 5-12 student survey, which had an 80% response rate.

Rating the virtual learning experience, 77% of students felt it was overall or somewhat better than last spring, similar to the parent survey the district conducted in October.

All students reported being OK accessing online classrooms and knowing whom to ask for help, though around a quarter of respondents had questions about Chromebook or tablet support, something she said the district would address.

“We’re going to make sure there is continuing our messaging on where students can go for help with their Chromebook or tablet,” Bergstrom said.

Other areas for improvement were reducing the amount of asynchronous learning, which includes pre-recorded lessons or work that is done outside of a Zoom classroom. Around a quarter of students and parents stated there was too much asynchronous learning, and wanted more live interaction.

Bergstrom added that 9% of students reported not feeling academically challenged, compared to 18% of parents. She said while the number was lower, it was still too high.

“We’re going to do deep dives by grade level and by school, and follow up and modify based on the findings,” she said.

“There have been a lot of changes made on the family survey, and I think we’ll be tweaking even more, based on what our students just told us.”

Bergstrom said while the district wanted that information as soon as possible for planning purposes, the idea was to wait as long as possible to give families a chance to see what the latest PHMDC guidance will be on COVID-19 recommendations.

“I know that’s important to a lot of people’s selections,” she said.

A whole new kind of snow day

Photo submitted

Carolyn Sier, 10, attends her fourth grade Zoom class at Glacier Edge Elementary, School from her porch, which was covered in snow on Tuesday, Nov. 24. An email from Sier’s father Mark said that Carolyn wanted to get outside before it turned to rain and eventual mush later in the day.

Return: Students who were in a choice school will be able to return to their ‘home schools’ Continued from page 15 students.

“Not only do we need time to for operationalizing having more students in place, but our parents do too,” he said. “This is not something we can flip on a dime, and we can’t make an announcement on a Monday and expect that by the next Monday, that everyone’s got all their ducks in a row.”

PHMDC plans to release the new guidance by the end of the month, but Gorrell said he wasn’t sure if the district would have those in hand by the board’s next meeting on Dec. 21. Gorrell cautioned that plans could change due to how well the county’s population is managing COVID-19, but the district at least needs to start making plans to make sure it can operationally support having PreK-5 back in schools.

Not only do more students require more transportation and mitigation factors such as cleaning processes and contact tracing, but it also requires the administration to look at schedule adjustments and staffing needs, all prior to Jan. 26.

All board members were seemingly glad to hear the

district was planning to bring more students back, but some offered questions or concerns with the operational process it was going to take to make it a reality.

Kalyanna Williams and Noah Roberts asked how administrators planned on making sure teachers had support for technological issues and weren’t being burned out by the new scheduling system.

They said they didn’t want to see staff working huge amounts of overtime just to bring this new plan to life, as they’re already asked to juggle a lot.

“This is something I’ve been concerned about for years, that each year we ask more and more of our staff and not only are they educators, but they are also asked to be mental health professionals, and asked to be first responders, and asked to be technological experts,” Roberts said.

“It seems like we got to a point pre-pandemic where we couldn’t ask staff to be any more, yet we have continued to ask more of them and they continue to deliver miraculously.”

Both director of ele mentary education Angela Lewis-Hawkins and assistant superintendent for academic services Laurie

Burgos responded to their concerns. Lewis-Hawkins said each school will have district technology staff on site to fix technology problems and develop troubleshooting protocols for teachers and students.

“We will teach our students, just like a regular classroom, there may be glitches with technology – maybe not to the same large-scale in this case,” Lewis-Hawkins said. “But when we’re in the brickand-mortar, things happen.”

Burgos added there are other teachers across the country teaching in-person and virtual at the same time, and there’s a lot the district can learn from those experiences.

“I would love to have our teachers listen to and hear from other teachers who have been doing this, because they’re the really the best ones to explain some of the challenges, how they worked through them, building that network of support so that not everybody is replicating the same work,” she said.

Email reporter Kimberly Wethal at kimberly. wethal@wcinet.com and follow her on Twitter @ kimberly_wethal.​

Oregon School District Something’s stirring in Oregon

How about some okonomiyaki? Japanese pancakes is just one of several intriguing recipes that 14 OSD students are learning in the Farm to School Cooking Club. The new club geared toward grades 2-5 meets virtually every Tuesday afternoon from Nov. 10 through Dec. 15.

OHS’ Koch wins UW-Platteville Educator Award

Gov. Evers joins OHS virtual career fair

Photo submitted

Gov. Tony Evers, a former state superintendent of public schools and Verona Area School District superintendent, recorded a message for OHS students on his career path. He was one of 78 people who recorded messages during a virtual career fair held Nov. 2.

OHS special education case manager Travis Koch was honored earlier this year by the UW-Platteville School of Education with an Influential Educator Award. It is awarded to high school teachers who were influential in a student’s decision to pursue a career in education.

OHS, OMS students win state l anguage excellence awards

Four students in the Oregon School Districts won state language honors for their work last month from the Wisconsin Association for Language Teachers during the 2019-20 school year.

OSD survey shows confidence in virtual learning

The results from a recent survey of caregivers of students are generally positive, but Oregon School District officials have a plan to address areas of concern, including increasing connections with teachers and other students.

Email Unified Newspaper Group reporter Scott De Laruelle at scott.delaruelle@ wcinet.com.

December 11, 2020 - Fitchburg Star 17

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Q. What are the most common dangers to my pets around the holidays?

A. Around the holidays, there are many extra dangers for our furry family members

of which we need to be aware. Extra electrical cords can be bitten through leading to electrocution. Decorations such as ornaments can be ingested and potentially lead to intestinal damage or obstruction. Lots of baking goods around can lead to ingestions of toxins such as chocolate and xylitol, an artificial sweetener that is toxic to animals.

Holiday plants such as poinsettia, mistletoe and pine can cause gastrointestinal upset or at high doses, toxicity if ingested. Certain salts used for de-icing can cause skin irritation and gastrointestinal irritation or toxicity, if ingested. Keep these items away from your pets and call a veterinarian if your pet does get exposed.

1350 S. Fish Hatchery Road Oregon, WI 53575 (608) 835-0551

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Q. Are there any tax strategies that I should do differently this year?

A. Due to COVID-19, traditional tax strategies may not make sense this year.

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Taxpayers still have time to make informed decisions about year-end tax strategy adjustments. Taxpayers should utilize tax implications that remain in play from the CARES and SECURE Acts. Since retirees aren’t required to take required minimum distributions (RMD) in 2020, no deduction may result through qualified charitable distributions (QCD) when there is little to no taxable income. For both individuals and businesses, greater tax savings come in years with elevated income. Converting a portion of a qualified IRA to a Roth IRA makes sense during a year with paused RMD’s. You won’t have RMD’s or pay tax on the Roth IRA later. Have a discussion about your 2020 year-end tax planning with your tax professional. We would be happy to work with you on your tax planning goals for the end of the year and into the upcoming tax season.

232 Chads Crossing, Verona WI 53593 david@davidhennickcpa.com • www.davidhennickcpa.com

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CREMATION SERVICES

Q. I am an expert in my line of work, and I’m interested in advertising in the Ask a Professional series. How can I get more information?

A. It’s simple, just call or email me and I can answer your Donna Larson Sales Team Leader

questions. This is one of the best places to tell your potential clients and patrons what you can do for them! And you’ll reach nearly 43,000 homes through the Fitchburg Star and the Great Dane Shopping News.

Fitchburg Star & Great Dane Shopping News

veronasales@wcinet.com • 608-845-9559

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Comprehensive Therapy Services 1049 N. Edge Trail • Prairie Oaks (608) 845-2100 • Verona, WI 53593 • www.stellarrehab.com

including cold, flu, and sinus infections. The best way to maintain a healthy immune system is by minimizing stress. Moderate exercise, a healthy diet low in processed carbohydrates and sugars, and adequate sleep of at least 7 hours per night are things that you can Jill Unwin, Lee Unwin, DC, CCEP BCMT, CSCS do daily to keep your body up to the task of fighting off illness.

Additionally, research studies find chiropractic adjustments and massage therapy to be mutually beneficial in prevention by supporting our immune systems. Chiropractic adjustments increase our bodies’ immunoglobulin A levels while massage therapy increases levels of our “killer cells” known as lymphocytes, with both treatments decreasing levels of cortisol (a major component of stress). All of these tools combined will make you a healthier individual so even if you catch that cold you will be on a pathway to a more rapid recovery.

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RA is caused by an autoimmune response of the body that causes inflammation of the joints. Symptoms of RA can include joint pain, swelling, stiffness, weakness and muscle fatigue. Over time and without proper treatment, persons with RA can experience a decline in functional mobility due to progressive joint damage.

Management of RA symptoms often include medication to decrease inflammation Susan Armstrong, MPT and promote the body’s immune system. In addition, physical therapy is often Physical Therapist prescribed for individuals with RA to improve flexibility, strength, balance and functional motions while decreasing the inflammation and joint pain. A daily exercise program is important to complete and would be specifically designed by a physical therapist. Contact Stellar Rehab at via www.stellarrehab.com to learn more about Physical Therapy treatments for Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Q. Are there any natural ways to prevent a cold?

A. Our immune system is our natural defense against disease

133 Enterprise Dr., Verona WI • connectverona.com

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(608) 628-3275

2985 Triverton Pike Dr., Ste. 200, Fitchburg, WI 53711 pfaffs@firstweber.com • www.shawnpfaff.firstweber.com

A. Fifty percent of adults in the U.S. have some form of periodontal disease, characterized by red, bleeding gums, bone loss, and exposed tooth roots. This chronic, inflammatory infection requires vigilant home care (daily brushing and flossing) and more frequent dental hygiene appointments. This condition does not distinguish between older and younger patients. It’s as likely for one of our hygienists to treat a 21-year-old patient with periodontal disease as it is for her to treat someone much older. If you are on a more frequent dental hygiene schedule, it may be because of periodontics. Research has established that topical fluoride treatments may be a beneficial part of your treatment protocol. Topical fluoride helps protect both teeth and exposed tooth roots from decay, preserving both your teeth and root surfaces from further damage. It’s a valuable tool in the periodontal treatment tool kit.

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find out what your home is worth. What you get, unfortunately, is a wide price range. The reason for the value discrepancies is that many of those websites rely on third party companies to access local public records to find out details on your Shawn Pfaff home. The information that is used could be outdated or lack crucial details that are needed to find the most accurate value of your home. That is why you need to meet with a Realtor - that uses up-to-date neighborhood “comps” - to find out the most accurate and updated value of your home.

As a Fitchburg Realtor, I would love the opportunity to meet with you to provide a no obligation market appraisal of your home. I look forward to hearing from you soon at pfaffs@firstweber.com.

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actually worth?

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DENTIST

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that. Depression (major depressive disorder or clinical depression) is, by definition, a medical illness characterized by a chronic sense of sadness and loss of interest in activities. Depression can often dictate the way in which you feel, think, and act – and if not treated, it can lead to everything from alcohol and drug abuse to attempted suicide.

It’s estimated that 350 million people worldwide suffer from depression. More than two million adults 65 years of age and older are faced with depression of some kind.

Signs of depression are easy to overlook in older adults, as they’re often mistaken for other signs of aging.

Studies show that when depressed, seniors may not clearly display typical signs of sadness such as crying.

Instead, they tend to withdraw from the people they care about and the things they once loved to do.

Signs to watch for: Irritability, withdraw, decrease in cognitive ability, increased pain and digestive problems. If you recognize any of these signs in your senior loved one, talk to him or her about what he or she is feeling. Although you may receive some resistance initially, it’s important to let him or her know that you’re there to help. From there, it’s vital that you inform his or her primary health care provider or mental health expert to have symptoms assessed professionally.

18 Fitchburg Star - December 11, 2020

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

HOLIDAY TREE COLLECTION Weather permitting, holiday tree collection will begin the week of January 4th for properties subscribed to the City of Fitchburg’s 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.

WI SALT AWARENESS WEEK – SAVE THE DATE! Discover the true cost of salt on our drinking water, pets, freshwater ecosystems, and more! Tune in from 12:30-1:00pm daily from January 11-15 as area experts drop some knowledge on #thetruecostofsalt on Wisconsin SaltWise’s YouTube channel. All talks will be livestreamed. For more details, visit: https://www.wisaltwise.com/Take-Action/Salt-Awareness-Week.

CURBSIDE OPTIONS FOR EXCESS RECYCLABLES

Fitchburg’s recycling hauler (Pellitteri Waste Systems) will pick up excess recyclables that do not fit into the blue recycling carts curbside at no additional charge for all single to four-unit residential homes. Homeowners may place excess recyclables in a clear plastic bag (32 gallon or less & no more than 50 pounds) next to the recycling cart.

Excess cardboard that does not fit inside your blue recycling cart should be flattened and placed in a clear plastic bag – not tied or bundled. More information is available at www.fitchburgwi.gov/solidwaste. adno=181360

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December 11, 2020

Fitchburg Star

19

Meant to be, despite global pandemic

Mariposa Learning Center still able to open even as cases increase EMILIE HEIDEMANN Unified Newspaper Group

What was once a partnership idea that existed inside the minds of two educators is now a reality despite a pandemic that rages onward.

Located in front of the Oregon School District’s Forest Edge Elementary School in the Terravessa development, Fitchburg’s Mariposa Learning Center opened in partnership with Oregon’s Academy of Sound last June.

Academy of Sound, 408 N. Bergamont Blvd., is a school locally known for offering private lessons, which are available to children enrolled at Mariposa Learning Center — virtually for now.

At Mariposa, 4870 Brassica Road, the teachers educate their young learners about Spanish, the arts and music. This is Mariposa’s second building – it used to have a location in Stoughton at 720 Nygaard St., which it outgrew is it sought more amenities and space to help students create to their heart’s content.

“We’ve transitioned really well,” Patricia Wooldridge, Mariposa Learning Center director, told the Star.

Erin Chisman, Academy of Sound owner, agreed with Wooldridge on a Nov. 24 Zoom call, saying, “We haven’t run into any roadblocks.”

Last spring, the partners were unsure of how their vision would come to fruition, even with Mariposa Learning Center deemed an essential business under the state’s Safer at Home orders. Wooldridge said the

Mariposa Learning Center 4870 Brassica Road, Fitchburg 205-6677 mariposalearning.com

Academy of Sound 408 N. Bergamont Blvd., Oregon 371-9030 academyofsound.org school had to cut its staff by 50% as COVID-19 cases continued to rise.

B u t Wo o l d r i d g e s a i d staff only delayed the center’s opening by two weeks to June 26.

“It was always meant to be,” Chisman said of opening Mariposa despite the small lapse in timing.

Wo o l d r i d g e s a i d s h e originally approached Chisman about the partnership in winter 2019, as the they have similar views on how children absorb knowledge. The kids that Mariposa serves – which include infants up through school-aged children – are at the most critical stages of development. That renders them extra capable of learning a musical instrument, language or art discipline, Wooldridge said.

That passion and the support families provided Mariposa gave her “high hopes” the center would inhabit its new home.

Those have clearly paid off — evidenced by the colorful Brassica Road building that’s decked out with radiant reds and blues on the outside, and butterflies and flowers on the inside.

There’s not much music

Photos by Emilie Heidemann

A student’s art piece is in progress in the Mariposa Learning Center art studio. The facility opened last summer in the Terravessa development in front of Forest Edge Elementary School.

A piano and xylophone sit in the front lobby for students with music lessons to practice on. echoing the halls quite yet. But students can take advantage of a practice piano in the front lobby that staff sanitize between each use. There’s another in a large art studio in the basement, which also houses a music practice room.

The center also includes a natural playground and a

garden.

So Chisman and Wooldridge are staying the center’s course, even as COVID-19 cases increase.

Enrollment numbers are a slight concern for the school, Chisman said, as there are families who isolate at home and can’t afford child care costs.

Mariposa Learning Center has an art studio with a room for practicing music.

Children and infants who do go to Mariposa, but not for musical purposes, play in classroom “offices” separated by curtains.

Educators and students wear masks and practice physical distancing. Staff deep clean everything, and follow public health protocols if there is a positive

COVID-19 case.

Despite those adaptations, it is apparent the confidence Chisman and Wooldridge have in keeping the center afloat is not likely to waiver.

They might have to make decisions “in the blink of an eye,” but each said they are prepared for that.

Assemblers AFTER 120 DAYS

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$22.87 / hour SECOND SHIFT (4/10’ s ) MONDAY – THURSDAY: 2:15pm – 12:15am

Machine Operators - Fabrication AFTER 120 DAYS

Mariposa Learning Center opened its facility last summer in the Terravessa development.

W H Y S U B - Z E R O , W O L F, A N D C O V E ?

$22.87 – $24.97/ hour

■ State of the art fabrication & assembly equipment

SECOND SHIFT

■ Clean, temperature controlled working environment

MONDAY–FRIDAY: 2:00pm – 10:00pm

■ Excellent employee benefit package ■ On-site employee clinic and fitness center available

THIRD SHIFT SUNDAY–THURSDAY: 10:00pm – 6:00am

A P P LY O N L I N E

subzero-wolf.com/careers We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer The center features many classrooms for the various age groups it serves.

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20 Fitchburg Star - December 11, 2020

Sugar and spice and everything nice for the holidays‌

Open 7 Days a Week from 6:30am-9:00pm

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210 S. Main Street Verona, Wisconsin (608) 845-6478