4/9/2021 Fitchburg Star by Woodward Community Media

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Friday, April 9, 2021 • Vol. 8, No. 2 • Fitchburg, WI • ConnectFitchburg.com • $1

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Spring election

Inside

Herbst unseats incumbent

Pickleball courts approved for McGaw Park

Lokuta, Pankratz win for OSD; Williams, Murphy, Porco win in VASD

Page 2

KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group

Meet the administrator candidates Page 3 Photo by Justin Loewen

UW Health’s Laura Kane loads a box of food into a patron’s trunk during Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin’s mobile food pantry at Fitchburg Fire Station No. 2 on Wednesday, March 24.

Mobile food pantry visits Star correspondent

Leopold gets $2,500 grant Page 8

Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin’s mobile food pantry came to Fitchburg Fire Station No. 2 on Wednesday, March 24, providing local

families with access to free food items without the need to show identification or make reservations. The food program took place in a drive-thru format, with volunteers from UW Health helping to load vehicles.

Inside More photos Page 2

Sports City of Fitchburg

Council rejects $250K claim from Marsh Edgewood dominates state swimming Page 12

Schools VAHS plans graducation, prom Page 15

Business From STEM to stern Page 19

City staff packed up his items because of concerns caused by his behavior KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group

The City of Fitchburg has rejected a $250,000 insurance claim from former administrator Patrick Marsh for items he said the city failed to return from his office. Marsh, who signed a voluntary resignation agreement in January paying him six months’ salary, accused the city of packing up his office without his consent and losing three personal keepsakes that are “priceless,” according to a letter from him to the city that was included in the council

packet. Marsh told the Common Council prior to its vote on the claim Tuesday, March 23, that he planned to pursue litigation against Marsh the city if alders were to deny it. The council voted unanimously after a 30-minute closed session and held no discussion in open session. Ald. Julia Arata-Fratta (Dist. 2) abstained from the discussion and vote over Marsh’s insurance claim, which she also did when the council approved the voluntary resignation conditions for Marsh at the Jan. 12 meeting. Both times, she offered no comment as to why. City staff cleaned out his office after more than one person had asked city leadership to not allow

Marsh come back to pack up his office because of behavior multiple employees saw as intimidating, a city official told the Star on Wednesday, March 24. The Star is not naming the official because of potential litigation concerns. The behavior that concerned employees occurred both before and after the separation agreement was signed, the unnamed official told the Star. Marsh told the council he had returned twice to the building to retrieve personal items after being put on administrative leave Nov. 30. Marsh told alders during the public comment period that because he was allowed into City Hall twice prior to signing the agreement but after he was put on leave, he should have been permitted to re-enter to pack up his personal items himself. The items Marsh claims are

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There will be three new people on the City of Fitchburg Common Council at the end of the month In District 1, longtime Board of Public Works chair Dave Herbst defeated incumbent Dorothy Krause by a vote of 375-323. Districts 3 and 4 will also have new alders Herbst in Jay Allen and Jim Wheeler. Wheeler ran for council unopposed, succeeding Tom Clauder, who had decided in December against running for another term; and Allen won against opponent Shawnicia Allen Youmas by a vote of 576-396, who had told the Star earlier this spring that she planned to decline the seat if she won. Incumbent Julia Arata-Fratta is the only returning member of Council, as she won Wheeler against Plan Commission member Steven Heller by a vote of 1,144-605. Two of the city’s school districts also had contested races for their respective school boards. Arata-Fratta For the Verona Area Board of Education, incumbent Yanna Williams, Jen Murphy and John Porco won a three-year At-Large term from a five-way race for three seats that included incumbent Carolyn Jahnke and Nicole Vafadari. Meredith Stier Christensen, who represents an Outside Cities seat, ran unopposed. At least one new board member was guaranteed to win, as Tom Duerst had announced in December he would not run for reelection. For school district races, with 11 of 12 precincts in Dane County

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April 9, 2021

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Fitchburg Star

McGaw pickleball courts approved

Mobile food pantry visits

Alders express concerns over prioritization of parkland fees KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group

Photos by Justin Loewen

TOP: UW Health’s Sherri Faust carries a box of food over to a patron’s vehicle during Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin’s mobile food pantry at Fitchburg Fire Station No. 2 on Wednesday, March 24. LEFT: Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin’s Laura Moon helps guide people to pick up items from the organization’s mobile food pantry.

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McGaw Park will be the site of eight new pickleball courts. The City of Fitchburg Common Council unanimously approved a bid to build just the pickleball courts at McGaw Park near the Fahey Fields development, while opting to not to approve an alternative bid which included constructing a parking lot and paths adjacent to the courts, at its Tuesday, March 9, meeting. Before approving the bid, alders expressed concerns at both the council meeting, and finance committee meeting preceding it, that resources were going to McGaw Park, which already has tennis courts and baseball fields, while they felt like other projects in other parts of the city were dismissed as “pet projects” by fellow alders and the community. The construction bid was awarded to Badgerland Excavation Corporation for $298,000. The construction of the parking lot and paths around it, which the council did not approve, would have added $329,224 to the overall project cost. The pickleball court project will be funded by parkland dedication fees – which are paid by developers who do not build parks as a part of their development, not paid by taxpayers – city finance director Misty Dodge told alders during the finance committee meeting. “They’re going to draw people from across the city,” she said. “So the fees that those subdivisions paid can be used for that project because it will benefit that development.” The city receives $65,000 for every acre of land that a development is deficient in parkland from developers, city parks director Scott Endl explained. Fahey Fields’ developer paid approximately $623,000 in parkland dedication fees, Endl estimated, and another $265,000 in park improvement fees. Ald. Gabriella Gerhardt (Dist. 2) said in the finance committee meeting there’s a limited amount of parkland dedication fees and improvement fees available at the city’s disposal. As such, she was concerned that additional funds that had not come from the Fahey Fields developer that could be used elsewhere in the city, were given to an area that already has amenities. “In terms of priorities, I think providing park space to part of the community that has very little park space is more important to me than adding an additional amenity in the near term to this park that has a lot of amenities,” she said. In particular, Gerhardt and other alders were worried that spending additional parkland funds in McGaw Park for the pickleball courts meant there would be less money for The Hub project on

File photo by Amber Levenhagen

Dennis Hilgendorf sends the ball across the court. Hilgendorf was among a small group of people who practiced their pickleball skills in the court near Kaiser Park on Sept. 27. The group was enjoying a break in the rain that had kept some of the other regular participants from attending.

Traceway Drive, which is currently in the design phase. Those concerns were echoed by alders in the following Common Council meeting, specifically District 1 alders, whose plans for a teen center in the Jamestown neighborhood had come under scrutiny as something the city couldn’t afford. Dodge and Endl reassured alders at the finance meeting there would be enough in parkland dedication fees to still contribute to The Hub, specifically from the Bowman Dairy apartment complex on Fish Hatchery Road, which will eventually pay in $680,000 in fees. Phase 1 of The Hub is expected to cost $2.6 million, but Endl said all of the funding doesn’t need to come from parkland dedication fees or the city’s operating budget. “There’s a lot of different funding and grant opportunities for Phase 1 of The Hub, which certainly we’re going to apply for and hopefully be successful with,” he said. During both the Council meeting and the Finance Committee meeting earlier in the day, Ald. Julia Arata-Fratta (D-2) also expressed concerns about the lack of lighting near the pickleball courts, and wondered whether the cost of the extra parking lots could instead be used to install lighting. “Because we are in Wisconsin, and in the fall, 4 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 5 p.m., it gets dark … why didn’t we decide to add the lights?” she asked during the Finance Committee meeting. Endl responded that just because the project didn’t currently have lights to go along with the eight pickleball courts, it didn’t mean they couldn’t add those at a later time. “When we promoted the project to the neighbors, it was a case that we didn’t include the court lighting because we felt it might be intrusive,” he said. “We’re providing the base facility, if you would … that could be something that the pickleball community could be involved in, and adding and providing some donations.”

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April 9, 2021

City of Fitchburg

Administrator finalists down to four Two candidates are City of Fitchburg employees; others from Madison, Onalaska KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group

The city has narrowed its administrator search down to four applicants. On Friday, March 26, t h e C i t y o f F i t c h bu rg announced the four finalists, in alphabetical order: current city police chief Chad Brecklin, current city IT manager Matthew Prough, Onalaska city administrator Eric Rindfleisch and Madison Water Utility customer service supervisor André Small. The four were first selected from an initial 31 applicants, mayor Aaron Richardson told the Star, and then a smaller group of 12 applicants who participated in phone interviews. Of the initial pool of candidates, many of them had Midwest ties, and all four finalists either work in or have had experience working in Wisconsin. Richardson will make a recommendation for hire to the Common Council at its Tuesday, April 27, meeting; the new administrator would tentatively start in early to mid-June after an expected offer in early May. The city will organize applicant interviews and public appearances on Thursday, April 8, and Friday, April 9, human resources manager Sarah Olson wrote to the Star in an email. On April 8, each finalist will have a professional panel interview in the morning, with a five-member community panel presentation in the afternoon – of which Olson said her department is looking into taping for the public to watch, but has not confirmed whether that will happen. From 6:30-7:30 p.m. April 8, the city will hold a public reception at City Hall, where the candidates will be able to introduce themselves and answer a set of questions, Olson said. She added that there will be a virtual option. Because of current Public Health Madison and Dane County orders, masks will be required for those attending in person and there will be no food or refreshments offered. On Friday, April 9, each finalist will meet with the entire Common Council in the morning, take a tour of the city during the mid-day and then have a one-on-one interview with Richardson in the afternoon, Olson wrote. The city launched the administrator search in mid-January after the Common Council approved a voluntary resignation and separation agreement with former administrator Patrick Marsh that provided him six months salary. Marsh had been on administrative leave since late

November. His resignation negated the need for a third-party investigation into his conduct that the council had approved in November, and was not related to the investigation itself. An administrator manages all of the city departments and provides information and policy alternatives to the mayor and Common Council as a liaison to staff. Administrator duties including helping prepare city operating budgets, working with elected officials on planning and capital improvement plans and attending all council meetings. The base salary for the administrator is $120,000 and benefits. That base salary increases by $5,000 if the administrator relocates to live within the city, and decreases if they choose not to.

Chad Brecklin

Brecklin has been with the city’s police department for 22 years, starting as a police officer in 1999. He came to the city after four years with the Village of Oregon Police Department. He held the roles of patrol sergeant, support and investigations lieutenant and operations lieutenant before becoming the police chief in 2018, succeeding former chief Thomas Blatter, according to his resume provided to the Star by the city. In his current role, Brecklin manages a department with 64 full-time employees and manages an $8 million budget, his resume states. Brecklin has a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Concordia University Wisconsin and a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from Upper Iowa University. He serves as the president of the Dane County Chiefs of Police Association and has been on the United Way Law Enforcement and Leaders of Color Collaboration since 2019. He also served as a youth athletics coach for football and basketball, and was the president of the New Glarus Youth Basketball Association for six years, according to Brecklin’s resume.

Candidates at a glance • Chad Brecklin, Fitchburg police chief • Matthew Prough, Fitchburg IT manager • Eric Rindfleisch, Onalaska city administrator • André Small, Madison Water Utility customer service supervisor Wisconsin-Platteville and a Bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science and Law and a certificate in Criminal Justice from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Eric Rindfleisch

Rindfleisch has nearly a decade of experience in local government administration. He’s been with the City of Onalaska for just shy of four years, and prior to that was in administrative roles in Lodi, McFarland and Edgar in northwest Wisconsin, according to his resume which was provided to the Star by the city. Prior to his administrative stints, Rindfleisch worked in sales management for companies in Wisconsin, Minnesota, California and Ohio, and was an alder for the City of Sheboygan for six years. In his resume, Rindfleish outlines his experience with managing city departments and operations, budgetary and financial literacy and economic and community development where he’s been involved in planning efforts for downtown and commercial corridors. Rindfleisch holds a Master’s degree in public and

nonprofit administration from Metropolitan State University in St. Paul and Minneapolis and has a Bachelor’s degree in international relations from the University of Minnesota. He earned his Certified Public Manager accreditation from University of Wisconsin.

André Small

Small has worked in state and local government agencies for nearly a decade. His current role is the customer service supervisor for the City of Madison Water Utility, and p r ev i o u s l y, h e w o r k e d in multiple state departments including Corrections, Division of Family and Economic Security and Workforce Development in supervisory roles, according to his resume, which was provided to the Star by the city. In his current role, Small supports 70,000 commercial and residential water utility accounts in the City of Madison, oversaw a billing implementation system and has helped mentor employees on dealing with difficult customer interactions. Small also serves on the Equity and Inclusion committee to promote diversity within the utility, his resume states. Small has a Ph.D in Education and Leadership and a Master’s degree in Science and Management, both from Cardinal Stritch University, and a Bachelor’s of Science in Industrial Engineering with a minor in Business Management from Western Illinois University. Email reporter Kimberly Wethal at kimberly. wethal@wcinet.com and follow her on Twitter @ kimberly_wethal.

Fitchburg Star

COVID-19 snapshot from March 8 through April 5 Cases of COVID-19 in the City of Fitchburg have slowed down within the last month. On April 5, Department of Health Services data showed there were 2,505 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Fitchburg. (The majority of those are likely recovered cases.) That’s up from 2,438 confirmed cases as from March 8. S t a r t i n g We d n e s d a y, Dec. 2, the state Department of Health Services started releasing COVID-19 data for cities, villages and townships, as

well as school districts and ZIP codes. The state Department of Health Services receives data from county health departments and hospitals that are uploaded into its electronic disease surveillance system by 9 a.m. the day of the report. At 2 p.m., the department releases new information on its website. Cumulative cases are a representation of all cases reported since March 15. The data dashboard can be located at dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/data.htm. — Emilie Heidemann

Fitchburg COVID-19 numbers City of Fitchburg • Average no. of new daily cases within last seven days: 2.86 • Cumulative cases: 2,505 • Change over Monday, March 8: 67 • Percentage positive since March 15, 2020: 8.72% • Increase of percentage positive since Monday, March 8: 0.24%

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Matthew Prough

Prough has been with the city since 2004 in three different roles within the I n f o r m a t i o n Te c h n o l o gy department, with the last three years being the department’s director. He came to the city after working with the state Supreme Court, Capitol Bank and Inacom Information Systems, all in technical and technology support roles. He started his career as a police officer in the City of Sheboygan. In his current role, Prough manages a department with a $1 million budget and oversees the implementation and maintenance of the city’s technology services, his resume provided to the Star by the city states. Prough has a Master’s degree in Project Management from University of

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April 9, 2021

Opinion

Fitchburg Star

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Community Voices

Boost your mood with better food A

s a dietitian who works with families with picky eaters, I frequently hear the long list of vegetables, textures or flavors disliked by kids. But the one food that tops the list for adults and kids alike is seafood. Regardless of whether or not you like seafood, most of us aren’t eating enough of it. The Dietary Guidelines recommend adults eat at least two meals containing seafood per week (or eight ounces per week). Most of us average less than three ounces per week of seafood. The reason for the low intake? It’s partly because we simply aren’t familiar with it or know all the different types of seafood available to try. Being in the Midwest, certain fish just aren’t readily available yearround or can be intimidating to try — I’m looking at you, shellfish. Even if you’ve ruled out all

seafood, it’s a pretty diverse category and there may be some types or preparation methods you haven’t tried yet. So, we Hoerr know we need to increase our consumption and there’s a reason why dietitians are encouraging folks to give it another try. There are several essential nutrients in seafood (such as choline, selenium, calcium, vitamin D, zinc, and iron) with the standout nutrient being Omega-3 fats. It’s not found in high amounts in many other foods, making it all the more important to give fish a try. The Omega-3 fatty acids found in most fish, specifically EPA and DHA, have been shown to have a big impact on long-term health. These healthy

fats have a significant role in brain function, eye health, and heart health. It is essential for developing kids’ brains and nervous systems and it may help reduce cognitive decline in aging adults. The main hurdle still remains: how to incorporate seafood into your meals in a way that works for you and your family? Here are some ideas that may help. If you’re currently not a big fish-eater, start mild. Cod, tilapia, and salmon are all milder in taste. Your family may be more on board for trying one of these fish when it’s used in a familiar dish already, such as tacos or mac and cheese. Fish can get pricey, especially when it’s not in season, but don’t let that deter you from getting your weekly intake of fish! Keep it budget friendly by using canned tuna or salmon, which is often less expensive than fresh. This takes

away the prep work and is a fast way to add protein into your pastas, salads, or on sandwiches. When out to eat, choose a new seafood entree or appetizer for the entire table to try and share. It’ll give you an idea of what that type of fish tastes like and how you could prepare the fish at home later, if you discover you like it. Try out new seafood recipes with familiar flavors or use familiar recipes but swap out the protein. For example, taco seasoning, soy sauce and ginger, barbecue rubs, or lemon pepper are familiar flavors you can add to fish. Or swap out a familiar protein for seafood — add clams or shrimp to your favorite spaghetti or alfredo sauce, use cod instead of chicken in a curry dish, or create a burger using tuna or salmon. If getting enough fish in your week sounds daunting,

think outside of dinner. Try adding smoked salmon to a bagel with cream cheese for breakfast, add canned fish to your scrambled eggs, make a frittata or quiche using crab meat, or have a packet of tuna with crackers for a snack. Just don’t forget the breath mint! Here in Wisconsin, a Friday fish fry is a great place to start. From there, challenge yourself to add another serving of seafood throughout the week. Be adventurous—you may be surprised what seafood you like! Kara Hoerr, MS, RDN, CD, is a registered dietitian nutritionist and owner of Kara Hoerr Nutrition. Visit karahoerrnutrition.com, email kara@karahoerrnutrition.com or call 6204461. This information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice.

Making your yard healthier comes with incentives Friday, April 9, 2021 • Vol. 8, No. 2

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If you want to make your yard greener and healthier and live in Fitchburg, you’re in luck. The City of Fitchburg has some of the best incentives in the Badger State for those who take moderate actions right on their own property. Those include free compost and stormwater utility credits for eco-friendly practices and constructing rain gardens. You can start by taking the Fitchburg Creek Supporter pledge. This community education and action project provides a checklist of 57 recommended actions you can take on your property that can result in improvements to Fitchburg’s creeks. Those include the Nine Springs Creek, Swan Creek, Murphy’s Creek, Badfish Creek, Story Creek, Badger Mill Creek and Wingra Creek. If you are able to pledge to take at least 34 of these actions, you’re eligible for a credit on your stormwater utility bill of up to $8 per year. For information about the pledge and the related forms to fill out, search “Fitchburg Creek Supporter” on the city’s website (fitchburgwi.gov). Recommended actions include best practices for mowing and mulching grass clippings on your lawn for those who choose to have a turf grass lawn. For more sustainable turf grass lawns, you can seed in a

low-growing clover (such as dwarf white Dutch Clover – trifolium repens), which “fixes” nitrogen into the soil to reduce the need to add chemical fertilizer. If you find any four-leaf clovers, please let Ald. Gabriella Gerhardt know so she can plan out the timing for her next hunt for a Guinness world record. Fitchburg residents also have access to free compost from Fitchburg’s recycling drop off site they can spread on their lawn as a natural fertilizer and soil amendment. Compost helps soil health by improving moisture retention for sandy soils and drainage for clayey soils. It’s especially good to use right after aerating your lawn, as it will be fully distributed where your grass roots will be able to use it. If you’re thinking about a more extensive change to your yard, consider a “Do-It-Yourself” rain garden on your property. I had the privilege of helping to create a three-part Rain Garden Workshop series on designing, constructing and maintaining your own rain garden. On YouTube.com, search for “2021 Rain Garden

Workshop.” Class 1 includes some fun photos and history of the design and construction of Fitchburg’s community rain garden, as well as the rain garden at Fitchburg’s recycling drop-off site. Both are open to the public for viewing. With permission from Fitchburg staff, you might also be allowed to gather native seed to use in your own rain garden. If you are able to construct and maintain a rain garden with enough capacity, you’ll eligible for a credit on your stormwater utility bill of up to $16 per year. The garden must be at least 100 cubic feet, or approximately the amount of water that can fit in the beds of two pickup trucks. Fitchburg could increase this credit or the pledge credit during future stormwater utility rate adjustments. Several more tips for a greener, healthier yard can be found on Fitchburg’s stormwater web page and Ripple-Effects.com. If you’d like more information on rain gardens after viewing the three-part Rain Garden, environmental engineer Claudia Guy (claudia.guy@fitchburgwi.gov) can provide a list of consultants and contractors that can provide suggestions tailored for your site. Rick Eilertson is a former environmental engineer for the City of Fitchburg.

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individual businesses will not be printed unless there is an overwhelming and compelling public interest to do so. Letters that urge readers to patronize specific businesses or specific religious faiths will not be printed, either. “Thank-you” letters can be printed under limited circumstances, provided they do not contain material that should instead be placed as an advertisement and reflect public, rather than promotional interests. Unified Newspaper Group encourages lively public debate on issues, but it reserves the right to limit the number of exchanges between individual letter writers to ensure all writers have a chance to have their voices heard. This policy will be printed from time to time in an abbreviated form here and will be posted in its entirety on our websites.

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April 9, 2021

Fitchburg Star

City of Fitchburg

Staff: Outlet, ditch for Lake Barney Option to mitigate flooding strikes a balance between impact and cost for city, surrounding entities KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group

City of Fitchburg public works staff are recommending the city relieve Lake Barney flooding by moving water toward the Village of Oregon through a drainage ditch leading to Cusick Parkway. At a Wednesday, March 24, Committee of the Whole meeting, city environmental engineer Claudia Guy and Emmons and Olivier Resources, Inc. water resources engineer Nicholas Hayden presented the Common Council three options for lowering the lake, all of which had the same core principles but lowered the lake to different levels based on how much water is moved out of the area. The options presented to the council included lowering the lake to 942’ above sea level, which is the lake’s natural height; lowering it to 944’ and then 945’. Because the area around the lake is fairly flat, much of the cost would involve creating a drainage ditch across the state Department of Corrections and Alpine Dairy properties. Guy recommended the city adopt the 944’ plan as a way to balance impact with cost, which includes construction of the project, an estimate for wetland management and maintenance. The 945’ option would cost the city and its agency partners the least at $880,000, but provide the least amount of benefit to the surrounding properties. with between $2,000$7,000 in annual benefit to each city resident with 50

Photo by Jim Ferolie

When Lake Barney, a glacial kettle with no natural outflow, floods, it tends to create standing water to the south. With a high water table and a restricted outflow because of the Rotary Bike Trail, the water often has nowhere to go.

Photo by Kimberly Wethal

Fitchburg resident Tom Thayer’s backyard has been overtaken by water, flooded over from Lake Barney, and requires flood barriers to prevent it from moving closer to his home. Water will still seep under the barriers, especially during rain events where the water table rises and pushes stormwater up through the ground. acres of land being reliably farmable. The annual benefit comes in the form of the ability to harvest crops and rent out farmland. The 944’ plan would cost $1,044,000, in return for a maximum of $12,500 benefit and 59 acres of farmland

being usable; and the 942’ plan, the most expensive at $1,436,000, would give a maximum of $28,000 in annual benefit, with 71 acres of land being reliably farmable. “(It) appears to strike the best balance between

project cost, benefit, effectiveness and ability to be approved by permitting agencies,” Guy said. Lake Barney, which sits near the top of the Badfish Creek Watershed, has grown from a 42-acre body 33 years ago at an elevation

of 942’ above sea level, to around 800 acres and 949’ feet above sea level during times of heavy rains. The lake stopped naturally overflowing in July 2020, nearly two years after heavy precipitation first caused it to drastically expand. T h e i n c r e a s e i n l a ke capacity has continued to cause problems for Fitchburg and Oregon residents. In addition to the individual costs to keep the water at bay that involve filling in basements and keeping permanent flood barriers up to keep water away from a home, the glacial kettle has also put pressure on the water table, causing fields to flood and drowning out the roots of trees that predate the Revolutionary War. And after years of flooding, figuring out how to drain the water safely without disrupting the areas downstream continues to be complicated because of who owns what land surrounding it, and where. The affected areas include jurisdictions of Fitchburg and the town and village of Oregon, as well as protected federal Fish and Wildlife land managed by the state Department of Natural Resources and farmland owned by the state Department of Corrections. Flooding in the area has caused Village of Oregon’s Rotary bike trail to be submerged, and Netherwood Road to close down multiple times in the last twoand-a-half years, causing water issues for people living around Lerner Park. Lake Barney is not the only area in or near the city that is being looked at for flooding mitigation solutions. Goose Lake, which is in the Town of Verona but sits adjacent to Fitchrona Road, has seen significant flooding in the last two decades that have prompted the road to be closed regularly due to high water; and in February, the council heard about stormwater mitigation in the Sub-Zero

area off of Seminole Highway. Hayden told alders that if the city chose to do nothing with lowering Lake Barney, it would take between 5-10 years for water to infiltrate out of the area under normal climate conditions, but could take longer if recent patterns of high precipitation continue. “This long timeline for the drawdown is due mostly to the slow nature of groundwater movement,” he said. “Until the water table drops across the area, the lake will continue to drain slowly and will be susceptible to being filled back up again during heavy rain events.” Without an outlet, the area would also see approximately $185,000 of permanently lost agricultural land devaluation, and a $114,000 cost-to-cure for resident Tom Thayer, who has the permanent flood barriers around his home. At the 942’ option, land devaluation and cost-to-cure for Thayer’s property would be just over $100,000 combined, Hayden said. Installing an outlet for Lake Barney would cause the lake level to fall rapidly, Hayden said, but surrounding water table levels would fall relatively slowly because soil in the aquifer isn’t quick to release water. With both an outlet and a drainage ditch, Lake Barney could drain in anywhere from 49 to 87 days. The council will have the final say on which option the city goes with, or if it will do the project at all. The project wouldn’t happen until at least 2023, as the city needs to wait for the Village of Oregon to upgrade its stormwater management infrastructure downstream to ensure that it can handle the water draining from Lake Barney to the north into the rest of the Badfish Creek watershed. The village isn’t planning on starting that project until 2022.

Senior center eyes staggered reopening EMILIE HEIDEMANN Unified Newspaper Group

The Fitchburg Senior Center is eyeing reopening its building to the public later this spring. But staff will use a staggered approach, senior center director Jill McHone told the Star, which will span into June with no definitive completion date. And the COVID-19 pandemic has permanently reshaped how the center will provide patrons programming and resources, McHone. What she and staff envision are hybrid classes with both in-person and Zoom options, an expanded meal program that’s currently “desperate for drivers” and partnerships with other area senior

How to help For more information about becoming a driver for the Fitchburg Senior Center’s home meal delivery program, contact volunteer Manager and Nutrition Site Coordinator Mandi Miller at mandi.miller@fitchburgwi.gov or 2704293. centers, she said. So as the center aims to start the reopening process later in April, McHone said, patrons will see gradually increased accessibility to services. But that timing is contingent upon Public Health Madison and Dane County restrictions, as well as the rate at which seniors are vaccinated. Of the 1,765,007 Wisconsinites who have received a vaccine, 75% of those

are over the age of 65 as of Wednesday, March 31, according to data from the state Department of Health Services. Those numbers are promising, McHone said, but she’s learned to practice caution with how COVID-19 cases have risen and fallen in waves over the past year. Right now, the senior center continues to operate in an appointment-only capacity, McHone said.

Though closed to outside visitors, staff rotate shifts in the center’s office. Patrons may also meet with social workers when necessary. In April, the center is looking at welcoming a couple of small groups back for activities with social distancing and mask-wearing, per county guidelines, she said. “We can require people to sign up,” McHone said, adding that center staff will need to handle the flow of traffic in a way that allows for regular sanitization measures. Then in May, the center would bring back more programming, including some of its exercise groups and book clubs. “It’s going to be a slow rollout,” McHone said, estimating the center would be

back at full capacity sometime in June with current case and immunization trends. Even with reopening, the pandemic has permanently altered how the center offers patrons access to its services, resources and programming, she said. For example, while volunteer drivers delivered 30-40 meals pre-pandemic, McHone said that number has increased to around 50-55 a day. “That forced us to have six routes,” she said. “There were people who should have been on meals prior. It was the recognition that food insecurity was an issue.” More food deliveries means a need for more drivers, McHone said, so the senior center is actively

looking for applicants to fill those openings. Another way the senior center plans to improve its accessibility is through hybrid classes, and potential partnerships with area senior centers for program offerings. “We are looking at offering duel in-person and Zoom courses,” McHone said. For more information about becoming a driver for the Fitchburg Senior Center’s meal home delivery program, contact volunteer Manager and Nutrition Site Coordinator Mandi Miller at mandi.miller@fitchburgwi.gov or 270-4293. Email Emilie Heidemann at emilie.heidemann@wcinet. com or follow her on Twitter at @HeidemannEmilie.

April 9, 2021

ConnectFitchburg.com

Fitchburg Star

Fitchburg bars, cafes, restaurants offer delivery, carryout Unified Newspaper Group has Contact: 273-9100 compiled a listing of restaurants still serving Fitchburg throughout Dairy Queen Grill & Chill Available: Carryout, no-contact the COVID-19 crisis. We have attempted to be as delivery Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. thorough as possible, but situaContact: 273-2276 tions were still changing as of our print deadline, and not all busi- Enrique’s Grill nesses were available when we Available: Carryout attempted contact. Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. All listings are updated as of Contact: 298-7774 Wednesday, March 31. We advise you contact the fol- The Flying Hound lowing establishments for the Available: Carryout, dine-in most up-to-date hours and availHours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. ability. Contact: 310-4422 Please email ungbusiness@ wcinet.com if you’d like to be Funk’s Pub Available: Curbside, dine-in added to this list or to make an Hours: 3-8 p.m. Thursday-Satupdate to your listing. urday Barriques Contact: 442-9500 Available: Curbside pickup, Glass Nickel Pizza Co. delivery, outdoor seating Available: Carryout, no-contact Hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. delivery Contact: 277-9463 Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Benvenuto’s Italian Grill Sunday-Thursday; 10:30 a.m. to Available: Carryout, curbside 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday pickup, dine-in, no-contact delivContact: 848-4877 ery The Great Dane Pub Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Available: Carryout, delivery, Contact: 278-7800 dine-in Buffalo Wild Wings Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Available: Pickup, delivery, Contact: 442-9000 dine-in Haveli Indian Restaurant Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Available: Carryout Contact: 268-0025 Hours: 5-9 p.m. Chocolate Shoppe Ice Contact: 274-3333

Cream

Hy-Vee Market Grille

Available: Curbside, delivery, Available: Carryout, in-store outdoor seating shopping Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Hours: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., MonContact: 283-9056 day-Saturday Contact: 273-5120 Curry In The Box Available: Carryout, delivery, Jimmy John’s dine-in Available: Pickup, no-contact H o u r s : 1 1   a . m . t o 9   p . m . , delivery 4-9 p.m. Saturdays, 4-8:30 p.m. Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays (Fish Hatchery); 10:30 a.m. to

9 p.m. (McKee) Contact: 630-9583; 275-7722

Stop by the Fitchburg Public Library at 10 a.m. every Tuesday to pick up a “Take Home Tuesday” activity bag for your child. Take and make activity bags are for children ages 2-5 and 6-12. Limit is one bag per child while supplies lasts. For information, visit fitchburgwi.gov.

Dog park now open

Smoothie King

Available: Curbside, delivery, Available: Carryout, contactless dine-in delivery, outdoor seating Laredo’s Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Hours: {span} 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Available: Carryout, no-contact Monday-Sunday Monday-Thursday; 8 a.m. to delivery, dine-in 8 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Contact: 276-7600 Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. SunContact: 274-7370 Oasis Café day{/span} Available: Carryout, delivery, Liliana’s Restaurant Contact: 278-1776 Available: Curbside pickup, dine-in Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Starbucks delivery Monday-Friday; 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Available: Drive-thru, carryout, Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Mondelivery day-Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday Contact: 467-6572 Hours: 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 10 a.m. to Contact: 276-6875 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Sun- Pancheros day Tapatios Available: Carryout, delivery Contact: 442-4444 Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Available: Carryout, delivery, Contact: 298-9800 dine-in Little Caesars Pizza Hours: 4-8 p.m. Available: Carryout, delivery Pancake Café Contact: 467-7400 Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. MonAvailable: Carryout, dine-in day-Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thai Noodles Hours: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday-Sunday Contact: 204-7040 Available: Carryout, delivery Contact: 274-9000 Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. MonPanera Bread day-Saturday; 1-9 p.m., Sunday Me And Julio Available: Carryout, curbside, Contact: 270-9527 Available: Carryout, delivery, delivery, dine-in dine-in Thirsty Goat Hours: 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., MonAvailable: Carryout, delivery, Contact: 441-8883 day-Saturday; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., dine-in Pizza Extreme Sunday Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Contact: 278-1428 Available: Delivery, carryout Contact: 422-5500 Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., SaturMod Pizza Toppers Pizza days 4-8 p.m. Available: Carryout, curbside, Contact: 278-1800 Available: Carryout, contactless delivery delivery Quivey’s Grove Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. Contact: 416-5224 Availability: Carryout Sunday-Wednesday, 10:30 a.m. Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday; 10:30 a.m. to Moo-Yah and 4-8 p.m. Tuesday-Thurs- 3 a.m. Saturday Available: Carryout, curbside, day and Saturday; 11:30 a.m. to Contact: 274-4444 delivery 9 p.m. Friday Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Yahara Bay Distillery Contact: 273-4900 Monday-Saturday; 11 a.m. to Available: Curbside Rolling Pin Bake Shop 9 p.m., Sunday Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. MonContact: 270-1022 Available: Carryout, curbside, day-Friday; noon to 4 p.m. Saturday Monkeyshines Bar and Grill dine-in Hours: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. MonContact: 275-1050 Available: Curbside pickup, day-Friday; 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. delivery Closed: Saturday Food hours: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Contact: 270-9611 Atomic Koi Cocktail Lounge Contact: 274-5339 Tuscany Grill Surya Cafe

Coming up ‘Take Home Tuesday’

Noodles And Company

Virtual church services Waterway-Cleanups. Staff will practice social distancing, following Dane County health guidelines and having participants wear a mask during the event. If you would like to volunteer, sign up for a notification list at fitchburgwi.gov/list.aspx. If you are interested in leading a cleanup or for information, email claudia.guy@ fitchburgwi.gov for more information.

Sunnyside Dog Park, located at the northeast corner of Irish Lane and Fish Hatchery ‘Britt-Marie Was Here’ The Fitchburg Public Library is hostRoad, is now open for the season. The City of Fitchburg Facebook page ing its virtual evening book club at 7 p.m. announced the opening last week. The 5.3 Thursday, April 15. Participants will discuss “Britt-Marie acre park offers hydration and waste bag Was Here” by Fredrik Backman. stations, as well as a rain garden. Copies of the book are available by COVID-19 testing calling the curbside pickup number at Fitchburg Family Pharmacy offers free 729-1790 or emailing rebecca.swanson@ COVID-19 testing services from 10 a.m. fitchburgwi.gov. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The pharmacy, 3050 Cahill Main, is Wellness screening The Fitchburg Senior Center, in colpartnering with the federal Centers for laboration with the Edgewood College Disease Control and Prevention to disseminate a vaccine when it becomes School of Nursing, is hosting a health and wellness screening event from 9 a.m. to available as well. noon Thursday, April 22. For more information, call 274-3784. Registration is required by calling 270Digital book displays 4290. All COVID-19 precautions will be If you miss browsing the Fitchburg taken, including mask wearing and social Public Library’s book display, there’s a distancing. virtual solution. The event offers free blood sugar, choThe library is featuring digital book dis- lesterol and blood pressure checks, as plays on its Facebook page. To check out well as stress assessments, discussion of a book, click its image and place a hold in results and education on staying healthy. LINKcat. Once you receive a notice that For information, visit fitchburgwi.gov. your hold is available, call 729-1790 to Street sweeper art contest pick it up. The City of Fitchburg is purchasing a For general information, email library. new street sweeper. reference@fitchburg.wi.gov. To celebrate, the city is asking FitchWaterway cleanups burg students to submit art pieces to conThe City of Fitchburg is hosting water- sider for display on the side of the new way cleanups from 9-11 a.m. Saturday, sweeper. The due date for artwork is April 10, with a rain date of Saturday, 10 a.m. Monday, April 26. April 17. For information, call environmental Cleanup locations can be found engineer Claudia Guy at 270-4262 or b y v i s i t i n g fi t c h bu rg w i . g ov / 2 6 3 4 / email claudia.guy@fitchburgwi.gov.

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 Tuesday, March 30.

All Saints Lutheran Church

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

Apostolic Faith Church, 2001 Harley Dr., hosts virtual services at 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. Sundays accessible over apostolicfaithmadison. org. For more information, email cschleicher@afpastor.org.

Blackhawk Church

Blackhawk Church, 9620 Brader Way, hosts virtual services at 9 a.m., 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sundays. There are also services for kids accessible at blackhawkchurch.org/connect/ kidsstudents/kids/online.

Videos are geared toward first and second graders and are around 20-30 minutes long. Regular services are accessible at blackhawkchurch.org, the church’s YouTube page and Facebook page. Those last around one hour to an hour and fifteen minutes. For more information, 828-4200 or visit the church’s website.

City on a Hill

City on a Hill, 2924 Fish Hatchery Road, hosts virtual services at 9 and 11 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 620-5422 or visit cityonahill.co.

Chapel Valley Church

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.

Memorial United Church of Christ

Memorial United Church of Christ, 5705 Lacy Road, hosts virtual services at 9:30 a.m. Sundays. The services are accessible over Zoom or on the church’s Facebook page. To access a Zoom service, visit memorialucc.org and follow the link. For more information, visit memorialucc.org.

Living Water Community Church

Living Water Community Church virtual services can be found at livingwatercommunitychurchinc.com. Services are led by Pastors Cat and Jeff Smith. For more information, email jeffncathyr1@gmail.com.

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 Redeemer City Church Redeemer City Church, to join in every Sunday. For more information 5356 King James Way, email info@chapelvalley. posts its sermons, which t a ke p l a c e S u n d a y s a t org or call 515-8855. 10 a.m., online at redeemerThe Church at Christ citychurch.org/sermons. Memorial Services are also filmed The Church at Christ live for the Redeemer City Memorial, 2833 Raritan Church YouTube channel. Road, hosts virtual serFor more information, vices at 9 a.m. Sundays visit the redeemercityat livelifetogether.com/ church.org.

ConnectFitchburg.com

April 9, 2021

Fitchburg Public Library

What to read in April Bored during the C OV I D - 1 9 p a n d e m i c ? Why not become a bookworm? The Fitchburg Public Library has put together a list of reading recommendations for the month of April. Library adult and technical services manager Tegan Karow assembled this list.

‘A World on the Wing: The Global Odyssey of Migratory Birds’ by Scott Weidensaul

In the past two decades, our understanding of the navigational and physiological feats that enable birds to cross immense o c e a n s , f l y a b ove t h e highest mountains, or remain in unbroken flight for months at a stretch has exploded. What we’ve learned of these key migrations, like how billions of birds circumnavigate the globe, flying tens of thousands of miles between hemispheres on an annual basis. This breathtaking work of nature writing from P u l i t z e r P r i z e fi n a l i s t Scott Weidensaul also introduces readers to those scientists, researchers, and bird lovers trying to preserve global migratory patterns in the face of climate change and other environmental challenges.

‘The Loneliest Polar Bear: A True Story of Survival and Peril on the Edge of a Warming World’ by Kale Williams

The heartbreaking and ultimately hopeful story of an abandoned polar bear cub named Nora and the humans working tirelessly to save her and her species, whose uncertain future in the accelerating climate crisis is closely tied to our own.

‘How To Avoid a Climate Disaster’ by Bill Gates

Bill Gates has spent a decade investigating the causes and effects of climate change. With the help of experts in the fields of physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, political science and finance, he has focused on what must be done in order to stop the planet’s slide to certain environmental disaster. In this book, he not only explains why we need to work toward net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases, but also details what we need to do to achieve this profoundly important goal.

‘Is it Really Green?: Everyday Eco Dilemmas Answered’ By Georgina Wilson-Powell Are paper bags always m o r e e nv i r o n m e n t a l l y friendly than plastic?

How much better are electric cars for the planet? Which saves more water: using the dishwasher or washing up by hand? We all want to do the right thing for the planet, but with so many factors at play, it can be difficult to work out which is the greenest way. With answers to more than 140 everyday green-living questions, “Is It Really Green?” cuts through the confusion and gives you the facts.

‘The Glitter in the Green: In Search of Hummingbirds’ by Jon Dunn

Hummingbirds are a glittering, sparkling collective of over three hundred wildly variable species. For centuries, they have been revered by indigenous Americans, coveted by European collectors and admired worldwide for their unsurpassed metallic plumage and immense character. Yet, they exist on a knife-edge, fighting for survival in boreal woodlands, dripping cloud forests, and subpolar islands. They are, perhaps, the ultimate embodiment of evolution’s power to carve a niche for a delicate creature in even the harshest of places. Traveli ng the full length of the hummingbird’s range, from the cusp of the Arctic Circle to near-Antarctic islands, acclaimed nature writer Jon Dunn encounters birders, scientists, and storytellers in his quest to find these beguiling creatures, immersing us in the world of one of Earth’s most charismatic bird families.

‘Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future’ by Elizabeth Kolbert

That man should have dominion “over all the e a r t h , a n d ove r eve r y creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth” is a prophecy that has hardened into fact. So pervasive are human impacts on the planet that it’s said we live in a new geological epoch: the Anthropocene. “Under a White Sky” takes a hard look at the new world we are creating. A l o n g t h e w a y, t h e author meets biologists who are trying to preserve the world’s rarest fish, which lives in a single tiny pool in the middle of the Mojave; engineers who are turning carbon emissions to stone in Iceland; Australian researchers who are trying to develop a “super coral” that can survive on a hotter globe; and physicists who are contemplating shooting tiny diamonds into the stratosphere to cool the Earth.

Fitchburg Star

Police seek public input on policy Manual update began four years ago, sets up accreditation EMILIE HEIDEMANN Unified Newspaper Group

For the first time in the Fitchburg Police Department’s history, it is seeking public feedback on updates to its policy manual. The effort expands upon the department’s goal to ensure it remains accountable and transparent, deputy chief Matthew Laha told the Star. While it is particularly timely amid the Black Lives Matter movement and its push to increase legitimacy among police agencies, he said, it’s been planning the update for about four years. The Common Council gave the department the go-ahead to start its update process last fall. With the help of Lexipol, a Texas-based company that provides policy manuals, training bulletins and consulting services

How to help The Fitchburg Police Department is looking for feedback on its policy manual, deputy chief Matthew Laha told the Star. Email policyfeedback@fitchburgwi.gov, call 270-4380 or visit fitchburgwi.gov to access a fillable form. to public safety agencies around the United States, the update process will span nine months, Laha said. The updates are a precursor to the department seeking accreditation through the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Accreditation Group within the next couple of years, he said, which is a lengthy process of its own. Policies will be posted to the police department’s website for three weeks, Laha said, with five new polices added each week. For example, the department is currently looking for input on policies about

the police chief’s role, law e n f o r c e m e n t a u t h o r i t y, oath of office, employee accountability and reporting of staff convictions. Then, a Lexipol workgroup considers and reviews the feedback during the three week period, Laha said. After that, the workgroup finalizes the policy update, and it is put into the manual. The updates could include changes to policy language, formatting, terminologies or even grammar, Laha said. But he did not provide any specific updates the public has offered the department. “The feedback loop provides the department with a couple of advantages,” he said. “First, it’s an open forum to understand what our policies are.” Laha said the updates also allow the public to know that the police department wants to hear from them. Reciprocally, officers are perceived as crucial parts of their community, he said. And they are empowered with a much better understanding of who they serve and what rules to follow.

Another upside is that the department was planning for this even before the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minnesota police led to protests last summer, Laha said. The tactics used, including an officer kneeling on Floyd’s neck for eight minutes, sparked national conversations about police department’s use of force policies, particularly chokeholds. Laha said the department already had policies prohibiting the use of the tactic. “We want to get this as right as possible,” Laha said. “We can build upon a lot of the work we’ve been doing to keep Fitchburg safe.” The department encourages community members to review the posted policies and provide input by emailing policyfeedback@ fitchburgwi.gov, calling 270-4380 or clicking a link on the web page, Laha said. The link leads the web user to a form they can fill out. Email Emilie Heidemann at emilie.heidemann@wcinet. com or follow her on Twitter at @HeidemannEmilie.

Stoner Prairie Park Boys and Girls Clubs ad-hoc committee hosting vaccine clinics If You Go created MOLLY CARMICHAEL Star correspondent

KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group

The City of Fitchburg has created an ad-hoc committee to help guide the development of Stoner Prairie Park. The ad-hoc committee will have 15 members, one of which is Ald. Randy Udell (Dist. 4), four of the six Parks Commission resident members and nine others, including Julie Musgrove, Stoner Prairie Elementary School principal, and two Lacy Heights Neighborhood Association members, Ben Lindberg and Janell Rice, who is a former city alder. City recreation director Chad Sigl will be the staff liaison to the committee. “(There’s) a lot of people interested in making sure it’s a quality park,” mayor Aaron Richardson said at the Tuesday, March 10, Common Council meeting.

“It’s bigger than I’d like it to be, but there’s a lot of people who are very interested in it, so we didn’t want to exclude anyone.” The frequency of when the committee meets is yet to be determined, Richardson said. The Stoner Prairie neighborhood has been a contentious discussion point for the city in the past few years – namely, the debate over whether to label land parcels near Seminole Highway and Lacy Road in the neighborhood as “high density” that would have allowed for an apartment complex. Alders then agreed to a medium density, which allowed five to nine dwellings per acre in the Crescent Crossing development. Email reporter Kimberly Wethal at kimberly. wethal@wcinet.com and follow her on Twitter @ kimberly_wethal.

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Dane County is hosting three COVID-19 vaccination clinics in the month of April. T h ey a r e b e i n g h e l d from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays, April 10, 17 and 24 at three different Boys and Girls Clubs including the McKenzie Family, Taft Street and Allied Family Center locations. BGCDC is working with Fitchburg Family Pharmacy and the University o f Wi s c o n s i n - M a d i s o n School of Pharmacy to increase vaccine access, an April 5 Club news release states. They are expected to hold additional clinics

Star correspondent

MOLLY CARMICHAEL Star correspondent

There are two upcoming Fitchburg blood drives this month. The Blackhawk Church blood drive is from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Friday, April 23. It is located at 5939 Astor Dr., in the Blackhawk Church atrium. A n d t h e Tr i - N o r t h Builders drive is from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

on Monday, April 26. It is located at 2625 Research D r. , i n t h e Tr i - N o r t h Builders conference room. Participants can save time by registering ahead a t r e d c r o s s b l o o d . o rg / RapidPass. Additionally, blood donations will be tested for COVID-19 antibodies with results delivered in one to two weeks. For more information or to make an appointment call 1-800-733-2767 or visit redcrossblood.org

on Saturday, May 15. The vaccines will be available to those 18 and older. To register, participants can go to bgcdc.org/ CovidVaccine or call 6614726.

Pancake breakfast planned for April 25 MOLLY CARMICHAEL

Blood drives set April 23 and 26

What: Boys and Girls Clubs of Dane County hosting vaccine clinics When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays, April 10, 17 and 24 Where: Various locations including McKenzie Family Boys and Girls Club, Taft Street BGC and Allied Family Center BGC Info: 661-4726

Grab some hot and fluffy pancakes all while supporting the Fitchburg Senior Center. Friends of the Fitchburg Senior Center is hosting a Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, April 25. The event is set to be held at the Hy-Vee Market Grille in Fitchburg, 2920 Fitchrona Dr. Mention “Fitchburg Senior Center Friends” and 10% of the profits will go toward the senior center.

If You Go What: Fitchburg Senior Center Pancake Breakfast When: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, April 25 Where: 2920 Fitchrona Drive Info: 270-4290 Breakfast will be served all day, and the lunch and dinner menu options will be available after 11 a.m. Meals can be picked up, or participants can dine in. For more information, visit fitchburgwi.gov

April 9, 2021

ConnectFitchburg.com

Fitchburg Star

Dane County

‘It’s in my blood’

Stangel-Maier retires after 26-year Dane County parks career NEAL PATTEN Unified Newspaper Group

Photo submitted

Students work in the garden in front of Leopold Elementary School. The school is working with Community Groundworks and its gardener-inresidence program, which is partly funded by a City of Fitchburg grant.

Aldo Leopold Elementary School to improve pantry through county grant EMILIE HEIDEMANN Unified Newspaper Group

Environmental conservation group 1,000 Friends of Wisconsin has received a $2,500 grant from Dane County to fund improvements at the Aldo Leopold Elementary School food pantry. The pantry, stocked by Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin, provides access to free meals for students and the community, a news release states. The $2,500 is part of the 2021 Partners in Equity Food Grant, which gave a total of $19,500 to nine local agencies to “encourage the innovative development of projects that advance equity and access in local food systems,”

according to the county news release. The organization will help the school build a raised bed and crushed gravel path that is Americans with Disabilities Act compliant. The grant will also help fund improvements to the school’s community garden by hiring a part-time gardener to supplement the food pantry with fresh produce from June to October, according to the release. Long-term goals of the improved infrastructure are to have a community friendly school garden that provides access to fresh food, as well as a place to learn, the release states. Email Emilie Heidemann at emilie.heidemann@wcinet.com or follow her on Twitter at @HeidemannEmilie.

City of Fitchburg

City receives $173K in HNI grant requests $63K available for funding in 2021 KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group

The city has received $173,000 in Healthy Neighborhood Initiative funding requests. The Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative Grant Review Committee reviewed 13 applications during its Wednesday, March 10, meeting. City community development planner Wade Thompson told grant review committee members that city staff are recommending fulfilling seven. No nonprofit is allowed to receive more than $15,0000, and applicants need to use the funds for programming or plans in one of three neighborhoods the city has designated as priority: North Fish Hatchery Road/Leopold, Belmar/Renaissance on the Park and Verona Road West/Jamestown. Applying this year were: Allied Wellness Center, Badger Prairie Needs Network, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County, Boys and Girls Club of Dane County, Dear Diary, First Tee, Latino Academy of Workforce Development, Latino Chamber of Commerce, Little John’s, NewBridge Madison, Inc., 1000 Friends of Wisconsin,

River Food Pantry and Unidos. Staff recommended that youth mentoring groups Big Brothers and Big Sisters and Dear Diary receive $11,500; adult education group Latino Academy of Workforce Development receive $10,000; food security nonprofits BPNN, Boys and Girls Club, Little John’s restaurant and 1000 Friends of Wisconsin each receive $7,500. Of the grant focus categories, food security was recommended to get 40% of available program funds, with youth mentoring getting 36% and youth education and community engagement the remaining 32%. The Common Council will make the final decision on which nonprofits receive funds, and how much each are allocated. Earlier this year, the Council approved changes to the HNI grant program to refine the scope of the program to focus on youth programming, workforce development, food security and community building. The redefinition of funds removed arts and culture, environment and seniors from the focus areas. The Council also changed the maximum award from $10,000 to $15,000, adjusting it for the higher amount of funds given out than when the grant program first started.

For Rhea Stangel-Maier, the number 26 has double significance. It was the 26 years the Town of Oregon resident worked for Dane County before retiring Jan. 15, as well as the 26 county parks she oversaw as the volunteer coordinator and adult conservation team manager since 2003. She’s only the second person to Stangel-Maier hold the position after the parks volunteer program started in 1993. Stangel-Maier inherited a good foundation, she told the Observer/ Press, and the program has steadily continued to grow. When she began as an account clerk with the county, also in 1993, the Dane County Parks volunteer program had around 100 volunteers who put in approximately 1,500 hours that year, Stangel-Maier said. In 2019, that had grown to over 3,000 volunteers putting in more than 66,000 hours. For the past 18 years since stepping into the role of volunteer coordinator, she has helped manage and triage those county residents who offer their time and energy to the maintenance and upkeep of the 26 county parks. Those volunteer efforts, if paid labor, would be worth around $1.5 million, Stangel-Maier said, adding that since its inception, the volunteer program has made an estimated $17 million impact in county parks In addition to the financial value that volunteerism brings to the parks, volunteers also offer value through their individual skill sets and passions, she said. Volunteer opportunities range from monitoring bluebird houses, cleaning up dog parks or researching historical aspects of a park to clearing brush, mowing, planting trees and prairie seeds or hosting recreational and educational events. “I would like to see the Volunteer Program continue to grow, because it’s a huge resource for Dane County,” Stangel-Maier said. “We have an abundant amount of volunteers, but are still looking at new ways to support them. I am excited to see the new opportunities that unfold and the new synergies, enthusiasm and ideas that will come.” Even in 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic, without any school trips or big events because of the need to control group sizes – 1,200 volunteers still managed to log around 43,000 hours of work in the county parks. “Working with volunteers has been a game changer for Dane County Parks,” county executive Joe Parisi wrote in a Jan. 11 news release announcing Stangel-Maier’s retirement. “Dane County would not have such an amazing park system without our devoted and passionate corps of volunteers and partners. I want to recognize the work of Rhea Stangel-Maier, parks volunteer coordinator, who led an amazingly successful volunteer program for 18 years.” The pandemic helped to highlight how popular parks can be. Dane County Parks had a record

Photo submitted

From left to right: Shane Otto, Dane County Parks, Alex DeSmidt, DCP, Rhea Stangel-Maier, DCP and Andy Hoernemann, Anderson Park friends. The volunteers are working with tools known as “dibbles” used for these types of plantings. high of 4 million visitors in 2020 – and a 25% increase in park visits, county executive Joe Parisi reported in a Jan. 11 news release announcing Stangel-Maier’s retirement.

events for corporations, she helped the groups think through if available parking was sufficient and if safety precautions were sufficient. It was her job to help the events succeed. “With limited park staff, uti‘A healthy exercise’ lizing volunteers is a wonderful Of the many ways for people to partner to make projects move forrecreate in county parks, volun- ward,” she said. teering is perhaps not first to come to mind, but like other activities, Providing a framework volunteering can be a “healthy Stangel-Maier was a presence exercise and a way to get outside from the earliest stages of a new and connect with others,” Stan- friends group forming, to help gel-Maier said. with developing the organization’s About 30 years ago, Dane Coun- structure, writing bylaws and polity began to prioritize outdoor rec- cies, grant writing and goal setting reation and protecting its natural park projects. resource areas. At the time, the She said becoming a nonprofcounty had around 3,200 acres of it can seem like a “monumental” park land, she said. learning curve for volunteers. One goal of building the parks Stangel-Maier also worked to help system was to simultaneously cre- ensure equity in membership, and ate a formal volunteer program to that groups were accepting everyhelp parks staff complete import- one for volunteer projects and that ant projects while bringing aware- projects stayed on task and stayed ness to a growing park system. on timeline. To help meet that goal, the counBut some volunteer activities ty wanted to form ‘friends groups’ have drawn ire over the years from to partner with in every park prop- park guests. From cutting down erty. There are 18 friends groups of certain species of trees deemed so far, Stangel-Maier said. Some invasive and prescribed burns to are over 20 years old. weeding and spraying pesticides, The groups can be small and some friends group activities can loosely organized, or big and be controversial. well-organized, but they’re all Stangel-Maier would assist important, she said. friend groups if they had issues to One such friends group is rectify, helping them understand Anderson Park Friends, Inc., a why they were restoring a certain nonprofit organization formed in area of a park, and educated vol2014 working with Dane County unteers on park policies and safety Parks to develop Anderson Farm procedures, so that they felt confiCounty Park in the Town of Ore- dent and well-versed on a project gon. when interfacing with the public. These groups spearhead and As the groups grew, they would make projects move forward, become more confident how to Stangel-Maier said, and network handle when the public is conwith nonprofits, schools, FFA, and cerned about what they’re doing, scouts groups to make that happen. she said. They also fundraise to bring money to the parks, “doing things Heading into retirement Stangel-Maier said she was the county can’t do,” she said, advocating for amenities and proj- honored and humbled to work ects that might otherwise have with the Dane County Parks staff, gone unnoticed and unfunded. the dedicated volunteers, and the Money is additionally used to pro- passionate friends groups. “It’s been a wonderful career,” vide volunteers the resources needshe said. ed work safely and effectively. Although Stangel-Maier had Volunteers bring their own tools to work, but there are train- originally planned on retiring ing courses planned by the county two years from now, the pandemsuch as chainsaw use and pesticide ic led her to reassess priorities for her future, and focus on famapplication. The groups are directed to fol- ily But she will continue to be a low the individual parks’ master plans while doing restoration familiar face in Dane County’s work, which are created by county parks and will now be able to volunteer alongside the people naturalists and botanists. And more accessible parks with whom she’d built relationships for 18 years, while also means more activities. In her role, Stangel-Maier assist- looking forward to not being in a supervisory role. ed with event coordination, too. “I will be back to volunteer,” When friend groups planned story walks, Arbor Day celebra- Stangel-Maier said, happy that tions, prairie plantings, maple syr- now she will have the time. “It’s up exhibits, bonfires, and wellness in my blood.”

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April 9, 2021

Continued from page 1 missing are a Marine Corps ring he said once belonged to his father, who died in December, an American flag he said wa s f l ow n f o r h i m i n Iraq, and an 8-by-10-inch signed photograph of NFL Hall of Fame player Walter Payton, who died in 1999. Multiple other items that Marsh said were missing have either been returned, or city staff have stated they did not belong to him, he said at the meeting. During the public comment part of the March 23 meeting, in which Marsh appeared virtually over Zoom, he urged alders to approve the claim to reduce what he considered additional taxpayer dollar waste and embarrassment to the city. “A great use of city resources – congratulations,” he said. “I expect to be reimbursed for these items in full, as described in my claim. Denial of the claim will result in taking this case to the courts … I don’t believe the city wants to look any more foolish than they already do. “The whole situation is unacceptable,” Marsh added. “I’m sure the courts will agree.” Allison C. De Franze, the city’s liability claims manager with Cities and Villages Mutual Insurance Company, advised in an email to clerk Tracy Oldenburg that the council should deny Marsh’s claim. “It is my opinion that Mr. Marsh has not provided enough information to honor this claim,” De Franze wrote. “Mr. Marsh has failed to demonstrate proof of value, or proof that these items were stolen by any city employee.” Based on the voluntary separation agreement signed by all parties, M a r s h wa s p r o h i b i t e d from coming into city buildings until a 10-day waiting period lapsed. During that time, Marsh called for Mayor Aaron Richardson’s resignation in an email also sent to the Star, claiming the mayor had violated the non-disparagement clause in the separation agreement. Marsh told the council the first time he was in the building after his administrative leave began was Sunday, Dec. 6, to get medical paperwork for his father so Marsh could move him to a Veteran’s Administration hospital in Tomah. The second time was to retrieve other paperwork so he could work on his father’s estate after he died a week after going to the hospital. Marsh said both occasions were outside worki n g h o u r s a n d h e wa s accompanied by economic development director Mike Zimmerman, who is serving as one of two interim administrators.

Marsh’s letter claims that after he and the mayor signed his voluntary resignation agreement, he attempted to set up a time with human resources manager Sarah Olson to find a time to retrieve his personal items after the 10-day hold. When those 10 days were up, Marsh said Olson told him city staff would instead be packing up his items and sending them to the downtown Madison office of Axley Law Firm’s labor attorney Michael Westcott, who represents the city. Marsh said he explained that he disapproved of the arrangement and wanted to retrieve his personal items himself. Marsh said the personal items from his office were later delivered to his Fitchburg apartment after he told city staff he would not get them from Westcott’s office. Upon arrival of the packages, Marsh’s letter claimed, he found the three personal items missing, as well as a personal file and other items that have since been returned. He filed a police report with City of Fitchburg police about the missing items, and the Dane County Sheriff’s Office is helping with the search, which involves interviewing dozens of employees w h o m i g h t h ave b e e n a part of packaging his personal items. The Star requested the police report after the March 23 council meeting, but it had not been fulfilled as of mid-afternoon Wednesday, March 24. Marsh appeared to become agitated when speaking during the meeting, and at one point he accused city staff of kicking him out of the meeting by turning his camera off. “What the hell?” Marsh said near the end of his public comment. “Hey, why did I get cut off?” FA C T v s t a f f t o l d the Star on March 24 employees did not turn Marsh’s camera’s off in the Zoom platform, and that he had to have turned off the video himself. Richardson assured M a r s h t h a t c i t y s t a ff had not cut him out of the meeting, the council could still hear him and he was being recorded. Marsh remained audible during the city’s live web broadcast of the meeting. “You haven’t been cut off,” Richardson responded. “I don’t know why your video’s not on, but we can hear you.” • “I don’t give a sht about being heard,” Marsh said, to which Richardson asked him to watch his language and told him he would need to turn the video on from his side of the Zoom software. “Nope, I was kicked out.” Email reporter Kimberly Wethal at kimberly. wethal@wcinet.com and follow her on Twitter @ kimberly_wethal.

City of Fitchburg

Property assessments paused for 2021 Staff shortages prompt ‘maintenance year’ KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group

P r o p e r t y va l u e s w i l l stay the same through 2 0 2 1 – u n l e s s ow n e r s advise the City of Fitchburg their property values need to be modified. City assessor Amy Mercer told the Star on Thursday, March 4, that due to COVID-19 and mounting wo r k l o a d s , h e r d e p a r tment will keep property assessments the same in 2021. The decision to do a maintenance year doesn’t guarantee that taxes will change for 2022 – it simply means that whatever value a property was taxed on in the most recent tax cycle will stay the same. Whether taxes go up, down or stay the same depends on the mill rate of the charging

What would prompt a revaluation? A property could be revalued based on impacts from COVID-19, new construction, parcel or rezoning changes, remodeling, demolition or annexations. entities, which includes the city, the school district the property is in, the county and Madison College. The only way a prope r t y ’s v a l u a t i o n w i l l change, Mercer said, is if a property owner comes forward to the city to say they made improvements such as remodeling or home additions, or had devaluations due to demolitions. New construction will continue to be valued by the department.

My assessment needs to change – what do I do? If a property’s assessment needs to change, property owners should contact the City of Fitchburg assessing department at 270-4235 to inform staff about changes to their property. Property owners should inform the city no later than March 31 of the need for revaluation. That information should be provided to the city assessing department by March 31 so the department can finalize the assessment roll. P r o p e r t y ow n e r s w h o

do not have any changes in their valuation will not get an assessment notice, but will still be able to contest their assessment through Open Book and B o a r d o f R e v i e w, f o r which dates have not been set yet. The department plans to resume its valuation process in 2022. Normally, when the city does revaluations of residential properties, they’re based on new information about the property, as well as home prices, Mercer said. For example: If three homes in a particular neighborhood sell for an average of 5% higher than the current valuation, t h e va l u a t i o n o f o t h e r homes in the same neighborhood will go up by the same percentage; the same is true for devaluations of residential property. Email reporter Kimberly Wethal at kimberly. wethal@wcinet.com and follow her on Twitter @ kimberly_wethal.

Election: Dane County Executive Parisi wins re-election Continued from page 1

over challenger Deborah former superintendent Tony wethal@wcinet.com and Kerr in the state-wide race, Evers won the gubernatorial follow her on Twitter @ reporting, in Area I, repre- succeeding Carolyn Stan- race. kimberly_wethal. senting the Village of Ore- ford Taylor, who had been Email reporter Kimbergon, Mary Lokuta outpolled appointed in 2018 after ly Wethal at kimberly. Josh King, 3,065-1,549. In Green County, two precincts went to King with a combined total of 106-81. One Rock County precinct in the district had yet to report as of press time. In Area III, which comIf you are paying more attention to how your lifestyle decisions may impact the planet or your community, prises the towns of Brooklyn, Montrose, Oregon, you can apply the same perspective to your investments. An increasingly popular investment strategy is Rutland and Union and known as environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing. It allows you to focus your investments the Village of Brooklyn, in ways that are designed to generate a more meaningful impact beyond dollars and cents. incumbent Troy Pankratz Traditionally, many investors have looked at the investment selection process as one focused outpolled challenger Aarexclusively on financial considerations such as a company’s profitability and the strength of its balance on Heisler in Dane Counsheet. While keeping those factors in mind, ESG investing incorporates non-financial aspects of ty, 2,948-1,519. In Green the investment that are deemed to be consistent with your own values. By applying ESG, County, Heisler won the you can be more intentional in how you put your investment dollars to work. two precincts with a comIn some contexts, investment approaches similar to ESG may be identified by other terms, bined total of, 95-88. One such as Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) or sustainable investing. While there are Rock County precinct in the modest differences in the definitions, the general approaches they take are similar. district had yet to report as of press time. THE ESG STANDARD The Madison MetropolTo get a better sense of how ESG investing is defined, itan Board of Education’s here are some of the ways that companies are ESG investing is increasingly accessible for two At-Large seats had only measured in each of the three categories: individuals. You can choose to identify and one person apiece running invest in individual securities, or you can utilize – consideration is given to ENVIRONMENT – incumbent Savion Castro mutual funds and exchange-traded funds how companies deal with challenges such as for Seat 2, and Maia Pear(ETFs) that pursue ESG strategies. greenhouse gas emissions, the sustainability of son for Seat 1, succeeding It may be beneficial to establish your own its products, recycling policies and its impact on school board president Gloframework, prioritizing ESG objectives that are natural resources. ria Reyes. most important to you. Then you can begin to SOCIAL – this has to do in part with how the Dane County also had an match specific investments that are best executive race, and voters company manages its internal work environment suited to your own preferences. could choose the next state including diversity in its hiring practices and Keep in mind that when choosing investments, superintendent of schools. management. It also relates to the company’s ESG considerations aren’t applied to the The ballot also had a slate approach to the broader world, including its exclusion of other considerations. For example, of Dane County circuit involvement in the community and countries in as an equity investor, you are still looking to court judges, all of whom identify companies that you believe are in a which it chooses to do business. strong financial position and can generate were incumbents running GOVERNANCE – this primarily focuses favorable results for your portfolio. From there, unopposed. on a company’s management practices, ESG screens can be applied to help determine County executive Joe including diversity of corporate boards, the which of these investments can fulfill your Parisi also won again for a reasonableness of executive pay and policies broad investment objectives. third full term against chalaround support of political candidates or causes. If ESG investing is a priority for you, it’s lenger Mary Ann NicholESG investing is not limited to stocks. While equity important to determine how best it can be son with nearly 80% of the investing may represent the most significant aspect of incorporated into your broader portfolio. vote. You want to choose investments that will ESG investing, it isn’t the only market that is in play. Pa r i s i , w h o h a s h e l d be beneficial in helping you reach your most Fixed income investments, private equity and private the role of executive for important investment objectives. Talk to debt also offer ESG options that can be incorporated a decade, had centralized your financial advisor to assess the most into a broadly diversified portfolio. his re-election campaign appropriate strategies for you. around continuing to guide 608.663.7526 the county through the COVID-19 pandemic and 2912 Marketplace Dr, Ste 100, CAPITAL WEALTH its effects. Madison, WI 53719. ADVISORY GROUP For state Department of www.capitalwealthcares.com Public Instruction superinInvestment advisory products and services are made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC, a registered investment adviser. tendent, Jill Underly won Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. Member FINRA and SIPC. © 2020 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Fitchburg Star

April 9, 2021

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City of Fitchburg

Council condemns hate against Asian Americans Resolution comes after March 16 mass shootings at three Atlanta businesses KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group

The City of Fitchburg Common Council has approved a resolution condemning hate against Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) populations after three mass shootings left eight people dead earlier this month. Alds. Joe Maldonado (Dist. 1) and Julia Arata-Fratta (D-2) introduced the resolution during the Tuesday, March 23, meeting as a way of affirming

the city’s commitment to protecting all residents, they said. According to the 2010 census, 4.9% of all Fitchburg residents are Asian. The council unanimously approved the resolution. “I bring this resolution forward fully knowing it’s not implementing any policy – it’s performative,” Maldonado said. “I know this resolution alone won’t solve both the policy and individual actions, both small and incredibly large and violent, against people of Asian descent. But I feel this is something important that we need to put forward and make a statement about.” On March 16, eight people – including six who were Asian and four who were of Korean descent, and seven who were women – were killed when a man opened

fire in three Atlanta-area businesses, Young’s Asian Massage Parlor, Aromatherapy Spa and Gold Spa. Soon Chung Park, Hyun Jung Grant, Suncha Kim and Yong Ae Yue were killed at Aromatherapy Spa and Gold Spa in Atlanta; Delaina Ashley Yaun, Paul Andre Michels, Xiaojie Tan and Daoyou Feng were killed at Young’s Asian Massage Parlor around 30 miles north of Atlanta. The suspect, 21 year old Robert Aaron Long, has been charged with eight counts of murder and one count of aggravated assault. Between March 19, 2020 and Feb. 28, 2021, there were 3,800 documented incidents of hate or discrimination toward AAPI people received by the Stop AAPI Hate reporting center, a report published on the nonprofit’s website said. Of those documented,

verbal harassment made up 68.1% of incidents, and shunning makes up nearly one-fifth. Just over three out of every 10 Asian Americans report experiencing racial slurs or jokes toward them since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study done by Pew Research Center. Fitchburg resident Ruttanatip Chonwerawong, who is originally from Thailand and has lived in the city for 15 years, spoke in favor of the resolution prior the council’s vote, telling alders that while she knew the resolution was largely symbolic, it was appreciated because it was a sign the city welcomes and embraces its diverse community. Chonwerawong added that her children have been bullied by their classmates in school because

“they don’t have a normal mother,” she said, and that at one point, her daughter had told Chonwerawong that she wished she could have a normal mother who wasn’t called Asian slurs and didn’t have an accent. “My own daughter asked, ‘What is this (resolution) going to do?’ and I said, ‘Probably not much, but for us, it is a welcome gesture to be recognized,’” she said. “Perhaps I am fortunate to not have had physical violence happen against me or my children, however, I wanted to remind everybody that violence comes in many forms, and it hurts us not only physically, but also mentally.” Email reporter Kimberly Wethal at kimberly.wethal@wcinet.com and follow her on Twitter @kimberly_wethal.

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Fitchburg Star

Shots fired suspect appears in Dane County Circuit Court Juwan Wilson, 23, wanted for a 2020 shots fired incident in Fitchburg last October, appeared in his initial Dane County Circuit Court appearance Monday, March 15. He faces charges of first-degree reckless endangering safety and possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a felony. A c c o r d i n g t o a F i t c h bu rg

Police Department news release, members of the United States Marshals Service Great Lakes Regional Task Force arrested Wilson in Chicago last week and extradited him to Dane County to face charges stemming from the incident. He also had a felony warrant for his arrest for violating the conditions of his

extended supervision through the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. The original incident happened around 5 p.m. October 22, 2020, when Fitchburg officers responded to the 2300 block of Post Road for reports of a person firing multiple rounds at a vehicle driving by. Responding

officers located multiple shell casings and noted the high degree of concern for public safety based on the proximity to many residences, an elementary school and a park. According to the news release, Fitchburg police developed probable cause to arrest Wilson and began searching for him last

month. The department is continuing to work with investigators from other local law enforcement agencies to determine what connections, if any, this incident may have to other shots fired incidents over the last year. Email Unified Newspaper Group reporter Scott De Laruelle at scott.delaruelle@wcinet.com.

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A. A good rule of thumb is that “normal” tissue healing takes approximately 6-8 weeks. Scar modification is able to begin around 2-4 weeks with significant results throughout the remainder of the healing process. However, once the tissues are fully healed (and the scar tissue has already formed), a common misconception is that the scar will always be present. Not only is the person left with thick, darkened scar tissue, they may also have blood vessels, nerves, muscles or other soft tissue trapped in the scar. Susan Armstrong, MPT There may be chronic pain, lack of circulation, and muscle and soft tissue imbalance related Physical Therapist to the density of the scar tissue. Scar mobilization is an important, yet often overlooked, part of the healing process. A skilled therapist will utilize modalities to prepare the tissue, then a series of skilled manual techniques to modify the adhesions which cause the scar tissue. Significant reduction in the thickness and appearance of scar tissue is usually noticed within a few visits. Contact Stellar Rehab at 608-845-2100 or www.stellarrehab.com today to learn more about the process of scar modification and relief of associated chronic pain.

VETERINARIAN

Q. My dogs love to swim in the summer. Are there any risks with that? A. Many dogs love swimming and several Madison shores are dog friendly. The main risks, aside from an inability to swim, are ear and skin infections caused by having a damp coat. In some areas, infections from Giardia are common. Giardia usually causes diarrhea and is frequently found around ponds, streams and lakes. Waterfowl often carry the organism. It is easily diagnosed and readily treated. Blastomycosis is a fungal infection that can settle in bone, muscle and internal organs. Wisconsin has one of the highest incidences of Blastomycosis in the country, particularly in the northern regions, and it is usually associated with streams and rivers. It can be very difficult to treat, so if you know that any people or pets in an area have contracted Blastomycosis, avoid letting your dogs near the water at all.

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CHIROPRACTOR

Q. I am looking forward to getting out on my bike with nicer weather right around the corner but I usually get neck pain when I ride. Would chiropractic or massage help with this?

Whether you are riding a recreational bike, road bike, or tri bike the neck is forced into a position that puts pressure on the posterior portion of Jill Unwin, Lee Unwin, the cervical spine. This position also forces the neck to remain in a state of DC, CCEP BCMT, CSCS continued contraction that can cause joint and muscle soreness. Chiropractic adjustments will help maintain healthy joint mobility and function. This will help alleviate pain and will prolong your years of cycling. Therapeutic massage will help reduce muscle soreness and any restrictions in the neck caused by that continued contraction. Along with regular chiropractic and massage, exercises would be prescribed to help increase strength and mobility in your neck and upper back. Contact us today and we’ll keep you riding pain free!

102 N. Franklin Street • Verona, WI 53593 (608) 848-1800 • unwinchiropractic.com

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A. It is great idea to have a buyer agent when buying a home - especially in a tight market that we have now in the greater Madison area. A buyer needs an agent to find new listings right away and to know what is a good price to write. A buyer agent provides advice on how to deal with a fault found in a home inspection. Also, a buyer agent writes an offer and drafts offer provisions in the buyer’s best interest. A buyer’s agent prepares an estimate of value for the property Shawn Pfaff in question and expresses a professional opinion of the property. A buyer’s agent negotiates on a buyer’s behalf throughout the entire transaction and recommends a course of action to get a buyer the home he/she is competing for. Please contact me at pfaffs@firstweber.com, so I can assist you in purchasing a home.

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

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been preparing taxes, I can’t remember a year tax law changes were made retroactively. The ARPA passed in March has now made the first $10,200 of unemployment not taxable. The IRS will automatically reissue those refunds in May for those with unemployment that have already filed. Additionally, 2021 Wisconsin Act 1 made several grant programs funded by the Coronavirus Relief Fund excludable from Wisconsin income. Many businesses could qualify for the deduction. If you were issued a grant that you previously included as income, you may be due a refund from Wisconsin. Feel free to give us a call for any of your tax concerns this upcoming tax season.

Sports

Friday, April 9, 2021

The

Fitchburg Star

For more sports coverage, visit: ConnectFitchburg.com

Edgewood girls swimming

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

Verona Area/Mount Horeb girls swimming

Rufenacht dives to sixth at state meet MARK NESBITT Sports editor

Photo by Mark Nesbitt

The Edgewood girls swimming team celebrate after winning their sixth straight WIAA state championship on Tuesday, April 6, in the alternate fall season at the Waukesha South Natatorium.

Repeat the three-peat Crusaders win sixth straight state championship MARK NESBITT Sports editor

If any prep swimming and diving fans wondered how the best team in Division 2 would stack up in a state meet against larger enrollment Division 1 teams, the Madison Edgewood girls team let their swimming do the talking. Edgewood answered with a resounding exclamation point after swimming to a sixth straight state title on Tuesday, April 6, at the Waukesha South High School Natatorium, this time in an alternate fall season this spring that included Division 1 powers Middleton and Sun

Top 10

Points 350 286 233 159 125 117 116 103.5 102 83

Team Edgewood Middleton Sun Prairie Appleton North Oshkosh West Verona Area/Mount Horeb Ashwaubenon Bay Port Jefferson/Cambridge DeForest

Prairie. The Crusaders captured seven state titles, five individual and championships in the 200 and 400-yard freestyle relays. Edgewood swept the top two spots in the 50 and 200 free. The

Crusaders outdistanced Middeleton 350-286 for the state team title. Edgewood junior Abby Reid, who has been a part of the past three state

Turn to Repeat/Page 14

Verona Area/Mount Horeb girls swimming

Verona Area/Mount Horeb just miss medals, finishes sixth Verona Area/Mount Horeb has five topeight finishes, takes sixth as team at state MARK NESBITT Sports editor

Many of the members of the Verona Area/Mount Horeb girls swim team turned in season-best times, but it wasn’t quite enough to propel any of the Wildcats to the podium. For VA/MH, there were five top-eight finishes where swimmers came within 0.66 of a second – or less – away from a medal. Verona junior Kenzie Zuehl finished seventh in the 100 free (52.94 seconds), 0.15 of

Photo by Mark Nesbitt

Verona Area/Mount Horeb’s Maia Blas swims her leg of the 400-yard freestyle relay at the alternate state meet on Tuesday, APril 6, in Waukesha. The Wildcats took 13th in the 400 free relay (3:41.35). a second away from overtaking Middleton junior Abby Utter for a sixth-place medal. The performance by Zuehl in the 100 free was 0.03 of a second away from a lifetime-best time. “I was super pumped,”

Zuehl said. “It’s been like three years since I have gone close to that time.” Zuehl swims against Utter in club and in summer swimming.

Turn to Sixth/Page 14

In her first state diving meet, the moment didn’t appear to be too big for Verona Area High School freshman Annika Rufenacht. Rufenacht scored a season-high 386.45 points to finish sixth place at the WIAA state diving meet on Tuesday, April 6, at the Waukesha South Natatorium. “It’s exciting,” Rufenacht said. “I wasn’t expecting to do this well. I was happy with anything.” After the first five rounds, Rufenacht was in fourth place. “I was pretty surprised by that,” she said. “I performed some of those dives the best I have this year.” After the first eight rounds, Rufenacht fell back to seventh place, but was still in contention for a medal. Rufenacht entered the state diving meet as the sixth seed. Rufeancht said her final three dives are difficult, and the higher degree of difficulty helped, even though she didn’t stick her back tuck two-and-a-half twist dive. “If there are some lower scores it evens out because of the higher degree of difficulty,” she said. Varsity participants must complete 11 dives. There are five categories of dives a varsity participant must complete, including front, back, inward reverse and twist. The back, inward and twist dives can be either front or backward dives.

Photo by Mark Nesbitt

Verona freshman Annika Rufenacht does a somersault on a dive in the WIAA alternate fall state diving meet on Tuesday, April 6, at the Waukesha South Natatorium. Rufenacht finished sixth.

Rufenacht saved her signature backflip two and a half twist dive for the final round. The dive has a degree of difficulty of 2.7. Rufenacht said she didn’t perform the dive as well as she has in previous meets, adding that on her flip, she noticed that she didn’t go in as straight as possible. “I went over and washed over on the flip a little bit,” she said. The state experience has fueled Rufenacht. She plans to continue diving for the Hawk’s Landing club swim team in the summer, she said. Rufenacht said she plans to get to a higher level of diving where she can score 8 and 9s by working on her form and aim to get more height.

Oregon girls swimming

Senior sets school record in 100 butterfly MARK NESBITT Sports editor

Even before she could swim, Oregon senior Zoe Rule wanted to see her name at the top of a record board — and this week, that time finally arrived. Rule finished 10th in the 100-yard butterfly in the alternate fall state meet in a school-record time of 59.43 seconds at the state meet on Tuesday, April 6, at the Waukesha South Natatorium. “I’ve always wanted my name up there for an individual event and I have been swimming since I was little,” Rule said. “To get that is really an accomplishment.” The previous school record was 1 minute set in 2010. “All season long I have been going around a 1:03 and, when I went 1:00 at the sectional, I really wanted to shave down that second,” she said. The Panthers’ 200 medley relay team of senior Victoria Helvig, sophomore Noelle Marsh, Rule and

Photo by Mark Nesbitt

Oregon senior Zoe Rule swims her leg of the 200-yard freestyle relay. The Panthers finished 16th in the 200 free relay (1:43.24). Rule finished 10th in the 100 butterfly to set the school record in 59.24 seconds. senior Halle Bush took 14th (1:53.95), a 0.14 second drop from their seed time at the Jefferson subsectional where they dropped four seconds. “To drop more time from that was really big for us,” she said. Marsh teamed with Rule, junior Brooke White and Bush to place 16th in the 200 free relay (1:43.24), a 0.38 second drop from their seed time. Rule was grateful to have a season after the COVID-19 pandemic pushed it back to an alternate fall shortened seven-week season.

“Our main goal was to have a good last season,” Rule said of a senior-dominated team. “Whether it was going to be three weeks or three months we just wanted to go after it and have the best time that we can because we have been swimming for so long and we knew this was going to be our last one.” Rule plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee next fall. “We really didn’t know what kind of a season it would be,” she said. “It was really nice to have a state meet.”

ConnectFitchburg.com

April 9, 2021

Fitchburg Star

Football

Middleton football team stuns Verona

Wildcats’ offense racks up 304 yards MARK NESBITT Sports editor

During a desperation lastditch effort by Verona trailing by three points, Middleton wanted to dial up a blitz. Middleton sacked Verona junior quarterback Mason Fink as time expired to stun Verona 18-15 on Thursday, April 1, in the home opener on the new turf field. Sun Prairie rallied from a nine-point first-half deficit to top the Wildcats and the Cardinals responded by hollering and celebrating the win. “I get it you beat Verona that’s a big deal,” Verona coach Dave Richardson said. “Act like you have been there before. I was surprised by their reaction in the end. It was a huge win for them on our home field. They showed their emotion and I didn’t appreciate that.” Verona (0-2) got the ball back on a turnover on

downs with 8.8 seconds to go. Fink completed a 23-yard pass to junior tight end Cole Zoromski over the middle with no timeouts left. With the Wildcats hurrying to the ball, the Cardinals took a timeout with 0.1 of a second left. The Cardinals then sacked Fink to end the game. Richardson said he was surprised Middleton called a timeout. “There was no way we were going to snap the ball in 0.1 seconds,” he said. “We had a chance, but they snuck in a blitz.” He didn’t have any reservations about the first completed pass of the drive. “In order to score we have to get to the 50 to give him (Fink) a chance to throw it in the end zone,” Richardson said. “It was a good move, we just needed to go down quicker. We haven’t practiced that.” After being shut out in the opener by Sun Prairie, Verona’s offense got on track early on with some explosive plays against Middleton. Verona senior running back Jackson Acker bolted

Photo by Mark Nesbitt

Verona senior running back Graham Stier breaks a tackle on a run against Middleton in the second half of the Wildcats’ 18-15 loss to the Cardinals on Thursday, April 1, in Verona. for a 70-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Sophomore Mason Armstrong booted a 26-yard field goal to give the Wildcats a 9-0 lead with 10 minutes, 44 seconds left in the second quarter. Acker rushed for 109 yards on 10 carries and scored one touchdown. “To get the first touchdown here on the new field, I thought it was going to

end up just like the last Middleton game based on the start and it just didn’t happen,” Acker said. The Cardinals stormed back later in the second quarter. Middleton quarterback Sawyer Pertzborn connected with tight end Bryce Hensen on a 30-yard TD pass to cut the WIldcats’ lead to 9-7. Pertzborn then kicked a 35-yard field goal with 1:23 left in the second

quarter to give Middleton a 10-9 lead at the half. The Wildcats regained the lead in the second half on senior running back Graham Steier’s 32-yard TD run gave Verona a 15-10 lead in the third quarter. Verona rushed for 157 yards, which was a big i m p r ove m e n t ove r t h e opener when SUn Prairie limited the Wildcats to 9 rushing yards. Acker said getting the running game on track is a combination of getting new starting offensive linemen on the same page and the backs reading the blocks better. “These first two games were a test for them,” Acker said. “They are getting better. I have confidence in them.” That set the stage for a frantic finish. Pertzborn scored the game-winning touchdown on a 6-yard run. He then hit Hensen with a two-point conversion pass to give the Cardinals a three-point lead with 10:30 left in the fourth quarter. Fink completed 17 of 26 passes for 147 yards. Junior

wide receiver Cole Jannusch had five receptions for 38 yards. Acker had four catches for 33 yards. For the second straight week, the WIldcats’ defense limited an opponent to two touchdowns in a loss. Verona senior defensive end James Rae, senior defensive back Collin Stubitsch, junior linebacker Vince Langlois and Armstrong each had a team-high nine tackles. “ I ’ m p r o u d o f eve r y single one of those players on defense,” Rae said. “We fought hard. We got more solid in our calls. That big O-line from Middelton pushed us hard, but we pushed them back. We have to keep taking steps forward. We are capable of winning close games like we saw tonight.” Junior defensive lineman Andres Garrido had one sack. “I’m really pleased with our defense,” Richardson said. “We are playing well enough to win. Middleton had to earn it the whole time. James Rae in that first quarter was a man among boys flying around.”

Oregon tramples Cougars, 41-0

MARK NESBITT Sports editor

After being in the COVID-19 protocol and missing the season opener, Oregon High School senior running back Tegaue Szudy took advantage of his opportunity in a welcome back moment. Szudy rushed for 160 yards on 13 carries and scored four touchdowns to power Oregon to a 41-0

thrashing of Janesville Craig on Saturday, April 3, at DeForest High School. Oregon coach Dan Kissling said Szudy missed the season opener on Friday, March 27 against Monona Grove because of COVID-19 procedures. “We were just being safe,” Kissling said. “It was good to see him bounce back. Every time he got the ball he gained positive yards and he didn’t go down

easily. It was a huge motivation for our linemen and team to see it.” With the win, Oregon improves to 1-1. The Panthers will play at DeForest on Friday, April 9. “There is not as much to play for this year without the playoffs, I think with them (DeForest) coming off a state win and having won 18 straight games, it would be nice to knock them off,” Kissling said. “It will be a

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big test.” The Panthers broke the game open with a 21-point first quarter against the Cougars on Saturday. Szudy had touchdown runs of 31, 17 and 24 yards in the first quarter. He added a 5-yard TD run in the second quarter to help the Panthers take a 27-0 lead over the Cougars at the half. Oregon junior Austin Saunders scored on a 12-yard run in the third quarter. Saunders rushed

for 92 yards on 10 carries. The Panthers’ defense limited Craig to 121 total yards. The defensive performance by Oregon came after limiting Monona Grove to 13 points in the opener. “I think against MG we had an eye-opening experience because it has been a long time since we had done live tackling,” Kissling said. “I think we made some big improvements and were up to the task.”

Earth Month Activity Street Sweeper Artwork Contest! Did you know that by keeping our streets clean, we can prevent harmful pollutants such as litter, leaves, and dirt from entering our local waterbodies? In the urban area, water that flows onto our streets is collected in an underground system of pipes known as the “storm sewer system.” Unlike our sanitary sewer system, water that flows through the storm sewer system does not go to a treatment plant before entering our local waterbodies. This year, the City is purchasing a new street sweeper. This will double our street sweeper fleet from one to two sweepers. To celebrate, we are asking Fitchburg students (K-12) to submit original artwork for consideration to be displayed on the side of the new street sweeper (see the image below for inspiration from Marietta, Georgia). The drawings should focus on how our street sweepers keep our waterbodies clean. Artwork will be redrawn by an artist so that it is high enough quality to display on the street sweeper. This contest is open to Fitchburg students grades K-12. Submissions are due by Monday, April 26 at 10:00AM. Please visit the following website to find rules, guidelines, and the submission form: http://www.fitchburgwi.gov/2690/Street-Sweeper-Contest.

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April 9, 2021

ConnectFitchburg.com

Fitchburg Star

Repeat: Reid wins state championships in the 50-yard freestyle and 100 freestyle championships, said this year’s title is a little more special because it came against some larger Division 1 schools. “I think it was a little more intimidating coming in because it was not something we are used to,” Reid said. “I think we proved we are a force to be reckoned with even though we are Division 2.” Reid won state championships in the 50-yard freestyle (23.41 seconds) and 100 free (50.34). The time Reid swam in the 50 free was a 0.38 second drop from her top seed time. Edgewood sophomore Izzy Enz had a hand in winning four state championships. She won state titles in the 200 free (1:50.74) and also captured a state title in the 500 free (4:56.19). She teamed with sophomores Sophie Reed, Brynn Stacey and Reid to win the 200 free relay (1:34.57, a two second drop from their seed time. “I was really nervous going into it, but coming out with a state championship felt really good.” Enz entered as the top seed in both the 200 and 500 free. “I did put a lot of pressure

Gold medalists

Name Abby Reid Izzy Enz 400 free relay Anna teDuits Sophie Reed Brynn Stacey Payton Drexler

Year Event Jr. 50 free, 100 free, 200 free relay So. 200 free, 500 free, 200 free relay, Jr. So. So. So.

on myself because I have high expectations first,” Enz said. “I think I just focused on myself and doing the best I could and it turned out well.” Edgewood elected not to have a traditional season last fall because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Edgewood coach Emily Schwabe said she was grateful swimmers got a chance to have a season and a state meet this season. “It was exciting to be able to showcase Division 2 and continue to elevate the level of success of Division 2,” Schwabe said. “Coming in we just wanted to show what we could do at a different caliber. It’s a cool opportunity to show the state what we are about and what we are capable of in a different light than we have in the past.”

100 backstroke, 400 free relay 200 free relay 200 free relay, 400 free relay 400 free relay In the 400 free relay, Enz teamed with junior Anna teDuits, sophomore Payton Drexler and Stacey to take gold with a time of 3:26.81, about four seconds ahead of runner-up Sun Prairie. teDuits, a University of Wisconsin-Madison commit, won a championship in the 100 backstroke (55.02), 1.06 seconds ahead of Sun Prairie sophomore Olivia Sala. teDuits added a second-place finish in the 50 free (23.60). Stacey took second in the 200 free (1:53.03) and fourth in the 500 free (5:01.64). teDuits teamed with Reid, sophomore Payton Drexler and Reed to take second in the 200 medley relay (1:44.90), 0.59 of a second behind state champion Sun Prairie. Drexler finished third in the 200 individual medley

Sixth: 200 free relay finishes seventh Continued from page 12 “It’s always a good time racing people from other teams,” she said. Zuehl also took eighth in the 50 free with a time of 24.41, 0.18 of a second away from a medal. VA/MH finished sixth (117) as a team. Teams from the Big Eight and Dane County dominated the state meet, with four of the top six teams from the county with Madison Edgewood winning seven of the 12 events to win a sixth straight state title, racking up 350 points. Middleton finished as the state runner-up (286) and Sun Prairie took third (233). “I think as a team we exceeded our expectations,” Zuehl said. “Everyone had a personal-best time in the sectional meet and we just carried it on here.” Zuehl teamed with junior Tola Klabough, senior Gianna Gnewuch and junior Maia Blas to take seventh in the 200 free relay (1:40.05), 0.12 of a second away from finishing sixth place over Jefferson/Cambridge in the event. Bailey Felsheim placed eighth in the 100 butterfly in a season-best time of 58.99 seconds, 0.45 of a second away from a sixthplace medal. The performance by Felsheim

was about .60 seconds faster than her seed time. “I didn’t go into it expecting to win a medal,” Felsheim said. “I just wanted to do my best in my last meet.” The Wildcats’ 200 medley relay team of senior Regan Brazeau, Gnewuch, Felshiem and Zuehl took seventh with a time of 1 minute, 49.98 seconds, 0.66 of a second away from a medal and overtaking Oshkosh West for sixth place. Felsheim added a 13th-place finish in the 100 backstroke (1:00.19). Felsheim said she will always remember experiences with teammates. “All of my best memories are being with the team and, when I think back on the team I don’t really remember the hard practices or meets as much as I do memories with my etam and friends,” Felsheim said. Klabough finished 13th in the 200 free (1:57.97) and placed 14th in the 100 free (54.01). Klabough teamed with Blas, senior Emma Neumann and Felsheim to take 13th in the 400 free relay (3:41.35), a 0.42 second drop from the seed time. Blas placed 15th in the 50 free (25.17) and Neumann placed 16th in the 500 free (5:27.24).

(2:02.35) and third in the 500 free (5:01.60). Sophie Reed finished fifth in the 100 free (52.65) and added a ninth-place finish in the 50 free (24.43). Sophomore Sam Vega placed eighth in the 200 IM with a time of 2:10.76, a one-second drop from her seed time. Junior Claire Sweeney took ninth in the

100 backstroke (59.07). Freshman teammate Sadie Ludgate took 10th (2:11.05). Schwabe said because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the training for the Crusader swimmers has been so up and down. Teams from the Big Eight and Dane County dominated the state meet. Four of

the top six teams were from the county. Sun Prairie finished third (233) and Verona Area/Mount Horeb took sixth (117). “ T h e f a c t t h ey w e r e able to have seven weeks of training and taper for a short season and still put up those times shows a lot of courage,” Schwabe said.

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Verona Schools

ConnectFitchburg.com

April 9, 2021

Fitchburg Star

Grades 6-12 get four in-person days CDC social distancing guidance allows for more students in buildings KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group

Photo by Kimberly Wethal

Graduates toss their caps in the air during the Verona Area High School graduation ceremony on Sunday, June 9, at Epic.

Graduation and prom being planned

New PHMDC order gives flexibility in outdoor events KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group

Ve r o n a A r e a H i g h School seniors will cram a year’s worth of milestone events – Homecoming, prom and graduation all partially or fully held outdoors – into a three-week time frame starting at the end of May. That update from high school principal Pam Hammen and senior adviser Rita Mortenson was marked on the agenda for discussion only at the Verona Area Board of Education’s Monday, April 5, meeting and did not require a vote from the board. The events are easier to plan because of the new Public Health Madison and Dane County’s loosening of restrictions on outdoor events to an unspecified number as long as social distancing can still occur in Emergency Order No. 15, Hammen explained. The possibility of having an unlimited number of people outdoors, as long as social distancing can occur, makes events like prom at the end of May and a graduation ceremony at the new high school on Saturday, June 12, more feasible, Hammen told board members. Holding graduation indoors at Epic’s Deep Space auditorium, as has been done for the past decade, would be an option if indoor gathering restrictions are loosened, Hammen said. The rain date for the graduation ceremony will be Sunday, June 13. “What did change is the ability to have outdoor gatherings, and really, that number is unlimited as long as we can ensure that six feet of social distancing,” she said. “The best option for graduation is to

End-of-theyear events Graduation Saturday, June 12, Verona Area High School Outdoors, with rain date of June 13; Limited indoor ceremony at Epic as contingency Prom Saturday, May 22, Verona Area High School Seniors only, indoors, with masks (outdoors if more than 350 attend) Homecoming Week May 24-28, includes dress-up days Senior class trip Friday, May 28 have it outdoors, because then we can keep all of our seniors together, and they can invite their family and their friends.” Last year, high school administrators had moved the date of graduation back into late July, with the hope that by the summer, the COVID-19 pandemic would let up enough to permit the Class of 2020 to have an in-person graduation ceremony. It didn’t, so those students had a pre-recorded graduation video broadcast to them they could watch at home. A seniors-only prom would kick off the threeweek sprint of milestone events, with the dance scheduled for Saturday, May 22, at the high school. Depending on how many of the nearly 400-person senior class attend, the prom could be held indoors if attendance is less than 350, per PHMDC indoor gathering limits; if

it’s more, prom would be held outside on campus. Regardless of where the prom is held at the high school, masks will still be required for all attendees and dancing will have to be done in a socially distanced manner, Hammen said. It was for that reason the junior class declined to hold its prom this year, Hammen said, with the hope that next year, the c l a s s w i l l a l s o h ave a seniors-only prom that won’t require social distancing or face masks. “They’d rather dance closer and not wear masks,” Hammen said, ga r n e r i n g l a u g h s f r o m board members. T h e f o l l ow i n g w e e k , May 24-28, is Homecoming Week, where there won’t be a large schoolwide dance to cap the week off, but there will be Dress Up Days and activities such as an outdoor movie and scavenger hunt through the high school forest, Mortenson said. The senior class trip is being planned for Friday, May 28, and students would either go to a county park or stay on campus, Hammen added. Board members, including the three who have high school seniors in their family, thanked high school administration for scheduling milestone events for the district’s oldest students. “We really appreciate that you are doing all of this work to make sure that there’s something special for senior year to wrap up with,” board member Meredith Stier Christensen s a i d . “ T h e r e ’s s o m e thing about seeing everybody you may not be best friends with, but you’ve been in school with since kindergarten.” Email reporter Kimberly Wethal at kimberly. wethal@wcinet.com and follow her on Twitter @ kimberly_wethal.

Verona Area School District students in grades 6-12 will be able to return for n-person instruction four days a week next month. The district announced the plan on Friday, March 19, the same day that the federal Centers for Disease Control announced it was changing social distancing guidance for schools to three feet minimum at all times for elementary school students, and only if COVID-19 transmission rates are low for middle and high school students. Students will be allowed to return for the four-day instruction on Tuesday, April 13, the first day of fourth quarter for older students, according to the plan published on the district’s website March 19. Only the students whose families placed them into Option 1, which was the phased-in approach, will be able to return;

students in the virtual-only Option 2 will continue to learn concurrently four days a week. Middle and high school students will attend in-person from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Students will still be expected to wear masks that have at least two layers of fabric, and wear them at all times, with the expectation of eating during breakfast and lunch. School staff will continue to space students out to the largest extent possible in the classroom and cafeteria, the updated plan states. Earlier in the week, during the Monday, March 15, Verona Area Board of Education meeting, administrators had advised board members they were waiting for the changed social distancing requirements before implementing a four-day in-person instruction model. Because of the changed Public Health Madison and Dane County requirements, administrators were planning on bringing back elementary school students starting Monday, April 12. At the March 15 board meeting, superintendent Dean Gorrell said the reason the district was considering

bringing students back at a higher number was because under Public Health Madison and Dane County’s Emergency Order No. 14, guidance stating that students be kept six feet apart to the greatest extent possible was eliminated. Even with those requirements eliminated, assistant superintendent for academic services Laurie Burgos explained that because older students tend to spread COVID-19 in a similar fashion to adults and cannot cohort as easily as their elementary school peers, the district was holding back on bringing more 6-12 graders in. Burgos added that the district needed to continue to reduce mixing of students to prevent outbreaks that could jeopardize participation in end-of-year activities, especially for high school juniors and seniors. “We’re thinking about things like graduation and AP testing – so having more students in school could expose them to becoming a close contact and needing to miss out on some of those end-ofthe-year activities,” she said during the board meeting.

Country View Elementary students go on virtual ‘field trip’

Photo submitted

The Wildcat mascot visits Country View Elementary School fifth graders in Ms. Lauzon’s class as they learn about the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth during a virtual field trip hosted by Rita Mortenson as a part of the class’ social studies unit about the history between U.S. and British.

VASD in Brief VAHS first high school winner of ‘Build America’ merit award

Kabby Hong has been awarded Putney, a VAHS named a 2021 Herb Kohl senior, with the Louis. M Fellowship recipient. He Sasman award. is one of 101 teachers honWhat does VAHS have ored, and will receive a VAHS team wins in common with the Gold- $6,000 educational grant underwater robot en State Warriors’ Chase from the Foundation. challenge Center in San Francisco, Verona FFA member VAHS students gathered the Atlanta Falcons’ Mercedes-Benz Stadium in honored with Madison around the pool for a comGeorgia and the Daytona petition March 12. But it International Speedway? Kiwanis award Verona Area High School wasn’t a swim meet, and All have received a nationdespite its name – SeaPal award as a new or ren- student Anna Putney has erch – it had nothing to do been recognized for her ovated building over $126 leadership, community ser- with fish. The competition million. vice and active participation lets students test remotely VAHS teacher Kabby within the Verona FFA. On operated robotic vehicles. Hong wins Kohl To read these stories, visit March 8, the Kiwanis Club VAHS English teacher of Downtown Madison connectfitchburg.com

April 9, 2021

Fitchburg Star

Oregon Schools

ConnectFitchburg.com

Hope lives here Schools to open 4 days a week

OHS group helps peers talk about mental health issues SCOTT DE LARUELLE Unified Newspaper Group

As schools across the country have focused on student social-emotional health, Oregon High School has started a program centered around hope – and giving students a chance to help peers in need. Hope Squad is an evidence-based suicide prevention program that has been used nationwide for many years, OHS teacher and Hope Squad advisor Juanita Weinert wrote the Observer in an email. Student members focus on educating peers about mental illness and health with the goal of reducing the stigma of each topic. “This program allows peers to confide in each other when they are struggling, and with training, Hope Squad members can offer helpful resources and hope,” she wrote the Observer an in email. “They learn to show empathy (and) listen without judgment. “Hope Squads reduce youth suicide through education, training, and peer intervention,” Weinert added. Advisors train students in grades 10-12 to provide friendship, identify warning signs and engage in conversation with students struggling with mental health challenges, Weinert said, then refer them to “trusted adults when additional intervention is appropriate.” Members are nominated by classmates as trustworthy peers, and are trained by advisors. The idea started last year when district parent Rishelle Eithun and her colleague Haelee Miller, child safety coordinator for UW Health/ American Family Children’s Hospital, approached OSD’s Amy Miller about Hope Squad. Eithun, a child health advocacy program manager for the hospital, is a trainer for Hope Squad. Joined by Weinert, other staff and students, the school started collaboration with the hospital on creating a Hope Squad Suicide Prevention Club.

Virtual start

Despite the pandemic, the group met virtually throughout last spring with the goal of introducing it to students by the end of the 2019-20 school year. Advisors created a presentation for students, which included a survey, where they could nominate peers and teachers who they would be comfortable going to for emotional support. After students were nominated, the club hosted an orientation meeting for students and families to learn more. Training started in August, with the club meeting virtually two times a month or more to develop plans to support students and increase connectedness at the school during the pandemic. Members have also participated in monthly training, led by UW’s Haelee Miller. “We are so appreciative of Rishelle and Haelee

Photo submitted

Some of the OHS Hope Squad are, from left, advisor Janet Pliner, students Jordan Streiff, Alissa Waterbury, Grace Cooper, Ella Wirtz and Abbey Sargent, and advisor Juanita Weinert.

Students help get state grant Oregon High School Hope Squad members are taking an active role in building a permanent program at the school. Abbey Sargent designed Hope Squad T-shirts, Evelyn Becker created the group’s website and introductory video, and Christian Wirtz, Ella Wirtz, and Anni McGill completed an application for a state Department of Public Instruction Peer to Peer Grant. The grant application was approved and the DPI awarded OHS Hope Squad $1,000. reaching out to us, as Hope Squad is the right fit to meet our school community’s needs during a pandemic and beyond,” Weinert said. To begin training, OHS students and staff complete a 60-minute suicide prevention training called QPR, or Question, Persuade, and Refer. The program helps people identify the warning signs of suicide, how to ask the question if someone is considering suicide, how to persuade them to get help and how to refer them to helpful resource, Weinert said. The club meets virtually every other Wednesdays, as well as in subcommittees on outreach, education, and building community. Weinert said they are planning to expand its support to students as they prepare to return to the school for in-person learning. She said they hope to grow the school’s membership each year, and start a similar group at Oregon Middle School “in the next few years.”

Talking about mental health

Sophomore Abbey Sargent said she had been going through a “rough patch when the survey came out, and was grateful people nominated her for the group. “Mental health and being a friend to people were some topics that had become incredibly important to me,” she wrote the Observer in an email. “That’s why I am so glad I can be a part of Hope Squad, which gives me a platform to use those feelings to make a difference in other people’s lives.”

Hope Squad goals Improve mental health education while reducing the stigma regarding help-seeking Reduce and eliminate suicide Promote resilience, mental wellness and self-care Reach students in need quickly and intentionally Normalize help-seeking for emotional distress Facilitate access to care, allowing students to get the right help at the right time Educate and engage adults and families in suicide prevention programming Provide connection and a sense of belonging between Hope Squad members and their peers in distress Enhance school culture as a community of support for students Sargent said the biggest thing she’s learned in Hope Squad is “how to talk to people who are struggling,” something she didn’t know at first. “Some of the things it taught me were very different from what I would have expected,” she said. “It is so important that we work to overcome not only the stigma around mental health, but also the discomfort that comes with talking about it. My goal is to hopefully increase the number of people who feel comfortable reaching out.” For Sargent, the “next hill to climb” is applying that training and eventually teaching others to do the same. “I encourage people to get involved in the topic of mental health,” she said. “To be able to say that one more person is alive, or in better health than they were before because of what this group has taught me, is the goal, (and) even the small act of checking in on the people you love can make all the difference. “The idea we hope to spread is that everyone can help,” Sargent added.

Nearly 80% of families chose phased restart, beginning April 12 SCOTT DE LARUELLE Unified Newspaper Group

The Oregon School District is taking another step toward full reopening, announcing plans to bring students back four days a week, starting Monday, April 12. In a message to families sent March 17 asking them to select virtual or a phased restart option, district superintendent Leslie Bergstrom explained how the week would go for the various grade levels. Different district teachers will work with in-person and virtual students, with K-6 students at Brooklyn, Forest Edge, Netherwood Knoll and Prairie View elementary schools having in-person instruction on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 7:50 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. Rome Corners Intermediate School would run from 7:55 a.m. to 2:55 p.m. Oregon Online students will remain in online instruction for the remainder of the semester. For grades 7-12, teachers will continue to teach concurrently to both in-person and online students, with students in both A and B Group returning for in-person instruction on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Oregon Middle School will run from 8:35 a.m. to 12:20 p.m., with learning hubs at the school in the afternoons. Oregon High School will run from 8:35 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with learning hubs at the school in the afternoon. Wednesdays will continue to be asynchronous learning days for students to allow for individual assistance from teachers, and for teacher collaboration and planning. In the letter to parents, Bergstrom said staff are adjusting student and teacher class schedules based on family selection changes. This includes incorporating mental health supports and in-person transition planning for students, re-working

Photo submitted

Oregon High School student Katie Bergeland works on a project earlier this month.

Staff vaccinations proceeding Public Health Madison and Dane County has been scheduling appointments for Oregon School District staff in Tier 1B by lottery since March 9. Appointments take place at Alliant Energy Center. As of Monday, March 23, 65% of all staff has had at least one dose of the vaccine, including 90% of teachers, district communication director Erika Mundinger wrote the Observer in an email. About 65% of all staff (including teachers, support, coaches, subs, etc.) have had at least one dose. At least 90% of teachers have had at least one dose. transportation routes and re-configuring classrooms, based on new guidelines from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week that loosened distancing requirements to three feet from six feet. Under those recommendations, elementary school students can be distanced by three feet at all times, because children younger than 10 do not spread COVID-19 as easily as their older peers; middle and high school students are recommended to be distanced three feet apart only if rates of community transmission are low. At the Monday, March 22, school board meeting, Bergstrom said around three quarters of families opted for phased restart, with 3,158 (78%) choosing that model

and the remaining 909 students (22%) staying virtual. Around 5% of virtual students have switched to the phased restart model. She said after spring break, which begins March 29, the district will finalize bus routes and inform families, and try to do as much as state mandated testing as possible. “So when our kids come back on April 12, we can start going at a really fast clip without too many interruptions related to testing,” she said. The district first brought its K-2 students back for part-time virtual instruction in October, and then brought back grades 3-6 back in mid-January. Middle and high school students had to wait until Feb. 8 for a partial in-person return.

OSD in Brief Addressing coming student ‘crunch’ at OMS

Looking to reduce class sizes at Oregon Middle School and help students’ social-emotional learning, Oregon School District administrators are recommending adding three staff positions at the school for the fall. It’s a sign of the expected surge of students from new developments as they move up from the elementary schools toward grades 7-8.

Oregon students compete in underwater robotics challenge

Three teams of Oregon High School students gathered around the Verona Area High School pool for a competition March 12.The SeaPerch competition brings students together to test remotely operated robotic vehicles engineered to be used underwater.

Virginia magazine honors OHS grad

A 2000 Oregon High School graduate Lesley Butterfield-Harrop has been honored by the bi-monthly “The Roanoker” magazine for her work in the community health field. A nurse, she grew up in Oregon and worked for the OSD after graduating college.

‘Make Music Oregon’ concerts underway

What started last fall as a single community concert quickly became a three-part series, with more than 100 area musicians participating. The “Make Music Oregon” project is scheduled for broadcast by OCA Media at 6:30 p.m. on three consecutive Wednesdays, with the final one set for April 14.

Business

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‘City

EMILIE HEIDEMANN

of the Sun’

Unified Newspaper Group

When Phoenix founders named the nuclear tech company in 2005, they wanted to exemplify how the business “rose from the base” of the industry. The logo itself is a Phoenix, which is a mythical, fiery bird that symbolizes birth, death and renewal. That applies to the company because of its goal to seek new uses for nuclear fusion technologies, Phoenix marketing director Katie Rittenhouse told the Star. First located in the City of Monona, the founders wanted to create clean and environmentally friendly energy that other businesses could use profitably. In November 2020, the company moved into its Heliopolis headquarters – which means “City of the Sun’’ in Egyptian” – on Lacy Road on Fitchburg’s eastern side. The business also opened its Phoenix Neutron Imaging Center. Now, as Phoenix grows, the company continues to manufacture some of the industry’s strongest commercial neutron generators, Jessica Giffey, Phoenix vice president of operations, told the Star. Looking into 2021 and beyond, Phoenix is building a second neutron imaging facility in California’s San Francisco Bay Area, Rittenhouse and Giffey each said. T h e r e , t h e c o m p a ny intends to expand on its applications of nuclear fusion innovations, particularly in a hub of technology, aerospace and defense comparable to that of Fitchburg. “The west coast facility was born from the success of the (Fitchburg) space,” Rittenhouse said. That success is demonstrated by how Phoenix-made

Photo courtesy Phoenix, LLC

A neutron image of a toy robot produced by Phoenix.

neutrons have a variety of applications for clients in the sectors of medicine, military and energy – made possible in part by Heliopolis, 5115 Lacy Road, as well as the imaging center next door on 5125 Lacy Road. But the scientific process for creating the particles using nuclear fusion can be complicated, both Rittenhouse and Giffey explained. Rittenhouse said nuclear fusion is a reaction that produces large amounts of energy. This is different from another well-known type of nuclear reaction, known as fission. Both harness the power of atoms – fission being the division of one atom into two, and fusion being the combination of two atoms to create a larger one. While the nuclear fission reaction has historically been the world’s source for neutron generation, Giffey said, its uses have declined over the years, paving the way for companies like Phoenix to innovate with fusion. For example, inside a Phoenix generator, a high-energy plasma beam containing “deuterium ions” collides with a “tritium target,” producing “helium ions” and “free neutrons,” the company’s website states. Deuterium is a chemical variant, or “isotope” of hydrogen – an element our Sun produces,

according to the website. Tritium is a naturally occurring form of radioactive hydrogen. The neutrons that result from that collision process can be used for things like medical imaging in hospitals, Giffey and Rittenhouse said, as they can pass through dense materials like metal. In military or defense applications, an engineer can use neutrons to see how turbine blades in airplanes function. Or, a scientist in the aerospace industry can inspect a spacecraft before departing the planet, according to the website. This is because neutrons are particles that have neither a positive or negative charge, making them “neutral,” the website states. So the only way the neutrons can interact with other atoms is by colliding with their nuclei, making them able to pass through the materials those atoms make up. Phoenix’s 50,000 square foot Heliopolis headquarters and neutron imaging center have provided more amenities for such processes, Giffey said, than their former Monona space. The company’s neutron generators create radiation, she said, and the new space allows room for five concrete bunkers to protect workers from its effects. The facility also has a research and development lab, as well as a machine shop. Rittenhouse said there is more office space, particularly to support social distancing amid COVID-19. But besides the amenities Heliopolis offers, Phoenix’s leaders chose to move to Fitchburg because of the city’s business culture. “Fitchburg had a clear vision of how to grow its community of high tech businesses,” Giffey said. “That really appealed to us.”

April 9, 2021

Fitchburg Star

Hop Haus Brewing crafts new Miller’s Supermarket themed brew NEAL PATTEN Unified Newspaper Group

Usually when a beer lover hears “It’s Miller Time,” they think of lagers and pilsners from a certain Milwaukee-based brewery. But for some libation loving locals, they might also soon think of a collaboration between two Verona businesses. Hop Haus Brewing Company and Miller and Sons Supermarket, Main Street neighbors, have teamed up to launch the brewery’s first-ever beer collab, Miller’s Hazy IPA. With the iconic downtown Verona grocer’s sign – and clock – now on a can of beer, “Miller time” may take on a whole new meaning when reaching for a cold one. Hop Haus has released special edition beers before, such as March Sadness and Home School Hero, two IPAs released last spring inspired by the pandemic. But this “smooth IPA that has a hint of citrus flavor” is the first time the Verona and Fitchburg-based Hop Haus has created a beer in honor of a business, co-owner Sara Hoechst said. Released mid-February, the first batch has already sold out. Hoechst was raised in Verona and has co-operated the company with her husband Phil since June 2015. Last September, they opened a second space for the business in Fitchburg and hired Verona-raised Tom Marks to be the front of house manager. Marks was a new addition to the Hop Haus family and had not worked at the Verona location. For the two natives, who between them know “just about everyone in Verona,” Hoechst said, the

Miller’s Hazy IPA

Photo submitted

collaboration with Miller’s was a natural next step for the brewery. “Wouldn’t it be cool if Miller’s, who has all this support from the community, had their own beer?” Hoechst said. Mike Hoffman who runs the Pump Room, and Carl Miller were involved in trying different beer recipes, and there were three they really liked. Hoechst suggested they try one to start and see how it was received. “It went over better than anyone thought it would,” she said. “People ripped through the beer so fast.” IPAs are “super popular” right now, Hoechst said, especially the ‘hazy’ variety. Using a combination of oats along with a different kind of yeast from in traditional IPAs, gives it the hazy appearance. While it started as a descriptor of how the beer looks, because you can’t see through it and it’s kind of cloudy, Hoechst said, over years, the beer has name but become more of a ‘type’ – with a fruitier juicier type of hop present in its flavor. Oats typically are used to adjust the viscosity of the beer but are not usually a prominent flavor note. They’re much more prevalent and noticeable in hazy IPAs,

Hoechst said. While the team had a hard time deciding among three different varieties for Miller’s first beer, it was unanimous having the “iconic” Miller’s sign as the focal point for the beer, Hoechst said. “It was a no-brainer,” Hoechst said. “It was cool to incorporate something so unique to them in the branding of that can.” Over the winter, with so many companies unable to host employee parties because of COVID-19, Hop Haus offered for companies to show appreciation to employees or clients by sending them branded beers. But those beers were just a re-sleeveing of existing Hop Haus brews, not a new recipe like the Miller’s collaboration. “We’d take their logo, create a beer label for it; quite a few companies did it,” Hoechst said. “It kind of became a little niche we discovered over the winter. Winter was pretty tough, with Dane County restrictions, so it was nice to figure out that avenue.” The first run of the Miller’s beer sold so quickly in Verona, the Mount Horeb store never got to stock any. Hoechst said for the next batch, they’ll get some out to Mount Horeb. Hop Haus is planning on brewing the hazy IPA again, but also possibly another Miller’s-branded offering for people who don’t like IPAs. “It will be an ongoing collaboration,” Hoechst said. “Miller’s is iconic in Verona. Hop Haus being across the street I think is so cool. We’re two businesses that started here and since moved beyond. It’ll be exciting to see where this goes.” Neal Patten can be contacted at neal.patten@wcinet.com.

Oak Bank Promotes Stephanie East to Cash Management Specialist

Oak Bank, Fitchburg’s community bank since 2000, is pleased to announce the promotion of Stephanie East to Cash Management Specialist. East first joined the Oak Bank team as a Personal Banker in 2018. East, who has over 18 years of client service experience, will provide business clients with expertise in electronic services using a one-on-one approach in her role as Oak Bank’s Cash Management Specialist. She will advise clients on the technology and digital tools available to help them manage their business more effectively.

FITCHBURG COMMUNITY BLOOD DRIVE Sponsored by Oak Bank & Fitchburg Fire Department

“Stephanie is a vital asset to the Oak Bank team and a valuable resource for our clients,” said Terry Taylor, Oak Bank President. “Demand for electronic services has increased substantially as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. With years of experience and a desire to please, Stephanie is the perfect individual to educate and assist clients that wish to use our electronic services to manage their business more efficiently.”

Fitchburg Fire Station No. 2 2931 Marketplace Drive

Friday, May 7, 2021 10AM to 3PM

To make an appointment, please call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit RedCrossBlood.org, search under Sponsor Code: Fitchburg and scroll to May 7th. Save up to 15 minutes when you donate blood by using

“There are many digital tools available to our business clients that can take major banking tasks off their plate, allowing our them more time to focus on running their business,” said East. “I look forward to facilitating that process for them.” seast@oakbankonline.com

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18 Fitchburg Star - April 9, 2021

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

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

FACTv Finance Fire Department FitchRona Human Resources Library Municipal Court

270-4225 270-4251 270-7070 497-2909 270-4211 729-1760 270-4224

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FITCHBURG RECYCLING GUIDE

APRIL IS EARTH MONTH. CELEBRATE WITH FITCHBURG! Exciting events are happening through the month of April in Fitchburg! Feel free to drop by and help us celebrate: • Saturday, April 10, 9:00 a.m.: Waterway Cleanups Various Locations, for more details, please visit: http://www.fitchburgwi.gov/2634/Waterway-Cleanups

Pancake Breakfast PLUS*

Did you know that the City has a Recycling Guide to help you determine the best way to reuse, donate, recycle or dispose of unwanted items? Check out the website below for more information or, pick up a hard copy in the lobby of City Hall (5520 Lacy Road) today!

Fundraiser Sunday, April 25, 2021 7a.m.-8p.m.

https://www.fitchburgwi.gov/146/Refuse-Recycling

Hy-Vee Market Grille 2920 Fitchrona Road

608-273-5131 ----- Pick up or Dine in PLASTIC BAG DROP OFF The Fitchburg Senior Center will be holding a plastic bag drop off for the entire month of April in conjunction with Earth Month. The lower level vestibule will be open 24/7, and a barrel will be placed there for bags to be left. Simply put your clean plastic bags in the barrel. Thanks to the Fitchburg Senior Center Friends, as a special incentive, community members who drop off plastic bags to be recycled can enter their name to win one of ten reusable bags from HyVee, which is a great way to reduce plastic bag use altogether! Help us keep our community clean and protect the environment.

*Breakfast all day, Lunch & Dinner menu available after 11 a.m. Online Menu -Search: HyVee Market Grill Fitchburg Mention: Fitchburg Senior Center Friends

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April 9, 2021

Fitchburg Star

Living for the ‘#now’ STEM to Stern helps local youth learn rowing While meditating on the beach, Fitchburg-resident Joanne Adducci had a revelation. Processing the death of her mother, she sat facing the ocean and balancing stones into stacks, called cairns. She built three cairns: one for her past, one Adducci for her present and another for her future. Then suddenly a wave came in, but it only knocked over the “past” cairn. It’s the perfect metaphor, Adducci told the Star last month, reminding her to let go of the past. For the last three years, Adducci has been helping others to free themselves from past traumas and embrace the moment. Her Facebook group called #now, which has been active since October 2019, has grown into a supportive community, a safe space for hard conversations and where people can “bare their souls,” she said. The online group, with the full name of “#now-a movement toward conscious living,” since has grown to more than 500 members. The posts vary from light-hearted content like memes, inspiring quotes or sunrise photos, to heavy personal accounts of things like sexual assault, death or divorce. The only requirement to join the group is to be respectful and supportive of other members. “It’s all about sharing our stories and building community and living a conscious life,” Adducci said. A “conscious life,” as she describes it, is being able to recognize and let go of emotions, fears, stresses and worries – to not drift through life holding onto negativity and painful experiences. But Adducci wasn’t always living a conscious life, she said. It took time to unravel her traumas. About five years ago, after losing her mother, Adducci said she felt like a piece of herself was gone. She went to therapy to work through her mother’s death, as well as other traumas she had never properly addressed: being

Organization focuses on opportunities for people from all backgrounds SARA SCHOENBORN Star correspondent

In competitive rowing, the coxswain – the individual who calls out commands, coordinating directionality and speed – sits in the boat stern, facing the direction of travel and ultimately leading the team to the finish line. Fitchburg native Sam Wheeler told the Star he serves as the operations manager for STEM to Stern, a program designed to remove barriers and provide students from all backgrounds with the chance to be that coxswain, and to row altogether. Rowing historically and currently consists mostly of students from middle or upper-class, white households, areas and families, the organization’s executive director Will Bott said. “We want to change that, ”Bott said. “We want to make rowing more accessible, increase diversity, and increase inclusion in the sport.” STEM to Stern started in Milwaukee and currently has locations in 10 different cities across the country. Madison was not only the first city after Milwaukee to form a program, it is also the first program where two rowing clubs are working together: Mendota Rowing Club and Camp Randall Rowing Club. He said the organization has identified some of the major barriers to rowing, including cost, transportation and swimming competency. And it aims to improve students not only just out on the water, but also in the classroom. “In STEM to Stern, we address those barriers,” he said. “We wanted to make sure that the kids we were providing rides, swimming lessons and rowing opportunities for were also helped out a little bit in the classroom. That was really the conception of STEM to Stern.” Addressing STEM

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Volunteering for STEM to Stern, he said, allows him to try to bring rowing to the masses and to create a more competitive and diverse community in the process. “I really think it has a positive impact on these kids’ lives,” he said. Bott agreed, adding that rowing is inherently a sport that brings people together. “You’re in the same boat, moving in the same direction,” Bott said. To learn more about STEM to Stern, visit https:// stemtosternrowing.org.

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“When I was going through college orientation, I got pulled aside because I’m tall,” Wheeler said. “I immediately fell head over heels into the elite world of college rowing.” He added it was likely the best experience he had in college. “I feel like I learned a lot from it – just how to work hard and persevere through adversity,” Wheeler said. Today, he works as a software developer for the Wisconsin Athletic Department and as a coach for the Milwaukee Rowing Club.

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education has proven to be engaging, exciting and fun, he added. “The kids I have worked with love it. It’s one of the highlights of their week,” Wheeler said, adding that the organization is just starting to see kids move from middle school to high school. “The STEM to Stern students have a higher retention ratio,” he said. And the students are learning other important lessons, too. “I think a big one is just being active and working with other people,” Wheeler said. “Knowing that everyone may not look like you. It breaks down these barriers…making sure everyone has an opportunity.” This type of opportunity wasn’t available to Wheeler when he was growing up, who was focused on swimming while attending Leopold Elementary School and Cherokee Middle School before Madison West High School. Eventually, he made the decision to attend UW-Madison.

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sexually assaulted as a child, being raped in college, having an eating disorder and always being the person who would help others – but never herself. It took recognizing and putting these experiences out in the open for her to truly start healing, Adducci said. “I just felt like my life was falling apart and it took me a little while, but I realized that actually the falling apart feeling was the crack in the door that really made me realize my life was actually falling together.“ Adducci knew being open about these experiences could help others who went through the same things. So she created #now in April 2018 and started writing posts about the experiences. But for 18 months, she was the only member. It was scary to be open and vulnerable, she said, so she didn’t invite anyone. But when her father got sick and her marriage ended, she again felt as though her life was falling apart. And at that moment Adducci said, “Screw it, I need this community.” She began by inviting “safe people,” such as family and friends, to the group. Eventually, she worked up the courage to tell coworkers and encourage members to invite people from their own social circles. As more people joined, shared their stories and offered advice, Adducci said it blossomed into a supportive network. She said she hopes members are able to relate to one another and realize that no matter how bad things seem, in the moment, there is an opportunity to grow. “There truly is a way out,” Adducci said. As #now grew, so did Adducci’s commitment to helping others attain peace with their past. She worked in technology for 25 years, but now manages various projects – including a consciousness consulting firm, a podcast with local Fitchburg musician Kelsey Miles and various book clubs. All of her work circles back to that idea of letting go of the past through open conversations. “I am the embodiment of the collective, meaning that the things I’ve been through, so many other people have been through, and they can relate,” Adducci said “It’s my job to open up the door for conversation.”

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HOME

APRIL 2021

For Your Home Should you buy or sell a home in 2021?

In the Garden

Raised garden beds can make growing plants easier

Lawn Care Post winter care for your lawn

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April 9, 2021

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Post winter care for your lawn by Melinda Myers

As winter gives way to spring take a walk around the yard. Check the lawn for damage and provide a bit of early season care to help it recover from winter.

as you can cut the grass more efficiently. And speaking of savings, your mower will consume 22% less fuel and the lawn will use up to 30% less water when using sharp blades.

Use a leaf rake to lightly lift and separate the matted grass blades. This helps speed drying, increase airflow, and reduce the risk of pink and gray snow mold developing and damaging your lawn.

Soon it will be time to mow the lawn. Mow high and often, leaving grass clippings on the lawn to add organic matter, moisture, and nutrients to the soil. Always sweep clippings off walks and the drive to keep this valuable organic matter out of waterways.

These fungal diseases are most common when heavy snowfalls or ice covers nonfrozen turf or after late winter snowstorms. The damage is usually seen where snow lingers late in the season. Symptoms appear as circular areas of matted brown grass. You may even see a gray or pink cobweb-like growth over these areas. Fortunately, lawns eventually recover. Reduce the risk of future problems with proper timing of lawn fertilization. Remove any leaves or debris that ended up on the lawn. Large leaves on the grass capture moisture and prevent sunlight from reaching the plants below. Use leaves you collect as mulch in the garden or add to the compost pile. Look for vole trails in the lawn. These small rodents travel beneath the snow and over the grass in search of food all winter long. Their travels create trails of bare or dead grass. The surrounding grass will eventually fill in the damaged areas. Speed recovery by sprinkling grass seed over the trails. Just mix a handful of grass seed in a mop bucket of topsoil to make a lawn patch. Sprinkle the mixture in the trails, gently tamp and water.

Take care of winter damage now before the even busier garden season begins. Investing time now helps improve your lawn’s health and beauty, allowing you more time to enjoy the summer. Fungal diseases are common after snow or ice covers non-frozen turf.

Check areas along walks, drives and the street for deicing salt damage. Even if you don’t apply deicing salts, passing cars can spray it onto your lawn. Your car also brings home salt as it travels along salted roadways, depositing salty snow onto the drive. Make sure these areas receive sufficient water this spring. Regular spring showers often do the job. Thoroughly water these areas during dry springtime weather to help wash the salt past the grass roots into the soil below. Consider shoveling first and using plant-friendly deicing salts in the future. This will reduce the need for deicing salts and reduce the time and money spent repairing salt-damaged plants. Use this time to sharpen your mower blades. Using sharp blades to cut the grass

results in a healthier and better-looking lawn. The clean cut made by a sharp blade closes quickly, reducing the risk of disease problems. Sharp blades also save time

Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD series and the nationally-syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is also a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Her website is www.MelindaMyers.com.

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Leaves that fall from trees can be a marvel to behold. But leaves can stain exterior surfaces when they eventually settle on vehicles, concrete driveways, patios, and other surfaces, become wet and/or are not cleaned away in a timely fashion. Leaf stains are caused by tannins in the leaves. The pigments can be absorbed by porous materials like concrete and leave stains behind. While these stains may wash away over time, homeowners may prefer a faster way to get rid of unsightly stains. To remove moderate leaf stains, mix oxygen bleach with hot water and apply to stains using a scrub brush. Dark stains may require a tougher cleanser, such as one that contains trisodium phosphate. Some homeowners find success using a pressure washer to clean away leaf stains, while others rely on commercial leaf-stain removers.

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Spring lawn equipment: get ready for backyarding in high style this year if you don’t use up all the fuel in the tank right away. Any fuel containing more than 10 percent ethanol can damage small engine equipment not designed for it.

Backyarding is the new trend that’s emerged during the pandemic. Our backyards are where we eat, work, play, relax and socialize, and the green spaces around our homes have proven to be vibrant places for connection and vital to maintaining mental health.

Store fuel safely. Label fuel cans with the date of purchase and ethanol content of the fuel. If you don’t know the date of purchase, dispose safely of the fuel and buy fresh gasoline. Always store fuel out of the reach of children or pets and in approved containers.

So how do you get ready for lots of springtime backyarding? You organize your yard and ready your landscaping. “Take some time to plan out your yard with your family. Once you know the purpose you want it to serve, it’s time to start working with it,” said Kris Kiser, President and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), an international trade association representing outdoor power equipment, small engine, utility vehicle, golf car and personal transport vehicle manufacturers and suppliers. “A well-cared for lawn and landscape provides the canvas for a year-round backyarding lifestyle. You’ll want to get out there with your outdoor power equipment, like your lawn mower and trimmers, as soon as spring arrives, and you want to do it safely,” said Kiser. He offered the following tips to get lawn equipment ready for spring: Refresh your knowledge. Read your equipment owner’s manuals and follow all manufacturer’s guidelines. If you find a manual online, save a digital copy for future reference.

Look over equipment. Lots can happen in a garage or storage shed over the winter. Check the air filter, oil level and gasoline tank. Watch for loose belts and missing or damaged parts. Replace any parts needed or take your equipment to a qualified service representative. Check you have the appropriate batteries. Drain fuel tanks. If you didn’t empty the gasoline tank before storing equipment, drain it now. Fuel should never sit in outdoor power equipment for more than 30 days. Untreated gasoline (without a fuel stabilizer) will deteriorate, which may cause starting or running problems or damage the fuel system. Protect your power. Use only E10 or less fuel in gasoline-powered outdoor power equipment. Most manufacturers recommend a fuel stabilizer be used, especially

Don’t mix up your battery packs. For battery-powered equipment, use only the charger specified by the manufacturer. A charger that is suitable for one type of battery pack may create a risk of fire when used with another. Follow all charging in-

structions and do not charge the battery pack or tool outside the temperature range specified in the instructions. Stash batteries safely. When the battery pack is not in use, keep it away from other metal objects, like paper clips, coins, keys, nails, screws or other small metal objects, that can make a connection from one terminal to another. Shorting the battery terminals together may cause burns or a fire. Tidy up. Clean equipment will run more efficiently and last longer. Clean equipment and store it in a dry place. Remove dirt, oil or grass. Never store equipment in a place that is damp or wet. For further information on safe fueling, go to www.LookBeforeYouPump.com.

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When tending to their lawns, homeowners are advised to pay attention to areas that may feature standing water. According to the World Health Organization, standing water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes, which can breed in great numbers in pools of water. Mosquitoes are known to carry diseases like malaria, West Nile virus and Zika. Furthermore, mosquitoes that bite pets can transmit heartworms, a serious problem if gone it goes undiscovered. Standing water also can be a haven for bacteria, mold and parasites that are dangerous to human health. If standing, stagnant water is a problem in your yard, remediation is necessary. Directing downspouts away from the house can remediate standing water. Changing the grading of soil so that low spots are elevated is another way to reduce instances of standing water. This may be a project that requires the assistance of a drainage professional. In addition, homeowners can remove standing water from empty flower pots, pool covers, bird baths, and more to reduce the likelihood that mosquitoes will appear on their properties.

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Raised beds can make growing plants easier DIY instructions To build a 10-foot by 4-foot, 18-inch-high raised bed, you’ll need: • Nine 6-inch x 6-inch x 12-foot cedar timbers • Tape measure, t-square and marking pencil • A saw and extension cord • One box of 10-inch heavy-duty exterior wood screws • 10 rebar stakes, 24-inch x 1/2-inch • 20 galvanized timber spikes, 10 inches long

1. Begin by cutting six, 6 x 6 timbers, each measuring 10-feet 6-inches in length. And six, 6 x 6 timbers, each measuring 4-feet 6-inches in length. Drill rebar holes in each timber. 2. Once the first layer of bed has been placed, leveled and squared in your desired location, fasten the corners using 10-inch wood screws. Secure the entire layer to the ground with 10 pieces of rebar. 3. Place the second layer of timbers, staggering the corners and fastening them with wood screws. Secure this layer to the first with ten 10-inch galvanized spikes. 4. Install galvanized cloth to prevent burrowing pests from eating earthworms and destroying plants. 5. Place the third layer of timbers (following above directions.) 6. Fill with soil and plants.

(StatePoint) Fairly easy to construct and even easier to maintain, raised garden beds are a great way to raise plants and vegetables in the comfort and convenience of your backyard. A raised garden bed can help facilitate the ideal growing environment, as most people don’t have that perfect soil naturally in their yard, Organic gardener Joe Lamp’l of “Growing a Greener World” explained on a recent episode of the Exmark Original Series, “Done-in-A-Weekend-Extreme.” Their accessibility makes them easier to work in and maintain, he told landscape designer and show host Doug Scott. Plus, Lamp’l said, they’re a nice architectural design element in any landscape.

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Lamp’l shared several other insights, including the ideal size, the best materials and the best location.

Disinfecting garden tools can help ensure the long-term health of plants and vegetables. According to the University of Minnesota Extension, plant pathogens, including bacteria, fungi and viruses, cause diseases that can damage and even kill plants. These pathogens can be transferred to plants and infect them through bits of soil and plant debris that get stuck on common gardening tools, including shovels and pruners. Pathogens are microscopic and invisible to the naked eye, which is why even tools that appear clean may still contain harmful substances on their surfaces that can prove life-threatening to plants. Disinfecting tools at the appropriate time, such as when the tools are being stored in fall or before using them in spring or after using them to remove infected plants, can prevent the damage caused by invisible pathogens. Avoid using strictly bleach to disinfect garden tools, as the UME notes that bleach corrodes metal and can therefore render tools that require sharp edges ineffective. A homemade solution that’s nine parts water and one part bleach can be used to effectively clean shovels, spades and rakes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) in concentrations of 70 percent or more can effectively disinfect surfaces for bacteria, fungi and viruses. Such a solution can be used to disinfect hand pruners and other small hand tools. Store-bought cleaners with an active ingredient that is .1 percent alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium saccharinate also can be effective when disinfecting small hand tools as well as small pots and saucers.

The bed should be no wider than 4 feet, as you never want to compact the soil when working. Length however, is based on personal preference and needs. The height should allow roots to be able to grow out and down as much as possible -- typically 12 inches but at least 6 inches, and anything higher is a bonus. Treated lumber is the most readily available and economical material and will likely last the longest. However, as an organic gardener Lamp’l told Scott he prefers untreated hardwood, as it lasts almost as long and doesn’t contain chemicals. Other materials you have around the home and yard, including rocks and old tubs, can work, too. Build your raised garden bed on level ground, in full sun exposure near a water supply. For more tips and complete build instructions, see “How to Build Raised Garden Beds” by visiting Exmark.com/backyard. The multimedia destination focuses on helping homeowners make the most of their backyard.

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Ergonomic tools can help gardeners know that aches and pains can add up after a day spent kneeling in the garden, raking soil and carrying supplies from a shed or garage around the property. But the WVUCED notes that ergonomic tools do more than just reduce gardeners’ risk of injury.

Gardening is a rewarding activity that has been found to provide a host of benefits beyond ensuring readily available access to fresh fruits, vegetables and awe-inspiring blooms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says many gardening tasks qualify as light to moderate exercise, which means raking the leaves and cutting the grass can be just as beneficial as cardiovascular activities like brisk walking or jogging. In addition, a 2017 study published in the journal Preventive Medicine Reports found that gardening can help aging men and women offset age-related weight gain. And the health benefits of gardening go beyond the physical. In 2014, a systematic review of randomized controlled trials published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine concluded that horticultural therapy may be an effective treatment for people with dementia. Gardeners have a host of tools at their disposal to help turn their lawns and gardens into awe-inspiring landscapes. Among those options are ergonomic tools. Ergonomic tools can benefit gardeners of all ages, but they may prove especially valuable for aging men and women. How ergonomic tools differ from traditional gardening tools Ergonomic gardening tools are designed to ensure that using them has as little effect on the body as possible. Ergonomic tools align with how a person naturally moves his or her body, which can reduce the likelihood that gardeners will suffer any strains

•Ergonomic tools increase efficiency. Wasted motions are less likely when using ergonomic tools. That can improve efficiency in the garden, allowing gardeners to get more done in the same amount of time. And because ergonomic tools are designed to work with the body, gardeners likely won’t need to take breaks due to aches and pains, which also makes it

or sprains while gardening or experience any aches and pains after a day spent tending to their landscapes. Choosing the right tools The West Virginia University Center for Excellence in Disabilities notes that gardeners will know they have chosen the right ergonomic gardening tool for the job when they do not have to adapt the tool. Ergonomic tools should match gardeners’ heights, fit their grip and feel comfortable when in use. Specific benefits of ergonomic tools Ergonomic gardening tools are designed in a way that can reduce stress on the body while performing various tasks. Gardeners

easier to be more efficient when working in the garden. • Ergonomic tools increase gardeners’ capabilities. The WVUCED notes that principles behind ergonomics keep gardeners using the tools in natural positions. That means gardeners won’t lose power to bending and twisting, enabling them to do more in the garden than they might be able to do when using non-ergonomic tools. Gardening is a rewarding and beneficial activity. The right ergonomic tools for the job can enhance those benefits and make gardening even more enjoyable.

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Many lawns contain a mixture of the roughly one dozen types of different grasses. According to the lawn care experts at Scotts®, knowing which type of grass they have in their yard can help homeowners more effectively manage and care for their lawns. But with so many lawns containing a mixture of grasses, how can homeowners know exactly what’s making up that green carpet in their yards? Scotts® notes that lawns typically fall into one of two categories: warm-season grasses and cool-season grasses. Warm-season grasses are those that thrive in regions where the climate tends to be especially warm, such as the southern United States. Cool-season grasses are those that are at their best in climates that experience extreme temperature fluctuations. For example, cool-season grasses are most likely to be found in the northern United States, as much of this area of the country experiences cold winters and warm, and in some places very hot, summers. Homeowners who are uncertain about which type of grass they have can consult a lawn care professional for advice. Homeowners who learn which type of grass is in their yard can use that information to determine how frequently they should mow and water their lawns and which type of fertilizer is best-suited to their lawns.

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Prepare your home for any emergency (StatePoint) While no one wants to dwell on worst-case scenarios, the last year has in many ways illustrated that there are no certainties in life. Preparing your home to handle a wide range of emergency scenarios will offer you peace of mind now and keep your family safe in the future. Don’t wait until there’s a problem to get your ducks in a row. By that time it’s often too late, with essentials gone from store shelves. Preparing your home today can offer you peace of mind now, and comfort and safety in an emergency. To get prepped, start with the essentials. With sufficient fuel, water, food and other necessities, you can ride out potential emergency scenarios. Here’s how to collect and store these items safely and securely: Water

Food

Homeowners should have a fresh supply of gasoline, diesel and kerosene so they can operate generators, chainsaws and other tools often needed during and after emergencies. Fuel containers should be stored in secure, dry locations away from heat sources, pets and easy access to children. You should also be sure to select containers that exceed ASTM and CPSC minimum standards, such as the SmartControl fuel containers from Scepter, available in 1-, 2- and 5-gallon sizes. These high-density polyethylene containers feature an innovative spout design that helps save fuel when it’s needed most by eliminating messy spills. For high-capacity needs, the 14-gallon wheeled Scepter Duramax offers a safe and convenient refueling choice.

The CDC recommends storing at least a three-day supply of food for emergency scenarios. Be sure these are items with a very long shelf life that don’t require refrigeration or cooking. They should also meet the dietary needs of all household members. Periodically check your supply to ensure expiration dates have not passed and refresh items as needed. To avoid spoilage and odors, store food in airtight containers away from petroleum products and heat. Of course, other important essentials should also be in your emergency kit, such as batteries, flashlights, first aid supplies and prescription medications. For a comprehensive emergency supply list, visit www.ready.gov.

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The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends storing at least one gallon of water per person per day for 14 days so that in the event of an emergency that affects water supply, you’ll have enough for both drinking and sanitation. When it comes to long-term storage though, standard plastic bottles are not ideal as they degrade over time, compromising water quality and safety. Instead, consider taking a cue from the military. Standard issue to U.S. and Canadian Armed Forces, Scepter Military Water Cans hold 5 gallons and are made from rugged, high-density polyethylene. BPA-free, they keep chemicals, odors and tastes out of your water; corrosion- and fungus-resistant, water also

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stays clean and safe. And because they are virtually indestructible and can withstand extreme weather conditions, they can pull double-duty and come with you on camping trips, sports expeditions and other adventures. Millions of these containers have been used around the world by U.S. Armed Forces and are now available to consumers, making them a must-have for any emergency supply kit.

Homeowners rely heavily on electricity to power their homes and their lives. Coal, nuclear power and water energy help to generate this electricity. Without electricity, lights wouldn’t work, digital devices wouldn’t charge and cities would come grinding to a halt. This is experienced on a local level when power outages occur. Homeowners may need to diversify some of the resources they have at home to be able to make it through an electrical power outage successfully. Investing in solar power panels can be one way to generate electricity even when power has been disrupted. In addition, pellet stoves or woodburning stoves can serve as alternative heat sources as well as cooking surfaces if traditional forced air systems are rendered useless during an electrical outage. Homes equipped with a coal-fired smoker can complement gas-powered grills for outdoor cooking as well for those who have electric ranges and ovens. Solar-powered device chargers can provide power to phones or tablets during electrical outages. Having a few different options on hand can help people make it through power outages unscathed.

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Should you buy or sell a home in 2021? Here’s what to know (StatePoint) While the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine has left a lot of question marks about the future of the U.S. economy at-large, analysts expect the housing market to remain strong and stable in the coming year. “Despite the uncertainties of the pandemic, the housing market performed well in the second half of 2020,” says Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “Low mortgage rates and the ability to work remotely continued to propel demand for housing, which is reflected in home sales reaching levels not seen in 15 years.” Whether you’re a potential homebuyer, a current homeowner or considering selling, here are some of the biggest takeaways of Freddie Mac’s quarterly forecast: • Interest rates are likely to remain low. The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) hit a record low over a dozen times in 2020. The low interest rate environment is projected to continue through 2021, with the 30-year FRM expected to average below 3 percent. Low rates are good news for buyers looking to purchase a home, and homeowners looking to reduce their mortgage payment through refinancing. • Home sales to remain high. The demand for housing is expected to remain strong in 2021, creating a favorable market for sellers. Last year, low mortgage rates and the ability to work remotely

drove up home sales (the measure of the number of homes sold every month). This year, home sales are expected to ride that wave, averaging 6.5 million for the year. • House prices to grow moderately. In the second half of 2020, the high volume of home sales and low supply of housing drove up house prices. In 2021, house price growth is expected to moderate for the full year. • Refinances to start declining. Low mortgage rates spurred refinance activity in 2020, boosting mortgage originations (the process in which borrowers apply for a home loan) to historic highs. As mortgage rates rise modestly in 2021, refinance activity should start to slow. “While many homeowners took advantage of these low rates in last year, evidence suggests that many lower income homeowners still have the opportunity to strengthen their financial position by refinancing,” says Khater. For more insights on housing, visit freddiemac.com/research. For homebuying and homeownership resources, visit My Home by Freddie Mac. Many of the trends that shaped the market last year, especially historically low mortgage rates, will continue to drive housing activity in 2021. As you embark on your journey towards your home goals, be sure to have a firm understanding of today’s market conditions.

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One way to improve curb appeal and set a property apart from others is to add decorative effects to walkways, patios and driveways. Although many homeowners turn to materials such as pavers, flagstone or brick for these purposes, a versatile and often cost-effective idea is to rely on stamped concrete. Stamped concrete, often called textured or imprinted concrete, is textured, patterned or embossed to mimic the look of other materials, notably brick, slate, flagstone, stone, tile, and wood. Stamped concrete can be used on patios, sidewalks, driveways, pool decks, and even interior flooring. The concrete is poured and then patterned using special tools. Installing stamped concrete is best left to concrete design specialists with extensive experience in this difficult craft.

Carpet & Tile

Where Great Floors Begin

No Gimmick, No HASSLE PRICING. CARPET STARTING AT $1.99 SQ.FT.

Installed with a premium pad. Financing options available!

Additional Offers at Walgenmeyers.com

• HARDWOODS • TILE & STONE • LAMINATE • RESILIENT VINYL

Providing flooring for 36 years 2 Locations for Your Convenience: 200 W. MAIN ST., STOUGHTON, WI | 608-873-3535 2014 S. STOUGHTON RD., MADISON, WI | 608-221-7847

LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED!

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Hours: Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm; Saturday, 10am - 3pm

April 9, 2021

ConnectFitchburg.com

Fitchburg Star

Welcome Back Gardeners! Spring Has Sprung!

Quality Bloomers, Reasonable Prices

LOCATED IN THE BEAUTIFUL TOWN OF DUNN - JUST EAST OF OREGON, WI

Opening April 15, 2021 Here are a few tips you can use to make your shopping experiences a success: • Please plan ahead to expedite your shopping time as a courtesy to others. • Please respect the space of others while in our store. • When visiting our greenhouse, we ask that you please observe CDC guidelines for social distancing and facecoverings • The best times to avoid crowds are early evenings and rainy days.

Come in for your early garden needs: Seed Potatoes Strawberry Plants Hardy Perennials Great Selection of Pansies

Social Distancing and Safety Measures: *We will limit the number of customers in the store to ensure safe shopping and proper distancing *Checkout devices are sanitized regularly *Conveniently visible distance markings in our checkout area *Limited contact with staff

For the most up-to-date details, please visit our website at www.kopkesgreehouse.com ur Check out o ion latest select & rt A of Garden s d Hard Goo

We appreciate you supporting a small, family-owned and run business. And we count on you for our survival.

Recycle your pots & containers at our farm location

The are a’s la selectio rgest succulen n of t and att plants ractive contain ers

Come visit Wisconsin’s premier grower of quality bedding plants and hanging baskets Support local agriculture! Shop outside the box store.

Directions from Stoughton: Take 138 toward Oregon. Go past Eugster’s Farm Market, one mile and turn right on Sunrise Rd. Go one more mile then turn left on Town Line Rd. Continue on to Sand Hill Rd. (approximately one mile) and turn right. Directions from Fitchburg: Take Fish Hatchery Road south to Netherwood Road. Turn left and go through Oregon past Walgreen’s to a left on Sand Hill Road. Directions from Verona: Take Cty. M to Fish Hatchery Rd. Turn right and go to Netherwood Road. Turn left at Netherwood Rd. through Oregon past Walgreen’s to a left on Sand Hill Rd.

FISH HATCHER Y RD.

Kopkesgreenhouse.com Like us on Facebook

April Hours:

. CTY. M

M-F 8:30am-7:30pm, Sat 8:30am-6pm, Sun 8:30am-5pm. adno=214747