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Friday, January 10, 2020 • Vol. 6, No. 11 • Fitchburg, WI • ConnectFitchburg.com • $1 Kathy Bartels

Inside

Stories of 2019

Big projects end, begin

Mayor Aaron Richardson to get a second three-year term Page 3

Community

Progress Center for Black Women evolves mission Page 5

Schools

Road, school construction changed the landscape of Fitchburg

ne massive project in Fitchburg was wrapping up as the year came to a close, while two others were just hitting their stride. As we look back on our stories of the year in 2019 and ahead to our stories to watch for next year, we saw construction as a consistent theme, and that didn’t even include the $190 million Promega R&D building. There was also some terrible news (a murder), plenty of conflict (development plans, a protested firing) and flooding that seems to get worse every year. The end of construction on Verona Road – for the most part – was a huge relief to drivers, particularly after an aggravating summer and fall in which several other roads were also compromised. Now, Photo by Kimberly Wethal with an overpass skipping over Cars travel along Verona Road below the Williamsburg Way bridge on Tuesday, Dec. 10. The three-lane under- and McKee Road and an underpass overpass project was completed in November after years of construction. beneath Williamsburg Way, we can all relax a bit. That is until the Fish Hatchery Road reconstruction – now split over two years – drives us all crazy again. 7. (tie) Expansion conflict at Lacy and 1. Verona Road construction ends Another major project is just Looking as exciting to some people, if 2. New elementary school breaks ground Seminole ahead to the not more so – the new elementa7. (tie) Fire Station No. 3 opens 3. Fitchburg teen murdered ry school. The opening of Forest top stories 9. Flooding causes problems 4. New school boundaries in VASD Edge Elementary in fall 2020 creof 2020 10. (tie) Fish Hatchery construction split ates new attendance boundaries in 5. Another new mayor the Oregon School District, mean6. Security guard fired, rehired for N-word 10. (tie) The end of a food desert Page 12 ing most people in Fitchburg will

Inside

Up and coming Fitchburg elementary school gets name

Stories of 2019

Turn to 2019/Page 10

Page 10

Business Charter school asks for property rezone Page 15

City of Fitchburg

Reimagining North Fish Hatchery With road reconstruction coming, city is taking a fresh look at the 15 year old redevelopment plan

Boys hockey: Wildcats in the catbird seat Page B1

Greenway Cross to just south of Traceway Drive with a variety of housing and business projects, with some already in the works. The timing of what is called the North Fish Hatchery Road Visioning and Implementation lines up with the Comprehensive Plan the city is KIMBERLY WETHAL updating and a $20 million rebuild of Unified Newspaper Group Fish Hatchery Road during 2020 and 2021. City staff and a consultant got City leaders are exploring what a general consensus from the council they want Fitchburg’s “front door” – the North Fish Hatchery Road corri- and are already working with developers to put it into practice. dor – to look like. One of the projects that correAn update to an existing redevelopsponds with the visioning plan– ment plan presented to the Common replacing a factory at Post Road with Council in November sketches out a vision to urbanize the area from

Photo by Kimberly Wethal

As the northern portion of Fish Hatchery Road gets rebuilt in 2020 and 2021, the city’s economic development and planning departments are updating a redevelopment plant that could change the look of the corridor as properties Turn to Fish Hatch/Page 9 become available. 151

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Fitchburg Star

Holiday cookie decorating provides festive fun for kids Lindsay Koch, “The Baking Realtor,” got children and parents in the holiday mood with a cookie decorating event at the library on Sunday, Dec. 15. She provided sugar cookies, frosting and sprinkles for children to assemble a festive treat. “I am a Realtor full time, but I love baking, so I try to do events like this to invite others to share in the fun,” Koch said.

On the Web To view more photos of the cookie decorating, visit

ConnectFitchburg.com There was also a construction paper Christmas tree craft for the kids to complete. Neal Patten, community reporter, can be contacted at neal.patten@wcinet.com.

Maeve Svingen eats some frosting during a cookie decorating event.

Amelia Uang sorts out sprinkles for her cookies at a cookie decorating event on Dec. 15.

Photos by Neal Patten

Felix (left) and Ada (right) Svingen work together to decorate holiday cookies.

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

WE’RE ALL EARS Questions? Comments? Story Ideas?

Let us know how we’re doing. Your opinion is something we always want to hear. Call 845-9559 or at connectfitchburg.com

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THANK YOU, FITCHBURG

I would like to thank the people of District 4 for their votes and support this past year. We have a family matter that requires my time and focus, so will not be running in the spring election. I will serve out the balance of my term. I am proud of the work we have accomplished together including the development in the area of Seminole and Lacy, improving our roads and infrastructure, keeping taxes down and balancing the budget. We have made progress on the kettle at Seminole Forest and the challenges of Lake Barney. You will see more improvements to Seminole Highway and other key infrastructure projects that are needed as we grow at a rapid pace in Fitchburg. We have prioritized and set budgets to get started in each of these critical areas. The long-term comprehensive plan for the city is moving in the right direction, and I am optimistic we will have a solid plan that guides us moving forward prior to the end of my term. We have added new EMT’s who are now here in Fitchburg at our new fire station. Over 60% of their calls come to Fitchburg and we are seeing impressive results in response times, which is critical when we have life changing events like strokes, etc. We started work on our neighborhood watches, but there is still much work to do there and this will be ongoing. We still need to keep our eyes on Fish Hatchery Road. Staff made the right decision to delay the construction work on Fish Hatchery in hopes that the rebid will put us back on budget (it was $5M over budget). We need to ensure the needs of the adjoining neighbors are considered as we look at development near Byrnewood. This has been ongoing with several meetings and still not resolved. We have completed several key projects I promised you I would work on and solid progress on others.

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I appreciate the neighbors and staff who have helped me as we worked as a team to make Fitchburg be a great place to live, play and work. We made some tough decisions, but I think we built something that gives us a strong future. Thank you for the opportunity to represent you. It has been my honor to serve you.

Janell Rice Alder, District 4

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January 10, 2020

Spring election

Fitchburg Star

Fish Hatchery Road

Mayor gets no challenge Rebuild gets split All alder seats have contested races KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group

Fitchburg will end a streak this year of three consecutive elections in which an alder has beaten the incumbent mayor. Unless he’s defeated by a write-in campaign in the April 7 spring election, Mayor Aaron Richardson will get a three-year second term. Richardson defeated incumbent Jason Gonzalez in April 2019 for the city’s first and only one-year mayoral term. That election was a transition year as the city began staggering election terms so there will be elections for alder every year. Gonzalez had knocked Steve Arnold out of the seat in 2017, and Arnold unseated his predecessor, Shawn Pfaff, in 2015. Elections for alder are far more competitive this year, with challenges at all four spots and one primary, in District 3, meaning there could be turnover of half on the council. At least two alders will be new, as Alds. Anne Scott (Dist. 1) and Janell Rice (D-4) won’t be running for their seats this April. There will be contested seats in two of Fitchburg’s three school districts – one in Verona and two in Madison. Oregon will have two new board members, as incumbents have chosen not to run, but there will be no contested seats. For the Dane County Board of Supervisors, both incumbents Dorothy Krause in District 27, and Ann DeGarmo in District 33 – are running with no opponents. In addition to local and regional races, the spring election will feature primaries for the November presidential election and U.S. House of Representatives. No primaries for the U.S. Senate will be held in Wisconsin this year. Statewide, two people are hoping to unseat David Kelly as a justice on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Ed Fallone and Jill Karofsky. The seat is nominally nonpartisan, though each candidate is backed by traditionally conservative or liberal groups. Dane County Circuit Court Judge William Hanrahan is also up for re-election, as are three Court of Appeals seats.

City of Fitchburg

Unlike prior elections, only half the council is at risk for turnover – for the first time in the city’s 36-year history, the seats are now staggered every other year, rather than have all of the seats up for election at once every two years. One of the races will require a primary vote in February, as there are three people vying for Rice’s open District 4 seat. Randy Udell, Marc Jones and Scott

Lehmann will be on the Tuesday, Feb. 18, primary ballot to narrow the number of candidates to two. Udell is treasurer of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. Jones, a retired AT&T linesman and farmer, ran for mayor in 2017, losing in a three-way primary with Gonzalez and Arnold. He and Lehmann, a deputy sheriff, competed in a fourway primary with Ed Kinney and Rice in 2019. The other two seats in Districts 1, 2 and 3 will have contested races, but one won’t have an incumbent. Ald. Anne Scott won’t run again for her District 1 seat, but Joe Maldonado and Dave Herbst have registered to run. Moldonado is co-owner of Luna’s Groceries, and Herbst is a citizen member of the city’s Board of Public Works. In District 2, incumbent Dan Bahr will be challenged for his seat by Gabriella Gerhardt, an engagement programs manager for Madison-based biomedical research firm Morgridge. And for the District 3 seat, incumbent Shannon Strassman will run for her seat for the first time in a general election after being appointed to fill Dan Carpenter’s seat after he moved out of the district. Dave Carlson, a former member of the city’s Plan Commission, will challenge her for the seat.

Verona Area School District

As of 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, only one of the school board races was contested. The At-large seat up for re-election will feature a race between incumbent Debbie Biddle and newcomer Bob Ross. Kristina Navarro-Haffner, who represents the City of Verona, did not have any challengers as of 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Check your registration Before you head to the polls, check to make sure your registration is up to date, especially if you’ve moved since the last election. People can check their voter registration status online at myvote.wi.gov, as well as see where their polling place is located and look who’s on their ballot. initially, and then it would revert to a three-year term for the April 2022 election. Garrison wrote in an email to the Star her initial thoughts on areas of focus fit well with OSD values, including more play-based learning, promoting diversity and inclusion, increasing the nutritional value of lunches, and further supporting teachers. “Our family is grateful to be a part of a fantastic school district and look forward to giving back,” she wrote. Mehring wrote the Star in an email he feels a responsibility to give back as his four boys move through the district. “It starts with the passionate administrators and the dedicated teachers at all of our schools,” he wrote. “With the ongoing and anticipated growth of the district, especially in the northern portion where we currently reside, strong and proven leadership will be important to continue the fine work the current and past boards have done. I look forward to listening to all the constituents’ view on how we can continue to keep Oregon on a great path.”

require a primary in February. Kate Toews won’t run again for Seat 6, but three people, Karen Ball, Maia Pearson and Christina G o m e z S c h m i d t , h ave stepped forward to run for the spot. The primary election will be held Tuesday, Feb. 18. Another race will be contested – incumbent Nicki Vander Meulen’s Seat 7 spot will also be contested this spring, with Wayne Strong challenging her. The only race that is left uncontested for Savion Castro’s Seat 2, a stark contrast to last spring, when almost 40 people vied to be nominated by the board for the spot, which had been vacated by former gubernatorial candidate Mary Burke. Whoever is elected to the school board, they’ll be a part of one of the largest school referenda in state history, totalling around $350 million between the two of them. Elected school board members will also work with a new superintendent, for whom the district is currently in the process of hiring. MMSD Reporters Scott De LaruThe race for one of the elle and Renee Hickman Madison Metropolitan contributed to this story. school board seats will

over two years Low bid comes in $3M over estimate; county to increase help KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group

Expect to see orange barrels line Fish Hatchery Road north of McKee Road for two years starting next spring. The reconstruction project on 1.5 miles of Fish Hatchery Road will be completed over two years, rather than one, as had been planned previously. The Common Council made that decision in accepting a $20.3 million bid for the project at its meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 10. That bid came in $2.5 m i l l i o n l ow e r t h a n t h e lowest bid in the original bidding process, which the council rejected Aug. 27, but still $3.1 million over the engineer’s estimate for the project. S t a ff c o m m e n t s i n a council packet memo suggested the higher costs are a new normal the city should accept and added that county staff agreed to seek additional funding from the Dane County Board as a result of the high bids. Before the project was rebid out in October, city staff changed aspects of the project to reduce costs, including changing the schedule to span two years to be less “aggressive” and using recycled concrete

in the lower levels of the road. Bids also came in higher when originally posted because of the timing of the bids, which occurred during the months when construction contractors are usually busier, so the new bidding process was planned to work better with that timing. The first phase of the Fish Hatchery Road reconstruction project will include the portion of the road between the Belt line to Traceway Drive in 2020. The second phase, which runs from Traceway Drive to Brendan Avenue, will be completed in 2021. The project will reconstruct all six lanes of both north- and southbound Fish Hatchery Road, improve traffic flow at the eight intersections along the road, replace five failing retaining walls, mitigate flooding through stormwater improvements and add landscape planting and decorative paving. The project will also include the construction of a bridge on the edge of the Nine Springs Golf Course property for a multi-use path. The city is planning legal action in Dane County Circuit Court to gain permission to build that path, as it violates a more than 30 year old deed restriction for Nine Springs Golf Course. Email reporter Kimberly Wethal at kimberly. wethal@wcinet.com and follow her on Twitter @ kimberly_wethal.

Oregon School District

With three candidates for three school board seats, it appears the first OSD elections since seats were reapportioned in September will be uncontested. Still, there will be something to decide, with two candidates vying for a three-year term versus two years. And both are newcomers. Up for election are Seats 1 and 2 Area II, held by Courtney Odorico and Barb Feeney, respectively, and Seat 1 in Area III held Tim LeBrun. Only LeBrun is seeking re-election. Running in Area II are newcomers Heather Garrison and Kevin Mehring, with the top vote-getter receiving a three-year term; the runner-up two years. The reapportionment, designed to match up representation with the fast-growing northern part of the district, gave Area II (City of Fitchburg and towns of Blooming Grove and Dunn) a second seat. To offset election years for the area in the future, district officials decided to make one of the terms two years

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Opinion

Fitchburg Star

Letters to the editor policy Unified Newspaper Group is proud to offer a venue for public debate and welcomes letters to the editor, provided they comply with our guidelines. Letters should be no longer than 400 words. They should also contain contact information – the writer’s full name, address, and phone number – so that the paper may confirm authorship. Unsigned or anonymous letters will not be printed under any circumstances. The editorial staff of Unified Newspaper Group reserves the right to edit letters for length, clarity and appropriateness. Letters with libelous or obscene content will not be printed. Unified Newspaper Group generally only accepts letters from writers with ties to our circulation area. Letters to the editor should be of general public interest. Letters that are strictly personal – lost pets, for example – will not be printed. Letters that recount personal experiences, good or bad, with 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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Make some wise choices to combat the afternoon slump W e’ve all been there – that dreaded afternoon slump. It’s that the sluggish feeling, the drooping of the eyelids and decreased alertness and concentration. And it’s a real thing. While caffeine or some quick energy (leftover holiday candy, anyone?) might seem like the simple and easy fix, it might not be doing the trick. With the holidays behind us, we often think things will slow down and we’ll have more energy again, but if you’re like me, it seems like things just pick up again at full speed and I’m left scrambling to get things checked off my to-do list once more. This year, let’s start the New Year with a focus on how to stay energized so you’re able to knock those things off your to-do list – even when 3 o’clock rolls around and you find yourself dreaming about your next vacation. That afternoon slump is more than just how much sleep you got last night (although that can definitely play a factor). Our natural circadian rhythm increases our desire for sleep between 1 and 3 p.m., as well as in the middle of the night (which is convenient for most of us). While we can’t always take a nap in the middle of the day, we can make some wiser choices to help fight off those sleepy urges. Filling your coffee mug for some caffeine might seem logical. While this might help your immediate attention span, the effects won’t last long and can negatively affect how you sleep at night. Instead, you’ll be better off if you stand up, stretch and go for a short walk around the office. A recent study found that going

up and down a flight of stairs for 10 minutes was more effective in your motivation to work than if you had chosen to have a can of soda, which contains about Hoerr 50 mg of caffeine. Not only does this add in some steps to your day, but it gets your blood pumping and can warm you up – exactly what I need this time of year! If you can get outside to soak in some sun rays, all the better. The light will also help increase your alertness. Melatonin, the hormone that causes sleepiness, isn’t produced when there is bright light. Before the afternoon slump happens, plan lunch into your day. It’s easy to want to skip out on lunch when the work is piling up, but you’ll end up being more productive in the afternoon by stopping to have a satisfying lunch now. Choose a lunch that contains whole grain carbohydrates, lean protein and goodfor-you fats. When given the choice, opt for whole grains and complex carbohydrates, such as whole grain bread or pasta, brown rice, or starchy veggies, over refined grains. Complex carbohydrates can sustain you and keep you satisfied well into the afternoon. When the afternoon comes and you start to feel a little hungry, have that snack. Think of your snack as a mini-meal, and plan it into your day. When we’re feeling tired, our bodies naturally crave sweets, which are high-energy foods. Because a candy bar, chips or fruity candy are refined grains, our body gets

that energy into our blood stream quickly (just what they are looking for). However, just as quickly as your blood sugar spikes, it falls and you’re left feeling tired and edgy. Nobody wants a moody co-worker. Instead, have whole grain crackers with cheese, some nuts paired with a piece of fruit (the fiber helps slow the release of the sugar), plain yogurt sweetened with fruit, popcorn (it’s a whole grain) or a hardboiled egg. If you have to depend on what’s in the vending machine, choose the bag of peanuts or trail mix. That mix of healthy fats and protein will give you lasting energy. If you’re like me and you still like to have something sweet in the afternoon, have it in more nutrient-dense ways. This can look like cocoa dusted almonds, unsweetened dried fruit, a no-added sugar granola bar or trail mix with dark chocolate chips added. Lastly, stay hydrated. Being mildly dehydrated can make you sleepy. Have water nearby throughout the day and make it a priority to have at least one glass of water with each meal. Keep it interesting by choosing a sparkling water or adding your own fruit combinations to your water to flavor it. Here’s to a productive New Year! 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 608-620-4461. This information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice.

News

Fitchburg sees increase of armed robberies around the holidays NEAL PATTEN Unified Newspaper Group

Over the past few weeks, there has been a sudden spike in armed robberies around Fitchburg. The Star reported on five robberies from Nov. 28 to Dec. 31: Three gas stations, one bank and one restaurant. Four of these crimes remain unsolved. Lieutenant Edward Hartiwick told the Star the department typically sees a spike of robberies in November and December, with December typically being the month with the most robberies, which is on par with national trends. According to FBI crime data, burglaries, thefts and robberies increase during December nationwide. Hartiwick believes the holiday season could be a correlation. “If you look at the statistics over the past few years, without them (the robbers) saying so explicitly, I can’t say for certain, but anecdotally I’d say yes, there’s a connection with the holidays,” Hartwick said. He said in most months, Fitchburg only has one robbery, on average, if any. “To go from 1 to 4 robberies is kind of a jump,” he said. “But with the number of businesses located in Fitchburg, I wouldn’t say there are a lot of robberies overall.” The robberies were: Stop-NGo (2932 Fish Hatchery Road)

Thursday, Nov. 28, Associated Bank (3002 Fish Hatchery Road) Monday, Dec. 9, Kelley Williamson Mobil (2956 Fish Hatchery Road) Monday, Dec. 16, Capitol Petro Mart (2770 S Syene Road) Saturday, Dec. 21 and Pancheros Mexican Grill (6309 Mckee Road) Tuesday, Dec. 31. Hartiwick said Fitchburg police identified a suspect, Rondino S. Fleming Jr., 27, in the Associated Bank robbery and made a referral to Madison police, believing he also robbed a Dane County Credit Union on Wednesday, Dec. 11. Madison police arrested Fleming in connection with the two crimes on Wednesday, Dec. 18, according to Channel3000. According to the Fitchburg Police Department: On Nov. 28, two robbers wearing masks entered the Stop-N-Go, pointed a handgun at an employee and demanded money. The suspects fled with an undisclosed amount of cash. On Dec. 9, a single suspect, described as a light skinned black man in his late 20s to early 30s, approximately 5’5” tall, with a medium build, entered Associated Bank and made a demand for money from one of the tellers using an implied threat. After receiving money from the teller, he immediately fled from the bank on foot. On Dec. 16, a suspect described as

“If you look at the statistics over the past few years, without them (the robbers) saying so explicitly, I can’t say for certain, but anecdotally I’d say yes, there’s a connection with the holidays.” Lieutenant Edward Hartiwick a man with a thin build entered the Kelley Williamson Mobil, shoved an employee to the ground, and stole an undisclosed amount of cash before fleeing On Dec. 21, two robbers wearing masks entered the Capitol Petro Mart, pointed handguns at an employee and demanded money. The suspects fled the store with an undisclosed amount of cash. On Dec. 31, a suspect described as an adult white male, approximately 5’10” tall, with a medium build, entered Pancheros restaurant and made a demand for money from one of the employees using an implied threat. After receiving money from the employee, he immediately fled from the restaurant on foot. Neal Patten, community reporter, can be contacted at neal.patten@ wcinet.com.

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January 10, 2020

Reaching new horizons Progress Center for Black Women evolves mission EMILIE HEIDEMANN Unified Newspaper Group

It’s been just over a year since the Progress Center for Black Women obtained its own space on 5936 Seminole Centre, Suite 211. In that time, the grant-funded center has evolved its mission beyond supporting black women in their entrepreneurial endeavors. Founder Sabrina Madison said the goal is to continue building on that vision, since the center is set to find a home in Madison in the next few years. While there remains a focus on providing an inviting space black women can call their own – where they can build networks, pursue career goals, ask for help and be themselves – Madison said the center has expanded its resources to help in other realms. That includes assisting individuals and families with housing issues, opening the space up to black youth, starting Community Coworking Days, holding holiday events and hosting book launches for black authors. Funding for those expansions mostly has come from public donations from individuals and businesses. The one thing Madison said she didn’t anticipate the center spending time on is housing. But there has been enough emphasis on that to inspire her to become certified as a real estate developer so she can educate herself about all the subtle nuances about the housing industry. The center has helped people navigate such sticky housing situations as evictions and being late on rent. The idea of opening the space up to black youth, Madison said, came from local middle school advisors and parents

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION?

Emphasis on housing

reaching out to her for a place their kids could feel safe and express themselves. The kids use the center for events and learning opportunities. In the center, Instagram photoshoots run rampant among that age group, Madison said, adding that it shows how proud they are of the nonprofit. Other age groups, including college students, use the center. A lot of them flock to Community Coworking Days. Coworking days, which began in January 2019, take place on the second Wednesday of every month from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Madison said they provide opportunities for center visitors to work alongside one another, whether that be sharing a laugh or developing a business plan. Attendees can bring a lunch and a laptop while the facility supplies coffee, snacks and free Wi-Fi. The center also has also been instrumental in helping the careers of local authors. One Madison woman – Rita M. Johnson – launched her book at the center after she worked with staff to edit her website, Madison said. At another launch, there were only supposed to be 30 people in attendance, but Madison said around 70-80 people came. The walls of the 800 square foot Fitchburg-space are adorned with empowering and feminine art pieces — by black artists — while the furniture is a royal purples and blues. While it features the same computer lab, kitchen, library, bookstore and community room it did a year ago, the center has become even more of a space for visitors to embrace their blackness, Madison said. “I just want this to feel like a black woman’s living room,” she said. “ There’s community File photos by Kimberly Wethal and there’s family.” Sabrina Madison, founder of the Progress Center for Black Women, moved the Email Emilie Heidemann at organization into their current space at 5936 Seminole Centre in early November 2018. emilie.heidemann@wcinet. com or follow her on Twitter at @HeidemannEmilie.

WHAT IS YOUR

Fitchburg Star

Helping people with housing struggles has been a new emphasis of the Progress Center for Black Women. Founderv Sabrina Madison told the Star many who have asked for center resources with housing don’t have a criminal history – they were simply late on a payment or their landlord decided to renovate their building without notice. One way the center is working on helping with housing is through its Small Dollar Lending Program, though that is still in development. The center’s website states the program is meant to remove the red tape from borrowing small amounts of money. Even though the center’s target audience is black women, Madison said if community members want housing help, the nonprofit won’t discriminate on the basis of race. Last year, the center received a $15,000 donation from the UW Health to help with housing efforts, Madison said. Madison said she wants the center to participate in more housing advocacy at the state level, especially when it comes to the reformation of tenant laws. But she wants to do it consciously without compromising what the center stands for – instead disrupting the status quo. “The (Progress Center for Black Women) is a practicewhat-you-preach center,” she said. Join now and receive

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All of the artwork on the walls of the Progress Center for Black Women is done by black female artists.

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The far-right room in the Progress Center for Black Women serves as a space for relaxation for the women and families who patronize the center.

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January 10, 2020

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Fitchburg Star

Calendar of events

Saturday, Jan. 11

• 11-11:45 a.m., Yoga for kids, library, 729-1760 • 8-9:30 p.m., Comedy night, Yahara Bay Distillers, 6250 Nesbitt Road, 2751050

Sunday, Jan. 12

• 12-4 p.m., “Breathe For Change” free wellness workshop, Stoner Prairie Elementary 5830 Devoro Road, breatheforchange. com • 12:30-3 p.m., CI Pediatric Therapy Centers’ annnual bowling party, Ten Pin Alley, 6285 Nesbitt Road, 819-6394

Monday, Jan. 13

• 4-5 p.m., Snow science (for ages 5-12), library, 729-1760 • 6-7 p.m., Adults’ craft evening, library, 729-1760

729-1760 • 6:30-7:30 p.m., Start your New Year with radical selfcare, library, 729-1760

Friday, Jan. 17

• 11 a.m. to noon, Finger painting, library, 729-1760 • 7:15-9:15 p.m., Live music: Mark Croft, Yahara Bay Distillers, 6250 Nesbitt Road, 275-1050 • 8:30-11:30 p.m., Dueling Pianos, Me and Julio, 2784 South Fish Hatchery Road, 278-1428

Saturday, Jan. 18

• 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Madison comic book convention, Hawthorn Suites, 5421 Caddis Bend, epguides. com/comics • 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., 9-Pin Tap Bowling Tournament Hosted by Fitchburg Fire Rescue, Ten Pin Alley, 6285 Nesbitt Road, 278-2980 • 3-5 p.m., Movie screening: “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (ages 13-17), library, 729-1760

Sunday, Jan. 19

• 9:30-10:30 a.m., Puppy yoga ($25), The Puppy Den, 3124 Syene Road, 665-3375

Monday, Jan. 20

• 6-7 p.m., Glow-in-thedark party (for ages 5-12), Wednesday, Jan. 15 library, 729-1760 • 10-11 a.m., Book discus- • 6:30-8 p.m., Mom’s night sion: “Sing, Unburied, Sing” out for kids on the specby Jessamyn West, library, trum, Benvenuto’s Italian Grill, 2949 Triverton Pike 729-1760 Drive, autismsouthcentral. • 10-11 a.m., Winter org themed toddler time (for ages 1-3), library, 729-1760 Tuesday, Jan. 21 • 6-6:30 p.m., Pajama • 3:30-5p.m., LEGO Mindstorytime (for ages 2-5), storm (for ages 7-12), library, 729-1760 library, 729-1760 • 5-6:20 p.m., Read to a Thursday, Jan. 16 • 10:30-11:15 a.m., Pediat- therapy dog (for grades K-5), library, 729-1760 ric Therapy Center storytime (for ages 2-5), library, • 6:30-7:30 p.m., The Winner’s Circle evening book 729-1760 club for adults, library, 729• 1 p.m., Bird watching 1760 group, senior center, 2704290 Wednesday, Jan. 22 • 6-6:45 p.m., Unbookclub! • 10:30 a.m., How to use Roku and Apple TV, senior (for ages 9-12), library,

center, 270-4290 • 5:45-6:45 p.m., Circle of sacred activism, Perennial Yoga, 5500 E. Cheryl Pkwy, perennial-yoga.com • 6-6:30 p.m., Family pajama storytime (for ages 2-5), library, 729-1760 • 7-8 p.m., Online privacy and security basics, library, 729-1760

Thursday, Jan. 23

• 10-11 a.m., Pediatric Therapy Centers’ Hatchery Hill Circle Time for children birth to 3 years, 2990 Cahill Main, 819-6394 • 10-11 a.m., STEAM storytime and exploration (for ages 2-5), library, 729-1760 1:30 p.m., Mystery book club: “The Marsh King’s Daughter” by Karen Dionne, senior center, 2704290 • 3:30-5p.m., LEGO Mindstorm (for ages 7-12), library, 729-1760 • 6-8 p.m., Puzzle night for puzzle lovers, library, 7291760

Nesbitt Road, 275-1050

Tuesday, Jan. 27

• 10-11 a.m., Free monthly CIrcle Time for children birth to three years old, CI Pediatric Therapy Centers, 2927 South Fish Hatchery Road, 819-6394

Wednesday, Jan. 28

• 3:30-5 p.m., Snap and squishy circuits for kids 5-12, library, 729-1760

Thursday, Jan. 29

• 7-9 p.m., Paint night: ‘Starry Sunrise’ ($35), Me and Julio, 2784 South Fish Hatchery Road, 278-1428

Friday, Jan. 30

• 5:30-9:30 p.m., Soapbox, Yahara Bay Distillers, 6250 Nesbitt Road, soapboxlive. net • 7-9 p.m., Verona Area Concert Band book club: “The Scarlet Pimpernel” by Baroness Emmuska Orczy, Barriques, 5957 McKee Road, vacbmusic.org

Saturday, Jan. 31

• 7:15-9:15 p.m., Live Friday, Jan. 24 music: Benjamin Scully, • 11 a.m. to noon, Snow crafts (for ages 2-5), library, Yahara Bay Distillers, 6250 Nesbitt Road, 275-1050 729-1760 • 5:30-7 p.m., Mindfulness • 8-11 p.m., Live music: Shekinah, The Thirsty seminar for kids (4 and Goat, 3040 Cahill Main, up), hosted by Dr. Lori 422-5500 Huet ($30/family), Kicks Unlimited, 6111 CottonSunday, Feb. 1 wood Drive, 288-8466 • 10 a.m. to noon, Grey• 7:30-9:30 p.m., Live hound Pets of America music: Jake Larson, Yahara meet and greet, Mounds, Bay Distillers, 6250 Nesbitt 5350 King James Way, Road, 275-1050 299-9473 • 1-2 p.m., “Such Anxious Saturday, Jan. 25 Hours: Wisconsin Women’s • 10:30-11:30 a.m., Teddy Voices from the Civil War”, bear picnic (for ages 2-5), library, 729-1760 library, 729-1760 • 1-5 p.m., Madison GayMonday, Feb. 3 mers meetup, Noble Knight • 4-5 p.m., STEM workGames, 2835 Commerce shop: zany ziplines for kids Park Drive, 758-9901 5-12, library, 729-1760 • 3-5:30 p.m., New Year • 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., “Bowl Celebration, Madison Your Balls Off” fundraiser Japan Association, Fitchfor Paddy’s Paws, Ten Pin burg Community Center, Alley, 6285 Nesbitt Road, 5510 Lacy Road, 270-4285 paddyspaws.blogspot.com • 7:30-9:30 p.m., Live Tuesday, Feb. 4 music: Duane Worden, Yahara Bay Distillers, 6250 • 6:30-8 p.m., Compan-

Salem UCC presents: Building Bridges: Portraits of Immigrants and Refugees

ion animal/pet cancer support group, library, czarspromise.com

Wednesday, Feb. 5

• 10-11 a.m., If You Give a Pig a Pancake for ages 1-3, library, 729-1760

Thursday, Feb. 6

• 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Book club: “Hillbilly Elegy” by J.D. Vance, library, 7291760 • 6-8 p.m., Movie screening: “Casablanca”, library, 729-1760

Friday, Feb. 7

• 1:30-4 p.m., Drawing studio for ages 6-10 ($30), Fitchburg Community Center, 5510 Lacy Road, 819-6394 • 3:20-8 p.m., Pinnacle Indoor Triathlon, Pinnacle Health and Fitness, 5973 Executive Drive, 278-8118 • 7:15-9:15 p.m., Live music: Small Blind Johnny, Yahara Bay Distillers, 6250 Nesbitt Road, 275-1050

Tuesday, Feb. 11

• 6:30-8 p.m., Great decisions at the library: climate change and the global order, library, 729-1760

Wednesday, Feb. 12

• 10-11 a.m., Toddler valentine making for ages 1-3, library, 729-1760 • 3:30-4:30 p.m., Valentine’s Day card making for ages 5-12, library, 7291760 • 6-7 p.m., Candy Olympics for ages 13-17, library, 7291760 • 6-7 p.m., Adult craft evening, library, 729-1760

Thursday, Feb. 13

Saturday, Feb. 15

• 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Nurtured Heart Approach® enthusiasts retreat, library, shinefromwithinconsulting.com • 1-3 p.m., Electronic circuits for ages 5-8, library, 729-1760

Wednesday, Feb. 17

• 6-7 p.m., Washi tape necklaces for ages 9-12, library, 729-1760

Tuesday, Feb. 18

• 6:30-7:30 p.m., The Winner’s Circle evening book club for adults, library, 7291760

Wednesday, Feb. 19

•10-11 a.m., Book discussion: “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas, library, 729-1760 • 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Agricultural Panel Discussion as part of the Veterans Affairs Farming and Recovery Mental Health Services pilot program, library, 2561901

Friday, Feb. 21

• 8 p.m., Live music: Nic Adamany, The Thirsty Goat, 3040 Cahill Main, 422-5500 • 8-10 p.m., Live music: Mackenzie Moore, Yahara Bay Distillers, 6250 Nesbitt Road, 275-1050

• 10-11 a.m., Preschool art, library, 729-1760 Saturday, Feb. 22 • 1:30 p.m., Book discus• 11 a.m. to noon, DIY sion: “The Nightingale” by calming glitter jars, library, Kristin Hannah, senior cen729-1760 ter, 270-4290 • 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Drag Friday, Feb. 14 queen bingo brunch with • 11 a.m. to noon, Stories Bianca Lynn Breeze ($50), and songs about love for Yahara Bay Distillers, 6250 ages 2-5, library, 729-1760 Nesbitt Road, 275-1050

Memorial United Church of Christ Love of neighbor.

Exhibit, Reception, and Border Presentation January 12 @ 6:30-9pm Doors Open for the exhibit at 6:30 Presentation 7PM

Love of children. Love of creation.

January 13 - February 2, 2020 Exhibit open weekdays 10am-12pm, 7pm-9pm or by appointment Free and open to the public

salemchurchverona.org 502 Mark Dr., Verona • 608-845-7315

• 6-7 p.m., Make a stuffed gnome for ages 13-17, library, 729-1760 • 6-9 p.m., Live music: Myles Talbott Dyad, The Thirsty Goat, 3040 Cahill Main, 422-5500 • 7:15-8:30 p.m., Live music:The Madison Jukebox Society, Yahara Bay Distillers, 6250 Nesbitt Road, 275-1050

Worship at 8:15 a.m. & 10:00 a.m. Sunday School at 10:15 a.m. 5705 Lacy Road, Fitchburg adno=132754

273-1008 • www.memorialucc.org

Who wants to see a picture? Visit ungphotos.smugmug.com/fitchburgstar to share, download and order prints of your favorite photos from local community and sports events. All orders will be mailed directly to you!

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Friday, Jan. 10

• 11-11:45 a.m., Book boogie reading and movement (for ages 2-5), library, 7291760 • 6-9 p.m., Live music: Myles Talbott Dyad, The Thirsty Goat, 3040 Cahill Main, 422-5500 • 7:15-9:15 p.m., Live music: Old Oaks, Yahara Bay Distillers, 6250 Nesbitt Road, 275-1050

ConnectFitchburg.com

January 10, 2020

Coming up Mindfulness workshop Megan Grace, will lead the With all proceeds benefitprogram. ing local rescues: Heartland for educators For information, visit Farm Sanctuary, Angel’s

Holistic self-care

The Madison chapter of the Holistic Moms Network, a non-profit organization connecting parents who are interested in holistic health and green living, invites people to “start your new year with radical self-care” at the library from 6:307:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 16. Ayurvedic food guidelines, using food as medicine and viewing eating as a sacred ritual, will be discussed. The meeting will also serve as the re-launching of the Madison chapter of HMN, so attendees are invited to bring ideas for topics for upcoming meetings. For information, visit facebook.com/HMNMadisonWI.

Comic book convention

The Madison Comic Book Convention is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 18 at the Hawthorn Suites, 5421 Caddis Bend. Comics will be for sale, spanning from the golden age to the present era, as well as merchandise and collectibles. Vendors from three states are scheduled to appear, and dealers will be buying used comics from attendees. For information, visit epguides.com/comics.

Bring your puppy to yoga

Wishing Tree Studio and The Puppy Den are teaming up to offer a yoga class where puppies are invited to come play from 9:3010:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, at the Den, 3124 Syene Road. Yoga practitioners of all skill and fitness levels are welcome. The class costs $25. Registration is required, visit thedogden.com.

perennial-yoga.com.

Streaming device talk for seniors

S t a ff f r o m F i t c h bu rg Access Community Television will be discussing the differences between streaming devices, including Apple TV and Roku at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 22 at the senior center. For information, call 2704290.

Madison Gaymers meetup

The Madison Gaymers group will meet at Noble Knight Games, 2835 Commerce Park Drive, from 1-5 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 25. Board games, card games and tabletop roleplaying games will be played. Everyone is welcome and no gaming experience is necessary. Madison Gaymers is a group of LGBTQIA individuals who enjoy various types of games. They provide a safe and fun environment for the LGBTQIA community and friends to come together, play games and socialize. For information, email info@madisongaymers. com.

Wish Cat Rescue, RPAWS Rescue, Paddy’s Paws Dog Rescue. In addition to the bowling competition, a silent auction, live auction and bake sale are planned. Last year, the event raised almost $25,000. For information, call 5762103.

Explorastory: pancakes

Children ages 1-3 are invited to go in-depth with the book “If You Give a Pig a Pancake!” through hands-on activities from 10-11 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 5 at the library. Participants are encouraged to come in pajamas, and eat pancakes and listen to the audio book. For information, call 7291760.

Drawing class for ages 6-11

CI Pediatric Therapy Staff will lead a class for youth interested in drawing and being creative from 1-4 p.m., Friday, Feb. 7 at the Fitchburg Community Center, 5510 Lacy Road. Participants will learn and practice drawing techniques, using a variety of drawing tools. The cost is Circuitry program $30. for ages 5-12 For information, call 819For kids interested in 6394. learning how electronics work, the library is provid- “Climate Change and ing children ages 5-12 an the Global Order” The Fitchburg Public opportunity to construct circuit projects using Snap Library encourages people Circuits and Squishy Cir- to be more informed citicuits from 3:30-5 p.m., zens by participating in a “Foreign Policy Association Tuesday, Jan. 28. For information, call the Great Decisions Briefing” book discussion group. library at 729-1760. Participants can submit Soapbox at Yahara an opinion ballot on a desSoapbox is a new Madi- ignated topic. The topic for son organization that aims the 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, to encourage public con- Feb. 11 meeting is “Climate versation and expression Change and the Global among friends and strang- Order.” ers, using games, voting For information, call 729and technology to promote 1760. speech and debate as a form “Gnome is of public entertainment. Soapbox will hold its sec- Where the Heart Is” ond-ever event at Yahara Youths ages 13-17 are Bay Distillers, 6250 Nesbitt invited to make a plush Road, from 5:30-9:30 p.m., gnome at the library from Thursday, Jan. 30. 4-5 p.m., Friday, Feb. 14. For information, visit Participants will take home soapboxlive.net their own stuffed bearded man with a pointy hat. Wisconsin Registration required, women’s voices call 729-1760.

from the Civil War

Fitchburg resident Jo Ann Daly Carr, the editor of the new book, “Such Anxious Hours: Wisconsin Women’s Voices from the Civil War,” will give a presentation on the topic from 1-2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 1, at the library. The book contains the letters and diaries of eight women who maintained homes and farmsteads alone Circle of while their husbands fought sacred activism in the war. Perennial Yoga, 5500 For information, call 729E. Cheryl Parkway, hosts 1760. circles of sacred activism during times close to the Bowling tournament new moon. The next circle for animal rescues is set for 5:45-6:45 p.m., Cash for Critters, a nonWednesday, Jan. 22. profit raising money for The circles provide time animals in need, will host for introspection, followed its annual “Bowl Your Balls by conversations intended Off” bowling tournament, to encourage healing divi- beginning at 9 am., Satursion and spreading love and day, Feb. 1 at Ten Pin Alley, compassion. 6285 Nesbitt Road. P e r e n n i a l ’s f o u n d e r, The cost is $20 per team.

Fitchburg Star journalists to host ‘Coffee With a Reporter’ NEAL PATTEN

If You Go

Unified Newspaper Group

If you have story ideas, concerns about the city or feedback about Star stories, our reporters invite Fitchburg residents to share their thoughts during “Coffee With a Reporter.” From 2-3 p.m., Friday, Jan. 17, reporters Kimberly Wethal and Neal Patten will be available to hear from citizens at Barriques, 5957 McKee Road. Group editor Jim Ferolie will be available, as well. The three will talk with and listen to Fitchburg residents during the “Coffee with a Reporter” discussion and will consider potential story ideas generated from the conversations. These informal feedback sessions allow for community residents to engage with reporters from Unified Newspaper

What: ‘Coffee With a Reporter’ When: 2-3 p.m., Friday, Jan. 17 Where: Barriques, 5957 McKee Road Info: Email kimberly.wethal@wcinet.com Group, which in turn helps the reporters better serve the community. Wethal and Patten plan to continue hosting “Coffee with a Reporter” sessions regularly and welcome suggestions on times and locations for the discussions. For information, email Wethal at kimberly.wethal@wcinet.com. Neal Patten, Community Reporter, can be contacted at neal.patten@wcinet. com.

Animal cancer support group set for Feb. 4 EVAN HALPOP

If You Go

Star correspondent

Canine cancer nonprofit Czar’s Promise will host a support group for people who have had their pets diagnosed with cancer from 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4, at the Fitchburg Public Library. Attendees will be able to share their story or listen to others, and have the opportunity to ask questions to other companion animal owners who have experienced their pet receiving a cancer diagnosis. Dr. Breann Sommer from the VCA Veterinary Emergency Service Veterinary

What: Companion animal/pet cancer support group When: 6:30-8 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 4 Where: Fitchburg Public Library Info: Call 729-1760 Specialty Center will be in attendance to answer questions about pet cancer and treatment, as well as discuss common questions about diet, supplements and CBD usage for pets. For more information, call 729-1760.

Japanese New Year celebration set for Jan. 25 EVAN HALPOP Star correspondent

If You Go

What: Japanese New Year Celebration The Madison Japan Association will host the Japanese New Year celebration Where: Fitchburg Community Center, at the Fitchburg Community Center from 5510 Lacy Road 3-5:50 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, at the When: 3-5:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 25 Fitchburg Community Center, 5510 Lacy Info: 270-4285 Road. The performance schedule starts with Beni Daiko at 3:10 p.m. and ends with the Lion Dance at 5 p.m. There will be booths with matcha mak- with many more booths in attendance. For more information, contact 270ing, Japanese calligraphy, Japanese New Years games and the latest makeup trends 4285.

100+ homeless cats and kittens need homes now! Lovingly raised by volunteer foster homes, already vetted.

Veterans and farming presentation

Madison VA Hospital is hosting an Agricultural Panel Discussion as part of their Veterans Affairs Farming and Recovery Mental Health Services (VA FARMS) pilot program at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 19, at the library. There will be a keynote speaker and moderated panel discussion with a panel of farmers with expertise in one of the following areas: vegetable farming, grain crop, dairy, beef, emerging or niche farming markets, value added/food production and small/diversified farming operations. This panel discussion is geared toward veterans who are farming or are interested in farming. To register, call 256-1909 ext. 16431 or 256-1901 ext. 16433.

ANGELSWISH.ORG

ADOPTION EVENTS:

ANGEL’S WISH, 161 HORIZON DR., VERONA SAT 10AM-4PM AND SUN 1PM-4PM PETSMART EAST MADISON, SUN 1PM-4PM

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Educators, administrators, non-profit staff and community leaders are invited to attend an afternoon workshop of mindfulness, wellness, social-emotional learning, and community building, beginning with a 60-minute yoga practice accessible for everybody. The workshop is scheduled for noon to 4 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 12, at Stoner Prairie Elementary School, 5830 Devoro Road. Checkin begins at 11:30 a.m. The free workshop will be led by Breathe for Change, a nonprofit founded by educators to provide teachers with mind-body techniques. Anyone is welcome to attend. For information, visit breatheforchange.com.

Fitchburg Star

Pet Adoption • Microchipping • Retail Store Educational Resources • Volunteer Opportunities Pet Adoption and Resource Center, 161 Horizon Drive Ste. 106, Verona

January 10, 2020

ConnectFitchburg.com

Fitchburg Star

Student teacher contributes to D.C. holiday play

Photo by Neal Patten

From left: Tim Virnig, Travis Woodhaven, Mike Alexander, Lindsey Woodhaven and Beth Tucker Long play “Roll Player,” at the seventh annual Exploricon on Jan. 4.

Gamers unite at 7th annual Exploricon NEAL PATTEN

Some games are even still just prototypes, such as “Shattered Arena,” a tactical card duel game created by To view more photos of Exploricon, visit Scott Cenkar of Chicago. Only one copy of the game exists at this time, ConnectFitchburg.com which Cenkar brought to play and demo with others at Exploricon. The event is organized annually by are locally designed and published, like “Roll Player” by Madison game Madison residents Beth Tucker Long and Chris Long. designer Keith Matejka. In addition to the boards, different games employ various items during Neal Patten, community reporter, can be contacted at neal.patten@wcinet. gameplay such as dice, cards, tiles, com. tokens and miniatures.

On the Web

Unified Newspaper Group

The seventh annual Exploricon board and tabletop game convention took place at the Wyndham Garden Hotel Friday, Jan. 3 and Saturday, Jan. 4. The event offered a variety of strategy, adventure and role-playing games for attendees to play. Some of the games come from other countries such as “Alchemists,” made in the Czech Republic. Others

Library working on becoming more inclusive NEAL PATTEN Unified Newspaper Group

Over the next few years, the state is asking its member libraries to take steps to better listen to underrepresented voices in their communities. Those voices will likely include people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, the elderly, low income individuals and people from all walks of life, Tessa Michaelson Schmidt, youth and inclusive library consultant at the state Department of Public Instruction said. The voices at each library will differ based on the community. In her role, she serves the roughly 400 libraries across the state’s 16 regional public library systems. For the past eight years, she has focused her work on supporting inclusive libraries, and that has resulted in an inclusivity statement in May 2017 and an assessment guide for libraries in July 2019. In Fitchburg, a variety of changes have been made in recent years to be more inclusive and user-focused, including redesigning the parking spaces in the garage to better accommodate accessible vans, creating gender neutral restrooms on the second floor and eliminating overdue fines. Library director Wendy Rawson said the goal of each of these projects was to make library patrons feel comfortable and welcome at the Fitchburg Public Library. “We are fortunate that our newer building was

created to be accessible, but there are always ways to improve,” Rawson said. “We are looking forward to using this new tool, crafted by DPI, to make additional improvements.” Michaelson Schmidt said the statement and resulting assessment guide are partially intended to show how DPI interprets the law that sets requirements for libraries to remain eligible for state aid. The trends that shaped the statement – drafted by people actively working in Wisconsin libraries – came from local library input, as stakeholders found it helpful to have a set definition of the law, she said. To get there, she did a lot of listening to the different libraries to learn what would provide more inclusive services. “Things like income, race, identity – what that actually looks like and concerns or hesitations or complexities will look different in every community,” Michaelson Schmidt said. “There’s not one prescription that will work for everyone.” She held a retreat that led to the drafting of the statement, then brought library staff together from around the state to look at race, social justice and bias, using examples of their experiences for the Inclusive Services Institute. Among the topic areas the guide addresses are: collections, services, practices, policies, procedures, perceived friendliness, programming, location, hours, restrooms, computers and technology, library card registration, online access

(website and internet card catalog), marketing, community engagement, funding, self care for library workers, and inclusive culture at the library. The assessment includes a checklist of questions and prompts representing these topics which were made to align with Wisconsin Public Library standards. The assessment and guide were shared with the Fitchburg library’s Board of Trustees in the fall of 2019 and will be referred to during the library’s strategic planning process this year. A workgroup of library staff has been formed which will focus on completing the various assessments in the guide and consider how to improve the facilities, collections and services that the library provides. Michaelson Schmidt said the assessment provides overall goals that all the regional libraries can be striving for, but adapt to the needs of their local community. “ I n m a n y w a y s , i t ’s exciting words like equity, social justice and inclusion are more understood now than even one to five years ago,” she said. “I am pleased to hear libraries are taking these documents to heart and not just having these conversations because this is a nice thing to do or trendy or on the radar for now. This is what libraries have always stood for, to be a place for everyone regardless of literacy or income, it’s one of the true democratic institutions in our country.” She is working on additional resources tying

together the statement and assessment document, including new checklist prompts based on feedback about areas where libraries are not inclusive. She is also creating video modules to be used at board meetings or staff inservices to help buffer difficult conversations on topics like race or class and diffuse potential tensions. “Libraries can be a great location for having conversations that can be hard to wrap your head around, a place of safety and trust,” Michaelson Schmidt said.

Last fall, Renee Gavigan was about three weeks into her student teaching at an elementary school in Black River Falls when her cooperating teacher told her that she had to modify a lesson she had written. Fortunately for Gavigan the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire art education major, the changes were needed for an exciting — though completely unexpected — reason. Turns out, her cooperating teacher, Jen Dahl, and her students at Red Creek Elementary School were selected to make ornaments to be featured this year during the National Christmas Tree Lighting event in Washington, D.C. Gavigan’s leaf printing lesson was modified so it could be incorporated into the design of the 24 tree ornaments that would represent Wisconsin this year. “Typically, older students are selected so being able to represent K-5 art was incredible,” Gavigan says, explaining that each year the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction selects one teacher and group of students to create the state’s ornaments. “It allowed us to showcase how awesome young artists can really be.” Gavigan and Dahl facilitated student art projects featuring a variety of things that represent Wisconsin, including honeybees, butterflies, birds, plants, woodland creatures and cranberries. They displayed the art on a six-sided cube, which made it possible to include more students’ art on each

ornament. The final ornaments featured art from students in kindergarten through fifth grade. G av i g a n ’s l e s s o n involved second graders, who created prints of maple trees for one panel of the cube. “My role as a student teacher allowed me to write my own lesson and modify it as one of the sides of the final ornaments,” says Gavigan, who will graduate this month with a degree in art education and a certificate in French. “The whole process took about three months from start to finish.” Every year, ornaments are made for 6-foot trees that represent every U.S. state, territory and the District of Columbia. The trees surround the National Christmas Tree and make up the “American Celebrates” display, which is open to visitors throughout December. Earlier this month, Gavigan traveled with Dahl and the school’s principal to Washington, D.C., to see the display that featured their students’ art. “This was my first time in D.C., and to be able to go with my cooperating teacher and principal at my placement was amazing,” says Gavigan, a native of Fitchburg. “I never expected when going into student teaching to be involved in this type of opportunity. “In Washington, D.C., we watched the president’s tree lighting and saw many sites. It was one of the most memorable times for me here at UWEC.” — Submitted by University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

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ConnectFitchburg.com

January 10, 2020

Fish Hatch: Several properties along the corridor are being redeveloped or actively marketed for redevelopment Continued from page 1

Plan approves rezone for multi-use development ‌KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group‌

Photo by Kimberly Wethal

Park Bank, at the corner of Greenway Cross and Fish Hatchery Road, is one of the property owners that will be redeveloping their property and building a new branch this year that coincides with the Fish Hatchery Road reconstruction project.

A plan to create a mixed-use commercial and apartment building on a former factory site along Fish Hatchery Road is up for a key approval Jan. 14 by the Common Council. The Plan Commission on Dec. 17 recommended approval of a general implementation plan near the site of the former All-Juice factory property near the corner of Post Road. The GIP, the second of three public stages in the planned development district process, provides a developer assurances it can build a project substantially similar to what is in the plan. Commissioners agreed the proposal meets the specifications called for in the Fish Hatchery Road redevelopment plan the city is updating this year in light of the road’s upcoming rebuild in 2020 and 2021. Preliminary plans show the building at 3101 Fish H a t c h e r y R o a d wo u l d contain 157 apartments on four floors and more than 10,000 square feet

of commercial space with an underground parking garage. The four-floor U-shaped building would feature a green space over the parking garage. Because Fish Hatchery Road is on a hill, the commercial spaces would be “bookends” of the building, with one set higher in the building than the other. The two-story commercial space on the north side of the building could be a restaurant, developer Michael Thorson, managing director of Inventure Capital, said. A GIP covers the overall use and scope of the property, including building size, location and use, parking and traffic flow. If the Common Council approves the GIP rezoning, the project would advance to the final stage, the specific implementation plan, which addresses such details as architecture, building materials, utility lines, stormwater facilities and lighting. Email reporter Kimberly Wethal at kimberly. wethal@wcinet.com and follow her on Twitter @ kimberly_wethal.

Rendering courtesy City of Fitchburg

A sketch of what the North Fish Hatchery Road corridor would look like after full redevelopment based on the visioning plan presented in November. Road is the older section of the city that developed when we were still a Town, so it needed some attention and reinvestment,” he said. “Our intent was that public sector investment would hopefully spur private reinvestment.” The city has already expanded the tax-increment financing district in that area TID 10 to encapsulate the majority of the corridor in order to fund the rebuild of North Fish Hatchery Road, Harrington noted, meaning the city can facilitate the process if a desirable project is brought forward. TIF is an economic tool used to help spur development by pooling property taxes from all underlying taxing jurisdictions, including the school district and county. The visioning is partly based on the goals expressed in the city’s project plan for TID 10, created in 2018.

strip of land where a MetroPCS and a nail salon currently sit.

Gentrification concerns

One of the primary motivations of redevelopment is increasing the value of properties in an area, but some alders expressed concerns about the consequences for existing businesses and residents. One in particular would result in razing three The Fairways apartment buildings and the Fitchburg Ridge shopping center between Post Road and Traceway Drive. Alds. Julia Arata-Fratta (D-2) and Dorothy Krause (D-1) both said there needs to be a plan to address such gentrification. Arata-Fratta said people who live all over the corridor are concerned about their rent rates increasing with redevelopment. Getting started “It’s happening in the East Washington corridor,” she said. “When we bring Three sites in the corridor have these high-end market-rate properties … already begun redevelopment that’s how are we going to deal with displacebeing guided by the visioning plan. This includes senior living apartments ment?” Krause said any redevelopment plan on Traceway, the recently opened UW needs to work “really hard” to create Credit Union Branch to the north and Park Bank on the city’s northern border, suitable jobs and housing for the people who currently live in the area. which plans to rebuild its branch next “Whatever we do up there, we’re year. going to want to focus on helping to find Another half-dozen sites along the A fresh opportunity corridor are being marketed for redevel- opportunities for those folks,” she said. The city began planning the vision “Like (Arata-Fratta) said, the strip mall opment, Harrington said. for the corridor in the early 2000s, but has ethnic grocery stores … we need to “Most of them are under control of economic conditions changed in the folbe sure we replace those.” the developer, who has some plans for lowing years. Affordable housing could play a role them,” he told the council. Harrington said the vision has been in the redevelopment of the southeast A large chunk of area that’s under updated to accommodate 14 years of consideration for redevelopment is along corner of the redevelopment area. change in Fitchburg. Adjacent to planned commercial “(The year) 2006 was kind of the eve the east side of North Fish Hatchery development at the intersection of Post Road and south of Post Road. Much of of the Recession, so while there were a Roads to the east would be medium denlot of good things that could still be car- the area is undeveloped, with a Valley sity housing, Harrington said, with lower View apartment building and a former ried forward from that plan, it was time to really step back and take another fresh All-Juice Midwest manufacturing plant. density housing development slightly further to the east on Post Road. The draft update of the plan suggests look with today’s … prevailing market “We think there may be real potential mixed income homes and urban comconditions,” he said. here to include some starter or for-sale mercial development there. At the time of the original redevelhousing that would be at a price point Another parcel that’s being activeopment plan, called the North Fish that more folks could afford, and address ly sought for redevelopment is the Hatchery Road Opportunity Analysis, some of the things that you brought out Bowman Plaza, which houses a Stopthe Fitchburg Ridge Shopping Center in your housing study that you had done and-Go, as well as numerous other was 80% vacant after a grocery store last year, as well as some of what is in businesses in its L-shaped building on and a hardware store closed, Zimmeryour Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative,” the western side of Fish Hatchery. The man wrote in an email to the Star. That vision plan calls for an active senior vil- he said. prompted the city to look at what it Email reporter Kimberly Wethal at kimcould do to spur economic activity in the lage there. berly.wethal@wcinet.com and follow Other areas marked for immediate area. “That north end of Fish Hatchery redevelopment include a small oblong her on Twitter @kimberly_wethal.

Vision statement Located in the heart of greater Madison with direct connections to the Beltline, UW Campus, Downtown Madison, and the Lewis Nine Springs E-Way, the North Fish Hatchery Road Corridor is an impressive and welcoming front door to Fitchburg’s burgeoning technology companies and exceptional residential areas. Anchored by a thriving urban center at Post Road, the revitalized Corridor is a cohesive neighborhood providing a diversity of housing, services, shopping, employment, and recreation in a dynamic, healthy and inclusive environment.

Glossary TIF district Tax-increment financing is an economic development tool that puts combined property taxes within a defined area under control of a municipality. This is powerful, because municipal property taxes are usually around one-third or less of the overall property tax. When a TIF district is created, any increases to property taxes paid are paid to that district, rather than to the taxing jurisdictions, and the money must be used to pay for improvements benefiting that district. School districts and other taxing bodies in Wisconsin tend to not object to TIF districts because the state’s school aid formula factors out the districts in its calculations, making them revenue neutral.

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apartments and retail – is already up for a council review Jan. 14. Redevelopment has in recent years helped revitalize major corridors of the Madison area such as East Washington Avenue, Park Street and Monona Drive, City of Fitchburg economic development director Michael Zimmerman said. The visioning presentation suggested a fully developed plan could add $300 million in value to the city. “The timing seems right for north Fish Hatchery Road to experience a similar renaissance on a scale that makes sense for Fitchburg,” he said. The plan proposes redevelopment for the northern portion of Fish Hatchery Road north Post Road, with neighborhood “stabilization and enhancement” for the apartment complexes to the west of Fish Hatchery Road near Greenway Cross and spaces for Youth Arts and Sports districts in the southeast, near the Jenni and Kyle Preserve and Capital Springs State Recreation Area. The plan also includes planned areas for an “active senior village” just north of a 160-unit senior living apartment building is currently under construction, a “neighborhood hub” that could serve as a recreation center and an urban commercial frontage road on the east side of Fish Hatchery Road, that could also include mixed income housing. Redeveloping the area was listed as a priority in the 2018-2022 Forward Fitchburg strategic plan approved in 2018, Zimmerman said. In the Forward Fitchburg plan, it describes the Fish Hatchery Road north of Post Road as an “aging, utilitarian corridor” that loses appeal as it approaches the Beltline. “With this vision, The City of Fitchburg is taking a more proactive approach … to redevelopment and infill development in the north Fish Hatchery Road to build a gateway corridor reflective of Fitchburg’s community vision to transform this area into a vibrant urban district and cohesive neighborhood that attracts significant investment and increases the tax base,” Zimmerman said. It’s the hope of the economic development department’s staff that the redevelopment plan will give interested developers some clarity on what kind of projects the city would like to see in the corridor and give momentum to private sector investment in the region, Zimmerman said. Having a more clear redevelopment plan helps streamline the approval process through the Plan Commission and the council if proposals match the general idea of the redevelopment plan are brought to the city, Scott Harrington, a principal planner with Vandewalle and Associates, Inc., explained. “Instead of reacting to private development proposals as they come forward, with you putting out your own vision and ideas, then they react to you,” he said. “That puts you in a stronger position to really make sure that your goals are met and these properties are optimized.”

Fitchburg Star

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January 10, 2020

Fitchburg Star

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2019: Six-year construction project on major arterial road through Fitchburg wraps up Continued from page 1 actually be able to send their kids to a school in Fitchburg. Also this year, there was the the exhaustive process of creating new attendance boundaries at Verona schools with the new high school creating a cascade of changes. Other notable stories included the first term of Fitchburg’s fourth mayor in five years, a new fire station serving the north and east side of the city and the first grocery store in a decade in the Allied-Dunn’s Marsh neighborhood.

1. Verona Road construction wraps up

Years of congestion and sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic along the Verona Road corridor near McKee Road have finally come to an end. The $200 million project, which started at the interchange with the Beltline in 2013, is the culmination of six years of work to expand the road to three lanes each way and, most notably in Fitchburg, create an underpass at Williamsburg Way and an overpass at McKee Road. All three lanes in each direction opened in mid-November after a little more than three years of construction within City of Fitchburg boundaries. It’s our top story of the year because it was one of three projects in the area that created traffic congestion and made it infuriating to get to and from Verona and areas southwest of Madison. For years, travelers on one of the busiest roads in Dane County dealt with lane closures, changed traffic patterns and during the past year, sat and idled sometimes as far as three-quarters of a mile away from the McKee Road intersection. Construction on the project isn’t done yet, although it’ll have no impact on the overpass over McKee. The state will rebuild the portion of McKee Road starting at Commerce Park Drive and going underneath the overpass this summer, which coincides with the city’s project to rebuild Seminole Highway westward. Some businesses fell victim to the construction, including Kwik Trip and Picasso’s Pizza on Williamsburg Way and True Coffee Roasters, which moved Monona to escape the orange barrels. Others, like Benjamin Plumbing, took the opportunity to put up a new building, or, like Turn Two Auto Repair, moved elsewhere. – Kimberly Wethal

Rendering courtesy Oregon School District

The design of the Forest Edge Elementary school incorporates more natural light, as shown in this rendering of the cafeteria. A planned courtyard can be seen on the left side, one of several features designed to incorporate a natural look within and around the building. Edge” Elementary winning in a runaway over “Nine Springs,” with a 72-28 margin and nearly 2,500 students casting ballots. — Scott De Laruelle

3. Fitchburg teen murdered

The murder of 17 year old Shay Watson in August set a sad tone for the beginning of the school year. Watson, who attended Verona Area High School in the 201819 school year, would’ve been a senior at Madison West High School this school year. He was found dead at his home on the 2700 block of Lyman Lane at 9 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25, after being shot. The crime remains unsolved, though Fitchburg police chief Chad Brecklin said at the time it did not appear to be random. VAHS boys track coach Joff Pedretti, who had worked with Watson in his year on the track team, said Watson had a “cool, calm and relaxed demeanor,” and had told him he wanted to be a lawyer. “It’s tough not knowing how the story would unfold,” Pedretti said. “We will certainly miss him.” It was the first homicide in the 2. New Oregon elementary Photo courtesy Oregon School District city since March 2018, when an school construction begins attempted robbery left a 20 year The new site for an Oregon School District elementary school will be in Fitchburg’s Terravessa development. Facing overcrowded classrooms old Fort Atkinson man dead. The district will purchase the 12.1-acre parcel for $926,080 and pay $250,000 for roads into the site. in 2020 due to a recent boom in — Scott Girard the student population in the northern part of the district, the Oregon 4. VASD gets new School District has focused on attendance boundaries building a new elementary and midThe Verona Area School District dle school to serve the growing area. this year finalized new attendance That process started in earnest in boundaries that will go with the 2019 — funded by $47 million from opening of the new high school. the successful November 2018 refA committee forwarded three erendums. recommendations to the school Site work started in March, fol- board in May, which voted in July lowed by a June 6 groundbreaking to approve its chosen plan for eleon a K-6 elementary in Fitchburg’s mentary and middle schools. Those Terravessa development, at 4848 plans came with some phasing in Brassica Road, off the Lacy Road – a three-year process for middle interchange east of U.S. Hwy. 14. school and one-year option for next Construction is on schedule for the year’s fifth-graders to remain at building to open in August and be their school if their attendance area ready for students to arrive Sept. 1. changed. In September, the district selected Two of the neighborhoods that veteran OSD educator and Brooklyn changed with the largest student Elementary principal Kerri Modjes- populations are in Fitchburg, both in ki as its principal. In the fall, staff the northeast portion of the district. submitted applications for the new Neighborhood 5, as it was known school, and once that’s sorted out on maps during the planning prothis spring, the list of students who cess, is west of Verona Road. Its will attend will be determined. students will attend Glacier Edge And last month, the school was Elementary School beginning in the finally given a name through a 2020-21 school year. public submission process and disMap courtesy Verona Area School District trict-wide student vote, with “Forest The new elementary school attendance area boundaries will go into effect in fall 2020. Turn to 2019/Page 11

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January 10, 2020

Fitchburg Star

2019: Development on east side prompts third fire station for city to reduce call times Continued from page 10 That change was the reason two board members voted against the final plan. Neighborhood 2, in the far northeast corner of the school district, has more than 100 students and changed from the Sugar Creek attendance area to Stoner Prairie. Richardson The approval came after seven months of meetings by the committee beginning in October 2018. The board took two-and-a-half months to get to that approval after receiving the recommendations from the committee, which used a set of guiding principles from the board to help make decisions, including keeping neighborhoods together, balancing demographics and minimizing changes. – Kimberly Wethal

5. New mayor, again

It’s become a ritual in Fitchburg: Election time means a new mayor. It happened for the third straight election in 2019, when Aaron Richardson soundly defeated incumbent Jason Gonzalez. That came two years after Gonzalez soundly defeated then-incumbent Steve Arnold – who had defeated the previous incumbent, Shawn Pfaff, in a close race two years before that. Richardson, who had previously succeeded Gonzalez in his District 3 aldermanic seat, won a one-year term with a campaign focused on the major decisions pending that year – especially the comprehensive plan rewrite. He’s now running again for a three-year term in the city’s first election with staggered terms, rather than all candidates running every two years. Gonzalez’s tenure was filled with movement on development mixed with controversy in the Common Council chambers. At one point in 2018, he held a press conference to apologize to leaders in the black community for his behavior during budget deliberations. Richardson’s seven months in office so far have been far less controversial, though the council has still butted heads over some major issues. We’ll get an answer to whether he breaks the trend of a new mayor each election in April. – Kimberly Wethal

Station No. 3 is the Fitchburg Fire Department’s newest addition, predominantly serving the eastern side of the city.

building before Anderson lost his patience and responded by saying, “Don’t call me n*****.” Anderson’s son, Noah, is the president of the Black Student Union at West and led a protest walk-out with over 1,500 students and staff Oct. 18, according to Capital Times reporting. During the wave of national attention the story received – including in the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, USA Today and Newsweek – singer and actress Cher offered to pay Anderson’s legal fees if he sued the school district. Channel3000 reported that Boys and Girls Clubs of Dane County provided Anderson temporary employment, and its CEO, Michael Johnson, asked the district superintendent to reassess the zero-tolerance policy, which had been adopted in 2017. By Oct. 21, school board president Gloria Reyes requested that the district’s interim superintendent rescind the termination, and Anderson returned to work Nov. 5. Two 6. Security guard other staff members suspended in fired, re-hired for slur 2019 under the policy are appealing, The firing of a black security Capital Times reported. guard at Madison West High School – Neal Patten in October for using a racial slur gained national attention for local 7. (tie) Development protests and its implications on at Lacy/Seminole racial issues. The area around Lacy Road and That attention and a union action Seminole Highway is transforming resulted in Marlon Anderson getting this year. his job back days later. Multiple projects were brought Anderson had worked for the forward throughout 2019 that could Madison Metropolitan School Dis- reshape the corridor from cornfields trict for 11 years, including three to residential areas, business expanat West, when he was terminated sions, a potential solar farm and Wednesday, Oct. 16, for saying possibly even a collegiate athletic the N-word to a disruptive stu- complex. dent, according to multiple regional On the northeast corner of the reports. intersection, the Crescent CrossThe district cited a zero-tolerance ing development is expected to policy against the use of racial slurs break ground this year with “starter by district staff, and West principal homes” being built on smaller lots. Karen Boran’s email to parents and While it wasn’t the high-densiteachers stated racial slurs were not ty housing project many residents acceptable by staff members regard- in the nearby North Stoner Prairie less of context or circumstance, neighborhood had strongly opposed, according to Channel3000. it still wasn’t the low density zoning But Anderson, with the help of they petitioned the council for. the Madison teachers’ union, filed Immediately to the east of Cresa grievance, arguing context was cent Crossing, Stoner Prairie Phase crucial to his situation, according to II is looking for approval from the reporting by Madison365. city early this year for a 43-home The student, Anderson argued, subdivision along Lacy Road. had uttered the slur 15 times at him Northwest of the intersection, and pushed a vice principal who was two projects are already well undertrying to escort the student out of the way – Hop Haus Brewing, which

Photo by Kimberly Wethal

is expanding from its South Main Street location in Verona, and a new headquarters for Race Day Events. A project planned south of Lacy Road would feature an MG&E solar farm on the O’Brien brothers’ land. It would be part of the Shared Solar program, which funnels energy generated from renewable sources to the homes or businesses of ratepayers without having to install solar panels on their buildings. Near that intersection, an athletic complex for Edgewood College could take shape on a 40-acre parcel of land if it gets included in the upcoming Comprehensive Plan update. The proposed development would include soccer, baseball and softball fields, as well as tennis courts, with the remaining area preserved as wetland to be maintained by the college’s environmental science students. – Kimberly Wethal

7. (tie) Fire station No. 3 opens

If you live on the east side of the city, EMS and fire assistance might be available more quickly now. That’s because in 2019, the City of Fitchburg Fire Department opened its third fire station at the corner of Clayton and Syene roads. The department reported that the change dropped its average response rate by around 90 seconds. The location of the fire station corresponds with much of the city’s growth – significant development on the east side, including the Terravessa project and nearby Forest Edge Elementary School being constructed by the Oregon School District. The city also will incorporate parts of the Town of Madison near that area within two years. The $8 million, 26,832 squarefoot facility is the second new fire station in the city in two years. In 2018, the city opened Fire Station No. 2 on Marketplace Drive to serve its western side. Fire Station No. 3 has design features intended to make calls faster and safer for staff, including moving the lockers into an alcove away from the diesel machines to prevent inhalation of fumes and prevent accidents, and positive pressure spaces to insulate the rest of the station from soot-stained gear. – Kimberly Wethal

Rendering courtesy Veridian Homes

The preliminary design for the Crescent Crossing development at the corner of Lacy Road and Seminole Highway in the North Stoner Prairie neighborhood. District 1, shown in yellow, would consist of single-family homes, while Districts 2 and 3 would hold twin homes. All homes would be built on compact lots.

9. Flooding problems

Flooding has gotten so bad that when Tom Thayer purchased his home in the 1980s, it was half a mile from Lake Barney. If you look to the south while traveling on County Hwy. M, you can see the flood barriers and water pumps now keeping the water at bay, stopping it from completely encroaching on his property. Across the street, John Freiburger has seen almost two dozen of his pre-Revolutionary War hickory trees die; drowned as the water table has risen. A quarter of the land in his fields wasn’t able to be planted because of sitting water.

A few miles to the northwest, the city opened the Fitchrona-Nesbitt roads roundabout in early October, but travelers couldn’t fully use it because Fitchrona Road near Goose Lake was closed due to high water. It’s not the first time Fitchrona Road has been closed in the past two years because of high water. The increase in precipitation has resulted in multiple closures in 2018 and 2019. These are just two examples of water issues in the city, and there are plenty more throughout the rest of the nearby rural areas. – Kimberly Wethal

Turn to 2019/Page 12

January 10, 2020

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Fitchburg Star

2019: Senior center turning 40, OSD school board changes earn honorable mention project will certainly grow in importance as we look at its impact on resi10. (tie) Fish Hatch dents and travelers in 2020. The project, which will be equalconstruction gets split ly funded by the city and the counWhile it’s low on our “Top Stories” list as we round out 2019, the ty, has been split into two phases to Fish Hatchery Road reconstruction keep project costs down. However, Continued from page 11

that means driving on Fish Hatchery Road will be a challenge in both 2020 and 2021. The two-phase project will reconstruct the road from Greenway Cross to Brendan Avenue, just south of McKee Road.

The first round of bids for the project was rejected by the city because the bids exceeded the engineer’s estimate for the project by a little less than $5 million. The project was rebid in the winter months after city staff made changes to the materials

that could be used and split the project to eliminate the aggressive completion timeline, reducing the difference to around $3 million. – Kimberly Wethal

Turn to 2019/Page 13

Stories to watch in 2020

Schools take center stage

Opening of VAHS, new elementary as MMSD voters weigh referendum Stories about schools in all three of Fitchburg’s districts topped our list for stories to watch in 2020. The two that will be the most tangible for many people are the changes resulting from the opening of a new Oregon School District elementary school in Fitchburg and the new Verona Area High School. But Madison Metropolitan School District residents will have their fun too, as they’ll vote in one of the biggest referendums in state history. Another big construction project will be much more visible, however, as the northern section of Fish Hatchery Road is rebuilt over two years. It’s become par for the course to have a major access point restricted, after having slowdowns on Verona Road and parts of McKee Road shut down at various times over the past few years. Two other stories to watch involve the city’s first election under a new structure, including the first threeyear term for the mayor, and the comprehensive plan update being timed (to the chagrin of some) to be finished before that election. And finally, we’ll be keeping an eye on the rising tide of flooding in the area and whether anything can or will be done about it. — Jim Ferolie

1. New schools for Verona, Oregon districts

Growth will be happening all over for Fitchburg residents, but we think the two most significant pieces of development are projects that will impact where Fitchburg’s residents attend school. While only one of these projects is physically within the city’s boundaries, the Verona Area School District’s new high school project and the Oregon School District’s new K-6 school will have hundreds of Fitchburg children walking through new buildings for classes in the fall. The VASD’s new high school, a $180 million, three-story project, will open with new policies and procedures, including new security features to reduce the likelihood of non-students sneaking into the building during the school day and new rules to keep freshmen and sophomores on campus for lunch. The opening of the new building will affect younger students, too, as some schools are moving and new attendance boundaries take effect in the fall. As the high school vacates its current building, Badger Ridge Middle School will move in, making room for Sugar Creek students, and two charter school programs will move to the K-Wing. The new Oregon School District K-6 elementary school, named “Forest Edge” last month by students, is on schedule to open in August and be ready for students to arrive Sept. 1. Located in the Terravessa Development on 4848 Brassica Road, the 130,000 square foot building will include three inner courtyards and a butterfly garden, and will be the

first “Net Zero” school in the state, with solar panels and geothermal features taking in more energy than expending. Kerri Modjeski will be the principal, with staff and students set to be selected for the school this spring. The district is in the midst of reworking K-6 school attendance boundaries to include the new school. The building will initially be grades K-6, with plans to switch to a K-5 once a new middle school is in place, likely in the mid-2020s. Land for that middle school was purchased last year off the Hwy. 14/County MM interchange, though the district would need to hold another referendum to fund the building and maintenance costs. – Kimberly Wethal and Scott De Laruelle

2. North Fish Hatchery Road construction

You might be sick of construction, but buckle up, because one of Fitchburg’s main arteries to and from Madison is going to be a headache for a few years. To say the City of Fitchburg is construction-fatigued could be considered an understatement in light of the Verona Road project, Fitchrona-Nesbitt intersection and even a brief Whalen Road shutdown, among others. And it’s not about to get any better, as the Fish Hatchery Road reconstruction project will take two years. The project, reconstructing the road from Greenway Cross to Brendan Avenue, just south of McKee Road, will be completed in two phases in 2020 and 2021. It consists of rebuilding the three lanes each way of the crumbling road, as well as conducting sewer work, beautifying the medians and creating a multi-use path. While the road is under construction, Park Bank will rebuild its branch at Greenway Cross. A plan to redevelop the former All-Juice factory into a commercial and residential area was brought to the Plan Commission last month. In addition to the Fish Hatchery Road work, McKee Road between Commerce Park Drive and Seminole Highway will be redone, and a solution to congestion near the Seminole Highway and Lacy Road intersection was moved up in the Capital Improvement Plan. – Kimberly Wethal

3. Spring election features new setup

This spring, it’ll be the first year all eight aldermanic seats in Fitchburg aren’t up for re-election, and the elected mayor will hold the seat for three years, rather than two. The elections were staggered in 2018 to avoid having the entire Common Council up for re-election at the same time, which sometimes resulted in high turnover and inconsistency for developers and city staff, with a learning curve of varying degrees for the council. Aaron Richardson will apparently become the first mayor in a line of four incumbents not to be

A rendering from early 2019 shows a view of the new Verona Area High School from the community pool. ousted by a newcomer. Richardson beat former mayor Jason Gonzalez in April 2019 by a margin of 2 to 1, which is similar to the blow that Gonzalez dealt Steve Arnold in 2015, who won the office from two-term mayor Shawn Pfaff. Holding the title of mayor hasn’t been a particularly long stint for anyone. Since Fitchburg was incorporated as a city 37 years ago, 13 people have been elected or appointed into the role. Richardson could end that trend, because it’s hard to be ousted when you have no opponents registering to challenge the incumbent. Four of the one-year terms for council members are ending, and there will be at least two new faces come April, as two alders will not seek re-election. One of those races, for District 4, will go to a primary in February.

be updated every 10 years. In addition to deciding where future business developments, apartments and family homes will go for the next 20 years, it also creates expectations for neighbors that growth will occur next to them at some point, and points out areas for developers that might be friendly to proposals. The comprehensive plan can be amended once a year, with as many changes as requested. Some proposed changes have been controversial – a 2017 change to rezone a North Stoner Prairie neighborhood plot from medium to high density angered many residents, who fought against any development proposal that was not single-family housing. — Kimberly Wethal

6. Fixing the flooding

In southern Fitchburg and on – Kimberly Wethal the city’s northwest side, climate change and other factors are wreak4. (tie) MMSD referendum ing havoc on Fitchburg residents – In November, voters in the Mad- and solutions are far from easy. ison Metropolitan School District For decades, Lake Barney, a will have to decide whether to invest more than $350 million in capital and operating referendums for the school district. The capital referendum, the overwhelming majority of the referMcKee Road enda total at $315 million, would provide $70 million in renovations construction starts to each of the district’s four pubIn a year without both the lic high schools and build a new Verona Road and Fish Hatchelementary school in the Rimrock ery Road projects, McKee Road Road corridor. likely would have been one of The referendum cost would our top-ranked stories. be split over four years and That part of the road – from would increase taxes by $135 per Seminole Highway to Verona $100,000 of property value, accordRoad – has become more heaving to a story in the Capital Times. ily traveled, as Verona Road’s The referendum comes during construction prompted drivers to the same year as the district will find different routes. And it has hire a new superintendent after become bumpy and weathered former superintendent Jennifer during the construction of the Cheatham left the district to join the overpass. faculty at Harvard University. The McKee Road project aims to improve safety in the – Kimberly Wethal area, including a second bicycle overpass and multi-use paths on 4. (tie) Comp plan update either side of the road, eliminatBefore a new Common Couning the bike lanes from the road. cil is sworn in this spring, the city The overpass would replace will have completed an update to the current at-grade crossing its Comprehensive Plan forecasting and flashing beacon installed in where and how the city might grow 2013. in the next two decades. Construction will start and finRather than do a complete overish in 2020. haul of the comprehensive plan, a – Kimberly Wethal process that unfolds over multiple Town of Madison planning years, alders instead selected a relatively short time frame of less than The addition of 189 acres of a year to simply update the docuthe Town of Madison is still two ment. years away, but planning for it is a significant undertaking. It is A comprehensive planning docupart of the reason the city built ment is required under state law to

glacial kettle on the city’s southern border, was a small body of water spanning 30 acres. But with heavy rainfalls in 2018 and 2019 – likely caused by growing warmer temperatures – it has ballooned out of control. A few miles to the northwest, Fitchrona Road has had multiple closures in the past two years because of high water at Goose Lake. None of the solutions to the flooding and high water are easy – both Lake Barney and Fitchrona Road require cooperation with other municipalities, plus the state Department of Natural Resources, state Department of Corrections and the federal government, which owns Fish and Wildlife Service protected land near Lake Barney. We might not find an answer to the problems in 2020, but elected officials and city staff are taking up the issue to start brainstorming solutions. — Kimberly Wethal

Honorable mentions 2020 two new fire stations, for example. This year, city department heads are looking into what issues will need to be resolved prior to the annexation when the town dissolves and sends its southern section to Fitchburg and northern section to the City of Madison. The group will meet quarterly throughout the year, administrator Pat Marsh told the Star, and expects to present plans near the end of the year. The area in question is south of the Beltline, east of U.S. Hwy. 14 and mostly west of County Hwy. MM (Rimrock Road) and has about 1,500 residents. – Jim Ferolie

Edgewood College athletic complex

Watching the city figure out how to work Edgewood College into the Comprehensive Plan on the short timeline, if it makes it all, will be something to watch in the early months of this year. Edgewood has made its intentions clear if the city doesn’t put the project in the comprehensive plan, it’s not going to wait another 10 years, but look elsewhere for an area to develop. – Kimberly Wethal

ConnectFitchburg.com

January 10, 2020

Fitchburg Star

2019: Fitch Hatch road construction grows in importance, Allied no longer food desert Continued from page 12

On the Web

10. (tie) Luna’s brings fresh food to Allied

For the Honorable mentions of 2019, visit

After nearly a decade of living in a food desert, residents of Fitchburg’s Allied/Dunn’s Marsh neighborhood saw the opening of a flavorful grocery store – Luna’s Groceries. Since the store opened in January 2019, customers credited owner Mariam Maldonado’s 2,240 square foot space, located at 2010 Red Arrow Trail, for providing a nearby alternative to what had otherwise been a long walk to get fresh food for some. For the previous 10 years – since the closing of Cub Foods across Verona Road – the neighborhood had been without a grocery store. Maldonado told the Star in April that changing this situation had been a dream for her. She said it took years of saving and help from government grants

ConnectFitchburg.com and loans to open the business. She also had hardships along the way, including flood damage and vandalism a week before the opening that required fixing a budget hole through crowdsourcing. Now, the shelves are restocked every Thursday with an abundant supply of fruits and vegetables. And as customers walk into what’s billed as “Your corner store,” they’re greeted with foods from as far away as Honduras, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic. “The Allied Drive/Dunn’s Marsh neighborhood) is amazing with all its flavors and colors, which you don’t get anywhere else in Madison,” Maldonado said in April. – Emilie Heidemann

‘Your corner store’ is located at 2010 Red Arrow Trail in the Allied Drive/Dunn’s Marsh neighborhood, providing as a convenient place to shop for residents and is stocked weekly with fresh fruits and vegetables, at left.

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

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5520 Lacy Road, Fitchburg, WI 53711 â€˘ www.fitchburgwi.gov

PET LICENSES Pet licenses are available for the 2020 licensing year. You may apply for a license in person at City Hall or by mail. Please note you must provide a copy of your current rabies vaccination certificate for each pet you are licensing. If submitting by mail, please include a self-addressed stamped enve-

lope. For more information please call 608-270-4200 or visit http://www. fitchburgwi.gov/DocumentCenter/View/105 to download the application or read the brochure.

PROPERTY TAXES FOR HOMEOWNERS: The first installment for real property taxes is due January 31st. Payments made on or before January 31, 2020 should be made payable to and mailed to the City of Fitchburg Treasurer. Do not include any other payments on the same check. Postdated checks will not be honored. Real property payments made after January 31, 2020 should be made payable to and mailed to the Dane County Treasurer. A timely U.S. postmark is adequate for a payment to be considered paid on time, if the payment is received within five business days.

You may pay your taxes in person at City Hall, 5520 Lacy Road, between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (Exception: City Hall will be closed Monday, January 20, 2020 in observance of Martin Luther King Day.) A drop box is available 24/7 in the foyer of City Hall. Cash payments in the drop-box are NOT recommended. Note: Different rules may apply for Personal Property Tax. See: http://www.fitchburgwi.gov/177/Tax-Credit-Information for more information.

HOLIDAY TREE COLLECTION Holiday tree collection will begin the week of January 6-10. A second collection will take place the week of January 20-24. Trees should be at the curb by 6:30 a.m. Monday on collection weeks. Actual dates depend on weather. In case of snow/ice conditions, collection will be delayed until plowing is completed. If collection is delayed, please pull your tree back from the curb so it does not become buried in the snow. Trees with foreign matter will not be collected.

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Fitchburg Solid Waste and Recycling Calendar

AARP TAX HELP For those seniors who could benefit from free, simple tax return help, sign up for a 45-minute appointment at the

January S

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

April

Fitchburg Senior Center. Your taxes must be straightforward and you must bring all paperwork. Call (608)-270-4290 to schedule an appointment.

PLANT DANE â€“ FREE NATIVE PLANTS FOR SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY PROJECTS Do you know of groups looking to start or add to an existing native plant garden or rain garden? Ripple Effects is now accepting applications for their spring cycle of Free Native Plants for School and Community

Projects Program. Plants are purchased by community members and donated through the Plant Dane program. Applications are due February 1st. For more information, visit: ripple-effects.com/plantDane

7 14 21 28

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7 14 21 28

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2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24

4 11 18 25

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

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1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24 31

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24 31

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7 14 21 28

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2 9 16 23 30

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6 13 20 27

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1 8 15 22 29

November S

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24

4 11 18 25

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6 13 20 27

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March S

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

June S

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

3 10 17 24 31

4 11 18 25

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24

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Color coding Legend: BRUSH COLLECTION = Recycling Week April 6 - 10 Aug. 10 - 14 1 = Holiday Tree Collection Week* April 20 - 24* Aug. 31 - Sep. 4 1 = Brush Collection Week* May 4 - 8 Sep. 21 - 25 1 = Brush and Yardwaste Collection Week* May 18 - 22* Oct. 12 - Oct. 16 H = Holiday that affects Collection** June 8 -12 Oct. 26 - 30 Note: Refuse collection is weekly, recycling every other week June 29 - Jul. 3 Nov. 9 - 13 * Place items at curb by 6:30am Monday. Collection will July 20 - 24 Nov. 23 - 27* occur during the following week weather permitting. * Yardwaste also collected during these weeks. Place brush neatly at the curb (not in street) by 6:30am ** Holiday weeks, collection delayed 1 day after the Holiday (May 25, Jul 4, Sept 7, Nov 26, Dec 25) Monday on collection weeks. Brush must be less than HOLIDAY TREE COLLECTION 5 ft long and 6 inches in diameter. Lay branches Actual collection dates may January 6 - 10 perpendicular to the street with the cut end toward the street. depend on weather. January 20 - 24 Place yardwaste in reusable containers or bags or compostable bags at the curb (not in the street). Do not tie Place Holiday Trees at the curb (not in street) by 6:30am Monday on collection weeks. the bags. Place carts behind the curbline (not in the street) by 6:30am on your collection day. Need a bigger recycling cart? Contact Pellitteri at 608-257-HAUL (4285) to arrange for a cart swap ($25 fee applies). Not sure what to do with your stuff? Look up how recycle, reuse, or dispose of items at: www.fitchburgwi.gov/146/Refuse-Recycling. Fitchburg residents can pick up one FREE reusable yardwaste bag at City Hall (5520 Lacy Rd) while supplies last. Additional bags are $2 each. adno=131322

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January 10, 2020

Fitchburg Star

New swim school emphasizes playful learning NEAL PATTEN Unified Newspaper Group

Beginning Wednesday, Jan. 15, Fitchburg youth ages four months through 12 years will have a new option for learning how to swim. Goldfish Swim School, 2922 Hardrock Road, opens next week, and despite several other swim schools already in the area, owner Laura Liras is confident their unique approach called “the science of swim play” will set them apart. “Kids learn best through play – high fiving, lots of music, songs, games,” Liras said. “Kids have a bond with their instructor and get excited about coming.” It’s the second Goldfish Swim School in the state and one of 90 in the franchise across 34 states. It will be managed by Cindy Gonos. Gonos brings to the school a background in health, wellness and fitness. She relocated to the area eight years ago. Liras lives in Michigan, though some of her extended family, including cousin Eugenia Walters, are Wisconsin residents. Walters left her job as a banker to become the assistant general manager of the new school. Liras noted that they are all are mothers, so they all understand kids in addition to management and leadership. A focus on moms guided their decision on where to place the new school. After looking all over Madison and Fitchburg, they decided the expanding Hardrock Road location was “mom central,” and felt nearby businesses were all places moms frequented. But it’s not all about the moms at Goldfish. Because of the number of fathers who bring their children on Saturdays at her location, Liras jokingly calls them “Dadurdays.” She says quite a few

Goldfish Swim School opens Wednesday, Jan. 15.

Photos by Neal Patten

From left: assistant general manager Eugenia Walters, owner Laura Liras and general manager Cindy Gonos.

Goldfish Swim School 2922 Hardrock Road 480-5411 goldfishswimschool. com/fitchburg Hours: Mon and Wed: 9 a.m.8 p.m. Tue: Closed Thu and Fri: 10 a.m.8 p.m. Sat: 9 a.m. to noon Sun: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. grandparents bring their grandkids, as well. The school was founded in 2006 in Birmingham, Michigan by Jenny and Chris McCuiston. The McCusistons developed a teaching philosophy based upon science that demonstrated children learn best when they learn through play. Consulting childcare specialists, educators and swim experts, they created a curriculum focused on providing a safe environment and

If You Go

What: Ribbon cutting for Goldfish Swim School When: noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14 Where: Goldfish Swim School, 2922 Hardrock Road Info: goldfishswimschool. com/fitchburg

What: Grand Opening for Goldfish Swim School When: 3-6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16 Where: Goldfish Swim School, 2922 Hardrock Road Info: goldfishswimschool. com/fitchburg

learning through guided play. Part of learning to swim in a playful environment will include celebrating milestones by awarding ribbons regularly, even for little achievements such as putting on goggles for the first time. “Swimming is a lifesaving skill, but also a confidence booster worth celebrating,” Liras said. It was at the original location in Michigan that Liras, owner of the Fitchburg location, took her own children to learn to swim and got to know the McCuistons personally. The concept behind its curriculum is not the only

distinctive feature of the new swim school. Individual private changing rooms are provided, as opposed to a locker room, the “shiver free” pool is heated to 90 degrees while the pool room is maintained at 92 degrees, and the pool’s sanitation system mixes salt with chlorine which lessens the harshness of the water. Liras says they have state of sanitation technology and will be testing their water three times a day. In the 75 by 25 foot pool, they will hold multiple classes at once, running classes six days a week. Lessons are 30 minutes and children will attend one lesson a week.

Charter school asks for property rezone UW-based school would start classes in August 2020 KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group

A University of Wisconsin-based public charter school is asking the city to rezone its building so classes could begin next summer. Sean Anderson, co-director and co-founder of Milestone Democratic School, is asking the city to change the zoning of a property at 2823 Index Road from industrial to business so the school can open in August 2020. The year-round school is focused on increasing educational equity, according to a January 2018 prospectus from the Office of Educational Opportunity, which gave conditional approval of its charter status in February 2019, according to a Capital Times story. It would attempt to recruit students who live in poverty and work with children from at-risk and underserved populations. Anderson, a former Edgerton Middle School teacher, said the timing of the rezone is “critical” so the charter school can become authorized by the University of Wisconsin System’s Office of

Education Opportunity, which would have a similar role as that of a school board, giving it the right to operate as a public school. Although it would be inside the boundaries of the Madison Metropolitan School District, the school would be independent, with its design largely relying on student input. The commission is likely to consider the rezone request in January, and from there it would be sent to the Common Council for final approval. Anderson told the Commission the site, just south of Greenway Cross, is ideal to live out the school’s mission. Its curriculum, he said, is designed in partnership with youth, two of whom live in Fitchburg, and has a strong focus on arts and sports. “We intend to develop a school where learning is engaging, where all voices are heard and where the most important step for everybody in the school community is that next step they’re going to take,” Anderson said. The school’s ideal enrollment is around 64 students, the prospectus stated, and curriculum redesign will include “deliberative, democratic input” from students and teachers, Anderson said. Its website called its learning model a “participatory democracy” that gives students choice over what they learn.

A vanity with hairdryers is expected to become a social spot for parents and children. The school will offer perpetual lessons, which means students will not have to wait for a new session to start before beginning. Children will be placed into classes based on their skills, not age. Goldfish also has tools and curriculum developed specifically for kids with special needs. There will always be a lifeguard present. There will also be deck supervisors, who help evaluate to make sure kids are meeting all goals during their classes, while the instructors concentrate on instructing. The climate-controlled pool is contained inside a full glass room, where parents can observe comfortably from outside, enjoying tea and coffee the school will have available. Gonos said many parents change their kids into pajamas after lessons and take

them straight home to bed. A large vanity mirror has surfboards on either side for seats and a row of hairdryers, where children and mothers enjoy socializing after classes. On the wall, spanning the entire length of the 75-foot pool, is a mural of the ocean. Found amongst the whales and fishes are a snorkeling Bucky Badger, a sea lion in a cheese head hat, Camp Randall stadium and the state capital building. Artist Joe Scola travels the country painting a localized mural at every new Goldfish School location. “I think there’s a lot of unique things about goldfish,” Liras said. “Like any industry, there are different fits for different families. I definitely think we have enough of a niche that families will find a good environment here.”

Business in brief Sub-Zero Group Inc. gets $1 million The new Fitchburg space has more room and variety than the old showroom, which was WEDC investment located on the west side of Madison. Fitchburg’s Sub-Zero was named as one of the state’s largest economic deals by Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation in 2019. A news release from WEDC stated that it assisted 289 businesses and communities across 16 industries in 2019, totaling more than $250 million in awards. Sub-Zero Group Inc. received $1 million in tax credits to go toward a $70 million project for a new research and development facility in Fitchburg. The more than $1.2 billion in planned capital investments for the projects supported by WEDC this year are expected to create more than 3,165 jobs and retain almost 14,000 jobs in the state, the release stated. The new facility will create 100 new jobs and retain 1,759, the release stated.

Dwellings Furniture opens in Fitchburg Dwellings Furniture, a furniture and interior design business, opened its doors in Fitchburg in early October 2019. It is located at 2924 Hardrock Road. It can be reached at 230-6604. The business offers interior design consultations for $150, according to its website.

Blackhawk Church hosts ribbon cutting Blackhawk Church, which has locations in Middleton and Madison, will be opening its new worship space in Fitchburg. The church built its new worship space in the quickly filling Seminole Highway corridor near the North Stoner Prairie neighborhood. The church will host a ribbon cutting ceremony for its new space from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14, at 5935 Astor Drive. City of Fitchburg officials, Fitchburg Chamber staff and church staff will lead the ribbon cutting, starting at 4:15 p.m. Light refreshments will be available.

Burn Boot Camp inspires fitness Burn Boot Camp, a fitness facility that inspires women and their families to pursue an active lifestyle, has a Fitchburg location. According to the business’s Facebook page, the gym opened in the city in September 2019. The facility can be found at 5956 Executive Drive, Ste. 104 and can be reached at 840-5670 or fitchburgwi@burnbootcamp. com.

16 Fitchburg Star - January 10, 2020

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Sports

Friday, Jan. 10, 2020

The

Fitchburg Star For more sports coverage, visit: ConnectFitchburg.com

Verona boys hockey

Wildcats in the catbird seat ADAM FEINER Sports editor

Verona is arguably the hottest team in all of Wisconsin high school boys hockey. The Wildcats are in their second week as the top-ranked team in Division 1 in the Wisconsin Prep Hockey Coaches Association Poll, and are riding an 11-game winning streak.

Verona 8, Madison Memorial 0

The Wildcats improved to 13-1 overall and a perfect 8-0 in the Big Eight Conference with a home rout of the Spartans on Tuesday, Jan. 7. Verona broke through with four goals in the second period and three more in the third. Anthony Heinrichs scored on the power play 5:57 into the second off a pass from Conrad Moline, then found the back of the net 2:29 later off assists from Reece Cordray and Moline. Cordray scored with 5:34 left in the second off assists from Moline and Leo Renlund. Parker Ploc scored on the power play 1:02 later off assists from Moline and Heinrichs. Keegan Lindell scored 1:11 into the third off a pass from Cale Rufenacht. Moline scored a little more than three minutes later off

Photo by Adam Feiner

Verona’s Conrad Moline (right) controls the puck in the offensive zone against Middleton’s Noah Ehrhardt during the second period Saturday, Dec. 14, at Capitol Ice Arena in Middleton. The Wildcats won 8-2. assists from Ryan Ritter and Josh Osting. Ritter added a goal with four seconds left off assists from Renlund and Calvin Moioffer. Renlund scored with 5:41 left in the first period off assists from Rufenacht and Walker Haessig.

Verona went 3-for-4 on the on Friday, Jan. 3, at Verona Ice power play and outshot Memorial Arena. 68-14. Kaden Grant picked up the “When we’re going good, our shutout with 14 saves. guys can be a little too confident, so I have to deflate them a Verona 6, Madison West 2 The Wildcats completed a reg- little bit,” Verona coach Joel Marular-season sweep of the Regents shall said. “We’ve won some big

games, but we’re still stressing that we have to play the right way. There’s still work to be done.” The Wildcats started fast, as Lindell scored 2:15 into the game off a cross-ice pass from Renlund. Osting also assisted on the goal. Ploc scored a power-play goal amid a scrum in front of West goaltender Ian Hedican with 1:18 left in the first period. Ostling and Heinrichs assisted on the goal to give the Wildcats a 2-0 lead. Drew Yeager celebrated his 18th birthday by shoving home a rebound 2:34 into the second period. Lindell and Ritter collected the assists. Rufenacht corralled the puck after a turnover, and sent a pass to Ploc for his second goal with 4:50 left in the second. Yeager also assisted on the goal to give the Wildcats a 4-0 lead. Both teams scored a pair of power-play goals in the third period. West trimmed its deficit to 4-2, but Nathan Jurrens scored with 3:17 left off passes from Rufenacht and Ostling, and Heinrichs scored with 34 seconds left off passes from Moline and Moioffer. The Wildcats finished 3-for6 on the power play and outshot the Regents 48-20. Grant made 18 saves in net.

Turn to Wildcats/Page 2

Metro Lynx girls hockey

Metro Lynx win Culver’s Cup, start 2020 strong MARK NESBITT Assistant sports editor

The Madison Metro Lynx have won five straight games, including the championship of the Culver’s Cup, and started the new year with wins over the Lakeshore Lightning and Rock County Fury. The Metro Lynx (10-2, 3-1 Badger Conference) moved into a second-place tie with Rock County on Tuesday, Photo by Adam Feiner Jan. 7, with a 4-3 overtime victory on the road. The Met- Madison Metro Lynx players (from left) Mia Goetzke, Grace ro Lynx trail the Cap City Bonnell, Sydney Raaths and Rachel Mirwald celebrate after Raaths scored during the second period against the Cougars by one game. Lakeshore Lightning. The Metro Lynx won 5-1 on Saturday, Jan. 4, at Madison Ice Arena. Metro Lynx 4,

Rock County Fury 3, OT

goal to give the Metro Lynx a 3-1 lead. The Fury rallied with two goals, including one on the power play. Samantha Wells scored a game-tying goal with 42 seconds left in regulation. The Lynx outshot the Fury 40-26, as Cam McKersie made 23 saves.

Verona senior forward Rachel Mirwald scored the game-winning goal 45 seconds into overtime to give the Lynx a crucial conference win at Janesville Ice Arena. The Metro Lynx got a power-play goal from Ally Jacobson off an assist from Hannah Kolpien with 41 seconds left in the first period. After the Fury tied the Metro Lynx 5, game 1-1 in the second, the Lakeshore Lightning 1 Lynx answered. Freshman The Lynx spent most of defenseman Grace Bonnell their nonconference home scored a go-ahead goal four game Saturday, Jan. 4, in the minutes into the third period, offensive zone. and Lauren Johnson added a Madison outshot

Lakeshore 63-14, as Addie Armstrong had 13 saves and picked up the win in net. The Metro Lynx struck first 4:25 into the game, as Kaya Pelton-Byce scored off a centering pass from Edgewood’s Hannah Kolpien. Abby Ahlborn also assisted on the goal. Pelton-Byce sent a pass from behind the net in front to Ahlborn for a goal with 9:54 left in the first period. The Lynx made it 3-0 on somewhat of an unnatural goal. What looked like a backhand pass by Edgewood senior Sydney Raaths slipped

through multiple skaters and past McCardle 4:29 into the second period. Mirwald assisted on the goal. Armstrong made a pair of saves at the end of the second period, but Lakeshore broke through with 11:43 left in the third with a goal. Pelton-Byce had a shot from the point partially blocked, but Kolpien scored on a backhanded rebound with 5:44 left, a second before being knocked to the ice. Ava Jambor capped the scoring with a short-handed empty-netter with 10 seconds left.

Culver’s Cup

Raaths scored four goals to help the Lynx win their own tournament Sunday, Dec. 29, at Madison Ice Arena. The Metro Lynx beat Wisconsin Valley Union 3-1 in the championship game. The Lynx beat St. Croix Valley by the same score a day previous at Hartmeyer Ice Arena in Madison. The Lynx beat the Sioux Falls (SD) Flyers 4-2 on Friday, Dec. 27. Raaths scored a goal and dished out an assist to propel the Lynx past WVU. She took a pass from Jenna Culp, cut across the slot and slid a backhand shot past WVU goaltender Pistol Cowden for

the first goal of the game just 3:57 into the second period. WVU tied it up with a minute left in the second. Mirwald scored the go-ahead goal just 3:41 into the third period off assists from Raaths and Johnson. Bonnell blasted a shot past Cowden less than three minutes later off assists from Johnson and Mia Goetzke. The Lynx outshot WVU 47-12. McKersie made 11 saves. Raaths broke a scoreless tie just 2:51 into the second period against St. Croix Valley, and Jambor scored off a pass from Claire Wischoff 16 seconds later to give the Lynx a lead they would not give up. Bonnell scored an insurance goal 3:49 into the third period. Armstrong made 36 saves. Raaths scored two goals to lead the Lynx to a first-round win over Sioux Falls. She scored at the 6:42 mark of the the first period and again at the 8:43 mark of the second to give the Lynx a 2-1 lead. Kolpien scored with 40 seconds left in the second off assists from Bonnell and Pelton-Byce to extend the lead to 3-1. Pelton-Byce capped the scoring at the 5:23 mark of the third. The

Lynx outshot Sioux Falls 32-21, as McKersie made 19 saves.

Hudson Tournament

The Metro Lynx split a pair of games Friday, Dec. 20, and Saturday, Dec. 21. Madison beat the tournament 5-2 at Hudson Sports and Civic Center, then fell 3-0 to Eau Claire Area at Hobbs Ice Arena in Eau Claire. McKersie made 30 saves in the loss to Eau Claire, which outshot the Lynx 33-23. The Lynx scored five unanswered goals against Hudson. Goetzke scored with 13 seconds left in the second period, assisted by Jacobson, to cut Hudson’s lead to 2-1. Johnson scored 39 seconds into the third period to tie it. Raaths scored the go-ahead goal with 11:11 left in the period off an assist from Mirwald. Goetzke scored a little less than two minutes later off an assist from Mirwald. Bonnell added an insurance goal with 3:06 left off an assist from Maddy Ahlborn. Madison outshot Hudson 39-22 for the game and 30-12 in the final two periods. McKersie made 20 saves.

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Madison West boys hockey

Regents riding momentum after shutouts edge in shots (36-33), as Hedican made 31 saves. Duchemin scored with 4:06 left in the first period to tie it at 1. Horein capped the scoring with 3:48 left in the third off a pass from Beckett Frey.

ADAM FEINER Sports editor

Madison West is finding its way in the rugged Big Eight Conference and is coming off a pair of shutout victories over league foes. The Regents are now 6-8 overall and 4-4 in Big Eight play. “We need to be a prickly team to play against where we manage the middle well and don’t give up open shots,” West coach Steve Libert said. “We need to manufacture offense since we don’t have gifted goal scorers. Against most teams, we can do that.”

Madison West 4, Middleton 3, OT Baccus scored on the power play 6:20 into the ex t r a p e r i o d o ff p a s s es from Horein and Alex Duchemin to lift the Regents to a road win over the Cardinals on Tuesday, Dec. 17, at Capitol Ice Arena. Duchemin opened the scoring with 4:18 left in the first period off assists from Huie and Ike Smith. Horein scored 8:37 into the second off a pass from D u c h e m i n t o g iv e t h e Regents a 2-0 lead. Baccus scored on the power play with a second left in the second period off assists from Beckett Frey and Duchemin to give West a 3-1 lead. Middleton scored two goals in the third period to force overtime. The Regents outshot the Cardinals 51-32, as Hedican made 29 saves.

Madison West 3, Janesville 0

Junior goaltender Ian Hedican collected his second straight shutout Tuesday, Jan. 7, at Madison Ice Arena. Aidan Baccus opened the scoring in the first period off an assist from Alex Duchemin, who scored on the power play early in the second period off assists from Eric Horein and Devin Huie. Duchemin added an empty-netter off an assist from Baccus in the game’s final minute.

Madison West 6, Beloit Memorial 0

Edgewood 5, The Regents scored three Madison West’s Eric Horein (top right) celebrates his goal with teammates Devin Huie (18) and Beckett Frey early in the third Madison West 4

goals in the first period and three more in the second Saturday, Jan. 4, at Madison Ice Arena. Baccus scored two goals 1:56 apart in the first period. Beckett Frey scored with 4:19 left in the first and on the power play 6:04 into the second. Duchemin scored 2:45 into the second, and Sam Marcin capped the scoring with 4:56 left in the period. Hedican had 11 saves for West, which outshot Memorial 40-11.

Verona 6, Madison West 2

The Regents fell behind 4-0 after two periods and couldn’t recover in a road loss Friday, Jan. 3, at Verona Ice Arena.

Photo by Adam Feiner

period against Verona on Friday, Jan. 3, at Verona Ice Arena. The Regents lost 6-2.

Hedican finished with 42 saves, including two in breakaway situations during the second period against Verona captain Cale Rufenacht. “Ian was on point. He made some post-to-post saves early, and he took away the whole net on those breakaways,” Libert said. “Ian is the backbone of our team this year, and he showed it. He was fun to watch.” Both teams scored two power-play goals in the third period. Horein scored off an assist from Huie 1:55 into the third, and Frey scored off a rebound with 10:36 left. Joe Schaak assisted on

Frey’s goal. The Wildcats went 3-for6 on the power play and outshot the Regents 48-20. West was 2-for-5 on the power play.

Culver’s Cup

The Regents served as tournament hosts at Madison Ice Arena and went 2-1. West started off with a 4-2 loss to Onalaska/ La Crosse on Friday, Dec. 27. The Hilltoppers scored twice in the third, and outshot the Regents 46-24. Hedican made 42 saves. Aidan Cook scored with 6:06 left in the first period to give West a 1-0 lead. Horein tied it at 2 with

1:10 left in the second off a pass from Huie. The Regents rebounded with a 4-1 win over Oshkosh on Saturday, Dec. 28. Sam Burkholder scored o ff a n a s s i s t f r o m J o e Clark 1:32 into the game, and Baccus scored a little more than six minutes later off assists from Horein and Duchemin. Baccus scored on the power play 1:22 into the second period off assists from Frey and Duchemin, and Huie scored a little more than six minutes later off a pass from Frey. Hedican made 13 saves for West, which o u t s h o t t h e I c e H aw k s 47-14. The Regents finished off

the tournament with a 3-0 win over Baldwin-Woodville on Sunday, Dec. 29. Huie scored with 4:40 left in the first period, and Horein scored 1:37 later off assists from Clark and Nate Ryan. Warner Frey scored 4:11 into the second off an assist from Beckett Frey. Hedican made 26 saves, for West, which went 0-for-7 on the power play but killed six penalties.

Madison Memorial 5, Madison West 2

The Spartans scored four straight goals to top the Regents on Friday, Dec. 20, at Madison Ice Arena. Memorial held a slight

The Crusaders scored three unanswered goals and the lone goal of the third period to top the Regents on Friday, Dec. 13, at LaBahn Arena. Duchemin scored on the power play 6:20 into the game off a pass from Baccus, then scored again 1:05 later. Edgewood quickly answered with two goals to end the first period. Horein scored on the power play 1:12 into the second off a pass from Beckett Frey to give West a 3-2 lead. Schaak scored with 10:04 left in the period off passes from Clark and Warner Frey. Hedican made 35 saves for West, which was outshot 40-27.

Wildcats: Grant collects shutouts as offense wreaks havoc on opponents Continued from page 1

Showdown in Titletown

The Wildcats edged Eau Claire Memorial 3-2 the day after Christmas, then knocked off second-ranked Wausau West 4-1 in the semifinals Friday, Dec. 27, and toppled then-top-ranked Notre Dame de la Baie a day later at Cornerstone Ice Arena in Ashwaubenon. Jurrens scored just 2:52 into the championship game against Notre Dame off a pass from Haessig, and Cordray scored with 5:16 left in the second period off a pass from Moline. The Tritons got on the board with 11:44 left in the third, but Haessig scored with a little more than five minutes later off assists from Rufenacht and Moioffer. Grant made 24 saves. T h e Wi l d c a t s s c o r e d f o u r

unanswered goals in a win over Wausau West. Rufenacht tied the game with 3:12 left in the first period off assists from Haessig and Renlund. Jurrens gave Verona the lead with a power-play goal with 8:04 left in the second off assists from Renlund and Haessig. Renlund scored with seven seconds left in the second off assists from Moline and Jurrens. Ploc capped the scoring with 1:08 left in the game. Grant made 22 saves. Rufenacht scored with 7:11 left in the third period off assists from Haessig and Osting to lift the Wildcats past the Old Abes in the tournament opener. Verona jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the first period. Moline scored on the power play with 9:26 left in the first off assists from Ploc and Lindell, and

Rufenacht scored less than four minutes later off assists from Renlund and Haessig. Verona was 1-for-5 on the power play, but killed off four penalties. Grant made 26 saves.

Verona 7, Sun Prairie 1

Haessig netted a hat trick in a home win Friday, Dec. 20. Rufenacht had a goal and three assists, and Osting dished out three assists. Verona outshot Sun Prairie 55-20, as the Cardinals committed 11 penalties. Grant had 19 saves.

Verona 18, Madison La Follette/East 0

The Wildcats scored five goals in the first period and six goals in the second of a home win Tuesday, Dec. 17.

Verona 8, Middleton 2

Seven different players scored

for the Wildcats, who went 3-for5 on the power play, outshot the Cardinals 61-16 and killed off four penalties on Saturday, Dec. 14, at Capitol Ice Arena in Middleton. Ritter opened the scoring with 10:24 left in the first period off assists from Rufenacht and Jurrens. Rufenacht scored on the power play a little more than two minutes later, with assists from Moline and Lindell. “We really moved the puck well,” Ritter said. “They covered the middle a lot, so we were able to move it out wide and get shots on the net.” The Wildcats scored 1:16 into the second period. Middleton goaltender Noah Hogan made a sprawling save on a shot by Rufenacht, but Ritter scored on a rebound. Jurrens ripped a slap shot past Hogan on the power

play exactly five minutes later, with assists from Ploc and Haessig. Moline flipped a shot into the top right corner of the net with 7:15 left in the second, and Ostling ripped a wrister top shelf on the power play a little more than five minutes later off a pass from Jurrens. Middleton’s Brian Frusciante scored with 10:09 left in the third period, but the Wildcats responded with 5:10 left. Haessig tried for the wraparound, but the loose puck found its way to Cordray, who easily pushed the puck into the wide-open net. Frusciante scored 21 seconds later on a breakaway. Verona capped the scoring with 2:07 left, as Yeager scored off a pass from Jurrens in a 2-on-1 situation. Grant finished with 14 saves.

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Edgewood girls basketball

Crusaders finally healthy in new year Edgewood 61, Stoughton 57

MARK NESBITT Assistant sports editor

Photo by Mark Nesbitt

Edgewood junior Sarah Lazar (left) shoots a jumper against Verona during the first half of their nonconference game at the Ab Nicholas Holiday Classic in Waunakee.

Edgewood 6-foot junior Ella Foti didn’t pick up a basketball until practice started this season after missing last year because of a torn ACL. She returned this season and has helped the Crusaders become one of the top-10 ranked teams in Division 3 this season. Despite Foti’s return, the Crusaders were not completely healthy heading into the season. Yet, Edgewood (7-4, 4-2 Badger South Conference), ranked 10th in the Division 3 Associated Press state poll, is tied with Watertown for third in the conference. “She is still limiting herself quite a bit,” Edgewood coach Lora Staveness said of Foti. “She’s trying to get comfortable playing basketball after a year and a half. It’s a mental thing.” Sophomore Amber Grosse and junior Krista Hanna both missed the first chunk of the season because of broken hands. “Amber is a good 3-point shooter, can drive and is a bigger body who can defend,” Staveness said. “Krista is another guard who has a real aggressive mindset. We are still learning about each other.” The Crusaders had a fourgame winning streak in December snapped when they took second in the Ab Nicholas Holiday Classic, losing to host Waunakee 58-36 in the championship game Saturday, Dec. 28. Edgewood lost to Watertown 37-35 in the first game of the new year on Friday, Jan. 3. Grosse returned to action in the Crusaders’ 61-57 road win over Stoughton on Tuesday, Jan. 7.

Junior Baluck Deang scored a game-high 19 points, and Grosse added 12 points and hit three 3-pointers for the Crusaders. Sarah Lazar chipped in eight points for Edgewood, which led 33-27 at halftime.

Watertown 37, Edgewood 35

Senior guard Lindsey Langlois scored a team-high 11 points, but the Crusaders couldn’t hang on Friday, Jan. 3, in Madison. The Goslings outscored the Crusaders 23-18 in the second half. Deang chipped in nine points.

3 clang off the backboard just before the buzzer. Verona appeared as though it would win the game in regulation after going on a 16-2 second-half run. Parman hit back-to-back 3s to give the Wildcats a 33-30 lead with 9:24 left. Murphy then knocked down a 3 to extend the lead to 36-32, and she made a pair of layups to make it 42-32 with 5:52 remaining in regulation. The Crusaders forced overtime thanks to a 13-3 run. Junior Sydney Olson made a layup and Foti hit two free throws with 13.3 seconds left to tie the game at 45.

Edgewood 55, Hayward 33

The Crusaders outscored the Hurricanes 31-14 in the second half of a nonconference road win Lazar scored a team-high eight Saturday, Dec. 21. Lazar scored a team-high 12 points and Langolis pitched in six for the Crusaders in a nonconfer- points. Deang added 10 and Olson chipped in nine. ence loss to the Warriors.

Waunakee 58, Edgewood 36

Edgewood 52, Verona 50, OT

Foti scored six of her teamhigh 15 points in overtime to propel the Crusaders past the Wildcats in the first game of the Ab Nicholas Holiday Classic. “She’s so dang competitive,” Staveness said of Foti. “She was much more active on the boards and attacking the hoop a little bit.” Foti scored down low to start the extra session to give the Crusaders a 47-45 lead, but Rachel Parman knocked down a jumper to tie it. Rayna Briggs split a pair of free throws with 1:21 left to give Verona a 50-49 lead, but Foti hit two free throws to help the Crusaders regain the lead. The Wildcats had two chances in the final 44 seconds to retake the lead. Megan Murphy had a

Edgewood 63, Monroe 55

The Crusaders displayed their balance with four scorers in double figures en route to a road win over the Cheesemakers on Thursday, Dec. 19. Edgewood outscored Monroe 39-27 in the second half. Deang and Ellie Iglar each scored a team-high 16 points. Langlois added 15 points and Lazar pitched in 10.

Edgewood 64, Milton 49

Olson scored a game-high 16 points, grabbed seven rebounds and had five assists in a home win over the Redhawks on Saturday, Dec. 14. Lazar added 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Langlois scored 13 points and knocked down three 3s. Iglar chipped in nine points.

Edgewood boys basketball

Edgewood trying to find footing against variety of foes ADAM FEINER Sports editor

The Edgewood boys basketball team closed 2019 with a two-game winning streak, but lost its first two games of the new year. The Crusaders are 3-6 overall and 2-3 in the Badger South Conference.

Lake Mills 68, Edgewood 61, OT

The L-Cats outscored the Crusaders 11-4 in the extra period at the #swingfam Showcase in Waunakee on Saturday, Jan. 4. Edgewood led 35-29 at halftime, but couldn’t hold on. Isandro Jimenez paced the Crusaders with 17 points. Michael Regnier and Ben Newton added 12 points apiece. Lake Mills’ Charlie Bender poured in a game-high 34 points.

Photos by Adam Feiner

Edgewood coach Chris Zwettler shouts Monroe 60, Edgewood 52 instructions to his team during the second half The Crusaders trailed by two at half- against Oregon on Friday, Dec. 20, in Oregon. time, but couldn’t pull the upset on the road The Crusaders won 71-59. Thursday, Jan. 2. Newton paced Edgewood with 12 points, did on both ends of the floor making good while Jimenez and Regnier added 10 decisions,” Edgewood coach Chris Zwettler apiece. Nate Golden pitched in eight points. said. “Michael also impressed and he didn’t come off the floor in the second half.” Edgewood 71, Oregon 59 The Crusaders led 27-25 at halftime, but Regnier scored a team-high 21 points and Oregon’s Ryne Panzer scored five quick Golden added 17 in the Crusaders’ Badger points to start the second half. Edgewood took the lead back for good South road win over the Panthers on Friday, with an 8-2 run. Dec. 20. Regnier drilled a 3 from the left wing, “I was really impressed with the job Nate

then converted a four-point play after draining a 3 from the same spot. Will Klipstine’s jumper pushed the lead back into double digits (44-34) with a little more than 10 minutes left. Oregon’s Erik Victorson scored 10 points on four possessions to cut the Crusaders’ lead to 51-48 with 4:48 left. Edgewood responded, as Regnier drained a 3 from the right wing to make it 59-50 with 2:50 left. The Crusaders went 10-for-10 from the free-throw line in the final 1:55 to salt away the victory. They came into the game shooting under 50% from the charity stripe, but finished 16-for-17. Edgewood scored 20 of its first 21 points in the paint, and finished with 22 in the first half. “We really shared the ball well,” Regnier said. “We ran our offense really well. We threw it into the post and worked off that.” The Crusaders used an 8-0 run to lead 19-10 midway through the first half. J i m e n e z h a d 1 2 p o i n t s , a n d Wa l l a c e Schmotzer added eight points.

Edgewood 58, Lakeside Lutheran 49

The Crusaders picked up a nonconference home win over the Warriors on Saturday, Dec. 14. Jimenez had a game-high 19 points, Regnier added 14, and Newton chipped in 11 for Edgewood, which led 28-24 at halftime.

Monona Grove 55, Edgewood 52

The Crusaders lost on a 3-pointer at the

Edgewood’s Nate Golden shoots a free throw late in the second half against Oregon on Friday, Dec. 20, in Oregon. The Crusaders went 10-for10 from the line in the final 1:55 to secure a 71-59 win over the Panthers.

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Oregon girls basketball

Panthers tied atop Badger South MARK NESBITT Assistant sports editor

The Oregon girls basketball team moved one step closer to winning the Badger South Conference with a 32-28 home win over Watertown on Tuesday, Jan. 7. Oregon (8-3, 5-1 Badger South) has won four straight games since a 77-72 loss to Monroe on Dec. 14. The Panthers are tied with Monona Grove for the league lead. The two teams will meet Friday night in Oregon. “We called this week ‘prove it week’ because we were tied with Watertown and we play MG,” Oregon coach Adam Wamsley said. “If we want to stay on top of the conference, which is a team goal for us, we have to take care of business.” A win against the Silver Eagles could mean a rematch against Beaver Dam in the Badger Challenge on Saturday, Jan. 18. “It would be great to get another chance against Beaver Dam,” Oregon senior Liz Uhl said. “It will be better playing at Beaver Dam. There was a lot of other outside factors playing at the Kohl Center. There were a lot of people, we were a little off our game, it was a new environment and a huge environment.”

5-foot-10 Lily Gifford. “It’s tough playing a team like that,” Uhl said. “Our offense doesn’t mesh well playing a team like that. They are always tough against us. It’s very frustrating game. We always want to play fast and they want to slow it down.” Uhl came up with a steal and layup to give the Panthers a 30-25 lead with 1:02 left. Maas answered with a three-point play to cut Oregon’s lead to two with 40 seconds to go. Oregon senior Kaitlyn Schrimpf came up with a key steal with 23 seconds to go. With the Panthers leading by three points, Maas had a 3-point attempt bounce off the backboard and Schrimpf grabbed the rebound with 1.6 seconds to go to seal the victory. Oregon senior point guard Izzie Peterson also helped seal the game, making 2 of 4 free throws in the final 30 seconds. The Panthers had six turnovers in the first five minutes, but jumped out to an 11-4 lead.

Oregon 79, Fort Atkinson 46

Uhl scored a game-high 19 points, grabbed eight rebounds and swiped four steals in a road rout of the Blackhawks on Friday, Dec. 3. Schrimpf added 18 points and three steals. Oregon jumped out to a 38-23 halftime lead and never looked Oregon 32, Watertown 28 back. Statz added 10 points, while Uhl scored a team-high 11 sophomore Emily Mortenson points and had seven steals to and junior Ellie Koopman each propel the Panthers past the Gos- chipped in eight. lings. The Panthers made defensive Oregon 77, Laconia 68 plays down the stretch to pull out Uhl had a game-high 21 points, a win against a team that plays a six rebounds and three steals to tall 1-3-1 zone with 6-foot-1 Teya lead the Panthers to a nonconferMaas, 6-foot Avalon Uecke and ence road win Saturday, Dec. 28.

Schrimpf also stuffed the stat sheet with 16 points, five rebounds and six assists. Fellow junior Megan Bloyer added 14 points and six rebounds. Peterson and junior Carleigh Roberts chipped in eight and seven points, respectively.

Oregon 67, Stoughton 44

A close game between Badger South Conference rivals quickly became a one-sided affair. The Panthers built a big lead to begin the second half and breezed to a home win over the Vikings on Thursday, Dec. 19. Oregon used a 16-2 run to increase its lead to 39-21 just four minutes into the second half. Schrimpf connected on a layup and four free throws, Roberts and Uhl each drilled a 3, Statz had a steal and layup, and Jaelyn Nedelcoff raced up the court for a transition layup. Stoughton went almost eight minutes of game time without scoring. Thirteen Panthers scored in the contest. Uhl finished with 10 points, and Peterson scored seven of her nine points in the first half. Bloyer added six points, while Statz and Nedelcoff had five apiece.

Monroe 77, Oregon 72

Peterson scored a team-high 15 points and the Panthers stormed back from a 12-point second-half deficit, but fell short against the Cheesemakers on the road Saturday, Dec. 14. Uhl posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Statz added 14 points, and sophomore Payton Lang chipped in 11 points.

Photo by Adam Feiner

Oregon’s Izzie Peterson (left) guards Stoughton’s Ava Loftus during the second half Thursday, Dec. 19, at Oregon High School. Peterson scored nine points in the Panthers’ 67-44 win.

Oregon boys basketball

Oregon looking to snap losing streak, get back on track ADAM FEINER Sports editor

The Oregon boys basketball team started the season strong, but has now lost six of its last seven games. The Panthers are 3-6 overall and 1-4 in the Badger South Conference.

Marshall 55, Oregon 44

The Panthers went on the road and fell to the Cardinals in a nonconference game Tuesday, Jan. 7. Ryne Panzer and Isaac Gard scored 13 points apiece for Oregon, which trailed 28-23 at halftime. Adam Yates added seven points.

Stoughton 51, Oregon 48, OT

A two-week break from game action allowed the Panthers to start the new year fresh and on a roll to start its home game against the rival Vikings, but they couldn’t hold on Saturday, Jan. 4. The two teams were knotted at 41 after regulation, but Stoughton scored the first six points of overtime. Oregon did not score in the first three minutes of the extra period. The Panthers led 29-24 at halftime and opted to

Photo by Adam Feiner

Oregon’s Ben Statz (5) and Bryce Kerns (23) celebrate with teammate Erik Victorson after the Panthers took a 17-5 lead against Stoughton on Saturday, Jan. 4, in Oregon. The Panthers lost 51-48 in overtime. slow down their offense significantly in the second half. Guards ran a dribble weave beyond the 3-point arc while looking for driving lanes, but also held the ball for several seconds at a time. “They’ve been the best d e f e n s ive t e a m i n o u r league all season,” Oregon coach Chris Siebert said of Stoughton. “With our motion and their length and mobility, we didn’t know if we’d be able to get enough quick buckets. So we tried to space their size out.” Oregon played without junior point guard Erik Victorson, but Panzer picked up the slack. Panzer scored

the Panthers’ first seven points of the second half, and finished with a teamhigh 13 points. Stoughton’s Adam Hobson drilled a 3 from the right wing to tie it at 32, then canned a 3 from the opposite wing with 11 minutes left in regulation to give the Vikings their first lead of the game. Bryce Kerns swished a 3 from the top of the key to cut Stoughton’s lead to 40-39 with 4:40 left. Ryan McCorkle missed the front end of the bonus with 2:15 left, but Adam Yates made a layup with 58 seconds left to give Oregon a 41-40 lead.

Cael McGee split a pair of free throws 16 seconds later to force overtime. The Panthers scored on four of their first five possessions, and used a 9-0 run to take a 17-5 lead just eight minutes into the game. Brandon Kerns had corner 3 and putback, Yates converted a bucket through contact and Bryce Kerns made a transition layup during the surge. “We’ve had a great couple weeks of practice, and our guys were excited to play,” Siebert said. “That was really fun to watch.” Brandon Kerns scored all 10 of his points in the first half. McCorkle finished with nine points for the Panthers. The Vikings closed the first half on a 9-2 run. Hobson finished with a gamehigh 23 points, and McGee had 14 of his 18 points in the first 18 minutes.

Edgewood 71, Oregon 59

The Crusaders had an answer for every bucket the Panthers made in the second half. Oregon took a 30-27 lead early in the second half thanks to Panzer. The sophomore guard drilled a 3-pointer to give the

Panthers the lead, then recorded a steal and layup. Edgewood swiftly responded with an 8-2 run to retake the lead. Michael Regnier made a 3 from the left wing and converted a four-point play after draining a 3 from the same spot. Will Klipstine’s jumper pushed the Crusaders’ lead back into double digits (4434) with a little more than 10 minutes left. Vi c t o r s o n s c o r e d 1 0 points on four consecutive possessions to cut the Panthers’ deficit to 51-48 with 4:48 left. The junior point guard converted a threepoint play, knocked down a 3 from the right wing and sank four free throws. Once again Edgewood answered, as Regnier’s 3 from the right wing made it 59-50 with 2:50 remaining. The Crusaders went 10-for10 from the free-throw line in the final 1:55 to salt the victory. Vi c t o r s o n s c o r e d 1 5 straight points and 18 of Oregon’s last 21. He finished with a game-high 23 points. “I struggled in the first half with my shot,” Victorson said, “but I gained some confidence in the second half. Once you see a couple fall, things start to

open up.” Panzer helped with 15 p o i n t s , B r a n d o n Ke r n s cracked double figures with 11, and Yates added seven. Edgewood scored 20 of its first 21 points in the paint, and finished with 22 in the first half. The Crusaders used an 8-0 run to jump ahead 19-10, but Brandon Kerns knocked down three 3s in the half to keep Oregon close down 27-25 at intermission.

Monroe 71, Oregon 59

Kerns scored a team-high 17 points for Oregon, which trailed 32-23 at halftime. Panzer and Victorson added 11 and 10, respectively.

Oregon 64, Milton 59

Yates poured in a gamehigh 16 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out five assists to propel the Panthers past the Red Hawks at home Friday, Dec. 13. Oregon outscored Milton 44-37 in the second half. The Panthers knocked down seven 3-pointers. Victorson had 12 points and four assists for the Panthers. Bryce Kerns added 10 points. Panzer chipped in eight points, five rebounds and five assists.

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January 10, 2020

Fitchburg Star

Verona/Edgewood gymnastics

Dohnal displays strength in vault MARK NESBITT Assistant sports editor

Senior Hailey Dohnal practiced a Tsukahara vault only twice before Verona/Edgewood’s season opener Thursday, Dec. 19, against Madison Memorial. The lack of practice didn’t deter Dohnal, who pulled off the Tsukahara to finish first in the vault (8.425) at Glacier Edge Elementary School in Verona. The vault features a roundoff onto the table and then a back tuck dismount. It is named after Japanese gymnast Mitsuo Tsukahara. “I really wanted to flip my vault this first meet,” Dohnal said. “It felt really good to stand one up. There is stuff I have to fix. I was a little crooked, but I’m really happy with how it went for the first meet.” The Wildcat/Crusaders followed that up by taking fourth place in the White Division at the Mount Horeb Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 4.

Mount Horeb Invitational

Photos by Mark Nesbitt

Verona senior Hailey Dohnal does a roundoff onto the table before a tuck dismount during her Tsukahara vault on Thursday, Dec. 19, against Madison Memorial at Glacier Edge Elementary School. She won the vault with a score of 8.425.

The Wildcat/Crusaders finished with 128.80 points, less than a point behind third-place Sun Prairie (129.775) and less than three points behind runner-up Middleton (131.10) in the seven-team White Division. Whitefish Bay captured the division title (138.375). “We were honestly hoping to finish a little higher, but we had some mistakes on bars and floor that cost us,” Verona/Edgewood coach Rachael Hauser said. “We took a risk with adding some new skills that maybe weren’t ready yet and the result was hit or miss, but I’m proud of the girls for getting out there and trying their best.” Dohnal finished third on the vault (8.9) and fourth on the floor (8.925). She took eighth in the allaround competition (32.675). After falling on her first vault, Dohnal went big on her second one. Hauser said Dohnal got more height, which lead to a better landing position. Freshman Ella Crowley placed seventh on the balance beam (8.625). The Wildcat/Crusaders had three of the top 11 gymnasts on the floor. In addition to Dohnal, Katie Ryan took eighth (8.475) and sophomore Lily Merrick placed 11th (8.25) out of 34 gymnasts in the event.

Verona freshman Ella Crowley does a tuck off the balance beam in the season opener Thursday, Dec. 19, against Madison Memorial at Glacier Edge Elementary School. The Spartans edged the Wildcat/ Crusaders 133.075-129.45. The team also had three of the top 11 in the uneven bars. Sophomore Alyssa Fischer finished seventh (8.00), freshman Kayla Wagner took 10th (7.70) and Merrick was 11th (7.55). “I don’t think anyone will say bars is their strong event, and I feel like we still have a long way to go on improving our bars sets as well,” Hauser said. “But it is encouraging to see that we can hang with our other conference teams in that event.”

Madison Memorial 133.075, Verona/Edgewood 129.45

Dohnal won the all-around competition (33.225), just ahead of Memorial sophomore Sarah Hershberger (33.100). “I think she got a little fire and was like, ‘I want to flip,’” Hauser said of Dohnal’s vault. “It wasn’t a surprise she won, but it was a surprise she completed that vault. She wanted to do it. Props to her.” Dohnal finished second on the balance beam (8.650) and tied for second on the floor (8.75). She said two of her goals this season are to turn her vault from a tuck to a pike and her beam back tuck dismount into a layout. Fischer took third on the uneven bars (8.1), and Crowley placed fourth on the beam (8.650).

Gymnastics

Fitchburg-area teams win state titles in early December ADAM FEINER Sports editor

Gymfinity’s Levels 3 and 4 teams placed first at the Compulsory State Meet on Saturday, Dec. 7, in Little Chute. Gymnastics competition levels go from Level 1 to Level 10 (pre-elite). Gymfinity competed against 48 teams in both Levels 3 and 4. Sixteen Level 4 Gymfinity athletes brought home an additional 24 individual titles, and 10 Level 3 athletes racked up 25 individual awards. “The level of gymnastics

in Wisconsin is very high, especially in the Milwaukee area,” Gymfinity owner and coach J Orkowski said in a news release. “We have to train very hard to compete against all the outstanding gyms in this state. Gymfinity’s Xcel and Optional Teams (Levels 7-10) will be traveling to in- and out-of-state meets later this year. Both teams will host the Dairy-Aire Gymnastics Invitational on Feb. 22 and 23, at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center. Nearly 1,100 athletes from around the country are expected to compete.

Photos submitted

Gymfinity’s Level 3 team poses with a celebratory cake after winning their division at the Compulsory State Meet on Saturday, Dec. 7, in Little Chute. Ten Level 3 gymnasts brought home 25 individual awards.

Gymfinity’s Level 4 team poses with a celebratory cake after winning their division at the Compulsory State Meet on Saturday, Dec. 7, in Little Chute. Sixteen Level 4 gymnasts brought home 24 individual titles.

January 10, 2020

Fitchburg Star

Verona Area schools

ConnectFitchburg.com

Madison Metropolitan School District

Superintendent finalists to meet public KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group

The Madison Metropolitan School District h a s t h r e e p r o s p e c t ive candidates for the role of superintendent. T h ey w i l l g r e e t t h e public three times from Jan. 14-16 at the MMSD Administrative Building, 545 W. Dayton St. Each of the public sessions runs from 6-7:30 p.m. The three candidates are: Dr. Matthew Gutierrez, superintendent of the Seguin Independent School District in Sequin, Texas, east of San Antonio; Dr. Marguerite Vanden Wyngaard, assistant professor of educational leadership at the College of St. Rose in Albany, New York; and Dr. G e o rg e E r i c T h o m a s , deputy superintendent and chief turnaround officer for the Georgia State Board of Education in Atlanta. The Madison School Board will make a final decision on whom to hire in February, with the goal of having the new leader

If You Go What: Meet the superintendent finalists When: 6 p.m. January 14-16 Where: Administrative building, 545 W. Dayton St., Madison Info: madison.k12.wi.us start in the district by July 1. The selected candidate will succeed former superintendent Jennifer Cheatham, who resigned last year to become a member of the Harvard U n iv e r s i t y f a c u l t y t o teach graduate-level education students. Previously, Gutierrez was an assistant superintendent in Plano Independent School District and was a principal at the elementary and middle school levels. Vanden Wyngaard previously held the role of superintendent for the Albany City School District from 2012-2016. Thomas worked with the University of Virginia’s chief support officer for its turnaround program and worked in the Cincinnati Public Schools for almost two decades as a teacher, principal and chief innovation officer.

Photos by Kimberly Wethal

Stoner Prairie fourth graders look at Keegan Corning’s poster during the Verona Area International School’s Country Museum display on Wednesday, Dec. 18.

Canvasing countries

From right, student Dante Ejercito shows Chinese grade 2/3 teacher Yumeng Wang a piece of his exhibit.

Contracts for VASD charter schools renewed KIMBERLY WETHAL

changes to the language of either contract. The board didn’t take issue with the content of the contracts at its previous meeting, Dec. 9, where representatives from each school gave presentations on both of the schools and initiatives central to its educational philosophies. New Century was one of the first charters in the state, opening two years after state legislation authored them, in 1995, and Core Knowledge opened a year later. Each has markedly different teaching styles, but both are public, with

enrollment that is capped by the district. Both charters, along with the district’s third elementary charter, Verona Area International School, are parent-run and share facilities and classes with neighborhood schools. Each must renew its charter every five years. Some previous charter renewals have been more complicated. NCS changed its charter in each of the previous two processes, converting to an environmentally focused curriculum in 2009, then beginning a transition to

STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) in 2014. W h e n VA I S r e n ew e d its contract in late 2016, it did so amid concerns it might not be able to sustain its enrollment because of its particular structure, in which kids learn Chinese in a dual-immersion setting. And when the charter high school, the Exploration Academy, took a three-year renewal, it did so with the expectation that it would eventually be shut down and its programming would be absorbed into the high school’s options.

Read more Verona Area School District stories at: ConnectFitchburg.com

Verona Area School District for the upcoming 2020-21 year.

make Sugar Creek a better place.

Threat assessment processes approved

Problem solvers

site-based governance at the Verona Area School D i s t r i c t ’s t w o m i d d l e school have resulted in two different sets of syllabi, class descriptions, schedules and facility and equipment offerings.

Unified Newspaper Group

Verona Area School District

Gorrell to retire in 2021 Will have been with district for 16 years KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group

District superintendent Dean Gorrell will retire at the end of June 2021. T h e Ve r o n a A r e a School District made the announcement just before noon on Wednesday, Jan. 8, after Gorrell informed the board of his retirement. There’s still 18 months until Gorrell’s retirement, which he said in the news release he’s purposefully doing to allow the school board “ample time” to find a new superintendent and include staff, students, families and the community in the process. Gorrell has been with the district for 15 years and started in July 2005. His final year will see the district move into a new Verona Area High School building and new attendance boundaries take effect for its four neighborhood elementary schools and two

middle schools. Serving the district’s children has been a “privilege,” Gorrell said in the release. “By the time of my retirement, I will have shaken the hand of over 6,000 VAHS gradGorrell u a t e s ,” h e said. “Some of those early graduates now have children of their own in VASD. Few superintendents get to experience that.” Two neighboring districts are also undergoing superintendent searches. Madison Metropolitan School District is in the process of having its three finalists meet the public next week, and Oregon School District’s Brian Busler, a former VASD employee, will retire at the end of this year. Email reporter Kimberly Wethal at kimberly. wethal@wcinet.com and follow her on Twitter @ kimberly_wethal.

Verona Area International School students showed off their knowledge about foreign countries during the museum on Wednesday, Dec. 18. Students prepared presentations during both their English and Chinese classes. In English, students researched their countries, and in Chinese, they learned about mapping skills and their respective country’s flag. Email reporter Kimberly Wethal at kimberly.wethal@ wcinet.com and follow her on Twitter @kimberly_wethal.

New Century School and Core Knowledge Charter School will call Verona Area School District home for the next five years. Both of the schools had their contracts with the district renewed until 2025 at the school board meeting Monday night, Dec. 16, after a brief discussion among board members over the contract specifications. The board unanimously approved contracts for both CKCS, a K-8 school, and NCS, a K-5 school, with no

What’s online

When it comes to threats made toward a school or a student, all Verona Area School District sites now have a threat assessment protocol. That protocol is intended to determine whether there’s imminent danger or a threat is actually someone blowing off steam.

Travel study could affect start times

School start times could be added to the long list of what’s changing in the

Middle school facilities, schedules F i f t h g r a d e r K e r e n remain sticking points Chavez Santiago was Tw o d e c a d e s o f inspired by a friend to

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Search narrows to 3, who will hold three sessions, Jan. 14-16

Oregon schools

ConnectFitchburg.com

January 10, 2020

Fitchburg Star

New elementary school boundaries approved K-6 attendance areas updated for new school opening in fall SCOTT DE LARUELLE Unified Newspaper Group

With rapid growth expected in the northern part of the district and a new elementary school set to open in summer, the Oregon School Board approved new elementary school attendance boundaries Monday night. The move is the last step in a process that started in spring, when a committee comprising staff, administrators and parents, and chaired by OSD deputy superintendent Leslie Bergstrom, started working on redefining the boundaries. Criteria for the

boundaries including transportation safety/efficiency and keeping students in an attendance zone for the school closest to where they live. In October, the group presented a proposal to the board with three parameters: Students would go to the school closest to their home, an exemption process would be available to families, and there would be “simplified” busing zones for each attendance area. The new map divides the district laterally into thirds, with students in the top portion – roughly the northern portion of the City of Fitchburg and Town of Dunn – going to the new Fitchburg K-6 school. Students in the “middle” section – the southern half of Fitchburg and Dunn, down to Lincoln Road/Janesville streets in the Village of Oregon – would attend Prairie View or Netherwood Knoll elementaries in the Village of Oregon, and

Rome Corners Intermediate. Students living south of the Lincoln Road/Janesville Street line would attend Brooklyn Elementary and RCI. During the three listening sessions held this month on a variety of topics, including the boundaries, Bergstrom said OSD officials noticed “a couple important pieces.” She said parents “really appreciated” an exemption process, as keeping siblings together is “extremely important” to them and transportation availability is a significant concern. Those concerns were taken into account during the boundary zone process, she said. Starting next fall, students in the Netherwood Knoll and Prairie View zones will have their school placement honored, Bergstrom said. Students assigned to the newly named Forest Edge Elementary will need to fill out an exemption

form if they want to go to a different school; however, depending on their location and available transportation, they may not be on a bus route, Bergstrom added. “We wouldn’t take someone from Brooklyn to Fitchburg by bus,” she explained. “ By dedicating 210 minutes of the school day to those classes – such as math and social studies – Village (of Oregon) area, there is flexibility on that.” Noting the predicted increase in student growth in Fitchburg, Bergstrom said district officials will “probably be very cautious” in the near future about filling up the new K-6 school with K-4 students in the Netherwood Knoll and Prairie View zones. “We want to ensure there is space as those surrounding neighborhoods are built out, but absolutely they could (switch),” she said. Bergstrom said from now on,

new elementary school students with an older sibling already in the school will be automatically placed in the same building, so parents don’t have to fill out a form. She said the district will mail out placement letters to families and information about the exemption process in spring, in case parents would want students at a different school. “Given what we learned, we want to ensure the exemption process is straightforward, and provide parents with timely response,” she said. School board president Steve Zach, a long-time member on the board and attorney for other area school districts, said realigning boundaries is “never easy.” “We did this once before, reshuffling the elementaries, and it took a lot of time,” he said. Email Scott De Laruelle at scott.delaruelle@wcinet.com.

New SRO deal approved Village, district reps to meet in summer to evaluate program SCOTT DE LARUELLE Unified Newspaper Group

Photo by Jim Ferolie

An aerial view of the new Oregon School District elementary school in Fitchburg from September 2019.

‘Forest Edge’ wins in a landslide Students pick new name for Fitchburg elementary school SCOTT DE LARUELLE Unified Newspaper Group

People finally won’t have to call it “elementary school number four” anymore. The name reveal was held at Monday night’s school board meeting, where Oregon High School students Jenna Sharkus and Cubby Vandermause announced “Forest Edge” was chosen as the new name for the K-6 elementary school under construction in Fitchburg. The name was decided by district K-12 students, with Forest Edge defeating Nine Springs in a runaway victory, with 72 percent of the student vote out of nearly 2,500 ballots. It’s the final step in a process that began in August, with people submitting 204 names to the school board. Taking certain criteria into account, such as the location and geography schools, the board whittled that number down to seven, then voted on two finalists to send to students. During the first weeks of December, all district

students had a chance to cast a ballot, with K-4 students voting in their classes and 5-12 students online. Nearly two-thirds of the district’s students voted — 2,476 in all, but not before first watching a brief educational video put together by Sharkus, Vandermause and Chloe Jacobson to help students understand the reasoning behind the names, and a drone-piloted sneak peek behind the scenes at construction. Sharkus told board members Monday night the idea was to give students some context on the school and its location, share the process of how the voting would work and reinforce the importance of using their voices in the voting process. The group wrote a script, visited the school site to interview builders, used a green screen for some parts and did the narration and on-camera work as well. “It was very educational, and we were very grateful to go to see the building for ourselves,” Vandermause said. “It really showed how engaged students are in our school district, and you know what, our video might have worked.” OSD superintendent

“It really showed how engaged students are in our school district, and you know what, our video might have worked.” Oregon High School student Cubby Vandermause

On the Web Check out the OHS student video at

https://bit.ly/36GIrfd Brian Busler said the students earned a “10 out of 10” on the video, which pointed out, for instance, that students will be able to look out and see a nearby forest from their classroom. “They did a marvelous job of starring in the video, explaining the new school names, showing the new school to all students and informing their fellow students on the voting process,” he told the Observer in an email. Email Unified Newspaper Group reporter Scott De Laruelle at scott.delaruelle@wcinet.com.

The Oregon School District has a new agreement for having a police officer at Oregon High School for the rest of the school year, putting at least a temporary end to a dustup with village and police officials. The school board unanimously approved a school resource officer (SRO) agreement Monday night, as did the Oregon Village Board. The deal runs through high school graduation in June and states, as the district had requested, that the SRO has a role as an educator and mentor, as well as a law enforcement officer. The two sides will meet April 24 to evaluate how things went before discussing a new agreement. OSD corporate counsel Jina Jonen said district officials were “working very diligently” with the village on a new deal after an interim agreement was set to expire Dec. 31. She said a district listening session Nov. 14 was “very positive” and helpful in getting feedback. “Our discussion has been very collaborative,” she said. “We’ve agreed we have prioritized the safety of our schools, and we also wanted to meet the needs of our stakeholders.” The controversy over the contract language started Aug. 26, after the school board unanimously rejected the village’s version of the agreement, which would have allowed an assault rifle to be kept inside OHS, as well as the potential for students to be interviewed by police without their parents’ presence. School board members also complained it was not clear enough about the SRO’s role as an educator. Hours after the vote, Oregon police chief Brian Uhl commented on the department’s Facebook page, accusing school board members of not being willing to hold “meaningful discussions” about the SRO agreement. He also said the village had requested meetings about the agreement and the district rejected them. In November, village board president

Jeanne Carpenter distanced the board from Uhl’s comments. She read a prepared statement at a Village Board meeting to explain a closed session it held about Uhl, characterizing those comments as part of a public campaign that included “a particularly contentious interview” with WIBA FM. “I believed that further negotiations between the village board and school board required a different approach with the goal of helping the (board) repair our relationship with the school board,” Carpenter wrote in a letter to board members. Some of the changes from the previous agreement include the village and district holding a meeting before allowing an investigation to be initiated on school grounds, something Jonen said they have “already started doing” with Oregon Police Department lieutenant Jennifer Pagenkopf, who supervises the SRO. “Those have been going very well,” Jonen said. “I think our relationship is in a really great place right now, and we are doing a nice job of balance in the safety of our students with a respectful learning environment for all of our kids.” School officials plan to work with Pagenkopf to set goals for the program before meeting next summer to evaluate the program before discussing a new agreement with the village. Courtney Odorico said the new agreement took into account a lot of parent feedback and stresses the specialized role of the SRO. “(They are) a unique individual that has three roles, and one of them is law enforcement,” she said. “They are also an educator and an informal counselor and mentor, and those are really important things for us as an educational institution, and that is known and agreed upon with the village police department that’s the role of the SRO.” Tim LeBrun thanked the Village Board and police department for their assistance. “We were a little rocky when we first got started, and I think it was everyone’s willingness to take a step back and understand the others’ positions were,” he said. “At some points in our discussion, we were a long way away from understanding. Its real win-win for the students, the police department and the village.”

What’s online Read more Oregon School District stories at: ConnectFitchburg.com

Calorie counting prompts OMS class review Oregon School District administrators and staff will take another look at an Oregon Middle School health class lesson after one student started an online petition about its negative effects.

OSD work group will discuss school start/end times

A new workgroup will examine feedback on starting and ending times for Oregon School District schools.

Schools win ‘Healthy’ honors

From salad bars to “mindfulness breaks,” the Oregon School District has been focusing on teaching kids how to be healthy — as well as smart.

8 Fitchburg Star - January 10, 2020

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