Skip to main content

11/218/19 Verona Press

Page 1

Verona Press The

I’m Still Here! 26 years in VASD Housing Market!

adno=108067

KBartels@StarkHomes.com (608) 235-2927

Thursday, November 28, 2019 • Vol. 55, No. 28 • Verona, WI • Hometown USA • ConnectVerona.com • $1.25

Kathy Bartels

City of Verona

The fix is in Newly signed bill allows refund of taxes from assessor’s TIF error JIM FEROLIE Verona Press editor

It’s like getting an early Christmas present you paid for yourself. On Thanksgiving week, just in time for holiday shopping, the City of Verona is mailing checks to property owners who paid taxes on the 2018 levy, and for homeowners, they’ll be an average of $119. The nearly yearlong wait to Photo by Neal Patten

Owner Kevin Krahn.

Bringing it home

Veronans opens third North and South location in Liberty Park NEAL PATTEN

Inside

Unified Newspaper Group

T

he namesake – and menu – of North and South Seafood and Smokehouse make a lot more sense once you learn the backstory of its founders, Keith and Erin Stoesz. Keith is from Minnesota, what one could assume is the “north,” and Erin is from Texas, or the obvious “south.” The couple met by chance in an even farther “north” – Anchorage, Alaska – and now lives in Verona. For 10 years, they operated a Madison franchise of Joey’s Seafood and Grill restaurant chain on Mineral Point Road; however, the couple wanted to add brisket and barbecue items to the menu. It was then, in 2015, they decided it

El Charro opens in former 4 Sisters location Page 7 was time to rebrand and their new seafood and smokehouse concept was born. Just as their marriage brought together two ends of the country, so does their menu. The restaurant’s signature foods include brisket and burnt ends – two of its most popular items – as well as pulled pork, wings, crab, shrimp, cod, haddock and other seafood. The Verona restaurant is the

franchise’s third location, joining DeForest and Madison, and it opened Tuesday, Oct. 15, at 958 Liberty Drive, owned by another Verona resident, Kevin Krahn. The restaurant took over the space that formerly housed Verona Woods restaurant, which closed in April after two years in business. It’s a few doors down from El Charro, which opened in October in the location where 4 Sisters had closed in February. “It’s a little scary going into a location where the last business failed, but we want Verona to know we offer great values for families,” Krahn said. Krahn, who has worked in the restaurant industry for decades, was recommended to the Stoeszs by the owner of

Turn to Home/Page 7

correct the previous assessor’s $54 million clerical error is a result of working through the state Legislature because a change in law was necessary for a correction. It was actually just over a year, if you factor in how long ago city staff and elected officials were aware the error was there. The mistake stuck though, despite repeated efforts to persuade the state Department of Administration, who was unable to correct the mistake prior to the budget’s publication. The error was the result of former assessor Paul Musser, first duplicating some $5 million in taxable value between

Turn to TIF/Page 5

Annual Hometown Holidays event to be held Dec. 6-7 NEAL PATTEN Unified Newspaper Group

If You Go

Starting next Friday, it’ll What: Hometown Holiofficially be the holiday seadays son in Verona. When: Friday, Dec. 6 The Verona Area Chamber through Saturday, Dec. 7 of Commerce will host two Where: Central Park, days of traditional holiday senior center, State Bank activities on Friday, Dec. 6 of Cross Plains – Verona, and Saturday, Dec. 7. Junction Park The annual holiday event will open with a ceremonial Info: veronawi.com tree-lighting at 5 p.m. Dec. 6 in Central Park, located at the corner of South Main and the ceremony. Christmas carPaoli streets. The event will ols will be sung by members be broadcast live on News 3 of Resurrection Lutheran Now with its chief meteorolTurn to Holidays/Page 5 ogist Gary Cannalte leading

‘Mystery’ and ‘Castaway’ buildings coming to Epic Campus 5 Initial plans up for review by Plan Commission on Monday RENEE HICKMAN Unified Newspaper Group

Epic is getting ready to build again – this time adding offices that evoke taking a trip on the high seas or solving a mystery for employees as they work.

Planning documents for Phase 2 of the Storybook campus – also known as Campus 5 – indicate the buildings will be called “Mystery” and “Castaway.” Other buildings in the campus also have individual external visual themes, such as Alice, Oz, Chocolate Factory and Grimm, recalling well-known works or authors of fantasy fiction. The campus’s fifth building, Jules Verne, is still under The

Verona Press

construction. According to the project description, the two buildings each will consist of approximately 90,000 square feet and 350 additional offices at the company’s 900-acre location on Verona’s west side. As of spring 2019, the medical records giant e m p l oy e d 9 , 8 0 0 e m p l oy e e s , according to reporting by the Rendering courtesy Cuningham Group A view from the west of Castaway shows elements of an 18th century Wisconsin State Journal. Turn to Epic/Page 9 ship.

NOW OPEN

608.441.9999 avanteproperties.com

RAVEN APARTMENTS

5116 Lacy Road, Fitchburg, WI

Studio, 1, 1+Den, 2 & 3 Bedroom Apartments adno=115921


2

November 28, 2019

The Verona Press

ConnectVerona.com

Verona Area School District

Playing for a purpose Sugar Creek Elementary School second graders spent their morning learning and playing around with Verona Area High School students. The VAHS students, who are enrolled in a “Working with Children” class, created a “play literacy fair” for the second graders based off the book “Miss Nelson is back.”

The literacy fair included eight different stations, where children created character puppets, sorted adjectives to describe characters in the book and played around with green screens and photo booths. Email reporter Kimberly Wethal at kimberly. wethal@wcinet.com and follow her on Twitter @ kimberly_wethal.​

From left, Sugar Creek second graders Bennett Andrae, Roan Milhans and Juan Ponce Jimenez create paper bag puppets.

Photos by Kimberly Wethal

From left, Sugar Creek second graders Liam Louther and Engel Ramirez Lopez reach up high at the direction of Verona Area High School student during a Play science fair with Verona Area High School students on Friday, Nov. 22.

From left, Lily Abbott, Kinley Hunt and Luzia De Oliveira Parra look at photos of them taken in front of a green screen with a group of Verona Area High School students during the fair.

From left, Sugar Creek second graders Sam Gottbeheut and Josue Baca Trujillo place adjective cards on a board to describe book characters.

Celebrating 24 years as Hometown Verona’s #1 place to take Karate!

This year give the Gift of CONFIDENCE!

From right, Sugar Creek second graders Jose Juare-Ocotl and Donovan Rodriguez-Nava create paper bag puppets during a Play science fair with Verona Area High School students on Friday, Nov. 22.

Call today about our new Holiday Package which includes: Their Karate Uniform, First Belt, and a Certificate for One Month of Karate Lessons for only $49!

PRUNING Tree MD

The PERFECT gift for the Holidays!

Tim Andrews Horticulturist LLC “Caring for our Green World since 1978” www.tahort.com • tahort@gmail.com

608-795-9948

adno=120917

Callnow us for Call for aa free FREEevaluation. evaluation

(Offer good until 1/30/2020)

Karate America Verona

Be Part of the Tradition! 845-1333  kaverona@chorus.net  535 Half Mile Road, Verona

adno=115255

Winter is a great time for Winter or is the best time to pruning removal of trees prune Trees and Shrubs. and shrubs with little damage to the lawn.


ConnectVerona.com

November 28, 2019

The Verona Press

3

Spring election

Majority of Verona officials decide to re-run April contest to feature races at local, regional level KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group

Most incumbents from the Verona area that serve on local or regional governmental bodies have decided to run for re-election next spring. One exception is is Jason Knoll, a Verona Area High School social studies teacher who has served one twoyear term as a Dane County Supervisor after being elected in spring 2018. Two seats that may not have an incumbent come spring are two supervisor seats in the Town of Verona, as supervisors Doug Maxwell and Manfred Enburg told the Press Sunday they are both still deciding on whether they plan on running. Mayor Luke Diaz, whose first term in the role is coming to a close, announced in an email to the Press on Nov. 21 he will run for a second twoyear term, as have all of the four Common Council members whose terms end in April. School board trustees for the Verona Area School District have also either confirmed they are running or have indicated their interest to do so to others. Debbie Biddle, who is serving out the final year of former board member Russell King, who resigned partway through his term, is planning to run for re-election. The other board member, Kristina Navarro-Haffner, wasn’t available to confirm whether she was running for her seat Friday. Incumbents have until late December to announce if they do not plan to run again. For most local and county

governmental bodies, the first day aspiring candidates can start circulating nomination papers and collecting signatures is Sunday, Dec. 1. Each race has a different number of qualified signatures a candidate must collect to get their name on the ballot, and most nominations must be fully completed and turned in to each respective organization clerk or agency by the end of the day Tuesday, Jan. 7. Nomination papers that are circulated prior to Dec. 1 will not be counted toward a candidate’s total number of signatures. Candidates must file a campaign finance registration form prior to collecting signatures on nomination papers for their respective jurisdiction; otherwise, the District Attorney would have the right to file a complaint for campaigning without being registered. The spring election, held Tuesday, April 7, will also be a primary for the 2020 presidential election held later that year, Tuesday, Nov. 3. The spring election will also feature an election for the city’s Municipal Court judge; a state Supreme Court Justice; a court of appeals judge for District 4, which covers the southern central and western part of the state; and a Dane County Circuit Court judge.

Dane County Mike Bare has registered to run for the empty County Board seat, which represents the city and town of Verona. Bare is a former alder of the Verona Common Council who is a member of the city’s Plan Commission and chair of the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Commission. Potential candidates must fill out four documents – a Campaign Finance Registration statement form that should be filled out prior to announcing intentions to run; a Declaration of Candidacy form; nomination

up at the district administration office, 700 N. Main St., and school board clerk Tom Duerst will review each set of nomination forms to ensure all of their 100 signatures qualify. Duerst said he recommends having more than 100 signatures, in case not all of them can be counted as legitimate voters of the Verona Area School District, he told the Press last Friday.

City of Verona

Photo by Kate Newton

Ann Schuetz (second from right) and Audrey Huseth (far right) greet a voter while working the polls Tuesday morning, Nov. 8, 2016, at the Verona Public Library. papers that should include at least 50 signatures from the district of candidacy, and no more than 200; and a completed Statement of Economic Interest describing what organizations a candidate’s immediate family members are involved with, where their income comes from and what real estate is owned. All materials must be turned in to the Dane County clerk by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7. If there are more than two candidates running for a single district, a primary election will be held to narrow the field Tuesday, Feb. 18.

Town of Verona People interested in running for the two town supervisor seats will need to fill out both a declaration of candidacy and a campaign finance report prior to being on the spring ballot. The two seats up for re-election this

year are the Third and Fourth supervisors. Both seats are At-large seats, meaning any resident over the age of 18 can run for either seat.

Verona Area School District The two seats on the school board up for re-election are an At-large seat and a City of Verona seat. That means that only City of Verona residents will be able to vote on both seats, while residents who live in the cities of Fitchburg and Madison and the Town of Verona will only be able to vote on the At-large seat. Every year, the entirety of the Verona Area School District residents vote on an At-large member, with the exception of every third year, which has two At-large seats up for election. Every three years, a seat specific to the City of Verona, the City of Verona and the outside cities is up for re-election. Nomination papers can be picked

All city offices, including the mayor, are two-year terms, and each of the city’s four districts has one alder up for election each year. Diaz said he wants to run again because there is more work left to do. “I want to continue to work to keep Verona’s hometown feel even as our city grows,” he wrote in an email to the Press. “I also want to continue to advocate for more city transparency and downtown development that will provide Verona residents with a variety of dining options.” Katie Kohl (Dist. 2) wrote in her response that being an alder has been rewarding. She defeated incumbent Jack Linder in 2018. Evan Touchett (D-4) and Kate Cronin (D-3) did not add any comments. Touchett would be serving a fifth term after being defeated in 2013 and then defeating incumbent Mike Bare for the other seat in 2014 and running unopposed since. Cronin defeated 22-year incumbent Brad Stiner in 2018. Kemp, who unsuccessfully ran for mayor in 2014, ran unopposed in 2018. Nominations papers can be picked up at Verona City Center, 111 Lincoln St All but Kemp have replied to the Press. Editor Jim Ferolie contributed to this story.

Hearings start for new trial request in baby’s death A Verona woman convicted 10 years ago of reckless homicide in the death of a 4 month old at her in-home day care is in the midst of a hearing to get a new trial. Jennifer Hancock’s legal team is arguing she did not get effective legal assistance from attorney John D. Hyland, now a Dane County judge, Hancock in her 2009 trial regarding the 2007 death of Lincoln Wilber of Belleville. The team is also claiming scientific theories and the opinion of a key witness have changed. The result of the seven-day trial – in which two jurors were dismissed – was a 13-year prison sentence at Taycheedah Correctional Institution in Fond du Lac. The defense presented its case in front of Rock County Judge Daniel T. Dillon on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 21-22, the first of four scheduled days of hearings. On Thursday, it heard testimony from Michael Stier, who was a key witness in the

The hearing resumes Dec. 19-20, and eventually the judge will decide whether the evidence warrants a new trial. yet to present and did not yet cross-examine Ophoven. The hearing, in which Dillon could determine whether to overturn Hancock’s conviction, is scheduled to resume Thursday and Friday Dec. 19 and 20, and there could be additional days scheduled. It was transferred from Dane County to Rock County in February. Hancock has two years of prison and six years of extended supervision left on her sentence. Jurors in her May 2009 trial deliberated for seven hours before choosing the harsher of two possible charges, meaning her actions – which the prosecution said broke the child’s femur and fractured his skull – showed “utter disregard for human life.” Prosecutors contended Hancock’s frustration with the boy’s colicky temperament caused her to lash out. Their case included some testimony about Hancock’s handling of children but hinged on two elements – that the subdural hematoma doctors said killed the child was caused by blunt-force trauma and that the

Hancock’s Hyland-led defense team leaned heavily on the testimony of neurosurgeon Dr. Ronald Ucsinski, who said the brain injury could have been the result of a chronic condition caused when the child was delivered, as well as Hancock’s contention that another, heavier child had fallen on the boy. Hyland’s affidavit in Feburary said Ucsinski’s background as a neurosurgeon made him “much weaker” as an expert than the radiologists called by the state. Prosecutors countered with

CUT YOUR OWN TREE!

EMERALD INVESTMENTS MINI STORAGE 5'x10' $38 Month 10'x10' $60 Month 10'x15' $65 Month 10'x20' $80 Month 10'x25' $90 Month At Cleary Building Corp. 190 S. Paoli St., Verona WI (608) 845-9700

Serving the Verona Community for Over 40 Years! • Residential • Commercial

their own brain expert, Lucy Rorke-Adams, who said the pattern of bleeding could only have happened with a sudden trauma and said Stier was “absolutely wrong” not to notice the skull fracture.

SUMMERS CHRISTMAS TREE FARM -Since 1957-

Fir/Spruce Pine $70*Prices Incl. Tax $55 Cut your own Trees Precut Trees Christmas Shop Wreaths & Garlands

• Solar Systems • 24-Hour Service

Krantz Electric Inc. 2650 N. Nine Mound Rd., Verona 845-9156 www.krantzelectricinc.com

Open 8am-5pm Daily Open for the Season November 29

4610 Rocky Dell Road Middleton, WI (608) 831-4414

www.summerschristmastreefarm.com

adno=106726

Verona Press editor

What’s next

fracture in his leg was evidence the child was abused. Much of the trial focused on whether the subdural hematoma, a brain bleed, could have been caused by a medical condition or even at birth. But a child-abuse expert also testified the boy’s leg injury was essentially “a child-abuse diagnosis,” saying an accidental injury of that type – a compound, spiral fracture along the growth plate – was exceedingly rare. Stier told the State Journal in 2014 he still believed the evidence fit a theory of intentional harm but had since seen similar injuries that were not a result of abuse. An affidavit in the February filing states his certainty there was no skull fracture. “I would not testify that (Lincoln’s) death was caused by non-accidental inflicted injury,” he said then. “I would testify that there is no definitive cause of death.”

adno=80447

JIM FEROLIE

trial as a forensic pathologist for the state who performed the autopsy. He has since altered his stance, which had been that Hancock’s actions had definitively caused the baby’s death. His new stance – that he now could not say for sure that either the bleeding in the brain or the child’s leg injury were the result of abusive trauma – was revealed in a Medill Justice Project investigation in 2014 and 2015 about Hancock’s conviction and a 2014 Wisconsin State Journal story on the case. Hancock’s attorneys filed an appeal in 2014, but the appeals court affirmed the lower court’s decision in 2016, records state. A February filing requesting the trial contains an affidavit from Hyland saying he had initially expected the prosecution would present a case of shaken baby syndrome, rather than focusing on head trauma leading to a skull fracture. Stier did not report finding a skull fracture in the initial examination, but other experts, including a radiologist, said there was one. The prosecution’s response in August to the February filing argues Hyland still attempted to counter the state’s theory and that no new evidence warranting a new trial had been presented. The hearing continued Friday, Nov. 22, with testimony from Hyland and Janice Ophoven, a Minnesota forensic pathologist called by the defense. The prosecution has

adno=50020

Hancock attorneys say witness opinion, science has changed


4

November 28, 2019

Opinion

The Verona Press

ConnectVerona.com

Letter to the editor

Town residents need to take interest Nov. 19’s Town Of Verona meeting was a big disappointment! The Town has 2,000 residents but only 35 voted on a small tax levy increase recommended by the board. The levy increase was approved by a vote of 18 to 17. Knowledge of the Town’s

financial situation and caring enough to discuss it and vote is critical to our form of government. I hope residents will take more of an interest in the future. John Senseman Town of Verona

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.

Thursday, Nov. 28, 2019 • Vol. 55, No. 28 USPS No. 658-320

Periodical Postage Paid, Verona, WI and additional offices. Published weekly on Thursday by the Unified Newspaper Group, A Division of Woodward Communications, Inc. POSTMASTER: Send Address Corrections to The Verona Press, PO Box 930427, Verona, WI 53593.

Office Location: 133 Enterprise Drive, Verona, WI 53593 Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday Phone: 608-845-9559 • FAX: 608-845-9550 e-mail: veronapress@wcinet.com Circulation customer service: (800) 355-1892

ConnectVerona.com

This newspaper is printed on recycled paper.

General Manager Lee Borkowski lborkowski@wcinet.com Sales Manager Kathy Neumeister kathy.neumeister@wcinet.com Advertising Donna Larson veronasales@wcinet.com Classifieds ungclassified@wcinet.com Inside Sales Suzy Schleeper insidesales@wcinet.com

Circulation ungcirculation@wcinet.com News Jim Ferolie ungeditor@wcinet.com Sports Adam Feiner ungsportseditor@wcinet.com Community/Business Emilie Heidemann ungbusiness@wcinet.com Reporters Kimberly Wethal, Mark Nesbitt, Mackenzie Krumme, Neal Patten, Scott De Laruelle, Renee Hickman

In memory UNG Reporter Amber Levenhagen (1994-2019)

Unified Newspaper Group, a division of Woodward Communications,Inc. A Diversified, Employee-Owned Media Company Good People. Real Solutions. Shared Results. Printed by Capital Newspapers - Madison

Community Voices

As I’ve aged, Thanksgiving has come to mean so much more

T

hanksgiving has become my favorite annual holiday. But when I was a kid, I didn’t appreciate Thanksgiving the way I do now. At that time, the holiday was about one thing and one thing only: food. But starting in my college years, I began to see it differently. Though we never lived large when I Curtis was young, my mother went all out on our Thanksgiving feast. She made three kinds of pie, mounds of mashed potatoes, squash, vegetables, the best stuffing you will ever eat, and, of course, a turkey. We would often have people come to our tiny house at Thanksgiving. Typically, that was my grandmother, a couple my parents knew who had no other family in the area, assorted relatives and any of a dozen or so characters who wandered in and out of my family’s orbit through the years. I saw them mostly as extra mouths to help eat the food. Once the meal was over, that was it. Our guests went home, and we ate leftovers for the next several days. I didn’t see anything special about that. The one redeeming quality of Thanksgiving was it marked a four-day break from school, but even that was small potatoes when compared to the two weeks of teacher-free bliss that awaited us just three weeks later. And there were presents associated with that break.Thanksgiving paled in comparison.

Eventually, as I became a sports-obsessed teenager, Thanksgiving came to mean two extra televised football games for the week, even though the games featured the Lions and the Cowboys. It wasn’t much, but it was something on the positive side of the Thanksgiving ledger. It wasn’t until my college years that my view of Thanksgiving began to change. For many good reasons, I decided to get away from home for school, and Wisconsin seemed as exotic a place as any to get my degree. What I didn’t realize was just how far from New Hampshire I had situated myself. It was too far to drive home, and flying was much too expensive for a kid like me who struggled to pay tuition, especially on the busy holiday. I became a Thanksgiving vagabond. My freshman year, I was invited to a professor’s house. The next two years, I went to Illinois to spend the day with my roommate’s family. My senior year, I went north with my girlfriend for the first meeting with her family since she had agreed to become my wife. That last one was more stress than holiday, but that’s another story. It all worked out in the end. I imagine I felt the way the folks who came to my family’s house every year did. It was just nice to have somewhere to go. Suddenly, Thanksgiving wasn’t just about a bird in the oven. It was about getting together with people. It was about slowing down for one day to rest and enjoy a meal. It was about being grateful for those I missed and those who took me

in. To steal a line from another holiday’s television special, I realized something I hadn’t before that perhaps Thanksgiving meant a little bit more. My appreciation for Thanksgiving has grown since those college years. Most other holidays have been tainted by commercialism, faux patriotism, political correctness (sometimes with cause) or some other type of agenda. Thanksgiving, to its credit, endures. I’ve spent most Thanksgivings with my wife’s family in Elroy, a group that has come to love me, and I them, since that first Thanksgiving together 34 years ago. Last year, we traveled to New Hampshire fearing my mom might not have many more holidays to celebrate. I am thankful our worries were premature. My son has married a woman from Florida, and he finds his loyalties divided between the old and the new. Though I miss him when he travels south, I understand perhaps better than he realizes. This year I’m not sure who is going where for Thanksgiving. We might be traveling, or people might be coming to our house. My wife hasn’t let me in on the plan. What I do know is I will be thankful. I won’t be thankful for the turkey or pie or anything in particular. I will be thankful for everything. I hope you will be, too. Happy Thanksgiving, Verona. Karl Curtis is a City of Verona resident.

NATIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION

SUBSCRIPTION RATES One Year in Dane Co. & Rock Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $45 One Year Elsewhere . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $55 Verona Press Oregon Observer • Stoughton Courier Hub

Correction

An article in the Thursday, Nov. 14 edition of the Verona Press about Good Shepherd Lutheran Church misconstrued two details about their process to become more LGBT inclusive. The story has been corrected to say that there have

been no same-sex marriages conducted at the church as of current day, and that Syrenne McNulty started as chair of the task force in late 2018. The Press regrets the errors.


ConnectVerona.com

November 28, 2019

The Verona Road Business Coalition will provide holiday fun for the entire family from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. Various businesses in the northwestern FitchWhat: Jingle & Mingle burg and Verona areas will host the annual Jingle When: 9 a.m. to 5 pm. Saturday, Dec. 7 & Mingle. Events include visits with Santa and Where: Businesses along the Verona Mrs. Claus, strolling carolers, ornament and card Road corridor making, cookie decorating, holiday pet portraits, adult seasonal cocktails, ice sculptures, horseInfo: veronaroad.info drawn carriage rides and holiday planter decorating. The Verona and Fitchburg Chambers of ComAttendees will have the option of completing a Jingle & Mingle holiday passport to win priz- merce are also co-sponsors of this yearly event. For more information, visit veronawi.com. es. Passports will be considered “completed” if Contact Neal Patten, Verona Community attendees visit at least six of the 20 of the locaReporter at neal.patten@wcinet.com. tions.

If You Go

Live reindeer event changes location Event to be held at BRMS this year

Photo by Kimberly Wethal

“Rudolph” eats in his pen while his owner Jeff Phillips, who owns Reindeer Games with his wife Cindy, talks about the animals with attendees during the Reindeer! exhibit on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018 at the library.

have to enter through the front door of the school to get to the live reindeer, which will be located on the school playWhat: Live reindeer ground. When: 2-5 p.m. Saturday, Photos with the reindeer Dec. 14 will begin at 3:30 p.m. There will be free crafts for Where: Badger Ridge children inside the common Middle School, 740 N. area of the school beginning Main St. at 2 p.m. led by two of Verona Info: veronawi.com library’s children librarians. Live holiday music will be performed to entertain those fundraise for their culinary standing in line. program. Another change to the event For more information, call this year is that free snacks will not be provided. Instead, 845-5777. Contact Neal Patten, Verona culinary students from VeroCommunity Reporter at neal. na Area High School will be holding a bake sale to patten@wcinet.com.

If You Go

Holidays: Breakfast with Santa and ice sculpture demonstration part of celebration At noon, an ice sculpture demonstration will be held at Junction Park, 101 W. Railroad St. This Church. year, professional sculptors be creating wings out After the tree-lighting, Santa will arrive at Cen- of ice, tailor-made for Instagram posts. tral Park on a City of Verona fire truck. There will be other ice sculptures stationed Following the tree lighting at 5:30 p.m., the throughout the city as well. senior center will offer a place to warm up with the fire department’s 5-Alarm Chili Supper, crafts Jingle and Mingle From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., businesses all along the for kids and free pictures with Santa. At 9:30 a.m. Dec. 7, you can have breakfast Verona Road Corridor will be participating in the with Santa at State Bank of Cross Plains – Verona, Jingle & Mingle, presented by the Verona Road sponsored by the Verona Lions Club. Santa will Business Coalition, Verona Area Chamber of be available from 9:30-11:30 a.m. to visit with Commerce and the Fitchburg Chamber of Comchildren in the Bank’s Community Room located merce. The event, held in multiple locations throughin the lower level of the building. Balloon sculpting and face painting will enter- out western Fitchburg and Verona, will include tain the kids while they wait to see Santa. Healthy strolling carolers, family-friendly activities, ornasnack foods will be available after the kids visit ment and card making, holiday pet portraits, adult seasonal cocktails, ice sculptures, horse carriage Santa. The Verona Lions Club will also be provide and holiday gift markets. For more information, call 845-5777. free children’s vision screenings and collect non-perishable food items for the Badger Prairie Contact Neal Patten, Verona Community ReportNeeds Network during the event. er at neal.patten@wcinet.com. Continued from page 1

Continued from page 1 one tax-increment financing district and an overlapping one created last year. He compounded the mistake by transposing the decimal point so it was more than $50 million off. The city terminated Musser’s contract earlier this year. After the state Senate and Assembly each voted unanimously in favor of Senate Bill 269, which was designed expressly for Verona’s problem, the bill headed to Gov. Tony Evers’ desk. But the city didn’t wait to sign the bills before calculating and printing the checks. Evers’ staff notified city staff Tuesday, Nov. 19, he would sign the bill on Thursday, Nov. 21. In anticipation of the signing, the Department of Revenue agreed to allow refunds, city administrator Adam Sayre told the Press in an email. The law, which is worded as if it isn’t specific to Verona, is known as Act 37, and it reads that any excess tax increment from a reporting error above $50 million in that occurred in 2018 can be reimbursed from the general fund. A TIF district is an economic development tool used by cities to collect taxes from multiple jurisdictions, with the idea being that increased taxes would not have happened

Craft Fair Saturday, December 7, 2019 • 9am to 2pm

Electors approve 2.5% increase 18-17 KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group

Town of Verona electors approved the town’s request to increase the levy limit for the 2020 budget on a vote of 18-17. Annual meetings allow any eligible voter who has lived in the town for at least 10 days to vote on topics brought up there, including the town’s tax levy. The approved addition to the levy limit of 2.5% allows

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, the Salem United Church of Christ is hosting their annual Christmas bazaar and raffle, at 502 Mark Drive. Raffle tickets will be available with the drawing at noon. Some of the prizes include seven days and six nights at a time share condo with a number of location selections, queen-size quilt, cash prizes and gift bags. The lunch menu includes barbeque, assorted salads, rolls, drinks, pies and other desserts. Lunch costs $7 for adults, $3 for children 4 to 12 and free for children 3 years old and younger. This event is organized annually by the church’s Women’s Guild. The

adno=120986

town officials to add $28,000 to the $1.6 million budget, which is being stretched tight by increasing regional costs the town has little control over, town planner/administrator Amanda Arnold told the Press earlier this month. Those expenses include Fitch-Rona EMS services, of which the cost is set by a three-municipality district, including the cities of Verona and Fitchburg, and senior center costs, which are calculated based off of the number of potential residents that could be served by the Sugar River Senior Center in Belleville.

Normally municipalities are not allowed to go over the levy limit, but because the town has fewer than 3,000 residents, the town is legally allowed to exceed it with the approval of electors at its annual meeting. Electors who voted against the measure asked the town to re-evaluate the cost of certain expenses, including a future bridge replacement, or to find areas where they could cut the budget to stay within the levy limit. Email reporter Kimberly Wethal at kimberly.wethal@ wcinet.com and follow her on Twitter @kimberly_wethal.​

What: Salem UCC’s annual Christmas bazaar and raffle When: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 Where: Salem United Church of Christ, 502 Mark Dr. Info: salemchurchverona.org

proceeds raised from the missions in the community. For more information, call Women’s Guild Holiday Bazaar help to financially 845-7807. Contact Neal Patten, Verona support many of Salem’s programs and special charitable Community Reporter at neal. projects within the church and patten@wcinet.com.

TODDLE-IN NURSERY

CHRISTMAS TREES Large Group $ 20.00 each

Opening Date: November 29th Open Mon-Sat: 9am-8pm Sun: 9am-7pm

6000 Sun Valley Parkway, Oregon (1 mile west of Fish Hatchery Road) 608-835-2133 or 608-719-7570 www.sunvalleychristmastreesllc.com

If You Go

Large Selection of Premium Balsam & Fraser Fir & Pines, Wreaths & Garland Reasonably Priced

Cut your own & fresh cut trees

Proceeds benefit local missions of St. John’s.

without the funding. As a result, the error not only collected excess taxes from the city, but also from the Verona Area School District, the county and the technical college district. Sayre told the Press on Nov. 20 the city expects to mail the checks around Nov. 27. He added that in order to control costs, the city will not mail any checks of less than $10, though any such taxpayers can retrieve their refunds at Verona City Center, 111 Lincoln St. (Some taxpayers include personal property tax only). The refund is based on an assessed valuation of $.4392, and the average home is assessed this year at $272,000. Email Verona Press editor Jim Ferolie at veronapress@wcinet.com.​

Salem UCC to host annual Christmas bazaar Dec. 7

Fraser, Balsam, Canaan, Blue Spruce, White Pine, Garland, Tree Stands, Answer Stand Drill System Tall Trees Too!

Arts and Crafts, Home Party Vendors, Baked Goods, Lunch

Originally Senate Bill 269 Allows municipalities that had a value increment reporting error of more than $50 million in 2018 to transfer excess tax increment collections to the municipality’s general fund to reimburse taxpayers for the higher property tax rates resulting from the error.

Levy increase narrowly passes

Opening the Day after Thanksgiving 9-5 Hours: Sat. 9-5, Sun. 10-5, Mon.-Fri. 9-1

Friendship Room, 625 E. Netherwood, Oregon

Wisconsin Act 37

Town of Verona

Sun Valley Christmas Trees

St. John’s Lutheran Church

For more information contact Barb Carter at carterbarbjohn@yahoo.com

TIF: Homeowners overpaid by average of $119

adno=122671

The live reindeer event has a new location this year. From 2-5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14, the annual event is set to take place at Badger Ridge Middle School, 740 N. Main Street. This is the same event that has previously been held at the library for many years, but was relocated this year to provide more parking spaces and a warmer environment for attendees waiting in line. The doors will open at 2 p.m. There will be two lines, one for people who want to get a photo standing with the reindeer inside the sleigh or behind the reindeer and another line for people who want to observe the animals and get photos from outside the pens. Le Jordan, executive director for the Verona Area Chamber of Commerce, who is sponsoring the event, said the line for taking photos from outside of the pens will move quicker. This year, most of the waiting will be done inside as opposed to past years where the line was mostly outside. Jordan said attendees will

5

Hwy. 51 & Exchange Street McFarland, WI • 838-8972 Sales tax included on all Christmas purchases.

adno=120703

Verona Road Businesses’ Jingle & Mingle set for Dec. 7

The Verona Press


6

November 28, 2019

The Verona Press

ConnectVerona.com

Coming up

Churches

variety of flutes, including the piccolo, Coffee hour C flute, alto flute, bass flute, and conFrom 9-10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 2, trabass flute. you’re invited to the first-ever feedFor information, call 845-7180. back session with the new senior center director. As new Senior Center director Annual stop and shop Stephanie Ehle settles into her role, she From 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4, invites community members to an open The Draft House Bar and Restaurant, discussion hour for feedback and ideas. For more information, call 845-7471. 1010 Enterprise Drive, is hosting a variety of local businesses for an annual shopping event. Intro to Instagram Vendors this year include Signs by From 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3, learn Caitlin, Lime Life by Alcone, Norwex, about Instagram, a video and photo-sharing social media website/appli- Bag 31, Pampered Chef, Jewelry by Michele, Strider Northwoods Mercancation in a presentation at the library. This class will cover the basic fea- tile, Young Living Essential Oils, Jenny tures of Instagram such as how to Jo’s Style Bar, Scentsy, Arbonne, Burst upload photos and videos from your Oral Care, Lofty Sparrow, Keep You Charming and T-shirt Quilts & Weightsmart device to post to Instagram. Attendees are encouraged to bring ed Blankets by Christi Rebholz. There will be raffle prize giveaways their own smartphone or tablet to folthroughout the night. low along. For more information, call 848For more information, call 8453158. 7180.

Energy usage workshop

Flute performance

From 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. From 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3, the Madison Flute Club will perform a 4, the library is offering a workshop on selection of carols and other seasonal how to stay comfortable and safe while saving energy this winter. tunes at the library. Come listen to the sounds of a Laura Paprocki of Madison Gas and

Electric will discuss possible improvements, dispel myths, and answer any questions you have when it comes to your home’s energy use. Paprocki has done thousands of home energy audits and consultations on home improvements. Come discuss simple or complex ideas about the energy use in your home. For information, call 845-7180.

Fall prevention From 10-11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 5, Capitol Physical Therapy is providing a workshop about the increased risks of falling with snow and ice on the ground. This workshop will be held at the senior center. Learn about ways to prevent a fall happening to you. For more information, call 8457471.

Winter music recital From 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5 at the library, soloists and small groups of Verona Area High School music students will perform music fitting for the winter season. For information, call 845-7180.

Thursday, Nov. 28

Friday, Nov. 29

• 7-9 p.m., Live music: Jackie Ernst, Fisher King Winery, 1105 Laser Street, 497-1056

Saturday, Nov. 30

• 7-9 p.m., Live music: The Honey Pies, Fisher King Winery, 1105 Laser Street, 497-1056 • 8-11:30 p.m., Live music: Vehicle6, Riley Tavern, 8205 Klevenville-Riley Road, 845-9150

Sunday, Dec. 1

• 3:30-6:30 p.m., Live music: Dusty Roads, Riley Tavern, 8205 Klevenville-Riley Road, 845-9150

Monday, Dec. 2

• 9-10 a.m., Coffee with the Direc-

The Church in Fitchburg 2833 Raritan Rd., Fitchburg (608) 271-2811 livelifetogether.com Sunday: 8 & 10:45 a.m. Memorial UCC 5705 Lacy Rd., Fitchburg (608) 273-1008 memorialucc.org Interim Pastor Laura Crow Sunday: 9:30 a.m. Good Shephard Lutheran Church ELCA (608) 271-6633 Madison: Raymond Road & Whitney Way, Madison Sunday: 8:30 & 10 a.m.. Verona: Corner of Hwy. PD & Nine Mound Road, Verona Sunday: 9 & 10:30 a.m. & 6 p.m. Damascus Road Church – West The Verona Senior Center 108 Paoli St., Verona (608) 819-6451 info@damascusroadchurch.com, damascusroadonline.org Pastor Justin Burge Sunday: 10 a.m. Memorial Baptist Church 201 S. Main St., Verona (608) 845-7125 MBCverona.org Lead Pastor Jeremy Scott Sunday: 10:15 a.m.

Community calendar • 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Free Thanksgiving community meal, Memorial Baptist Church, 201 S. Main Street

All Saints Lutheran Church 2951 Chapel Valley Rd., Fitchburg (608) 276-7729 allsaints-madison.org Pastor Kristin Woelk Sunday: 8:30 & 10:45 a.m.

tor, senior center, 845-7471 • 10-10:30 a.m., Rendever virtual reality tour: seasonal travel, library, 845-7180 • 6:30-9 p.m., Plan Commission, City Hall, 111 Lincoln Street, 8456495

Tuesday, Dec. 3

• 6-8 p.m., Introduction to using Instagram, library, 845-7180 • 7-8 p.m., Celebrate the holidays with the Madison Flute Club, library, 845-7180

Wednesday, Dec. 3

• 4-5 p.m., Magic the Gathering trading card game, library, 8457180 • 6-9 p.m., Annual stop and shop, The Draft House Bar and Restaurant, 1010 Enterprise Drive, 8483158 • 6:30-8 p.m., How to stay comfort-

able and safe while saving energy this winter, library, 845-7180

Thursday, Dec. 5

• 8-9 a.m., Business builders breakfast, Brick House Studio (upstairs of The Purple Goose), 101 N. Main Street, 845-2368 • 10-11 a.m., Capitol Physical Therapy presentation on winter falling, senior center, 845-7471 • 4-5:30 p.m., Anime and manga club, library, 845-7180 • 5:30-6:30 p.m., Verona Area High School winter music recital, library, 845-7180 • 7-9 p.m., Verona Area Chamber’s Jingle Jingle Mix and Mingle, State Bank of Cross Plains, 108 N. Main Street, 845-5777 • 7:30-8:45 p.m., Webinar: ADHD sensory & anxiety workshop, Family First Chiropractic, 1029 N. Edge Trail, familyfirstverona.com

Redeemer Bible Fellowship 130 N. Franklin St., Verona (608) 845-1615 redeemerbiblefellowship.org Pastor Dwight R. Wise Sunday: 10 a.m. family worship Resurrection Lutheran Church – WELS 6705 Wesner Rd., Verona (608) 848-4965 rlcverona.org Pastors Nathan Strutz and Andrew Ewings, and Assistant Pastor Seth Krueger Thursday: 6:30 p.m. Sunday: 9 a.m. St. Christopher Catholic Parish St. Andrew Church 301 N. Main St., Verona St. William Church 1371 Hwy. PB, Paoli (608) 845-6613 stchristopherverona.com Fr. John Sasse, pastor Saturday: 5 p.m., St. Andrew, Verona Sunday: 7:30 a.m., St. William,

Paoli Sunday: 9 & 11 a.m., St. Andrew, Verona Daily Mass, Tuesday-Saturday: 8 a.m., St. Andrew, Verona

St. James Lutheran Church ELCA 427 S. Main St., Verona (608) 845-6922 stjamesverona.org Pastors Kurt M. Billings and Peter Narum Office Hours: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday; 8 a.m.-noon Wednesday Saturday Worship: 5 p.m. Sunday Worship: 8:30 and 10:45 a.m. Salem United Church of Christ 502 Mark Dr., Verona (608) 845-7315 salemchurchverona.org Rev. Dr. Mark E. Yurs, Pastor Sunday school for all ages: 9 a.m. Worship: 10:15 a.m. Fellowship: 11:30 a.m. Springdale Lutheran Church ELCA 2752 Town Hall Rd. (off Hwy ID), Mount Horeb (608) 437-3493 springdalelutheran.org Revs. Loren and Linda Schumacher Sunday: 8:45 a.m. with communion Sugar River United Methodist Church 415 W. Verona Ave., Verona (608) 845-5855 sugar.river@sugarriverumc.org, sugarriverumc.org Pastor Gary Holmes 9 & 10:30 a.m. contemporary worship. Sunday School available during worship. Refreshments and fellowship are between services. West Madison Bible Church 2920 Hwy. M, Verona (608) 845-9518 www.wmbiblechurch.org Pastor Dan Kukasky Jr. Sunday Worship: 9:15 a.m. Sunday School: 10:45 a.m. Zwingli United Church of Christ Hwy. 92 & G, Mount Vernon (608) 832-6677 Pastor Brad Brookins Sunday: 10:15 a.m. Zwingli United Church of Christ Hwy. 69 & PB, Paoli (608) 255-1278 paoliucc.com Pastor Rich Pleva Sunday: 9:30 a.m. family worship

What’s on VHAT-98 Saturday, Nov. 30 8 a.m. – Common Council from 11–25–19 11 a.m. – Vintage Verona Sports 1  p.m. – 2018 Wildcats Football 4:30  p.m. – Farmhouse Tour/Farm Toys at the Historical Society 6 p.m. – Common Council from 11–25–19 9 p.m. – Vintage Verona Sports 10 p.m. – Farmhouse Tour/ Farm Toys at the Historical Society 11 p.m. – Veterans Day/ Quilts of Valor Sunday, Dec. 1 7 a.m. – Hindu Cultural Hour 9  a.m. – Resurrection Church 10 a.m. – Salem Church Service Noon – Common Council from 11–25–19 3 p.m. – Vintage Verona Sports 4:30  p.m. – Farmhouse Tour/Farm Toys at the Historical Society 6 p.m. – Common Council from 11–25–19 9 p.m. – Vintage Verona Sports 10 p.m. – Farmhouse Tour/ Farm Toys at the Historical Society 11 p.m. – Veterans Day/

Quilts of Valor Monday, Dec. 2 7 a.m. – Diversity at Senior Center 1 p.m. – Bird Brothers at Senior Center 3 p.m. – Vintage Verona Sports 4 p.m. – Shoulder Pain at Senior Center 5  p.m. – 2018 Wildcats Football 6:30  p.m. – Plan Commission Live 9 p.m. – Hindu Cultural Hour 10 p.m. – Ron, Rosie & Rodger at Senior Center 11 p.m. – Veterans Day/ Quilts of Valor Tuesday, Dec. 3 7 a.m. – Ron, Rosie & Rodger at Senior Center 10 a.m.– Zumba Gold 9 a.m. – Daily Exercise 10 a.m. – Veterans Day/ Quilts of Valor 2 p.m.– Zumba Gold 3 p.m. – Daily Exercise 4 p.m. – Diversity at Senior Center 5 p.m. – Shoulder Pain at Senior Center 6  p.m. – Resurrection Church 8  p.m. – Diabetes/K9 Presentation at Senior Center 9 p.m. – Bird Brothers at Senior Center 10 p.m. – Farmhouse Tour/ Farm Toys at the Historical

Society Wednesday, Dec. 4 7 a.m. – Diversity at Senior Center 1 p.m. – Bird Brothers at Senior Center 3 p.m. – Vintage Verona Sports 5 p.m. – Plan Commission from 12–02–19 7 p.m. – Capital City Band 8 p.m. – Vintage Verona Sports 10 p.m. – Ron, Rosie & Rodger at Senior Center 11 p.m. – Veterans Day/ Quilts of Valor Thursday, Dec. 5 7 a.m. – Ron, Rosie & Rodger at Senior Center 8 a.m.– Zumba Gold 9 a.m. – Daily Exercise 10 a.m. – Veterans Day/ Quilts of Valor 2 p.m. – Zumba Gold 3 p.m. – Daily Exercise 4 p.m. – Diversity at Senior Center 5 p.m. – Shoulder Pain at Senior Center 6  p.m. – Salem Church Service 7  p.m. – Diabetes/K9 Presentation at Senior Center 8 p.m. – Daily Exercise 9 p.m. – Bird Brothers at Senior Center 10 p.m. – Farmhouse Tour/ Farm Toys at the Historical Society

Constancy in a Rapidly Changing World The first time I heard about the concept of “future shock,” a state of distress or disorientation due to rapid social or technological change,I was relatively young, still in high school, and I recall thinking that change isn’t that hard to deal with, and in fact can be exciting. As we age, however, there can be too much change in too short a period of time for us to adjust in a healthy way. While the young may adapt easily to their new phones or computers, many of us “old-timers”feel like every time our phone or computer is updated it is an annoyance, and we have to relearn how to do things that were simple yesterday.It doesn’t do much good to tell yourself that this is an opportunity to grow and learn something new, or that it’s helping to keep us mentally flexible.It is still annoying. One consolation is that there are always things to go back to which feel constant in this rapidly changing world, and the greatest of these is God. God, and God’s word, never changes. He is the immutable One which contains all of this change. Reading the Bible and saying our prayers is comforting, in part, because it never changes, and we realize that even if we live a hundred years, God will be there for us. –Christopher Simon

adno=16895

adno=48761

Thursday, Nov. 28 7 a.m. – Ron, Rosie & Rodger at Senior Center 8 a.m.– Zumba Gold 9 a.m. – Daily Exercise 10 a.m. – Veterans Day/ Quilts of Valor 2 p.m. – Zumba Gold 3 p.m. – Daily Exercise 4 p.m. – Diversity at Senior Center 5 p.m. – Shoulder Pain at Senior Center 6  p.m. – Salem Church Service 7  p.m. – Diabetes/K9 Presentation at Senior Center 8 p.m. – Daily Exercise 9 p.m. – Bird Brothers at Senior Center 10 p.m. – Farmhouse Tour/ Farm Toys at the Historical Society Friday, Nov. 29 7 a.m. – Diversity at Senior Center 1 p.m. – Bird Brothers at Senior Center 3 p.m. – Vintage Verona Sports 4 p.m. – Shoulder Pain at Senior Center 5  p.m. – 2018 Wildcats Football 9 p.m. – Vintage Verona Sports 10 p.m. – Ron, Rosie & Rodger at Senior Center 11 p.m. – Veterans Day/ Quilts of Valor


Business

ConnectVerona.com

November 28, 2019

The Verona Press

7

Home: Two months of renovations turned the space from Verona Woods to North and South North and South Seafood and Smokehouse

the DeForest location, JD Duncan. Krahn and Duncan worked together at Olive Garden for many years. “Madison and DeForest have been very supportive of getting this up and running,” 958 Liberty Drive Krahn said. After 18 years at Olive Gareatnorthandsouth.com den, Krahn worked at Cafe 497-0256 Hollander in Madison. This Hours: Monday through is his first time as a restaurant Thursday: 11 a.m. to owner. 10 p.m.; Friday and SatHe’s lived in Verona for urday: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; three years, previously residSunday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. ing in Fitchburg. Overall, the Kenosha native has been a resident of the Madison area for North and South. 15 years. The menu is the same at all It took two-and-a-half three restaurants but Krahn months of renovations to transform Verona Woods into said this location is the first

Photos by Neal Patten

The menu brings together smoked and barbecued items with seafood. to be true to the interior decorating style the Stoesz’s envisioned. The Madison location, he noted, still has an aquarium leftover in the front of the restaurant from the days of the

space being a Joey’s franchise. Despite being a first-time restaurant owner, Krahn feels pretty familiar with his job responsibilities from years of food industry experience.

Friends and Family

El Charro owners bring in trusted help to open Mexican restaurant NEAL PATTEN

El Charro Mexican Grill

Unified Newspaper Group

When Ruben and Beatriz Ramirez decided to open a second El Charro Mexican Grill, they enlisted some trusted help. The siblings, who co-own the Waunakee location, started by bringing on a business partner, Beatriz’s friend, Monica Covarrubias, to manage and co-own the new location, which opened Oct. 10 at 958 Liberty Drive on Verona’s southeast side. Then, they got help from Ruben’s uncle, Jose Valencia, who moved to Madison from North Carolina after 20 years of working as a cook there to help launch the Waunakee location last November and has helped get the Verona location started as well. And they brought in Ruben’s brother-in-law, Gabriel Onate, to help the whole crew renovate the interior from the previous inhabitant, 4 Sisters Tapas Restaurant, so they could afford rent in the new building. 4 Sisters closed in February after a little under a year-and-a-half of operation. Rather than hire contractors, Covarrubias said, Ramierez’s family painted, cleaned and built as much of it as possible. They constructed their own margarita glass ceiling rack out of wood and put up a stone backsplash behind the bar, which was a plain wall when 4 Sisters occupied the space. Covarrubias said carpentry comes to the family just as easily as cooking. “We got stuff done on our own,” Covarrubias said. El Charro brings Verona its second Mexican-themed restaurant, joining the TexMex fare served at Pasqual’s Cantina. A previous Mexican restaurant, Cuco’s, closed in late 2017 to make way for Monk’s. “Charro,” which means “ c ow b o y ” i n S p a n i s h , was chosen as the restaurant’s namesake because of Ramirez’s childhood love of horses and farms. Ramirez grew up in rural Mexico, but moved to Madison when he was 15 to live with his sister, who had already relocated there. He worked at Mi

958 Liberty Dr. 497-0165 Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday

Photo by Neal Patten

Manager and co-owner Monica Covarrubias filters her homemade sangria. Cocina in Middleton for six years. After a three year return to Mexico, he moved to Mount Horeb with his wife, Laura, in 2010. He then worked at Laredo’s Mexican Restaurante east side location in Madison and spent five years at the Courtyard by Marriott in Middleton. After years hosting, waiting, cooking and making drinks, he decided it was time to own his own restaurant . Covarrubias attested to Ruben’s strong work ethic. “Wherever help is needed, Ruben plugs in,” she said. “He is always checking if everything is OK.” Covarrubias has lived in Fitchburg for years. She had past experience working as

a hotel cook and barista. She agreed to help the Ramirezs operate El Charro in Verona because she is raising money for her wedding next year. While she said she doesn’t drink much, one of Covarrubias’ main contributions is helping to expand the bar menu. The Waunakee location is more limited in its bar options, Covarrubias said. Covarrubias makes the house sangria herself. She also ensures there will be plenty of Mexican domestic and craft beer selections on the menu including Tecate, which she said is hard to find, and introduced the ‘brava ring’ – a sweet and spicy salt/sugar mix for rimming drink glasses. She also added area drink selections, including wine from

Liberty Park neighbor Fisher King Winery and Wisconsin beer from Potosi Brewery. While they already have many regulars after a monthand-a-half of business, Covarrubias said they aimed for a low-key start so they could all adjust to operating a second location. She said soon they will begin more promotions to get it busier, such as kids eating for half-price on Mondays.

We

“The day to day tasks are the same, but you take a lot more pride in what you do because it’s your own,” Krahn said. There is a meat smoker on premise, and the restaurant smokes all its meats on site daily such as whole brisket and pork. The restaurant provides four barbecue sauces at every table, which are made in house, including Carolina Mustard, Spicy Whisky, the Smokey Smokey and Kansas City Sweet. The sauces and dry rubs originate from Erin’s family recipes. However, Krahn said Keith has had a lot to do with the recipes, as well. The restaurant is already hosting a variety of local businesses and organizations. First

Weber Bank recently held a party for 50 staff members, the Verona Fire Department is holding an upcoming party for its firemen there and on Nov. 30, the Madison ESPN radio pregame on show announcers will come in and try some of the food live on air. Krahn looks forward to the Verona location of North and South Seafood and Smokehouse being as successful as the first two. “I’m excited to work with a family oriented, family run restaurant that believes community is the most important part of their success,” he said. “I am excited that Verona has welcomed and accepted us.” Contact Neal Patten, Verona Community Reporter at neal. patten@wcinet.com.

Business in brief Rosie Massage Spa opens There’s a new massage and spa business in the community. Rosie Massage Spa had its grand opening earlier this autumn on 1057 North Edge Trail. The spa offers various massage packages at different time intervals and can be reached at 421-2849.

Remodeling businesses win awards Several Verona remodeling businesses have received awards for their work in the community from NARI of Madison, Inc. Schorr Construction, Inc. won NARI’s Lifetime

Achievement award. Kim DiMaggio, Verona, received the President’s Award. Zander Solutions LLC, Rockweller Insulation, Inc., OK Heating & A/C, Inc. and R & D Drywall, Inc. received the Team Member honor.

Postal Connections recognized for top sales Dane and Laura Brennan, owners of Postal Connections, were awarded for their sales achievements during the brand’s annual convention in Dallas earlier this year. The business, launched in 2008, offers access to postal products, shipping with leading carriers, freight, printing, creative services, printing, copying, fax and other services.

Get Connected Find updates and links right away. Add us on Facebook and Twitter as “Verona Press”

BELIEVE

in

Personal Service

The Verona Area Chamber of Commerce recognizes the Business of the Month!

Yarn ◆ Espresso ◆ Café

125 S. Main Street • Verona, WI (608) 848-2755 • www.knitandsip.com For information about Verona and the business community visit www.veronawi.com adno=115314

Visit our friendly bankers in the drive-up or lobby!

108 E. Verona Avenue, Verona 608-845-0108 | www.CapitolBank.com

adno=115161

Continued from page 1


8

Thursday, November 28, 2019

The

Verona Press For more sports coverage, visit: ConnectVerona.com

Sports

Adam Feiner, sports editor

845-9559 x226 • ungsportseditor@wcinet.com

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

Girls hockey

Raaths powers Metro Lynx past Icebergs MARK NESBITT Assistant sports editor

L ow n u m b e r s o n S y d n e y Raaths’ Madison Capitols club team proved to be a blessing in disguise. For the first time in her career, Raaths is playing prep hockey as a member of the Madison Metro Lynx in addition to her time with the Capitols. The senior forward made her presence felt right away in the season opener with four goals and three assists in the Metro Lynx’s 10-3 victory over the Icebergs co-op in a Badger Conference game Saturday, Nov. 23, at the Mandt Community Center in Stoughton. “It’s a pretty good way to start a whole new journey with this team,” Raaths said. “It’s an awesome opportunity to play with other girls I go to school with around Madison. It’s the perfect combination. I’m so lucky. It’s great camaraderie with both teams.” The Metro Lynx outshot the Icebergs 69-15. The Lynx’s top line posted eight goals and six assists. Senior forward Abby Ahlborn netted three goals. Sophomore forward Kaya Pelton-Byce had two goals and two assists, and sophomore defenseman Lauren Johnson added two assists. “We have been practicing a few weeks with no games,” Metro Lynx coach Mike McKersie said. “There was a lot of energy. We came out hard and fast.” The Lynx scored two goals in the first 1:23 of the first period. Raaths scored her first goal off an assist from Johnson just 50 seconds into the game. “The first shift I was a little nervous,” Raaths said. “I got the puck and there was a lot of space, so I went all the way down and

Photo by Mark Nesbitt

Madison Metro Lynx senior forward Sydney Raaths (right) races the puck up the ice against the Icebergs on Saturday, Nov. 23, at the Mandt Community Center in Stoughton. Raaths scored four goals and dished out three assists in the Lynx’s 10-3 victory. shot it. It was a pretty good start.” Pelton-Byce scored 13 seconds later. Ahlborn added a goal on a pass from Raaths to extend the Lynx’s lead to 3-0 with 8:30 left in the opening period. Icebergs junior forward Izzy Newton got her team on the board, scoring on a rebound at 5:33. Nineteen seconds later, Pelton-Byce scored off assists from Raaths and sophomore

Grace Bonnell. Icebergs senior Aeryn Olson scored off assists by Newton and junior Sydney Schipper to cut the Lynx’s lead to 4-2 late in the first period. Newton scored off assists from Schipper and Olson 43 seconds into the second half, but the Lynx answered 23 seconds later. Raaths scored off a pass from freshman defenseman Sam Olander to take a 5-3 lead.

“They got a couple of backdoor goals when we got caught staring at the puck,” McKersie said. “We gave them a couple of breakaway chances and fortunately Cam (McKersie) made a couple of really nice saves on those or else it could have changed in the middle part of that second period.” Ahlborn scored her second goal and Raaths scored her third goal for the hat trick later in the second

to extend the Lynx’s lead to 7-3. The Lynx closed the third period with three goals. Ahlborn completed her hat trick off assists by Raaths and senior defenseman Josie Dragoo at the 11:34 mark. Thirty seconds later, Raaths scored off a pass by Ahlborn. Junior forward Ava Jambor capped the scoring off an assist by junior defenseman Ava Downing.

Girls basketball

Wildcats edged by Stoughton, rebound against Parker MARK NESBITT Assistant sports editor

Senior guard Rayna Briggs had the ball in her hands and lined up a potential game-tying 3-pointer at the top of the key. It wasn’t how Verona coach Angie Murphy drew up the final play with 19.6 seconds left and the Wildcats trailing by three in their season opener at Stoughton on Tuesday, Nov. 19, but sometimes a defense like the Vikings’ makes players improvise. With Stoughton senior guard Myranda Kotlowski face-guarding her, Briggs rose to shoot a 3. Kotlowski deflected the ball and Verona freshman Abbi Rupnow scooped up the ball on the wing, but her 3-point attempt at the buzzer bounced off the rim as the Wildcats fell 46-43. “I don’t think we moved the ball very well at the end of the game,” said Briggs, who scored a game-high 23 points. “We obviously have to move the ball more. We’ve only had one week of practice. We will get better as

we go. I’m not too worried.” Stoughton sophomore Mya Davidson, a transfer from Harlem (IL) High School, buried two free throws with 27.1 seconds left. She scored a teamhigh 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds off the bench to help the Vikings overcome an 11-point deficit in the second half. Briggs was a thorn in the side of the Vikings with her outside shooting touch. She knocked down five 3-pointers. “We adjusted how we guarded her,” Stoughton coach Brad Pickett said of Briggs. “We wanted her to put it on the floor more, step up and take a charge, or force her to kick it out and make someone else beat us.” Briggs drilled two 3-pointers early in the second half to make it 36-25 Wildcats, but the Vikings responded with a 17-5 run to take the lead with 3:54 left. Verona junior Katie Pederson scored on a putback to give the Wildcats a 43-42 lead with 1:47 to go, but Davidson scored in the

the Vikings’ lead to 23-22. “In the first half, we were really working together,” Briggs said. “In the second half, we kind of got away from that.” Verona had 13 of their 18 turnovers in the second half, and shot 47% from the free-throw line (8-for-17). Parman added seven points, and Pederson helped with five points and eight rebounds.

Verona 61, Janesville Parker 38

Photo by Mark Nesbitt

Verona junior Katie Pederson (right) battles Stoughton sophomore Mya Davidson for a loose ball in the second half on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at Stoughton High School. The Wildcats lost 46-43. post 17 seconds later to put the Vikings ahead for good. Stoughton opened the game with a 17-4 run. Verona caught fire late in the

first half and closed on a 21-6 run to take a 25-23 lead at intermission. Briggs drilled two 3s and made a layup, and senior Rachel Parman knocked down a 3 to cut

The Wildcats got off to a fast start in the first half and rolled to a Big Eight Conference home win over the Vikings on Saturday, Nov. 23. Verona (1-1, 1-0 Big Eight) jumped out to a 10-point lead at the half. The Wildcats outscored the Vikings 33-20 in the second half. Parman scored a game-high 17 points, and Briggs added 16 points. Freshman Megan Murphy pitched in 11 points, and sophomore Lexi Stremlow chipped in seven points.


The Verona Press

ConnectVerona.com

November 28, 2019

Epic: Castaway building construction planned for 2021

Charles “Charlie, Chuck” Putney

Renderings courtesy Cuningham Group

A view from the north of Castaway shows elements of an 18th century ship. Continued from page 1 The project description states that the Jules Verne building, based around books by Verne including Around the World in 80 Days and Twenty-Thousand Leagues Beneath the Sea, will eventually be connected to the Mystery building via a skyway. It also stated that the company plans to start Mystery’s construction in 2020. Like the majority of the buildings at Epic, the Mystery building will be constructed on top of an existing campus parking structure. Epic plans to begin Castaway’s construction in 2021. Construction timelines will depend on when the projects are approved by the city. Never since the original deal to bring Epic to Verona was made in 2002 has a city decision delayed approval of an Epic office building. In addition to the initial review of the project development plan, the commission will consider whether to recommend allowing Epic to consolidate 23 parcels into one parcel and two outlots (plot of undeveloped land), which are all contained on the company’s existing property. The buildings keep with Epic’s tradition of limiting the number of offices in any one building to 350 and the number of floors to three. Its first campus limited that number to about 300 per building, and its second campus put 1,800 in four buildings, but the 13 buildings

A view from the north of the proposed Mystery building. approved since then and the two proposed have all kept to 350 or fewer. This would be the first campus to exceed five buildings. Mystery, located east of Jules Verne, and Castaway, east of Oz, would both be behind the large earthen berm the company constructed at the request of neighbors to block the campus from the neighborhoods to the south and east. Castaway has a mostly metal and wood facade with a Tudor look, but several elements suggesting a large ship, including a crow’s nest, masts, an exterior ladder and a helm. The plans for Mystery show a facade made mostly of brick, copper and stone, evoking a Gothic Revival style. The challenge in creating buildings, Epic staff told the Press last year, is making sure the scale of the building can be done in such a way that the look of the buildings is

natural with its design. Some of Epic’s other campuses have architectural features imitating other types of buildings, real or literary. The Farm Campus, on its far south end, has three buildings known as Barn, Shed and Stable. Its Wizards Academy Campus contains five buildings that resemble buildings in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter stories, including Great Hall, Library and Observatory, and the Storybook Campus features include the Alice building, which has one area designed to look like an upside-down home from “Alice in Wonderland.” Employees have a say in the new construction, as they’re allowed to submit suggestions for the themes of the new buildings. Verona Press editor Jim Ferolie contributed to this story. Renee Hickman can be contacted at renee.hickman@wcinet.com.

Charles “Charlie, Chuck” Putney, age 70 of Verona, died on Nov. 23, 2019, from congestive heart failure, myasthenia gravis, rheumatoid arthritis, extreme neuropathy, and etc. at Agrace HospiceCare, Inc. in Fitchburg. He was born on June 16, 1949, in DeSoto, Iowa, the sixth son and seventh child born to Ray Jackson and Vivian Lucille (Myers) Putney. By the age of 18, he had gone to five different schools and lived in three different states, on seven different farms and in a parsonage. Some of Charlie’s formative years were spent on very large farms around Sioux Falls, Sout Dakota, where the many hired hands, some were parolees from the local prison, worked the 2,000 acres of crop land, milked the dairy herds, and raised beef and hogs. Charlie spent countless hours working in the fields and herding cattle on horseback as a cowboy. He graduated from Blanchardville High School in 1967. He was united in marriage to Susan Meyer at the “Little Brown Church in the Vale” at Nashua, Iowa in 1968. Together, they raised their son and daughter Scott and Jane. Charlie was especially proud of his kids, and loved them very much. His greatest pleasure in life was giving to them and to his grandchildren. He will be fondly remembered for his wit and sense of humor. Charles was a member of Construction Laborers Local 464, and worked for many years for J. H. Findorff, doing much of the “High” work on UW-Hospital in the 1970s. He was

9

Charles “Charlie, Chuck” Putney

proud of his work ethic and construction experience. In 1986, after three years of doing both jobs, he quit construction to become a full time dairy farmer. Charlie was fond and proud of his Registered Jersey Cattle. After becoming diabetic in 1995, he and Susan sold the dairy herd in 1997. At the age of 48, he went back to school at Madison Area Technical College earned his associates degree, and became a state license building inspector for the City of Verona, Wisconsin. Charles is survived by his wife, Susan, son Scott (Beth) Putney, daughter Jane Rolfsmeyer, three grandchildren Anna Putney and Marlee and Chandler Rolfsmeyer, and a brother Max (Karen) Putney. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Richard, Irvin, Jack, Rex, sister Janice Joanne Ryman, and brother-in-law Glen Ryman. P e r C h a r l i e ’s w i s h e s he will be inurned alongside his brother Jack in the Graves Cemetery, rural Brooklyn, Wisconsin. No formal services will be held. The Becker-Beal Funeral Home of Belleville is assisting the family. Online condolences may be given at bealfuneralhomes.com

Verona Ice Arena celebrates 25 years NEAL PATTEN Unified Newspaper Group

On Sunday, Nov. 24, the Verona Ice Arena hosted a free open skate from 2-4:30 p.m. to celebrate 25 years of business. The arena opened in October 1994 as the Eagles Nest Ice Arena. Mike O’Brien, president of Ice, Inc., which owns the Verona Ice Arena, estimated 300-400 people attended the event. He said they ran out of skates.

On the Web

Brody Nimmow gets a pep talk from his dad William.

To see more photos of the Verona Ice Arena, visit:

ConnectVerona.com They served 200 complimentary ice creams donated by Culver’s and 230 hot dogs they provided themselves. Around 60 children received free face paintings. Contact Neal Patten, Verona Community Reporter at neal. patten@wcinet.com.

Photo by Neal Patten

Local churches heading holiday charitable donations and giving Many contributions stay within Verona community

by St. Vincent de Paul will be the recipients of the gifts and gift cards. Donations are requested by Dec. 1. Donors may place unwrapped NEAL PATTEN gifts under the tree. Unified Newspaper Group Church doors are unlocked until 7 p.m. for item drop-off, or donors People who are looking to donate may bring gifts during church office to local charitable causes in Verona hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monhave a few options this holiday sea- day to Friday, to the church at 301 son. N. Main Street. There are a variety of Verona churches who are providing oppor- St. James Evangelical tunities for community members to Lutheran Church help make a difference, even if they St. James Evangelical Lutheran are not members. Church’s Women’s Circle is putting St. Andrew Catholic Church together holiday gift bags that will St. Andrew Catholic Church has a be delivered to the Badger Prairie giving tree with a variety of request- Needs Network. These gift bags will be for chiled items listed on tags. The residents at Badger Prairie Health Care Cen- dren in need. The bags will include ter, students in need at Verona Area books, treats, toothbrushes and Schools and those children served stuffed animals.

Items will be collected until Dec. 1. Donors can bring them to church during office hours, 8 a.m. 4 p.m., Monday to Friday, at 427 S. Main Street.

Salem UCC

Salem United Church of Christ is accepting donations of new mittens, gloves, scarves, hats and socks for individuals of all ages. Items can be placed in the gift boxes under the trees on the church altar. These items will be distributed by the Badger Prairie Needs Network throughout the winter to those in need in the community. The church is located at 502 Mark Drive.

Sugar River United Methodist Church

Sugar River United Methodist Church holds an annual diaper

drive to collect diapers for the Badger Prairie Needs Network. Diapers can be donated through Christmas Eve. The church high school youth group is also selling cookies from 10-10:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 15 to raise money for a mission trip to South Dakota to serve the Oglala Lakota Sioux tribe community. Community members can donate cookies and other baked goods to the sale. The church is also home to the Verona Area School District community closet. The closet is a generalized location that area school social workers get supplies for youth in times of need, which includes grocery and gas gift cards, winter gear, blankets and toiletries. All local social workers have 24/7 access to the closet to fulfill basic

needs during times of crisis. Currently there is a need for gloves, mittens, new socks and new underwear donations for the VASD community closet. Donations can be brought to Sugar River UMC, at 415 W. Verona Ave.

West Madison Bible Church The West Madison Bible Church is collecting donations to purchase an electric rickshaw as transportation for one of their missionaries in Indonesia. In order to purchase the equipment, church patrons have a goal of raising $3,800 by the end of the year. The church is located at 2920 Cty. Hwy. M in the town of Verona. Contact Neal Patten, Verona Community Reporter at neal.patten@wcinet.com.


10

November 28, 2019

The Verona Press

ConnectVerona.com

Verona Police Department welcomes two new officers NEAL PATTEN Unified Newspaper Group

Two new police officers were officially sworn in Monday night, Nov. 11, in front of the Common Council. Verona police chief Bernie Coughlin introduced Anthony Finger and Samantha Pickering, providing a brief background on each. Both started at the Verona Police Department on April 8 and completed the 720-hour training at Law Enforcement Academy at Southwest Technical College in Fennimore on Sept. 24, 2019. Finger earned his bachelor of science degree in criminal justice, with a minor in Spanish, from UW-Milwaukee in 2011. After graduation from college, Finger worked in the Milwaukee County Jail and Courthouse for a nonprofit pretrial services organization that provided case management services for defendants while out on bond. In that job, he also conducted pretrial investigations on new arrestees in the jail

to determine bond and release conditions. Finger then worked in Madison as a probation and parole agent with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. While in that job, he earned certification as a Department of Corrections security threat groups specialist. As an agent, he worked a d ive r s e c a s e l o a d , C o u g h l i n explained, with varying criminal offenses and offenders, including being the liaison agent for the Dane County Veteran’s Treatment Court. Pickering attended UW-Whitewater and graduated in 2012 with a major in sociology and an emphasis in criminal justice. Upon graduation from college, Pickering began a career in loss prevention. She worked in that field for six years. Numerous family members of Finger and Pickering were in attendance to witness the swearing-in. Contact Neal Patten, Verona Photo by Neal Patten Community Reporter at neal.pat- Verona police chief Bernie Coughlin introduces new officers Anthony Finger and Samantha Pickering to the ten@wcinet.com. Common Council on Monday, Nov. 11

POLICE REPORTS and was cited for a curfew violation, tobacco possession and non-registration, in addition to operating without a license. 11:11 a.m. A 44 year old Madison woman was warned for trespassing in the St. Vincent de Paul store after she Aug. 12 was found concealing mer9:53 a.m. It was report- chandise in her purse. ed that a healthy woodchuck had been changing around Aug. 17 the Acadia Way neighborhood 8:42 a.m. Police warned a for “an extended time.” Con- man who was walking along sidering the animal was not the shoulder of U.S. Hwy. 151 injured or sick, it could not during his walk/hitch-hike to be taken care of by police or Omaha, Nebraska, to not walk animal control. It was recom- along the highway. An officer mended the homeowner con- suggested he could use the Military Ridge Bicycle Trail tact a pest control service. instead. A few hours later, he Aug. 13 was transported to detox after 8:58 a.m. A woman re- he was found pounding on ported that her son’s car had vehicles in the Park Bank parkbeen approached by a group ing lot and had a preliminary of juveniles twice during the breath test reading of .438. overnight hours on Tama2:26 p.m. Police checked rack Court. The car alarm’s Badger Prairie County Park scared the group off the first after they received a report of time, and the juveniles left the an older man pressuring peosecond time after the woman ple to get their dogs to attack flashed a light in her house. his dog. An officer could not locate the man throughout the Aug. 14 park. 1:53 a.m. A man reported 4:44 p.m. An Evansville seeing two white men look woman was taken to detox afinside his car with a flashlight ter she was found intoxicated around 30 seconds after he and walking into traffic on the parked it on Horizon Drive. 100 block of Enterprise Drive.

in the Town of Verona, to the Dane County Sheriff’s Office. 2:55 p.m. A man called police to assist him with an unknown person walking in his backyard. The man, who does not speak English, did not have the ability to tell the person to leave his property. 3:41 p.m. Police helped a Verona woman search her vehicle for GPS tracking devices after she was concerned about being stalked after seeing the same person repeatedly in the cities of Fitchburg, Madison and Middleton. No devices were found. 9:25 p.m. Police received a tip of a person shooting rabbits with a .22 rifle near Jenna Drive. Police could not find anyone in the area shooting rabbits.

Aug. 15 6:58 a.m. Police cleaned up spilled fuel off of the on-ramp to U.S. Hwy. 151 off of Old PB after a fuel tank fell out of the back of a man’s pickup truck. 5:59 p.m. Police assisted a man with removing a ground squirrel from the garage door pull wire at his home on the 200 block of East Whispering Pines Way. The animal was removed and the door was able to be closed. 8:05 p.m. Police removed an injured rat that was “beyond help” from outside an entrance at Miller and Sons Supermarket.

Aug. 19 11:59 a.m. Two Denmark citizens were warned for riding their bikes on U.S. Hwy. 151. The two, who are biking from San Francisco to New York City, were directed to use Military Ridge Trail to continue their journey.

Aug. 25 11:51 p.m. A 41 year old Madison man was arrested for his third OWI offense after being stopped for speeding on East Verona Avenue. He was transported to Meriter for a blood draw and was booked into the Dane County Jail.

Aug. 20 7:34 p.m. Two teenagers admitted to hitting rocks with golf clubs into the roadway along Old PB. The rocks struck a man’s vehicle, who reported the behavior to the police. The teenagers’ parents agreed to pay for any damage on the vehicles.

Aug. 26 3:53 p.m. A Farm and Fleet manager reported that a man had come into the dressing room of the store with a pile of clothes, left while wearing them and left behind a bloody shirt.

Aug. 16 2:20 a.m. A vehicle that was registered as missing the day prior was found being driven by the family’s 15 year old daughter. The teenager was transported to the JRC

Aug. 23 11:12 a.m. Police forwarded information received in an anonymous letter in the mail about an abandoned vehicle on Hula Drive, which is located

ficers arrived on scene. Aug. 28 4:14 p.m. A man reported a possible burglary after he found his downstairs closet door to have been opened while he was sleeping. A review of security camera footage found the door had been blown open by the wind coming in from his outside doors. Aug. 31 4:54 p.m. A man reported that his home and his vehicle were struck by paintball gun bullets as they were leaving the residence. The man told police he didn’t know the person that shot at his home.

is supposed to have no contact with as a condition of his parole. The driver was given numerous traffic citations and the man was taken to jail. 7:03 p.m. Police reprimanded a person who got out of their vehicle and started yelling at a driver of a vehicle ahead of them for not turning right on a red light at an East Verona Avenue intersection.

for not wearing a seatbelt. He and all of his passengers were found to have recently smoked marijuana. 11:49 p.m. A 27 year old man was cited for his first OWI after he was stopped for swerving in and out of his lane. Sept. 6 1:40 p.m. A man reported that an unknown person had messed with the rear tire quick release on his son’s bike during school hours the day prior, which caused the back tire to come off the bike and resulted in his son breaking his leg and nose, and possibly tear his ACL and MCL.

Sept. 3 12:27 a.m. A 30 year old Verona man was cited for his second OWI offense after being stopped for speeding on Lincoln Street. 4:48 p.m. A woman was warned for her cat roaming around the neighborhood after it left a dead rabbit head in Sept. 7 10:04 p.m. Police removed a neighbor’s yard on the 500 a lawn chair from the road on block of Harvest Lane. 7:52 p.m. A 17 year old boy U.S. Hwy. 151. was arrested for his first OWI – Kimberly Wethal offense after being stopped

Sept. 1 2:20 p.m. A man was arrested for bail jumping after he was found hiding in the Aug. 24 4:47 p.m. An officer chal- trunk of his vehicle, which was lenged a young basketball being driven by a person he player to a game of one-onone basketball while on patrol. The officer eventually won the game, but not easily. 9:31 p.m. A 58 year old Madison man was arrested for his second OWI offense after he was seen swerving all over the road on U.S. Hwy. 151. The man was also cited for possession of marijuana and Wednesday, December drug paraphernalia.

Holiday deadlines

Aug. 27 2:38 p.m. A State Bank of Cross Plains employee reported that two individuals came into the bank and tried to cash a fraudulent check into a recently opened bank account. The two were gone before of-

25, 2019 Great Dane Shopping News

Display Advertising: Wednesday, December 18 at 3pm Classified Advertising: Thursday, December 19 at Noon

Thursday, December 26, 2019 Community Papers Display & Classified Advertising: Thursday, December 19 at Noon

Wednesday, January 1, 2020 Great Dane Shopping News Display Advertising: Monday, December 23 at 3pm Classified Advertising: Thursday, December 26 at Noon

Thursday, January 2, 2020 Community Papers Display & Classified Advertising: Thursday, December 26 at Noon

Our offices will be closed December 25, 2019 and January 1, 2020

845-9559, 835-6677 or 873-6671

adno=123337

Aug. 11 1:03 p.m. A 42 year old Madison woman was arrested for bail jumping and operating without a license after she was stopped on Enterprise Drive for a defective tail light.


ConnectVerona.com Antiques

Storage Spaces For Rent

LOST DOG. Have you seen Katie? Very shy, Black-Tan, Female, Yorkshire Terrier is missing. Please do not chase her. Please text or call us at 608-4695439 or 608-469-5440 if you have seen her or have any information. $2000 Reward if brought home safely. For more info., see our FB page: BRING KATIE HOME.

BUYING US Gold & Silver Coins and Collectibles. Call 608-988-6406 Rick Miles Coin.

ALL SEASONS SELF STORAGE 10x10 10x15 10x20 10x25 10x30 Security Lights-24/7 access OREGON/BROOKLYN CALL 608-444-2900

Help Wanted EXPERIENCED SNOWPLOW Driver needed in Oregon, WI. 608-206-1548.

Services

Miscellaneous

A&B ENTERPRISES Light Construction Remodeling No job too small 608-835-7791

SEASONED SPLIT OAK, Hardwood. Volume discount. Will deliver. 608609-1181.

RECOVER PAINTING currently offering winter discounts on painting, drywall and carpeting. Recover urges you to join in the fight against cancer, as a portion of every job is donated to cancer research. Free estimates, fully insured, over 20 years of experience. Call 608-270-0440.

Pets ADORABLE PUREBRED Golden Retriever puppies, first shots, wormed, parents on site, $500. 608293-1994 . GOLDEN MINI DOODLES, F1B, M-F, $1500. Vet checked, shots, ready to go! 563-212-7307. STANDARD AKC Poodle puppies, champion bloodlines, 3 males, 2 females, clear health panel, potential for service dogs, approx. adult weight 30-35lb., pet price $1200. Serious inquiries only. Text 563-495-0926. www.hollyspoodles.com. TWO FEMALE Boston Terrier puppies $500 each, Platteville. 608-7325052. RED & Blue Heeler puppies for sale. Both parents on site. Ready 12-2-19. $100 each. David Miller, 2815 Wren Lane, Fennimore, WI 53809.

0572 2019-08-29 SNOW PLOWING Residential & Commercial Fully Insured. 608-873-7038 or 608-669-0025

Lawn & Garden 42" SNOW BLOWER ATTACHMENT for John Deere Series 100 Tractors. Hardly used. $850. 608-692-1315. SNOW BLOWER. 22 horsepower Husqvarna Tractor complete with 40-inch snow blower, 42-inch lawn mower, and Precision Trailer. Located in Stoughton. 608.438.3380.

Wanted WE BUY Junk Cars and Trucks. We sell used parts. Monday thru Friday 8am-5:30pm. Newville Auto Salvage 279 Hwy 59, Edgerton 608-884-3114

Rentals GREENWOOD APARTMENTS. Apartments for Seniors 55+,currently has 1 & 2 bedroom units available starting at $810 per month, includes heat, water, and sewer. 608-835-6717 Located at:139 Wolf St., Oregon, WI 53575 ROSEWOOD APARTMENTS for Seniors 55+. 1 & 2 bedroom units available starting at $810 per month. Includes heat, water and sewer. Professionally managed. Located at 300 Silverado Drive, Stoughton, WI 53589. 608-877-9388

DEER POINT STORAGE Convenient location behind Stoughton Lumber. Clean-Dry Units 24-HOUR LIGHTED ACCESS 5x10 thru 12x25 608-335-3337 FRENCHTOWN SELF-STORAGE Only 6 miles South of Verona on Hwy PB. Variety of sizes available now. 10x10=$65-month 10x15=$75-month 10x20=$85-month 10x25=$95-month 12x30=$120-month Call 608-424-6530 or 1-888-878-4244 NORTH PARK STORAGE 10x10 through 10x40, plus 14x40 with 14' door for RV & Boats. Come & go as you please. 608-873-5088 RASCHEIN PROPERTY STORAGE 6x10 thru 10x25 Market Street/Burr Oak Street in Oregon Call 608-520-0240 UNION ROAD STORAGE 10x10 - 10x15 - 10x20 - 12x30 24-7 Access Security Lights & Cameras Credit Cards Accepted 608-835-0082 1128 Union Road, Oregon, WI Located on the corner of Union Road and Lincoln Road

CLASSIFIED AD DEADLINE IS Noon Friday for The Great Dane and Noon Monday for The Verona Press unless changed because of holiday work schedules. Call now to place your ad, 873-6671 or 8356677.

NEW FACTORY Built Homes 3 BR, 2 BA put on your foundation. $59,980 HORKHEIMER HOMES Hazelton, IA. 800-632-5985.

Feed & Seed ORGANIC ROASTED corn, tested negative for mold and safe for all classes of livestock. $8/bushel. Can deliver 450 bushel load for reasonable fee. 608-574-5066.

Horses LOOKING TO buy all types of horses and/or ponies. Riding or not. Cash paid. 262-930-9271.

WANTED: CONSIGNORS for the upcoming PAPA Alliance Black hided Feeder Calf and Yearling sales at Bloomington Livestock Exchange, Bloomington, WI. Sale dates are December 6 and January 3. Call and get on the early listings for whichever sale works best for you. No dairy crosses. For information contact Greg May 608-5740719 or BLE 608-994-2020.

Machinery FOR SALE: Agco Allis 9650, 4wd, 5000 hours, good condition, tires 95%. 608-732-0199.

Farm RENT SKIDLOADERS MINI-EXCAVATORS TELE-HANDLER and these attachments. Concrete breaker, posthole auger, landscape rake, concrete bucket, pallet forks, trencher, rock hound, broom, teleboom, stump grinder. By the day, week, or month. Carter & Gruenewald Co. 4417 Hwy 92, Brooklyn, WI 608-455-2411

Get Connected Find updates and links right away. Add us on Facebook and Twitter as “Verona Press”

EARN EXTRA $ WORKING ONLY A FEW HOURS A DAY!

The Wisconsin State Journal is looking for a carriers in the following areas. Must be available early A.M.s, 7 days a week and have a dependable vehicle. Evansville: Cambridge:

Route CAM103 Approx $500/Mo

For more information, call or email Kevin at 608-225-3693 or KHenry@madison.com

Personalized Letter from Santa

Join the leading team in residential, commercial and municipal drain cleaning with more than 70 years of Quality Service!

For Only $7

***

Each letter is personalized, so order one for each child in the family. All letters are printed on Holiday stationery and will be postmarked North Pole, Alaska.

WE’RE ALL EARS

Please fill out the form below (1 completed form per child) and send with your payment to: Verona Press, Attn: Letters to Santa, PO Box 930427, Verona, WI 53593.

Family owned since 1948.

SERVICE TECHNICIAN & CDL DRIVERS WANTED!

• Paid training & competitive wages • Excellent health & dental plans • 401K • Paid vacation • Paid holidays

Orders with payment must be received by Monday, December 2, 2019. Letters will be mailed in time for Christmas.

OFFICE HELP WANTED

Duties include answering phones, data entry, invoicing and general office duties.

Child’s First Name __________________________ Boy / Girl Age ________

Please call or apply in person at: Roto Rooter 4808 Ivywood Trail, McFarland, WI 608-256-5189

Child’s Last Name _________________________________________________ Child’s Mailing Address ____________________________________________ City ________________________________________________________

PLUMBER SPRINKLER FITTER

State____________________________ Zip _______________________ First Name of Sibling(s) (Please Specify Boy or Girl) _________________ Boy / Girl

Questions? Comments? Story Ideas? Let us know how we’re doing.

Real Estate

Route: EVN101, Approx $450/Mo Route: EVN102, Approx $600/Mo Route: UNV801, Approx $1,350/Mo

Make Christmas even more magical for your little ones with a

HERD OF 50 Holstein milk cows. Black and white, red and white. Mostly A.I. Bred. Low SSC and high butter fat. Platteville. 608-778-2555.

FARMETTE FOR sale near Platteville: 4 bedroom brick house with buildings, a few acres. Also, up to 60 acres of land. Can be used for farming or residential housing. 608-732-5052.

Office Space For Rent OFFICE/RETAIL Space for rent in Downtown Oregon. Two spaces available December 1. 1274 sqft; $1062 per month. 480 sqft, $400 per month. Heat included in rent. Contact 608333-4420 or 715-891-4784 for showing and further information.

Livestock

OFFICE SPACES FOR RENT In Oregon facing 15th hole on golf course Free Wi-Fi, Parking and Security System Conference rooms available Kitchenette-Breakroom Autumn Woods Prof. Centre Marty 608-835-3628

adno=111809

Automotive WANTED. GOOD Used Car 20002010. Please call 608-843-9563.

COLUMBUS ANTIQUE MALL & CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS MUSEUM “Wisconsin's Largest Antique Mall!” Customer Appreciation Week 20% off December 2-8 Enter daily 8am-4pm 78,000SF 200 Dealers in 400 Booths Third floor furniture, locked cases Location: 239 Whitney St Columbus, WI 53925 920-623-1992 www.columbusantiquemall.com

11

adno=119606

TOWN OF VERONA REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2019 6:30 PM TOWN HALL/COMMUNITY CENTER 7669 COUNTY HIGHWAY PD, VERONA, WI 53593-1035 1. Call to Order/Approval of the Agenda 2. Pledge of Allegiance 3. Public Comment 4. Approval of Minutes from November 5, 2019 Regular Meeting and November 18, 2019 Special Meeting 5. Discuss 2020 Town of Verona Operating and Capital Budget Action to Adopt the Public Works Capital Improvement Program and Drainage Improvement Plan Action to Adopt the detailed 2020 Town of Verona Budget Action to schedule an end-of-year meeting to consider and approve final budget amendments and approve bills 6. Discussion and Possible Action to Appoint Town of Verona Election Personnel for the 2020-2021 Term by Resolution 2019-10 7. Discussion and Possible Action to Update the Town of Verona Comprehensive Building Code by Ordinance 2019-05 to Incorporate Changes Required by the State of Wisconsin Regulating Electrical Inspections and to Incorporate Changes Previously Approved by Resolution 2015-07 8. Reports and Recommendations Plan Commission: i. Discussion and Possible Action – Land Use Application 2019-1 Approval of a Certified Survey Map for property located at 3185 Timber Lane Public Works: i. Discussion and Possible Action – To Enter Into a Lease to Own Agreement with JX Peterbilt for a New Plow Starting in January 2020 Financial Sustainability Committee Natural and Recreational Areas Committee EMS Commission Town Staff: i. Clerk/Treasurer report ii. Public Works Project Manager report Discussion and Action — Annual contract for services from MSA Professional Services Update and Possible Action – MLS Grants iii. Planner/Administrator report Discussion and Possible Action – options related to wood burning on Town property near the public works building Town Chair Supervisors 9. Approval of the Payment of Bills 10. Adjourn Regular board agendas are published in the Town’s official newspaper, The Verona Press. Per Resolution 20162 agendas are posted at the Town Hall and online at www.town.verona.wi.us. Use the ‘subscribe’ feature on the Town’s website to receive agendas and other announcements via email. Notice is also given that a possible quorum of the Plan Commission and/or Public Works, Ordinance, Natural and Recreational Areas, and Financial Sustainability Committees and could occur at this meeting for the purposes of information gathering only. If anyone having a qualifying disability as defined by the American with Disabilities Act needs an interpreter, materials in alternate formats, or other accommodations to access these meetings, please contact the Town of Verona Clerk @ 608-845-7187 or jwright@town. verona.wi.us. Please do so at least 48 hours prior to the meeting so that proper arrangements can be made. Posted: November 22, 2019 Mark Geller, Town Chair, Town of Verona Published: November 28, 2019 WNAXLP

Lost & Found

The Verona Press

There are 1,100 miles of pipe on our 8-millionsquare-foot campus. We need good help. Is that you? Complete preventative maintenance and repair work, and resolve unplanned plumbing issues. Fitters will complete inspections and help with fire protection design and installation for small upgrade projects.

________________________ Boy / Girl _______________________ Boy / Girl ________________________ Boy / Girl _______________________ Boy / Girl Name & Type of Pet(s) _____________________________________________ Snack Child Leaves for Santa _______________________________________ Gift Child Wants __________________________________________________ Something child has accomplished during last year ______________________

Your opinion is something we always want to hear.

Letter Requested by (Name) ________________________________________

Year-round, full-time hours, competitive wages, and benefits (great health insurance, life insurance, 401k match, and bonuses). Various shifts available.

Relationship to Child ______________________________________________

Call 845-9559 or at connectverona.com

Please apply online at careers.epic.com

Daytime Telephone ______________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

ad

no =

11 70

44

*Letters will include as much information above as possible.

1969 Milky Way, Verona, WI 53593

adno=119577

Legals

November 28, 2019


12 The Verona Press - November 28, 2019

The Season of Giving Back

Thank You To All My Clients! Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving.

5500 E. Cheryl Pkwy., Ste. 126, Fitchburg • (608) 255-0070 www.kneadedreliefdayspa.com

Thank You to All Our Clients! Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

We're

Thankful

to be

Part of Your Community!

Freitag Realty, Inc. & Freitag Builders, Inc.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! • Crabtree & Evelyn Products • Milkhouse Creamery Candles • Willow Tree and More • and More

Molly Freitag, Broker 501 S. Nine Mounds Road Verona, WI

608-845-7630 adno=121305

Hours: M-F 9am-6pm; Sat 9am-1pm; Closed Sunday

Member FDIC

202 S. Main Street, Verona • 848-8020 www.myhometownrx.com • HSA cards accepted

adno=121308

Happy Thanksgiving From All of Us to All of You!

Thank You We Are Thankful for You!

adno=121317

adno=121312

Family Owned and Operated Since 1978.

407 E. Verona Avenue, Verona, WI • 608.845.6403

adno=121301

Thank You to Our Advertisers and Readers! We Are Here Because of You.

Dr. Tami Hunt Dr. Emmylou Wilson Dr. Emma Letlebo Optometrists 320 S. Main Street, Verona, WI (608) 848-5168 www.VeronaVisionCare.com

Ken Behnke, Realtor 608-445-9824 2985 Triverton Pike Drive, Ste. 200, Fitchburg behnkek@firstweber.com • www.KenBehnke. FirstWeber.com

adno=121310

We’re Thankful for Our Local Patrons, Clients & Employees

adno=121807 adno=121810

adno=121303

Holiday Open House Dec. 5th 4-8p 15% off service Gift Cards

133 Enterprise Drive, Verona 845-9559 • ConnectVerona.com

We Are All Thankful For Our Customers!

Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments, Stocking Stuffers & More...

210 S. Main St. • Verona, WI 608-845-6478 • www.millerandsonssupermarket.com Open Daily from 6:30am - 9:00pm

We Have Something For Everyone this Christmas!

adno=121296 adno=118181

Cards ★ Candy Unique Gifts Badger/Packer Items Full Service Postal Station Available

3000 Cahill Main, Fitchburg 273-3565

adno=121815

Sue’s Hallmark

adno=122259


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
11/218/19 Verona Press by Woodward Community Media - Issuu