East Troy Our Town for 2018-19

East Troy,

OUR TOWN

2018

Wisconsin

Published by the

2018-19

#1 Home Seller in East Troy

for 12 straight years!

2887 Main Street • East Troy, WI 53120 www.REIntegrity.com • (262) 642-3363

Where home and happy meet®

(262) 745-7093

(262) 203-1812

PAM BURKI

DANA LAZICH

sarahalexander@realtyexecutives.com www.sarahalexandersells.com

pamburki@realtyexecutives.com www.pamburki.com

danalazich@realtyexecutives.com www.reintegrity.com

EAST TROY OUR TOWN 2018-19

SARAH ALEXANDER

(414) 870-0026

GINA DINGMAN

MARTHA LUNA

LAURA GLOSEMEYER

gina@realtyexecutives.com www.ginadingman.com

marthaluna@realtyexecutives.com www.yourlocalhometownteam.com

lauraglosemeyer@realtyexecutives.com www.laurasmovingyou.com

(262) 613-3898

(262) 215-3865

(262) 210-7312

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Inside Our Parks................... Page 4 Our Churches.......... Page 11 Our Schools............. Page 11 Our Government...... Page 8 We make every attempt to provide accurate information in this guide, but if you find an error that needs correction, call our office at (262) 642-7451.

our town 2018-19

Our Town!

Each year when I sit down to write the welcome to the Our Town I am amazed at the changes that happen over a single 12-month timespan.

While East Troy is known for its small-town appeal, the community is growing and new families and businesses continue to gravitate to the area.

East Troy has become a destination and welcomes visitors with open arms with annual events such as the Bluegrass Festival, Cycling Classic, Santa Train, Fourth of July parade and festival, Corn and Brat Fest and more.

While the big events often draw in first-time visitors, it’s the unique atmosphere that keeps them coming back.

East Troy, while keeping its small-town feel, also offers big city amenities such as its own airport and some international companies like Wisconsin Oven Corp. The tri-town area includes the Village and Town of East Troy and the Town of Troy.

Other local attractions include the East Troy Electric Railroad, Sky Nights Sport Parachute Club and Lounge and Lauber’s Old Fashion Ice Cream shop, where you can take a trip back in time and visit a soda fountain of yesteryear.

New businesses like the East Troy Brewery, which will open this year on the Village Square, have a lot to do with the area’s appeal.

If you’re looking for a place to eat, there’s LD’s BBQ, Roma’s Ristorante, Ivan’s on the Square, Princess Café, The Grist Mill, Gus’s

Drive-In and more just waiting to serve you.

One of the highlights in East Troy is the downtown square with its pavilion and park that plays host to most of the village’s large events.

The quaint hub of the area offers unique shopping and dining establishments along with churches, banks and a hair salon and barbershop.

The East Troy Area Chamber of Commerce is available to help residents and visitors alike with their local needs and the newspaper office is also on the downtown square.

The East Troy Community School District has much to boast with its robotics program, nationally ranked high school, a curriculum featuring Project Based Learning, 1:1 technology for grades 3 and higher.

Another one of the area’s special places is Booth Lake Memorial Park, which is jointly owned by the Village and Town of East Troy, and the Town of Troy. Operation of the park is governed by the Booth Lake Memorial Park board, which consists of two representatives from each municipality. Use of the park is limited to the residents of the three communities. Rental of the upper and lower park pavilions is done through a lottery system that is held on the third Wednesday in February of each year.

As you can see, there’s a lot to experience in East Troy and all visitors are welcome. Come out for a visit!

~Tracy Ouellette,

Community Editor

On the cover The shops and restaurants on the East Troy Village Square are a favorite stopping spot for locals and visitors. (Photo

by Tracy Ouellette)

Above: Nine-year-old Ryan Harrell, of Elkhorn, takes a lightsaber lesson from David Jason Ziemba, of Make Believe Professionals, at the East Troy Area Chamber of Commerce’s May the Fourth Be With You event on the Village Square in May 2018.

EAST TROY OUR TOWN 2018-19

Welcome to

TRACY OUELLETTE Our Town

An annual publication of the East Troy News & Southern Lakes Newspapers P.O. Box 274, East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-7451 www.mywalworthcounty.com Editor: Tracy Ouellette Editorial Assistant: Sharon Soch General Manager: Sue Z. Lange Creative/Production Director: Heidi Schulz Advertising Sales: Michelle Kramer Graphic Designer: Jen DeGroot Contributors: Eric Kramer, Vanessa Lenz and community members For advertising opportunities: call (262) 642-7451

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OUR PARKS Booth Lake Memorial Park

N8465 Townline Road, East Troy, WI 53120 Open Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

For use exclusively by residents and property owners of the Village of East Troy, Town of East Troy and Town of Troy.

Info: (262) 642-5046

Rossmiller Sports Complex and Francine Pease Skate Park (fka Amusement Park)

3090 Graydon Ave., includes a grandstand, athletic field for baseball and other activities, skate park and concession stands on the corner of West Street and Graydon Ave.

Lynndale Playground

1879 Valley Drive, a small neighborhood park located off of Frontage Road

Mill Pond Park

2265 Highway G, a small pond and walking path located south of the Village Square

Mitchell Park

3090 Graydon Ave., baseball/soccer fields adjacent to Rossmiller Sports Complex and Francine Pease Skate Park (fka Amusement Park) and extending north to Highway 20

Playmore Park

3072 Graydon Ave., a recreational area for children featuring a large play equipment area, picnic tables and a handicap accessible restroom on the

corner of West Street and Graydon Ave.

Pulliam Nature Area

1824 Thomas Drive, nature area for hiking, cross country skiing and sledding located on the east side of Thomas Drive

Jim Byrnes Memorial Park N9330 Stewart School Road, north of the Town Hall

Village Square

2881 Main St., includes green space and a bandstand promoting the nostalgia of the rural community

West Kettle Nature Center

1825 Thomas Drive, nature area for hiking, cross country skiing and sledding located on the west side of Thomas Drive

Real People. Real Service.

Real Community Banking.

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OPEN Sound Ratings • Stability You Can Rely On 2546 E. Main Street Mon.-Thurs. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

P.O. Box 866 • P.O. Box 2546 E. Main Street 866 • East Fri. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Troy, WI 53120-0866 East Troy, WI 53120-0866 Sat. 9 a.m.-12 noon Phone: (262) 642-2530 • (800)Drive-up 236-8766 Fax:Mon.-Sat. (262) 642-7727 262-642-2530 Open 8• a.m., www.firstcitizensww.com www.firstcitizensww.com Member FDIC OPEN: Monday-Thursday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to noon DRIVE-UP OPEN 8 a.m., Monday-Saturday

286951

EAST TROY OUR TOWN 2018-19

Call or stop by today!

SUBMITTED PHOTO Our Town

Signe and Gerry Emmerich have donated land and easements to the Pickerel Lake Fen Preserve. The Nature Conservancy established the preserve in December 1985, when the Emmerichs donated their first easement; they also donated another 12.8 acres outright at that time. A week later, their neighbors, Roy and Eleanor Muth, donated 27 acres to the conservancy. Since 1985, the conservancy has protected a little more than 381 acres in and around the fen and lake.

Restoring the prairie GERRY EMMERICH TOOK THIS PHOTO OF THE PICKEREL LAKE FEN PRESERVE.

T

wo families who

by Tracy live on the Pickerel Ouellette Lake Fen in the EDITOR East Troy area are working hard to restore the land to its pre-settlement condition and recently donated large property easements to a land conservation organization to ensure the land is never developed.

Gerry and Signe Emmerich and Jack and Marcia Boeing made land easement donations to The Nature Conservancy this winter.

“By doing this we’re really sealing up the fen and it will never be developed and I sleep so much better at night now,” Jack Boeing said.

“For us, this started 30 years ago when we donated almost 13 acres to the Nature Conservancy in 1985,” Gerry Emmerich

said. “At the same time, we also donated a big conservation easement on our property to restrict the amount of development on the property that would endanger the fen.”

According to the conservancy, Pickerel Lake Fen is home to pitcher plants and other showy species like marsh blue violet and Joe-pye weed. Rare turtles use the site as do sandhill cranes and other wildlife. According to the Southeast Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, the fen is tied for first place with Ottawa Lake Fen as the most biologically diverse fen in southeast Wisconsin.

The Boeings donated a conservation easement on a little more than 153 acres of land, which encompasses the entire east side of Pickerel Lake Fen. About 75 acres is high ground where many new homes could

have been built. The Emmerichs updated their easement on 7.5 acres, which they had donated to the conservancy in 1985, with an amended and restated easement that also protects an additional 15 acres, eliminating the potential to build three new residences on the property.

Gerry Emmerich has volunteered with the Nature Conservancy for years and said he and his wife were extremely grateful for the conservancy’s assistance and willingness to work with them on the easement donation.

“It’s a complicated situation,” he said.

“But they were quite happy to deal with us on that basis, so we would still own the land, but know it was protected from future • CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

EAST TROY OUR TOWN 2018-19

AREA FAMILIES COMMITTED TO PRESERVING THEIR FEN

5

•

RESTORING THE PRAIRIE

development.”

Jack Boeing also said working with the conservancy was a positive experience and was looking forward to a continued relationship with the organizations.

“When we bought the property I was always interested in the nature but didn’t know what this land really is and the Nature Conservancy has been so helpful. I’ve cleared areas over the years and Hannah Spaul from the conservancy has been out here and so impressed with what we have and very helpful with teaching me what to do.

“I’m like a sponge, just show me and I’ll do it.”

Spaul is the conservancy’s land management director and said the donations from the two families are going to make it possible for the conservancy to conduct controlled burns to eliminate some of the invasive plants and continue to restore the land.

According to a press release from the conservancy, non-native shrubs, including buckthorn and honeysuckle, rimmed the edges of the fen and were slowly advancing on the interior. Left unchecked, they threatened to outcompete the native vegetation and eventually take over completely.

“We needed to burn the entire fen to keep the invasive shrubs in check,” Spaul said in

FROM PAGE 5

the press release. “But eight other private landowners owned portions of it, so the challenge we faced was how to gain their support for burning the fen, which is right in their backyards.”

Gerry Emmerich said he has performed a couple of controlled burns on his property, with the assistance of the conservancy, over the years and has worked on restoring his land to what he called a “pre-European settlement” state.

“We’re working on getting it back to what we think it was back then,” he said. “When I first started I talked to some people who knew what this was, a biologist and others.

About 15 years ago, we wanted to do some controlled burns to help with the invasive plants and Jack was interested in that too.

“We did a controlled burn on our property but we found putting in a fire break in the middle of the deep marsh was very difficult and the only way to manage the fen effectively was to do a controlled burn on the whole thing. That’s why this is such a good thing, now we can manage the fen as a whole.”

Emmerich went on to explain why burns are a great way to manage the invasive species overtaking the fen.

He said burns are part of the natural process of land areas like the fen, but with the practice of fire suppression in modern times

natural burns that would have been created by lightning or other natural ways aren’t there to burn off the woody plants in the fen anymore.

“Burns are a natural thing, but we don’t have them naturally anymore, so we have to create them so the native plants aren’t overcompeted with by the invasives. Another burn is planned for this spring.”

Since 2004, the conservancy and its neighbors on the fen have burned the fen two more times “We’ve done a good job of keeping the shrubs from taking over the fen,” Spaul said in the press release, “but this is an ongoing process. We look forward to continuing to work with our neighbors to carefully apply fire to the fen to keep it healthy.”

For Jack Boeing, working to restore his land has become a labor of love.

Marcia Boeing said they purchased their East Troy farm near Booth Lake more than 30 years ago because her husband wanted a fishing lake nearby.

“And we’ve enjoyed every minute of it since,” she said.

Jack Boeing said they’ve changed things on the property over the years, but now his main job is to restore the property and is outside on a daily basis doing just that.

“I thank the Lord I’ve been blessed with the ability to restore this.

“It’s been a labor of love.”

J. Lauber’s Ice Cream Parlor since 1974

For 44 years, Lauber’s has been dishing out delicious ice cream treats in an authentic 1920s setting. Choose from a 4 page menu of malts, sundaes, splits and sodas served to your table while you listen to the 78RPM jukebox and enjoy the collection of ice cream and general store items that line the shelves.

EAST TROY OUR TOWN 2018-19

WE SERVE REAL ICE CREAM... not soft serve!

Comfortable seating for 60 (for groups over 20, please call)

Open May Thru October June 2 – September 3, Monday – Thursday, Noon to 10 p.m.

Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Spring, Monday–Friday 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. & Saturday & Sunday Noon to 10 p.m.

Fall, Saturday–Sunday - Noon to 9 p.m.

262-642-3679 J. Lauber’s is in East Troy, 2010 Church St.

(Hwy. 120) 2 blocks north of the square, next to the Trolley Museum. 15 min. north of Lake Geneva, via Hwy 120, or exit I-43 at 120 (Church St.) and go 1½ blocks past the square to 2010 Church St. 321165

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OUR BOOKSTORE Kayleen Rohrer opened InkLink Books on the East Troy Village Square in July 2017, making a decades-old dream come true.

Opening a new chapter in July 2017 and for the owner, Kayleen Rohrer, it was literally a dream come true.

“I’ve always wanted to open a bookstore. It’s been a dream of mine for a long time. I’ve been keeping lists of books I wanted to sell for ages,” she said.

“Like for about 20 years,” her husband James Rohrer added.

The quaint shop reflects Kayleen’s passion for literature and her personality with it’s warm, welcoming appeal and a touch of whimsy.

“I had a vision of a store that would be like walking back in time,” she said.

“I wanted it to look like an old, Parisian bookshop.”

She had the bookshelves custom-crafted by a local woodworker, Dave August.

“He did a phenomenal job,” she said. “I wanted an old-fashioned look and he knew exactly what I needed.”

Another area artisan also helped take Kayleen’s vision from the idea stage to reality. Stacey Williams Ng, of Mequon, painted the four murals on the walls of the bookstore.

“I had this vision of Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom,” Kayleen said. “I knew I wanted a mural on the ceiling and because I couldn’t get Athena out of my head, I knew it had to be her. So, I brought • CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

EAST TROY OUR TOWN 2018-19

Area bookstore draws customers from far and wide

Story and For avid readers, those who have been surrounded by photos by Tracy books since their first word, Ouellette there’s something special EDITOR about a bookstore.

It’s more than just a place to pick up the latest novel or biography – it’s a destination.

And while the national chain brickand-mortar bookstores might have large selections to peruse and purchase, it’s the small, independent bookstores that can be truly magical for literature lovers.

Tucked away in a small storefront on the East Troy Village Square is one of those bookstores. InkLink Books opened

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R And Troll ide Trai ns eys May Every W - Oc tobe eekend r

OUR GOVERNMENT VILLAGE OF EAST TROY Village Hall 2015 Energy Drive East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-6255 Fax: (262) 642-6259 www.easttroywi.gov Village Departments Village Administrator Eileen Suhm (262) 642-6255 Airport (262) 642-5008 Building Inspector (262) 352-4433 Parks and Recreation (262) 642-6255 Department of Public Works (262) 642-6255 Police (Non-Emergency) (262) 642-6250 Water Works-Billing (262) 642-6255 Water Works-Service (262) 642-6255 After 4 p.m.

(262) 642-6251

2018 Dinner Trains

Aug 25 - Summer Delight Sept 15 - Indian Summer Sept 29 - Oktoberfest Oct 6 - Fall Harvest Oct 20 - Sweetest Day Oct 27 - Pumpkin Express

Special Events EAST TROY OUR TOWN 2018-19

Sept. 8 - Beer Tasting Sept. 22 - Milwaukee Day

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Village Board Village President Scott Seager* sseager@easttroywi.gov (414) 803-7130 Village Trustees Alex Alger* (262) 364-8540 aalger@easttroywi.gov John Alexander* (414) 745-4052 jalexander@easttroywi.gov Alan Boyes (262) 215-1736 alanboyes@ easttroywi.gov John J. Jacoby* (262) 949-5858 jjacoby@easttroywi.gov Matt Johnson (262) 684-5308 mjohnson@easttroywi.gov Fortune “Forty” Renucci (262) 642-3897 *Terms expires in 2019.

Municipal Judge Michael Cotter (262) 642-6252

TOWN OF EAST TROY

East Troy Railroad Museum Inc.

2002 CHURCH STREET, EAST TROY, WI 53120 (262) 642-3263 www.easttroyrr.org 321164

Town Hall N9330 Stewart School Road, P.O. Box 872 East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-5386 Fax: (262) 642-9701 Police (non-emergency): (262) 642-3700 www.townofeasttroy.com

Town Board Chairperson Joe Klarkowski Supervisors Barb Church Clayton Montez Clerk/Treasurer Kim Buchanan (262) 642-5386 tetclerk@centurytel.net Department of Public Works Greg Twellmeyer, Superintendent (262) 642-5386 Building Inspector (262) 366-2400 Plan Commission Joel Cook, Chairman (414) 406-0946 Municipal Judge Dan Heidelmeier (262) 642-5386 Services Assessor Associated Appraisal Consultants, Inc. (800) 721-4157 Trash Collection John’s Disposal (888) 473-4701

TOWN OF TROY Town Hall N8870 Briggs St. East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-5292 Fax: (262) 642-5227 Town Garage: (262) 642-5293 www.townoftroy.com Town Board Chairperson John Kendall (262) 470-3294 chair@townoftroy.com Supervisors Kathleen Tober (262) 642-5857 sup2@townoftroy.com Thomas Lorden (262) 642-3544 sup1.@townoftroy.com Trudy Schulz (262) 642-5292 deputy@townoftroy.com Clerk/Treasurer Tracey Raymond (262) 642-5292 clerktreas@townoftroy.com Troy Center Fire Department Non-Emergency (262) 642-5294 Lake Patrol Supervisor

BOOKSTORE

FROM PAGE 7

Stacey out here to look at the space and she expanded on the idea, offering to do four murals of other Goddesses of Wisdom from different areas of the world.”

The four goddesses are Athena, who is on the ceiling; Saga, the Norse goddess who reclines atop the bookcases on the mezzanine level; Seshat, the Egyptian goddess; and Saraswati, the Hindu goddess.

Kayleen said she couldn’t be happier with the store turned out and has been humbled by all the support she’s received from the community since the doors opened.

“It’s been absolutely amazing,” she said.

“And it’s not just people from East Troy who come here, it’s people from all over.”

In fact, a gentleman from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, visited the store last fall.

Bob Manson came to East Troy for the purpose of checking out InkLink as part of his mission to support local, independent bookstores across the nation.

Manson has visited nearly 300 independent bookstores in the last three years.

“I’ve covered just about every state,” he said. “And a few in Canada and Mexico, too.”

Manson said his bookstore adventure began when he read “My Bookstore: Writers Celebrate Their Favorite Places to Browse, Read, and Shop” and he decided to visit all of the bookstores profiled. He has since expanded his travels and has blog where people can read about his bookstore discoveries, theindiebobspot.blogspot.com.

“I find places like this (InkLink) and I just am in awe,” Manson said. “I hope the people of East Troy appreciate what a gem this is. So many towns have nothing.”

Manson said one of the things he’s discovered in his bookstore tour is that there are actually more independent bookstores opening in the country than are closing.

“Don’t believe the occasional national article you read about bookstores closing everywhere,” he said. “Yes, some are, but many more are opening, which is so exciting. Shopping local is so important.”

That is one concept the Rohrers also hold close to their hearts.

“There is a value added feature to a store like this,” Kayleen said. “We’re more than just a shop, we’re part of the community.”

“Even some people who don’t buy a book have come in to tell us what a great thing this is for the community,” James added. “It’s drawing attention to East Troy and what we have here. It’s what we need.”

The Rohrers and their family have been instrumental in the revitalization of the East Troy Village Square for many years.

They have purchased and restored, or are

InkLink Books has an old-world feel to its décor and is at home on the historic East Troy Village Square; it is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Saga, the Norse Goddess of Wisdom, is one of four murals decorating InkLink Books in downtown East Troy. The other three murals are the Egyptian, Hindu and Greek Goddesses of Wisdom – Seshat, Saraswati and Athena, respectively.

in the process of restoring, several of the old buildings on the square, including the popular coffee shop/café, 2894 On Main.

James said he has a passion for restoring the buildings, which are more than 150 years old, and the history of East Troy, which has been demonstrated repeatedly as building after building has been restored, or, in one case, rebuilt in the same design with the same footprint.

The coffee shop, which is next to the bookstore, was the first step for the Rohrer family and has become an anchor for further development on the Village Square, starting with InkLink, because what goes better with a good cup of coffee or tea than a good book?

InkLink Books is at 2890 Main St., East Troy. For more information, call (262) 642-9607, or find it on Facebook.

EAST TROY OUR TOWN 2018-19

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Mount Olive Lutheran Church

a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)

211 Main Street, Mukwonago • 363-8251 www.mountolive-elca.net

******************************************* Sunday Worship Schedule: 8 a.m. – Worship w/Holy Communion 9:15-10:15 a.m. – Education Hour (children & adults) 9:30 a.m. – Worship w/Holy Communion 10:45 a.m. – Worship w/Holy Communion

******************************************* Summer Schedule: Sunday Services at 8 and 9:30 a.m.

(Memorial Day thru Labor Day weekends)

...we welcome you...

321166

McPherson

ConCrete ConstruCtion inC.

PROUD SUPPORTER OF EAST TROY!

262-363-9200 Residential • Commercial Fully Insured • Free Estimates

RESLER & ASSOCIATES, LLC 3238 Main St. East Troy, WI 53120

Most Referred, Most Preferred

(Piggly Wiggly Shopping Center)

✦ Driveways

(262) 642-3283

✦ Sidewalks

www.reslerandassociates.com

✦ Basements ✦ Garage Floor ✦ Stamped Concrete ✦ Pole Barns ✦ Snow Plowing

www.mcphersonconcreterinc.com concrete@mcphersonconcreteinc.com

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EAST TROY OUR TOWN 2018-19

✦ Patios

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321571

Insure carefully, dream fearlessly.

321522

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Student Learning, ext. 1227 fosamy@easttroy.k12.wi.us

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

East Troy Community School District Board of Education Ted Zess, president* zested@easttroy.k12.wi.us (262) 642-2026 Dawn Buchholtz, vice president* bucdaw@easttroy.k12.wi.us (262) 215-4041 Jessica Fuchs, treasurer fucjes@easttroy.k12.wi.us (262) 642-3667 Stephen Lambrechts, clerk lamste@easttroy.k12.wi.us (262) 642-7775 Tony Barrett, member at large* barton@easttroy.k12.wi.us (262) 749-0503 *Term expires in 2019.

East Troy High School (Grades 9-12) 3128 Graydon Ave. East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-6760 Stacy Kuehn, principal, ext. 5240 kuesta@easttroy.k12.wi.us Kevin Kitslaar, principal, ext. 5232 kitkev@easttroy.k12.wi.us

Bright Beginnings Day Care, LLC (3-year-old preschool) 2541 Main St. East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-3904 Contact: Nina Stefaniak www.brightbeginnings-daycare. com

East Troy Middle School (Grades 6-8) 3143 Graydon Ave. East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-6740 Peter Syens, principal, ext. 4222 syepet@easttroy.k12.wi.us

Climbing Tree Child Care and Family Education Center (3- to 6-year old preschool) 3147 W. Main St. East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-5001

Administration Offices 2043 Division St. East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-6710 Fax: (262) 642-6712 www.easttroy.k12.wi.us Administration Dr. Christopher Hibner, District Administrator, ext. 1222 hibchr@easttroy.k12.wi.us Kathy Zwirgzdas, Director of Business Services, ext. 1223 zwikat@easttroy.k12.wi.us Amy Foszpanczyk Director of Teaching and Continuous Improvement of

Prairie View Elementary School (Grades 2-5) 2131 Townline Road East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-6720 Mark Weerts, principal, ext. 3222 weemar@easttroy.k12.wi.us Little Prairie Primary School 2109 Townline Road East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-6730 Lindsey Harris, principal, ext.

2222 harlin@easttroy.k12.wi.us

OUR CHURCHES East Troy Bible Church 2660 North St. P.O. Box 376 East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-7604 office@etbcwi.org www.easttroybiblechurch.org Worship services: Sunday at 9 a.m.

First Congregational Church of East Troy, UCC 2931 Union St. East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-5186 www.easttroyucc.com Worship services: Sunday at 12:30 p.m.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod) 1936 Emery St. East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-3310 gslchurch@wi.rr.com

www.gslet.org Worship services: Saturday at 5 p.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m.

Mukwonago Baptist Church 1610 Honeywell Road, Mukwonago, WI 53149 (262) 363-4197 www.mukwonagobaptist.org Worship services: Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.; Sunday school: 9:30 a.m.

Bible study and prayer: Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Orchard Hill, Assembly of God N9590 Highway ES Mukwonago, WI 53149 (262) 363-5443 www.OrchardHillAG.com Worship service: Sunday at 10 a.m. with Kids’ Church and nursery.

Good Shepherd Lutheran School (Preschool-grade 7) 1936 Emery St. East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-3310 Contact: Karl Sattler, principal gslschool@wi.rr.com www.gslet.org

Nature’s Classroom Montessori School (3-12 years) W336 S8455 Highway E, P.O. Box 660 Mukwonago, WI 53149 (262) 363-2815 (800) 574-7881 Contact: Geoffrey Bishop, www.nciw.org St. Peter’s Catholic School (3- and 4-year-old pre-kindergarten to grade 8) 3001 Elm St. East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-5533 Contact: Sarah Halbesma, principal www.stpetersschoolet.org St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran School (Preschool-grade 8) 2665 North St. East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-3202 Contact: Ken White, principal www.stpaulset.net

Little Angels Learning Center Inc. (3- and 4-year-old preschool) 2141 Mill St. P.O. Box 603 East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-7002 littleangelswi@gmail.com www.LittleAngelswi.com

Bloom360 Learning Community (neurodiverse leaning) N8921Stone School Road East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 935-6360 www.bloom360.org

St. James United Methodist Church 2945 Main St. East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-7642 church@easttroyumc.org www.easttroyumc.org Worship services: Sunday at 9 a.m.

Handicap accessible.

(262) 642-7225 stpeterset@wi.twcbc.com www.steepleconnection.com Sunday Mass at 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 5 p.m. on Saturday.

St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (Wisconsin Synod) 2665 North St. East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-3200 www.stpaulset.net Worship services: Sunday at 9 a.m. and Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

St. Peter the Apostle Parish 1975 Beulah Ave., East Troy, WI 53120

Troy Center United Methodist Community Church N8801 Briggs St. East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-7320 Worship services: Sunday at 8 a.m.

Valley View Community Church Member, Willow Creek Association P.O. Box 154 East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-5392 Worship services: 10 a.m. in the East Troy Middle School auditorium, 3143 Graydon Ave.

EAST TROY OUR TOWN 2018-19

OUR SCHOOLS

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To those we serve, thank you for your trust.

Environmentally Sound, Socially Responsible Agriculture

RESEARCH EDUCATION POLICY

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When Laura Rauman saw her daughter’s special education needs weren’t being met, she decided to do something about it.

“The inspiration to start Bloom 360 came from my daughter when her needs were brought to light and what we were doing wasn’t working and I thought, ‘Maybe there’s a better way,’” Rauman said.

Bloom 360 Learning Community in East Troy is the result of six years of work to bring that inspiration to reality. The private, yearround school teaches students, ages 5 to 21, with neurodiverse needs.

It is estimated about 20 percent of schoolage children in the United States have neurodiverse needs and need more than a traditional classroom setting to learn and thrive.

According to the 2011 National Symposium on Neurodiversity at Syracuse University, neurodiversity is a concept where neurological differences are to be recognized

EDITOR

Private school focuses on the whole child and respected as any other human variation.

These differences can include people labeled with dyspraxia, dyslexia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, dyscalculia, autistic spectrum, Tourette Syndrome and others.

Bloom 360 employs a team of teachers, therapists and social workers who use an education model designed to support and nurture the whole child, starting with the emotional needs and progressing to the academic needs, Rauman said.

“We’re not trying to correct a behavior; we’re looking at the child’s development and meeting them where they’re at,” Rauman said. “It’s a tried and true way to teach, and it works.”

The school’s literature states the roots of Bloom’s educational model identifies and nurtures each learner’s strengths, cultivates positive and authentic relationships and supports and guides each student’s growth from their developmental uniqueness.

The school does this by using an interestdriven, project-based learning curriculum with individualized academics in math, reading/language, arts, social studies and science. The school also incorporates a great deal of movement and emotional support into these lessons.

“We focus a lot on the social and emotional learning and work on supporting those needs because we can’t get to the academics until that’s strengthened,” Rauman said. “It’s all about building the relationship with the child, building the trusting relationship so they know they can open up to us and come to us.

“Sometimes these kids just shut down, and here we give them a safe space and they know they’re heard and listened to.”

Helping the kids find their purpose in life is something the school and staff take seriously.

“We ask them who they are inside,” • CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

Bloom 360 Learning Community integrates the mind, body and spirit into its lessons. The large cloth swings are a big draw for both students and staff. The relaxed setting often prompts the students to be more open and vocal with their teachers.

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Finding a place to

by Tracy Ouellette

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“Sometimes these kids just shut down, and here we give them a safe space and they know they’re heard and listened to.”

– LAURA RAUMAN, BLOOM 360 FOUNDER

•

FINDING A PLACE TO GROW

where Morgan had to find the answers to the problems away from her desk.

“Then it just clicked for her,” Rauman said.

Learning by doing With a project-based curriculum at the center of the school’s learning, students are encouraged to direct their studies into areas they are keenly interested in.

“It starts with a question – What do I want to learn?” Bloom Communications Director Dawn Frasa said. “Then they create a detailed project plan and look at the steps in the project.”

“It’s highly customized to each child,” Rauman said.

One student has taken an interest in cooking and baking from the simple mixing of premeasured ingredients to baking complicated desserts and cooking entire meals. The student cooks special meals for the students and staff on a regular basis.

Another student, Frasa’s son, has shown

strong organizational talents, so he has been put in charge of planning all of the travel for field trips and training for the school.

“It’s all about the deal for him,” Frasa said with a laugh.

Rauman said helping the students progress through the different stages and seeing their confidence grow and the joy at sharing their talents with others is exactly why she founded the school.

“We’ve spent a lot of time creating this curriculum. Putting all these elements together looks seamless, but a lot of work goes on behind the scenes. And to see it work so well, to see a student thrive and grow, it shows we’re on the right path.”

“It’s life-changing for the learners and the families – everyone is blooming,” Frasa added.

The school’s home district is Waterford, and students can earn either a diploma or certificate of completion upon graduation.

The school is accepting new students.

For more information about the school or how to donate, visit www.bloom360.org.

EAST TROY OUR TOWN 2018-19

Rauman said. “We want to know what they think their inner purpose is. We’re not here just to focus on building skills. We’re here to help them find their place in the world.”

One way they build the spirit is by teaching the kids to identify their emotions and apply them to their actions.

Naming those emotions can sometimes be a struggle for these kids, and the staff promotes a reflective time at the end of each day to help them see how emotions and actions are intertwined.

“They start naming their emotions and seeing things differently, Rauman said.

“They’ll say things like ‘I used my bravery today’ after they tried something new.”

Another important component to the curriculum at Bloom 360 is movement.

Rauman said giving the kids a way to channel their energy during the school day is essential.

“We get them moving all day long,” she said. “They need that outlet.”

Rauman said her own daughter, Morgan, struggled with learning math concepts until her teacher created a hide-and-seek game

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