Breeze
AUG. 2018 • VOL. 5 NO. 3
Geneva Lakes
PUBLISHED BY SOUTHERN LAKES NEWSPAPERS
Serving the Geneva Lake and Lake Como area
PAGE 2 • AUG. 2018 • GENEVA LAKES BREEZE
Tourism drives spotter elimination By Jason Arndt STAFF WRITER
ski law in neighboring Minnesota. “Since 1960, residents and visitors in Minnesota, the birthplace of water skiing, Luring visitors from out of state was have been able to water ski without a the cornerstone for recent legislation spotter onboard when a boat is equipped eliminating the requirement for water ski with a wide-angle rearview mirror,” he spotters on Wisconsin lakes. wrote in the testimony before the Senate Municipalities with inland lakes, like Committee on Sporting, Heritage, Mining the Town of Burlington, can create an and Forestry. ordinance to retain the spotter rule under Moulton, citing data from 2015, states two specific conditions. Minnesota had 185,000 more registered Conditions include the employment of motorboats than Wisconsin, but saw three a water safety patrol, which performs a fewer deaths with eight. minimum of 1,500 hours of enforcement He also noted in the last six years, every two years. The spotter rule requires a second person Minnesota had 28 percent fewer skierinvolved incidents per 100,000 registered in the boat besides the driver to watch the skiers, wakeboarders, surfers or tubers that boats than Wisconsin. “I am convinced that this is a safe and are being towed. practical change that has the potential to The recent legislation eliminated that benefit both (residents and visitors),” he requirement as long as the driver has a states. wide-angle rearview mirror to monitor The benefits, he said, relate mainly to those being towed. The legislation, which passed in March, visitors who travel with only one other had been a topic of conversation for at least person. Moulton, citing state Department of three years. Tourism numbers, revealed 76 percent of State Sen. Terry Moulton, R-Chippewa tourists did not have a third person with Falls, one of the coauthors of the bill, them. reported in written testimony in March “Under current law, these parties would 2017 that constituents approached him be unable to waterski during their visit about removing the water ski restriction. to Wisconsin without a third person,” he Moulton, skeptical at the time, decided to look into the matter by reviewing a water wrote. Former State Rep. Adam Jarchow,
RICHARD GUIDRY The Breeze
Gregory Guidry leaves a trail of spray as he waterskis on Mill Lake near Elkhorn. A change in state law now allows boat drivers to pull skiers without a separate spotter in the boat to monitor skiers.
R-Balsam Lake, co-authored the bill, and added his region relies heavily on tourism revenue from Minnesota. “In the summer, my district sees thousands of Minnesota residents come to their Wisconsin lake homes enjoying their vacations and spending millions in tourism dollars,” Jarchow wrote in his testimony. Locally, state Rep. Tyler August,
R-Lake Geneva, declined to vote on the matter. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Burlington, and Samantha Kerkman, R-Salem Lakes, supported the bill. The Association of Wisconsin Tourism Attractions endorsed the bill while the Badger State Sheriffs Association and Wisconsin Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Association opposed the change.
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GENEVA LAKES BREEZE • AUG. 2018 • PAGE 3
The coolest summer job
EVER
Mail Boat jumpers have one-of-a-kind experience By Bridget Bartal STAFF WRITER
BRIDGET BARTAL The Breeze
Mail jumper Katelyn Theisz delivers mail on a slippery pier after light rain on a June morning. The mail jumpers must jump back onto the moving boat after delivering the mail. Top: Katelyn Theisz successfully makes it back onboard The Walworth after a recent mail delivery. The Mail Boat, part of the Lake Geneva Cruise Line, tours the lake and delivers the mail weekday mornings.
On the rainy date of June 19, Lake Geneva Cruise Line’s U.S. Mail Boat tour continued on despite the dreary conditions. As the boat departed on its lake-round tour and mail delivery service, tourists aboard The Walworth worriedly chatted about the safety of the two young mail jumpers. But mail jumping in rainy conditions is nothing new – this summer marks the 146th season of the excursion boat series. Originally, the mail boat services were a necessity because of the rough dirt roads around Geneva Lake. Nowadays, mail jumping is carried on for tradition and nostalgia. “My grandma’s cousin was one of the first women to mail jump on the lake,” said second-year mail jumper Katie Theisz. “It’s a pretty extensive tryout. You have to be gutsy, athletic and charismatic with the tour.” Theisz described her day-to-day activities aboard The Walworth. A mail jumper stands on the catwalk with the mail, jumps onto the pier, runs to deliver the mail into the box and jumps back onto the moving boat before it fully clears the pier. They also must give a historical tour of the entire lake during the 2.5-hour
excursion, as well as highlight modern businesses and restaurants along the way. Each of the mail jumpers is off script. The active mail jumpers dread rainy days.
See MAIL BOAT, Page 4
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ON THE COVER
Sailboats race in the 2017 Inland Lake Yachting Association championships on Geneva Lake. (Jim Frost photo)
PAGE 4 • AUG. 2018 • GENEVA LAKES BREEZE
Alcohol and boating THINK BEFORE YOU DRINK
Almost half of all boating accidents involve alcohol. That should be reason enough to leave alcohol consumption for when you are safely ashore with no plans to travel.
Operating a boat while intoxicated is a federal offense, subject to a $1,000 fine. In addition, criminal penalties are as high as $5,000, and may even include jail time. Under the influence laws are becoming
more stringent too. In most states, the standards for determining whether an individual is intoxicated matches its state highway laws for operating a vehicle. Wisconsin law prohibits anyone from operating a motorboat or manipulating water skis or similar devices while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Anyone who operates or attempts to operate a vessel is deemed to have given consent to an alcohol and/or drug test. It is illegal for a person to operate a motorboat or use water skis, a surfboard, or other device if he or she: • Is under the influence of an intoxicant or a controlled substance; or • Has a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or greater.
The effects of alcohol
Alcohol and drugs cause impaired balance, blurred vision, poor coordination, impaired judgment, and slower reaction times. Balance is critical on a boat; simply falling overboard and drowning accounts for at least one in four boating fatalities. STOCK PHOTO The Breeze Alcohol reduces inhibitions, causing Remember, Wisconsin law prohibits anyone from operating a motorboat, wa- normally cautious people to try stunts or tercraft or manipulating water skis or similar devices while under the influence of enter high-risk situations a sober person alcohol or drugs. would avoid.
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If you plan to drink, don’t go boating, or save your alcohol for when you’ve arrived safely back at the dock. Alcohol severely diminishes your ability to react to several different signals at once. It takes longer to receive information from your eyes, ears and other senses, and still more time to react. Reduced night vision and the inability to distinguish red from green makes the intoxicated night boater an even greater hazard. Exposure to sun, motion of the waves, and the noise and vibration of your boat’s engine causes fatigue. Alcohol impairs your senses further. Stressors, such as exposure to noise, vibration, sun, glare, wind and the motion of the water, affects boat operators and passengers, thus making drinking while boating even more dangerous than drinking and driving. Research shows that hours of exposure to boating stressors produces a kind of a fatigue, or “boater’s hypnosis” which slows reaction time almost as much as if you were legally drunk. Adding alcohol or drugs to boating stress-factors intensifies their affects – each drink multiplies your accident risk. Source: www.boatus.org and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
(Continued from page 3)
Theisz explained, “It’s really hard when the piers are wet. I fell on the Bonnie Brae pier last year – I’ve never fallen in the water though.” If the mail jumpers cannot leap back onto the boat in time, the boat must circle back for them. Both of the mail jumpers on a recent trip charismatically described the enjoyment behind their unique job. “People mess with us all the time, in good fun. One man put baby oil on his pier so I’d fall,” said fourth-year mail jumper Thomas Peck. Describing the best part of the job, he said, “We love when a homeowner is waiting on the pier for us. We live for that.”
Theisz said giving the tours has helped her gain confidence in her public speaking abilities during college. “I love to entertain people, and tourists come from all around the United States,” she said. “It’s hard to find another job where you can be surrounded by a gorgeous lake, beautiful homes and work outside everyday. I couldn’t find a better job.” The season takes place from June 15 to September 15, and the Mail Boat runs daily from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Prices vary depending on age: $38 for adults, $36 for seniors and $22 for children. Infants that are 3 years and younger board for free. For more information on the U.S. Mail Boat tour, visit www.cruiselakegeneva.com.
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GENEVA LAKES BREEZE • AUG. 2018 • PAGE 5
5 easy ways to relax and recharge on a boat this summer Looking to get away from the daily grind this summer? The answer may be to leave your stress on land and take those summer plans on the water. Four in five Americans say being around water relaxes them, and 72 percent feel healthier after spending time on the water, according to a Discover Boating survey. Americans are working longer hours, dealing with stress and constantly connected to technology, with just 46 percent taking their full vacation time, according to Project Time Off’s 2017 study, The State of American Vacation. One easy solution? Get on the water and go boating. Whether close to home or on vacation, being on, in or near the water is good for you. In fact, the human brain consists of 75 percent water, so when you see or hear water it triggers the brain to react positively, according to Dr. Wallace J. Nichols, marine biologist and author of Blue Mind, a bestselling novel on the scientific connection between water and happiness. What’s more, boating is more accessible than you may think. In fact, more than 142 million Americans go boating each year, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association. “Modern technology can make it more difficult to fully disconnect and relax, and boating is one of the few activities that can take you away from daily distractions to a place where you can reconnect with friends and family, relax and enjoy the outdoors,” says Carl Blackwell, president of Discover Boating. There are easy ways to get on the water, no matter where you are or whether your interests lie in fishing, watersports, sailing, personal watercraft or simply cruising with loved ones. Use these five tips to help you find your way on the water this summer.
Join a boat club
Find a boat club near you to access a versatile fleet of boats. You’ll pay a monthly fee and be able to book your time on the water online. Most boat clubs take care of docking, cleaning and
maintenance, with members responsible for fuel. Plus, most offer boat-training courses as part of the membership.
Rent a boat
Rental options are available on most waterways and provide hourly, daily or weekly access to a variety of boat types. Rental outfitters give tutorials on operating a boat, share safety instructions and offer suggestions on destinations. Another rental option new to market is peer-to-peer rentals, where you can locate boats online by entering your zip code, allowing you to rent someone else’s boat, which usually includes insurance and captains for hire to help you set sail.
Charter a trip
Explore new waters and experience the boating lifestyle by chartering a boat trip with family or friends. Chartering offers several options – bareboat (with no captain) or crewed (with captain and crew), and can be as short as a few days or weeks long. Pick your preferences and get your feet wet.
Take a class
Sign up for a boating lesson to hone STOCK PHOTO The Breeze your powerboating, sailing or watersports Spending a day out on the water is a great way to relax and recharge your skills by mastering the basics while having batteries. Whether you’re swimming, fishing, jet skiing, sailing or just taking a fun along the way. On-water training leisurely spin around the lake, the sunshine and water will brighten the day. courses, watersports camps, youth boating programs and more are offered across the country.
Float your own boat
Chart your own course to boat ownership by visiting DiscoverBoating. com, where you’ll find a boat selector and loan calculator tool to help determine your budget and identify types of boats that fit your lifestyle and interests. Once you’ve narrowed down your search, the site can connect you with manufacturers whose boats best fit your needs and wants. Get off the dock and climb aboard a boat this summer by using DiscoverBoating. com’s Go Boating Today interactive tool – just enter your zip code to find boat clubs, rentals or charters close to home. (BPT)
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PAGE 6 • AUG. 2018 • GENEVA LAKES BREEZE
BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO
g n i k a y a k ayaking is a water sport that can be beneficial to the mind and body. Just about anyone willing to spend a day on the water can benefit from learning about kayaking and how to get started with this rewarding activity. The history of kayaking is interesting. The word “kayak” means “hunter’s boat,” and the Inuit used to rely on these small vessels to catch food by sneaking up on their prey from the water’s edge. Some people still hunt and fish from their kayaks, but many are happy to use them for sightseeing and exercising. “Paddlesports are increasing in popularity among Americans who desire to connect with the outdoors,” said Christine Fanning, executive director of The Outdoor Foundation. The Outdoor Foundation and The Coleman Company, Inc., found in a Special Report on Paddlesports that
21.7 million Americans enjoyed paddling on rivers, lakes, streams, and other waterways in 2014, the most recent year for which data is available. Paddlesports include canoeing, rafting, kayaking, and stand-up paddling. Learning how to kayak does not involve a significant initial financial investment. The outdoor experts at REI say there’s a good chance a novice kayaker will not go out and buy a boat immediately. It’s important to first get a feel for the sport and then go from there. Although it’s not absolutely necessary, it’s recommended that novices take paddling lessons to hone their kayaking skills. Learning the proper technique can help people avoid strain on their neck and back and safeguard their arms from fatigue. Novices should practice on calm waters until their technique is honed. Lakes are a great place to learn, as rivers and places with mild currents can
overwhelm those new to the sport. One of the easiest ways to get introduced to kayaking is to go with an experienced paddler or tour company. Such companies charge a set price for an excursion that will provide transportation to the drop site as well as the equipment needed for the voyage. Tours may include travel down several miles of a relatively calm waterway, allowing novice kayakers to get a feel for paddling and take in the scenery. Getting in and out of a kayak can be challenging for beginners. The resource Kayakpaddling.net offers helpful illustrations and animated tutorials about entering and exiting kayaks as well as paddling techniques and safety. Kayakers should bring some essentials along. A dry pack can keep electronics, food and equipment dry. Remember to wear sunscreen and a hat to keep safe from the sun. A life vest also is essential. (METRO CREATIVE)
GENEVA LAKES BREEZE • AUG. 2018 • PAGE 7
The French Country Inn as it looks today. It still has an elegant country look with manicured lawns. Inset: The main building of the Lake Como Hotel as it looked in the 1920s. SANDRA LANDEN MACHAJ The Breeze
Hide away like the gangsters did The French Country Inn has rich stories to tell
By Sandra Landen CORRESPONDENT
Machaj
Today known as the French Country Inn, the boutique hotel along the shores of Lake Como has a long and interesting history, including a connection to the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, a celebration of the 400-year anniversary of the voyage of Christopher Columbus to the Americas. Owner Tony Navilio said the property began as an ice-storage house. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, ice was harvested throughout the winter from the clear lakes of southern Wisconsin and transported by rail to Chicago to be used during the summer to keep food refrigerated. The ice from southern Wisconsin was especially sought because of its purity and could be used in beverages as ice cubes. The property did not remain an icehouse for long. Early owners, including C.N. Smith, turned it first into a private club for hunters and later a more
open hunting and fishing resort under the name Como Fishing, Hunting and Family Resort. With its prime location on the shores of Como Lake, where both fish and wild life were plentiful, it was an outdoorsman’s paradise. The presence of the Chicago and Northwestern Railway adjacent to the property made transportation to the Como Fishing, Hunting and Family Resort convenient. The train stopped in Williams Bay and Como Station. According to an early postcard, Lake Como was said to be 76 miles from Chicago by train. Another early owner of the property was the Notter family. Photographs of the resort, renamed the Lake Como Hotel, taken around 1920 list D.J. Notter as the manager. The Notters did not hold onto the property for long. In 1921 the property transferred ownership when it was purchased by Christian Hermansen. It is here that the interesting history of the property begins. The 1893 World’s Columbian
Exposition, in Chicago, was known as the White City for its many white buildings constructed for the event. Most of these were not meant to be permanent buildings but would be taken down after the exposition ended. Many of the pavilions at the expo were sent from other countries and were often of fine quality, showing off their country’s quality work and craftsmanship. Denmark was one such country, with a beautifully constructed pavilion of hardwood featuring an intricately carved wooden stairway and hardwood floor. The pavilion was built in Denmark, then dismantled and shipped by boat to the United States, ending in Chicago most likely through the Great Lakes. Once in Chicago it was reconstructed at the fair site. Christian Hermansen, who would become the owner of the Lake Como Hotel, worked at the exhibition using
See FRENCH COUNTRY INN, Page 9
COURTESY OF FRENCH COUNTRY INN The Breeze
George “Bugs” Moran, leader of the Chicago’s North Side gang was the nemesis of South Side gang leader Al Capone. Moran and his wife Lucile spent time at the Lake Como Hotel. They became close friends with owner Hobart Hermansen who later married Lucille after her divorce from Bugs.
PAGE 8 • AUG. 2018 • GENEVA LAKES BREEZE
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PAGE 9 • AUG. 2018 • GENEVA LAKES BREEZE
• French Country Inn his carpentry skills to rebuild the structures coming in from around the world. It is said that he likely worked on the Danish pavilion. Hermansen later purchased the Danish pavilion, dismantled it and transported it to the Lake Como Hotel by railroad. Several other items from the 1893 World’s Exposition also made their way to the Lake Geneva area. The Singhalese Temple was brought to the shores of Lake Geneva, rebuilt and was the center of the Chandler Estate, later becoming the Maytag Estate. The Norwegian Stave Church was also brought to Lake Geneva and was used as a playhouse until it was sent to Little Norway as a tourist attraction. Finally the largest object from the exhibition, the largest refractor telescope ever built, was purchased by the University of Chicago and housed in the specially built Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay. The Senghalese building was destroyed in a controlled burn in 1958, the Norway Stave Church was returned to Norway in 2015, and the Yerkes Observatory is scheduled to shut down this fall. This will leave the Danish pavilion, still intact as the reception building of the French Country Inn as the only reminder of the 1893 World’s Columbian exhibition. Hermansen had three sons, Hobart, Inar and Harry who worked with him at the hotel. Hobart ran the hotel for many years. According to the book, “Murder at the French Country Inn,” the Hermansens continued to run their resorts for 50 years through three generations. In the 1930s Hermansen purchased a hotel in downtown Lake Geneva, the Lake Geneva Hotel. It was best known for its architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. Unfortunately the beautiful architectural structure has since been destroyed. The Lake Como Hotel was tucked away at the shores of Lake Como. To reach it, a narrow road made its way down to the shore with heavy vegetation and trees on either side. The hotel, tucked away at the end of a road that was difficult to find and often missed by visitors, was the perfect spot for a romantic getaway or to hide from the law.
(Continued from page 7)
SANDRA LANDEN MACHAJ The Breeze
Tony Navilio, owner of the French Country Inn stands in the reception area along the oak stairway from the Danish pavilion of the 1893 World Exhibition. The inlaid wood floor from that same exhibition remains the floor for the reception center.
enjoyed the beauty of the southern Wisconsin area and often visited. The Morans found the Lake Como Hotel and met Hobart Hermansen, owner, who became a good friend and welcomed them to enjoy time at the hotel. It soon became a favorite place for the Moran family, Bugs, Lucille and her son from a previous marriage, John, to visit. Bugs Moran was the leader of Chicago’s North Side gang while Al Capone was leader of the South Side gang. After years of trying to murder each other’s gang members, Capone attempted to murder Bugs Moran. The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre in Chicago occurred when Capone killed seven members of the Moran gang but missed Moran, who was late for the meeting with Living the gangster life his gang. While many hotels in northern Illinois After that, life became difficult for and in Wisconsin speak of having Chicago Bugs Moran, who had to remain in hiding, gangsters hiding out in the area, this was a moving from place to place, until he was frequent hideout or getaway for some of the no longer a concern to the gangs. With most notorious of the Chicago gangsters. his power and money gone, Bugs Moran Secluded and private, gangster George became involved in counterfeiting, rum “Bugs” Moran and his wife, Lucille, running, union racketeering and bank
robbery, which eventually ended in his incarceration. Bugs Moran died of lung cancer on Feb. 25, 1957, in Leavenworth Prison in Kansas. He had only served a few months of his 10year sentence. Lucille Moran and her son, John, took refuge at the Lake Como Hotel, her favorite place and divorced Bugs Moran in 1930. She helped Hobart run the hotel. Not surprising, Lucille married Hobart in 1932, but surprisingly Hobart, Bugs and Lucille remained friends. During the “gangster” years, Navilio said there were slot machines, high stakes poker games and free flowing liquor on site at the hotel. On one occasion Hermansen, after he heard federal agents were coming to raid the hotel, dumped all the slot machines off of his 100-foot pier into the lake. Other gangsters used The Lake Como Hotel as their hiding place. Among these were “Baby Face” Nelson, Tommy Carroll, and John Paul Chase. Nelson was listed as Public Enemy No. 1 by FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover after the death of John Dillinger. Nelson along with his friend, smuggler and bootlegger John Paul Chase, used the Lake Como Hotel as a place to get away and hide from authorities. Planning to spend a winter at the Lake Como Hotel with his wife, Helen Gillis, and John Paul Chase, Nelson’s plans were disrupted when Chase’s girlfriend, Sally Bachman, described the hideout to the federal authorities, saying it was along the lakefront. However she did not share the name of the resort claiming not to know it. Unfortunately for the group, the federal agent recognizing the location of the resort and sent Special Agent Charles Winstead, along with two other agents, to the hotel to await their arrival. However at the time of Nelson’s arrival only two of the agents were at the resort because one had taken their automobile to pick up food. Nelson recognized the trap as he drove up and left the resort with the sound of gunfire from the agents. The agents were unable to follow because they were without their automobile. While Winstead missed SANDRA LANDEN MACHAJ The Breeze his opportunity to apprehend Nelson, Visitors are invited to sit on the deck and relax while enjoying the peaceful Nelson did not get off free. He was shot in view of Lake Como. It is especially vibrant in the evening as the sun sets over the Barrington, Illinois, by other agents and water.
later died of those wounds in Chicago. Baby Face Nelson was 25 years old. These are but a few of the stories of Chicago gangsters who enjoyed the Lake Como Hotel in the early years of the 20th century; there are many more – too many to be included here.
Under new ownership
The hotel continued to be run by the Hermansens until 1971 when it was sold to Fay and Gene Leichtey who changed the name to the Red Chimney Inn After several years they sold the property to Sam Argento who reverted back to the name The Lake Como Hotel. After several years the business closed. The Navilio family purchased the property in 1986 and rebranded it as The French Country Inn. Much work went into remodeling and repairing the hotel. A restaurant, Kirschs, was opened in the building with a view of the lake. The restaurant was a popular spot until it closed a few years ago. The Copper Lounge bar remains open and takes visitors back into the days when gangsters mixed with weekend visitors to the area. The alcove with leather furniture across from the bar is a place to look back in time when Bugs Moran, Baby Face Nelson and members of the John Dillinger gang could be found on the grounds. Guests can relive their exploits from the newspaper accounts hanging on the wall. While the hotel rooms were remodeled to make it a more elegant boutique inn, one thing that was not touched was the oak staircase and the exotic wood inlay floor, the highlight of the hotel lobby, and a reminder of the distant past when these were a part of the 1893 World Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Clyde Deighton has written two novels using the French Country Inn as the setting. Readers looking for a mystery in this historical setting should check out “Murder at the French Country Inn” or the newest volume in the series, “Man Inn Trouble.” The French Country Inn is at W4190 West End Road, Lake Geneva. For more information, call 262-374-5999, go to www.frenchcountryinn.com or visit them on Facebook.
PAGE 10 • AUG. 2018 • GENEVA LAKES BREEZE
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FISHING & BOWRIDERS, ATV’S, SIDE X 22’ SYLVAN CRUISER BOAT, includes trailer, 90 hp Mercury & 5 hp trolling motors & 4 SIDES & MOTORCYCLES. BEST PRICE down-riggers. Asking $5,600. Call 678-895- & SELECTION IN THE MIDWEST=SAVE 2100. HUGE!!! AMERICAN MARINE & MOTORPONTOON BOAT 22’ Odessey/lextra, 125hp. SPORTS, SHAWANO 866-955-2628 www. Merc., excellent condition. $10,500 262-210americanmarina.com (WCAN) 6054
Elkhorn - SURE LOCK STORAGE
814 N. Wisconsin (across from Sentry Foods) • 262.949.6997
DELAVAN - YOU STORE IT, LLC 1034 Ann Street • 262.903.0566
SERVICES OFFERED Stop Inr See Ou m of oo Showrge Cars Vinta Sale for
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• Inboard Sales & Service • Boat / Auto • In & Out Service • Pick-Up / Delivery – Marine & Auto • Cleaning & Detailing– • Shrink–Wrap Marine & Auto • Mechanical–Marine / Auto / Trailers • Bottom Wash • Antique Wood Boat Restoration • Consignment–Marine & Auto • Gel–Coat / Fiberglass Work • Upholstery–Marine & Auto • Custom Woodwork (Transom Bars) • Covers–Marine & Auto • Antique Auto restoration •Fuel Sales Copyright © 2003-2015. All rights reserved.
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PAGE 11 • AUG. 2018 • GENEVA LAKES BREEZE
A R E A activities AUGUST
Venetian Fest set for Aug. 15 to 19
9-26 Making Magic with Mixed Media at the Whitewater Arts Alliance, 402 W. Main St., will feature an art exhibit consisting of a wide variety of entries from artists working in 2D or 3D. In this first of its kind show at the center, mixed media is broadly defined to include creation of pieces using two or more media, including acrylics, oil, watercolor, pastels, pen and ink, pencil and more to acrylic with collage, oil and cold wax, assemblage or more. To enter, go to whitewaterarts.org. Exhibit will be open noon to 5 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Closing reception on Aug. 26 from 1 to 3 p.m. 10 Fish Fry, 4:30-7 p.m., Lutherdale Ministries, N7891 Highway 12, north of Elkhorn. Tickets $16 for adults, $8 for children 10 and younger. Reservations suggested for groups of eight or more. 262-742-2352 11 Lutherdale Fest and Quilt Auction – hand-made quilts and other items will be auctioned off to support summer camp. Lunch at 11 a.m. at Lutherdale, N7891 Highway 12. 262-742-2352 11 Lakeland Animal Shelter golf scramble at Hawk View Golf Club, Lake Geneva. 262-723-1000 or visit lakelandanimalshelter.org 12 Antique Flea Market, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Walworth County Fairgrounds, 411 E. Court St., Elkhorn, featuring vendors offering a variety of treasures. Admission is $5. 414-5250820 or nlpromotionsllc@gmail.com 17 Ice Cream Social, 6-7 p.m. at Sunset Pool, 320 Devendorf St., Elkhorn – $3 admission to Sunset Pool, free with admission to the pool on this Family Fun Friday. A movie in the park will follow the ice cream social at dusk. 262-741-5114 www.sunsetpoolelkhorn. com 17, 31 B-Town Sounds, free concerts 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Echo Park, Burlington. 262763-7585 17-18 Midwest Pro Rodeo, Walworth County Fairgrounds, 411 E. Court St., Elkhorn. walworthcountyfair.com 262-723-3228 18 Pride Fair 2018, “The Fair on the Square” in downtown Elkhorn at the Square –Veteran’s Park. www.lgbtwalco.org/ 18 LAS Water Ski Show, 7-8 p.m. at Scenic Ridge Campground, W7991 R and W, Townline Road, Whitewater. www. laswaterskiteam.org/calendar 18 Brooklife Church Cars and Coffee, 8 a.m. to noon, Brooklife Church, 875 s. Rochester St. No. 300, Mukwonago. 18-19 Maxwell Street Days Flea Market in Field Park, highways 83 and NN in Mukwonago. More than 650 sellers offering a variety of goods Food and refreshments available on the grounds. www.maxwellstreetdays.net 25 LAS Water Ski Show, pre-show 5:30 p.m., show 6 p.m. at Babe Mann Park, 960 Proctor Drive, Elkhorn. www.laswaterskiteam. org/calendar 28 Memory Café, 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Matheson Memorial Library, 101 N. Wisconsin St., Elkhorn, offers a place were people with Mild Cognitive Impairment, early stage Alzheimer’s and other related dementia, and their caregivers, can socialize, have fun and enjoy each other’s company. First time members should call 800-272-3900 29-31 Walworth County Fair, featuring
DAVE DRESDOW The Breeze
The Wonder Lake Ski Team performs during the 55th annual Lake Geneva Jaycees Venetian Festival in Flat Iron, Library and Seminary parks in 2017. Venetian Fest events include a carnival, food, live music, lighted boat parade and fireworks. shows, animal barns and auctions, food, games, crafts, a variety of contests and a midway. 262-723-3228 or walworthcountyfair. com 31 Fish Fry, 4:30-7 p.m., Lutherdale Ministries, N7891 Highway 12, north of Elkhorn. Tickets $16 adults, $8 for children 10 and younger. Reservations suggested for groups of eight or more. 262-742-2352 31 LAS Water Ski Show, 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Lauderdale Landing, W5625 West Shore Drive, Elkhorn. www.laswaterskiteam.org/ calendar
SEPTEMBER 1-3 Walworth County Fair, 411 E. Court St., Elkhorn, featuring shows, animal barns and auctions, food, games, crafts, a variety of contests and a midway. 262-723-3228 or walworthcountyfair.com 1 LAS Water Ski Show, 7-8 p.m. at Scenic Ridge Campground, W7991 R and W, Townline Road, Whitewater. www. laswaterskiteam.org/calendar 6-30 Artrageous Birds at the Whitewater Arts Alliance, 402 W. Main St., will be an art exhibit featuring photos of birds from artists around the country. To enter, go to whitewaterarts.org 8-9 25th annual East Troy Bluegrass Festival on East Troy’s historic village square, 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. each day. The sounds of bluegrass music and the fans that love it will again fill East Troy’s historic village square. A full line-up of bluegrass bands and contests, plus lots of great food and East Troy Marketplace vendors, will take place each day. Admission is $10 for weekend wristbands, free for ages 15 and younger. The rain location is East Troy Middle School, 3143 Graydon Ave. easttroy.org/events/bluegrass-festival 8-9 Maxwell Street Days Flea Market in Field Park, highways 83 and NN in Mukwonago. More than 650 sellers offering a variety of goods
Food and refreshments available on the grounds. www.maxwellstreetdays.net 15 Main Street Festival – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., downtown Whitewater, Main St., Whitewater, celebrates the arts with galleries, local shops and restaurants 15 Bull Riding, 3-11:30 p.m. at the Walworth County Fairgrounds, 411 E. Court St., Elkhorn. www.walworthcountyfair.com/ 15-16 Jericho Productions Open Horse Show, Walworth County Fairgrounds, 411 E. Court St., Elkhorn. walworthcountyfair. com (262) 723-3228 16 Waterford Lions Club Car Show, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Cotton Exchange, 345 Hickory Hollow Road, Waterford. www.lionsclub.org 22 Mukwonago Fall Fest, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., downtown. Shopping and restaurant specials, crafters, vendors, petting zoo, live music, chili cook off, pumpkin decorating, pony rides, police and fire vehicles, inflatable obstacle course, concessions and dance performances. 262-363-7758 22-23 WI Horse Alliance Horse Show, Walworth County Fairgrounds, 411 E. Court St., Elkhorn. walworthcountyfair.com 262-7233228 23 Discover Whitewater Series, 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. 23 Big Open Cup, Evergreen Golf Club, N6246 Highway 12, Elkhorn – $45 per person includes: 18 holes golf with eight inch putting cup, three-person teams paired as six-somes, men first nine from back tees and second nine from forward tees, women play forward tees twice, tailgate lunch, team prizes, hole event prizes, optional team skins game. 262-7235722 or evergreen-golf.com 25 Business in the Park and Car Show, Main Street in Twin Lakes. twinlakeschamber.com 25 Memory Café, 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Matheson Memorial Library, 101 N. Wisconsin
The 56th annual Venetian Fest will take place in Lake Geneva from Aug. 15 to 19. The event will run from 5 p.m. to midnight Wednesday through Friday and noon to midnight Saturday and Sunday in Flat Iron, Seminary and Library parks. The entertainment line-up includes Bella Cain from 8 p.m. to midnight Aug. 15; Hairbanger Ball from 8 p.m. to midnight Aug. 16; Too White Crew from 8 p.m. to midnight Aug. 17; Swing Chevron from noon to 3 p.m. Aug. 18; Dirty Canteen from 3 to 6 p.m. Aug. 18; Boy Band Review from 8 p.m. to midnight Aug. 18; Lake Geneva House of Music from noon to 6 p.m. Aug. 19; and Jimmy Nick and Don’t Tell Momma from 8 p.m. to midnight Aug. 19. A craft fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 18 and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 19 in Library Park. A brat stand will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 18 and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 19 in Library Park. A carnival will operate from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Aug. 15 and 16, 5 to 11:30 p.m. Aug. 17, noon to 11:30 p.m. Aug. 18 and noon to 10:30 p.m. Aug. 19 in Flat Iron and Seminary parks. Wristbands are available for $20 from 5 to 19 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday. A water ski show will take place at 6 p.m. Aug. 19 on the lake in front of Library Park. Fireworks will be displayed at dusk on Aug. 19 in Geneva Bay and can be viewed from Library Park, the lakefront, Riviera Beach and Flat Iron Park. A lighted boat parade will start at dusk on Aug. 19 in front of Library Park. The theme for this year’s boat parade is the Olympics. St., Elkhorn, offers a place were people with Mild Cognitive Impairment, early stage Alzheimer’s and other related dementia, and their caregivers, can socialize, have fun and enjoy each other’s company. First time members should call 800-272-3900
28 Keefe Kares Fundraiser, Walworth County Fairgrounds, 411 E. Court St., Elkhorn. walworthcountyfair.com 262-723-3228 30 Antique Flea Market, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Walworth County Fairgrounds, 411 E. Court St., Elkhorn, featuring vendors offering a variety of treasures. Admission is $5. 414-5250820 or nlpromotionsllc@gmail.com The calendar of events is compiled from a variety of sources including area chamber’s of commerce and the Walworth County Visitors Bureau and contains events available as of press time. Although we make every attempt to provide accurate information regarding area events, dates and times may change or events may be canceled. We suggest you visit whitewaterchamber. com, elkhornchamber.com or visit walworthcounty.com prior to making travel plans.
PAGE 12 • AUG. 2018 • GENEVA LAKES BREEZE
Avoid the Construction HWY 120 North is closed through Early October! Please follow our detour by exiting HWY 12 at EXIT 330. Head West on HWY 50, and take a right at Edwards BLVD by the Walgreens. Take another right at Sheridan Springs RD and follow our signs along the road. For more information about the detour, visit hawksviewgolfclub.com or give us a call at (262) 348-9900.
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• Full Deli Department, Party Trays Available • Fresh Salad and Hot Food Bar • Produce Delivered Fresh Daily • Full Service Meat Department, Will Cut To Order • In-House Bakery, Custom Cakes • Floral Arrangements and Plants for All Occasions • Complete Liquor, Wine & Beer Department
Your Full Service Grocery Store
A Cut Above the Rest
Family Owned & Operated Since 1974
Open 7 Days a Week We’ve got your summer sizzle
6 a.m. to 10 p.m. y l t n enie d v n Lake Geneva Co cate Delavan Lo 1414 E. Geneva St. 100 East Geneva Square in the Shopko Shopping Center in the Geneva Square Shopping Center 262-728-2638 Stinebrink’s Liquor Store 262-248-8798 (Next Door) Largest Liquor Store in the Area
262-740-0541
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