Waterford our town 2017 18

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OUR TOWN PUBLISHED BY THE WATERFORD POST

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Your Local Authorized Agent since 1998: BURLINGTON CROSSING SHOPPING CENTER 1709 Milwaukee Ave. (next to Dollar Tree) 6283722

4G LTE not available in all areas. See uscellular.com/4G for complete coverage details. 4G LTE service provided through King Street Wireless, a partner of U.S. Cellular. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. ©2017 U.S. Cellular SUBMITTED PHOTO Our Town

Visitors to the 2017 Waterford and Tichigan Lions Club’s Picnic in the Park play with the baby ducks in the petting zoo area of the event in June. To learn more about the Lions Club and what it does in the community, visit www.e-clubhouse.org/sites/tichiganlakewi.

I

f you’re looking for a place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, the Waterford area is your destination. Only 30 minutes from Milwaukee, the western Racine village and surrounding towns offer small-town life at its finest.

Waterford began as a town of commerce in the 1800s because of its proximity to the Fox River. The waterway provided the perfect source of access and power for early settlers.

Early settlers came to what would become the Village of Waterford in the late 1830s, led by Levi Barnes and Samuel Chapman. Because of its location on the Fox River, by the 1920s the area became the largest village in western Racine County and a hub of commerce and industry.

Today, the community, which includes the village, Waterford Township, Tichigan and the Village of Rochester is home to about 8,000 people, according to the 2010 U.S. Census. The community and the village have grown in the past 150 years with the additions of an industrial park, business park and downtown districts.

The villages of Waterford and Rochester offer downtown districts with shopping and restaurants designed to make visitors feel right at home.

And if that isn’t enough to attract people, the area hosts community events all year long to entertain.

In the summer, the annual Fourth of July parade is a big draw for visitors who join in with the community’s Independence Day celebration and a few weeks later, the Waterford Area Chamber of Commerce’s Hot Air Balloon Festival sees more than 20,000 visitors each year. St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church also hosts its annual Country Fair in early June and the chamber’s Full Moon Four Miler and Half Moon Mini Miler Fun Run is held in

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the beginning of August.

Add to that the fine fishing, boating and bike trails in the area, and it’s clear why people often say Waterford is a “destination.”

Fall in the village features Absolutely Waterford’s River’s Edge Art Walk and the chamber’s Harvest Fest and annual Lion Club’s chicken barbecue dinner.

The holidays are also celebrated in style, when the first Saturday in December comes around and the spirit of the season fills downtown with the annual Christmas Parade, sponsored by Absolutely Waterford. At the end of the parade, Santa and Mrs. Claus ride in on fire truck to light the village Christmas tree in the library and visit with the children.

So, the welcome mat is out and we look forward to seeing you!

Waterford, Wisconsin

OUR TOWN

A publication of the Waterford Post and Southern Lakes Newspapers.

209 N. Dodge St., Burlington, WI 53185 • (262) 763-3330

Editor .............................................................Tracy Ouellette Editor in Chief ............................................ Edward Nadolski Creative Director ............................................. Sue Z. Lange Graphic Designer.............................................. Jen DeGroot Advertising Sales ...........................................Donna Brooks Contributors ........ Tracy Ouellette, Maureen Vander Sanden, Terry Alby and community members.

For advertising opportunities call (262) 763-3330

On the cover: The Waterford American Legion leads the 2017 Fourth of July parade down Main Street in Waterford. (TRACY OUELLETTE PHOTO)

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2017-18 WATERFORD OUR TOWN

Welcome to Our Town!

2017-18 WATERFORD OUR TOWN

2

Coverage here, there and Waterford.

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SUBMITTED PHOTO Our Town

Bill Czaja (center front) opened his State Farm Insurance agency in Waterford 25 years ago. Today, the company has six licensed

agents. They are (front from left) Mike Goff, Czaja, Travis Vesely, (back row) Shari Langusch, Robin Huening and Sandy Dumphey.

Going above and beyond Area insurance agent lives a life of service

By Tracy Ouellette

F

or Waterford insurance agent Bill Czaja the job is more than just selling policies, it’s about helping people.

“We want to help people through those tough times that occasionally occur – the unexpected problem,” he said.

“We also want to help them plan for those unexpected things too, to not have it be a complete devastation to their lives.”

Czaja takes this responsibility seriously, as his insurance agency’s mission statement attests to. It reads, “Our mission is to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected and realize their dreams.”

Czaja is celebrating his 25th year of being a State Farm Insurance agent in Waterford and he attributes his success to his, and his agents’, commitment to that mission.

“We’ve been blessed that every year we’ve helped more people than the previous year,” he said.

“We’re a part of the community and what we do is a service for the members of the community we live in.”

Czaja said while it can be difficult at times to witness

The Bill Czaja Insurance Agency has been at 411 E. Main St., Waterford, since 2000.

The office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

TRACY OUELLETTE Our Town

2017-18 WATERFORD OUR TOWN

EDITOR

3

State Farm insurance agents Shari Langusch (left) and Robin Huening work together on a project at the Bill Czaja Insurance Agency in Waterford.

Huening has been with the agency for 25 years; Langusch came on board a couple of years ago.

TRACY OUELLETTE Our Town

heartbreaking is now the Absolutely loss that often Waterford building, comes with the and brought on Robin job, assisting Huening as his first their clients employee. Huening with whatever is also celebrating recovery is her 25th year at the possible gives insurance agency. him, and his team, a “Dave came in to pay sense of purpose. a bill, and Bill asked, ‘Is “It’s a bit of a Catch your wife looking for a job?’

BILL CZAJA 22,” he said. “There’s a and I was,” Huening said. “It certain amount of fulfillment was a good fit; I had kids and partwhen someone has a fire, or a car time worked for me. I’ve been here ever accident, or a death in the family, to be able since.” to help them recover from that. But it’s not Over the years a few agents have come easy seeing the pain.” and gone, but not many. Today, four other However, it’s not always a crisis, he agents work in the office with Czaja and continued.

Huening – Sandy Dumphey, Mike Goff, “For the most part, life goes well and we Travis Vesely and Shari Langusch. get to be a part of that too,” he said.

“It’s a really good team,” Langusch said.

Or the occasional surprise as well.

“Everybody helps everybody else out,” “I am amazed, even after 25 years, you Huening added. can still say to yourself, ‘I’ve never heard “Everyday,” Langusch said. “It’s a place that one before,’” Czaja said. for helping people and that’s a big drive for Bill. He’s calm and patient and can get right to the simple heart of the matter and Czaja said he never set out to be an find a solution. He’s good at that.” insurance agent and the opportunity just And as much as his team appreciates his sort of presented itself at the right time. work ethic and the opportunity to be at the “It was one of those God things,” he agency, it’s a two-way street. said. “For the prior five years, I had been “I couldn’t do it without the team that I managing a McDonald’s in Delavan,” he have; it would kill me,” Czaja said with a recalled. “Two of the assistant managers laugh. got hired away by State Farm and one of He went on to say that while all of the them said, ‘You should talk to Bill Czaja, agents in his office know all of the products he’d be a good agent.’” and services offered by State Farm, “we do The rest, as they say, is history. have our individual strengths and work that Czaja started his own agency, in what to get the most for our clients’ needs.”

2017-18 WATERFORD OUR TOWN

We’ve been blessed.

Every year we’ve helped more people than the previous year.”

4

How it all began

Part of the community

Czaja is a well-known member of the Waterford community, and beyond. An active member in his church, he can often be found in front of his office during the Christmas and Fourth of July parades, manning the hospitality tent offered by Waterford’s Community United Methodist Church. And on select Sundays, visitors and members of the congregation can hear him sing with the church’s praise band.

He said his faith is a big part of who he is and what drives him.

“I couldn’t do any of this without faith in God,” he said. I don’t know how people without faith do it. It goes along with being community minded, serving the community and being a member of a community church are all part of it.”

Czaja is also a member of the Waterford Area Chamber of Commerce and has in past years helped organize the Full Moon Four Miler in summer. Czaja is an avid runner and athlete, participating in marathons, runs and skiing events throughout the year.

Czaja lives with his wife, Carol, in Rochester. They have three grown sons – Eric, Tim and Luke. They also have one grandchild.

“I have a wonderful wife and three great men for sons, and a beautiful grandchild. I couldn’t be more grateful for what I’ve been given,” he said.

The Bill Czaja Insurance Agency is at 411 E. Main St., Waterford. The office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and on evenings and weekends by appointment.

For more information, call (262) 534-5195.

Let’s meet at Our Diner

Good food, service hallmarks of Waterford restaurant EDITOR

W

hen Gonzalo and Mary Perez opened their diner in Waterford in the summer of 1999, they had no idea what was to come.

“When I opened, it was a very, very tiny place,” he said.

“We had six to eight tables at the most.

I was the cook and my wife was the waitress. That was it.”

Gonzalo Perez said it was their hope that “the best days were to come.”

Little by little, they did.

“It didn’t happen overnight,” he said.

“It took 20 years to get to where we are now. It was a lot of hard work and sacrifice, from everyone in the family.”

But with the support of a community that embraced Marty’s, the Perez’s and their restaurant are thriving.

“It’s a small town and everybody knows everybody, and everybody comes here,” he said with a smile. “I have a lot

of special older people who like what I do and they stick around.

“We get a lot of people from out of town, too. To me, it seems like Waterford is the heart of the area and a lot of people come here to meet from all around. From all the little surrounding towns.”

But it was the regular churchgoers in the area that played a large role in the Perez’s desire to expand.

“On Sundays, I have the church people who all come in at once and leave at once,” Gonzalo Perez said.

So, in 2010 the restaurant opened its banquet hall.

“So many church people came in each week it was hard to serve them all one at a time,” he said. “So, now with the Sunday buffet they can all come in and get eating right away. Everything is fast and everyone gets to eat.”

The hall, which seats 200, also hosts weddings and parties on a regular basis

2017-18 WATERFORD OUR TOWN

BY Tracy Ouellette

TRACY OUELLETTE Our Town

Gonzalo Perez, owner of Marty’s Restaurant in Waterford, mans the omelette station during the Sunday morning breakfast/ brunch buffet. Perez said the key to his diner’s success is always serving the highest quality food with a friendly smile.

5

The dining hall at Marty’s Restaurant in Waterford hosts the weekly Sunday morning brunch crowd. The restaurant added the hall to accommodate the large Sunday breakfast/brunch crowd and other events such as the annual Veteran’s Day luncheon.

TRACY OUELLETTE Our Town

2017-18 WATERFORD OUR TOWN

It didn’t happen overnight.

It took 20 years to get to where we are now. It was a lot of hard work and sacrifice, from everyone in the family.”

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to go along with the offsite catering service the Perez’s offer.

Gonzalo Perez credits the quality of the food they serve, the cleanliness of the establishment and GONZALO the dedication of his staff for the restaurant’s success.

“You have to know what you’re doing and you have to have the best quality food you can find,” he said. “I buy a lot of local produce, especially the tomatoes. I make the salsa and when the tomatoes are ready they call me because they know I will buy from them.”

The salsa isn’t the only thing homemade at the restaurant. Virtually everything served is made from scratch, Gonzalo Perez said.

“I make the soups and gravies, the

hamburgers, the salsa, all of it,” he said.

“We don’t buy anything canned, everything is homemade.”

Even the tortilla chips served with the restaurant’s salsa come to the table still warm from the fryer.

PEREZ And on Sunday mornings, guests who order the buffet can get their made-to-order eggs and omelettes straight from Gonzalo Perez’s frying pan while they watch.

“I love the cinnamon toast combo; it’s to die for,” longtime customer Denise Zielinski of Waterford, said. “My husband likes the Mexican omelette. We love coming here, the atmosphere is fantastic.”

The attention to detail with the menu, that features everything from basic breakfast to authentic Mexican offerings to burgers and fries, is something Gonzalo Perez takes seriously.

“As the owner, you have to know how to take care of people,” he said. “When kids with allergies come in you have to know how to keep them safe. I check all those things.”

Marty’s hosts community events such as live music the first and third Fridays of the month and regular “jam” sessions every Wednesday night.

Perez also hosts a very special event, which is close to his heart, every year on Veterans Day, Nov. 11. The restaurant offers a free brunch for veterans and their spouses.

“This year we’re inviting the fire and police departments too,” Gonzalo Perez said.

“We have it in the banquet hall and they get the best because they deserve the best.”

Marty’s Restaurant and Fiesta Hall is at 201 W. Main St., Waterford. Hours of operation are 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. Sunday brunch buffet is served from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information and to see the menu, visit www.martysrestaurant.net.

For carry out orders, call (262) 5345200.

Class of 1967 SUBMITTED PHOTO Our Town

Classmates for the Waterford High School Class of 1967 had their 50th class reunion Sept. 9 at Rivermoor Golf Club in Waterford.

Classmates came from Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, Virginia, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin.

Pictured front from left are: Shirley Baumeister, Gloria Blodgett, Angel Eder, Therese Guetzke, Frank Bacun, Ron Jovanovich, Dave Heebsh, (second row) Bob Willson, Dave Dietz, Romeo Raabe, Rich Westlund, Linda (Slezaric) Edwards, Ruth Mueller, Linda Cotting-

ham, Kathy Mayer, Anita (Whitman) Mucci, Dave Jasperson, (third row) Jerry Christiansen, Greg Dement, Jeff Halbach, Bob Beck, Gary Thole, Shawn Schmidt, Jim Roanhouse, Nila (Greeley) Emerich, Larry Nanneman, Dave Emerich, Leroy Reesman, Greg Meyer, Glenn Fluegge, (back row) Charlie Schumacher, Bill Johnson, Chuck Alby, Dale Duda, Wes Chamberlain, Jim Hart, Ellen Hanson, John Brinkman. Missing from the photo are Tom Greil, Don Henningfield and Jim Drought.

Our Schools Waterford Graded School District 819 W. Main St., Waterford (262) 514-8250 www.waterford.k12.wi.us Drought School District 21016 W. Seven Mile Road, Franksville (414) 425-6020 www.droughtschool.net North Cape School District 11926 W. Highway K, Franksville (262) 835-4069 www.northcape.k12.wi.us Washington-Caldwell School District 8937 Big Bend Road,

Waterford (262) 662- 3466 www.washcald.com St. Thomas Aquinas School 302 S. Second St., Waterford (262) 534-2265 www.stthomas.pvt.k12.wi.us

High Schools Waterford Union High School 100 Field Dr., Waterford (262) 534-3189 www.waterforduhs.k12.wi.us Catholic Central High School 148 McHenry St., Burlington (262) 763-1510 www.cchsnet.org

Colleges Gateway Technical College Toll Free (800) 247-7122 TTY (262) 741-8492 Burlington Campus (262) 767-5200 Elkhorn Campus (262) 741-8200 Kenosha Campus (262) 564-2200 Racine Campus (262) 619-6200 www.gtc.edu

University Of Wisconsin-Parkside 900 Wood Road P.O. Box 2000 Kenosha, WI 53141-2000 (262) 595-2345 www.uwp.edu University Of Wisconsin-Whitewater 800 W. Main St. Whitewater, WI 53190-1790 (262) 472-1234 www.uww.edu 2017-18 WATERFORD OUR TOWN

Elementary Schools

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Our Churches The Waterford area is home to a variety of denominations and churches. Many churches have special activities for children and youth.

Call for worship times and more information about activities.

Baptist HONEY CREEK COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH (American Baptist) 35512 Washington Ave., Honey Creek (262) 534-3585

Catholic ST. CLARE CATHOLIC CHURCH 7616 Fritz St., Wind Lake • (262) 895-2729

ST.THOMAS AQUINAS CATHOLIC CHURCH 305 S. First St., Waterford (262) 534-2255 www. stthomas.pvt.k12.wi.us

Lutheran

NORWAY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN 6321 Heg Park Road, Wind Lake (262) 895-2281 www. norwaylutheranchurch.org

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF ROCHESTER 103 S. State St., Rochester (262) 534-6582 www. fccrochester.com

United Methodist CALDWELL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

8504 Caldwell Road, Waterford • (262) 363-2630 www.caldwellumc.org COMMUNITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 455 S. Jefferson St., Waterford • (262) 534-2313 www.extremefaith.org

Non-denominational NEW BEGINNINGS CHRISTIAN CHURCH 318 W. Main St., Waterford (262) 514-4559 FOX RIVER CHRISTIAN CHURCH 238 E. Main St., Waterford 262-332-7047 www.foxriverchristian.org GRACE CHURCH 257 Kendall St., Burlington (262) 763 -3021

FATHER OF EIGHT seeks energetic lady. Must love kids, be fit and ready to jump in and join the fun. Military training would be helpful.

ADVENTUROUS CAT LOVER seeks adventurous cat owner.

Please be employed and willing to relocate. Especially fond of black and white tuxedo cats.

All responses will be answered.

Looking for that Purrr-fect match.

GRANOLA EATING, CAMP LOVING, WORLD TRAVELER seeks woman of my dreams.

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2017-18 WATERFORD OUR TOWN

United Church Of Christ

NORTH CAPE LUTHERAN 2644 124th St., Franksville (262) 835-2206 www. northcapelutheran.org

SINGLE, ARTSY LADY SEEKS SINGLE ARTSY GUY. If you love painting, decorating, baking and

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ST. PETER’S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH 145 S. 6th St., Waterford (262) 534-3639 www. stpeterswaterford.com

LIVING WATER LUTHERAN CHURCH (Wisconsin Synod) 6525 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wind Lake (262) 895-3700 www. livingwaterlutheran.com

DEPENDABLE and KNOWLEDGEABLE agent seeks customers looking for real PROTECTION and long term RELATIONSHIP.

Bill Czaja Ins Agcy Inc Bill Czaja, Agent 411 E Main St Waterford, WI 53185 Bus: 262-534-5195

PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH 349 Wegge Court, Burlington (262) 763-5024 peaceburlington.org

SUBMITTED PHOTO Our Town

To show support and appreciation to the teachers at Waterford Union High School, members from Fox River Christian Church of Waterford donated supplies to stock classrooms for the beginning of the school year. In addition, Fox River Christian Church purchased school supplies for two families from Waterford and also dropped off supplies at Love Inc. in Burlington. The church’s Show Love group takes on different projects each month or whenever the need arises.

The church is at 238 E. Main St. in Waterford.

Katie Hageman and Jerry Hoppe ride a tractor in the Waterford Lions Club’s Tractorcade on Oct. 1.

TONI SCHNEIDER Our Town

Tractors parade through countryside

By Toni Schneider

Waterford Lions second vice president and cochairman of the chicken barbecue Scott Gunderson and cochairman Mike Ciezki barbecue half chickens during the event.

CORRESPONDENT

Sixty-seven tractors of various makes and models rumbled down 22 miles of rural roads in Racine County on Oct. 1.

Jerry Weinkauf organized the Waterford Lion’s Club’s first Tractorcade nine years ago with 14 tractors. The parade started at Whitford Park and provided the community with the opportunity to share their love of tractors.

“We had tractors from all over – Racine, Elkhorn and the north side of Milwaukee,” said club Secretary Gary Tilleros. “A group even came riding in all the way from Illinois.

“We are so grateful for the tremendous support we received from the Racine County and Waterford sheriff’s departments and for managing traffic as the parade travelled their route.

No fee was charged to register for the event, and everyone who brought a tractor enjoyed a free barbecue chicken dinner after the four-hour trek.

The aroma of chicken slowly cooking on

TONI SCHNIEDER Our Town

a charcoal fire filled the air at Whitford Park in Waterford enticing people to purchase a Waterford Lions Clubs chicken barbecue dinner.

The event is a fundraiser for the club and support from the community. The club bought 1,300 chicken halves from Gooseberries in Burlington and served 1,143 dinners.

For $11, guests enjoyed a half chicken fresh off the grill served with coleslaw, a roll,

baked potato and chocolate chip cookies.

Leftover food was donated to Love Inc. in Burlington.

As he was assisting with the cooking Scott Gunderson, the clubs second vice president was reminded of when the dinners were held at Ten Club Park more than 40 years ago.

“All proceeds go into their general fund and (that) goes back to the community,” Tilleros said.

2017-18 WATERFORD OUR TOWN

Annual Tractorcade and barbecue dinner raises funds for group

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Our Parks Village OF Waterford

Park pavilion and/or ball diamond rentals available.

Call (262) 534-2350 or email townwtfrd1@tds.net for details.

Whitford Park 625 N. River Road Whitford Park is available to rent for certain events such as wedding showers, family reunions and birthday parties. Park is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Contact the village clerk at (262) 534-3980 or vwaterford.clerk@tds.net for details or see Whitford Park Rental Form.

Village OF Rochester

Town OF Waterford Jensen Park Highway 164 and Jensen Parkway

Pioneer Park 101 S. Front Street Downtown Rochester park provides a scenic view of the Fox River with fishing and picnic facilities.

Rochester Commons Park 208 W. Spring St. Park on the Rochester Public Library and Village Hall grounds offers a full basketball court and playground equipment for the kids.

Case Eagle Park South Rochester Street The park entrance is located just west of the intersection of Highway 36 and Highway J (South Rochester Street in the village).

The 239-acre park contains two baseball diamonds, nature trails, a fenced in dog park, fishing on the Fox River, and a canoe launch.

A Racine County bike trail includes this park in a continuous trail from the City of Burlington north to Wind Lake.

country ski trails.

Wadewitz Nature Park

2716 Buena Park Road

The 176-acre park functions as a primitive group campsite with a lodge, numerous hiking and cross country ski trails. The natural resource orientated site contains some of the finest glacial topography and wooded vegetation to be found in the county.

Saller Woods Highway 36 The park entrance is just south of where the Fox River crosses Highway 36. This 91-acre park runs alongside the river and contains nature, bike and cross

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Roesing has been selling furniture for more than a century

TRACY OUELLETTE Our Town

Bob Roesing, owner of Roesing Furniture in Waterford, stands by one of the sofas that can be ordered in a variety of colors. He says his staff’s knowledge and dedication to service set his store above the large retailers.

and shipping area.

The majority of the business is living room furniture sales, Roesing said.

“Especially motion and reclining furniture.

It’s been very, very popular with the home theaters. Most of them have power now – power reclining sofas, loveseats and chairs,” he said.

The home theater needs have also

By Tracy Ouellette translated into strong sales of entertainment EDITOR centers, Roesing said. enry J. “H.J.” Roesing began selling “It’s what people are looking for,” he furniture in Burlington in 1902. continued.

According to records kept by Roesing said he works with more than the Burlington Historical Society, two-dozen different furniture vendors Roesing moved into a building and two mattress lines – Beautyrest from owned by John Haas in 1904. Two years Simmons and Symbol Mattress from later, Haas bought a share of the Roesing Watertown. business and the company became Roesing “They’re a great local company,” he said. and Haas Furniture and Funeral.

Roesing said he carries the same lines More than a century later, Roesing customers find in other furniture stories and Furniture in Waterford is still owned and big box stores, but the atmosphere at his store operated by the Roesing family. is much friendlier and he and his employees “I probably have been running it for about are more knowledgeable about what they are 30 years now,” owner Bob Roesing said. selling.

He is the fourth generation of owners, “People are sick of the big-box stores,” following his father Don, grandfather A.J. he said. “We can answer their questions and original owner, great-grandfather H.J. and help them out with what they need. We “We had a couple of locations in know about the things we’re selling. We have Burlington and moved to Waterford on July the name brands, great delivery and good 6, 1976,” Roesing said. “We’ve been here a service.” little over 40 years now.”

Another area the store does well in is The 30,000-square-foot facility, just Amish furniture. off the intersection of highways 20 and “People love the beautiful quality of the 36, is the same size it was when they pieces,” Roesing said. “It’s customizable built it, Roesing said. It includes a main with custom finishes, sizes, different types of showroom, a smaller mattress showroom wood – it’s just beautiful.”

H

Most of the Amish furniture they sell at the store comes from Pennsylvania.

SECRET OF THEIR SUCCESS Roesing credits the company’s customer service and dedicated employees for the business’ success over the decades.

“Most of my guys have 20-plus years here, some of them are pushing 30 actually,” he said. “I’m actually dealing with third-generation customers now. For me it’s been three generations of clients.

First it was their parents, then the kids and now we’re on to the grandkids.”

And that’s what drives him to open the doors every morning.

“It’s the people,” Roesing said. “Some of them have been coming here so long, they’re like old friends. This is such a great community – Waterford and Burlington.

Even beyond that. We do a lot of shipping to Eagle, too. We’re all over the place.

He doesn’t plan on that changing for quite some time.

“I’m still enjoying doing this, when the day comes that I don’t, I’ll close,” he said.

Roesing lives in Burlington with his wife, Sue. They have two children, Christopher and Alyssa, and a grandchild who was born Sunday.

Roesing Furniture is at 29131 Evergreen Drive, Waterford.

For more information, visit the showroom or call (262) 534-3131.

2017-18 WATERFORD OUR TOWN

Our furniture store is all in the family

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Our Clubs & Organizations ABSOLUTELY WATERFORD, INC.

LIONS CLUB OF WATERFORD

WATERFORD LIONS CLUB

TICHIGAN SNO-N-GO SNOWMOBILE CLUB

AMERICAN LEGION POST 20

LIONS CLUB – TICHIGAN LAKE

WATERFORDROCHESTER SENIOR CARD CLUB

VFW POST 11038

WATERFORD YOUTH BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION

VFW POST 10441

102 E. Main St. (262) 534-5911 www.absolutelywaterford.org

P.O. Box 65 Waterford, WI 53185 (262) 534-6225

FOOD PANTRY – COMMUNITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 455 S. Jefferson St. (262) 534-2313

FOX RIVER CAUSE

5950 N. River Bay Road Waterford, WI 53185 (262) 895-3205

P.O. Box 84 Waterford, WI 53185 (262) 534-5344

P.O. Box 84 Waterford, WI 53185 www.waterfordlionsclub.org

6710 Big Bend Road (262) 895-6268 www.facebook.com/ TichiganLakeLionsClub

Aspinall-Bair-Stober Post 29224 Evergreen Drive (262) 763-9075

(262) 514-2474

WATERFORD AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

102 East Main St. (262) 534-5911 chamber@waterford-wi.org

8309 Parkside Lane (262) 534-1984 www.waterfordyouth baseball-softball.com

WATERFORD AREA KIWANIS CLUB

TICHIGAN SENIOR CITIZENS CLUB

4926 Elm Island Circle (262) 534-3596 www.kiwanisone.org

Tichigan Memorial Post 8330 Fox River Road 414-355-3179

KULCHAR-FOHR LADIES AUXILIARY VFW POST 8343 (262) 895-2153

To be added to this listing, email touellette@ southernlakesnewspapers. com.

(262) 514-2864

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2017-18 WATERFORD OUR TOWN

Offering high quality assisted living where seniors most prefer . . . at home.

Albuquerque ALL THE WAY FROM

Civil Air Patrol pilots share their knowledge at Balloonfest

By Alex Johnson CORRESPONDENT

t. Col. William Fitzpatrick and his team from the Civil Air Patrol came all the way from Albuquerque to operate their hot air balloon at the seventh annual Waterford Balloonfest in July.

“Flying balloons is the most serene flying you’re ever going to be able to do,” Fitzpatrick said. “It is not just up and down, but understanding what we call micrometeorology.”

Both Fitzpatrick and another member of his team, Maj. Jessica Makin, are instructor pilots for LTA-type aircrafts, or lighter-thanair aircrafts.

Although the weekend started with poor conditions for hot air balloon flying, Makin flew the Civil Air Patrol hot air balloon, Integrity, on Saturday evening, in clear skies and peaceful weather.

Fitzpatrick talked about how he got started flying and hot air ballooning.

“Starting off at 14, I started flying gliders … for me, it’s been 17 years,” he said. “I’ve really intensively been going through this and learning about aviation.”

Joining the United States Air Force as an aircraft mechanic, Fitzpatrick dived deeper into learning about aircraft systems, taking his education to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

One of Fitzpatrick’s favorite moments in his aviation career is taking his father flying for the first time.

“My dad is an airplane transport pilot, but he is not rated to fly balloons, and it was very interesting because I grew up from six-months old flying with him… It was a culmination of accomplishing something you set out to do, family tradition being an aviator, and being able to share that with other people.”

Fitzpatrick said that members of the Civil Air Patrol come from “all diverse walks of life.” Makin is both a sixth-grade math teacher and flight instructor for hot air balloons.

“The community itself is very encompassing,” Fitzpatrick said.

“It becomes a large family.”

An intern of Fitzpatrick met the team in Waterford one year, even though she was from Albuquerque herself, something that

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exemplifies the “encompassing feeling of the community.”

He also said his purpose in being a part of Balloonfest is to take advantage of the opportunity to share the team’s knowledge with the community.

“Taking this aspect of flying, and showing it to family, friends and the community … and show all ages, all walks of life, that this is obtainable. They can start down (this) path, and you can be a balloon pilot next year.”

“You can launch from your backyard if you’ve got the room,” Fitzpatrick said. “That’s the amazing aspect of it.”

2017-18 WATERFORD OUR TOWN

ALEX JOHNSON Our Town

Civil Air Patrol Maj. Jessica Makin (from left), Lt. Col. Donald Underwood, Cadet Matthew Donnelly, Cadet 2nd Lt. Billy Enriquez, and Lt. Col. William Fitzpatrick gather for a photo in front of their hot air balloon basket. The group attended the Waterford Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2017 Balloonfest to share its knowledge about balloon flight.

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Our Important Numbers UTILITIES Diggers Hotline: (800) 242-8511 Electric WE Energies – Customer service: (800) 242-9137; 24-hour emergency service: (800) 662-4797 (electric, lights) or (800) 261- 5325 (gas, odors, leaks, appliance repairs) Telephone TDS Telecom: 262-534-5101 Cable Television Companies • Time-Warner Cable

NEWSPAPERS

Customer service: (888) 395-7175

Airport manager Walter Watkins (262) 642-5008

• DirecTV Customer service: 800) 630-5795

GARBAGE PICKUP/ RECYCLING

• Dish Network (TDS Telecom) Customer Service (888) 634-8410

AIRPORTS • Burlington Municipal Airport 703 Airport Road Airport manager Gary Meisner (262) 763-6600

• Village of Waterford: John’s Disposal Service Inc. (262) 473-4700 • Town of Waterford: Advanced Disposal (800) 232-0860 • Village of Rochester: ASDA Enterprises (262) 539-2086

• East Troy Municipal Airport Highways 20 and L

Weekly • Waterford Post (262) 763-3330 Daily • Racine Journal Times (262) 634–3322 • Milwaukee JournalSentinel (414) 224-2000

POST OFFICES

• Waterford Post Office 218 N. Milwaukee St. 262-534-3255 • Rochester Post Office 208 W. Main St., (262) 534-6100

Your Home .. .. Your Future .. Our Commitment

2017-18 WATERFORD OUR TOWN

We have been assisting buyers and sellers in the community since 2004, and are eager to be a part of your next move.

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262-305-6907 raeann.arrigoni@remax.net

There is no substitute for experience Put ours to work for you!

262-909-2771 suanneriley@remax.net

Two Convenient Locations — Waterford & Burlington

315-B Milwaukee St., Waterford 800 Milwaukee Ave., Burlington 296164

Making community a priority

Local businesses support local events, charities for many reasons

By Tracy Ouellette EDITOR

or some area businesses, supporting the community and helping fund area charities and events is an integral part of the company’s philosophy.

Runzheimer in Waterford is one of those businesses. The mobile workforce solutions company formed Runzheimer Foundation Inc. in 2000 to manage its community support.

“As our level of commitment evolved over the years, we realized it was necessary to create structure and goals around what we wanted to accomplish,” said Peggy

F

Block, executive assistant to Runzheimer President/Grant Manager Randy Mueller.

“We created a mission statement relating to our giving and defined the core areas where support would be focused. These four core areas of support are: education, community, environment, and people in need. All of our corporate giving now takes place through the Runzheimer Foundation.”

The foundation, which is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, gives to about 225 organizations a year, Block said.

“We have a formal process for requesting grants from the Runzheimer Foundation,” Block said. “Grant requests are submitted through the Runzheimer Foundation website.

“We then review the information and decide does it fit into our core areas of giving, and are they located in Wisconsin.”

Block said the foundation receives about 260 grant applications a year.

The foundation also chooses some organizations to donate to on its own and offers a program specifically for Runzheimer employees.

“Internally we offer a Matching Gift

program for our employees,” Block said.

“The Matching Gift program is offered to encourage and support employee generosity and community involvement. We also have a Runzheimer Volunteer program, which allows our employees eight hours paid time off during the workday to volunteer in our communities.”

Over the years, the foundation has awarded grants to many local organizations, including: Hunger Task Force, Make A Wish, Women’s Resource Center, United Way, Sojourner Family Peace Center, Burlington Chocolate Festival, Local School Districts, Special Olympics, Love Inc., Transitional Living Center, Milwaukee Public Museum, Girl and Boy Scout Troops, Waterford River Rhythms, B-Town Sounds, Waterford Balloon Fest, Waterford Full Moon 4 Miler, Feeding America, USO of Wisconsin, Lions Club of Waterford, Junior Achievement of Wisconsin, NAMI Racine County, Racine County Food Bank, River Bend Nature Center, Milwaukee Public Museum, Koos for Kids and Lakeland Animal Shelter.

Block said the foundation’s work is

The Lunch Money Bullies delighted a large crowd at River Rhythms in Waterford last year. The biweekly concert series is just one of the local events the Runzheimer Foundation supports.

2017-18 WATERFORD OUR TOWN

TERRY ALBY Our Town

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important to the company because it shows how committed the corporation is to the community and its employees. “(It’s a way) to take part in the betterment and well-being of our communities,” she said.

The Runzheimer Foundation, Inc. is based at the company’s corporate headquarters at 1 Runzheimer Parkway in Waterford. For more information, visit runzheimerfoundation.org.

Presenting sponsor

TERRY ALBY Our Town

The Waterford Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2017 Balloonfest was sponsored by many area businesses, including presenting sponsor Triple Crown Products in Waterford.

Triple Crown Products is another Waterford business that has donated to local organizations over the years and stepped up its game this year by becoming a presenting sponsor of Waterford’s annual Balloonfest in July. The company created custom logo apparel and promotional products.

“This it the biggest sponsorship we’ve done so far,” co-owner Mike Quernemoen said. “We will support a lot of private schools in the area through donations and things – that’s been one of our things in the past. But this is something that we haven’t really done before.”

Quernemoen said the family owned and operated company chose to spread its sponsorship wings with Balloonfest because the event was a good fit with their company philosophy.

“We really like the event,” he said. “All of the owners of Triple Crown have been to the event and really enjoyed it. It’s something we’re excited about and we like how it portrays our community and where we’re from. It’s something that really fits with our business and our family atmosphere we have at Triple Crown. It’s an event that showcases Waterford and we wanted to take advantage of that.

“We actually have very little business that comes from this area and Balloonfest is something that reaches beyond Waterford and shows our customers where we’re at.”

Triple Crown had a tent at the festival so people could find out more about what they do and offered activities for families.

Triple Crown Products is at 814 Ela Ave. in Waterford. For more information, visit triplecrownproducts.com.

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2017-18 WATERFORD OUR TOWN

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Our Government Village of Waterford 123 N. River St. Waterford, WI 53185 Phone: (262) 534-3980 Fax: (262) 534-5373 Email: vwaterford.clerk@tds.net Website: www.waterfordwi.org Village Hall office hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Clerk Rachel Ladewig (262) 534-3980, ext. 221 rladewig@waterfordwi.org Deputy Clerk Kathy Lindbloom (262) 534-3980, ext. 223 klindbloom@waterfordwi.org Village Board The Waterford Village Board meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of the month at Village Hall.

Board President Thomas E. Roanhouse* (262) 210-3707 troanhouse@waterfordwi.org Trustees Acting President Don Houston* dhouston@ waterfordwi.org Andrew Ewert* aewert@ waterfordwi.org Troy McReynolds tmcreynoldshttp @waterfordwi.org Kathy Nargis knargis@ waterfordwi.org Tamara Pollnow tpollnow@ waterfordwi.org * Term ends April 2018.

As of press time, two vacant seats on the board were up for election in November 2017.

Plan Commission Don Houston, chairman Members Howard Bryant Brent Hess Craig Kosut Bil Luth Robert Nash Gonzalo Perez Assessor Affiliated Property Valuation Services (608) 436-3038 Daniel McHugh 356 Dale Drive Burlington, WI 53105 Building Inspector, Zoning Administrator Martin Montoya (262) 894-2982 Office hours: Monday and Wednesday, 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Fire and Rescue Department Fire Chief Richard Mueller (262) 534,3980, ext. 400 Health Department Central Racine County Health Department (262) 898-4460 10005 Northwestern Ave. US Bank Building, 2nd Floor Franksville, WI 53126 Library Director Pamela Belden (262) 534-3988, ext. 30 psbelden@waterford.lib.wi.us Hours: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Wednesday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday and Friday; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday

Waterford Police Department.

Waterford Police Department (262) 534-2119 (non-emergency) 415 N. Milwaukee St. Waterford, WI 53185 Emergency: 911 Public Works Director Jeff Bergles (262) 534-3980, ext. 321 jbergles@waterfordwi.org Village Attorney Marcia Hasenstab (262) 534-6611 Treasurer Dawn Janecky (262) 534-3980, ext. 224 djanecky@waterfordwi.org Deputy Treasurer Angela Sterling (262) 534-3980, ext. 229 asterling@waterfordwi.org

Town OF Waterford 415 N. Milwaukee St. Waterford, WI 53185 Phone: (262) 534-2350 Fax: (262) 534-6606 Website: www.tn.waterford. wi.gov Town Hall office hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Town Clerk Tina Mayer townwtfrd@tds.net

Municipal Court Judge Greg Miller (262) 662-5582 Court Clerk court@ waterfordwi.org

Town Board Town Chairman Tom Hincz* (262) 945-1015 thincz@wi.rr.com

Police Department Police Services in the Village of Waterford is provided by the Town of

Supervisors Nick Draskovich (414) 640-4113 nick@endpoint corporation.com

Dale Gauerke (262) 210-1668 DaleGauerke@gmail.com Teri Jendusa Nicolai* (414) 254-8374 tnicolai@wi.rr.com Tim Szeklinski (414) 399-6943* tszeklinski@gmail.com * Term ends April 2018.

Planning Commission Jan Alvey (414) 333-8066 Ted Derse (262) 514-2567 Tom Hincz (262) 945-1015 Duane Luick (262) 895-7129 Roy Schmidt (262) 534-6767 Risa Smith (414) 690-6724 Max Wenck (262) 957-6500 Town Assessor (262) 534-3003 Fire Department Fire Chief David Wagner (262) 662-3570 Building Inspector Lee Greivell (262) 534-9236 Municipal Court Judge Jill Mitchell (262) 534-4880 Court Clerk Sharie Gauerke (262) 534-4880 Police Department Chief Matthew Johnson (262) 534-2119 mjohnson@ waterfordpd.com Department of Public Works Supervisor Ken Hinz (262) 534-5705 Town Attorney Michael Dubis (262) 534-6950 Christopher Schultz, assistant town attorney, (262) 534-6950 Town Treasurer Heather Stratton (262) 534-2350 townwtfrd1@tds.net • CONTINUED ON 18

2017-18 WATERFORD OUR TOWN

Village OF Waterford

17

Village OF Rochester 300 W. Spring St. P.O. Box 65 Rochester, WI 53167 Village Hall office hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

gbeck@rochesterwi.us Doug Webb (262) 534-4537 dwebb@rochesterwi.us Christopher Bennett (262) 514-4505 cbennett@rochesterwi.us Chris Johnson (262) 534-2008 cjohnson@rochesterwi.us Russell Kumbier (262) 210-7299 rkumbier@rochesterwi.us

Clerk’s Office Village Clerk Betty Novy (262) 534-2431 bnovy@rochesterwi.us Deputy Clerk-Treasurer Sandra J. Swan (262) 534-2431, ext. 302 sswan@rochesterwi.us

Assessor Kathy Romanak (262) 534-3003 romanak@tds.net

Village Board President Edward Chart (262) 534-5425 ejchart@rochesterwi.us

Public Works Director Christopher Birkett (262) 332-1017 cbirkett@rochesterwi.us

Trustees Nick Ahlers (262) 534-9578 nahlers@rochesterwi.us Gary Beck (262) 534-2071

Zoning Administrator Jonathan Schattner (262) 902-2782 jschattner1@gmail.com

Building Inspector Lee Greivell (262) 424-6957 lgreivell@gmail.com

Paint the Town

TONI SCHNEIDER Our Town

Gabi Ronczyk (from top), Ashley Hancock and Olivia Bush paint the window of Main Street Boutique in Waterford on Sept. 23 in 94-degree heat. Their painting, for the 2017 Homecoming at Waterford Union High School, was called “We are the World.”

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