Wonders of Walworth County for Summer 2018

Wonders

of WALWORTH

COUNTY Published by Southern Lakes Newspapers LLC

Summer 2018

Page 2

WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY

SUMMER 2018

A big leap for Little Miss Farm Market Co-op moves to property in the country

by Heather Ruenz STAFF WRITER

When what he described as the “perfect location” became available, Bob O’Neill said it was the right time for Little Miss Sweet Pea’s Farm Market Co-op to make the move from it’s home in the City of Elkhorn to a busy intersection along Highway A, north of the city.

“We thought it was the perfect location.

Highway A has kind of been revived, too, with Staller Estate Winery, Lucky Break Acres, The Apple Barn and more businesses, plus the lake residents,” said O’Neill, who owns the market with his wife, Colleen.

Colleen O’Neill, who grew up a Slattery, was born and raised in Elkhorn while Bob is from Williams Bay. The couple has lived in Elkhorn since they were married 38 years ago. They have four children – three of whom still live in Elkhorn, the other in Florida – and nine grandchildren.

O’Neill said his wife started the business 17 years ago.

“It started small with Colleen selling items out of a tent at the Mobil gas station on Highway A. When it grew enough we bought a trailer,” he said.

In 2010, the O’Neill’s opened Little Miss Sweet Pea’s on Geneva Street in Elkhorn where it remained for the past eight years until the former Front Parlor Antique property at the intersection of Highway A and Millard Road became available earlier

this year.

O’Neill said their market follows the harvest.

“We start with hanging baskets, plants, perennials and garden-ready vegetables for the first month or so and then it’s asparagus, rhubarb, radishes and greens, or lettuces,” he said.

The store at Little Miss Sweet Pea’s offers a variety of food and knickknacks including cheeses and beef sticks, honey and free-range eggs.

The market, which is a co-op, has gained new members despite being at the new location for only a short time.

“We now have 17 members in the co-op.

We just gained more in Millard since moving here. We’ve been very welcomed and have really had a great response,” O’Neill said.

He credits his wife with the business growing from what it was 17 years ago when she was selling a few things out of a tent, to what it is today with Bob, Colleen and six employees keeping the market fresh.

“Colleen’s vision has continued to grow the business into what it is now,” O’Neill said. “She has the greenest thumb of anyone I know.”

Little Miss Sweet Pea’s Farm Market Coop, N6696 Millard Rd., Elkhorn, is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday and Sunday.

For more information, call Colleen at 262903-9600 or Bob at 262-903-9599.

Above: Bob O’Neill, who owns Little Miss Sweet Pea’s Farm Market with his wife, Colleen, sits on the porch with their dog, Brady. Left: Hanging plants fill tables on the lawn at Little Miss Sweet Pea’s, which relocated from the City of Elkhorn to Millard at the former Front Parlor Antique property.

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SUMMER 2018

WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY

Page 3

‘The Big One’ TOM GANSER Wonders of Walworth County

Spring Prairie 4-H Club member Landon Rehberg shows his grand champion steer at the 2017 Walworth County Fair. This year’s festival runs Aug. 29 through

Labor Day, Sept. 3, on the county fairgrounds at 411 E. Court St., Elkhorn. For more information, visit www.walworthcountyfair.com.

Walworth County Fair is the largest in the state Tracy Ouellette EDITOR

The 169th Annual Walworth County Fair, “The Big One,” returns to the fairgrounds in Elkhorn on Aug. 29 and runs through Labor Day, Sept. 3.

The festival has the distinction of being the largest county fair in the state. The fair is also a “dry” festival, with no alcohol served on the fairgrounds. “(We have) over 15,000 entries in the fair competitions, everything from quilts to cows,” Walworth County Fair General Manager Larry Gaffey said.

The fair also hosts the largest demo derby in the state.

The six-day county fair showcases agriculture in the county with an emphasis

IF YOU GO The 169th Annual Walworth County Fair WHAT:

County Fairgrounds, 411 E. Court St., Elkhorn WHERE: WHEN:

Aug. 29 to Sept. 3

$10 for adults, $8 for seniors (Wednesday, Thursday and Friday), $5 for kids age 5 to 12, kids younger than 5 are admitted free.

TICKETS:

INFO:

walworthcountyfair.com

on the youth, often area 4-H member, who raise and show animals and compete in multiple other contests to highlight farming and home-crafted goods and food.

Along with the agriculture judging, the fair features a large carnival, Kiddieland, Log Cabin demonstrations, Barnyard Adventure, live music, food vendors and more.

Opening ceremonies for the fair will be at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 29, on the Park Stage. The annual Fairest of the Fair competition finals are set for 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 2, on the Park Stage.

What’s new?

Some of the fair’s new attractions include the Aug. 29 Flat Track Motorcycling Racine and the BMX Stunt Show, Gaffey said.

Also new this year are the Moo-gician show on the Kiddieland stage, Swifty Swine Racing and Swimming Pigs in the Machinery Lot, and the Red Piano Bar near the North Hall.

Pies take center stage with the addition of the Pies in the Park recipe challenge and pie auction.

What’s free?

The family friendly festival offers boatloads of fun for free on the fairgrounds. Kids of all ages can enjoy live entertainment, harness racing, horse pulls, the Nick’s Kid Show, Learning Coop, Log Cabin demonstrations, racing pigs and more.

The Barnyard Adventure, which is free to visit, is a great place for kids to

learn about agriculture. Children can grab a basket to explore different ag stations in the Seeds of Supper Tour, earning “Barnyard Bucks” to spend in the Barnyard Adventure General Store. A visit to the Butterfly Barn is also a family favorite activity at the fair.

Special attractions

“C is for Celebration” when Sesame Street Live appears on the Grandstand at 3 p.m. on Sept. 1. Kids can sing and dance along with Elmo, Cookie Monster and Rosita during the interactive performance.

This event does have a charge with tickets $10 to $20 depending on the seating.

The

The fair will host musical acts on Saturday and Sunday night, but the names of the band(s)/performers of this year’s headline acts were not available at press time.

“We can’t announce our concerts until later because of contract restrictions,” Gaffey said.

Musical acts scheduled to perform at the Park Stage during the fair’s run include the Fair Idol competition, Todd Green Jazz Trio, Jack Farina Big Band, Steve Meisner Polka Band, KR Bluegrass, Gary McAdams Band, The Britins, The Concrete Roots Reggae Band and more.

For tickets, full schedule and additional information, visit walworthcountyfair.com.

Wonders of Walworth County A publication of Southern Lakes Newspapers LLC 1102 Ann St., Delavan, WI 53115 • (262) 728-3411

EDITOR: .....................................................Tracy Ouellette EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: ................................... Sharon Soch CREATIVE/PRODUCTION DIRECTOR: ................Heidi Schulz GRAPHIC DESIGNER: .....................................Jen DeGroot ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: ......................Vicki Vanderwerff SPECIAL SECTIONS ADVERTISING: ............ Karen Dubinsky

On the cover

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Grace and Caroline Hanson, of Fontana, take a ride on a giant bumblebee in the 2017 Walworth County Fair’s Kiddieland. This year’s fair runs Aug. 29 to Sept. 3.

Page 4

WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY

SUMMER 2018

Roses on Doug Amon’s “Stop and Smell the Roses” property in Delavan beckon people to visit during the growing season. Amon will share gardening tips during a program in the pioneer cabin at the Walworth County Fair next month.

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oth the Walworth County Fairgrounds and Burlington Historical Society continually preserve two log cabins from the 19th and 20th centuries.

Docents and demonstrators play a crucial part in keeping the spirit of these historical buildings alive.

Walworth County Fair’s Log Cabin and Burlington’s Pioneer Log Cabin in Wehmhoff Square exhibit their pieces of history in differing ways.

The Walworth County Association for Home & Community Education will host the demonstrations at the annual Walworth County Fair. Demonstrations take place from noon to 6 p.m. on Aug. 29, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Aug. 30 through Sept. 2 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 3. Demonstrators will display their trades and specialties.

The demonstrators and their areas of expertise change from year to year. The cabin was built on the fairgrounds in 1936.

Burlington’s Pioneer Log Cabin is open from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturdays from mid-May through mid-October, as well as by appointment. Docents memorize facts about the history of the cabin and highlight the lifestyle of people living in the 1850s.

Historians estimate the cabin was built in 1850.

A docent at Burlington’s cabin, Helen Lena, described herself as a history buff who belongs to three historical societies.

“My dad raised me on stories and I developed a love of history. I was asked to be a docent, and I couldn’t say no,” Lena said.

Lena has been a docent for about five years. Though she is a retired teacher, she continues to substitute teach when she can.

As a docent, she dresses in periodaccurate clothing during her tours and said the history-comes-to-life approach was important.

“It gets the kids really interested in history. And it’s fun,” she said.

Meanwhile, demonstrators show off their trades at the Walworth County Fairgrounds.

This summer, they cover a wide range of interests, from custom-built farm toys to hand chair caning.

One demonstrator, a rose gardener in Delavan, stirs the emotion of many visitors to his property.

“My wife got cancer and she passed away back in 2005,” said Doug Amon, homeowner of the Stop ‘n Smell The Roses at N5088 Highway O. “When she passed away, I sold my business. She had a little garden out there, and I thought I’d plant some roses for her. It started out as 25 bushes.”

Twenty-five roses soon turned to 50, and the garden continued to expand and grow.

“Now there are over 400 rose bushes,” Amon said. “Some of the neighbors started to stop in and see what was going on, and that’s how it all got going. Later, I put up a gazebo and a little pond with a waterfall.

SUMMER 2018

WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY

Page 5

BRIDGET BARTAL Wonders of Walworth County

Helen Lena, docent at Burlington’s Pioneer Log Cabin, opens the windows of the cabin. The cabin is estimated to be 170 years old. It has been restored over the years and is in fantastic condition for its age.

Over a thousand people come through each summer.”

Another docent, Larry Yanke, specializes in hand chair caning.

“It’s a six-layer weaving process,” Yanke said. “You come out with a hexagonal pattern, and the seventh layer goes around the top to cover the holes. The trade goes back about 2,000 years. The ancient Egyptians did it.”

Yanke, who has caned chairs for about 10 years, currently is working with several customers who are intrigued by this archaic trade.

“It costs $80 to $90 per chair. I’m busy; I have five or six chairs to make right now,” Yanke said.

After retiring, chair caning became his hobby.

“I learned from a gentleman from Delavan who has been chair caning for more than 30 years,” Yanke said.

Another custom builder, Richard Morgan, crafts farm toys.

“I have been doing this for 25 years,” Morgan said. “At the fair, I’m going to have probably three different displays of mine. I have about nine different large scale displays that I show.”

Morgan, who shows his custom- and scratch-built farm toys at many toy shows, is a regular at the Walworth County Fair’s Log Cabin.

“This will be the third year that I’ve displayed at the fairgrounds. I have a couple favorite displays that I do all the time – these are the ones that people ask for. One is my farm scene and the other is my truck display,” Morgan said.

For other demonstrators, this is their first

year demonstrating at the log cabin.

One married couple, Christy and Dennis Pace, have a love for livestock. But it’s not just any livestock – they specifically raise Suri alpacas on their Beloit farm, Pacesetter Alpacas.

“This is our 23rd year raising them,” Christy Pace said. “They’re a fiber animal, like sheep. We sheer them once a year and have their fiber processed. We also promote the animal. We would love to see more people get interested in raising them.”

The Paces are bringing their product to the Walworth County Fair this year, which includes rugs, socks, sweaters and yarn. The alpacas won’t be making an appearance at the Log Cabin.

“We’re just going to bring the product.

There are other demonstrators in the cabin, and there’s not enough room to set up a pen for the alpacas,” Christy Pace said.

The docents and demonstrators in Burlington and the Walworth County Fairgrounds exhibit extreme passion for their trades.

Each docent and demonstrator has devoted time and patience into mastering their unique specialty. Whether that is an intense love for history or raising Suri alpacas, the log cabins offer it all.

The Walworth County Fair runs Aug. 29 through Sept. 3 on the fairgrounds at 411 East Court St., Elkhorn.

For more information, visit www. walworthcountyfair.com.

The Burlington Historical Society’s Pioneer Log Cabin is in Wehmhoff Square in downtown Burlington.

For more information, visit www. burlingtonhistory.org.

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WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY

THE TASTE OF...

Area drive-ins offer carhops, traditional food favorites of a bygone era

by Sandra Landen CORRESPONDENT

a i g l a t s o N

SUMMER 2018

the special homemade root beer and that oldtime, drive-in vibe.

And when warmer weather arrives, carhops serve customers in their vehicles or at the picnic tables. While there is seating indoors, it is limited.

“We keep the building in a time warp to keep the feeling of the early days of drive-ins when they were the favorite place to go.”

In summertime, drive-ins are not complete without an auto show, and Annie’s plans to hold a couple of events this summer — Jeep shows are on Fridays.

And with Annie’s celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, area residents are asked to watch the website for upcoming special events (anniesburgertown.com) or visit its Facebook page.

The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 11 to 9 on Fridays and Saturdays.

Machaj

Gus’s Drive-In

It is located at 3131 Main St. in East Troy. When Gus and Jessica Athanasopoulos bought it 16 years ago, the restaurant was an old A&W that had been closed for some time.

“We liked the location and looked forward to bringing back the retro vibes of the restaurant,” Jessica Athanasopoulos said. “We kept the flavor of the restaurant by retaining the old-time look.”

The restaurant is all about classics. It starts with their décor, which takes one into the

Meggy Moo’s COURTESY OF GUS’S DRIVE-IN Wonders of Walworth County

emember when going out for a hamburger meant heading to your favorite drive-in, one where carhops took the orders and brought food directly to your vehicle?

Drive-ins were family favorites, but they mostly were gathering places for young adults and teenagers — for those with a driver’s license and an automobile at their disposal — on weekend nights to enjoy a burger, fries and a root beer. At most drive-ins in the 1960s and ’70s, drink choices were root beer and orange soda or a malt; no Cokes on the menu.

Drive-ins also were about socializing with friends. But for many, it was all about showing off of their autos, especially the hot rods popular with young men, many who had customized them to be as loud as possible.

And no drive-in was complete without the sounds of rock ’n’ roll music reverberating from their car radios.

A&W and Dog n Suds were two popular chains. Roy Allen founded A&W in 1919 as a walk-up root beer stand in Lodi, Calif.

In 1922, he partnered with employee Frank Wright to open the first A&W restaurant in Sacramento, Calif.

They became famous for their root beer served in a frosted mug — at a cost of 5 cents. The chain expanded in 1926 with franchises spread throughout the country.

While many of these restaurants have closed and been replaced by fast-food places such as McDonald’s and Burger King, drivein style restaurants in the area continue to share that old-time spirit.

Here are a few favorites for those looking to enjoy a step back into the time of “Happy Days.”

Authentic drive-in restaurants, like Gus’s in East Troy, go well with classic automobiles from the past.

1950s with the black and white tiled floor that carries to and up the wall behind the service counter. Red and white booths and tables fill the room. Walls are bright and multicolored with gasoline signs from Texaco, Union 76 and Mobilgas, along with photos of cars, cars and more cars.

That theme also dominates outside, where classic cars, trucks and motorcycles fill the parking lot Saturday nights. The autos mostly come from Minnesota, Illinois and Wisconsin.

“We usually have 200 to 400 cars here for the car shows,” Jessica said.

The classic theme continues with the food. Everything is made to order and fresh; hamburgers are never frozen. Specialty burgers have names such as the Heavy Chevy and the Ford Burger. Be sure to order the one named for your car. Vienna beef dogs are served Chicago style — no ketchup. Italian beef, another favorite, is slow roasted inhouse. Friday fish fries feature cod freshly battered.

And, of course, there is frozen custard, which is made in-house daily using milk from a local farm and 100 percent pure vanilla.

This custard makes the best-frozen drinks, whether it’s a root beer float or fruit smoothie.

Check out the custard flavor of the day.

It is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Check out its Facebook page and website

(www.Gussdrivein.com) or call 262-6422929.

Annie’s Burger Town

Elkhorn also has a classic drive-in at 645 N. Lincoln St., which is housed in a building that has been around for over 50 years. Jeff Halpin has owned Annie’s for the past 25 years and said the restaurant was built as a Dog n Suds.

“Root beer has been produced in this building for the past 50 years and continues to be made here today,” he said.

Annie’s prides itself on its freshly made foods from scratch.

“We use the highest-grade meats, which are delivered twice a week,” Halpin said.

“Our onion rings, coleslaw and ranch dressing are made in-house. Our menu contains a wide variety of typical drive-in foods such as the traditional burgers, hot dogs and our root beer floats are made with our own homemade root beer.”

“We are able to provide gluten-free and vegetarian meals as needed,” he said. “We do our best to provide whatever you need as long as we have the ingredients.”

While its menu has grown to include salads, wraps and a variety of other great foods, what do you really want? Annie’s offers good service, hamburgers, hot dogs,

Meggy Moo’s Dairy Ripple is located at 600 Kenosha St. in Walworth. Danielle Svanstrom worked at Meggy Moo’s for 10 years before buying the business three years ago.

“Around 1954 the restaurant became a stop for ice cream called Dairy Ripple,” Svanstrom said. “In later years, the name was changed to Meggy Moo’s Dairy Ripple.”

Meggy Moo’s serves a full line of the tasty specials that bring everyone in for that nostalgic trip. It focuses on hamburgers, Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef, Philly steaks and gyros. And don’t forget the french fries.

Visitors can’t visit Meggy Moo’s without trying some of its famous ice cream, whether traditional and scooped by hand or soft serve that most people associate with drive-ins. Try it in a cone, malt, shake or sundae.

While Meggy Moo’s does not have carhops or car shows, it still brings back that nostalgic spirit of bygone days.

Visit on Facebook or call 262-3945584. Hours are 11 to 9 Sundays through Thursdays and 11 to 9:30 on Fridays and Saturdays.

Lopez’s Anchor Inn

The place in Delavan to find that drive-in ambiance, but with a slightly different flair, is Lopez’s Anchor Inn, 1325 Racine St. It opened in 1980.

It serves traditional hamburgers, hot dogs and french fries. Hamburgers are made using local beef from Sorgs, known for its high quality.

Lopez’s also serves a variety of freshly made Mexican favorites, including taco salads, fajitas, quesadillas and nachos. Try their eggplant fries for a unique taste treat.

Daily specials vary from double cheeseburgers, foot-long hot dogs and gyros to fresh taco salad. Their soft-serve ice cream is a favorite.

Lopez’s is a walk-up place with no indoor eating spaces. Its hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Check Facebook for summer hours.

SUMMER 2018

OVERCOMING

WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY

Page 7

tremendous odds Families endure hardships, but children are the real heroes during journeys with cancer

by Todd Mishler COPY EDITOR

S Wonders of Walworth County

Owen was 13 months old and taking his first exploratory walk through grass.

“We were walking around the park and he kept tripping,” Cyndi Yanke said. “After we got home I gave him a bath and noticed he was holding his right hand in a fist and wouldn’t open it. Then the next day he was holding it up close to him. We went and saw a pediatrician and she said he probably rolled on it and it was sore, so he was holding it up to protect it. A few days later it didn’t get better, so we went in for X-rays. Nothing was wrong with his hand.

“A few days later it was Easter, and when I went to take a picture of him with his Easter basket I could see that his face was dropping like he had a stroke or something,” she added. “The next morning we went to

Cancer survivor Owen Yanke, 13, and his mom, Cyndi, of Elkhorn, celebrate finishing the annual Al’s Run & Walk in Milwaukee to benefit Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.

D PHOTO

Owen and his mom

Owen Yanke shows off one of his superhero costumes during the Chicago ComicCon in August 2017.

SUBMITTE

wen Yanke loves everything about superheroes, having attended multiple Comic-Con events in Chicago and Madison.

“Some of them are regular people who do amazing things and other ones have special powers because of something that happened to them,” said Owen, 13, whose fascination started with Super Grover and has advanced to Batman and many others.

“Meeting Stan Lee was the best,” Owen said about the former editor in chief of Marvel Comics. “We went to the questionand-answer panel and listened to him for about an hour. He’s an amazing storyteller who is just a regular guy.”

But Owen is far from a regular guy. He’s one of thousands of kids who are diagnosed with cancer every year. Although the National Cancer Institute says that pediatric cancer death rates have declined by nearly 70 percent over the past four decades, it remains the leading cause of death from disease among children.

The Elkhorn Area Middle School seventh-grader, like many of his beloved make-believe characters, has overcome astronomical odds to persevere.

So has Keegan Denecke, an 11-year-old sixth-grader at Brookwood Middle School who participates in cheerleading and school musicals and is working on getting her Red Cross baby-sitting certification.

Her diagnosis and harrowing ordeal became the rallying cry and guiding force behind the Kisses From Keegan and Friends pediatric cancer foundation and its Super Hero Shuffle fundraising activities.

It’s an apt name for the May 19 event that encouraged participants to dress in costumes representing their favorite fictional characters.

But the overriding theme is that kids like Owen and Keegan are the real heroes.

Denecke and her younger sister, Jillian, enjoy some quality naptime.

the local ER; they didn’t do anything, so we went to Children’s (Hospital) in Milwaukee and had a neurosurgeon in the room within an hour while he had a CT. There was a baseball-size tumor in the left frontal lobe.

They were pretty sure it was cancer.”

Owen underwent his first resection, a 12-hour procedure, 10 days later. However, surgeons removed only 70 percent of the tumor because it was resting on an artery. But he recovered quickly and started treatment six weeks later.

“A few days before he started treatment is when the pathology came in,” Yanke said. “It was cancer and it had a very poor prognosis.”

Owen survived those scary, tumultuous early months, but he’s been forced to clear several roadblocks since then, including seizures due to scar tissue buildup from the surgeries.

Needless to say, Owen and Cyndi have formed an inseparable bond – she and his father divorced when Owen was 4.

“It’s been a roller coaster since he was diagnosed,” Yanke said. “You live hour to hour, then day to day, then week to week,

then month to month. You can’t look any farther ahead than that next MRI.”

Winning the race

Keegan was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) on Oct. 11, 2013. The cancer presented in the 7-year-old as collarbone pain (osteomyelitis) two days earlier. Blood work had revealed the disease after many years and X-rays found nothing.

“When we found out about Keegan’s cancer, we were devastated and we didn’t want to believe it was true,” said her father, Paul Denecke, a project manager for Rabine Paving. “Sadness, fear and anger were all strong feelings.”

There was no evidence of the disease after 30 days of treatments, but the treatments continued until just before Christmas in 2015 because of the prevalence of the cancer returning.

“Treatment was not easy,” Keegan said. “It was really hard because it made me sick. The lumbar punctures made me really sick, too. I really struggled getting my port accessed. I also didn’t really like giving myself two shots a day in my stomach for almost two years after my blood clot. Dr. Jeff (Karst, the psychologist) really helped me.”

Denecke said the family benefited from a strong support system.

“We always will worry because there are many things kids will deal with later in life due to their treatments for childhood cancer, including other cancers and more,” he added.

However, that hasn’t stopped the family from giving back, and that features the Super Hero Shuffle, a golf outing in September and Sunday Fundays at Timber Ridge a few times a year. For information about the Super Hero Shuffle or the foundation, visit www.kissesfromkeegan.org.

Page 8

WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY

SUMMER 2018

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SUMMER 2018

WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY

Page 9

Brewing a good time

SUBMITTED RENDERING Wonders of Walworth County

The bar at the East Troy Brewery will remind visitors of the old banking days with metal railings and old security deposit boxes on display.

East Troy is the place to go for a cold one

by Tracy Ouellette STAFF WRITER

The Village Square in East Troy will soon have a new attraction to go along with the popular coffee shop, bookstore, barbershop and restaurants/bars.

The East Troy Brewery is under construction in the former FirstMerit Bank building at 2905 Main St. Owners Ann and Ted Zess are planning a late summer opening.

“It’s going well,” Ann Zess said. “Things are coming alone and hopefully we’ll be open by the end of August. There’s still a lot to do yet, but they’re working fast.”

The Zesses had hopes to open the brewery in early July when they first started the project late last year, but renovating an old building usually comes with unforeseen delays.

“Honestly, this would have been easier starting from the ground up,” Ann Zess said.

“When you take an old building and fix it up, it’s much harder. But things are moving along quickly and everyone is excited about the project.”

The Zesses are planning on featuring a historical look at the brewpub and have kept things like the vault intact to go along with the décor.

“We’re putting safety deposit boxes back in the vault. We found some from the Bank of Burlington and moved them into the brewery. It was a big move and took seven hours to get them from the semi into the vault. The boxes are going to be a perk of being in our beer club,” Ann Zess said.

The brewery already has some staff on payroll, Zess said. Chef Brent Fiedor, of Aurora, Ill., is already working full time for

the company.

“He’s up here a couple days a week making food, doing test batches, securing equipment and working with the architect on the kitchen and bar design,” Zess said. “He’s moving up here, to Lake Geneva, Aug. 1.”

She added that people are already signing up to their website at etbrew.com.

“They’re already asking about the details to our beer club and we’re working on getting that rolled out and on our first newsletter,” she said.

The Zesses said it has been a dream of theirs for years to build a brewpub in the bank building. Ann Zess recalled doing business in the bank, looking at the structure over the years and planning how they would do it.

“I remember sitting right over there, in the old president’s office, and thinking what a great building this was and what we could do with it,” she said.

The Zesses have invested nearly $2 million in the brewery and have received approval for a $250,000 loan from the Village of East Troy revolving loan fund to help with construction. They also have applied for a grant to assist with restoring the building’s façade.

The Zesses are hoping to give the exterior of the building a more historical look with authentic features. They have two plans for the outside, one for if they receive the grant money and one if they don’t.

Ted Zess said he is also in discussion with the company that will demolish the old Chester Brynes school to purchase some of the cream city brick for the inside of the brewery.

“They’re going to have a lot of brick and we only need a few thousand, so we’re hoping that all works out,” Ted Zess said.

Ann Zess said the brick will be used to complete some of the walls that didn’t have the cream city brick on them.

“It’s nice too, if we get the brick, because we’re saving a little bit of Chester Brynes

See BREWING, Page 10

TRACY OUELLETTE Wonders of Walworth County

East Troy Brewery owner Ann Zess holds up one of the renderings of how the brewpub will look once it is complete. Zess and her husband, Ted, say renovations on the old bank are going well and they anticipate opening late this summer.

TRACY OUELLETTE Wonders of Walworth County

The East Troy Brewery, which will be in the old FirstMerit Bank building on the East Troy Village Square, has been a dream of Ann and Ted Zess for years. The couple bought the building last year and construction is underway to turn it into a family friendly pub with an outdoor patio, restaurant and brewery.

Page 10

WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY

SUMMER 2018

Calendar of Events

JULY 26 The East Troy Community Band will perform at Thursday Nights on the East Troy Square at 7:30 p.m. Attendees should bring their own lawn chair or blanket.

ETBand.com 25-29 Racine County Fair “Something to Crow About!” On the fairgrounds, 19805 Durand Ave., Union Grove. www. racinecountyfair.com 26-29 Baroque Horse Show, Walworth County Fairgrounds, 411 E. Court St., Elkhorn. walworthcountyfair.com 262-7233228 27 Dinner at the Lake – 4:30 to 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 27 LAS Water Ski Show, 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Lauderdale Landing, W5625 West Shore Drive, Elkhorn. www.laswaterskiteam.org/ calendar 27-28 Burlington’s Maxwell Street Days and Community Yard Sales, opens at 9 a.m. each day. New this year: Chalk Walk, Rubber Duckie Dash, Discover Burlington Scavenger Hunt, Trucks and Cars. Also features music and food. The Lions Club Street Dance in the Chestnut Street Loop is on Saturday night. 262-763-6044 27-28-The Vintage Square at Maxwell Street Days, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Wehmhoff Square Park, 355 N. Pine St., Burlington.

Two-day curated street market with a focus on all things vintage, antique, reclaimed, repurposed, upcycled and handmade. 262-763-6044 28 LAS Water Ski Show, 7-8 p.m. at Scenic Ridge Campground, W7991 R and W, Townline Road, Whitewater. www. laswaterskiteam.org/calendar 30-31 Burlington Kennel Dog Show, Walworth County Fairgrounds, 411 E. Court St., Elkhorn. walworthcountyfair.com 262-723-3228

AUGUST 2-26 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

• Brewing

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.

3 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 3-4 Annual Rummage Sale at First Congregational UCC Church, 76 S. Wisconsin St., Elkhorn. There will be something for everyone on Aug. 3, 8 a.m.4 p.m. and Aug. 4, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. 262723-3246 3-4 Elkhorn Area Chamber of Commerce Corn and Brat Days in the downtown square in Elkhorn, featuring a variety of games for kids, crafters, performances and food 3, 17, 31 B-Town Sounds, free concerts 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Echo Park, Burlington.

262-763-7585 4 Maxwell Street Days and Chamber Brat Sale – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. downtown Whitewater, Main St., Whitewater, features sidewalk sales, street vendors, live music, dance performances, games, brat sale and more. 262-473-4005 4 Full Moon Four Miler Run/Walk, 8:30 p.m., downtown Waterford. Registration begins at 6:30 p.m. www.waterford-wi.org 4-5 Madison Classic Car Show and Swap, Walworth County Fairgrounds, 411 E. Court St., Elkhorn. madisonclassics.com or 608-244-8416 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,

DAVE DRESDOW Wonders of Walworth County

The LAS Water Ski Show Team and Minneiska Ski Team take their talents to Elkhorn Lake in Babe Mann Park to bring Elkhorn Community Days to a close June 16. Remaining shows for this year are: July 27 at 6:30 p.m., Lauderdale Landing; July 28, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Brat Fest, 7 p.m., Booster Appreciation Show, Whitewater Lake; Aug. 11, 5 to 8 p.m., pig roast and ski show fundraiser, Elkhorn Lake; Aug. 18 at 6:30 p.m., Herma Heart Center Benefit Show, Whitewater Lake; Aug. 25 at 5:30 p.m., Elkhorn Lake; Aug. 31 at 6:30 p.m., Lauderdale Landing; Sept. 1 at 6 p.m., Whitewater Lake. Elkhorn Lake is at Babe Mann Park, 960 Proctor Drive, Elkhorn; Whitewater Lake is at W7991 R and W Townline Road, Whitewater.

For more information visit laswaterskiteam.org.

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. 414-525-0820 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 17-18 Midwest Pro Rodeo, Walworth County Fairgrounds, 411 E. Court St., Elkhorn. walworthcountyfair.com 262-7233228

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 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 visitwalworthcounty.com prior to making travel plans.

(Continued from page 9)

and its history,” Ann Zess said.

The East Troy Brewery is already forming community partnerships with other businesses in the area, including The Hive Taproom, which will be opening at the end of the month.

“We’re going to serve their mead,” Ann Zess said. “They’ve been great and we’re so happy to work with them.”

The Hive Taproom The Hive Taproom, at W2463 Highway ES in East Troy, will be opening at the end of the month, offering small-batch, rotating taps of cold, dry and carbonated mead,

honey kombucha and soda elixirs.

Owners Ayla and Tim Guild say all the products at The Hive will be made in-house and feature local honey, hops and produce.

“Everybody is really appreciating our focus on local products,” Ayla Guild said.

“We’re using local produce; local honey, and we’ll have our own honey as well from our own bees; and hops from the Wisconsin Hop Exchange.”

She added that their products will be gluten free.

The Hive Taproom is having its grand opening on Friday, July 27, and the Guilds said they are looking forward to serving the

community they’ve come to know and love.

“We’re really excited,” Ayla Guild said. “We’ve been getting to know the community and just recently moved here from Lake Geneva. We met a lot of people through Nature’s Classroom and really like this community.”

Guild said their mead is cold, dry and carbonated and a bit different from traditional mead.

“Some are a bit more like beer in terms of flavor and in some we use cider so they taste a bit more like cider or champagne in their flavor profile. People really like it,” she said.

For more information, search for The Hive on Facebook.

The Ale Station

East Troy also has the Ale Station, which opened in the former Grist Mill restaurant at 2763 Main St. this year, and features craft beer at its family friendly restaurant.

The alehouse has a large menu in the restaurant and nearly three-dozen craft beers on tap, including offerings such as Spotted Cow and other regional beers.

For more information, visit www. alestation.com.

SUMMER 2018

WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY

Page 11

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Page 12

WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY

SUMMER 2018

Your Full Service Grocery Store

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262-740-0541

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Countryside ClassiCs Classic Car Restoration - Repairs - Upgrades and Storage

Specializing in 55-56-57 Chevrolets

262-740-1959 4520 Hwy F North, Elkhorn, WI 53121 www.autorestorationwi.com countrysideclassics1957@gmail.com Countryside Classics is a mechanical restoration shop that specializes in 55-56-57 Chevys but will work on most classic cars. Countryside Classics is not a body shop but a mechanical repairs shop that will diagnose repairs and install upgrades on classic cars.

Some upgrades we can install are: Power steering - rack and pinion steering - A/C - disc brakes - complete drive line change - install fuel injection - install a late model drive train in your classic cars.

Countryside Classics can also keep your classic car running and performing like when it was new. We can do original factory engine - transmission rebuilds - steering and suspension repairs - carburetor and ignition repairs - rear end repairs - window and glass repairs and brakes just to name a few.

So tell Coun tr yside Classics wh at problem you are hav ing with your classic car and see what w e can do for you!

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