Green Lake Magazine 2020

40TH ANNIVERSARY

Stories

AND FEATURES 61 Area Poll Favorites 12-13 Big Green Lake 23 Biking 10-11 Bloch’s Farm 4 Calendar of Events 22 Concerts in the Park 32-33 Cookie Daze 64-65 Cover Artist: Kay Brathol-Hostvet 62-63 Dickens of a Christmas 20-21 Fox River Glove Outlet 60-61 From the Land 16-17 Golf 8-9 Green Lake 30-31 Green Lake Area Animal Shelter 40-41 Green Lake Association 38 Green Lake Conference Center 24-25 Green Lake Conservancy 14-15 Green Lake Festival of Music 42-43 Green Lake Fine Art Show 12 Green Lake Fish Chart 28-29 Green Lake Tour of Homes 36-37 Green Team 6 Greetings from Governor Evers 56-57 Harvest Fest 34-35 Maps of the Area 46 Markesan 58 Montello 54-55 Norton’s Dry Dock 18 Princeton 26-27 Ripon 50 Ripon College 48-49 Thrasher Opera House 52-53 Whooping Crane Festival 44-45 Wisconsin State Chili Cookoff 2 | Green Lake magazine 2020

Photograph by Barbara Wilson

10 20 54 62 64

PUBLISHER Towns & Associates, Inc. PO Box 174, Baraboo, WI 53913-0174 P (608) 356-8757 • F (608) 356-8875 ajohnson@greenlakemagazine.com greenlakemagazine.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Amy S. Johnson PUBLICATION DESIGNER Crea Stellmacher COVER DESIGN Kay Brathol-Hostvet CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jaye Alderson, Mat Boerson, Kay BratholHostvet, Jean Cornelius, Thomas L. Eddy, Jennifer Fjelsted, From the Land, Green Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, Kyle Jacobson, Deb Mackenzie, Markesan Area Chamber of Commerce, Montello Area Chamber of Commerce, Alyssa Paulsen, Princeton Chamber of Commerce, Ripon Chamber of Commerce, Thrasher Opera House PHOTOGRAPHER Barbara Wilson ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS Ken Bates, Kay Brathol-Hostvet, Jean Cornelius, Thomas L. Eddy, From the Land, Green Lake Association, Green Lake Festival of Music, Gary Hannabarger, International Crane Foundation, Irina Gagne Photography, Andy Johnson at The Fried Egg, Bob Mason, Matthew Falz Photography, Alyssa Paulsen, Eric Ratering, Ripon Chamber of Commerce, Ripon College, Rory at Action Marina, Chris Scott, Crea Stellmacher, Jeanna Stellmacher, Phil Sutterlin, Thrasher Opera House, Jill Wellington SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR Amy S. Johnson SALES COORDINATOR Jacklyn Ewerdt SENIOR COPY EDITOR Kyle Jacobson COPY EDITOR Krystle Naab DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION & DESIGN Jennifer Denman DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY & DESIGN Barbara Wilson GRAPHIC DESIGNER Linda Walker ADMINISTRATION Cathy Bacon, Debora Knutson ADDITIONAL COPIES Green Lake Magazine 2020 is available free at select businesses. If you would like a copy sent to you, please send mailing information along with $4 for each magazine to Green Lake Magazine, c/o Towns & Associates, Inc., PO Box 174, Baraboo, WI 53913-0174.

TO ADVERTISE To place an advertisement in this publication, please call (920) 291-5005 or email jewerdt@greenlakemagazine.com.

COMMENTS We welcome your questions and comments.

Please submit to Green Lake Magazine, c/o Towns & Associates, Inc., PO Box 174, Baraboo, WI 53913-0174 or email ajohnson@greenlakemagazine.com.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without prior written permission by the publisher, Towns & Associates, Inc.

Green Lake Green Lake Magazine Vol. 40 ©2020 Towns & Associates, Inc.

2020

Calendar OF EVENTS

APRIL 17 Ripon—Spring Wine Walk 18 Green Lake—Earth Day Tichora Clean Up 24–25 Ripon—Ripon City Wide Rummage Sales 25 Green Lake—Green Team: Birdwatching at Sunnyside Conservancy

Photograph by Barbara Wilson

JULY

OCTOBER

4 Ripon—Fireworks at Murray Park 11 Ripon—Riponfest at Barlow Park 18 Green Lake—Green Team: Daytime Paddle on the Puchyan 25 Princeton—Brew Ha Ha

Green Lake—Green Team: Mitchell Glen Tour 3 Green Lake—Green Team: Native Prairie Seed Collection at Dawson Prairie 10 Green Lake—Wisconsin State Chili Cookoff 11 Green Lake—Green Lake Tour of Homes 17 Princeton—Fall Wine Walk 17–18 Green Lake—From the Land at the Toll/Landowski Farm 25 Ripon—Trick-or-Treat 3

AUGUST Green Lake—Green Lake Association: Gala 1 Ripon—Cookie Daze 4 Green Lake—Green Team: Citizen Scientist Speed Talks 6–9 Green Lake—Green Lake County Fair 8 Ripon—Scoop the Loop 8–9 Green Lake—Fine Art Show 15 Green Lake—Green Lake Association: Conservation Field Day

Photograph by Bob Mason

1

MAY Green Lake—Green Team: Mitchell Glen Tour 9 Green Lake—It’s Wine O’Clock Somewhere Downtown Wine Walk 23 Green Lake—Bison Tour at 4M Bison Farm 24 Princeton—Unity’s 11th Annual Spring Arts and Crafts Fair at Princeton City Park 24 Princeton—17th Annual Rubber Chicken Fling at Princeton City Park 29–30 Green Lake—4th Annual Green Lake Area Animal Shelter Rummage Sale 2

NOVEMBER 6 Ripon—Holiday Wine Walk 27–29 Princeton—Christmas in Princeton

DECEMBER 4–6 Ripon—Dickens of a Christmas

SEPTEMBER 11–13 Green Lake—Freeland Film Festival 11–13 Princeton—Whooping Crane and Nature Festival 19 Ripon—Green Lake Area Animal Shelter Dog Walk 19 Ripon—Septemberfest 20 Princeton—Unity’s 10th Annual Harvest Faire at Princeton City Park 26–27 Green Lake—Harvest Fest

Dates subject to change— please call ahead to confirm.

ONGOING EVENTS

Green Lake—Green Team: Moonlight Paddle and Bonfire on County K Estuary 20 Green Lake—Green Lake Association: Annual Meeting 27 Princeton—Independence Day Celebration at Princeton City Park 5

4 | Green Lake magazine 2020

Photograph by Jeanna Stellmacher

JUNE

• Green Lake—Green Lake Festival of Music. (920) 748-9398 or greenlakefestival.org.

• Green Lake—Thrasher Opera House. (920) 294-4279 or thrasheroperahouse.com.

• Green Lake—Spring Market at Town Square. Saturdays in April.

• Princeton—Flea Market.

Saturdays, April 25–October 10.

• Green Lake—Summer Market at Town Square. Saturdays in May–September.

• Ripon—Summer Concert Series.

Thursday, May 28 and Fridays, June 5–August 28.

• Green Lake—Concerts in the Park.

Wednesdays at Deacon Mills Park, June 17–August 12.

• Green Lake—Fall Market at Town Square. Saturdays in November–mid-December.

W elcome

Photograph by Barbara Wilson

FROM THE GOVERNOR

Greet ings It is my pleasure to welcome you to Green Lake, an area that serves up the best of our state with friendly faces and activities visitors of all ages can enjoy any time of the year.

Experience our state’s deepest natural inland lake year-round with boating, swimming, fishing, and waterskiing in warm months or with ice skating, fishing, and even ice boating when it’s colder. Explore on land with hiking, biking, and camping or get a whole new perspective from the sky with a hot-air balloon ride. If you’d rather keep your feet on the ground, take in the many dining and shopping experiences the Green Lake area has to offer by visiting one of the area’s family-owned businesses or attending one of the many annual festivals that fill the streets and parks. With endless activities both indoor and out, your trip to Green Lake is sure to be a memorable one.

As the Green Lake area exemplifies with Midwestern hospitality, abundant business opportunities, and the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation, Wisconsin is not only a great place to visit, but a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family.

Once again, welcome to Green Lake! We hope you enjoy your stay and visit again soon.

Sincerely,

Tony Evers Governor

6 | Green Lake magazine 2020

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GREEN LAKE

the good life

COME FOR THE LAKE.

STAY FOR THE SHOPPING, FOOD AND FUN.

Plan your next outdoor getaway at www.visitgreenlake.com.

Visiting Green Lake, with miles of shoreline, stunning sunsets, events, and activities year-around, easily becomes visiting the good life. Your entire family will always have something to enjoy!

Escape to the deepest natural inland lake in Wisconsin. Green Lake offers hours of experiences, from waterskiing and ice skating to boating and fishing.

The lake also offers hours of sightseeing and birdwatching.

There are many different need-tosee sights that you’ll find hiking and biking the gorgeous trails at the Green Lake Conference Center, including a tower that allows for peering over the entire lake, endless wildlife, and colorchanging leaves in the fall.

Excite your senses by diving into a wood-fired pizza at a local winery or get together with some friends to try some microbrews. If you’d rather fill up at a local coffee or ice cream shop, or dine at a waterview restaurant, we have plenty of options.

8 | Green Lake magazine 2020

Photograph by Barbara Wilson

Along with many places to visit, there are also many events throughout the year.

During the summer, you’ll find Concerts in the Park every Wednesday, featuring different bands in different genres. The historic Thrasher Opera House provides an array of entertainment downtown, including live music, comedy, and theatre.

With so much to enjoy in Green Lake, it’s a need-to-go vacation spot! You’ll also find plenty of smiling faces around

Provided by the Green Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.

Photograph by Jeanna Stellmacher

Green Lake also has weekly farmer’s markets with colorful and flavor-packed foods! While the weather is still warm, the “best little fair around” comes to town in August. And once it begins to cool down in October, Green Lake becomes home to the Wisconsin State Chili Cookoff. As the leaves begin to drop, Harvest Fest arrives—a festival all about handmade crafts in September.

Once the autumn colors are gone and snow begins to fall, ice fishing and ice skating become popular activities all around town.

town to welcome you to the good life.

For help planning your next visit, go to visitgreenlake.com or contact the Green Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.

greenlakemagazine.com | 9

Bloch’s Farm

by Kyle Jacobson You’re cruisin’ down Highway 23. Top down, electric motor humming, Talking Heads “Nothing But Flowers” pumping out the speakers because you’re all about that sustainability lifestyle. A familiar sign pops up—“Bloch’s Farm Just Ahead.” It’s a nice day, you got nowhere else to be, so you decide to check it

out. You pull in and, suddenly, you’re Dorothy in technicolor. Vibrant greens, bright whites, sharp reds and purples, and brick landscaping to the Emerald City. Is this a dream? This must be new.

Actually, no. “We’ve been in business for 35 years,” says Sue Ellen Bloch, who

owns the business with her husband, John. “We’re the oldest landscaping firm in the area.” More than that, with two horticulturists on staff, one assistant grower, and a cutting-edge landscape designer with a top-notch crew, The Farm sets a high bar for quality products and innovation in concept. “We have a magnificent buyer and visual designer here, Lee Katherine Baird. She keeps up on trends big time.” It’s not uncommon to see people inspired by and taking pictures of the ornamentations and layouts Lee Katherine creates throughout the property.

The results of The Farm’s efforts are all around Green Lake. “We do the bridge flowers downtown, and we either donate or sell to many of the local fundraisers. ... We continually support the community with charitable acts and hiring local people to do quality work.” To Sue Ellen and John, keeping dollars circulating locally is part of their beautification mission, and their obsession with doing things right is as much a part of their contributions to the area as it is in all aspects of Bloch’s Farm.

In their minds, you can’t do things right if you don’t surround yourself

10 | Green Lake magazine 2020

with experts. As much as Sue Ellen and John know about their trees, flowers, and landscaping, the knowledge of their staff is pointedly more extensive.

Bloch’s Farm stands confidently behind everything they sell, and their customers are provided the highest possible level of service.

Connecting the success of The Farm to Sue Ellen’s upbringing is organic, much like...yeah, that cheesy transition just happened, but hear Sue Ellen out. “Way back in my roots, way from when I was a young girl, Mother was always teaching me the healthy way to do things. ... In 1985, I was raising free-range, organic chickens, and putting advertising out there as such when people really didn’t know what organic meant. ... Today, we have a pretty educated populace, especially in the millennials and younger. But really, a lot of us older folks, it’s the way we did things many years ago.”

Everywhere in the area, from Green Lake to Madison to Chicago, people come to Bloch’s Farm because the value and values are patent in the owners and staff and everything they provide. The legacy farm of John’s great grandparents

has never lost sight while navigating a disposable society. “We’ve been in the top 100 garden centers in the U.S. three different times.” That doesn’t happen by accident. And neither does driving past a gem hidden in plain sight. So stop in, support a community staple, and enrich the message and practice of sustainability.

Kyle Jacobson is a writer and senior copy editor for Green Lake Magazine.

Photographs provided by Irina Gagne Photography.

greenlakemagazine.com | 11

by Kyle Jacobson Lakes are Wisconsin’s mountains.

They’re the hearts of their ecosystems and the focal points of surrounding communities. Growing up on a lake defines a person in all aspects of their life, from the things they learn and the way they have fun to a deeper appreciation of the reciprocal nature between humankind and the environment. Everyone who grows up on Big Green Lake owes a part of themselves to the lake. And everyone who visits aims to find that connection for themselves.

It starts at the beaches, where a family of four looks to relax on a sunny day and, later, a couple of teenagers lose themselves under the blue moonlight.

Whether at Hattie Sherwood Beach, Dodge Memorial County Park, or Sunset Park, it doesn’t take a yacht or a fishing pole to make your own fun in the water.

That said, if you’re the sailing type, then by all means yacht the day away.

Big Green has 7,346 acres to explore. If yachting isn’t your thing, consider the easygoing kayak or the breakneck action of a speedboat. There’s waterskiing, wakeboarding, and tubing to be had.

And if fishing is more your style, Big Green Lake provides some lunkers.

Walleye and northern pike, lake trout, bass, and panfish roam somewhere in the 237-feet deep lake (Check out the Green Lake Fish Chart for specifics).

12 | Green Lake magazine 2020

It’s not always straightforward, but they say the worst day of fishing is better than the best day at work.

Then again, humorist Don Marquis said, “Fishing is a delusion entirely surrounded by liars in old clothes.” I wonder if that applies to ice fishing, also a prominent part of Green Lake culture.

Wisconsin winters often transform Big Green Lake into a glistening wonderland. The snow-rimmed glass of lake ice provides opportunity for ice boating, where wind-powered sleds sail across the surface like greased otters on polished hardwood, often achieving speeds over 50 miles per hour—the sleds, not the otters.

GREEN LAKE FISH CHART WHO THEY ARE | WHERE THEY ARE | WHEN | TOP BAIT

LAKE TROUT Late May through mid-July, shallower water early, 40–60’. 100–140’

later. Small spoons, small shiners.

Ice out until early May, fish shorelines. Last week in June until mid-July, fish weed beds. Early August through autumn, 25–50’ on hard-bottom drop-offs. Night crawlers, leeches.

WHITE BASS Early May, fish shoreline on windy days, lake surface on calm days.

July 10 through mid-September, troll spinners with small minnows, surface down to 40’.

NORTHERN First three weeks of June, troll the weed beds. Large spinners, crank baits. July, fish in 25–40’ of water on the drop-offs. Large chubs, suckers.

BASS Early May, work the shorelines. Warmer weather, fish the rock piles 15–20’. Spinner baits, tubes, crawlers, leeches.

PANFISH Late April through early May, fish the shorelines, the bays, and by the dam. Late July, fish the cribs. Waxworms, small worms (garden or angle).

WALLEYE

ICE FISHING CISCO

Early December, cisco are spawning and can be caught in 40–60’ of water on rocky shoals, or through winter with jigs and glow spoons.

TROUT Late December through March. Small shiners.

NORTHERN Fish in 12–18’ of water near big weed beds. Big shiners on tip-ups.

WALLEYE Fish near big weed beds 8–12’ of water, or in water up to 30’. Small shiners, jigs, small spoons.

PANFISH Plentiful in shallow water. Fish 30–40’ for larger fish.

Small grubs, plastics.

Or if you prefer things at a slower pace, there’s ice skating at Deacon Mills Wharf. Here, children try to figure out the difference between walking and skating in stiff-legged waddles occasionally leading to awkward falls.

Their parents then rush over to help them up and encourage them to try again. All the while, couples glide along, hand in hand, taking turns stealing kisses from one another.

Whimsical for some, dynamic for others, all mixed with awe, Big Green Lake has a prevailing sense of romanticism about it that’s always captured in the wind drawing its voice out over the water. Though lake life doesn’t mean the same thing to everyone, its appeal is universal. I’ve heard it called the good life, but there’s much more to it than that. There’s an inspiration to do something intimate and discover what in life matters most to you. A lake isn’t a mirror, it’s a crystal ball, and we all know ourselves better after looking into it.

Licenses • Live Bait Fishing Gear • Hunting Supplies T-Shirts • Sweatshirts Full Line of Liquor • Fine Wines Souvenirs

Kyle Jacobson is a writer and senior copy editor for Green Lake Magazine.

Photograph provided by Rory at Action Marina.

HELPFUL WEBSITES Fishing Licenses: gowild.wi.gov

Fishing Seasons:

dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing /seasons/index.html

Parks & Boat Launches: visitgreenlake.com /things-to-do/parks

Tourist and Event Information: visitgreenlake.com

greenlakemagazine.com | 13

GREEN LAKE FESTIVAL OF MUSIC MOVES INTO 41ST SEASON

Chamber Camp Director, Andy Armstrong at the piano

Khaia, Steven, Joel and Esther Rehearsing

by Deb MacKenzie The summer of 2020 will bring with it another exciting season for the Green Lake Festival of Music. The Festival, coming off its historic 40th anniversary, will continue under the direction of Interim Executive and Artistic Director Maria Dietrich, who replaces Laura Deming, who retired after serving the Festival for the past five years. Maria brings vast experience to the Festival, having served as executive director of Thrasher Opera House.

This season will continue to offer a variety of classical musical performances. Andy Armstrong will once again return for the annual Chamber Music Camp. He brings a strong team of talented and professional faculty members to work with the students who come from all over the world.

The 2019 winner of the Hilton Head International Piano Competition, Chaeyoung Park, will give two performances and a masterclass in June.

And for a more local faire, the Festival welcomes the Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society, the Wisconsin Symphonic Wind ensemble, and the Third Lake Brass Quintet. The Spektral Quartet

14 | Green Lake magazine 2020

Karl Stobbe, Chamber Camp Faculty will be part of the guest artists as well.

The season will end with a Composer Residency, featuring composer Elaine Hagenberg and conductor John C. Hughes, head of the Music Department at Ripon College.

Barn Concert

Performances will be at a variety of locations in the Ripon-Green Lake area, including Thrasher Opera House, the Boston Barn, Demmer Recital Hall, local libraries, and Ripon College Commencement Lawn, and will include a performance in Music Hall at the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh.

All performances are free to the general public, relying on donations from patrons. For more information and to see the full 2020 schedule, please visit greenlakefestival.org, or call (920) 748-9398.

Deb MacKenzie is the administrator at Green Lake Festival of Music, and Adjunct Professor of Piano at Ripon College.

Photographs provided by Green Lake Festival of Music.

World renowned musicians in intimate & historic venues

June – August 2020

No charge for tickets – donations celebrated!

GreenLakeFestival.org | 920-748-9398 Visit our website or find us on Facebook for concert dates

greenlakemagazine.com | 15

Golf

by Kyle Jacobson Golf is a game of risk and reward, a game once banned in 1457 for being a distraction from archery, and a test of patience—because who wouldn’t use tiger-sized litter boxes to defend a gopher hole? It’s my favorite bar sport that’s not technically a bar sport. Whether played at a highly competitive level or enjoyed while hanging out with friends and drinks, you’ll find the Green Lake area offers courses you’ll want to play over and over again.

THE GOLF COURSES OF LAWSONIA Renowned for its challenging Links course and adored for its scenic Woodlands course, The Golf Courses of Lawsonia has a proven legacy over its 90 years of existence.

The Links course holds true to its name with firm and fast playing surfaces.

Golfers find that in links-style courses they have to play the terrain more than

they’re used to because their shot will run out much farther. Aiming in front the green is often preferable, and a slight dogleg can lead to a rough shot.

The Woodlands course boasts the type of golf Midwesterners are used to. Shots through trees, around water, and over the hills we go. It’s the right mix of fun and challenge with a lot of opportunities for those shots that make you want to play one more round.

MASCOUTIN GOLF CLUB Three nine-hole courses make up what some consider Wisconsin’s bestkept secret. With ever-immaculate maintenance, Mascoutin’s courses are fast and true. You’ll find memorable holes, like the 8th on the Blue Course, and plenty of birdie opportunities. The Club is also noted for its outings and junior programs.

TUSCUMBIA GOLF COURSE Touted as Wisconsin’s oldest course, Tuscumbia Golf Course offers history

16 | Green Lake magazine 2020

and great play for the entire family.

There’s the traditional 18-hole course, featuring tight fairways and small greens, and the Family Links 9-hole, par-3 course, great for golfers young and old—not to mention a convenient way to get in a quick round.

SONDALLES WHITE LAKE COUNTRY CLUB Hills, woods, and ponds stand in your way to what some golfers consider the fastest greens around. The Sondalles White Lake course is challenging for any skill level, making a birdie or par that much more rewarding.

Worst case scenario, some free-roaming peacocks should take the edge off a double-bogey kind of day.

Kyle Jacobson is a writer and senior copy editor for Green Lake Magazine.

Photographs provided by Andy Johnson at The Fried Egg

Pub & Restaurant Located at The Golf Courses of Lawsonia

Cozy and stylish pub serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, including the state's best Friday Fish Fry! Featuring beautiful views of the golf course from our outdoor patio - enjoy Live Music once a month, plus Prime Rib and other specials. Wedding and banquet services available.

Open Daily 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM, April - October W2615 Valley View Drive, Green Lake, WI 54941 Phone: (920) 294-3805 www.LAWSONIA.com/LANGFORDS

The Golf Courses of Lawsonia in Green Lake Conference Center W2615 Valley View Drive Green Lake (920) 294-3320 lawsonia.com

Mascoutin Golf Club W1635 County Trunk A Berlin (920) 361-2360 mascoutingolf.com

Tuscumbia Golf Course 680 Illinois Avenue Green Lake (920) 294-3381 tuscumbia.net

Sondalles White Lake Country Club W1680 Country Club Drive Montello (608) 297-2255 greenlakemagazine.com | 17

Princeton up hot chocolate, personalized cookies, and more. Stay for our Christmas in Princeton parade and feel childlike wonder again.

PLAN A WEEK

With its charming local shops, bustling antique stores, and Famous Flea Market, Princeton is the place to spend a day, weekend, or week to be completely transported into small-town life bursting with appeal.

offering American-made clothing, handblown glass ornaments, local wines, and specialty crafted soaps. Say hello to one of the many shop dogs, and find the perfect birthday, Christmas, or wedding gift.

PLAN A DAY

PLAN A WEEKEND

Princeton’s Famous Flea Market, held outdoors April to October and full of homemade gifts, antiques, and new treasures, is the largest of its kind in the state. From booth to booth, you’ll find the perfect item you’ve been looking for or didn’t know you needed. Following a robust treasure hunt, treat yourself to lunch in cozy restaurants, enjoy the American Legion’s award-winning brat fry, or support a local organization by picking up a burger at the Flea Market’s food stand.

Meet up with friends or take the kids for a couple of days exploring what Princeton has to offer. Spend an afternoon discovering the hidden wonders in each of Princeton’s many antique stores.

From finely crafted dressers to delightful novelty signs, Princeton stores are a homemaker’s dream.

Participate in one of the many weekend events, including Wine Walks, The Rubber Chicken Fling, and the Whooping Crane Festival. Visit Thanksgiving weekend to escape the Once you are happily full, take rat race of Black Friday by shopping yourself into downtown Princeton local. Stroll from store to store and to discover the many local shops take photos with Santa while picking 18 | Green Lake magazine 2020

Take your time to discover the beauty of central Wisconsin with a week in Princeton. Stay at one of our local campgrounds, motels, or Airbnbs.

Reacquaint yourself with nature. Teach the kids how to canoe while discovering the historic Fox River. Relish the peace and quiet while spending the day golfing, fishing, or hunting. Step back in time with the slow, sweet pace of small-town life. Take Princeton’s Historical Walking Tour or visit a cemetery reenactment. And when you want to explore more, take a tour of a local winery or family farm and savor the taste of food and drink crafted by real people.

Bring your bikes to traverse one of the five bikes paths stretching through the hills and woods of the surrounding area. And there is a winter wonderland waiting for you in Princeton with snowmobiling trails, ice skating, and cross-country skiing. Come and see Princeton for yourself and make each day an adventure. For more information, contact the Princeton Chamber of Commerce at (920) 295-3877 or visit princetonwi.com.

Provided by the Princeton Chamber of Commerce.

Photographs by Gary Hannabarger.

earth friendly & ethical 525 W. Water St. Princeton

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Shop or chill with

your favorite beer, wine or espresso

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Fox River Glove Outlet

by Kyle Jacobson Downtown Ripon has measured the spectrum of vibrancy for decades— from revitalization efforts to the Watson Street Fire. Through that time, Fox River Glove Outlet endured on their Fond du Lac Street location. “We are the oldest continuous family-owned business left in Ripon,” says owner Mike Reinsch.

“I don’t know of anybody else that has been here as long as third generation.

“My grandfather bought the business in 1936. It was by the Fox River in Berlin for one year, and then he moved it over to Ripon in 1937. ... We rented the building upstairs for $65 a month.

Downstairs was the newspaper; the Ripon Commonwealth was here. When I was in high school, there’d be guys with vinyl type machines grinding out stories. They’d be sitting right in the 20 | Green Lake magazine 2020

window. The owner was the publisher of the paper, and in the late 60s, he wanted to retire. So he came to us, my dad and I, and he said, ‘If you want to keep renting for $65 a month up there, you better think about buying the building.’ Which we did.”

One item didn’t change much throughout their manufacturing days— black military leather gloves. When things were really booming, “We probably would do 3,000 dozen a year for just one customer in New York,” says Mike. They also made athletic letter jackets for Ripon high school as well as high schools and colleges all over the state of Wisconsin and in upper Michigan until 1971. In 2003, Fox River Glove Outlet got out of manufacturing altogether, and here they are now.

Mike and his wife, Mary, fondly remember the trends that have come and gone. “My uncle was a salesman and president of HIS out in New York,” says Mike. “He would get us all their irregulars. Every week, five or six boxes would come in with leisure suits, and out the door they went for $25 a suit.

We did that for a couple years until that fad went away. There’s probably one or two of what remains at our church—the old timers are still probably wearing one of those suits.”

Mary and Mike fully embrace the sales side of their business, ensuring customers are getting the best stuff for the best price. You’ll find work gloves, summer gloves, wallets, purses, and water shoes. “Some of our big brands are Minnetonka moccasins, Wigwam socks, and Mukluk footwear,” says Mary.

As we were talking, they almost didn’t mention one of their hottest items. “You didn’t mention your jackets,” says Mary.

“Oh yeah, yeah,” says Mike. “How could I forget the jackets. I do a big business in camouflage hunting jackets, blaze orange hunting jackets, ladies sweater jackets, different styles. I have literally thousands of jackets upstairs that I wholesale out the door, and we bring a lot of them down here, but what you see down here is barely the tip of the iceberg.”

Fox River Glove Outlet is a boon in the world of big-box retail. They credit their experienced and friendly sales staff and family for their customers, many coming back year after year to either buy a new pair of moccasins or do some early Christmas shopping. So bring your partner, bring your kids, bring your dog (yes, they’re pet friendly) and see what fantastic items they have for sale this season.

Kyle Jacobson is a writer and senior copy editor for Green Lake Magazine.

Photographs by Barbara Wilson. greenlakemagazine.com | 21

Concerts in the Park

by Alyssa Paulsen A cool breeze floats across the waters of Big Green Lake as one of your favorite area bands takes the stage and cranks out their best-known hit to kick off their show. You kick back in your lawn chair, pop open a refreshing drink, and let the music take you away. Kids run barefoot across the park’s freshly mowed lawn, and the crowd sings along to the music. It’s one of the telltale signs that summer has truly come to Green Lake—the return of the Green Lake Area Chamber of Commerce’s Concert in the Park

series. The nine-week series showcases some of the best bands in the state as well as old favorites returning for more fun.

at the Chamber booth set up in the park as well as at the food stand outside of the neighboring North Bay Sport & Liquor.

Concert in the Park features musical talents performing a variety of genres, including jazz, blues, rock, oldies, polka, country, and more. Everyone can find something they love on Wednesday nights at Deacon Mills.

All you’ll need is a lawn chair or blanket, family, and friends. You’ll find beverages and concessions for sale

The series takes place each Wednesday from June 17 to August 12 in Deacon Mills Park. Each band will perform from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., with the exception of the annual Family Picnic Night, beginning at 5:00 p.m.

Family Picnic Night takes place July 15 and will once again feature the crowd favorite University of Wisconsin Marching Band.

Be sure to put on your dancing shoes, as you never know when you’ll get the urge to dance along to some of your favorite music! For more information regarding the schedule of bands, go to visitgreenlake.com.

Alyssa Paulsen is a freelance writer.

Photograph by Barbara Wilson.

22 | Green Lake magazine 2020

Biking

by Kyle Jacobson Learning to ride a bike continues to be a milestone for so many. It gives us the ability to get around faster, effectively expanding our four-year-old selves’ stomping grounds. I remember trying to figure it all out in my garage.

I just kept falling, picking myself up, getting huffy and puffy, then trying again. When I finally had a good go at it, I opened the garage door, and made it about halfway down the driveway before falling over. But that was it. Sure, I was shaky, but minutes later I was going up and down our cul de sac. This type of freedom was exotic and new to me. Getting my driver’s license didn’t compare to how I felt when I learned how to ride a bike.

And the essence of that high is universal in all bike riders—from the road cyclist training for a competition to the commuter trying to reduce their carbon footprint and work off their spare tire.

No matter what you ride, you’ll find the right mix of difficulty and scenery in the Green Lake area.

For endurance riders, there’s the loop around Big Green Lake: 27 miles of

easy, picturesque riding. Want to do some birdwatching? You got it.

Want a cool breeze off the lake to keep you going? You got it. Want to listen to Roy Orbison for two hours straight while riding on paved paths and county highways? Anything you want, you got it.

If dirt trails through hardwood forests and narrow bridges over prairies are more your thing, Ceresco Prairie Mountain Bike Trails at Ripon College provide a range of climbs and switchbacks for moderate-level riders.

Go in the winter months to do some fattire cycling and see the Ceresco Prairie Conservancy in a way few people will ever experience.

Perhaps you’re really looking for that right balance of nature and bike riding.

Check out the areas between Green Lake and Princeton, where you’ll find bike routes through state natural areas preserving marsh and prairie wildlife.

Look into the Huckleberry Loop (15 miles), the Rustic River Loop (22 miles), and the Oxbow Loop (8 miles) to see which combination

of distance, scenery, and views of the Fox River is just what you’re looking for.

There are plenty of other trails in the area, but sometimes a ride through the city is all you’re really looking for.

Each city and town has its own charm, and the Green Lake area is packed with historic buildings, fun shops, and great food. There’s also an ongoing initiative in Princeton to raise funds for a skatepark.

Here’s the real advice: after you’ve consulted the internet for the right bike route, talk to the locals. Day to day, season to season, things change, and local riders and hikers have the skinny on where you really want to be. So bring your bike, strike up a conversation, and go make the Green Lake area part of your new stomping grounds.

Kyle Jacobson is a writer and senior copy editor for Green Lake Magazine.

Photograph by Jill Wellington. greenlakemagazine.com | 23

Boerson Farm’s Conservancy Land

Aerial view of Boerson Farm looking to the southwest with Green Lake in the background.

by Mat Boerson and Thomas L. Eddy

During the growing season, it’s another bustling Friday afternoon at the local farmer’s market outside Green Lake Town Square. Produce growers and consumers alike, their livelihoods interconnected through soil, seed, and sustenance, recognize why this market flourishes—healthy land grows healthy food.

This is a story about a partnership that germinated and then grew between Boerson Farm and Green Lake Conservancy (GLC) land trust. What makes it compelling is that Boerson Farm is private conservancy land— agricultural land that is protected in perpetuity by a conservation easement held in trust by GLC.

Organic farmers Dani and Mat Boerson from Boerson Farm extol the virtues of healthy soil as the foundation of healthy land. One teaspoon of topsoil may contain more than six billion microorganisms that underpin global cycles and ecosystem services supporting myriad biodiversity, soil formation, pollination services, water storage and purification, carbon sequestration, and climate regulation.

Our quality of life and survival depends upon these services made possible by healthy land. Science informs us that sustainable land practices promote greater resiliency to environmental challenges, including climate change, invasive species, and pest infestations.

It all started in 2013, when two co-property owners in Brooklyn Township approached GLC to explore ways to protect their 120 acres of rural land by adopting sustainable agricultural practices. Because GLC supports best management practices on farmland and holds experience protecting agricultural land by conservation easement, approximately one-half of the property was gifted to GLC. Additionally, it was determined that, for tax purposes, the remaining 64 acres would be conveyed five years later.

24 | Green Lake magazine 2020

In 2016, facilitated by GLC, Boerson Farm acquired the remaining 64 acres and moved their farm operation from St.

Marie to Brooklyn Township. Mindful of the original landowners’ intentions, Boerson Farm is now transforming the land from a traditional monoculture to a thriving polyculture that feeds people, improves soil health, and supports greater biodiversity.

Along with the legal title to the rolling fields and small woodlot came a great deal of responsibility. Caring for the soil while running a financially viable farm business is a delicate balancing act that requires long-term thinking and investments. In the fall of 2018, driveway easement, a well, electricity, and fencing were installed in accordance with the parameters established by the conservation easement. The stage was set for this parcel of land to begin producing a diverse array of crops, all while increasing the ecosystem services that are central to the work of the GLC. The Boerson land-use plan that was developed and implemented over the previous 18 months came to fruition the following spring. Native

Photograph by Eric Ratering

The Healthy FOOD CONNECTION

Mat Boerson co-owns and operates Boerson Farm with his wife, Danielle.

They can be found at local farm markets or at boersonfarm.com.

Boerson Farm – Left to Right: Dani Boerson, Mat Boerson, and Ken Bates inspecting freshly harvested broccoli.

Thomas L. Eddy is a founding member of the Green Lake Conservancy and serves as VP for Conservation.

Since 1995, GLC has offered sciencebased lake and watershed protection and solutions by land acquisition, gift, and conservation easement.

To learn more, visit greenlakeconservancy.org.

Boerson Farm – Left to Right: Dani Boerson, Thomas L. Eddy, and Mat Boerson snacking on fresh-pulled turnips.

Photograph by Thomas L. Eddy

A twist of fate brings the story home, or rather to a home. The original house and farmstead connected to the land had long since been parceled off from the fields. Just as the Boersons were about to start the process of building a house, the owner of the homestead approached with an offer to sell. On August 1, 2019, the farm became whole again because a community of people came together with a vision for health.

GLC’s partnership with Boerson Farm is a progressive investment in locally grown food and conservancy land that will contribute to the ecological, social, and economic well-being of our communities for many years to come.

Photograph by Ken Bates

species, including pollinators, moved in alongside farm crop plants. The regenerative practices in use at the farm are all informed by nature, taking cues from the oak savanna ecosystem that dominated this landscape for millennia.

A rotational grazing pasture system occupies the majority of the farm and is managed to mimic the periodic disturbance that herds of bison once created. Predatory beetle habitat and strips of pollinator forage incorporated into the diverse vegetable field mitigate pest pressure and increase the chemical-free production of nutrientdense crops.

greenlakemagazine.com | 25

Ripon Experience Ripon—this isn’t just a message for nature enthusiasts who want to surround themselves with acres of parks, trails, rivers, and lakes. Ripon has long been a friendly destination energized by community celebrations, eclectic shops, tasty cuisine, and historic character. All who visit feel welcome by the city’s charm and natural beauty.

For the epicurean we have hip restaurants, dog-friendly businesses, local winery, and a brewery featuring handcrafted artisan beers. The outdoors person will find what they’re looking for in one of our many parks, on our one-mile-loop mountain bike trail, and along the renowned Mascoutin Valley State Trail. And if you’re a golfer, you’re in for a treat on some of the state’s toprated courses.

Community is at the heart of Ripon.

Those living here know the great educational opportunities offered to students and families and the robust business economy that delivers wonderful work places. Ripon is a place people not only gather, but come 26 | Green Lake magazine 2020

together—a friendly small town that offers the vibrancy and amenities of a much larger city.

An adventure awaits you in Ripon, and we can’t wait to greet you.

Provided by the Ripon Chamber of Commerce.

Photographs by Barbara Wilson.

greenlakemagazine.com | 27

GREEN LAKE

Tour of Homes

HISTORIC & CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE

by Alyssa Paulsen

Traveling through Green Lake, you may enjoy seeing the homes and estates along the lake or within the historic Green Lake Conference Center grounds. A charming bed and breakfast, picturesque Victorian, or grandiose lake house, whatever the cause of the pause, one thing is for certain, you can’t help but notice the beautiful architecture.

This is why visitors and residents can’t wait for the annual Green Lake Tour of Homes.

Each year, the Green Lake Tour of Homes invites guests on a self-guided tour into several area residential homes, historic homes, vacation rentals, and bed and breakfasts. The eclectic mix ranges from original cottages along the shoreline to estates with incredible views from the highest elevations around the lake.

This year’s tour will take place on Sunday, October 11, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at several locations for $20 in advance or on the day for $25. Proceeds go toward an international project with local ties: 28 | Green Lake magazine 2020

Capuchin Missionary. Father Wally Kasuboski of Ripon has been living and working in Panama since 1988. His work includes water projects providing fresh mountain water daily to the local and indigenous people, numbering 7,000 plus. Over 100 supporters and volunteers from Green Lake, Berlin, Ripon, and beyond have traveled to Panama at their own expense to work with him on annual mission trips with their professional expertise, physical labor, and financial support.

You won’t believe these homes are right here in the Green Lake area.

Tour locations will be announced closer to the event date. For updates and ticket locations, please visit greenlaketourofhomes.com.

Alyssa Paulsen is a freelance writer.

Photographs provided by Alyssa Paulsen.

greenlakemagazine.com | 29

Photograph by Jean Cornelius

Green Lake Area Animal Shelter

by Jean Cornelius

Photograph by Jean Cornelius

The vision of the Green Lake Area Animal Shelter (GLAAS) is a community in which pets are part of the family; are provided with compassionate care, companionship, and training; and are spayed or neutered. They partner with two low-cost spay/neuter clinics, offering pet owners an affordable way to do the responsible thing.

Photograph by Jean Cornelius

The Lifesaving Tree is a 7’x 6’ tree cut from oak wood by local craftsman Kevin Brown.

The leaves are personalized cherry wood paw prints available in three sizes: $45, $95, and $135. Paw prints can honor or memorialize a pet, friend, or person; advertise a business; or simply express a meaningful sentiment. All proceeds from paw print sales are used exclusively for medical care expenses for shelter pets.

30 | Green Lake magazine 2020

Fundraisers are key to supporting the shelter, and there will be two in 2020.

There’s a win-win opportunity to help the shelter by cleaning out your closets and basement and donating to the fourth annual rummage sale May 29 through 30.

And there’s the Dog Walk, held during Ripon’s Septemberfest event, on September 19. Dogs, their owners, and people who love to see dogs in costume

are welcome at Ripon’s Village Green for dog contests, raffles, and a walk on the Northwestern Trail. Top walk pledge earners win prizes.

Adopting from GLAAS saves the lives of two animals—the one adopted and the one moving into the empty space. An open-admission shelter, GLAAS accepts and places primarily dogs and cats, but can help with any animal issue. If they can’t take an animal, they’ll find a rescue that can.

Staff examines, assesses, and provides daily veterinary care for pets. They talk with potential adopters to create successful matches. Most animals end up in shelters not because of abuse or bad behavior, but because of people reasons: divorce, a move, and lack of time or finances.

GLAAS relies on donations for vaccinations, medicines, heat, utilities, payroll, building maintenance, and veterinary services. A wish list of items needed, including cleaning, pet, and office supplies, can be found on their website. Donations can also be made online. Volunteers are needed for cat and dog socialization, cleaning, office work, and event assistance.

The pets at GLAAS are waiting to be loved and bring comfort, happiness, wonder, and laughter to your life! Meet them in person—the shelter is near Green Lake just east of the intersection of Highways 23 and 49. Pictures of a few of the available cats and dogs can be found online at glaas.org.

Pictures and fun videos are often shared on Facebook, so be sure to like the shelter!

Jean Cornelius is a freelance writer.

Photograph by Jean Cornelius

N6217 Busse Road Green Lake, WI 54941 (920) 294-3042 glaas.org

greenlakemagazine.com | 31

Cookie Dayz

25 Years

G

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B R AT I E L

by Alyssa Paulsen There was a day the delicious aroma of fresh-baked cookies wafted on a light breeze through the City of Ripon.

While it may seem like just a memory for many living in or visiting Ripon, the community of 7,700 still holds the claim to fame of being Cookie Town USA, and recognizes this heritage annually with its Cookie Daze festival.

Cookie Daze will take place Saturday, August 1, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Barlow Park. While

cookies are obviously the reason for this festival, the event has another reason to celebrate this year—it’s turning 25 years old! Ripon began hosting the festival several years after the community baked the biggest cookie the world had ever seen on July 11, 1992. The monster of a cookie was 34 feet in diameter and was filled with 3.8 million chocolate chips!

“This free family event has hosted generations of kids who have the chance

to enjoy fun and games, build rockets, make crafts, and participate in Cookie Drops,” says Ripon Chamber Executive Director Jason Mansmith. The Cookie Drops are a main part of the event and feature thousands of individually wrapped cookies being hoisted high in the air by the Ripon Area Fire District’s ladder truck and then dropped as kids scramble to collect as many as possible to win prizes. Another tradition is the Bake & Taste competition, where area bakers can showcase their culinary talents by baking the best cookies.

The 2020 event theme is Salute to First Responders, recognizing those who are always willing to help. For more information, contact the Ripon Chamber of Commerce at (920) 748-6764 or info@ripon-wi.com.

Alyssa Paulsen is a freelance writer.

Photographs by Barbara Wilson.

32 | Green Lake magazine 2020

greenlakemagazine.com | 33

Fore Oak

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Enjoy the

Great Outdoors

with the Green Team Calling all nature enthusiasts! Get ready to embark on another year of free, funfilled activities with the Green Team.

Each year, volunteers and staff from Green Lake Association, Green Lake Conservancy, Green Lake Sanitary District, and the Green Lake School District plan Green Team events for the community to enjoy. Celebrating its 12th year, the team’s mission remains

36 | Green Lake magazine 2020

getting families, community members, and visitors to explore the beautiful, natural features within the Green Lake area.

Mitchell Glen Tours Saturday, May 2, and Saturday, October 3, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. to Noon.

Explore Mitchell Glen for a rare and beautiful trip to this limited-access

by Jennifer Fjelsted

property. Local biologist and educator Thomas L. Eddy will lead participants down into the glen, which features incredible trees, rock features, and flowing waters. The tour includes walking down and up steep steps, so bring your sturdy shoes.

Space is limited and reservations are required. Save your spot by calling the Sanitary District at (920) 295-4488.

Bison Tour at 4M Bison Farm Saturday, May 23 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

If you haven’t witnessed the majesty of a herd of bison, now’s your chance! The Green Team is thrilled to participate on a bison tour at 4M Bison Farm, LLC, located just outside Green Lake. 4M Bison Farm is a third-generation farm committed to providing locally raised, tasty, healthy red meat for Ripon and the surrounding communities.

Originating as a dairy operation, the farm transitioned to raising bison in 1997. Bison are easy on the land and have a diet that conveniently consists of native grasses, allowing the farm to use rotational grazing.

paddle from downtown Green Lake to Dartford.

Daytime Paddle on the Puchyan Saturday, July 18 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Start your morning with a relaxing waterway trip with the Green Team.

Paddle the Puchyan River by kayak or canoe and enjoy this beautiful, thriving ecosystem. Keep your eyes peeled for a variety of wildlife, from turtles to cranes to crayfish and more! It’s a leisurely tour that’s good for all skill levels—go at your own pace, race your friends, and meet other Green Lake nature enthusiasts. Participants will

Many events are weather dependent.

For up-to-date information and complete event details, visit greenlakeassociation.com and click on the events calendar.

Citizen Scientist Speed Talks Tuesday, August 4 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Are you a citizen scientist? It doesn’t matter if you collect stream samples or count frogs, we’d love to hear about the work you do to benefit Green Lake’s unique ecosystems. We’ll be following a Pecha Kucha format presentation style in which 20 slides are shown for 20 seconds each. Presenters must register to participate in speed talks

by July 7. For details or to sign up to present, contact Tom Wagner at rst6138@gmail.com.

Jennifer Fjelsted is the communication & project manager at Green Lake Association.

Photographs provided by Green Lake Association. greenlakemagazine.com | 37

by Jean Cornelius Victor and Jessie Lawson founded and developed the estate now known as Green Lake Conference Center (GLCC) in the late 1800s and early 1900s as a farm. Much of their European-inspired architecture remains today. The farm became a luxurious country club in the 1920s. In 1943, Northern Baptists purchased the estate for training and conferences. In 2019, we held our 75th anniversary celebration.

Today, GLCC has 60,000 square feet of meeting space and accommodations for 1,000 in hotel rooms, suites, lakefront and forest houses, dorms, cabins, and campsites. In addition to hosting retreats, workshops, and conferences, GLCC offers programs for adults, youth, families, and ministry leaders.

One of the most iconic buildings at GLCC is Roger Williams Inn. Originally named Lawsonia Country Club Hotel, it was constructed by the H.O. Stone Development Company of Chicago in 1930. Because of its prominent location 38 | Green Lake magazine 2020

on the lake, it’s a landmark for both GLCC and the community.

The five-story hotel has lake views on three sides, and the exterior is faced with white-painted brick with green trim. Almost all of the Roger Williams Inn’s 81 guest rooms face the lake, and it has a gorgeous lobby. The jewel of their development, the building served as both hotel and clubhouse for the 18-hole Lawsonia Links Golf Course.

The Northern Baptists renamed the hotel Roger Williams Inn after the English Protestant theologian (c. 1603– 1683), an early proponent of religious freedom and the separation of church and state. Williams started the first Baptist church in America: First Baptist Church of Providence, Rhode Island.

Roger Williams Inn continued to be a favorite place to stay for decades.

Memories abound of hymn sings in the lobby, swimming in the outdoor pool and off the island, boat rides on the

Captain Bickel, and family-style dinners in the Crystal Dining Room. Baptist leaders, such as J.L. Kraft (founder of Kraft Foods), gathered at the Inn. It was the social center and focal point of many pictures and postcards.

Renovations on the Inn continue. The website, rogerwilliamsinn.com, features a video about the vision for a rejuvenated Inn, as well as history, old photos, and the restoration plan. Renovations ensure that this classic hotel will continue to be a wonderful place to renew guests for decades to come!

For more information about GLCC, go to glcc.org.

Jean Cornelius is the communications director at Green Lake Conference Center.

Photograph by Phil Sutterlin.

Healthy Choices greenlakemagazine.com | 39

by Jennifer Fjelsted Twenty thousand years ago, Big Green Lake was not a lake at all, but a very deep valley that stretched east to west.

During the last ice age, a receding glacier left piles of sediment and rock that blocked the outlet of the gorge.

After the basin filled with water from the melting glacier, Big Green Lake— the deepest natural lake in Wisconsin— was born.

There are 15,000 Wisconsin lakes, 600 of which have homeowners/ lake associations. Green Lake Association (GLA) is one of only three lake associations in the state with

LAKE FACTS Claim to Fame: Wisconsin’s deepest natural inland lake Max Depth: 236 feet Shoreline: 27 miles Lake Retention Time: 21 years Gallons of Water: 446 billion Number of streams that flow to the lake: 8 40 | Green Lake magazine 2020

professional staff. GLA works fulltime year-round to take care of the lake that represents so much of the community’s identity.

GLA is a nonprofit organization originally formed in 1951 as a homeowners association. In 2014, GLA distilled its mission to be singularly focused on water quality. Since then, it has focused its efforts toward designing and implementing projects that protect and improve the water quality of Big Green Lake.

Projects are divided into three categories: restoring eroding streams, removing and preventing invasive species, and helping implement best management practices with agricultural neighbors.

Additionally, GLA helps support university-led research, provides scholarships to future farmers, and hosts educational and fun events throughout the year.

Taking care of a big lake is a big responsibility. As a nonprofit, member-funded organization, GLA relies on memberships and donations to fund its important lake-loving work. It encourages everyone to protect the lake through personal actions.

When visiting Green Lake, you can prevent the spread of invasive species by following these important steps: • When entering and leaving a body of water, inspect your boat, trailer, and equipment. Remove all attached plants, mud, and animals.

• Drain water from boats, vehicles, and equipment, even if the water looks clean.

• Never move plants or live fish away from a water body. A fish out of water is legally considered dead.

Residents can help by taking these steps: • Don’t mow right down to the lakeshore. Leaving a taller grass buffer strip at the edge of the shoreline slows pollutants from making their way into the water and, as a bonus, can prevent geese from making your yard their favorite summer hangout.

• Limit fertilizer use on lawns and fields. Fertilizer helps things grow on land, and will do the same in water. Just one pound of phosphorus can fuel the growth of 500 pounds of weeds and algae.

Limiting fertilizer use on your yard, garden, and field directly helps the lake.

• Eliminate bare soil spots in your yard. Soil particles that wash into the lake contain weed- and algaefueling phosphorous.

If you’re interested in becoming a member, volunteering, obtaining more information, or attending an event, email info@greenlakeassociation.com or call (920) 294-6480. Be sure to mark your calendars for our events below and visit greenlakeassociation.com for details.

Jennifer Fjelsted is the communication & project manager at Green Lake Association.

Photographs provided by Green Lake Association.

2020 GREEN LAKE ASSOCIATION EVENTS June 20: Annual Meeting August 1: Annual Gala August 15: Conservation Field Day

Since 1984

Trek Bicycles • Bicycle Accessories Clothing • Professional Repairs 117 East Huron Street • Berlin, WI 54923 mikesbikeshopberlinWI/

920-361-3565 greenlakemagazine.com | 41

Art in the Park

CELEBRATES 48 YEARS

42 | Green Lake magazine 2020

by Alyssa Paulsen While Green Lake is a picturesque paradise year-round, perhaps one of the most beautiful sites throughout the summer months is in the heart of its downtown at Playground Park. With rushing waters from the dam, stunning landscape, and charming footbridge cascading with flowers, Playground Park appears to be right out of a storybook.

What could make it better? Why the amazing talents of over 100 artists from throughout the Midwest, of course.

Each year, Mill Street Park becomes home to artists for the juried Green Lake Fine Art Show. The 2020 show marks the event’s 48th year, and takes place Saturday, August 8, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sunday, August 9, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. It will showcase an array of masterpieces, from oil, acrylic, and watercolor paintings to mixed media, woodworking, stained glass, pottery, book binding, fiber arts, jewelry, photography, sculptures, pen and ink drawings, and more. And attendees will get the chance to chat with the artists and purchase their works of art.

Organizers Ali Rossberg and Emily McCarthy are looking forward to another year as they carry on the tradition Ali’s father, the late Guy Rossberg, spearheaded for over 30 years. Through the years, the family has been able to organize a dedicated selection committee that led to the implementation of a 40 percent exhibit turnover rate. This ensures that those who return to the event each year always experience something a little unique and different.

The event will also have food vendors, locally crafted beer, and musical entertainment. For more information or to apply as an artist, visit greenlakeartshow.com or call (920) 573-4691. The artist application deadline is August 1 or until an art category is full.

Alyssa Paulsen is a freelance writer.

Photographs by Barbara Wilson. greenlakemagazine.com | 43

Wisconsin State Championship

Chili Cookoff

Moves to October

by Alyssa Paulsen

Photograph by Jean Cornelius

When it comes to finding something to do in Wisconsin’s autumn months, Green Lake offers some great events that have been exciting visitors and residents alike for many years. One is the annual Wisconsin State Chili Cookoff, which has been a claim to fame for Green Lake for over 40 years. While previously held in early September, the 2020 cookoff will take place on Saturday, October 10.

The International Chili Society promotes chili cookoffs across the country and hosts the International Chili Cookoff for a chance to win $25,000. It collaborates with the Green Lake Rotary Club to bring chefs to Deacon Mills Park for a full day of cooking and tasting chili.

Photograph by Jean Cornelius

The competition showcases the talents of approximately 30 chefs of all skill levels. The cooks spend the morning cooking their famous chili recipes before contest organizers open the event tent to the general public to sample the mouthwatering chilis in the early afternoon. From spicy to mild, there’s something for all taste buds, and the public will have the chance to vote for their favorite for the People’s Choice Award.

While attendees enjoy the many flavors, a live band and DJ will provide musical entertainment, and the Rotary Club will sell beer, soda, and its very own chili, as well as raffle tickets, throughout the day.

44 | Green Lake magazine 2020

Photograph by Jean Cornelius

During the chili sampling, a panel of judges takes turns tasting all the contest entries to see which are their favorites. Judges include local and state politicians, neighboring Rotary Club members, and a celebrity judge performing at the Thrasher Opera House Saturday evening.

As attendees watch the judge’s tent in eager anticipation for their final decisions, the sampling wraps up, and all eyes turn to the Deacon Mills Park Starlight Stage. It’s here that the Green Lake Rotary Club will announce and give away trophies and cash awards to the top three chilis along with the Showmanship Award winner. A trophy will also be awarded to the spiciest chili.

For more information about the 2020 Wisconsin State Chili Cookoff, be sure to visit wisconsinstatechampionship chilicook-off.com.

Alyssa Paulsen is a freelance writer. greenlakemagazine.com | 45

Markesan

A GRAND COMMUNITY

Photograph by Chris Scott

Markesan is a small town in the southern central part of Green Lake County. There are state-of-the-art education facilities for young people and comfortable living centers for seniors in the community.

Families in Markesan make homes that last a lifetime.

Over 150 years of the Markesan area’s history is at the Grand River Valley Museum & Train Depot, presented by the Markesan Historical Society.

The museum shows the dedication the community has in its area’s rich past, present, and future farming heritage.

The city was once the richest in the nation. Markesan’s signature event is June Dairy Days, which is the second weekend in June. The event proudly celebrates the city’s farming traditions.

For outdoors enthusiasts, the Markesan area provides sports and recreation of all kinds. Little Green Lake will satisfy fishing needs with an abundance of muskie and walleye and boating fun across 462 acres of water.

There are excellent hunting, trapping, and fishing opportunities in the Grand River Marsh State Wildlife Area and Lake Puckaway area. Campgrounds are close by, and numerous snowmobile trails crisscross the area as well. A variety of events sponsored by local service organizations help to keep weekends active.

Hometown small-town businesses are complete with medical facilities, financial institutions, a public library, hardware store, grocery store, and unique boutique shopping.

The streets are clean, and you’ll find good schools, churches, shops, and community parks within walking distance.

A Grand Community is not just the city motto, it’s our way of life.

Provided by the Markesan Chamber of Commerce.

GRAND RIVER VALLEY MUSEUM

Open Saturday, May through September 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. or anytime by appointment 214 E John St - Markesan, WI 53946 920-398-2719 • 920-398-3359 markesanhistoricalsociety.org 46 | Green Lake magazine 2020

Open Daily at 6:00 a.m.

Bakery • Deli • Liquor • Red Box Videos • Dry Cleaning Postage • Complete Grocery & Household Needs

450 N. Margaret Street, Highway 44, Markesan (920) 398-2621

greenlakemagazine.com | 47

THRASHER OPERA HOUSE CONTINUES TO OFFER THE MAGIC OF LIVE PERFORMANCES Thrasher Opera House in Green Lake holds true to its original purpose as a gathering place for the community.

Built in 1910, the opera house remains a symbol of the history that has already passed through Green Lake and, thanks to its extensive remodeling and grand reopening in the summer of 1998, is a ready participant in the history that is yet to come.

Thrasher Opera House has been serving Green Lake and the surrounding communities since Charlie Thrasher saw to it that there would be a place in town where many kinds of events could bring people together. The fact that the opera house was originally the hub of community activity is no surprise.

When Charlie built it over a century ago, the facility hosted school dances, basketball games, town meetings, and town lectures. Before television and radio, the days of vaudeville brought traveling theatrical companies to Green Lake. As time evolved, so did the opera house.

Charlie operated his namesake opera house until 1939. However, by World War II the building languished into a warehouse and eventually fell into a severe state of disrepair, slated for condemnation. In 1994, Ron Hagstrom, a prominent real estate broker in Green Lake with a lifelong interest in broadcasting, music, and theatre, purchased the opera house and immediately began drawing up plans for a complete restoration. Rather than tear it down, he elected to bring Thrasher Opera House back to life.

The renovation was complete in 1997.

Thrasher Opera House reopened that 48 | Green Lake magazine 2020

summer, hosting several artists for the annual Green Lake Festival of Music, a highly regarded summer series of classical concerts that now makes the opera house its home base. In 1998, Thrasher Opera House began presenting its own events, thereby reestablishing itself as home to community and cultural events. Registered on the National Register, State Register, and City Register of Historic Places, Thrasher’s vision was realized. The community was once again enthralled with its opera house; children were laughing, and people gathered to listen, watch, and be entertained.

Since its reopening, Thrasher Opera House provides 50 to 60 nights each year of diverse programming that includes music and theatre performances, comedy, educational workshops for youth and adults, and school plays as well as community forums and debates.

The opera house annually hosts two week-long residencies by the Missoula Children’s Theatre, one in January and one in June, each involving 55 to 60 area children. The opera house

is also used for weddings, business meetings, fundraisers, movies, parties, memorial services, and other events limited only by the imagination of the public, thus continuing Thrasher Opera House’s important and historic function as a community gathering place where emotions and ideas are exchanged.

The 2020 season offers another year of high-caliber performers including: Charlie Berens, Gina Chavez, Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn, Willy Porter, Velvet Caravan, Karan Casey, Skerryvore, Darrell Scott, Johnny A., John Sebastian, Carsie Blanton, The Paul Thorn Band, Corky Siegel with the Will Tilson Band, Missoula Children’s Theatre, The Second City, and more.

Visit thrasheroperahouse.com for dates, times, and tickets.

Submitted by Thrasher Opera House.

Photographs provided by Thrasher Opera House. greenlakemagazine.com | 49

munication, writing, critical thinking, collaboration, quantitative reasoning, information literacy, integration, and intercultural competence. At the same time, Catalyst ensures students can complete multiple majors and minors and hold internships in four years.

RIPON COLLEGE

COMMITTED TO NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES

by Jaye Alderson Established in 1851, Ripon College is Wisconsin’s best-value private college and a national leader in liberal arts education. Ripon is devoted to ensuring that every student realizes his or her unique potential.

The College delivers a top-quality private school education to students at a cost that’s about the same as many public schools in the University of Wisconsin System. One hundred percent of students receive financial assistance. This mission of providing an accessible and premier liberal arts education remains unchanged, even in the midst of an ever-changing and challenging higher-education landscape.

Ripon demonstrates its dedication to surrounding communities by qualifying all new students who graduate from

high schools in Dodge, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, and Winnebago counties; apply for the 2020-2021 academic year; and are admitted to Ripon College for our Local Commitment Award. This brings the total awards up to $36,000 annually, so a student from a qualifying high school will pay no more than $19,776 to attend Ripon College, and even less if they qualify for need-based financial aid. To qualify, students must be enrolled full-time and live on campus. More information is available at ripon.edu/local-commitment-award.

Ripon’s five-course Catalyst curriculum rigorously develops 21st century skills employers seek while streamlining the path to graduation. Every graduate earns a concentration in applied innovation, demonstrating mastery of skills that today’s employers seek: oral com-

Ripon College Assistant Professor of Psychology Ellen Lee talks over an assignment with a student in a newly upgraded classroom in Todd Wehr Hall.

50 | Green Lake magazine 2020

Within six months of graduation, 98 percent of Ripon graduates are employed, student teaching, or pursuing graduate studies. What’s more, an analysis of the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard’s data found that Ripon College produces the highest-earning graduates in the State of Wisconsin. According to U.S. News & World Report, Ripon is the top liberal arts school in Wisconsin and 22nd in the nation for colleges that promote social mobility.

Ripon is committed to area residents too. Speakers and fine arts presentations in art, drama, and music are open to the public, many free of charge. Memberships also are available to Willmore Center, the athletics and health and wellness facility, with fitness spaces, classrooms, gymnasiums, lounges, a pool, performance courts, and a 65,000-squarefoot field house with NCAA-regulation indoor track. .

Jaye Alderson is an editor at Ripon College.

Photographs provided by Ripon College.

Taryn Bosquez of Omro, Wisconsin, a 2019 graduate of Ripon College, makes a senior presentation.

RIPON COLLEGE IS READY TO HOST YOUR NEXT EVENT

NOW AVAILABLE FOR INDIVIDUAL FITNESS MEMBERSHIPS & GROUP EVENTS

Our beautiful, historic campus, with its modern amenities, advanced technology and on-site housing, is the perfect location for weddings, camps, special events or group functions. Now accepting housing reservations for EAA 2020

HOST YOUR NEXT EVENT AT RIPON COLLEGE. VISIT RIPON.EDU/CONFERENCE OR CALL 920-748-8164

greenlakemagazine.com | 51

Whooping Crane Festival FUN AND EDUCATIONAL FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

by Alyssa Paulsen

Photograph provided by the International Crane Foundation

Despite changes to how endangered whooping cranes are released into the wild, the community of Princeton continues to be the spring, summer, and fall home to a number of these fascinating, beautiful birds. The area’s commitment to the protection of whooping cranes and nature in general is inspiring, and it’s reflected through the annual Princeton Whooping Crane Festival.

The festival takes place Friday through Sunday, September 11 to September 13.

52 | Green Lake magazine 2020

Princeton Public School has been home to Saturday’s main festival activities for six years, with the seventh anticipated to be another phenomenal weekend. The Whooping Crane Festival committee works hard to plan activities for the whole family, and starts Friday night off with field-trip opportunities.

Saturday’s schedule includes guest speaker Pat Fisher, with her live raptors from the Feather Wildlife Rehab/Education Center; live animal ambassadors from Marsh Haven Nature

Center; crowd-favorite children’s edutainer David Stokes; children’s activities, including face painting, birdhouse painting and building, and more; and the annual art and craft fair featuring nature-related vendors and exhibitors.

With plenty to see and do on Saturday, be sure to fuel yourself at the start with the pancake breakfast served by the Princeton school students and staff. And later that day, lunch will be available for purchase by the Princeton

Photograph by Alyssa Paulsen

Photograph provided by the International Crane Foundation

Lions Club. Both meal providers have been a part of the event each year since the event came to Princeton, making it a true community event.

While the day will be full of educational and entertainment opportunities, you can join the Whooping Crane Festival committee in the evening at the Princeton VFW for pasta and trivia.

Teams will battle in the hope of being the 2020 winners.

The weekend finishes with another field trip on Sunday, which will showcase the area.

See the full schedule of events at princetonwi.com or visit their Facebook page as the date gets closer.

Alyssa Paulsen is a freelance writer. greenlakemagazine.com | 53

by Kyle Jacobson

A study published in February 2010

by J. Nawijn, “Vacationers Happier, but Most not Happier After a Holiday”, suggests that we are happier planning our vacation than we are taking it. In our heads, everything is perfect, and we easily omit the periods between the excitement. When we’re on vacation, unexpected misfortunes, family drama, and worries about leaving the garage door open add stress like picturing grandma when kissing your sweetheart.

Though you’ll need to see a psychiatrist for potential Freudian hang-ups, when it comes to your boating needs, Norton’s Dry Dock has you covered. “We see it every summer,” says owner Chuck Hurley. “Somebody comes up, they drop their boat in, and it won’t fire up. Next 54 | Green Lake magazine 2020

thing you know, they’re on the phone with us Saturday morning first thing.

We’re trying to get them back on the water so they can enjoy their vacation. ... We’re about fast service and getting you turned around. Your vacation time is precious, and we do everything we can to make sure you enjoy it.”

But it’s not just service. Norton’s Dry Dock has everything you need, “boat accessories, bumpers, life jackets, trailer accessories, you name it. ... We’re set out in the cozy country on the west end of Green Lake. I think people come in here and are shocked at the showroom and the number of boats we have here.”

It’s a one stop shop—particularly for fishing and pontoon boats—run by knowledgeable staff, meaning no buyer’s

remorse when it comes to quality.

Chuck Hurley takes his commitment to customer satisfaction seriously, oftentimes bending over backwards for those in need.

He also has a personal attachment to the plot of land, even though he’s not a Norton (a name synonymous with Green Lake). “My grandfather owned this business and sold it to the Nortons in the mid-70s. I lived in a house right where we’re sitting before they built this showroom. I was born and grew up in the house until I was five years old. Dave and Kristen Norton ran it for about three months short of 40 years, and then I decided to buy it and put it back in the family. That happened about two years ago.” Nostalgically speaking,

it’s home, and Chuck treats customers like guests.

For those who do more than vacation here, Norton’s Dry Dock will do the heavy lifting so all you need to do is go to your pier, fire up the boat, and get out on the water. “For those lake residents, we can do everything. We can put their dock in, put their hoist in, put their boat in, service calls throughout the summer if they need it. Then in the fall, we reverse the process—boat out, hoist out, dock out.”

Vacations are meant to be times of leisure. With an amenable business like Norton’s Dry Dock around, enjoying your time on the water is as enjoyable as the time spent planning and thinking about it.

Kyle Jacobson is a writer and senior copy editor for Green Lake Magazine.

Photographs by Barbara Wilson. greenlakemagazine.com | 55

Harvest Fest

by Alyssa Paulsen

Photograph by Crea Stellmacher

As Wisconsin welcomes a bountiful harvest each fall, festivals celebrating the state’s rich farming heritage also sprout up throughout the area. Locally, one of the largest is Green Lake’s Harvest Fest, organized by the Green Lake Area Chamber of Commerce and supported by local organizations and businesses.

Photograph by Barbara Wilson

56 | Green Lake magazine 2020

The 32nd annual festival is an actionpacked, two-day spectacular with activities for all ages, taking place Saturday, September 26, and Sunday, September 27. After more than 30 years, the event coordinators certainly know how to keep the tradition alive.

Both days will feature the annual art and craft fair in Deacon Mills and Playground Park, as well as on Town Square’s lawn. The fair features nearly 100 local and regional vendors with their wares—perfect for finding something special for yourself or undertaking an early Christmas shopping extravaganza.

Children’s activities, such as a petting farm, will keep young ones (and the young-at-heart) entertained.

A farmer’s market on Water Street showcases the reason for the season with vegetables, fruits, jarred foods,

flowers, pumpkins, baked goods, and much more. The Taste of Green Lake food vendors will be selling lunch and more throughout both days. Saturday will feature booths set up by local organizations, while area restaurants will show off their greatest dishes on Sunday.

Musical entertainment will be on hand both days as live bands jam out at Deacon Mills Park as well as on the corner of Mill and Hill Streets.

On Saturday at 4:00 p.m. sharp, the much-anticipated Harvest Fest Parade will head down Mill Street as floats coast by, music fills the air, and smiles will be seen on every face. Local organizations, such as the Boy and Girl Scouts, American Legion, and more, take part in this can’t-miss event. Floats go all out with color, creativity, and

Caestecker Public Library 518 Hill Street, Green Lake 920.294.3572 greenlakelibrary.org Your source for books, movies, audio, WiFi, great programs, fishing poles, outdoor adventure backpacks, and more!

2020 Book Sales Sat, March 14 • Fri/Sat, May 1 & 2 Sat, June 13 • Sat, July 18 Sat/Sun, August 8 & 9 Sat/Sun, September 26 & 27 Sat, December 5

Photograph by Barbara Wilson

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Photograph by Barbara Wilson

wonder. And the Green Lake Junior High and High School bands stand tall as they march by, playing well-known cadences and songs. Many other local and area organizations, businesses, and individuals make the parade one to remember.

Sunday’s main event is the Jack Taylor Memorial Car Show, which is perfect for fans of antique and classic vehicles.

Hundreds will take over Hill Street and the fairgrounds as one of the area’s largest fall car shows showcases auto ingenuity from bygone eras.

Harvest Fest is definitely an event the whole family can enjoy for hours on end. For more information, please go to visitgreenlake.org.

Alyssa Paulsen is a freelance writer.

Photographs by Barbara Wilson.

Photograph by Crea Stellmacher

greenlakemagazine.com | 57

public launches, many shore-fishing opportunities exist at Krakow Park as well as scenic Sunset Road, which is a pet-friendly walking trail. Montello City Park on Lake Montello offers a playground, volleyball and horseshoe courts, softball diamond, and picnic and beach areas. And with acres of nearby public hunting land and plentiful populations of geese, turkey, and deer, Montello may become your new favorite hunting spot.

Montello West of Princeton on Highway 23 is the community of Montello and an array of shopping, services, and natural beauty.

Craft and gift stores; an old-fashioned candy and ice cream store; a vintage movie theater; and cafés, pubs, and supper clubs fill the historic downtown district. There’s also a pharmacy, grocer, hardware store, sporting goods store, golf course, massage studio, bookstore, bank, auto repair shop, realtors, and more.

Beautiful waterfalls cascade over the Montello Granite Quarry, which is home

to the hardest granite in the world. It’s at the downtown intersection of State Highways 22 and 23. Afterward, you can take in the scenic beauty from atop Observatory Hill, the highest point in Marquette County. And nature trails at John Muir Memorial County Park lead you through the area around Ennis Lake, which John Muir and his family called home during his boyhood.

Surrounded by Buffalo Lake, Lake Montello, the Montello River, and the Fox River, fishing and water activities are abundant. In addition to several

Whether your preferred transportation is on two or four wheels, we have you covered. Bike trails start in and near downtown, looping along lakeshores and scenic country roads, and the trails will inspire and invigorate you.

Numerous ATV routes connect and cross through Montello for hours of scenic riding. Whether by cycle or auto, be sure to take in Wisconsin Rustic Road 104 for a back-road experience you won’t soon forget.

When it’s time to rest and unwind, you can relax at one of the many local pubs before enjoying a meal. Dining options range from light salads and sandwiches to steaks and seafood.

Lodging options are also plentiful, with peaceful lake cabins, motels within walking distance of downtown, and campgrounds with everything from tent sites to cottage rentals.

There are also numerous events and activities year-round, so check the calendar of events at montellowi.com when planning your visit to the beautiful Montello area.

Provided by the Montello Area Chamber of Commerce.

Photographs provided by Matthew Falz Photography.

58 | Green Lake magazine 2020

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“Hey, Doris, where did you get the capes and matching hats for the girls?”

“I bought them at From the Land Folk Art Festival the third weekend in October in Green Lake. The guys got handmade hunting knives. I bought a loaf of artisan sourdough bread and a jar of clover honey to take home along with

a pasture-raised chuck roast, a stem of brussels sprouts, five pounds of new potatoes, fresh carrots, and leeks for Sunday noon meals.

“For the garden, I bought a folk-art painted screen and some repurposed farm-metal sculptures. For my wife, I purchased some copper earrings with

a matching necklace. Also bought two coffee mugs: one with embossed flowers and the other with sunset colors.

“The cabin up north gets an Amish rocker in hickory, two slab-sawed tables, and several candles—one with hickory nuts around the sides and the other with shotgun shells around the edges.”

This year’s show is Saturday, October 17, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Sunday, October 18, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Please dress for the weather.

Plan on eating lunch at the show. Oldfashioned hot dogs with Ray’s fried sauerkraut, pulled lamb sandwiches, and a cup of macaroni and cheese are some of the menu items. Dessert is a tough choice between a slice of pumpkin pie, caramel apple pie, farm berry pie, and rhubarb pie from the Pie By the Slice Shoppe.

The speaker this year will be Ken Bates on the flight and plight of the monarch butterflies at 1:00 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.

Book your Voyageur Canoe experience, a historical trip down the Fox River from Princeton to Berlin, with Jerry Disterhaft and Glen Gorsuch.

60 | Green Lake magazine 2020

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There will be a Native American healing lodge on Friday and Saturday at 7:00 p.m., open to anyone who wants to experience a Native American sweat lodge.

From the Land Folk Art Festival is located on the Londowski Family Farm, one mile west of the Highway 49 and County Road J intersection, which is the first intersection north of the Highway 23/49 stoplights. Look for the signs.

For more information about From the Land, please call Jan at (920) 216-1729 or go to fromthelandfestival.com.

Photographs provided by From the Land.

FAVORITES

CATEGORY Antiques

Bakery

Burgers

Steaks

Sandwiches/Subs

Fish Fry

Pizza (Dine In)

Pizza (Delivery)

American Cuisine

Breakfast/Brunch

Ice Cream/Dessert

Upscale Dining Special Occasion Dining

Dining on a Budget

Gift Shop

Bookstore

Clothing Store

Accommodations

Attraction

Golf Course

Local Music Venue

Place to Bike

Place to Hike Place to Watch Sports

Cocktail Lounge

Coffee House

Grocery Store

Liquor Store

BUSINESS NAME River City Antique Mall (Princeton) Webster’s Marketplace (Ripon) Adam’s Rib (Green Lake) Norton’s of Green Lake (Green Lake) Knuth’s Brewing Company Adam’s Rib (Green Lake) Knuth’s Brewing Company Christianos Pizza (Green Lake) Norton’s of Green Lake (Green Lake) Little Corporal (Green Lake) Culver’s (Ripon) Chops (Green Lake) Norton’s of Green Lake (Green Lake) J’s BBQ (Ripon) Twister (Princeton) Pastimes (Princeton) Dish (Green Lake) Green Lake Conference Center (Green Lake) Green Lake Concerts in the Park (Green Lake) Golf Courses of Lawsonia (Green Lake) Thrasher Opera House (Green Lake) Green Lake Conference Center (Green Lake) Green Lake Conference Center (Green Lake) Goose Blind (Green Lake) Norton’s of Green Lake (Green Lake) Sassafras (Green Lake) Webster’s Marketplace (Ripon) Webster’s Marketplace (Ripon) greenlakemagazine.com | 61

Dickens of a Christmas CELEBRATES 30 YEARS

by Alyssa Paulsen Wisconsin can have unpredictable weather when December rolls around— will it snow early or will it hold off until January? We never know, but what is predictable is the amount of fun during the annual Ripon Chamber of Commerce’s Dickens of a Christmas.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of this much-anticipated gathering, which will run Friday, December 4, to Sunday, December 6. With ample

wonder and amazement for all ages, it’s not a surprise that Ripon’s premiere event brings many to the area year after year.

Kicking off Friday night is the Dickens Holiday Parade, which will make its way downtown at 6:30 p.m. with a phenomenal display of lights, music, and the spirit of the season. Downtown will also be home to Saturday’s main event from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., the

Photograph provided by Ripon Chamber of Commerce

Dickens of a Christmas Living Windows Display. This year’s A Christmas Carol theme will have participating businesses decorating and dressing up to look like they came right out of the Dickens’ acclaimed novel.

As always, Dickens of a Christmas will include a variety of other events throughout town, including the Dickens of a Quilt Show, highlighting the extraordinary works of area quilters; the opportunity to step into some of the most elegant area houses during the annual Tour of Homes; the magical Enchanted Forest of fully decorated Christmas trees; creative Christmas crèche displays; and the Dress a Doll contest.

If you haven’t quite finished your Christmas shopping, you’ll be sure to find something for everyone on your list while exploring the charming city.

Many of the downtown shops will be open throughout the event, and several art and craft fairs will also take place throughout the city.

For more information about Dickens of a Christmas, please contact the Ripon Area Chamber of Commerce at (920) 748-6764.

Photograph by Barbara Wilson

62 | Green Lake magazine 2020

Alyssa Paulsen is a freelance writer.

Photograph by Barbara Wilson

Photograph by Barbara Wilson

greenlakemagazine.com | 63

COVER ARTIST KAY BRATHOL-HOSTVET

Kay Brathol-Hostvet is a signature member of the Pastel Society of America and has a BFA from the University of Wisconsin–Stout in studio arts. Her primary focus has always been the Wisconsin landscape.

Her soft pastels have been described as Contemporary Regionalism—a celebration of the land with a modern aesthetic.

Kay’s works are a synthesis of landscape tradition and self-expression—artists George Inness and Martin Johnson Heade have a profound impact on her interest in the emotive landscape. Kay says, “The open expanse of a landscape can personify sincerity; it can also represent personal freedom, or embody loneliness or isolation. The landscape, with its constantly changing light and shadow, weather, and seasons, becomes a metaphor for our emotions. I am particularly interested in the concept of quiet anticipation—an expectant stillness that one feels at certain times of the day.”

A combination of sources form Kay’s work: her own photographs taken on photo journeys into the countryside, notes taken on those journeys, and design and value studies in her

64 | Green Lake magazine 2020

sketchbooks. The photos act as a catalyst and reminder of form. While the paintings may look photorealistic, they are carefully designed in the studio with an intent to capture the transient moment.

Kay works from her home studio in Eau Claire, and is represented by Abel Contemporary Gallery in Stoughton; Edgewood Orchard Galleries in Fish Creek; and Riverview Art and Frame in Eau Claire. Kay’s works are in corporate and private collections all around the Midwest, and her pastel paintings have been featured in the Pastel Journal and the Dane Arts annual poster and calendar, and her acrylic paintings are included in North Light Books’ AcrylicWorks 2: Radical Breakthroughs. She regularly teaches art workshops in drawing, design, pastel, and acrylic. To see more of Kay’s work, visit kaybratholhostvet.com.

Submitted by Kay Brathol-Hostvet.

Photographs by Kay Brathol-Hostvet.

greenlakemagazine.com | 65

Advertiser Index

Photograph by Andy Johnson at The Fried Egg

Accommodations/Campgrounds

Green Lake Lodging and Sport, LLC............ 9 Greenway House Bed & Breakfast.............. 45 Hattie Sherwood Campground..................... 8 ’Tween The Lakes Motel.............................. 59

Antiques

Sidedoor Antiques....................................... 21

Association/Club

Green Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.... 8 Green Lake Arts Council............................ 43 Green Lake Conservancy............................ 25 Montello Area Chamber of Commerce....... 58

Attractions

Freeland Film Festival................................ 53 Grand River Valley Museum....................... 46 Green Lake Festival of Music..................... 15 Green Lake Fine Art Show.......................... 43 Green Lake Tours.......................................... 3 Thrasher Opera House................................ 49

Automotive Repair

Cliff’s Tire & Battery................................... 51

Bakery/Baked Goods

Oven Fresh Bakery...................................... 47 Sassafras Coffee & Treats........................... 11 Webster’s Marketplace................................. 27

Banking

Ergo Bank.................................................... 46 “Golden Rule” Community Credit Union.... 63

Bike Sales/Repair/Rentals

Mike’s Bike Shop.......................................... 41

Boat/Watercraft

Action Marina............................................. BC Norton’s Dry Dock...................................... 55 Pierless Boat Rentals..................................... 3 Shoreline Marine Contracting.................... 13

Church

Our Saviour’s United Church of Christ...... 33

Clothing/Jewelry/Shoes/Accessories

Fox River Glove Outlet................................ 21 Gysbers Jewelry........................................... 16 Holliday Shopping Center........................... 59 Twister......................................................... 19

Computer Sales/Service

Badgerland Computer Systems................... 11

Convenience Store/Gasoline

Holliday Food & Sport................................ 51 Holliday Shopping Center........................... 59

66 | Green Lake magazine 2020

Dentistry

Hillside Dental Associates.......................... 27 Silver Creek Dentistry................................. 51

Firewood

Mirr of Green Lake Tree Care..................... 31 Premium Firewood...................................... 31

Fishing Charter

Wacky Worm Guide Service, Mike Norris............................................. 13

Florist

Bloch’s Farm.................................................. 5 Webster’s Marketplace................................. 27

Garden Center/Nursery

Bloch’s Farm.................................................. 5 Stuart’s Landscaping & Garden Center..... 53

Gifts/Shopping

ACE Hardware............................................. 17 Casual Living Outfitters, LLC.................... 26 daiseye......................................................... 19 Farrell’s Fine Furnishings, LLC.................. 29 Fox River Glove Outlet................................ 21 Gysbers Jewelry........................................... 16 Hounsell’s.................................................... 27 Sidedoor Antiques....................................... 21 Twister......................................................... 19 Worldwide Gifts.......................................... 39

Golf

The Golf Courses of Lawsonia.................... 17

Grocer/Market/Deli/Cheese

Piggly Wiggly.............................................. 47 Webster’s Marketplace................................. 27

Hardware

ACE Hardware............................................. 17 Markesan Auto Home and Farm................. 46

Home/Contractors

Bloch’s Farm.................................................. 5 Stuart’s Landscaping & Garden Center..... 53 Surface & Surroundings, Inc...................... 26

Landscaping/Lawn Care/Tree Care

Bloch’s Farm.................................................. 5 Mirr of Green Lake Tree Care..................... 31 Stuart’s Landscaping & Garden Center..... 53

Library

Caestecker Public Library........................... 57

Photo Lab

Webster’s Marketplace................................. 27

Plumbing

Quality Plumbing LLC................................ 33

Real Estate

Adashun Jones Real Estate............................ 7 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Metro Realty, Angela Noltimier............... 39 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Metro Realty, Ellen Koeppen................... 29 Emmer Real Estate Group........................... 29 Special Properties, Ltd.............................. IBC

Rentals

Holliday Shopping Center........................... 59 Modern Rentals Inc..................................... 22

Restaurants/Food and Beverage/Catering

Adam’s Rib..................................................... 9 Christianos Pizza........................................ 31 Firehaus BBQ & Saloon.............................. 47 Holliday Food & Sport................................ 51 Holliday Shopping Center........................... 59 Lakeview Inn............................................... 47 Langford’s Pub and Restaurant................... 17 North Bay Sport & Liquor.......................... 13 Reilly’s Pub.................................................. 47 Sassafras Coffee & Treats........................... 11 Twister......................................................... 19 Vines & Rushes Winery.............................. 65 Walker’s Bar and Grill................................. 65 Webster’s Marketplace................................. 27

School

Ripon College.............................................. 51

Sporting Goods/Sportsman

Home Décor/Furniture

ACE Hardware............................................. 17 Holliday Food & Sport................................ 51 Holliday Shopping Center........................... 59 North Bay Sport & Liquor.......................... 13

Hospital/Medical Clinic/Senior Care

Hounsell’s.................................................... 27 Twister......................................................... 19 Worldwide Gifts.......................................... 39

Casual Living Outfitters, LLC.................... 26 Farrell’s Fine Furnishings, LLC.................. 29 Sidedoor Antiques....................................... 21 Twister......................................................... 19 Core Rehabilitation..................................... 59 Montello Care Center.................................. 59 The Residences on Forest Lane.................. 59 Ripon Medical Center................................. 39

Toys

Winery

Vines & Rushes Winery.............................. 65

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