Valley Sentinel - 06-26-2025 by Valley Sentinel

Wisconsin

Arena Village Board brings food pantry (back) to village hall, votes to contest unemployment insurance appeal

At its June regular board meeting, the Village of Arena Board of Trustees voted to move the food pantry into the Village Hall, heard updates on public works, ongoing audits and clerk trainings and voted to contest a former village employee’s unemployment insurance claim.

Village transitional updates

The village office was closed June 9, 11 and 12 for the two interim village clerks to attend training sessions on payroll and finance systems. Due to the village’s former clerk resigning in April, the new clerks needed to learn the payroll and finance system from scratch, leading to delays in the use of the payment system. Village employees have been paid via check advance in the interim period.

The board discussed the need to appoint a president pro-tempore. Following the resignation of one-time Village President Kathy Stoltz on her first day in office, trustee Steve Wilkinson had served as president pro-tempore and interim president, until the May 6 meeting when current village president Paul Pustina was elected. Trustee Matthew Schroeder and Wilkinson were nominated for the role, but Wilkinson declined nomination. The board voted to appoint Schroeder to the position of president pro tempore with all in favor except for Schroeder, who abstained.

An update and recommendation of the village’s active financial audits was provided by Wilkinson regarding a specific audit on the village’s utility bills. Martin Wirtz, a representative from Digital Forensics ad-

vised the board not to look into the water and sewer billing system, and rather to investigate bank records as a whole.

“If it were me or my investigation, I would recommend that we would look into your bank accounts and see if anybody is taking money out of the bank accounts, somebody with the title of treasurer or clerk,” Wirtz said.

The board voted to change the focus of the audit investigation to bank accounts and records and to focus as far back in time as the contracts affords, with all in favor except Schroeder who voted against.

Employee unemployment insurance claim

The Village Personnel Committee had several updates and recommendations to the board regarding an unemployment insurance claim filed to the village from a former employee, who voluntarily quit.

At the May 30 Personnel Committee Meeting, the committee discussed contesting the unemployment insurance claim, which Pustina had taken action on, without board approval, to preserve the Village’s ability to have a hearing and contest the claim.

“We have to do this… Paul [Pustina] took emergency action to guarantee that we will be able to make a decision as a board,” Trustee Becca Raven Uminowicz said. “We do need to recommend whether to contest and appeal. We need to get it to the board, because the board didn’t decide on it”

At recommendation from the committee, the board voted to have the Personnel Committee implement a policy in the employee handbook that the Village may con-

test voluntary-quit unemployment insurance claims on a case by case basis, with all members in favor.

The committee also recommended the board contest and appeal the claim from the former employee who voluntarily quit from the Village.

“A previous employee filed for unemployment insurance and is being paid out on that claim that the employee rightfully deserves the insurance. What the personnel committee is asking the board to do, we’re recommending the board to do, is to appeal the claim as it was a voluntary quit,” Uminowicz said.

The board voted unanimously to contest the unemployment insurance claim. They also voted to appoint Pustina as the Village representative and Bill Cole, the village’s attorney, or a designee, as legal counsel for any hearings or deadlines regarding the case.

Food Pantry

Uminowicz updated the board regarding the Arena Food Pantry. As the owners of the ACES Apartments — the former Arena Elementary — have decided to no longer host the food pantry, the organizers, Ray and Kristy Porter requested to use space at the Arena Village Hall to store refrigerators and equipment required to run the food pantry until new organizers could be found.

Uminowicz announced to the board that she and her sister, Jeanne Crowe, are going to take over food pantry operations and were asking if the village board would be willing to provide space, at no cost, for

food pantry operations.

Wilkinson noted that some of the rooms in the building may be unsuitable for use by the food pantry as the electrical systems may not be able to support the refrigerators, as well as the size of some of the rooms may be insufficient for all the equipment. Schroeder also expressed concerns regarding not disrupting the public works department office.

The pantry was previously located in the village hall, but the space is now occupied by public works offices.

The board voted in favor of moving food bank operations to the village hall, at no cost, contingent on space and logistics, with all in favor except Uminowicz who abstained.

Public works

updates

Bill Gauger and Ken Amble from the Arena Cemetery Committee spoke to the board about placing a village sign and marquee on cemetery property. Gauger had noted that the Cemetery Committee had no opposition to returning a sign to the property, though the village would be responsible for mowing. The board unanimously voted to refer the proposition to the public works committee.

Tracy Johnson, the village’s building inspector, introduced himself to the board and discussed a recommendation for the village to hire a village planner to help with land divisions, rezones and future village developments. The board sent the recommendation to research having a village planner to the public works committee for review with all members in favor.

Best of the River Valley Reader Poll

Luukas Palm-Leis, Reporter

OPINION/EDITORIAL

Your Right To Know: Want a closed session? Explain yourself!

Tom Kamenick, Contributed

Probably the most commonly used — and, in my opinion, abused — exemption in our state’s Open Meetings Law is the one that lets governmental bodies meet behind closed doors “whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session.”

The exemption, 19.85(1)(e) in Wisconsin state statutes, is used by all manner of public bodies, from city councils to school boards. It is supposed to be used sparingly, when needed to protect ongoing negotiations. But many bodies use this exemption to conceal everything about a potential deal or development, keeping the public in the dark until it is too late for their input.

Thankfully, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals issued a recent opinion, in a case known as Oitzinger v. City of Marinette, that should significantly curtail such abuses. The court ruled that the city’s attempts to use this exemption on two occasions violated the law.

The first involved an agreement (negotiated for months behind the scenes and presented to the common council for the first and only time in that closed session) that released a PFAS polluter from liability in exchange for a “donation” towards equipment to help address the

pollution it caused. The second involved an engineering analysis of methods to provide safe drinking water for people whose well water had been contaminated.

Both closed sessions were illegal, the appeals court ruled, because neither included discussions of negotiation strategies that needed to be kept secret. The court’s ruling does three very important things.

First, the court held Marinette officials accountable for their illegal behavior. The plaintiff, Douglas Oitzinger, was a

city council member who thought his colleagues had abused this exemption. He was willing to stand up to his colleagues, endure their scorn, and not give up until he won. (His efforts earned him an award from the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council in 2022.)

Second, the case reaffirms an important principle: The law’s exemption protects bargaining tactics, not all discussions about a possible deal. It exists so that government boards don’t have to negotiate at a disadvantage by divulging their strategies, such as the most it is willing to pay to buy a piece of land. But those kinds of discussions are the only thing that is supposed to happen in closed session. Other discussions — particularly debates about the merits of a course of action — need to be held publicly.

Third, the court emphasized that a board’s members need to cast an informed vote to go into closed session. That means it needs to be explained to them — on the record in open session — what kind of information is going to be discussed and why secrecy is necessary. Too often the process for going into a closed session is just a formulaic reading of a vague agenda item and a vote with no explanation or discussion. The court of appeals concluded that more is neces-

The Tools of Conversation — Part 12: The Birth of Tyranny

Beverly Pestel, Columnist

This series explores how our tools of conversation—from speech and print to television and social media—have shaped the way we think, learn and interact, often steering us into a state of fragmented discourse and misinformation. By examining seminal works on information networks, critical thinking and media influence, each column digs deeper into why our collective capacity for thoughtful conversation and civic engagement appears at risk. As we navigate new technologies and grapple with the merging of entertainment and news, we confront a crucial question: can we harness our evolving tools of communication to foster truth, community and meaningful dialogue, or will we be “amused into indifference”? Join me on this journey through reading, reflection, and inquiry, as we seek practical insight into building a more

On the cover

From the photographer:

"The Oak Road oak, located at the end of Oak Road in the town of Arena. It’s been a part of my life as long as I can remember. I admired it from the bus on my way to the now-closed Arena elementary school. Nowadays when I am out for a run, the “Stop Ahead” sign is at times a reminder to me....stop and admire the majestic oak tree that’s witnessed so much; it was there when the roads weren’t paved, when busses didn’t run, when women couldn’t vote and segregation was legal. That tree was there when the family farm was a path to the middle class, when dairy cows ate grass all day, when the President of the U.S. of A was the most respected person in the world. This tree has weathered some great storms, and so too can we."

informed, empathetic and civically engaged society.

Late on a Sunday night, May 18, the House Budget Committee passed the Republican’s Big, Beautiful Bill. It had failed in committee on Friday when farright Republicans voted against it, complaining it did not make deep enough cuts to social programs. By Sunday they had fixed that. They argue that the government must be more fiscally responsible in spending because of the increasing deficit. However, they are also committed to extending and expanding the 2017 tax cuts which will definitely increase the deficit. Over 80% of those tax cuts will benefit the ultra-rich, millionaires would get an average $89,390 tax cut while the bottom 20% of earners would get a $90 tax cut. There are those who try to tell us that this is a good thing, and there are

many lower earners who will buy into that – but why?

According to Heather Cox Richardson in her May 18 email: “The continuing Republican insistence that spending is out of control does not reflect reality. In fact, discretionary spending has fallen more than 40% in the past 50 years… What has driven rising deficits are the George W. Bush and Donald Trump tax cuts, which had added $8 trillion and $1.7 trillion, respectively, to the debt by the end of the 2023 fiscal year.”

While reality does not always affect public attitudes or political policy, ideology and propaganda do. How we got to the public/political culture we are dealing with now is what we must begin to understand if we are to have any hope of getting out of it.

I’m reading On Freedom by Timothy Snyder and he provides an interesting perspective on where we are politically

sary, not just in this case but whenever this exemption is invoked. I believe this is the part of the court’s decision that has the most impact. Government board members usually do this work on a part-time basis for little or no pay. They’re frequently happy to follow the lead of full-time government administrators or experienced board members. Administrators or presiding officers now must take the time to explain why they want to go into closed session. That will not only provide more information to the public, it will help board members think about and answer the question of whether secrecy is really necessary.

As an advocate for government openness, my hopes are high. I’ve seen reports from around the state that government attorneys are advising their clients about this case and explaining these requirements. I’m hopeful that abuse of this exemption will significantly decline.

Your Right to Know is a column distributed by the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council (wisfoic.org), a group dedicated to open government. Tom Kamenick, a council member, is the president and founder of the Wisconsin Transparency Project.

and how we got here. It’s not entirely novel, but he couches it in a language that brought it into focus for me. Let’s begin here…

In 1968, Richard Nixon connected the concepts of crime and race. Ronald Reagan then built on this connection by linking welfare and race using the widely repeated – but inaccurate – term “welfare queen.”

Snyder posits a scenario where kids growing up in the 1970s and 1980 were bound to hear: “a stereotype of Black women claiming the tax dollars of hardworking white people to raise delinquent broods. In accepting this logic, and in voting against the welfare state, white Americans brought anxiety into their own lives… A white person growing up in the late twentieth or early twenty-first century was taught to asso-

“Oak Road Oak” (2025) Photo, by Ben Gruber

Tom Kamenick

It’s incredibly fitting that our cover this edition included a sign that reads: stop ahead. It’s important to note you don’t stop at a stop sign forever, it’s a momentary pause. Whether to think or to ensure your safety and sustainability, it’s a pause before you continue going down the road you were on (or perhaps you’re turning at that stop sign and trying something new?) .

It’s apt because our print edition needs to pause. It’s become clear through rising costs, injuries, the struggles of growing, manpower and resources (and so much more) that we need to regroup so we can build out, while reducing our overhead. We’ve gotten wonderful offers from talented individuals in the community to help us, and we haven’t had a chance to properly engage with them and their talents — among the dozens of other projects we’re working on and admin to be done. We recognize that we have to do better — sometimes caring too much is paralyzing and overwhelming (and all of a sudden you’re buried under 2000 emails when the local journalism landscape changes).

Don’t worry, we are first and foremost a newspaper — in the very literal sense. We are putting a tentative restart date of after summer. It’s not ideal, especially during the busy season. But it’s what we need to do to be able to recalibrate. We are not cutting services, the community calendar and our journalism will continue, we are pausing our print product in an effort to provide more services and on a more solid footing. We are doing what we need to do and we are doing what we can. We often in these updates state the formative quote that hangs in our

DONATION DRIVE

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PO Box 144 Spring Green, Wisconsin 53588 USA (608) 588-6694

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EDITORIAL BOARD

Editor-in-Chief/Publisher

Nicole Aimone

Managing Editor/Publisher

Taylor Scott Legal Editor Gary Ernest Grass, esq.

Editorial Policy

On certain topics in areas of great community interest, the editors of the Valley Sentinel may take positions they believe best represent and serve the interests of the community. Any opinions or positions taken by the editorial board are separate and distinct in labeling and substance from the community journalism that appears in the rest of the publication and does not affect the integrity and impartiality of our reporting.

Stop Ahead: Taking a pause to regroup

newsroom: first make it work, then make it work better. It’s clear to us that we need a more solid footing in order to actually make it work — or as the constructive and welcome advice of a subscriber gave more bluntly: “If you can’t get the small things right, then you have no business doing the big things” — and there are so many big things we want to do, but we certainly haven’t gotten the small things right yet.

There’s so much good and informational content we have to hold or cut each edition (including this edition), with much of it never making it to readers as it becomes no longer timely and we’re too exhausted or too busy to put it on our website. During this pause — after catching our breath (which won’t happen until after we attend the Association of Alternative News Media Publishers convention the second week of July) — you will actually likely see more content, both original and from our friends and partners, published through our channels.

While we may shuffle around some of our columns, many of our current writers will not be changing and we will seek to expand what we cover and engage in new ways.

Often the overhead and creative energy required of a print product (plus the literal limitations of page count) limited our ability to do as much journalism as we wanted to do. We believe the journalism we do has often been of great depth and usefulness to the community (just ask Arena), but we want to do more. We want to bring on more writers. We want to host more interns and teach the next generation of journalists. We want to launch a nonprofit that studies independent local journalism models

and incubates publications like ours, especially as news deserts loom. We want to be able to teach the difference between first person observations and news, between good information and misinformation and malinformation. We want to help our community think critically (and grow) in a time where our democratic society is under threat.

We recently saw this quote by a news publisher named James Preston Allen: “In the worst of times a vigilant press is essential to the freedom of thought and expression in a free democratic society. In the best of times, it is informative, entertaining and thought provoking.”

We need to be ready and resilient to prepare for our job and role in the worst of times, while doing our part to contribute to the best of times.

We will slowly transition in the coming weeks, putting stories online on our website as they are edited and ready to publish. We will then start with a bi-weekly email newsletter round-up that will function as our editions during this pause. We’re excited to engage with our 500+ strong opt-in email list in a way we haven't before — including giving businesses the opportunity to reach our readers through online, social and email ads as well. No one else has the reach we have digitally and we’re excited to build out in that space. If you haven’t already, now is the time to sign up for our email newsletter on our website. If we don’t have your email, please send it along. We appreciate the support we’ve gotten from every one of our readers, subscribers and community members — especially when seeing that 20%+ of respondents on our Best of the River Valley reader poll indicated they were interested in helping develop local, independent

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For all others that will maintain their subscriptions, thank you! We truly appreciate your support. Along with our recurring membership opportunities, we hope to start a press club for our subscribers and supporters with various benefits. We’re looking for your ideas as well! As we’ve shared recently as well, after we catch our breath, we plan to do events where you can sit down with us and our contributors and staff and discuss news and the community — and have our press club and members stick around after and help us figure out to best cover our community (whether that be topics, methods, model or help us write policy on how to integrate and disclose AI use, etc.). Once again, we’re your community newspaper and we are what you make us. We will continue to build out, but we can’t do it without you. Without your support, your ideas, your contributions, your caring and more.

We’ll see you in print again.

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Events for June 26 - July 10

Wednesday, July 2

COmmunitycalendar

The Community Calendar is curated by Bonnie Stickel and designed by Julianna Williams. Events are subject to change, always check ahead for up-to-date information on any events you are interested in.

Sunday, July 6 cont.

LIVE MUSIC: The Bushmen 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM • Wisconsin Riverside Resort, S13220 Shiﬄet Rd, Spring Green • wiriverside.com • The Bushmen bring a riverside blend of tunes to this Sunday afternoon performance. Food and drink available on-site.

Art-Mazing/Storytime Combo! 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St, Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • FREE • Enjoy art-themed stories followed by hands-on book-inspired art activities. Open to all ages of young readers and artists.

LIVE MUSIC: Dylan Harris 6:00 PM • American Players Theatre Grounds, 5950 Golf Course Rd, Spring Green • americanplayers.org • Free live acoustic set by Dylan Harris as part of APT’s Midsummer Music series. Enjoy the sounds while picnicking! SOLD OUT: LIVE MUSIC- Sh*tty Barn Session 339 – 'Jenny Don’t and the Spurs // Bandits on the Run' 7:00 PM (Doors 6:00 PM) • Sh*tty Barn, 506 E Madison St, Spring Green • shittybarnsessions.com • Advance tickets sold out. That said, tickets often come up that people can't use, so check out SH*TTY TICKET SWAP, which helps to connect ticket buyers and sellers • Country-western powerhouse Jenny Don’t and the Spurs return with a high-energy set, joined by NYC’s cinematic indie-pop trio Bandits on the Run. 21+.

Cornhole League 7:00 PM • Buena Vista Bicentennial Park, 33000 Fulton St, Gotham • All ages • Weekly Wednesday night cornhole league hosted by the Buena Vista Lions Club. Concessions available on-site with burgers, brats, hot dogs, fries, cheese curds, and beverages. For details or to sign up, contact Mikey Randall (608-696-9643) or Jake Kleckner (608-739-2322). Text preferred.

Thursday, July 3

Storytime 10:30 AM • Lone Rock Community Library, 234 North Broadway St, Lone Rock • lonerocklibrary.wordpress.com • All ages • FREE • Families are invited to enjoy stories and activity time- "Celebrate America" this week!

CLASS: Skills & Drills Youth Basketball Training 10:30 AM - 1:40 PM • River Valley High School, 660 Varsity Blvd, Spring Green • sethkostroskihoops.com • All ages (Grades 3–12) • Free (Donations appreciated) • Open basketball skills training led by experienced coach Seth Kostroski. No registration required. Separate sessions by grade: Grades 9–12 (10:30–11:30 AM), Grades 6–8 (11:35 AM–12:35 PM), Grades 3–5 (12:40–1:40 PM). Bring your own ball. Sponsored by RV Youth Basketball. Stitch and Bitch 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM • Spring Green General Store, 137 S. Albany St, Spring Green • springgreengeneralstore.com • FREE • The Spring Green General Store’s Stitch and Bitch handwork group meets Thursday afternoons weekly. All are welcome.

Tech Help Drop-In 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St, Spring Green • rvbroadband.org/techhelp • Get one-on-one assistance with tech devices, apps, email, and more. No appointment necessary.

Lone Rock Farmers Market 3:30 PM - 6:30 PM • Center Park, 326 E Liberty St., Lone Rock • Shop local and join us every Thursday for fun, food, flowers, and all your favorites! Visit the Lone Rock Farmers Market group on Facebook for weekly updates on vendors and raffle items. Raffle drawing at 6PM. $1 per ticket. Stop by the LRFM booth to enter!

Lone Rock 4th of July Celebration – Day One 5:00 PM – 10:30 PM • Fireman’s Park, Lone Rock • lonerock4thofjuly.org • Day one of Lone Rock’s holiday festivities features DJ music and dancing by the concession shelter, followed by the “Old Timers” community baseball game at 8:00 PM.

Spring Green Recreational Soccer 5:30 PM • River Valley Middle School ﬁelds, 660 W Daley St, Spring Green • For more information look up Spring Green Recreational Soccer on Facebook • Ages 12+ • Tuesday and Thursday evenings (weather permitting) Casual and fun community play for teens and adults.

LOCAL NIGHT: Junkyard Kings 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM • Post House Garden, 119 E

Jeﬀerson St, Spring Green • shedbarandgrill.com • Kick oﬀ the holiday weekend with blues-rock grooves by Junkyard Kings at this all-ages Local Night celebration.

LIVE MUSIC: McCarty/Brown Duo 6:00 PM • American Players Theatre Grounds, 5950 Golf Course Rd, Spring Green • americanplayers.org • Free acoustic performance by the McCarty/Brown Duo, part of APT’s Midsummer Music series. Enjoy live music as a pre-show picnic companion.

Friday, July 4

Lone Rock 4th of July Celebration – Day Two 7:00 AM • Fireman’s Park, Lone Rock • lonerock4thofjuly.org • A full day of festivities including a farmer’s market (7:00 AM – 4:00 PM), parade (11:00 AM), sand wrestling tournament (1:00 PM), kids' critter zoo, live music, and more. Fireworks at dusk cap oﬀ the celebration.

5K RUN/WALK: 2025 Water Run 8:00 AM • Lone Rock Fireman’s Park, 215 N Oak St, Lone Rock • Sponsored by the River Valley Cross Country Team • $15 • 5K run/walk with t-shirts for those registered by June 20. Day-of registration at 7:30 AM. Part of the Lone Rock 4th of July Celebration.

4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION: Blackhawk 4th of July Celebration 10:30 AM – 2:00 PM • Blackhawk Bethlehem Church, S10174 County Road C, Sauk City • For more information look up Blackhawk 4th of July Celebrtion on Facebook• All ages • Parade at 10:30 AM, followed by chicken BBQ, pie, kids’ games, food stand, and family-friendly fun. Cash only for food.

LIVE MUSIC: Power Take Off w/ The Cattlemen 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM • Wisconsin Riverside Resort, S13220 Shifflet Rd, Spring Green • wiriverside.com • Outdoor Independence Day show featuring Power Take Off and The Cattlemen Karaoke Night 8:00 PM – 12:00 AM • Post House Garden, The Shed, 123 N Lexington St, Spring Green • shedbarandgrill.com • Celebrate the holiday with a festive night of karaoke under the stars.

Saturday, July 5

YOGA: Yoga @ The Library 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St, Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • All ages • FREE • Enjoy a free hour-long outdoor yoga session led by Emily Benz of Rural Remedy before the Farmer’s Market. Beginners welcome; mats provided. Spring Green Farmers Market 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM • Downtown Spring Green, Corner of Jeﬀerson and Worcester Streets • Shop fresh produce, baked goods, ﬂowers, and much more! Open every Saturday through October, rain or shine. Car-B-Que in the Park: Classic Car Show & Chicken BBQ 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM • Kaul Park, Bear Valley (9 mi N of Lone Rock, 2 mi S of Bear Valley on Hwy 130) • No entry fee or judging. Classic cars arrive at 11:00 AM; chicken BBQ with sides served at noon for $14. No pets or carry-ins. For info, call 608-574-9705.

LIVE MUSIC: 3 SOULS at River Stage 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM • Wisconsin Riverside Resort, S13220 Shiﬄet Rd, Spring Green • Enjoy an evening of classic rock, river views, and ﬁreworks after the show!

LIVE MUSIC: Joe Roberts Band 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM • Post House Garden, The Shed, 123 N Lexington St, Spring Green • shedbarandgrill.com • Outdoor performance by the Joe Roberts Band. Enjoy summer music with food and drinks available from The Shed.

Sunday, July 6

'Living Into Our Values' with Audrey McCann 10:00 AM • Unity Chapel, 6596 County Hwy TZ, Spring Green • Audrey McCann, seminarian at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, shares reﬂections on personal and communal values as part of Unity Chapel’s summer service series. All are welcome.

LIVE MUSIC: Jesse Bauman 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM • Post House Garden, The Shed, 123 N Lexington St, Spring Green • shedbarandgrill.com • Spend the afternoon with Jesse Bauman’s acoustic sounds in a relaxed garden setting. Food and drink available from The Shed.

Cowboy Church with Monty Berger 2:00 PM • The Little Brown Church of Bear Valley, 29864 Brown Church Rd, Bear Valley • Gospel and patriotic music from Monty Berger of the Country Gold Band in a relaxed, musical afternoon at this historic nondenominational church. Light refreshments provided. For more info, call Joanne at (608) 647-0622

FILM: River Valley Film Club Screening 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM • Slowpoke Lounge & Cabaret, 137 W Jeﬀerson St, Spring Green • slowpokelounge.com • A monthly mystery movie screening curated by the River Valley Film Club. Movie title revealed at showtime. Come early to grab a drink and chat with fellow ﬁlm lovers.

Monday, July 7

Summer Flicks & Bricks – Minecraft: The Movie 1:00 PM • Kraemer Library and Community Center, 910 Main St, Plain • For more information look up Plain Kraemer Library and Community Center on Facebook • Enjoy a screening of Minecraft: The Movie with themed LEGO building activities following the ﬁlm. Free. All ages.

Color-Palooza 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St, Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • Drop in for all-ages coloring with a wide range of supplies, large-format group projects, snacks, and even a friendly coloring contest.

Trivia Night 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM • Slowpoke Lounge & Cabaret, 137 W Jeﬀerson St, Spring Green • slowpokelounge.com • Hosted by Kyle Adams, this lively evening of team trivia kicks oﬀ at 7:00 PM and runs for about 2 to 2.5 hours. Prizes for top teams. 21+.

LIVE MUSIC: Winds of the Wilderness – Bassoon and Flute Duo 7:00 PM • Unity Chapel, 6596 County Hwy TZ, Spring Green • ruralmusiciansforum.org • Suggested

donation: $15 • Chamber performance by bassoonist Eleni Katz and ﬂautist Gabe Fridkis exploring the connection between music and nature. Presented by Rural Musicians Forum.

Tuesday, July 8

CLASS: Stitch & Craft – Embroidery 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM • Kraemer Library and Community Center, 910 Main St, Plain • For more information look up Plain Kraemer Library and Community Center on Facebook • Kids learn basic hand and machine sewing skills while completing a creative embroidery project to take home. Part of a summer sewing series. All ages.

Summer Afternoon Storytime 4:30 PM • Kraemer Library & Community Center, 910 Main St, Plain • kraemerlibrary.org • Preschool to age 8 • FREE • Each Tuesday, kids enjoy stories, singing, and hands-on art projects as part of the Color Our World summer series. Creative fun for young children all summer long.

Puzzle Night 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St, Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • Work on 300–500 piece puzzles, enjoy snacks and beverages, and trade puzzles with others. All ages.

Wednesday, July 9

Sauk County Fair • All day • Sauk County Fairgrounds, 700 Washington Ave, Baraboo • WALK-IN FREE GATE • $5 daily parking (enter via Lincoln Street) • Midway rides open (wristband from 4 –11PM), vendors, games and 4-H animal exhibits all day; livestock check-in 7 AM–1 PM with judging on site • For the full schedule visit saukcountyfair.com

Art-Mazing – Dot Painting 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St, Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • Ages 4–17 • Create colorful dot paintings inspired by Australian artists in this hands-on “Art Inspired” session. Part of the summer “Coloring Our World” series.

LIVE MUSIC: McCarty/Brown Duo 6:00 PM • American Players Theatre Grounds, 5950 Golf Course Rd, Spring Green • americanplayers.org • Free pre-show acoustic music on the APT grounds with the McCarty/Brown Duo. Bring a picnic and enjoy the ambiance before the evening’s performance.

Thursday, July 10

Sauk County Fair • All day • Sauk County Fairgrounds, 700 Washington Ave, Baraboo • WALK-IN FREE GATE • $5 daily parking (enter via Lincoln Street) • Rides, food, games, animal exhibits, 4-H Performance Arts Festival at 6:00 PM, live music from 9:30 PM to 12:30 AM • For full schedule, visit saukcountyfair.com

Stitch and Bitch 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM • Spring Green General Store, 137 S. Albany St, Spring Green • springgreengeneralstore.com • FREE • The Spring Green General Store’s Stitch and Bitch handwork group meets Thursday afternoons weekly. All are welcome. Tech Help Drop-In 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM • Lone Rock Community Library, 234 N Broadway St, Lone Rock • rvbroadband.org/techhelp • Free, no-appointment tech support for devices, apps, and digital tools. Part of a rotating weekly series from River Valley area public libraries.

LOCAL NIGHT: Back Ally Blues Band 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM • Post House Garden, 119 E

Jeﬀerson St, Spring Green • shedbarandgrill.com • Settle into a summer evening with blues-rock by the Back Ally Blues Band. Part of the Thursday Local Night series.

LIVE MUSIC: Daniel Kenneth Libby 6:00 PM • American Players Theatre Grounds, 5950 Golf Course Rd, Spring Green • americanplayers.org • Enjoy a free acoustic performance by Daniel Kenneth Libby as part of APT’s Midsummer Music series. Perfect ambiance for pre-show picnicking.

the work party from 9 AM to noon to plant two short rows of new Sunrise and Blue Gold varieties. If time allows, help weed and estimate yield potential. Participants receive one pick-your-own pound. Meet 250 yards west of the house driveway, over the little bridge.

June 30:

Events for June 26 - July 10

Kraemer Library and Community Center Library Board Meeting 6:30 PM - 7:30

PM • Kraemer Library and Community Center, 910 Main St, Plain • Regular monthly meeting of the library board.

July 1:

Violet Palms release new single, set stage for upcoming sophomore album

Made all of our true love counterfeit

CIVICS & SERVICES CALENDAR

Spring Green band’s “True Love Counterfeit” blends bittersweet nostalgia with sharpened craft

Here's to never getting over it

Village of Arena Board Meeting 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM • Arena Village Hall, 345 West St, Arena • Public meeting of the Arena Village Board.

CIVICS & SERVICES

July 2: Plain Fire Department Board Meeting 7:00 PM • Plain Fire Department, 1075 Main St, Plain • Regular meeting of the Village of Plain Fire Department. Open to the public.

July 6:

VOLUNTEER: Driftless Trail Trimmers 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM • Location TBD (organized by Driftless Area Land Conservancy, 206 S. Iowa St, Dodgeville) • driftlessconservancy.org • Help maintain over ﬁve miles of scenic Driftless Trail segments. Tools and training provided. This monthly event supports trail safety and access while oﬀering rewarding outdoor work. Registration required. Location to be determined- please check the event page for updates at driftlessconservancy.org

This calendar is a place listing (for free) the typical meeting dates for area governmental bodies, and Please email us with these meetings, or use the form on our Community Calendar page — let's build community together: editor@valleysentinelnews.com

July 7:

June 29:

Spring Green-based indie rock band Violet Palms dropped their latest single, “True Love Counterfeit,” on Friday, June 27, offering a first listen from their upcoming sophomore album By Design And Accidental, due out Sept. 26.

It’s a sentiment likely to resonate with fans of The Strokes, Death Cab for Cutie, and The Black Keys—particularly their more recent work. Those drawn to The Black Keys' “The Night Before” or The Strokes’ “Late Nite” will feel right at home in Violet Palms' sonic palette. Listeners will find themselves drawn in by the track’s emotional honesty and lingering melody, a hallmark of the band’s sound.

Spring Green Community Library Board Meeting 5:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St, Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • Monthly meeting of the Library Board. Open to the public.

July 8:

VOLUNTEER: Blueberry Planting 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM • Twin Crix, 6679 State Road 23, Spring Green • twincrix.com/events • FREE • The patch will be open for a Season Preview all day—stop by and take a look. Picking season begins in about a week. Join the work party from 9 AM to noon to plant two short rows of new Sunrise and Blue Gold varieties. If time allows, help weed and estimate yield potential. Participants receive one pick-your-own pound. Meet 250 yards west of the house driveway, over the little bridge.

June 30:

VOLUNTEER: Stream Monitoring in the Lowery Creek Watershed 9:00 AM –11:00 AM • Lowery Creek Watershed, 6172 County Road Z, Spring Green • savannainstitute.org • Help monitor two stream sites at Savanna Institute’s South Farm. No experience necessary—training, tools, and guidance provided. Be prepared for uneven terrain and wet conditions. Bring water, a snack, and dress for the outdoors. To register, visit savannainstitute.org

Lone Rock Village Board Meeting 7:00 PM • Village Hall, 314 E Forest St, Lone Rock • villageoﬂonerock-wi.gov • Regular monthly meeting of the Village of Lone Rock Board to discuss municipal business and community issues. Open to the public.

July 9:

American Red Cross Blood Drive 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM • American Legion Clubhouse, 1 American Legion Dr, Plain • redcrossblood.org • Appointments required • Help save lives by donating blood at this community drive. Schedule your appointment at redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS. Kraemer Library and Community Center Library Board Meeting 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM • Kraemer Library and Community Center, 910 Main St, Plain • Regular monthly meeting of the library board.

The new track leans into the band’s growing maturity, both in sound and lyricism. While their 2023 debut Compassion Fatigue embraced spontaneity and a “don’t think about it too much” ethos, the group’s follow-up effort walks the line between deliberate craft and creative intuition—earning the title By Design And Accidental, a phrase lifted straight from the new single.

Friends of Governor Dodge State Park – Board Meeting 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM • Governor Dodge State Park Visitor Center, 4175 Hwy 23 N, Dodgeville • Public welcome • Board meeting, supporting park conservation, programs, and volunteer eﬀorts. Email friendsofgovernordodge@gmail.com with questions.

July 1: Village of Arena Board Meeting 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM • Arena Village Hall, 345 West St, Arena • Public meeting of the Arena Village Board.

July 2: Plain Fire Department Board Meeting 7:00 PM • Plain Fire Department, 1075 Main St, Plain • Regular meeting of the Village of Plain Fire Department. Open to the public.

Spring Green Village Board Meeting 7:00 PM • Village Oﬃce, 154 N Lexington St, Spring Green (in-person and virtual) • vi.springgreen.wi.gov • Regular meeting of the Spring Green Village Board to address local governance, planning, and community matters. Open to the public.

July 6:

Plain Village Board Meeting 7:00 PM • Plain Village Hall, 510 Main St, Plain • villageofplain.com • Regular monthly meeting of the Plain Village Board to discuss local government aﬀairs and community planning. Open to the public.

July 10:

River Valley School District – Board Meeting 7:00 PM • River Valley Middle School Library, 660 W Daley St, Spring Green Plain EMS Meeting 7:00 PM • Plain EMS Building, 514 Main St, Plain • villageofplain.com • Monthly meeting of the Plain Emergency Medical Services. Open to the public.

July 7: Spring Green Community Library Board Meeting 5:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St, Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • Monthly meeting of the Library Board. Open to the public.

July 8:

In classic Violet Palms style, the music is tight, catchy and layered, pairing indie rock textures with nostalgic nods to early-2000s alt. “True Love Counterfeit” is a bittersweet reflection on fleeting romance, with a soaring chorus that’s both hooky and quietly devastating. As guitarist/vocalist Ben Feiner puts it, it’s “an ode to weird love triangles—occasions that feel perfect in the moment but were never meant to last.”

The release marks the first new music from Violet Palms in over a year, and teases what’s to come from the fifteen-track By Design And Accidental, which includes titles like “Late to the Party,” “Parking Lot,” and “Marigold (soft).” Feiner explained that many of the songs reflect on the strange duality of intentional decisions and unexpected moments that shape our lives—a theme threaded throughout both the music and the band’s own evolution.

“Everything came together with more intention this time,” said Feiner. “We’re still about having fun and chasing down ideas that excite us, but we’re also thinking a little more about what we’re saying and how we say it. There’s a kind of creative friction that comes from trying to grow while staying true to what got you started in the first place.”

Adding a personal touch to the release, the single’s cover artwork (seen below at left) was created by Kyle Adams, owner of Spring Green sandwich shop Wander Provisions and Feiner’s partner.

WHAT’S HANGINg ? ongoing art exhibitions

The band—Feiner, Marcus Truschinski (vocals), Michael Mertens (drums), Tim Gittings (bass), and Craig Benzine (guitar)—has been steadily gaining momentum since their first packed hometown show in 2022. They’ve quickly built a name across the region for their earnest lyricism, polished musicianship, and engaging live performances. Each member brings a distinct musical background to the table, allowing Violet Palms to straddle the lines between indie, alt-rock, and emotionally driven pop.

Spring Green Community Library Art Exhibitions Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St, Spring Green Monday-Thursday: 10 AM - 7 PM • Friday: 10 AM - 5 PM • Saturday: 9 AM - 1 PM •

July 9:

"‘True Love Counterfeit’ was almost fully formed the first time I heard it,” said Truschinski. “The chorus is so powerful—upbeat yet tinged with sadness. It’s a blend of emotions that feels both strong and poignantly simple.”

In preparation for the full album release in September, Violet Palms plans to schedule a release show in Spring Green, echoing the sold-out energy of their 2023 debut event at Slowpoke Lounge & Cabaret. Details are expected later this summer.

Lori Schaefer, artist and graphic designer, is showing her colorful barn quilt signs in the Community Room Gallery. Lori has always been fascinated with the colorful barn quilts that decorate the rural Wisconsin landscape. When she retired a few years ago from Organic Valley, she was motivated to make a barn quilt for the pole building on her property and taught herself how to create them. When she ﬁnished that project, she was hooked! She then started learning more about the patterns, their meanings, and the history of barn quilts. This has led Lori to recreate some of her favorite folk art patterns, design her own creations, and to teach classes. The exhibit includes a collection of colorful barn quilts of classic quilt designs, as well as her original designs. Lori's exhibit can be viewed during regular library hours when the Community Room is not in use. Please as for the room key at the circulation desk.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 27, 2025

July 10:

The Community Calendar is curated by Bonnie Stickel and designed by Julianna Williams. Events are subject to change, always check ahead for up-to-date information on any events you are interested in.

WHAT’S HANGINg ? ongoing art exhibitions

Spring Green Community Library Art Exhibitions Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St, Spring Green Monday-Thursday: 10 AM - 7 PM • Friday: 10 AM - 5 PM

Recorded over a whirlwind weekend at Madison’s Blast House Studios and finalized at Feiner’s home studio Black and White Pets, the track showcases tighter production and more intricate arrangements than their previous work. Mertens’ drumming adds emotional punctuation, with a half-time china cymbal hit giving the chorus its off-kilter tension. Benzine’s guitar lines glide under the melody while Gittings’ bass lends a subtle groove, grounding the track’s emotional weight.

Fans can stream “True Love Counterfeit” on all major platforms. For album updates, show announcements and merchandise, visit violetpalmsband.com or follow the band on social media.

Violet Palms Unveil “True Love Counterfeit,” First Single from Forthcoming Album Accidental

Spring Green, WI – Today, Wisconsin’s own Violet Palms Counterfeit,” the first single from their highly anticipated second album, Accidental. The single is available everywhere today, length record’s debut on Friday, September 26, 2025

The single’s lyrics bring together themes of heartbreak, memory, and nostalgia:

Trying to find the sunlight in all this

Just wanted to feel happy for a little bit

Emerging from late-night songwriting sessions at a dimly lit kitchen table, Marcus (vocals) and Ben Feiner (guitar/vocals) laid the groundwork for Palms’ signature blend of early-2000s nostalgia, modern rock heft, and irrepressible funk. They were soon joined by veteran local engineer-turned- fiend bassist and actor/advocate Tim Gittings, and Craig Benzine Pony Club, whose synchronized guitar interplay with Ben gives the band its dual-attack punch.

True Love Counterfeit

Violet Palms

Photos contributed by Violet Palms Spring Green band Violet Palms performing at the Sh*tty Barn in Spring Green.

Bi-Weekly Sword Tip

Don’t Look Up

Recently, I saw the movie "Don't Look Up," first of all because it had been recommended by my yoga instructor some time ago, but then when I heard several news commentators mentioning it as well, I decided it was time to que it up. Viewers are presented with a scathing depiction of a world grappling with the imminent threat of a catastrophic comet collision, which serves as a myth for the actual threats we face in our own society, particularly concerning climate change and political indifference. The film draws parallels between the characters’ desperate cries for action and the current political climate, where issues such as environmental challenges, public health crises, and social justice seemingly fall on deaf ears. This movie explores the striking similarities between the narrative of "Don't Look Up" and our contemporary political situation.

Sherry Hillesheim, R.N.

Driftless Grace: Outcome Unknown

I have a confession that will shock no one: uncertainty is very, very difficult for me. Even as several positive transformations have been taking place in my life, I feel concern about the unknowns and the things that are left to do. I could have 98 percent of my day planned but spend it all worrying about that last two percent.

The film opens with two astronomers, Dr. Randall Mindy and Kate Dibiasky, who discover a comet on a collision course with Earth. Their frantic attempts to warn the world reflect the real-life efforts of scientists and activists who have been ringing alarm bells about climate change for decades. In both cases, the resistance to acknowledging the severity of a crisis is real. The characters face ridicule and skepticism from those in power, mirroring the experiences of climate activists who often find themselves dismissed by political leaders who prioritize short-term gains over long-term sustainability. This resistance is a symbol of a broader societal trend where scientific consensus is frequently undermined by misinformation and political agendas, ultimately jeopardizing our collective wellness.

One of the film’s most poignant critiques is directed at the media’s role in shaping public perception. In "Don't Look Up," the media sensationalizes the comet story, prioritizing entertainment value over the urgent matter at hand. This reflects our current media landscape, where critical issues such as climate change, health care, and social inequality are often relegated to the background in favor of more sensational news stories. The trivialization of serious threats serves to desensitize the public, eroding the urgency needed to mobilize collective action. This dynamic highlights the importance of responsible journalism in promoting holistic wellness; when the media fails to convey the gravity of a situation, it undermines public understanding and engagement. In addition, the characters’ responses to the impending disaster illustrate the varied ways individuals and political entities react to crises. The film showcases a spectrum from denial to complacency, with a prominent focus on the absurdity of political maneuvering in the face of a significant threat. This is reminiscent of today's political scene, where leaders

may acknowledge the reality of crises like climate change yet fail to implement meaningful policies due to partisan divides or corporate interests. The prioritization of economic growth over environmental sustainability is a recurring theme, leading to a detriment in public health and overall wellness. The film’s climax, where a last-minute attempt to destroy the comet fails, serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of inaction and the need for decisive leadership.

Ultimately, "Don't Look Up" serves as both a cautionary tale and a call to action. It compels us to confront the uncomfortable truth about our own political climate: that ignoring scientific guidance and prioritizing personal or political interests over collective wellbeing can lead to catastrophic outcomes. The parallels between the film and our current situation underscore the necessity for a holistic approach to problem solving—one that integrates environmental sustainability, public health, and social equity into a unified strategy for the future.

Bottom line, "Don't Look Up" acts as a mirror reflecting our current political realities and challenges, emphasizing the urgency of collective action in the face of impending threats. The film's satirical lens sheds light on the absurdities and failures of our political systems, urging a reevaluation of how we prioritize aspects of our life as well as our holistic wellness. As we navigate an increasingly complex world, the lessons drawn from this narrative remind us of the importance of remaining “woke” by listening to science, engaging in informed discourse, and fostering a collective commitment to science and truth.

Spiritual Meditation: Avoiding our spiritual wounds makes the wounds that much deeper. - Daily Medicine

Political Humor: Who wants a chicken taco? Apparently, it seems that many do not, however, it seems like many would still prefer cheaper eggs at least!

My blog and contact information: www.holisticseekers.com; 719-2139963

Your ad here, same size as above, for ONLY $20 /edition!

On the other hand, I regularly engage in spontaneous walks and drives this time of year if the weather and timing feel right. (My use of the phrase “engage in” proves that spontaneity is not my strong suit.) I go through self-conscious phases when I feel sure that I’m always late, I’m not put together, and I don’t have a clue. And yet, there are gifts for my loved ones that are meant for Christmas 2025 sitting in my apartment as I write this. Do I fall into both camps, or neither?

I can handle the day-to-day planning or the lack thereof. What bothers me (and has caused no shortage of teeth-grinding) is the question of how my life will look one, two, five, or fifty years from now. The recent political upheaval has underscored this question. Even if things turn out okay, will I even recognize the world by then?

I’m trying to take action to stem the

tide of anxiety. I have a space at the community garden where I can attempt to grow my own food. I’ve joined groups of like-minded people who provide a safe local space for venting or just shaking one’s head at the state of things. I drink coffee, which makes everything better. And as a fellow member of a leadership program said to my cohort recently, no matter how hard things get I can still count on “a warm bed and a roof over my head.” This will be my mantra as I settle into a new chapter.

Grace Vosen is a writer and conservation educator living in Spring Green. She blogs about both the human and nonhuman communities of our region at DriftlessGrace.com.

ARTS & Community In Brief

River Valley ARTS has announced a second round of Creative Community Grants, set to be awarded in summer 2025. The program supports local artists, arts organizations, and groups engaged in arts or cultural programming within the River Valley area. Applications open July 1 and are due by August 4. Awards of up to $2,500 will be announced in mid-August. Projects must be completed by April 30, 2026.

Creative Community Grants aim to stimulate creative and innovative arts programming across all artistic disciplines, including performing arts, folk arts, literary arts, and visual arts. Eligible projects may include public exhibits, performances, publications, and educational initiatives.

For more information or to apply, visit RiverValleyARTS.org.

In Loving Memory

Jeanne Lee Huber Williams

March 1, 1942 - June 20, 2025

Jeanne Lee Huber Williams, age 83, passed away on Friday, June 20, 2025, in Rome, GA.

Jeanne was born in Madison, WI, on March 1, 1942, daughter of the late Edward Huber and his wife Jeanne. She was also preceded in death by her husband of almost 40 years, Clay Williams. Jeanne was a graduate of Wauwatosa High School and went on to graduate with a double major from the University of Wisconsin. Her first career was working for the NBC Station in Milwaukee, WI, before opening her own advertising agency, Peters and Peters, which she owned and operated for over 20 years. Jeanne then made the switch to finance, becoming a stockbroker with the Blunt, Ellis & Loewi Firm in Milwaukee, WI. As a stockbroker, she successfully took a company public, introducing the initial stock offering into the market. Jeanne served several years on the town board in Spring Green and was also very active in the local Kiwanis and Girl Scout Troops.

Jeanne was an accomplished artist and very active in the art scene in Taos, NM, where she and her husband spent their winters. She was also an engaging storyteller. Jeanne and her husband spent their summers in Spring Green, where they resided on a gentleman’s farm that overlooked the Frank Lloyd Wright Taliesin School. They also shared a cottage on a beautiful lake in Watersmeet, MI, where Clay enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Survivors include her 3 siblings, Marilyn Quirk (Bill), Gainesville, GA, David Huber (Judy), and Gary Huber (Debbie), both of Waukesha, WI; 4 stepchildren, Sarah Pescatore (Fred), Gwen Williams, Amy Williams, and Dan Williams; her best friend, Bunny Raasch-Hooten; numerous nieces, nephews, and other family members whom she loved dearly.

In accordance with her wishes, Jeanne will be cremated and the family will hold a memorial celebration at a later date in Spring Green.

Arrangements by Henderson & Sons Funeral Homes P: (706) 234-5302

Grace Vosen, Contributor

Grace Vosen

OPINION/EDITORIAL

The Tools of Conversation — Part 12: The Birth of Tyranny

continued from page 2

ciate welfare with something that Black people exploited; yet very likely, it had earlier allowed his parents or grandparents to join the middle class. American kids now lost the American Dream, in large part thanks to the parents’ and grandparents’ votes…As the philosopher Richard Rorty mused, “It is as if, sometime around 1980, the children of the people who made it through the Great Depression and into the suburbs had decided to pull up the drawbridge behind them.” (pg. 138)

To flush out Snyder’s reasoning, I need to back up a step and introduce one of his aspects of freedom, mobility. Mobility is the freedom to move through space and time following values to go your own way toward your own individual futures. The term “Go west, young man” was an expression of what Snyder calls imperial mobility. Imperial mobility was possible during the time that countries were appropriating lands and encouraging people to populate newly opened areas. The expansion into new land, often available for free (because it was stolen from the indigenous population), created the freedom of emerging possibilities for individuals and fami-

lies. There was a place where the disadvantaged or dissatisfied could go where their ambitions could be pursued. As this expansion slowed and frontiers closed, however, imperial mobility gave way to freedom via social mobility. In America, beginning in the 1930s and through the 1970s social mobility became possible through Roosevelt’s “New Deal,” Kennedy’s “New Frontier,” and Johnson’s “Great Society.” As a result, the gap between the richest and the rest of us was closing and more and more Americans were afforded the freedom to improve

Bev Pestel's column sponsored by: Economic Equity Now! — a nonpartisan community organization striving for a fair tax code for all. More information at Facebook.com/EconomicEquityNow, economicequitynow.com or at economicequitynow@gmail.com

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Now Hiring Village Clerk/Treasurer:

The Village of Arena (pop. 880) is seeking a full time experienced municipal government professional to fill the position of Village Clerk/Treasurer. Must be able to work well with the public, have strong oral and written communication skills, and manage required communications for village. Position(s) involve statutory duties of Clerk/Treasurer, payroll, accounts payable and receivable, licensing, election administration, utility administration, budgets, monthly financial reconciliation, and coordinating efforts of the Village Board and committees. Applicant should be proficient in Microsoft Suite. Must be able to learn and or be familiar with utility, tax and accounting software (Civic). Wage and benefits dependent on qualifications and experience. Full job description is on the web site: villageofarenawi.gov

Please send letter of interest and resume to the Arena Village Clerk's office at clerk@villageofarenawi.gov

their lot and join the middle class. Snyder then continues, “In the 1980s [in voting against the welfare state], Americans blocked themselves from completing the transition from imperial to social mobility, then looked around for people to blame. Resentment arising from bad policy became a political resource for the very politicians who had designed that policy. Immobility created an opening for politicians who claimed that one race was innocent and another was guilty, and that the only problem in America was the presence of the others.” (pgs. 138-139)

So here we are in 2025, with a bill that would cut benefits claiming that any public benefit that serves the “others” is waste, fraud, and abuse and it is destined to catch many who only need that temporary hand up to escape poverty and achieve the middle class. The end result of this blame game is that the American Dream that parents and grandparents had access to that catapulted them to the middle class is denied not just to the “others” but to their children and grandchildren as well. For too many of us, we have no one to blame for this but ourselves, collectively, we voted ourselves here and many

keep voting to keep us here. And here is the rest of the story. “Social mobility into the middle class [prior to 1980] was a matter of positive freedom, a mixture of values and institutions, the notion that each life might have a unique trajectory thanks to enabling structures…the 1980s sees a [new] political tone…the purpose of government was not to create the conditions of freedom for all but to remove barriers in order to help the wealthy consolidate their gains…in effect, the word freedom in American English came to mean little more than the privilege of a few wealthy Americans not to pay taxes, the power of a few oligarchs to shape the discourse, and the unequal application of criminal law.” (pgs.132-133)

This is more than tragic, because as Snyder maintains, this “immobility is not simply personal tragedy but the birth of tyranny.” (pg. 139)

Beverly is a retired professor. She lives in a remodeled farmhouse and tends 40 acres of woodland in Richland County. When not in the woods she spends her time reading, writing and enjoying the beauty of the Driftless Area. Beverly may be contacted at bpestel@msn.com.

IMPULSE INITIATIVE VALLEY SENTINEL

“The community stagnates without the impulse of the individual. The impulse dies away without the interest of the community.”

-William James

Beverly Pestel

Bi-Weekly Sword Tip

Tapping Support for Emotional Wellness

As we continue to cope with this new administration, economic chaos, civil unrest…and now we can add the threat of war…I personally feel like my emotions are all over the map these days… including some family challenges as well (more to follow on that note).

Some time ago after the pandemic, our former First Lady Michelle Obama validated her emotional journey on one of her podcasts, stating she's suffering from "low-grade depression." The reasons?

The pandemic, race relations in the US and the political strife surrounding it all. Her words definitely struck a cord of truth for many of us. She further stated: "The idea that what this country is going through shouldn't have any effect on us…that we all should just feel OK all the time…that just doesn't feel real to me. So I hope you all are allowing yourselves to feel whatever it is you're feeling." As stated in one of my previous articles you’ve got to feel it to heal it or as Robert Frost observed: “The only way out is always through.”

Sherry Hillesheim, R.N. while we think about our specific concern…while voicing positive affirmations.

This combination of tapping the energy meridians at eight points and voicing positive affirmation works to clear the "short-circuit" (the emotional block) from our body's bioenergy system…restoring our mind and body's balance, which is essential for optimal wellness and healing.

Wandering the Driftless

A Trip to White Mound Park

A recent sunny day had me wishing I was on the water, wetting a line in search of a fish. Having not set something up with one of my usual fishing partners, I asked my wife, Vickie, if she might want to spend a couple hours out on a local lake. I was pleasantly surprised when she agreed to occupy the front of the boat. I purchased her a fishing license, filled a cooler with water and grabbed a container of bait from the basement refrigerator. We agreed that we would head to White Mound Park for the outing.

Once we arrived at the White Mound boat launch, we made short work of getting the boat loaded and into the water. The small number of trailers in the lot indicated we would have the lake mostly to ourselves. The outboard came to life with a turn of the key and we headed toward the west shore of the lake.

1930s. The remains of a lime kiln may still be found within the park. Limestone was heated within these kilns to produce lime for soil treatment and to produce cement for making building foundations.

In truth, it feels like Michelle’s words… then and now, are giving us all permission to bring some attention to this topic of our emotional merry go round… how wonderful and necessary. And this brings me to revisiting a user-friendly wellness option that I have previously written about regarding emotional selfcare called “tapping” otherwise known as EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) addressed in a book titled The Tapping Solution by Nick Ortner. What an excellent example of the mind/body connection and what’s possible. On a recent vacation it has proved helpful once again which I will share later.

As a review--the Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) is the psychological acupressure technique routinely used in non-traditional practice and is highly recommended to optimize our emotional wellness…and who couldn’t use more of that these days? Although it’s still often overlooked, emotional health is absolutely essential to our physical health and healing--no matter how devoted we are to the proper diet and lifestyle, experts believe that we’ll not achieve our body's ideal healing and preventative powers if emotional barriers stand in our way.

Some EFT Benefits:

• Remove Negative Emotions

• Reduce Food Cravings

• Reduce or Eliminate Pain

• Decrease Anxiety and Stress

• Enhance healing

• Improve sleeping Psychological acupressure is based on the same energy meridians used in traditional acupuncture to treat physical and emotional ailments for over 5,000 years, but without needles. Instead, simple tapping with the fingertips is used to input kinetic energy onto specific meridians

One provider wrote: “more than any traditional or alternative method I have used or researched, EFT works. I have witnessed amazing results in my patients since deciding to use EFT exclusively since 2001.” Indeed, because of its very high rate of success, the use of EFT has spread rapidly, and medical practitioners employing EFT can now be found in every corner of the country and the world. However, the beauty of it is that it can be quickly and easily learned by any of us.

As I revisit this self-healing option, I’m currently using my tapping to address some worry and anxiety regarding a significant family situation that evolved since the beginning of our NC vacation and I must admit…it has given me SO much relief. I’ve also had success in the past using tapping to return to sleep. How valuable is all that??

There are numerous resources available online including a free smartphone app called The Tapping Solution which guides us through the tapping process depending on our wellness goal(s). I think you will be impressed with how many emotional-release options are available.

We are complex souls, Warriors--let’s do whatever we can to support our emotional well being. Progress not perfection--and let’s be gentle with ourselves along the way.

Spiritual Meditation: “Be there for others, but never leave yourself behind.” –Dodinsky

Political Humor: How many of the current cabinet members will get thrown under the bus…we don’t know…we’re still counting.

My blog and contact information: www.holisticseekers.com; 719-2139963

Once anchored near the west shore, we armed our hooks with a section of night crawler and sent our baits toward the shore. The warm sunshine, calm wind and quiet lake made for a very relaxing setting. The quiet was soon interrupted by a voice from the front of the boat proclaiming “I have a fish!” I located the net and hoisted a nice largemouth bass into the boat for Vickie. Pictures were taken and the fish was returned to the lake. Bass under 14’’may be kept on White Mound Lake, but only one bass over 18”may be kept. I caught a small bluegill in that location before we decided to move to the lake’s south shore.

White Mound Lake is small, covering only 104 acres. It is a “slow, no wake” lake, meaning that you may use an outboard motor, but must travel slow enough to not produce an appreciable wake. This makes for a quiet experience that attracts canoe and kayak enthusiasts, as well as those that enjoy fishing from a boat.

White Mound Park encompasses 1,100 acres around the lake. It boasts a number of popular hiking trails, a 46 site campground, horse trails and a horse trail camping area. It is part of the Sauk County Park system. There is a daily fee of $5 for use of park facilities. Annual passes are $25, or two for $40. Canoes, kayaks and paddleboards may be rented near the beach area through the park office. An handicapped accessible fishing pier is located near the boat landing.

The park is named for the once-thriving village of White Mound, which is no longer in existence. The village was named for a white limestone bluff nearby. White Mound’s first settler was J.B. Carpenter. He erected a log cabin in 1851, that served as a “Half-way House” for stage coach passengers traveling from Spring Green to Reedsburg. A post office was established in 1859. The village eventually had a church, cheese factory, a tavern with an ice house, a store, a blacksmith shop and a stable. Unfortunately, the post office was closed in1919 and the village was abandoned by the

I sent a drop-shot rigged worm to the bottom edge of the shoreline weed bed and had a bite almost immediately. I knew I was in trouble with the first glimpse of the fish. It was a largemouth bass, but much smaller than the fish Vickie had boated. She insisted that we take a picture of the fish, of course, as hers was larger. I complied, as any good husband would.

Vickie and I take pride in our good-natured ribbing of each other. She kept reminding me of who had caught the bigger fish and I, as captain of the boat, threatened to make her walk back to the landing. A few more bluegills were caught before we decided to motor back to the pier.

The boat was loaded onto the trailer. While I readied the boat for the road, Vickie cleaned the weeds from the boat trailer. This is required to prevent transfer of invasive aquatic weeds from one lake to another. Not doing this may result in a citation.

I did suffer some additional abuse on the way home, but hopefully Vickie will fish with me again, later in the year. You know what they say about paybacks….

John Cler is a retired high school science teacher and principal residing in Richland Center. He is an avid hunter, trapper, fisher and nature nut. He currently chairs the Richland County Deer Advisory Council and the Richland County Delegation of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress.

John Cler, Columnist

Photos contributed by John Cler

The author and his wife share their catches at White Mound Lake.