Valley Sentinel - 12-30-2021

Inside this edition

Community Calendar Page 6

Be sure to vote! RVHS student competing for $1,500 grant Page 9

Spring Green, Wisconsin

Review: Roarin’ 20s Page 8

Thursday, December 30, 2021 | Vol. 2, No. 50 FREE, Single-Copy

Losing a legend: Celebrated Olympian rower and Spring Green native Carie Graves dead at 68 Graves was the star of the first national championship won by a UW varsity women’s team; a two-time Olympian and five-time national rowing team member.

She died Dec. 19.

Doug Moe, Madison Magazine In the space of less than 24 hours, University of Wisconsin women’s varsity athletics gained a national championship and lost a legend.

If any Badger athlete across the past half century could have truly appreciated the grit — the discipline and drive — that propelled the women’s volleyball team to its heart-stopping five-set championship victory over the Univer-

sity of Nebraska, it was Carie Graves.

Graves, 68, died the afternoon of Dec. 19 in a local hospital after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Graves was the star of the first national championship won by a UW varsity women’s team — the 1975 National Women’s Rowing Association championship in Princeton, New Jersey. Crew was not yet an NCAA sport.

I once had a chance to ask Graves what she most remembered about that national championship, and she said, “Standing on the podium. I just couldn’t believe it. It was wonderful.”

See page 5

Photo by Arthur Grace with permission, via Madison Magazine Carie Graves racing as part of the “Red Rose Crew” in 1975.

First large bout of winter weather makes and appearance coating the Valley in 3-4 inches of snow

Photo by Taylor Scott, Managing Editor Arcadia Books and all of downtown Spring Green coated in the first heavy winter weather of the season.

Photo by Nicole Aimone, Editor-in-Chief A group from Alabama visits family in Spring Green for the holidays and gets to enjoy the area’s first heavy winter snow. The group works to shovel and tosses a few snow balls.

Riverway Board meets at site they hope to convert to Riverway Visitor Center in Spring Green Lower Wisconsin State Riverway Board The Lower Wisconsin State Riverway Board (LWSRB) met at the Wintergreen Conference Center near Spring Green on Dec. 9 to conduct a regular monthly business meeting. Francis Shelfhout, a planner with the Department of Transportation (DOT), gave a presentation on the upcoming project to replace to the STH 130 bridge at Lone Rock. Construction is expected to begin in late 2022 or early 2023 with completion targeted for 2024.

Shelfhout requested the board’s input on the design for two retaining walls that will be necessary on the Iowa County terminus of the new bridge. The retaining walls will be a post and panel

construction type. The board endorsed Option 1, which will match the retaining walls to the bridge piers in design and colorization. The walls have been deemed necessary after recent borings and geological studies were conducted.

The board also endorsed a modified proposal for limiting the use of engine compression brakes, commonly known as “jake brakes”, on motor vehicles traveling on STH 133 and STH 130 in the Town of Clyde, Iowa County, across the river from Lone Rock. The Riverway Board recommended the ordinance apply only to the stretch of highway extending from the intersection of Hwy. 133 and Bigelow Hill Road to the intersection of Hwy. 130 and CTH C, the stretch adjacent

to the Wisconsin River. The proposed ordinance would provide an exemption for emergency situations. While the board has no regulatory purview over noise, it has issued recommendations in the past for reducing noise such as the decibel limits placed on airboats, hovercraft, and outboard motors. The Town of Clyde will consider adoption of a noise ordinance at a future meeting.

Patrick Michaels, Business Analyst with the Savanna Institute, gave a presentation on the organization. He said the Savanna Institute recently acquired three farms in the Spring Green area; two in Sauk County and one in Iowa County. The Institute works on agroforestry as a method to

diversify agriculture, whether as a new venture or incorporated with traditional farming practices, in order to enhance water quality, address climate change for farmers, and provide new revenue streams for producers. He said the integrated biodiversity of crops is an important goal and noted there are opportunities for farmers and the general public to visit the sites and to attend special gatherings. Michaels noted the Institute pays property taxes and found the Spring Green area to be an ideal location for the new venture because of the agricultural base in the region, the commitment to the arts, many environmentally minded organizations

See page 11

opinion/Commentary Katie Green’s The Plain and Simple Correspondent — The Orchid Lady: Genya Galarnik Page 2

Thursday, December 30, 2021

Katie Green, The Plain and Simple Correspondent The reading public wasn’t exactly busting down the doors of Kraemer Library ten years ago when the then-librarian invited me to make a presentation about my just-published historical novel. Among the handful of curious bibliophiles who gathered to hear me try to explain my work was a small older woman, nattily dressed with sparkling eyes, attentive demeanor, and a faint exotic accent. As she asked me questions I detected a slight rolling of the r’s, some explosive fricatives, and a

Katie Green more formal sentence structure than is common in these hills. Since I wasn’t yet part of the Plain community at that time, I did not know this was the famous Orchid Lady, a legend in Plain and beyond.

On that fateful day, however, ground was laid for a friendship. It blossomed rapidly as soon as my spouse and I moved to Plain seven years ago and we began to volunteer at the Honey Creek Market Co-op, and to haunt the library, where Genya Galarnik – Jenny to some – was a frequent patron and supplied voluptuous orchids for the front desk. I saw Genya often and we began to chat at length. She enjoys water aerobics to keep her joints limber, and often came to the market directly from a pool, sleek and dripping wet like a little otter. Since I was cooking in the deli, it was inevitable that we talk recipes, and in addition she contributed kitchen implements to the deli she was no longer using. “I like things to be used, not sitting around waiting for the person who owns them to pick them up,” she tells me.

Eventually we got around to discussing borscht, the delicious beet soup that is arguably the Ukrainian national dish.

My cookbooks have several different versions we enjoy eating and Genya offered to loan me a cookbook published by a woman friend in Winnipeg. After I brought it home I discovered to my ter-

ror that it was out of print and now sells for hundreds of dollars, so I carefully leafed through it and returned it to its owner in mint condition, pronto.

Meantime, if you go up to the Sauk Prairie Hospital as a patient or to visit someone hospitalized there, you will also see Genya’s orchids decorating the check-in desk. She worked as a volunteer in the hospital gift shop for many years and visited oldsters in nursing homes, and got into the habit of sharing specimens of her floral passion. I was the recipient of a few myself. This is only one of the many ways in which she is among the most generous and thoughtful people I have ever met.

Genya Lechman was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, just above the American border, on the day after Christmas 1929.

Her parents were Ukrainian Catholics who had emigrated to Canada from northwestern Ukraine, near the Polish border. Ukraine is the second largest Eastern European country after Russia and continues to be threatened and undermined by its aggressive neighbor.

The Ukrainian colony in Winnipeg these days has grown to more than 100,000 souls; Edmonton and Toronto also have Ukrainian settlements of over 1000,000. Some of the diaspora is a result of the famines during the horrific Stalin years and the German invasion during WWII, when millions died, and the cities and countryside were ravaged. As many people as were able fled to other countries to survive. Growing up in Winnipeg, Genya attended regular English school daily but many afternoons went to the Ukrainian center for language lessons and other cultural activities. Colorful festivals featuring the dancing, costumes, and food of the Old Country are still held annually in Canada. On the internet you can see the stunning costumery worn by dancers at the festivals – Genya still has hers in a closet.

Donning Ukrainian costumes taps into the same impulse that causes Bavarian dress to come out of closets all over Plain in October for the Strassenfest— cultural pride.

Her mother and father had emigrated as young adults, leaving behind their own parents, seeking a less stressful life. Her mother, Anastasia, was being courted by a wealthy Polish businessman at home but was drawn to a poorer man, Genya’s father. Separately, they both sailed to Canada but he didn’t forget the lovely “girl with the long, golden braid.” Her father wangled a job with the Canadian Railroad system and is described as a kind man, calm of character, accepting of people unlike himself in temperament or antecedents.

His philosophy of helping everybody that needed help regardless of background, insisting that by helping other people we help ourselves at the same time, is one that his children absorbed.

He also seems to have instilled in them a sense that Fate sends us what is best for us. Her mother was a quiet person, “who made things she thought would make people happy”, and that is central to Genya’s makeup, as well. The parents allowed Genya much personal freedom, which she took advantage of. One example: she would frequently board a train in Winnipeg on her father’s pass, travel out onto the prairies for the day alone, returning when she chose. They trusted her to be sensible and safe.

She met her handsome husband-to-be, Ihor Galarnik, on the very day he arrived from Ukraine. I asked if she were immediately attracted to him. “Well, nothing surprises me,” she equivocated.

“Interesting things come along when you least expect it.” The ‘Fate Thing’ seemed to be operating on that day.

“I never know what’s going to happen from one minute to the next,” she added. Whatever comes up, she adapts and moves into the breach. The two young people were married soon, in their early twenties. Ihor Galarnik had some medical training before he left Ukraine but enrolled at University of Manitoba to complete it, simultaneously learning English. A mind-boggling accomplishment. Four years later they came south, seeking a family practice for him and a warmer climate. Plain reminded him of home and would be home for the next sixty years. His practice bled over into three counties’ hospitals and he frequently returned to Ukraine to teach Western-style family medicine. He also was longtime sports doctor for the wrestling team at River Valley High School, as well.

After the strenuous years of raising eight active children and acting as chef and hostess for the very busy, sociable “Doc”, I asked if that had been enough challenge for her as a clearly very intelligent woman with intellectual powers.

“What I did was an expression of love and caring from me,” she said. A slight hesitation followed. “I was very good at it.” I have heard that “Doc” was a commanding person of blunt and unvarnished truthfulness, and wondered if they tangled. She smiled and said diplomatically, “You discover a lot of things by not insisting on being right.” It is not as if she is easily bulldozed, however.

She has strong opinions about inequality and lack of respect and concern for all people she sees sometimes in the community, the church, and certainly in politics, views which she has expressed

Photo contributed by Katie Green The Orchid Lady: Genya Galarnik, holding an orchid. eloquently to me in the past. Meantime, her large furry companion, Coco, was wrapped around her left arm, kneading her sweater as I conducted what was technically an interview, but really was part of an extended conversation we’ve carried on for years. (I have learned that Coco is a one-woman cat, doling out unexpected swats of the claws at strangers and even other members of the family.)

The Galarnik children have scattered to the four winds now – CA, MN, IL, MO, Japan – with only one, son Paul, in Plain to be her scheduler and caregiver as she slows down and needs more help.

He does an excellent job, for a son. That sounds sexist, but it’s the sort of role usually left to females in a family. The others check in by phone constantly or just show up. Genya claims not to remember much anymore, but when I suggested that she knows more than she thinks she does, she had an instant comeback: “That’s better than knowing less than you think you do.” Bingo!

It’s hard to tear away from the Galarniks’ Taliesin architect-designed home, whose cozy rooms and walls covered with unique artworks (of mainly personal value, largely created by family and friends), are so pleasant. Photos are everywhere, as are Ukrainian keepsakes and books. One must be quick to get away without a gift of some sort, be it food, or a tool, a plant, or even an article of clothing being thrust upon one. On one visit, Genya looked at my ensemble critically as I was leaving. “Wait a minute,” she demanded, returning soon with a beautiful scarf which she draped around my neck. “There, that’s better,” she said. It was.

Senator Howard Marklein’s Column: 2021 Year In Review Sen. Howard Marklein, (R-Spring Green) Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I am looking toward 2022 with optimism and enthusiasm for the future. But before I get too far into plans for the next year, I recently took some time to reflect on 2021 and my work on your behalf in the State Senate.

Without a doubt, I will always remember 2021 as the first year that I served as the Co-Chair of the Legislature’s budget-writing Joint Committee on Finance (JFC). As a CPA, working on the state budget is very interesting (and dare I say, “fun”) to me.

It was an honor to lead the Senate’s work on the state budget. We funded all of our priorities while returning $3.2 billion to taxpayers in tax cuts.

We crafted a great budget for rural Wisconsin that included nearly $120 million for local, rural roads, increased reimbursements for hospitals and nursing homes and support for the workers who care for us. Our bi-partisan budget, which was supported by seven democrats, including the Senate

Sen. Howard Marklein Minority Leader, is good for Wisconsin.

In fact, Mike Koles, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Towns Association (WTA) said that this budget is the “best budget for towns in recent history.”

In addition to the budget, I have authored 34 bills. Seven of my bills have been signed into law including Act 91, which was recently signed by the Governor in Necedah to create a

new Purple Heart Memorial Highway on Hwy 21. This bill was suggested by VFW Commander and Purple Heart recipient James Starr of Necedah.

Nearly every bill I have authored was written at the request of a constituent.

For example, Green County District Attorney, Craig Nolen and local law enforcement in Green County asked me to close a loophole for the operation of unregistered vehicles during a state of emergency. The Governor signed this bill into Act 108 recently.

I have several bills continuing through the legislative process, including: · a Broadband Grant Program Modernization bill, · a constitutional amendment to use generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) accounting for the state budget, · Tobacco 21 legislation to align state law with federal law, · Truth in Food Labeling legislation for our farmers, · Rural EMS legislation to make the NREMT exam optional, and · a bill to modernize the Next Gen 911

system.

We have three months of session left in the new year and I will be working hard to pass these bills, and others, that are still in process.

Many of my colleagues in the legislature are working on legislation and ideas that matter to you as well: election reform, sporting freedom, pro-life issues, public safety, workforce recovery and education. I continue to contribute to these conversations and will be working with my colleagues to advance ideas and reforms that I hear about when I am traveling throughout the 17th Senate District.

It has been wonderful to be out-andabout with you again. I missed the parades, dairy breakfasts, county fairs, spaghetti suppers and pancake breakfasts in 2020. This year, many of these great events rebounded and roared back better than ever.

I always gather terrific input and ideas when I am sharing a cup of coffee at a pancake breakfast or flipping burgers

continued on page 3

Thursday, December 30, 2021 Page 3 Commentary/Regional Wisconsin Policy Forum: Is there a better way to distribute local road aid in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin Policy Forum

The state’s main aid program for supporting local roads could deliver support more efficiently to communities with the greatest need, raising the question of whether it’s time to revisit how these dollars are distributed.

The state’s General Transportation Aids (GTA) program is the second-largest program in the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. At $508.2 million in 2021, including supplemental payments, it represents the second-largest form of state aid to municipal governments in Wisconsin and one of the top forms of aid to counties. The GTA program also is growing more rapidly than other forms of state aid to localities such as shared revenue payments.

Yet the formula for distributing the funding has not had a major update in two decades. Over time, more funding has shifted toward smaller municipali-

ties that receive the same aid payment regardless of how much they spend on roads, removing an incentive for investing in infrastructure.

For larger municipalities and counties, increases may be going toward growing communities with the ability to spend more on road-related costs, making it harder for low-growth communities to invest in roads. Reviewing the state formula in light of these trends could help ensure the dollars are distributed more equitably and better advance the state’s transportation goals.

For decades, state GTA payments have been distributed to local governments through a pair of formulas. The first is based on the mileage of roads in a community and the second is based on a share of certain costs associated with its roads, including not only maintenance and construction but also related expenses such as police. Municipalities provide data for the two sets of calcula-

tions and the state uses the one yielding the largest payment for that community. Nearly all towns and some villages are paid through the mileage formula, while larger villages and cities generally are paid through the share-of-costs formula.

State leaders have increased the mileage rate much more since 1990 than they have total GTA funding (224% versus 133%). Though the state has avoided it in recent years, this trend of prioritizing the mileage rate over the overall program has meant GTA funding has increased more rapidly for small communities (towns and some villages) and more slowly for cities and counties.

Options for revising the GTA program that state officials could consider include restoring a greater voice to local leaders, potentially through an advisory council of local officials, tweaking the GTA formula by reducing the emphasis

on police costs and allowing for greater focus on expenses from road maintenance and construction; rewriting the GTA formula to take greater account of factors such as road or pavement type; population or vehicle registrations in a community, or other factors; or continue the recent practice of shifting more future funding increases for local road aids into the state’s Local Road Improvement Program or other programs.

The Wisconsin Policy Forum is a statewide, independent policy research organization with offices in Madison and Milwaukee. The Wisconsin Policy Forum is the state’s leading resource for nonpartisan state and local government research and civic education.

Learn more at wispolicyforum.org.

Senator Marklein looks back at legislative actions in 2021, has bills still in process continued from page 2 at the County Fair booth. This is where very meaningful connections are made and I learn a lot about you and the people I represent.

I have heard that many of you are glad that our kids are back in school and you praise the school districts for their tireless efforts to return kids to the classroom. I will continue to support the local leaders and decision-making that is happening in our schools. Every community is different and I believe that our local leaders are doing their very best to do what is right for our kids.

I also hear a lot about election reform.

In February 2021, as a member of the Joint Audit Committee, I helped craft

the scope of the audit performed by the non-partisan Legislative Audit Bureau (LAB) to review the 2020 November election. I volunteered to work the polls in 2020 and know that our local election officials are working hard to make sure your votes are counted fairly. However, I also recognize that there are ways we need to improve state law and the enforcement of state laws.

The legislature passed nine bills, eight of which were vetoed by Governor Evers, to reform our election laws.

Most of these ideas were found to be deficiencies in the election process by the LAB – and were recommendations for reform. We will likely be bringing these ideas back again for a second consideration this spring.

I also continue to monitor programs

and agencies that I know you care about. I am constantly analyzing the plans for road construction and funding for these programs because I know they matter to you. I also keep an eye on our state parks and trails. The final repairs to the Elroy-Sparta trail were finally finished in recent weeks after the flooding in 2018. While this took way too long to get done, I am glad that this trail will finally be open 100%.

I have also been working closely with several communities that were damaged by flooding in 2018 to ensure that they receive the funds due to them.

This has often been an unnecessarily arduous process and prompted legislation to streamline it. There are still a couple of communities that have not been fully paid – and we’re staying on

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top of it.

Clearly, there is a lot going on in your state government and throughout the 17th Senate District. In total, this year, my team and I have fielded more than 13,000 contacts via email, phone, US mail and in person. These contacts range from questions to requests for assistance to sharing an idea or opinion. While we may not always agree, it is my goal to listen and respond to your ideas and concerns effectively. I am blessed to work for an engaged, energized senate district and appreciate your contribution to our democracy.

As always, please do not hesitate to connect with me to provide input, ideas or to seek assistance. Send an email to sen.marklein@legis.wisconsin.gov or call 608-266-0703.

Contributors Arts & Culture/Editorial Columns Graphic Design/Pagination Bill Gordon Grace Vosen Anna Stocks-Hess Arts & Culture/Editorial Sports Editorial Intern Alison Graves Mike McDermott Adeline Holte Arts Community/Opinion Graphic Design Intern Jen Salt Katie Green Julianna Williams Our team will be growing and changing as we settle into publishing regularly, please stay in touch. Thank you to all of our contributors for believing in our community.

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Est. 2020 igne conflatum “Forged in Fire”

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Page 4

Government/Community

Thursday, December 30, 2021

New state bill by Rep. Novak aims to support local media, small businesses with tax credits Julia Hunter, Wisconsin Newspaper Association Todd Novak never planned for a career in journalism.

He grew up working on the family farm in Cobb, Wisconsin, and studied finance at Southwest Technical College. He was hired as an accountant at Lands’ End, but after five years in the role, he realized he was not suited to a desk job.

So, he left the company in 1990 at the age of 23 and took a job in the commercial printing department of The Dodgeville Chronicle. A few months after joining the newspaper, editor and co-publisher Pat Reilly found himself in a pinch. He needed someone to cover a county board meeting, so he asked Novak to attend and take detailed notes.

Reilly assured Novak — who didn’t have a writing background — that he would write the story himself. Just take

Rep. Todd Novak notes, he said.

“And I did. I took notes, brought them back to him, and he wrote from my notes and asked me questions [about the meeting],” said Novak, who now serves as state representative for the 51st Assembly District.

He did this a few more times over the next several months until, one day, Reilly encouraged him to write the story himself, reassuring Novak that he had a strong grasp of how government

works.

He did, and it wasn’t long before Novak was covering the county board, school board and city council as a reporter for the Chronicle. Within a year, he would become the paper’s associate editor.

At The Chronicle, Novak would spend hours with public officials learning about the inner workings of local government. In a piece published by the newspaper upon Novak’s departure for the Capitol, Novak said “I wanted to understand it because if I didn’t and I wrote about it, our readers would not understand it.”

It was this understanding of local government that prompted several members of the public to encourage Novak to run for Mayor of Dodgeville — an office he has held since 2012.

Novak left the paper in 2015, after being elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly but remains a strong supporter of journalism. He has become the go-to “newspaper guy” at the Capitol, providing feedback to other lawmakers on legislation that affects newspapers, he said.

Novak has opposed attempts to diminish public notice in newspapers and co-sponsored a bill earlier this year that strengthened the industry’s role in their continued publication.

His most recent effort on behalf of Wisconsin news organizations aims to provide financial relief to local media and small businesses that have been pummeled by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduced Dec. 9, Assembly Bill 762 would give small businesses that purchase advertising in local media outlets a 50% tax credit.

“Our local media outlets have not been immune to the negative impacts resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent workforce challenges,” Novak (R-Dodgeville) and co-author Sen. Roger Roth (R-Appleton) said in an email to legislators seeking sponsors for the bill. “Community focused family-run businesses, including newspapers and radio stations, are in the

same perilous position as many retail, hospitality and small manufacturers.

“The advertising incentive creates a win-win scenario for small businesses that want to advertise, [support] customers and workers, and for local media.”

Under the bill, the tax credit would be capped at $5,000 and would expire after five years. Businesses with fewer than 100 full-time employees and less than $10 million in revenue would be eligible to receive the credit and ads would have to be placed with Wisconsin-based media, including newspapers, radio and television stations and online news sites.

The Wisconsin Newspaper Association has been the bill’s lead proponent.

“The best way for local business to reach its intended audience is through local media,” said WNA Executive Director Beth Bennett. “The tax credit created by this legislation will potentially make additional advertising dollars available to enhance that audience messaging. Local advertising, in turn, plays a vital role in sustaining the essential local journalism that sustains our democracy.”

The bill has gained support from several other state trade associations, including the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association, Wisconsin Community Newspapers, Wisconsin Chiropractic Association, Wisconsin Dental Association, Wisconsin Grocers Association, Wisconsin Independent Businesses, Wisconsin Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association, Wisconsin Restaurant Association and the Tavern League of Wisconsin.

The legislation is similar to a provision in the federal Local Journalism Sustainability Act, which was introduced this summer. Despite receiving bipartisan support and 78 sponsors, just a portion of the proposal — a payroll tax credit for local media — was included in President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better plan.

When the original tax credits for advertisers were dropped from the federal

legislation, Bennett and Novak decided to move forward.

So far, the proposal has received bipartisan support, with 15 lawmakers signing on as co-sponsors. They include Reps. David Armstrong (R-Rice Lake), Sue Conley (D-Janesville), James Edming (R-Glen Flora), Tony Kurtz (R-Wonewoc), William Penterman (R-Columbus), Jessie Rodriguez (R-Oak Creek), Patrick Snyder (R-Schofield), John Spiros (R-Marshfield), David Steffen (R-Green Bay), Rob Swearingen (R-Rhinelander), Paul Tittl (R - Manitowoc), Travis Tranel (R-Cuba City) and Ron Tusler (R-Harrison), as well as Sens. Brad Pffaf (D-Onalaska) and Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point).

The bill, referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, is expected to have a hearing in January.

Considine’s statement on AB 762

Valley Sentinel reached out to the state legislators representing our coverage area for additional comment on Assembly Bill 762, so far only Rep. Dave Considine’s office has responded.

If we receive comment from Sen. Jon Erpenbach, Sen. Howard Marklein or Rep. Novak we will update this story online. Below is Considine’s statement: “Local news outlets are essential in providing our communities with news stories close to home. Over the years, we have seen more and more local newspapers lose revenue leading to buy outs by large conglomerates. I am discouraged by this trend and believe we must support local newspapers. One way I support local news outlets is by subscribing to several local newspapers. Assembly Bill 762 was referred to committee this month but has not yet been scheduled for a public hearing or a vote. If this bill comes before me for a vote in the Assembly, I will vote for it.”

— Rep. Dave Considine, D-Baraboo

In Other News/Briefs

Evers announces funding to help Wisconsin families pay water bills Gov. Tony Evers announced last week that $18 million in funding is now available through the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) to provide water utility assistance to Wisconsin families.

“We know Wisconsinites are stretched thin with businesses facing supply chain challenges and Wisconsin families seeing costs in their everyday lives go up, and we want them to know that help is available,” said Gov. Evers.

Eligibility is based upon household income, size, and what the household takes up in water and utility. Eligible residents may have to be earning 60 percent of the state median income level or less. If eligible, applicants for LIHWAP first

need to apply and qualify for WHEAP. Wisconsin residents interested in applying should call 2-1-1 or 1-800-506-5596.

“We want folks to know that anyone who meets the income guidelines and needs help should apply for water, energy, or rental assistance,” said DOA Division of Energy, Housing, and Community Resources Division Administrator Susan Brown. “You can apply even if you haven’t had COVID-19 or gotten sick.”

Rent and additional utility assistance is also available through the WERA program. Wisconsin residents who wish to apply should call 2-1-1 or visit doa.wi.gov/Pages/WERA.aspx for more information.

Employment opportunities Commercial Project Manager/Estimator

Duties: • Manage multiple projects in various stages of planning and construction • Prepare and manage detailed schematic budgeting and estimating • Coordinate subcontractor bids Requirements: • 5+ years of Commercial Project Manager/Estimator experience • Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management or Civil Engineering • Understanding of our self-performed trades • Familiar with estimating software, have strong client service orientation, and demonstrate outstanding communication and organization skills

Commercial Construction Superintendent

Duties: • Management of construction activities • Ensuring compliance with design, schedule, and budget requirements • Overseeing multiple subcontractors Requirements • 5+ years of commercial field management experience • Experience in one of our self-performed trades • Must be able to demonstrate prior success in working effectively as a team with project owners, architects, and subcontractors. Must possess the leadership abilities to achieve top-flight results

For more info visit www.kraemerbrothers.com

Salary will be based on experience EEO/AA employer

Please send your resume to:

Kraemer Brothers, LLC 925 Park Ave | PO Box 219 Plain, WI 53577 Email: jobs@kraemerbrothers.com Phone: 608-546-2411

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY Looking for a challenge?

We are looking for interns/volunteers who want to be in the unique position to learn the nuts and bolts of a news media publication that started from the ground up.

You will have the chance to make an impact at the ground level of a startup and see the effect of your work and ideas carried out with a lot of flexibility, in an environment and creative culture you can help influence and create.

Available subject areas: EDITORIAL/JOURNALISM SOCIAL MEDIA ADVERTISING/MARKETING

GRAPHIC DESIGN/PAGE DESIGN/LAYOUT DISTRIBUTION/CIRCULATION/CRM MNGMT PODCASTING/AUDIO PRODUCTION

We are a new, all volunteer local news source that holds a strong belief that by working to keep our communities informed and engaged on a variety of topics including arts & culture, events, community news and serving as a watchdog for our local governmental bodies, we can help create a strong identity for our community and ignite positive growth and change throughout the area.

Interested? Send us your area(s) of interest and a resume to: editor@valleysentinelnews.com Internship will be unpaid, interns will be required to sign a FSLA-compliant internship agreement.

If credit is available from intern’s educational institution for participation in an internship, we are glad to work with you to meet any requirements for receiving credit.

Thursday, December 30, 2021 Page 5 Community/Regional Hometown Olympian remembered for force of will, honored with ticker tape parade continued from page 1 That title — as meaningful as it was — is almost a footnote in Graves’ subsequent career in women’s rowing, which included two appearances in the Olympic Games, where she won a bronze (1976) and gold (1984) medal. She was five times a U.S. National Team member and was the beating

remained head coach for 16 years.

But it’s not just what Graves did. It’s how she did it. Her way — which occasionally made waves, and not just when she was in a boat. That same force of will made her a champion.

When she retired from Texas in 2014, Graves came home to live in the Spring Green area, Wyoming Valley, where she

Alison Graves on her sister, Carie Carie graduated from River Valley High School in 1971. She is survived by her mother, Derry, son Ben, sisters Alison (Bill), Leslie (Eric), Tia (Greg) all who live locally and brother Ross, who lives in Colorado, along with many beloved nieces, nephews and friends. Carie had lived back in the Spring Green area for 10 years now and people have often seen her walking around town. She grew particularly fond of the very kind staff of Hometown Supermarket, where she stopped regularly during her walks.

Carie’s athletic highlights include 11 years as an international competitor, culminating in her selection to three U.S. Olympic rowing teams and four U.S. National Teams. As a member of the U.S. women’s eight, she captured a bronze medal in the 1976 Olympics and a gold medal at the 1984 Olympics.

Carie is Wisconsin’s only 3-time Olympian. In 1984, upon her return to Spring Green with her gold medal, the town held a ticker tape parade for her! heart of the remarkable U.S. women’s eight crew that earned a silver medal at the 1975 World Championships in England — the event that secured U.S. women’s rowing a place on the world stage and was immortalized in Daniel Boyne’s terrific 2000 book, “The Red Rose Crew.”

In 1998, before the book was published, Graves had undertaken another rowing-related challenge, launching a women’s rowing program at the University of Texas in Austin, where she

grew up, and we shared a conversation about her life and career.

I was friendly with her late father — Spring Green businessman Robert Graves, who had died a couple years earlier — and Carie Graves recalled how her first exposure to rowing was at the 1956 National Rowing Championships in Syracuse. She was 3 years old. Her dad was captain of the UW men’s crew.

He and her mom, Derry, brought their oldest child along.

“I was the only one out of diapers,” Graves said, laughing.

She did not, however, immediately embrace crew.

As Graves grew, there was love between father and daughter, but also friction; inevitable, perhaps, between two strong-willed individuals.

Graves wasn’t the first Midwest high school graduate to decide she wanted to see Europe, which she did, hitchhiking, but she was likely the first to call home and learn there was a nascent women’s rowing team forming at the University of Wisconsin.

“Why not try out?” her brother Ross said.

Graves did, com-

Photo contributed from family archive by Alison Graves The day Spring Green welcomed Carie Graves home from the Olympics she rode into town on a fire truck. The school band played and we all went out to cheer. Pictured is Andrew Notbhim giving her a flower.

ing home and enrolling at UW–Madison. But she didn’t tell her dad.

“I guess I didn’t want him to be disappointed if I ever considered stopping,” she told me.

Robert Graves found out, of course, and eventually helped buy the financially strapped program a boat.

Carie Graves was tall and rangy and knew hard work from her farm background. She told me she was not a natural rower.

“I rowed very poorly at first,” she said. “But I was so crazy I made the boat move fast.”

Technique came with time. And now I am remembering the late fall day in 2000 when Robert Graves called me and invited me to have lunch at the old Tony Frank’s on Seminole Highway.

As we settled into a booth, he pushed a Photo by Arthur Grace with permission, via Madison Magazine book across the table at me: a new hardcover Carie Graves in 1975 in a photo by Arthur Grace. copy of “The Red Rose Robert Graves had another book with Crew.” His pride in his daughter, perhim that day at lunch. It was a copy haps the central figure in the book, was of the 2000-2001 American Rower’s palpable.

Almanac. In honor of the new millen“Hollywood wants to option it,” he said. nium, they had chosen the Century’s Hollywood being Hollywood, that took 10 Most Notable People in American a while, but in 2020 it was announced Rowing. the newly minted Sports Illustrated One was Carie Graves.

Studios would make the film.

The almanac noted: “She was the first That day in November 2000, he said, to show that women could be, and “She’s at the University of Texas now. were, really tough competitors. The Coaching the women’s team.” men had their awesome role models.

On the day she passed, Carie Graves’ With Carie Graves, the women had sister, Alison, shared with me an appre- their own awesome competitor.” ciation of Graves sent to the family by Those UW volleyball players in ColumRenee Crowell, who rowed at Texas. bus were standing on her shoulders.

“For me,” Crowell wrote, “like I’m sure she was for all her athletes, she was a role model. Carie was the strongest female I had ever met…. Through her coaching, she taught me to dig deep, This story first appeared in Madison Magto find the place inside that could give azine, Madison’s city-regional magazine more, even when my brain was telling covering dining, arts, entertainment, city me to stop…. Carie didn’t just want life, politics, lifestyle and more online and her athletes to be the best rowers they in print. Reproduced with permission. Visit could be. She wanted us to be the best madisonmagazine.com people we could be.”

Want to read more?

The Red Rose Crew A True Story of Women, Winning, and the Water

By Daniel J Boyne “A thrilling account of the U.S. Women’s Crew as it prepared to compete in the 1975 World Championships in rowing ... sets the heart a-racing.” -Kirkus Reviews Available at: Arcadia Books 102 E. Jefferson St. Spring Green, WI 53588 608-588-7638 | www.readinutopia.com $16.95

Sauk County announces arts & culture grants now available for application through Jan. 22 Applications for the Arts, Humanities and Historic Preservation (AHHP) Grant and the Good Idea Grant are now available. Information about the grants, as well as application forms, are available at https://www.co.sauk. wi.us/artsandculture.

Completed Arts, Humanities, and Historic Preservation grant applications are due to the Extension Sauk County Office, Attn: Arts & Culture Grant Committee, 505 Broadway, Baraboo, WI by 4:30 p.m. on January 21, 2022. Good Idea Grant applications are due to the Extension Sauk County office by the 21st of each month until all funds are used.

The Sauk County Arts & Culture grant programs encourage art and historic

preservation education and community development in Sauk County. The grant programs provide support for projects and organizations that value innovation, creative expression and community within Sauk County.

The Sauk County Arts & Culture Committee awards grants through a competitive application and review process. The Arts, Humanities, and Historic Preservation (AHHP) Grants are designed to expand the presence of the arts, humanities and historic preservation throughout Sauk County.

Grants provide supplemental funding for a variety of projects including festivals, community events, lectures, tours, digital projects, community conversations, film projects, exhibi-

tions and more. The AHHP Grants are larger grants that support non-profit organizations and government entities up to $5,000 and require matching funds.

The Good Idea Grant program is designed to support and leverage the creativity of Sauk County artists, craftspeople, musicians, writers, historians and arts, humanities or historical preservation organizations in endeavors that will contribute to Sauk County’s creative economy. Awards are a maximum of $500 and may be applied for any time during the year until funding runs out.

Each year the Sauk County Arts & Culture Committee awards over $50,000 to nonprofits, governmen-

tal units, and local organizations throughout the County to support a wide variety of humanities and arts based projects. The Sauk County Arts, Humanities and Historic Preservation grants program is made possible with funding from Sauk County and the Wisconsin Arts Board.

Additional information can be found at the Arts & Culture Program website (https://www.co.sauk.wi.us/artsandculture) along with application materials in a fillable PDF format. If you have questions about whether your organization or project is eligible, or any other questions, please call Haley at the Extension Sauk County office at 608-355-3250 or email at ahhpgrants@saukcountywi.gov

Page 6

Community

Thursday, December 30, 2021

COmmunitycalendar Events for December 30 - January 13 Thursday, December 30 Stitch and Bitch 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM . Spring Green General Store, 137 S. Albany St. Spring Green . www.springgreengeneralstore.com . The Spring Green General Store’s Stitch and Bitch handwork group meets Thursday afternoons weekly. All are welcome.

Knit Night at Nina’s 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM . Nina’s Department Store, 143 E. Jefferson St. Spring Green . www.ninasdepartmentstore.com/ . Every Thursday from 6 to 8 pm. All knitters and crocheters are welcome. Store closed after 5:30 pm.

Friday, December 31 Baron Brooks New Year's Party All Day - All Night . Baron Brooks, 122 E Jefferson St, Spring Green . IHappy Hour Drinks all day and night long. Champagne at midnight. Free credits in the jukebox. $2 Angry Orchard. $2.50 Truly seltzers Live Music: New Year's Eve Extravaganza 7:30 PM - Close . Slowpoke Lounge, 137 W Jefferson St., Spring Green . www.slowpokelounge.com . It’s been a tough couple of years, but we’re looking to put it all behind us. Let’s ring in 2022 with style! We’ve got Jambidextrous starting at 7:30, with Rare Element picking up around 9:30. Snacks from Wander Provisions starting at 9:00, and Champagne at Midnight. We’ll jam and dance and exorcise our pandemic blues away. Hors d’oeuvres from Wander Provisions and Midnight Champagne included.

Tickets $30 in advance. Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 required for all Slowpoke events.

Live DJ: 2022 Arthur's New Years Eve Party 8:00 PM - 12:30 AM . Arthur's Supper Club, E4885 US-14, Spring Green . Bring in the New Year at Arthur's Supper Club - All you can eat Prime Rib and Snow Crab - give us a call for reservations - 608-588-2521.

Dine in and stay for DJ Dancing, complimentary party favors and champagne toast at midnight!

Live Music: New Year's Eve at The Shed! 8:30 PM - Close . The Shed, 123 N. Lexington St., Spring Green . Come out and bring in the New Year with Sugar Mama and the Rent Check! We have to make up for having to cancel last year, so a rockin' good time is guaranteed. The band would like to request that all attending please be vaccinated.

Live DJ: Flashback to the 80s NYE Party 10:00 PM - Close (No bartime) . Roarin 20s Dining and Social Club, 1170 Main Street, Plain . www.roarin20sclub.com .

608-546-1010 . Music and videos provided by: Audioteknik. Full on 80s "Prom under the stars" decor, retro arcade, drink specials & more! 21+ (sorry kids, adults only).

Saturday, January 1 Pop-Up Spring Green Farmers Market 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM . S230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green . The Spring Green Farmers Market is continuing in the Spring Green Community Public Library Lot through the winter every Saturday morning. Pre-orders are recommended. Visit our Facebook or Instagram page or email SGFarmersMarket@gmail.com for a list of participating vendors and their contact information.

Monday, January 10 A Night of Words 7:30 PM . Slowpoke Lounge, 137 W Jefferson St., Spring Green . www.slowpokelounge.com . An open mic. Friends sharing words. Watch. Listen. Speak.

Share. Maybe you have a favorite poem, or passage from a book you’d like to share. Or maybe you write your own and are ready to share it with the rest of us. Maybe you just want to tell a story. Or maybe you just want to listen. It’s all good. Let’s hang out and share words together. Poetry. Stories. Original work and old favorites. This and that.

A Night of Words. Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 required for all Slowpoke events.

Wednesday, January 12 Family Storytime 10:00 AM . Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green . www.springgreenlibrary.org . Join Ms. Grace for stories, songs, and fun!

Starting in December, we will offer indoor storytime on Wednesdays! There is no sign up required for now, but attendance is limited to 19 people, so get there early to reserve your spot! We do require masks for everyone age 2 and up and will be socially distanced around the room for safety.

Please check with library as storytime may be virtual due to increased COVID cases.

Thursday, January 13 Stitch and Bitch 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM . Spring Green General Store, 137 S. Albany St. Spring Green . www.springgreengeneralstore.com . The Spring Green General Store’s Stitch and Bitch handwork group meets Thursday afternoons weekly. All are welcome.

Knit Night at Nina’s 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM . Nina’s Department Store, 143 E. Jefferson St. Spring Green . www.ninasdepartmentstore.com/ . Every Thursday from 6 to 8 pm. All knitters and crocheters are welcome. Store closed after 5:30 pm.

GET IN TOUCH WITH VALLEY SENTINEL Check us out on our website: valleysentinelnews.com or find us on social media!

Wednesday, January 5

@ValleySentinel

Family Storytime 10:00 AM . Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green . www.springgreenlibrary.org . Join Ms. Grace for stories, songs, and fun!

Starting in December, we will offer indoor storytime on Wednesdays! There is no sign up required for now, but attendance is limited to 19 people, so get there early to reserve your spot! We do require masks for everyone age 2 and up and will be socially distanced around the room for safety.

Please check with library as storytime may be virtual due to increased COVID cases.

@vs_wisconsin

Thursday, January 6

@vs_wisconsin

Stitch and Bitch 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM . Spring Green General Store, 137 S. Albany St. Spring Green . www.springgreengeneralstore.com . The Spring Green General Store’s Stitch and Bitch handwork group meets Thursday afternoons weekly. All are welcome.

Knit Night at Nina’s 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM . Nina’s Department Store, 143 E. Jefferson St. Spring Green . www.ninasdepartmentstore.com/ . Every Thursday from 6 to 8 pm. All knitters and crocheters are welcome. Store closed after 5:30 pm.

@valleysentinel

Saturday, January 8 Pop-Up Spring Green Farmers Market 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM . S230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green . The Spring Green Farmers Market is continuing in the Spring Green Community Public Library Lot through the winter every Saturday morning. Pre-orders are recommended. Visit our Facebook or Instagram page or email SGFarmersMarket@gmail.com for a list of participating vendors and their contact information.

Try Youth Hockey for Free 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM . Harris Park, Dodgeville . The Ice Wolves Youth Hockey Association, in conjunction with USA Hockey, is hosting a Try Hockey for Free event on Saturday, Jan. 8th, from 9-11 a.m. at the Ice Wolves Rink located at Harris Park in Dodgeville. Kids ages 4 to 9 will be provided the opportunity to try youth hockey at no cost. Equipment available. Come dressed for the cold, winter coats, snow pants, gloves, and a bicycle helmet are highly recommended. No hockey or skating experience needed. Certified coaches will be on the ice with the kids at all times.

Register for Try Hockey for Free at www.icewolvesyouthhockey.org. Hope to see you there!

Sunday, January 9 Reception and Live Music: Local Art at the Library 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM . S230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green . Join Paula C. Schiller, oil painter and the January featured artist, in the Community Room Gallery at the Spring Green Community Library. Refreshments will be served and the Backyard String Band of which Paula is a member will play around 3 p.m. For more information or weather advisories, call (608) 588-0165.

Let’s build community together.

Reminder The risk of participating in a certain activity depends on many factors. Because of this, there’s no way to assign risk levels to certain actions. That’s why it’s important to consider your own situation and the risks for you, your family, and your community.

Here are some important guidelines to help ensure everyone’s safety: Get vaccinated.

Stay at least 6 feet away from other people when possible.

Wash hands frequently.

Wear a mask.

Stay home when sick.

Get tested if you have symptoms or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.

Avoid crowded and poorly ventilated indoor spaces when possible.

Taken from: www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/community.htm

community

Thursday, December 30, 2021 Page 7

COVID-19 Dashboard Wisconsin Summary

973,096 Positive Cases +49,128 from 12/15

Cases as of 12/29/2021

3,827,177 Negative Test Results +75,076 from 12/15

9,980 Deaths +549 from 12/15 Updated: 12/29 12/29/2021 12/ 29/2021 /2021

Critically High Vaccine Summary Statistics Very High Updated: 12/29/2021 High 4,922,727 3,276,720 8,527,687 328,240 Medium Moderna doses Johnson & Johnson Pfizer doses Total doses Low administered doses administered administered administered

covid case activity level This graph shows information on case burden and trajectory. Burden (case rate) is the total number of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 Wisconsin residents in the last two weeks. Trajectory is the percent case change from the previous to the current week. These are different from Community Transmission Level, which is the total confirmed cases per 100,000 persons reported in the past 7 days.

Case activity is a combination of burden and trajectory over the prior two weeks.

Iowa County

672,603

20,439

Pfizer doses administered

Moderna doses administered

Johnson & Johnson doses administered

These two core measures are measures of herd immunity in Richland, Sauk and Iowa County.

We do not yet know what level of vaccination leads to herd immunity for COVID-19, or how current or future variants might affect herd immunity. We know based on other diseases that herd immunity is likely at least 60%, and if more transmissible variants become more common, that threshold may become higher, so the current target range is 60-90%. -Adapted from Madison Public Health and Dane County

+81 from 12/15 +82 from 12/15 +3 from 12/15

Richland

+187 from 12/15 +278 from 12/15 +3 from 12/15

3,351 Positive Cases 14,907 Negative Tests 22 Deaths

858119

Total boosters administered

Vaccine Data

county level weekly statistics Richland County 2,547 Positive Cases 10,164 Negative Tests 32 Deaths

1,551,161

Sauk County

10,539 Positive Cases 44,867 Negative Tests 74 Deaths Updated: 12/29/2021

+558 from 12/15 +645 from 12/15 +4 from 12/15

Target Range

Sauk

Target Range

58.3%

63.1%

Percent with at least one vaccine dose

Percent with at least one vaccine dose

55.4%

59.4%

Percent fully vaccinated

Percent fully vaccinated Target Range

Iowa 68.8% Percent with at least one vaccine dose

65.5% Percent fully vaccinated

Cases per zip code

Percent of Wisconsin residents ages 5-11 who have received at least one dose by county

Cases as of 12/29/2021

Updated: 12/29/2021 Lower %

Richland County

13.4%

Ages 5-11

Iowa County Ages 5-11

Higher %

Percent of Wisconsin residents who have received at least one dose

27.0%

Sauk County Ages 5-11

Ages

19.3% Dane County Ages 5-11

Graphic by Anna Stocks-Hess

48.9%

5-11 12-17 18-24 25-34 35-44

Updated: 12/29/2021 20.3% 56.8% 56.5% 61.0%

45-54

66.9% 69.8%

55-64 65+

76.7% 85.4%

Data From: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/index.htm

“The good stuff.”

Page 8

Opinion/food & Drink

Thursday, December 30, 2021

Roarin’ 20s offers delicious, unique options as a new resturant in the Valley Taylor Scott, Managing Editor and Nicole Aimone, Editor-in-Chief

We finally had the chance to Waltz by and try out the newest dining and social club in the Valley. Pairing veteran businessman Mike Haight as owner and general manager with classically trained executive chef David Moreno, Roarin 20s Dining and Social Club (1170 Main Street, Plain) adds art deco charm to downtown Plain. In full disclosure, we were surprised to find out that dinner was on the house, however that has no bearing on our review. Unflappable, we took the opportunity to review some of the menu and drink options and ask Haight and Moreno some questions:

Review

I got the chance to try out the new dining location in the Valley just before Christmas and I was incredibly impressed with the unique cocktail and food offerings Roarin 20s Dining and Social Club brings to the table.

When we first sat down in our circular, cozy booth we were given a large basket of various kinds of bread with plain, scallion and cinnamon butter. Good bread at a restaurant is important, it’s the first impression your guests get and it can set the tone for the meal. The bread itself was pretty average, nice and moist and fluffy buns, the different varieties were a nice touch, but the different butters?! That blew it out of the water and set a good tone for the meal. I really enjoyed my overall experience here, but when I say, as a self-proclaimed foodie, I’d go back just for the green onion butter…I’m not even exaggerating.

If I’m being honest, I was stuffed after the bread course but I had to rally because the one thing that will not happen at Roarin 20s is anyone leaving hungry.

I ordered the baked Brie with seasonal jam and toasted baguette. I also snagged a few truffle waffle fries from my dining companion’s appetizer. I’ve never tried Brie or truffle before, I enjoyed both. I especially enjoy that they offer an avenue to try these less common to small town Wisconsin foods for others like me who haven’t had the pleasure of trying it.

Pro tip: dip the truffle fries in the Brie.

I’m sure that breaks about a million culinary rules but it was delicious.

While I didn’t try them, I was excited to see fried mushrooms on the appetizer menu. Those are a dime a dozen where I grew up in Illinois but much less common here, and I crave them often. Those are definitely on my list to try.

The next course was a salad that came with my entree, overall it was a good salad with fresh and crunchy veggies and a delicious ranch (which, as I’ve discussed before, can make or break my feelings for a restaurant.)

I think my least favorite part of the meal was my entree, I ordered the chicken parmesan. The flavor was delicious and everything was very fresh, however there was a bit too much sauce and mozzarella cheese for me. It may absolutely be to others’ tastes, but it was a bit overpowering and made the breaded chicken sort of soggy, and the breading fell off. I think next time I’d ask for less cheese and sauce on the side so I could control the ratio. The meal came with garlic mashed potatoes which were great and a veggie medley. The medley was pretty good, although I would have prefered a roasted veggie to a steamed. I think that would

Photo by Taylor Scott, Managing Editor Parmesan truffle waffle fries.

match the entree and caliber of the other foods offered.

I finished the meal with a boozy grasshopper milkshake. But don’t let the word milkshake fool you, these things were strong! Definitely a dessert drink more than a milkshake but delicious either way.

My experience exceeded my already high expectations, and I’m excited to return and try the many other options on the menu!

— Nicole Aimone, Editor-in-Chief …

On most given nights now you’ll see a hive of activity, cars stretching down the streets of downtown Plain. In the middle of that activity is Roarin 20s Dining and Social Club.

Looking beyond the pain-stakingly designed art deco decor, the stage and the retro arcade, you see a menu that’s just as well thought out — just big enough to shine.

The menu consists of something different altogether, big enough for anyone to find a favorite and come back for something new, but not so big that it tries to be everything and dilutes the gems that truly shine on the menu.

For appetizers we ordered baked Brie and truffle fries. The gluten free among us (me, it’s just me) decided to mix worlds and try the Brie on the parmesan truffle oil waffle fries and it was complex and would definitely be a good option to feature or play around with if you’re in a group and want to order multiple apps.

While making a mental note to come back for prime rib night, I thought at first I would order the mahi-mahi or the ahi tuna. But then my eyes found the glazed pork chop, boasting a Cedarburg Spice wine reduction.

Cedarburg Spice is a sweet mulled red wine from Wollersheim Winery’s “sister winery” — Cedar Creek in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. They describe it as a “flavorful sweet red wine full of spices, such as orange peel, lemon peel, cinnamon, cloves and allspice.”

Cedarburg Spice is also my favorite mulled wine, recently tied with Wild Hills Winery’s Glühwein recipe. Needless to say, a mulled wine reduction isn’t something you see everyday paired with a glazed pork chop, and I had to try it.

The pork chop was thick cut, moist and tender, with none of the tendency pork chops have to be dry. It was a unique experience paired with the diced bacon in the reduction and one I’ll surely try again.

However, I’m a sauce guy, I wouldn’t have complained if the dish had more of the reduction to go around or perhaps an apple chutney made with the reduction.

The sweet potato fries (which are closer to wedges) are reminiscent of Haight’s Lone Rock Bistro and Taproom fries.

Sweet potato fries are often overcooked or undercooked, but these reflect that balance of crisp with a mouthwatering sweet softness inside. The only improvement to them would have been a good sriracha (or chipotle) mayo or aioli as dipping sauce.

The only other area lacking was the vegetable medley on the side, it seemed a bit out of place stacked against the wonderful main entrees. It needed something, and I think we settled on roasted veggies to take it to the next level.

The drinks we’ll save for another review, but suffice it to say the brandy old fashioneds here will be a contender for Best of the Valley. I also had the brandy

Photo by Taylor Scott, Managing Editor The Cedarburg spice wine glazed pork chop, sweet potato fries and vegetable medley. alexander after dinner and it certainly doesn’t hold back, and was a perfect decadent way to cap the evening. Cocktail in hand with a full stomach, it’s easy to imagine love music or a comedian onstage.

Flappers not required.

— Taylor Scott, Managing Editor

Q&A

After indulging in some of the menu items Roarin 20s has to offer, we got the chance to ask Haight and Moreno some questions: Valley Sentinel: ‘Roarin 20s Dining and Social Club’ is an interesting name, can you tell us the origin of the name and what it represents?

Mike Haight: It comes from a few things, but mostly a conversation I was having with my mother [co-owner Janet Haight] just before opening Lone Rock Bistro. I asked her if she thought the pandemic would change people’s behavior after it ended, if socializing was just going to suck after the pandemic the way travel sucks still 20 years after 9/11. She said, and I’m paraphrasing, “If history is any indicator the last pandemic was in 1918, after that (and the following recession) was over was the Roaring 20s, the hardest partying most social decade in American History”. I took that as well as the fact that we are now in the 2020s and came up with the name and concept when a space presented itself months later.

VS: With your successful endeavor in Lone Rock with the Lone Rock Bistro and Taproom, why Plain and why a 1920s-style restaurant?

MH: We were approached by a group in Plain who had a great space and wanted a restaurant. We are all about doing fresh things in small villages. My mother has been doing this for over a decade in Spring Green. Plain and Lone Rock are both 7 miles from my mom’s shops in Spring Green, so both are an easy commute. As for the style, the concept came first then I set out to build a place that would incorporate 1920s style art deco architecture elements as well as art elements from the previous art nouveau era. It was fun to transform the space and people are really liking it.

VS: You describe Roarin 20s as a dining and social club. Right now, with only a couple months under its belt, you seem to be focusing on the former — and well, but what does the latter look like? What’s your vision for Roarin 20s?

MH: We are focused on the food, the drinks as well as the environment and the service. All are evolving as we speak. It’s a fluid process. The goal now is to provide a space when people can eat, drink, socialize and play while being well attended to.

Eventually we would like to add an entertainment program in the dining room some nights after dinner service has ended.

VS: Are your menu options a reflection of the 1920s ‘Roaring 20s’ style as well?

MH: Some things are classics but food has evolved a lot since the 1920s. I would say our menu reflects the 2020s more than the 1920s.

VS: The entire greater Spring Green area seems to be undergoing a food renaissance right now, what’s your vision for upscale dining in the Valley?

MH: Honestly I think the idea of “upscale dining” is more of a city one.

That comes with a lot of expectations that

are incredibly hard to live up to with an employment crisis, COVID, and everything else we as restaurant owners are facing these days, especially in small rural areas.

What we are trying to do is give our rural communities something that fits their needs. We build places for our whole community, good people on every budget.

Chef David as well as my GM in Lone Rock, Justin, work very hard to give people quality options at reasonable prices. We in no way are claiming the title of “upscale dining” so I’m probably not the best person to ask about that.

VS: You’ve mentioned an ongoing effort to create quite the cocktail catalog, can you tell us about that? Sounds like this winter may need to feature a cocktail tour of the Valley.

MH: I work with both our bar managers, Maddie in Plain and Sammi in Lone Rock both are very talented career bartenders, to design beer and cocktail programs. If you are a fan of either I suggest you stay tuned to both. Lots of cool stuff on the way. Maddie and I are also working on a cocktail book to be published where we give recipes and techniques to make 100 original cocktails at home. Many of them will be available at Roarin 20s over time. A good way to get information is to follow us on Facebook.

VS: Feel free to share anything else you’d like.

MH: I appreciate the positive customers who have supported the efforts of all the people I work with. They work extremely hard and we are always doing our best as are all the locally owned businesses in our area. We thank you for spending your hard earned money in the communities we live in. May the 2020s be a great decade when we have a chance to look back. …

Valley Sentinel: Could you tell us a bit about your background and your journey to Roarin 20s?

David Moreno: I grew up in Chicago, moved to Wisconsin here when I was 17. Moved to Portland, Oregon to study culinary arts at La Cordon Bleu. Moved to Paris, France to finish my culinary degree at the head school. Did my internship at the MGM Grand Las Vegas Nevada.

Worked at a couple of resorts and casinos before I came to Roarin 20s.

VS: Are your menu options a reflection of the 1920s ‘Roaring 20s’ style as well, or something else entirely? What’s your culinary vision for Roarin 20s?

DM: The décor reflects the 1920s point, the food reflects the 2020s. My culinary style for Roarin 20s is to make great from scratch dishes that everybody will love.

VS: We thoroughly enjoyed the parmesan truffle oil waffle fries, what inspired you to include something so unique on the menu?

DM: My ultimate goal is to open people’s minds and expand their palettes with very unique and inspiring dishes.

VS: The glazed pork chop was unlike any pork chop we’ve ever had, what makes it so special?

DM: It’s all on how we prepare it and the glaze compliments the pork chop. We char grilled to put the marks on and finish it in a pan and at the very end we add Cedarburg Spice wine glaze with bacon.

VS: What’s your favorite item on the menu?

DM: I would definitely have to say the glazed pork chop or the mahi mahi tuna with a Hawaian style chutney.

Arts & Culture/Schools

Thursday, December 30, 2021 Page 9

RVMS 5th graders celebrate the holidays with independent short stories Stephanie Pulvermacher, 5th Grade Literature, Long Term Substitute Two of our River Valley 5th grade students chose to create a short story based around the holidays. These students were given an outline of the writing process and asked to use their imagination. Students worked independently, outside of class, with help from the RVMS 5th-grade teaching team, parents, and other trusted adults to create stories they are proud of.

Happy Holidays, The River Valley 5th Grade ...

Santa vs Humans: The Ultimate Showdown

By Susanna Van Hallgren There are lots of stories about what Santa looks like, but I bet the one that comes to mind when I mention him is the one with the big white beard, fat belly, red clothes, and the red fluffy hat. Well, this Santa who I am going to tell you about is different. He is small, probably five foot four, not much taller than myself. He has tattoos all over his arms of candy canes and Christmas trees. He’s also super muscular. Instead of a big white beard, he has a black goatee. He hates sad old Christmas carols but loves hard rock. He doesn’t have a sleigh. He has a giant flying monster truck pulled by polar bears.

This is a story about him and his elves.

One day at the North Pole, Santa was jamming out to some AC/DC with his best elf friend, Pablo. Now Santa’s elves don’t look like I bet you think they do.

They aren’t tiny. In fact, some of them are as tall as Santa. Most of them wear green clothes covered with Christmas tree sap and pine needles. Anyway, Santa was going crazy with his hard rock music when his phone started ringing. His ringtone was a song that he had made up, called “Rudolph the Hard Rocking Polar Bear”.

Santa looked at his phone and saw that it was his brother, Paul Claus. Now Paul looked almost exactly like you would think Santa Claus would look. He had a big white beard, he was jolly and round, and he always wore red. Santa pressed the green TALK button on his phone and held it to his ear. “Hello?” he said in his deep, booming voice.

“Hey, Nick! It’s your brother, Paul Claus!” replied Paul. He was always so jolly and happy, and Santa was not. It was hard to believe they were even brothers.

“Yeah, I know it’s you because your face came up on my phone!” Santa growled.

“Well, have you seen the news?” asked Paul. “What news?” said Santa. “Humans are starting to hate elves. They wish they were working in the North Pole, not those little guys,” replied Paul. “THEY ARE NOT LITTLE!” bellowed Santa. “SOME OF THEM ARE EVEN AS TALL AS ME!” Paul looked shocked. “Okay, okay, calm down,” he tried to soothe Santa. “But I have some more bad news. People are calling elves freaks! They say they’re going to come to the North Pole and sabotage your workshop!”

Now Santa was the one who looked shocked. “I’m not going to allow that!” he said. “Allow what?” asked Pablo the elf, who had just started listening to Santa’s conversation. “NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!” Santa roared. Pablo backed away. “Anyway,” said Paul, “I better get back to work. I’m baking cookies for the neighbors!” Santa was so angry that he hung up his phone without saying “bye”.

His face turned purple. “Those humans... they can’t do that to us. We’ve got to do something,” he growled, thinking hard.

Then Santa got an idea. “PABLO! ELVES! PREP MY MONSTER TRUCK AND THE POLAR BEARS! WE’RE GOING TO NEW YORK!” he bellowed.

“Excuse me, what did you say?” asked Pablo. “I said we’re going to NEW YORK!” repeated Santa. “But why?” asked Pablo. “We’re going to try to convince the humans that elves are good,” said Santa, “and that they should not sabotage our workshop!” Pablo shrugged.

“Okay!” he agreed.

“ELVES! ARE MY POLAR BEARS AND MY MONSTER TRUCK READY?” yelled Santa. “Sir yes sir!” shouted his elves in unison. “GREAT!” said Santa. He got his keys out of his pocket and got into his monster truck. The elves piled into the back of the truck. The polar bears growled. The tires squealed. Santa was off to New York.

As Santa was flying across the globe, Pablo, who was in the front seat with Santa, turned on rock music. Pablo and Santa jammed out to it. The elves in the back covered their ears. “DO YOU REALLY HAVE TO PLAY THAT?” yelled one of his elves, whose name was Franklin.

“YES!” shouted Pablo and Santa. Franklin sighed, took out his earplugs, and inserted them into his ears. The rest of the elves did the same.

Santa flew over the US, looking worried.

“What’s wrong?” asked Pablo. “NOTHING!” replied Santa. “Um… ok,” said Pablo. They sat in silence for a while. Nobody was talking except for the singer in the song that was playing on the radio. “Well, maybe something,” said Santa. “You see, I’m worried that the humans will not welcome us. They might declare war against us.” Pablo looked confused. “Why would they do that?” he asked. “Humans don’t like elves,” said Santa. “That’s just a fact.

The humans are jealous that I chose elves to help work in my workshop, and not them.” Pablo seemed to get it now. “Oh,” he said. They rode in silence until Santa finally screamed, “WE’RE HERE!” “New York?” one of Santa’s elves, Jane, asked. “OF COURSE NEW YORK!” shouted Santa. “WHERE DID YOU THINK WE WERE GOING?” Jane looked surprised. “Well, I- I- I-” she stammered.

“NEW YORK!” bellowed Santa. “Okay,” replied Jane. Santa landed his monster truck right in the middle of Central Park, right on top of a fountain. Santa got out of his monster truck and cannonballed right into the water. When he surfaced, he spit out water and stepped out of the fountain. “HELLO, HUMANS!” Santa announced. “WE HAVE COME TO MAKE PEACE BETWEEN YOU GUYS AND MY ELVES!” As soon as Pablo stepped out of the monster truck, people everywhere started to surround him, growling. “Hey, it’s an elf!” shouted one man.

“Those little freaks- they’ve come to New York!” shouted a woman. “DON’T CALL MY ELVES FREAKS!” shouted Santa.

“Get them! Get all of them!” shouted a man. The crowd chased Santa and Pablo through Central Park.

Santa was running as fast as he could, and Pablo was falling behind. He tripped over a rock in the street and fell. The crowd surrounded Pablo, ready to attack, but Santa charged through the crowd, tossed Pablo over his shoulder, and continued running. Soon they broke out of Central Park and into the busy roads of New York.

Santa ran all the way to the Empire State Building, the mob following him. Santa ran to the elevators with Pablo trailing behind him. Pablo and Santa got into an elevator, pressed the button that said 102, and the elevator rocketed upward. Once they got up to the 102nd floor, Santa smashed a window and climbed up onto the roof. He pulled Pablo up there too.

“Whew!” said Santa. He sat on the roof.

Pablo didn’t sit. He was biting his fingernails, pacing back and forth, looking worried. “What’s the problem?” asked Santa. “We’re safe from these humans.”

Suddenly, a human man popped up onto the roof! The man started to run at Pablo, but Santa put himself between the man and the elf. “Look here, sir. You’re never gonna get my elf. Now GET OFF THIS ROOF!” ordered Santa! “Listen, man,” said the man. “Why didn’t you have us as your little servants instead of these freaks?” Santa narrowed his eyes.

“They’re not FREAKS!” yelled Santa.

“They’re just different!” The man rolled his eyes. “Yeah… whatever,” he said sarcastically. “Look, man,” said Santa.

“What’s your name?” The man looked confused. “Josh,” he replied. “Well Josh,” said Santa. “You’re not gonna call any of

my elves freaks AGAIN!” Josh smiled.

“Sure… FREAK!” he yelled. Santa got so mad, he pushed Josh… right off the skyscraper! Josh fell, screaming all the way.

Now Santa’s elves had been following Santa all through the city. They were watching when Santa pushed Josh.

They looked at each other and decided to do the right thing. When Josh fell, he thought he was going to die. But his elves formed a circle where Josh was falling and caught him! Josh looked at the elves and passed out. The humans surrounding the building looked confused. “What?

Why did you do that?” they asked the elves.

“We wanted to do the right thing,” said the elves in unison. The humans looked at each other and one said, “Maybe elves aren’t so bad after all.” The other humans considered that. “Yeah,” said another human. All the humans smiled at the elves.

“We’ve decided we won’t call you freaks ever again,” they said to the elves. At that moment, Santa came out of the front doors of the Empire State Building. “Did I just hear that you won’t call my elves freaks ever again?” asked Santa. “I think so,” said Pablo. “Great!” said Santa. Santa thanked the humans, then led his elves to his monster truck. “Maybe humans aren’t so bad after all,” said Pablo as they prepared for takeoff. “Maybe,” Santa said.

“Just maybe.” Santa stepped on the gas, and the humans waved good-bye as Santa and his elves flew into the sunset.

The End ...

Team Effort

By Luke Butteris Alex is on his way to a hockey game when he asks his mom if he can get a new hockey stick for Christmas. “Absolutely not! You just got one at the beginning of the season,” his mom, Jessie, says. “Well, it had cracked during the last game,” Alex states. “You should have asked sooner before you got different skates.” I guess I’ll have to borrow one from Coach Mathews, he thought. As they walk through the entrance of the hockey rink, he looks at the bulletin board on the wall and sees that his team is second in their division!

“Who’s in first?” his mom asks excitedly. Alex groans. It’s their number one rival, the “Gray Wolves.” During the third period, Alex’s team, the Ham Lake Hurricanes, are tied 4-4 to the Shakopee Sharks and have possession of the puck. Alex’s best friend, Brian, is heading towards the goal, but the left wingman is heading him off. Alex has to think fast, there are only 23 seconds left in the game. He skates to the goal and calls to Brian, “I’m open!” Brian passes him the puck and Alex does a quick wrist-shot in the top right corner of the goal. He scores with 7 seconds left on the clock!

His teammates rush out on the ice and start celebrating. The referee has to calm everyone down including Coach Mathews and remind them that the game isn’t over. “Now we just have to play the Gray Wolves,” Coach Mathews tells the team.

“You have to ride to the game with Brian because I am going to be at work late and your mom is getting groceries,” Alex’s dad says. “Are you able to call his parents?” he asks his dad. “Already did,” he replies.

“Okay,” Coach Mathews says in the locker room. “Our starting center will be Alex.

The rest of the positions will be our usual starters. Any questions? Good. Well, let’s get out there!”

Alex and his team are very nervous when they see the starters for the other team.

Alex gets the first goal for the Ham Lake Hurricanes, but the Gray Wolves score two. The Gray Wolves won the second period 2-3.

“We need to step up the pace,’’ their coach says to them. We have 12 minutes left of the game and are down by one.”

Gray Wolves have the puck and are moving down the ice. Their left-wing blocks a pass and passes to the center who is moving swiftly towards the goal.

Alex forgets all about his position and is trying to block the center. The center shoots the puck right into Alex which creates a turnover. Alex passes to Seth who then passes to Brian. He skates to the goal and scores!

It’s tied 3-3 with 40 seconds left of the game. The Ham Lake Hurricanes win the face-off. The puck is moving from one side of the ice to the other. Now there are 6 seconds left, 5,4,3,2,1. The buzzer goes off. “It’s alright,” says Coach Mathews.

“We have a strong shooting team for the shootout.” The first goal is scored for the Hurricanes. Then the Gray Wolves score as well. The Hurricanes score again. The person who shoots the second goal hits the goalpost, and the Ham Lake Hurricanes are first in their division! They decide to celebrate with a Christmas party at a pizza house near the hockey rink.

“Thanks for the ride,” Alex tells Seth’s parents after they had taken him to the party. While he’s there, Alex eats pizza, plays arcade games, and watches a hockey game on the TV. “This is one of the best days of my life!” he tells Coach Mathews. Coach Mathews says to the team, “We have a tournament that is going to take place in Moorhead. We’ll be taking a team bus, but your parents will need to pay a gas fee and will also have to pay for the hotel room. The board has decided on “Microtel Inn and Suites.”

“What do you mean you can’t pay for the trip!?” Alex asks his dad. “Look, his dad sighs. We don’t have enough money to pay for it. Otherwise, I would gladly go, but we just can’t afford it. I’m sorry.’’

His dad did sound sorry, he thought. “I understand,” he tells his dad.

After practice, he tells Coach Mathews that he can’t afford to go on the trip.

Coach Mathews says that he will ask the team sponsor if he can pay for the trip.

“We need you,” Coach Mathews says to him. “It will be a bummer if you can’t play with us.”

After the team’s last practice before the tournament, Coach Mathews comes up to Alex and says, “Good news. I talked to the team sponsor and he said he will pay for the trip and for your parents to come.

In their first game, they are tied at 5-5 and go into overtime. The Hurricanes score two and the other team scores one, so the Ham Lake Hurricanes win the first game. During the second game, Alex trips over the goal post and can’t get up! The referee calls a timeout and the emergency crew has to come out with a stretcher to take Alex off the ice. Coach Mathews visits him after the game and says they had barely won with 4 seconds left. “What about you? What happened to your leg?”

Coach Mathews asks. “My ankle is broken. I won’t be able to play the last game.

I can watch though,” he replies.

For the last game of the tournament, the Hurricanes scored the first two goals. The other team also scored two. The Hurricanes are trying hard to get possession of the puck, but with no success. The center from the other team skates to the goal and scores! Coach Mathews calls timeout and the Ham Lake Hurricanes huddle at the bench.

“There are only 16 seconds left and we have to score two points to win. Their shootout team hasn’t missed a shot this year.” The referee’s whistle blows and Alex is cheering his team on from the bleachers. The other team wins possession of the puck and skates behind their goal. They keep possession of the puck until the buzzer goes off. Alex joins his team in the locker room. “It’s just a game,” he says to his teammates. But he feels awful. “If I hadn’t broken my ankle we would have had a chance at winning,” says Alex. “It’s not your fault,” says Charlie. “We just weren’t into the game tonight.”

A week after the tournament, Alex hears the door knock on Christmas Eve. It’s Coach Mattews. In his hands, he has a brand new hockey stick. It’s the one he’s always wanted. A CCM Jetspeed FTA Pro. “The whole team pitched in for this,” Coach Mattews said. “They thought you deserved it. Merry Christmas!”

Schools RVHS student competes for chance to win $1500 grant for school, voting open now

Page 10 Thursday, December 30, 2021 Lori Hoffman, RVHS Business Education Teacher Students in Mrs. Hoffman’s Computer Business Applications class recently wrapped up their video editing unit with a final video project that was sent in for the Fox 47 MSG2TEENS Contest.

Students were asked to create a Public Service Announcement on one of the following driving safety topics: speeding, wearing seatbelts, distracted driving, driving under the influence, texting and driving, or cell phone use while driving.

Mrs. Hoffman is extremely pleased and excited to announce that one of her students, Elizabeth Baumberger, created a video that has reached the finals.

She has already won over $300 in gifts and has the chance to win up to $500 cash and a $1500 grant for our school if she receives the most votes.

Voting on the top five videos in the state will run from December 20, 2021 - January 19, 2022.

Photo via Fox 47 YouTube A screenshot from River Valley High School student Elizabeth Baumberger’s public service announcement entered in Fox 47’s MSG2TEENS contest.

Want to be the first to read Valley Sentinel?

More subscriptions mean more routes, and our distribution intern is back at college, so we’re looking for help distributing the paper!

For more information on this contest and to vote, check out the Fox 47 website. We will also have the voting link on River Valley’s social media platforms beginning December 20.

Congratulations and good luck Elizabeth!

Voting Link: https://fox47.com/station/msg2teens/msg-2-teens-details

Elizabeth Baumberger

We can’t thank those who have recently stepped up to offer to help enough, thank you!

Paper Distribution Routes Arena Subscribers: COVERED Arena Businesses: COVERED Lone Rock Subscribers: AVAILABLE Lone Rock Businesses: COVERED Plain Subscribers: AVAILABLE

Plain Businesses: AVAILABLE Spring Green Subscribers: AVAILABLE Spring Green Businesses: AVAILABLE Want to enjoy scenic fall drives or a walk around town and assist in connecting our businesses, subscribers and community? Whether for fun or for volunteer experience, just one village, route, or more, we’d be happy to have you!

Interested?

Email: editor@valleysentinelnews.com or call 608-588-6694

RVHS FFA member receives $1,000 agricultural experience grant from CareerSafe Online Shari Graffunder, River Valley FFA Advisor A $1,000 2021 FFA SAE grant has been awarded to Kortney Sebranek of Lone Rock, WI by CareerSafe Online.

SAE grants are designed to help FFA members create or expand Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) projects, a requirement that all FFA members must complete. An SAE requires FFA members to create and operate an agriculture related business, work at an agriculture-related business or conduct an agricultural research experience. Upon completion, FFA members must submit a comprehensive report regarding their career development experience.

This year 32 different sponsors made 39 different types of SAE Grants available. A full list of sponsors can be found on the National FFA Organization website on the SAE Grants webpage.

Sebranek is a member of the River Valley FFA Chapter and is currently serving as President of the organization. Her application was selected from among 1,086 applications nationwide.

The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than

735,000 student members as part of 8,817 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 735,000 student members as part of 8,817 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. For more, visit the National FFA Organization online at FFA. org and on Facebook and Twitter.

The National FFA Foundation builds partnerships with industry, education, government, other foundations and individuals to secure financial resources that recognize FFA member achievements, develop student leaders and support the future of agricultural education. A separately registered nonprofit organization, the foundation is governed by a board of trustees that includes the national FFA president, educators, business leaders and individual donors. For more, visit FFA.org/Give.

Photo contributed by Shari Graffunder, River Valley FFA Advisor Kortney Sebranek pictured. Sebranek recently won a $1,000 grant through the FFA from CareerSafe Online.

Business/Professional

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Outdoors

Thursday, December 30, 2021 Page 11

Sauk County Gardener — 2022 Gardening Resolutions Jeannie Manis, Wisconsin Certified Master Gardener “In order to be successful in the new year, stay focused, develop a positive attitude, and be passionate with your dreams.”

—Bamigboye Olurotimi Every year around this time, many people start to make their list of New Year’s resolutions. Some common resolutions include eating healthier, exercising more, handling stress better, learning something new, saving more money, and be kinder to the environment. If these are on your list of resolutions for 2022, gardening can help yourself reach your goals.

Eating healthier is much easier to accomplish if you plant your own vegetable garden. You’re naturally more likely to eat more vegetables if you can just step out to your garden and pick those fresh veggies right out of your garden. Figure out what fruits and vegetables have the vitamins and minerals you want to add to your diet and try growing them (assuming they will grow in our zone). Strive for ways to grow your garden without the use of pesticides. Not only will your body thank you, so will your wallet as you won’t be spending so much money on expensive chemicals. You can also soak up some extra vitamin D when you get out in the sun.

Working in your gardens, be it a vegetable or flower garden, is a great way to exercise. Weeding, raking, spreading mulch, and digging with

a shovel are all great ways to get moving, improve flexibility, and burn some extra calories. Considering that gardening activities burn upwards of 300 calories per hour, any gardening you do can help you meet your exercise goals. Do a little research and you can calculate how many calories you can burn doing some of those activities – it might even make you look forward to doing some of those harder gardening tasks.

Gardening can be a great source of stress relief. I like to take 10-15 minutes a day during the gardening season to simply walk through my garden and discover what has come up, what’s blooming, and what wildlife is visiting my gardens. In some cases, this stresses me more than relaxes me, but I think you get the idea. If handling stress better is a particular goal of yours, consider planting an area that is just a haven for you to sit and relax in after a rough day. This can be a particular place in your garden or simply growing lovely-smelling plants such as rosemary, lavender, and lemongrass in containers on your patio or porch. This is not a technique I often employ as I’m not great at just sitting still and doing nothing. However, I find that when I must focus on a gardening task such as weeding, planting, or even mowing the lawn, I can’t focus on the things that were stressing me before.

Another popular resolution is learning something new. For some people, this can be learning a new

task (consider composting) or hobby (learning to hybridize daylilies).

Learning something new is always on my resolution list. I typically try to learn how to grow a plant I have never grown before or haven’t been successful growing in years past. This year I’m going to try learning how to grow eggplant. I’ve never grown it before as my husband is not particularly fond of its skin. However, one of my master gardener friends introduced me to Japanese eggplant this past summer.

Its skin is thin, so it doesn’t need to be peeled, and it has the added benefit of adding color to my vegetable garden.

Saving more money is a resolution that can make a big impact and you can do it in the garden as well. You’ll save money if you simply use fewer chemicals to control insects and weeds.

Mulching and drip irrigation will reduce the amount of water you use when caring for your gardens. Install a rain barrel to collect any water that we do receive. I heard on the news that we have moderate to severe drought conditions in our areas and it will take several months of high moisture to get back to normal. If we don’t get plenty of snow and rain in the upcoming months, water-conservation is going to be more important than ever during the 2022 growing season.

Being kinder to our environment is a resolution that not only benefits us, but others around us including our own children and grandchildren. One way you can meet this resolution is by

planting native plants and avoiding exotic invasives, no matter how pretty they are. Planting trees can help improve the air quality and if you plant a native that is different from all your neighbors, you can help avoid creating a monoculture as well. Planting natives also helps the local wildlife and birds, many times by providing food during the lean winter months.

These are just a few examples of how gardening can help you meet your New Year’s resolutions. No matter what you choose for your 2022 resolutions or goals, consider the many ways gardening can help you achieve them.

Happy New Year!

Just a quick reminder that the UW Extension still has Phenology Calendars available. The cost is $15.

Please stop by the West Building, 3rd floor in Baraboo and see us for your calendar.

This week’s article is written by Jeannie Manis, a Wisconsin Certified Sauk County Master Gardener Volunteer. If you have any gardening questions, please contact the Extension Sauk County by emailing to trripp@ wisc.edu or calling the University of Wisconsin Madison Division of Extension Sauk County office at 608355-3250.If you have any gardening questions, please contact the Extension Sauk County by emailing to trripp@ wisc.edu or calling the University of Wisconsin Madison Division of Extension Sauk County office at 608355-3250.

Celestial rhythms of the Winter Solstice: The Winter Triumph of the Evergreen Dan Buckler, DNR Urban Forest Assessment Specialist Sunlight fades, then sunlight grows.

With those celestial rhythms surrounding the winter solstice, millennia of ritual have been shaped. Winter is historically an extremely dangerous time, in a way unfathomable to those of us with furnaces and stocked pantries.

But at the winter solstice, something important happens: ever so gradually, the days start to lengthen, and there is hope that a bright, warm world will return.

That’s where evergreens enter the picture, plants that have been incorporated into solstice rituals since time immemorial because they show that life can continue through hardship. The foundational value of every Christmas tree, mistletoe sprig and holly branch is thus a symbol for life and the promise of rebirth comes with the winter solstice.

There’s no way to place a value on symbolism. It would seem almost profane in this context. But of course, we appreciate evergreen trees in ways beyond their symbolic and aesthetic benefits, important though those are.

For example, we often cite infrastructure advantages of trees due to the way that they can reduce harmful or costly things, such as air pollution or storm-

water. The extent to which a tree could provide these services is mostly a result of its surface area. Tree size is important in producing more surface area, of course, but so is the size and texture of the foliage. And conifers tend to have a lot of surface area, despite how small individual needles or scales might be.

Add in the fact that they can “work” year-round and that some evergreens, like spruce and fir, tend to have a dense branching structure, and you have a situation in which evergreens are great producers of those oft-cited ecosystem services.

Conifers in Wisconsin are also especially important in providing cover for birds and other wildlife in the winter.

A bird-friendly winter garden should always include some evergreens.

In our municipally managed spaces, evergreens are relatively uncommon.

Of the 885,000 trees in the Wisconsin Community Tree Map, only 6.5% are evergreen species, with arborvitae and blue spruce neck-and-neck for the most managed species within that database (Eau Claire and Menomonee Falls have the most evergreens at over 2,000 each).

The uncommonness of evergreens is no surprise, for reasons practical (e.g., you won’t find many spruces

Photo by Beth Mittermeier A spruce tree standing in the middle of Havenwoods State Forest in Milwaukee. planted along streets), and ecological and demographic (evergreen conifers are much more prevalent in the north, where there are smaller communities and fewer managed trees in their inventories).

It is also no surprise that the highest evergreen tree cover is in communities scattered across northern Wisconsin, according to the National Land Cover Database.

Perhaps those communities are the

best places to celebrate these special trees, or perhaps it’s the opposite?

Maybe to truly understand the power of evergreen as a symbol, you need to see one in isolation against a bleak, wintry backdrop. I am particularly fond of a spruce standing defiantly in the middle of Havenwoods State Forest in Milwaukee, a messenger from the sun, reminding us that things will be okay.

Here’s to you, evergreens. How lovely are thy branches!

Marklein, Novak tour Wintergreen Conference Center amidst push for Riverway visitor center continued from page 1 and the vibrancy of the community.

More information may be found at savannainstitute.org.

Mark Cupp, Executive Director, reported he continues efforts to secure the Wintergreen Conference Center and surrounding lands for the Riverway.

He said the 250 acres includes nearly a mile of Riverway frontage as well as towering bluffs and beautiful views of the lower Wisconsin River near Spring Green. Cupp said he and LWSRB Chair Jerry Dorscheid, Vice-Chair Gigi La Budde, along with property owners Terry

and Suzanne Shifflet, met with State Senator Howard Marklein and State Representative Todd Novak to discuss the project and to tour the building.

The legislators encouraged Cupp to develop a plan involving a public/private partnership and to consider long-term costs associated with acquisition of the Wintergreen facility. Cupp said he would continue to gather information and report back to the board and to the elected officials in the area as well as Governor Tony Evers.

The property contains miles of hiking trails and tremendous biodiversity on

the land while the structure would be easily adapted for use as office space, a Riverway visitor center and an interpretive center for the archeology, early exploration and settlement history, geology, and flora and fauna of the lower Wisconsin River valley. The property is located adjacent to and west of Taliesin, and within a short distance of Tower Hill State Park, Governor Dodge State Park, Devil’s Lake State Park and many other private sector and public points of interest in and around the Riverway.

In other action, the board issued permits to the Department of Natural Resources

for management activities in Sauk, Richland, and Grant counties. Cupp reported he had issued a utility permit to Bug Tussel for burial of fiber optic cable under the Wisconsin River adjacent to the Hwy. 23 bridge at Spring Green. He issued a timber harvest permit to Joe Friar for lands not visible from the river in the Town of Woodman, Grant County, and issued a permit to Galen Bremmer for a timber harvest and new logging road in the Town of Orion, Richland County.

The next meeting of the Riverway Board will be held in Muscoda at the village hall on Jan. 13, 2022.

Outdoors & recreation

Page 12 Thursday, December 30, 2021

An Outdoorsman’s Journal

Mark Walters, Columnist

Thin Ice on Puckaway Hello friends, I think that it is pretty safe to say that my favorite outdoor adventure is winter camping on the ice and fishing with tip-ups. The following is a true story. For my entire life I have had three dreams with regularity. The first one I can fly and it is incredible and when I am flying I cannot let anyone see me.

The second one I am a soldier fighting in the Civil War. I am either fighting, marching or at a camp. The mood is somber and everyone is worn out. The third dream is that I am tipup fishing in the backyard of the home I grew up in, in Poynette.

In this dream I am literally fishing through the ground and always catching big northern pike. I can honestly say that I have been experiencing all three of these dreams since at least the age of five.

So this past week I partook in lots of really fun things and cannot write about all of them, I mean I did my first winter camping trip on Green Lake county’s, Lake Puckaway.

Monday, December 13th High 43, Low 28 Michelle Chiaro and my golden retriever Ruby were my companions and this trip was FUN! So we put in on the south side at Millers Resort, this place is like going back to 1970 and the owners/family are good people.

We hauled several large Otter Sled loads about four hundred yards onto the ice where we had a good 2.5 to 4 inches of ice. “Actually I hauled,” as Michelle conveniently arrived after my 4th slog and asked “can we have a beer yet”?

To start out our adventure we put out 3 tip-ups apiece with 17-pound mono and large golden shiner on #10 treble hook, towards dark we would downsize to 10pound test and a medium shiner on a #14 treble hook. About all I can say is go small with your hooks!

Anyways we proceeded to sit in lawn chairs, procrastinate about building camp and we met Michelle’s original request of having a “barley pop” or two.

By sunset, camp was built, rock and roll was playing and my “newest Mr Heater” was failing to stay lit.

At sunset one of Michelle’s tip-ups went up and it had a light on it and that put us in a very good mood — actually we were already in a good mood.

Michelle caught a very tiny northern pike, which had her bristling with confidence in our $5.00 gator bet.

So let me tell you about this night, we were losing ice throughout it, about every 90 minutes we would have a flag and by 4:00 a.m. — and yes we were still up — we had seen 18 falling stars, a couple of times we saw two at a time.

We actually thought the planet was going to explode, but in reality we found out on the radio the following day that it was the biggest meteor shower of the year.

So we caught two walleye, a 14.75 inch ‘let go’ and a 17 inch in the frying pan.

Unfortunately Michelle did not catch any walleye, so that had me winning in the walleye bet. About 1:30 she caught a very chunky 26.5-inch gator which was let go, as they have to be 32 inches here.

So as the night went on we hung out both outside my Eskimo ‘Fat Shack” or inside and we heated it with my cookstove. By 4:00 a.m. we had a full inch of melted ice on what was hopefully 2.5 inches of ice for our floor.

If you dropped a glove or a hat it was soaked and we set Ruby up with a blanket in an Otter Sled.

Photo by Mark Walters, Columnist A beautiful sunset on Lake Puckaway.

Photo by Mark Walters, Columnist Michelle Chiaro caught, kept, and ate this catfish.

Kind of bad luck came Michelle’s way when I got a flag and iced a 27-inch gator, which thoroughly disgusted her as I was now winning both bets.

What really surprised me on this adventure, as well with all of this good thick ice and all, is that we were the only people camping on it.

So the following day Michelle once again found an excuse to leave “early” as supposedly she had something very important to do. In other words, I would be chief load-toter! I had the last laugh as I had chosen to use one of her tip-ups instead of mine as it was having pretty good action. Michelle was almost out of ear shot when it went up. I tried yelling but she couldn't hear me. I felt terrible, but could not leave an unattended line.

Photo by Mark Walters, Columnist The northern pike were biting after dark on Lake Puckaway.

In all reality, I was happier than heck when I iced a 32-inch gator and sent her a picture.

My backyard has changed but I am still catching gators in it!

—Sunset Follow along each week on the adventures of Mark Walters, a syndicated outdoor adventure columnist who lives in Necedah, Wisconsin. He began writing his column, An Outdoorsman's Journal, in 1989. It includes hunting, fishing, lots of canoeing and backpacking. He currently writes for around 60 newspapers on a weekly basis. He hopes you enjoy reading about his adventures!

Want to read more?

Check out previous weeks’ columns at www.outdoorsmansjournal.com