Stoughton
Courier Hub The
Syttende Mai edition
Thursday, May 17, 2018 • Vol. 136, No. 43 • Stoughton, WI • www.unifiednewsgroup.com • $1.25
Syttende Mai welcomes new traditions
Photo by Kimberly Wethal
Participants in the Lil’ Syttende Mai Race run toward the finish line during last year’s race. The race returns to its previous route this year after a few years of it being rerouted for construction.
Festival returns despite challenges, turnover
At a glance
AMBER LEVENHAGEN
King and Queen
Unified Newspaper Group
Bob and Jodi Coon
A few new focuses highlight Syttende Mai this year. Stoughton Area Chamber of Commerce director Laura Trotter took over planning the festival after the previous coordinator, Susan Liimatta, left the chamber halfway through the planning process, and despite the turnover, Trotter said the festival is returning in full-force with even more features than last year. “I’ll say that I’m very lucky that I had four years of festival experience beforehand, otherwise it would have been a huge undertaking to handle losing the manager midway,” Trotter said. “I’m feeling a lot more confident, and my temporary help has been amazing. I feel very good about this year.” Part of a revamped drive toward promoting tourism, the chamber revealed a new Syttende Mai website, stoughtonfestivals.com, earlier this year. The goal is to attract people outside of Stoughton to the festival. The website includes information about all of the events planned
Prince and Princess
Sunday parade gets a modern twist AMBER LEVENHAGEN Unified Newspaper Group
Stoughton resident Jeanne Prueher is like your stereotypical mom – lovely sweaters, seasonal pins, knitting, the whole package. Her favorite musicians are James Taylor, Josh Groban and Mannheim Steamroller. Her alter ego – “Metal Mom” – will make an appearance at the Syttende Mai parade this year, as the inside-joke-gone-viral will be turned larger than life with a 25-foot-tall inflatable replica of Jeanne.
If you go What: Syttende Mai parade When: 1:30-3:30 p.m. Sunday Where: Beginning at Mandt Park heading west Info: stoughtonfestivals.com/ parades Nick Prueher said his mom’s alter ego is the “polar opposite” of how she usually presents herself, so the comedian decided to play it up a little bit this year and signed her up for the Sunday parade. “Norway has a history with heavy metal music, so I figured we could
Courier Hub
make that connection,” he said. “And you can’t just do a little wagon and people handing out candy, you have to go big with it.” Metal Mom, wearing black, perched on the metal throne on a float accompanied by friends and family, set with the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade-styled balloon, will be among the bunads and Norwegian Dancers. The float will play metal music, including some from local musicians. The parade will go along its typical route Sunday, starting at 1:30 p.m. at Mandt Park heading west toward Stoughton Plaza. “A couple of my nieces have agreed to be my entourage, they’re
Turn to Parade/Page 12
Festival dates Friday-Sunday, May 18-20 On the web stoughtonfestivals.com throughout the weekend, as well as shuttle locations, lodging, volunteer information and a little bit about Stoughton’s history with the festival. A new event at the Chorus Public House is one of the biggest differences this year. The Syttende Mai races on Saturday will be returning to the original route after a few years of construction, and some new beer choices from Wisconsin Brewing Company
Turn to Festival/Page 15
Inside Meet the royalty
Livsreise exhibits Page 9
Page 2 Norwegian Dancer performances Page 5 Stoughton Village Players return
Race the Yahara Page 10 Art appreciation at Chorus Public House Page 11
Page 6 Races return to old routes
Sons of Norway honors traditions
Page 7
Page 14
Experience Our Annual Syttende Mai Cheese Tasting! Saturday, May 19, 1-3pm • Sunday, May 20, 11am-1:30pm
Ahh…the Culinary Ease of Cheese!! e e hav w , s e Y elost Nokk ese! Che
• 130 Varieties of Cheese • Cheese Trays • Fresh Curds • Cheese Gift Boxes - Always Enjoyed, Never Returned 183 E. Main Street, Downtown Stoughton www.Cheesers.com • 608-873-1777
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‘Metal Mom’ brings Norwegian musical tradition to Stoughton
Hunter Johnson and Jordyn Bradford