Courier Hub The
Stoughton
Thursday, August 29, 2019 • Vol. 138, No. 6 • Stoughton, WI • ConnectStoughton.com • $1.25
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Stoughton Area School District
K-5 math, curriculum equity a focus of equity, the Stoughton Area School District is looking to increase educational opportunities for SCOTT DE LARUELLE students for this year, and into the future Unified Newspaper Group The 2019-20 school Whether it’s finding y e a r b eg i n s Tu e s d a y, fun new ways for young and with it, a variety of students to learn math or new programs and plans helping district employees Turn to Focus/Page 14 understand the importance
Things to watch at SASD this year
Collaboration, not competition Stoughton’s food pantries hold first joint meeting MACKENZIE KRUMME Unified Newspaper Group
The city’s two food pantries hope to collaborate to feed the city. During the first joint pantry meeting Monday, Aug. 26, members of the Stoughton Food Pantry and the Stoughton United Methodist Church Food Pantry discussed
challenges both pantries face, better ways to collaborate and better understanding of each other’s operations. “Both pantries work together on food drives but we’ve never had a joint meeting to work the rough spots out,” SFP board member Linda Lane told the Hub after the meeting. Those challenges include volunteers not having duties when they arrive at food drives — l e av i n g t h e m t o w a i t
Turn to Pantries/Page 11
Photo by Mackenzie Krumme
Ethan Tatge, left, and Cummins employee Surindra Maraj work together to create a birdhouse at the Stoughton Area Youth Center. Students were able to take home their new creation.
Respect self, others, space Director creates positive mindset at youth center MACKENZIE KRUMME Unified Newspaper Group
Greg Hoyte stood in front of a group of students at the Stoughton Area Youth Center, holding his hand high in the air. “This is how awesome you are,” Hoyte said to the group. “When you’re in this building you’ve got to look at yourself that way. You also got to look at everyone else that way, too, because if you are awesome, that guy
or the girl to your right or left is awesome too.” Hoyte, who has been the director of the Stoughton Area Youth Center for a total of 14 years, tells this to every student that walks into the center. He wears many hats as a mentor, a behavior specialist, a fundraiser, a businessman and a city employee. When he started, 12 students came to the youth center on an average Monday through Friday during the school year. Now the SAYC averages
more than 50. In addition to preparing daily snacks and keeping the place in working order Hoyte, along with the Friends of the Stoughton Area Youth Center and the Parks and Recreation Department, must raise at least $120,000 annually to keep the center functional. Most recently, Hoyte helped raise more than $50,000 in addition to the
Turn to Youth center/Page 16
‘Clarinet and Friends’ fundraiser Sept. 8 to benefit Stoughton Public Library, Village Players Theater Unified Newspaper Group
A dual fundraiser will benefit the Stoughton Public Library and the Stoughton Village Players Theater. The theater, 255 E. Main St., will host a “Clarinet and Friends” show with 19 performers at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 8. There is no cost for tickets, but all money donated will go to the two organizations. There will be a combination of harp, clarinet, cello, singing and other instruments that will play
to two dancers from the Madison Tango Society, a nonprofit organization based in Madison. In addition, The Blue Moon Klezmer Band, which member and former Stoughton Public Library director Richard MacDonald described as a celebratory music from the Jewish people of Eastern Europe, plans to perform. MacDonald retired from the library director position in April and serves as the organizer of Clarient and Friends. He picked these two organizations because they are integral parts of the city, he said.
Courier Hub
The theater donated space for the performance and the library is close to his heart. “Since I’ve lived in Stoughton What: Clarinet and Friends I’ve seen the theater do a lot of good benefit concert things,” MacDonald said. “The When: 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 8. library has a motto four words: educate, enrich, empower and engage. Where: Stoughton Village PlayEducate people of all ages, enriches ers Theater, 255 E. Main St. people’s lives, empower people to Info: stoughtonvillageplayers. do more and engage people from org the community.” The money raised will be equally divided between the Stoughton Village Players Theater and the theater hopes to upgrade the hearStoughton Public Library. The ing loop and the library would like
If You Go
to purchase audio books. Jessica Knutson, of Edward Jones, and Famous Yeti’s Pizza plan to provide matching funds for the first $500 in donations. MacDonald said the performance is about listening to good music but also enjoying quality time with community members. “I hope people not only enjoy the music and seeing us but also seeing their own friends as well,” MacDonald said. Contact Mackenzie at mackenzie. krumme@wcinet.com.
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