Verona Press The
Thursday, February 13, 2020 • Vol. 55, No. 39 • Verona, WI • Hometown USA • ConnectVerona.com • $1.25
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Verona Area School District
Starting the transition KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group
Goodbyes are never easy – especially when they’re for buildings with decades of education history in their walls. In three-and-a-half months, a permanent goodbye for the Sugar Creek Elementary School and New Century School buildings will happen as students walk out the doors for the last time. In the meantime, current staff are working on ways for everyone to give them a proper send-off. When the school district moves out of the buildings this summer, the 102 year old New Century School building is expected to stay standing, as it’s on the
National Register of Historic Places, but Sugar Creek’s 64 year old, 64,000 square foot home will get demolished. The district is transferring ownership of the 12-acre site containing both schools later in the year to the City of Verona, which is expected to redevelop it. Sugar Creek principal Todd Brunner said staff are working to keep the experience of moving a positive one for the students. They’re planning to do that with events that bring current Sugar Creek students and around 130 new ones who are changing schools with new attendance boundaries taking effect in the fall. Those events include a public goodbye event Saturday, Feb. 29, a reading night in March at Badger Ridge Middle School, where Sugar Creek will
Turn to Goodbye/Page 16
Commons gets $3.2M in TIF Redevelopment deal for W. Verona Ave. has taken three years JIM FEROLIE Verona Press editor
The likelihood of a vacant, fenced-off 10-acre area along West Verona Avenue becoming apartments, a hotel and retail shops beginning this year i m p r ove d c o n s i d e r a b l y Monday, Feb. 10. After three years of negotiations with Forward Development Group, the Common Council – a group that has changed almost entirely since the start of those discussions – agreed to pay $3.2 million to the company to get rid of soil contamination and build
public infrastructure to serve the Sugar Creek Commons site. “I’m happy to see this move along,” Mayor Luke Diaz said before the unanimous vote. “This property has been blighted for years.” Over the decades, the area had been home to a truck stop, auto repair shop, car wash and volleyball court. The truck stop, operated most recently as the Chinmi restaurant and gas station, was abandoned about seven years ago. FDG had to assemble 10 individual parcels to create the project, which features 284 apartments, 26,000 square feet of retail and a 110-room hotel and
Turn to Commons /Page 12 The
Verona Press
Photo by Kimberly Wethal
From left, Badger Ridge Middle School teacher Shayla Glass-Thompson, Gayla Bullocks, Aster Gitchel and Acaliana Greenfield talk about what it means for people of color to wear their hair without it being policed during a Black Girls Circles of Support group session on Thursday, Jan. 9.
A space of their own Black Girls Circles of Support gives students a chance to share experiences, be themselves KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group
On an early Thursday morning last month, an office right off of the quiet, sleepy library at Badger Ridge Middle School was full of laughter
and music. That room, occupied by BRMS teacher Shayla Glass-Thompson and her seventh and eighth grade Black Girls Circles of Support students, are working on their projects for the upcoming Black History Month Showcase on March 6 and connecting with one another over their commonalities with one another as teenage black girls. They’re making TikToks for the showcase and researching black culture, and talking about the importance of black women to
wear their natural hair without judgement. It’s a space where the girls can be themselves and talk about their shared experiences as young women of color, Glass-Thompson said. “Just knowing that there is a space that they can go to, with girls who are like them, and be able to hang out in a space where their language isn’t going to be policed, or just their way of being isn’t policed, I think
Turn to Circles/Page 13
City of Verona
Relationships will be a priority, chief candidates say Machotka, Arnold present to public, interview with PFC RENEE HICKMAN Unified Newspaper Group
Standing before members of the public on the evening of Tuesday, Feb. 4, Dan Machotka and Matthew Arnold each made the case for why they should be the next head of
Verona’s fire department. Made to a room largely filled with the blue uniforms of firefighters, the presentations came after a tumultuous year-and-a-half in the Verona Fire Department led to the installation of Machotka as acting chief. A previous search for a new fire chief came up empty in November after the retirement of former chief Joe Giver, who had been asked to resign a year
earlier by Verona’s firefighter’s union amid complaints about work culture. The two candidates e m p h a s i z e d t h e va l u e of relationships in their presentations, with both the community and with employees and paid-oncall members of the department. That combination of career and volunteer positions, known as a combo department, is a management challenge department
leaders have faced for the past two decades. Arnold, who came armed with a PowerPoint presentation, cited several examples from his time in Pennsylvania managing people in both paid and volunteer roles, and his experience working with and in unions. “I find regardless of w h e t h e r t h e y ’r e p a i d , part-time, volunteer, paid
Turn to Chief/Page 12
The Brothers Four They have played thousands of college concerts, sung for U.S. Presidents, countless community concerts, and symphony orchestras. Truly “Americas Musical Ambassadors to the World.”
Saturday, February 15, 2020 7:30 pm Verona Area High School PAC
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Sugar Creek, NCS staffs prepare to say goodbye to buildings
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Verona Area Performing Arts Series
Tickets available at: www.vapas.org, State Bank of Cross Plains-Verona, Capitol Bank-Verona or 848-2787
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February 13, 2020
The Verona Press
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Verona Area School District
Painting party KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group
The Stoner Prairie Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization held its annual Paint Night on Thursday, Feb. 6. The Paint Night, in its fourth year, was led by Stoner Prairie art teacher Tina Christenson and two Madison-based artists Andrew Illene and Danielle Box Hampton,
who led families and students through the creation of either a mystic sky or a giraffe painting. Proceeds from the event go toward the school art department’s Visiting Artist Program, which pays for outside talent to work with students during the year to create a project. Last year’s event paid for artist Mark Jones to visit the school last fall to create a stop animation film.
Art teacher Tina Christenson shows a group how to draw lines for their trees.
Miller & Sons
Collects & Donates $5000 to Badger Honor Flight!
Photos by Kimberly Wethal
Verona Area International School first grader Madelyn Beuthien paints the background of her soon-to-be giraffe painting blue during a Stoner Prairie Parent Teacher Organization paint night on Thursday, Feb. 6
Pictured above, Dana Knudtson, Andrea Miller and Amber Roach
Second grader Hailey Christian works on her mystic sky painting with her mother Kellie.
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Stoner Prairie third grader Ashaz Mohammed works on his mystic sky painting with his mother Sana Khaja.
Second grader Reese Murphy finishes the background of her painting.
We’re a bank that puts the community first. That’s why we’re proud to support our friends at the Badger Prairie Needs Network (BPNN)! More than a food pantry, BPNN offers free community meals and legal advocacy to fight homelessness and help level the playing field for people with limited financial resources. Join the Oak Bank family today by visiting oakbankonline.com.
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Second grader Owen Strobeck works on his painting with his grandmother Patty Bertucci.
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February 13, 2020
The Verona Press
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City of Verona
Woods plan passes despite concerns Some still uneasy about private ‘carriage lanes’ behind garages RENEE HICKMAN Unified Newspaper Group
A plan to build 257 homes on the city’s southeast side earned unanimous Common Council approval Monday, Feb. 10, despite concerns over some private alleys and high home prices. The Woods at Cathedral Point had squeaked out of the Plan Commission the week before on a 4-3 vote, with some commissioners expressing the same concerns they and alders had raised in recent months as the Veridian Homes development went through multiple steps of the
approval process. Among issues cited were who would maintain the private alleyways behind garages – called carriage lanes – and private roads, and whether some city services would still be able to reach the area. There were also questions about the types of homes and their prices, though some of the proposed dwellings would be less expensive than typical new houses in Verona. Chris Ehlers, vice president of land development at Veridian Homes, told the commission the development was more affordable than others in Verona. He said the average home price here is around $300,0000, and prices in the Woods would start in the high $200,000s and go all the way up
to $500,000. Mayor Luke Diaz questioned whether there were enough three-bedroom homes for larger families and commissioner Beth Tucker Long voiced concerns about the segregation of the homes by price, with the more expensive ones on the east side, adjacent to the Ice Age Trail and the less expensive ones all near Range Trail and surrounding the carriage lanes. Other issues raised included the delineation between the areas occupied by private homes and those leading into the Ice Age Trail, a footpath covering 1,000 miles of Wisconsin that follows the path where the glaciers stopped in the most recent Ice Age. Diaz praised the addition of
homes in a lower price range. “This is, of course, not what we would term affordable housing, but I think you could call it attainable housing. That is a kind of progress,” Diaz said. Veridian and staff addressed questions about the alleyways and roads were answered at the council meeting, noting that the a homeowners association would maintain the roads, police would still be able to enforce fire lanes and contractor Waste Management would be responsible for garbage pickup as it is in other areas of the city. Ald. Evan Touchett (Dist. 4) remained concerned about the layout despite his yes vote. “I don’t want developers to think it’s a blank check for private roads and alleyways in the
future,” Touchett said.
Planning director search aborted
The search for a new planning director came to an abrupt end this week, city administrator Adam Sayre told the Common Council at its Feb. 10 meeting. Sayre, who juggled that position with interim city administrator duties from February until being promoted on a permanent basis, said the city’s Personnel committee had narrowed the search to two candidates last month but decided not to move forward with either one. He said the city will do its planning work in 2020 with current staff and potentially private contractors and that the search for a new planning director would be reopened at the end of 2020.
Town of Verona
Twin Rock subdivision plans approved KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group
A new subdivision is being brought to the western side of the Town of Verona. The 74-acre Twin Rock subdivision got its final plans approved by a 4-1 vote at the Board of Supervisors’ Tuesday, Feb. 4, meeting. Manfred Enburg was the one dissenting
High school robotics team advances to state competition awarded to the robotics team that best connects STEM with its community. Team Phoenix hosted two robotics days at local libraries – one each in Verona and Fitchburg, mentored beginner FTC teams and visited two local businesses – Affiliated Engineers and Placon. Coaches for the team are parents Ben Jannusch and Andy Price. “The team worked really hard on their robot design and reliability this year,” Jannusch said. “They stepped up their game strategy, community outreach, and had some fun along the way, too.”
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Self storage facility A proposal for a self-storage facility is likely to come back to the Town Board’s agenda in March, Geller told the Press. The plan got pulled off the February agenda at a last-minute notice. The county posed questions to the developer, who wanted to answer those before bringing it before the board, Geller said. Cameron and Jamie Lindau of Swan You See, LLC, are looking to rezone their 12.6-acre lot from rural residential to heavy commercial for the facility just south of the Maple Grove and Nesbitt roads intersection. Three of the nine self-storage buildings will be climate-controlled, and the proposed office building is modeled to look like a barn.
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The Town Board approved a contract to study Goose Lake and its impact on the surrounding area at its meeting Tuesday, Feb. 4. The study, being done in conjunction with the City of Fitchburg, will cost each municipality no more than $15,000 to look into solutions for Goose Lake’s
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Town Chair Mark Geller will be spending Saturday mornings at the Town Hall, 7669 Cty. Hwy. PD, until a new administrator is hired. Geller will be available from 9 a.m. to noon, he said. The departure of former administrator/planner Amanda Arnold at the end of January has required staff and board members to deal with more administrative responsibilities in her absence. There isn’t a set timeline for when a new administrator will be hired, Geller said, because the board wants to take its time and not limit itself based on a “self-imposed deadline.”
overflooding issues. Goose Lake is on the eastern side of the town, but much of its impact seeps over into the City of Fitchburg. When Goose Lake overfloods, it often floods over onto Fitchrona Road, which is the border between the two, and results in high waters and road closures.
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A Ve r o n a A r e a H i g h School robotics team has advanced to a state-level tournament after finishing first place in a regional qualifying tournament Saturday, Feb. 1. N i n e VA H S s t u d e n t s designed, built, programmed and operated robots to compete in the head-to-head challenge. In addition to winning first place, the team won another award for bringing robotics into the communities of Verona and Fitchburg through hosting library outreach events. If Team Phoenix wins the state level championship at the Milwaukee School of Engineering on Saturday, Feb. 22, they will continue to the worldwide tournament.
The team includes VAHS classmates Alan Zheng, Grant Pope, Jared Price, Joe Kleese, Noah Jannusch, Meghna Krishna, Nathan Warner, Nico Hendricks and Anthony Kinney. During regionals, the team competed against over 30 other area robotics teams in the Knack Attack FIRST Te c h C h a l l e n g e ( F T C ) Qualifier at Lake Country School in Hartland. FIRST Tech Challenge teams are formed by up to 15 students in grades 7-12. FIRST stands for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. The nine VAHS students formed an interest in robotics through the BadgerBOTS Education Center located in Middleton. The team received the Connect Award at the Feb. 1 competition, which is
Town news in brief
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in addition to three planned retention ponds, will assist with stormwater management, Plan Commission chair Doug Maxwell told the Press. The Twin Rock development, named for the dairy that used to sit on the land, would still need permitting from the state Department of Natural Resources. The developer plans to begin building the roads in late summer, with homes being constructed in 2021.
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Members of Verona Area High School robotics group Team Phoenix.
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vote, because he wanted to see the project receive state approval prior to the town’s, town chair Mark Geller told the Press Thursday. The town will work out a developer agreement Geller said could be voted on in March. The Twin Rock project features 27 single-family lots and a native prairie between the homes and County Hwy. G to the south. The prairie,
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February 13, 2020
Opinion
The Verona Press
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Letters to the editor
After show trial, do not be passive about authoritarian government Now that the impeachment show trial has ended, what lies ahead for our nation? For those that promote peace, fairness and justice, things just got a whole lot worse. We now have a President that has absolute powers. The Senate party in power chose party loyalty over the greater good of the citizens they represent. We have no democracy. Democracy in any real sense is dead. That’s not fake news. Sure, we’ll have campaigns and ads and commercials that tell us what we want to hear . There will be voting places and all good talk about how “ the system works.” The system is a fraud. When people are not allowed to vote, when districts are drawn so that a party with less support gets more power, then the system is a fraud. When billions of dollars are spent by corporations in an election, then the system is a fraud. Our democracy is a fraud. We have people in power right now that want to turn our nation into a Christian Authoritarian Theocracy. Where the rights of minorities, women, gays, lesbians and any other “non-Christian,”
“non-white” person will be a second class citizen. We are approaching it quickly. And not only do these people want to dictate who you should worship and who you should love, but they feel it is their right to plunder what’s left of our planet. Our planet is dying. The people in charge believe it is their destiny to drill for more oil, make more pollution, kill more species. All in the name of the Almighty. Their greed and hypocrisy is stunning. What can those that care about life after we are gone? Be kind to each other. Resist injustice wherever it is. Be good to the environment. Call out falsehoods for what they are and always let truth guide you. Authoritarian leaders count on a passive citizenry. Now is not the time to be passive about any of this. Also, connect with others. The power of a small group can never be underestimated. Fight for what is right and good. It’s what makes a life worth living. Tim Melin City of Verona
Community Voices
Fun and play can be a serious need for our well-being
N Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020 • Vol. 55, No. 39 USPS No. 658-320
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ow that we have made it through the holidays, I turn to my annual goals to keep me on track. I pick a theme for the year as a reminder. It helps me stay focused. My theme this year is fun and play. As you might have noticed by now, I am a self care queen. We all have similar basic needs, and my health and well-being are my No. 1 priority. My primary care is acupuncture, and I go a couple times a month. I’m noticing at my age that my body can get out of whack more easily, and I try to take care of my mind, body and spirit before I get out of balance. Dr. Chi, my acupuncture practitioner, says happiness is No. 1. And she’s right. We all have a choice every minute of every day what thoughts we think. It breaks down into choosing whether to be positive or negative and what kind of energy you want to create. Looking at things in a playful way — the way a child does — can keep us thinking positively most of the time, and that energy can affect others. Not that negative thoughts are all bad. I view negative thoughts as an indicator that a need of mine is not being met. If I can identify that need and choose to do something about it, then I might notice a positive shift in my energy. The idea that we get to choose our perceptions or thoughts might be unfamiliar. We might be taught many beliefs, but as adults we can decide whether they are still working for us. At the end of the day, we are
responsible for the beliefs we choose and the consequences of those choices. Blame is not really useful, but it is something that Lindberg is easy to get trapped in. I can blame all kinds of people and situations, but what a waste of energy. That just keeps me stuck and not making the changes I yearn for. Taking responsibility for my choices keeps me out of blame. Even a small step in the direction I want to go in is progress. It is getting unstuck. And life is all about keeping the flow of energy moving. This is where fun and play come in. We all have the need for it, even as adults. As children, this comes to us naturally. If you ever forget how to have fun, just watch a baby. Babies delight in everything. They have very few needs, and if they are all being met the result is a happy, healthy baby. Once they are mobile, the desire to learn is insatiable. Curiosity turns a toddler into a sponge. They want to know how everything works. Sometimes by taking it apart. The need to know is big. Bringing fun and play to everything I do makes life so much more enjoyable. It also keeps my immune system functioning better. You might recall hearing stories of people healing some pretty serious disease by watching funny
On the Web For some good exercise opportunities, see adult classes at the city recreation department:
ci.verona.wi.us movies. Healing takes place. I believe having most of my needs met will keep me happy and hopefully disease free. Many things contribute to our well-being, and if you are familiar with energy-based medicine – which is thousands of years old – you know it’s much easier to move energy patterns before they get stuck in the body. There is always plenty to worry about. That never changes. Unless I’m willing to do something about a concern it can fester into negative thinking. That helps no one. Least of all me. Change can be challenging. I suggest taking it one baby step at a time. You can think about happy babies. They seem to be fearless. The world is their oyster and they don’t let anything stop them from the fun of learning. If you want a reminder of what being a baby was like, you can get the film “Babies” from our library system. It’s about four babies from around the world and what life was like for them. I found it inspiring. My goal is to bring that playful energy to all that I think, say and do. It’s a choice. It’s simple but not that easy. It is also well worth the effort. Jo Ann Lindberg is a City of Verona resident.
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February 13, 2020
Verona Area School District
‘So You Want to Be an Herbalist?’ Wildwood Institute to offer herbalism workshop Feb. 22 NEAL PATTEN Unified Newspaper Group
Herbalist Kathleen Raven Wildwood will provide an overview of herbalist practices at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 3311 Mound View Road. Wildwood, the founder and director of Wildwood Institute, will present on how to heal everyday ailments, make herbal medicines, or begin a career in herbalism. Topics to be discussed include: What herbalists do, why someone might want to become an herbalist, the different types of herbalists (family, community, professional), how to use herbs safely
Cherokee the miniature pony gets petted by Stoner Prairie Elementary School student McKayla Lien, 6, as she visits the Equestrian Club booth during the Verona Area High School Kids’ Carnival on Saturday, April 6, 2019.
Annual kids carnival set for Feb. 15 KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group
Elementary and middle-school age students can spend a morning hanging out with Verona Area High School students this weekend. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., S a t u r d a y, F e b. 1 5 , t h e VAHS Student Council will put on the annual Kids
Carnival. Each year, dozens of VAHS clubs and sports teams set up booths in the school gym and commons What: Verona Area High for children to play, explore School Kids Carnival and learn at as many booths When: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. as they can. Saturday, Feb. 15 The carnival is meant to Where: Verona Area High create connections between School, 300 Richard St. high school students and Cost: $5 per child their younger peers and teach children to give back Info: Visit verona.k12. by allowing them to choose wi.us what charity they want their admission fee to be donated put together the event, said to. Sarah Domres, the facul- the organizations chosen ty member helping students as the beneficiaries for the
If You Go
woman had left behind her husband and children in a Tibetan refugee camp in India to come earn money What: Tibetan refugees in the United States. Uranepresentation ck helped the woman apply When: 6:30-7:30 p.m., for US immigration visas Wednesday, Feb. 19 for her family. Where: Verona Public When the family relocatLibrary, 500 Silent St. ed from India to Madison, Uraneck remained involved Info: veronapubliclibrary. in their lives through soccer org games, holidays and dinners. Her book was published for traveling the world. She became friends with in April 2018 by Wisconthe custodian at her work- sin Historical Society Press place and soon learned the and her talk at the library
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At 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 19, Madison author Madeline Uraneck is set to discuss her award-winning book, “How to Make a Life: A Tibetan Refugee Family and the Midwestern Woman They Adopted,” at the library. Uraneck, also an educator, has journeyed to 64 countries through her role as the International Education Consultant for the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, in addition to several Peace Corps deployments and a passion
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event are MACH ONEHealth, ALS/MSA Association, Reach a Child and Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. T h e VA H S S t u d e n t Council will be selling food starting at 11 a.m., including hot dogs, chips, pizza, fruit snacks, juice and water. For information, visit verona.k12.wi.us. Email reporter Kimberly Wethal at kimberly. wethal@wcinet.com and follow her on Twitter @ kimberly_wethal.
will be presented in partnership with the Wisconsin Historical Society Speakers Bureau. The author’s writings have appeared in publications including WorldView Magazine, Hotline, Global Education, WorldWise Schools and Isthmus, for which she received a Milwaukee Press Club award. For information, visit veronapubliclibrary.org. Neal Patten, community reporter, can be contacted at neal.patten@wcinet.com.
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A t a n y g iv e n t i m e , approximately 8,000 children are in foster care in Wisconsin and 40-50 youths need a foster home. At 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 20, county foster care coordinator Dawn Douglas-Mellom will be presenting at the library on how to become a foster parent and make a difference in a child’s life. Foster children are often victims of abuse or neglect, affected by domestic violence or alcohol or drug abuse, impacted by mental illness, or do not have a strong support network to help them cope with everyday challenges, according to the county’s foster care website. Youth who are provided a safe and stable environment to escape these situations are less likely to become homeless or incarcerated
What: Becoming a Dane County foster parent presentation When: 7-8 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 20 Where: Verona Public Library, 500 Silent St. Info: veronapubliclibrary.org as adults, the website read. Douglas-Mellom will cover topics regarding foster parenting, including what it takes to get licensed as a foster parent, employer questionnaires, background checks, a physical, disclosing recent information from any personal therapy and a home inspection. For information, contact Douglas-Mellom at Dane County Foster Care by calling 242-6303, or visiting fostercare.dcdhs.com.
SAVE THIS DATE! VHS Class of 1975 announces their Class Reunion
Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020 Mt. Vernon Park
Featuring Cuban Pig Roast and Grilled Flip Flop Chicken
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and effectively and how practice legally as a clinical herbalist in the United States. Attendees will also be allowed time to ask questions. The event is free, but registration is required by emailing kathleen@wildwoodinstitute.com. Neal Patten, Verona Community Reporter, can be contacted at neal.patten@ wcinet.com.
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Event held by Verona Area High School student council, clubs
What: Herbalism workshop When: 2-3:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 22 Where: Wildwood Institute, 3311 Mound View Road Info: wildwoodinstitute. com
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File photo by Kimberly Wethal
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February 13, 2020
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Coming up Healthy lifestyles, oral care
Oral care is tied into having a healthy heart. Nurse Barbara will be going over the basics of oral care at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 13 at the senior center. There will be free giveaways at this presentation. For information, call 845-7471.
Midwestern covered bridges
Churches continues its 2020 season with its second show of the year, “Four Weddings and an Elvis.” The show will run at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 13, through Saturday, Feb. 15; 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 20 through Saturday, Feb. 22; and at 2 p.m. on Saturdays Feb. 15 and Feb. 22. Performances will be at the VACT Building, 103 Lincoln St. The show lasts approximately two hours and contains mild adult themes. Tickets are $15.75 for adults; $10.75 for seniors and students. Tickets are available on the VACT website at vact.org.
Dave Mossner will present photographs and stories of 117 covered midwestern bridges at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 13, at the library. Mossner traveled throughout Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin capturing the architecture of the wooden enclosures. The Brothers Four The Verona Area Performing Arts For information, visit veronapubliSeries presents The Brothers Four clibrary.org, or call 845-7180. at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15 at the Romantic comedy Verona Area High School Performing Verona Area Community Theater Arts Center, 300 Richard St.
The group has been playing vintage American folk music since 1957 and are known for their harmonies, counter melodies and rich baritones. Tickets are $32 for adults; $30 for seniors over 65; $10 for students 18 and under. Tickets are available at www.vapas. org.
Heartburn presentation Rho Chi Pharmacy Honor Society students from the UW School of Pharmacy will be presenting on Heartburn at the senior center at 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 19. The students will be discussing the causes and triggers of heartburn, as well as what can be done to reduce heartburn. They will also give some healthy lifestyle tips to help you stay heartburn free. For information, call 845-7471.
Community calendar Thursday, Feb. 13
• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Free AARP tax services, senior center, 845-7471 • 10:30 a.m., Oral care basics, senior center, 845-7471 • 4-5:30 p.m., Teen Dungeons & Dragons for ages 12-18, library, 845-7180 • 6 p.m., Live music: Caravan Gypsy Swing Duo, Paoli Schoolhouse Bistro, 6857 Paoli Road in Paoli, 516-9649 • 6:30-7:30 p.m., Covered bridges in the Upper Midwest presentation, library, 845-7180 • 6:30-9 p.m., Live Celtic harp music by Matt DeBlass, Fisher King Winery, 1105 Laser St., 4971056 • 7-9 p.m., Homebrewing Stammtisch, Wisconsin Brewing Company, 1079 American Way, 8481079 • 7:30 p.m., VACT presents “Four Weddings and an Elvis” ($10.75$15.75), Verona Area Community Theater, 103 Lincoln St., vact.org
Friday, Feb. 14
• 11-11:30 a.m., Kindness story time for children up to 5 years, Willow Pointe, 1125 N. Edge Trail,
845-7180 • 6-8 p.m., Live music: Jim White, Paoli Schoolhouse Bistro, 6857 Paoli Road in Paoli, 516-9649 • 6-8 p.m., Live music: Van Orman and Helwin, The Hop Garden, 6818 Canal St. in Paoli, 848-6261 • 7-9 p.m., Live music: Mackenzie Moore, Fisher King Winery, 1105 Laser St., 497-1056 • 7:30 p.m., VACT presents “Four Weddings and an Elvis” ($10.75$15.75), Verona Area Community Theater, 103 Lincoln St., vact.org
Saturday, Feb. 15
• 2 p.m., VACT presents “Four Weddings and an Elvis” ($10.75$15.75), Verona Area Community Theater, 103 Lincoln St., vact.org • 6-8 p.m., Live music: Mark Harrod, Paoli Schoolhouse Bistro, 6857 Paoli Road in Paoli, 5169649 • 7-9 p.m., Live music: Benjamin Scully, Fisher King Winery, 1105 Laser St., 497-1056 • 7-10 p.m., Verona Area Performing Arts Series: The Brothers Four ($10-$32), Verona Area High School Performing Arts Center, 300 Richard St., vapas.org
• 7-10 p.m., Live music: Deep Pool, Hop Haus Brewing Company, 231 S. Main St., 497-3165 • 7:30 p.m., VACT presents “Four Weddings and an Elvis” ($10.75$15.75), Verona Area Community Theater, 103 Lincoln St., vact.org
Sunday, Feb. 16
• 10 a.m., Orientation for new volunteers, Angel’s Wish Pet Adoption and Resource Center, 161 Horizon Drive, 848-4174
Monday, Feb. 17
• Noon to 3 p.m., Jewelry making, Brick House Studio, 101 N. Main St., shopthepurplegoose.com
Wednesday, Feb. 19
• 11:30 a.m., Causes and triggers of heartburn presentation, senior center, 845-7471 • 1:30-2 p.m., Kids yoga for ages 2-6, library, 845-7180 • 4 p.m., Pokémon Club for ages 6-11, library, 845-7180 • 6 p.m., Basics of blogging workshop, senior center, 845-7471 • 6:30-7:30 p.m., Immigration Then and Now: A Tibetan American Family and the Woman They Adopted, library, 845-7180
What’s on VHAT-98 Thursday, Feb. 13 7 a.m. — Ron, Rosie & Rodger at Senior Center 8 a.m. — Zumba Gold 9 a.m. — Daily Exercise 10 a.m. — Eleanor Maher at Senior Center 2 p.m. — Zumba Gold 3 p.m. — Daily Exercise 4 p.m. — 4 Seasons Theater at Senior Center 5 p.m. — Ellis Island at Senior Center 6 p.m. — Salem Church Service 7 p.m. — MIA at Senior Center 8 p.m. — Daily Exercise 9 p.m. — Greg Anderson at Senior Center 10 p.m. — League of Women Voters at Senior Center Friday, Feb. 14 7 a.m. — 4 Seasons Theater at Senior Center 1 p.m. — Greg Anderson at Senior Center 3 p.m. — Vintage Verona Sports 4 p.m. — Ellis Island at Senior Center 5 p.m. — 2018 Wildcats Football 9 p.m. — Vintage Verona Sports 10 p.m. — Ron, Rosie & Rodger at Senior Center 11 p.m. — Eleanor Maher at Senior Center
All Saints Lutheran Church 2951 Chapel Valley Rd., Fitchburg (608) 276-7729 allsaints-madison.org Pastor Kristin Woelk Sunday: 8:30 & 10:45 a.m. The Church in Fitchburg 2833 Raritan Rd., Fitchburg (608) 271-2811 livelifetogether.com Sunday: 8 & 10:45 a.m. Memorial UCC 5705 Lacy Rd., Fitchburg (608) 273-1008 memorialucc.org Interim Pastor Laura Crow Sunday: 9:30 a.m. Good Shephard Lutheran Church ELCA (608) 271-6633 Madison: Raymond Road & Whitney Way, Madison Sunday: 8:30 & 10 a.m.. Verona: Corner of Hwy. PD & Nine Mound Road, Verona Sunday: 9 & 10:30 a.m. & 6 p.m. Damascus Road Church – West The Verona Senior Center 108 Paoli St., Verona (608) 819-6451 info@damascusroadchurch.com, damascusroadonline.org Pastor Justin Burge Sunday: 10 a.m. Memorial Baptist Church 201 S. Main St., Verona (608) 845-7125 MBCverona.org Lead Pastor Jeremy Scott Sunday: 10:15 a.m. Redeemer Bible Fellowship 130 N. Franklin St., Verona (608) 692-2046 redeemerbiblefellowship.org Pastor Dwight R. Wise Sunday: 10 a.m. family worship Resurrection Lutheran Church – WELS 6705 Wesner Rd., Verona (608) 848-4965 rlcverona.org Pastors Nathan Strutz and Andrew Ewings, and Assistant Pastor Seth Krueger Thursday: 6:30 p.m. Sunday: 9 a.m. St. Christopher Catholic Parish St. Andrew Church 301 N. Main St., Verona St. William Church 1371 Hwy. PB, Paoli (608) 845-6613 stchristopherverona.com Fr. John Sasse, pastor Saturday: 5 p.m., St. Andrew, Verona Sunday: 7:30 a.m., St. William,
Paoli Sunday: 9 & 11 a.m., St. Andrew, Verona Daily Mass, Tuesday-Saturday: 8 a.m., St. Andrew, Verona
St. James Lutheran Church ELCA 427 S. Main St., Verona (608) 845-6922 stjamesverona.org Pastors Kurt M. Billings and Peter Narum Office Hours: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday; 8 a.m.-noon Wednesday Saturday Worship: 5 p.m. Sunday Worship: 8:30 and 10:45 a.m. Salem United Church of Christ 502 Mark Dr., Verona (608) 845-7315 salemchurchverona.org Rev. Dr. Mark E. Yurs, Pastor Sunday school for all ages: 9 a.m. Worship: 10:15 a.m. Fellowship: 11:30 a.m. Springdale Lutheran Church ELCA 2752 Town Hall Rd. (off Hwy ID), Mount Horeb (608) 437-3493 springdalelutheran.org Revs. Loren and Linda Schumacher Sunday: 8:45 a.m. with communion Sugar River United Methodist Church 415 W. Verona Ave., Verona (608) 845-5855 sugar.river@sugarriverumc.org, sugarriverumc.org Pastor Gary Holmes 9 & 10:30 a.m. contemporary worship. Sunday School available during worship. Refreshments and fellowship are between services. West Madison Bible Church 2920 Hwy. M, Verona (608) 845-9518 www.wmbiblechurch.org Pastor Dan Kukasky Jr. Sunday Worship: 9:15 a.m. Sunday School: 10:45 a.m. Zwingli United Church of Christ Hwy. 92 & G, Mount Vernon (608) 832-6677 Pastor Brad Brookins Sunday: 10:15 a.m. Zwingli United Church of Christ Hwy. 69 & PB, Paoli (608) 255-1278 paoliucc.com Pastor Rich Pleva Sunday: 9:30 a.m. family worship
A Vale of Tears Saturday, Feb. 15 8 a.m. — Common Council from 02-10-20 11 a.m. — Vintage Verona Sports 1 p.m. — 2018 Wildcats Football 4:30 p.m. — League of Women Voters at Senior Center 6 p.m. — Common Council from 02-10-20 9 p.m. — Vintage Verona Sports 10 p.m. — League of Women Voters at Senior Center 11 p.m. — Eleanor Maher at Senior Center Sunday, Feb. 16 7 a.m. — Hindu Cultural Hour 9 a.m. — Resurrection Church 10 a.m. — Salem Church Service Noon — Common Council from 02-10-20 3 p.m. — Vintage Verona Sports 4:30 p.m. — League of Women Voters at Senior Center 6 p.m. — Common Council from 02-10-20 9 p.m. — Vintage Verona Sports 10 p.m. — League of Women Voters at Senior Center 11 p.m. — Eleanor Maher at
Senior Center Monday, Feb. 17 7 a.m. — 4 Seasons Theater at Senior Center 1 p.m. — Greg Anderson at Senior Center 3 p.m. — Vintage Verona Sports 4 p.m. — Ellis Island at Senior Center 5 p.m. — 2018 Wildcats Football 9 p.m. — Hindu Cultural Hour 10 p.m. — Ron, Rosie & Rodger at Senior Center 11 p.m. — Eleanor Maher at Senior Center Tuesday, Feb. 18 7 a.m. — Ron, Rosie & Rodger at Senior Center 10 a.m. — Zumba Gold 9 a.m. — Daily Exercise 10 a.m. — Eleanor Maher at Senior Center 2 p.m. — Zumba Gold 3 p.m. — Daily Exercise 4 p.m. — 4 Seasons Theater at Senior Center 5 p.m. — Ellis Island at Senior Center 6 p.m. — Resurrection Church 8 p.m. — MIA at Senior Center 9 p.m. — Greg Anderson at Senior Center 10 p.m. — League of Women Voters at Senior Center
Wednesday, Feb. 19 7 a.m. — 4 Seasons Theater at Senior Center 1 p.m. — Greg Anderson at Senior Center 3 p.m. — Vintage Verona Sports 5 p.m. — Common Council from 02-10-20 7 p.m. — Capital City Band 8 p.m. — Vintage Verona Sports 10 p.m. — Ron, Rosie & Rodger at Senior Center 11 p.m. — Eleanor Maher at Senior Center Thursday, Feb. 20 7 a.m. — Ron, Rosie & Rodger at Senior Center 8 a.m. — Zumba Gold 9 a.m. — Daily Exercise 10 a.m. — Eleanor Maher at Senior Center 2 p.m. — Zumba Gold 3 p.m. — Daily Exercise 4 p.m. — 4 Seasons Theater at Senior Center 5 p.m. — Ellis Island at Senior Center 6 p.m. — Salem Church Service 7 p.m. — MIA at Senior Center 8 p.m. — Daily Exercise 9 p.m. — Greg Anderson at Senior Center 10 p.m. — League of Women Voters at Senior Center
The world has often been described as a vale of tears, a place of profound and often pointless suffering.Many of the psalms are drenched in those tears, and even the usually hopeful Saint Paul describes creation as “groaning as in the pains of childbirth.”(Romans 8:22 NIV)The Buddha concurred,saying that life is essentially suffering, and philosophers throughout the ages have tended to agree, some even going so far as to suggest that it would be better to have never been born. The philosopher who composed Ecclesiastes says “And I declared that the dead,who had already died, are happier than the living,who are still alive.But better than both is the one who has never been born,who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.”(Ecclesiastes 4:2-3 NIV) It would be foolish to deny that the world is rife with suffering, and yet perhaps all this pessimism says more about the philosophers and psalmists than it does about the world.Life is surely also a source of great pleasure and indescribable beauty, and many of us find meaning in life precisely to the extent that we help to relieve the suffering of ourselves and others. We shouldn’t deny the pain and suffering inherent in the world, but we shouldn’t fall prey to the delusion that it is all there is to the world. – Christopher Simon
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The Verona Press
Spring election
State-wide primary set for Feb. 18 No local elections have run-off races KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group
While there are no local races on the ballot for the Tuesday, Feb. 18, election, voters will narrow down the candidates for a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. There are three candidates who are running for the 10-year state seat – incumbent Daniel Kelly, Ed Fallone and Jill. J. Karofsky – which will reduce to two for the April 7 election.
Kelly first joined the Supreme Court in 2016 when he was appointed by Gov. Scott Walker to fill Justice David Prosser’s vacated seat. Kelly, a former special prosecutor for the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office who has co-founded his own law firm, is an advocate for school choice and individual’s rights, according to his campaign website. Fallone, who has been a law professor at Marquette University since 1992, has dedicated his life to making the legal system more affordable and supporting
Check your registration Before you head to the polls, check to make sure your registration is up to date, especially if you’ve moved since the last election. People can check their voter registration status online at myvote.wi.gov, as well as see where their polling place is located and look who’s on their ballot. the needs of Wisconsin’s Latino community, according to his campaign website. Fallone, who first ran for the Supreme Court in 2013, said on his campaign website that he wants to
return integrity to the court through nonpartisanship. Dane County circuit court judge Karofsky’s campaign website states she aims to get the state and country back on the right track and
pledges to serve the needs of crime victims, promote racial justice and protect marriage equality and women’s rights. Kelly received an endorsement from President Donald Trump during one of the president’s rallies in January, and both Fallone and Karofsky are being b a c ke d b y p r o g r e s s ive elected officials and judges. For the greater Verona area, there is only one local race that is contested for the April 7 election. That race is for the at-large seat on the Verona Area Board of Education, which has incumbent
Debbie Biddle and newcomer Bob Ross running against one another. All other races for the board of education, the city, town and county only have one person running for them. The April election will also feature a primary race for Democratic party presidential candidates, who will then run against Trump in the November general election. Email reporter Kimberly Wethal at kimberly. wethal@wcinet.com and follow her on Twitter @ kimberly_wethal.
Bagging might earn bragging rights VAHS student advances to national grocery bagging competition NEAL PATTEN Unified Newspaper Group
Luca Totaro reads a magazine in the children’s section during the second annual Wildcats Unite Read-a-Thon on Monday, Jan. 21, 2019, at the library.
Wildcats United to host Read-a-Thon event NEAL PATTEN Unified Newspaper Group
Ve r o n a A r e a H i g h School’s Wildcats United organization will be hosting its third annual Read-a-Thon from noon to 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, at the library. VAHS students will offer free educational activities for children, including readings by local “celebrities,” arts and crafts and a scavenger hunt. The books and activities will focus on climate change. Wildcats United is a VA H S s t u d e n t - d r iv e n charity with a mission to deliver aid to the impoverished citizens of Dane County and to make a
If You Go What: Wildcats United Read-A-Thon When: Noon to 4 p.m., Friday, Feb. 21 Where: Verona Public Library, 500 Silent St. Info: Call 845-4657 difference in the lives of Syrian refugees. It is an outreach organization of the students’ Model United Nations team. For information, please contact VAHS social studies teacher Jason Knoll by calling 845-4657 or emailing knollj@verona.k12.wi.us.
16 teachers awarded VAEF grants KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group
The Verona Area Educational Foundation awarded 16 district teachers with grants for various projects. According to an email from district public information officer Kelly Kloepping, VAEF gave out $7,775 in grants for a variety of projects being led by teachers and staff throughout the district. VAEF, incorporated in February 1992, hosts fundraisers throughout the year to cover the cost of grants it gives out. The two largest went to Badger Ridge and Savanna Oaks middle school and Verona Area High School educators. Each totaling
$1,000, one was awarded to BRMS teacher Shayla Glass-Thompson for the Badger Ridge Black History Month Showcase; the other to Nuoyi Yang for project-based learning about in the Chinese community for SOMS and VAHS. Other grants include an inclusive mural project at VAHS, funding for books and a bat house project at New Century School and a BRMS Latinex Group Opportunity. VAEF grants help fund projects not a part of a school site’s budget that benefit the district’s staff and students. Applications are due on Nov. 1 and recipients are chosen in early December.
A Ve r o n a A r e a H i g h School student will compete against champions from 15 other states at the National Grocers Association’s Best Bagger Championship next week Monday. Alejandro Quechol-Tapia, 18, will compete for a $10,000 grand prize in San Diego, California on Feb. 24. Quechol-Tapia is a bagger at Miller and Sons Supermarket and has worked at the store for two and a half years. Last October, he won the “Great Wisconsin BagOff” competition hosted by the Wisconsin Grocers Association in Wisconsin Dells. Competitors were judged on speed, proper item arrangement technique, style, attitude, personal appearance, number of bags used and uniform bag weight distribution. Each contestant at the national competition will bag identical grocery orders consisting of 30-38 commonly purchased items. Winning the state competition earned Quech o l - Ta p i a $ 5 0 0 a n d a n all-expenses-paid trip to compete in the national contest including roundtrip airfare for two, a twonight hotel stay and $150 in meal expenses. Originally, he planned to take the trip with his mom, but she cannot attend, so
Photo submitted
Miller and Sons employee Alejandro Quechol-Tapia has advanced to a national grocery bagging competition.
Miller and Sons general manager Eddie Roberson will be accompanying him to San Diego. In addition to Roberson, several employees from Certco, Inc., who supply groceries to Miller and Sons, plan to attend to provide Quechol-Tapia a cheering section and will be holding a banner inscribed with “Go! Alejandro! Go!” Kevin Steiner, Miller and Sons manager, said the store began sending baggers to the state competitions eight years ago. The store holds a backroom competition to qualify youth baggers at the store level. Steiner said they send one bagger per year from e a c h t h e Ve r o n a a n d Mount Horeb stores. The participant from Mount Horeb did not place at the state level this year. Last year was
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Kevin Steiner, Miller and Sons manager home with prize money. Second place would earn him $5,000 and finishing in third through fifth place would earn $1,000. Steiner said the national champions sometimes used to be invited onto the The Late Show with David Letterman to show off their superior bagging skills. Neal Patten can be contacted at neal.patten@ wcinet.com.
PATRICK REES Joins Capitol Bank as Assistant Vice President Commercial Lending
Madison, WI: Ken Thompson, President and CEO of Capitol Bank, is pleased to announce the hiring of Patrick Rees as Assistant Vice President Commercial Lending. He comes to Capitol Bank with 11 years of banking experience, 7 of which he has specialized in business banking. Patrick holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. “Early in his career, Patrick has proven himself as a Commercial Lender. We are excited to add his talent to an already strong and diverse team,” said Thompson.
Patrick and his wife live in Middleton with their two-yearold son and two Boston Terriers. His hobbies include gardening, cooking, bowling and following all Badger sports.
(608) 576-1068 115 N. Main St, Verona
“We encourage the kids to do it, they have fun with it, can make money and earn bragging rights. It’s also good on resumes for college.”
Currently, Patrick serves as the Community Board Chair of the Rotary Club of Madison West Towne-Middleton. He also serves as a SCORE Mentor and was formerly a United Way campaign director.
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Q u e c h o l - Ta p i a ’s f i r s t year participating in the state-level contest, but he did not place. An individual may participate in the competition for up to three years. “We encourage the kids to do it, they have fun with it, can make money and earn bragging rights,” Steiner said. “It’s also good on resumes for college.” The competition began in 1987 and only one Wisconsin contestant has been crowned national champion to date, in 2012. While Steiner sends his younger employees to compete, people of any age are eligible for the competition as long as bagging is 40% of their work duties and they have a non-managerial title or role in the store. Even if he does not clinch first place, Quechol-Tapia could still come
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Thursday, February 13, 2020
The
Verona Press For more sports coverage, visit: ConnectVerona.com
Sports
Adam Feiner, sports editor
845-9559 x226 • ungsportseditor@wcinet.com
Mark Nesbitt, assistant sports editor 845-9559 x237 • sportsreporter@wcinet.com Fax: 845-9550
Boys hockey
Four-peat for Wildcats hockey ADAM FEINER Sports editor
The top line for Verona has been one of the best in the state this season, helping the Wildcats accomplish two major feats as the regular season winds down. Verona won its fourth consecutive Big Eight Conference championship with a 5-1 road win over Sun Prairie on Tuesday, Feb. 4. The Wildcats then beat SPASH 5-2 at home Saturday, Feb. 8, a day before postseason brackets were announced. Verona earned the No. 1 seed in the Division 1 Edgewood Sectional and will host the winner of Madison Memorial and Baraboo/ Portage in the regional finals Friday, Feb. 21, at 7 p.m. The Wildcats are ranked fifth in D1 in the latest Wisconsin Prep Hockey Coaches Association Poll.
Verona 5, SPASH 2
After a scoreless first period, Wildcats (19-4, 13-0 Big Eight) erupted for four straight goals in the second to beat the Panthers. Ryan Ritter scored 2:02 into the second off assists from Troy Tollefson and Parker Ploc. Keegan Lindell scored a little more than five minutes later off an assist from Nathan Jurrens. Verona tacked on two power-play goals in the second. Cale Rufenacht collected the assist on Photo by Adam Feiner Walker Haessig’s tally with 7:56 left, then scored with 1:31 left off Verona’s first line of Josh Osting (back left), Leo Renlund (21), Nathan Jurrens (middle), Walker Haessig (9) and Cale Rufenacht celebrate after Jurrens scored in the first period against Sun Prairie on Tuesday, Feb. 4, at Sun Prairie Ice Arena. The Wildcats won 5-1 to clinch their fourth straight Turn to Hockey/Page 9 Big Eight Conference championship.
Boys swimming
VA/MH’s medley relay wins conference title MARK NESBITT Assistant sports editor
When Verona/Mount Horeb sophomore Oscar Best broke the scaphoid bone in his wrist snowboarding, he knew missing critical training time in the pool could become a stumbling block in his push to qualify for state. In his second meet back on Saturday, Feb. 8, Best showcased he’s still in top form as a member of the 200-yard medley relay team that won a Big Eight Conference championship at the Beloit Memorial High School Natatorium. He also finished third in the 50 freestyle (21.94) and the 100 butterfly (52.02). Best said he doesn’t think his wrist is back to 100% yet, but once he starts swimming, adrenaline takes over. The scaphoid bone is one of the carpal bones of the wrist. It is situated between the hand and forearm on the thumb side of the wrist. “Whenever I start, I can feel a strain,” Best said. “Once I’m going, it feels fine. The biggest thing affecting me is the lost time in training.” VA/MH rached up 311 points to finish fifth as a team. It is the third-highest point total the Wildcats have registered at conference in the past 12 seasons. For the second week in a row, we had more season-best times than any other team at the meet,” VA/MH coach Bill
Piscitelli in the top medley relay (1:37.06). “I don’t focus on what seed we are or what heat we are in,” Best said. “We all had state-level splits. That’s the reason we won.” Hoppe used the medley relay to build momentum for another medal later in the meet. “I feel like that (medley relay) set the tempo and the mood for the whole meet,” Hoppe said. “We were hyped.” Best’s time was .01 seconds behind Middleton’s Forrest Peterson for second in the fly. Hoppe finished fourth in the event (54.04) after entering as the eighth seed. Owen Rothamer (55.43) and Bennin (55.79) placed 10th and 11th, respectively. Sophomore Conner Arneson finished third in the 500 free (4:55.93) and 10th in the 200 free (1:50.53). Senior Parker Jones took fifth in the 100 breaststroke (1:02.16), ahead of sophomore teammate Nathan Rozeboom (sixth, 1:02.68). Piscitelli (seventh, 1:02.70) and Bennin (eighth, 1:03.04). Photos by Mark Nesbitt Verona Area/Mount Horeb sophomore Oscar Junior Ben Wellnitz took fifth in the 500 Verona Area/Mount Horeb junior Ben Wellnitz Best (left) congratulates senior Gabe Piscitelli free (4:58.62) and sophomore Avery Blas after the Wildcats captured the Big Eight swims the backstroke during the 200-yard individual medley at the Big Eight Conference Conference title in the 200-yard medley relay finished fifth in the 200 individual medley on Saturday, Feb. 8, at Beloit Memorial High (2:01.55). Meet on Saturday, Feb. 8, in Beloit. Wellnitz Best, Hoppe, Piscitelli and sophomore School. The Wildcats won the event with a finished 10th in the event with a time of Max McCartney placed sixth in the 200 time of 1:37.06. 2:04.97. free relay with a time of 1:29.74. Arneson, Wuerger said. The Wildcats started the meet with a McCartney, Wellnitz and Christopher Lofts Middleton (508) edged Sun Prairie bang, as Best teamed with sophomore Luke Turn to Swimming/Page 10 (494.5) for the conference title. Bennin and seniors Kyle Hoppe and Gabe
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February 13, 2020
The Verona Press
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Wrestling
Wozniak caps week with conference crown ADAM FEINER Sports editor
Ve r o n a s o p h o m o r e C a e l Wozniak won the 145-pound title at the Big Eight Conference Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 8, at Janesville Parker High School. Wozniak and Ben Grandau won both of their matches in the Wildcats’ final tune-up before the conference tournament -a nonconference double dual against Parkview and Mount Horeb on Thursday, Feb. 6.
Big Eight Conference Tournament
Wozniak cruised to three wins, pinning Madison Memorial’s Jon Prine in 3:22 and Janesville Parker’s Dominic Dransfield in 50 seconds before winning a 9-2 decision over Janesville Craig’s Sebastian Getchell in the championship match. Verona heavyweight Jay Hanson finished second with a 2-1 record. He pinned Middleton’s Jack Amus in 41 seconds and Craig’s Braeden Hopkins in 1:44 before falling to Madison Memorial’s Patrick McDonald in the championship bout. Caden Page placed fourth at 170 pounds with a 2-2 record. He pinned Madison West’s Patrick Burke in 1:51 to start his day and pinned Janesville Parker’s Jacob Law in 1:01 in his third match. Adam Murphy (195) took fifth with a 3-2 record. He pinned Middleton’s Adham Elshaboury in 1:37 and beat Sun Prairie’s Isaiah Abernathy-Duewel 7-2, then received a medical forfeit victory over Craig’s Joe Smith in the fifth-place match. Grandau (126) and Logan Neuroth (138) also finished fifth with 2-2 records. Each won their second and fourth matches. Grandau beat Middleton’s Walker Hargrove 3-0 and pinned Beloit Memorial’s Paul Allen at
Photo by Adam Feiner
Verona’s Cael Wozniak (top) controls Parkview’s Tom Kuffner during their 145-pound match Thursday, Feb. 6, in Mount Horeb. Wozniak won both of his matches in the double dual against Parkview and Mount Horeb, then went on to win the 145-pound title at the Big Eight Conference Tournament. the 2:39 mark of their fifth-place bout. Neuroth pinned Madison East’s Nathan Starr in 44 seconds and Madison Memorial’s Colin Driscoll in 27 seconds. Blake Herburger (106) lost his first two matches, but pinned Madison Memorial’s Griffin Paulsen at the 2:33 mark of their seventh-place match. The Wildcats finished sixth out of 10 teams with 197 points. Janesville Craig won the team
title with 311 points.
Mount Horeb 36, Verona 29 Parkview 54, Verona 24 The Wildcats competed with their varsity reserve squad in Mount Horeb, falling to the pair of Vikings. Grandau (126) pinned Parkview’s Paul Keintz in 1:04 and Mount Horeb’s Austin Ringgenberg in 1:07. Wo z n i a k ( 1 4 5 ) p i n n e d
Parkview’s Tom Kuffner in 1:33 and won by 16-1 technical fall over Mount Horeb’s Wesley Drager. Jimmy Shields (182) received a forfeit victory against Mount Horeb. Spencer Lokken (160) pinned Mount Horeb’s Lorenz Sieber in 2:45 after falling to Parkview’s Wyatt Egan. Atticus Marse (138) and Taggart Snell (170) received forfeit victories against Parkview, then
lost to their Mount Horeb opponents. Jacob Munson (132) and Garrett Heitke (285) received forfeit victories against Mount Horeb after falling to their Parkview opponents. Ben Willkom (182) lost by pin against Parkview’s Luke Schwengels. Blake Herburger lost at 106 against Parkview’s Evan Suer and at 113 against Mount Horeb’s Jax Pernot. Zane Oshiro (152) lost both of his matches by pin.
Hockey: First line pushes Wildcats to top sectional seed Continued from page 8 assists from Ritter and Leo Renlund. SPASH scored 37 seconds before the second intermission and 6:40 into the third period to cut it to 4-2, but Rufenacht added an insurance goal with 1:03 left in the game off an assist from Haessig. The Wildcats outshot the Panthers 34-22, finished 2-for-4 on the power play and killed all four penalties. Kaden Grant made 20 saves in the win.
Verona 5, Sun Prairie 1
Rufenacht recorded a hat trick and also had an assist as the Wildcats clinched their fourth straight Big Eight title. “It’s kind of an expectation at this point,” Rufenacht said of winning the conference crown. “We came into this season expecting to win conference. When we all buy in, we feel like we can beat anybody.” The Wildcats put a damper on Sun Prairie’s Senior Night by snapping the Cardinals’ six-game winning streak. The first line of Rufenacht, Haessig, Jurrens, Renlund and Josh Osting recorded all of Verona’s points. “I’d take our guys any day against anybody,” Verona coach Joel Marshall said. “When they’re on, they’re one of the best units in the state. They were really clicking and challenged themselves after a tough loss (to Arrowhead on Saturday, Feb. 1).” The Wildcats finished 1-for-4 on the power play, capitalizing on their second opportunity with 5:08 left in the first period. Jurrens ripped a wrister over the right
shoulder of Sun Prairie goaltender Alex Liegel, as Rufenacht and Renlund assisted on the goal. Verona made it 2-0 with 1:21 left before the first intermission. Renlund applied pressure to Liegel, stole the puck away and found Rufenacht in front for his first goal. Rufenacht was denied by Liegel on a penalty shot 27 seconds into the second period, but he picked up his third point with 3:02 left before the second intermission. The captain muscled his way in front for a short-handed goal off an assist from Haessig. Renlund beat Liegel five-hole on a breakaway 38 seconds into the third period to make it 4-0. Sun Prairie took advantage of a Verona turnover to avoid the shutout. Davis Hamilton took a pass from Kaden Bunson and beat Grant blocker side with 4:38 remaining. Rufenacht completed his hat trick by tipping in a shot from the point by Renlund with 1:59 left. Osting also assisted on the goal. The Wildcats dominated possession and outshot the Cardinals 50-15. Grant finished with 14 saves. “We’re on a wider sheet of ice in Verona, so we’ve struggled a little on smaller rinks,” Marshall said. “But we controlled the puck and hit area passes that we were able to track down. Our puck placement Photo by Adam Feiner Verona’s Cale Rufenacht skates into the offensive zone during the second period against Sun was as good as I’ve seen all year.” Liegel made 45 saves for Sun Prairie, Prairie on Tuesday, Feb. 4, at Sun Prairie Ice Arena. He had a hat trick and an assist in the Wildcats’ 5-1 win. which went 0-for-5 on the power play.
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February 13, 2020
The Verona Press
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Prep sports
Quintet of Wildcats sign NLIs MARK NESBITT
When I started, it was this huge goal I always wanted to achieve. I never thought it would be possible.” McCartney also looked at Butler and other colleges in the Midwest. She made an official visit to Seton Hall in October and stayed overnight with the team. “It felt so close like a family and the coaching staff was so supportive,” McCartney said. “It’s really the college experience I want with a really close team, really strong academics and opportunities at a big university.” Seton Hall, located in South Orange, New Jersey, is a member of the Big Eight Conference.
Assistant sports editor
Five Verona seniors signed National Letters of Intent on Wednesday, Feb. 5, to continue their athletic careers at Division I colleges. Leah Remiker (women’s track & field) and Eliot Popkewitz (men’s soccer) are staying close to home at Wisconsin, Gunnar Kilen signed to play football at Northern Iowa, Josie McCartney will swim at Seton Hall and Kasie Keyes will play softball at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis.
Remiker, Popkweitz to join Badgers
Remiker will feel right at home in Madison since both of her parents went to UW. “All of my family went there and I went on a tour and realized that was what I wanted to do,” she said. “They made such great memories there. It’s a family thing.” Remiker said it’s good to have her college decision official. She drew recruiting interest from several Division I schools and also considered Minnesota, Drake and Illinois State. “I was nervous leading up to it,” she said. “I know it wasn’t set in stone. Now that it’s actually set, it’s like this is happening and real.” Remiker is a three-time Division 1 state qualifier at Verona. Despite battling shin splints and tendinitis in her knee that sabotaged her training regimen last spring, she qualified for state in the 800-meter run and finished 14th (2:19.45). Remiker’s best time in the 800 is 2:18, three seconds away from the school record. She will look to etch her name in the school record books before becoming a middle distance runner for the Badgers. “I’m hoping to return to state,” she said, “and I would really like to get the school record in the 800.” Popkewitz’s decision capped off a standout prep career after he led the Wildcats to the Division 1 state championship in the program’s
Photo by Adam Feiner
Verona seniors (from left) Gunnar Kilen, Josie McCartney, Kasie Keyes, Eliot Popkewitz and Leah Remiker pose after signing their National Letter of Intent on Wednesday, Feb. 5, at Verona Area High School. Kilen will play football at Northern Iowa, McCartney will swim at Seton Hall, Keyes will play softball at IUPUI, Popkewitz will play soccer at Wisconsin and Remiker will compete in track & field at Wisconsin. inaugural state appearance. The Badgers were on Popkewitz’s mind at an early age. He has had a Wisconsin soccer scarf hanging up in his bedroom since he was 10. “It’s always been a dream of mine to play soccer at Wisconsin,” he said. “I’m finishing that step of the dream, so it feels great.” The 5-foot-8 midfielder and threeyear captain became the program leader in goals (40) after finding the back of the net 14 times and dished out a single-season program record 16 assists. However, Popkewitz will make the switch to left back for UW. He played the position for his Madison 56ers club team. “I’m happy to play anywhere, but they have explicitly told me I will be playing left back,” he said. “There will definitely be a little bit of a learning curve, but I’ve already started embracing it.” Popkewitz was a first-team allBig Eight Conference selection the last two seasons. He was the Big Eight player of the year and included in the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association’s “Best 11” on the allstate team as a senior. He was also
selected to the 2019 United Soccer “Northern Iowa had the best footCoaches Fall High School Boys All- ball program,” Kilen said. “At the Great Lakes Region Team. end of the day, I’m going to go there for a great education and I’m going Kilen finds home at UNI into construction management, A 6-foot-7, 280-pound center, which is a great degree. It’s a great Kilen was recruited as a building program, it’s close to home and a block along the Panthers’ offensive great fit.” line. Kilen made seven visits to cam- McCartney feels pus in Cedar Falls, Iowa. UNI went like family with Pirates McCartney was a four-time Divi10-5 last season, finished second in the Missouri Valley Football Confer- sion 1 state qualifier for the Verona ence and advanced to the FCS quar- Area/Mount Horeb girls swimming team. terfinals. She was a member of the Wild“I didn’t sign in December, and over time I narrowed my choices cats’ 200-yard medley relay team and it seemed like a no-brainer,” that won a state title with a time of Kilen said. “After a while, it just 1:43.34, helping VA/MH to a fourthplace finish in the team standings. made sense.” He combined with fellow senior She also finished seventh in the 100 Adam Vandervest, a Western Mich- butterfly as a junior and 15th as a igan recruit, to pave the way for a senior. McCartney was recruited to swim Verona rushing attack that averaged 241.5 yards per game and finished the butterfly, but said she also will swim the 100- and 200-yard freethe season 7-3. Kilen received 22 Division I style. “It’s a really amazing opportunity offers and considered Colorado State, Wyoming and Ball State. He and I’m thankful I was able to get to was a defensive lineman in youth this point,” she said. “Looking back football, and didn’t make the switch at my whole swimming career, it was a big thing to swim in college. to offense until 2018.
Girls basketball
Murphy paces Wildcats in losses ADAM FEINER Sports editor
Verona came into last week having won three straight games against Big Eight Conference opponents, but hit a pair of stumbling blocks at home. The Wildcats couldn’t keep up with Sun Prairie in a 61-40 loss Thursday, Feb. 6, and hung tough but fell to Madison Memorial 61-52 two days later.
Madison Memorial 61, Verona 52
Megan Murphy poured in a game-high 23 points for the Wildcats (8-10, 7-8 Big Eight), who had just five players score in the game. Rayna Briggs added 12 points and Katie Pederson chipped in eight. Paige Lambe and Abbi Rupnow had five and four points, respectively. Verona trailed 33-30 at halftime against the Spartans, who came into the game ranked third in the Division 1 Associated Press state poll. Penn State recruit Leilani Kapinus paced Memorial with 17 points.
Photo by Adam Feiner
Verona senior Rachel Parman tries to steal the ball from Sun Prairie freshman Antionique Auston (25) late in the second half Thursday, Feb. 6, in Verona. The Wildcats lost 61-40.
Pederson scored Verona’s first five points, but Sun Prairie used dribble penetration and quick passes to score 14 straight points to go up 18-5. The Wildcats struggled with turnovers during the stretch and went nine minutes without scoring. Murphy hit a baseline floater with 7:08 left in the first half to end the drought. Sun Prairie 61, Verona 40 “We couldn’t make a basket,” VeroAn active 2-3 zone helped the Wildcats na coach Angie Murphy said. “We hung stay close in the early stages of the game, around and made some good adjustments but the Cardinals’ height ultimately won defensively, but they’re a bad matchout on both ends of the court. up for us with their height. They also
face-guarded Rayna and Megan.” Verona scored the final four points of the half to cut its deficit to 22-11 at the break. The Wildcats cut it to single digits five times in the second half, but each time the Cardinals answered. Megan Murphy drilled back-to-back 3-pointers from the right wing to cut it to 36-27 with 7:33 left, but Sun Prairie used a 19-7 run over the next four minutes to push its lead over 20. “We have to get back in transition better against a team like this,” Angie Murphy said. “We also didn’t get to the shooters when we needed to and couldn’t keep 34 (Jazzanay Seymore) off the glass.” The Wildcats entered the bonus with 11:36 left, but shot just five free throws down the stretch. Murphy finished with a team-high 13 points and Pederson added seven points. Briggs (seven) and Rachel Parman (six) scored all of their points in the second half. Sun Prairie’s Marie Outlay poured in a game-high 16 points. Seymore chipped in 13 points, and Antionique Auston and Ashley Rae each scored 10 of their 12 points in the second half.
Keyes follows faith to Indy
Keyes used a family connection to get an opportunity to continue her softball career at IUPUI. Her sister, Cori Keyes, played softball at Detroit Mercy, one of the Jaguars’ conference rivals in the Horizon League. “It’s such a relief,” Kasie Keyes said. “I didn’t know where I was going at the beginning of my senior year, so I just put all my faith in God. He led me down a path to the right school.” Keyes said she reached out to IUPUI on a “leap of faith”. She attended a softball camp in November, and at the end of that month, she made an official visit that resulted in a scholarship offer. “The campus is beautiful,” she said, “and it’s downtown Indianapolis, so what’s not to like? I’m familiar with the conference and it’s a perfect fit for me.” A slick-fielding, power-hitting shortstop for the Wildcats, Keyes was a key cog in Verona’s undefeated run through the Big Eight Conference last season. She led the Wildcats in doubles (13), walks (16) and slugging percentage (.814) on her way to three prestigious honors — first-team all-conference, honorable mention all-state and first-team all-district. IUPUI went 18-38 and finished fifth in the Horizon League last season.
Swimming: Best returns to form for VA/MH Continued from page 8 placed eighth in the 400 free relay (3:24.66). Hoppe and many of his teammates were partially-tapered for the conference meet, but all will be fully-tapered for the Division 1 Middleton Sectional on Saturday, Feb. 15. “We’re looking forward to our sectional taper group dropping substantial amounts of time this week,” Wuerger said.
Photo by Mark Nesbitt
Verona Area/Mount Horeb sophomore Nathan Rozeboom swims the breaststroke during the 200-yard individual medley on Saturday, Feb. 8, at the Big Eight Conference Meet at Beloit Memorial High School.
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Girls hockey
Lynx earn top sectional seed ADAM FEINER Sports editor
assisted on the goal. Grace Bonnell skated through the Blackhawks’ defense and beat Severson five-hole less than two minutes later to make it 2-0. Sydney Raaths scored 1:04 into the second period off an assist from Rachel Mirwald. The Lynx took advantage of their only power-play opportunity, as Raaths faked out Severson and sent a backhand into the back of the net with 1:20 left before the second intermission. Sam Olander ripped a slap shot from the left slot past Severson 2:22 into the third period off an assist from Ruby Dykstra. Lynx goaltender Addie Armstrong made 10 saves in the shutout. Severson finished with 45 stops.
The Madison Metro Lynx girls hockey co-op was rewarded for building a strong resume this season. The Lynx will bypass regional competition as the No. 1 seed in the Sun Prairie Sectional, putting them just two wins away from the state tournament. Madison earned the top seed over the Cap City Cougars, who lead the Lynx by one game in the Badger Conference. “We were lucky,” Lynx coach Mike McKersie said. “Cap City is a really tough opponent that was probably just as deserving to get the No. 1 seed. There are also some teams in the sectional that could play spoiler.” Metro Lynx 4, Madison (19-3, 9-2 Badger) will host the winner of Black Riv- Central Wisconsin 2 Madison earned a marquee er Falls and Viroqua in the sectional semifinals Tuesday, Feb. nonconference road win over the Storm on Saturday, Feb. 8, at 25, at Madison Ice Arena. Greenheck Field House in SchoMetro Lynx 5, Viroqua 0 field. Madison beat the Blackhawks Central Wisconsin came into for the second time in five days in the game ranked No. 1 in the a conference game Monday, Feb. Wisconsin Prep Hockey Coaches 10, at Madison Ice Arena. Poll, while the Lynx were ranked T h e Ly n x , r a n ke d s e c o n d fifth. behind Eau Claire Area in the Raaths scored two first-period latest Wisconsin Prep Hockey goals, the first at the 8:26 mark Coaches Association Poll, outshot off an assist from Mirwald, and Viroqua 50-10 and killed all three the second a little more than four penalties. minutes later off assists from “The girls are playing really Bonnell and Lauren Johnson. well right now,” McKersie said. Mirwald scored on the pow“We’re getting good puck move- er play a minute into the second ment and good speed through the period off assists from Bonnell neutral zone, which really helps and Johnson to make it 3-0 Lynx. us get into a good attack.” The Storm cut it to 3-2 after Maddy Ahlborn got the Lynx two periods, but Claire Wischhoff on the board when she banked a scored on the power play with shot from the right side off Vir- 11:51 left off assists from Bonnell oqua goaltender Abigail Sever- and Ava Jambor. son and into the back of the net The Lynx finished 2-for-5 on with 6:25 left in the first period. the power play and killed two of Abby Ahlborn and Josie Dragoo three penalties. The Storm held
Photo by Adam Feiner
Verona sophomore Rachel Mirwald (left) skates past Viroqua’s Rhiannon Dehlin during the first period Monday, Feb. 10, at Madison Ice Arena. Mirwald had one assist in the Metro Lynx’s 5-0 win. a slight edge in shots (18-17), as into the game to give the BlackArmstrong made 16 saves in the hawks their only lead. Raaths tied it 19 seconds later off an win. assist from Ally Jacobson. Metro Lynx 3, Viroqua 1 Kaya Pelton-Byce scored Madison scored the final three the go-ahead goal early in the goals in a Badger road win Thurs- third period off assists from day, Feb. 6, at Viroqua Communi- Jacobson and Maddy Ahlborn. ty Arena. Raaths added a short-handed Rachel Simonson scored 2:33 empty-netter off an assist from
Bonnell with 1:07 left to seal the victory. The Lynx outshot the Blackhawks 49-7 and killed off both penalties, but went 0-for-6 on the power play. Cam McKersie returned to the lineup and made six saves in the win. Severson made 46 saves.
Gymnastics
Boys basketball
Wildcat/Crusaders take third in Middleton
Verona falls to Regents, Eagles
MARK NESBITT
MARK NESBITT
Assistant sports editor
the vault (8.6) and eighth on the balance beam (8.5). Freshman Katie Ryan finished eighth on the floor (8.7) and ninth on the vault (8.25). Sophomore Lily Merrick tied Weiler for 10th on the floor (8.6) and added an 11th-place finish on the uneven bars (7.975).
The Verona/Edgewood gymnastics team had three of the top six all-around gymnasts and finished third at the Cardinal Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 8, at Middleton High School. The Wildcat/Crusaders improved to 4-2 Verona/Edgewood 130.475, in Big Eight Conference duals after edg- Sun Prairie 128 ing Sun Prairie 130.475-128 on the road Ryan was the only member of the co-op Thursday, Feb. 6, at Prairie Phoenix Acad- to win an event, but depth carried the Wildemy. cat/Crusaders past the Cardinals Ryan won the vault (8.6) and took secCardinal Invitational ond on the floor (8.6) and third on the balSenior Hailey Dohnal finished fourth in ance beam (8.3). the all-around competition with a score of “I usually have my legs apart and I was 33.80 to pace the Wildcat/Crusaders. really tight with my legs together,” Ryan Freshman Ella Crowley took fifth (33.10) said of her vault. “It’s one of my higher and sophomore Alyssa Fischer placed sixth scores.” Crowley had the team’s top score on the (32.40) out of 40 gymnasts. Verona/Edgewood finished third as a balance beam, taking second (8.475). She team with 133.075 points. Host Middle- also finished second in the all-around comton (136.675) edged the Waukesha co-op petition (32.270). Crowley said it was a strong perfor(135.65) for the team title. mance considering the team was missing Dohnal finished second in the vault two gymnasts. (8.70), just behind Middleton’s Taylor “We definitely had a lot more confidence Engelkes (8.75). Dohnal added a fourth- at this meet than some others,” she said. place finish on the floor (8.85) and a sev- “We just wanted to do better than we did at enth-place finish on the balance beam our other meets and improve as best as we (8.525). can. We just wanted to be confident and do Fischer took second on the uneven bars our routines like we do in practice.” (8.550), just behind Middleton’s Megg Fischer led the team with a score of Weiler (8.725). Crowley finished fourth on 8.275 on the uneven bars.
Assistant sports editor
The Verona boys basketball team dropped two games last week, including a Big Eight Conference road game against rival Madison West on Friday, Feb. 7. The Regents beat the Wildcats 67-53. Verona was coming off a 53-47 home loss to Sauk Prairie in a nonconference home loss Tuesday, Feb. 4. The Wildcats (3-15, 3-10 Big Eight) host Sun Prairie on Thursday, Feb. 13.
Madison West 67, Verona 53
Senior Adam Bekx scored a team-high 16 points, but the Wildcats couldn’t come back to beat the Regents. Senior Haakon Anderson added 11 points and junior Bennett Sherry chipped in 10 for Verona. Senior Dayne Armwald scored a game-high 26 points for West, which led 33-28 at halftime.
Sauk Prairie 53, Verona 47 Photo by Mark Nesbitt
Verona freshman Ella Crowley competes on the balance beam in a Big Eight Conference road dual against Sun Prairie on Thursday, Feb. 6, at Prairie Phoenix Academy. She finished second in the event (8.475).
The Eagles rallied behind Trevor Spray and Isaac Breunig to edge the Wildcats. Verona led 22-20 at halftime, but couldn’t hold on. Bekx scored a team-high 16 points and Anderson pitched in 10. Spray scored a gamehigh 18 points and Breunig added 16.
ConnectVerona.com The Verona Press 12 Commons : Developer incentive about half of company’s previous request February 13, 2020
Continued from page 1 conference center, all of which were approved by the city last year. The money will come from a tax-increment financing district the city created in September 2017 specifically for the project, and it will reimburse the developer only as property taxes are paid to the district. That district – created by a previous mayoral administration with six of eight alders having since left – allows the city to spend up to $9 million of tax increment for Sugar Creek Commons, other potential nearby projects and related infrastructure. Tax increment is the combination of property taxes paid from all underlying taxing districts (school district, city, county and technical college district) on the increased value of the property, meaning construction on the site will have to exceed the value it had previously before the developer will get any rebates. TIF is widely considered to be the only powerful economic development tool cities have. “This means if the developer does not build anything, as sometimes the developer doesn’t, the city’s not on the hook for anything,” Diaz told the council.
Map courtesy Forward Development Group
A map showing the development boundary for the Sugar Creek Commons project and the properties that once were on the site including the Chinmi truck stop, an adjacent parking lot with two separate owners, Badger Car Wash, Avenue Auto and a volleyball court formerly used by Wildcat Lanes. Still standing are four small apartment buildings along Topp Avenue.
Contingency plans
Verona-based FDG now has three major projects ready to start in Verona, including the 200-acre northside Whispering Coves subdivision, which also got a developer agreement approved Monday. The other is a 100-unit senior housing complex on North Main Street that got its first approval nearly three years ago before being revised last spring, but has yet to have ground broken. Alders chose not to go
into closed session, with Diaz pointing out that being a final agreement, there would be no bargaining position to protect. Alders asked several questions about legalities of the deal and how it will ensure completeness of the public improvements once they begin. A memo included in the city’s meeting packet Monday states the developer anticipates starting construction in the spring, though language in the deal suggests that won’t
happen before June 15 – a week after the Hometown Days parade route ends on that corner. The deal also requires the developer to finish public improvements by the end of the year and to provide a letter of credit that would allow the city to finish the improvements – mostly rebuilding the Legion Street intersection and adjacent roads – if they are started but not complete by next summer. The city could also cancel the agreement at that time if no progress is made.
FDG representative Ron Henshue told the Press last fall the company had every approval needed from the city and state except the developer agreement. In late May 2019, the company tore down all the buildings on the site other than the four apartment buildings in the back, and Henshue told the Press in June he hoped it would start construction within a month or two. But several closed sessions of the council in the ensuing weeks analyzing the numbers and discussing proposed terms yielded no deal, and talks seemed to stall shortly before the city passed its budget in November.
TIF justification
The use of TIF requires a legal justification that the improvements would not happen without its use, and typically, it must be a project the municipality considers a public good of some sort. One justification for this investment would be the removal of a former truck s t o p c i t y l e a d e r s h ave repeatedly called a blight on the area. Such projects bring a cost for demolition and often for soil remediation, as gas tanks below it almost certainly leached into the ground. FDG has reported its soil
testing of the site indicated it would not be more expensive than it projected initially because the site is closed to 20 feet – meaning no further action is required. The underground parking for the hotel and conference center is the only construction planned in the truck stop area and would not go more than 14 feet deep. Another justification for TIF might be the difficulty of assembling several parcels with different owners to create a viable project, but that aspect of the deal drew resistance from city leaders over the past several months. Some alders and the mayor said they did not consider the planned relocation of residential tenants a public good, so the 141 units that would replace the four buildings still standing along Topp Avenue are not part of the TIF deal. City administrator Adam Sayre told the Press that FDG’s request for TIF incentives in the developer deal was $5.6 million plus another $565,000 as recently as September 2019. In addition, the new deal, unlike the original request, does not put any money up front. Email Verona Press editor Jim Ferolie at veronapress@wcinet.com.
Chief: Candidates address fire department’s past, ideas for community outreach Continued from page 1 on-call, whatever it is, if people understand their value to their organization and the role they play...that’s how you motivate them,” Arnold said. Machotka, who did not apply during the previous search round, put emphasis on his institutional knowledge from a decade with the department, first as a training officer, then five years as a lieutenant. “I’ve never forgotten where I came from, I’ve never forgotten the challenges that we’ve had as firefighters or lieutenants or whatever we may have been, and understand that sometimes you have to check yourself as a leader,” Machotka said. Machotka has been the officer in charge and acting chief since Giver began using accrued time off Sept. 27 and retired Jan. 2. The union’s complaints about assistant chief Don Catenacci in June
2018 led to a third-party investigation by the city that turned up a variety of concerns about leadership. That led to more allegations from the union, including inappropriate behavior, harassment and a hostile work environment. Catenacci resigned during a second investigation over his behavior. Giver told the investigator in 2018 he didn’t like dealing with personnel matters, and he reiterated that in an interview for the Press in September, saying, “I want everybody to get along, and I can’t understand why people can’t get along.” After the community presentations by Machotka and Arnold, the Police and Fire Commission held separate panel interviews with each candidate. The PFC has not yet chosen a date to decide whether to hire either one.
at the York Area United Fire and Rescue in York, Pennsylvania, traveled to Verona for the interview. He told the Press he understood the department had a “checkered past” and needed to work on its relationship with the community, and equally, Arnold said the department needed to “build up its own people from within.” One audience member asked whether he had experience dealing with unions. Arnold affirmed that he did and said he had belonged to a firefighters union before he was promoted. Arnold said he wanted to focus on community outreach and told the Press he wanted to create programs here similar to ones he had worked on at his department in Pennsylvania. He cited examples such as firefighter volunteer days at local From Pennsylvania schools and a citizen’s fire to Wisconsin academy for members of the Arnold, a battalion chief public to learn more about
what the fire department does. Arnold also suggested an “after the fire” program to help people affected by catastrophic fires deal with the problems they face in the aftermath. He said fire departments are good at helping people when someone calls 911, but traditionally have left people on their own afterward. When asked why he wanted to move so far from home, Arnold said he wanted to be a fire chief in a smaller community “where I know everybody and where everybody knows me.” He related an experience he and his wife had in Verona, in which a coffee shop employee named Tara asked them where they were from and what brought them to town. “We went back there today,” Arnold said. “Tara remembered who we were, what state I was from and why I was here. That’s why
I want to come here. I want “relationships.” that hometown feel.” Like Arnold, Machotka said he would prioritize A familiar crowd improving community relaFor acting fire chief Dan tions, as well as the environMachotka, the room was full ment within the department. of familiar faces. Machotka “You can’t just come in and has been with Verona’s fire say this is how we’re going to department since 2015 and do it because this is how we grew up nearby in Fitchburg. “Make sure you get the did it where I came from,” said mustache” someone called Machotka. Because of his experience out as a TV reporter set up to coming up through the ranks ask him a few questions after his presentation. Machotka since he joined Verona’s fire sports a thick mustache of department five years ago, the kind often worn by fire- Machotka said there would be no question an employee fighters. Machotka said he wasn’t could bring to his desk that he interested in applying for the didn’t already know about. Machotka said the leader position of chief during the first search, but his time as of the department is ultimateacting chief helped change ly responsible for managing problems within the instituhis mind. The greatest challenge tion. “We need to put our best Machotka said he would face in the role was, in a word, foot forward,” he said.
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Dan Machotka explains to an audience of mostly firefighters what his priorities would be if he were chosen as Verona’s next fire chief. Machotka, Verona’s acting fire chief, emphasized his institutional knowledge during his presentation.
Matt Arnold explains to an audience of mostly firefighters what his priorities would be if he were chosen as Verona’s next fire chief. Arnold, a battalion chief in Pennsylvania, told the crowd he would bring several initiatives from his time there.
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The Verona Press
February 13, 2020
Circles: Students create showcase of black culture to be displayed for public March 6 Continued from page 1 that they appreciate that the most about this group,” she said. Glass-Thompson started a Black Girls Circles of Support group with sixth graders in 2017 after working with Dr. Jeffrey Lewis, the project director for Natural Circles of Support, Inc. Lewis’ project, which started in 2011, works to provide support for K-12 African American and other students of color by building on their strengths and aspirations, according to the Circles of Support website. “It started with black students – (they) could have a safe space where they had mentorship, can kind of talk through their experiences in school, set goals, work through academic stuff,” Glass-Thompson said. S h e n ow wo r k s w i t h seventh and eighth grade girls as part of their Circle, with fellow BRMS teacher Andrea High working with sixth grade students. For student Asther Gitchel, the Circle is one of the few places she has the opportunity to get “the black experience.” At home, her parents and the majority of her family (with the exception of two siblings) aren’t black, so outside of the Circle, there’s not many people she can connect with that understand her experiences, she said. The Circle
If You Go What: Badger Ridge and Core Knowledge Black History Month showcase When: All-day, Friday, March 6 Where: Badger Ridge Middle School, 740 N. Main St. Info: verona.k12.wi.us
Photos by Kimberly Wethal
From left, Badger Ridge Middle School students McKenna Passow, Aisha Yusuf, and Khaliya Sanders work together on researching their history showcase project during a Black Girls Circles of Support group session on Thursday, Jan. 9. has taught her that being black is something that she should celebrate. “It has changed my life because I’ve gotten closer with my friends, I got to know the teachers more and I got to understand black culture more,” she said. “Even though we have a darker pigment than other
people, (I’ve learned) that we can still get a career, we just have to work hard, if we work hard, we’re going to have a successful life.” Student Terriana Musgray said her confidence level has increased since joining the group because of the people she’s grown closer to and what she’s learned.
“We talk about things we don’t usually talk about in school,” she said. “We talk about the stuff we don’t really learn, a lot of history … I learned how to speak up more.” Student Elonie Williams joined the Circle because she wanted to have a space where she could talk to
other students who are black and go through some of the same things she does. Williams said she knew most of her peers before joining, but being a part of the group allows her to have a space where she feels comfortable being herself. “It just seemed fun
because there was other black people in there that I could relate to,” she said. “We do fun stuff in there, and we talk about things we need to talk about as black girls.” Student Cali Salzman said the Circle makes her feel more comfortable in her own skin, and makes dealing with the hard aspects of being a person of color easier. Salzman said that often she’s followed around in grocery stores near her home when she’s alone. “Basically, being a person of color, especially being a girl of color, it’s really hard … going out in the store or driving in a car and getting pulled over or getting followed in the store,” she said. “Especially if you have white parents, you get extra looks.” Email reporter Kimberly Wethal at kimberly. wethal@wcinet.com and follow her on Twitter @ kimberly_wethal.
Mentoring the next generation
A different narrative
In one word, what does it mean to be a black girl? Badger Ridge Middle School teacher Shayla Glass-Thompson’s Black Girls Circles of Support group students have a few different answers. “Powerful,” “intelligent” and “natural” were a few of those words – as was “pulchritudinous,” which means beautiful – that were rattled off by Glass-Thompson’s Circle of seventh and eighth grade girls, who get together twice a week to share experiences. There’s plenty of negative stereotypes about black girls and women, Glass-Thompson said, so to hear students come up with positive words about themselves without being told tells her they’re being confident in their own skin. “It’s affirming,” she said. “I’m really proud about (that).” Glass-Thompson said the mentorship aspect of the Circles comes naturally. The students share experiences that happen at BRMS or in their outside lives with her because there’s a level of trust that has been built because of the Circles group, Glass-Thompson said. “Some girls, when they do that, they don’t necessarily say, ‘hey, Mrs. Glass, can I get your advice?’ but at the same time, they’re telling me for a reason,” she said. “That’s their way of saying, ‘I’m reaching out to you because you need help.’” When students from the Circle seek out her mentorship as a trusted adult, it’s an affirmation that she’s doing her job correctly and helping provide a connection to school they might not have had before, Glass-Thompson said. As a K-12 student, she said she was able to build similar relationships with black educators and mentors who understood her, so she wants to give that opportunity back to her own students. “These are like my kids,” she said. “Being an adult in the building that they can trust who has gone through their experiences or lived life as a black woman or a black girl before … how do we navigate some of these situations that maybe others in the building have not?”
Part of owning their identity is discovering how black culture has shaped everyday society through means of fashion, music, hairstyles and inventions, Glass-Thompson said, which is the subject of the students’ showcase during the first week of March. It’s the topics that receive less attention during Black History Month that the students in the Circle are researching for their projects. The students’ projects showcase the different aspects of black culture for the show, including cartoons, film and Hollywood, natural hairstyles, holidays and foods and literature, Glass-Thompson said. “We’ve been talking about how Black History Month kind of consists of very historical figures – yes, because it’s Black History – but at the same time, thinking about the different ways the very recent past has influenced kind of the way we’re living today,” she said.
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(608)-338-1170 www.madcitywindows.com Badger Ridge Middle School teacher Shayla Glass-Thompson Badger Ridge Middle School student Gayla Bullocks works and Cheyeanne Blathers talk during a Black Girls Circles of on researching her history showcase project. Support group session.
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February 13, 2020
The Verona Press
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Police Reports Nov. 11 10:56 a.m. Police detained a chicken roaming around the Verona Athletic Center, which was taken to the county animal services department.
ijuana in his vehicle. Nov. 27 10:21 a.m. A student was arrested and taken to the Dane County Jail for burglary after he snuck into Verona Area High School as a girl’s basketball game was letting out, stayed in the building overnight and stole cash and electronics. He was found sleeping inside the nurse’s office and the majority of stolen property was recovered.
Nov. 13 12:21 p.m. A 46 year old Madison man was educated on where to place a registration sticker on his license plate after he was stopped for suspended registration. He was not cited for suspended registration when the officer realized the sticker’s placement had resulted in him Nov. 28 3:50 a.m. Police received typing in the wrong license plate a report of a man “stumbling number. and flying a kite” in the VeroNov. 14 na Area High School parking 12:39 p.m. Two Madison lot. Officers made contact West High School students with the man, who said he were cited for trespassing had insomnia and came out after they were involved in a to fly his kite. disturbance in a Verona Area 10:57 p.m. Police received High School parking lot with a report of a baby being at two of its students. All four Cahoot’s Bar where its parstudents were cited for disor- ents were consuming alcohol derly conduct. and leaving it unattended. 3:08 p.m. The Culver’s The parents agreed to take owner reported a woman an Uber home with their child who brought her non-service for the night. animal into the restaurant. The dog, which she said she Nov. 29 1:37 a.m. A 22 year old did not want to leave in the cold, was uncontrolled and woman was cited for her first began jumping up on cus- OWI after she failed to stop at tomers’ tables while they a flashing red light on West were eating. Verona Avenue. She was booked into jail and her vehiNov. 15 cle was parked for the night. 1:01 a.m. A 17 year old 1:41 p.m. A Verona Area Milwaukee boy was arrested Chamber of Commerce emfor driving a stolen vehicle ployee reported that its inand fleeing police after being flatable turkey decoration had found driving it on Melody been stolen from the front Lane and South Main Street. yard. The decoration was latOther police agencies helped er recovered. in the pursuit of the vehicle. 1:32 p.m. A woman re- Nov. 30 ported her neighbor’s garage 10:35 p.m. A 39 year old door was damaged. Upon ar- Madison woman was cited rival, officers spoke with the for her first OWI after she neighbor, who advised she was stopped for speeding on had accidentally damaged the North Main Street. A blood door and was coordinating draw was conducted and she repairs. was released to a responsible 3:55 p.m. Police assisted a party. parent whose 5 year old child became stuck in a drawer in Dec. 1 8:03 p.m. Residents on their bed frame. the 1200 block of Enterprise Nov. 16 Drive reported that their ve11:28 a.m. A woman re- hicles had either been stolen ported that a man had caused or were rummaged through. damage to her property. She Police were not able to find told police the man had inten- the thieves. tionally defecated in her purse, urinated in a clothes basket, Dec. 3 11:08 a.m. A student was spit on her clothes and took her prescription medication charged for damaging a sink and garage door opener. by sitting on it in the Verona Area High School. Nov. 22 4:01 p.m. Police respond- Dec. 4 ed to a report of a rooster 10:47 a.m. A man reportcausing a disturbance on ed that he was being targeted the 500 block of Melody by scammers. He told police Lane. When an officer spoke that he had met a woman with its owner, the woman who claimed she was 21 on a said she thought she had dating site, and they had expurchased four chickens in changed nude photographs. March, but one turned out to Afterward, he began receiving be a rooster, and was actively calls from the woman’s “faattempting to get rid of it. The ther,” who claimed she was city’s ordinance allows for only 16 and he needed to Venchickens, but not roosters. mo him money to make it “go away.” Police advised him to Nov. 23 cease all communication. 2:49 a.m. A 25 year old woman was cited for her Dec. 8 first OWI after she almost 2:23 p.m. Police received backed into a police squad in a report of an “unmarked the middle of the roadway on package” being delivered to the 100 block of Enterprise a home on the 1100 block of Drive. She was released to a Canterbury Pass. Upon arrivresponsible party. al, an officer turned the pack11:48 p.m. A 16 year old age over and found a delivery boy was cited for a GDL vi- label for the person who lived olation and equipment vio- at the home. lation after he was stopped for not having a front license Dec. 9 2:22 a.m. A 52 year old plate. The boy was found to have more passengers than man was cited for his first he was allowed, beer con- OWI after police received a cealed in the trunk and mar- complaint about his driving.
His BAC was three times the legal limit and he was released to a responsible party. Dec. 11 10:31 p.m. An anonymous caller reported a suspicious woman in her twenties, dressed in all black, walking through the neighborhood on East Chapel Royale Drive. The woman ignored the caller when they yelled to her out of their window while driving. Police checked the area and didn’t find anything suspicious. Dec. 12 4:47 p.m. A woman was counseled for leaving her 4 year old child in her car unattended after she reported him missing. The child was found sleeping in the backseat of her locked car outside of Cahoot’s. Dec. 18 7:58 p.m. A cleaning crew reported a woman who urinated outside the main entrance to Naviant and left feminine products in the bushes after the employees refused her demand to let her inside to use the bathroom. Dec. 19 6:14 p.m. Police escorted a naked man off of the Epic Systems campus. Dec. 23 12:40 p.m. A man on the 300 block of Chapel Royal Drive reported a crossbow arrow had hit the eastern side of his home and had gone through the siding. The neighbor, who was suspected to have shot the arrow, and owns crossbow hunting equipment, denied shooting the house. 6:11 p.m. A man at the Kwik Trip on East Verona Avenue reported seeing a woman pour vodka into a cup before leaving the store. Police stopped the woman and found no evidence of alcohol. Dec. 25 1:14 p.m. A 28 year old Marshall woman was cited for her third OWI after she was involved in a hit-and-run on the 300 block of Prairie Heights Drive.
Photos submitted by Tiffani Roltgen
Kindergarteners Kenan Loyd, Ava Kennedy, and Natalie Callies; 1st grader Isadora Callies; and kindergartener Kellan Rabedeaux participate in crafts after storytime.
Year of the Rat ushered-in at library Around 175 people crowded into Verona Public Library’s community room to observe and celebrate the Chinese New Year on Saturday, Jan. 25. Attendees ushered in the Year of the Rat, which is one of 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac. It is associated with prosperity, wealth, abundance, vitality and fertility. A rat’s high reproductive and survival rates have made it associated with these characteristics. The Verona Area International School hosts the celebration annually as a way of sharing Chinese culture with the community. VAIS K-1 teacher Lumei Huang and Middleton Public Library youth assistant and VAIS parent Tiffani Roltgen read a story about the 12 animals of the
175 people packed the Verona Public Library Community & Storytime Rooms for the Chinese New Year Celebration on Jan. 25 welcoming in the Year of the Rat. Chinese zodiac. This was followed by VAIS students and friends performing the song “Xinnian hao ya” (“Happy New Year”). After the story time and songs, attendees broke out into crafts and activities. Children could create rats
either out of paper bags or muffin wrappers. They could also make a necklace from red string and a Chinese coin, to provide luck throughout the New Year, and practice their Chinese character writing. — Neal Patten
Dec. 30 1:25 p.m. A man and a woman were warned for “indecent behavior” after they were found having sex in a vehicle with steamed-up windows at Reddan Soccer Park. Jan. 1 2:17 a.m. A 32 year old man was arrested for possession of cocaine and eluding an officer after he refused to stop for police over vehicle violations. He was also found to be under the influence of alcohol and was taken to the Dane County Jail. Jan. 3 9:46 a.m. The owner of Miller and Sons reported that an employee stole at least $1,720 from the business. Police agreed to review footage and consider criminal charges. 10:49 a.m. Police invested an Instagram account making vague threats to Verona Area High School students, where comments like, “Wildcats better watch your back” were added to photos where student athletes were tagged. — Kimberly Wethal
Children could create rats out of paper bags.
On the Web To view more photos of the Year of the Rat celebration, visit
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Parent Amanda Perl and daughter Selina Perl, first grade, enjoy the muffin wrapper rat craft.
February 13, 2020 Notices
Gearing up for the game VAHS athletes lead Play 60 for SC students Verona Area High School student athletes on the football team led a group of 75 second and fourth grade students through exercises, stretches and heart-pumping activities at Sugar Creek Elementary School on Thursday, Jan. 30. The program was part of the NFL Play 60 Huddle Up and Get Moving,” the league’s nation-wide initiative to try to get children moving for at least 60 min- Verona Area High School student athletes from the football utes a day to create healthi- team lead elementary school students through exercises and stretches. er and active generations.
STOUGHTON HOSPITAL Blood Drive. Friday, February 21. 8 am-1 pm in the Bryant Center Stoughton Hospital. All presenting donors receive a St. Patty's Day t-shirt. Walkins welcome or to schedule an appointment call Sharee at 800-7475401 x4128 or online at bloodcenter. org. Photo I.D. required.
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BUYING US Gold & Silver Coins and Collectibles. Call 608-988-6406 Rick Miles Coin.
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Wanted
Help Wanted ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTCUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE. A Verona-based company is looking for an Administrative Assistant-Customer Service Representative to perform a variety of administrative and clerical tasks, including answering inbound calls, directing calls and email inquiries to appropriate staff, and entering orders in a timely manner with accuracy. The ideal candidate should have excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to work in Microsoft Office Suite. Previous experience is required; salary is negotiable. Please apply by sending your cover letter and resume to Theresa@ AttainmentCompany.com. IN-HOME CAREGIVERS. Full Spectrum Health Services needs you! Hourly shifts, light housekeeping, meal prep, laundry, shopping and showering. Flexible hours. Applications accepted by calling 608237-3550 or online at fshcare.com. OWNER OPERATOR to lease on, pulling hopper bottom. Local and or OTR. Must have own truck and trailer. 608-723-7197. TRUCK DRIVER/MERCHANDISER: Looking for a person to drive and stock our products on shelves in the grocery stores we deliver to. Grocery store experience helpful. 35-40 hours per week. M-F with few Saturday's during holiday weeks. CDL helpful. Call or email Darrell @ L&L Foods, 608-514-4148 or dmoen@landlfoods. com.
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Verona Area High School student athletes from the football team lead elementary school students through exercises and stretches during a “NFL Play 60 Huddle Up and Get Moving” program at Sugar Creek Elementary School on Thursday, Jan. 30.
Verona Area High School student athletes from the football team lead elementary school students through exercises and stretches.
Legals NOTICE The City of Verona Plan Commission will hold Public Hearings on Monday March 2, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 111 Lincoln Street, for the following planning and zoning matters: 1) Zoning map amendment to rezone 103 North Franklin Street from Neighborhood Office (NO) to Central Commercial (CC). 2) Conditional use permit for 103 North Franklin Street to allow light industrial activities incidental to indoor sales or services land use. 3) Zoning map amendment for Epic Systems Corporation to rezone lands from Rural Agriculture (RA) to Suburban Industrial (SI) located at 1979 Milky Way. Interested persons may comment on these planning and zoning matters during the public hearings at the March 2nd Plan Commission meeting. The Plan Commission will make recommendations on these matters, which will then be reviewed by the Common Council for a final decision on Monday, March 9th. For more information on this request, please check the Citys website. For copies of the application, please contact Katherine Holt, Community Development Specialist at 608-845-0909 or Katherine.Holt@ci.verona.wi.us. Ellen Clark, City Clerk Published: February 13 and 27, 2020 WNAXLP *** LOCATION AND HOURS OF POLLING PLACE CITY OF VERONA At the Spring Primary to be held on February 18, 2020 in the City of Verona, the following polling place locations will be used for the wards indicated: LOCATION, WARDS Verona Public Library, 500 Silent St.,
Verona, WI 53593, Wards 1-5 (Ald. Districts 1 & 2) Verona City Hall, 111 Lincoln St., Verona, WI 53593, Wards 6-9 (Ald. Districts 3 & 4) ALL POLLING PLACES WILL OPEN AT 7:00 A.M. AND WILL CLOSE AT 8:00 P.M. If you have questions concerning your polling place, contact the municipal clerk. Ellen Clark 111 Lincoln St. Verona, WI 53593 608-848-9947 M-F 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. All polling places are accessible to elderly and disabled voters. Notice of Meeting of the Local Board of Canvassers At the close of voting on Election Day, pursuant to the provisions of Wis. Stat. §19.84, the Election Inspectors at each polling place will convene as the Local Canvassing Board for the purpose of conducting the local canvass pursuant to Wis. Stat. §7.51. This meeting will be open to the public pursuant to Wis. Stat. §§19.81-89. Published: February 13, 2020 WNAXLP *** LOCATION AND HOURS OF POLLING PLACE At the 2020 Spring Primary to be held on February 18, 2020 in the Town of Verona the following polling place location will be used for the wards indicated: Location, Wards Town of Verona Hall, 7669 County Highway PD, Verona, WI 53593, 1-4 THE POLLING PLACE WILL OPEN AT 7:00 AM AND WILL CLOSE AT 8:00 PM If you have any questions concerning your polling place, contact the municipal clerk.
John Wright 7669 County Highway PD Verona, WI 53593 (608) 807-4466 M-F, 8 AM to 2 PM The polling place is accessible to elderly and disabled voters. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Town of Verona Municipal Board of Canvassers will hold a meeting at 8:00 PM on Tuesday, February 18, 2020 at the Town Hall, 7669 County Highway PD, Verona, WI 53593. The meeting is to conduct the canvass for the offices of the 2020 Spring Primary. If the Town has any outstanding Provisional Ballots lacking Proofs of Residency, Proofs of Identity, and/or a missing Wisconsin Driver License Number for Provisional Ballots by the close of the General Election at 8:00 PM on February 18, 2020 and before 4:00 PM on Friday, February 21, 2020 at 4:00 PM, then the Town Board of Canvassers will reconvene on Monday, February 24, 2020 at 8:30 AM to conduct the canvass. This meeting is open to the public to observe the canvass process. ______________________________ NOTICE OF MEETING OF THE LOCAL AND MUNICIPAL BOARD OF CANVASSERS At the close of voting on Election Day, pursuant to the provisions of Wis. Stat. § 19.84, the Election Inspectors will convene as a joint meeting of the Local Board of Canvassers and the Municipal Board of Canvassers for the purpose of conducting the local and municipal canvasses pursuant to Wis. Stat. §§7.51 and 7.53(1). This meeting will be open to the public pursuant to Wis. Stat. §§ 19.81-89. Published: February 13, 2020 WNAXLP •••
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OFFICE CLEANING in Stoughton Mon-Fri 5pm. Visit our website: www. capitalcityclean.com or call our office 608-831-8850. A&B ENTERPRISES Light Construction Remodeling No job too small 608-835-7791. RECOVER PAINTING currently offering winter discounts on painting, drywall and carpeting. Recover urges you to join in the fight against cancer, as a portion of every job is donated to cancer research. Free estimates, fully insured, over 20 years of experience. Call 608-270-0440. SNOW PLOWING Residential & Commercial Fully Insured. 608-873-7038 or 608-669-0025
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Office Space For Rent OFFICE/RETAIL Space for rent in Downtown Oregon. Available now. 1274 sqft, $1062 per month or 480 sqft, $400 per month. Heat included in rent. Contact 608-333-4420 or 715891-4784 for showing and further information. OFFICE SPACES FOR RENT In Oregon facing 15th hole on golf course Free Wi-Fi, Parking and Security System Conference rooms available Kitchenette-Breakroom Autumn Woods Prof. Centre Marty 608-835-3628
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February 13, 2020
The Verona Press
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Goodbye: Sugar Creek, New Century staff keeping the transition experience a positive one Continued from page 1 be moving next year, orientation nights for new students and a symbolic “parade of books” for staff, students and families to walk the school’s books from the 420 Church Ave. location over to its new building, one mile to the north, at 740 N. Main St. New Century School will also hold an open house in April, director Ann Princl said, to bring the students and families from both New Century and VAIS together for the first time. The message that’s being given to students at Sugar Creek is more about honoring the building that held the school and the transition that everyone will be making, rather than saying goodbye to students who might
be going to different sites as a result of boundary changes, Brunner said. “We’re mostly trying to focus on the here and now,” he said. “There are kids in our school who won’t be back – we’re losing few, but we are losing some – and so we don’t want that to be what kids are focused on.” The Feb. 29 goodbye the public can attend is from 1-3 p.m. at both Sugar Creek and New Century School. Attendees will have opportunities to walk through the both buildings and look at the classrooms, historical displays and a video memory recording station. Staff are still working on developing projects after that, Princl said, for students to say goodbye to the building. In the
“Even though the building will be gone, a school culture is a school culture, that’s not building-dependent.” Sugar Creek principal Todd Brunner meantime, teachers are incorporating conversations about moving buildings into classroom learning. “The social-emotional learning piece is something our classroom teachers and our school counselor will be taking an active part in within the classrooms so we can be sure we give students that opportunity to share how they’re feeling, share
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how this experience is affecting them,” she said. Brunner said the school has started to prepare students for the move by going into second, third and fourth grade classrooms and discussing what the new building will be like and showing them maps. “We’ve done a lot just talking about it,” he said. “It’s been more focusing on the positive, and that was not an accident.” Both Brunner and Princl said that even though the buildings will be different in the fall, the people who make the school’s environment what it is will be the same. “We’ve done a lot of good work in this school,” he said. “This is an opportunity to include more students and families in that good
work … even though the building will be gone, a school culture is a school culture, that’s not building-dependent.” Princl said that even though the students and staff will miss the connections that were made with Sugar Creek and Stoner Prairie, they’re excited to transition into one building together. “We have these great staffs that are going to take all of those gifts and talents that they have, and bring that with them, and then we will create that amazing community there,” she said. “Four walls are a great thing, but it’s the people.” Email reporter Kimberly Wethal at kimberly.wethal@wcinet.com and follow her on Twitter @kimberly_wethal.
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