East Troy Our Town 2023

East Troy along with the rest of the world is finally putting the pandemic in the review mirror. Everyone is happy to be back to normal and enjoying the company of family, friends and neighbors.

The tri-Troy area, which includes the Village and Town of East Troy and the Town of Troy, continues to build on the area’s popular events like the annual Fourth of July celebration, community concerts and nonprofit fundraisers, drawing in big crowds.

The Cycling Classic, Day 2 the Tour of

Welcome TO OUR TOWN

America’s Dairyland bike race, also made another stop this year.

Visitors and residents alike are able enjoy the local events, shops and restaurants easier this year with the traffic patterns back to normal.

The Village Square is hopping with activity. Restaurants and shops continue to draw crowds.

LD’s BBQ, East Troy Brewery and East Troy House along with shopping Inklink Books and stopping for a coffee at 2894 On Main are favorite activities for visitors along with a meal at the Japanese-Mexican fusion

eatery, Chinuk Sushi & Grill, & el Pedro Taco.

The East Troy Electric Railroad is celebrating its 51th birthday this year. It’s always a big draw to East Troy and one of the reasons for the Village Square improvement project, which connects the railroad to the square with sidewalks.

The railroad has been open throughout the pandemic, requiring masks because of the federal transportation mask mandate in 2020 and 2021, but not any longer.

Page 5 has more information on the railroad.

GENERAL MANAGER: Sue Z. Lange

EDITOR IN CHIEF: Tracy Ouellette

CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Heather Ruenz

PAGE DESIGN: Jen DeGroot

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: Vicki Vanderwerff

For advertising opportunities: call (262) 642-7837

On the cover: Fireworks on Lake Beulah July 3 were part of East Troy’s Independence Day celebrations, which also included a carnival and music festival hosted by the East Troy Lions over the holiday weekend, another fireworks display and a parade downtown.

All aboard! East Troy Railroad opens new season

The East Troy Railroad Museum has been a staple in East Troy longer than many of its current residents can remember.

There are moments when you catch one of the many historic cars quietly rumbling down the tracks and almost feel transported to a simpler time when train journeys were commonplace and life moved at a slower pace.

Now that the sunshine and heat are commonplace, people from throughout the state and beyond know that it’s time for a beloved summer and fall tradition.

That’s how it began for many of the volunteers who dedicate so much of their time to the preservation of the railroad.

Ward Komorowski, the recently elected

president of the East Troy Railroad Museum board has been a volunteer at the museum for over two years, but his history with the East Troy Railroad began long before that to when he was a young child with an ever increasing passion for his Lionel train set.

He recalls visiting his grandparent’s cottage near Lake Beulah by train and seeing the East Troy Railroad. After a 39-year career with Johnson Controls, combined with 21 years as an adjunct professor with the Milwaukee School Of Engineering, Komorowski knew it was time to focus on his earliest passion.

It wasn’t just a hobby for him as he had run those same Lionel trains he had as a child for his children, and later put permanent tracks all along the ceiling of his basement, running through the walls from

room to room for his grandchildren.

“The things that we love that we can give to our kids and grandkids, they take root when we share them and are memories that last lifetimes,” Komorowski said.

According to Komorowski, what they want most when people come out to ride the trains and take part in the many events offered, is for those memories to live on and become precious to the children and adults who experience them.

In an effort to help create those memories, Komorowski and the more than 150 volunteers that make the adventures possible spend the off season months brainstorming ideas to help foster those memories for the countless visitors that anxiously await the season.

RAILROAD

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From early spring and all the way through Sept. 2, trains run from the East Troy Railroad Museum on Saturday and Sunday, with Friday trips starting in June. But their journey from the depot to Indianhead Park in Mukwonago and Elegant farmer are far from the only chance patrons have to take a closer look at the fleet of trains the museum has gathered.

Dining cars

Komorowski said prior to the season opening, this year he was most excited about the return of the Mother’s Day Dining Car Train. Statistically, women purchase most of the tickets for the railroad’s events. When Komorowski made that discovery, he said it made him sit back and wonder why there wasn’t a train day dedicated to celebrating mothers. This year the event included an updated menu – and in light of its popularity in its first year as well as limited availability, it was expected to sell out quickly.

With 17 official dinner trains, and four Sunday Brunch trains, there are ample opportunities for those looking to find a dinner train that interests them.

Steve Thomas, a volunteer with the museum for nearly nine years, said there’s an experience for everyone.

“We’ve got a Kentucky Derby Dinner

train, a Surf-N-Turf, a Family Picnic train, and an adult Halloween train, and people have such a great time coming out and experiencing something a little different than normal,” he said earlier this year.

Special events

The line-up of this season’s events doesn’t stop with the increasingly popular dinner trains. The most anticipated events will all return this year, such as the Christmas parade train that gives Santa Claus a ride to the residents of East Troy, or the dozen opportunities throughout the holiday season that visitors have to ride the Christmas Train and see Santa’s workshop as well as the Halloween train that takes riders trick or treating.

Railfan Day will also return this year, which is when all of the Museum’s equipment is taken out and put on display, and every train that leaves the station throughout the day is a different combination of cars. The family-friendly event is full of activities, from face painting and games to tours of the trains and model railroads. There is also free popcorn and

new events added every year.

“People really like to see the different trains that they don’t normally see,” Thomas said. “It’s a day for everyone, and all of us love seeing the families who come year after year grow up and continue to look forward to the day.”

For adults, on Sept. 16, the Beer Tasting Train will run again, featuring five different beers and hors d’oeuvres. The joint conjunction with Black Point Estate on Geneva Lake will run for 2 ½ hours and dive into the history of beer making and the beer barons of yesterday, many of whom kept homes in Lake Geneva.

Komorowski said he hopes to use his 21 years of experience as an adjunct professor at the Milwaukee School of Engineering to facilitate the new STEM program the museum offers. Last year with the launch of the pilot program, an official committee went to work and as a result, they now have two STEM curriculums developed and ready to go. Through collaborations with The Discovery Museum in Milwaukee

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RAILROAD

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and Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, they’re focused on figuring out the challenges as well as raising funds to be able to afford buses so their programs are affordable for participants.

“We couldn’t be more excited to get this off the ground and hopefully offer these classes later in the season,” Komorowski said. “It’s important not only to help create a passion in the next generation but to help educate them and give them the best start.”

Komorowski said what the East Troy Railroad Museum continues to accomplish would not be possible without the amazing volunteers who dedicate their time and energy so thoughtfully. If the East Troy Railroad is to continue to thrive and live for future generations of families it’s important that their focus is threefold, on operation, restoration, and maintenance.

Every year the non-profit museum works on fundraising and uses those funds to restore cars and tracks as needed. The past three years they’ve been able to see through the complete restoration of three cars all while maintaining current equipment.

Komorowski said he knows that to be able to continue in their endeavors it’s important to grow their team of dedicated and talented volunteers. The roster now includes carpenters, mechanics, electricians,

conductors, restorers and teachers, each one with a passion for the history of the railroad, and for instilling that passion in future generations.

“We’re always open to volunteers who want to roll up their sleeves and put their skills to work right alongside the rest of us,” Komorowski said.

Finding treasures Area antique shop offers merchandise and appraisals

For East Troy’s Cheri Riehle, antiques aren’t always about the value.

The true value is the stories behind them.

“When Grandma Jones brings up a teacup, I know in my heart that teacup doesn’t have a lot of value,” Riehle said. “But you can see how a person has it wrapped, how they touch it.

“It truly is that emotion that you don’t get when you buy it from Ikea,” she added.

Riehle runs Treasures A-Z, an antiques business that encompasses her antiques appraisal, places in three antique malls in the area and now A-Z East Troy.

The East Troy store just celebrated its first anniversary in March of this year. The store came out of Riehle and her husband, Steve, inheriting the family home on Lake Beulah and losing the barn and basement storage space the couple had for their antiques.

“We had no place to go,” Riehle said, explaining that the Lake Beulah home doesn’t even have a basement.

“I kind of took an office space for warehouse space,” she explained.

Shortly after, a couple running an antique store in East Troy decided to leave the area and Riehle took over the space.

It has allowed her to live and work in the community and share the talents she learned as an occupational therapist.

That was how she got into the antiques business, actually. Burned out on the stress of an OT job, she began by selling antiques out of one antique mall and on eBay.

Now, she and Steve have space at Lauren’s Antique and Art Center in Delavan, the Waukesha Antique Mall and Antiques on Pierce in Milwaukee.

“I find I can still use my people skills,” Riehle said with a laugh.

Those skills are what she loves about the job. She gets a chance to hear the stories behind a particular piece, letting a family share how particular items have come to be in their possession.

She also becomes part counselor, as families begin to clear out the items their grandparents and parents once considered valuable.

As she explained, the collectibles market isn’t what it used to be.

“The young people are more minimalistic and don’t like as much stuff,” Riehle explained, pointing to items like glass collectibles, china sets and the like.

“If you put china in the dishwasher, you’ll

wear off the pattern almost immediately,” Riehle said. “Young people these days don’t want to do dishes, they want to hang out with their friends.”

“It’s not easy, when a lot of kids downsize their parents’ things,” she added. “I’m brutally honest, too. There’s a lot of things that aren’t selling right now, and I tell them that.”

Riehle said much of what is popular now are items that have function as well as form. For example, mid-century modern is popular.

at left: Antique practical items are more popular these days than collectibles. Cheri and Steve Riehle’s business, Treasures A-Z, took a step up in March of 2022, opening A-Z East Troy at 3066 Main St., Suite 102. While the store is only open Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Cheri Riehle is an antique appraiser dedicated to learning the stories behind items. below: Childhood toys, like this hobby horse, are available for people looking to relive their memories. below left: The A-Z East Troy card sits on a counter, surrounded by miniature ducks and chickens.

“Many people like the vintage bar wear,” she said, pointing to ice buckets, cocktail glasses and highball glasses.

But that isn’t all. Riehle talked about “farmhouse chic” as old farm furniture, wooden boxes – items that serve clean lines with the comfortable living associated with a farmhouse.

Washtubs and vases now get repurposed as •

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Elected officials, committees, organizations and other key personnel

LIBRARY

East Troy Lions

Public Library

3094 Graydon Ave.

East Troy, WI 53120

(262) 642-6262

Tami Bartoli – director

Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

www.easttroy.lib.wi.us

AIRPORT

East Troy Municipal Airport 2085 Highway L

East Troy, WI 53120

(262) 642-5008

EMERGENCY SERVICES

East Troy Fire and Rescue

Chief Joe DeGaro

N8406 Highway ES

East Troy, WI 53120

Non-emergency

262-642-7439

www.easttroyfire.org

Troy Center Fire Department

Chief Don Schell

Non-Emergency

(262) 642-5294

Lake Patrol Supervisor

Bill Musolf

(262) 581-7010

waterpatrol@townoftroy.com

VILLAGE OF EAST TROY

Village Hall

2015 Energy Drive East Troy, WI 53120

(262) 642-6255

Fax: (262) 642-6259

www.easttroywi.gov

Village Administrator Eileen Suhm

(262) 684-5482 Clerk

Lorri Alexander

(262) 684-5478

Building Inspector

(262) 352-4433

Parks and Recreation (262) 642-6255

OUR GOVERNMENT

Department of Public Works

Jason Equitz, director

(262) 684-5475

Police

Chief Jeremy Swendrowski

(262) 642-6250 (nonemergency)

Water Works-Billing

(262) 642-6255

Water Works-Service

(262) 642-6255

After 4 p.m. (262) 642-6251

Village Board

Village President Matt Johnson president@easttroywi.gov

(414) 803-7130

Village Trustees

John Alexander (414) 745-4052

jalexander@easttroywi.gov

Jim Holm (262) 684-5308

jholm@easttroywi.gov

Mary Hubbard Nugent (262) 470-8570

mnugent@easttroywi.gov

Fortune “Forty” Renucci (262) 642-3897

Jason Smalley (262) 770-6520

jsmalley@eastatroywi.gov

Joe Wisniewski (262) 441-7983

jwisniewski@eastatroywi.gov

Municipal Judge

Michael Cotter (262) 642-6252

TOWN OF EAST TROY

Town Hall

N9330 Stewart School Road, P.O. Box 872 East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-5386

Fax: (262) 642-9701

Police

Chief Don Jensen Sr.

(262) 642-3700 (nonemergency) www.townofeasttroy.com

Town Board Chairperson

Joe Klarkowski jklarkowski@ townofeasttroy.com

Supervisors

Barb Church bchurch@townofeasttroy.com

Michele Reyes mreyes@townofeasttroy.com

Chad Wales cwales@townofeasttroy.com

Bill Wucherer bwucherer@townofeasttroy.com

Clerk/Treasurer

Kim Buchanan (262) 642-5386 tetclerk@centurytel.net

Department of Public Works

Todd Scheel, Superintendent (262) 642-5386

Building Inspector

Vince Budiac (262) 366-2400

Plan Commission

Joel Cook, Chairman (414) 406-0946

Municipal Judge

Dan Heidelmeier (262) 642-5386

Town Attorney

Mills and Boehm Law (262) 363-7311 Assessor

Associated Appraisal Consultants, Inc. (800) 721-4157

Trash Collection

John’s Disposal (888) 473-4701

TOWN OF TROY

Town Hall N8870 Briggs St. East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-5292

Fax: (262) 642-5227

Town Garage: (262) 642-5293

www.troywalworthwigov.com

TOWN BOARD

Chairperson

Jerry Arntson (262) 642-9810 chair@troywalworthwi.com

Supervisors

Thomas Lorden (262) 642-3544 sup1@troywalworthwi.com

Roger Bord (262) 642-5857 sup2@troywalworthwi.com

Clerk/Treasurer

Michael Ramps (262) 642-5292 clerktreas@townoftroy.com

TREASURES • CONTINUED FROM

planters. Industrial lighting gets reused and repurposed.

And of course, there are vintage items that people want to use as well. Riehle said industrial signage – metal signs advertising anything from cars to soda to food – has become increasing popular.

Toys also hold a special fascination for people. Older items like vintage Fischer Price Little People toys, Matchbox cars, Barbie dolls … all hold memories.

“People want to come in and relive their childhood,” Riehle said, adding that tin pails and wind-up toys are also popular as people circle back to “pretend play” items and step back from electronics.

The memories and stories that people share are part of why Riehle handles antiques.

“As an appraiser, I’m trying to get the focus off its potential

PAGE 11

value and onto the story and history behind it,” said Riehle, adding that she might be part of the last generation of people that can appreciate older items and the background associated with them.

“Unless we can get the very young people interested, the antique business could be a dinosaur one day,” she said.

Riehle still has hope, though. Recently, a young man asked for a trip to an antiques store for a birthday present.

“It’s people like that, that will keep the antiques business going,” she said. “We’re teaching them the stories. All the old stories are going to go away, unless we start teaching them.”

Treasures A-Z is at 3066 Main St., Suite 102, in East Troy. The shop is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. For more information, call 262-893-8222, visit treasuresaz.com and Facebook.

Camping OR Glamping?

HOW TO ENJOY THE GREAT OUTDOORS IN STYLE

Camping or glamping? How we want to spend time outdoors enjoying nature to the fullest varies depending on the person.

For some it’s the rustic way of life – setting up a tent, sleeping on the ground in a sleeping bag and enjoying all the elements of nature that come with it.

For many others however, while there is the appeal of being outdoors and communing with nature, they are not quite ready to embrace the rustic life away from many of the amenities enjoyed in everyday life. For them, the joy is to embrace am upgraded style of camping referred to as “glamping.”

Glamping combines spending time out in nature while not completely giving up the comforts that most people have grown to appreciate in life such as sleeping indoors and having electricity.

When Jeremy and Simona Ebner discovered a large 80-acre parcel of land

for sale adjoining the popular Kettle Moraine area, they knew it was the perfect area for their life’s dream of owning and running a campsite that could meet the needs of campers – whatever their style. And so, Camp Kettlewood was born.

“Jeremy grew up enjoying being out in nature. He enjoys adventures, backpacking, and camping as it was since the beginning of time. He has made me love the outdoor adventures, too, but I tend to prefer a more glamping style of camping, one where we do not have to spend hours setting up the campsite,” said Simona.

Jeremy said their goal was to open a campsite where others could enjoy camping or glamping - each in a unique way.

“While looking for a house to purchase, we found the perfect spot for our needs. We found this historic scout camp with 80 acres and a building we would turn into our home,” Jeremy said.

That space had previously been owned by the Girls Scouts of Wisconsin Badgerland Council, and from 1967 through 2018 was the home of numerous

outings and events. It was the place where memories were created for many young scouts over the years.

The Ebners purchased the property and turned it into an upscale campground with features the original camp did not have.

“We kept many of the old features of the campsites, such as their names, but we updated the campsites and added unique camping venues such as the vintage trailers, platform tents and some antique scout cabins, and two bath and shower buildings,” the Ebners said.

Perhaps the most unique place to camp is in the vintage trailers. These renovated trailers were built from 1951 to 1977 and make glamping a very nostalgic time whether guests have ever camped in a vintage trailer or dreamed of doing so.

They are equipped with electricity, coffee makers, and there are propane grills available. Each of these campers – from the smallest, which sleeps two to the largest, which sleeps three to six – offers the

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CAMPING • CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

glamping experience many desire.

The three trailers at the Mushroom Gulch group trailer village – named the Ham, the Empire, and the Shasta – may be the perfect spot for a group to make their weekend getaway.

For those who enjoy camping in a tent but would like upgraded amenities the campground offers platform tent sites. The Hilton is the premium canvas platform tent site at Camp Kettlewood. Although the platforms themselves were original to the days of the Girl Scouts, they have been upgraded and are now equipped with that all-important mosquito netting (a true bonus while spending time in the woods), propane grills, hammocks, and string lights campers can enjoy in the evening while sitting around the campfire.

If it’s a true rustic experience guests wish to experience, the Sunset Ridge, and Crow’s Nest are platform sites that offer more of a “scout outing” feeling but do not require a tent to be put up or taken down.

Those who prefer to stay in an authentic scout cabin built in the 1940s that’s since been upgraded also have options. The eight scout cabins on site were moved from Camp Pottawatomie, also a former Girl Scout Camp, just up the road. They

CAMPING

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were cleaned, repaired and decorated by Simona and Jeremy in 2022 to add another camping option for their guests.

And best of all, there are two bathroom buildings with flush toilets and two open air rainfall showers.

Outdoor activities abound in the area. Of course, with nearby Kettle Moraine there is a plethora of interesting trails to venture out on while hiking or biking the woods and enjoying the fauna and flora found on site here. Swimming in nearby lakes as well as

boating or paddle boarding are also great ways to spend a day.

The East Troy area offers local sights and restaurants. The village square is home to the East Troy Brewery, East Troy House, a coffee shop, independent bookstore and just off the

square, the East Troy Railroad.

The Elegant Farmer, a railroad stop, is well known for its award winning apple pie baked in a paper bag. Pick one up and take back to camp for an evening snack under the stars. Or pick up one of their deli picnic lunches to enjoy on the trail or if back at camp, at one of the pond-side picnic tables.

There are also a number of interesting places to visit close to East Troy such Old World Wisconsin in nearby Eagle. According to the Ebners, Skydive Milwaukee in East Troy may be a special activity to try although they have yet to experience it.

Pack food for your stay, or stop at the Piggly Wiggly in East Troy and load up or perhaps just replenish supplies.

There is no Wi-Fi in the campgrounds.

When arriving at the campground, park in one of the two designated parking lots, transfer belongings to one of the golf carts available and drive everything to your site

No motorized vehicles may be kept at the camp site in an effort to maintain the serenity of the space.

Contact owners Simona and Jeremy Ebner at Camp Kettlewood, www. campkettlewood.com, for more information and to make reservations. Their campground is open from Memorial Day weekend through the end of October.

East Troy Bible Church

2660 North St. P.O. Box 376

East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-7604

office@etbcwi.org

www.easttroybiblechurch.org

Worship services: Sunday at 9 a.m.

First Congregational Church of East Troy, UCC

Michael Fields

Agricultural Institute

N8030 Townline Road East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-5186

fcceasttroy@gmail.com

Find the church on Facebook.

Worship services: Sunday at 8:30 a.m. at Michael Fields.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod) 1936 Emery St. East Troy, WI 53120

OUR CHURCHES

(262) 642-3310

gslchurch@wi.rr.com

www.gslet.org

Worship services: Saturday at 5 p.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m.

Mukwonago Baptist Church

1610 Honeywell Road, Mukwonago, WI 53149 (262) 363-4197

www.mukwonagobaptist.org

Worship services: Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.; Sunday school: 9:30 a.m. Bible study and prayer: Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Orchard Hill, Assembly of God N9590 Highway ES, Mukwonago, WI 53149 (262) 363-5443

www.OrchardHillAG.com

Worship service: Sunday at 10 a.m. with Kids’ Church and nursery.

St. James United Methodist Church

2945 Main St., East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-7642

church@easttroyumc.org

www.easttroyumc.org

Worship services: Sunday at 9 a.m. Handicap accessible.

St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

(Wisconsin Synod) 2665 North St. East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-3200

www.stpaulset.net

Worship services: Sunday at 9 a.m. and Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

St. Peter the Apostle Parish 1975 Beulah Ave. East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-7225

stpeterset@wi.twcbc.com

and about

www.steepleconnection.com

Sunday Mass at 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Troy Center United Methodist Community Church

N8801 Briggs St. East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-7320

Worship services: Sunday at 8 a.m.

Valley View Community Church Member, Willow Creek Association P.O. Box 154 East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-5392

Worship services: 10 a.m. in the East Troy Middle School auditorium, 3143 Graydon Ave.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

East Troy Community School District Board of Education

Ted Zess, president (262) 642-2026

Anna Janusz, vice-president*

(262) 903-6965

Adam Witkiewicz (414) 975-2741

Stephen Lambrechts, clerk (262) 642-7775

Dale Ames, member at large* (262) 342-1822

*Term expires in 2024.

Administration Offices

2040 Beulah Ave. East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-6710

Fax: (262) 642-6712 www.easttroy.k12.wi.us

Administration

Dr. Christopher Hibner, District Administrator, ext. 1222 hibchr@easttroy.k12.wi.us

Amy Foszpanczyk

Director of Teaching and Continuous Improvement of Student Learning, ext. 1227 fosamy@easttroy.k12.wi.us

East Troy High School (Grades 9-12)

3128 Graydon Ave. East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-6760

Stacy Kuehn, principal, ext. 5240 kuesta@easttroy.k12.wi.us

East Troy Middle School (Grades 6-8)

3143 Graydon Ave. East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-6740

Adam Trindl, principal, ext. 4222 syepet@easttroy.k12.wi.us

Prairie View Elementary School (Grades 2-5)

2131 Townline Road East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-6720

Mark Weerts, principal,

OUR SCHOOLS

ext. 3222

weemar@easttroy.k12.wi.us

Little Prairie Primary School

2109 Townline Road East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-6730

Lindsey Harris, principal, ext. 2222 harlin@easttroy.k12.wi.us

Lakeland School of Walworth County

W3905 Highway NN, Elkhorn, WI 53121 (262) 741-4118

www.co.walworth.wi.us

Trish McCullough, principal tmccullough@ co.walworth.wi.us

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Bright Beginnings Day Care, LLC

(3-year-old preschool) 2541 Main St. East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-3904

www.brightbeginningsdaycare.com

Climbing Tree Child Care and Family Education Center

(3- to 6-year old preschool)

3147 W. Main St. East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-5001

Good Shepherd Lutheran School (Preschool-grade 7)

1936 Emery St. East Troy, WI 53120

(262) 642-3310

Contact: Karl Sattler, principal gslschool@wi.rr.com www.gslet.org

Little Angels Learning Center Inc.

(3- and 4-year-old preschool)

2141 Mill St. P.O. Box 603

East Troy, WI 53120

(262) 642-7002

littleangelswi@gmail.com

Mukwonago Baptist Academy (K-12)

1610 Honeywell Road

Mukwonago, WI 53149 (262) 363-1731

www.mukwonagobaptist.org

Nature’s Classroom Montessori School (3-12 years)

W336 S8455 Highway E, P.O. Box 660

Mukwonago, WI 53149 (262) 363-2815

(800) 574-7881

Geoffrey Bishop, executive director

geoffrey@nciw.org

www.nciw.org

St. Peter’s Catholic School

(3- and 4-year-old prekindergarten to grade 8) 3001 Elm St. East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-5533

Megan Prudom, principal mprudom@stpetersschoolet.org www.stpetersschoolet.org

St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran School

(Preschool-grade 8)

2665 North St. East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-3202

Ken White, principal

www.stpaulset.net

Bloom360 Learning Community

(neurodiverse leaning)

N8921Stone School Road

East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 935-6360

www.bloom360.org

OTHER AREA SCHOOLS

Gateway Technical College 400 Highway H Elkhorn, WI 53121 (262) 741-8200

www.gtc.edu

Michael Fields

Agricultural Institute

W2493 Highway ES P.O. Box 990 East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-3303

www.michaelfields.org

DAY CARE CENTERS

Bright Beginnings Day Care, LLC

(4 weeks to 12 years)

2541 Main St. East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-3904

Climbing Tree Child Care and Family Education Center

(12 weeks-12 years)

3147 W. Main St. East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-5001

Good Shepherd Lutheran Child Care (3- 12 years)

1936 Emery St. East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-3310

Little Angels Learning Center Inc.

(6 weeks- 12 years) 2141 Mill St. P.O. Box 603 East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-7002

Noah’s Ark Christian Day Care Center

(4 weeks to 12 years) 2942 Austin St. East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-4046

St. Paul’s Lutheran Child Care

(3 years-12 years) 2665 North St. East Troy, WI 53120 (262) 642-3202

VOCABULARY JAMS

East Troy Middle School students in spring competed in classroom “vocabulary jams” to find the top “vocabularians” in each grade level. This year the eighth-grade students won, with 28 points, seventh grade trailing behind with 13 points. Most of the eigth-grade team also won as sixth graders and as seventh graders, making them three time champs in the third annual Vocabulary Bowl. The event can be viewed on the East Troy Community School District’s YouTube Channel. Clockwise from above, left are: the eighth-grade team of Holden Dierks (from left), Maya Bing, Isabel Banks, Matthew Markham and Matthew Hoff; seventh-grade team of Asher Verlee, Austin Ledin, Ava Tisch, Lia Henthorn and Rose Nelson; and the sixth-grade team of Reichenberger, Brady Singsime, Zach Hoff, Arlan Kehl and Santino Burgos.

KEEPING THE HISTORY ALIVE, FROM BANK TO

In another lifetime, 2905 Main St. in East Troy was a bank.

As Ann and Ted Zess remember, the corner of Main and Division streets was the old State Bank of East Troy – the first bank of many iterations.

But in 2017, with the final bank to occupy the building closed, the Zesses looked at the inside of the building – and had an idea.

“When we first went through it, it was bigger than we remembered it,” Ann explained.

Now, some six years and a pandemic later, East Troy Brewery resides at the address, the history of the building on full display with its new purpose.

“We always thought a brew pub or a brewery in East Troy would be a cool option on the square,” Ted said. “We

grew up in East Troy, we’re life long residents. We just wanted to see the square revitalized.”

Now, the former bank, while holding onto many of its identifying traits –including the use of the vault and tellers windows in the bar area – is an option for parties both large and small.

In addition to the numerous brews made on site, there is a full menu of appetizers, pizza, sandwiches and meals, an outdoor patio area with live music on the weekends and a special “Mug Club” for those who love their beer.

“Good beer, good food. I mean, brewery is in our name,” said new General Manager Zach Innis. “And our food is excellent as well. And good atmosphere.”

On tap

With Scott Slauson in charge of

the brewery, the number of craft beers available is both varied and creative.

In addition to the traditional pale ales (a New England and East Troy version) and amber beers, pilsners and a Germanstyle Helles lager are available.

Different kinds of beer make it onto the drink menu seasonally. For example, right now, East Troy Brewery has its Lemon Lager, a Czech Pils Lager with real lemon puree, which the menu says transforms the beer into “a tart, light summer patio beer.”

There’s also the Fresa, a Helles Lager that’s described as “what do you get when you add 220 pound of strawberries to some of our Helles? A crisp, light lager with a not-so-subtle hint of strawberry.”

There’s also a Rye IPA, the Cream City Bricks In the Sticks and the Helles Lager of Troy – “The beer that launched 1,000 … beers.”

“We try to flavor some beers seasonally,” said Slauson, adding that blueberry will be added in the next few weeks to the brewery’s Hefeweizen beer.

There are also a wide variety of beers and hard seltzers available by the can and bottle, as well as non-alcoholic beer from Potosi Brewing Co., specialty cocktails and a wine list.

When the weather turns colder in the fall, Slauson said that the brewery switches to darker beers, including stouts and porters. The annual Oktoberfest beer will come with the brewery’s event Sept. 23.

For those who are beer aficionados and regulars at the brewery, there is the ETB Mug Club.

For $100 a year, those who sign up get their own safety deposit box in the vault for storage of a personalized 16-ounce glass mug, $5 draft beers with the mug, year-round, a key to the safe-deposity box, exclusive coupons and a beer release party.

Tasty treats

Just as the drink menu is seasonal, so, too, is the meal menu. Behind the guidance of Noah Higgins, executive chef and kitchen manager, the brewery offers both a lunch and dinner menu.

The lunch menu is only served on Saturdays and Sundays, when the brewery opens at noon. The dinner menu includes many of the same items.

Menu standards include the ET Square pizza – the Shroomie, White Truffle Pear, Cheeze-It and The Carnivore are among the regulars – Hill Valley cheese curds, served with curry tomato ketchup and ranch dressing, pretzel bites with homemade ETB beer cheese, and a large variety of barbecue, salads, sandwiches and burgers.

There are two special menu items each month. Right now, the July Pizza of the Month is the Hawaiian Thai-In (Thai red chili BBQ sauce, shredded mozzarella, smoked ham, sliced red onion, grilled pineapple and hot honey).

The Burger of the Month is the Cubano, a halfpound brisket patty with mojo marinated pulled pork, crispy ham, Swiss cheese, yellow mustard and dill pickle on a brioche bun.

Gluten-free buns are available for an extra $1, a children’s menu is available and the dinner menu adds chef’s specials, tacos and wings.

The idea, Ted Zess said, is to help grow the East Troy Square space and East Troy in general.

“I just think it’s a cool place for people to come and hang out,” he explained. “It’s become a gathering spot.”

Added Ann, “It’s an experience. You can walk around and see the history.”

The East Troy Brewery is open five days a week, with the bar open from 4 to 9 p.m. and food service from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, and the bar from 4 to 10 p.m. and food service from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday.

On Saturdays, the bar is open from noon to 10 p.m., with food service from noon to 9 p.m., and both the bar and kitchen are open from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.

The brewery is open for dine-in, patio seating and carryout. For more information, go to etbrew. com or call 262-642-2670.