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Lauderdale Lakes BREEZE SUMMER 2022 • Third Edition

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County gives initial approval to Lake Beulah hotel

By Jennifer Eisenbart EDITOR

The Lauderdale Drive Bridge, also known as the Deakin Isle Bridge, which goes over Green Lake in the Town of La Grange, is scheduled to be replaced this fall.

Historic Deakin Island bridge to be replaced JACK CRUGER JR. Lauderdale Lakes Breeze

By Deborah Cruger

Lorna Stone, who owned a home on Deakin Isle for many years, The long-standing Deakin Island said that talk about replacing the historic bridge had been going Bridge is scheduled to be replaced on for a while. There had been at this coming fall. least one public meeting held at It is the only access from LaGrange Town Hall regarding Lauderdale Drive to Deakin Isle, the Lauderdale Drive bridge located between Middle Lake and replacement project. Green Lake. The current bridge Stone mentioned that the current has been there since 1915. It bridge was likely designed by an replaced an arched, wooden bridge architect named Bradley. Today, which was once used by horses the bridge is held up with two and buggies. It was reinforced by concrete feet, only allowing kayaks adding steel supports to the bridge’s or canoes to pass through. Years deteriorating concrete in 2009. ago, before the extra supports were CORRESPONDENT

added, motor boats had enough room to pass under the structure. Michael Baker International out of Madison will be in charge of the construction of the new bridge. This Engineering consultant has been working on bridge projects for 80 years. According to Michael Baker International website, the company has a legacy of designing innovative and sustainable bridges of all sizes. Design and construction plans are currently being finalized. The project is estimated to take about 6-8 weeks to complete. While

under construction, residents of the island can park on the mainland. A small bridge for walking to Deakin Island will be provided for crossing on foot. Lead engineer for the new bridge, Jason Sadowski, is working with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to ensure that the water is not polluted or harmed in any way during the project. Efforts will be made to minimize the amount of debris that falls into the lake. The contract for the plan states that the lakebed will be fully restored when the project is done.

New sign requirement now in effect By Deborah Cruger CORRESPONDENT

The Town of LaGrange and the Lauderdale-LaGrange Fire Department has announced the new requirement of a sign displaying the property number of a home lakeside, as well as roadside. This obligation applies to all waterfront properties in the town. In 2006, an ordinance was put in effect requiring address signs along the road. The reasoning for this is so rescue and law enforcement can quickly locate the property and people in case of an emergency such as a fire. According to the Town of LaGrange, these signs were asked to be placed as follows: within 50 feet of the centerline of the road, with the numbers facing perpendicular to the road. The new requirement for lakeside address signs will allow the fire department and law enforcement to immediately locate a property for emergencies on the lake. These signs have already been distributed to property owners in June. The Town of LaGrange asks that these signs be installed by the property owners. The letter distributed with the signs asked residents to post them 4 feet above the ground and within 10 feet of the lake to allow the sign to be visible from the lake. New green lakeside address signs were distributed to all waterfront property owners in June. The new signs allow homes to be IDed from the lake, and must be installed. DEBORAH CRUGER Lauderdale Lakes Breeze

The Walworth County Zoning Agency gave its nod of approval June 16 to a proposed hotel at 1341 Beach Road, East Troy – the owner of which has been battling to have something built on the property for years. The zoning agency had postponed a decision on the property in May, saying it needed more information on the potential impact of a 60room hotel. That included a more detailed study on how water use might impact lake levels and traffic patterns at the intersection near the site. The land, a 2.94-acre property, is zoned B-3 (waterfront business) and R-1 (single-family residence. Summit Smith Development – and John Theisen – has tried to propose numerous different projects for the site – none of which have been fully approved. The hotel would replace the current Lindey’s on Beulah building with a smaller footprint. Over the past seven years, condominiums, apartments and hotel plans have all been denied. In response to the county decision, the Lake Beulah Management District called a special session closed meeting June 21 to discuss options. At the heart of the discussion at the June 16 meeting was Act 67 – a • CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Lauderdale Lakes

BREEZE A publication of Southern Lakes Newspapers LLC

For advertising opportunities in the Breeze or any of our weekly newspapers or other specialized publications, please call PETE HANSEN at (262) 723-2250

Page 2 LAUDERDALE LAKES BREEZE Summer 2022 • Third Edition

Karen Ostermeier Lakefront Real Estate Specialist

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John Doe identified as Delavan man By Jennifer Eisenbart EDITOR

A long-standing John Doe case in the state of Wisconsin was given an identity recently, as the Rock County Sheriff’s Office announced that a body found in November of 1995 was Carl J. Isaacs Jr., of Delavan. The Rock County Sheriff’s Office quickly stressed that this remains an active investigation, and that anyone with information on Isaacs Jr. and the circumstances surrounding his death should call the sheriff’s tip line at 608-7577911. According to a news release and a June 14 press conference, Isaacs Jr.’s body was found in the woods along the southern bank of Turtle Creek in Bradford Township Nov. 26, 1995. Deer hunters had stumbled upon skeletal remains. At the time of his death, Isaacs Jr. was wearing a plaid flannel shirt with a dark blue quilted lining. He also wore a T-shirt that showed the debut album, “Welcome to

Carl J. Isaacs Jr. Hell” by the English heavy metal band Venom. The logo showed an upside-down 5-point star with a goat’s head inside, and Isaacs also wore a homemade chrome pendant

of a goat’s head with horns. He also was wearing urban camouflaged pants in gray, tan and black, plus black Nike Air tennis shoes. According to various news outlets, the Rock County Sheriff’s Office contacted the DNA Doe Project Inc. in 2018 to help ID the remains. By October of that year, a potential identification was made. DNA samples were sent to the University of North Texas from half-siblings. In May of 2021, the body of the potential father was disinterred. A year later, Isaacs Jr. was identified. He was about 20 years old when he died. Rock County Sheriff Troy Knudson led the press conference, which was broadcast live by Channel 3000. “I am glad to finally be able to bring a little resolution to the person’s identity,” said Knudson at the June 14 press conference. Knudson added that some remembered the case when it came

in.

“The identity of the individual has been a mystery for the majority of my career,” Knudson said. He said the rural nature of the area where the body was found added to the mystery. Knudson explained that the initial investigation covered any missing persons, abandoned vehicles and crashes in the area. An autopsy left an undetermined cause of death, with the body having been in the area for about a year. Further investigation included looking into Department of Transportation records and area yearbooks, contacting the Smithsonian Institute for isotopic analysis, which concluded the body was from the Midwestern area, and exhuming the body for a second time. Knudson said the department followed “numerous” tips, and that the John Doe case spanned decades. The FBI provided a facial

approximation in June 2014, and the county took the case to the DNA Doe Project in 2018. Investigators said at the press conference that testing took up much of the time between 2018 and 2022. Both Knudson and investigators declined to answer other questions, saying the investigation is ongoing. Knudson said the investigation will now shift from identification to the circumstances surrounding Isaacs’ death. “We’re really looking to flesh out who he was,” Knudson said, adding that he hoped the public would reach out. Knudson confirmed that the photo of Isaacs Jr. shown at the press conference was from the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, and the man had been found guilty of petty theft and burglary in past, as well as criminal bail. The final CCAP entry for Isaacs Jr. was made in August of 1996, a warrant issued in Issac Jr.’s name listing him as an escape risk.

Ruining it for everyone Booth Lake Memorial Park sees vandalism, violence

By Tracy Ouellette STAFF WRITER

Booth Lake Memorial Park has been around for a full century, but recent vandalism and other unseemly behavior has park staff shocked and concerned. Park Supervisor Lori Masset said frequent vandalism to the restrooms has been expensive to repair. “They plug up the toilets with as much toilet paper as possible and most times we can just plunge it out, but this last time it was three full rolls and it cost us $250 to have it fixed,” Masset said. “The park was closed the following day and someone went into the women’s bathroom and made a big mess with diarrhea and didn’t clean it up, so we had to. “I get that someone may have been really sick, but there was no effort to clean up the mess.” One of the more concerning problems at the beach recently was an incident where a man allegedly assaulted a child, Masset said. “We had to call the police,” she said. “What happened is a couple of boys got into an altercation in the water and the parents of one boy wanted me to kick the other boy out. A man went into the water and put the kid in a chokehold. I was thinking he was a relation to the kid, but he wasn’t. He just took it upon himself to get involved and attacked the kid. That’s when I called the cops.” Masset said the police came and issued a warning to the man, but didn’t put him in the squad car and take him away, which was what she wanted. “I really felt they needed to set a tone and they didn’t do that and they didn’t issue any citations to the boys. The man did get a disorderly conduct citation and it turns out he was on parole from Milwaukee and the police didn’t want him in their care and wanted Milwaukee to handle it. “We want people to know if something happens to your kid, we’re going to do something about it and I wasn’t happy with how this was handled,” she added. According to a report from the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office John Huff Jr. was issued a citation for disorderly conduct. The report states Huff Jr. denies he assaulted the boy, but another independent

Save the date Booth Lake Memorial Park will host a centennial celebration in August. A multitude of festivities begin Friday, Aug. 5, from 3 to 9 p.m., and continue Saturday, Aug. 6, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

above: Visitors enjoy the warm weather and the amenities at Booth Lake Memorial Park Monday afternoon. Vandalism and unbecoming behavior from some recent beach goers is causing headaches for the staff at the park. right: Booth Lake Memorial Park offers residents in the Tri-Troy area a place to cool off when the heat is on. The park is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. SUBMITTED PHOTO Lauderdale Lakes Breeze

witness told police Huff Jr. had assaulted the boy. The report says two kids were in the water “having a chicken fight.” At some point one of the kids accidently kicked the other kid, who then retaliated by punching back. Huff Jr. then was witnessed by Masset pushing and holding one of the kids under the water for “some period of time.” Masset said while this incident with the kids had adult family members with them, another problem at the park is the “drop and runs.” “We have a lot of those,” she said. “Parents just drop off their kids and leave. Our lifeguards are not here to babysit, they’re here to

save lives. We’re short on staff this year, like everywhere, and we can’t be babysitting unattended kids.” Masset said with the recent heat waves, the beach has seen large crowds and she was concerned about safety. “We have put extra staff on where possible, and we are still hiring lifeguards and gate guards, but people should be aware that dropping and running with your children puts a strain on our staff. “We have rules at the park that need to be observed. No pushing on the raft. No diving from the first raft, etc. We have written instructions outside of the gate and we need kids to be aware of that and parents to enforce that.”

Page 4 LAUDERDALE LAKES BREEZE Summer 2022 • Third Edition

Boats and boat parades are a common feature on area lakes. For upcoming events, please see the schedule. FILE PHOTO Lauderdale Lakes Breeze

• OBITUARY SUZETTE SORENSON

LAUDERDALE LAKES IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION EVENT LISTING July 16 – Kids Fishing Jamboree 2022 Set to run from 7 a.m. to noon, the event will be held at the Lauderdale Landing. Registration begins at 7 a.m. with fishing to follow from 8 to 11 a.m. Corky’s “School of Fish” will run from 9 to 10:30 a.m., with other programming by area organizations starting at 10 a.m. Awards and lunch will start at 11 a.m. July 16 – Annual Rib Fest Scheduled to run from 1:30 to 3 p.m., this event will take place at JJ’s, Pier 902-A on Green Lake. Tour the lake and stop at various docks for samples. Prepared by the Lauderdale Lakes Premier BBQ Connoisseurs. For more information, email lauderdalelakesYC@gmail.com. Aug. 6 – Venetian Night Details to follow, but this event is scheduled for all day. Presented by the Lauderdale Lakes Yacht Club. Aug. 19 – TGIF Party Details to follow, another all-day event on the lakes by the Lauderdale Lakes Yacht Club. August 20 – LLIA Directors Meeting Nov. 12 – LLIA Directors Meeting The agenda and meeting details will be communicated in advance, but the meeting will take place from 9 to 11 a.m.

Southern Wakes United The Southern Wakes Ski Shows take place on Saturdays throughout the summer. The show schedule is as follows: Whitewater Lake Scenic Ridge Campground W7119 R&W Townline Road, Whitewater • Saturday, July 16, 7 p.m. • Saturday, Aug. 20, 6:30 p.m. •Saturday, Sept. 3, 6 p.m. Lauderdale Lakes Lauderdale Landing W5625 Westshore Drive, Elkhorn • Friday, June 24, 6 p.m. • Friday, July 1, 6 p.m. • Friday, July 29, 6 p.m. • Friday, Aug. 12, 6 p.m. • Friday, Aug. 26, 6 p.m. Turtle Lake Turtle Lake Tap & Grill N6513 Anderson Drive, Delavan • Saturday, Aug. 6, 6 p.m. Elkhorn Lake Babe Mann Park 840 Koopman Lane, Elkhorn • Saturday, July 9, 6 p.m. • Second shot TBD For more information, visit www. southernwakesunited.com.

LAKE BEULAH HOTEL • CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE Wisconsin ruling that says there have to be substantial reasons to deny conditional use permits. If the applicant meets or agrees to meet normal standards, the CUP should not be denied. Michael Cotter, the county’s counsel for land management issues, said that some of the issues raised at the public hearing in May do not meet the standard for denying the CUP. For example, the possibility of an environmental impact study was raised, and Cotter said June 16 that it is not normally asked for in a CUP. “It’d be completely out of the ordinary for us to require it, when we don’t for everybody else,”

Cotter explained. “If we can’t tie it in and it’s not substantially related to the project, then we’re violating that Act 67.” The committee was shown drone footage of the property and the general area. Individual members of the committee were told not to visit the site by themselves, for fear of entering into discussion with residents and violating the closed public hearing. Ten minutes of footage was shown, including roads into and out of the area, the size of the lot and available parking. The discussion at the June 16 meeting was limited to board discussion only, since the public

hearing was officially completed in May. The board asked a number of questions, including clarifying several issues like parking. Cotter explained that the current plans meet the standard county requirements, and have also met the specific conditions applied to this property. Issues like the sanitary holding tank – also raised as a question at the June 16 meeting – will have to meet requirements, or bring the CUP back in front of the county board. “These aren’t my rules, these are the state’s rules,” he said. After about 40 minutes worth of discussion, the question was called and the use approved unanimously.

Suzette Morton Sorenson, 96, daughter of the late June and Charles Morton, passed away peacefully on June 22, 2022, at Fairhaven in Whitewater after a short illness, with her family at her side. Suzette met her husband Ed at Lauderdale Lakes; they drew each other’s names to participate in a scavenger hunt at age 13. They were married 12 years later in a garden wedding at Greenhurst Cottage on May 27, 1950. Sue and Ed recently celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary, setting a wonderful goal for the rest of her family, which was most important to her. They have lived in a number of states and moved 14 times before settling in Hinsdale, Illinois, Naples, Florida and most recently Whitewater. Through the years they have always returned to Lauderdale Lakes and enjoyed the beautiful and bucolic family setting of Greenhurst Cottage at Lauderdale Lakes where, as a youth, she enjoyed swimming, sailing, horseback riding and tennis. She graduated from Sweet Briar College near Lynchburg, Virginia, with an A.B. in Sociology. Suzette is a direct descendant of John Morton, signer of the Declaration of Independence. Suzette was a very gracious lady who enjoyed the company of many friends; she was a dedicated member of PEO, a Sunday school teacher and scout leader. She enjoyed bridge, reading all sorts of articles and stories and caring for her family. She had an early continuing interest in recycling and taught us all to conserve water, waste nothing and enjoy what we have she would often volunteer to help in various recycling and social organizations. She was a wonderful wife, mother, Nana and friend to all, always caring and reflecting such kindness through her writing of wonderful

notes. She is survived by her loving husband, Ed Sorenson; her three children, Jack (Nancy) Sorenson, Peggy (Dan) Sorenson/Collins and Richard (Tracey) Sorenson; grandchildren, John (Whitney) Sorenson, James (Shaye) Sorenson and Lori (Joshua) Koeppel, Avery (Eric) Vivian and Katie (Ross) Barrett; great grandchildren, Henry Sorenson, Laine Sorenson, Olivia Koeppel, Grant Sorenson, Miles Sorenson, Addison Koeppel, Ruby Sorenson, Sydney Koeppel, Eloise Sorenson, Brinley Barrett and Arthur Sorenson. She was preceded in death by her parents, June and Charles Morton; her brother, Robert Morton; and sister, Elizabeth (Morton) Jordan. The family is planning a celebration of life at Greenhurst Cottage on July 2 gathering at 11 a.m. all friends and family are welcome. Suzette’s wish was for donations to be made to the charity of your choice or to the Bethel Church in Elkhorn in lieu of flowers. Nitardy Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences can be made at www.nitardyfuneralhome.com.

Summer 2022 • Third Edition

LAUDERDALE LAKES BREEZE Page 5

Summertime on the water

By Sandra Landen Machaj CORRESPONDENT

Summertime, time to head out of doors and enjoy the beauty of outdoor life, away from the hustle and bustle of the stress of our work lives. In the Southern Lakes area, head to one of the beautiful lakes to relax and enjoy the beauty of the water. With a variety of lakes to choose from in the area, finding the one that best meets your needs is easy. Whether you looking for a busy, bustling lake with lots of activity, or a calm quiet area to relax, there is sure to be one that is perfect for your needs. Boating Summer means taking to the water to enjoy a day of fun in the sun and usually that means a watercraft of some type is involved. While years ago, the pontoon boat was thought of as the slow moving boat, the ones used to take the older members of the family for a ride, today the pontoon is considered the most popular and one of the most versatile boats on the water. Today’s pontoon comes in a variety of sizes to accommodate larger numbers of guests. They also have more powerful engines making it possible to water ski or tube behind the boat. They are versatile and can be used for fishing, or after a time of cruising along the lake, you may find the perfect spot to stop, drop anchor and let everyone swim off the back of the boat. With so many lakes available in the southern Wisconsin area, there is sure to be one that will provide the perfect place for your day on the water. If you are not fortunate enough to own a boat, but still want to spend time out on the water, there

Looking to rent watercraft? Here are a few businesses that rent boats and watercraft on local lakes: Delavan Lake Boat Rentals, 2518 N Shore Drive, 262-728-5540. Boat rentals seven days a week, 8:30 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. Boats, tubes, lilypads, canoes, and paddleboards are available. JNT’s Parkside Marina Boat Rentals, N7660 State Park Road, Whitewater. Boats, kayaks, canoes, paddle boards., Call 262-473-5028. Twin Lakes Boat Rental, 3101 E. Lake Shore Drive, on Lake Elizabeth, and 503 Wilmot Ave., on Lake Mary. They rent pontoon boats, ski boats, wave runners, kayaks, paddle boats and canoes. Contact at 888-251-2628. Open daily 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Action Marine, 5909 392nd Ave., Burlington. They rent pontoons, fishing boats, kayaks, weekly or on a 3-day rental. Deliver to most of the local lakes including Twin Lakes, Powers Lake, Bohners Lake, Silver Lake, Paddock Lake, and Brown’s Lake. Contact for additional sites. Call 262-5392000. Open Tuesday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Gordy’s Boat Rental, 342 Lake St., Fontana. Gordy’s has been renting boats since 1955 and still offer a variety of boats, and also stand-up paddle boards. Call 262-275-1563. Open daily 9 a.m. to 5pm.

• CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

left: Families enjoy a beautiful sunny day at Riviera Beach on Geneva Lake. Whether playing in the sand or swimming in the water, everyone has a good time. top: A family takes advantage of a sunny day as it pedals out onto the lake. above: No simple tube for this family but a fancy swan to carry them behind the boat as they enjoy skimming across the water. SANDRA LANDEN MACHAJ Lauderdale Lakes Breeze

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The ins and outs of Lauderdale Lakes Size • Green Lake is 311 acres • Middle Lake is 259 acres • Mill Lake is 271 acres

Lauderdale Lakes consists of Green Lake, Middle Lake and Mill Lake and is located in La Grange Township a few miles north of the City of Elkhorn, west of highways 12 and 67. For more information contact the Lauderdale Lakes Marina at (262) 495-8200 or www.lauderdalelakesmarina.com.

Fish species Lauderdale Lakes offers a wide array of fish with the predominant species being: • Largemouth bass • Smallmouth bass • Northern pike • Walleye • Panfish

Maximum depth • Green Lake: 55 feet • Middle Lake: 42 feet • Mill Lake: 44 feet

Access Lauderdale Lakes is accessible via a paved ramp on Sterlingworth Road off of Highways 12/67. Additionally, unimproved landings are located off of Bubbling Springs Road and Westshore Drive.

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SUMMERTIME • CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

Personal watercraft If you are looking for a more personal water riding experience, the JetSki or a wave runner may be just for you. Holding from 1 to 3 people as it zips through the water, the thrill of speed is what often attracts riders to choose this method of fun on the water. The stand-up PWCs are more difficult to drive than those that allow one to sit and drive. The standup requires more balance and only one person can be on the jet ski at a time. Sit-down PWCs can hold from 1 to 3 riders, depending on the size. For those who enjoy the thrill of speed, the jet ski can exceed speeds of 40 miles per hour with some going up to 70 miles per hour. Speed is dependent on the power of the jet ski, the calmness of the water, wind resistance and the weight of the passengers. So, if you have the need for speed enjoy some time on a jet ski but do so safely. Riding a jet ski can be a day of fun on the water. Safety is important. Always wear a personal flotation device (life jacket) and get instruction on riding the jet ski before going out the first time. If it is your own jet ski, have it serviced at the beginning of the season and as needed. Kayaks, paddleboards Motor-driven watercraft are not the only way to enjoy being on the water. Kayaks, rowboats and paddle boards are enjoyable ways to spend time in the water using your own power to travel along. Over the past years, kayaks have become very popular. They are inexpensive to purchase starting as low as a couple of hundred dollars, although more expensive models are available. They are lightweight, thus very portable and easy to store over the winter. Kayaks are small narrow boats which hold one or two people. The paddler uses a doublebladed paddle to propel the boat. On any given day, kayaks can be seen traveling on the

lakes. It can be a single kayaker or a group of friends traveling along enjoying the day and the beauty of nature. Kayaks are fun to enjoy on the water and they will take you as fast as your arms can paddle or the wind and the waves can propel you. Kayaks are easy to maneuver and a great way to enjoy the peace and tranquility of the water on a nice summer day. Kayaks, like canoes, can turn over if not balanced correctly, so for safety always wear your life jackets or other personal flotation device. Almost anyone can learn to kayak. Kayaking is a great way to increase physical activity. “Kayaking is a great way to get out and enjoy time on the water,” said Pat Schafer who has spent her life living on waterfronts and owns a variety of watercraft including a fishing boat, pontoons, and rowboats, but also has enjoyed kayaking with a friend. “They do tend to wobble when getting in or out. Once you learn to keep them steady, they are fun,” Schafer added. Over the last few years stand up paddle boards (SUP) have become another way to enjoy both the waves and the tranquility of the lakes. Like kayaks, they are inexpensive and easy to transfer from home to the lakefront. Balance is important when riding a SUP. So perhaps that is why the sport appeals to those in their teens and twenties, when balance is at its best. However, anyone can learn. Paddle boards are a low impact activity and can help improve your balance. So don’t be shy – give a SUP a try. As with all the watersports, safety is important. Wear a life jacket. If possible, only use where there are lifeguards and never go out alone. Swimming For many of us, the best days of summer when we were young, were those we spent going to the beach and spending the day playing in the sand and swimming in the water. Of course, those days often ended with sunburn as we neglected to replenish layers of sunscreen throughout the day. Today as grownups we take our children or in some cases grandchildren to the beach to enjoy the fun we once had. And surprisingly, they are just as excited to be at the beach, digging in sand to build their sand castles and bringing up buckets of water to moisten the sand to keep it in place as they build. They often attempt to build a moat around their castle, but become frustrated that the water doesn’t stay on top of the sand but sinks in. We are now a bit smarter and remember to reapply the sun screen, on ourselves and on the children, and to try to avoid sunburn. The American Red Cross advises: “Never swim alone or allow anyone else to do so. Always swim with a buddy.” The Red Cross also recommends swimming in areas with a lifeguard and always keeping an eye on everyone in your group, especially young children. Avoid distractions including cell phones. On a hot sunny day walking into the water as the waves splash gently up your body and the cold water temporarily cools one down and at the same time, takes your breath away. There are many beaches along the local lakes that will make a wonderful day at the beach. Bring snacks and a variety of liquid drinks to avoid dehydration. And have fun. All of you will return home happy and tired from a day at the beach.

Try these beaches for a fun day at the shore Whitewater Lake Beach, N7660 State Park Drive. Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. year-round. Public beach on Whitewater Lake in the Kettle Moraine State Forest. Picnic tables, grills, and toilet facilities available. Near hiking trails, fishing piers, and JNT’s Parkside Marina where you can purchase fishing/swimming gear and snacks. Boat rentals also available. State Park Pass required for parking. Information at 262-594-6200 Delavan’s Community Park, 1220 S Shore Drive. Beach, boat launch, boat rentals from nearby businesses. Riviera Beach, 812 Wrigley Drive,

Lake Geneva. Located in downtown Lake Geneva on the shore of Geneva Lake adjacent to the Riviera, it is a favorite gathering place to enjoy a day at the lake. With a lakefront of 600 feet of sand, there is room to play in the sand or to just sit on the beach and enjoy the view. Lifeguards on duty 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. during summer season. Dogs not allowed on beach. Daily fee. Fischer Park on Brown’s Lake, 30326 Durand Ave., Burlington. Beach on the shore of Brown’s Lake in Einer Fischer Park. Plenty of parking and picnic tables. Park is open daily with lifeguard coverage.

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are a many places along the lakes where the boat of your choice can be rented for the day, the weekend, or a week. Pick the lake you want to boat on and call one of the local boat rental companies for rental costs and types of craft available. Boat clubs are available which allow you the use of a boat for a certain number of days a year. A great choice if you live on or near a lake and plan to be out on the water often. Before renting a boat, visit the lake to see how busy they are on the day of the week you wish to be on the water. Weekends are busier than week days especially on larger and very popular lakes such as Geneva Lake. “Lake Mary and Lake Elizabeth in Twin Lakes, are more peaceful, relaxing lakes and if you can sneak a day off during the week, it is like being on a private lake,” said Dave Lang, who along with Ryan La Meer owns Twin Lakes Boat Rental. In the State of Wisconsin, if you were born after Jan. 1, 1989, you must be boater certified by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to rent a watercraft. The course is available online and there is a $10 fee to issue the certification after passing the exam. “We recommend reserving your boat as soon as possible, especially for the weekends,” Lang said. “We have some customers who have already reserved boats for every weekend through Labor Day. It is never too soon to do so.”

LAUDERDALE LAKES BREEZE Page 7

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above: Duesterbeck’s Brewing Company, located at N5543 County Road O in Elkhorn, has taken a family farm and reinvented it for the brewing business. The taproom has numerous seasonal brews and hard seltzers on tap. left: Owners Ben (left) and Laura Johnson have transformed a family farm into a brewing business.

A taste of the country Family farm is now a bustling craft brewery By Jennifer Eisenbart

since he was 19, starting out as a home brewer over a stove. He then switched to a turkey fryer Duesterbeck’s Brewery may have and finally to a home microbrewery only been open for two and a half years, but the farmland it is on has a in the basement of the couple’s home. During it all, Ben got his long legacy in Walworth County. undergraduate degree from the The Duesterbeck Farm has been in the family for more than a century, University of Wisconsin-Madison in bacteriology and then went to and the brewery honors Dennis Duesterbeck – the family patriarch – dental school at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. his wife, Cathy, and his children. He still works as a dentist, with Ben and Laura (Duesterbeck) a practice in Delavan for the last 14 Johnson are owners of the brewery, years. which is passing down the family But through it all, he began farm and starting a new business at perfecting his brews and had a the same time. dream. “He wanted to own a tap room “To open a taproom, to get my and I wanted to save my farm,” explained Laura of her husband. “So brew recipes out to the public,” Ben it was able to be passed down to the said. “Laura’s dream was to keep the family farm alive.” next generations.” It turned out to be a match made Ben is the brewmaster at in heaven, placing the brewery on Duesterbeck’s, located at N5543 the family farm and working to County Road O, Elkhorn. The farm provide a different kind of farm and brewery is located in Sugar experience than what Laura grew up Creek township, has an Elkhorn with. address and resides in the Delavan“We were not wanting to be the Darien School District. “We embrace all three,” Ben said. traditional type of agriculture,” Laura said. “We had to think outside of the How it got started box. I wanted this farm to continue as a Duesterbeck farm, not the name of Ben Johnson has been brewing EDITOR

JENNIFER EISENBART Lauderdale Lakes Breeze

the family that took it over.” Dennis Duesterbeck was alive when the family began planning the brewery, and approved the changes that Ben and Laura were making. However, Dennis passed in 2017 before the brewery opened. It wasn’t until October of 2019 that the dream became reality. “Some people grieve,” Laura said. “I build a barn.” A barn with a brewery. What’s here now The brewery sits on the footprint of the old farm buildings, with the pig barn footprint now serving as the pavilion, the grainery is now a gift shop and the former dairy barn is the taproom. There is a stage out back. After pumping out the manure pit, it was filled with rock and concrete, but the foundation is still there. “Everything has been repurposed,” Laura said. Ben added, “we kept all the wood, to make the tables in the taproom, the back wall of the tap room is the old exterior (of the dairy barn).” Even the flooring in the pavilion is repurposed from another part of

the farm, and the old machine shed is going to be the new brewery. “We just repurposed everything that we could,” Laura said. Even the Duesterbeck Brewery logo features an image of the original barn. Now, though, instead of milking cows, the taproom provides another Wisconsin tradition – beer. There are normally about 20 beers on tap, though Ben said there are at least 70 recipes. “Our agriculture is brew culture,” Laura said. Ben said the brewery tries to have something for everyone, “including people who don’t like beer,” he said. There are fruited sours – a beer that is soured in a kettle with fruit added – as well as fruit seltzers, hard seltzers with flavors like key lime, orange dreamsicle, black cherry and the like. The menu also has traditional beers from light to dark. One of the most popular is the “Nutty Bill’s Peanut Butter Porter.” The names come from the history of the family or farm, or agriculture terms. The best seller is “Crop Duester,” a cream ale with barley and corn flavors.

Even the labels of the beer are designed in house, with Ben and Laura’s oldest son, Makai, working on the art. The business survived the COVID-19 pandemic, using the down time to make improvements and put together the outside seating. The couple also prides themselves with hiring good employees who understand the importance of good service. In addition to the food and brews, there are special events every week at the brewery, including trivia nights and concerts. “We always get high ratings on how friendly our service is,” Ben said. Duesterbeck’s also sells wholesale, looking to expand its offerings once the new brewery is finished at the end of summer or beginning of fall. Duesterbeck’s Brewing is open from noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Friday from noon to 10 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. For more information, go to www.dbcbrewery.com or call 262729-9771.

Grilling with a Big Green Egg Versatile outdoor cooker develops a strong following

“There is learning curve, of course, but once you get that down, it’s the best food you’ve ever had,” he said. Hembrook said the BGE website, biggreenegg.com, offers free tutorials and recipes for backyard barbecuers. By Tracy Ouellette “The website will teach you how STAFF WRITER to cook, give you recipes and has For barbecue enthusiasts, owning videos that take you through the a Big Green Egg can be one of their baking and grilling techniques.” goals. Yes, it will bake cakes, cookies, Jared Hembrook at Lyle’s TV pies and more, Hembrook said. and Appliance in Elkhorn said the “We do sell quite a few,” he said. versatile backyard cooker is a hot “We set up at Ribfest every year and commodity. we make ribs and hand out samples “The Big Green Egg is the last and people come back asking about grill you’ll ever own,” he said. “The it. We also run a contest during ceramic holds up, holds in the heat and can heat up to 1,200 degrees and Ribfest for a $50 entry fee to win a go as low as 200 degrees. You can do Big Green Egg.” Hembrook added that the lifetime just about anything with it.” warranty on the BGE covers all From burgers to briskets to pizza, the ceramic pieces, excluding the Hembrook said the Big Green Egg “convEGGerator.” is easy to use and tough as nails.

“They do like their Egg puns,” he said with a laugh.” One of the biggest misconceptions about the Big Green Egg is that it takes a long time to heat up, Hembrook said. “It really doesn’t take long to get it up to temperature,” he said. “You can get it up to 400 degrees in seven minutes.” According to the BGE website, “unlike tradition gas grills that use gas and are made from metal, the Big Green Egg is fuelled by natural lump charcoal and made from shuttle-quality ceramic that retains heat and moisture better than any other cooking unit today. And with the EGG, cooking takes place with the lid down so that heat, moisture and flavor is preserved to perfection.” Hembrook said the ability to control the temperature of the Egg is what makes it so versatile.

“If you want to cook burgers at 600 to 700 degrees, you can do that,” he said. “If you want to cook pizza with a pizza stone at 700 to 900 degrees you can do that. Other grills won’t do that.” Hembrook added that the ceramic surfaces of the Egg also make it safer. “The ceramic protects you from burns,” he said. “It gets hot but it won’t burn you and that makes is safer to be around.” Some local restaurants use Big Green Egg, he added. “LD’s BBQ (East Troy) has a couple and Fiddlesticks does too,” Hembrook said. He encourages anyone who’s interested in upgrading their grill to stop by the store for more information. “Come in and check them out,” he said. “We’ll be happy to answer your questions.”

A history of Lyle’s Sue and Tom Schinke, owners of Lyle’s TV and Appliance in Elkhorn, take pride in the fact that they are the last independently owned appliance store in Walworth County. Being local, Lyle’s not only sells the appliances, but they deliver and service them as needed. “Our customers come from the local area not only Elkhorn but also the southern Wisconsin area and across the Illinois border to nearby towns such as Richmond and McHenry. We limit our delivery and service areas to about a 30-mile radius so that we can offer the best in service,” Tom Schinke said. Lyle’s offers a wide variety of kitchen and household appliance in all price ranges. Lyle’s was opened by Tom’s father, Lyle • CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

Page 10 LAUDERDALE LAKES BREEZE Summer 2022 • Third Edition

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From small-town volleyball to big-time modeling Badger grad Petrie will be featured in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition

By Mike Ramczyk CORRESPONDENT

It’s the kind of news anyone would want to share with the world. Think of Michael Jordan finding out he’s going to make the NBA. Aaron Rodgers learning he will play for the Green Bay Packers. Or even Eminem when he signed his first record deal. That’s the kind of rarified air Nicole Petrie is experiencing right now. Just take a look at her Facebook post from May 16: “One more post for this iconic moment before I board my flight to Nicaragua for another modeling job! I am truly living my dream life and I can’t thank @si_swimsuit & @mj_ day enough for seeing my potential and making this a reality! “I have never felt more beautiful, more powerful, or more impactful than I do right now with the release of the #siswim2022 issue! When I was in middle school and high school I got bullied so much for being so tall and ‘awkwardly skinny,’ for being too shy, or for not being focused on partying or socializing as much as my peers because I was becoming a caregiver and focusing on my passions instead … but look where I am now! It has paid off to be in this groundbreaking and inspiring magazine! So grateful. So happy. So humbled. Thank you to everyone for your support!!” Dreams are coming true for Petrie, 27, a former Lake Geneva Badger volleyball star that stands 5-foot-11. Petrie grew up in Geneva Township and graduated from Badger in 2013. Her life revolved around volleyball. She even tried playing in college. All her life, people have told her she could be a model. Fast-forward to 2022, and she

Lake Geneva Badger grad Nicole Petrie will appear in this year’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. She was selected for the photo shoot during an open application process.

will be featured in the 2022 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition, an iconic magazine that’s a “who’s who” of the next top national and international models. From Cindy Crawford to Tyra Banks to Giselle to Kate Upton, you’re talking about worldwide celebrities making millions of dollars. Petrie may not be there yet, but she’s well on her way.

“My whole life pretty much revolved around volleyball and going on to college to play, but my first year playing in college was not a great experience (bad coaches, bad teammates, etc.),” Petrie said. “I lost my passion for the game and decided I didn’t want to play anymore. But, at that point I was used to practicing or working out like three times a day and not having any free time, so I decided I needed a new hobby. Making the big time “I didn’t know then that the hobby She has recently been traveling to I ended up choosing would turn into Punta Cana, Dominican Republic and my new passion and later my career. Nicaragua for photo shoots. My friends and family had suggested These days, her life is the stuff to me many times throughout my people only dream of. life that I could be a model because

Model Nicole Petrie has been traveling the world for photo shoots as her career has taken off. YU TSAI FOR SPORTS ILLUSTRATED Lauderdale Lakes Breeze

YU TSAI FOR SPORTS ILLUSTRATED Lauderdale Lakes Breeze

of my height, but I never knew how to get started. But with the boredom growing, I reached out to a friend of a friend that asked a photographer they knew if they would do a test shoot with me in Chicago.” So, Petrie took a big chance, and it paid off. She submitted photos from this photographer to an agency in Madison and started doing small jobs here and there.

As early as first grade, Petrie was taking “modeling pictures” and practicing her runway walk. She even printed out copies of her picture and gave it to teachers and principals at school, so they could remember her “when I become a famous supermodel.” Well, that time has come. Petrie is a living, breathing example that dreams really do come true.

Looking for more However, she always knew she was destined for something more. “I knew I wanted to do bigger things than the Midwest market had to offer at the time,” Petrie said. “So as soon as I graduated college I started to travel as much as I could afford to, while still being home often to help take care of my mom. I eventually decided I wanted to focus on the market in Miami, so I moved down there with no help, no money, and I hustled until I found an agent that signed me and started getting me work with Saks and Neiman Marcus regularly.” Once she got a taste of the possibilities, Petrie’s confidence grew and she decided to branch out even more. Her agency wasn’t helping her grow with new markets such as New York or Europe, so she took matters into her own hands. She submitted her stuff to the Sports Illustrated Swim search, and wouldn’t you believe it – she got picked. Nicole beat out thousands of other models, and she will be in this year’s famed swimsuit issue. “I’m so proud of this accomplishment not only because of how hard I worked to get to this point but because I get to use this platform to raise awareness for FTD, a disease that has affected multiple people in my family but that no family should have to go through, and that I am reaching so many caregivers and showing them they are not alone,” Petrie said. Frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) is caused by progressive damage and loss of nerve cells in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. Petrie’s mother suffers from it, so she is a regular caregiver for her along with being a model. Petrie earned a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and a scholarship to play college volleyball. Now, it’s a life of flying around the world to the most remote, exotic locations and living out her dreams. Not bad for a girl from a small town like Lake Geneva.

Dreams come true Before she embarked on her trip to Nicaragua, she added one more Facebook post around 10 p.m. May 16. “Don’t want to go to sleep tonight because my dreams came true today. One lesson my mom made sure to really drive into my personality: You can do anything you set your mind to! Never give up and your hard work will pay off!!! In first grade I was already watching #ANTM (America’s Next Top Model) daily and one day convinced my parents to take “modeling pictures” of me, which I then printed out on glossy photo paper, signed with a black sharpie and took multiple copies to school with me to hand out to my teachers, school staff, and principals. I told them it was so they could remember that I was their student “when I become a famous supermodel”… manifestation, baby!! (If any of that school staff still has that picture for some reason pls send my way)... “I have known from a very young age that I was meant for big things, even coming from a small town in Wisconsin. I would practice my runway walk in my mom’s heels (which were much too big for me at the time but I have now grown into them hopefully both figuratively as well as literally) back and forth, over and over, from the time I was in first grade and took those very first modeling pictures. “I’ve taken thousands of modeling pictures since then, and I’ve done plenty of things that have made me proud throughout my life and career but this is the most proud I have ever been of my work! Because I am doing this for my mom, for thousands of other moms and dads and grandparents and friends affected by FTD and the children, spouses, siblings, and loved ones that care for them! “I am proud to represent a community of people who are kind, caring, selfless, and are making a true difference in the world around them! I’m doing this for anyone and everyone suffering in silence! It’s time to speak up.”

Page 12 LAUDERDALE LAKES BREEZE Summer 2022 • Third Edition

THE

GOING RATE

HOMES RECENTLY SOLD IN LAUDERDALE LAKES

W5713 Ridge Rd .................... $660,000 W5693 Ridge Rd .................... $699,900 W5135 Bay Shore Dr ............. $737,500 W5615 Oak Park Rd ............... $680,000 N7469 Country Club Dr ........ $1,720,000 N7390 Arrowhead Ln ........... $1,750,000 N7759 Laura Ln .................. $2,557,676 Managing owner Jeff Hufford shows off the newly decorated interior at Turtle Lake Tap and Grill, located at N6513 Anderson Dr., Delavan.

Building an icon JENNIFER EISENBART Lauderdale Lakes Breeze

New management brings fresh look to Turtle Lake Tap and Grill by Jennifer Eisenbart

adding that he, the other owners and his staff pride themselves on a family-friendly culture and quality Jeff Hufford has considered Turtle Lake to be at least a part-time food and service. “If we mess something up,” he home for 20 years. added. “We’re going to fix it.” But when the COVID-19 The site, which has a mailing pandemic stuck and shut down much of the country in March 2020, address in the Town of Delavan but is located in Richmond Township, he and his wife, Annie, moved to their house on the lake and now call is more than a little hidden. Located on backcountry roads, it’s it home. about a 10-15 minute drive from They also took managing Whitewater, Delavan and Elkhorn. ownership of Turtle Lake Tap and Located at N6513 Anderson Grill, and have slowly developed a Drive, the restaurant site was loyal following for the restaurant, formerly part of the Anderson which sits on site of a former longfamily farm, and then a time campground and hotel. “We’re going to give you a great campground/hotel. Hufford and his partners closed on the property Dec. experience,” Hufford explained, EDITOR

20 of 2019, and had grand plans for the space. “I think we’ve got a gem,” he said. “We wanted an open, fresh air space.” But while renovations began, the pandemic quickly put the brakes on welcoming customers. While the business did open for limited seating in May of 2020, Hufford said much of the year was a loss, though it did allow the business time to handle a good number of renovations. There is now ample indoor and outdoor seating, the latter of which becomes popular during the

BY THE NUMBERS Waterfront Home for Sale in Lauderdale Lakes N7637 Bay Shore Dr........... $660,000 N7866 Westshore Dr ......... $795,000 N7862 Westshore Dr ...... $1,399,000 W5245 Lauderdale Dr...... $1,999,900 N7688 Westshore Dr ...... $2,100,000 W5475 Rocky Rd ............ $2,349,000 W5347 Baywood Dr ........ $1,389,700 W5681 Ridge Rd ............ $1,799,900

• CONTINUED ON PAGE 13

Compass Inc. becomes fastest growing real estate company in Wisconsin Last summer, Compass Inc. entered the Wisconsin residential real estate market with just 16 agents. Since then, the real estate technology company has hit the ground running, outpacing all other real estate brokerages in the state with its rapid growth. According to data in Relitix from Metro MLS, Compass is the fastest-growing real estate broker in Wisconsin (as well as Milwaukee County) by market share. The company has grown its market share by 285.37% year-to-date in May 2022. “We are so incredibly proud to be the fastestgrowing real estate brokerage in Wisconsin,” Head of Operations Chanté Blough said. “It’s a bit cliché, but our success all comes down to our incredible agents and the culture we have built here in Wisconsin. We’ve created a brokerage where the best of the best know they can come to grow their business.” In nearby Chicago, Compass saw a similar pace of growth that catapulted the company to become the No. 2 brokerage firm in the city in just five years. In addition to the incredible market share growth, Compass has been a recruiting machine, growing from an initial 16 agents in Wisconsin to a whopping 157. They have added names such as Shar Borg and Collin Yellich, brother of Milwaukee Brewers’ Christian Yellich. This past November, Tom Keefe and his team of nearly 90 agents in Southeastern Wisconsin and Northeastern Illinois also joined the company Compass agents in Wisconsin posted $214 million in closed sales year-to-date in May 2022, with an average production of $9.7 million per agent. This rapid growth isn’t exclusive to Compass’s offices in Wisconsin or Chicago but is part of a larger company plan that has helped the New York City-based company become the largest independent brokerage in the country, according to RealTrends.

Compass also added to its accolades as it found a new home on the Fortune 500 list last month, making it one of the youngest companies ever to be included. “We may be a newer company in Wisconsin, but nationally, we have established ourselves as the industry leader. As we further develop our technology offerings and build a brokerage that listens to its agents, we will continue to grow both in Wisconsin and nationally,” Blough said. Nationally, Compass’ revenue for the first quarter of 2022 was $1.4 billion, an increase of 25% yearover-year. Market share also increased to 5.8% over the last twelve months, up from 4.3% in 2021. Compass has accomplished this by listening to its agents and building a technology platform rather than a traditional brokerage. In the near future, all Compass agents will be able to facilitate the entire real estate transaction, including offers, forms and e-signatures, on the Compass platform with no need to use third-party real estate software. This past May, the company also expanded its offerings when it agreed to acquire Consumer’s Title Company of California. Licensed in every county in California, Consumer’s Title will dramatically expand Compass’ settlement services footprint across California. This further integrates this critical component of the real estate transaction into the company’s market-leading residential brokerage business. The acquisition of Consumer’s Title expands Compass’ growing settlement services portfolio, which now serves agents and their clients across California, Colorado, Florida, Washington State, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Texas, and Washington D.C. Compass was founded in 2012 by Robert Reffkin and Ori Allon. Today, Compass is home to almost 30,000 agents in 352 cities across the United States. Last year, Compass agents transacted over a quarter of a trillion dollars in residential real estate – more than any other brokerage in the country.

Tom Schinke, president of Lyle’s TV and Appliance, of Elkhorn, displays a Big Green Egg model on his. The Big Green Egg comes in several different sizes. FILE PHOTO Lauderdale Lakes Breeze

BIG GREEN EGG • CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 Schinke in 1954 out of his home. “He later purchased the building at 17 S. Washington in Elkhorn where the business continues to grow,” Tom said. Tom joined his dad in 1973 and Lyle’s daughter-in-law, Sue, joined the business in 1996. Lyle was well known for his knowledge about the appliances he sold and also for the service that he offered to his customers, service that continues today. Lyle continued to actively work in the store until his

retirement in 2006 when Tom and Sue, took over. Now as owners of Lyle’s, Tom and Sue have brought in other family members including their daughter. Lyle’s TV and Appliance at 17 S. Washington St. in Elkhorn. Hours are: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Wednesday and Friday; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday; and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call 262723-3477 and visit www.Lylestv.com.

It’s all about the meat Summer 2022 • Third Edition

LAUDERDALE LAKES BREEZE Page 13

Lake Geneva Country Meats, Wilson Farm Meats aim to provide quality grilling choices by Jennifer Eisenbart EDITOR

If grilling has become more varied as specialized grills hit the market, so has the meat being placed on those grills. While local grocery stores and “big box” stores can provide plenty of bang for your bucks, there are also specialty stores where grillers can find everything from locally ground chuck to flavored sausages – all designed to provide a tasty experience for the palate. Nick Vorpagel, the vice president at Lake Geneva Country Meats (which has been in business since 1965) said the company’s motto is simple. “Our motto is fresh food, friendly people,” he explained. “We believe in putting awesome quality and fresh food in front of people. We’re going to get the best combination of quality and price.” It’s much the same at Wilson Farm Meats, which has existed in its current form since 2004. Justin Corman, the general manager, said the priority is “high quality and selection, as well as the knowledge and experience.” By experience, both shops offer a staff that knows how to blend sausage and chuck, as well as other cuts of meat. But they also offer custom processing of animals – which can range from in-season deer processing to individuals

processing a farm animal – and thoughts on how to best prepare what you purchase. “We just want to put an awesome experience together for everyone,” Vorpagel said. Added Gorman, “The stuff you’re going to get from our store and from our restaurant here is going to be all about quality, and all in-house.” Lake Geneva Country Meats Located on Highway 50 between New Munster and Lake Geneva, the store is a turn up a hill right across the road from the entrance to Rustic Road 36, or Cranberry Road. The facility sports a large parking lot as well as a spacious store, which is normally full of people during the summer months. Vorpagel said when the business started 57 years ago, it was just the custom processing of animals, coming from either a customer or a farmer. “We didn’t do any retail, just custom processing,” he said. The retail store was added in the 1970s, and has become the most important part of the business. In addition to selling meat, cheese and other specialty items at the store – including wine and beer – the store also sells wholesale to local restaurants, hotels and grocery stores. If there is one thing that Country

The cherry-flavored brats at Lake Geneva Country Meats are the store’s best-selling brat. JENNIFER EISENBART Lauderdale Lakes Breeze

Wilson Farm Meats store manager Mark Tamblyn shows off what’s available at the butcher shop. JENNIFER EISENBART Lauderdale Lakes Breeze

Meats is known for, it would be the wide selection of its bratwurst. While the traditional brat is the second most popular, cherry brats lead the way with the company’s mushroom and swiss brats following in third. “It’s Wisconsin,” Vorpagel said, adding that the brats are made fresh with no frozen meat. “If you’re going to a baseball game or someone’s house, brats on a grill. It’s what you do for summer.” Ground beef remains the highest seller at the store, though. Vorpagel explained that they purchase whole chuck, trim it on site and then grind it fresh at about an 85% lean mixture. The company still offers its custom processing, and other meat as well. For example, Vorpagel said that they’ve seen a rise in the popularity of pork chops. “It’s not ‘the other white meat,’” Vorpagel said. “It does really well on the grill if you cook it right.” That would be treating it like a steak and using a meat thermometer to ensure it’s properly cooked,

Vorpagel added. Wilson Farm Meats Located a short jog from downtown Elkhorn, Wilson Farm Meats not only offers custom flavors, on-site processing and experience, but a restaurant across the street from the store that serves lunch Wednesday through Saturday. “Basically, if it’s meats, we have it,” Corman explained. Wilson Farm Meats has length at its current location, albeit it under the name of Elkhorn Locker. Scott Wilson, a fifth-generation hog farmer, purchased the store in 2004, and everything has been done in house under his ownership. “The stuff you’re going to get from our store and from our restaurant here is going to be all about quality, and all in house,” Corman said, adding that the store handles meat from “slaughter to sale.” Said Mark Tamblyn, who runs the retail store, “we can have an animal come in our building and be out on the counter within a week.

Some days, it’s days.” Custom processing accounts for about 30-40% of the sales, with most of the rest coming from the store sales. The retail business offers a wide variety of meats, everything from custom sausages and ground beef. There are 21 different flavors of brats, including a “Brat of the Month,” which is southwest fajita with pepperjack cheese for June. Wilson Farm Meats recently won Grand Champion at the Wisconsin Association of Meat Producers for its Philly Cheesesteak brat as well. Tamblyn said the focus remains on “freshness, quality, consistency.” The four butchers at the store have 150 years of experience between them, and handle everything from sausage to chicken to pork to ground beef. The restaurant also gives the site a bit of an added boost as a destination place. “We take pride in what we do,” Tamblyn said. “That’s the only way to build business in this day and age.”

summer. And as the weather warms up, the customers begin enjoying all of the different spaces available. “A beach feel,” Hufford explained. But there is also a private dining room space that can be rented for parties, wedding rehearsals and even weddings, plus a game room and restaurant/bar space inside. “People want a place to go,” Hufford said. “So it’s on us.” The menu at the restaurant is newly revised, and contains a mixture of classic Wisconsin food – like fried cheese curds, burgers, hot dogs and sandwiches – but also different salads and entrees. Almost everything is made from scratch. “The only thing that comes out of the freezer are the curds and the fries,” Hufford explained, adding that Pastries by Chad uses the kitchen space when the restaurant is closed and provides fresh-baked desserts as well. The menu also includes a wide variety of pizzas that use homemade dough that the baker provides. Appetizers include truffle fries – beer-battered fries drizzled

with truffle oil and served with garlic aioli – stuffed jalapenos and stuffed mushrooms, and familiar Wisconsin flavors like chicken tenders, cheese curds, onion strings and spinach artichoke dip. There is also a children’s menu (named the “Little Turtles”) as well as the traditional Wisconsin fish fry and daily specials. Hufford said the business has really taken off since December of 2021, but there is still plenty of room for growth. “We’re just getting started,” he said. “I want to build an icon.” An icon, Hufford added, that has been built from the ground up with loyal customers. “They’re loyal to the culture, and the quality,” he said. The restaurant is open four days a week – Thursday from 4-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The restaurant will be expanding to add breakfast on Saturday and Sunday, from Memorial Day to Labor Day. There is limited boat parking available during the summer. To reach the restaurant, call 262458-0342.

NEW MANAGEMENT • CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

Lake views and outdoor dining are the hallmark of Turtle Lake Tap and Grill. JENNIFER EISENBART Lauderdale Lakes Breeze

Page 14 LAUDERDALE LAKES BREEZE Summer 2022 • Third Edition

MARINE TRADING POST BUYING, SELLING & SERVICING BOATS AND MARINE EQUIPMENT

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LAKES AREA CLASSIFIEDS BOATS FOR SALE

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Summer 2022 • Third Edition

LAUDERDALE LAKES BREEZE Page 15

Glampground keeps growing Camp Kettlewood expands its camping options

By Tracy Ouellette STAFF WRITER

Simona and Jeremy Ebner opened Camp Kettlewood in East Troy two years ago, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and have been successful with the campground over the last two summers. So much so, they are expanding the campgrounds’ offerings in 2022. “We have 11 campsites now, as opposed to four,” Simona said. “Our most notable additions are the antique cedar cabins, built in the 1940s, that were at Camp Potawotami Hills. The owners of that property didn’t want any buildings on that site, so we happily took them off their hands.” Simona said it was “no easy feat” to transport the eight cabins to Camp Kettlewood, but there were happy to give them a new home. “We’re just finishing up some outside construction on them and the first guests will be staying in those in mid-June,” she said. “It’s called the Highlands site and sleeps 10 people with three cabins.” The other cabins will be used for upcoming planned campsites, which will open in the future. “We also have two new tentcamping sites,” Simona said. “We have three Boy Scout tents with cots in each tent for those who like a little more rustic camping.” The glamping experience has also expanded for 2022. “We have our vintage trailer village with three canned ham style trailers that are all from the 1950s and 60s, new this year,” Simona said. “That site is a group site that sleeps three to six people.” In addition are the original vintage trailers, including the 1957 Holly, the 1977 Airstream and the group campsite called The Hilton, which features platform tent camping. “The Airstream has its own

above: Camp Kettlewood offers glamping campsites sites such as this 1977 Airstream camper, which has a bathroom inside the trailer. This photo was taken at a photo shoot for Madison Magazine. top: One of the stars at Camp Kettlewood is this 1957 Holly camper. The campgrounds features vintage, refurbished trailers, decorated to highlight the history of the former Girl Scout campsite. SUBMITTED PHOTO Lauderdale Lakes Breeze

bathroom now,” Simona said. Another new addition to Camp Kettlewood is the event venue, which will be hosting two weddings this summer. “We’re on the home stretch finishing the event pavilion. The first wedding is in a couple of weeks; it’s some friend of ours, so that’s exciting,” Simona said. Reservations are being accepted now for summer and fall at the campgrounds. “We’re so thrilled to still be here for people to come and visit us and build their summer memories,” Simona said. “Although we’ve expanded, there’s still very much

that air of privacy here where people can stretch out, not be right on top of each other and enjoy the great outdoors.” A bit of history The Ebners purchased the former Oak Knoll Girl Scout Camp at W3524 Highway 20, East Troy, in June 2019 and spent a year fixing up the campgrounds and renovating the lodge. Simona said she and her husband decided to move out to the country from Milwaukee because they wanted more space and when they started looking at properties to buy, she heard about

the Girl Scout camp from a coworker. With her husband being “such an outdoorsman” Simona thought it would be a good fit. So, the couple decided to take the plunge. Fixing it up One of the big issues for the Ebners was they needed to bring everything up to modern code to open. She said that while her husband is a big fan of rustic camping, she is more of a “glamping” type of girl. So, they met in the middle and

decided to offer both types of camping. Part of the experience is the antique feel to the campgrounds, which took some doing, Simona said. “We are still focused on keeping that antique look and preserving the history and especially the Girl Scout history,” she said. Camp Kettlewood sits on 80 acres of old-growth forest, shaded nature trails and protected wetlands, according to the website. There is no swimming, however. For more information, or to reserve a campsite, visit www. campkettlewood.com.

Page 16 LAUDERDALE LAKES BREEZE Summer 2022 • Third Edition

PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE

JERRY KROUPA HAS JOINED

262-949-3618 262-949-3618

JerryKroupa@atproperties.com

JerryKroupa@atproperties.com View my properties at www.lakehomeswi.net

262-949-3618 JerryKroupa@atproperties.com

MLS 1779535

MLS 1781758

Paradise found on 2 acres and 700’ of level frontage on Green Lake with rare private island with bridge is just the start. This property offers 2 homes, Main house is a stone 2 story with 4BR, 2BA. MLS 1781758 $2,100,000

N7729 Laura Lane, Elkhorn. Located on Lauderdale’s Gold Coast featuring 142’ sand frontage on wooded 1.28 acre fenced and gated property. Main house 4 BD, 3.5 bath ranch with walk-out, Master suite lakeside, Eat-in Ktch and LR with Screened porch. Boat House with 2 Bd, 1 Bath, LR with Screened porch and eat in Ktch. Storage garage 36 x 30 with 4 rooms above with vaulted ceilings. Multiple decks and patios, 3 piers and being sold “Turn Key”. $4,499,700 421603