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Vol. 30 No. 3

COMPLIMENTARY COPY • Since 1989

MARCH 2018

SNOCROSS COMES TO LAKE GENEVA DALE’S BOOTERY: A FULL-SERVICE SHOE STORE

A FRESH TAKE AT PIER 290 Lakeside restaurant fine tunes its approach

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MARCH 2018

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302971

H E AT I N G COOLING

“

Linda S.

They have always been there when I have needed service, be it an emergency or for seasonal service. The service men have been on time and very courteous.

David Slamar

MBIN PLU Brett McIntosh

Brett McIntosh is our featured Plumber from Janesville. Brett is a Master Plumber and has been with Peck & Weis 11 years. He has been married to his wife Cindy for 16 years. Brett enjoys anything tech related and is an avid Green Bay Packer fan!

“

Jeremy J. is our professional, knowledgeable and polite service technician. When we continually feel grateful for being comfortable and safe all year long, we think of his expertise, and for the....last 15 years, your great company.

“

Colette W.

Electrician David Slamar lives in Burlington but his hometown is Bristol. His girlfriend’s name is Allison. David enjoys skiing and snowboarding, playing guitar, among other instruments. Employed 2 years with our company, David is looking forward to a long future with Peck & Weis!

HEATING Dan Ehle

Dan is in our HVAC department and has been employed at Peck & Weis for 11 years. He is from Delavan and has been married 44 years to his lovely wife Barbara. He has 4 children, 9 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren. Top on his list is Trout fishing in Colorado!

“

Got our electric work done in a fast & efficient manner, in time for us to close on our home. Reasonable rates, and fantastic customer service!

Kate B.

peckandweis.com 2506 Crest Drive, Lake Geneva, WI

(262) 248-6836

SPIRIT of GENEVA LAKES

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Thank You Peck and Weis and Serviceman Mark for keeping us cool in the summer and warm in the winter. We highly recommend Peck & Weis for their great work, prompt arrival, and professional service...

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MARCH 2018

March events calendar......................................... 6

Get ready to be thrilled....................................... 7 A fresh take at Pier 290..................................... 9 The Beast of Bray Road.....................................14 Shoe store offers old fashioned service.......................17 Fontana dedicates rescue boat................................... 21 Hop aboard the Bunny Train............................ 22 Spring Home Improvement................................. 23 Open arms and open hearts at Agape..................... 35 Restoring the prairie..................................... 39 Winter wandering on snowshoes............................... 43 A proper burial for a WWII soldier......................... 48

SPIRIT of GENEVA LAKES

Banish the winter blues Although the promise of spring with warmer days and the awakening of a long-slumbering landscape is on the horizon, March can be a cruel month. For every tease of spring weather comes a reminder that winter is not done yet. Perhaps a night out featuring a savory dinner like this one at Pier 290 is the antidote. Or there are still plenty of activities – like those featured in this edition – that will help you forget March’s split personality and get on with the celebration of spring.

IT’S COMIN’ UP MARCH EVENTS

2,3 Vintage Shop Hop, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Apple Barn

Orchard & Winery, W6384 Sugar Creek Road, Elkhorn. Complimentary wine sampling will be available along with separate wine specials. Info: 262-728-3266

16-18 Amsoil Championship Snocross Series, 9

a.m. to 5 p.m., Grand Geneva Resort and Spa, 7036 Grand Geneva Way, Lake Geneva. The top professional Snocross racers on the planet, as well as the leading freestyle athletes converge on Lake Geneva for this annual event. See Page 7 for more information.

Equine Seminar and Tack Sale, 9 a.m. to noon, SMILES (Special Methods in Learning Equine Skills), N2666 Highway K, Darien. Heated arena, equine education. Admission: $5 for adults, children 12 and younger admitted free. Info: 262-882-3470

Think Spring Shopping, Craft and Vendor Bazaar, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Hawk’s View Golf Club, 7377 Krueger Road, Lake Geneva. More than 40 vendors with homemade crafts, home products, skin care, jewelry, candles, yard art and more. Concessions available all day. Free parking. Admission: $2. Ring of Kerry concert, 7 to 9 p.m., Big Foot High School auditorium, 401 Devils Lane, Walworth. Irish music group, presented by the Big Foot Arts Foundation. Tickets: $25 at the door for adults, $8 for kids.

Wisconsin State Fair is a Great State Fair, 1 to 2:30 p.m., Horticultural Hall, 330 Broad St., Lake Geneva. Staff from the Milwaukee County Historical Society will take participants through more than 160 years of State Fair history with photographs from their collection. A brief history of the Walworth County Fair will be included in this program. Call Black Point Estate at 262-248-1888 to reserve tickets.

Shred Fest at the Mountain Top, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., 7036 Grand Geneva Way. Ski contests and races all day long and activities will benefit the CHILL Foundation. End the day at the Big Air Party at Leinenkugels Mountain Top Lodge. Info: www.grandgeneva.com

Seed Swap, 9 a.m. to noon, Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, W2493 Highway ES, East Troy. Seed Saving for Beginners workshop at 11 a.m. Info: 262-642-3303, ext. 107

3 Star Party at Yerkes Observatory, 373 W Geneva St.,

Williams Bay, 7 to 9 p.m. Theme: The Greatest Stars. Cost is $5 (cash at door) per person age 7 and older, children 6 and younger are admitted free with adult. Info: www. yerkesoutreach.org.

Bridal Show, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Lake Lawn Restort, 2400 E. Geneva St., Delavan. More than 30 vendors, wedding event workshops, bridal gown boutique and more.

Pier 290 Academy Awards Viewing Party, 5 to 10 p.m., 1 Liechty Drive, Williams Bay. Walk down the red carpet and watch the 2018 Academy Awards with food and champagne specials. Info: www.pier290.com

5, 12, 19 UW-Whitewater’s Fairhaven Lecture

Series, 3 to 4 p.m., Fellowship Hall, 435 W. Starin Road, Whitewater. March 5, Native American Spirituality and Practice; March 12, Aztalan: Mysteries of an Ancient Native American Town in Southern Wisconsin; March 19, Tribal Social Entrepreneurship: Info: www.uww.edu/ce/fairhaven

Burlington Home & Garden Show, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Burlington High School, 400 McCanna Parkway. Showcasing a large variety of products and services for home, garden, entertainment and financial needs. Info: www. burlingtonchamber.org

10, 11

Delavan Train Show, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., downtown Delavan. Free, family friendly festival with large operating train layouts, kids activities and more. Info: www. delavantrainshow.com

Geneva Steam Convention – Swashbucklers & Adventurers – Steampunks Explore the World, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Lake Lawn Resort, 2400 E. Geneva St., Delavan. Info: (262) 728-7950

14 For the Love of Cheese, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Highfield

Farm Creamery, W4848 State Line Road, Walworth. Learn how cheese is made and get an up-close look at the equipment and supplies. Sample 10 different types of cheese, along with a variety of accompaniments to make at home. Bring your own wine to enjoy – the glasses will be supplied. Info: find them on Facebook.

The

Spirit IS A PUBLICATION OF

Easter Egg Decorating, 9 to 10 a.m., Big Foot High School, Room E35, 401 Devils Lane, Walworth. Cost: $10 per child. Bring hard-boiled eggs or skip the cooking and buy a dozen already hard-boiled for $5. Colored dyes, stickers, stencils and more. The last 15 minutes will be spent on making “surprise” Easter cards from the children. All card materials included. Parents are welcome to stay or drop kids 5 years and older off. Info: www.bigfootfinearts.org

Maple Fest, 7:30 to 3 p.m., Covenant Harbor, 1724 W. Main St., Lake Geneva. Starting at 7:30 a.m., guests may enjoy an all-you-care-to-eat pancake breakfast, take a maple syrup tour and have fun at the many unique activities around camp. Info: covenantharbor.org

Garden Series: Vegetable Gardens, 5 to 8 p.m., Congdon Gardens, Town Bank Community Room, 820 E. Geneva St., Delavan. Info: congdongardens3@gmail.com

22 Tree Climbing, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., House In The Wood,

GENERAL MANAGER

Cyndi Jensen, CPA EDITOR IN CHIEF

Ed Nadolski ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Vicki Vanderwerff CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Sue Z. Lange

3300 Bay Road, Delavan. Info: www.bigfootrecreation.org

23, 24 Women’s Resource Fair, 1 to 7 p.m. Friday,

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, The Ridge Hotel, W4240 Highway 50, Lake Geneva. More than 60 exhibiting practitioners, organizations and businesses and more than 20 educational lectures in the areas of alternative health and wellness, holistic products, organic foods and nutrition, green home and healthy life, bodywork and movement, and education and empowerment. Info: www.womensresourcefair.org

Beat the Heat Open Horse Show, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., West 20 Ranch and Saddle Co., W4812 Highway 20, East Troy. Info: www.west20.com

24, 25, 31 East Troy Railroad Bunny Trains, 9

a.m. to 3 p.m., East Troy Railroad Museum, 2002 Church St. Enjoy face painting and coloring at the East Troy Depot prior to departure. Then take a 5-mile train ride in heated electric railroad cars to the Elegant Farmer in Mukwonago, where bunnies and chicks will be on display by the local 4-H Club. Take photos with the Easter Bunny before returning to the East Troy Depot. Trains depart every hour from East Troy. Advance reservations are required. Tickets for children age 3 to 14 are $14; adults are $17; and $8 for kids 2 and younger. Info: www. easttroyrr.org

Lake Geneva Symphony Orchestra chamber concert, 3 to 5 p.m., Holy Communion Church, 320 Broad St., Lake Geneva. Free admission; donations appreciated. Info: www.lakegenevaorchestra.org

Easter Egg Hunt, 10 a.m., Duck Pond Recreation Area, Fontana. Rain, snow or shine. The free program is a cooperative effort between the Village of Fontana, Big Foot Recreation District and area businesses. Arrive early – the hunt starts promptly at 10 a.m. Don’t forget a basket. Info: www. bigfootrecreation.org The calendar of events is compiled from a variety of sources, including Visit Lake Geneva and the Walworth County Visitors Bureau, and contains events available as of press time. Although we make every attempt to provide accurate information regarding area events, dates and times may change or events may be cancelled. We suggest you go to visitlakegeneva.com or visitwalworthcounty.com prior to making travel plans.

MARCH 2018

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The Spirit of Geneva Lakes is a complimentary publication, distributed from I-94 through west Kenosha County, to and including the Geneva Lakes area in Walworth County, Richmond Illinois, plus Burlington and Waterford in Racine County. Send all correspondence to:

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Spirit

SOUTHERN LAKES NEWSPAPERS 1102 Ann Street Delavan, WI 53115

SpiritofGenevaLakes.com

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GET READY TO BE...

THRILLED!

World’s top snowmobile racers return for finale at Grand Geneva course SUBMITTED PHOTO Spirit of Geneva Lakes

Above: Kody Kamm of he best professional snowmobile racers and Kenosha speeds by the leading freestyle athletes on the planet will finish line during one of invade Walworth County for the AMSOIL his recent races in the Pro Championship Snocross Series from Friday division of Snocross racing. through Sunday, March 16-18, at the Grand Geneva Kamm finished as the points leader during the 2016-17 Resort and Spa in Lake Geneva. season and returns to one The Nielsen Enterprises Grand Finale weekend of his favorite tracks, the featured about 250 competitors fighting it out in nearly challenging course at Lake 500 races a year ago in Lake Geneva, and organizers Geneva’s Grand Geneva. are optimistic that similar numbers will participate as winter turns to spring this year. That includes several talented racers from southeastern Wisconsin, who also will jockey for trophies and bragging rights during this exciting year-end battle. “We are hoping for similar numbers again this year, and with how the season has been going so far, it appears like that will happen,” said Bobby Wherrit, member relations director for Snocross. The International Series of Champions (ISOC) is the sport’s national sanctioning body and bills itself as the premier snowmobile racing organization in North America. And the Badger State again will be well represented on Grand Geneva’s

SPIRIT of GENEVA LAKES

IF YOU GO… WHO: 250 of the world’s top snowmobile

racers

SUBMITTED PHOTO Spirit of Geneva Lakes

Action always is intense during AMSOIL Championship Snocross events, and that won’t change at the season finale at Grand Geneva in Lake Geneva from March 16-18.

challenging course, and that goes for racers from southeastern Wisconsin. Those expected to compete feature Kody Kamm of Kenosha, Brett Nastala of Edgerton and Eddie Menbauer of Union Grove in the Pro series and Nick Lorenz of Kenosha and Ian Buchanan of Jefferson in the Pro Lite division. One face that fans won’t see on the track but likely will be popular in the anticipated huge crowds is Burlington’s Ross Martin, who has retired from racing. However, Kamm is among those contending for top honors after winning the points championship chase last winter. He was in second place in the standings at press time. Grand Geneva is home to the Mountain Top ski area, which will supply the snowmaking equipment to create the race course, which event organizers say will force competitors to maneuver over and around massive jumps, fast-cornering berms and tricky rhythm sections. “The Lake Geneva course is one of the most challenging tracks these guys race on,” Wherrit said. “It definitely separates the pros from your everyday racer.” The Lake Geneva event is the eighth and final stop of a national tour series that started Thanksgiving weekend. “While there’s racing all day long, our opening ceremonies kick off our featured racing, the Pro and Pro Lite divisions, where the best of the best perform,” Wherrit said. Action typically starts around 8 a.m. with practices and continues through 9:30 or 10 p.m. in a host of classes, from juniors to amateurs to professionals. Practice runs and preliminary rounds are planned on all three days. The finals in many of the top classes begin at 7:20 p.m. 8

Friday and Saturday and at 12:20 p.m. on Sunday. “To new fans, what they’ll see are these 400-pound machines flying as high as 80 feet off the ground, and sometimes just inches apart,” Wherrit said. “Grand Geneva puts on a phenomenal event and always has been great to us. There will be a ton of

WHAT: The final stop on the 2017-18 AMSOIL Championship Snocross national series WHEN: March 16-18 WHERE: Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, 7036 Grand Geneva Way, Lake Geneva TIMES: Opening ceremonies are at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and noon on Sunday. TICKETS: General admission tickets are $25 per day or $40 for the entire threeday weekend. Children 5 and younger get in free. Parking is $7 daily for cars/trucks or $12 for a three-day pass. For RVs/ campers/trailers it’s $25 daily or $60 for three-day pass. Tickets are available at the gate or at www.snocross.com. MORE INFORMATION: Call 262-249-4726 or go online to www.snocross.com or www. grandgeneva.com.

competition and unbelievable racing for everyone to watch.” General admission tickets are $25 per day or $40 for all three days. Children age 5 and younger are admitted for free. Visit www.snocross.com for information, fan and racer memberships, schedule details and more.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Spirit of Geneva Lakes

Kody Kamm of Kenosha soars through the air on his Polaris. The 2012 Kenosha Bradford High School graduate competes for Hentges Racing.

MARCH 2018

Dinner View with a

FIND WARMTH AND COMFORT FOOD AT PIER 290 by Sandra Landen Machaj

The bar at Pier 290, on Geneva Lake in Williams Bay, was rescued from a home on the lake that was being torn down and refinished to provide this attractive place to enjoy a drink, some appetizers or even dinner. Pier 290 is accessible from Geneva Lake and offers outdoor seating in the warmer months. SANDRA LANDEN MACHAJ PHOTOS Spirit of Geneva Lakes

CORRESPONDENT

SPIRIT of GENEVA LAKES

SANDRA LANDEN MACHAJ Spirit of Geneva Lakes

Pier 290 staff members Chef Tom Bottoms (from left), General Manager Manuel De Mayo, Marketing Director Kacey Gallup and Line President Bill Roehrick are seen here in the bar room in front of a large map of Geneva Lake.

Your Full Service Grocery Store

A Cut Above the Rest

Family Owned & Operated Since 1974

hile it is often during the summer that one considers going to the shore of Geneva Lake to enjoy a restful lunch or dinner, the offseason months are just as welcoming. Those who frequent Pier 290, the Gage restaurant on Pier 290 in Williams Bay, know the quality of the food served but may be in for a big surprise when they return for their next meal. The fine-dining restaurant, which opened in 2012, has undergone a renovation and boasts a new, updated look and a new menu of comfort foods designed to warm up the winter months. “While the restaurant has been in operation since 2012, some things are changing. These changes may make your visit even more enjoyable and satisfying,” said Kacey Gallup, marketing coordinator for Gage Marine, which owns Pier 290. “Last fall Bill Gage, the third generation of Gages to

• Full Deli Department, Party Trays Available • Fresh Salad and Hot Food Bar • Produce Delivered Fresh Daily • Full Service Meat Department, Will Cut To Order • In-House Bakery, Custom Cakes • Floral Arrangements and Plants for All Occasions • Complete Liquor, Wine & Beer Department

Open 7 Days a Week 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

ly Delavan ient ven ed n o 1414 E. Geneva St. C t a Loc in the Shopko Shopping Center

262-728-2638

Stinebrink’s Liquor Store (Next Door) Largest Liquor Store in the Area

262-740-0541

MARCH 2018

Lake Geneva 100 East Geneva Square in the Geneva Square Shopping Center

262-248-8798 307817

run the Gage company, well known for its boat tours on Geneva Lake along with its boat sales, repairs and storage, initiated some changes in the management of the company,” she continued. Gage, chief executive officer and president of the Gage Corp., recently decided it was time to hire a president to take on some of the projects he envisioned for the company but never had time to complete. He hired Bill Roehrick in the fall of 2017 to take over the responsibilities of president of the corporation. One of Roehrick’s early projects was to look at Pier 290 and assess how it was meeting the needs of not only the summer visitors but the residents of the community. An update of the bar and dining room was undertaken along with a change in the food menus, and a new chef. The restaurant is warm and welcoming, especially when there’s a chill in the air and the fireplace is ablaze. The ambience of the room provides a cozy space to eat and visit with family or friends. The restaurant itself gives off an uncluttered contemporary vibe and overlooks Geneva Lake. The bar space, which is a few steps up near the main entrance, has a nautical and historic look. Old-time photos of boats and activities along the lake along with some maps – new and old – are indicative of the nautical history of the area. “The bar itself was rescued from a home along the lake, which was being torn down,” Gallup said. “The bar was refurbished and made its new home here.” The bar room also features a fire pit, adding to its warmth and providing a cozy spot to sit with a drink and some bar appetizers. The Gage Marine building, including the restaurant, was remodeled under the direction of Patrick Heard. Another recent change was the appointment of Head Chef Tom Bottoms, who was the sous chef for about four to five years. When the opening for head chef came up he was promoted to that position. A new chef usually means a change in menus or cooking styles, and Bottoms soon made his presence known. Oscar Flores, one of the long-term managers at Pier 290, said the restaurant was originally a “farm-to-table” restaurant that served all organic and locally produced foods when possible. The goal was to prevent serving items high in chemicals and antibiotics and reduce passing on illness to customers. “Many of the items served were

SANDRA LANDEN MACHAJ Spirit of Geneva Lakes

Upper photo: A favorite lunch at Pier 290 is this combination of a Wisconsin favorite, cheese soup, Caesar salad and crispy french bread. Above: One of the new comfort foods now offered at the restaurant is chicken potpie served in an iron skillet. The hearty meal is loaded with large pieces of chicken and fresh vegetables.

SPIRIT of GENEVA LAKES

SANDRA LANDEN MACHAJ Spirit of Geneva Lakes

The view of Geneva Lake is beautiful no matter what time of year as this icy view from Pier 290 in February shows.

grown on our own farm and meats and chicken were produced everyone has to eat. locally. Of course, in the winter food had to be purchased from “During the summer all the restaurants in the area are filled warmer growing areas,” Flores said. with visitors and with some local residents,” Gallup said. “In the While sticking to the concept of fresh organic foods, each year winter it is the year-round residents that enjoy coming out during the menu had a different concept and every week different items. the less busy times to enjoy the beauty of the lake. They focused on light summery items in the daytime and higher “In the summer visitors arrive by boat or from a walk along end dinners in the evening. the shore path while others When Bottoms took over drive in. They seem to come the kitchen he began a new from everywhere! In the and comforting menu for winter, things are quieter, but the winter. He showcased local residents tired of sitting comfort foods that are in their house make their reminiscent of childhood way to Pier 290 for lunch or experiences and appeal dinner. It is not only good to families. Items such to get out but to enjoy the as chicken potpie, beef beauty of the winter season.” stroganoff and meatloaf Trying to please the local highlight the menu, which residents is one of their goals still offers soups and salads for the winter. for a lighter meal. “For it is these local people “The meatloaf is Maggie who get us through the slower Gage’s recipe. Maggie is winter season,” Gallup said. the mother of current CEO, This past year they initiated Bill Gage,” Gallup said. a Friday fish fry. They offer Flores said the pork all-you-can-eat cod, deep chop is one of the favorite fried or baked, accompanied items on the menu this by potato pancakes, coleslaw winter, as is the Ahi tuna and applesauce for $13. SUBMITTED PHOTO Spirit of Geneva Lakes salad. Bluegill with the same Diners can finish off their meal with a piece of accompaniments is also carrot cake this time of year. available for $18.95. Thursday nights are Girls’ Night Out. Girls gather your When summertime rolls around, Geneva Lake bustles with girlfriends and enjoy 50 percent off all rail drinks, beer and wine. activity and visitors from all over. Boaters bring their own crafts Dinner entrees are also 50 percent off. Grab the girlfriends for a or rent one from the many marinas. Others come to enjoy a tasty dinner while saving money. walk along the 26-mile shore path, take one of the many boat Tapas, or small plates, are popular at Pier 290. Usually tours around the lake or spend the day on one of the beaches. customers order several plates and share. The restaurant has a Whatever the reason for a visit to the Geneva Lake area, variety of tapa dishes served in the bar at $5, $7 or $9, depending

Warm weather offerings

MARCH 2018

SUBMITTED PHOTO Spirit of Geneva Lakes

Sitting outdoors on those chilly spring and fall evenings is better enjoyed when absorbing the warmth of the fire pit.

on the item. One menu favorite is Tatchos, Pier 290’s version of nachos but substituting tater tots for the tortilla chips. Another unusual dish is the sea sliders ahi or crabcake sliders. They also offer Maggie’s famous meatloaf or the homemade flatbread topped with cheese or pepperoni.

March Madness takes over as the college basketball finals work their way from the Sweet 16 to the Elite 8 and down to the Final 4. Special menu items and prices will be offered on these weekends. Enjoy a $16 special for the Sweet 16 on March 22 and 23, an $8 special for the Elite 8 on March 24 and 25 and a $4 special for the Final 4 on March 31. Find Pier 290 on Facebook to find out The month of March is a busy time for the what these specials are. restaurant, starting with the Academy Awards on When golf season begins, enthusiasts are March 4. Come to Pier 290, walk the red carpet and invited to join the Putt and Drive Contest watch the awards while enjoying the champagne and on April 5. Clubs are provided and winners fancy foods prepared for that night. receive Pier 290 green apparel. St. Patrick’s Day everyone is a little Irish and one Fight cabin fever and visit Pier 290 to watch the place to celebrate is at Pier 290. A special menu will wildlife as it makes its presence known on the lake. be served of all the favorite St. Patrick’s Day foods As the water begins to thaw, visitors can see such as corned beef and cabbage, Irish stew or a the ducks swimming in the lake and birds Reuben sandwich. Don’t forget to order a Guinness flying by. Two eagles also have been seen or some Irish whiskey to go along with the meal. The in the area on a regular basis. bar will be serving cellar-chilled Guinness just as they Pier 290 is at 1 Liechty Drive, Williams Bay. drink it in Ireland. Cellar chilled is just slightly cooled, Winter hours for the kitchen are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., not the refrigerated cold that most people in America Wednesday through Sunday, with the bar remaining favor. open later. The restaurant will host the Pot of Gold Scavenger For more information, call 262-245-2100, visit Hunt on St. Paddy’s Day. So, guests are invited to www.pier290@gagemarine.com or follow them on come prepared to eat, drink and search for gold. Facebook.

Upcoming happenings

SPIRIT of GENEVA LAKES

Beast of Bray Road BRINGING THE

Film to feature local footage, witnesses, effect on history

by Heather Ruenz STAFF WRITER

TO LIFE

The crew of “The Bray Road Beast,” a film being produced by Seth Breedlove of Small Town Monsters, re-creates a scene in Ohio recently. The crew will be in Wisconsin for about a week in April to record local footage and speak with locals and witnesses about the impact of the reported werewolf sightings.

enturies of lore relating to the existence of real-life werewolves will get the documentary treatment this fall when “The Bray Road Beast” lands on streaming platforms and DVD, courtesy of Midwest production company Small Town Monsters. Seth Breedlove, of Wadsworth, Ohio, started the production company more than three years ago. He serves as writer and director while he and his wife, Adrienne, produce the films. All of Breedlove’s films – this will be his seventh – are based on monsters. He said he became interested in producing a film about the local beast after reading a book by Linda Godfrey. “I was vaguely aware of the beast for some time, but in the past year, I got the book and

MARCH 2018

read it. I enjoyed it immensely and became interested in making a movie about it, so I got in touch with Linda,” Breedlove said. Godfrey wrote a best-selling, nonfiction book, “The Beast of Bray Road,” in the 1990s. Breedlove said it was important to reach out to her about the film. “The most important thing was witnesses, but the second was having Linda Godfrey on board because she’s been writing about it for years. I was able to meet with her and she was great. She has a wonderful sense of humor, and I like the way she writes,” Breedlove said. The fabled beast has been described as a werewolf-like creature or hair-covered, half-man, half-dog animal seen by multiple people driving along Bray Road, Elkhorn, as well as other locations. “It was soon discovered that the creature had been seen around the area as far back as the 1950s,” Breedlove states in a press release about the film. “Some of these sightings took on a particularly bizarre, supernatural element while others seemed to simply be of an abnormally large wolf, possibly a coyote/wolf hybrid.” While the sightings peaked during the ’90s, there continue to be reports of sightings, a claim Godfrey also makes on her website. For more about Godfrey, including sightings she’s been contacted about, visit lindagodfrey.com.

Historical take

Small Town Monsters began as an independent film series exploring lost and bizarre history at various locations in the United States. “Focusing on small town folklore, our team tells stories through the words and experiences of those who were most affected by them – residents and witnesses,” the website states. The crew’s first film, “Minerva Monster,” explored strange occurrences in the 1970s in Minerva, Ohio. In 2016, Breedlove directed and edited his first fulllength feature, “Boggy Creek Monster,” now available on DVD and streaming services. Breedlove said in addition to focusing on monsters, his films delve into the impact sightings of unusual creatures have on local history. His film about the beast of Bray Road will continue that tradition. “I think werewolf mythology is interesting, and not just that it’s a monster legend, but the rural take and the beast of Bray Road will be the catalyst for that idea,” Breedlove said. “We’re not out to prove anything as real, but more about putting the history of the sighting or monster into how the town and its history can be affected by those things.” The crew from Ohio will spend about five days in the Elkhorn area in April,

SUBMITTED IMAGE Spirit of Geneva Lakes

Though it’s still early in the production stages, this is the tentative DVD cover for the film, “The Bray Road Beast,” which will include filming in the Elkhorn area and interviews with witnesses and locals.

shooting scenes, interviewing Godfrey and witnesses and talking to local folks about their thoughts and theories on the subject. “We’ve connected with someone local who agreed to help us with storage and so on, plus we’ll have some travel in the area. We plan to shoot 30 or 40 hours of footage there,” he said. In the film, the werewolf will be brought to life using a costume designed by Collier Wilmes, as well as the work of stop-motion artist Santino Vitale and illustrators Matt Harris and Brandon Scalf, according to the release. Lyle Blackburn will narrate SPIRIT of GENEVA LAKES

the film, Zac Palmisano will serve as the director of photography and composer Brandon Dalo is handling the film’s original score. Breedlove said “The Bray Road Beast” is the first film in a trilogy, “Monsters in the Midwest.”

Get involved

Small Town Monsters funds its films through crowdfunding, an online campaign in which “backers” pledge money to help the project reach its funding goal while

“

Whether you believe these things happen or not, they do impact culture and it’s about recognizing that.” – Seth Breedlove

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receiving “rewards” in return. “Kickstarter is done each year because of the amount of films we’re putting out – this year there are two films, but we also have a miniseries that will come out in June,” Breedlove said. The Kickstarter to fund “The Bray Road Beast” also includes two other documentary projects being produced by Breedlove’s company: a short-form documentary about The Flatwoods Monsters, and a six-episode miniseries about the lake monster, Champ. Rewards in the Kickstarter include T-shirts, DVDs, executive and associate producer credits in the films and a statue of the Bray Road Beast by sculptor Jean St. Jean of CreatuReplica. Breedlove said most of Small Town Monsters’ movies are just over an hour, but the Bray Road film will likely be closer to 90 minutes. “This will be our biggest film to this point. We’re shooting it with the same camera used in ‘Blade Runner’ and are really trying to step it up with this film,” he said. “The Bray Road Beast” will launch on Amazon and Small Town Monsters’ website initially. “Amazon is a big platform for streaming, so we start there and on our website. A couple months after that it’ll be available on most major streaming platforms, including iTunes, Google Play, YouTube and Vudu,” Breedlove said. He said he believes his films deliver an important message. “Whether you believe these things happen or not, they do impact culture, and it’s about recognizing that,” Breedlove said. For more information about Small Town Monsters films, visit smalltownmonsters.com.

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SANDRA LANDEN MACHAJ Spirit of Geneva Lakes

Dale’s Bootery owner Bob Herold and employees Amanda Herold, Meaghan Relitz and Manager Lindsay Bierdis play with

Taking a step back in time some of their favorite shoes.

Dale’s Bootery a footwear tradition in Whitewater by Sandra Landen Machaj CORRESPONDENT

SANDRA LANDEN MACHAJ Spirit of Geneva Lakes

Ready for spring? Pick out a new pair of Birkenstock sandals at Dale’s Bootery for this summer’s fun in the sun.

Walking into Dale’s Bootery is a step back in time to when purchasing new shoes meant a special event. Families visited the shoe store, where their feet were measured and fitted with the idea they would be worn for a long time. And when the shoes wore out, they were taken to a shoemaker, who may or may not have been associated with the shoe store, to be repaired. Dale’s Bootery brings back memories of a time

SPIRIT of GENEVA LAKES

SANDRA LANDEN MACHAJ Spirit of Geneva Lakes

Dale’s Bootery’s long, narrow store is full of a variety of shoes and boots to add to your wardrobe. The high-quality shoes will not only add beauty but also comfort.

when quality, not quantity, was desired and providing the best footwear for families was important. The business, located at 155 W. Main St. in Whitewater, specializes in high-quality, name-brand shoes. The store carries over 40 brands in a variety of styles and colors, so plan to take some time to make your way through the store. In 1969, Dale Maas, who had worked in various shoe stores, bought Dale’s Bootery. He operated it until 2005, when longtime employee Bob Herold and his wife, Carol, purchased it. “I had worked at a variety of jobs but found I enjoyed the shoe business,” Bob Herold said. “When the opportunity to purchase this store became available, I knew it was time. “We are a traditional sit-and-fit shoe 18

store,” Herold added. “Every customer sits down and a trained member of the staff measures the customer’s foot using a device known as a Branneck, which allows the fitter to determine the correct size and width of the foot so that appropriate shoes can be chosen. Different shoe companies vary in the width of their shoes.” This service is much different from the way many people buy shoes today. Often, they go to the big box stores and purchase lower quality shoes off the rack without proper fitting, thus leaving many of them with a closet full of shoes too painful to wear. Many people with sore feet can blame it on poorly constructed or poorly fitted shoes. For others, something such as having flat feet may contribute to their discomfort when wearing shoes without support. MARCH 2018

Dale’s Bootery can find the perfect fit, whether one is considering work boots, sandals or everyday shoes. But because of so many available offerings, the difficult part is choosing the shoes that fit well and you find attractive. Most of the employees are experienced and well trained. Many of them have worked at least part time for Dale’s throughout their college years and some have found it find it difficult to leave. Lindsey was one such employee. Upon completion of her degree in communications and while pondering where to go with her career, she realized she already was doing what she loved. So, she remained at the store, going from parttime employee to full-time store manager. Dale’s also repairs shoes. Have that special pair that you and your feet love?

The store will re-heel shoes, replace soles or undergo a complete restoration if needed. Repairs require one to four weeks depending on what needs to be done. The store sells shoes for men, women and children. Keen, Red Wing, SAS (San Antonio Shoes), Naot and Clarks are a few of the quality brands available. Keen and Red Wing have been well known for producing quality work boots. Keen offers a variety of casual outdoor shoes but continues to be known for its men’s work shoes. “A new shoe that is appreciated by those who can’t bend to tie their shoes and those who prefer not to have to tie them, is the Zerotie shoe,” Herold said. “These shoes actually tie themselves.” New technology includes a wheel in the back of the shoe that is used to loosen or tighten the unbreakable laces as needed. “These shoes are especially good after hip replacement.” Seeing the difficulty that many people have with their feet, Bob became a certified pedorthist in 2004 and opened a separate office adjacent to the bootery. Bob describes a pedorthist as a foot pharmacist. “We don’t diagnose foot problems, we just fit shoes.” They also see patients with foot

SANDRA LANDEN MACHAJ Spirit of Geneva Lakes

Red Wing Shoes of Minnesota has long been known for its high-quality work boots and other types of boots. A homage to the Green Bay Packers lines the wall at Dale’s Bootery.

problems that have been diagnosed by their medical care provider. “These people need specialty shoes or orthotics,” Herold said. “A mold is made of their feet by using Gen X technology, where the person steps into a bed of micro granules on a pressure pad and the mold of their foot is formed

in the pad. These are used to create the right orthotic.” People with medical problems, especially those with diabetes, often can see a pedorthist. “With a medical diagnosis, a prescription from the physician is needed.”

SANDRA LANDEN MACHAJ Spirit of Geneva Lakes

A variety of Smart Wool socks are on display for both men and women at Dale’s Bootery. These socks, made of merino wool, are comfortable and durable.

SPIRIT of GENEVA LAKES

Diabetics need to have proper fitting shoes to help prevent some of the complications of their disease. Wearing improper shoes enhances neuropathy, which results in loss of feeling or pain in the feet. A doctor may prescribe therapeutic shoes or custom orthotics, which will be fitted by the pedorthist. A pedorthist can customize foot beds and make other shoe modifications for those with foot or leg problems. “In some cases, shoes need to be custom-made,” Herold said. “Although with the many ways to modify shoes today, this is more rare. Custom-made shoes also are very expensive.” He said the mistake that many people make is discontinuing to use their orthotics because they believe their problem is gone. Those with flat feet or plantar fasciitis usually will see a recurrence of their pain if they stop wearing their orthotics. His pedorthist office is open by appointment on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 262-4733299 for appointments. Dale’s also sell socks. “The socks are made of Merino wool, which has a longer fiber and is not as irritating to the skin as regular wool,” Herold said. “No itching from this type of wool. They also wick moisture from the skin outward better than cotton.” They are comfortable year-round, need no special maintenance and tend to be durable. Many women who come into the store for shoes also leave with a Hedgren purse. The purses are made of a lightweight material similar to that of a parachute, making them perfect for traveling. Many of these purses are protected to prevent credit card data from being stolen. Dale’s Bootery is at 155 W. Main St., Whitewater. Call 262-473-4093 or visit www.dalesbootery.com or find them on Facebook. Dale’s is open Mondays through Thursdays 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Fridays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

SANDRA LANDEN MACHAJ Spirit of Geneva Lakes

Dale’s Bootery owner Bob Herold holding a Branneck, a device used to measure feet for accurately fitting shoes. Dale’s is a “sit and fit” store where both the salesperson and customer sit while the customer’s feet are measured to ascertain the correct size.

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Fontana Fire and Rescue airboat dedicated by Penny Gruetzmacher CORRESPONDENT

Amidst the fun activities at Ice Party Gone Wild – a fundraiser for Fontana Fire and Rescue – was a touching and somber event, the dedication of the department’s new airboat. The boat was dedicated to the memory of Mark Reninger, a 53-year-old man from Wheeling, Ill., who died Feb. 14, 2016, when the snowmobile he was riding went through the ice on Geneva Lake. According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Reninger’s snowmobile hit open water on the lake. A snowmobiler who was riding near Reninger jumped off his sled and called for help, but it reportedly took rescuers about an hour to reach the scene. DNR Warden Juan Gomez said because of the open water in the center of the lake, rescuers had to take additional precautions so as not to put first responders at risk. Reninger died at the scene, and the other man was hospitalized and treated for hypothermia. At the dedication event Jan. 20, many Fontana Fire and Rescue volunteers were wearing red T-shirts with RENBO 53, the name of the boat to honor Reninger. Wolfgang Nitsch, chief of the department, said all the efforts put forth to raise money for the boat were worth it. “All the funds raised, the money from local people, including golf outings – it will save lives,” Nitsch said. Several sponsors are listed on a plaque on the boat: the Reninger family, Shodeen Family

Foundation, Blackhawk Alumni, the Robert and Marcy Allen family, St. Benedict Catholic Perish, Chuck’s Lakeshore Inn, Bob and Barb Reninger, the Gregg Kunes family, Fontana Fire/Rescue, the Origer family, Turk and the Friends of Fontana Fire/Rescue, though it was pointed out that there were additional donors who wished to remain anonymous. Members of Reninger’s family were at the dedication ceremony, and radio personality Bill Michaels served as master of ceremonies. The event included the singing of the national anthem and the ringing of the bell to bring the boat officially into service.

SPIRIT of GENEVA LAKES

Above: Wolfgang Nitsch, chief of Fontana Fire and Rescue, stands next to RENBO 53, the department’s new airboat, at a dedication ceremony Jan. 20 during the Ice Party Gone Wild fundraiser. The boat is named in memory of Mark Reninger, who died in 2016 when his snowmobile hit open water on Geneva Lake. Below: Scott Peterson, along with Chief Wolfgang Nitsch, rings the bell to officially bring the Fontana Fire and Rescue’s new airboat, named in memory of Mark Reninger, into service. PENNY GRUETZMACHER PHOTOS Spirit of Geneva Lakes

aboard the Bunny Trains on the East Troy Railroad Get ready for family fun on the East Troy Electric Railroad’s Bunny Train. Kids of all ages can have their face painted and fun coloring at the East Troy Depot before departure. Then enjoy Easterthemed activities aboard a 10-mile round-trip to the Elegant Farmer, where kids will see live bunnies and chicks on display by local 4-H students. Kids can visit with the Easter Bunny for pictures and have a treat before returning to East Troy. Children will receive a small gift upon the return to East Troy. The historic railroad cars are heated and restrooms are available at the East Troy Depot. Tickets can be purchased online anytime at www.easttroyrr.org. The railroad has updated its pricing to incorporate the convenience fees, so riders will no longer be charged a per-ticket fee as in the past. New prices are: $17 for adults, $14 for kids age 3 to 17 and $8 for kids 2 and younger. Sales taxes are still extra. Advance reservations are required and can be made on the railroad’s website. Trains depart at 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., noon, 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. on March 24, 25 and 31. The East Troy Railroad Museum operates 14-mile round-trip train rides from its historic East Troy Depot and museum to Indianhead Park in Mukwonago, with a stop at the popular Elegant Farmer store and deli. The railroad is celebrating more than 110 years of riding the rails through Southeast Wisconsin’s Kettle Moraine countryside. The nonprofit museum is operated, maintained and managed by more than 130 volunteers committed to preserving rail history in Wisconsin and America. For more information, visit www.easttroyrr.org or call 262-642-3263.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Spirit of Geneva Lakes

The East Troy Railroad’s Bunny Train will ride the rails for a 10-mile trip to Elegant Farmer on March 24, 25 and 31. Go to www.easttroyrr.org to reserve a spot before they sell out.

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Home Improvement

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heats up

SPIRIT of GENEVA LAKES

A budding season of promise IT’S TIME TO GET YOUR YARD READY FOR THE SEASON by Sandra Landen Machaj CORRESPONDENT

Spring is when flowers peak out from under the remnants of melting snow. And now is the time when one looks at his/her landscaping and wonders what is needed to return their yard to the way it looked last summer. Our trees and shrubs look overgrown and have many dead or unruly branches. Or perhaps the lawn has never been in good shape and this is the year to make it beautiful. So, where do we begin to turn that winterweary landscape into a beautiful lawn and/or garden? With so many expert landscapers in the area, there is no reason not to seek out their expertise. I visited several nurseries and landscape supply companies, which offered advice about how to turn lawns into the beautiful spaces we all imagine.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Spirit of Geneva Lakes

This Prairie Fire crabapple adds a beautiful flash of color to this water feature with stone statuary by Windhill Farms.

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Spring

Not every backyard patio is a square slab of cement. This one, by Breezy Hill Nursery, is constructed of various materials, forming a variety of conversation areas. The cement center gives way to the brick area with a fire pit. On the other side of the deck a wooden pergola provides shade for another conversation area. The brick wall around the deck gives it a very finished look.

My first stop was to Woodhill Nursery in Lake Geneva, where I sat down with owners Cully and Connor Pillman. “Before beginning any work on the lawn, wait until the frost is out of the ground,” Cully Pillman said. “In April it is a good idea to thatch to remove any dead and tangled grass. Then apply a spring fertilizer. It also is recommended that homeowners consider taking plugs out of the lawn to allow the grass to have room to grow.” Have the plugs removed professionally or rent a machine to do it yourself. Notice dead spots in your lawn? This may be the result of crabgrass. The Pillmans recommend using a crabgrass preventive and reseeding. Try bluegrass if your lawn is sunny, and use one with fescue if it’s shady. Dennis Habernicht of High Prairie Landscaping recommends the same early yard work, including aeration and fertilization in April. When crabgrass is present, use a pre-emergent crabgrass preventive. “If no crabgrass is present, use a slowrelease fertilizer that has a higher nitrogen

content,” Habernicht said. “Cleanup of flower beds and trimming of bushes and trees are important early.” The Pillmans agreed. “Start by raking the leaves out of the perennial beds, then look at the bushes and trees,” Cully Pillman said. Once the debris has been removed from the beds, mulching the area is important to keep out weeds. He recommends using mushroom compost. “We sell mushroom compost for $35 for a yard,” Cully Pillman said. “One yard will cover 125 to 150 square feet in the garden or a space equivalent to 12 by 12 feet. The mushroom compost provides nutrients to the soil and lasts all year. The plants will make their way up through the mulch.” With a laugh, he also mentioned that mushroom mulch has an odor that some people object to. “It doesn’t last long, usually just a couple of days,” he said. Some people put wood chips on top of the mushroom mulch for a decorative look, while others use mushroom mulch one year SPIRIT of GENEVA LAKES

SANDRA LANDEN MACHAJ Spirit of Geneva Lakes

Holly Muenchow, manager of the garden center at Breezy Hill, displays some of the new ergonomic tools to make digging and planting easier.

and wood chips another. Various mulches are made from different woods. According to the Pillmans, oak mulch sucks moisture and nutrients from the soil. Black mulch costs a few dollars more, but it doesn’t break down and thus protects the mushroom compost underneath. “Mulch is not just for aesthetics,” Connor Pillman said. “It cuts down on maintenance because it helps keep the weeds down.” Spring also means trimming bushes and trees. Before they start to leaf out, examine each tree and bush for displaced, broken or out-of-shape branches. These should be trimmed as early as possible. Kathy Seitz, manager of the garden center at Breezy Hill Nursery, said its trees are harvested before they begin to leaf out. Breezy Hill’s trees come from one of its Wisconsin farms. “We have a number of tree farms in three different counties in Wisconsin, the largest one in Clinton,” Seitz said. “The trees are harvested with a large ball of soil so they can continue to grow while at the nursery. While other plants can be harvested year-round, our trees are limited to what we have harvested in early spring. If you are looking for a specific tree, order it early. Otherwise you may have to wait until next year.” Holly Muenchkow, who is replacing Seitz as manager of the garden center, recommends that trees be purchased from a

SUBMITTED PHOTO Spirit of Geneva Lakes

Surrounded by a wooden fence for privacy, this peaceful oasis by High Prairie Landscaping offers multiple shades of gray stone beautifully landscaped with a variety of trees and flowers, making it a favorite spot to spend outdoor time.

reputable nursery, one that offers a warranty. “Our trees are warrantied for two years,” Muenchkow said. Landowners face many choices and decisions when picking new trees for their properties. First they must decide whether they are

looking for ornamental or shade trees. Also, disease has become a major concern in the Southern Lakes region. For example, elms and Scotch and Austrian pines may not be seen in this area much longer. Woodhill and Breezy Hill suggest that residents look at what trees their neighbors

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SUBMITTED PHOTO Spirit of Geneva Lakes

Reminiscent of an English countryside garden, this flagstone path by Breezy Hill Nursery meanders through a beautifully tended cottage garden.

are planting and choose something different to help create diversity so that disease doesn’t wipe out everything. Maples grow into big, beautiful shade trees. And the honey locust is a fast-growing tree with small leaves that provides plenty of shade as it matures. For a beautiful ornamental variety that will add color to your yard, Breezy Hill recommends the serviceberry tree, which remains under 30 feet tall. It produces white flowers early in spring and red berries that birds love later. “Frequently the homeowner never sees the berries because the birds eat them as quickly as they appear,” Seitz said. Meanwhile, a quick way to bring spring to your lawn is to get a pot of frost- or coldresistant flowers and place them by your door or elsewhere to add that touch of color. “Pansies, flowering kale and cabbage work well in early spring,” Seitz said. “Of course, if the temperature dips too low, they will need to be protected. You may want to cut some curly willow stems or pussy willows to add to the container to give it height.” In the fall, don’t forget to plant daffodils, tulips or hyacinth bulbs to enjoy early the next spring. Annuals and perennials should not

be planted until all danger of frost has passed. A rule of thumb is to plant between Mother’s Day and the first of June. Healthy plants from a reputable nursery should last for several years. People planning a major patio or deck remodeling project should spend time looking at and taking photos of those they admire. Or check out Pinterest for ideas that show what type of work you want done. Visit nurseries that sell the stones and boulders. But don’t start doing the work piece by piece until you have a plan for the overall look you wish to achieve. Nurseries and landscape material dealers gladly will help determine what works best. Landscape designers will help achieve the look you are after.

B&J Landscaping

W2795 Krueger Road, Lake Geneva 262-248-3653 www.bandjlandscaping.com

B&J Landscaping is a full-service company that offers tree maintenance by its arborist and tree/stump removal. From spring and fall cleanup to weekly lawn maintenance, B&J will keep your lawn looking good. It provides complete beautification SPIRIT of GENEVA LAKES

services, from landscape design, grading and planting of seed or sod. Workers will design a landscape plan and construct patios, decks, retaining walls and brick pavers and install sprinkler systems and water features. Free estimates.

Breezy Hill Nursery Inc. 7530 288th Ave., Salem, 262-537-2111 www.breezyhillnursery.com

Located just east of Lake Geneva, Breezy Hill offers a complete selection of nursery stock at affordable prices and one of the largest selections of landscape supplies. It will tailor landscape and outdoor living spaces to your taste when designing and building arbors, decks, pergolas and gazebos. It provides residential and commercial landscape services. Irrigation services and outdoor LED lights are designed for your space. Visit the gift shop for garden art.

High Prairie Landscape W363 Walworth, Genoa City 262-279-6500 www.high-prairie.com

High Prairie Landscape offers a wide range of landscape construction products to contractors and homeowners. It specializes

in hardscape, pavers, retaining walls and natural stone. It provides estimates, procures landscape materials, delivers items and is willing to refer you to a reputable landscape contractor. It serves the Lake Geneva area and northern Illinois communities.

Koch Kuts

32635 Academy Road, Burlington, 262-534-9509 www.kochkuts.com

Koch Kuts offers complete landscape and lawn maintenance services, including spring and fall cleanup. It provides hardscape design, including patios, retaining walls, pathways and shoreline reconstruction. Snowplowing, shoveling and salting services available. Call for a free estimate.

Paul Swartz

30728 93rd St., Burlington, 262-537-8083 www.paulswartznursery.com

Paul Swartz is a full-service design and installation landscape nursery. It offers beautiful, thriving and innovative landscape designs for commercial and residential properties. Retail and wholesale nursery products are available. It offers spring and fall cleanups: trimming of shrubs and perennials and pruning trees along with removal of leaves and debris in flowerbeds. Weekly lawn maintenance care contracts available. Check the website for specials and plant care advice.

Woodhill Farm Nursery

N1445 Highway 120, Lake Geneva, 262-248-9876 woodhillfarmsnursery.com

Woodhill offers complete landscape services, from mulching to spring and fall cleanups. Locally grown trees are available at reasonable prices. Pick out the shade or ornamental tree of your choice. It has a great selection of perennials in two-gallon containers for $7. Landscape supplies, including decorative stones, mulch, flagstones and other hardscape materials, are available on-site. Firewood also available.

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Above: Landscapers with High Prairie Landscaping get ready to set huge slabs of stone in a sand foundation to build a patio near the waterfront. Left: The Newport flowering plum tree erupts in spring with soft pink blooms adding color to a landscape by Windhill Farms. Later in the season, the dark purple foliage gives the tree a distinct look. The flowering plum is considered a fastgrowing tree.

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WE ARE BIGGER THAN YOU THINK!

Spring

Entering Peck & Weis, customers are greeted with a variety of smiling faces willing to help you. One such person at the front desk is Marketing Director and Sales and Service Representative Stefanie Rasch.

The cooling season is just around the corner

SANDRA LANDEN MACHAJ Spirit of Geneva Lakes

Don’t wait too long before thinking about air conditioning

by Sandra Landen Machaj CORRESPONDENT

It will not be long before we are embracing spring. And then comes the heat and humidity of summer. Unfortunately, many people do not think about the condition of their air conditioner until summer arrives, and they may be in for a big surprise. Without proper preventive maintenance, air conditioners may not provide the comfortable, cooling air they expect on that first sweltering day. Marketing director Stefanie Rasch said Peck & Weis has been one company to turn to for heating, cooling, electrical and plumbing needs since 1985. “It was founded by Daryl Peck and Roger Weis as a company devoted to heating and cooling needs,” Rasch said. “It was not long before they added plumbing and electrical work to their business.” Weis retired, leaving Peck to own and run the company. Tom Walton has

SPIRIT of GENEVA LAKES

SANDRA LANDEN MACHAJ Spirit of Geneva Lakes

Displayed on the wall at Peck & Weis is a collection of heating and air conditioning logos that have been collected over the years. The Bryant logo is on the lower left corner.

been the latter’s general manager for the past 18 years. Peck & Weis is a Bryant dealership that offers a variety of models to meet any heating and cooling needs of your home and budget. It prides itself on sharing its knowledge and experience in providing “whatever it takes” to install units correctly the first time, and quality materials and attention to detail make sure that happens. Peck & Weis is a local company rooted in the community and known for using quality materials, such as Bryant furnaces and air conditioners, Kohler generators and fixtures and American-made A.O. Smith water heaters. Employees create ductwork at company headquarters to fit each individual job. Certified, knowledgeable and experienced technicians offer free estimates. Bryant has recognized the company as a Medal of Excellence Pinnacle Award winner as National Dealer of the Year. Fayth Bastrup, manager of the service department, received the Women of Excellence Award this past October. Peck & Weis also has received Best of Walworth County awards over several years in electrical, plumbing and HVAC services categories. “The company is involved in

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Peck & Weis is at 2506 Crest Drive, just off Highway 120, in Lake Geneva. The building is large enough to hold inventory and provide sufficient workroom space to create and store ductwork needed for heating and cooling jobs.

supporting various charities in the area,” Rasch said. “Some of these are FFA, children’s sports at the YMCA, Time is Now, local fire departments, Toys for Tots, Genoa City recreational programs and Habitat for Humanity. Daryl also has contributed to S.M.I.L.E.S.” Located in Lake Geneva, Peck & Weis serves a 30-mile radius that includes Burlington, Elkhorn, Delavan, Williams Bay, Powers Lake, Whitewater, Darien, East Troy, Lake Geneva and Twin Lakes, along with Harvard and Richmond in Illinois. Maintenance is the most important thing a homeowner can do to assure that their air conditioner is ready for the demands of the cooling season. “They should have the unit serviced each year before the cooling season starts,” Rasch said. “If the unit needs repair or replacement, it is better to do so before the hot weather hits for the consumer’s comfort. It also is a way to beat the rush when many customers are calling for service on that hot day when the air doesn’t work.” For many years, air conditioners used Freon as the coolant. Freon has been phased out since 2010, but it is still available to service older models. Those who own an older air conditioner that still uses Freon may want to consider replacing the unit with a more energyefficient model that’s less expensive to operate and repair. Concerned about the cost of running

your air conditioner? According to Peck & Weis, start with scheduling an appointment with a certified heating and cooling service technician to inspect your air conditioner in the spring and your furnace in the fall. They will find any parts that may be wearing and need replacing and be certain that the coolant level is sufficient. Check filters regularly and replace them as needed. This is a monthly task for some filters, while others may require changing every six months or yearly. Honeycomb-style filters provide more filtration because they feature multiple layers for the air to pass through and remove foreign materials. Be certain that all cracks and openings to the great outdoors are caulked or weather-stripped. This could save up to 10 percent or more on energy bills, according to the Alliance to Save Energy. “Programmable thermostats are another great way to lower costs,” Rasch said. According to the EPA, installing a programmable thermostat can save about $100 per year. Some of the newer versions also can be programmed through your smartphone. Forgot to adjust the temperature when you left the house or do you want to adjust the temperature so it’s comfortable for your arrival home? The programmable thermostat with an app on your cellphone makes this possible and saves money on utility bills. It isn’t always necessary to turn on your air conditioning. If it isn’t too hot, SPIRIT of GENEVA LAKES

open your windows and use ceiling fans to move air around. When using air conditioning, ceiling or portable fans also can help circulate air, thus reducing the need to lower the temperature setting. Energy-efficient light bulbs also produce less heat, thus reducing the load on air conditioners. Another recommendation for staying cool and saving money is to avoid using appliances that consume a lot of energy during the daytime when temperatures rise. You should run dish and clothes washers at night or early in the morning to reduce heat and humidity levels in your home, which will reduce the workload on the air conditioner. Peck & Weis recommends not running air conditioners when the outside temperature is below 70 degrees because operating a residential air conditioner in cool temperatures may cause premature compressor failure. It advises to open windows on those cooler days. Ever had an air conditioner go out on the hottest day of the year? Or did the furnace stop working on one of those days like this past winter with wind chill

Spring

SANDRA LANDEN MACHAJ Spirit of Geneva Lakes

Custom ductwork is created in this workroom at Peck & Weis’ Lake Geneva shop.

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readings below zero? Peck & Weis offers emergency service 24 hours a day. In addition to home installations and repairs, Peck & Weis will work with customers on new construction or remodeling for home and industrial needs. Peck & Weis technicians are hard to miss because they arrive in their red service trucks. Its motto is, “Big enough to serve you yet small enough to know you.” Peck & Weis Heating, Cooling, Electric and Plumbing is located at 2506 Crest Drive, Lake Geneva. Office hours are Mondays through Fridays from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon. Visit its website at www.peckandweis. com or on Facebook.

Spring

Here are a few other recommended contractors to meet air conditioning, heating, plumbing, electrical and roofing needs. KOMFORT HEATING & COOLING 5384 Wisconsin Highway 11, Elkhorn, 262-723-2662, www.komfortcleaning.com This family-owned company has provided heating and cooling services to the southern Wisconsin area since 1976. It provides residential and commercial services on highefficient furnaces and air conditioners. In addition to installing or replacing furnaces and air conditioners, Komfort offers duct cleaning and repair and maintains equipment. Its goal is to “always exceed expectations, provide 100 percent customer satisfaction and be on time every time.” DEREK’S PLUMBING AND HYDRONIC HEATING 12. S. Jackson, Elkhorn, 262-723-4240, www.dereksplumbing.com Derek’s is a full-service plumbing

contractor that installs and repairs plumbing, heating and drain systems. Owner Derek Harkness is a master plumber who provides all the services needed to keep water lines working. The company installs residential heating, hydronic and steam heating systems. It also repairs and cleans water lines and reverse osmosis water systems and repairs, cleans or installs sump pumps. Call them for annual inspections of boilers, furnaces and air conditioners. Need a new sprinkler system or just a repair on the one you have? Contact Derek. The company’s motto is, “Quality products and reliable service with reasonably priced solutions for any plumbing problem.” WESTENN MECHANICAL CONTRACTORS 900 Koopman Lane, Elkhorn, 262-723-

SANDRA LANDEN MACHAJ Spirit of Geneva Lakes

Many models of Bryant furnaces and air conditioners are kept in stock at Peck & Weis so there is no waiting to install that new furnace and air conditioner.

SPIRIT of GENEVA LAKES

4955, www.westennheatandair.com For over 40 years, Westenn Mechanical Contractors has provided quality and value to meet heating and air conditioning needs. It installs energy-efficient Lennox and Trane products to provide the best in home heating. The company will design and create the perfect system for commercial and industrial uses. Whether dealing with new construction or remodeling, Westenn offers full engineering and design service to be certain it is correct for the project. “On time and on budget” is its motto. Call for a free consultation. ASSURANCE ROOFING W5317 Tippecanoe Trail, Elkhorn, 262-745-0238, www.assuranceroofinginc.net Benjamin Buser has been in the roofing business since age 16. In 2008 he opened his own company, Assurance Roofing. He offers all roofing types and materials to be certain the correct one is installed. Whether a composite shingled roof or one of cedar wood shingles, Assurance can provide the right roof for the structure. Assurance also installs siding and gutters. Call the company for a complete roof replacement or for repairs. Assurance Roofing is an Owens Corning preferred contractor.

SANDRA LANDEN MACHAJ Spirit of Geneva Lakes

Bob Benzon, of Delavan, is one of the younger employees of Peck & Weis and is continuing his schooling while he works with certified technicians.

Spring

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Founder Pam Patterson (left) and Sophia Erzumiah complete the Agape House’s 5K event, themed ‘Run the Race With Love,’ in support of Child Abuse Prevention Month last April.

“We love them right where they are...” ~ Pam Patterson

by Heather

Ruenz

STAFF WRITER

AND

Open arms hearts

AGAPE HOUSE OFFERS ACCEPTANCE, HEALING

SPIRIT of GENEVA LAKES

am Patterson said she and her husband, Ben, started Agape House for Girls 20 years ago because God led them to do so. The couple had been foster parents for 10 years prior. “By being foster parents, we saw that

In their own words “Each girl has a story,” said Pam Patterson, executive director and founder of Agape House along with her husband, Ben. Below are a few excerpts of girls’ stories as shared on the organization’s website. “This (Agape House) family taught me to trust myself, to respect myself, and best of all, how to love myself,” Anna said. “I know the differences now between hating myself and just not liking some things I do. Without them teaching me God can take away all the pain, I would not be the person I have learned to become.” Through the help of her Agape House mom, Anna said she was taught, “that I was good enough in God’s eyes. I let go of fears of people always trying to hurt me.” Anna now describes herself as a “healing, beautiful girl who loves life even when it’s difficult… There are no hopeless situations, only people who have grown hopeless about them.” Kayte came to Agape House a victim of sexual abuse by a relative, struggling without her mother’s involvement in her life and facing challenges of her own mental illness. She is now married, a loving mother and living as a missionary in a foreign country, working with child prostitutes to show them Christ’s love and healing. “I found that my life had hope and purpose at Agape House,” Kayte said.

Girls and adult assistants (above) help meal preparation for the Agape House volunteer luncheon, from the left: Hannah, Haylee, Katie, Sandy Heinitz, Laura and Sue Flynn (in the background.)

kids had to be extreme to get support, and if kids were with us and did well, usually about six months, they were sent home,” Patterson said, adding that the girls often had not healed. After starting Agape House, they quickly discovered the girls also needed specialized education. “Ten years after starting Agape House, we added the school, which meets them at their academic levels but also offers emotional support,” she said. Agape House offers a variety of services including counseling, mentoring and tutoring, a day program that includes schooling, and teen and transitional living homes. “In residential, where they live here, every

MARCH 2018

evening there’s a group or activity geared toward healing or wholeness,” Patterson said. “We also work on the emotional, spiritual as well as physical — eating, activity and getting a good night’s sleep.” The girls that come to Agape House may have been cutting themselves or battling depression, anxiety, eating disorders, anger or addictions. “We don’t just change the behavior but bring healing,” Patterson said. “Every girl that comes here has a story. When teens get into things over their heads, there’s a story and there’s trauma.”

A faithful path Patterson said a lot of the girls have lost hope, and one of the biggest changes she sees is that they come to believe in God — or believe in him again, and in mankind. “The great volunteers and staff just love them and point them to God’s love. It’s all about love and grace, not punishment,” she said. Patterson said the purpose of bringing Christ into the conversation isn’t about forcing it on anyone — it’s about having faith in what works. “When I interview them, I tell them while we won’t force them to believe, they do need to be open to listening to what we have to share. It’s what works,” she said. “It’s all

about love. We love them right where they are and don’t force anything on them or tell them they have to do anything. We’re all in a process, and we all struggle and sin.” As a testament to that philosophy, Laken Love is one of several people featured in a series of videos on Agape House’s website. She came to Agape when she was 13 years old and spent about three years there. She had been sexually and physically abused by her stepfather and is now 27. “I’ve been on quite a journey with God … it’s been a good 14 years for me,” Love said. “I would say the role God has played is a huge one, and that God loves me and I’m fully covered in everything that I do. And it doesn’t matter that I come from a broken home or I’ve made mistakes throughout my teens, even after the abuse that I’ve endured. “I hope that anyone I come across or that walks into my life, I impact them in no other ways but love because when you share love, it’s everything,” she added.

How you can help

Agape House accepts girls from within a

Above: As part of the Outdoor Wisconsin Leadership School, Haylee (in front), El (standing, from the left), Vanna, Megan, Hannah, Anna, an OWLS representative (not named), and Emma spend two days at Holiday Home Camp in Williams Bay. Upper photo: Dennis Teichow, a retired math and science teacher, shares his science experience with Agape House girls, including Savanah.

SPIRIT of GENEVA LAKES

one-hour radius, from northern Illinois to Kenosha, Racine, Waukesha, Milton and Madison. However, about 50 percent of the girls in the program are from Walworth County. Seventy-five percent of its budget comes from donations, and the program is designed to be available for what a family can afford.

“No one is turned away, and if they can’t pay we try to get them to invest in the program,” Patterson said. “There are countless ways people can do so.” Agape House always accepts donations of food, gift cards (Burger King, Target, Subway and Wal-Mart, for example) and personal hygiene and feminine products. She said Agape always can use volunteers in a variety of ways, including one-on-one mentoring and tutoring in school classes. “The list is really endless as far as how people can help,” she said. “If they want to volunteer, we’ll find a way for them to do so.” Patterson said the nonprofit plans to expand, and a campaign is underway to open another home, this one for boys. Agape House is the only one of its kind in the state, and Patterson said she continues to hope other communities will

be inspired to help the healing. “Every girl that leaves here has improved academically,” she said. “Emotionally is harder to gauge, but most come here unable to function on some level and many have been hospitalized multiple times. They are in the process but have a better handle on it and have improved.” In one of Agape House’s videos, Patterson poignantly reminds viewers about the purpose behind the mission. “Everywhere you look there’s hurting children, children that need someone to believe in them, someone to love them, and most importantly, someone to point them to God, who can love them way beyond what we can.” For more information about Agape House, located at 215 S. Main St., Walworth, call 262-275-6466, follow Agape House on Facebook or visit agapehouseheals.org.

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About the Nature Conservancy The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, it works to create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to the worldâ€™s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. In Wisconsin, the conservancy has protected more than 232,800 acres of land and water since 1960. For more information, visit www.nature.org/wisconsin.

Restoring the prairie Gerry Emmerich took this photo of the Pickerel Lake Fen Preserve.

AREA FAMILIES COMMITTED TO PRESERVING THEIR FEN

SPIRIT of GENEVA LAKES

SUBMITTED PHOTO Spirit of Geneva Lakes

Signe and Gerry Emmerich have donated land and easements to the Pickerel Lake Fen Preserve. The Nature Conservancy established the preserve in December 1985, when the Emmerichs donated their first easement; they also donated another 12.8 acres outright at that time. A week later, their neighbors, Roy and Eleanor Muth, donated 27 acres to the conservancy. Since 1985, the conservancy has protected a little more than 381 acres in and around the fen and lake.

MARCH 2018

by Tracy wo families who live on the Pickerel Lake Ouellette Fen in the East Troy STAFF WRITER area are working hard to restore the land to its pre-settlement condition and recently donated large property easements to a land conservation organization to ensure the land is never developed. Gerry and Signe Emmerich and Jack and Marcia Boeing made land easement donations to The Nature Conservancy this winter. “By doing this we’re really sealing up the fen and it will never be developed and I sleep so much better at night now,” Jack Boeing said. “For us, this started 30 years ago when we donated almost 13 acres to the Nature Conservancy in 1985,” Gerry Emmerich said. “At the same time, we also donated a big conservation easement on our property to restrict the amount of development on the property that would endanger the fen.” According to the conservancy, Pickerel Lake Fen is home to pitcher plants and other showy species like marsh blue violet and Joe-pye weed. Rare turtles use the site as do sandhill cranes and other wildlife. According to the Southeast Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, the fen is tied for first place with Ottawa Lake Fen as the most biologically diverse fen in southeast Wisconsin. The Boeings donated a conservation easement on a little more than 153 acres of land, which encompasses the entire east side of Pickerel Lake Fen. About 75 acres is high ground where many new homes could have been built. The Emmerichs updated their easement on 7.5 acres, which they had donated to the conservancy in 1985, with an amended and restated easement that also protects an additional 15 acres, eliminating the potential to build three new residences on the property. Gerry Emmerich has volunteered with the Nature Conservancy for years and said he and his wife were extremely grateful for the conservancy’s assistance and willingness to work with them on the easement donation. “It’s a complicated situation,” he said. “But they were quite happy to deal with us on that basis, so we would still own the land, but know it was protected from future development.” Jack Boeing also said working with the conservancy was a positive experience and was looking forward to a continued relationship with the organizations. “When we bought the property I was always interested in the nature but didn’t know what this land really is and the Nature Conservancy has been so helpful. I’ve cleared areas over the years and Hannah Spaul from the conservancy has been out here and so impressed with what we have and very helpful with teaching me what to do. “I’m like a sponge, just show me and I’ll do it.” Spaul is the conservancy’s land management director and said the donations from the two families are going to make it possible for

the conservancy to conduct controlled burns to eliminate some of the invasive plants and continue to restore the land. According to a press release from the conservancy, non-native shrubs, including buckthorn and honeysuckle, rimmed the edges of the fen and were slowly advancing on the interior. Left unchecked, they threatened to outcompete the native vegetation and eventually take over completely. “We needed to burn the entire fen to keep the invasive shrubs in check,” Spaul said in the press release. “But eight other private landowners owned portions of it, so the challenge we faced was how to gain their support for burning the fen, which is right in their backyards.” Gerry Emmerich said he has performed a couple of controlled burns on his property, with the assistance of the conservancy, over the years and has worked on restoring his land to what he called a “pre-European settlement” state. “We’re working on getting it back to what we think it was back then,” he said. “When I first started I talked to some people who knew what this was, a biologist and others. About 15 years ago, we wanted to do some controlled burns to help with the invasive plants and Jack was interested in that too. “We did a controlled burn on our property but we found putting in a fire break in the middle of the deep marsh was very difficult and the only way to manage the fen effectively was to do a controlled burn on the whole thing. That’s why this is such a good thing, now we can manage the fen as a whole.” Emmerich went on to explain why burns are a great way to manage the invasive species overtaking the fen. He said burns are part of the natural process of land areas like the fen, but with the practice of fire suppression in modern times natural burns that would have been created by lightning or other natural ways aren’t there to burn off the woody plants in the fen anymore. “Burns are a natural thing, but we don’t have them naturally anymore, so we have to create them so the native plants aren’t overcompeted with by the invasives. Another burn is planned for this spring.” Since 2004, the conservancy and its neighbors on the fen have burned the fen two more times “We’ve done a good job of keeping the shrubs from taking over the fen,” Spaul said in the press release, “but this is an ongoing process. We look forward to continuing to work with our neighbors to carefully apply fire to the fen to keep it healthy.”

For Jack Boeing, working to restore his land has become a labor of love. Marcia Boeing said they purchased their East Troy farm near Booth Lake more than 30 years ago because her husband wanted a fishing lake nearby. “We also had two horses we wanted to keep on our property. We were driving home from Whitewater Lake one day and did some driving around off Highway 20 and found this property. We wanted to look at the house and the lake it was on.” The Boeings liked the property and spoke to the owner about possibly purchasing 10 acres of adjoining land with the house. Marcia Boeing said the owner

liked that they wanted the extra land to keep horses and agreed to sell it to them. “And we’ve enjoyed every minute of it since,” she said. Jack Boeing said they’ve changed things on the property over the years, but now his main job is to restore the property and is outside on a daily basis doing just that. “My wife sometimes says I’m working too hard when I’m out there spraying the invasives, but I say to her ‘Look at the smile on my face, I’m having the time of my life,’” he said with a laugh. “I thank the Lord I’ve been blessed with the ability to restore this. “It’s been a labor of love.”

SUBMITTED PHOTO Spirit of Geneva Lakes

The Boeing family has donated a conservation easement on a little more than 153 acres of land, which encompasses the entire east side of Pickerel Lake Fen. Pictured (from left are): Jack Boeing, Jill Boeing, Karen Boeing and Marcia Boeing.

SPIRIT of GENEVA LAKES

THROUGH THE LENS

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SNOWSHOEING ONE OF FASTEST GROWING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

SUBMITTED PHOTO Spirit of Geneva Lakes

A small group of snowshoers hikes into a wooded area at Big Foot Beach State Park in Lake Geneva on Feb. 11, where outdoor enthusiasts participated in an outing of the Big Foot Park Districtâ€™s snowshoeing club.

inter andering

SPIRIT of GENEVA LAKES

S SUBMITTED PHOTO Spirit of Geneva Lakes

These folks help each other get geared up at Big Foot Beach State Park in Lake Geneva on Feb. 11, where outdoor enthusiasts participated in an outing of the Big Foot Park District’s snowshoeing club.

nowshoeing is believed by Todd Mishler to have originated as COPY EDITOR early as 6,000 years ago in what today is central Asia, according to the United States Snowshoe Association. And when these ancestors to the Native Americans and Inuits migrated to North America, they brought their modified slabs of wood with them. Research from Snowsports Industries America estimates that 3.7 million Americans participate in snowshoeing. And the Southern Lakes region is no exception, at least when Old Man Winter cooperates. One of those enthusiasts is Chris Glader, 64, a Burlington resident who doesn’t need to travel far to enjoy one of her favorite pastimes. She has used trails at the Kettle Moraine State Forest, located at the convergence of Walworth, Jefferson and Waukesha counties, and Big Foot Beach State Park in Lake Geneva. However, Richard Bong State Recreation Area in northwestern Kenosha

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County is her favorite destination, and not simply because it’s only about eight miles from her home. “There is so much easy access, and you can use the horse and hiking trails, although you don’t need a trail when it comes to snowshoeing,” Glader said. “You get nice views of the lake. It has a variety of loops to take, and none of them are that difficult. It’s just a beautiful park.” Snowshoeing at Bong is allowed north of County Highway BB (northeastern corner) and off-trail anywhere in the 4,515-acre property. Glader is a longtime cross-country skier who also has been active in biking and hiking, but that’s pretty normal for somebody whose career was spent in various recreational arenas. She retired six years ago, and that’s when she became a regular volunteer at Bong, where she has helped with site activities and projects, as well as classes for kids.

She and her husband, Dan, got their two daughters — who live in Minnesota and Oregon — hooked on snowshoeing about 15 years ago. “We used to do a lot of crosscountry skiing, but I tried snowshoeing just for another nice activity because I love to be outside,” she said. “Dan will go with me sometimes, but I like to go by myself and just wander off. I can go whenever I want to … I can get out early and see the sunrise or go later and watch the sunset. “I usually get out at least once every week, sometimes more,” Glader added. “A lot of times it’s a spur-of-themoment thing, and it depends a lot on the weather. It’s a nice, easy activity, and it’s good exercise. I do it whenever I get a chance.”

Join the club

That also goes for avid snowshoers at Big Foot Beach, where they are free to hit the white stuff anywhere inside SPIRIT of GENEVA LAKES

Upper photo: It was a family affair for these area residents who geared up at Big Foot Beach State Park in Lake Geneva on Feb. 11, where outdoor enthusiasts participated in an outing of the Big Foot Park District’s snowshoeing club. Above: Fun was had by area residents of all ages at Big Foot Beach State Park in Lake Geneva on Feb. 11, when outdoor enthusiasts enjoyed an outing of the Big Foot Park District’s snowshoeing club. SUBMITTED PHOTOS Spirit of Geneva Lakes

the 272-acre park that abuts the eastern shore of Geneva Lake. Tonya Schultz knows many of them. She is a personal trainer and an instructor at the Big Foot Recreation District, where she has worked for the past six years. She also has helped spearhead the formation of a snowshoeing club, which hosted its first event in late January. Mother Nature turned that first outing into a candlelight hike rather than a snowshoeing adventure at Kishwauketoe Nature Conservancy. But that hasn’t deterred members from moving forward with their plans. Its Feb. 11 event at Big Foot Beach went off without a hitch, and enthusiasts were hoping for the same results on Feb. 25, when attendees started their trek at the White River Trailhead near County Highway H in Elkhorn.

“We offered a snowshoeing program at the high school before, but with the club we wanted to do more than that,” Schultz said. “We wanted to get people out to the state parks and nature areas so participants can see what’s available in Walworth County.” About 10 people signed up for the Feb. 11 outing after nearly 25 individuals took part in the hike at Kishwauketoe. “The weather didn’t cooperate in late January, but 23 people went on the hike, which ended up being the largest organized evening hike ever at Kishwauketoe despite some people dropping out because they couldn’t snowshoe,” Schultz said. Still, the goal is to increase club membership while offering a fun, wholesome activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. “We want to grow our numbers, and

that means getting the word out,” Schultz said. She said the whole idea behind the club is to give area residents another option in staying active during wintertime. “A lot of people give up on exercise or movement activities during the winter, especially those who are not full-time athletes … they like it to be 70 degrees or not raining,” Schultz said. “We believe that snowshoeing is another fun thing you can do to get exercise while also enjoying the beautiful scenery in our county.”

Other areas

In the Kettle Moraine, snowshoers may explore several miles of trails that are not groomed for skiing. Some places open for snowshoeing include the John Muir, Emma Carlin, Connector and Scuppernong trails, all nature trails and the Ice Age Trail.

Dining Directory

MARS RESORT • W 4098 S. Shore Dr., Lake Geneva. 262-245-5689. A classic Wisconsin Supper Club on the shores of Lake Como. Newly updated Piano Bar, live music in the summer. Open daily: 11am. Out of this world ribs and spectacular sunsets! L, D, FF, $$

SPRECHER’S RESTAURANT & PUB • 111 Center St., Lake Geneva. 262-248-7047. www.sprecherspub.com Online ordering now available. Happy hour specials Sun.-Fri. Craft beers and gourmet sodas. America’s favorite family brew pub. L, D, FF $-$$  ( YE OLDE HOTEL HISTORIC BAR & RESTAURANT • Minutes from Lake Geneva in downtown Lyons, WI 262-7632701. Great Food with Great Friends at a Great Value. Open Wed.-Sun at 4pm. Like us on Facebook for daily specials. D 

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THE CHALET • w6904 County Rd. A, Elkhorn. Known for our fresh fish, oysters & salmon. Open Thursday, Friday and Saturday. 5pm-9pm. D, FF $$

IVAN’S ON THE SQUARE • 2087 Division St., East Troy, WI. 262-6427107. www.ivansonthesquare.com. Open Tuesday-Saturday. 11am-9pm. FF $$, L, D, 

PIE HIGH PIZZA • 441 Mill St., Fontana. 262-275-1777. www.piehighpizza.com Pizza place, American restaurant, fast food. Laid back pizza joint featuring dinein, take away or delivery. The best stone baked pizza around. Mon.-Thurs. 4pm8:30pm. Fri. 4pm-9:30pm. Sat. 11:30am9:30pm. Sun. 12pm-8:30pm. L, D, FF $$ 

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FIDDLESTICKS BISTRO • 101 W. Evergreen Pkwy., Elkhorn. 262-743-2233. www.fiddlesticksbistro.com Like us on Facebook for our daily specials. Tues.-Fri. 8am-3pm & 4:33pm-Close. Sat. 7am-3pm & 4:33pm-Close. Sun. 7am-3pm. Closed Mon. B, L, D, FF $$ 

DADDY MAXWELL’S • 150 Elkhorn Rd., Williams Bay. 262-245-5757. www. daddysmaxwells.com. B, L, D, FF, SR, GF $ 

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Information is subject to change. Please contact individual restaurant for more information.

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A grist mill that supplied flour locally, as well as to Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha, was the first in Wisconsin to ship flour to New York. A wooden mill made the first roll of cloth turned out in Wisconsin and supplied cloth for Union soldiers’ uniforms during the Civil War. Wheat was the leading farm product through the Civil War days, when livestock and dairying, which had made inroads by 1860, became the major farm industry. Agricultural implement makers and dealers, wagon makers, and blacksmith shops, as well as stores handling groceries, dry goods, clothing, hardware, and other commodities, were established to server the farmers and other residents. Although Indian mounds and several Indian trails have been noted in the area and a small Potawatomi village existed somewhere in the town of Burlington prior to the 1830s, there was no Indian village in Burlington itself. The Indians, however, hunted in the area and grew some crops in the warmer seasons. 285305

SPIRIT of GENEVA LAKES

U.S. soldiers assigned to the 2-14 Cavalry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, render honors for Pfc. Lloyd J. Lobdell at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Man killed in World War II laid to rest PFC. LOBDELL BURIED IN NATIONAL CEMETERY IN HONOLULU, HAWAII by Heather Ruenz STAFF WRITER

Army Pfc. Lloyd J. Lobdell, who was killed during World War II and accounted for on July 26, 2017, was reburied Feb. 2 in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii, with full military honors. Though there are reports of Lobdell being from Elkhorn, according to records from the Rutledge-Boviall-Schauf-Madison American Legion in Delavan, a notice about Lobdellâ€™s death that published in the Delavan Enterprise in 1943 listed him as being from Delavan. On Dec. 8, 1941, Lobdell was a member of Company A of the 192nd Tank Battalion in the Far East when Japanese forces invaded the Philippine Islands, according to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA). Intense fighting continued until May 6. 1942, when American forces on Corregidor Island surrendered. Thousands of U.S. and Filipino service members were taken prisoner, including many who were forced to endure the Bataan

Death March en route to Japanese prisoner of war camps. That included the POW camp at Cabanatuan on the island of Luzon, Philippines. Lobdell was among those reported captured after the surrender of Corregidor and who eventually were moved to the Cabanatuan POW camp. More than 2,500 POWs perished in this camp during the Pfc. Lloyd J. Lobdell remaining years of the war. Lobdell was admitted to the Cabanatuan prison camp hospital suffering from illness. He died Nov. 19, 1942, and was buried along with fellow prisoners in the Cabanatuan camp cemetery. The Delavan American Legion also provided a digital copy of a letter from Major C.W. MacEllven, General Headquarters of the

PHOTOS COURTESY ARMY STAFF SGT. JAMARIUS FORTSON Spirit of Geneva Lakes

MARCH 2018

United States Army Forces, Pacific, dated Sept. 5, 1945, which offered condolences to Lobdell’s mother, Ruth. “Permit me to extend to you my heartfelt sympathy for the loss of your son,” the letter begins. “Anything I can say is scant consolation to you in your grief. It is my fervent hope that later, the knowledge that his courage and sacrifices contributed to the final victory may be of sustaining comfort to you,” it states in closing. After the war, American Graves Registration Service personnel exhumed those buried at the Cabanatuan cemetery and relocated the remains to a temporary U.S. military cemetery near Manila. In late 1947, the AGRS again exhumed the remains in an attempt to identify them. Due to the circumstances of the POW deaths and burials, namely the extensive commingling and limited identification technologies at the time, all of the remains could not be individually identified. The unidentified remains were reburied as unknowns in the American Battle Monuments Commission cemetery at Fort McKinley in Manila. In 2014, the Secretary of the Army granted permission to exhume 10 graves associated with the Cabanatuan Common Grave 717. On Aug. 28, 2014, the remains were sent to the DPAA laboratory for identification. Scientists from DPAA and the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA analysis, which matched Lobdell’s family, as well as circumstantial evidence and laboratory analysis to include dental comparisons and anthropological analysis, which matched his records. Of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II, more than 400,000 died during the war. Currently there are 72,961

COURTESY ARMY STAFF SGT. JAMARIUS FORTSON Spirit of Geneva Lakes

A U.S. soldier assigned to 2-14 Cavalry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, presents a U.S. flag to the next of kin of Pfc. Lloyd J. Lobdell during a funeral Feb. 2.

service members still unaccounted for from World War II. Lobdell’s name is recorded on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery site along with the other MIAs from WWII. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.

Guard’s 32nd Tank Company from Janesville in October 1940. In November, he went to Fort Knox, Kentucky, with his company, designated Company A, 192nd Tank Battalion. The following October, the 192nd boarded the U.S.S. Hugh L. Scott as part of a three-ship convoy that arrived in Honolulu on Nov. 2, 1941, for a three-day More about Lobdell shore leave before sailing for Guam on Lobdell was born Nov. 23, 1918, in Nov. 5. The ships entered Manila Bay on Elkhorn to Lloyd F. Lobdell and Ruth Nov. 20 and the soldiers were taken by bus Amon-Lobdell. He was raised on a farm to Fort Stotsenburg, the website states. outside of Janesville and a graduate of Lobdell died at Cabanatuan POW camp Janesville High School, according to the on Nov. 19, 1942, at age 22. His parents Bataan Project website. were informed of his death in August 1943, Lobdell joined the Wisconsin National the Bataan Project reports. He was buried in grave 717. After the war, Lobdell’s remains, along with the remains of 12 other POWs who died at the camp on the same day, were exhumed. But only two could be identified, so the other 10 were reburied in a grave at the American Military Cemetery at Manila. Because his remains could not be identified, he was buries as an “unknown” and his name was put on the Tablets of the Missing at the cemetery. In July 2014, it was announced the remains were going to be exhumed in an attempt at identification of the 10 men. On July 28, 2017, it was announced that the remains of Pfc. Lloyd J. Lobdell had been positively identified. At the request of his family, his remains were buried in the National Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii. Visit www.dpaa.mil for more information about the Defense Department’s mission to account for COURTESY HEDBERG LIBRARY Spirit of Geneva Lakes This photo of the 1938 Janesville High School yearbook shows Lloyd Lobdell (on bottom Americans who went missing while right) and his signature. He died in World War II four years later, and after his remains were serving. For more information about the identified last summer, he received a military burial in Hawaii on Feb. 2. Bataan Project, visit bataanproject.com.

SPIRIT of GENEVA LAKES

THROUGH THE LENS

Mother Nature, the artist

Wet snow clings to trees, barns, fences and fields in this pastoral scene captured in western Kenosha County following a late-February snowstorm. EARLENE FREDERICK PHOTO Spirit of Geneva Lakes

MARCH 2018

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Mars Resort.........................................................................46 Medical Weight Loss..................................................56 Nick’s Upholstery..........................................................30 Oh My Gauze.....................................................................54 Pats Services Inc............................................................28 Peck and Weis Heating...............................................3 Pie High Pizza....................................................................46 Pirate’s Cove.......................................................................46 Sandy’s Upscale Consignment................44, 54 Sorgs Packing Inc..........................................................54 Sprecher’s Restaurant & Pub..............................46 Staller Estate......................................................................53 Steve’s British Connection......................................22 Stinebrink’s Piggly Wiggly..................................... 10 Sugar Creek Mutual Insurance.............................2 The Chalet............................................................................46 The Landing 1841...........................................................47 The Rustic Realm...........................................................34 The Shy Violet...................................................................47 Walworth County Fair................................................22 Wilmot Auto Service...................................................53 Ye Olde Hotel....................................................................46

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Brunch at The Frontier Restaurant & Easter To Go! Easter festivities include an Egg Hunt for the children, a lavish Easter Brunch, and pictures with the Easter Bunny!

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