• LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS • WORKPLACE TIPS • FINANCIAL ADVICE
A Southern Lakes Newspapers LLC publication 2019
in Business
Page 2
2019 WOMEN IN BUSINESS
SUBMITTED PHOTO Women in Business
Next Step Life Coach clients Chase Koenecke (from left), Danyelle Smith, Carla Beckett and Trent Davidson prep flats for planting at Thomas Greenhouse and
Gardens in Mukwonago. The greenhouse is one of the area businesses that employs young adults with special needs, helping them build career skills.
Taking the next step
Area woman teaches job skills to young adults with special needs By Tracy Ouellette
needs.” The jobs vary, Lelivelt said. From meal preparation, to garden work, to cleaning, depending on what the particular business needs. There are even a few office positions. “We also do volunteer work,” Lelivelt said. “We take care of the planters on Main Street in Waterford, although this year they’re going to be on the playground with the road construction. It’s a nice fit with our work with Thomas Greenhouses, too. Jennifer (Thomas) teaches them how to plant and it kind of brings the work full circle for them, they see it from start to finish because they plant at the greenhouse and now they see how those plants are used.”
EDITOR
What happens to young adults with special needs after they’ve completed school and are ready for the next step in life? For Connie Lelivelt, that question needed a response of more than just words. So, she took action. “There is a need for job training at their level that isn’t being met in many instances,” Lelivelt said. “I worked at Waterford High School with special education students and saw first hand we needed to do more.” Lelivelt, who started Next Step Life Coach in 2012, said when she resigned from her position at Waterford High, it was to provide job coaching for the students who were leaving the education system. “I was working with a non-verbal young man with autism at the high school and his parents were asking, ‘What now?’ when he was getting ready to move on,” Lelivelt said. “They offered me a salary and they asked me to resign at the high school to teach their son job skills. “I was like his second mom,” Lelivelt continued. “That was when RPM (Rapid Prompting Method) just started coming into play and I could read studies with him and I knew he wanted to go to college.” The Rapid Prompting Method is a communication technique that is sometimes used for people with autism and other disabilities (often non-verbal) to communicate through pointing, typing and/ or writing. After meeting with the student’s parents,
Fun and games SUBMITTED PHOTO Women in Business
Jon Schuardt (left) and Mikey Fiorita fill pots with soil at Thomas Greenhouse and Gardens in Mukwonago as part of their job training with Next Step Life Coach Connie Lelivelt.
Lelivelt said she carefully considered her options. “I went to bed praying and I woke up with two students on my heart, and from there it bloomed into Next Step Life Coach.”
Building the business
Lelivelt said she’s built up her clientele over the past seven years and currently has 13 she’s working with. “All but three are part-time,” she said. “I’ve very picky about who I pick; it has to
be the right fit for the clients.” Because the goal is to further the young adults’ education and give them reallife job skills and on-the-job experience, Lelivelt said she has fostered relationships with multiple businesses in and around the Waterford area. “We work with eight local businesses right now, like Thomas Greenhouse (Mukwonago), Waterford Senior Living, River City Lanes (Waterford) and others to help find the right job for the right client,” Lelivelt said. “Everyone has unique
Lelivelt said Next Step and River City have just started Candy Bar Bingo, where the price of admission is a candy bar and then those are the prizes. Upcoming dates for the game are: Aug. 23, Sept. 20 and Nov. 15, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Lelivelt said she loves her work in the community because she feels like she’s educating people and opening eyes. “It starts the conversation,” she said. I want people to know that every individual has the ability to help serve their community. These people have a ton of love and compassion and they’re willing to share it with everybody.” Anyone interested in working with Lelivelt’s clients, can contact her at 262366-4061. For more information, find Lelivelt on Facebook or call.
2019 WOMEN IN BUSINESS
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Princess for a day My Sweet Loretta’s provides a royal treatment
By Tracy Ouellette EDITOR
Playing dress up is something most little girls (and some big ones) love to do and Burlington’s Beth Dudzinski opened a party venue in spring to offer a special place for area princess wannabes to indulge in a day of pampering and fun. My Sweet Loretta’s on Chestnut Street in Burlington opened its doors in midApril and offers Princess Parties and more to girls of all ages. “It’s just something I’ve been wanting to do for years,” Dudzinski said. “I had hip surgery last September and I didn’t want to go back to work, not that this isn’t work, but I wanted to follow my dream.” Dudzinski, 56, said she left her job as a food service director to follow that dream.
“I was in food service my whole life and I loved it, but I was on my feet all day and I wanted to do something for me,” she said. After the decision was made, Dudzinski said it didn’t take long to set up the party venue. “I had such a vision in my head it probably only took about five weeks to get this going,” she said. “I shopped Facebook Marketplace, resale shops, Amazon, antique stores and Hobby Lobby for weeks. It was a lot of fun.” Dudzinski named the new venture after her mother, Loretta, who died last year. “It’s just one more way to remember her,” she said.
See PRINCESS, Page 11
GRACE AND JAMES PHOTOGRAPHY Women in Business
Above: My Sweet Loretta’s provides “The Picture Perfect Party” complete with nail polish, makeup, tea party and a photo shoot. My Sweet Loretta’s is at 140 W. Chestnut St. in downtown Burlington. Top: My Sweet Loretta’s can accommodate parties for up to 12 girls at its Burlington location. The tea party includes cupcakes and pink lemonade.
Women in Business A publication of Southern Lakes Newspapers 1102 Ann St., Delavan, WI 53115 • (262) 763-3511
Editor in Chief: Ed Nadolski • Special Sections Editor: Tracy Ouellette Creative Director: Heidi Schulz • Advertising Director: Vicki Vanderwerff
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On the cover: My Sweet Loretta’s owner Beth Dudzinski (right) and her daughter, Hannah Dudzinski, are ready to make princess dreams come true at the Burlington party venue. (Photo by Grace and James Photography)
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2019 WOMEN IN BUSINESS
How much home can you afford to finance? Don’t forget closing, taxes and insurance
One of the hardest calls to make when it comes to buying a home is how much you want to spend. The larger the mortgage you take out, the bigger the payments will be. Of course, there is more to the cost than simply the amount of the mortgage, as interest plays a big role as well. How much can you afford to finance? First National Bank and Trust’s, Erica Strohm, recommends considering the following important factors.
How is your credit?
If you have great credit you are likely to qualify for the lowest interest rates. This means that you will be able to take out a larger loan, since the same monthly payment will get you more. More of the money you spend each month goes to principal, meaning you will also pay it off more quickly. People with credit problems will find that a larger amount of their monthly payment has to go to interest since they will get higher rates. This means that the amount you can afford to finance is actually lower.
Look at other expenses
Take a look at all of your monthly payments and debts that need to be paid off. Try to be realistic about what you can really afford to pay. While a mortgage company may qualify you for a larger loan, that doesn’t mean you can afford it in reality. Take into consideration your lifestyle and the extra things on which you like to spend money. Are you willing to give them up to pay a bigger mortgage? The items you pay for monthly may be static in
Erica Strohm
some ways and may fluctuate in other ways. You need to have a realistic idea of what you spend each month on average to be able to determine what you can afford to finance for your mortgage.
When calculating a monthly payment, don’t forget to add in your homeowner’s insurance and your property taxes. Once these are added in, you might want to consider financing a smaller amount in order to get the monthly payment down to a manageable amount. Once these two are added in, it can push your payment above your comfort level. You will also be paying closing costs that are in some part based on the amount financed. The more you finance, the larger these fees are likely to be. It’s important to remember this when you consider how much you can actually afford to finance on your new home. Erica Strohm, NMLS, No. 552950, is an assistant vice-president and loan production manager with First National Bank and Trust. With more than 20 years in the mortgage industry, Erica is an expert at helping consumers fulfill their dreams of homeownership by assisting them through the home buying process and providing credit counseling. She holds a bachelor’s degree in management with a personnel emphasis from the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater, and has completed numerous training programs in the lending field to stay up-to-date on programs and changes within the mortgage and consumer lending field to provide Sound Advice to her clients. Erica is actively involved in her community and is involved with the Lakes Area Realtors Association as well as the Lakeland Builder’s Association’s Home Expo and Parade of Homes Committees. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. For more information, see the ad on the back page.
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A Day in the Country
Yuppie Hill: Where the girls do all the work
By Heather Ruenz STAFF WRITER
Nearly 20 years ago, Lynn Lein’s son, Jason, brought home 12 laying hens. Now Yuppie Hill Poultry boasts roughly 30,000 birds. “I had no idea it would end up this big. I was working full-time in a lab at an Aurora hospital in Milwaukee then,” Lein said. They lived on Honey Lake Road in Rochester at the time, had converted the horse barn into a chicken coop and also had chickens at a friend’s farm. Then a friend found the current farm on Potter Road, which Lein bought in 2004. “It was pretty dilapidated. What is now Barnyard Grub (a monthly dinner event) initially housed the chickens – about 3,000 at that time. Then we took the calf barn and had about 1,500 girls in there,” Lein said. When her dad died she said she had to decide whether to keep working full-time or run the business, in an effort to help it continue to grow. She chose the latter and said it’s always been a priority to provide the chickens with as comfortable living conditions as possible. There are currently three barns on the farm and the first one is a flat deck, which features a raised floor. In 2011, two other barns were built and they feature aviary systems. “That’s where the girls can literally fly from floor to ceiling. We try very hard to bring the outside in. They’re protected and it’s temperature controlled,” Lein said. “Those are all important because they don’t lay when they’re stressed.”
What’s in a name?
The name Yuppie Hill came thanks to neighbors who would often stop by to check out Lein’s birds and said they were impressed with the hens’ “high class” living quarters so began referring to them as yuppies. Lein said they work with a grower for the hens, who starts them and then Yuppie Hill gets them when they’re 18 to 19 weeks old. “That gives them time to get acclimated before they start to lay. We keep them about 14 months and then they go to the live market or a butcher. The stock you get from them is awesome and the meat is good if it’s slowly cooked,” she said. The eggs produced at Yuppie Hill are in-
2019 WOMEN IN BUSINESS
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line, according to Lein, meaning they come out of the barn, get washed and sometimes are out the door that day. “So there are literally some restaurants that get today’s eggs today. Our motto has always been fresh from the farm to your table,” she said. While they work with a distributor that does some deliveries, by and large Yuppie Hill does most of its own deliveries and currently has customers from Chicago to Sheboygan to Madison and Milwaukee. Nearly all the area grocery stores carry Yuppie Hill eggs including Richter’s Market in Burlington and Twin Lakes, both Frank’s Piggly Wiggly locations and Stinebrink’s Piggly Wiggly in Lake Geneva. In addition to Lein and her two sons – Jason and Matt (Lein’s daughter, Steph, also helps out) – the farm has five employees. “My boys call themselves the slaves,” Lein said with a laugh. “Honestly, they’re really starting to step in more and I’m trying to step back but it’s hard. “I’ll never retire. I’d like to travel but cannot think about not being here, involved in the business,” Lein said.
What they offer
The hens are free-range birds fed local grains. All of the eggs from Yuppie Hill are brown, antibiotic and hormone free – no additives are used in food or water – and are available on the farm all the time. “It’s self-serve but if we’re around when someone stops by we’ll gladly talk with them, especially those here for the first time. Once they’ve been here they usually make a quick stop and are on their way,” Lein said. The farm also has pork, broilers (chickens raised specifically for meat, which they get at about a day old and grow them to seven or eight weeks), as well as turkeys for the holiday season. “I think we had 450 turkeys last year and that number continues to grow every year. Some stores sell the turkeys but a lot of them go out of here directly,” she said. They’ve raised turkeys at Yuppie Hill for about 15 years and Lein reminds people interested in a turkey to get on the list by the end of August or early September. The Barnyard Grub is a restaurant at the farm that normally the second Saturday of
HEATHER RUENZ Women in Business
After a modest start with 12 laying hens one of her sons brought home, Lynn Lein of Yuppie Hill Poultry, Inc. now has roughly 30,000 such birds on her farm, where they also raise broiler chickens and in the fall, turkeys.
the month hosts a four-course dinner that’s generally reservation only. “It’s a set menu so people know what’s planned but we change it up and it usually includes a homemade soup, fancy salad or cheese platter and a fancy dessert,” Lein said. Though they can’t offer it year-round, in the fall – likely October – Yuppie Hill will again offer breakfasts at the Barnyard Grub on Saturdays and that’s a walk-in option.
Still growing
A hen lays an egg every 25 hours, Lein said, but even with the approximate 30,000
hens at the farm it’s a struggle to meet the demand. “And, of course, there are some slackers but we can’t check butts every day so can’t really weed them out,” she added. In an effort to boost production, Yuppie Hill is planning to expand the first barn this year, taking the flat deck system out and putting in an aviary system. “That will double the production in that barn to another 9,000 girls,” Lein said. Yuppie Hill Poultry is at W1384 Potter Rd., Burlington. For more information call 262-210-0264 or visit yuppiehillpoultry.com.
HEATHER RUENZ Women in Business
After the Yuppie Hill chickens lay eggs they’re transported through the barn by conveyors, are washed and eventually make their way into a machine that places them in containers. Employees then label the egg containers and box them for delivery.
HEATHER RUENZ Women in Business
The chicks in the first batch of this year’s broilers (raised specifically for meat) at Yuppie Hill are about 4 weeks old.
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2019 WOMEN IN BUSINESS
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New ideas for oriental rugs Page 8
2019 WOMEN IN BUSINESS
Noure’s in Lake Geneva offers design advice for a classic style
For the past 40 years, Cathleen Nateghi has worked alongside her husband, Noure, in building an oriental rug business that spans the globe. Noure’s Oriental Rug Co. was founded in late 1979. The first store opened in Lake Geneva’s Fancy Fair Mall in 1980. This remains their flagship location and draws visitors and tourists from all over to the resort community’s boutique shops. Noure Nateghi was born in Tehran, Iran in 1946, and grew up surrounded by rugs, and was considered an expert in the field of area rugs. After graduating from Milton College in Wisconsin, he launched into business by bringing the artistry and craftsmanship of Persian rugs to the Midwest. As vice-president of Noure’s Oriental Rug Inc., Cathleen Nateghi has been instrumental in the expansion of the company into the Chicago design community. Currently, Noure’s Oriental Rug is the oldest oriental rug dealer in the Merchandise Mart in downtown Chicago. Many of the regions luxury residences are adorned with pieces from Noure’s collection. The durability and timeless craftsmanship of a classic Oriental rug are good reasons to invest in one. The right rug can make the room, according to Cathleen Nateghi who, with her son, has
continued the business. The showroom is filled with traditional and contemporary rugs, which are handmade in China, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Egypt and Iran. So many designs and color schemes are in stock that it is certain there is a rug for anyone’s taste. On the off chance that a customer can’t find the perfect rug, there is the option to order a custom-made rug from Tibet, Cathleen Nateghi said. Noure’s also offers cleaning, repair and restoration of all area rugs. Persian rugs, also known as oriental rugs, are bringing global style to kitchens everywhere. Learn the benefits of a Persian rug in your kitchen, how to clean them, and where to buy Persian rugs for less than you think. If you haven’t already noticed, Persian rugs are making a big splash in the kitchen scene. You know the ones – highly ornate, colorful and often distressed rugs that have been around for years. Lately, Persian runners are gracing the floors of kitchens, and Noure’s can’t get enough of it. The statement rugs have so much personality and color that pops in all-white kitchens. They’re easy to fit to your existing decor, durable, and timeless. Learning more about the latest kitchen trend no one will blame you if you go out looking for your own beautiful Persian rug. Cathleen Nateghi said one place that
SUBMITTED PHOTO Women in Business
Cathleen and Noure Nateghi founded Noure’s Oriental Rug Co. in Lake Geneva in 1979.
will be really fun to introduce a beautiful area rug in your home is the kitchen. Some naysayers will say but “What about all the spills that happen?” and Nateghi answers that most Persian or oriental rugs are made of wool – a natural material that is widely known for being stain resistant. Plus, if a few drops of olive oil seep into the threads, they’ll be well camouflaged in the ornate design. If the same happened on a solid-colored rug, they’d stick out like a sore thumb. In addition to adding warmth underfoot, oriental rugs are the statement piece you need to add a punch of personality to your kitchen. They’re colorful, unique, and there are many to choose from at Noure’s Oriental Rug Gallery, making it easy to fit with your design style. An oriental runner placed along your sink or range area will create a warm place for your feet to land so you’re comfortable while chopping and cooking dinner.
Leslie Roanhouse-Market Liaison • Cell: 262-374-2514 Tammy Wright began her nursing career as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Delavan Health Services in 2007. After becoming a Registered Nurse in 2010 she worked for a year in the hospital setting but realized her true passion was to care for the elderly and returned to Delavan Health Services in 2011 as a Registered Nurse. Upon returning to Delavan Health Services she started as a night shift nurse, then she moved to the facility Nurse Educator position and in 2015 she became Wound Care Certified and the Director of Nursing. Tammy is passionate about making the life of each resident the best life possible. She holds high standards for resident care and values her healthcare team. The residents at the facility are ever changing, allowing for new experiences every day. She and her team work diligently to provide the least restrictive environment and the highest quality of life to every resident they care for. On her off time Tammy enjoys experiencing travel to different areas of the country and learning new things about the diverse world we live in today. She enjoys spending time with her husband Rodney and going on cruises and other adventures. She also loves spending time with her 19-year-old son Brandon and her 22-year-old step-son Andrew. Tammy, we thank you for your passion and dedication.
How to clean persian rugs
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Follow these cleaning tips for wool Persian rugs only: • Vacuum – You can vacuum your oriental whenever you want; if it is small you can fold it and shake it outside; • Spot clean – If a spill occurs, it’s best to act quickly. Use a neutral cloth to blot the affected area – do not rub, which will push the liquid further into the rug. Use cold water while continuing to blot the stain away. Use club soda to clean up rug stains like wine or beverage spills and baking soda to soak up liquid foods like gray or sauces;
• Professionally clean – To keep you kitchen rug in its best shape, have it professionally cleaned once a year at Noure’s Oriental Rug Gallery; and • Rotate – It is also important to rotate your rug over time. The kitchen is a hightraffic area, so your rug should be rotated often to make sure of even wear all over the rug. Noure’s Oriental Rug Gallery carries a wide selection of rugs from all over the world to fit every design style and price point. A navy blue rug is a great choice for a kitchen with white cabinets. The bright white will make the blues stand out even more. A cream-colored Persian rug looks great on dark hardwood floors. Noure’s can help you find the perfect rug to fit your needs. A red-orange Persian rug will inspire you to cook with the flavors of the world. Most Persian rugs will have a combination of colors that will highlight your own color scheme. The kitchen is the heart of the home and Persian rugs can remind us of all the fun of cooking for family and friends. The bright blues, reds, greens, golds, oranges and sometimes even hot pink are such energizing colors that you can’t help but smile when you look at them. You can use them to pull out accent colors in your kitchen. Handmade area rugs are everlasting and the price points are very reasonable. Noure’s Oriental Rug Gallery is at 30 W. Main St., Lake Geneva. For more information, call 262-2482222 and see the ad on Page 6.
2019 WOMEN IN BUSINESS
Page 9
It’s all in a name
HEATHER RUENZ Women in Business
Roxanne “Rocky” Marsicano Gonzalez serves lunch to Greg and Bernardette Fischer, of Franklin, in late April at The Village Supper Club, Delavan.
Village Supper Club embraces label By Heather Ruenz STAFF WRITER
The Village Supper Club in Delavan has been owned and has been operated by members of the Marsicano family since 1966. Nick and Doris Marsicano had relocated from Melrose, Illinois, in the mid-1950s for their first venture of renting cottages on Delavan Lake. “My dad loved the lake and the way the story goes is that my grandfather had a cottage up here on the lake. My dad came up to visit and wanted to get out of the city so he bought a house close to my grandparents,” Chris Marsicano, who now owns the club with his brother, Dave, said. Why his dad decided to ultimately get into the restaurant business remains a mystery, according to Marsicano. “My dad was a sheet metal worker and would commute to Crystal Lake and then for whatever reason – with no experience though he was an outgoing person who loved people – decided to buy a restaurant,” he said. He purchased what was then known as the Swedish Village and a short time later, bought out their partners and changed it to The Village Supper Club. “Something has been there since the 1890s – it was a farm originally, owned by
John Hall and it was called Hall’s Park and he rented out rooming houses. From there it evolved into him serving meals and there were dance parties,” Marsicano said. He said it then went through a couple of owners until a Swedish couple bought it. After the Swedish owner was found dead “over the cash register” another couple owned it prior to his dad and his dad’s business partner buying it.
‘All hands on deck’ Mariscano’s sister, Roxanne “Rocky” Marsicano Gonzalez still works there. Their older sister, Nikki, also was a longtime employee but retired a couple of years ago. Gonzalez said she’s worked in many roles in her 40-plus years as an employee at the supper club. “I started as the salad and bus girl, then waitressing, hosting and bartending,” she said. The supper club is accessible by vehicle or boat as guests can dock at the club’s private pier during the summer months. Though the warmer months are the busiest, Gonzalez said they see regular customers throughout the year. “A lot of summer folks come back
See SUPPER CLUB, Page 11
HEATHER RUENZ Women in Business
A longstanding tradition at The Village Supper Club is the relish bar, which Roxanne “Rocky” Marsicano Gonzalez keeps stocked.
Page 10
Hitting the glass ceiling
2019 WOMEN IN BUSINESS
Women’s pay still lags behind male counterparts Fans of the CBS hit television show “The Big Bang Theory” may have learned that, in 2014, the five original cast members renegotiated their salaries to earn $1 million per episode. The original cast – largely male – includes Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar and Kaley Cuoco. Two actresses later joined the show, becoming mainstays of the comedy. However, newcomers Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch haven’t earned nearly as much as their costars for years. Recently, the original actors agreed to take a pay cut so that Bialik and Rauch could earn more. Unfortunately, the scenario that played out with “The Big Bang Theory” cast is not an anomaly. Whether in Hollywood or elsewhere, many women still earn less than their male counterparts. Although the gender pay gap has been getting steadily smaller, women still earn roughly $.80 to every $1 earned by men in both the United States and Canada, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Statistics Canada, respectively. Women’s Policy Research says that, if current trends continue, females will not match males in pay until 2059. Race and age also play a role in the disparity in pay between males and females, with Asian American women earning around 90 percent of what white men do, and Hispanic or Latina women earning about 54 percent of what white men earn, according to a 2016 report from The
American Association of University Women. The biggest wage gap by industry in the United States is in the financial and insurance sector. Even though women account for more than half of all employees in these industries, the BLS in 2015 reported that they earn only about $.60 for every $1 men earn. The industry closest to salary parity is construction, where the difference in pay is a few cents. Some states are closing the gap faster than others. The AAUW policy analysts found that the states with the smallest gaps are New York, California and Florida. Oklahoma, Louisiana, Alabama, and Utah are states with substantial gaps. The news is similar in Canada. Updated figures, compiled from Statistics Canada data, show the pay gap exists in every province and in every major occupational group. Furthermore, the disparity in annual earnings between men and women has barely moved over the last 20 years, even as education levels among women have surpassed those of men. STEM-based careers remain the best avenue for women to reach near-parity in pay, as science-backed careers seem to offer the closest in comparable pay, according to the BLS. Although the gender pay gap is closing slowly, society still has a way to go before women are earning as much as their male counterparts. (METRO CREATIVE)
STOCK PHOTO Women in Business
Female workers still earn on average $.80 to every $1 that a man earns.
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• Supper Club
2019 WOMEN IN BUSINESS
(Continued from page 9)
here each year but we also have a lot of local customers who stop in year-round,” Gonzalez said. “Sometimes, we even see some of our summer customers who stop by in the winter if they’re in the area.” Third generation members of the Marsicano family have also been working at The Village Supper Club for years including Gonzalez’s three daughters – Rebeca, who is 30; Erica, 28; and Rachel, 22. “They all do a little of everything like all of us,” Gonzalez said. Her brother agreed.
“After all these years, we still do whatever needs to be done. It’s an all hands on deck type of deal – and involves a lot of family along with some dedicated employees,” Marsicano said.
Supper club staples The goal of the club has always been to provide a delicious meal to local folks, as well as vacationers, in a casual, relaxed atmosphere, according to the website. And to offer what Marsicano refers to as standard supper club features.
HEATHER RUENZ Women in Business
Heidi Schulz makes an old-fashioned at The Village Supper Club on Delavan Lake, one of a few drinks owner Chris Marsicano said have made a comeback in recent years along with the classic martini and ice cream drinks.
• Princess
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“To be a supper club you had to have a full service bar, a Friday fish fry, a relish bar or a Lazy Susan on the table, and homemade cheese with crackers on the bar,” he said, adding that the relish bar remains a big draw at The Village Supper Club. During the summer, the patio is open, allowing guests to relax while enjoying their meal with a view of Delavan Lake. But even during the colder months, guests are treated to the view of the lake – until the front dining room is full, anyway. Gonzalez said the Friday night fish fry is the busiest time but in addition to fish, there are several menu items that keep people returning to the club time and time again. “We offer prime rib every day and two or three days of the week, it’s the special. That’s a big draw,” Gonzalez said. “Our BBQ ribs are also a favorite that we’ve been serving for years and the beerbattered shrimp is another popular choice.” Besides prime rib, shrimp and a variety of steaks, the menu features numerous Italian specialties and pastas including Alfredo, tortellini, parmigiana, spaghetti and mostaccioli. Seafood options, in addition to the Friday night fish fry, include whitefish, scampi, crab legs, scallops, frog legs and lobster tail. There are also several funnamed options for the kids, including Prime Ribbee, Pasghetti, Sammy Shrimp and Piggy Pork Chops. There are numerous specialty drinks offered including golden margarita, rum runner, captain’s cooler, summer sapphire, several versions of martinis – classic, French, dirty, chocolate, cosmopolitan and pomegranate, and a large wine and beer selection. Marsicano said a few drinks that used to be popular have made a notable comeback in recent years. “Old-fashioneds have made a big comeback and the classic martinis have been huge again,” he said. “Another is the ice cream drinks… another supper club thing,” Marsicano added. The restaurant can also host private or large gatherings including fundraisers, wedding receptions, parties, banquets and luncheons. The Village Supper Club, 1725 S. Shore Dr., Delavan, is open 3 to 9 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday, and 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday. Later this month the restaurant will expand to its summer hours and be open for lunch. For more information call 262728-6360 or 262-728-9338 or visit villagesupperclubdelavan.com.
Nancy Blackman (left) and Annamarie Blawat
Stepping in for a friend By Annamarie Blawat CONTRIBUTOR
Nancy Blackman and I have worked together more than 30 years. We care about our clients and feel that they are our friends as well. We both focus on educating our clients in all of their options for the different types of insurance so that they can make an informed choice that will meet their individual needs. Nancy was an AAA representative for 15 years. Nancy and her husband owned a supper club called Tiger Lounge and has lived in Delavan since 1963. They have two children and three grandchildren. Nancy is now retired and I am here to help all her current clients and also take care of anyone. I travel to Delavan frequently to help Nancy’s clients. My agency, Allied Senior Services Insurance and Investments Ltd. Inc., has been in business since 1989. I am the president of the agency. We handle health insurance for people of all ages, long-term care insurance and life insurance. The property and casualty side of my business provides home, auto and business insurance. We work with several insurance companies and look for the best product to meet the needs of our clients. Though my office is in West Allis, I live in the Town of Vernon and I’m in the Walworth County area several times a week. I am married with three children, two of whom work with me in the business. My daughter, Christine, works on the property and casualty side of the business and my son, Nicholas, works on the life and health side with me. My hobby is showing and breeding Scottish Terriers and taking care of my six grandchildren. Allied Senior Services Insurance and Investments Ltd. Inc. is at 7421 W. Becher St., Milwaukee. For more information, call 414-545-7878 or 262-728-2022 and see the ad on Page 6.
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With the help of her 22-year-old daughter, Hannah, and other family members and close friends, Dudzinski set up the space in early spring and has begun booking parties. “It takes time, but I feel very confident in this,” she said. “It’s really fun and it’s really pretty and I think once I get going it will go really well.” All parties at My Sweet Loretta’s, including Spa Parties, Princess Parties, Me and My Dolly Tea Party and Stampin’ Up Parties, are 1-1/2 to 2 hours long and include cookies or cupcakes, Pink Lemonade “Tea Party” and a photo session from the shabby chic decorated studio. All guests go home with a 4-by-7-
inch photo. “We can upgrade with pizza or finger sandwiches to add a meal, too,” Dudzinski said. A standard party is eight girls and costs $300. The party includes a light makeup session, tea party with pink lemonade and cupcakes or cookies, and a manicure and pedicure. “The manis and pedis are not done by professionals, they’re just a buff and polish,” Dudzinski clarified. The parties can be upgraded to 12 girls at an additional cost of $20 per girl after the first eight. “I just did a Me and My Dolly party and that went well,” Dudzinski said. “I’m
planning on having some type of event once a month too, to just get people in to see what we’re all about.” Parties have to be scheduled in advance. “I can’t do walk-ins,” Dudzinski said. “If I had four to five girls walk in at the same time, I’d be scrambling and I don’t want to scramble because they wouldn’t get the full experience.” Other future plans Dudzinski has on the books include Stamp and Sip parties and hosting parties for seniors. “It’s very, very welcoming and calming in here,” she said. “I would love to offer senior women a chance to relax, come in for lunch, be pampered and have time to
share and talk. I think it would be a hoot.” Dudzinski added she wants to give back to the community as much as possible with the new establishment and it is one of the reasons she opened shop. “I want to host fundraisers for the schools and get involved in the community,” she said. “I have time for that now that the kids are older and don’t need me as much. It’s time for me to give back.” My Sweet Loretta’s is also able to host small showers and parties. My Sweet Loretta’s is at 140 W. Chestnut St., Burlington. For more information, call 262-492-3397 and find it on Facebook.
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