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WONDERS Winter 2021

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Wonders

WALWORTH COUNTY of

Published by Southern Lakes Newspapers LLC

Winter 2021


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Out in the fresh air WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY

WINTER 2021

Cycling Without Age program rolling into the area By Heather Ruenz

C

STAFF WRITER

ycling Without Age aims to bring joy and vitality to non-driving, older adults and those with differing abilities via a trishaw, a three-wheel, pedal-assist cargo bike. The Dementia Friendly Community Initiative is bringing the program to this area. Eric Russow, who leads the DFCI with his wife, Bernadette, said when they learned about the program, it was too good of an opportunity to pass up. “It will benefit so many people, from pilots to riders, but also the community as a whole,” he said. Cycling Without Age was started in 2012 in Denmark by Ole Kassow, who wanted to help the elderly get back on their bicycles but needed to find a solution to their limited mobility. The answer was the trishaw and he began offering free bike rides to local nursing home residents. As of earlier this year, there were 2,200 locations around the world and more than 3,000 trishaws. In the United States, there are 24 states with programs and Wisconsin currently has 14 chapters, according to the website cyclingwihoutage.org. Each bike costs $10,400 and the accompanying blanket that attaches to it is an additional $300. The program recently got a big push start. “We’ve been awarded a $25,000 grant out of Bader Philanthropies, which is a big supporter of Alzheimer’srelated issues all over the world,” Eric Russow said. He said the program has also been awarded grants from United Way of Walworth County and Advia Credit Union in addition to several other donations that have been received. The grant from Bader will be used to purchase two bikes but the ultimate goal for the program is to have

The Dementia Friendly Community Initiative is leading the charge to bring Cycling Without Age to the area. The program aims to bring joy and vitality to non-driving, older adults and those with differing abilities via a trishaw – a three-wheel, pedal-assist cargo bike. SUBMITTED PHOTO Wonders of Walworth County

six bikes in all. The first two bikes should be ordered soon – they’ll be coming from Denmark – and if all goes according to plan, they’ll be in service next spring. “We’ll also need a trailer, a place to store the bikes and electricity to charge the bikes with,” Eric said. Bernadette said the program will be suitable for a wide variety of people who are disabled, isolated or have mobility issues. “It’s all about getting them out so they can enjoy the fresh air,” she said. And it’s about getting younger people involved. “Not only to drive the bikes, but to have conversations – and the elderly will have someone to listen to them. It’s a way of bringing the community together,” Bernadette said. Eric said they’re reaching out to several groups about becoming involved, including two local bike clubs. “We have a goal of getting high school students involved. Other ideas are getting businesses to donate gift certificates and there might be opportunities down the road for groups to reserve the bikes and pay a fee, which would help pay for maintenance or help buy more bikes,” he said.

Different approach

The Cycling Without Age program was started in 2012 in Denmark as a way to get the elderly back on a bicycles while taking limited mobility into consideration. The bikes will be used to help get non-driving, older adults and those with differing abilities out in the fresh air. SUBMITTED PHOTO Wonders of Walworth County

While many of the Cycling Without Age programs are run through United Way or local parks and recreation departments, the DFCI will be a different approach. “Currently, there are no public-type uses in Walworth County. Lakeland Health Care Center and Fairhaven Senior Services have similar programs but are restricted to their residents,” Bernadette said. “We don’t know how it’ll all play out but foresee this being something we can get in place and have operating seven days a week, at least at times,” Eric said. There are many ways to support the program including the following: • Be a volunteer pilot after going through training and becoming certified. • Be an event host by allowing program volunteers to pedal trishaws for a specific organization.

• Be a sponsor by making a donation to help support the purchase of trishaws for the program. • Be a passenger.

Safety first The vehicle used for the program is a trishaw – a pedalassist cargo bike on three wheels that can fit one to two passengers. The bikes are safe, equipped with a seatbelt and driven by a trained and certified volunteer pilot. Pilots pedal slowly and obey the rules of the road. Typical rides will be 30, 45 or 60 minutes depending on the location, comfort and destination.

About the DFCI The Dementia Friendly Community Initiative, which was founded in 2016, continues to grow. The organization provides free training to businesses, agencies, churches and others to create dementia-friendly spaces and promote awareness. More than 65 groups have been trained by the DFCI thus far. Recent trainees include Geneva Town Hall, Old World Wisconsin, Open Arms Free Clinic, Delavan Town Hall, Someplace Else Restaurant, Calvary Community Church, The Boutique Closet, Lovey’s Gift Boutique, Walworth County Corporation Counsel, and the Egert Law office. Volunteers are needed, Bernadette said, adding that helping people understand dementia is important. “A recent survey in USA Today reported that 80% of Americans want to reduce their risk of Alzheimer’s but only 35% know the symptoms,” she said. Eric agreed. “This training is becoming more and more important as the county population grows older. By helping people understand what dementia is and how it affects families, we can make a difference,” he said. For more information about the Dementia Friendly Community Initiative, or the Cycling Without Age program, visit dfcwalworth.org, send an email to dfcwalworth@gmail.com or call 262-320-7325.


WINTER 2021

WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY

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Winterfest runs Feb. 3 to 7 Snow sculpting again takes center stage

Lake Geneva is poised to host its 26th annual Winterfest Feb. 3 to 7 featuring the U.S. National Snow Sculpting Championship. As the only national snow sculpting championship in the United States, Winterfest will welcome some of the most talented and award-winning sculpting teams from across the country to again highlight the annual festival Visitors are invited to witness these teams at work during an epic 72-hour round-the-clock competition where their artistry is put to the test in creating remarkable, larger-than-life snow sculptures, according to Visit Lake Geneva. In addition to the snow sculpting, visitors can enjoy more wintery fun during Winterfest, including a downtown ice sculpture tour, s’mores and bonfires on the beach. Go to visitlakegeneva.com and search for Winterfest for additional information.

Each Ice Castles attraction is built by hand using hundreds of thousands of icicles. The attractions include LED-lit sculptures, frozen thrones, ice-carved tunnels, slides, and fountains.

Winter fun! COURTESY OF ICE CASTLES Wonders of Walworth County

Ice Castles returns to Lake Geneva area

The frozen wonderland known as Ice Castles is slated to return to the Lake Geneva area in January. Ice Castles is an award-winning winter attraction that is built on site using hundreds of thousands of icicles hand-placed by professional ice artists, according to the company that sponsors the attraction in four cities across North America. The castles include breathtaking LED-lit sculptures, frozen thrones, icecarved tunnels, slides, fountains and more. Locally, Ice Castles is again located at Geneva National Resort, 1091 Hidden Cottage Circle, Lake Geneva. This is the third year for the attraction in Wisconsin. The inaugural year saw the Ice Castles built at Riviera Beach in downtown Lake Geneva. Opening was scheduled for mid January, but is dependent on weather conditions with long stretches of freezing temperatures needed to accommodate construction of the attraction. The photoworthy Ice Castles will last into March, weather permitting. Dates and hours will

be announced online at icecastles.com. Ice Castles will operate on a reduced capacity this season to promote social distancing, according to the company. Wherever possible, tunnels and crawl spaces will be clearly marked as one-way features to limit face-to-face exposure with other guests. In accordance with local and state mandates, staff and guests older than 2 will be required to wear a mask or face covering. “We are thrilled to welcome families back to Ice Castles at Geneva National Resort this winter,” Ice Castles CEO Kyle Standifird said in a news release. “The safety of our guests and staff has always been our top priority, and the new features and guidelines we have in place this season are designed to create a safe and magical environment for everyone.” Tickets (ages 12 and older) are currently listed at $18.99 Monday through Thursday and $22.99 Friday through Sunday. Tickets for children (4-11) are $12.99 weekdays and $18.99 weekends. Ice Castles also has attractions in Colorado, New Hampshire and Utah.

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Above: Sculptors competing in last year’s U.S. National Snow Sculpting Championship as part of Lake Geneva’s Winterfest work late into the night to complete their frozen masterpieces. At left: The team from New Hampshire puts the final touches on its snow sculpture titled “Joy of Reading” during Lake Geneva’s 2020 Winterfest. The sculpture won the People’s Choice award. PENNY GRUETZMACHER Wonders of Walworth County

Wonders of Walworth County

A publication of Southern Lakes Newspapers LLC and The Beacon 1102 Ann St., Delavan, WI 53115 • (262) 728-3411 GENERAL MANAGER: .....................................Sue Z. Lange EDITOR: .....................................................Tracy Ouellette CREATIVE/PRODUCTION DIRECTOR: ................Heidi Schulz PAGE DESIGNER: ...........................................Jen DeGroot ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: ......................Vicki Vanderwerff

FOR ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES: Call (262) 725-7701, ext. 134

On the cover: Winter kayaking on the Turtle Creek in Darien is one of photographer Heidi Schulz’s favorite pastimes. Schulz took this photo in early January while out on the water.


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WINTER 2021

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A tough act to follow By Paige Zezulka CONTRIBUTOR

WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY

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Man from area continues to pursue acting dream

Michael Fell, who is from Delavan, now lives in New York City and is striving to become an actor. He was recently featured in a profile piece for The Clarion, a student based newspaper for Madision Area Technical College. In it, Fell shares his journey including the struggles he faces while reaching his dreams. PAIGE ZEZULKA Wonders of Walworth County

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Midwest born and raised actor has turned the concrete jungle into his very own stage. When someone wants something enough, they will climb mountains to reach their dreams. For 29-year-old actor, Michael Fell, he didn’t do much trekking, instead he ventured his way through the skyscraper landscape of New York City by using his creativity as his pulse. Dropping everything and moving into the big city is already a risk to take. But to do so with a dream of becoming a theatrical actor, adds more weight to one’s shoulders. What could make something already so challenging more difficult, someone might ask- A world pandemic leaving millions of artists in a “blank void.” “I knew I needed to get very far away from my small town. I never felt comfortable there. So, I was like, what about the biggest city in the country?” said Fell. The young actor, who is from Delavan, arrived in New York City on a May afternoon in the year of 2016. Crammed into a two-person U-Haul, him and his two friends made their way across the George Washington Bridge starving for the endless amounts of possibilities their new home would offer. Fell discovered his passion for acting at the University of Minnesota, in Minneapolis where he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in the Actor Training Program at the Gutherie Theater. He was among 20 out of the 1,000 students accepted in the program. It was a vigorous program consisting of eight to 12-hour days, six days a week, for four years with endless amounts of classes and rehearsals. Many people dropped out over time, though Fell managed to succeed with his heart set on a dream. The actor explained why he chose this career path. “What really did it was a sense of community that I found when I started working in theater,” he said. Fell, being a gay man, had always struggled with the idea of how others would perceive him and how the world would react. It didn’t help growing up in a small town, where the population is barely 8,000 people. Fast forward five years, Fell now resides in Harlem, Manhattan feeling completely immersed within the diverse community he now calls his home. He finally found his place and his freedom in New York, surrounded by nearly 8.39 million people. Theatrical acting is Fell’s preferred style. He tends to focus on this type of acting because of its way of bringing raw emotions to life. “It’s very compelling to me. I really enjoy the energy that exists when somebody is preforming in front of a live audience that is responsive, adaptive, can hear you, [and] you can hear them. The dynamics of that kind of energy are really, really intoxicating to me,” he said. Fell has learned other kinds of acting to, such as film. Film is more tactical based, involving many challenging aspects

that try to create a more realistic way of storytelling. Due to the nature of the medium, the films are created with more detail-oriented strategies that appear simple on television but are complex behind the scenes. With the experience of both styles, Fell said it’s fun to jump back and forth between them. “They are different muscles but it’s the same kind of activity between the two,” he said. Fell made the choice to continue his career based on theatrical acting. “(It’s) not like a living decision, it’s more of a pure passionate choice,” because he’s realized it doesn’t pay much. Financial troubles are only some of the difficulties Fell faces with being an actor. Even before the pandemic, it was hard to land auditions. His agent had dropped him, and that’s when he realized, in order to be an actor, he had to learn how to not be one. He made ends meet through a variety of odd jobs such as catering, being a scavenger hunt and game host, personal assistant, house manager, did voice over work for audio books, and most recently a COVID-19 compliance offer. You name it; he has done it all. Fell said it can be frustrating at times, but talked about the importance to “be able to have a hobby and find peace and joy in other activities,” when you are “not doing the thing you set out and studied for years to do.” Since COVID-19, Fell explained, there’s a void he is experiencing in his acting career. Fortunately, as an artist, his sense of creativity has not halted an inch even during a pandemic. It has actually created many new opportunities. He has been making a lot of film sketches, written two pieces and filmed them and is now learning how to edit his work. He also recently launched a comedy podcast and continues to incorporate the digital world into his pieces. As the world is changing, so is Fell and the theater industry in general. In a country where diversity, evolution and progress are key, the industry is in need to refocus their purpose on their community rather than for profit explained the actor. “I think that moving forward, we have to make art that is more here to the people and to the environment in which it is being viewed because that is the unique advantage of the form,” said Fell, “This is the time where theater makers and producers need to dramatically rethink how they want to structure and program what they make. And I hope they take a smaller scale approach to it and a more curing approach.” The actor has sacrificed a great length to follow his dreams. Even though it may be a tough act to follow regardless of a worldwide pandemic, his heart is set on center stage. “In art and in theater there is no road map. Everyone is going to get to where they go in a completely different way. So, you have to trust that it’s going to happen when it happens, and how it happens. It’s not going to be the way you expect or even the way you want most of the time.” Paige Zezulka is a staff writer/copy editor for The Clarion, a student based newspaper at Madison Area Technical College.

WINTER 2021


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Memories to last a lifetime

WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY

WINTER 2021

Local family shares highlights of 10-plus years in scouting By Heather Ruenz STAFF WRITER

When Carl and Deb Harvey family moved to Elkhorn early in 2011, they were looking for activities their two boys could get involved with. A friend recommended the local Cub scouts. Fast forward 10 years and their sons, Matthew and Ben, have both achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. In addition to wanting to show appreciation for those whose paths have crossed theirs through scouting, the Harveys hope to encourage other families to give a try. “We would like to thank all the scout leaders – past and present – and the other volunteers who made Matthew and Ben’s journeys to Eagle Scout a possibility,” Deb said. “We would also like to thank the Elkhorn Lions Club, the troop’s charter organization, for all their support.” Matthew joined Elkhorn Cub Scout Pack 225 in 2011 when he was in second grade. His dad, Carl, would often join Matthew’s den for activities and campouts. A year later, Ben joined the pack as a first-grader and in 2013, Carl became Ben’s den leader. A few years later, Deb took over fundraising for the pack and served as a committee member. When Matthew was in fifth grade he crossed over to Boy Scout Troop 243 and three years later, Ben followed. Carl took over as scoutmaster for the troop and Deb took on the role as treasurer in addition to overseeing the troop’s popcorn fundraiser. Matthew is now a senior at Elkhorn Area High School, where he plays in the band, works back stage for musicals and serves as student council treasurer. Ben is a freshman at EAHS, where he participates in HOSA and e-Sports and plans to play lacrosse in the spring.

Above: The Harvey family of Elkhorn, Carl and Deb and their sons, Matthew and Ben, became involved in scouting when they moved to the area in 2011. Both Matthew and Ben have earned the rank of Eagle Scout and now the family is encouraging others to give scouting a try. At left: Brothers Matthew and Ben Harvey participate in a rocket launch scout event held at Elkhorn Area Middle School when they were younger. They’ve both earned the rank of Eagle Scout and scouting has been a big part of their family for the past 10 years.

Eagle Scout journey

The Harvey boys’ journey to Eagle Scout started as soon as they crossed over into the troop. To achieve Eagle Scout, the following ranks must be completed: Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life and Eagle. Each has its own requirements and most contain elements of camping and outdoor ethics, cooking, first aid, fitness and citizenship. “Troop 243 highly encourages community service, which often fulfills part of the citizenship requirements as well as some merit badge requirements,” Deb explained. “Between Matthew and Ben, they have participated in over 190 community service hours.” As the scouts earn higher ranks, Deb said, leadership roles are also required. To earn the rank of Eagle Scout, Matthew and Ben also completed merit badges and served in multiple troop leadership positions. Both of them also had to complete a service project: Matthew built a 150-foot boardwalk for Lake Geneva Conservancy’s Hansen Preserve; Ben built a gaga ball pit for West Side Elementary. Deb said a very small number of scouts earn the rank of Eagle, roughly 6%, proving it takes dedication to achieve the ranking.

Plenty of adventure

One of the many highlights of scouting for Matthew and Ben was attending several week-long summer camps and weekend campouts. The troop averages seven or eight

SUBMITTED PHOTOS Wonders of Walworth County

campouts each year and in the months when they’re not camping, there are other activities that take place. “They take day trips to the Kalahari, snow tubing, an escape room, overnight at Eagle Cave and more,” Deb said. As scoutmaster, Carl has attended the majority of campouts while Deb has attended some summer camps and weekend campouts. “Carl and Matthew, along with six others from the troop, attended a week-long high adventure at Sea Base in the Florida Keys in 2017,” Deb said. Ben plans to attend Sea Base in 2021. The Harvey family, along with four other troop members, was scheduled for a 12-day backpacking trip at Philmont Ranch in New Mexico this past summer but the trek was

canceled because of COVID-19. Carl, Matthew and Ben also participate in the Order of the Arrow, described as scouting’s national honor society.

Skills for life

Matthew said scouting has taught him many things. “I have learned skills dealing with survival, preparedness, fiscal responsibility and leadership. I have learned so much from my scouting experiences, whether it be campouts or troop meetings. I can proudly say it has also allowed me to teach others and is an experience like no other,” he said. Matthew’s favorite memory is from a backpacking trip at Devil’s Lake for a day with a group of his close scouting friends. “I don’t relish this experience because I

enjoyed it; on the contrary, I didn’t enjoy any of it. It down poured all day and a wrong turn or two left us backpacking for upwards of six hours. It was an unrelenting walk in an unrelenting rain,” he said. Amidst this, Matthew said, was an important lesson. “We spent a lot of time talking, making jokes and doing anything to pass the time. I learned from that experience one important fact about life: No matter how grim and painful the outlook may be, there are always those who will be there to support you,” he said. Matthew’s advice for those who are considering joining scouts is to commit to it for a year. “Scouting has its ups and downs and not all of the journey is going to be fun. That’s why I recommend giving it a full year. The scouting experience is more than having fun; it’s about growing, and growth takes time and commitment. Give the scouting experience some time so that you or your kids can fully experience all it has to offer,” he said. Matthew plans to continue his position in planning events for the Order of Arrow and to attend troop events and meetings.

See SCOUTING, Page 7


WINTER 2021

WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY

Page 7

Historical Society announces capital campaign Funds raised will help build an addition to the resource center By Heather Ruenz STAFF WRITER

The Walworth County Historical Society recently announced a major capital campaign to raise funds to build a 2,500 square foot addition to the 20-year-old facility at the Doris M. Reinke Resource Center on Washington Street in Elkhorn. “Our goal is to avoid disappointing anyone who might wish to make a significant contribution to the project that is historically important to each and every citizen of our county,” said past WCHS president Dan Richardson. The historical society was founded in 1904 as an outgrowth of the Old Settlers’ Club. Currently, the society manages a total of six buildings. Those buildings include the Webster House Museum, the Boyd Carriage Barn, the Doris Reinke Resource Center and Heritage Hall, which contains the Military Museum all located on the WCHS’ campus at the intersection of East Rockwell and South Washington streets. In addition, the WCHS, which is an affiliate of the Wisconsin Historical Society, also oversees the Sharon Town Hall and the Blooming Prairie School located on the Walworth County Fairgrounds. “We are going to position ourselves to take on greater challenges of collecting, preserving and sharing the rich history of Walworth County by making the center a state-of-the-art facility. The number of artifact contributions and much needed improvements in technological access by the public is driving this project,” said

• Scouting

A capital campaign is underway for the Walworth County Historical Society, which is raising money to build a 2,500 square foot addition to the 20-year-old facility at the Doris Reinke Resource Center in Elkhorn. The extra space will help accommodate the increase in artifacts at the WCHS as well as providing more room for volunteers to assist with requests. HEATHER RUENZ Wonders of Walworth County

longtime resource center volunteer Pat Blackmer. “We have seen a marked increase in the number of valuable history-telling artifacts, e-mail requests from the area, state country and even around the world making it essential that we move now to update the facility,” she added. According to WCHS president Jim Boardman, the old farmhouse-style building now occupied by the society as the resource center for the county has long been outgrown by the volume of artifacts

(Continued from page 6) explained. “The workload was distributed to all the older scouts. The first year scouts – who were eager to camp since all the spring campouts were canceled – had a good time and learned much of what they would have at our traditional summer camp,” he added. The bonus, Carl said, is that the younger scouts were able to get to know the older scouts better, since they interacted with them throughout the entire day. Deb said one of the many reasons she recommends the scouting program is because of the opportunities it offers, along with leadership skills. “Matthew and Ben have held multiple leadership roles within the troop including senior patrol leader. Since boy scout troops are youth-led, the senior patrol leader is responsible for leading planning sessions, meetings and activities while in that position,” she said. Her sons also participated in National Youth Leadership Training provided by Glacier’s Edge, which is the Elkhorn troop’s local council. From that experience, Deb said, Matthew went on to be a camp counselor in training and in 2019, was a camp counselor on staff at Ed Bryant Scout Reservation. “Both boys continue to use these leadership skills within the troop as well as in everyday life,” she said. For more information about scouting, families can visit Beascout.scouting.org. Once on the site, enter a ZIP code and it will list packs and troops in that area.

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“Even though I achieved Eagle Scout, I still have a chance to help others improve themselves within the scouting experience,” he said. “In the future, I may join a new troop and continue to help youth within the scouting program learn and grow.” Ben said his favorite memory is when he went to National Youth Leadership Training, where he made new friends and learned leadership skills. He also has some advice for those interested in joining scouts. “Aim for Eagle Scout and don’t stop along the way,” he said, adding that despite being an Eagle Scout himself, he also might continue to be involved with the local troop. Parents: get involved Carl said scouting has provided him the opportunity to spend time with his sons, not only enjoying the outdoors, but also seeing them try new things and watching them grow in ways beyond what he could have taught them. “I see the confidence they now have in themselves when confronting changes in plans and working with their peers to accomplish the task at hand as well as making forward-looking decisions for the benefit of everyone in the group,” he said Carl said he has many favorite memories from the campouts he’s been on but his favorite is the 2020 summer camp. “When COVID-19 canceled our usual summer camp at a scout reservation, our troop decided to have a troop-level summer camp. The older scouts in the troop put together a schedule of activities and meals and ran it with minimal adult assistance,” he

in storage and the advancements of technology. “Doris was my kindergarten teacher her second year of teaching in the district and my children’s teacher after that. Had she not retired after 42 years of teaching in Elkhorn in 1987, she no doubt would have taught my grandchildren. I am certain that there are multi-generational families in the area that have had the benefit of Doris’ mentorship and love for history of our county,” Boardman said. It was the dream of the long-time teacher of hundreds of students in Walworth County, that a resource center to house manuscripts, records, photographs, maps and other significant historical memorabilia be established in the county. In 2003, the current Reinke Resource Center opened for this purpose, which was largely funded by her. She worked tirelessly cataloging and organizing WCHS historical archives and objects, according to Blackmer, and did this work to benefit others. Reinke wrote the popular weekly column, “Webster Notes” for the Elkhorn Independent to share her love of Walworth County history with others. In 2012, an At the Lake article featured Doris Reinke and her dedication to WCHS.

At the end of the story, Reinke spoke of an upcoming visit to the Field of Dreams. “I’m going to the Field of Dreams in August. I’ve always wanted to go there, and I just watched the movie. If you build it they will come,” she said. The article’s author, Lisa Schmelz responded with the following: “Yes they will. And Doris Reinke will preserve it for generations we haven’t met yet.” Reinke bequeathed the Walworth County Historical Society a gift to accomplish this means. In this spirit, Richardson said they ask members of the greater community “to join together with us to ensure that WCHS continues this important work of collecting, interpreting and sharing our past as we honor Reinke’s vision and honor her legacy by building a much needed addition to the current resource center.” The addition – which was designed pro bono by architect Brian Staples – will provide ample workspace for an allvolunteer staff to process, photograph and digitize collections and provide much needed storage space for an ever-growing collection and will accommodate several decades of collection growth. “We will be working with local Elkhorn contractor Stebnitz Builders and hope to break ground on the new addition in the spring of 2021. Our goal is to complete the project and open by late fall of 2021,” Boardman said. Folks from around the county and area are welcome to not only show their appreciation for Reinke’s dream and legacy but that of the future of collecting, preserving and sharing the county’s history, he explained. Donors will be recognized in our quarterly newsletter, on the WCHS website and on a donation board in the new addition. They will also be invited to a “sneak peak” prior to the grand opening of the facility. “We look forward to your continued dedication and support to the Walworth County Historical Society and its mission in serving our county,” Blackmer said. The WCHS is accepting donations, which are tax deductible, to go toward completion of this project at its website Walcohistory.org, through its Facebook page or by check mailed to: Walworth County Historical Society, P.O. Box 273, Elkhorn, WI 53121.


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WONDERS Winter 2021 by Southern Lakes Newspapers / Rock Valley Publishing - Issuu