Exclusively Yours - December 2022

Ed Liermann n Publisher

Ed Liermann n Sales Director

Timothy Scott Starr n Creative Director

Jeanne Rieland n Account Executive

Sammy Ketchum n Account Executive Gayle Marvel n Office/Production

Anne Kaiser n Contributing

Timothy Jay Writers

Craig Mattson Mary Murphy Brittany Santos

Lynn Darnieder n Contributing Mark Jay Photographers John Kimpel Lee Wickersheimer Lisa Witt Kristie Zach Advertising Sales 262-250-1503 Editorial Correspondence 262-250-1503 Digital edition @: www.eymag.com

Yours is one of a select group of finer Wisconsin homes chosen to receive Exclusively Yours Magazine. On behalf of our advertisers we thank you for your continuing patronage.

Exclusively Yours Magazine (ISSN 0888-0298) is published twelve times a year—monthly—by Lifestyle Media Group, LLC. 7434 Lannon Road, Lannon WI 53046-9746. Telephone 262-250-1503. PERIODI CALS POSTAGE PAID at Milwaukee, WI and other mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Exclusively Yours, 7434 Lannon Road, Lannon WI 53046-9746. All rights reserved. This magazine accepts no responsibility for manuscripts or photo trans parencies not accompanied by return postage. All printed material is copyrighted by Lifestyle Media Group, LLC 2021. Any reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without written permission.

River’s End Gallery

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The Cashmere Cape

Meet TWISTED –a sweater like no other. Exclusively designed and hand-knit by The Cashmere Cape. The design is fluid, the natural fibres drape beautifully over camisoles or turtlenecks giving it year-round versatility. Come visit our beautiful shop in Williams Bay at 105 Elkhorn Road. Open Thursday through Sunday year round. 262-607-2402. www.TheCashmereCape.com

MayHouse Collection

Thymes Fragrance. A mountain fresh and glowing duo. Gift your loved ones or decorate your home with the Frasier Fir Heritage Pine Needle Luminaries. It’s the quintessential holiday fragrance. Our mission is to offer a fun, compelling shopping experience. We offer a well-curated and unique mix of home, fashion, beauty and floral. Oconomowoc Lakes Plaza W359 N5002 Brown St. Suite 106, Oconomowoc, WI. 262-354-8100. www.mayhousecollection.com.

Live Well. Dress Well. Give Well.

Gallery the

Key Pieces

Sid Dickens rings in Christmas with Kris Kringle and the Peace wish for all. These memory block tiles are framed in antique black & gold to embellish their color for any Christmas decor. T575 Kris Kringle symbolizes he will visit as promised on that celebrated eve, filling the world with glee. T539 Peace speaks for inner tranquility. Our collection is growing at Key Pieces for holiday gifts for all budgets. Holiday hours starting December 4th from 12:004:00. We will be open every Sunday through December. Key Pieces, W282 N7148 Main St., Merton, www.keypiecesdecor.com, 262-337-1728.

Fashionable Destinations

The Garment Shop

Unique Specialty Shop for Women

125 W. Main St., Cambridge, WI 53523 facebook.com/thegarmentshopcambridge 608-423-3740.

American Alchemy

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Hamilton’s Ladies Apparel

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The Garment Shop

American Alchemy

Hamilton’s Ladies Apparel

EXCLUSIVELY

DECEMBER 2022 VOLUME 76 ISSUE 2 Digital edition @ www.eymag.com

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5, 27 The Gallery

Browse offerings from a few of our area’s finest shops and businesses.

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Fashionable Destinations

Fashion awaits at The Garment Shop, Cambridge, plus American Alchemy and Hamilton’s Ladies Apparel both of Ripon, Wisconsin

8

J.S. Bach

One of the most loved and respected composers in the Western musical tradition. by Karl Zinsmeister

16

Hope

Hope appears at different times and in varied forms, sometimes clearly, other times, in unexpected or surprising ways. By Anne Kaiser

19 You Need Chocolate

That’s why Cocoa Tree Confectionery of Mequon, is the perfect destination for your gift-giving and entertaining needs.

19 MayHouse Closet

MayHouse Collection of Oconomowoc has you covered this summer with latest attire! Stop by MayHouse and view our collection of fashions for all ages. By Anne Kaiser

22 Growing A Successful Family Business

In October 2022, Hamid Dehbod, founder and owner of the North Shore’s Persian Rug Gallery and Wauwatosa’s Oriental Rug Gallery opened the newest location of his popular family business, Persian Rug Gallery. By Anne Kaiser

25 The Sell It Now Store & Gerlach Auctions

The Sell It Now Store and Gerlach Auctions are a onestop auction logistics companies. Whether liquidating a business, an estate, car collections, or simply downsizing a few valuables, their professional services teams will carefully manage every step in the process.

29 Open Hearts, Open Homes Gala

Chosen’s 5th Annual “Open Hearts, Open Homes” Gala on Saturday, February 25, 2023 will celebrate the work of local foster and adoptive families, while raising awareness that more families are needed to help children in crisis.

30 God’s Corner by Gertrude M. Puelicher

JSBach

by Karl Zinsmeister

This page: Thomaskirche. St. Thomas Church in Leipzig Germany where Johann Sebastian Bach worked as a Kapellmeister and the current location of his remains.

BORN 21 MARCH, 1685, the youngest of 8 children, Johann Sebastian Bach would have been expected by his parents to continue the family trade of Stadt Musikant (town musician). What he made of the abilities inherited from generations of musical ancestors, was to establish him as one of the most loved and respected composers in the Western musical tradition. During his lifetime, Bach was highly regarded as a keyboard player, but his compositions were thought old-fashioned and too complicated. Public interest in his works ceased after his death in 1750. A revival started only in the 1830s, when Mendelssohn gave successful performances of the St.Mathew Passion. Before that, his works were studied and appreciated by only a few fellow composers including Mozart, Beethoven, and Schumann.

Bach did not have the easiest start in life. By the time he was nine, he had lost both parents and been sent from his home town of Eisenach to live with his older brother, Johann Christof, in Ohrdruf. He was an unwelcome burden on a poor household, but at least he learnt keyboard skills to add to the string playing he had picked up from his father. He taught himself to compose by copying music, an activity which was jealously resented by his elder brother, and which added more friction to a difficult relationship. In 1700, he moved on alone to Lüneburg to continue his schooling. Hamburg, a major cultural

centre of North Germany, was close, and he took the opportunity of visiting musicians there to develop his performing and compositional skills.

He must have made a good impression as a performer because, at just 17, he was helping out in the Weimar court as a keyboard player. His first permanent post, though, was at Arnstadt, where he became organist at the newly rebuilt Bonifacius Church. Two features

One of the most loved and respected composers in the Western musical tradition.

WEAR AMasterpiece

THE

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of his later career became evident here. One was disputes with employers over teaching responsibilities, and the other was complaints from congregations that his music was too difficult.

Before disagreements at Arnstadt could come to a head, he became court organist for the Duke of Weimar, Johann Ernst, in 1707. This success crowned years of developing personal contacts, and for the next ten years he was very content. He composed the majority of his organ works as well as many church cantatas in Weimar and enjoyed the artistic support of his patron. He found fulfilment in his private life too: he was happily married to Maria Barbara, with whom he had six children. Within a few years, he was promoted to Konzertmeister and his salary duly increased. But there were problems ahead: his patron died and was succeeded by the unsympathetic Duke Wilhelm. Annoyed at Bach’s request to leave his court, Wilhelm had him imprisoned for a month before allowing him to move to a new position at Cöthen.

The young Prince Leopold of Cöthen was very enthusiastic about music and had attracted many leading instrumentalists to his court. Bach was welcomed, paid the second highest salary of any other court official, and held in high esteem. He often travelled with the Prince on official visits. Most of his purely instrumental works were written at this time, including the Violin Sonatas and Partitas, the ‘Cello Suites and the Brandenburg Concertos. Their virtuosity reflects the high quality of musicians he had around him. But once again his contentment was not to last. In the summer of 1720, Bach returned with the Prince from a visit abroad to learn that during his absence his wife had died and been buried. Spiritually unsettled, he began to look for an opportunity to work for the Church again.

Lutheranism was the most important influence in Bach’s life. He came, after all, from Eisenach, the same town as Martin Luther had been born in, which was a major center of the Protestant Reformation. Bach was totally absorbed by the Lutheran way of thinking, especially the importance it gave to music as a celebration of God and His works. Perhaps it was this faith that led him to continue writing music, despite the opposition of the congregations he wrote for. He believed that it was his duty to develop his talents in the way he saw fit, irrespective of public opinion. All of his cantatas, and many instrumental

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manuscripts, end with the letters SDG, Soli Deo Gloria (only for the glory of God). This was one of the 5 solas, or statements, of protestant faith, which put the highest value on working and creating for God rather than human selfglorification and pride.

In 1722, aged 37, he was appointed Cantor of the Thomas School in Leipzig, his final place of employment and the city where he was to spend the rest of his life. He was not first choice for the authorities. Several composers, including the renowned Telemann, had already declined an offer, either they did not want to do the obligatory Latin teaching it involved, or because they were not free to take it up. Bach had to pay for a substitute Latin teacher out of his own pocket, but was glad to get out of a difficult situation in Cöthen, where the Prince’s new bride was antagonistic towards him.

He became the most important musician in Leipzig and provided the music in no less than four churches. Remarried, and with a growing family, Bach wrote a huge amount of church music during his first ten years in Leipzig: 5 complete cycles of cantatas for the church year (60 in each cycle), as well as the St. Mathew and St. John Passions. He also began publishing his own works at this time, an activity that was to become more important to him over the next 20 years. Bach regularly fell out with his employers, who had been reluctant to appoint him, and whom he regarded as obstructive and difficult. But he did manage to find other outlets for his musical interests.

One of these was the Leipzig Collegium Musicum, a society founded early in the 1700’s to provide weekly instrumental concerts. They were held on Wednesdays in the summer, and Fridays in the winter. As their new Musical Director, he provided many arrangements of music from his Cöthen period. Bach himself rehearsed and directed talented players and singers from the Thomas School and Leipzig University.

He continued keyboard writing (Book II of the Well Tempered Clavier dates from 1737), as well as private music teaching. Bach maintained a strong in interest in the latest musical styles, obtaining scores by Telemann and Pergolesi among others. But his studies of older, more contrapuntal styles, provided the strongest influence on his own work.

In 1737,Bach’s musical compositions were attacked in print by J.A.Scheibe, a musical journalist, who denounced his music as too difficult and old fashioned. Bach was

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by a university lecturer, J.Birnbaum, who maintained an open correspondence with the critic over almost a decade. Scheibe finally conceded the exceptional quality of Bach as a keyboard player, but thought his compositions were ‘unnatural’ and their beauty ‘obscured by an excess of art.’

These were commonly held views on his music at the time.

A number of important large works were composed in the last ten years of his life, including the Goldberg Variations, written in 1741. They were commissioned by an insomniac called Keyserlingk, who had them played to him during sleepless nights. They are named for Johann Gottlieb Goldberg, one of Bach’s most gifted keyboard students. Meanwhile, he extended his publishing activity to include the works of other composers, and continued to be consulted on the construction and commissioning of church organs. In 1747, one of the most unusual encounters took place in his otherwise outwardly uneventful life.

His eldest son, Carl Philipp Emanuel, was court composer for Frederick the Great of Prussia. He arranged for his father to play for

the King in Potsdam and devised a very tricky chromatic tune for him to improvise on. The elder Bach nevertheless played a stunning version that was greeted with much applause. Perhaps a trap had been laid for him by the ambitious elder son and his patron, as was supposed at the time, but Bach had successfully turned the tables on them. Before the end of the year he sent the King a copy of The Musical Offering, a sequence of fugues and canons for various instruments based on the same Royal Theme he had been given on his visit. This was the last large scale work Bach completed.

Despite failing eyesight, he worked on the Art of Fugue, a summation of his skill in fugal writing, but which remained unfinished at his death. His eyesight was getting worse, and he was completely blind by 1749. Perhaps physically weakened by two hazardous and unsuccessful eye operations, Bach died on 28 July, 1750, after a stroke.

There was no public interest in his works after his death. With only a small legacy of manuscripts and books to be divided among a large family, Anna Magdalene, his widow, musical companion, copyist-and mother to 14 of his children-died in poverty ten years after her husband. n

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Make those holiday moments special with our sweet collection of children’s fashion and gifts.

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Live Well. Dress Well. Give Well.

Hope

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by Anne Kaiser

THE FIRST STANZA of this 1861 poem by Emily Dickinson is familiar to many; its uplifting lyric verse, though written in a past era, carries a bright and abiding message applicable even in today’s world.

Now more than ever, people throughout our country and the world must navigate both global challenges and personal concerns. Whether we face economic, environmental, political, or health upheavals, perseverance and hope remain, drawing diverse populations toward common goals and renewed resolve.

Hope appears at different times and in varied forms, sometimes clearly, other times, in unexpected or surprising ways. Whether we receive a heartfelt holiday greeting from a childhood friend, believe in the healing power of the human body and spirit against all odds, or discover autumn’s final wildflowers, hope infuses life’s fabric with a golden thread of possibility, even in the face of hardship and doubt.

As we enter this time of light and spiritual warmth, we call once again upon the power and support of community, friends, and family with renewed hope that joy might touch, bless and heal.

Like its spiritual counterpart hope, faith also knits a fabric of warmth, connection and sustenance. When we tap into forces of the spirit greater than the individual self, our hearts and minds connect to a wellspring of possibility, hope and joy. Communities bolstered by a sense of faith engage their members with celebrations, rituals, and rites of passage that unite, fortify and inspire.

Our lives and celebrations of faith exist within the fabric of the larger natural world. Nature

inspires us through its ever-present ability to regenerate and heal. As its annual seasons unfold, nature undergoes a continuous cycle of growth and dormancy, an ebb and flow of energy as ancient and reassuring as time itself. Here in Wisconsin, we are fortunate to witness the annual cycle of four distinct seasons, each with unique gifts.

When winter blankets the Wisconsin landscape, candles and holiday lights create an arc of sparkling days, extending precious hours of light even in the depth of winter’s darkness. Many cultures include celebrations of light at this time of year. We follow the natural cycle of the season, move indoors, turn inward in contemplation as we prepare to bid farewell to the year past and to usher in a new year. To counterbalance moments of solitude and reflection, we gather with family and friends at the holidays, or share acts of kindness and celebration with the larger community.

Some families bring evergreen trees, holly or poinsettias into their homes, or choose to honor this peaceful time with other spiritual, seasonal rituals. Evergreens offer tangible natural reminders of hope and faith kept alive in the midst of this chilly season of stillness and rest.

Just as evergreens remind us of life’s tenacity, hope arrives in our lives in ways both minute and grand, and often when it is most needed. Nature provides year-round solace to many, and time spent simply absorbing the beauty provided by trees and flowers around a home or in a neighborhood can bolster the spirit, offering renewal throughout the year. In this season, the stillness of Wisconsin’s first snowfalls settles over the now-dormant landscape. Squirrels nestle

“Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul, And sings the tune without the words, And never stops at all…”

Photo by Maryna Andriichenko

high in the crooks of tree branches, munching prized walnuts, and cardinals and sparrows frequent birdfeeders in noisy, chattering flocks.

Time spent in nature can provide a nourishing connection to our spiritual selves, even our chosen faiths. Neighborhood walks, whether solitary or shared with friends or family, can enliven a sense of hope and possibility in the spirit throughout the seasons. Nature’s gifts unfold in a shifting canvas of becoming, available for all, whether viewed through a window from the warmth of home or in person. Spring ushers in the first noble crocuses and forsythia bright as captured sunlight; summer welcomes resplendent peonies and shifting patterns of light and leaf shadows on the earth; autumn heralds purple asters and a stunning palette of sumac, ash, and maple leaves. Winter—that quieter season of stillness and waiting—brings patches of glass-thin ice dappled a filigree of snow, and the happy calls of chickadees on crisp, sun-touched mornings.

Nature speaks a language that transcends human differences and challenges, knitting individuals and their communities together, holding metaphors of transformation and

growth that provide a spiritual tether for many. Literary works that describe the natural world offer inspiring glimpses into nature’s power to survive and transcend in regions close to home or farther afield.

For example, humble mosses carry messages of adaptability and endurance. Found nearby in forests, our backyards, or tucked within the slim cracks in sidewalks, mosses seem familiar, and we might not initially pause to consider their unique qualities. But a closer look at these masters of survival—there are at least 22,000 species of moss spread throughout most of Earth’s ecosystems—remind us of the living presence of hope close to home.

Author Robin Wall Kimmerer, a scientist, professor, and 2022 MacArthur Fellow, examines the lives and adaptations of diverse mosses through a series of essays both scientific and lyrical in her award-winning book, Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses. Many mosses embody a quality of hope, growing in miniature on surfaces and surviving periods of desiccation to return to vibrant green. The growth patterns of these small life forms help to remind us of our own tenacity and persistence through difficulty.

Further afield from Wisconsin, along the Atlantic coast of the southern United States, the sabal palm offers another living example of hope. This palm emerges from a blueberrylike seed that must first survive months afloat in salty ocean water before arriving ashore to germinate. The emergent palm must survive fluctuating periods of moisture and drought, saltwater, and lightning, and once it begins to grow, burrows down into the ground before turning upward to emerge. Surprisingly, this period of growth can last around sixty years.

Professor and acclaimed author David George Haskell illuminates the inspirational growth patterns of the sabal palm and a selection of other trees around the world in his 2017 written melding of science and poetry, The Songs of Trees: Stories from Nature’s Great Connectors.

Just as nature inspired Emily Dickinson as she envisioned and personified hope as a bird, nature continues to propel contemporary individuals toward community betterment and care of the environment. Acts of care for nature in turn nourish and rejuvenate the human spirit.

One such well-known visionary who has worked tirelessly caring for the natural environment and its animal and human communities—Jane Goodall—shares her insights

about these topics and her overarching belief in hope in the 2021 book with Douglas Abrams and Gail Hudson, The Book of Hope: a Survival Guide for Trying Times

In this text, Douglas Abrams captures his conversations with Goodall, and delivers to readers abundant examples of persistence, vision, hope and faith. Examples of individuals’ courage and hope-building community programs like Goodall’s Roots and Shoots all inspire, touching upon the tenacity and strength of the human spirit in communities around the world. Goodall’s vision of hope is active, catalyzing readers to put belief into action.

Goodall shares the story of two men in rural China, Jia Haixia and Jia Wenqi, friends who encountered hardship yet rose above their challenges to facilitate good in their community. One had lost both arms in an accident as a child, and the other had become completely blind in his mid-thirties. When this occurred, he sank into a depression. Seeing this, his friend devised a plan to uplift his blind friend’s spirit. The two men embarked on a mission to plant cuttings for young trees to help revitalize the polluted land around their village. One served as the eyes for the other, who used his hands to help plant the trees.

A remarkable story ensued. The two men persisted when only two of their initial planting of 800 cuttings survived, and went on to successfully plant over 10,000 trees. Jane Goodall shares a quote from Jia Wenqi, the man without arms: “‘Though we are limited physically, our spirit is limitless. So let the generations after us, and everyone else, see what two handicapped individuals have accomplished. Even after we’re gone, they will see that a blind man and an armless man have left them a forest.’”

This example of human spiritual healing intertwined with nature-based regeneration and growth serves as an important reminder of the presence of hope and faith in the world all around us. Nature’s life and new growth emerge readily when provided optimal conditions. So, too, the human spirit moves without encumbrance when nurtured and offered opportunity.

Hope bolsters faith; the two are interwoven in a supportive network of positive energy. Along with love, that powerful energy of connection and joy, the transformative beauty of the natural world

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Live Well. Dress Well. Give Well.

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IN OCTOBER 2022, Hamid Dehbod, founder and owner of the North Shore’s Persian Rug Gallery and Wauwatosa’s Oriental Rug Gallery at 11005 West Bluemound Road, opened the newest location of his popular family business, Persian Rug Gallery. Now located at 309 West Silver Spring Drive in Whitefish Bay, this 5,000 square foot, full service gallery features its own parking lot behind the building and an ideal show room, with high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, and ample space filled with multiple sizes, shapes, colors and styles of beautiful rugs to view.

Hamid and his family immigrated to the United States from Iran in mid-1999, and six months later, in January 2000, opened the Persian Rug Gallery at its original Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin location. Hamid’s friendly and welcoming demeanor compliment his natural business sense, and these qualities are evident in the success of his business.

“Being an immigrant in the U.S., we are a true example of the land of opportunity,”

by Anne Kaiser

Successful Family Business

Hamid said in a recent interview at the new show room of the Persian Rug Gallery. “I built this [business] from ground zero with the support of Wisconsinites. They have always been supportive of us, helping us in the rough times. We have a lot of customers who are very loyal. This loyalty is what we really take to heart,” he said.

Hamid is pleased with the Persian Rug Gallery’s new space, citing multiple design features in the building that will allow his customers to more easily view and select rugs for purchase. “We purposely [chose] this building in the North Shore with large windows, large open space so clients would view rugs on the ground more easily, to make the decision simpler,” Hamid remarked. He further noted the benefits of the ample natural light for viewing his large selection of finely crafted rugs.

An exquisite collection of beautiful, immaculately handcrafted rugs fills the Persian Rug Gallery’s new space. Rugs are

carefully stacked by size for easy display and viewing by customers. Others, such as a runner with vibrant blue, magenta and teal mandala-type designs, hang from the walls of the gallery show room. From pastel tones and muted hues in abstract designs to deeper terra cotta, ochre, white and navy in traditional geometric designs, Hamid’s inventory of this unique and practical home art contains rugs to suit each customer’s preferences.

Hamid carefully selected the new space for his business with consideration for his clients and their home decorating needs in mind. He skillfully matched his wide array of magnificent rugs and multiple related rug services, including rug cleaning, repair, consignment, and trade to a community where these rugs and services would be in demand. Hamid mentioned the importance of rugs in the Wisconsin climate, where four or five months of the year are cold enough to merit the warming benefits of

rugs that are both beautiful works of art and practical enhancers of comfort in the home living space.

“We always liked the North Shore and West Side,” Hamid said of the locations of his two businesses. He described the presence of the larger, older homes on the North Shore, and the newer, remodeled homes in the West Side subdivisions as being ideal candidates for housing his rugs, which include varied shapes and range in size from approximately two by three feet to nine by twelve feet. Of his two show room spaces, Hamid commented, “We had to open these locations to accommodate these needs for these beautiful works of art on the floor.”

Hamid Dehbod and his family are eager to be of service to potential clients, and welcome customers to visit them at either of their rug show room locations. Let them warm up your home with one of their rugs this holiday season. n

Wrap yourself in luxury with the exquisitely handknit Cashmere Cape, our exclusive design with wearability in mind. Every cape handknit using the finest natural Cashmere. Many color variations available at our beautiful store in Williams Bay. Part of our Knitwear for Today, Crafted for a Lifetime collection.

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The Sell It Now Store& Gerlach Auctions

AS FEATURED IN EXCLUSIVELY YOURS Magazine and numerous other publications, The Sell It Now Store and Gerlach Auctions are your one-stop auction logistics companies. Whether liquidating a business, an estate, car collections, or simply downsizing a few valuables, our professional services teams will carefully manage every step in the process.

What is an online auction?

With more than 15 years’ experience, the Sell It Now Store has perfected its international online auctions and acquired an outstanding reputation in the industry. Online auctions put your valuables in the international spotlight with maximum exposure to buyers worldwide.

Items That Sell

Pop culture items from the 1950s and 1960s draw phenomenal audiences. Think jukeboxes, guitars, amps, and stereo gear, electronics, slot machines, classic, sports and muscle cars, trucks and motorcycles.

Fine art and mid-century era items sell extremely well through online auctions. Consider this strategy for your gold, silver, bronze, and crystal items as well as for Rolex wristwatches and other timepieces, jewelry, lamps, Herman Miller, Knoll, and other designer furniture.

Business assets, industrial, and farm equipment sell quickly. Caterpillar, John Deere, and Bobcat machinery and tools including forklifts, diggers, skid-steers, trucks, tractors, and industrial equipment perform well in the online auction arena.

To learn more, please give us a call. We look forward to answering your questions and getting your items listed in the next international online auction. n Give us a call! We look forward to hearing from you.

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Gerlach Companies, Inc. 139 E. Capital Drive, Suite 4 Hartland, WI 53029 262-367-4950 www.gerlachauctions.com

Can’t come to the Gala, but want to engage with Chosen?   There are many ways to get involved, including becoming a financial partner, sponsor or volunteer. Be a part of impacting foster and adoptive families in our community! For more information, visit our webpage at:   www.choseninlove.org/action

Riverview Antiques

Edison fireside phonograph cylinder player circa 1910. A state-of-the-art musical player for its age. This rare gem is on display at Riverview Antiques, located at 2045 West St. Paul Ave., Milwaukee, WI. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am-5 pm and Sunday 11 am-4 pm. For more information call 414-278-9999, or go to www.RiverviewAntiqueMarket.com.

Gallery the

Riverview Antiques

Classical plaster bust signed by the noted artisan Jo Mead. Joe Mead was an early business woman from the Chicago area who created and sold plaster objects to the designer trade. This unique piece can be viewed at Riverview Antiques, located at 2045 West St. Paul Ave., Milwaukee, WI. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am-5 pm and Sunday, 11 am-4 pm. For more information call 414-278-9999, or go to www.RiverviewAntiqueMarket.com.

Riverview Antiques

A Christmas chimney cover. Victorian Chromaline angel print behind original 19th century glass. This charming item is on display at Riverview Antiques, located at 2045 West St. Paul Ave., Milwaukee, WI. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am-5 pm and Sunday 11 am-4 pm. For more information call 414-278-9999, or go to www.RiverviewAntiqueMarket.com.

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Open Hearts, Open Homes G ala s

CHOSEN’S 5TH ANNUAL “Open Hearts, Open Homes” Gala on Saturday, February 25, 2023 will celebrate the work of local foster and adoptive families, while raising awareness that more families are needed to help children in crisis. This exciting fundraising event, held at Davians in Menomonee Falls, promises a fun-filled evening complete with food, Silent and Live Auctions, Raffles, and heart-warming stories from the foster and adoptive communities. The event will also feature online opportunities for remote guests to join in on the fun.

“Open Hearts, Open Homes Gala” is the major event through which Chosen raises funds for its mission to Foster Forever Families, by living the Gospel, so that all children can experience a safe and loving home. Partnering with the Chosen as a Donor ensures that more supportive resources to a broader geographical area can continue to be accessible to the foster-care and adoptive community. n

Auction/Raffle Donor Benefits at a Glance

For donations with value of up to $999:

n Mention on Chosen’s Gala Webpage from month following donation through March 2023.

n Mention on event signage with auction/raffle item (in person and online bidding site).

n Mention in event program.

For donations with value of $1,000 or more:

n Item will be considered for Live Auction.

n Mention on Chosen’s Gala Webpage immediately through March 2023 with a link to donor’s website.

n Mention on event signage for Live Auction AND Power Point presentation throughout the event.

n Mention in event program.

Chosen, Inc. Contacts Karen Schlindwein, Vice President 262-853-1078 | karen@choseninlove.org

Andrea Carey, Donor Relations Manager 262-899-1606 | andrea@choseninlove.org

For More Information Visit our event webpage at www.choseninlove.org/gala

CLASP CHRISTMAS close to you. Hold it fast in your embrace so that the billowing fogs of prejudice, disdain and indifference so sadly prevalent in much of today’s thinking can in no way deprive you of its wondrous beauty. I am not talking about the commercially accepted concept of Christmas; I am talking about the oldfashioned, almost outmoded concept of the spirit of Christmas.

Suppose you could not afford to buy gifts for your family and friends. Would that deprive you of celebrating Christmas? Is Christmas a mere exchange of gifts? Were the wise men commercially-minded when they traveled a great distance to bring the finest they possessed to the Christ Child, or did they see beyond the visible to the Infinite the child symbolized? Did they kneel in homage to a human being or in awe to a vision?

Must today’s technological age be permitted to deprive us of the faith upon which Christianity has been built? Is faith not the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen? Can we afford to cast aside the only Power and Presence upon which we can rely for safe conduct through a maze of bewildering digressions in the field of the spiritual?

Christmas is an individual matter. To some it may be walking through snowladen streets to a midnight Mass with its candlelight procession dispelling the

by Gertrude M. Puelicher

darkness of human beliefs, its chorus of richly blended voices proclaiming the birth of a Savior—

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”

For some it might be a Christmas oratorio—massed choruses, glorious arias, a supporting orchestral accompaniment all combining to erase the pressures of today’s world as one is enfolded in the joy of the spirit.

For some it may be the happiness of the family drawn together in love of one another and of the special occasion they are celebrating. Surely nothing can exceed the joy of Christmas when a father and mother and their children and children’s children come together to commemorate the birth of the Christ with Christmas gifts, a gaily decorated tree, laughter and, above all, a conscious awareness of the real meaning of Christmas.

If you are among those fortunate enough to have Christmas in your heart, take a few seconds on Christmas Eve to step out-of-doors and search the heavens for a star, one that shines more brilliantly than do the others. You will find, as you gaze intently upward, that it makes contact with you. It says, reassuringly, “Be not afraid. All is well. I am the star the wise men followed. I am the star the world will once again hold fast in its embrace because I am the star that leads to the Christ Child. Just follow me.” n

LAKE COUNTRY LIVING

FIRST WEBER LAKE COUNTRY’S

OCTOBER SALES & LISTING LEADERS

Listing Leaders by Unit

Individual ~ Liz Tobolt Team ~ Tony Wendorf & Associates Sales Leaders

Total Units ~ Listings Sold & Sales

Individual ~ Nancy Markos Team ~ Tony Wendorf & Associates

Sales Units ~ Sales Only Individual ~ Nancy Markos Team ~ The Zylka Team

Total Volume Listings Sold & Sales Individual ~ Nancy Markos Team ~ Doug & Lori Larson

Individual Agents Who Achieved A Million In Sales For October ~ Pending Sales

Nancy Markos ~ $3,572,000 Liz Tobolt ~ $1,388,000 Renee Kasper ~ $1,275,00

Teams Who Achieved A Million In Sales For October ~ Pending Sales

Doug & Lori Larson ~ $2,987,900 The Marshall Team ~ $2,646,000 Tony Wendorf & Associates ~ $1,747,850 The Zylka Team ~ $1,544,828 October was an outstanding month for our office thanks to the dedication and hard work of every single agent! These are the people you want in your corner! Roger Rushman, Abby Hauke and Sarah Venes, Managing Brokers.

On December 10th, The Okauchee Lions Club and students from Oconomowoc High School’s Seminar Digital Communications class are hosting a premier, holiday community breakfast, Santa is Coming to Lake Country! Scheduled from 9am until 12pm at the Okauchee Lions Bertrand Family Pavilion, with limited reservation availability every half hour.

Children will visit with Santa, receive a homemade Christmas Cookie bag from Santa–baked by Mrs. Claus (aka Julie’s Blue Ribbon Cookies), and if chosen as part of your package, have a professional 4x6 picture taken by Classic Edition Photography that will be printed and available to take home. They can visit with a very Merry Elf, make a Christmas craft, and mail a letter to the North Pole too.

A breakfast buffet will be catered by Bryant’s on the Rounds, plus coffee and hot chocolate can be enjoyed while listening to strolling carolers. Weather permitting, trained Huskies from H2M2 Nation will make an appearance as sleigh dogs outside the Pavilion. Please bring a non-perishable food item for the Oconomowoc Food Pantry to help another family this holiday season.

Pre-registration is required. For more information and to make your reservation for Breakfast with Santa, go to www.eventbrite.com/e/santa-is-coming-to-lake-country-tickets-462544903257 or visit the Okauchee Lions Club website at www.e-clubhouse.org/sites/okauchee/ or Facebook page.

First Weber Realtors® Lake Country Office 262.646.6800 www.firstweber.com

Nancy Markos Liz Tobolt

The Zylka Team

Tony Wendorf & Associates

Doug & Lori Larson

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