March / April 2012 by LocaLeben

The MAGAZINE MARCH - APRIL 2012

LIVE LIFE LOCAL

CABIN FEVER 2012

BDAAA

POETRY

CONTEST

he 2012 theme was snow. Snow angels, snow ball fights, snow globes, anything to do with snow. Poem had to be less than three minutes read outloud. This is BDAAA’s third year of participating with the Beaver Dam Community Activities and Services and BD Chamber in this event. There were over a dozen entries this year.

The ground was already hard and white, The sky was a light, light blue, When more snowflakes came in sight, For blue skies can bring snow, too.

WINNER T

h e

F or g otten S nowfa B y Z e l ia E d g ar

l l

How careless is the human ear! It doesn’t care to know, How the snowflakes resonate fear, As they touch the ground below. That was many years ago, Today the snow still falls, Upon the empty city, Above the empty halls. Over the silent sidewalks, Where people used to be, And through the center of the city, The wind sighs unhappily. It’s true the streets are crowded, but, With ghosts and nothing more, And it’s true the snow still resonates fear, The same as it did before.

Beaver Dam resident Zelia Edgar was first introduced to Edgar Allan Poe’s writings at the age of three and has loved poetry ever since. Zelia attends Wisconsin Virtual Learning Academy and enjoys writing, drawing, costuming, and knitting. She is the owner and operator of The Cheshire’s Hat on Etsy.com.

And so we remember, What many fail to know, That amid the songs of winter, There belongs a lost Chernobyl snow.

To learn more about upcoming events, visit www.bdaaa.org

VOLUME ONE - ISSUE TWO

FEATURE A TARNISHED JEWEL

6 Feature Artist SHANNON

contents

K E L LY

She is our Mary Poppins of art, whom everyone adores, toting bags of art magic, yet is the average every woman.

8 SWAZZ

T H E N & NO W A 16-member co-curricular choir where friendships are made, habits are established, and success begins.

16 A TREE HERO JOH N N E U M A N N

Heroes in comic books wear tights and a cape. Everyday heroes don a pair of work boots and bib overalls.

MARCH - APRIL 2012

One attraction has been bringing “tourists” to our area for over 2000 years. For many residents of Beaver Dam, it is the true heart of our city - the Vita Spring in Swan City Park.

15 COMMUNITY B I R D F E S T I VA L

VIEWFINDER

THIS & THAT

DCCA - A HISTORY

Jack Bartholmai’s viewfinder showing a new way to look at the ordinary.

Small insights and thoughts that life sends our way. “I want my MP4”

Sixty-five years of bringing unique entertainment from around the world.

This year will mark the 15th Annual Horicon Marsh Bird Festival. “The birds will be here, will you?”

LEGEND & LORE

THE WANDERING MAN

PARTING THOUGHTS

What would many people’s lives have been or still be like without music?

Musings and Meanderings in the everyday life. “Onegaishimasu”

Bringing attention to things important to each of us, before they are lost.

CONTRIBUTORS Lloyd Clark A 10-year resident of Beaver Dam, Lloyd has left politics and political writing to pursue his dream of doing something that will actually pay his bills. Thus, Lloyd has opened his own commercial writing and marketing shop. When not watching his wife and daughter figure skate, he spends his time driving a Zamboni, riding REAL horses and teaching the insane to joust.

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Karla Jensen Karla Jensen, Executive Director of the Beaver Dam Area Arts Association, has been a freelance writer for 23 years. She is a published playwright with her husband Mark. She teaches writing at the Seippel Center and serves as writers group leader at the Beaver Dam Community Activities and Services. Karla’s background includes radio, television, magazine publishing, tourism, and real estate, not to mention Danish Dancing.

Marcia Paul

Marcia Paul is in her 25th year teaching vocal music for the Beaver Dam Unified School District. Her responsibilities include teaching the Bel Canto, Treble and Concert Choirs, as well as directing the co-curricular vocal jazz group, BD SWAZZ. She has been actively involved with the WI School Music Association’s State Honors Project for the past ten years. She and her husband live in Beaver Dam and have two adult children.

Jonas Zahn Born in Beaver Dam, Jonas grew up on a dairy farm near Juneau. Jonas, his wife Julie, and daughters Lily and Cecelia returned to Beaver Dam in 2005. Jonas works in software for IBM. An avid entrepreneur with a passion for the environment, Jonas founded the Northwoods Casket Co. manufacturing natural burial caskets and distributing them nationally. The company plants 100 trees in Wisconsin for every casket made.

Cover Image: James Milton Smith Used with the artist’s permission.

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F rom

the E d itor

I hope as you glance at Issue 02 it will live up to your every expectation and beyond. The feedback we have received from Issue 01 has been overwhelmingly positive. I am beyond words for how encouraging it is to see the level of excitement among the community. I am privileged to meet more people everyday who want to share their talents and passion in LocaLeben. One in particular is Gladys Soter. She called me immediately after the first issue went out. She offered to let us print this poem that she wrote many years ago - it has never been published. I am delighted to have the honor of sharing it in this issue. It speaks perfectly to the change of season and the strong start of LocaLeben - better than I ever could. The Fullness of Time By G.E. Soter

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While standing cold, strong, and bold, Against cruel winters glare The empty nests, abandoned homes Cling to their branches bare. How long this shameful state endure? When will new leaves adorn? When spring brings rain new leaves to lure, And chides cruel winters scorn! Then tinkling’s of a spring thaw creek Brings hope of life anew. Then soon green blades will push through ice Where summers flowers grew.

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Then! Elm and Oak and Maple All gloriously endowed, Will once again be envied While standing strong and proud! MAKING IT HAPPEN NATIONWIDE

We invite you to share your stories in LocaLeben. They bring meaning to our lives together. Help us restore our town back to the vibrant community it longs to be. Give me a call at (920) 306-1189 or send me an email at content@localeben.com.

RIGHT HERE IN BEAVER DAM

The MAGAZINE PROUD PRINTER OF

EDITOR Erik Dittmann

PUBLISHER Jim Dittmann

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Ben Dittmann

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Preston Bowman

LocaLeben The Magazine is published in Beaver Dam, WI by LocaLeben LLC. PHONE: 920 306 1189 EMAIL inquire@localeben.com WEB localeben.com LocaLeben The Magazine is mailed bi-monthly to all homes and businesses in the 53916 zip code. All rights reserved. The entire contents of LocaLeben The Magazine is Copyright (c) 2011. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems with the expressed, written consent of LocaLeben LLC. LocaLeben The Magazine reserves the right to refuse to publish any advertisement deemed detrimental to the best interests of the community or that is in questionable taste. Editorial content does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher of this magazine. Editorial or advertising does not constitute advice but is considered informative.

555 BEICHL AVE. BEAVER DAM, WI 53916 (920) 887.0322 WWW.JBKENEHAN.COM

FEATURE ARTIST SHANNON

K E LL Y

KARLA JENSEN

ngaging. Mysterious. Innovative. It’s how I like my fiction and often, how I like my artists. If I had to choose one artist to cast as a main character in a book, my vote would go to the unassuming, versatile and never predictable Shannon Kelly. At the Beaver Dam Area Arts Association (BDAAA), we kindly call her Miss Shannon. Shannon is a prime candidate as my protagonist because she is human and flawed, but somehow overcomes obstacles to win every time in the world of art. The first time I met Shannon, I convinced myself she wasn’t American, but European. I was wrong, but not entirely. Daughter of an Air Force serviceman, Shannon lived abroad during her youth. While she spoke of those bygone but tumultuous days, I followed her eyes around Europe to England, Greece and Italy. I rode those ferries with her across channels, wound my way up castle steps and stood with her at the top of ancient hillsides. I wanted to be this lucky artist. I could see how Europe

fostered her love of art, which she carried proudly back to the states. I wished that our own country could cultivate her kind of passion for art. It’s the reason Shannon is a leading lady among artists in our community. Besides starting the Youth Art program at BDAAA, organizing a monthly artist social and introducing the popular Artist Trading Cards to area youth and adults, Shannon Kelly is a community builder at heart. “Being a social artist, I wanted to create a program where kids and families could art together and enjoy wonderful social interaction and build on community ties,” she explained. Shannon feeds the creative spirit like Paula Dean on the Food Network uses butter - liberally and with zeal. Shannon has captured hearts at the after-school programs at the Lincoln/Jefferson Junction, shepherded home-schooled groups, hosted classes at both the Beaver Dam and Horicon libraries, given shape to BDAAA’s Week of Art and captivated budding artists at Artdrenoline Youth Art and Sport Camp.

Miss Shannon approaches each art venue with her bag of tricks, a magician ready to pull a rabbit out of a hat, willing to create some obscure art project or illusion that can knock the socks off any participant watching. She transforms almost-nothing into something. Shannon is clearly intent on broadening the artistic horizons of children with art educational opportunities. Also, she encourages average adults to run wild on the playground of art and culture, convincing us that we can each produce our own brand of exceptional art if we just give it a try and believe in ourselves. When I approached Shannon for this interview, she said, “I want you to read my artist’s statement.” I presumed it would illustrate centuries of art history, theory and globetrotting terminology that I would have to wade through before I found her tucked deep inside it. Shannon intimidates but never flaunts me with her vast knowledge of eminent artists, museums, obscure techniques and art supplies. She’s a walking index of art, albeit eccentric and English, with a cup of tea at her side. Instead, Shannon’s statement sounded simple, prolific and personal. “We are hardwired for creativity. This is in our makeup - the need to have creative self-expression. Feelings become words, color and form, and it’s cathartic. Art is Community. It binds us together through events and groups. When we art together - we create synergy.” I picture her sorting her tool box to find just the right implement to assemble her statement. Her oil paints, feather quills, ink wells, knitting needles, wool spools, foils, gold leaf, vellum, fancy papers and so many other components go hand in hand with Shannon’s fine and folk art. She is our Mary Poppins of art, whom everyone adores, toting bags of art magic. Yet at home, she is the average every woman, who is a single parent striving to raise a responsible son. She adores gardening, tinkers with her

fixer-upper home, and putzes around the house along with her two cats. Shannon is as comfortable as your favorite pair of bedroom slippers. She fell in love with the Midwest and has made Beaver Dam her home. Shannon does have a dark side. It is not every day I want an art instructor to make participants cry, but Shannon has moved students to tears. She led the PAVE art therapy groups at the Seippel Center last year. Through mindfulness journaling and other art projects, abused women learned to address and cope with their feelings. Shannon shared her own struggles with broken family, abuse, chronic pain and its side effects. As I entered a room full of wet eyes, I immediately knew Miss Shannon had made an impact in that class. Since that day, to me, wet eyes in an art class is like wet paint, damp clay or moist adhesive - signaling something not quite complete, something still under construction, still evolving into that which we are meant to become. I peeked at Shannon’s personal Mindfulness Art journal. No ordinary journal, this was a time machine, a kaleidoscope of intimate struggles, defeats and past hurts, along with examples of perseverance, fulfilled dreams and hopes for healing. Art for Shannon, for PAVE women and other art class participants has become not just a Band-Aid, but therapy, rehab, a resolution, a replacement, perhaps even a new lease on life. My eyes were wet from witnessing this art - bringing forth reminders of my own shortcomings along with moments of forgiveness, struggles and triumphs. Art brings life into focus, just as Shannon had done on those beautiful pages. Shannon told me a story of realizing her artistic talent as a proud youth who excelled in math. Bored from having completed her assignment, a teacher handed her paper on which to draw. When she completed a masterpiece, which hung in the school’s office for years thereafter, his response was, “If I had known your talent, I would have given you better paper.” Shannon gives students better paper every time she leads a group. She teaches how to see the world with renewed vision and expects great things through her dynamic inspiration and gentle guidance. Shannon is an artist who gets art, and in most every genre. “Maybe I don’t get poetry yet,” she admitted. “That’s ok,” I whispered. “I don’t get math.” “The connection between our head and heart can’t always produce an expression for our feelings and experiences about life, but art is an excellent venue that can,” shares Shannon. As in good fiction, I can’t predict the plot twists and turns that lead me to respect and love my favorite protagonists. For Shannon Kelly, her innovation, her next grand idea and her future triumphs makes me long to study her character and watch from the wings as she soars as one of BDAAA’s most versatile artists.

SWAZZ MARCIA PAUL

THEN & NOW

am probably the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most practiced cheerleaderâ&#x20AC;Śme and the rest of my fellow teachers. We daily shout out our subject matter for all to hear. Then we repeat ourselves over and over, saying the same thing five different ways until everyone gets it right. We aim to get everyone working together while instilling spirit and enthusiasm. We cheer for all the little successes and go crazy over the big ones. We hope our crowd leaves for home wanting more. I am the vocal music teacher at Beaver Dam High School, have been for the past 20 years. A pleasurable piece of my job is to cheer for a group called SWAZZ, a 16-member co-curricular choir that sings SW-ing and j-AZZ. We spend a great amount of time together performing, but the majority of our time together is spent in rehearsal. This is where friend1994 BD Swazz Photo: Gary Haas

ships are made, habits are established, and success begins. My goal is to produce strongly skilled performers, but my secret goal, like every other teacher, is to shape and mold respectable citizens. I had one of those proud teacher moments about a month ago when I met a former student for dinner. He was in SWAZZ during the early years. He has doubled in age since I taught him, but amazingly, the connection was still there. It was heartwarming to see him happy and successful. Our conversation quickly led to the members of SWAZZ 1994. This particular group was loaded with talent, creativity, imagination and promise. They worked hard and played hard. Most of the time, they just kept me laughing. Now they are 30-somethings and spread out all over the United States, doing incredible things with their lives.

You may remember Jeremy Kamps as the actor that often played the comical yet lovable character in the school drama productions. I remember him riding a bicycle across the stage in the middle of a concert. After years of teaching English around the world, Jeremy is now living in New York City, completing his Masters of Fine Arts degree in Dramatic Writing from NYU. You may recall Heather Hampton in the lead role of Ti Moune in the 1995 production of Once On This Island. She now works as the Director of Training and Development for Legal Sea Foods in Boston, MA. This is the company that first produced New England clam chowder. If you’ve ever attended a home Red Sox game, you’ll know their product. Heather is a new bride having just been married this past February.

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Eric Jorgensen’s musical talent, red hair and quick smile made him easily recognizable in high school. He is currently in NYC, living the professional and academic life. Eric has worked as the Revenue and Field Finance Officer for Doctors Without Borders for the past six years. His job has taken him the world over. Eric has also earned a Master’s Degree in Classical Acting and a second Master’s in Performance Studies. He is currently seeking a PhD program that will enable him to blend his humanities efforts with theatre. During high school, Brad Fitzpatrick was very active in sports, music and drama. He always enjoyed a good prank. After graduating from the Naval Academy in 1998, he spent 9 years navigating F18’s for the Marine Corp. After leaving the Marines five years ago, he took a job with Lockheed Martin, one of the world’s largest defense contractors. He uses computerized simulation software to train and prepare military pilots for active duty. Brad now lives 60 miles north of San Diego, CA. He is married to a district attorney and has two children that are very active athletes. How could anyone forget the unbelievable piano skills of Teresa Drews. She is now the chair of the piano department at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music in Milwaukee, teaching piano to students ages 4 to 94. She is also the piano Artist in Residence for the Washington Island Music Festival in Door County each August. She recently recorded the piano tracks for the “All About Singing” instructional book by Hal Leonard Publishing. She and her husband have two beautiful daughters. Dan Jackson probably had the lowest bass voice I’ve ever taught. Of course, he deserved that distinction after it took an entire year for his voice to change. It was worth the wait. He is now Dr. Daniel Jackson, an MD specializing in pediatric allergy/immunology at the UW Hospital in Madison. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in 2003 and now serves on its faculty. Jonah Haase will always remain in my memory as the very first freshman to get into SWAZZ and the only one of my students ever to receive the “Best Male Soloist” award in a show choir competition. If you’ve ever been to one, you know he was up against the best. Jonah developed a great love for the people of South America during a college semester in Ecuador. After graduation, he spent time in Panama with the Peace Corps. These experiences helped him to recently gain employment as the Coordinator of Latin American Outreach with the Mariners Church in Los Angeles, CA. You may remember some of these fine people, you may not. What is important to know is that all of them had their start right here in Beaver Dam and you may have made an impact on their lives without even knowing. You may have clapped at a concert, attended a basketball game or bought a fundraiser product. You may have said “thank you” for carrying your groceries or “good job” for lifeguarding your grandkids. We all share in the responsibility of encouraging the youth of Beaver Dam to be the best they can be, urging them to dream big and pursue excellence. I am so proud of my students, both past and present. I am honored to be their cheerleader. I will continue to shout, repeat, instill spirit and go crazy over each success. I fear, however, that my days of doing cartwheels are long past!

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VIEWFINDER JACK BARTHOLMAI

“I try to allow the viewer of my photos to see, in a new way, the ordinary things at their doorstep.”

grew up in Milwaukee where I spent my free time exploring undeveloped places where water and land met, such as empty lots, parkways and marshy areas close to home. When I obtained my drivers license, my buddies and I often headed to Dodge County and the Horicon Marsh or the Ledge for hunting and fishing. In 1972, my wife, son, and I moved to Beaver Dam, where I spent 25 years in medical imaging as a radiologist. During these years I always found some time to get out and capture images of nature and the wildlife of the area. Since retiring from medical imaging I find, as a volunteer photographer, endless opportunities to observe nature and the many interactions of wildlife. My photos tend to reflect a focus on trying to capture all the species of birds found in Dodge County, although my interest goes beyond that in an attempt to capture the beauty, diversity, and interconnectedness of birds, animals, and plants in their natural setting. I try to allow the viewer of my photos to see, in a new way, the ordinary things at their doorstep. Another goal of my photography is to allow people to see places they may not have been, or close-up and personal to things that usually run, fly, or swim off as they approach. My wife (Holly) and I have been taking people on virtual trips into the wild for close to 20 years with programs that use still images, video clips, music, and readings to draw them into the experience. My hope is that in seeing the beauty of life around them, people will be motivated to take positive steps to not only preserve and protect “wild” places and the living things in them, but also to provide habitat for wildlife in their own backyard or elsewhere through the support of wildlife organizations.

Forster’s Terns Forster’s Terns are an endangered species that nests on Horicon Marsh. It has been seen every year during the HMBF except for the 1st one in 1998. This graceful white bird with a black cap, red and black beak and red feet, can be seen hovering over and then plunging into the shallow water of the marsh where it catches aquatic prey.

American White Pelican The American White Pelican has been confirmed as a breeding species in Wisconsin at only two locations - one in Green Bay and the other at Horicon Marsh. This bird, with a nine-foot wingspan, has been sighted at every HMBF since the 1st one in 1998 and was nesting by 2000. One year, nearly a thousand nests were discovered, and an estimate of nearly 5000 individuals were present after the young fledged and additional migrating pelicans arrived on the marsh. Watching flocks of these huge birds fly, soar and land is spectacular, as is the cooperative feeding behavior, which drives prey fish into shallow water for synchronized consumption.

Black-Necked Stilt The Black-Necked Stilt was first discovered to be a breeding bird in Wisconsin at Horicon Marsh in 1999. That year, five young were successfully raised on the HNWR. Since that time, additional nestings of this species have been documented. The last 3 years, this elegant bird (uncommon in the Midwest) has been sighted during the Horicon Marsh Bird Festival.

Wood Duck The Wood Duck is native only to North America. Its population was described as abundant in the mid 1800â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and on the brink of extinction in the early 1900â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. Subsequent federal protection and nestbox availability has aided in bringing this species back to abundance. Every county in Wisconsin hosts nesting Wood Ducks, and every Horicon Marsh Bird Festival since 1998 has recorded sightings of this strikingly beautiful bird.

Self Portrait: Jack Bartholmai

“Oh I what a great charm there is about the place. Everything is unconventional, the situation is all natural, streets and houses as pleasant as pleasant can be...”

FEATURE A TARNISHED JEWEL lloyd clark

eaver Dam has always been a focal point for tourists visiting Wisconsin. Beaver Dam is home to the Williams Free Library building, the first public library with “open stacks” in the United States, now the home of the Dodge County Historical Museum. On Park Avenue, a tourist cannot only enjoy the Queen Anne architecture of the Swan House, but can also view the home of America’s favorite television dad, Fred Mac Murray, at the same time. On the other hand, you could easily veer off on Spring Street and visit the Hotel Rogers, not only on the National Register of Historic Places, but one of the sites for filming the blockbuster Public Enemies. However, one attraction has been bringing “tourists” to our area for over 2000 years. For many residents of Beaver Dam, it is the true heart of our city - the Vita Spring in Swan City Park. It may be hard to imagine the humble and unassuming 10.5-acre park located adjacent to the corners of South University Avenue and East Mill Street could attract such attention. Especially today, when the only water that can actually be seen is green, scum-covered and quite often littered with trash from visitors either too lazy or too thoughtless to spend the extra few seconds to deposit their refuse in a trash barrel. However, in 1942, the Federal Works Agency commissioned the Wisconsin Library Association to write the book Wisconsin: A Guide to the Badger State. The book noted, “In the city is Vita Spring Park, laid out around Vita Spring which was regarded as a holy place to the Winnebago and Potawatomi, who attributed healing properties to its waters.”

In 1947, in a booklet titled Indian Legends of Historic and Scenic Wisconsin, folklorist Dorothy Moulding Brown expanded on this idea and wrote as to the importance of Vita Spring to Native American people. Though the words were few, the insight is invaluable. Ms. Brown wrote, “This spring was known to the red men of the forest as the ‘healing spring’. Muchkaw [Mascaga?, “Strong One”], the great medicine chief of the Winnebago, continued to visit this spring as long as he lived. He died in about the year 1860, at the great age of 120 years. In talking about this spring, he said, so long ago as he could remember, it had been known to the Indians as a ‘healing spring’; that long years ago there had been contentions between his tribe and the Potawatomies for the possession of it for medicine water and a hunting ground, it being a resort for wild animals, especially in times of great drought.” Ms. Brown’s use of the term “resort” was probably not by chance. In 1880, Dr. George Elbridge Swan, a prominent Beaver Dam physician born in Eden, New York, invested $50,000 to purchase and improve the area around the former Native American holy site. Renamed Vita Spring Park, Dr. Swan built a four-story Vita Park Hotel and turned the healing spring into a summer resort. It is said that upon opening the resort, Dr. Swan stated, “I name this water Vita or life, life to the whole urinary economy, and better health to the entire system.” Not only was he a prominent physician, Dr. Swan was a shrewd politician and businessperson as well. He understood well the Nineteenth Century fascination among the wealthy to visit spas and resorts

Panoramic View of Swan Park Photo: Dodge County Historical Society

to bathe in, and consume, mineral water to improve their health. What could be more enticing to the Victorian palate than a mineral spring that had been holy to the native people of the region for thousands of years? Apparently, nothing. In the 1883 travel book published by the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway Company, Reconnaissance of the Golden Northwest, the unnamed author waxed extremely poetic about Beaver Dam and Vita Park. Here is the excerpt from the book on our fair city: Oh I what a great charm there is about the place. Everything is unconventional, the situation is all natural, streets and houses as pleasant as pleasant can be, groves of natural trees, natural elevations and natural ravines, a glorious lake, with shores adapted by Nature to the enjoyment of all who visit them. Steamboats, yachts, sail and row-boats, yawls and “jolly” boats; alive, genial, whole-souled cultured population of some 7,000 believers in America and a good, honest American Lord God Almighty! A college of fine grade, good schools, extensive factories - two turning out cloths of finest texture - thrive in and honor the handsome city. Here we are “spell-bound;” but lest it be said we are “clear gone,” we draw upon the description given by the “Triumvirate” before mentioned, upon which we discover no copyright.

“The country around Beaver Dam affords some of the pleasantest drives over smooth roads through woodland or prairie. In the vicinity are some of the finest farm establishments of the West. On the Fox Lake road is the highly cultivated farm of Hon. S. D. Burchard; four miles north of Beaver Dam on the Waupun road, is the Hambletonian stock farm of Mr. William Bonner - brother of Robert Bonner, Esq., of the New York Ledger - six miles east is the famous Spring Brook farm, owned by H. B. Sherman, Esq., proprietor of the New Dennison House, of Indianapolis, Ind. “The entire country around is full of interest to the lovers of the beautiful in Nature, and whether you go eastward toward Horicon, or west toward Columbus, or south through the grand forests of Lowell, there is a pleasing variety of scenery, and new life and vigor to the traveler. “The recent discovery of the VITA MINERAL SPRING, possessing unexcelled medicinal properties, lends an additional charm to this beautiful region, and gives to Beaver Dam a rightful place among the most attractive and healthful of summer resorts. “Dr. G. E. Swan, Mayor of the city, discovered this spring in June, 1879, and found, by actual tests and experiments, that it’s sweet and crystal water was a remedy long desired for kidney diseases and rheumatic pains. Many of the residents of Beaver Dam, and those who spent the recent summers here, testify to the remarkable curative properties of this spring. Dr. Swan has numerous orders from abroad, and is shipping large quantities of the Vita Water to parties in the East and South, and its popularity is constantly increasing.

refreshment for the weary invalid and the seeker for health and strength. “The enterprising proprietor is enlarging the hotel, and making preparations for the increased business coming as per advices from all quarters. Beaver Dam is sixty-three miles from Milwaukee, and reached twice daily by the trains of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway. “Our party remained here a few days, because we could not muster resolution to hurry from this delightful haven of rest; but, finally, one pleasant P. M., we embarked on the west-bound train for Portage and another royal supper.”

The Sacred Spring Photo: Dodge County Historical Society

VITA PARK. “The elegant Park of twelve acres surrounding the Vita Mineral Spring is a perfect gem of beauty, and awakens the admiration of all its visitors. Dr. Swan has fitted up these grounds regardless of expense, and thrown them open freely for the benefit of all who come to drink of the life-giving waters. Skillful architects and landscape gardeners have been employed and already large sums have been expended in making this park the most picturesque and delightful place of the kind in the Northwest. As you enter the northeast gate, which, by sliding upward, forms a grand archway, rich in wood-work carving and ornamental tracery, you get a fine view of the entire grounds. “Passing along by grass plots and flower-gardens to the sparkling lakes, and rustic boathouse, you come to the grand Pavilion which is erected over the Vita Spring. This structure is the finest pavilion in the Northwest, and rivals that of the Congress Spring at Saratoga. The spring bubbles up and pours out its flowing treasures of the sweetest and purest water into a marble basin from whence it flows into a series of lakes that add greatly to the attractions of the park. “The dipper-boy at the counter waits upon the visitors in true Saratoga style, and as you wander through these enchanting grounds, and admire the exquisite taste and beauty of Vita Park you almost fancy that you are in Fairmount, or in Central Park. Here are conservatories of choice plants and flowers, a complete bathing establishment where many afflicted with rheumatism and kindred diseases have found relief, then the Laboratory where the water is barreled, the music pavilion and engine-house, and pretty boats, and smooth lawns, and fountains, which conspire to make this once famous Indian resort a most attractive summer home for health, comfort, and pleasure. VITA PARK HOTEL. “The beautiful hotel on the western side of Vita Park is specially built for the entertainment of summer visitors. It is four stories high, with a French roof and towers. Two wide verandahs surround the building, and there are large and comfortable guest-chambers, wide and airy halls, open fireplaces and all the modem improvements for comfort and health. It will accommodate over a hundred guests. Here is a delightful place to spend the summer. The spacious grounds and cooling shade invite rest and Vita Park Hotel Photo: Dodge County Historical Society

It is obvious from their glowing testimony that Swan City Park was once the “shining jewel” of Beaver Dam. Vita Spring a holy place that not only drew Native Americans from across the state to the healing waters, but a place that drew Victorian-era visitors from across the country and around the world. It provided the Swans, and the city, with a flourishing and very lucrative business that provided economic benefit to all. Today, Swan City Park still is a major hub of activity and focus for many prominent city events. However, even though the Victorian Pavilion still surrounds and protects Vita Spring, the glamour and shine of the jewel is gone. Spend any time contemplating the spring-fed pond and you would be hard pressed not to notice the garbage floating there. In the Spring, a number of Mallard duck families make the pond their nesting ground, and it is more than disappointing to see the ducklings weaving in and out from between floating paper cups, Styrofoam plates and crumpled up snack chip bags. It is a level of disrespect for our city and each other, which is unconscionable. The citizens of Beaver Dam should be rightly proud of their world-renowned park and should endeavor to do what is right in ensuring that we treat the holy waters and the surrounding park with the dignity and respect they deserve. The spring has given much to our city, and the citizens of Beaver Dam need to protect that heritage.

COMMUNITY HORICON MARSH BIRD FESTIVAL

Trumpeter Swans Photo: Jack Bartholmai

FESTIVAL COMMITTEE

Larry Michael, Gayl Zuelsdorf, Jeff Bahls, Jack and Holly Bartholmai, Vicki Hollenberg, Brad Webb, Cathy Ley, Liz Herzmann.

arry Michael founded the Horicon Marsh Bird Club in 1994, to share his love of birding Horicon Marsh with others. Over the next couple of years, Larry took several birding trips and attended birding events in various locations. This gave him an idea. He approached Bill Volkert at the Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area and brought up the idea of having a major birding festival highlighting Horicon Marsh. Bill quickly realized what this could become. Then Larry approached Gayl Zuelsdorf of Horicon Marsh Boat Tours. Gayl recalls the moment, “I remember when Larry stopped and said he had an idea - something he had read about that was taking place in other areas called a bird festival. I needed to find a chair to sit down because everything in my body told me that he was onto something, and it was going to be great.” Larry worked hard with the Horicon Marsh Bird Club, Bill Volkert of the WI DNR, Gayl Zuelsdorf of Horicon Marsh Boat Tours and Molly Stoddard of the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge to create the first festival. Horicon Marsh was well known as a stopover for the fall migration of 100,000-200,000 Canada Geese. Larry, however, wanted to show Horicon Marsh was just as important to other species of birds during the spring migration. That is how Mother’s Day weekend was chosen for the festival date. This time period marks International Migratory Bird Day and is during the height of the spring migration. The first festival was run on a shoestring budget with only a few trip leaders and kicked off with the release of Trumpeter Swans on the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge at 8 a.m. on Friday May 8, 1998. The big event was to be a special ceremony with Governor Tommy Thompson releasing one of four Trumpeters that morning from the plastic crate it was in. As a huge crowd watched, this swan didn’t take the few steps forward to get into the pond in front of it like the swans that had been released previously. It stretched its neck up, looked the governor in the eyes, flapped its wings, honked loudly, made a fast right turn, ran across the road and disappeared into the sheltered cattail pool. Later that day, four more pairs of Trumpeter Swans were released on the State Wildlife section of the marsh. The estimated attendance for the release of the swans and the first festival was 3,000. Larry was surprised how many people and families showed up to participate in the festival. The response of the participants was overwhelmingly positive. People weren’t the only ones making an appearance at the festival. There were 119 species of birds spotted. These included the rare visit of a Common Loon, Black Bellied Whistling Duck and Sharp Shinned Hawk. The bird festival was a resounding success. There would be plans for another festival the next year. This was the start of something very big! Since the first festival in 1998, thousands of birders from as many as 17 states, Japan, Tanzania, Germany and a few other countries have attended the Horicon Marsh Bird Festival. Typically about 150-160 bird species are spotted during the 4 days of the festival. Over the past 14 years, a total of 229 species have been identified during the festival, with a record of 167 species seen during the 2009 festival. It is now 2012, and we are celebrating our 15th year of the Horicon Marsh Bird Festival. The festival has grown in size and events over the years. Those who work the festival love Horicon Marsh and enjoy sharing this fantastic location with visitors. Grab your binoculars and cameras and make plans to head out to the festival. It doesn’t matter if you live just down the road or across the country; the Horicon Marsh is truly a gem of a location. You never know who or what you will see. This year will mark the 15th Annual Horicon Marsh Bird Festival. It will be held from Friday May 11 through Monday May 14. To find out what is being offered at this year’s Horicon Marsh Bird Festival and to book one of the many tours, check the festival website at www.horiconmarshbirdfestival.com.

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A TREE HERO J O H N

N E U M A N N

JONAS ZAHN

he heroes in our comic books wear tights and a cape. Everyday heroes, like John Neumann, don a pair of work boots and bib overalls. A reallife tree-herder, John supervises the city Parks and Forestry Department. Serving our community since 1997, John has helped plant, nurture and celebrate the trees of Beaver Dam for the last 15 years. Few communities in Wisconsin have a tree population as healthy and diverse as ours. Since 2003, the city has been one of very few cities in Wisconsin to operate its very own tree nursery. Here, John and his staff are able to make a few dollars stretch much further by planting tiny seedlings no larger than a no. 2 pencil until they are 5 years of age and ready to be transplanted around our city. The cost of a seedling is as little as ten cents, whereas a 5-yearold tree costs upwards of $50. We owe a genuine thank you to John and his team of tree-herders for their commitment to our community of trees. Annually, John keeps an inventory of the 1240 trees living in our parks taking note of the health, age and species of every tree. At a minimum, John replaces “tree for tree” in the parks as trees fall prey to storm damage, drought or disease. John shares, “We have spent a lot of time in the last 10 years trying to rebuild what was in Swan Park originally by studying old photographs at the Historical Society. I want to be sure our children and grandchildren can continue to enjoy a diverse and healthy tree population throughout Swan Park and the rest of the city.” John Neumann and his staff also know the value of community. Each year they organize and celebrate Arbor Day. John knows the importance of involving the children of our community when it comes to learning the value of trees. John usually involves schoolchildren in Arbor Day events since they will likely be the ones taking care of these trees in the future. Shaving Bark off an Ash tree, looking for evidence of Emerald Ash Borer. Photo: Dave Edwards Photography LLC

Last year, the 4th and 5th graders at Washington Elementary School helped plant trees on the city athletic field across the street from the school. This year John is considering doing a quadruple planting of Japanese Tree Lilacs along Washington Street near the Heffron White House and the parking lot of the new police department. They will grow to be 25-30 feet tall and will bloom every year in June. Olivia Witthun, the Regional Urban Forestry Coordinator for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, wishes there were more people like John Neumann in the many communities throughout the state. The commitment to a healthy tree population in Beaver Dam is obvious to those who recognize the diversity, placement and health of the trees in Beaver Dam. Thanks in no small part to John and his team, Beaver Dam is an example for other communities to follow. In fact, Olivia comments that Beaver Dam may be one of the only cities in the state that continues to maintain a city nursery to use as an affordable means to provide a continuous healthy crop of new trees ready for planting in the parks and street terraces and around the city. We can all participate in community events like Arbor Day to celebrate the wonderful wealth of trees in our city. John Neumann welcomes residents to plant trees on their property. “Choose the right tree for the right spot, and then plant it in the right way,” John says. He suggests that residents first do their homework to properly choose a species that is appropriate for the location. Tree placement is critical. John recommends you choose a location for the tree and then stand there and look up to ensure that there is enough room for the tree to grow upwards and outwards. Choose a species that will fit nicely into the space you have. Imagine how large the tree will be in 100 years and keep that in mind when you make your choice. The second critical element to growing a healthy tree is proper planting. Be sure to plant trees at the correct depth. A common mistake is to plant a tree too deep. When a tree is planted too deep, it will grow for 30 years or so and then slowly commit suicide by developing root rot, trunk rot and/or a girdled root system that will slowly strangle it. Unfortunately, there are a lot of trees in the city (mostly maples) that were planted too deep and are now showing signs of distress. They are usually 18 inches wide and 25 feet tall when this starts. The very top leaves on the tree start to die and slowly the rest of the tree follows. The next time you see John or one of his team members planting, pruning or mulching a tree in one of our parks, say “hello and thank you”

those trees. Well-planned tree plantings reduce noise pollution along busy streets and the same trees also clean the air we breathe. Trees are good for people. People have lived with and loved trees for all the ages. Trees have played a part in providing the basic needs of food, clothing and shelter since the earliest time of man on this earth. Here in our community, we continue to depend on trees to provide food, fuel and building material. As with all healthy relationships, our dependence on trees can greatly benefit from a little give and take. The more we give back to trees, the more the trees give back to us. The US Department of Agriculture has calculated that just one acre of forest absorbs six tons of carbon dioxide and puts out four tons of oxygen annually, enough to meet the needs of 18 people. Trees are good for our health. Laboratory research has shown that peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stress levels respond in as few as Photo: Dave Edwards Photography LLC five minutes with reduced blood pressure and muscle tension when exposed to settings with trees. Hospital research has also proven that recovery times after surgery accelerate for the many years of dedicated service to our community. As you stroll for patients in rooms with a view of healthy living trees. around town this spring, take a few moments to notice and appreciate the Trees bring people together to benefit the community. Over the many good trees among us. Our city parks are refuge to more than 1200 years many of our citizens have organized and socialized as they help plant trees on 300 acres of land. Another estimated 8000 trees live in the public and care for trees in our community. On April 27th we celebrate Arbor areas of our community. Add to these the undocumented population of Day here in Beaver Dam. This year, we celebrate 21 years as a Tree City trees living on private lots and there are more trees than people living here USA. Arbor Day is a springtime celebration of community, of people and in Beaver Dam. of trees. The Arbor Day Foundation, a non-profit organization, seeks to Trees add great wealth to our community. The many species inspire communities to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. among us bring more than pure aesthetic value to our landscape. Urban For more information on planting trees and caring for them on your own, trees improve residential property value as much as 23 percent. A single go to www.arborday.org. shade tree on the south side of your home can reduce energy consumption by 12%. This saves both money and the environmental impact of energy production. The net cooling effect of a healthy young tree providing shade from the sun and releasing cool water vapor from its leaves is equivalent to ten room-sized air conditioners operating 20 hours a day. There are several methods that professionals use to appraise the value of trees on residential properties. The assessed value of a healthy adult tree can range from $1000 to $10,000. There are few investments we can make with just a few dollars that will yield such a vast return in as few as 15 years. A dollar spent planting a tree is certain to be more valuable next year and every year thereafter. Trees planted on the terraces of our city streets do not only provide valuable shade; these trees are a strategic investment in reducing storm water run-off, thereby reducing the demand on city drainage and the cost to build and maintain these facilities. A few trees planted in the right places can save tens of thousands of dollars in maintenance over the life of

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll Work.

Photo: Dave Edwards Photography LLC

You Play.

314 North Spring Street Beaver Dam,WI 53916 paradiseland2011@hotmail.com 920-319-9308

Paradise Landscape 17

LEGEND & LORE S T OR I E S T OL D & U N T OL D BOB & JANE BORTZ Editor’s Note: Sincerest thanks to Bob and Jane who invited me into their home with warm hospitality. Each time I visited I was greeted by their dog Bless along with fresh bakery and butter curls. For those of you who don’t know what butter curls are, introduce yourself to Bob and Jane. They shared many memories, but the one they agreed would be best to share is the one of Bob’s father Hugo.

peaking of a man who liked many different things, music was another “dimension” that Hugo Bortz didn’t miss. There are many things in life to enjoy; music is one of them. Music is another art form. His mother and father were immigrants from Germany with very little monetary resources. Hugo was given a reward of 25 cents each week that his mother saved for him to take piano lessons. This was back in 1916. It was the saving of the 25 cents that was a sacrifice. He didn’t prepare himself sometimes for his lesson. This is usually pretty normal for a child. He probably would have enjoyed doing other things in his youth rather than practicing. Practicing later carried on into his adult life. This was one of the best gifts his mother had given him. A 1926 Beaver Dam High School graduate, he served as an accompanist for the Beaver Dam High School Orchestra. The orchestra earned a

first place award at a competition in Oshkosh and later competed in Madison. At his class’s graduation ceremony, he played “Heller’s Warrior Song.” At that time it earned him praises from an instructor who recognized his talent. His skills carried him through by being a fill-in organist at his church as well. Hugo started back with music after he retired in the 1970’s. He returned to playing the piano not only for physical but mental skills as well. The benefit of this is that it keeps one thinking all the time. He would be content to play for hours without even an audience. His uniqueness of writing music led to many hours meeting the challenges of composing and practicing. The music he liked to play was Chopin and other classical music. He could never play jazz or rock and roll. He composed songs for each child, grandchildren and some friends. His composing was without any financial gain. This found him being challenged but giving him tremendous satisfaction. His creation of 30 some sheet music has ended up in different parts of the world including Germany, Kazakhstan, the Philippines, England and Brazil. These pieces were shared with the American Foreign Exchange students that were in Beaver Dam. One of his pieces “Fur Joy” is in the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. The joyous times with tradition and memories of children and adults were during the holiday season. A special memory was when the family gathered around to sing and he accompanied them by playing the piano. In his upper years people also enjoyed the beauty of his music in different healthcare facilities. Many had a good time admiring his music by tapping their foot or even singing along. His 99 years of life gave him the opportunity to fulfill his hobby. Music to Hugo made a difference and touched so many lives. What would many people’s lives have been or still be like without music?

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A FRIEND Time wends its ways Its unknown ways astounding. Though rough and strange the path For in the end, you’ll need a friend. It’s not so strange What life can bring; It’s trials and pains and sorrow. But still unknown we carry on; So in the all, you’ll need a friend. A little joy - perhaps a tear For just a moment or a year. A vale to cross, a hill to climb Philosophize you can - but never mind. For all’s not lost, you have a friend!

Hugo Bortz on his 90th Birthday Photo: Bortz Family Collection

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THIS & THAT

“ I WA N T M Y M P 4 ! ” DAVE BOWMAN

uring a conversation I was having with my daughter about a teenage girl’s reaction to her mother in a department store, I had made a comment, which then resulted in a spirited yet respectful retort from my daughter, “Dad, you’re starting to sound like an old fogey!” I did a spot check. Old fogey. Well, this 53-year-old male was not wearing dark socks with sandals and Bermuda shorts. When I go “out on the town,” I don’t wear a powder blue leisure suit with a white belt and matching shoes. What I did begin to realize was that life does keep moving forward like a moving sidewalk in an airport terminal. At what time does one slide into that “in my day” mode? It does invariably come to everyone at one point or another. And as a parent, I have attempted not to slide into that “in my day” trap, but to no avail. Several birthdays ago my kids wished to drag me into the 21st century and introduced me to the wonders of the micro-sized music machine - my very first MP3 player. Now, as MP3 players go, it was a “starter model”, but perfect for me to dabble with on my first go ‘round. I learned to download, upload, sideload, and just plain load. The amazing part of it was that it could hold all 120 of my favorite tunes! Now, bear in mind that my son’s micro-sized music machine can hold thousands of songs, play major motion pictures AND synchronize with any geosynchronous satellite in orbit, but I digress. I was very close to sharing that “in my day . . .” The technological advances in music and communication were second to none. (Probably an old fogey phrase.) Why, we could actually stack vinyl record albums on a bona fide console hi-fi system. And if the

records had any defect in them whatsoever, there was the art of attaching just the right amount of pennies on the tone arm for maximum sound effectiveness. Now that’s true downloading! And who is to deny the thrill of listening to your favorite 22-minute drum solo by “Iron Butterfly” on 8-track tape, only to be interrupted in mid solo by the familiar “kachunk” as the 8-track player switches tracks. In the same vein, I have been utilizing my handy-dandy Tracfone for many years, but may be ready to jump into the upgraded cell phone pool. Watching my wife and kids texting makes me wish I had taken advantage of the extra practice time in my high school typing class. Although I am willing to test the waters, it is fair to note that there is a slight longing for the days of actually needing to get up, walking over to a large heavy desk or wall phone and working to dial the number. It seemed to make the call, and the call-lee, important enough to make the effort. And who can deny the fact that the party lines of the good ol’ phone systems were the original “Facebook” of its day. Where else could you “make friends” by sharing your phone life with every person within your phone area and “delete” others at abandon. My oldest brother, visiting at Christmas, had just obtained a new phone and was excitedly showing everyone its “Voice Activation” feature. Now I know how ancient cavemen felt when they first discovered fire. When all is said and done, I guess being an “old fogey” is a sign that time is marching on, but we certainly can keep up with it. Oh, I still like to show that I can keep up with the youth by throwing in an “I’m down with that” or “groovy” every so often, just to get the eye roll and sigh from the younger crowd around me. (Translation: my kids.) And just to show that I’m hip and do know the latest iPhone, apps, wireless network, I am going to honor the great “Dire Straits” from their hit “Money For Nothing” and tell my kids that for my next birthday “I want my MP4!”

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W W W . B E AV E R D A M . K 12. W I . U S

THE WANDERING MAN TAMON MARK UTTECH

ONEGAISHIMASU

Onegaishimasu,

Roshi once taught that there are more than 80,000 sutras and a person who attempts to read them all may well end up complicated and crazy. I guess that may not be much different than a person who attempts to digest the entire Bible. When I was in the Jefferson County Jail, the library was pitiful, the Bible was the only spiritual book available; it was then that I noticed Ecclesiastes is probably the most Buddhist book there.

How are you? The pronunciation of onegaishimasu is: on-a-guy-she-mush. It is usually said with a short bow from the waist, or a slight nod of the head. So now you know. It translates as: “Please, to share…” Thanks for writing. I think it is common to wonder how someone who is incarcerated can be lax; isn’t time all they have? But, no. Someone who is incarcerated remains human.

“There is nothing new under the sun…” Religious life is reflection.

I hope that answer is not too simple. When I first went back to school, I took a course in “Contemporary American Society.” It was a class of American problems. In that very first class, the professor taught:

In our younger time, “Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose” (Janis Joplin) And in our most recent time, “They tried to make me go to rehab, I said, no, no, no” (Amy Winehouse).

“The only thing one needs to have a problem is another one.” He also told us that it was not easy to get an ‘A’ in his class. “Maybe in the whole class, 2 people will get an A,” he said.

Now Whitney Houston has been found in a bathtub, just like Jim Morrison so many years ago. You can try and go back to where you once were but it won’t be Spring until after Winter.

Long story short, I got one. It’s a good memory, a very good experience. We can never foretell what sort of experience we will have whenever we try to do, be, or learn something. Speaking of Buddhist sutras, the zen master Taisen Deshimaru

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DCCA - A HISTORY DODGE COUNTY CONCERT ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVES OF DCCA

ew may know that the Von Trapp Family Singers were featured at the first concert of the Beaver Dam Community Concert Association. The concert was held in the Wayland Gymnasium on November 26, 1947, thanks to the efforts of a group of music lovers who felt the need to provide good music at a reasonable price for the Dodge County area. They had met at the Elks Club on June 20, 1947, to form an organization that could arrange for 3 or 4 concerts by artists of metropolitan, radio or TV fame and a membership campaign. October 20-25, 1947, was set aside to solicit sponsors for the concerts, and 74 people met on November 3, 1947, at the Hotel Rogers for dinner and to plan with a representative of Columbia Concerts, Inc. of New York for a membership drive and the first program under the name of the Beaver Dam Community Concert Association. The campaign was held November 3-9, 1947, with headquarters at the Elks Club. The cost of memberships was $5 plus $1 tax for adults and $2.50 plus $.50 tax for students. A budget of $2,300 was established (budget today is over $20,000). Since the entire Dodge County area was invited, the organization’s name was soon changed to the Dodge County Community Concert Association. The Christmas music of Austria highlighted the program at that first concert to the delight of an audience of 1,000, the largest attendance at any concert presented. Over the years, a small group of volunteers has kept this association alive, arranging to bring wonderful music and entertainment from throughout the country and around the world to audiences in Beaver Dam. Many different tastes in music have been satisfied through the years with artists such as the Indianapolis Symphony, the Guy Lombardo Orchestra, the New Christy Minstrels, the Roger Wagner Chorale, Bob Crosby’s Bobcats and the St. Olaf Symphony Orchestra. Last season,

1958-1959 Dodge County Community Concert Board at Hotel Rogers Standing (Left to Right): David Jones, Don Rowland, Millie Haberman, Jo Helfert, Roland Wicke, Jay Kennedy, Lillian Schmutzler, Paul Youngdale, Jo Ledworowski, Myron Schrauth, Tom Radke. Seated (Left to Right): Eleanor Jones, Mrs. Don Rowland, Clara Reckner, Gwen Schullrich, Jane Hammond, Jean Bridges, Mrs. Roland Wicke.

the concerts in Beaver Dam included Mexican brass, a Julliard piano duet, a husband and wife bass/cello and family bluegrass & old time music. A virtuosic brass quintet, an Irish pianist/singer and music from the salons and coffee houses of Europe are included in the 5 concerts for the 2012-2013 series. A reciprocity agreement with the Concert Association in Watertown includes 4 more concerts. The London Quartet, bluegrass with spark and sizzle, elegant German coffee house music and a pianist ala Victor Borge are scheduled for 2012-2013 in Watertown. The Beaver Dam series is held at 7:30 p.m. in the Beaver Dam High School Auditorium, and Watertown concerts are held in the Watertown High School Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Admission to all concerts is by membership only. The Dodge County Concert Association is a non-profit organization whose sole purpose is bringing unique and special entertainment from around the world at the lowest possible cost to residents of Dodge County. The association is always looking for new board members to help in the selection of artists, helping with mailings, ushering, passing out programs and seating on concert evenings in Beaver Dam. In September, board members meet with a representative from Allied Concert Services from Minnesota to select talent for the next concert season. The representative presents brochures, CD’s and audios/ videos to aid the Board with their selections. Artists travel the country and are available in our area during specific times only. After discussion and a voting process, artists are selected during that meeting. Dates for the concerts are finalized at a later time, taking into consideration the availability of the high school auditorium and the artists. Letters and information about the concerts for the 2012-2013 will be sent out in March. Early Bird sales be- 1971-1972 Season Program gin in March and end in May. Memberships may be obtained after that time at a slightly higher cost. The membership limit is set at 580. Patron memberships are also available. Patron members are listed in program inserts and receive complementary tickets according to their giving level. Patron designation (donation) levels are Sponsor ($1000 or more) up to 8 tickets, Conductor ($700-$999) up to 6 tickets, Concert Master ($450-$699) up to 4 tickets, Section Leader ($200-$449) 2 tickets, First Chair ($75-$199) 1 ticket and Donor ($25$74). Memberships are available from Membership Chair Harlan Becker at 920-485-4195. Membership levels include adults at $45, students at $20 and a family membership at $110. The family membership includes 2 adults and 2 children or grandchildren under the age of 18. Extra tickets for children can be purchased at the student price of $20. The Dodge County Concert Association has brought live affordable music to the Dodge County area for more than 64 years! The 65th season begins with Rodney Mack’s Philadelphia Big Brass on Monday October 1, 2012, and concludes on Tuesday April 23, 2013, with Two on Tap, tapping and singing aka Fred and Ginger, with additional concerts on October 25, 2012, February 2, 2013, and March 18, 2013, in Beaver Dam.

Contact Membership Chair Harlan Becker at 920-485-4195 to become a member and enjoy the concerts of the 65th season of the Dodge County Concert Association.

PARTING THOUGHTS M Y HOM E T O W N

Anything’s Possible with the Right Solution.

PATRICK ZEMAN

hen I left Beaver Dam to attend college at the University of Minnesota, I met a lot of different people from all walks of life, and although there were plenty of people who had lived in Minneapolis and other metropolitan areas their whole lives, an overwhelming number of them were from small towns like mine. And like me, they had left their friends and family behind to seek an education and adventure in a big city for one big reason: Minneapolis was more exciting than their boring old town. Having finished college and moving even further away to start my own family, seeing more of the world and finally experiencing some of the things I had always told myself I wanted to do, I have come to realize just how fun a childhood in Beaver Dam actually was. Turns out people in Minneapolis have fun doing the same things folks in Beaver Dam do. They get together. They eat. They throw parties. They watch sports and get active themselves. It took my leaving town to understand that it wasn’t how big the stadium is or how many people are at your party that determines how much fun you will have. It’s whom you are with and how much you are willing to put in. That’s what makes Beaver Dam so special. To illustrate my point, let me take you on a journey to Memphis, TN. When my wife and I moved there a little over two years ago, we wanted to get out and have fun. We were hungry, so we found a chain Italian restaurant and sat down for dinner. The food was so slow and the service so bad, we ended up complaining to a low-level manager and getting our bill heavily reduced. But it wasn’t until we were walking out of the building that I realized something important. I wasn’t used to being treated that way. The rudeness and the disrespect. I wasn’t used to it because I had grown up in a good town where people were nicer and more respectful. In fact, more often than not the owner of the restaurant would have come out to apologize himself and offer us a replacement meal for the next time we came. No such treatment for us in Memphis that day. Granted this was probably a bad day for many people and I don’t want to assume that the utter lack of professionalism we experienced was normal. But the way the situation was handled by the people in charge directly reflected to me how little they actually cared about their jobs. The owner of the restaurant wasn’t in the building and the head manager was nowhere to be found. The entire event demonstrated that I was not being viewed as a real person or a customer. To them I was a number. A paycheck. A statistic. It made me wish that I lived in a town like Beaver Dam. Not all of my outside experiences have been negative. Take the grocery stores for example. The stores in Philadelphia where my family is living now are good businesses. The selections are nice and the prices are fair. But what they lack is the connection to the community. None of the major grocery stores in Philly are named after the people who own them, unlike two prominent groceries stores in Beaver Dam. At first this might seem like it shouldn’t matter. But there is comfort in knowing that the owner is a citizen of your town and might even be walking the aisles that day, helping stock the shelves and answering questions for their customers. It gives you a sense of being part of the community. Something the big city usually lacks. I never used to picture myself returning to a town like Beaver Dam once I had seen the world and decided to settle down. But now I understand the value of having such a close-knit community. When the person who pours your cup of coffee or sells you a car is the same person you see mowing their lawn on the weekends and attending the football games on Friday nights, it makes an impact. It reminds you that you’re a part of something bigger than yourself. For all the flashing lights and noisy streets that the big city has to offer, it’s my humble opinion that nothing can make you feel the way your hometown can.

Polly & Lisa Dake Jones 306 W. Mill St. Beaver Dam WI 53916 262-490-3736 canine_solutions_llc@yahoo.com

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Unveiling the Unexpected

™

James Milton Smith has been preparing, painting and organizing an abundance of artwork over the past seven years to create a brand new first time one-man exhibit which will be featured at the Seippel Homestead and Center for the Arts this spring. At age seventy-five, Smith has lived and breathed artwork through his lifetime of serving regional, national and international clients as a professional fine and former commercial artist. James’ work encompasses historical relevancy, people and places, Wisconsin tradition, and he has an affinity for creating Southwest art along with relating his savvy artistic touch for transportation across the generations. From the haunting civil war front to his stylistic art neuveau, Smith has captured color, nuance and detail in every aspect, in every era, in many realms. Smith’s work ranges from oil on canvas to watercolor, pencil drawings and acrylics. Most pieces within the exhibit are paired with Smith’s written personal stories, illustrating Smith’s unique voice and perspective, behind these exceptional and elegant paintings. Over 200 James Milton Smith works will be featured in the upcoming exhibit. Originals and limited edition prints will be available for purchase and will benefit the Beaver Dam Area Arts Association. About the cover: “War Dance,” an acrylic painting by James Milton Smith, is one of his Arizona collection, which is part of a larger body of work. This captures the height of the moment during a Plains Indian war party ceremonial dance, produced in a contemporary style.

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