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SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015 4 To Our Readers 6 Gibbs Family Farm 7 Being a Good Person 8 Windy Drumlins 11 A Time in The Pit 13 Mystery Dinner 14 Social Luxury of Beer 15 This & That
“Oh, I’m a Lumberjack...”
16 Musician Spotlight
Bradley Sperger
18 Polka Heartland 22 A Better Beaver Dam Lake 24 Feature Artist Earl Ritter 28 Emerging Artist
Elyse Rennhack
30 Lines From Upstream 31 Stump the Beaver 32 View from the Kitchen 33 Historical Society
Haunted History
Jonathan Gibbs Along with his wife Karen and their children, 7-year-old Hayden and 5-year-old Natalie, he proudly operates a Wisconsin Century Farm east of Fox Lake.
Alex Bennett Mark and Fran Krause’s son-inlaw, a business lawyer, editor and creative writer who lives in San Diego, California with his wife Sara and their son Tasman.
Colton Dunham A UW-Milwaukee graduate, freelance journalist and truly aspiring young writer, who will soon be on his way to earn his masters degree in dramatic writing.
Bill Boettge Retired from a career in the footwear industry, he moved to a home on Beaver Dam Lake in 2008 and is actively involved with projects to improve the lake.
Karla Jensen A freelance writer and published playwright, Karla is Director of Auxiliary Programs and Outreach at Wayland Academy and teaches writing at the Seippel Center.
Kathy Barnett A member of the board of directors of the Dodge County Historical Society, she began the Haunted History tours in 2010 and “digs up” new people each year.
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The MAGAZINE Well here we are: - Volume 4 Issue 5 Wie geht es dir? Time marches on - it’s already September and I need to wash the windows and start thinking about some firewood. Does it only happen in Wisconsin or does summer fly by everywhere? Have I mentioned that September is one of my favorite times - this year especially as Kathy and I celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary - cool hey? . . . When I was a younger person I didn’t much like the "oompah-pah" of Polka music . . . I thought it was kinda’ corny - that’s changed now that I’m a little more grown up. I was lucky to meet a couple of very fascinating guys who have just completed a book, Polka Heartland: Why the Midwest Loves to Polka. We are fortunate to be able to share a few images from their book - please take a few moments to enjoy the feature in this issue - some excellent photography … How’d you do in science class? Check out the great piece on Windy Drumlins and you’ll be certainly fascinated with the magic of aquaponics - the perfect balance of fish, bacteria and plants. Fully sustainable - No chemicals - No weeds - No herbicides Wonderful food - No worries … I always hear how much you enjoy the history stories we feature, so here are a few tidbits just for fun. Fifty Years Ago, 1965: Billboard Magazine’s list of the top hot 100 songs at #50 - “Go Now” by the Moody Blues, and did you know it was originally recorded by Bessie Banks? The Grateful Dead played their first concert in 1965 and performed their last one in 2015 - “driving that train” for 50 years - time marches on. “Mariner IV" sent back the first pictures of Mars, and Astronaut Ed White became the first American Spacewalker. Alvin J. Beers was mayor of Beaver Dam - and that makes me think of something refreshing … Advertisers are what make this little magazine possible - please support these folks - as they are busy trying to make a living just like the rest of us … To those who have contributed to PWYW - we thank you and are so pleased that you enjoy the magazine … Cheers!
VOLUME 4 - IssUE 5
EDITOR
PUBLISHER
Erik Dittmann
Jim Dittmann
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Preston Bowman TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Benjamin Dittmann COPY EDITOR
ADVISOR
Kathy Dittmann
Emma Sutter
LocaLeben The Magazine is mailed bi-monthly to 16,014 homes and businesses in Dodge County. An additional 2,500 copies are available for FREE at all public libraries in Dodge County and any advertiser in LocaLeben.
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READER SERVICES LocaLeben is Local Life. We invite you to share your stories in LocaLeben. All stories in LocaLeben are written by people like you. Phone: (920) 306-1189 Email:content@localeben.com Mailing Address: N8369 S. Sunset Pt. Rd. Beaver Dam, WI 53916 Designed in Beaver Dam. LocaLeben The Magazine is published in Beaver Dam, WI by LocaLeben LLC. All rights reserved. The entire contents of LocaLeben The Magazine is Copyright (c) 2015. No portion may be reproduced, in whole or in part, by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without 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.
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5
JONATHAN GIBBS
W
e are the fifth generation to operate our family farm east of Fox Lake. We are very excited and proud; our farm was one of this year’s recipients of a Wisconsin Century Farm award. From the time when I dented my mom’s dishwasher with my pedal tractor, it was pretty apparent that farming was in my blood. My wife Karen and I, along with our children Hayden and Natalie, operate our farm with a lot of help from my dad Dave and my uncle John, affectionately referred to as my “Senior Advisors.” They have not only been my family, but they have also been great mentors and role models. Every so often someone asks why I farm, and honestly, from time to time I ask myself that same question. When I was younger, the big tractors and combines interested me, and I thought it was cool to be around and drive those machines. During my high school and college years, the science aspect of agriculture really started to interest me. Knowing the why and how of a plant’s growth, how my decisions affect the life of a plant or animal, and seeing something through from the beginning to the end became a passion. Upon graduating from UW-River Falls with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agronomy, I was hoping to return to our family farm fulltime. Due to many circumstances, and most likely a lot of wisdom from my father, I found myself working fulltime off the farm for Hartung Brothers, Inc., a family-owned
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Cover photo: Jim Dittmann Farm panorama photo below courtesy: Gibbs family
agriculture company. During my 13 years of employment with Hartung Brothers, I had the opportunity to travel in many areas of the Midwest, work with many farmers, and ended up getting one of the best “educations” money cannot buy. Then in 2011, I had the opportunity to return to our family farm in a fulltime capacity. Both Karen and I grew up on farms, and we are enjoying raising our children on our family farm. We are passionate about meeting the challenges that crop production brings and how we can do this in an environmentally friendly way. We have fields where we can see Beaver Dam Lake from and others where we can see Fox Lake from, so this reminds us each day that the decisions we make on our farm will directly affect others. We use traditional practices like no-till seeding to keep our soil and crop inputs in place, but we have also incorporated technologies such as precision placement of fertilizer and cover crops, which help both our growing crops and the overall neighborhood where we farm. I look at the opportunity we have been given, not only to be part of the 2% of our population that “farm,” but that we are able to do this on land that has been in our family for over 100 years. We are able to do this with our past generations who we still learn from every day. While at the same time, we see the excitement and amazement that growing up on a farm brings our children. This drives our passion and our focus now and into the future.
Publishers note: At press time Kyle had just sent this e-mail to the Nation of Patriots and I was fortunate enough to see it. The all-volunteer Patriot Tour travels the country raising funds to help military veterans and their familes. How appropriate that Kyle should be a recipient! Here is living evidence of the magic in ”Being a Good Person.” Dear Bill and Nation of Patriots, Today we, my family and I, received our new furnace. We have had a rough year financially and due to my inability to work, we have accumulated a lot of stress with no answers. Thank you all very much for helping us solve this problem and relieve the stress.
T
his could be viewed as a simple story, a simple act of kindness from one to another in need.
To begin - it was brought to our attention by one of our advertisers, Louis Holz with PC Systems Around You, that a really cool story was developing on the Beaver Dam Buy/Sell Trade site. Kyle Funck posted a request titled “Being a Good Person.” He told the story of how he noticed his neighbor was having trouble keeping her lawn mowed. He was concerned about her welfare. Further inquiry led him to find out that her mower wasn’t working well all summer and she couldn’t afford to replace it. Kyle is an Army Veteran and unable to mow the lawn for her due to his own disabilities, but he wanted to find another way to help. He crowdfunded donations, enough to pay for a brand new lawnmower for her. A total of 14 people dropped off their donations and several of them came to the unveiling of the gift. It took less than 24 hours for enough people to commit and drop off the money.
Thank you for being the answer to our call for help. Due to you and your great organization, our family will have a warm winter and happier year. This goes so much further than just a furnace. So hard to get my concentration good enough to write everything I want to, so I will leave it at this. Sincerely, The Funck Family
There isn’t much more to say than how wonderful it is to see someone do something for a neighbor with no ulterior motive and wanting nothing in return. I am always impressed with what this community is able to do. “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” Anne Frank Left is the full post from Facebook.
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ALEX BENNETT
W
hen the snow is thick on the ground this winter, there will be produce at Windy Drumlins that is just as fresh and nutritious as you can grow and pick in your own garden in July. Using a relatively new farming method called aquaponics, the Krause family of Horicon grows over twelve varieties of lettuces and greens year-round at their family owned and operated sustainable farm, Windy Drumlins. Windy Drumlins is a local source for fresh, sustainably grown produce. It is the culmination of years of planning and research, according to co-owners Fran and Mark Krause. “It seemed an excellent continuation of our journeys throughout the food industry,” opined Mark during recent comments about just why they got started with aquaponics. “Before settling in Horicon, we travelled the world, moving 11 times in 26 years for Mark’s job in the food industry,” Fran added. “Through all our travels, we both knew that some day we wanted to return to Wisconsin to build a home where we could grow as much of our own food as possible using sustainable methods.” As business ideas began to percolate, everyone in the family got involved. Daughters Laura and Sara, son Mike, grandchildren Jessie and Kyle, and son-in-laws Eric and Alex, as well as Living Lettuce Photo: Jim Dittmann
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Fran Krause
Fran and Mark’s siblings, all had a role in shaping the ideas that have made Windy Drumlins what it is today. With three generations adding their talents and perspectives, debates were lively and open-ended. Everyone agreed that sustainability would be at the heart of the Windy Drumlins mission. Fran grew up on a dairy farm in Princeton and already knew a lot about what it takes to do things sustainably. Mark grew up as a city kid in Wausau and looked at things from a business angle. Son Mike has taken on the family’s beekeeping. “Mark did all the beekeeping since the early 1980s,” Fran will tell you, “but the lifting is just plain hard work, something our son doesn’t mind at all.” Mike currently maintains 30 hives in two different locations, and has plans to expand to nearly 100 hives next year. Finding good spots for his bees is a constant challenge. Daughter Laura produces natural personal care products using honey, beeswax, and natural oils. She has recently begun to offer her products to the public, and local interest and enthusiasm has been high. Her background as a high school science teacher certainly is a great foundation for product development. At Mike’s suggestion, the family began to explore aquaponics. Aquaponics involves building a self-contained indoor ecosystem using a series of water tanks and over 300 feet of grow beds. Water is continuously circulated and aerated throughout the ecosystem resulting in harvestable fish and grow beds full of vegetables. The system’s main input is food for the fish. Good bacteria are introduced to the system to convert fish waste into nutrients for the plants. One challenge is to establish a balance among the three elements of fish, bacteria, and plants, a balance that can take anywhere from several months to a year to stabilize. Aquaponically grown produce has a lot of advantages. The plants grow in a completely controlled environment, meaning they aren’t exposed to chemicals or animal waste that might affect them outdoors. Not using soil means soil-borne illnesses are completely absent. Because the system is indoors and self-contained, chemicals are not needed to control crop-destroying pests. Instead, “good bugs” like ladybugs and lacewings are added when needed. There are no weeds to worry about either, so there is no need for herbicides. The end result is a clean, healthy crop. Not
Windy Drumlins greenhouse, Mark Krause
only is aquaponics clean, it is also efficient. Aquaponics farming uses over 90% less water than soil-based farming. Experts claim yields of two to five times more per square foot than conventional methods. Last but not least, because aquaponically grown plants are not in soil, they can be sold “alive” with the roots still intact. This helps avoid nutritional degradation known to occur after a vegetable is picked. Our customers at local farmers’ markets have loved being able to keep their plants in water on the kitchen counter, decorating their space with vivacious greenery that stays fresh until it is time to pick and serve. We began our exploration of aquaponics during the spring of 2013 by taking training courses and doing a lot of research. First we purchased a family-sized system for our shed. There we grew test crops of lettuce and tomatoes, experimented with artificial light to supplement the sun on gloomy days, and got a feel for how our process might work in a larger setting. We also got our first chance to eat garden-fresh produce in winter, which was pretty cool! In late 2013 we began planning for the Windy Drumlins commercial-scale greenhouse. Using the information we gained through our training courses, we concluded that a Chinese-style greenhouse would be the most economical and productive choice for our location. This type of greenhouse, which looks a bit like a squat airplane hanger that has been cut down the middle longitudinally, is designed to soak up as much solar energy as possible. The spot we had in mind for it would take advantage of the long, south-facing clear side of the building during the cold months. Following plans from our trainers, Friendly Aquaponics, we broke ground in September 2013. During the winter of 2013/2014 the family worked together in their heated shop putting together many of the components needed to complete the building. One component, the beams – 24 in all were built by the family and represent a key component in the creation of a Chinese-style greenhouse. As winter ended, construction began in earnest and was completed in early October 2014. Currently the Windy Drumlins greenhouse is the only commercial-scale Chinese-style greenhouse in Wisconsin. Of course, completing the greenhouse itself was only part of the process. Next, the aquaponics ecosystem had to be nurtured into working health. We began by adding bluegill and perch not long after the building was completed. It took another five or six weeks for conditions to stabilize enough to be ready to plant. In February 2015, Windy Drumlins made its first sales to the public at the Madison Home and Garden Show, where we were overwhelmed by the positive response to our fresh produce. The Windy Drumlins greenhouse has 1304 square feet of growing area. Depending on plant density, as many as 17,930 plants can be cultivated at one time in the growing beds. Typically, only about 6,000 plants are grown at a time, with an additional 3,000 seedlings in separate germination tables. Once the operation is fully ramped up and sales are steady, the family expects to sell an average of 1,000 units per week or 52,000 units per year. Right now, Windy Drumlins is growing a mix of lettuces. Lettuce varieties vary somewhat throughout the year as weather conditions change. In the summer months, when the greenhouse gets pretty steamy inside, we grow heat-tolerant varieties. Nearly any type of lettuce can be grown outside of summer, and some varieties, such as romaine and butterhead, can be grown year-round. Windy Drumlins also grows various types of
Chef Ron Dombroski 920.210.5908 www.smokehauscatering.com
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red lettuces to enhance the nutritional mix of our offerings, not to mention adding new flavors and colors to salads. We grow a number of other greens alongside the lettuces, including kale, swiss chard, leeks, and pak choi. We plan to grow herbs in the future. To further enhance Windy Drumlins as a one-stop shop for salad needs, we also grow microgreens, often called “super food” by some nutritional experts because of their incredibly high volume of vitamins, minerals, and anti-oxidants. Because they require different environmental conditions than lettuces and other vegetables, microgreens are not grown in the aquaponics system, but like our lettuces, they are available year-round. Windy Drumlins has created its own unique mix of microgreens, which includes nine different vegetables such as broccoli, turnip, and radish. As with our lettuces, we use only non-GMO seeds and follow organic protocols, resulting in organically certified microgreens. While the goal is to grow vegetables, during the aquaponics process the fish involved grow as well. The fish are held in three large tanks inside our greenhouse, with each tank holding about 300 fish. As the fish mature, we expect that the system will generate about 900 full-size bluegills each year. We plan to sell these fish to the public as they are harvested and replaced with younger fish called fingerlings. Windy Drumlins is certified to grow organically, and all of its seeds are non-GMO. Our products are sold directly to visitors at Windy Drumlins farm, as well as at Back to the Best Country Store just west of Rubicon, and the Downtown West Bend Farmers’ Market each Saturday through October. We will also be selling lettuce at Wellness Found in West Bend and Berres Broth-
Windy Drumlins photos courtesy of the Krause family, pictured above
ers Coffee Roasters in Watertown. We are proud that the Horicon Hills Restaurant serves Windy Drumlins greens. As winter approaches we expect to establish drop-off locations throughout Dodge County to more effectively service our customers. Please visit our website for more information www. windydrumlins.com or call us at (920) 427-6343 or (920) 427-6556 if you are interested in purchasing greens, honey, personal care products, or to tour PHOTOS the Windy Drumlins 3.5” x 2.5” | Maximum Font Size: 30 farm. pt More on www.LocaLeben.com
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COLTON DUNHAM
W
hen the phone rang one afternoon in the summer of 1979 while JoAnn Gehrke-Wahlen was working inside of her beauty shop, JoAnn’s Hair Designers at 114 Henry Street in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, the hairstylist answered only to discover that an opportunity of a lifetime was being offered to her. “I remember it like it was yesterday,” Wahlen said. “They said they’re doing a movie in town and they’d like me to do the hair. I was like a kid saying, ‘Shut up. Who is this really?’ I mean, how many phone calls can you get like that? They said, ‘No, really. We heard you’re a good hairdresser and we want you to work on the movie.’” While on the phone, the caller asked if she could stop by the shop for an appointment so the stylist could be “put to the test.” JoAnn recalls, “She came in and I prayed through the whole thing so it would look good as I usually did with all of my customers.” JoAnn passed the test, and a few short weeks later, she and her husband Ted were on the set of Teddy, which was later renamed The Pit, a film that is now considered a horror cult classic. On the set, they were exposed to a new world that over the course of those six weeks of production became a lifestyle for each of them as they were bitten by what she calls the “movie bug.” The film, which was initially intended to be a psychological study of a 10-year-old autistic boy by the film’s writer Ian Stuart, was entirely transformed into what it is known for: being an ultra campy blend of horror and intentional comedy. For those of you who have not seen or possibly never heard of the film, the plot revolves around a perverse boy by the name of Jamie who is left in the care of his babysitter. Upon discovering a pit that is the home of prehis-
All photos courtesy: JoAnn Gehrke-Wahlen (pictured above)
toric, hairy and hungry creatures known as troglodytes (trogs for short), he is urged by his demonically possessed teddy bear to lure people into the pit as an act of tempered revenge. So, why was Beaver Dam selected as the location for a movie? It happened by chance. Executive producer John Bassett Jr. visited Wayland Academy to watch his daughter compete in a tennis camp. During his visit, he realized the town’s potential as a primary location for the movie with details and exteriors that any town in Canada could not possibly match. “When I read the script, and it absolutely fit, a perfect midwestern town,” Bassett stated about Beaver Dam in an interview with Variety. Beaver Dam was transformed from that perfect sleepy midwestern town into a hustling community when the film crew from Amulet Pictures Ltd. with truckloads of equipment arrived from Toronto, Canada. Along with professional actors, producers, and a jokester of a director named Lew Lehman, they stationed their headquarters at the Best Western Campus Inn. Several homes, local landmarks and schools were secured in Beaver Dam, Waupun and Oshkosh for the shoot. Locations such as Wayland Academy’s library, Stevens Park, City Hall, Washington School Playground, Downtown Beaver Dam, and the Beaver Dam Junior High School were used. The crew even staged a football game by taking cameras to an actual Titans game at UW-Oshkosh. Along with a large number of extras who were paid a salary of $4 per hour, JoAnn and Ted were among a group of locals that were given key roles in the behind-the-scenes crew. As the hairstylist on set, JoAnn worked up to 10 hours every day for the duration of the six-week shoot. While she trimmed some of the
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hairstyles, her main objective was to keep the talent looking constant throughout the film, which included having to watch continuity closely. To help achieve this, the crew and herself took Polaroid pictures of every scene. “I had a script because I had to write everything on there because of continuity,” Gehrke-Wahlen said. “People think that when you film, you just film it and it doesn’t happen that way. You could be doing the end of the film first and then you put together the middle and then the beginning. It’s not like a play where you just come in and watch it. It was so goofy.” Meanwhile, her husband Ted, who was a local contractor at the time, was appointed as the assistant to Peter Stone, Amulet’s art director. Ted’s objective was to help construct the most important element of the film – the pit itself. Once the 15-foot deep pit was dug in Elmer Vanderkin’s woods between County Trunk I and Shamrock Road, Ted built wood framework around it to support the film equipment. The pit was lined with aluminum screening, sprayed with foam insulation and then painted black with added roots and twigs to make it appear as a natural habitat for the trogs. For scenes where actors are thrown into the pit, hundreds of boxes lined the bottom to cushion the fall. “That was quite the production itself,” Wahlen said of Ted’s daunting task of working on the pit. “He was really a good, hardworking carpenter. He was just pounding nails and helping design. He was in another location and I’d be with the crew at all of the other different locations.” JoAnn and Ted were both completely engrossed in the experience, especially JoAnn as she says that she was in the general vicinity of the main action at all times during the shoot – forming friendships with the Canadian crewmembers whether they were on set or hanging out during one of four wrap parties when cameras weren’t rolling. “The director called me hair all the time,” Gehrke-Wahlen said. “That was funny because as soon as he said action, it was all business. Before that, though, he was a real jokester, a real character. I liked to stay out of his way because I
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didn’t want to be the butt of his jokes.” When asked how she felt when filming concluded that October, she said it was tough getting back to reality. “It’s fun to be in a make-believe world,” she said. “To me it was more real to me than my real life because it was so fun. The movie was a part of my life that was really nice because I got to escape reality for a little while. I didn’t have customers. I just had this little group that I worked with and I didn’t have to make supper. It was a refreshing change of lifestyle. Then it was like rubber hitting the road when everybody went home after the wrap.” Although she was married and raising a nine-year-old daughter at the time, she was so involved that she once had the pipedream of moving to Canada to pursue being a hairdresser on more film sets – in hopes to replicate the experience she had while on the set in Beaver Dam. “A news crew came in from Milwaukee or Madison and they interviewed me,” she recalled. “Of course, I was like, ‘Maybe next fall or next spring, I’m going to Canada and become a hairdresser for the movies.’ Now I just chuckle when I look back at that. It’s so funny. I had my life in Beaver Dam. It was fun while we had the opportunity on set, but to actually commit to something that you said you were going to do, it was more of a dream. After rational thought took over, I was like, ‘I have a beauty shop here. I have a husband and a daughter.’” A couple of weeks ago, for the first time since October of 1981 when she and Ted attended the premiere of The Pit at Beaver Dam’s Wisconsin Theater (now the location of Rogers Cinema), she sat down to watch the movie again. The second viewing was a reminder of how awful the movie actually is, perhaps intentionally so. “I was appalled at the nudity,” she said with a chuckle. When she talks about the movie, however, she strongly suggests that she is more willing to talk about the experience of being behind-the-scenes and not necessarily so much about the finished product. “That sounds weird, but you live the moment,” she admitted. “It was a fun thing to do. After this wonderful experience meeting the people and doing these things and then all of a sudden 35 years later, you watch the actual movie and you’re going, ‘Oh my gosh. I was a part of that?’” No matter how appalled she is by the perverseness of the nudity and the shocking gore, she admits that she will attempt to watch The Pit every 30 years. With a smile, PHOTOS she proclaims, “I’ll be close to 100 More on www.LocaLeben.com when I’ll watch it again.”
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T
he community is invited to attend as Downtown Beaver Dam Inc. (DBDI) welcomes back the Milwaukee Dinner Detective as a part of the upcoming Mural Festival fundraising. The Dinner Detective will produce a second mystery dinner theatre show on Sunday, October 11 at Wayland Academy. The event will take place at 6 pm in Wayland’s Pickard Dining Hall where Chef Richard of Wayland Academy will serve a fourcourse dinner. Tickets are $75 per person. Guests should be 17 years old or older. Tickets are on sale as at Rechek’s Food Pride, Piggly Wiggly and The Seippel Arts Center. The Milwaukee Dinner Detectives collection of actors, directors and producers have mastered the art of improvisational theater. By hiding their actors among the customers and leaving everyone to suspect who is part of the show and who is not, their shows are award winning and proven second to none. “The Dinner Detective was founded on three simple ideas: We wanted to create a show with intriguing scenarios, challenging mysteries and true-to-life dialogue. Having produced thousands of public and private shows and entertained tens of thousands of customers since our grand opening in November 2004. The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show is at the forefront of interactive entertainment,” report the producers of the event. The DBDI Design Committee is fundraising for the 2017 full Mural Festival, raising nearly $150,000 to complete at least ten to fifteen murals throughout the city. The most recent mural was completed by Walldogs artists on the Inter-Quest building in July. The theme is Kamrath Radio and TV store. A donor wall mural is set to be completed summer of 2016 as part of Beaver Dam’s 175th Anniversary. Mural committee members include Ken Thomas (Daily Citizen), Jonas Zahn (Northwoods Casket Company), Justin Sutter (Justin Sutter, LLC), Jessalyn Braun (BDAAA), Karla Jensen (Wayland Academy), Kay Appenfeldt (BDCAS), Josiah Vilmin (Black Waters Coffee), Judy Beyer (BDAAA artist), John Whalen (BMO Harris Bank), Brenda Uzerath (Modern Dog), Shannon Ashcroft (BDAAA artist), and Betty Reals (Beaver Dam Antique Mall). For more information on the October 11th Murder Mystery, contact Karla Jensen, mural chairperson, at 11 EVENT - MILWAUKEE (920) 356-2120 ext. 236 or email kjensen@wayland.org. DINNER DETECTIVES Info @ www.LocaLeben.com
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GUEST COLUMNIST: CHUCK SWAIN
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et me start out by saying I like beer. I like all kinds of beer. I especially like Wisconsin beers, but I had something happen 40 odd years ago that changed my life, and it changed my view of all beers, not just Wisconsin beers. In 1970, when the Experimental Aircraft Association switched the location for their convention from Rockford, Illinois to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, I decided to play host to some of my customers (I’m in the airplane business) and set up a quiet, cool place in the woods where my friends and customers could sit back, enjoy a cold beer and wait for the seemingly endless parade of vehicles to exit the parking area after the afternoon airshow. So far, so good… The law of un-intended consequences reared its head and what started out as a quiet little party soon grew into something no one could have anticipated. Friends and customers were soon joined by my suppliers who after a days’ worth of meeting and greeting their customers in the old, hot, claustrophobic exhibition areas were anxious to cool off too! That was soon expanded into “Could I bring some of my better customers over with me?” It was all good, for awhile, but soon the crowds turned into teeming throngs all clamoring for beer. Now, to be fair, my suppliers did their fair share and brought beer with them, but it wasn’t the kind of beer I was used to. It was beer from all over the country, you know, local breweries, craft beer and for the most part, small batches…and it was wonderful! “If you take one, bring one” became law at our campsite, simply because it was getting expensive, even with the vendors helping. Un-intended consequences again…the crowds became even bigger and the variety of beers expanded exponentially. I was suffering under an embarrassment of riches and it kept getting better. My tastes have been altered by exposure to the world. Whereas at one time I was satisfied with Hinterland and New Glarus, once I tasted Marzenbier and Insurgente Xocoveza Mocha Stout…well, I was ruined. Please don’t misunderstand, I still love Wisconsin beers, but there are so many others out there. I used to confine my selection to hoppy beers, the British
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are particularly good at them, but I began to notice that there was a seasonal aspect to beers that I was completely unfamiliar with. Spring beer generally lent itself to the wheats and pale ales, summer was hoppy IPAs and the fall, well, that Is the best part. There is a huge selection to draw from. Brown ales, imperial stouts, vanilla porters, and of course, the pumpkins. There’s an old adage that says, “The best way to enjoy a pumpkin beer is to take off the cap and pour it down the drain.” With a few notable exceptions, I’d agree. The whole pumpkin thing has, in my opinion, been way overdone. That being said, here are the exceptions: Gored by Avery Brewing Company. If I’m going to drink a pumpkin, it’ll be this one - mild flavor, not overly spicy and not sweet. It is brewed with hops so it has some body to it. Punkin by Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales. Nice and malty, not sweet. Gives you a warm feeling when drinking it, not unlike a good whisky. Pumking by Southern Tier Brewing Company. Awfully sweet, almost like a dessert beer. But not overdone with the pumpkin - A definite honey finish. As for the rest of the “fall beers”…fall is harvest season and hops are one of the crops that are fresh and available. Can you tell I like hops? Founders Brewing Co. makes a Harvest Ale loaded with fresh hops. It has a light, grassy flavor with plenty of malt to balance. Southern Tier Harvest is an ESB - Extra Special Bitter with English hops and very malty. Sam Adams Octoberfest is slightly bitter because of the German hops, but malty and caramel for the finish, and Lagunitas Little Sumpin’ Extra is a double IPA, but you have to be careful, it’s over 8% ABV. Very hoppy, bright and fruity, it is one of my personal favorites. There are literally thousands more to choose from. I have been very fortunate to have some exotic samples that are not available to everyone, but I was also pleasantly surprised to discover that in Dodge County there are several liquor stores that carry a surprising variety of good quality beers. The Chill Zone in Beaver Dam is my personal “Go to” store because it’s convenient and the owners are knowledgeable and friendly, but it’s not the only source for exotic goodies, just search around! With the explosion in craft/micro- breweries in this country today versus, for example, the 60’s when we were stuck with a dozen big breweries whose products were homogenized and bland, Isn’t this a great time to be alive!
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s we wind through the days of summer, many of us have tasks and projects on our To-Do List. On our homestead, we have wanted to clear the land, so to speak. Actually, just cutting down two trees on the ol’ property. Watching too many reruns of Little House On The Prairie, I guess. Like many urbanites, my perception and knowledge of “The Lumberjack” is rooted in folklore, myth, and just plain hearsay. Why, who would have known that after chopping down a majestic maple, lumberjacks would impress their womenfolk by bounding upon logs with precise dancing agility, toes pointed properly, as documented in the classic motion picture Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Or that British lumberjacks extolled their virtues with a troupe called Monty Python’s Flying Circus. Or that logging camps were occupied by singing, teenybopper pop icons with feathered, blow-dried hair - an authentic lumberjack hairstyle, to be sure (Bobby Sherman in Here Come the Brides). Kids, you may need to Google that one! On a recent sunny Sunday afternoon, one of my buddies called and said that he and another friend had a couple of chain-
saws and they were just itchin’ to “fell a tree.” Suffice it to say, I took them up on the offer. Trekking into our “back 40” (the backyard), we eyed up the long deceased pine tree, and they proceeded to chop ‘er down. While one of the “woodsmen” confidently exclaimed that he had just watched a YouTube video on cutting down a tree (I am sure Paul Bunyan did just fine without that), my other friend demonstrated his expertise by utilizing tools of the trade he had brought along - a maul and maul wedge. He also demonstrated the proper method of cutting a “notch” in the tree, and leaving a small piece called the “trigger” which holds the tree until it is ready to be toppled. Once the notch was cut, and there was assurance that the area was clear, a cut through the trigger caused the mighty pine to fall exactly where we wanted it. To our chagrin, however, we did NOT yell “Timber!” Be that as it may, there will be many more S’mores consumed with the increase in the size of our woodpile. Now, with this outdoor experience well in hand, and my new woodsman vocabulary in my tool kit, I will be able to talk shop at the next “Lumberjack Breakfast” we attend.
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Photos courtesy: Bradley Sperger BRADLEY SPERGER
H
ello my name is Bradley Sperger and I am a one-man band singer songwriter. I was born and raised in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. From an early age I have had a passion for music; even in 4K my teachers frequently heard me singing tunes in the bathroom. Not the best venue, but hey, you gotta start somewhere. When I was in the fourth grade, my dad brought a new member of the family home, an Oscar Schmidt Washburn acoustic guitar. As soon as I heard my dad strumming those strings, I asked him to teach me a few chords. After I learned a few chords, a family friend who played guitar taught me some blues progressions. Now there is a saying that practice makes perfect, and let’s just say that my sense of rhythm and blues was far from perfect, but in time my rhythm got its groove. It was not until an eighth grade talent show that I played in front of a large group of people, but as soon as that happened, my love of music grew and grew. In high school, I started to develop my songwriting and had more of an indie folk inspiration. Senior year, I went into a battle of the bands contest called Launch Pad as an acoustic duo with my best friend Caleb. I learned a lot from that experience. Thanks to Karla Jensen, I have been invited to play for various events for the Beaver Dam Area Arts Association, which has been a big help for me to progress. In 2013, I started to play music at a few open mic nights
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in the Madison area; playing there helped me to see that others enjoyed my music as much as I did. I was invited to check out a special songwriting demonstration/discussion given by a visiting Scottish artist by the name of Scott Nicol at Moraine Park Beaver Dam. When I saw his guitar sitting in the corner, I asked him if could play him a quick song before I had to leave for work. I have a hard time resisting a guitar laying around; it is like the instrument is calling to me. After I played him one of my original songs, he invited me to come to Hydro Street Brewery in Columbus, where he had a gig booked later that week, and said I could play a few songs there. It was an irresistible offer. I took Scott up on it, and I have been playing regularly at Hydro Street Brewery for over two years now. Having a regular place to play has been good for incubation musically. Each time I played a new show there, it helped to refine my chops and enabled me to find my voice. When I was living alone in my 2 bedroom upstairs apartment in Beaver Dam, I wanted a way in which I could practice alone without having a band and still have something backing me up. That is the time when I made the purchase that now drives my sound. I bought a loop pedal; musicians like to call them loopers. What does a loop pedal do, you say? It records you playing and then plays it back to you. With a looper, you can keep on add-
ing loops (other recordings) and you can continue to build it into whatever you want. It is like cooking; the possibilities are truly endless with all the ingredients that you can add to make a delightfully tasteful dish. As with anything, when you first try it you tend to be a bit clumsy with it, and it takes time to find your footing. The more you do it, the more natural it becomes to you. Fall 2013 was the year when I started to play shows with my friend Abby, who also does looping in live shows. Watching how she used her loop pedal with a live audience inspired me to do more with how I loop during my performances. Abby and I have played shows in Madison, Appleton, Oshkosh, Rhinelander, and Columbus. Playing all these shows helped me to cultivate my craft. I have finally found a groove. With hard work and practice, you can develop a sound that is equally pleasing to both you and the audience. I decided to add drums into my live performance by using a compact electronic pad. It is awesome because I can have most any percussive sound that I desire to loop, as well as many other sounds. By adding this to my live set along with bass guitar, I have all the versatility I desire, and I have become my own sort of one man band. It is like having all the herbs and spices in your kitchen and you are free to create whatever fits your fancy; it gives you the opportunity to create with an open canvas. I keep my schedule for shows up to date on www.facebook.com/ bradleyspergermusic. Feel free to see what it is all about. VIDEO Info @ www.LocaLeben.com
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“From Prague to Paris to Pennsylvania and points beyond, polka became a pillar of ethnic and regional identity. Folklorist, musician, and lifelong polka devotee Rick March serves up a delightful dish of 175 years of polka history and its relevance in forgoing American culture. In this authoritative and richly illustrated book, March and photographer Dick Blau celebrate the ‘heart’ in Polka Heartland.” - Daniel Sheey, PhD, curator and director, Smithsonian Folkways Recording
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P
olka is a tradition that has enriched our region’s culture. “I decided to write this book because I’ve had a life-long familiarity with polka, and I decided about 35 years ago that polka is perhaps the least studied of American musical traditions, which is why I ought to study it . . . Wisconsin has the greatest variety of different ethnic styles of polka of any state. The research hasn’t been done, but I’d hazard a guess that this state has the most polka bands per capita in the US . . . It’s fascinating that something that started as a pop culture craze in the 1840s is still alive and kicking about 175 years later. That’s longevity,” stated author and folklorist Rick March, who together with photographer Dick Blau brings us Polka Heartland. Polka Heartland captures the beat that pulses through the heart of Midwestern culture and offers up the fascinating story of how “oompah-pah” came to be the sound of middle America. From the crowded dance tents at Pulaski Polka Days, to an off-the-grid Mexican polka dance in smalltown Wisconsin, Polka Heartland explores the people, places, and history behind the Midwest’s favorite music and shows how polka continues to influence American musicians. Author Rick March and photographer Dick Blau take readers on a joyful romp through this beloved, unique, and richly storied genre in Polka Heartland: Why the Midwest Loves to Polka.
Photos: Dick Blau Above left: Stephanie, Pulaski Polka Days Above right: Duet, Barefoot Becky Band, Monroe Right: The Squeezettes, Milwaukee
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Above: Polish Hop, Pulaski Polka Days Opposite page: Jam session, Martin’s Tap, New Berlin Photos: Dick Blau Below: Dancers, Las Vegas Latin Club, Oregon
Photographer Dick Blau, right, has co-authored three books on the culture of celebration: Polka Happiness, Skyros Carnival, and Bright Balkan Morning. He calls his work an ethnography of feelings. A self-taught filmmaker and photographer, he is Professor Emeritus and co-founder of the highly regarded Department of Film at UW-Milwaukee.
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Photo: Tom Bamberger
Author Rick March, pictured above, has participated in the Midwest polka scene for more than three decades as a bandleader, sideman, deejay, and writer. He is a preeminent scholar of Midwest music history and culture, served as State Folklorist for Wisconsin from 1983 to 2009, and was the longtime host of Down Home Dairyland on Wisconsin Public Radio.
Photo: Dick Blau
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All photos courtesy: Beaver Dam Lake Improvement Association BILL BOETTGE
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or some it is the thrill of watching your bobber go underwater and the anticipation of a nice sized bluegill or perch on the end of the line. For others, especially young granddaughters, it is the excitement of a fast ride on a tube with water spraying on her face. For everyone, it is a beautiful sunset on a warm summer evening. Beaver Dam Lake offers the residents of the area many great benefits. Beaver Dam Lake was formed when the first settlers dammed up the river in 1846. I wonder if they realized that they would be creating the 16th largest lake in Wisconsin? While the river is not large, it collects water from 154 square miles of watershed, an area covering parts of four counties. There are 13 acres of watershed for every acre of lake. While we knew the basic facts about the lake, and other reports have been written, there has been no comprehensive study of the lake. To better understand the lake’s ecosystem and the actions that can be taken to enhance and protect it, the Beaver Dam Lake Improvement Association (BDLIA) began a lake management study in 2012 using funds from a matching Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) grant. In addition to studying the water quality and drivers affecting water quality, the study provides detailed information on the aquatic plants, shore land assessment and fisheries data. From this, an implementation plan was developed through the collaborative efforts of the BDLIA, the ecologists doing the research and the WDNR. This plan was presented to the BDLIA members and interested citizens on August 22 at the BDLIA annual meeting. While the plan details specific goals and action items, it is a living document that will be under constant review and adjustment depending on conditions of the lake, the availability of funds, the level of volunteer involvement and the needs of the stakeholders.
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Beaver Dam Lake is a “drainage� lake dependent primarily on runoff from the watershed for its source of water as opposed to being filled with water from springs. The lake serves as a collection basin for what flows from the watershed. Because this watershed is over 70% agricultural, we collect the soil (sediment) and the nutrients running off of this farmland. Over the past 175 plus years, the lake has been filled in with this sediment and collected the phosphorus and other nutrients. Thus it came as no surprise when the study found that we had ten times the phosphorus concentration of other shallow drainage lakes in Wisconsin. This high concentration of phosphorus results in the growth of algae, which in turn gives us poor water clarity, three to four times lower than other shallow drainage lakes in Wisconsin. While the lake still collects over 46,000 pounds of phosphorus each year from runoff into the lake, the major source of phosphorus in our lake at this time is from the resuspension of the
phosphorus already on the lake bottom and our large carp population. In shallow lakes, wind-induced sediment resuspension leads to increased total phosphorus concentrations and total suspended solids. Common carp directly increase nutrients within the water through foraging and spawning behavior, as well as through excretion. Studies have shown that one pound of carp in a lake produces 0.11 pounds of phosphorus through excretion and resuspension of bottom sediments. Based on the carp population in Beaver Dam Lake, they produce approximately 256,000 pounds of phosphorus per year. This is certainly a significant source of our phosphorus load and was one of the more important findings of the study. The implementation plan has several action items addressing this issue including the continuation of commercial harvesting of common carp from the lake. The goal is to harvest 40-60% of the carp population annually. In addition, the building of carp barriers to restrict carp from three major bays on the lake will not only help in limiting carp population but will enhance the aquatic plant community in these bays, which in turn will help the lakes fisheries. The challenge to reduce wind-induced sediment resuspension is more difficult and very costly. However, the plan suggests we study the construction of wind barriers in the lake possibly through the dredging of specific areas of the lake to create these barriers. The side benefits of dredging would also improve navigation in certain areas of the lake. To obtain a more accurate estimate of the amount of phosphorus originating from external and internal sources, an in-depth tributary monitoring study is in the implementation plan. The goal of this study would be to gain a more accurate estimate of the phosphorus being loaded in the lake via the watershed and from which sections of the watershed. This would also assist in our collaboration with the county land conservation departments as to how BDLIA can participate and assist with implementation of best management practices in the lake’s watershed. This past spring, Beaver Dam Lake had an overabundance of curly-leaf pondweed, a non-native and invasive plant species. To manage this and develop a plan to improve our aquatic plants in the lake, the BDLIA will seek a WDNR grant for 2016 to fund an invasive species assessment and develop an invasive species management strategy. The fisheries are an important part of Beaver Dam Lake and included in the implementation plan to enhance the fishery on the lake are plans to expand course woody habitat as well as restore and preserve natural shore land through educational programs and use of the grants from the Healthy Lakes Initiative. The Beaver Dam Lake Management Plan of 2015 is truly a very comprehensive document that addresses the issues and charts a course to improve our lake. The complete Beaver Dam Lake Management Plan is available online at www.BDLIA.org. BDLIA welcomes your input and help. Email at info@bdlia.com or call 920-356-1200. Commercial fishermen harvesting common carp from Beaver Dam Lake
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Smooth Sailing KARLA JENSEN
H
e’s got watercolor in his blood, theatre in his heart, and the savvy of a shoe salesman. This is Earl Ritter, a celebrated educator, artist and theatrical director. At first glance, he is all button-down-formal and hospital corners. He is decisive, dot your I’s and cross your T’s. He is refined on the outside, but as conversational as your favorite neighbor on the in. For an outwardly quiet man, once you get him talking, you can learn a lot about his passion, compassion, expertise, and ability to single out a person and encourage him or her to discover one’s own intrinsic value. Ritter’s art sneaks up on you – quiet, soft, and subtle, like him, until he unveils those memorable autumn auburns, rustic rusts, and deep end-of-the-ocean blues. The premise for Ritter’s humble beginnings and subsequent success would make a great screenplay. Act I: A young talented artist and only child grapples with his course in life. Conflicted, he enters college but midway through drops out to consider his career path. He sells shoes in a department store until Uncle
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Sam taps on his shoulder. What is the allure of working in the shoe section of a department store to a guy who would ultimately become Horicon’s beloved art teacher and celebrated artist? Maybe it was the polished-to-perfection shine of new shoes and attractive window displays that would later transpose into a splendid nightfall on canvas or a stage dressed to kill. Perhaps the smell of fresh shoe leather compelled this artist to be equally attracted to the bouquet of paint, gesso, and turpentine. Lessons from Earl Ritter’s early life would soon transform into creativity, patience and artistic expression that would last a lifetime. Act II: This is a man who has sought out parts, but he is not a mechanic (theatre casting), and who met Elvis, but not as a musician (fellow serviceman). When Ritter returns from the service, he completes his degree and is ultimately courted by a school in Horicon, Wisconsin. Our protagonist quickly evolves into a favorite educator, theatre director ,and set designer. He is all about developing character, building others up, and helping students of
Early Morning
any age find a sense of pride in accomplishments. Act III: There is more. Ritter adds celebrity artist and community theatre staple to his achievements. He donned his traveling shoes and toured art fairs every summer. This is a man
who has gauged what kind of car to purchase by the size of its trunk. Like Geppetto, Pinocchio’s creator, Ritter has carved out a legacy in art, design, and set construction, but is anything but wooden. His work, from educational to artistic or theatrical, is
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Earl Ritter Photo: Jim Dittmann
alive and breathing and moving. Ritter’s life could be a play in three acts with no intermission. Earl Ritter has been one busy guy. Act I: No screenplay or production would be any good without backstory. Earl and wife Anita both grew up in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. “I was an only child. None of my family had ever attended college. I took my first art class as a freshman in high school, followed with private art lessons at what now is Viterbo College during my junior and senior years. “The job of selling shoes taught me to be patient, honest, to listen and work to win the respect and confidence of others. The same characteristics I carried over into my classroom. I didn’t realize until now that my early life was always preparing me for a teaching career,” said Ritter. In the service from 1956-‘58, he excelled at his position of photo interpreter, examining reconnaissance images. These tasks surely prepared his eagle eyes for attention to minute artistic detail. He returned to complete his college education and graduated in 1961. Ironically, Ritter forfeited his graduation ceremony for his wedding day in June of 1962. Act II: Educator. Ritter first taught in Alma Center, Wisconsin, grades one through twelve, in two rural schools and three grade schools. He transported his art supplies in his car like a traveling salesman. “Students would come running to meet me and ask if I would be coming to their classrooms.” By 1964-’65, he served as the art teacher in Horicon for grades 1 through 12, and he also taught at Burnett Grade School. “Horicon had just built the high school so I finally had a real art room. Years later, I was fortunate to be able to design the art room when a new addition was added to the school.” If he could build a department and its home from the ground floor up, it is no surprise that he would excel in set design as well. “At first, I started with 20 students in high school who chose art as an elective. The last year before I retired in1996, 151 students enrolled in art that school year. For the last 28 years I taught only in the high school. Some years, I’d have aids assist me. I would introduce a project, then float to another room.” Talk about multitasking. His job increased in layers, adding extracurricular activities like levels of a cake, each one enhancing his career to find that sweet spot educators love to reflect upon. “I taught summer school, developed Tri-Arts, served as advisor for yearbook, forensics, director of the musical and prom,” said Earl. The best part about being so engaged in prom on a regular basis was that wife Anita never attended her own high school prom. For years, the couple made up for that and enjoyed prom
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together with their perpetual extended student family. “Tri-Arts developed into three amazing days of arts, with choir, band and forensics performances and art exhibits. The school gave me the gym for the entire week.” This, Ritter says, was an amazing benefit to the kids and allowed families to see progress and talent. Students describe Ritter as patient and gentle, making them each feel special. Even today, former students gush over their beloved mentor in Mr. Ritter when they see him in public. According to former students, Mr. Ritter has been the kind of mentor you respect so much you never can really call him by his first name. He is proud of those protégés and has kept track of his credits like a film producer; an amazing amount of students have entered art careers. Thirty have gone on to careers in art. Eight have become art teachers and four are professional artists. The crossover between art teacher and high school musical director was easy. Ritter’s choir director colleague asked if he would consider directing a show. Since he had been involved in plays and musicals during his own high school career, Earl felt at home doing so. In outside commitments, Ritter acted, directed and designed sets for the Marais Players in Mayville, and then later also became involved with the Beaver Dam Area Community Theatre (BDACT). Act III: Artist. Ritter abides in pastels, watercolors, and acrylics, like he chooses cast members for a play: audition, observation, repetition, finale. The canvas is his stage and colors his characters. He is attracted to a family of hues like directors are drawn to rising stars, leading ladies, and seasoned actors. He treats his art as a one-of-a-kind production, and he brings each piece as close to perfection as possible. Thanks to wife Anita’s organization, his career is documented in scrapbooks noting every show, art project, and special recognition he has received. He has witnessed transformations in modern art, graphic arts and his own art. “I had a couple of years under my belt teaching when I heard about the Beaver Dam Area Arts Association (BDAAA),” recalls Earl. Before too long, I served on the board. I showed in art exhibits and was instrumental in adding the word “Area” to be included in the name. “Whatever needed to be done in forming the arts association, I did it, creating by-laws and rules to serving on the exhibit committee and Board of Directors, along with a willingness to teach and exhibit.” Ritter began painting on canvas but found other unusual backdrops, one of which became his signature piece, painting birds Mark’s Pond
on ornaments. “This idea came from Anita’s mother. I created annual ornaments for the Horicon Firemen’s spouses, other groups and individuals. I am thankful these ornaments are still in demand. “When I retired, I vowed to have something to do. I wanted a reason to get up in the morning. I knew we’d enjoy grandchildren and family and I didn’t want to miss out, but I need other things as well,” confesses Earl. Anita believes he is happiest when he is busy working on a project and when family is close by. The Ritters enjoy time with daughter Cathy and husband Rich Loomans, and son Mark and wife Gina and their children. The couple is very active in their church, Sacred Heart Parish. For an artist as accomplished as Ritter, it is no wonder he has been commissioned for many local and regional projects. Ritter’s style demands one’s attention, like a great pair of shoes, and is evident especially in the murals created with high school summer students. These remain within the halls of Horicon High School, on the locker room walls at the Horicon Golf Course and in public places. “One of the most memorable projects involved summer school kids working on a mural at Clearview in the Alzheimer’s unit for six weeks,” recalls Earl. If Horicon had named an artist-in-residence, it would have been Ritter. “The Horicon Marsh had a big influence on me. Marsh scenes appeared on my pen and ink notecards and in my paintings. I chaired the first outside art show in Horicon, and in 1996, contributed to the Horicon Bank’s calendars with watercolors of all their branches. I also produced some of their Christmas cards. For Blue Heron Boat Tours, I’ve created pen and ink designs, produced a brochure, and painted murals on their walls and even in the restrooms.” The Horicon Chamber also purchased Ritter’s student artwork to frame as welcoming gifts for new businesses. He personally has additional work in the Neosho Museum and private homes. What inspires Earl? “My love for being creative is an outlet that keeps me going. When I turned 68, I was in Florida and suffered a stroke. At the time, I had committed to contribute a chair for the fundraising auction at BDAAA. I had to get that chair with the theme of Van Gogh’s Starry Night done. In the fall of that year, I directed Fiddler on the Roof. In 2004, I had prostrate cancer. It happened to fall in the same year I agreed to direct the 40th anniversary show for BDACT. I chose to do the show anyway.” With no curtain falling anytime soon on Ritter’s career, there’s more to come. The encore will have to wait. He is a participant at Black Waters Coffee in BDAAA’s Annual Driving Art Tour, October 10-11. “I’ve really enjoyed participating because many art lovers come around. The Driving Art Tour produces excellent exposure for an artist. It’s been a great experience.” He continues to teach a watercolor and acrylic class in the spring and fall at the Fox Lake Community Center, which is sponsored by the Fox Lake Library, and he teaches at The Seippel Arts Center. “I consider myself a teacher first and artist second. I truly taught at an ideal time to be a teacher,” said Earl, counting himself lucky for the years he put in. “It’s been a good life.” Like shoes themselves, Ritter is hard and soft, durable through many seasons of creativity and sensitive in his art and relationships. He has left a trail of big shoes PHOTOS to fill for those who follow. More on www.LocaLeben.com
205 East James Street Columbus, WI 53925 BIGMikes205@gmail.com 920-623-3710
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H
ow I came to be me: I got into drawing in fifth grade; there was no extraordinary story to it – just me wondering what I would be able to do with a simple pencil and paper. The first thing I remember is a really bad drawing that I did of an eye. I was so proud of myself. I also remember that I picked an eye to draw because I had remembered reading they were the window
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to the soul. I loved that. I loved looking into people’s eyes and making up a life for them in my head by the emotions I saw in their eyes. It stuck. I still draw them a lot but I slowly started moving away from it and started drawing other things. My style changed from cartoonish to more realistic, and this is why I love drawing, because you can always improve. There was also no great beginning as to why I started taking pictures. Just me realizing nothing stays beautiful, everything goes from gold to gray. I like capturing the gold. Yet most photos aren’t as beautiful as they are in person, because in the moment you created a memory. Everyone sees the same picture differently, which is why I take so many photos. The more you take you can save the memories, even if it wasn’t yours. And that is how I started and why I love it.
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So Layton did a Happy Dance, And when he did, he brushed his pants, And that was when the panic hit. Something missing, where was it? His racing mind could not recall it; Where had Layton left his wallet? SCOTT SCHMIDT
Layton was from Rensselaer, He roamed the country, in his car, On a quest for treasures rare, To make a bargain, cheap, but fair. He never let a yard sale pass, Wore out his tires, burned his gas, Followed signs to where they led, From Indiana to Springstead, In Iron County, South and West, With yard sales rivaling the best. A North Wisconsin destination, For sporting, rest, and relaxation, But Layton, with his cash in hand, Relentlessly searched that wooded land, For he had heard one time somewhere, Of a massive yard sale hidden there. Tucked away in a forest glade, Reserved for those who made the grade, Those who were sure to appreciate The magic of a sale so great. Amateurs were not allowed. No junk, just treasures, and no crowd. Dreams of that sale filled his mind, But it seemed impossible to find. He scoured the papers, made a list, He hit them all, not one was missed. Layton found some bargains, too, He made some deals, made quite a few, Gathered treasures on his quest, Gave some away but kept the best, Yet he could not find a trail, To lead him to that mythic sale. All his free time Layton squandered, Up and down the roads he wandered, Driven by his yard sale quest, He couldn’t stop, he was obsessed, And when he’d nearly gone insane, Layton found a hidden lane, And nailed up on a twisted pine, Layton saw a little sign. An arrow pointed to the right, ‘Sale’ it said, in red and white. So many times he’d gone that way And missed it. How? He couldn’t say.
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So Layton felt a little weird, When that driveway just appeared Out of nowhere, so it seemed, But he recognized it from his dreams. Layton knew his quest was done. He knew this driveway was the one. The final stop where at the end of the trail, Would be that massive, mythic sale. When Layton made that turn that day, Down the hidden drive off the old highway, The sky grew dark, the trees drew near, The air became still, fog appeared, But Layton was from Renssellaer, So he felt safe, there in his car. He pushed on down that darkened track, Forward, never looking back. For hours Layton drove ahead, Through the thick dark forest outside Springstead. Finally Layton saw some light, There, just ahead, and to the right. His heart pounded, his knees shook, Layton stopped the car to look. He couldn’t stop the tears that welled, At the wondrous sight that he beheld, As for the first time he surveyed, That massive sale in that hidden glade. Tons of tables, rows of racks, Boxes, bags, and knicks and knacks, Tools and toys, and pieces and parts, Antiques, appliances, couches and carts, Fishing rods, furniture, cables and cords, Chainsaws and china, bugles and boards, Albums and ammo, gears and games, Tankards and tool chests, fenders and frames, Pocket knives, pictures, and golf clubs and gaskets, Eight-tracks and engines, bows, balls, and baskets, A treasure trove hidden in that darkened dell, All for sale, and priced to sell.
Pockets, seat, glovebox and floor, He checked them three times, checked them four. Back in his car he turned around, The tires made a squealing sound, As driving fast as he was able, Thinking of his kitchen table, And his wallet, sitting there, Where he had left it, made Layton swear. (And that was something rarely heard, For Layton seldom used coarse words.) Back to Springstead, to his place, Layton drove at a Brickyard pace, But Layton was from Rensellaer, And knew the limits of his car. He made it home and didn’t stall it, Ran inside and found his wallet, Back into his car he dove, Back to that spot he madly drove, But then he noticed, as he neared, The sign and drive had disappeared. Layton stopped and looked around, There was no driveway to be found. “No!” He cried, “I cannot fail! I must get back to that wondrous sale! Please, Yard-Sale Gods, can you not see? That massive sale was meant for me!” Bewildered, Layton stood in wonder, There was a flash, he heard some thunder, The sky grew dark, the trees drew near, The air grew still, and the lane appeared. And there upon that twisted pine, Layton saw the little sign. ‘Sale’ it said, in red and white, The arrow pointed to the right, And Layton headed down the trail, To the massive, magic, mythic sale. No one knew where Layton went, No one knew the time he spent, But finally, when he returned, They found that he no longer yearned To make a bargain, cheap but fair, Or to search for treasures rare, For he had brought home so much stuff, Layton finally had enough. The End
THE BEAVER
Jim from Beaver Dam asks: There is a Beaver Slide at the Beaver Dam YMCA (see photo, upper right, of Vincent on the Beaver Slide). Is that the one and only Beaver Slide in the entire world? Answer: No, there are many Beaver Slides located on farms out west (see photo below of the other kind of Beaver Slide). Jim asks a follow-up question: That other Beaver Slide doesn’t look like a beaver. So, why is it called a “Beaver Slide”? Answer: Because it was invented in Beaverhead County, Montana. Jim asks another follow-up question: What are those other Beaver Slides good for? Answer: They are used to pile hay on huge stacks (to see a Beaver Slide in operation, watch the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63yIf8wgKI0). Indeed, hay can be stored for about 5 years on those huge stacks. Jim asks yet again another follow-up question: How come I’ve never seen any of those Beaver Slides in Wisconsin? Answer: It rains far too much for this in Wisconsin – hay spoils if we store it outside without covering it. Check out the Beaver’s weekly updates at www.LocaLeben.com. Pictured above left is Marty, the Beaver Vintner. All photos courtesy: The Beaver
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et’s talk fish. And boil. Fish Boil! With fall so close, I can taste it (plus four days ago an old oak behind our house sprouted red and orange . . . optimist?). I have been dreaming of hitting a fish boil on a nice crisp day. My wife has never been to a fish boil (or Door County for that matter), so we can kill two birds with one stone. “What is a fish boil?” I can hear you ask. Fortunately, this is an easy answer. The fish boil is primarily a Wisconsin tradition, most specifically the coastal Upper Great Lakes (Michigan and Superior) where there are strong Scandinavian populations. The most popular are found in, you guessed it, Door County. There are many places that offer a fish boil and I will talk about my two favorites. The first would have to be at The White Gull Inn in Fish Creek. Lake Michigan whitefish, new potatoes, slaw, homemade breads and Door County cherry pie! Half of the experience is the ambiance, which is second to none here. It feels like you have stepped back in time; every room is uniquely adorned in antiques, floral wallpapers and period pieces. If taking the family, I would highly recommend Rowleys Bay Resort/Restaurant in Ellison Bay. They also have a great fish boil, which is part of an ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFET! Plus they have a marvelous bakery onsite. What makes this place stand out is the view, as they are right on the water. You can count on a fantastic meal, excellent fish and great photo ops at either of these establishments . . . And cherry pie . . . Door County Cherry Pie. If you go up for dinner or for a weekend, reservations are highly recommended. As a matter of fact, I booked our October weekend a month ago and feel fortunate that they had any rooms left as the “So Delicious, So Door County” festival is going on right now through October. Cherries, apples and pumpkins…Oh My! Did I mention the pie?
Cherry Filling 4 Cups Montmorency Cherries ¾ Cup Sugar 2 Tablespoons Cornstarch
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Pie Crust 2 Cups All Purpose Flour ½# Butter (Cold- cut into cubes) OR Butter Flavored Crisco 1 Tablespoon Sugar ½ Teaspoon Cinnamon ¼ Teaspoon Kosher Salt ½ Cup Cold Water
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt and cinnamon together. Add the butter and gently “cut” the flour and butter together with your hands. The heat from your hands will gently melt the butter. Do this until you have a bowl of pea-sized clumps. Make a well in the center of the butter/flour mixture and add your cold water. Knead gently until combined (don’t overmix or you’ll have a tough crust). Set aside. Place the cherries plus whatever juice or water they are packed in, in a non-metallic pan. Cook on medium until simmering. Add sugar and cornstarch and stir until thick and bubbly, about 5 to 7 minutes. Divide your dough into two sheets (about 1/8 inch thick). Place one in your pie tin (preferably 9”). Fill with cherry filling and cover with the other piece of dough. Crimp and trim edges, sprinkle with sugar and poke a hole in the center to allow steam to escape. Bake at 400 for 15 minutes. Reduce to 325 and bake for about 25 minutes or until golden brown.
tender age of 2. His daddy Joe joined him here in 1846. "You know, when I came here I had nothin’ but family, and when I died here in 1884, an old man of 89, I again had nothin’ but family. I guess I always had all that I really needed.” Available on loan at the Dodge County Historical Society Museum is a compilation of all the Haunted History scripts. It has been put together for the benefit of any who would care to read the scripts, with special consideration for those people who are unable for whatever reason to join in the fun at the cemetery. I hope you enjoy them, but please remember that these scripts are a work of fiction, meant to entertain. All historical errors are my own. The words I’ve written here have been viewed through the glass of my imaginings. Only the characters are real. Continued on page 35 Elaine Mullin as Mrs. John Manson, Haunted History III KATHY BARNETT
Roger Van Haren as Abraham Ackerman, Haunted History I
T
he Dodge County Historical Society began offering annual fall tours into the Old Beaver Dam City Cemetery in 2010. In each tour we have visited eight of Beaver Dam’s earliest settlers, who have been commendably brought to life to tell some aspect of their story by amazingly talented current residents. The goal has never been to frighten, but rather to enlighten the visitors and to educate them while entertaining. The ultimate goal of this endeavor for me has been to raise awareness of what a phenomenal treasure trove of history this one little patch of ground is. My hope is that we all will care, and care for, this sacred ground. During Haunted History Tour II, we met Thomas Mackie, Beaver Dam’s first settler. This is what he had to share with us: “Now, don’t you folks be fussin’ over me just ‘cause I was here first. My sweet daughter Hannah and her husband Joe Goetchius had decided to go to the Wisconsin territories to make a better life for themselves than could be made back in New York, the primary crop there bein’ rocks. When me and my wife Ann heard they was plannin’ on leavin’ and takin’ my sweet grandbaby John, well it just was a real easy choice to go along! "Joe and me found real rich land, well watered by a sweet spring, and laid our claim in the Spring of 1841. We cleared the land (near where Beaver Gunite is now), used the lumber from those trees to build our homes, and brought the rest of the family from Fox Lake. "Hannah was scared to death of Indian attacks and would lock up the cabin tight and hide in a corner any time she was left alone on the homestead, but we never were attacked. What she shoulda been afeared of was sickness, there bein’ no doctors. My sweet grandbaby John only survived one year here and was this cemetery’s first burial in 1842 at the Mary Beth Jacobson as Mary Ann Loonsbury, Haunted History V
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O
riginally from Middleton, Wisconsin, Matthew Niesen, MD was excited to return to the Badger State to establish his orthopedics practice at the Prairie Ridge Health Clinic, a service of Columbus Community Hospital (CCH). “Growing up in Wisconsin, I always thought it would be nice to raise a family here,” said Dr. Niesen, whose wife and five children are also happy to be back home near family and friends. “When the opportunity came up to practice in Columbus, it was perfect for our family. CCH is close to home, close to family, and it’s a great facility.” Dr. Niesen attended Middleton High School, where he played three sports. After high school, he attended the University of Wisconsin – Madison, where he walked on to the football team and played for the Badgers for the 2000-2001 seasons. Due to concussions, he ended his football career and after completing his undergraduate, pursued his Doctor of Medicine at the University of Wisconsin - School of Medicine. “I knew that I wanted to be a doctor since I was a kid (about fourth or fifth grade),” said Dr. Niesen, who specializes in orthopedic surgery and joint replacement. “I chose orthopedics, because you can have a profound impact on a patient’s life.” He completed his Residency at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he served as Chief Resident and was honored with the Longmire Surgical Society Research Award. He then traveled to Phoenix, Arizona to complete his orthopedic training and Joint Fellowship at the Mayo Clinic, operating with some of the top orthopedic surgeons in the U.S. Dr. Niesen credits his experience in sports as part of the reason he chose orthopedics. “With the amount of sports that I played, I was exposed to athletic trainers, sports medicine and a variety of orthopedic injuries. I was lucky enough not to suffer any major injuries,” he explained. While Dr. Niesen’s focus will be hip, knee and shoulder replacement surgery, he will also offer other orthopedic surgeries (including scopes) if the procedure is the right fit for the patient.
He offers both anterior and posterior hip replacements. “I did the additional training at Mayo Clinic in Joint Replacement for a reason,” explained Dr. Niesen. “I wanted to build a special program and to provide an incredible level of care to my patients.” Dr. Niesen hopes to more than triple joint replacement surgeries that are currently taking place at Columbus Community Hospital each year. “By partnering with Dr. Coe and the rest of the orthopedic team, I know the future looks very bright,” said Dr. Niesen. “I’m looking forward to continuing the tradition of excellent outcomes while growing our orthopedic program.” “I want to give every patient the time and attention they need and deserve. Joint replacement is a fairly large procedure to undergo and can be very challenging for the patient and their family. From the first moment I meet the patient, I am going to be open and honest with them about their options, so they can make an informed decision with me. I’m here to help guide them along the path of recovery and get back to the things they enjoy most in life.” With starting a new practice and assisting in growing a joint replacement program, Dr. Niesen will be a busy man, but he does plan to spend time reconnecting with family and friends, and maybe even assist with a youth activity or two. “My children are starting to be at the age when they will be in sports, theatre and dance. I’d like to continue to be involved in their lives as much as possible,” said Dr. Niesen. “My wife is an amazing woman and continues to impress me with how she takes care of everyone. She has been through a lot with residency and fellowship and has supported me fully along the way. She is an incredible mother and wife. “ And what does he plan to do in his spare time? “We are Badger fanatics, so we also hope to attend a few games,” he added. For more information regarding Dr. Niesen, call the Prairie Ridge Health Clinic at 920-623-1200 or 920-356-1000.
Tim Welch as Silas Hawley and Elaine Mullin as Mrs. John Manson, Haunted History III
During our very first Haunted History tour, we met a flustered Mrs. Burr, who had quite a tale to tell: “Now where is my stone? Oh dear, oh dear! It was right here! It seems to have gone missing. Oh well, just stop now. "How could I have helped being late for my own funeral? I was already dead, after all, and that was on May 17 of 1849, when the dam broke. There was poor Joseph Bowes, who was bringing me to this spot for my funeral, and there was no way to cross the river! "First the rush of water from the break in the dam took out the Beaver Street bridge. Then the water and wreckage swept away the Center Street bridge too, putting about half the town on the wrong side of the river. All the buildings on the north side of the river and on each side of the bridge were surrounded by water. Some of them even had ropes tied
around them to keep them from being swept away! “A boat was put to work above the dam, ferrying people back and forth, and Mr. Bowes was finally able to get my coffin across. When he arrived home, he found that his wife had given birth to a baby boy while he’d been gone! "The first Sunday after the disaster only a short service was held at the Presbyterian church, and it was only attended by women and children, as all the men of the community were working on repairing the dam. After the service the Rev. Montgomery also went to help. He was a huge man, weighing more that 300 pounds, and was extremely strong. He single-handedly lifted and hurled into the water a boulder that two men and a boy had had difficulty just rolling. Ooh, what a fine figure of a man he was!” Haunted History VI will be held in October. The tours take place at the Old City Cemetery located at the corner of North University Avenue and Burnett Street. Tour guides lead small groups of visitors through the cemetery, and a tour lasts approximately 30 minutes. Tickets are $5 each, and children 6 and under are free. For more information, please call the museum at 887-1266. All photos courtesy: Kathy Barnett Pictured left is Mike Clawson as Jess Yetter, Haunted History II EVENT HAUNTED HISTORY VI
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Info @ www.LocaLeben.com
The Dodge County Historical Society Museum is open from 1-4, Wednesday through Saturday. Admission is free.
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*********ECRWSSEDDM****
Postal Customer
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Columbus, WI PERMIT NO. 73
Dr. Matthew Niesen is proud to return home to Wisconsin.
n i s g u n n i i Jo com l e w
Dr. Niesen received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin - Madison and his MD from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine. He completed his residency at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he served as Chief Resident and was honored with the Longmire Surgical Society Research Award. He completed his Joint Fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona. Today, he joins the team at the Prairie Ridge Health Clinic where he specializes in orthopedic surgery, including hip, knee and shoulder replacement.
Matthew C. Niesen, MD Orthopedic Surgery
Welcome back to Wisconsin Dr. Niesen and his family!
BEAVER DAM 118 W. Maple Ave. 920-356-1000
COLUMBUS 1511 Park Ave. 920-623-1200
Specializing in orthopedic surgery, general surgery and physical therapy services.
Accepting most major insurances including Unity, Dean Health Plan, Physicians Plus, Blue Cross Blue Shield, The Alliance and more.