2017 Verona Progress by Woodward Community Media

Verona Progress 2017

A supplement to the Verona Press

September 28, 2017

Verona Progress

www.connectverona.com

New restaurants add diversity to options around city SCOTT GIRARD Unified Newspaper Group

For the second year in a row, the longtime hopes for many Veronans of more places to eat were answered. Jimmy John’s, Gus’s Diner, Monk’s Bar and Grill and Verona Woods all opened over the last year. Another – 4 Sisters – is on its way early next month, and a longtime staple, Monte’s, was renamed under new ownership as It’s Time. That all followed a year in which six restaurants moved into the city For those looking for a glass of wine instead of a full meal, Fisher King Winery also moved into Liberty Business Park. It wasn’t all good news for foodies, though, as Treads Bar and Grill closed over the summer. The car-themed restaurant had taken the place of Michael’s Frozen Custard, which closed in October 2013. Each of the four newcomers this year is from a company or group familiar with the restaurant business, and each also has its own style as far as menu options. Here’s a bit more about each:

by Gus Selimi. His son Tim and daughter-in-law Doni own and manage the Verona location. The diner is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays, 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays and 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday offering a range of breakfast food, burgers, dinner entrees and desserts – including assorted pies and cakes on display near the counter.

Verona Woods The Verona Woods moved in across the street from Sugar River Pizza, which opened in 2016. The restaurant is owned by father-son team Steve and Christian Turner. Christian serves as the chef. The family made its first run in the restaurant business in Sun Prairie with Willie Ty’s Eatery. Verona Woods is open Monday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. The menu features a range of options, including salads, burgers, steaks, seafood and nightly specials.

Photo by Scott Girard

Monk’s Bar and Grill in Verona features TVs on nearly every wall, with space not used for televisions occupied by memorabilia of Wisconsin teams.

Monk’s Bar and Grill

Verona is the sixth location for the Badger-themed Gus’s Diner is the second sports bar Monk’s. location for the traditionalThe restaurant opened ly themed diner that opened in December in the former next to Pizza Ranch. Cuco’s location on North The first, opened years ago in Sun Prairie, is owned Turn to Restaurant/Page 15

Gus’s Diner

The new location has windows inside that allow visitors to look inside the production room. Photo by Amber Levenhagen

Message from the Chamber

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Sharing in the Verona vision

erona continues to be a shining example of why this is the state’s most prosperous and fastest-growing region. And the Verona Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to be playing a significant role in the growth and stability that has earned South Central Wisconsin this status. Verona is expanding at a Jordan healthy and envied rate, a fact that is recognized by surrounding communities, residents, business owners and visitors. Significant to this is the rejuvenation and expansion of the role our Chamber plays in the support and promotion of our local businesses and the community we serve. In the past year, we have worked hard to add to and enhance the value of the programs we offer and the services we provide to our businesses and the community. And in our spare time, we have renovated our office, which now also serves as Verona’s Welcome Center and Tourist Center. Recently, we rolled out the first phase of an entirely new promotional campaign designed to

attract visitors and tourists to Verona and capture the attention and interest of the thousands of people who work at or attend events held by the ever-expanding Epic campus. Working with a marketing firm, we have taken a fresh look at everything about the way we promote Verona. An emphasis is being place on reaching people who are not aware of all Verona has to offer. With that increased awareness will come an increase in the number of new businesses, the expansion of current enterprises and an overall sense of prospering as a community. There is already much we can point to in the way of business health and progress in recent months. One significant and rapidly expanding business complex in our community is Liberty Business Park, which is hosting several new businesses and is anchored by the recently opened Hyatt Place hotel. Liberty Park will be joined by several other new developments, including the West End development project. Additionally, we can point with pride and pleasure to the many new businesses that have sprung up. These include the Verona Woods restaurant, Fisher King Winery, Rainbow Child Care, True Studio, United Vaccines, Sherwin-Williams, 4 Sisters

restaurant and the newly opened Verona Area Community Theater building. We passionately believe that part of the chamber’s role is to support our businesses by also supporting our community. This makes Verona a better place to live, and in turn helps businesses not only survive but also thrive. As with most vibrant communities, the growth and success of businesses is enhanced and stabilized by what it offers recreationally and in the areas of culture and the arts. To that end, we spend considerable time and energy putting on events like Hometown Days, which always draws a great regional crowd and serves as an important fundraiser for many of our local community groups. This year we added Music on Main, which provided great family fun and reminded people that business continued while Main Street was being renovated. We have also added another new family-friendly event, Fall Fest, which will feature an outdoor movie, campfires and lots of activities for all ages. Spectators and participants have almost unlimited venues and recreational options year-round. Our sports facilities and events continue to draw visitors from near and far, with

Turn to Chamber/ Page 15

www.connectverona.com

September 28, 2017

Verona Progress

City finishes $4 million streetscape project JIM FEROLIE

Streetscape timeline

Verona Press editor

Initial OK: August 2014 Engineering start: Late 2014 Plans introduced: Early 2015 Plans approved: Summer 2015 Parking lot finish: Summer 2016 Phase 1 start: Summer 2016 Phase 1 finish: May 2017 Phase 2 start: April 2017 Phase 2 finish: September 2017

treetscape S features

Photo by Jim Ferolie

that part of the city, slow down traffic, encourage walking, biking and sitting and make the area in general more pleasant to be in. Getting here came with

some pain, though, and not just the expense. The road was shut down entirely for six weeks (June 26-Aug. 7) and parking on both sides of the street was eliminated

Message from the mayor

Still Hometown USA despite constant growth

hank you for allowing me to serve as Mayor of Verona for the last 11 years. Over the course of those years, the City has grown and improved including new developments in 2017. While the City continues to grow, we have remained Hometown U.S.A. with our responsible government, Hochkammer excellent services, friendly neighbors, and ample recreational opportunities; while being prudent and fiscally responsible with taxpayers’ money.

Residential development Housing growth in the city continues to remain strong due to low interest rates, strong schools, a safe community, and amenities for families. Through August 2017, 39 new single-family home permits were issued. In 2016, the City issued 70 permits for new single-family homes and the City is on

Photo by Helu Wang

A view looking south on the east side of South Main Street in 2014, left, and last week, right, shows significant changes.

pace to issue approximately 60 permits in 2017. Limited single-family housing options are currently available in the city, but additional options will be available in the near future. The city approved the Kettle Creek North subdivision in 2016, and it is currently under construction. It will contain 174-single- family lots north of Country View Elementary School and will have lots available in late 2017. The City also approved the Hometown Grove subdivision in 2017, which contains 32- single-family lots and is located south of Glacier Edge Elementary School. In 2018, the residential lots in the Hometown Grove subdivision and Cross Point Estates will be available, as well as the next phase of Cathedral Point, with an additional 45 lots for housing development. The next large growth area for the City is the North Neighborhood in the area west of County Hwy. M and south of County Hwy. PD. The City anticipates development potentially starting in the North Neighborhood in 2019 and will include residential, multi-family, and commercial land uses. Due to the close proximity

to Epic, low vacancy rates in the Madison area and changes in housing preferences, multi-family demand remains strong throughout the region and City. In 2017, two projects have been approved for development including a 243-unit mixeduse development along West Verona Avenue and Legion Street that will replace a former truck stop. The city continues to manage apartment development through the use of a residential development phasing policy that limits the number of apartments that can be constructed each year. Senior housing and mixed-use projects are exempted from the policy to encourage those types of developments. While the Madison region continues to construct apartments at a rapid and potentially overbuilt pace, the phasing policy ensures the City of Verona will not become overbuilt with apartments.

for more than two months before that. The city took several steps to prepare for that massive inconvenience. The biggest was building

a new parking lot on Franklin Street and Park Lane – a separate, but related project that needed to be finished

New streetlights New concrete Colored concrete pavers Park benches Pedestrian bumpouts Highlighted bike trail crossing New Hometown Junction memorial with fountain Bike racks with maintenance stations

Turn to Streetscape/Page 14

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Downtown improvements A variety of improvements continues to be made in the downtown. Phase 1 and Phase 2 of

Turn to Mayor/ Page 12

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Five months after contractors began tearing up South Main Street, contractors put the finishing touches on the $4 million downtown streetscape project in September. Originally envisioned in 2014 as a quick way to spur economic development on the heels of the Great Recession, it quickly got complicated and had to be postponed from the summer of 2015 to 2016. Most of it was delayed another year to combine it with an upgrade to South Main Street so the city wouldn’t have to tear up the sidewalks twice. But now, it’s transformed the look of downtown while also making subtle changes to traffic flow, pedestrian comfort, pedestrian safety, parking, maintenance and snow removal. Verona citizens got a sneak peek at what the new streetscape would look like last fall, when the city rebuilt the sidewalks around Hometown Junction park south of Railroad Street, adding colored concrete and other cosmetic changes. But even that part of the project – dubbed Phase 1 – wasn’t done until just before Memorial Day, when the monument was set atop the fountain with multicolored lights. Now, Verona’s downtown has a cohesive look and feel that’s intended to highlight

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September 28, 2017

Verona Progress

Past year sets stage for VASD’s future Referendum approved, planning begins for high school SCOTT GIRARD Unified Newspaper Group

The past year has been one that will be remembered for decades in the Verona Area School District. There’s a built-in reminder – the high school that’s now set to open in 2020. Voters overwhelmingly approved three questions on the April ballot this spring totalling $180 million to allow the district to build a new 2,000-student high school, pool facility, field house, performing arts center and athletic fields, as well as renovate existing buildings. One of the questions also covered ongoing operating expenses for the new school. VA S D o f f i c i a l s a n d school board members had spent much of the preceding year-and-a-half preparing for the referendum after purchasing land in 2015 for the eventual expansion. Since the vote, those same people – along with consultants and high school staff – have begun planning out the new building, including trips to new schools in other states to see examples of potential

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The preliminary layout of the first floor of the new Verona Area High School was presented to the public in July. options. That process has included one set of public outreach meetings so far, with more expected over the next year as the design is finalized and construction begins. The approved referendum, one of the largest in the state’s history, raised the tax rate by 79 cents per $1,000 of property value, to $12.77. If the proposal

had failed, though, that rate would have dropped by more than $2. The project became even larger in recent weeks, as the school board approved a plan to add a second pool to the facility using some of the $11 million left over from the Epic tax-increment financing district closeout in 2016. Officials are hopeful, based on a consultant’s study, that the

second pool in the facility will help attract competitions to Verona and bring in revenue. The board also approved a purchase of Stewart’s Woods last month, though electors were scheduled to make a final decision on that $550,000 buy at a Sept. 25 meeting after the Progress deadline. That 53-acre parcel south of the new high school location

was purchased by the state for the U.S. 18-151 bypass construction in the early 1990s, and most of it is raw, rustic forest that can be used for environmental education. Also being planned are renovations to the existing high school building, the K-Wing and Badger Ridge Middle School. When the new high school opens, BRMS students will move

to the current building, while Sugar Creek Elementary School kids will shift over to the current BRMS building. That will likely leave the K-Wing for the district’s three charter elementary/middle schools. That will leave the Sugar Creek and New Century School buildings vacant, and the future of that land is still to be determined. That decision is just one among many the district still has on its plate in the near future related to the referendum. One of the most pressing is figuring out access to the new high school site at the West End property. While the main access point will be from West Verona Avenue, the district had hoped to have a second road lead into the site through an open part of the Stewart’s Woods parcel from Paoli Street. But that would create a road much closer to the Hwy. 18-151 access point than the state Department of Transportation normally allows, so the plan is in question at the moment. While there remains plenty for the district to do in the year ahead, April 2017 marked a historic step for district residents. Contact Scott Girard at ungreporter@wcinet.com and follow him on Twitter @sgirard9.

Message from the superintendent

District focused on success for all students asking for: • $162.8 million for a new high school, school renovations and district wide maintenance (72.6 percent support) • $18.5 million for constructing a new swimming pool and athletic fields at the new high school (61 percent support) • $2.3 million for funding operational expenses for the new facilities and grounds (65 percent support) Since the day after the referendum vote, we have been hard at work in the design and planning for the new high school and renovations. July 1, 2020, has been set as the finish line for all building to be substantially completed and for occupancy. The list of individuals and groups involved in this process to date numbers more than 100 as each one adds expertise to our projects. We have a space on our website, verona.k12.wi.us/ Building for 2020 Buildingfor2020, dedicated to providing information Recall we went to referendum in April 2015 to bor- about the building design row money for the purchase process and updates. Also, I want to invite any and all of three parcels of land for future school sites, passing residents of VASD to our next community update with a 65 percent “yes” vote. In April 2017, we held session from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Verona Area a district-wide referendum High School Performing

Arts Center.

Personalized Learning In April of 2013, the Board of Education established the following goals: • Every student in VASD has a personalized learning plan that provides a path to discovery and achievement and reviewed and changed at least annually based on the student’s needs • Every student’s parent, guardian or advocate participates directly in the design, implementation, and outcomes of that student’s personalized learning plans • Every student meets or exceeds the goals of his or her personalized learning plan every school year • Every VAHS student graduates • Every VAHS graduate achieves their choice of college and career path, as detailed in their personalized learning plan The goal that each student has a personalized learning plan by the 201819 school year is an audacious goal that required acquisition of appropriate technology, software and most importantly, staff training. As our staff ramp up for this implementation, to

Turn to VASD/ Page 14

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very Student Must Be Successful is the mission of the Verona Area School District. Every member of the Verona Area School District, from the Board of Education to every staff member, is focused and Gorrell working to accomplish that mission. What an exciting time to be part of the district We are focused on three major initiatives this year which are: • Our “Building for 2020” campaign • Establishing personalized learning plans for every one of our students by the 2018-19 school year • Our shift from a sitebased governance structure to Continuous Improvement Teams

September 28, 2017

Verona Progress

www.connectverona.com

Home building remains steady Values also strong as demand continues to exceed supply CHUCK NOWLEN Unified Newspaper Group

Photo by Helu Wang/Unified Newspaper Group

The Hometown Grove subdivision was approved earlier this year. consistent with last year – and, actually, with the last five years as well. We’ve been relatively comparable from a single-family standpoint since 2013.” Verona issued 75 single-family permits in 2015, 84 in 2014 and 76 in 2013. The most unbuilt lots in the city are at Kettle Creek

North, which is just getting going after having gotten city approval late last year. After that is Cathedral Point, down to 75 from 207 just three years ago. The rest of the subdivisions in the city combined for 42 lots as of Sept. 18. Apartments are also in demand in Verona, with

developers making constant pitches to build them here. This year, new apartment buildings opened on the north side, in Prairie Oaks (Noel Manor, 111 senior-restricted units) and on the south side in Scenic Ridge (32 units in the complex’s third building).

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While no precise 2017 figures were available last week, Sayre said he expects this year’s home values to remain strong. Last year’s average single-family permit value was $341,000; compared with $325,600 in 2016.

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The number of 2017 single-family building permits in Verona appears on track to match last year’s total, and demand continues to outpace supply in the local housing market. The 2017 permit total as of Sept. 18 – 39 – is likely deceiving when compared to 2016’s year-end figure of 64, city planning director Adam Sayre told the Press last week. That’s because City Hall expects a surge of single-family permits before the end of 2017 as three local developments in particular – Cathedral Point, Hometown Grove and Kettle Creek – begin to open more lots. Sayre noted infrastruct u r e i m p r ove m e n t s a r e either complete or in their final stages in all three developments. “We’re down a little bit right now compared to last year’s total, but we’ll be able to issue more permits pretty soon,” he said. “My guess is that we’ll be in the 60-70 (permit) range by the end of this year. So it’s pretty

The steady rise reflects Verona’s popularity among people looking to buy a single-family home in a relatively limited real estate market, he said. “What it comes down to is that people want to be in Verona,” Sayre said. “The comments I hear are that it’s a great place to raise a family and a great setting, with close proximity to the city of Madison. So it’s basically a quality-of-life factor at work here, and I think that’s a good thing.” A similar supply/demand imbalance has also affected Madison and other surrounding communities, as well as Milwaukee, he noted. “We’ve got a very strong demand for housing; interest rates are relatively low; and prices are high,” Sayre said. “And it’s not something that’s unique to Verona by any means.” He added that there are “a lot of multi-family units in the pipeline that have either been approved or are being talked about,” along with a few redevelopment possibilities. “There are not a lot of new single-family subdivisions in the immediate pipeline right now,” Sayre also reported. “But we hope that’s temporary.”

www.connectverona.com

September 28, 2017

Verona Progress

City’s biggest hotel opens, could grow SCOTT DE LARUELLE Unified Newspaper Group

It’s already the biggest hotel in Verona. But after opening this May, Hyatt Place Madison/ Verona already had future plans to expand its services and footprint as the centerpiece of Liberty Business Park. The hotel has put an emphasis on attracting millennials, particularly weekday Epic business travelers, with a kitchen and gym 24/7 and areas where people can work on laptops, charge electronics or print documents. It features a“coffee to cocktails” bar and large outdoor fireplace for guests to socialize. N o t s u r p r i s i n g l y, t h e hotel gets “a lot” of Epic business, said Hyatt Place interim general manager Susan Humbach, given the close proximity to the campuses. “We’re here for Epic to be able to help with that, but we have other contributors and guests and corporate business that comes through the doors, as well,” she said. “Business travelers love it … people really like where they don’t need to leave the hotel if they don’t want to, they can have a really good quality meal and a cocktail or two here.” With all the new features to the area, the hotel is also

Hyatt Place Madison/ Verona Liberty Drive, Verona 497-3223 madisonverona.place. hyatt.com promoting Verona as an ideal family “staycation” destination on the weekends when Epic traffic is decreased. Families seem to like it,” Humbach said. “We’ve only been open a few months, so we’re still in that trial era, but it’s been just such a positive thing in the community. The key thing is you do feel that energy and vibrance, and that’s what we want when they walk in the door of the Hyatt.” The hotel is part of a flood of recent development in the Liberty Park, off County Hwy. M, where just five years ago there were only open fields. Two restaurants were recently established – Sugar River Pizza and Verona Woods – with another, Four Sisters, set to open this fall. Nearby Fisher King Winery and Wisconsin Brewing Company provide additional attractions that are already affecting the hotel’s

Photo by Samantha Christian

The Hyatt Place entry opens to a seating area where guests can read, work, chat or relax. business by bringing in weddings and other groups. “It’s very vibrant, it’s growing,” Humbach said of Liberty Park, with its many Italian-themed designs. “It’s very modern and contemporary – I like to say we’re a year or two ahead of the market – and it’s continually growing … new things are coming in,

there’s talk of things coming down the road. “It’s exciting to see the progress.” There are plans to expand Hyatt’s facilities, as well. Humbach said the company is planning for several possible projects in the coming years. “The game plan moving forward (is) to have kind of

a convention center or more of a banquet facility as well as an additional Hyatt House,” she said. “It’s a Hyatt but a different types of hotel, and it would be connected with a skywalk.” Email Unified Newspaper Group reporter Scott De Laruelle at scott.delaruelle@wcinet.com.

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A car passes through the Paoli and Main streets intersection Aug. 7, where new stoplights were in effect for the first time. The lights were the city’s 13th to be activated.

Doubling down on stoplights JIM FEROLIE Verona Press editor

New stoplights

The city nearly doubled its stoplight count over the past 12 months. Northern Lights at Verona had three stoplights in early 2005, was Hubble Road: Aug. up to five by 2008 and has 14, 2017 built nine more in the past three years for a total of 14. Paoli/Main The last six have been in streets: Aug. 7, 2017 the past year, and the last five have all come since PD/Northern May, with two of them Lights: July 31, 2017 dealing with roads that have Westridge/West had increasing numbers of accidents in recent years End: July 2017 and two of them accommoOld PB/Whalen dating traffic from Epic, the county’s biggest employer. Road: May 2017 Most of the newer stopNine Mound/Cross lights have connected to a major project of some sort. Country: Late 2016 In 2014, new buildings at Hometown Circle led to a light being added there. In 2015, several new projects city led to the light going at the two industrial parks up at County Hwys. PB and on the southeast side of the M, then the new fire station

brought a light at Lincoln Street and East Verona Avenue. In 2016 and 2017, the reconstruction of North Nine Mound Road (and its name change to Northern Lights) led to three new stoplights (and three new intersections) – at Cross Country Road, Hubble Road and County Hwy. PD. And this year, one of the new lights connected to the South Main Street rebuild (Paoli Street) while addressing a safety issue, and another to a retail project on West Verona Avenue (Westridge Parkway). The city also added a light at Whalen Road and Old PB to deal with a persistent problem with accidents.

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September 28, 2017

Verona Progress

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VACT moves into its dream building New space allows more shows, more kids performing HELU WANG Unified Newspaper Group

Photos by Helu Wang

VACT moved to a new building at 103 Lincoln St. after three years of fundraising and almost one full year of construction. expenses for now. T h e n ew bu i l d i n g i s needed for rehearsals, and the 150-seat theater will be used for smaller performances. All musicals and any plays expecting a large crowd will still be performed at Verona Area High School. The building will be available for renting out for dancing, performing and

recitals. “Our mission is to provide a place where people could learn about all about theater – on stage, backstage, volunteering, performing singing and have fun here,” Vilker said. “That will continue in the new space.”

From left, Verona Area High School students Jessica Sausen, Contact Helu Wang at helu. Sophia Tsiolis and Anna Mcguire practice dancing in VACT’s wang@wcinet.com. new hall, with floor stars and notes on wall.

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After three years of fundraising and almost one full year of construction, Verona Area Community Theater moved into its $2 million building at 103 Lincoln St. on July 8. This summer, hundreds of kids rehearsed shows and attended camps in the building while contractors put on the finishing touches. The new building, sharing a lot with the Verona fire station, increased the space available to 14,625 square feet, nearly triple the size of the 5,000-square-foot converted barn on Bruce Street, where the theater company had produced shows for 13 years. VACT board secretary Lynn Vilker said it has almost tripled the number of students VACT can work with at one time, from 60 to 160. That allows the group to open up its offerings – like summer classes – to more than double the students it had in the past. The new space will allow the group to add an additional children’s show this year, which will get at least another 50 kids involved.

Baldock said they might have had to turn down those kids if VACT had not moved in the new building. With set-building and prop rooms surrounding the room, kids are easily able to grab their materials for rehearsal. And on the second floor, costumes such as 1960-70s jackets, mermaid dresses and colorful T-shirts are organized in racks, making them easy to spot. VACT founder Dee Baldock said now each camp has its own rehearsal space, “singing in music room, dancing in dancing room, acting on the stage, making sets and storing costumes in set-building and costume areas.” Although VACT already met its capital “Follow the Dream: It’s Possible” fundraising campaign goal of $1.7 million early this spring, Baldock still has to figure out how to pay off a $300,000 city loan and cover daily operating expenses. The capital funds come f r o m va r i o u s s o u r c e s , including the sale of its old building to the city for $360,000; $50,000 from the Madison Community Foundation, $100,000 from an anonymous donor and hundreds from individuals and local businesses. There are no fundraising plans yet, but tickets, camp earnings and donations will go toward daily operating

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September 28, 2017

Verona Progress

New campuses near completion

Work begins on mammoth parking structure SCOTT GIRARD Unified Newspaper Group

It’s hard to say it’s ever a “quiet year” at the everbusy Epic campus on the west side of Verona. But with the company slowing down its staffing growth – at nearly 10,000 and already Dane County’s largest private employer – it hasn’t submitted plans for any new office buildings in almost three years. That said, construction continued on the two newest campuses, one with a Storybook theme and the other a Wizards, which is also the theme of this year’s Users’ Group Meeting. Some of the company’s employees had already moved into the buildings on those campuses last year, but the buildings were not ready for tours as of last fall. Work has also begun on a massive, 700,000-squarefoot parking garage that will hold 3,046 cars for its Campus 5 employees. The Epic Effect, as some here call it, continues to manifest itself in a variety of ways, from the upscale apartments being built to accommodate its employees to the hotels springing up as a result of the hundreds of visitors coming here for training every week. It’s also had a big impact on the road construction around the city, with a rebuilt Nine Mound Road turning into a four-lane Northern Lights and an expansion and shifting of the Northern Lights-County Hwy PD intersection. And it factors heavily in the upcoming County Hwy. M and project, which will include a tunnel on PD heading west underneath M to ensure the smoothest possible traffic flow to the campus other parts of the Madison area. The private-as-it-can-be company has also remained

Photo by Jim Ferolie

Epic’s Campus 4, the Wizards Academy, is designed to mimic the Hogwarts School of Wizarding from the Harry Potter series. In the background is Campus 5, the Authors Campus. in the news once again throughout the past year, including a rare, lengthy profile quoting CEO Judy Fa u l k n e r i n T h e C a p i tal Times in April. More recently, news reports indicated the company had responded to one of its most commonly heard critiques: a lack of interoperability with other electronic healthcare record systems. According to a report at Medscape.com, Epic announced this month a feature that would enable patients to let all of their providers view their medical records on a special portal. The “Share Everywhere” smartphone application will allow patients to grant their physician access to their web portal

records regardless of if that physician uses Epic or any electronic health record. T h e c o m p a ny i s a l s o part of a case that will be argued next month in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. The case, which is consolidated with two other similar cases, covers the issue of whether an agreement for employees and employers to use individual arbitration to resolve employment-related disputes is enforceable under federal laws. According to SCOTUSblog.com, arguments are expected in the Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis case on Oct. 2. Contact Scott Girard at ungreporter@wcinet.com. Photo by Jim Ferolie

The massive 3,046-stall parking garage for Epic’s Campus 5, the Authors Campus, is under construction in this September 2017 photo. Campus 4, the Wizards Academy, is in the background.

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September 28, 2017

Verona Progress

Out of the old, into the new

Photo by Scott Girard

The past year was the culmination of more than a decade of work by Town of Verona officials, as the town’s operations moved into a new $3 million, 6,200-square-foot facility. Town staff moved into the building at the beginning of February and finishing touches continued at 7669 County Hwy. PD throughout the year until an open house for the community in June. Two months later, the process came full circle when the town sold the old building, 335 N. Nine Mound Road, to a local small business.

Development begins in town SCOTT GIRARD Unified Newspaper Group

The results of the June 2016 boundary agreement between the Town and City of Verona can be seen in the fast pace of development proposals over the last year in the town. The first of those, the Wo o d s a t Wa t c h H i l l , includes 20 homes under construction already. Three other proposals have come forward since. In total, they would add 58 lots. One proposal, known as “Deer Haven Estates,” would create 16 two-acre single-family homes on the southeast side of the town. The “Driftless Ridge” proposal, on 26 acres at 3151 Shady Oak Lane, would add 13 condominium lots for single-family houses. Finally, the “Fox Hill” development would add 29 lots off of

Midtown Road. All three were discussed by the town’s Plan Commission over the past two months, but none have received final approval yet. Town officials have also been working on a revamp of the 10-year-old comprehensive plan, which governs land use around the town. Along with that, there were discussions of withdrawing from the Dane County zoning code to become a part of a new code with area towns, but that process has stalled. Planning and development was largely absent in the town from shortly after the failed consolidation with the city in 2008 until the town and city signed the boundary deal – more properly known as an intergovernmental agreement, or IGA. The agreement specifies several areas where the town

and city can work together on planning and others where the city stipulates it will not grow into for the foreseeable future. In the joint areas, the town and city have established a joint planning committee to make recommendations. In the areas where the city will not grow, the town has considerably more latitude than before to chart its own course and establish subdivisions and commercial properties. The joint committee also could recommend the creation of a city-town zoning code that would cut the county out of the process in parts of the town. Verona Press editor Jim Ferolie contributed to this story.

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Contact Scott Girard at ungreporter@wcinet.com and follow him on Twitter @ sgirard9.

Message from the town chair

Town creating, implementing a vision challenges we face now is continuing to develop our vision for the town and to implement it. We have the largest development in 15 years under construction, 20 new homes in the Woods at Watch Hill development. In addition, three other new developments are proposed. We’re working hard to respond to the market and create opportunities for new people to become part of the Town, while still preserving what makes it unique. A draft of our new comprehensive plan is almost complete, and we’re making plans to get more citizen input on our vision later this fall. With all these big changes, we still continue to improve our day-to-day operations. Our public works staff was challenged with

cleaning up some major storm damage this summer, and we’re working on more detailed road improvement plans and equipment purchasing schedules for the coming years. Our administrative staff is using the new facility to become more efficient with all the town’s functions. Our citizen committees and staff continue to work on long range-financial planning, ordinance changes, and the preservation and promotion of open space. We’re doing all this while keeping a close eye on our role in the region around us. We are working with our neighboring jurisdictions while still carving out a niche for the Town of Verona. Mark Geller is chair of the Town of Verona Board of Supervisors.

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his year is a turning point for the Town of Verona. We moved into the new Town Hall and Public Works facility in February and are very proud of this showcase facility we’ve created. The new Town Hall has opened up opportunities for community events and projects, and momentum and town spirit is growing. Geller A community prairie planting is scheduled at the new facility for Nov. 5, and our old town hall was recently sold to a local small businessman. One of the biggest

September 28, 2017

Verona Progress

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Industrial parks keep building JIM FEROLIE

Verona Press editor

While the biggest business story in Verona was a plan that got scrapped, the industrial parks on the southeast side of the city still had plenty going on this year. The City of Verona landed, then lost human stem cell manufacturer Cellular Dynamics International, though the planned move from Madison to Verona is actually on hold, as its parent company, Japanbased Fujifilm, decided to postpone its $40 million expansion, and instead remodel an existing building. Meanwhile, United Vaccines held an open house for its new $30 million Verona Technology Park biotechnology facility in May, culminating a more than two-year construction project. The company is finishing a formal commissioning process to restart manufacturing after having shut down over the summer in Fitchburg – and this month it moved all of its employees here and began manufacturing tests as part that process. The day after United Vaccines held its ribbon-cutting, Verona’s largest hotel yet, the 136-room Hyatt Place, opened a couple blocks away, across County Hwy. M in Liberty Business Park. That hotel, which was originally planned to be two hotels in one, could still beget the second hotel and a banquet center, which has already earned city approval. R i d i n g t h e h o t e l ’s coattails are several new restaurants in that area, plus a winery. The

Liberty Business Park now has three retail buildings, two flex buildings and the largest hotel in Verona. Verona Woods restaurant and Fisher King winery opened over the winter, and Four Sisters wine and tapas restaurant is almost finished with its buildout and is expected to open next month. Sugar River Pizza opened in the same area in March 2016. In Verona Technology Park, Tailwaggers continues construction and is expected to open by the end of the year. The dog daycare, boarding and grooming facility is a franchise with seven locations, all but one of which are in Wisconsin. Next door to Tailwaggers, Standard Electric Supply opened last year. The wholesale supplier is across the street from Specialized Electric, a designbuild firm. The first building in L i b e r t y B u s i n e s s Pa r k broke ground in 2014 and opened in 2015. Verona

Photo by Jim Ferolie

United Vaccines, stationed between Millipore Sigma and the University of Wisconsin Materials Distribution Center, opened in May 2017 and moved all its employees here from Fitchburg in September. Technology Park has had more occasional spurts of growth since it opened in 2002, with machining company Latitude Corp.

there by itself until Specialized Electric and the UW Materials Distribution Center came in 2007 and SAFC-Pharma (now

Millipore Sigma) brought a $20 million facility in 2010. Wisconsin Brewing Company opened in 2013.

Email Verona Press editor Jim Ferolie at veronapress@wcinet.com.

Mayor: Economic development, maintaining solid financial position are main emphasis the streetscaping improvements have been completed, including the reconstruction of the Veterans Memorial at Hometown Junction Park, new sidewalks, lighting, and safer crosswalks. Downtown

will continue to remain a priority for the city, with new redevelopment projects coming soon.

Non-residential development Outside of the

downtown, Epic continues to be an economic engine with nearly 10,000 employees. The city has a strong relationship with Epic that will continue into the future. Commercial growth

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has continued in Liberty Business Park. Along with a 136-room Hyatt Place hotel completed in early 2017, a new 4 Sisters restaurant will soon be added. Additional development is also occurring along East Verona Avenue, including a proposed Festival Foods grocery store and the new Rainbow Child Care facility. The city anticipates 2018 will continue to be a busy year for non-residential development. New commercial development is currently being planned along West Verona Avenue at the West End, which will provide much needed commercial development on the west side of the City adjacent to the planned new Verona Area High School scheduled to begin construction in 2018.

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Verona continues to invest in maintaining its streets and other infrastructure. Several streets were resurfaced this year

including parts of North Jackson, Gilman, and Loder Lane. The City continues to surface treat streets to extend their life and reducing the overall cost to the taxpayer. Community programs are also important parts to the growth and development of the City. Library services continue to be well attended by residents. The library anticipates to pilot new Sunday hours to increase to availability of the library to resident.

Financial condition The City of Verona is committed to sound financial management. Economic development has been prioritized and achieved through the use of tax increment districts (TIDs). The City maintains three active TIDs, including the Downtown TID 4, TID 6, which includes Liberty Business Park, and TID 8, recently created with an expansion of the Verona Technology Park. With the closure of TID 7 (Epic), the 2017 budget was able to reduce $2.8 million of debt, fund of

capital projects and programs and allowed a 10 percent reduction in the city portion of property tax bills. All of these accomplishments would not be possible without the dedicated work of excellent city staff. This past year we have changes in city personnel, including the retirement Cindy Engelke, city finance director for 17 years, and police officer Michael Haack after 20 years. I know that the new personnel will have the same drive, ethic, leadership, and dedication to serving our residents as current and past Verona employees. I truly appreciate the opportunity to serve as your mayor, and I encourage anyone with questions, comments or suggestions about Verona to contact me, members of the Common Council, or city staff. Jon Hochkammer is the mayor of the City of Verona.

New Businesses

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September 28, 2017

Verona Progress

The Verona Woods Restaurant Address: 958 Liberty Dr. Principal owner or leader: Steve and Christian Turner Opening/arrival date: Feb. 1, 2017 Number of employees: 38+ Charity connections/plans: Support local charities Verona connection: Great, up and coming, new Liberty Park area What’s special about your business or the focus of your business: We are proud a family owned father and son operated business. My son has had a passion for cooking since he was a small boy and followed his dreams through 4 years at the prestigious Culinary Institute of America in New York. We wanted to create a casual environment with great food at a fair price for the whole family. You can have anything from a great Black Angus steak, fresh flown in seafood to a gourmet stuffed burger or variety of entrees and appetizers.

Noel Manor Retirement Living Address: 471 Prairie Way Blvd. Principal owner or leader: Executive Director: Katie Rasmussen Opening/arrival date: Nov. 11, 2016 Number of employees: 75+ Charity connections/plans: Connection to Fond Blanc Foundation Verona connection: Noel Manor's ownership group has a long-running and deep connection to the Verona area. The owning family has raised their children, participated in local sports, and been a part of the Verona area community for many years. What’s special about your business or the focus of your business: Noel Manor's mission is to provide extraordinary supportive living for our residents with compassion and grace. We are motivated by the beautiful life of our loved one, Noel Keene, who inspired our name. Always there for others with a supportive hand and kind words, we strive to live out Noel's generous spirit through all that we do at Noel Manor. Our facility and staff are here to provide an unparalleled level of service for residents not only to maintain but also enhance their quality of life.

Monk’s Bar and Grill Address: 1050 North Edge Trail Principal owner or leader: Greg Hedrich Opening/arrival date: Dec. 26, 2016 Number of employees: 55 Charity connections/plans: We’ve donated to several Verona area organizations since we’ve been open. Most notably, we donated to the Badger Prairie Needs Network and to several of the Verona athletics. Verona connection: Verona is one of the fastest growing cities in the state so we felt it would be a great fit for Monk’s sixth location. What’s special about your business or the focus of your business? We’re a Wisconsin Badger/Wisconsin sports themed bar and grill. We’re family friendly and a great place to watch any sporting event on one of our 25, 65-inch TVs.

Fisher King Winery Address: 1105 Laser St. Principal owner or leader: Alwyn Fitzgerald Opening/arrival date: January 2017 (we originally opened in 2011 in Mount Horeb) Number of employees: 9 Charity connections/plans: TBD Verona connection: We had outgrown our smaller space in Mount Horeb, our lease term was up, and we couldn’t find a suitable location in that community. Relocating to Liberty Park in Verona allowed the winery to move into a beautiful new facility that is nearly twice the size of the old place – which lets us accommodate more customers and increased wine production. Verona also offers the advantages of being a larger community with a booming economy (fueled in no small part by the growth of Epic Systems), and is closer to Madison. Liberty Park already are two terrific restaurants next door to us and the new Hyatt Hotel opened across the street just a few months ago. We’re looking forward to more visitor-oriented retail stores coming into the park. What’s special about your business or the focus of your business: Wine quality is paramount at Fisher King Winery, and our wines have been winning gold medals from coast-tocoast. Most of our wine production is from grapes grown right here in Southern Wisconsin. Although we do bring some grapes and juice in from out of state, the cold-hearty wine grapes that are grown here can produce delicious, balanced, and totally enjoyable wines.

Jimmy John's Address: 631 Hometown Circle Opening date: Dec. 20, 2016 Number of employees: 15 Charity Connections: We sponsor many high school activities. Most recently the track and field and varsity basketball teams! What’s special about your business or the focus of your business: Being freaky fast and offering delivery of our gourmet sandwiches is what makes us special! Even all the way out to Epic!

It’s Time Bar and Grill Address: 608A W. Verona Ave. Principal owner or leader: Tim McRoberts Opening/arrival date: March 1, 2017 Number of employees: 26 Verona connection: Lived here in Verona for 15 years. Wife, Darci Jacob-McRoberts, grew up here. What’s special about your business or the focus of your business: Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner specials, Friday night fish fry, Saturday night “It’s Prime Time” prime rib special. On top of a great menu, I injured my right wrist as a chiropractor in 2016, never recovered so I went to my “bucket list.” I always wanted to own a pub and grill, and since Monte was ready to retire (and I have known him over 30 years) and I was already a local businessman, it just made sense.

Urban Etta Salon Address: 1105 Laser St. Suite 102, urbanetta.com Principal owner or leader: Lacey Bechdolt Opening/arrival date: January 2017 Number of employees: 3 independent stylists, Lacey Bechdolt, Lauren Acker & Michelle Krahn Verona connection: Growing up in my aunt’s small town salon I learned the importance of family, friendship, and community. My family has enjoyed living in Verona over the years and we are excited to be a part of what makes Verona great. What’s special about your business or the focus: Urban Etta is the culmination of years spent designing and redesigning my dream salon, honing my skills as a stylist, and of my vision to offer a fun welcoming environment that is on the cutting edge of modern style with retro flare. My goal is to bring a cool, hip ambiance together with a love for fashion forward styles into one salon where every guest feels welcome.

Other new businesses Gus’s Diner Address: 110 Keenan Court Opening date: May 2017 Website: gussdiner.com

Hyatt Hotel Address: 846 Liberty Dr. Opening date: May 2017 Website: madisonverona.place. hyatt.com

Rainbow Child Care Center

Sherwin Williams Verona Nails and Salon Address: 631 Hometown Circle, Suite 108 Opening date: May 2017 Website: veronanailsalon.com

Address: 422 E. Verona Ave. Opening date: January 2017 Website: sherwin-williams.com

AT&T Address: 631 Hometown Circle, Suite 1 Opening date: Winter 2016 Website: att.com

Address: 590 Hometown Circle Principal owner or leader: Terri Weis, Director Opening/arrival date: Aug. 28, 2017 Number of employees: 9 Verona connection: We want to meet the needs of families in Verona to provide quality child care and educational services to create a “home away from home” for children. What’s special about your business or the focus of your business: Our focus is to provide exceptional care to children in an “all-inclusive” price point which includes all diapers and wipes along with curriculum enhancements such as: Ready, Set, Grow! Fit Foundations, Baby Sign Language, Zoo Phonics, and Spanish Immersion!

September 28, 2017

Verona Progress

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True Studio is nearing completion after getting approval in spring of 2016. It’s located on Keenan Court, behind Pizza Ranch.

Helu Wang/Unified Newspaper Group

This mixed-use building at 410-416 E. Verona Ave. will be the new home of Capitol Physical Therapy next year.

Under construction

Several new buildings are under construction around Verona, featuring either new or expanded businesses. They include a dog daycare and boarding center called Tailwaggers, a mixed-use building on East Verona Avenue and a bicycle and yoga fitness studio called True Studio. The 10,136-square-foot True Studio building will have 44 stationary bicycles, and an Photo by Jim Ferolie exterior building will hold rentable bicycles. The 7,400-square-foot Tailwaggers building Tailwaggers dog day care, boarding and grooming is on American Way, across from Wiscon- needed special permitting for its outdoor activities and fencing. The 4,900-square-foot East Verona Avenue building will feature Capitol Physical Therapy on the bottom level. sin Brewing Company.

Superintendent: CITs will add consistency Continued from page 5 further inform our work we will be convening a parent advisory group. That group will convene in October, and the community should look forward to seeing invitations for an “Information Night on Personalized Learning Plans” this upcoming February as we strive to make sure everyone understands the exciting path VASD is taking to reach our mission of Every Student Successful.

Continuous Improvement Teams After nearly 25 years of the District operating under a site-based governance structure (formerly known as “site councils”) at each school, the board unanimously approved a

policy change that replaces site councils with Continuous Improvement Teams (CITs). These teams, along with their attendant Implementation Teams (ITs) heavily incorporate staff and parent involvement on setting goals and implementing action steps to achieve those goals. This change in governance structure will provide more consistency across the grade alike sites, better inform parents and the community about progress toward goals and better engage staff and parents in the process.

Contact us There is a lot going on in our district. To find our more, I invite you to check out our website, verona. k12.wi.us, or follow us on

Facebook and Twitter. As always, a standing invitation exists to all members of our school district to call, email or meet with me, or any district staff member, with questions you may have regarding your child or any school district operation. The Verona Area School District is absolutely committed to give each and every child that passes through our schoolhouse doors our very best: Every student will succeed. Working together with families and the community, we can make this happen. Dean Gorrell is the superintendent of the Verona Area School District. He can be contacted at gorrelld@verona.k12.wi.us or 845-4310.

Crews pave the new surface of South Main Street Thursday, July 27.

Streetscape: New benches, concrete, fencing Continued from page 3

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beforehand to replace that parking. The lot stayed mostly full during the road construction. The city and its primary contractors also held regular meetings with downtown businesses to keep them up to date on the many changes that occurred on the fly with the project, as well as giving them the chance to be involved in some decisions. Among the features of the streetscape are new streetlights, park benches, colored concrete, rebuilt and added decorative fencing and more places to sit. It also has modern concepts, like a few bike racks with mini maintenance stations and “bumpouts” that are designed to emphasize

and shorten key pedestrian crossings and make them feel safer. The new streetscape puts particular emphasis on the bike trail crossing and the Hometown Junction veterans memorial area. At the memorial, the concrete mound became a working, lighted fountain and flags were moved outward and toward the shelter to provide more room for gathering and more comfortable seating. At the bike trail, the bumpouts were more pronounced than elsewhere, the colored concrete draws a path across the road and lighted, flashing signs warn of crossings. To keep people coming downtown during the construction, the Verona Area Chamber of Commerce helped out by putting on three concerts. It originally

planned five – every other week – but one was canceled because of weather and the first had to be canceled because it could not get a permit in time. The city held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 23, to commemorate the project. The South Main Street reconstruction project, technically separate from the streetscape but included in the bidding, updated a 30-year-old former county road with more modern infrastructure. The entire project finished about $300,000 under budget, public works director Theran Jacobson reported this month. Email Verona Press editor Jim Ferolie at veronapress@wcinet.com.

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September 28, 2017

Verona Progress

Restaurant: 4 new, 1 coming Continued from page 15

Edge Trail under management of Greg Hedrich, who is in the restaurant business for the first time. Open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week, Monk’s features 25 65-inch televisions and 12 beers on tap, along with traditional bar fare like burgers, sandwiches and specialty mac and cheeses.

Jimmy John’s The national sandwich chain added another option in the East Verona Avenue corridor, moving into a building on Hometown Circle. That building also contains AT&T, Verona Nails and Salon and Arby’s. Jimmy John’s, open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week, prides itself on fast sandwich-making and delivery.

Fisher King Winery For those looking for a different kind of evening out on the town, Fisher King Winery moved into Liberty Business Park this year. The winery originally opened in Mount Horeb in 2011, but was forced out of its building and could not find another suitable location there, so owner Alwyn Fitzgerald found a spot in Verona instead. The tasting room is open from 12-7 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 12-9 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 12-4 p.m. Sunday. There is often live music on weekend nights. Contact Scott Girard at ungreporter@wcinet.com and follow him on Twitter @ From left, Pete Moore and Mike Jelle prepare a sandwich at Jimmy John’s on Monday, April 24. sgirard9.

Photo by Amber Levenhagen

Photo by Scott Girard

The Verona Woods opened in Liberty Business Park in January.

Gus’s Diner in Verona is made to feel like a “classic diner with a modern twist” with its decor and setup.

New tourism commission forms JIM FEROLIE Verona Press editor

A newly formed Tourism Commission is now controlling how the city’s 7 percent room tax will be spent. The group has met twice – in July and August – but has not yet directed any money. So far, the Verona Area Chamber of Commerce has continued to direct disbursements while the commission works out guidelines. But with a fourth hotel opening this year, revenue from the tax, charged to hotel guests, should top a half-million dollars for the first time. Last year’s revenue was more than 10 times

what it was a decade ago. The chamber has handled the money for years, but evaluating proposals and spending has become onerous. The chamber contracted with a marketing company last year to spend a big chunk of it but still has many smaller proposals to sort through. The commission was the result of state legislation encouraging the creation of such commissions, even though the final version of that legislation relaxed the definitions and allowed chambers of commerce to continue with that duty. Because the original vers i o n o f t h e l eg i s l a t i o n would have forced the creation of a commission, city staff had already explored

the options and the topic was raised during the city’s budget discussions. The commission can still leave some or all of the money with the chamber, but it could also employ consultants to oversee marketing, hire a tourism specialist, commission its own projects or some combination of the above. One-sixth of the money is committed to the Madison Area Sports Commission and the Greater Madison Chamber and Visitors Bureau, and 30 percent of the rest goes to the city’s general fund. The rest must be, by state law, put directly into tourism generation. Email Verona Press editor Jim Ferolie at veronapress@wcinet.com.

Continued from page 2 soccer, baseball and hockey tournaments, a key loop in the Ironman competition and for the second successful year – the AmFam Senior PGA Champions Tournament, which introduced the Verona area to thousands of golf fans. In addition to sports, those who live in or visit Verona have a unique opportunity to take in some of the best nature has to offer. As the home to one of the largest spans of the Ice Age Trail, we have become an official Ice Age Trail Community. And of course, there are

the outstanding Military Ridge State Trail, Fireman’s Park beach and many attractive area parks. Live entertainment is a growing commodity in Verona, as well. Wisconsin Brewing Company offers bands and beverages on their beautiful corporate grounds. Varied musical offerings are featured at Tuvalu Coffeehouse and Gallery, an enthusiastic full house enjoys weekly trivia at Hop Haus Brewing and large crowds enjoy the Summer Concert Series at Harriet Park – sponsored by the City and the Verona Area Chamber of Commerce.

And the Verona Library sponsors regular programming for community members of all ages. All around us in Verona, we have the addition of many new services, shopping options, amenities and community activities. These have continued improving the quality of life here. In the end, it is both the health of the business community and the quality of living or visiting here that is the focus of your Verona Area Chamber of Commerce. Le Jordan is the executive director of the Verona Area Chamber of Commerce.

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16 Verona Progress - September 28, 2017

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