It’s your paper! Friday, December 8, 2017 • Vol. 4, No. 10 • Fitchburg, WI • ConnectFitchburg.com • $1
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Ride Share program debuts
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Bus substitute charges $2 per ride to any stop within city HELU WANG Unified Newspaper Group
Veterans Day Page 2 Budget approved, mayor apologizes after chaotic meeting Page 3
Schools OSD ‘exceeds expectations’ on state report card Page 10
Photo by Scott Girard
Retiring Fitchburg Police Department chief Thomas Blatter can recall the days when his police car was a station wagon that doubled as the ambulance.
40 years served Blatter retires from FPD after 40 years, 17 as chief
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Edgewood girls bb fights off Oregon Page 15
Business
Mexico native hopes to create ‘full-service’ salon Page 23
While the Fitchburg Police Department has its share of sleek tech tools and a nice fleet of cars today, it wasn’t quite that way when Thomas Blatter began his service. “The squad car was a station wagon,” he said with a big laugh in his office, “and we were the ambulance. “We were very thankful when the day came that the ambulance service was created.” That was 40 years ago, when Blatter began as the 10th patrol officer in 1977 – six years before Fitchburg would become a city. Last month, he walked out of the department for the final time after 17 years as chief. While his retirement isn’t official until the end of the year, Blatter’s remaining time off allowed him to end his service Nov. 12, with longtime deputy chief Don Bates taking over as interim until a new chief is hired. Bates, who has worked here for 32 years and four months himself, said it was “kind of strange coming in” the next day. “I wasn’t looking forward to his retirement,” Bates said. “Selfishly, I wish he was still here.” PRSRT STANDARD ECRWSS US POSTAGE
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Update on hiring new police chief Page 9 Fitch-Rona chief Myrland retires Page 21
Mayor Shawn Pfaff, who was mayor for four years while Blatter was in charge of the department. “One day as mayor you hear from your friends and residents that there’s cows out (on the loose) in rural Fitchburg,” Pfaff said. “Two hours later you could hear three people have been shot in the north end of Fitchburg, or there’s an armed robbery. “To be able to understand that diversity and complexity and then have that solid voice, a voice that never compromised ethics and standards, was something I relied on.” That diversity kept the job fresh for Blatter and his officers, who he said got a range of experiences from the different calls they went on. It wasn’t exactly what he expected when he was offered the job in 1977 in the small township outside of Madison. “I look on the map, there’s no Fitchburg,” he recalled. “Taking that risk and taking that gamble, it all paid off.”
But Blatter said he knew it was time for him to move on to his retirement, after years of developing officers, creating relationships with neighboring departments and focusing on community policing. “There’s a whole group of people that are ready, the next generation to start things out and lead this city in the direction of the future,” Blatter said. Balancing all of those initiatives, Early days he said, was especially challenging As a 21-year-old arriving on the in a “unique community” like Fitch- job after a short stint in Mineral burg, with plenty of diversity – socio- Point, Blatter was not entirely preeconomically and racially – and a pared to “realize I’m running the mix of urban and rural land. That recognition was appreciated by former Turn to Blatter/Page 20
Dorothy Konopacki no longer has to leave immediately after her fitness classes at the Fitchburg Senior Center for a half-hour bus ride home. Now, she can stay for lunch, hang out with friends and then call a car to pick her up whenever she’s ready to head home. Last week, the 80-yearold Fitchburg resident took her first ride to Chapel Valley Road home using the city’s new Ride Share pilot program. The car arrived 20 minutes later as promised and dropped her off at a bus stop, three blocks from her home. The program, which launched Dec. 1, targets a growing segment of Fitchburg residents who can’t drive or have no access to a car. Rather than invest $168,000 per year for three years to test out an eastwest bus line through Madison’s Metro Transit, the city decided last year to instead
Turn to Ride/Page 21
About Ride Share What: Subsidized ride-sharing program Who: Anyone traveling within the City of Fitchburg or to the Metro South Transfer Point Where: To and from any bus stops, including major parks and commercial centers Cost: $2 ($1 for 18-under, 65-older, disabled), with extra charges for destinations not at bus stops Payment accepted: Cash, credit, debit Info: Visit richwood transport.com/ fitchburg-rideshare or call 504-2453
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Fitchburg Star
Veterans Day 2017 Fitchburg hosted its annual Veterans Day ceremony Friday, Nov. 10, indoors at the senior center. The Fitchburg Singers and students from Eagle School performed at the event, while Badger Honor Flight presented on the opportunity for veterans to fly to Washington D.C. to see the war memorials. Ald. Tom Clauder (Dist. 4) also announced that the city is looking into creating a veterans memorial.
On the web See more photos from the Veterans Day ceremony:
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Photos by Scott Girard
John Ong looks at posters made my students from Eagle School.
Albert (Gene) Wooden reads a letter from a student at Stoner Prairie Elementary School written to the veterans.
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BY IN 1ST VE G . 10 SA VIN DEC -60 O M ORE 20 F -6 BE 08
Above, a chair in the front row was left empty in honor of veteran Al Bach, who died near the end of October. At right, veteran Lee Haspl salutes during the Pledge of Allegiance.
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December 8, 2017
Fitchburg Star
3
City of Fitchburg
Mayor apologizes after budget drama SCOTT GIRARD Unified Newspaper Group
Mayor Jason Gonzalez called a press conference last month to apologize for his behavior at a budget public hearing earlier in the week. While one of the men he had ruled out of order during the testimony before abruptly walking out of the meeting was at his side for the press conference, another nonprofit leader did not find the apology sufficient for all that had occurred over the previous months. Boys and Girls Club o f D a n e Gonzalez County CEO Michael Johnson had forcef u l l y c r i t icized Gonzalez after the mayor’s budget broke w h a t b o t h Johnson men agreed was a campaign promise to ensure his nonprofit kept getting $50,000 in funding from the city that appeared to Caire have been endangered the year before. And during the Nov. 17 press conference, which followed Common Council approval of the budget without BGC funding, he continued to criticize Gonzalez. “I am not optimistic that anything is going to be done,” Johnson said after unexpectedly taking the microphone. “This press conference is a joke.” The Wisconsin State Journal reported Wednesday that Johnson and the club have raised $200,000 since Gonzalez proposed removing all funding for nonprofits in his September mayor’s budget. The day that proposal was made public, Johnson
and Gonzalez began a back and forth that lasted through passage of the budget and culminated in a chaotic sequence of events that included the mayor and some alders walking out in the middle of the November public hearing. Hundreds of people had turned out to the October public hearing to ask the funding to be restored. The November public hearing had far fewer speakers, but the escalation of Johnson and Gonzalez’s public rhetoric drew regional media attention. With several TV stations and newspapers present, Gonzalez ruled two of the 11 speakers out of order and even called a sudden recess to stop one of them – former Urban League of Greater Madison CEO Kaleem Caire – from speaking. He and at least one alder also got into heated exchanges with attendees. Three days later, Gonzalez was contrite. “There was some … improper exercise of discretion by myself when I interrupted two speakers,” he said. “When I ran, I ran on a platform of inclusion and bringing our city together. It appears I’ve gone astray, and I apologize for that.” Caire stood by Gonzalez’s side at that conference after talking one-on-one with Gonzalez two days after the meeting. “We had a very direct conversation and a soulful one,” Caire said. “We live in an era where everyone wants to fight. Is our country any better off because of the fights that are going on in Congress?” But the apology was not enough for Johnson, who had posted on Facebook earlier in the day that he was invited to the press conference but would not attend. He changed his mind about 45 minutes into the press conference, entering the room and taking over the microphone during a pause from other speakers. “What this (press conference) is, is dividing African-American leaders,” Johnson said, pointing to Caire. “I don’t want to play nice anymore.” Johnson explained he had been watching from his car and felt he needed to
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come in because Gonzalez had not apologized directly to the Boys and Girls Club and the kids that attend the club. As Johnson left the room with some supporters, Gonzalez stepped up to the microphone. “Michael, thank you for your words,” he said. “I do apologize to you and the kids from the Boys and Girls Club … that were affected.” “A p o l o g y a c c e p t e d ,” Johnson responded. “Put resources behind those words.” A couple of hours into t h e N o v e m b e r bu d g e t hearing, Johnson had complained the council had still not discussed an amendment proposal related to nonprofit funding, the item that drew so many people to the meeting. “It’s ridiculous you’re making us wait all this time,” Johnson said. “You all should be ashamed of yourselves.” “So should you,” Gonzalez shot back. During a recess later in that three-and-a-half-hour meeting, Johnson and Ald. Julia Arata-Fratta (Dist. 2) got into a heated exchange with voices raised. Johnson had questioned whether the council would be biased toward funding certain organizations with alders as board members, including Arata-Fratta. “Boys and Girls Club is all for a fair and competitive process, the question is how fair will you be?”
Johnson said during his public comment. The Nov. 17 press conference also featured activist and former alder candidate Wanda Smith, who has had public disputes with Gonzalez and other members of the Common Council since the April election. Both she and Caire said they accepted Gonzalez’s apology but wanted to see what comes next. “I couldn’t call you my mayor. I could never say that,” Smith said. “But today I’m gonna say Mayor Gonzalez because I feel like you have stepped out of the box that you have been hidden in.” Before Johnson spoke, one of the people who has publicly supported a recall of Gonzalez took the microphone to continue his criticism. “This press conference is pointless,” Jeremiah Edwards-El said. “An apology is not gonna get the kids a neighborhood center.” Caire said he understood why Johnson and others would continue to be frustrated, but said he hoped they could work together. “He’s got a reason to be frustrated,” Caire said of Johnson. “We got to get him back to the table. “If you’re frustrated too long, it doesn’t help us.” Contact Scott Girard at ungreporter@wcinet.com and follow him on Twitter @sgirard9.
Council approved unanimously Nov. 14 SCOTT GIRARD Unified Newspaper Group
The average Fitchburg home got an increase of $81 in the city portion of their property taxes after the Common Council unanimously approved the 2018 budget last month. A l d e r s o n N o v. 1 4 approved 11 amendments to the $22 million budget Mayor Jason Gonzalez had proposed, though many of them did not add any spending to the levy and instead focused on directing staff toward certain priorities. In total, the amendments added $100,000 to the levy, and the final mill rate is $8.55 per $1,000 of assessed value, an increase of .12 percent. However, because the average home value rose almost $10,000, the average homeowner will pay 3.5 percent more. One amendment that affected the city’s tax rate was much discussed leading up to the meeting, as the council agreed to add $50,000 in grants through the Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative. That amendment was a response to the outcry after Gonzalez proposed eliminating funding for nonprofits that had been provided in the past, including $50,000 for the Boys and Girls Club and $10,000 for the Badger Prairie Needs Network. The amendment actually totalled $226,562, with $26,562 going toward additional staffing for the program and another $150,000 earmarked for capital improvements such as parks or buildings but funded by parkland dedication fees. That added a 3-cent
increase to the city’s mill rate, accounting for $8 of the increase on the average $282,000 home. The largest amendment that had been put on the table was voted down by Gonzalez’s tiebreaker after alders voted 4-4 to borrow $600,000 to pave the shoulders on Whalen Road in conjunction with road reconstruction already planned there for next year. A l d . To ny H a r t m a n n (Dist. 4) argued strongly in favor of the paving, pointing out that the road serves as a “connector between two very expensive bike paths.” “This is really for both autos and bikes,” he said, mentioning the importance of safety. But Ald. Julia Arata-Fratta (D-2) said the city has already invested “a lot of money in bike paths.” “They have bike paths everywhere,” Arata-Fratta said. “You’re telling me we can invest $600,000 in paved shoulders but we cannot invest $600,000 in the area with a lot of poverty in our city?” Other amendments that passed included focusing parks department efforts on expanding amenities in parks in certain areas of the city, adding a solar panel fee schedule and directing staff to study Plan Commission application fees. Most alders offered praise for the final budget during closing statements, though they also expressed a desire to see more invested in one area or another. “I think this budget does a lot of good,” said Ald. Dan Carpenter (D-3). “I think it’s fair to say we’d like to do more, but we’re doing the best we can with what we’ve got.” Contact Scott Girard at ungreporter@wcinet.com
The gift of sharing. Oak Bank recognizes the hard work and spirit of our non-prot community. We are proud to have supported over 120 organizations in 2017, and are proud to share our community with you!
Agrace Hospice Care Foundation Aldo Leopold Elementary School Alex’s Lemonade Stand for Childhood Cancer All-City Swim Meet Altrusa International of Madison, Inc. Alzheimer’s & Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin American Family Children’s Hospital American Heart Association American Hindu Association American Red Cross Arbor Day Foundation Association of Fundraising Professionals Autism Society of South Central Wisconsin Badger Prairie Needs Network Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County Brewers Community Foundation Briarpatch Youth Services Children’s Dyslexia Center - Madison Children’s Theater of Madison Chrysalis Community Living Connections Domestic Abuse Intervention Services EAGLE School East Madison/Monona Coa alition of the Aging (EMMCA) Easter Seals Wisconsin Edgewood High School Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Every Creature Counts Farm Sanctuary Fellowship of Christian Ath hlettes Fetch Wisconsin Rescue Fitchburg Chamber of Commerce Fitchburg Center Farmers Market Fitchburg Optimist Club Fitchburg Public Library Friends of Diabetes Research Gilda’s Club Madison Glacier’s Edge Council, Boy Scouts of America Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Goodman Community Center Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce Hickory Knoll Farm Huntington’s Disease Society of America Great Lakes Region Italian Workmen’s Club Madison Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)
Kiwanis Club of Downtown Madison Latino Chamber of Commerce of Dane County Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Lily’s Fund for Epilepsy Research Madison4Kids Madison Community Policing Foundation Madison Country Day School Madison Masonic c Center Foundation Madison Metrop politan Chapter of The Links Madison Museum m of Contemporary Art (MMoCA) Madison Opera Madison Reading Project Madison Rotary Foundation Madison Shrine Club Madison West High School Messling Movem ment Midvale Comm munity Lutheran Church Multiple Sclerrosis Society Muscular Dystro ophy Association NAACP Dane County National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) NARI of Madison Foundation NFL Alumni Charity Golf Classic Orchard Ridge Middle School Oregon Athletic Booster Club Oregon Prreschool, Inc. Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish Puppy Up Foundation Rape Crisis Center REALTORS Association of South Central Wisconsin RISE Rotary Club of Madison South Second Harve est Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin Seminole Pool & Tennis Club Shelley Glover Foundation St. James School StageWorks Projects Stoughton Chamber of Commerce Stoughton Dance Booster Club Stoughton Police & Fire Commission Stoughton Redevelopment Authority Stoughton Sports Booster Club Summer Teaching to Advance Reading Success (STARS)
Sun Prairie Youth Cycling Team Syttende Mai - Stoughton Tri 4 Schools Triangle Community Ministry United Way of Dane County Upper Sugar River Watershed Association UW Carbone Cancer Center UW Foundation UW Hockey V-S Sting Baseball Verona 4-H Verona Area Community Theater Verona Area High School Football Verona Area Performing Arts Verona Chamber of Commerce Verona Ice Arena Verona Road Bu usiness Coalition Verona Wildca ats Hockey Verona Wildcatt Youth Football Waunakee Area Education Foundation Wingra School Wisconsin Academy for Graduate Service Dogs (WAGS) Wisconsin Chamber Orches stra Wisconsin Medical Society Wiisconsin Women’s Health Foundation Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras Wolfpack Basketball Women’s Council of Realtors Wooff Lodge & Rescue Young Life Zor Shriners
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Gonzalez ruled two speakers ‘out of order,’ walked out of public hearing
Tax rate rises slightly in budget
4
December 8, 2017
Letters to the editor
Corporate tax cuts are not needed for job growth You can’t cut your way to prosperity. With the stock market, corporate profits and CEO compensation at record levels, perhaps someone can explain why Republicans are rushing to bestow tax cuts on corporations and the top 1 percent, who don’t need them. The argument that tax cuts are needed to create jobs doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. Unemployment is at a 17 year low and corporations have trillions of dollars in untapped capital sitting on the sidelines. The key to growing the economy lies not in tax cuts but in strategic investments in education, infrastructure and basic research, along with increasing the wages of workers to create the demand that provides incentive for employers to hire more workers. An average of 1,240,000 more jobs were created per year under President Jimmy Carter, with a top marginal tax rate of 70 percent, than
Opinion
Fitchburg Star
were created under Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush when the tax rate was dropped to a low of 28 percent. While the official corporate tax rate may seem high, relative to some other developed nations, the effective tax rate actually paid by U.S. corporations is much lower. Some of the world’s largest and most profitable corporations, including General Electric, Boeing, Wells Fargo and Verizon paid no federal income tax from 2008-2012, despite posting billions in profits. General Electric not only paid no federal income taxes but got a huge refund. It’s time for Donald Trump, Paul Ryan and Republicans in Congress to come clean and admit that their “tax reform” is really a tax heist that would make Bonnie and Clyde proud. Charles Uphoff City of Fitchburg
Friday, December, 2017 • Vol. 4, No. 10 Periodical Postage Paid, Verona, WI and additional offices. Published weekly on Friday by the Unified Newspaper Group, A Division of Woodward Communications, Inc. POSTMASTER: Send Address Corrections to The Fitchburg Star, 133 Enterprise Drive, Verona, WI 53593.
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Community Voices
Listen to your body for the best eating habits
T
his fall my husband and I traveled around Italy and Greece, soaking in the sights and smells, and – of course – savoring all the delicious Italian and Mediterranean flavors that we possibly could. After touring around all day, by dinner time I was ready to eat. But my dinner time was nowhere close to the Italian dinner time of 9 p.m. It was so late compared to Hoerr my normal 6 p.m. eating time. And while in Greece, we were served ham and cheese sandwiches for breakfast. Again, not my typical breakfast fare, to say the least. All of these cultural differences led me to wonder something: Who’s right when it comes to when we’re supposed to eat our meals, how often we should eat and what we’re supposed to be eating at each meal of the day? While I don’t think there’s a right way of eating that everyone needs to follow, there certainly has been plenty of research done related to meal timing and frequency. Meal timing has been a debatable subject for years. What works for some, such as the Italians and their late meals, might not work for all of us. The research is conflicting, but the theory of not eating right before you go to bed may hold some truth for most of us – if for no other reason than that the late-night foods we tend to snack on are often not the healthiest choices. Eating chips and salsa in and of
itself is not necessarily a bad thing, but the mindless eating of the chips out of the bag in front of the TV on a nightly basis is when weight gain can start to creep in. In fact, a recent study showed that nighttime eaters ate about 12 percent more calories than those who ate only during the day. Other research has shown that eating at night can have metabolic effects and cause, in addition to weight gain, increased insulin, blood glucose and cholesterol levels. However, it’s worth noting that similar studies have found no differences in weight or changes in metabolic factors. While it may be wise to try to avoid eating one to two hours prior to going to bed, if you’re hungry, you should go ahead and eat a protein-rich snack to help prevent cravings and low blood sugars. Most of us have probably heard the phrase: “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper.” It doesn’t necessarily mean we need to start having sandwiches for breakfast, but it does have some clout when it comes to when we should be eating the majority of our calories. If having late-night meals and snacks increases the likelihood of weight gain, having a larger breakfast instead does the opposite. Sitting down for a breakfast that is satisfying and equivalent in calories to a typical dinner (around 500 to 600 calories) has been shown to help with weight loss. Starting your day feeling less hungry and with fewer cravings sets you up for success each day. While we know we need to be eating more of our calories earlier in
the day, whether you choose to have them in three meals or six depends on individual preference. The quality of meals and quantity of your nutrients at each meal is ultimately more important than just looking at meal frequency alone. Having consistent meals every day that meet your nutritional needs is what matters the most. Put all the pieces together, and it’s safe to say that there is no one way of eating that works for everyone. When it comes to eating, the best clock to listen to is your own. Not surprisingly, our bodies know our internal clock best. So, rather than concentrating on how many meals you need to fit into a day or what foods are “right” for breakfast or dinner, perhaps listening to your own inner signals of when you’re hungry and what you feel like eating will be most helpful for successful weight loss and maintenance. Whether you’re living in Fitchburg or visiting overseas, by paying attention to when you’re truly hungry, savoring the flavors of the meal and stopping when you’re satisfied – no matter the meal or time of day – you’re setting yourself up for more satisfaction and a healthy approach to weight management. Kara Hoerr, MS, RDN, CD, is the registered dietitian at the Fitchburg Hy-Vee. For nutrition information or questions, contact her at khoerr@ hy-vee.com or 273-5125. This information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice.
New Ride Share program fills transportation gaps
I
magine if you lived in Swan Creek or Uptown or along East Lacy Road and didn’t have a driver’s license or a car. It would be difficult to shop at HyVee or Target – how would you get there? Think about what it would be like to live in the Jamestown Neighborhood near South Whitney Way and Williamsburg Way and how you would go to the library or the Senior Center if you wanted to get there. Sure, you could ride your bike. Or you could take a walk, then a Madison Metro bus into the South or West (Madison) transfer stations, then back out on another bus and two hours later you would be at your destination. This is the sort of problem Fitchburg officials have tried to address for several years. The city recently considered contracting with Metro Transit (more commonly known as Madison Metro) to run an east-west bus route through the city, but officials could not come to an agreement with the agency. Not only was the cost to taxpayers significant – more than $150,000 per year after farebox receipts – there was no firm data to support ridership demand or what route to take. And Metro wanted a 3-year contract Help is now on the way, however. The City of Fitchburg began a ridesharing service Dec. 1. Fitchburg has contracted with Richwood Transport LLC, and launched a low-cost, more flexible transportation option within the city’s urban boundaries. The Fitchburg
For an additional $2, riders can be picked up or dropped off at their front door or another location. For information on the City of Fitchburg’s Ride Share Pilot Program, please visit the city’s website and click on the Ride Share link under “News” or visit the public works department’s page and navigate to streets and transportation. That page has maps showing the service area (Fitchburg’s urban service area, as defined by a regional Ride Share Pilot Program features a planning body – mostly the densely new shared ride service using conpopulated northern regions) and all tracted drivers, in either personal the bus stops. or company vehicles, to take riders Fitchburg selected Richwood, a between any of Fitchburg’s 93 Metro Wisconsin-based operator, in a competitive process. Among the criteria bus stop locations, as well as commercial centers, parks, the public the city used was that it can accept library and the city’s Senior Center cash payments, provides a dedicated and Community Center. dispatch and call center, has handThe new service is a hybrid of the icapped-accessible vehicles, offers popular Uber/Lyft ride-share model flexibility in its program to meet and the fixed route transit that’s most riders’ needs and can provide lowoften used with buses. It uses existing cost services with no minimum fare bus stop locations and several combeyond the $2 farebox charge. mon public destinations. It’s important to note this pilot The vehicles operate between the will allow the city to gather data existing bus stops and are able to take and gauge demand for an additional, riders from any bus stop location, future conventional bus route within using the shortest route, to any other the city. So if you don’t have a car or bus stop within the city. Passengers have another reason you could benefit may request “custom” pick-ups and from using public transportation, give drop-offs within the service area it a try. for an additional fee or to and from points outside the service area (but Tony Hartmann is a member of the within the city limits) at a cost of Resource Conservation Commission $1.50 per mile. and a District 4 alder for the City of This service is 24 hours a day, $2 Fitchburg. per rider and $1 for riders who are 18 and under, 65 and older or disabled.
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December 8, 2017
Fitchburg Star
5
Avg. tax bill Cops, kids embrace holiday spirit rises by $288 ALEXANDER CRAMER Unified Newspaper Group
Bills vary by district, On the web expected to arrive To view break down of district tax increases, visit: next week JIM FEROLIE Fitchburg Star editor
Overall tax rates in the City of Fitchburg have decreased by up to 3.8 percent, depending on school district. But because home values have continued to increase, average tax bills will increase as much as 4.5 percent. The city compiled its extraordinarily complicated taxes last week with the hope of getting bills in the mail next week. The numbers that finance director Misty Dodge sent the Star on Dec. 6 show taxes ranging from a relatively small drop in the Madison school district ($33) to a substantial increase in the Verona district ($288). School taxes account for about one-third of the typical bill in Wisconsin, and school finances can vary significantly. In Verona, the obvious difference was a $182 million referendum package voters approved in April. Most other factors canceled one another out, with the abolition of the state property tax (saving 17 cents per $1,000 of assessed value) and cuts to Madison and Oregon school tax rates (50 and 63 cents, respectively) on one end and increased home values on the other. The Oregon district tax bills are nearly flat, with a $4 increase on the average bill canceled out by a $10 drop in the Lottery Credit. Adding further complication to the matter is the city’s revaluation policy, which rotates around various neighborhoods, and differences between housing types. City assessor Dell Zweig told the Star on Wednesday that eight of the city’s 48 neighborhoods were not revalued this year, most of them particularly old or particularly new. Last year, the city skipped revaluations on 12 of the neighborhoods. That means the increases in some other neighborhoods are higher than average. In addition, the average increase for single-family homes was 3.2 percent, while
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condominiums went up an average of 5.5 percent, based on sales analysis and market trends, Zweig told the Star in an email. Each city has its own way of revaluing properties; there is no set state standard. Some keep the same assessed values each year and apply a multiplication factor to match the state’s equalized value. Others revalue parts of their city each year on a rolling basis. Fitchburg reassesses values for its entire stock of homes each year to keep city properties consistent with values the state publishes. However, the city leaves alone some areas where the overall increase was statistically insignificant based on comparable sales. While this method prevents shocking jumps for some homes every three to five years that are seen in other communities, it provides a wide variation in how some homeowners’ taxes come out each year. One person might see an increase of 10 or 15 percent overall while another sees practically no increase or even a decrease. These revaluations added $50 million of taxable value to the city’s rolls, Zwieg reported. However, that doesn’t give the city extra spending power; rather it reallocates where the money comes from. Dodge said bills were sent to the county Monday and she expects them to be mailed late next week. The state requires them to be sent out by Dec. 18. The first half of tax bills are due Jan. 31, but many homeowners pay all or part of the bill before the end of the year to count it toward their 2017 taxes. Payments postmarked by Dec. 31 will be credited as a December payment for tax purposes. To see your tax information online, visit the public access portal of AccessDane at accessdane.co.wi.us.
Fitchburg police officers brought 10 local kids on a shopping spree at Target on Lien Road as part of Dane County’s 17th annual Shop with a Cop event on Dec. 3. Fitchburg Police Department Sgt. Matthew Laha has been coordinating the project for past couple of years for the department, and told the Star that the kids are given $175 to spend on gifts. Last year, the department started giving the kids some extra money to spend on necessities so they wouldn’t have to use gift money to buy everyday items. “If the kid needs extra boots, gloves, socks, coats, the kids are able to take a couple of extra bucks to spend it on those items as well,” Laha said. “Because some of the kids were coming up to the officers and saying, ‘Hey, can we buy some socks?’” The kids are chosen by school district staff, who evaluate potential participants based on economic factors and how the students behave in school. “They’re good kids,” Laha said. “(They) pay attention, (are) respectful, those sort of things. Guidance counselors all talk with teachers and they identify the kids.”
Photo submitted
Interim Chief Don Bates helps Yared, 10, wrap a present at Cranefield’s VFW after shopping at Target during the 17th annual Shop with a Cop event on Dec. 3 The day starts around 9 a . m . , w h e n o ffi c e r s disperse through the city to pick kids up from their houses. They usually have breakfast waiting in the car, Laha said, and then everyone meets up at the Target on Lien Road in Madison to match up with the officer who will take them shopping. The participating cops do so on a volunteer basis, taking the time outside of their full work week. Laha said the kids each make a list of what gifts to
get before heading into the store. The kids are allowed to get one gift for themselves, but the point is to make sure they return with gifts for the whole family. After shopping, the group heads over to Cranefield’s VFW just off of John Nolen Drive to wrap the presents and have some lunch. When they’re done, officers drop the kids off at home, bags of presents in tow. Laha took on the responsibility of coordinating the event because he thinks it’s
important to be able to interact with the community in a different way, and thinks Shop with a Cop helps both families and officers alike. “ T h o s e ( ex p e r i e n c e s aren’t) things that you can duplicate when you’re working just a normal job. These are things that are valuable to the community,” Laha said. “It’s therapeutic: You don’t have to be on guard all the time.” Contact Alexander Cramer at alexander.cramer@
Bank robbery suspect in custody SCOTT GIRARD Unified Newspaper Group
Fitchburg police have arrested a man who allegedly robbed a bank Monday morning. Police reported late Monday they had arrested 24-year-old Quincy Dixon around 6 p.m. in Madison,
whom they’d considered “armed and dangerous.” Dixon was booked into the Dane County Jail for a parole violation while the bank robbery remains under investigation, according to the news release. No charges were listed on online court records as of Tuesday morning.
A news release from the Fitchburg Police Department said the department responded to BMO Harris Bank at 2900 Fish Hatchery Road at 10:56 a.m. after a report of an armed robbery. Dixon, described as a black man wearing a black hoodie, stocking cap and b l a c k p a n t s , a l l eg e d l y
passed a note demanding money, according to the release. Although no weapon was displayed, the suspect was “believed to have” one. According to the release, Dixon initially fled on foot and the City of Madison unsuccessfully used a K9 to track him.
Armed robbery on Fish Hatchery Road SCOTT GIRARD Unified Newspaper Group
A person was robbed on the 2900 block of Fish Hatchery Road last month by a pair of men, one allegedly with a handgun.
The suspects, both described in a Fitchburg Police Department news release as a black man around 5-foot-8-inches tall, fled the scene on foot north. A K9 search was unable to locate the
suspects. in the department said The incident was report- meant it was unlikely any ed at around 8:49 p.m. had occurred. Sunday, Nov. 19. As of Wednesday, Dec. Contact Scott Girard at 6, the department had not ungreporter@wcinet.com put out a release indicating and follow him on Twitter any arrests, which a person @sgirard9.
Email Fitchburg Star editor Jim Ferolie at fitchburg star@wcinet.com.
Pay extra attention while parking as city wide alternate side parking restrictions are in effect until March 15. The restrictions, which began Nov. 15, are in effect from 1-7 a.m., seven days a week, regardless of weather. It applies to parked, stopped and standing vehicles. The ordinance requires drivers to park on even house numbered side of the street on even numbered calendar days, and odd numbered house side on odd number days. The city posted the ordinance information on its website and emphasized
caution regarding parking before midnight. “The ordinance applies from 1-7 a.m., so your vehicle should be parked on the side of the street based on the date it will be at 1 a.m.,” the website described. For information about the ordinance, call the Fitchburg Police Department at 2704300. Vi s i t f i t c h b u r g w i . gov/1087/parking for more information about general parking restrictions. Contact Amber Levenhagen at amber.levenhagen@ wcinet.com.
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Alternate side parking in effect
6
December 8, 2017
ConnectFitchburg.com
Fitchburg Star
Christmas Party in Huegel Park Chapel Valley Church will give away 100 Christmas trees
If You Go
ALEXANDER CRAMER AND LAUREN SPIERINGS Unified Newspaper Group
Chapel Valley Church will throw a Christmas party this weekend in Huegel-Jamestown Park, 5902 Williamsburg Way, with a Christmas tree giveaway following the festivities. The first annual Christmas in the Park party, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, will feature an eggnog bar, refreshments and hot cocoa, and even a mistletoe forest for the adult guests, Pastor Suzie Genin told the Star in an email. Santa Claus himself will be making an appearance from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Coming up
made sure to mention that those who have signed up for a tree must be present to claim it, and must be home when the tree is delivered. The event is happening rain or shine, but Genin told What: Chapel Valley Church’s Christmas In The Park the Star in an email “let’s be real, I am hoping for a huge Where: Huegel-Jamestown Park, 5902 Williamsburg Way, snowfall.” This is the first year for Christmas in the Park, Madison but the church hopes to make it an annual event. When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9 Genin told the Star she wants to hold four events per year in the park to provide opportunities for neighbors Info: chapelvalley.org/christmasinthepark/ to come together. Last July was their first, an interactive screening of the movie “Inside Out.” “Really, our hope is to create connecting points for the After the celebration, the church will give away 100 people of Fitchburg,” Genin said. “And to continue to Christmas trees, and will offer to deliver them to house- build relationships with the neighbors they do and don’t holds in Fitchburg. The giveaway is open to everyone, but know.” Genin requests anyone who would like a tree to register at chapelvalley.org/christmasinthepark. If all the trees are Contact Alexander Cramer at alexander.cramer@wcinet. spoken for, the church will create a waitlist. The pastor com.
books. Registration is required. To register, call 729-1762.
Paper crafting The senior center will host a paper crafting class at 1 p.m. Monday, Dec. 11, where people can stamp, cut, punch and glue paper. Registration is required prior to the class and the cost is $11.5 for each person. To register, call 270-4290.
iPad workshop The senior center will host an ipad workshop at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 14. Staff from the city’s FACTv channel will help people play around on the iPad. To register, call 270-4290.
Board game cafe People can participate in a board game cafe from 6-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14 at the library. They will learn new board games while drinking coffee and tea. For information, call 7291763.
Pigeon party The library will host a Pigeon party at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 15. There will be stories, activities and crafts based on Pigeon and friends from the Mo Willems
Holiday Science for Tweens Kids ages 9-12 can participate in a Holiday Science event at 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15, at the library. There will be holiday themed science activities. Registration is required. To register, call 729-1762.
African American Writers in Wisconsin Three Madison-area African American writers – poet Fabu, novelist Sherry Lucille, as well as playwright and novelist Catrina Sparkman will discuss their poetry and prose at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at the library. They will present their work in relation to the work of three African American literary writers who also lived and worked in the Madison area during the 20th century: novelist Jean Toomer, playwright Lorraine Hansberry, and poet Sarah Webster Fabio. For information, call 7291763.
Monday, Dec. 18, at the senior Tween jeopardy center. Children ages 9-12 can test Virge band will perform trumtheir trivia skills as they play a pet and Christmas songs. few rounds of Jeopardy at 6 p.m. To reserve, call 270-4290. Friday, Jan. 4, at the library. New Years party The first round will start at 6 Big Wu and People Brothers p.m. and another at 6:30 pm. For information, call 729Band are throwing a New Years party starting at 6 p.m. Sunday, 1760. Dec. 31, at the Wyndham Garden, ‘Thrones’ trivia game 2969 Cahill Main. In addition to the show, there night will be refreshments and chamThe library will host a Game pagne at midnight. of Thrones Trivia night at 6:30 Tickets are $35 and can be pur- p.m. Monday, Jan. 8. Participants chased at wyndham.localtickets. above 18 can rally their bannercom. men and sign their House up for There are room packages avail- Game of Thrones Trivia. able as well, for those who want Children can team up from two access to the “famous” New to five people. There will be prizYear’s Day hangover buffet es for the winning team. from 10 a.m. to noon on Jan. 1. To register, call 729-1760. For information, call 274-7200
Art crafts
Children ages 1-3 can play with art materials from 10-11 a.m. Jan. 3, at the library. Children will practice fine motor skills as they engage in process art. Parents are encouraged to stop in. Smocks and old clothes are Christmas lunch recommended. For information, call 729People can participate in a 1760. Christmas lunch and enjoy music performed by Virge at 11:30 a.m.
DIY succulent terrarium
The instructor will present new softward, phones and tips. To register, call 270-4290.
Art salon Children ages 9 and above can participate in an Art Salon: Yarn Crafts at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 17, at the library. The can spend an evening at the Art Salon making yarn crafts. For information, call 7291760.
Candy art Children ages 13-17 can participate in a candy art workshop from 6-7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 22, at the library. Various cadies will be provided to those kids to create their own art. They can eat the candy after they finish the projects. For information, call 7291760.
Children ages 13-17 can participate in a DIY succulent ter- Art activities rarium from 3-4 p.m. Saturday, The library will hold various Jan. 13, at the library. All materi- art activities from 10-11 a.m. als will be provided. Thursday, Jan. 25. For information, call 729Children can explore and play 1760. with fun art materials. The art activities will help them master Smartphone workshop fine-motor skills and help them People can participate in a learn about cause and effect as Sartphone workshop at 1 p.m. they make changes in materials. Tuesday, Jan. 16, at the senior For information, call 729-1760. center.
Memorial United Church of Christ
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Sunday, December 24
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All Saints Lutheran Church 2951 Chapel Valley Rd. Fitchburg, WI 53711
276-7729 • www.allsaints-madison.org
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December 8, 2017
Fitchburg Star
7
Santa is coming this Sunday 31st annual Children’s Holiday Party at Community Center ALEXANDER CRAMER Unified Newspaper Group
Santa Claus is coming to town this weekend for Fitchburg’s 31st annual Children’s Holiday Party. He’ll be at the Community Center, 5510 Lacy Road, from 1-4 p.m. this Sunday, Dec. 10, along with lots of other holiday activities. Families can enjoy arts and crafts, hot chocolate, popcorn balls, face painting, cookie decorating, a Lego train set and even an inflatable playground, said
Teagan Stotlar, 5, and Calum Stotlar, 4, of Fitchburg, sit on Santa’s lap to tell him what they want for Christmas during last year’s holiday party.
Scott Endl, director of the parks, recreation and forestry department. “It’s pretty comprehensive,” Endl said. After Santa makes his entrance on a fire truck, kids wait their turn to talk to him while doing holiday crafts or bouncing around the inflatable playground. When it’s time, they get to have a quiet moment with Santa as the crew from Fitchburg Area Community Television film the proceedings. Parents can buy the video if they wish, Endl said. The event is free and all are welcome to attend.
File photo Samantha Christian
Contact Alexander Cramer at alexander.cramer@wcinet.com.
Calendar of events
Friday, December 8
• 11 a.m., Toddler maker space, library, 729-1760
Saturday, December 9
• 9-11 a.m., Visit with Santa, Hy-Vee, 2920 Fitchrona Road, 273-5120 • 9 a.m. to noon, Visit with Santa, Wisconsin Bank and Trust, 6180 Verona Rd, 2981700 • 10 a.m. to noon, Strolling Carolers, hot chocolate and muffins, Quivey’s Grove, 6261 Nesbitt Road, 273-4900 • 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Christmas party and tree giveaway, Huegel Jamestown Park, chapelvalley.org/christmasinthepark • 1-3 p.m., LEGO build, library, 729-1760
Sunday, December 10
• 1-4 p.m., Children’s holiday party, community center, 5510 Lacy Road, 270-4285
Monday, December 11
• 9:30-11:30 a.m., Play-Doh Palooza, library, 729-1760 • 1 p.m., Paper crafting, senior center, 270-4290 • 2 p.m., Parkinson’s support group, senior center, 270-4290 • 6-7 p.m., Create “post-it” note, library, 729-1760
group, senior center, 270-4290 • 10 a.m., iPad workshop, senior center, 270-4290 • 10:30 a.m. to noon, Free blood pressure check-up, senior center, 270-4290 • 10:30-11:15 a.m., Communication Innovation Storytime, library, 729-1760 • 1:30 p.m., REACH book club:The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion, senior center, 270-4290 • 1-1:45 p.m., Bouncing babies, library, 729-1760 • 5:30-7:30 p.m., Open house for Verona Road project, Verona Road Project Field Office 6200 Nesbitt Road, Suite B, 884-1230 • 6-8:30 p.m., Board game cafe, library, 729-1763
Friday, December 15
• 11 a.m. to noon, Pigeon book party, library, 729-1760 • 4-5 p.m., Holiday science for tweens, library, 729-1760
Saturday, December 16
• 2 p.m., Hidden Voices: African American Writers in Wisconsin, library, 729-1763
Monday, December 18
• 11:30 a.m., Christmas lunch, senior center, 270-4290
Tuesday, December 19 Wednesday, December 13 • 5 p.m., Read to a dog, library,
• 10-11 a.m., Toddler art, library, 729-1760 • 10-11 a.m., Morning book discussion: Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf, library, 729-1760 • 2 p.m., Parkinson’s support group meeting, senior center, 270-4290 • 6-6:30 p.m., Book club, library, 729-1760 • 7-8 p.m., Skype 101, library, 729-1760
Thursday, December 14
• 10 a.m., Caregiver support
729-1760
Thursday, December 21
• all day, Senior center closed
Wednesday, December 27
• 10-11 a.m., Lego build, library, 729-1760 • 2 p.m., Parkinson’s support group meeting, senior center, 270-4290 • 7-7:45 p.m., Mother Daughter Book Club, library, 729-1760
Thursday, December 28
Saturday, January 20
time, library, 729-1760
Wednesday, January 10
• 10:30-11 a.m., Toddler dance party, library, 729-1760
Thursday, January 11
• 10:30 a.m., Storytime, library, 729-1760 • 1:30 p.m., REACH book club:The Accidental Empress by Allison Pataki, senior center, 270-4290
• 10:30 a.m. to noon, Free blood pressure check-up, senior Friday, January 12 center, 270-4290 • 11 a.m., Book boogie, library, • 1-1:45 p.m., Bouncing babies, 729-1760 library, 729-1760
Sunday, December 31
• 1:30-3 p.m., New Year’s Eve crafts, library, 729-1760
Monday, January 1
• all day, Library closed
Wednesday, January 3
• 10-11 a.m., Toddler art, library, 729-1760 • 6-6:30 p.m., Book club, library, 729-1760 • 7 p.m., Microsoft Word workshop, library, 729-1760
Thursday, January 4
• 11:30 a.m., A Good Yarn book club, library, 729-1760 • 6-6:30 p.m., Tween jeopardy, library, 729-1760
Friday, January 5
• 4:30 p.m., Family Bingo, library, 729-1760
Saturday, January 6
• 11-11:30 a.m., Storytime: Kind- • 2-3:30 p.m., Kids movie: Despicable Me 3, library, 729ness stories, library, 729-1760 1760 • 6-7 p.m., Guys read, library, 729-1760 Monday, January 8 • 9:30 a.m. or 11 a.m., PreSaturday, December 24 school storytime, library, 729• all day, Library closed 1760 Sunday, December 25 • 6:30 p.m., Game of Thrones Trivia night, library, 729-1760 • all day, Library closed • all day, Senior center closed Tuesday, January 9 • 11-11:45 a.m., Lapsit storyMonday, December 26
Saturday, January 13
• 3-4 p.m., DIY Terrarium, library, 729-1760
Monday, January 15
• 9:30 a.m. or 11 a.m., Preschool storytime, library, 7291760
Tuesday, January 16
• 10:30 a.m., Silly stories and crafts, library, 729-1760 • 1 p.m., Lego build, library, 729-1760
Monday, January 22
• 9:30 a.m. or 11 a.m., Preschool storytime, library, 7291760 • 6-7 p.m., Candy art, library, 729-1760
Tuesday, January 23
• 11-11:45 a.m., Lapsit storytime, library, 729-1760
Thursday, January 25
• , Mystery book club: Old World Murder: a Chloe Ellefson mystery, senior center, 2704290 • 10-11 a.m., Preschool Art, library, 729-1760 • 1 p.m., Bouncing babies, library, 729-1760 • 6-6:30 p.m., Guys read, library, 729-1760
• 11-11:45 a.m., Lapsit storytime, library, 729-1760 • 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., AmeriFriday, January 26 can Red Cross blood drive, Oak • 10:30 a.m., Storytime, library, Hall, 5510 Lacy Road, 270729-1760 4213 Saturday, January 27 • 5 p.m., Read to a dog, library, • 2-3 p.m., Book Bingo, library, 729-1760 729-1760
Wednesday, January 17
• 10-11 a.m., Toddler art, library, 729-1760 • 6 p.m., Preschool storytime – Arts salons: Yarn crafts, library, 729-1760 • 7 p.m., Microsoft Word: basics and beyond, library, 729-1760
Thursday, January 18
• 10:30-11 a.m., Beary fun storytime, library, 729-1760 • 4 p.m., Afternoon art, library, 729-1760 • 6 p.m., Career change workshop, library, 729-1760
Friday, January 19
• 4-5 p.m., Winter science, library, 729-1760
JEWELRY, ORNAMENTS, DECOR, GIFTS, CHARM!
Monday, January 29
• 9:30 a.m. or 11 a.m., Preschool storytime, library, 7291760
Tuesday, January 30
• 11-11:45 a.m., Lapsit storytime, library, 729-1760
Tuesday, February 6
• 11-11:45 a.m., Lapsit storytime, library, 729-1760
Tuesday, February 13
• 11-11:45 a.m., Lapsit storytime, library, 729-1760
Tuesday, February 20
• 11-11:45 a.m., Lapsit storytime, library, 729-1760
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December 8, 2017
Fitchburg Star
9
City of Fitchburg
SCOTT GIRARD Unified Newspaper Group
A consultant will evaluate if Fitchburg’s standalone fire and EMS services are the most efficient setup for the city or if a “fire-based EMS” department would be better. The Common Council approved $30,000 for the study on a 6-2 vote at its Nov. 14 meeting as an amendment to the 2017 budget. Ald. Julia Arata-Fratta (Dist. 2) had proposed the study as an amendment to the 2018 budget, but funding was available for a one-time allocation in the current year so the council opted to approve that route. The idea, which has been studied in the past, drew strong opposition in a memo from retiring Fitch-Rona EMS chief Brian Myrland. “A fair and unbiased study is in the best interest of the community if there is evidence to suggest a change is needed,” Myrland wrote. “In this case, there is no evidence of concern in either department. In fact, both the Fitch-Rona EMS and the Fitchburg Fire departments are considered outstanding departments.” Fitch-Rona EMS serves the City of Fitchburg and the town and city of Verona. Fitchburg fire chief Joe Pulvermacher wrote in his own memo that he supported the study as a way to “identify efficiencies and maintain (or improve) service levels.” “Throughout my career, I have been associated with fire-based EMS and have had the privilege of serving as an EMS provider,” Pulvermacher wrote. “Although Fitch-Rona provides great patient care, fire-based EMS has been extremely successful also.” I n a fi r e - b a s e d E M S department, some or all firefighting staff would be cross-trained to provide emergency medical service and transportation. Among the reasons for the study are the coming third ambulance for FitchRona EMS, which was originally planned for 2018 but had to be pushed back to 2019 because of Fitchburg’s budget and transitional state of the fire stations. That operating expense — at least $300,000 in the first year — would be added to an already-tight budget the council has had difficulty with in recent years. “We need to determine what is the best option for us as a city,” Arata-Fratta said Nov. 14. Ald. Aaron Richardson
‘I think this is just a poor use of funds.’ Aaron Richardson, District 3 alder (D-3), who serves on the EMS Commission made up of representatives from each municipality, was one of two votes against the study. “I think this is just a poor use of funds,” Richardson said. “This is something that’s been looked at in the past … and it just seems like a lot of money to me to do this study.” Ald. Tom Clauder (D-4) also voted against. Pulvermacher pointed to six new factors that have already affected the city’s budget or will in the near future as reasons a new study is warranted, including the new ambulance. The others were hiring new paramedics, construction of new fire stations in Fitchburg, replacing the outgoing Myrland, the charter with the other municipalities and levy limits. “When Fitch-Rona was established 40 years ago, the Fitchburg Fire Department had a volunteer service; so, staffing at the station was unpredictable,” he wrote. “Over the years, our staffing has changed … we have continually re-evaluated our roles in and our responsibility to the community we serve.” He wrote that he hoped the study would “address our fiscal responsibility while maintaining or improving service.” Myrland wrote that the City of Fitchburg’s 2017 contribution to a two-ambulance system is $506,287 out of a $2.3 million operating budget, which shows “the economics are clearly in support of the District model.” “Given the current financial situation in the City of Fitchburg there is no sound reason to pay $30,000, or more, to study the effectiveness of a multi municipal EMS District versus a single municipality, combined fire/EMS organization,” Myrland wrote. “The economic advantages to the District model are clear and substantial.” The study is expected to be completed by mid-2018, and any changes to the Fitch-Rona bylaws would need to be worked out with the other municipalities. If the city were to leave the EMS district, it would require a one-year notice. Contact Scott Girard at ungreporter@wcinet.com and follow him on Twitter @sgirard9.
process with a community survey asking what the city should be looking for in a chief. The survey got See updates to the police chief search throughout the month at: 125 responses, including 75 ConnectFitchburg.com from Fitchburg residents, 36 from city employees and two from business owners. While multiple-choice questions covered “core values,” leadership qualities and personal characteristics, the narrative responses varied between compliments about the department and criticism of how the department has been run in recent years. The critical comments mostly cited a “rift” between management and patrol and a lack of support from superiors. The multiple-choice Book completely online with the comfort responses showed that of knowing there is personalized service accountability and initiawaiting to help you if you need it! tive were the most-preOr just give us a call - it’s that easy. ferred “core values” from a new chief, while integrity, Scan Here To Shop For collaboration and public Your Next Vacation awareness were the top three personal characteristics desired. Communication, collaborative leadership and mentoring were the three most important leadership qualities pre1-877-270-7260 ferred by respondents.
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The City of Fitchburg does not yet have finalists for its next police chief after the commission to select them could not get a quorum at its most recent meeting. The Police and Fire Commission, in charge of hiring the next chief, had a meeting scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5, but with not enough members to vote, it was delayed. Human resources manager Lisa Sigurslid said in an email the commission would try to meet Monday, Dec. 11. It’s unclear when a new chief will start now that the process has been delayed once again. The application deadline had already been extended past the initial schedule before Tuesday’s meeting was canceled, putting the tentative start date at Feb. 5, 2018. But that assumed PFC finalist interviews would be this week. The city received 21 applications for the position. Residents, business owners and city staff were invited to offer input on the
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$30K study looks at joint fire, EMS
No finalists yet for FPD chief after commission short of quorum
10
December 8, 2017
Schools
Fitchburg Star
Verona Area School District
ConnectFitchburg.com
City of Verona, VASD disagree on road funding Initial $5M commitment, land swap in question SCOTT GIRARD Unified Newspaper Group
Photo by Scott Girard
Verona Area High School school and parent liaision and Latino Nation adviser Frank Rodriguez is hit in the face with a pie.
Pies for Puerto Rico Verona Area High School students got a special chance last week to throw something at their teachers and administrators — a pie. The event, which took place at both lunch periods Wednesday, Nov. 29, was set up by student organization Latino Nation and the student council to raise money for the Puerto Rico recovery effort following this year’s hurricanes. Latino Nation adviser Frank Rodriguez said they raised more than $500. Students purchased raffle tickets for $1 each, which were drawn during lunches to determine who got to throw pies. Students selected got to choose the participating teacher they wanted to throw a pie at.
Elected officials in the City of Verona and Verona Area School District disagree how much the city should pay for a piece of land to help fund a new road leading into the new high school site. Monday night, the Common Council and school board held a joint meeting that included each body going into a closed session, featured questions over each side’s motives and planning and ultimately produced no resolution. The district needs to submit its
site plan and other documents by the end of the year to stick to its 2020 opening plan without knowing how much the city will contribute. If the city contributes less, other parts of the project might be cut, which could affect the approval and design process and endanger the timeline. “Decisions by these bodies here need to be made as soon as possible, because it really impacts the ultimate goal of getting the site permitted,” said district consultant Hans Justeson of JSD Professional Services. For the council, that’s no sooner than January. Alders came out of an hour-and-15-minute closed session without a quorum but asking for more information from city staff before committing any money to the road, particularly the projected cost of the
road and the value of a school district property being swapped for it. “Our hope is to be able to have those numbers (from staff) and to have a meeting of the Common Council to discuss this at the first meeting in January,” city attorney Bryan Kleinmaier said after alders returned from a closed-session meeting. As the meeting was about to adjourn, city public works director Theran Jacobson suggested that Justeson submit the district’s documents as planned before the end of the year, regardless of monetary decisions. “You need to move forward with your schedule,” Jacobson said.
District ‘meets expectations’
requirements. If approved, the waiver would allow students at the high school to function like their peers at the Exploration Academy, a project-based charter high school. EA, which is in the final year of its charter agreement, could choose to be absorbed into the high school if the waiver were approved. The charter renewal decision is expected to come within the next month as the charter enrollment period begins early next year.
Read the full story at ConnectFitchburg.com.
What’s online Read these and more Verona Area School District stories at ConnectFitchburg.com:
The annual state report cards from the Department of Public Instruction VAHS grad declares for board showed VASD “met expectations” in With at least one open seat in next the 2016-17 school year, the same spring’s election for Verona Area school rating level as the prior year. board, a Class of 2017 Verona Area Waiver could allow VAHS to High School graduate is throwing her name into the race. Ariadne Sauce- function like EA do-Griensen began circulating nominaDistrict officials applied for a tion papers this month. The 18-year-old waiver last month with the state told the Star she hopes to give a “voice” Department of Public Instruction to on the board to the Latino community. exempt the district from certain state
Oregon School District
Exceeding expectations again OSD state ‘report card’ score ticks up SCOTT DE LARUELLE Unified Newspaper Group
While a 1.6 percent change may not seem statistically significant, it’s definitely a positive number for the nearly 4,000 students in the Oregon School District. The district “exceeded expectations” in the 2016-17 school year, increasing its grade from 77.2 to 78.6 and had two schools receive the highest ranking among the five possible, according to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s 2016-17 report cards, released Nov. 21. The report cards are intended to help schools and districts “use performance data to target improvement efforts to ensure students are ready for their next educational step, including the next grade level, graduation, college, and careers,” according to a DPI news release last week. OSD superintendent Brian Busler said the district uses the report card data along with other student achievement data to “analyze current educational practices, areas of strengths and opportunities for continued growth for our students.” He said the district has room for continued improvement with growth in English Language Arts and Math. “The success of our scores is reflected of our strong student body and the work of our teachers and staff to deliver high quality education in a safe and effective learning environment,” he wrote the Observer in an email.
care for the needs of all learners,” he wrote the Observer in an email. All six district schools’ scores “It is great to work with a staff that improved from last year. is always looking to be better, and The highest-rated was Brooklyn want what is best for our learners.” Elementary, which “significantly exceeded expectations” and scored Positive grades 87.3, followed closely behind by Public and private schools, as Netherwood Knoll at 85.7, also well as public school districts are “significantly exceeding expecta- graded annually on state expectations.” The rest of the schools were tions in four “priority areas” stuall in the “exceeds expectations” dent achievement, student growth, category: Prairie View Elementary educational equity and preparing (81.2), Rome Corners Intermediate students for educational milestones, (75.3), Oregon High School (75.2) including college and career readiand Oregon Middle School (73.3). ness. Last year, Netherwood was the The 2016-17 report cards use data highest-rated school at 85.5 and including two years of Forward and along with Brooklyn “significant- one year of Badger testing, three ly exceeded expectations.” Prai- years of ACT Plus Writing and rie View just missed the top group Dynamic Learning Maps testing with an 81.1 rating and was listed and three to five years of data to calas “exceeds expectations,” with culate a graduation rate, according RCI, OMS and OHS each garnering to the news release. “meets expectations.” Statewide, more than 82 percent BKE principal Kerri Modjeski of public and private choice schools said the school has seen “great suc- were rated as “meeting expectacess” with its reading curriculum tions” or better — the same as last and new math curriculum, and cred- year — with a vast majority of pubited teachers and staff for “challeng- lic school districts rated as “meeting ing each child to reach their poten- expectations” or better. tial.” Of the school districts rated, 44 “We are lucky, indeed, to work “significantly exceeded” expectain a district with such gifted pro- tions, 190 “exceeded” expectations, fessionals,” she wrote the Observer 166 “met” expectations, 20 “met in an email. “Our success is due to few” expectations and none were every adult who works in the build- judged as “failing to meet” expectaing, parents, and especially the tions. Overall, 361 schools “signifikids.” cantly exceeded” expectations, with NKE principal Chris Kluck said 719 “exceeding” expectations, 643 while the report cards are just one “meeting” expectations, 216 “meetmeasure of students’ experience and ing few” expectations and 117 “failprogress, the results reflect the col- ing to meet” expectations. laborative work done at the school and district. Email Unified Newspaper Group “The district is blessed with a reporter Scott De Laruelle at scott. supportive community and pardela ruelle@wcinet.com. ents that provide the resources to
School ratings
Photo by Alexander Cramer
OHS principal Jim Pliner recognizes student leaders who were involved in the upgrade process at the school at the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 30
OHS hosts open house The upgrades to Oregon High School were officially unveiled to the public last Thursday, capping nearly two years of construction and around $46 million in referendum money. Community members took a tour of the new facilities, starting with the secured entranceway and the art gallery near the main entrance. The gallery features works by students and staff and includes paintings, pictures, sculptures and costumes, making a colorful first impression as people enter the building. The athletic facilities have also received a major boost, including a gymnasium big enough to host events that include the entire student body and their family members. The new gym has already come in handy, hosting this spring’s graduation ceremonies in air-conditioned
comfort in 90-degree heat. OHS wants to make lifelong movers in addition to lifelong learners, Amy Miller told the Observer during the tour. Miller is the Community Education & Recreation Director and District Coordinator of Advanced Learning for the Oregon school district. She pointed out the new athletic equipment can keep kids moving even if they have an injury. The spaces are more open than they were, Miller pointed out, and there are lots of places for kids to work. One example of the benefits of the new configuration is the fact that subjects are clustered in specific areas. So if a student is working on math during a free period, she can go to the math area and ask a math teacher any questions that might arise. – Alexander Cramer
December 8, 2017 - Fitchburg Star 11
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December 8, 2017 - Fitchburg Star 13
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14
Sports
Friday, Dec. 8, 2017
The
Fitchburg Star For more sports coverage, visit: ConnectFitchburg.com
West boys hockey
Jeremy Jones, sports editor
845-9559 x226 • ungsportseditor@wcinet.com
Anthony Iozzo, assistant sports editor 845-9559 x237 • sportsreporter@wcinet.com Fax: 845-9550
Edgewood boys hockey
Regents have uphill battle in Big Eight JEREMY JONES Sports editor
If anyone is going to dethrone Verona this season, it could be Madison West boys hockey (12-120, 7-7-0). The Regents return a big senior class that will play hard against everyone in front of one of the better returning goaltenders in Adam Buencamino (.880 save percentage). Drake Baldwin (12 goals, 6 assists) is expected to lead the Regents offense. “ We a r e s t a c ke d a n d have a lot of leadership on the team,” Buencamino said. Bret Farley stepped down as head coach over the off season but is remaining on the team as an assistant coach and goaltender coach. “I wanted to make sure that there was someone who could keep the West H o c key p r o g r a m g o i n g strong,” said Farley, who was waiting for the right time to step down as head coach. Steve Libert, who was previously an assistant coach with the Regents, got the job as head coach and will lead the team heading forward. Farley said he wanted to have more personal time for himself since being a head coach is a year-round job. “I’ve had days where I was on a beach and got an email or a text that I had to answer because it was for the upcoming season,” Farley said.
Turn to West hockey/Page 15
Photo by Jeremy Jones
Junior forward Jake Schmaltz (8) moves the puck up ice Nov. 21, around Verona’s Kade Binger (6) and Brockton Baker (16) in the season opener. Edgewood beat the Wildcats 3-2 in the first round of the Admirals Cup.
Skating as a favorite Edgewood undefeated in first four games The Crusaders (3-0-1 overall, 1-0-0 conference) dropped the puck on the Badger South season Dec. 5, crushing Monona Grove 12-1 at Hartmeyer Ice Arena.
Admirals Cup Forward Carter Hottman scored twice in the first 12 minutes Nov. 21, and goaltender Ben Cegelski made 21 saves as the Crusaders held off Verona 3-2 in the season opener inside LaBahn Arena. The game also doubled as the opening round of the Milwaukee Admirals Cup. Edgewood followed that with an 8-5 win over Homestead on Nov. 24 before skating to a 1-1 tie inside UW-Milwaukee’s Panther Arena on Nov. 25. Hottman continued to lead
the offense against Homestead, scoring a hat trick, including an even-strength and short-handed goal in the third period to ice the game. Drew Lenz had a goal and two assists in the win, while Jake Schmaltz added a goal and an assist. Teddy Kleusner, Jake Sevenz and Gabe Brown each scored their first goals of the season against the Highlanders. Shane Ryan stopped 22 shots on goal for Edgewood. Hottman and Waukesha’s Jacob Arndt exchanged second-period goals in the championship game of the Admirals Cup before the game ended in a 1-1 tie. Cegelski had 37 saves for the Crusaders and Garrett Larsen stopped 17 shots for the Wings.
Crusaders look to repeat as conference champs JEREMY JONES Sports editor
The Madison Edgewood boys hockey team looks primed to repeat as Badger South Conference champions for the ninth straight year. First-team forwards Carter Hottman, a senior, and junior Jake
Schmaltz are both back as well as second-team defense Hunter Stracka and honorable mention forward Drew Lenz. First-team defenseman Bryce Kessel was the only all-conference Crusader to graduate. Hottman scored a team-best 27 goals and set up 15 more. Schmaltz finished second on the team with 19 goals and first with 25 helpers. Lenz had 11 goals and 23 assists and Stracka added five goals and 11 assists.
What’s next Edgewood travels to nonconference McFarland at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8, and to Madison Memorial at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12. Edgewood also has games at Milton (at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13), vs. Stoughton at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15), vs. Oregon (at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 21), in the Green Bay invite (Wednesday, Dec. 27), vs Middleton (at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 3), vs. Madison West (at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5), vs. Green Bay Notre Dame (at 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6) and at Monroe (at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9).
VAHS wrestling
Verona shows off potential in opening win ANTHONY IOZZO Assistant sports editor
Photo by Anthony Iozzo
Senior Jono Herbst is able to spin around for a reversal in the third period of his 126-pound match against junior Guillermo Tellez on Dec. 1 in a Big Eight dual against Madison Memorial. Herbst ended up winning by pinfall in 5 minutes, 33 seconds, and Verona won the dual 42-23.
Turn to ME hockey/Page 15
To Verona wrestling coach Bob Wozniak, a 42-23 Big Eight Conference win on Dec. 1 over Madison Memorial was a good starting point for the 2017-18 season. After several letterwinners from last season decided not to continue due to injuries or other reasons – seniors Reagan Stauffer, Jordan Recob and Luke Slekar – the Wildcats have less experience as a whole. But seniors Jono Herbst, Wyatt Brietnauer and Lance Randall are all capable captains and juniors Jeremy Grim and Zakh Kalifatidi are expected to break out this season. A common theme in his days as a coach, Wozniak said, is that experienced juniors and seniors that had previously been around
.500 and average tend to mature both physically and mentally and turn into potential sectional/state qualifiers. “Sometimes, they come back as a junior and senior and all of a sudden something happens where they flick a switch and become that much better,” Wozniak said. “Wrestling is so much in your head, so they get some of that confidence and just start winning a lot of matches and it just builds.” Friday, Herbst, Randall, Grim and Kalifatidi all earned pin wins. Breitnauer was pinned in a competitive match but had chances to win by pin himself. Wozniak said Herbst worked hard in the offseason and Kalifatidi and Breitnauer went to team camp to help them become leaders. Grim is also back at his actual
Turn to Wrestling/Page 17
OHS boys bb
Oregon takes care of Milton on the road ANTHONY IOZZO Assistant sports editor
The Oregon boys basketball team won its third straight game to start the season Friday with a 46-28 blowout at Milton. The Panthers led by just two at halftime, 17-15, but they dominated the second half with a 29-13 advantage. Oregon had 11 field goals and finished 12-for-21 from the line. Milton was held to just seven field goals.
Turn to Boys bb/Page 16
Madison West/Edgewood
December 8, 2017
Fitchburg Star
Edgewood girls basketball
Young Crusaders look to build on potential ANTHONY IOZZO Assistant sports editor
The defending WIAA Division 3 girls basketball champion Madison Edgewood Crusaders might have lost a lot from last season, but they look to be back in the mix. Edgewood returns one of four all-conference players, senior Caitlin Link (347 points, 127 rebounds,119 assists). First-teamers Estella Moschkau (514 points, 179 rebounds, 94 assists, 74 blocks) and Katie Meriggioli (424 points, 204 rebounds, 93 assists) and honorable mention Hannah Frazier (72 points, 107 rebounds) all graduated. Moschkau now plays for Division I Stanford, and Meriggioli plays for D-II Bentley University. But despite the production loss, the Crusaders now have three freshmen on the varsity squad all playing significant minutes. Freshmen guard/forward Ella Foti has led the way with 64 points in five games. Foti is averaging nearly 13 points per game and is a complement to Link, who has averaged 15 points per game in five games. Freshmen guard/forward Sarah Lazar and freshmen forward Baluck Deang have also contributed this season. Deang has averaged seven points per game, and Lazar has chipped in 5.8 points per game. The Crusaders, which shared the Badger South Conference last season, are still on a learning curve at 3-2 (2-1 conference). But following a tough loss to Stoughton on Nov. 30, the Crusaders bounced back with a big performance at Oregon on Dec. 5. Edgewood had 17 of its 24 offensive rebounds in the first half and beat Oregon 57-37. Against Stoughton, the Crusaders were not as physical with the ball, consistently being forced into tie-ups and not getting as many
Senior Caitlin Link (23) attempts to defend Oregon leading scorer Ellen McCorkle on Dec. 5 in a Badger South Conference game. Link scored 18 points in a 57-37 win.
What’s next Edgewood hosts Fort Atkinson at 7:15 p.m. Saturday and travels to nonconference Verona at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12. The other games are: vs. Milton (7:15 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15), at Monroe (7:15 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 21), West Allis tournament (Dec. 27-28), vs. Monona Grove (7:15 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5).
Photo by Anthony Iozzo
Freshman Ella Foti looks for an open teammate Thursday, Nov. 30, against Stoughton at Edgewood High School. Foti finished with 18 points to lead the Crusaders, and she followed with another 18-point performance at Oresecond-chance opportunities. Edge- gon on Dec. 5. wood dropped that game 65-51. After the Stoughton game, Vikings coach Brad Pickett said he expects Oregon coach Adam Wamsley was playing and outworking us.” Edgewood to be much better by the impressed by the Crusaders. He Foti scored 18 points in both end of season and said Stoughton said they beat the Panthers on the games, and Link had 18 against might have been fortunate to catch boards. Oregon and 11 against Stoughton. them so early on the road. “I think they got the better of Deang had a better game against But after Tuesday’s game, us,” Wamsley said. “They were Oregon with eight points.
West hockey: Boys look to dethrone Verona in the Big Eight
Regents start 1-2-1 this season JEREMY JONES Sports editor
The Regents opened the 2017-18 season Nov. 24, on the road and fell 6-1 to Eau Claire North inside Hobbs Arena in Altoona. Marcus Mack scored the only goal of the game for West in the final five minutes. The Regents trailed 5-0 before his goal as Sam Strange scored four goals and assisted on another for the Huskies.
West 2, Hayward 2 Drake Baldwin scored twice Nov. 25 as the Regents skated to a 2-2 draw against the Hayward Hurricanes. Gavin Abric had 31 saves for West, and Ian Hedican stopped 26 of 28 for Hayward.
West 7, Janesville 1 The Regents’ only win so far this season was a 7-1 drubbing of Big Eight Conference rival Janesville on Nov. 28 inside Madison Ice Arena. Baldwin scored twice and assisted on another goal in the blowout. Sam Loving had one goal and an assist. Colin Pulkrabek, Charlie Cutting, Riley Lanham and Alex Duchemin each scored once. Adam Buencamino stopped 21 of 22 shots on goal for the Regents. Owen Aldrich made 20 saves for the Bluebirds.
Marquette 3, West 2 Baldwin scored twice in the third period to draw Madison West even with Marquette on Dec. 1. The Regents were unable to take the lead, however, dropping the game 3-2 when Danny McKenna scored his second goal of the game with seconds remaining. Buencamino made 19 saves inside Madison Ice Arena. Zach Schmidt stopped 31 shots for the Hilltoppers.
Continued from page 14 The Wildcats enter the season looking like heavy favorites to repeat as Big Eight Conference champions. Verona, which has gone 176-56-9 since Joel Marshall took over eight years ago, enters the season ranked eighth on the Wis consinPrepHockey state poll. Verona finished 14-121 overall and 11-3 in the Big Eight last season on its way to the program’s fifth Big Eight Conference title since joining the conference in 2009. The Wildcats fell one game shy of their ultimate goal, however, losing 5-3 to Sun Prairie in the sectional final game. Madison Memorial (1212-2, 4-8-2) is expected to have one of the conference’s stingiest defenses led by Jack Helle (5G,
9A) and Jackson Welsch (2G, 5A). Forward Parker Lindauer (16G, 15A) will likely lead the offense. Middleton (15-8-0, 8-60) will have a few good forwards, led by Jake Feldt (2G, 12A), and a good defensive group, led by newcomer Bo Bergenthal. Sun Prairie (13-8-2, 7-52) finished fourth in conference play a year ago but returns a solid group of talent, coming off last season’s state tournament run. The Cardinal offense expects to be led by Kyle Hagerman (18G, 11A). The Janesville co-op finished second to last, but while the Bluebirds and Beloit Memorial are well-coached, both will be down in talent this year. The Eastside Lakers having gotten a little better each season, but they will likely be in the bottom half of the conference again.
What’s next Madison West hosts Beloit Memorial at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1 and travels to Sun Prairie at 7:15 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9. The Regents also have games at Middleton (8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12), vs. Verona (at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15), vs. Madison Memorial (at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 21), in the Culver’s Cup (Wednesday, Dec. 27), at Edgewood (at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5), vs. Sun Prairie (at 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6) and at Janesville (at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9).
- Evan Halpop contributed to this story
15
ME hockey Continued from page 14 At Oregon, coach Mike Jochmann, who has compiled a 32-17-2 record over the past two seasons, said this is the most talented team he has had in three seasons. Second-team forward Zak Roskos, defenseman Carson Timberlake, Tyler Damon and Laszlo Orosz all return and are expected to be major offensive contributors. Newcomers Tristan Hughes, Tyson Rohrer and Colton Eyers will also be added to the mix this season and will be counted on quickly. The Panthers finished second in the Badger South last year with an 8-2-0 record (169-1 overall), falling twice to the Crusaders. Monona Grove (8-161, 6-4-0) finished third but graduated first-team seniors Andryi Nahirniak (goaltender) and forwards Keaton Gill and second-teamer Alex Baldwin. Stoughton could be a dark horse in the Badger South this season with the return of second-team goaltender Carson Roisum and honorable mention defenseman Sam Wahlin. The Vikings finished last season 6-16-1 (4-6-0 conference) and rode Roisum to a regional playoff win. Now juniors, Roisum finished last season with a .909 save percentage and Wahlin posted five goals and six assists. Senior Ethan Ebert (1 assist) will join Wahlin as the defenseman with the most varsity experience. Stoughton has a trio of freshmen defensemen it will be counting on, however, in Zach Wahlin, Dustin Woelke and Zayne Zeichert. Despite the graduation of forwards Justin Gibbons (26 goals, 10 assists) and Zeth Zeichert (5G, 8A), Stoughton’s offense is expected to be led by sophomore Brody Hlavacek.
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December 8, 2017
Boys swimming
Charles finishes ninth at Sun Prairie invite JEREMY JONES Sports editor
Oregon boys swimming opened the Badger South dual meet season with perhaps its biggest challenge of the season and also took on tough competition Saturday in the Sun Prairie Invitational.
Monona Grove 117, Oregon 52 Oregon hosted threetime defending WIAA Division 2 state champion Monona Grove on Dec. 5 and fell 117-52. The Silver Eagles won all 11 events. The Panthers’ best finish came in the 100-yard backstroke where sophomore Blake Anderson and freshman Forest Garty placed 2-3 in 1:26.31 and 1:37.96, respectively. Oregon’s sophomore Blake Anderson, junior Sam Rohloff, senior Ian Charles and junior Collin
Sun Prairie invite Charles finished a teambest ninth in both of his individual events Dec. 2 at the Sun Prairie Invitational. The senior led Oregon in the 500-yard freestyle in 5 minutes, 16.63 seconds.
Turn to OHS swim/Page 18
Panthers look to bounce back Assistant sports editor
The Oregon girls basketball team looks to have a short memory following a couple of tough Badger South Conference losses last week. The Panthers nearly came back from 22 points down Thursday in a 78-71 loss at Monona Grove, and they struggled to hit shots Tuesday in a 57-37 loss to Madison Edgewood. “They have to keep their heads up and have to improve,” coach Adam Wamsley said. “We preach we are not going to settle after a win or a loss ... Come tomorrow night, I am sure they will be ready for practice.” Wamsley said the girls have been very coachable in the first two weeks of the season, and they have gotten to the basket and have gotten to the free-throw line. But that was one of the areas that Oregon struggled
Boys hockey
Braatz finished runner-up i n t h e 2 0 0 m e d l ey i n 2:08.47. Junior Henry Wiedemann, senior Noah Karpelenia, junior Sam Rohloff and junior Kaden Seeliger added a sec ond-place finish on the 200 free relay in 2:04.8. Braatz and Charles also had a pair of second-place individual finishes. Braatz took second place in the 50 free (27.82) and Charles added a runner-up finish in the 400 free (4:34.86). Sophomore Aedan Larson won the only event of the night for Oregon, claiming the JV 100 free in 1:19.01.
Girls basketball
ANTHONY IOZZO
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with Tuesday against Edgewood, Wamsley added.
Monona Grove 78, Oregon 71 The Panthers tried to claw back on Nov. 30 after falling down by 22 points in the second half, but they couldn’t get close enough in a 78-71 loss at Monona Grove. Oregon cut the deficit to 72-69 with 30 seconds left, but the Silver Eagles closed the game at the free-throw line. McCorkle helped the comeback. She was 12-for18 from the free-throw line and finished with 26 points and nine rebounds. Sophomore Liz Uhl added 12 points and eight rebounds, and sophomore Izzie Peterson chipped in 11 points and four assists. Sophomore Kaitlyn Schrimpf collected eight points and six rebounds, and junior Sydona Roberts finished with seven points.
Turn to OHS girls bb/Page 18
The Oregon boys hockey team won the Kyle J. Neurohr Memorial tournament Nov. 24-26 in Sheboygan.
Photo submitted
Panthers win championship in Sheboygan JEREMY JONES Sports editor
game,” Jochmann said. “We rolled through our four lines of forwards with regularity, and while there were some mistakes that were made, the boys all played solid.” Two of the four Storm goals were power-play goals. “We just got caught being outmanned for those,” Jochmann said. Oregon answered with three power-play goals in the second period to take WNS out of the game. Jacob Ayers stopped 27 of 31 shots on goal to preserve the win, while Max Gerhmann made 32 saves for the Storm.
Oregon boys hockey (3-1-0 overall, 0-0-0 Badger South) made two early leads stick in one game and posted a shutout in another two weekends ago on its way to the Kyle J. Neurohr Memorial tournament title in the Sheboygan. “Penalties were the theme of the weekend, and not just for our boys,” Oregon coach Mike Jochmann said. “The other teams in the tournament were called for a high number of penalties per game. It was difficult to know what level of play the kids Oregon 1, Ashwaubenon 0 could engage in.” On the upside, Gage Schildgen scored the lone Jochmann said the penalties gave his team a chance to have game-action goal from the offensive blueline that redirected off the body of an Ashwork on their special teams setups. waubenon defenseman Nov. 25 as Oregon 7, WNS 4 Oregon knocked off the Jaguars 1-0. The Panthers gave the Jaguars plenThe Panthers opened the tournament Nov. 24 with a 7-4 victory over ty of scoring opportunities but Ashthe Whitefish Bay co-op inside Laker waubenon finished the game 0 for 8 Ice Arena. Oregon had seven different on the power play. Hunter Newton stopped all 19 shots goal scorers in the win and six others he faced to earn a shutout in his first that had at least one assist. Zak Roskos and Tyson Roher each varsity start. “Hunter played very well,” Jochhad a goal and an assist. Roskos started the scoring just mann said. “It was great to see him under three minutes into the period track the puck well at the varsity levwith a short-handed goal. Roher and el.” Matt Piontkowski made 14 saves senior defenseman Carson Timberlake helped Oregon extend its advan- for the Jaguars. tage to 3-0 over the next seven-and-a- Oregon 5, Sheboygan 4 half minutes before the Storm pulled Tristan Hughes helped the Panthers within a goal with two goals over the get out to another quick lead on Nov. final six minutes of the period. “I never felt that we were in a 26 in the championship but Oregon position to lose the lead in the WNS had to hang on to close out the Red
Raiders 5-4. Hughes scored 39 seconds into the game as the visiting Panthers built a 5-0 early in the second period. The senior finished the game with a hat trick and an assist, icing the game with his third period power-play goal. Timberlake added three assists. Both he and Hughes were named to the all tournament team. Roskos finished with a goal and an assist. Tyler Damon and Colton Eyers each had a goal. Newton stopped 23 saves for Oregon. Penalties were once again a factor yet again in the championship game. “There was more time spent in oddman special teams situations with players in the penalty box (for both teams) than there was time spent 5 on 5,” Jochmann said. “We had a stretch where we needed to shorten the bench a little bit to secure the championship, but I didn’t really ever feel that our boys couldn’t protect the lead they had gained.” All four Sheboygan goals came on the power play. Colin Fessler made 15 saves for Sheboygan and Maclane Schick stopped 29.
Oregon 7, Beaver Dam 4 Damon took over the third period on Nov. 30 and led Oregon to a 7-4 comeback win over conference newcomer Beaver Dam. “We knew very little about Beaver Dam,” coach Mike Jochmann said. “We knew they had a couple of
Turn to OHS hockey/Page 18
Boys bb: Panthers beat Evansville, Baraboo Continued from page 14
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Carter Erickson led the Panthers with 13 points on five field, and De’Andre Burrell added 10 points, going 6-for-10 from the stripe. Nolan Look chipped in nine points with two 3-pointers. The defense didn’t allow a double-digit game by any Red Hawks’ player.
Nov. 24. The Panthers led by 10 at halftime and held on in the second half. Oregon hit seven 3-pointers and finished 12-for-20 from the free-throw line. Evansville had a 19-18 advantage with made field goals, but the Blue Devils hit only two 3-pointers. Burrell chipped in with nine points for the Panthers.
Oregon 55, Baraboo 46 Back-to-back 3-point-
Oregon 55, Evansville 47 ers by Erik Victorson and Junior guard Ethan Victorson came through with 22 points to lead the Panthers in 55-47 nonconference win over Evansville
Nolan Look helped Oregon pull away from a one-point game Nov. 28 night as the Panthers held off Baraboo 55-46.
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Verona Area High School
December 8, 2017
Boys swimming
Fitchburg Star
17
Girls basketball
Wildcats swim to runner-up finish in Nicolet JEREMY JONES Sports editor
The Verona Area/Mount Horeb boys swimming team finished behind a pair of Big Eight Conference rivals to open the 2017-18 season. On Dec. 1, the Wildcats could not keep up with Sun Prairie, and on Dec. 2, they were a distant second place to rival Middleton at an invitational.
Nicolet invite Despite the graduation of four state qualifiers, the Wildcats matched their second-place finish from last year at the Chuck Walter Memorial in Nicolet. Junior Shane Rozeboom won both individual sprint events and VA/MH finished in the top three of all three relays Saturday as the Wildcats finished runner-up with 290 points out of the 18-team field. Middleton dominated the meet by more than 275 points, winning with 568 points. The Cardinals won six events, including a sweep of all three relays. Marquette was third with a team score of 234. Rozeboom bested Middleton in a pair of close races, posting a time of 22.02 seconds to out-touch Middleton’s Archer Parkin by .11 in the 50-yard freestyle. Later, he stopped the 100 free stopwatch at 48.22 to beat Middleton senior Michael Draves by .16. Ben Wellnitz also helped the Wildcats score in two relays and earned points in two individual events. “Ben is a versatile swimmer who can help us in a number of events,” Wuerger said. Verona’s 200 (8x25) free relay of Aiden Updegrove, Conner Arneson, Alex Ritter, Parker Jones, Ben Wellnitz, Torbin Kittleson and Caulden Parkel, Rozeboom and Wellnitz finished runner-up to Middleton by a little more than two seconds in 1:32.4. The Cardinals won in 1:30.29. The Wildcats’ 400 (8x50) medley relay team of Kyle Hoppe, Ryan Stewart, Parker Jones, Owen Rothamer, Kaleb McMillan, Kittleson, Wellnitz and Parkel finished third in 3:40.42. Ben Meister, Parkel, Stewart, Rozeboom, McMillan, Updegrove, Rothamer, Hoppe, Wellnitz
Photo by Jeremy Jones
Junior Aidan Updegrove won the 200-yard freestyle in 1 minute, 52.69 seconds Dec. 1 at Sun Prairie. Verona Area/Mount Horeb lost the Big Eight dual meet 98-72. and Arneson added a third-place finish in the 500 (10x50) free relay with a time of 4:04.31. Middleton capped its relay sweep in 3:49.11. “I was surprised all three of our relays placed as high as they did,” coach Bill Wuerger said. “They scored a lot of points for the team.” Updegrove and Kittleson have both already made their end-of-season goal times in the 50 free and 50 breaststroke, respectively. Ryan Stewart and Wellnitz finished fifth and sixth in the 200 IM, and Kyle Hoppe and Stewart matched the finish in the 50 backstroke. Stewart led his VA/MH teammate to the wall in 2:14.13. Wellnitz touched a little more than second later in 2:15.17. Hoppe was the Wildcats’ top finisher in the 50 back with a time of 28.33. Freshman Alex Ritter finished sixth in the diving competition with 321.15 points. Two-time defending WIAA Division 1 state champion Brandon Spencer of Kenosha Tremper won the event with 525.35 points. Updegrove took sixth in both the 200 (1:54.71) and 100 free (51.36). Kyle Hoppe finished seventh in the 100 IM with a time of 1:00.28. Nathan Kim led a 1-2 finish by Middleton in the 200 IM with a time of 1:59.38, and Parkin led a 1-2 Middleton finish in the 50 backstroke
(25.12). Sam Young helped the Cardinals go 1-2 once again, winning the 50 breaststroke in 29.11. Brown Deer/USM’s Ben Hayes won the 200 free (1:43.11) and 100 IM (53.69) back-to-back and Jeff Wiedoff of Waukesha North/Kettle Moraine/Pewaukee (23.7) won the 50 butterfly.
Sun Prairie 98, VA/MH 72
Photo by Anthony Iozzo
Freshman Kyiah Penn (12) congratulates sophomore Rayna Briggs after Briggs scored a basket and was fouled Nov. 17 against Janesville Parker. Briggs finished with 16 points, and Penn had nine in a 58-37 win.
Bainbridge, Briggs lead to win in home opener ANTHONY IOZZO
Chandler Bainbridge, a 5-foot-10 senior, scored all 17 of her points in the second half, and 5-5 sophomore Rayna Briggs added 16, scoring eight in each half. Bre Penn, a 5-5 junior,
Assistant sports editor
The Wildcats picked up a pair of individual wins from Updegrove and Rozeboom, along with a relay win, Friday in Sun Prairie but it wasn’t enough to overtake the host Cardinals. Updegrove won the 200 and 500 free and Rozeboom won the 50 and 100 free. Both then went on to help VA/MH win the 400 free relay but the Wildcats fell short 98-72 in the Big Eight Conference dual opener. “Sun Prairie has a bigger, deeper team than they’ve had in the past,” Wuerger said. “Our guys swam well, all but four individual swims were early season-best times.” Updegrove posted a 1:52.69 to claim the 200 free and added a time of 5:07.44 to win the 500 free. Rozeboom won the 50 free in 21.95 and the 100 free in 48.71. The juniors later joined up with Wellnitz and Arneson to win the 400 free relay in 3:30.18. The Wildcats’ JV team fell 98-71.
There was plenty of balance on the Verona girls basketball team in its opener on Nov. 17, and a big second-half led the host Wildcats to a 58-37 win Turn to VAHS girls bb/Page 18 over Janesville Parker.
Boys hockey
Cats beat Arrowhead in shootout to close out Admiral Cup JEREMY JONES
(1 goal, 5 assists) and Mason McCormick (3g, 2a) led the offense during the tournaGoaltender Garhett Kaegi ment, which included a 7-1 stopped 53 of 58 shots on goal victory and a tie against a topfor the Verona boys hockey 10 team. team as it went 1-1-1 to open Verona 7, Cedarburg 1 the season at the Milwaukee The Wildcats had five Admiral Cup. Forwards Brockton Baker
Sports editor
Turn to VAHS hockey/Page 18
Wrestling: Cats finish 15th at Earlybird Scramble Continued from page 14 weight class after wrestling up as a sophomore, and that should help him have a better season, as well, Wozniak added. The numbers in the wrestling room also have improved from day one. Twenty-one names were on the roster Friday, but Verona started practice with 18. With a strong freshman class expected to come up next season, Wozniak said the program has a strong outlook. This season, Wozniak expects all but two weight classes to be filled consistently (other than 113 and 220 pounds). Not everyone was ready Friday, however, as Verona and Madison Memorial took double forfeits at 106, 113 and 120 pounds and Verona also forfeited at heavyweight. Herbst started Friday with a back-and-forth match against Memorial junior Guillermo Tellez at 126. Herbst, who is expected to be at 120 by the end of the season, trailed 2-1 in the second period, when he was able to pin one of Tellez’s shoulders with
19 seconds left to score a 3-point near fall. After being rolled up to fall back down by one in the third, Herbst scored a reversal and finished off the pin in 5 minutes, 33 seconds. Tellez was a fourth-place finisher at 106 pounds in the Tomah sectional last season. Freshman Ben Grandau followed with a pin over freshman Anthony Welch in 1:53 at 132 pounds, and Verona won the next two matches by forfeit, sophomore Zak Morrison at 138 and sophomore Nick Heinzen at 145. Kalifatidi later pinned senior Everett Anderson in 3:04 at 160 pounds, and Grim pinned freshman Jonathan Prine in 1:46 at 170. Randall made it 36-5 Verona with a pin in 39 seconds over freshman Tristin Bird at 182 pounds. “ We w r e s t l e d w e l l tonight,” Wozniak said. “They are doing a lot of moves we show in practice, which is nice to see. It is a dual that we didn’t know what could happen. We came out and thought it could be close. We were pretty sure we were going to win it, but we ran away
with it kind of.” Breitauer also nearly earned a win at 195 against senior Will Liegle. Breitnauer earned an escape and a takedown at the end of the second period, and then he broke free and spun around to get a reversal at the start of the third to cut his deficit to 8-7. On the reversal, he was inches away from a pin, but Liegle broke free and got a reversal of his own. Brietnauer was then rolled to his back and was unable to get loose, falling by pin in 4:36. Wozniak said Brietnauer is really a 182-pounder in only his second year wrestling with Verona, and that while he had opportunities to win, he needs to avoid getting caught in a roll twice in one match.
Earlybird Scramble The Wildcats traveled to Watertown on Dec. 2 for the Tom McGarvie Earlybird Scramble and finished second-to-last of 16 teams with 85 points. Grandau and Herbst both finished 4-1. Sophomore Chris Garcia was 2-2, and Kalifatidi was 2-3. Grandau ended up fifth
at 126 pounds. He pinned Horicon’s Josh Renning in 1:41 and Middleton’s Joe Schulze in 1:21 and won a 6-2 decision over N e w L o n d o n ’s A d a m Armour. Grandau also won a 9-5 sudden victory over Pewaukee’s Nathan Warner. Herbst also wrestled
at 126 pounds and took ninth because he lost his first match. Herbst pinned Watertown’s Keagan Hunter in 3:22, New London’s Brent Helsten in 1:02 and Whitewater’s Juan Cuellar in 1:42. Herbst also won a 12-10 decision over Badger’s Clayton Larson. Kalifatidi took seventh
at 152 pounds. He pinned Whitewater’s Martin Gonzalez in 1:09 and Beloit Memorial’s Dakota Kopplin in 58 seconds. Garcia took 13th at 145 pounds and won both matches against teammates. He pinned Feller in 1:17 and added a 9-5 decision over Heinzen.
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December 8, 2017
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Senior Ian Charles finished third in the 200-meter IM on Dec. 5 at home against Monona Grove. Charles posted a time of 2 minutes, 27.99 seconds. Oregon lost the Badger South dual meet 117-52.
Sophomore guard Kaitlyn Schrimpf drives through traffic to score a layup and earn a foul on Dec. 5 against Madison Edgewood at Oregon High School. Schrimpf finished the 3-point play and ended with six points and three offensive rebounds in a 57-37 loss.
OHS swim: Oregon finishes 11th
OHS girls bb: Panthers falls to Edgewood
Continued from page 16
Continued from page 16 McKenna Warnock scored 35 to lead Monona Grove.
Edgewood 57, Oregon 37
Foti finished the first half with an offensive rebound. She scored at the buzzer and was fouled, finishing the 3-point play to give the Crusaders a 34-21 lead. Uhl started the second half with two free throws, and junior guard Jenna Statz nailed a 3-pointer to make it 36-26 Edgewood, but freshman Sarah Lazar and Foti all scored on second-chance points. Freshman Baluck Deang and senior Caitlin Link continued to build the lead as they powered their way to the basket, and the Panthers were held to 13 points in the second half until sophomore guard Kaitlyn Schrimpf had a 3-point play with 24.9 seconds to go. Senior forward Ellen McCorkle and Uhl each finished with nine points for Oregon, and Statz and Schrimpf had eight and six points, respectively. McCorkle and Schrimpf both had three rebounds. Foti and Link led the Crusaders with 18 points each, and Deang followed with eight.
The Panthers were getting open looks and driving to the basket, but the shots weren’t falling in a 57-37 loss on Dec. 5 against Edgewood. Oregon allowed 17 firsthalf offensive rebounds (24 total), and the Crusaders took advantage. “We are in a little bit of a slump even though our scoring is OK,” Wamsley said. “We have been getting a lot of attempts so we have been making up for it. Tonight, we didn’t make up for the missed shots. We didn’t find any opportunities for second chances.” Freshman guard Ella Foti scored under the basket after grabbing two straight offensive rebounds to put Edgewood up 18-14 early, and senior forward Sophie Iglar followed with another put back to make it 21-14. Sophomore guard Liz Uhl drove to the rim for a basket Monroe 70, Oregon 53 to cut the deficit to 25-21, but Oregon fell behind by nine that was the closest the Panat halftime and couldn’t claw thers would get.
back in a 70-53 loss on Nov. 21 against last year’s state qualifier Monroe. Uhl continued her hot shooting the loss, leading Oregon with 21 points. McCorkle followed with 11 points. Junior Katie Eisele chipped in six points, and Statz, Schrimpf and Roberts added five points each. Junior Sydney Hilliard, who has several NCAA Division I offers, led the Cheesemakers with 24 points, nine rebounds and six steals.
Oregon 68, Madison East 62 The Panthers (3-3 overall) scored 40 points in the second half on Nov. 28 and held off nonconference Madison East 68-62. Six players finished with eight or more points for the Panthers, who converted 21 of 28 free throws. Roberts led Oregon with 15 points. Peterson and Schrimpf each added 11 points and McCorkle had 10. Senior Justica Filip scored 21 points, hitting four 3-pointers, to lead the Purgolders (1-1). East senior Erin Howard added 12 points prior to fouling out.
VAHS girls bb: Verona beats Parker Continued from page 17 added 13 points, and Kyiah Penn, 5-6 freshman had nine. “What I love about this group is how hard they work,” coach Angie Murphy said. “They are a tight-knit group, so it was fun to get that first win with this team.” Bainbridge started the second half on fire, blowing a four-point game wide open. She drove into the paint for a basket and a foul and hit the free throw for a 3-point play. Bainbridge followed that up with two 3-pointers to put Verona up 33-23. Bainbridge later put the game away with a quick drive for a layup and a pull-up jumper to make it 51-34 with under five minutes to go. “We spread them out, and when we did that, we had more opportunities to drive or dish it out to a person who had an open three,” Bainbridge said. Briggs was another key piece to the win Friday. The sophomore was able to power her way into the paint and knocked down a few jumpers. She was also 6-for-9 from the free-throw line. “I think we all came together as a team,” Briggs said. “We are kind of underrated this season, so I think we just all decided we all have to talk on
defense, keep our heads in the game and do our own part.” Defense was also key as the Wildcats held Parker 6-2 junior forward Julia Hartwig to two points in the second half. Hartwig finished with 13. Verona’s Sydney Rae, a 6-1 junior, had two blocks against Hartwig near the end of the game, and she finished with three blocks. Murphy said it is good to see the girls are already showing the capability to learn from half to half. Bainbridge is one of the senior leaders this season, and with several underclassmen on the team, she said, communication is huge, but it helps that the girls have a connection on and off the court. Briggs said the seniors on the team embraced her and are helping her thrive in the system. “The older girls help me get the plays down,” Briggs said. “When coach is busy, they can help you on the court. The coach is farther away, so you can’t always go to the coach. You have your upperclassmen help you out with that.” Bre and Kyiah Penn were also key contributors. Kyiah had seven points in the first half, and Bre finished with seven in the first half and another six in the second half.
by nearly 200 points to best Monona Grove 512-316.5. Sauk Prairie finished He matched the finish in the 100 butterfly third with 288.5 points. “I think the guys had good swims and in 56.94. The Panthers finished last out of the 11 some even improved since the first relay meet a week ago at the Badger South teams competing, scoring 20 points. Madison Memorial dominated the meet Relays,” coach Rachel Walsh said.
OHS hockey: Damon leads Oregon back against Beaver Dam Tristan Hughes added a first- and second-period goal and Zak Roskos added a second-period score. Sam VanderHoeven dangerous kids, but their work ethic sur- scored twice for the Golden Beavers. prised us.” Jacob Ayers stopped 15 of 19 shots on The Panthers, which trailed 4-2 enter- goal and Marshall Goodrich made 12 ing the third period, scored five unan- saves for Beaver Dam. swered goals over the final 12 minutes to Oregon 3, McFarland 2 cap the comeback. “Confidence, persistence and simple Junior forward Zak Roskos scored a hard work was the difference between the goal and assisted another on Dec. 5 as third period and the other two,” Jochmann the Panthers renewed their Badger South said. “We knew we had the ability to set rivalry with a 3-2 victory at McFarland up goal scoring chances, we just needed Community Ice Arena. to keep things simple and physically outGrant Newcomer scored four minutes work Beaver Dam ... something we didn’t into the first period to give the host Spardo in the first two periods.” tans the lead before Oregon answered Damon scored three straight goals over with three goals, a seven-and-a-half minute in the third Senior forwards Tyson Rohrer and period and eventually added an empty-net Tyler Damon each added a goal in the goal with one second remaining. win. Damon’s empty-net goal with 1:20 Oregon trailed 4-2 after giving up three remaining iced the win. straight goals to start the second period. Hunter Newton made 27 saves to “We had a long stretch where Bea- preserve the win, while Tucker Jarrett ver Dam outworked us,” Jochmann said. stopped 26 for the Spartans. “They were beating us to loose pucks. Senior forward Tristan Hughes was sent They were winning 50-50 battles. That to the shower following his first shift for a was what led us to giving up four-unan- first-period boarding penalty. swered goals in the middle of the game.” Continued from page 16
VAHS hockey: Verona goes 1-1-0 at Admirals Cup Continued from page 17 different players record a goal on Nov. 17 in the second round of the Admirals Cup as Verona cruised to a 7-1 victory over Cedarburg. Cale Fufenacht, who had three points, sealed the win with a pair of third-period goals inside UW-Milwaukee’s Panther Arena. McCormick scored two more goals and assisted on a pair, as well. Baker also recorded multiple points, setting up four goals. Walker Haessig, Jake Osiecki and Ryan Mirwald each scored a goal. The Bulldogs finished 0 for 3 on the power play. Trailing 5-0 after two periods, Cedarburg sophomore forward Nolan Burnside scored the team’s lone goal early in the third period. Garhett Kaegi stopped 15 shots on goal to earn the win. Peter Gontarski made 29 saves for Cedarburg in the loss.
Verona 1, Arrowhead 1 The Wildcats allowed an early first-period goal and trailed for all but the final 8 1/2 minutes before finding a way to earn a 1-1 tie on Nov. 18 against ninth-ranked
Photo by Jeremy Jones
Forward Brockton Baker tangled up with Edgewood’s Quinn Friedow (22) inside LaBahn Ice Arena on Tuesday, Nov. 21. Verona lost the game 3-2. Arrowhead. Verona lost its top forwards Mason McCormick and Brockton Baker on 5-minute boarding and 10-minute unsportsmanlike conduct penalties near the end of the first period. After successfully killing off penalties, the Wildcats went on the attack, outshooting Arrowhead 29 to 6 in the final two periods. Verona finally found the back
of the net when junior defenseman Jake Osiecki tipped in a shot from senior forward Aidan Schmitt. Due to time constraints in tournament rules, no overtime was played and instead the game went to a three-man shootout. The shootout went six extra rounds before Kade Binger scored got the game-winner as the ninth shooter for the Wildcats.
December 8, 2017 - Fitchburg Star 19
Ask the Fitchburg
VETERINARIAN
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Q. We have a young puppy and are hosting Christmas this year which means we will
Q. If I’m purchasing a home, should I get pre-approved for a loan before I find a property?
have lots of extra people in our home. I’m concerned that the commotion will be overwhelming for our little one.
A. The holidays can be stressful for puppies and it’s wise that you are thinking ahead.
A few things we would suggest: make sure to have a quiet space (a kennel is ideal) for your little one to go into when things get to be too much and offer toys or a kong to give him something to do while kenneled. Also, exercise him ahead of time to reduce stress and be sure to limit the amount of time you allow guests to pet and play with the puppy…they need rest, too!
A. Yes. Getting pre-approved lets you know how much home you Kathleen C. Aiken
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Q. Is now a good-time to sell my home?
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A. Even though winter has barely begun and the Holidays are just around the corner, homeowners who are considering selling their home this spring should prepare now because it continues to be a “seller’s market” in Fitchburg. Since Labor Day, nearly 50 single family homes have sold in Fitchburg with an average time on the market of only 30 days, and currently there are only 35 active single-family homes in Fitchburg. I expect that 2018 will continue to be Shawn Pfaff very favorable for sellers due to low inventory and heavy competition. Sellers should contact a Realtor in January to list their home to take advantage of the market and get the best price for their home.
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A. Even if your senior has planned activities during the holidays, they can still miss the family closeness during this season. Here are some things you can do to make sure your loved one has a great holiday season. - Explore old memories by looking through photos or playing holiday music - Allow for quiet space during holiday get-togethers (loud gatherings can be overwhelming) - Be thoughtful if memory loss is an issue, you may need to re-tell the story many times - Visit your loved one often. Take a drive through the neighborhood to look at holiday lights - Bake cookies or sweet bread together - Bring them to your home for dinner and a quiet movie on the couch!
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As a Fitchburg Realtor, I can provide you with a no obligation market appraisal of your home. I look forward to hearing from you soon at pfaffs@firstweber.com 2985 Triverton Pike Dr., Ste. 200, Fitchburg, WI 53711 pfaffs@firstweber.com • www.shawnpfaff.firstweber.com
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Complex (RCAC) provides assistance to seniors where 5 or more reside that consist of apartments with a lockable entrance and exit. An RCAC provides up to 28 hours of care per week which includes supportive services, personal assistance, and health services. An individual cannot have an activated Power of Attorney prior to moving into an RCAC, unless their competent spouse or other person who has legal responsibility for the individual moves in with them. Adult Family Home (AFH) is the smallest type of assisted living which provides a variety of needs for up to 4 people usually in a residential style home, and may include dementia and other conditions of aging. Caregivers may or may not live on site and services are provided above the level of room and board with up to 7 hours per week of nursing support. Community Based Residential Facility (CBRF) provides room and board assistance to seniors where 5 to 257 people live, smaller CBRFs are usually 20 plus beds in a homelike setting. CBRFs serve a variety of needs, and may include dementia and other conditions of aging, admitting and providing services to people of advanced age, Dementia, Developmental disabilities, Mental health problems, Physical disabilities, Traumatic brain injury and the Terminally ill with up to 3 hours per week of nursing support. An individual may be admitted to a CBRF with or without an activated power of attorney.
Q. What is a wellness center? A. Although we can not speak for all places that call them-
selves wellness centers, we can say that our center is a place where we practice primary, complimentary, and integrative modalities to enhance or restore the health of our patients and clients. We practice 4 types of restorative and preventative Jill Unwin, Lee Unwin, care: chiropractic, massage therapy, exercise rehabilitation, DC, CCEP BCMT, CSCS and nutrition. We use a combination of these approaches depending on a person’s needs, and work with each individual to form a treatment plan that helps restore and maintain their health quickly and completely. Our center also works to educate people that through preventative health care practice such as chiropractic, massage, diet and exercise a person should be able to experience optimum health and wellness. The body has the ability to heal itself naturally given the right circumstances. At Unwin Chiropractic & Wellness Center we simply ask people to try a less invasive approach first and make pills and surgery a last resort.
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fascia in the body. Fascia is the body’s support system that surrounds every muscle, ligament, tendon, organ and structure in the body. It travels in one continuous sheet from the top of your head to the toes. Many times, an injury or surgery can lead to twisting and restriction of the fascia that binds nerves, blood vessels and the lymphatic vessels. This can cause pain, restrictions in movement and decreased function that will not likely be resolved unless the fascia returns to its Susan Armstrong, MPT proper alignment. Chronic pain is often directly related to misaligned fascia and Physical Therapist is not detected with traditional X-rays, CT Scans or MRI’s. Proper techniques can decrease or resolve myofascial restrictions when performed by a qualied professional. Contact Stellar Rehabilitation today to nd out if this non-invasive technique is right for you.
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Depression (major depressive disorder or clinical depression) is, by definition, a medical illness characterized by a chronic sense of sadness and loss of interest in activities. Depression can often dictate the way in which you feel, think, and act – and if not treated, it can lead to everything from alcohol and drug abuse to attempted suicide. It’s estimated that 350 million people worldwide suffer from depression. More than two million adults 65 years of age and older are faced with depression of some kind. Signs of depression are easy to overlook in older adults, as they’re often mistaken for other signs of aging. Studies show that when depressed, seniors may not clearly display typical signs of sadness such as crying. Instead, they tend to withdraw from the people they care about and the things they once loved to do. Signs to watch for: Irritability, withdraw, decrease in cognitive ability, increased pain and digestive problems. If you recognize any of these signs in your senior loved one, talk to him or her about what he or she is feeling. Although you may receive some resistance initially, it’s important to let him or her know that you’re there to help. From there, it’s vital that you inform his or her primary health care provider or mental health expert to have symptoms assessed professionally.
Q. How can I make sure my neighbors see my beautifully decorated Christmas Tree? A. That’s a great question. I find the best way to ensure all of your neighbors and passing motorists, joggers and dog walkers can appreciate your beautifully decorated tree and festive decorations, is to locate your tree directly in front of a window and then leave your shades or drapery wide open! That way you won’t hurt yourself trying to reach around the tree to close them (unless you have power shades of couse) :-) All joking aside...I want to wish all my clients, friends and family a safe and happy Holiday Season and I look forward to dressing more of your Naked Windows in 2018!
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Q. How can I spot depression in elders? A. We all have days in which we are sad or have thoughts of hopelessness – but for many, it goes beyond that.
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December 8, 2017
While the Fitchburg Police Department lost a lot of experience with chief Thomas Blatter retiring, the man filling in has plenty of his own. Donald Bates, who has been the deputy chief since mid-2000, just after Blatter became chief, will serve as interim chief until a new permanent chief is selected early next year. Bates said his role in the meantime will be to keep the department on the same track until the new person comes in to set their own initiatives. Bates began as an officer with the department 32 years ago. – Scott Girard
ConnectFitchburg.com
Fitchburg Star
Blatter: Legacy of embracing change, ‘never compromised ethics’ ‘I knew what (Blatter) was thinking when he came in the door, or I could finish his sentences for him. And he could do the same for me.’
Continued from page 1 ambulance too.” That created plenty of busy days, sometimes alone on patrol. “Sometimes you would have somebody in the station wagon that you’d be transporting to the hospital and you would finish that and you’d have another call waiting … that you had to go to,” he recalled. “In those days, you were lucky if you had two police officers on, but sometimes the norm was one.” The equipment within the car was also plenty different than what a squad looks like today, which Blatter said is like “getting into the Starship Enterprise.” Sometimes, the “bag phones” they used at the time simply wouldn’t get a
Donald Bates, interim chief Fitchburg Police Department
Photo by Scott Girard
Retiring police chief Thomas Blatter began working in the department 40 years ago, eventually becoming chief in 2000. signal, forcing an officer to get closer to a cell tower to reach whomever they needed to call. Much more than technology was changing during those years, though. Within a few years, Blatter was witnessing a somewhat “scary” conflict playing out between the thentown and neighboring City
of Madison, as Fitchburg attempted to become a city itself. If Fitchburg had lost, Blatter recalled, it was likely to be absorbed into Madison — leaving him thinking “this could have a bad ending” for his job status. “It was kind of like a slow torture as it worked its way through the circuit courts and all the opinions in the paper of why or why not Fitchburg should be able to lead its own direction,” he said. “But, nonetheless, getting through all of those bumps and having ridden it through, there was light at the end of the tunnel.”
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The “homegrown” chief, originally from Watertown, rose from his patrol position to sergeant, lieutenant, deputy chief and finally chief in February 2000. He credited much of that success to those he worked with throughout his time on the force. “It’s not a job you can do by yourself,” he said. “I’ve had so many opportunities to meet so many wonderful people.” Blatter’s stability – along with Bates’, who was promoted within months to deputy chief – also created challenges in allowing younger officers to envision similar futures for themselves. That led Blatter to focus on finding ways to foster growth and development within an officer’s
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20 Bates serving as interim chief
position. “The beautiful thing about becoming the chief is you no longer feel that need (to focus on yourself),” Blatter said. “Instead … you feel a great sense of accomplishment in what others are doing or have done.” That includes an award recognition system, with categories like “chief ’s award” and “life saving award.” “It’s quite meaningful,” he said. “It’s gotten to such a point that it’s not uncommon … to have 100 people (at the award ceremony). Grandma, grandpa, aunts and uncles and kids come out. Why? They’re proud of it.”
Changes in crime Changing technology has been a constant Blatter’s 40 years, but the internet has brought an entirely new threat into the picture. Blatter said there’s just “more and more of that digital world crime” like identity theft and fraud, which creates a new challenge for police departments trying to serve their citizens. One way to fight it is cooperation, something that Blatter said has been key to develop with neighboring municipalities during his time in charge. That includes advantages such as saving money on something like a records management system, or training with other departments for largescale events like active shooter situations. Bates lauded the department’s progress on cooperation under Blatter. “He broke down the barriers that existed,” Bates said. “In the old days, it was, ‘You don’t come into my city.’” Mayor Jason Gonzalez lauded Blatter for how he responded to the changes in popular policing tactics over his 40 years. “He’s been around the Fitchburg Police Department so long, he’s seen significant change in the types of policing from community-oriented policing to problem-oriented policing,” Gonzalez said. “He’s been instrumental in the diversification of our department.” Blatter worked to emphasize community policing through a “district policing” model that he described as a “hybrid” of much of what was being done around the country. As Gonzalez alluded to, that was made even more important by the city’s increasing diversity. “I suddenly needed to hire officers with Spanish-speaking skills,” Blatter said. “I need officers that could relate from a cultural background and a language background to ensure that our trust continued.” Those changes also led to the necessity of making clear what would happen if Fitchburg officers interacted with an undocumented immigrant, because if
people were afraid to report to the police, Blatter said, there could be a “whole subculture of crime that we don’t even know about.” So he and the department decided to “be very vocal and very clear what our intentions were” to treat everyone equally “as citizens of Fitchburg.” “The payoff of that message … has been the positive relationships, the increased diversity of our police department, but most of all I think a comfort level that they can report a crime and they won’t be victimized twice,” he said.
Leaving a legacy That decision was one of many Blatter made in his 17 years as chief, some more in-the-moment than others. Bates recalled a situation years ago in which a man was barricaded in his apartment with a gun around Christmas, and said Blatter had to make a call on what to do to keep the public safe. After more than 24 hours trying to negotiate with the suspect, Bates recalled Blatter decided to go in with tear gas. “There was no hesitation,” Bates said. “He had to make a decision.” That’s just one of the memories Bates will have of his time with Blatter, including their time patrolling together (Bates mentioned that he was the last to buy coffee between them on one of those patrols). “I knew what he was thinking when he came in the door, or I could finish his sentences for him,” Bates said. “And he could do the same for me.” He added that the people Blatter worked with were extremely important to him. “He loved serving the community and he loved taking care of the men and women that worked under him,” Bates said. “I just knew he was going to be here everyday.” Blatter hopes that the next chief continues to embrace “change” the way that he did throughout his time, especially as discussions about policing and new efforts like body cameras come into play in a city that will likely continue to grow in the coming years. “There’s a whole lot of Fitchburg (that) has individualized attention that it needs now and into the future,” he said. “You can’t just grow east, west or south, you have to invest in what’s been a part of the city for a very long time. “That, and you have to have a sense of humor and keep a smile on your face.” Contact Scott Girard at ungreporter@wcinet.com and follow him on Twitter @sgirard9.
ConnectFitchburg.com
December 8, 2017
Fitchburg Star
21
Fitch-Rona EMS
A ‘people job’ That cooperation is just one example of how paramedicine is what Myrland called a “people job.” Especially in a district like this one, where three “drastically different communities” each have their own priorities, creating relationships has been key, he said. Those politics, though, were part of what he loved about his role. “When I got here, nobody had confidence in the budgeting process, nobody had confidence in the management team,” he recalled. “Not only, I think, did we solve those issues, but we also developed a rapport with the fire departments … that has really elevated our capabilities.” Mostly, though, he enjoyed the employees he worked with and their drive to take the best care of patients they could. “It’s been extraordinary,” Myrland said. “I really have been honored to work with the people that I’ve had a chance to.” Contact Scott Girard at ungreporter@wcinet.com and follow him on Twitter @sgirard9.
Ride: Pilot program one-third the cost of east-west bus line Continued from page 1 explore a ride-share program to see how many people would use it. The $53,000 program provides rides on-call 24 hours a day to access public facilities, grocery stores and anything else near a bus stop for a cost similar to a bus ($2, $1 for seniors, youth and disabled). For an extra fee, riders can get door-to-door service. Routes include designated stops at current Metro Transit bus stops, mostly along McKee and Fish H a t c h e r y r o a d s , C h e ryl Parkway and the King James and Allied areas. The service also adds stops at McGaw and McKee Farms parks, the senior center and the Metro Transit South Transit Point. A l d . To ny H a r t m a n n (Dist. 4) said the city is still figuring out how the program will work. If the pilot is popular, the city might either keep the current model or plan for a bus route.
“ We d o n ’t k n ow f o r s u r e ,” H a r t m a n n s a i d . “We’re guessing people that don’t have a car might be in one of those priority neighborhoods where we need more human services.” The project consultant, Matt Jones, said the program was initiated from a 2015 transit survey, which indicated Fitchburg was in need of a hybrid transportation system – taxi and fixed route. After defeating a proposal for an east-west bus route that would have required a three-year contract in October 2016, alders included money for the Ride Share program in the 2017 budget. Further funding will depend on the data they will gather until current funding is used up. In October 2017, alders chose Richwood Transport, LLC, an 11-month-old startup based in Middleton, over Lyft because of its ability to take cash payment and use a central dispatch. The company’s owner, Nathan Hopwood, said he
is confident that the company can handle it well. It has grown from an initial fleet five vehicles to 105 and has 75 drivers. Most of the drivers and vehicles will continue to work on its previous business of nonemergency medical transportation, with eight to 10 focusing on the Ride Share, Hopwood said. As of Wednesday, Dec. 6, three riders had tried out the new service. Hopwood expected more riders would use the program as word spreads. “It’s still early on,” Hopwood said. “It will take a little time for people to get used to it.” Konopacki said she is happy to have the service and that her most recent trip was “wonderful” and the driver was very “nice” and “helpful.” Now, she can say goodbye to her previous mode of transportation – a fixed bus route that only ran at certain times and forced her to hurry out to catch the bus in the day. “I had no way to get back
home if I wanted to stay after lunch,” Konopacki said. Her only concern was that she found it difficult to locate where the nearest stops are and how far she would have to walk from a stop using the program’s map, which is posted online. “It’s hard to walk in the winter, especially for the seniors,” Konopacki said. Hopwood said the company is working on updating the map to make it more user-friendly and hopes to list the exact address of the stops, rather than simply showing green dots. For Konopacki, the new s e r v i c e p r ov i d e s m o r e opportunities to participate in activities and socialize. “I’m so happy Fitchburg provides various services, especially for seniors who can’t drive to have more opportunities to have fun,” she said. Contact Helu Wang at helu. wang@wcinet.com.
Patrick Anderson’s title got shorter by one word. The longtime paramedic with Fitch-Rona EMS most recently served as deputy chief, but officially took over last week as the chief after being hired by the Fitch-Rona EMS Commission in November. Anderson first joined Fitch-Rona around 2001 after going through an EMT class with the Army National Guard, he told the Star, and eventually went to paramedic school. “I just love the job of helping people and taking a challenge,” Anderson said. T h e O r e g o n , Wi s . , native, who loves to run half-marathons with his wife, said he’s looking forward to “continuing to expand” the department and building on
what outgoing chief Brian Myrland has done. “It’s kind of fun to have been here this long and to see how Fitch-Rona has grown,” he said. “My challenge is … to take that baton and continue to run with it.” – Scott Girard
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times and information sent to hospitals while on the road have improved vastly in his time. “That’s life-and-death stuff,” he said. He pointed to things like a broad set of possible medications and the ability to more specifically identify and diagnose emergencies like the location of a heart attack, “stuff that only doctors were doing several years ago.” It’s been more than technological changes that have improved patient care, though, he said, as cooperation among municipalities has improved greatly, allowing whoever is closest to a call to respond first, regardless of boundaries. “It doesn’t make any sense that if the border is two miles away and somebody on the other side of that border has a problem and I’m the closest ambulance, we (couldn’t) go,” he said. “That’s been a remarkable change in Dane County and I think overall for patient outcome, that’s been one of the best changes.”
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grandchildren and fishing, hunting and skiing at his cabin up north. But he’s glad for the last 13 years here. “I’ve never been able to follow the SCOTT GIRARD path that most people would tell me to, but it’s been a great path,” MyrUnified Newspaper Group land said. “It added an interesting Brian Myrland did not plan on variety in my life.” becoming chief of anything when he Becoming a paramedic started as a volunteer paramedic with Myrland has a friend to thank for Fitch-Rona EMS in the 1990s. By the time the position opened in all of his time with an EMS depart2004, he was far from the most med- ment. That friend was working as an ically experienced staff EMT and recommended Myrland try member while working it out, thinking he would like it. He as the volunteer coorbegan volunteering in Cross Plains, dinator. But that didn’t and can still remember the first call stop him from applyhe had, an attempted suicide. ing. “I can relive every one of those “I thought, ‘They I’ve been on,” he said. “You’re don’t need more medialways affected.” cal expertise here, they Myrland Despite that, he found out his need somebody with some business experience,’” Myrland friend was right, and spending time recalled. “Somebody that can run a as an EMT was something he loved. budget, somebody that can play the But he wanted to be a bit closer to political side of it so we can get this home in Verona. Though he “twisted an arm” to get thing on better footing.” Thirteen years later, the part-time a role here because of how many they chief will retire from the department, had at the time, he quickly picked leaving it in the hands of one of the up on the operations of Fitch-Rona. deputy chiefs he hired on in his time, Soon after, he was offered the posithroughout which Myrland has tried tion of volunteer coordinator, which to improve the organization’s struc- allowed him to be ready when the chief position opened. ture. “I knew the EMS system, I had “I really felt that one of the two (deputies) would make a great next studied the EMS system” he said. “I chief,” Myrland said. “Over the last knew Fitch-Rona and I knew I could two years I’ve been kind of grooming bring a strong business sense to the organization. It turned out that’s that to happen.” Under Myrland’s watch, the depart- what they were looking for, so be ment has moved its operations from careful what you wish for.” Fitchburg to Verona’s new station, balanced competing priorities of Changing medicine the three municipalities Fitch-Rona What he didn’t know then is how serves and been part of a new era far paramedicine would come in his of cooperation between neighbor- years as chief. ing municipalities that he said has “If you go way back, what EMS improved medical care. was, really, was get there as fast as Much of the success he’s overseen, you can and … get them to the hoshe stressed, is because of the rest of pital as fast as you can,” he said. the people in the department. “To see what’s going on now in the “I have the best job in Dane County, pre-hospital emergency medicine is because Fitch-Rona is a great depart- phenomenal.” ment,” he said. “I’ve just been lucky As technology progressed elseenough to be at the helm of this thing where, it provided new opportunities as it’s happened.” for paramedics to have a greater effect Myrland, who will continue to on their patients. From new tools to run his Middleton sporting equip- treat some patients to what seems like ment business, said he’s looking for- a simple change in when paramedward to spending more time with his ics are notified about a call, response
Call: 608-255-1551
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MOFA Global is looking to fill the position of Production Technician I
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Retiring chief leaves ‘the best job in Dane County’
Anderson takes over as chief
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Myrland followed his own path
22 Fitchburg Star - December 8, 2017
City Hall - Main Line Administration Assessing Building Inspections City Clerk Economic Development
270-4200 270-4213 270-4235 270-4240 270-4210 270-4246
FACTv Finance Fire Department FitchRona Human Resources Library Municipal Court
270-4225 270-4251 278-2980 275-7148 270-4211 729-1760 270-4224
Parks & Forestry Planning/Zoning Police Public Works Recreation/Community Center Senior Center Utilities
270-4288 270-4258 270-4300 270-4260 270-4285 270-4290 270-4270
5520 Lacy Road, Fitchburg, WI 53711 • www.fitchburgwi.gov adno=546346-01
31ST ANNUAL CHILDREN’S HOLIDAY PARTY
HOLIDAY CLOSURES December 25 & 26 – City Hall, Recreation Dept. & Senior Center CLOSED December 24 & 25 – Library CLOSED December 31 – Library closing at 6:00 pm January 1, 2018 – City Hall, Recreation Dept., Senior Center & Library CLOSED January 15, 2018 – City Hall, Recreation Dept., Senior Center CLOSED
Sunday, December 10th from 1-4 pm, FREE Event at the Fitchburg Community Center, 5510 Lacy Rd. Inflatable Playground, Popcorn Balls, Face Painting, Crafts, Hot Chocolate. Visit with Santa! Get a video of your child’s visit with Santa!
HOLIDAY TREE COLLECTION
RECYCLE YOUR HOLIDAY LIGHTS
Holiday tree collection will begin the week of January 8th for properties subscribed to the City of Fitchburg’s “brush collection.” A second holiday tree collection will take place the week of January 22nd. Trees should be at the curb by 6:30 a.m. on Monday morning of the collection week with trunks facing street. All decorating material must be removed. Flocked trees are not collected and must be disposed of in the refuse, with a Refuse Tag attached. Wreaths & garland are also considered refuse if they contain metal or other supporting devices.
For holiday lights that no longer work, you can recycle them at Fitchburg City Hall. A special cart is now available 24 hours/day in the City Hall Lobby, 5520 Lacy Road. Fitchburg residents can drop off non-working holiday light strings and extension cords for recycling. Residents must remove any bulbs larger than marble-size and recycle those separately.
Fitchburg's 2018 Solid Waste Collection Calendar S
M H
JANUARY T W T *2 *3 *4
F *5
S *6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 APRIL S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
S M T 1 2 3 8 9 10 15 16 17 22 23 24 28 30 31
S
M 1
JULY W T H *5
S *7 11 12 13 14 18 19 20 21 25 26 27 28
OCTOBER T W T 2 3 4
F *6
F 5
S 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
FEBRUARY T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 S
M
S
M
S
M
S
M
S *2 3 4 5 6 7 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
AUGUST T W T
F
S
M
NOVEMBER T W T F 1 2 5 6 7 8 9
S 3 4 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 H *23 *24 25 26 27 28 29 30
BRUSH COLLECTION April 9 - 13 Aug. 20 - 24 April 23 - 27 Sept. 10 - 14 May 7 - 11 Sept. 24 - 28 May 21 - 25 Oct. 8- 12 June 11 - 15 Oct. 22 - 26 June 25 - 29 Nov. 12 - 16 July 9 - 13 Actual collection dates may depend on weather July 30 - Aug. 3 YARDWASTE & BRUSH COLLECTION April 9 - 13 May 7 - 11 Oct. 22 - 26 Actual collection dates may depend on weather Nov. 12 - 16
JUNE W T
M
Color coding Legend:
T
SEPTEMBER T W T F
2 H *4 9 10 11 16 17 18 23 24 25 30 S
M
F *1 8
S 1 *5 *6 *7 *8 12 13 14 15 19 20 21 22 26 27 28 29
DECEMBER T W T F
S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 8 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 H *26 *27 *28 *29 30 31
YELLOW = Recycling Week YELLOW with PURPLE #'s = Holiday Tree Collection & Recycling RED #'S = Brush Collection Only YELLOW with RED #'s = Recycling & Brush Collection BLUE #'S = Yardwaste & Brush Collection YELLOW with BLUE #'S = Recycling & Yardwaste & Brush Collection Note: Refuse collection is weekly, recycling every other week
1
EXAMPLE
2 3 4 5 6 Refuse & Recycling & Holiday Trees 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Refuse Only 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Refuse & Recycling 21 22 23 H *25 *26 *27 Refuse & Brush Only (w/ Wed. Holiday) 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 Refuse, Recycling & Brush 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Refuse, Yardwaste & Brush Holidays that affect pick up schedule (marked w/ "H")
May 28, July 4, September 3, November 22, December 25
*During Holiday weeks, collection is delayed 1 day after the Holiday
Place carts along driveway opening (not in street) by 6:30am on your collection day. Place Yardwaste, Brush, and Holiday Trees at the curb by 6:30am Monday on collection weeks. Place Yardwaste in reusable containers or bags or compostable bags. Do not tie the bags. Brush must be < 5' long and < 6" diameter. Visit www.fitchburgwi.gov/solidwaste for more details. Revised Nov. 22, 2017
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S 3 10 17 24 31
F 4
T 1
S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
HOLIDAY TREE COLLECTION January 8 - 12 Actual collection dates may depend on weather January 22 - 26
M
MAY W T 2 3
S 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 25 25 26 27 H *29 *30 *31
S
MARCH T W T F 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 15 16 18 19 20 21 22 23 25 26 27 28 29 30 S
www.facebook.com/FitchburgWI and Follow us on
@FitchburgWI
RECREATION DEPARTMENT Go to www.fitchburgwi.gov/recreation and click on “View Activities” to see our list of programs for this upcoming Fall Season!
Fitchburg Futsal
This program will mimic Fall and Spring outdoor soccer programs through Fitchburg Rec with one weekday training session each week for 6 weeks. Games will be 4v4 plus a keeper. Training will be on Tuesdays 6pm at Leopold Elementary School. Ace Soccer Coaches will break up the kids into teams based on year of birth each week for small sided games. • Ages – Open to any player whose birth year is in 2007-2013 • Day/Time – Tuesdays, January 9 – February 13 from 6-7pm. • Location – Leopold Elementary School Gymnasium • Fee - $40
Youth Volleyball
This recreational league is for 5th graders who would like to have fun learning skills and getting involved in competition against players at their own skill level. Practices will be on Sundays and will start on January 14th. Tournaments will be played on February 11, 18, 25, March 4, and March 11 against other communities including: Cross Plains, Verona, Middleton, Stoughton and Mt. Horeb. The time frame for tournaments is typically 12:00-3:30 p.m. Modified rules will be used. • Ages – 5th Grade, 6th Grade, 7th Grade, and 8th Grade Leagues • Day/Time – Sundays, January 14 – March 11, Varying Times • Location – Stoner Prairie School and Travelling • Fee - $60R/$70NR
Basketball Holiday Skills Camps
Shooting is fun, but making a shot is even more fun. More skills = more fun!! When it comes to basketball, do you know how to make yourself better? This camp is designed to help younger players improve their offensive skills, increase self-confidence, and leave with lots of tools and a plan for self-improvement. • Grades – 1st & 2nd, 3rd & 4th, 5th & 6th, 7th-12th (All Coed) • Day/Time – Monday-Wednesday, December 26 - December 28 • Location – Savanna Oaks Middle School • Fee - $30
Dance Classes for Kids
We offer a variety of dance classes for kids ages 2-Teen. We offer Saturday classes and Tuesday classes. Both days have an end of the session Dance Recital which will be held at the Oregon High School Performing Arts Center. • Classes Offered - Creative Movement (2-3 yrs), Pre-Ballet 1 (3-5 yrs), Pre-Ballet 2 (4-6 yrs), Ballet 1 (6-8 yrs), Ballet 2 (7-10 yrs), Jazz 1 (4-7 yrs), Jazz 2 (6-9 yrs), Tap 1 (5-7 yrs), Tap 2 (7-10 yrs), Hip Hop (7-12 yrs), and Poms/Dance Team (8-14 yrs) • Day/Time – Saturday Mornings and Tuesday Evenings, January-March • Location – Fitchburg Community Center • Fee - $78 to $87
Basketball - Instructional
Learn to pass, shoot and dribble a basketball with Coach Scott. Participants will be introduced to the fundamentals of basketball with a focus on teamwork and having fun. Basketball hoops will be lowered; smaller sized basketballs will be used. • Ages – 4 & 5 yrs. old and Kindergarten • Dates/Time – Sundays, January 7 – January 28, 3-3:45pm (4 & 5 yrs. old), 4-4:45pm (Kindergarten) • Location – Stoner Prairie School Gym • Fee - $25R/$30NR
Family Musikgarten Winter Session 2
A multi-age (birth-4yrs) music and movement class for the entire family. Sing, chant rhymes, play instruments and musical games, dance and move to familiar songs of childhood. As we play, music learning begins and we build a community of music makers! Each registered child will receive a movement scarf that will be used for class activities. New Songs And Activities From Previous Sessions Note: Each additional sibling will receive a $5 discount. • Ages – Birth-4 yrs old • Day/Time – Thursdays, January 4 – January 25 from 9am-9:40am • Location – Fitchburg Community Center • Fee - $40
Nurtured Heart Parent Training
Are you ready to improve your parenting skills and build a better relationship with your children? If so, the revolutionary Nurtured Heart Approach is for you! This approach will help you become the agent of change in your child’s life. Through the methods recommended in this class, you will see your children develop “inner wealth” and make choices that reflect the values and character you believe in. Your child will come to identify with success. Program is taught by: Gail K. Anderson, PhD and Paula Wick, PhD, Advanced Nurtured Heart Approach trainers and coaches. • Ages – Adults • Day/Time – Wednesdays, January 31 – February 28, 6:00-8:00 pm • Location – Community Center – Prairie View Room • Fee - $75 for an individual or $100 for a couple
Business
ConnectFitchburg.com
December 8, 2017
Fitchburg Star
23
Owner foresees a ‘full-service’ business Mexico native Villalobos opened Lorena’s Beauty Salon in January BILL LIVICK Unified Newspaper Group
Photo by Scott Girard
Lorena Villalobos opened Lorena’s Beauty Salon on Fish Hatchery Road in January. Wisconsin in 2003. A mother of three – “two boys and a little girl” – Villalobos said she decided to move from California to Madison because of the opportunities it offered her family. “When I was in California, living in Oakland, I wasn’t happy because it was hard to find a good job and living there was expensive,” she explained. “I heard about the education here for my kids. They have a good education
and good schools in Madison, and so I moved here for my kids.” She likes living here “a lot,” she said, and spends most of her free time with her family. “They play sports, and I go to their sports games when I’m not working at home or in the salon,” Villalobos said. Contact Bill Livick at bill.livick@ wcinet.com
Lorena’s Beauty Salon Address: 2938 Fish Hatchery Road, Fitchburg Phone: (608) 469-6089 Hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday-Wednesday 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday Closed weekends
NeedVaccines Vaccines Too! Too! AdultsAdults Need
If you have a health condition listed below, you are more at risk for severe infections. Vaccines are especially important for you to stay healthy!
Lung disease including asthma Diabetes Heart disease Weakened immune system Kidney disease
What is recommended: Influenza vaccine—every year Tdap or Td vaccine—every 10 years Pneumococcal vaccine—one dose if you’re 19-64 years, 2 doses if older Hepatitis B vaccine—for anyone with diabetes Where to go : If you are insured or have a Forward card, call your provider If no insurance, contact Public Health for free vaccines at 608-266-4821 If you have Medicare, contact your provider or pharmacy Check with your health care provider or Public Health to see what vaccines you may need. www.publichealthmdc.com adno=551154-01
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Fitchburg resident Lorena Villalobos opened a beauty salon on Fish Hatchery Road in January and hopes to eventually expand the business to become a full-service salon. She told the Star this week she’s in the process of learning the business end of the operation, and would like to one day hire another stylist and someone to do pedicures and manicures. For now, she cuts and styles hair, along with “coloring, highlighting, doing hair stringers and things like that,” Villalobos said. She works alone but also shares the salon with two other women. “They don’t work for me,” she explained. “We all have our own customers.” Villalobos, a native of Guadalajara in the state of Jalisco, Mexico, said she’s been living in the Madison area since 2003 and opened her own business after years of cutting hair in other salons. “I worked at a Latina salon in Madison for eight years and then a combination shop for about eight years,” she said. “This is a bilingual salon.” Villalobos said she began learning how to cut and style hair while still in Mexico. She attended a beauty school there and also in California. She moved to Oakland in 1993, she said, and took more classes when she moved to
24 Fitchburg Star - December 8, 2017
Sugar and spice and everything nice for the holidaysâ&#x20AC;Ś
210 S. Main Street Verona, Wisconsin (608) 845-6478 adno=546342-01
Open 7 Days a Week from 6:30am-9:00pm